There are four Bugatti sports cars that represent automotive innovation like no others cars do.

It would come as a surprise that the four cars that represent innovation in automobiles in its purest form are all Bugatti sports cars. Showcasing the evolution of automobiles in a way that is unique and amounts to flexing the boundaries of what machines can really be or do what they are expected to do to the fullest, the four Bugatti cars are the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition, Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition, Chiron Super Sport 300+ and the W16 Mistral World Record Car.

Successful in carving out a niche, each of the four cars – ultra super cars – have come to represent Bugatti’s incomparable legacy. The Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition, on a beautiful day of April 2010, achieved a new land speed world record for production cars on the proving grounds of the Volkswagen Group at Ehra-Lessien (nearby its headquarters at Wolfsburg). In the presence of the German Technical Inspection Agency (TÜV) and a representative of Guinness Book of Records, the Super Sport achieved an average top speed of 431 kmph!

Bugatti’s Pilote Officiel Pierre Henri Raphanel put his helmet and gloves on, pulled the safety belts tight whilst the engineers checked the car a very last time for tyre pressure, temperature and all the systems.

The orange-black Super Sport crossed the light barrier within one hour by driving from South to North and then in the opposite direction. The driver being the only one to touch the car during the record run, the description of the Veyron as its headlights appeared at a certain point of the track was of a jumbo jet coming closer and simply jetting by.

The GPS-tachometer recorded a speed of as much as 933 kmph. The average speed generated by the TUV and Guinness representatives was a whopping 431.072 kmph, which surprised even the Bugatti team.

The roadster version of Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition, Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition, set the world speed record for open-top production sports cars at the Volkswagen Group’s proving grounds in Ehra-Lessien.

TÜV, the renowned independent German organisation for technical inspection and certification, officially confirmed that a top speed of 408.84 kmph was achieved when the super car was driven by the Chinese racing driver Anthony Liu in 2013.

On the market since the spring of 2012, the open-top sports car is fitted with an 8.0 litre W16 engine that pours 1,200 PS and a torque of 1,500 Nm at 3,000 to 5,000 rpm on the road. Its high-performance handling can be attributed to a racing chassis, which together with extremely fast-acting shock absorbers and reinforced anti-roll bars, guarantees exact control of both the four-wheel drive system and the entire vehicle.

The other factors that enable such performance at the upper limits include a standard carbon monocoque with high torsional rigidity and an outer shell made entirely of carbon fibre. With wind noise and air turbulence a particular concern with open-top vehicles, the Vitesse is offered with a specially developed roof spoiler along with an intricately designed windbreak that guarantees calm open-top driving.

The Chiron Super Sport 300+ is the fastest Bugatti ever made, redefining what is possible when it comes to speed and aerodynamics. Piloted by Bugatti’s Pilote Officiel Andy Wallace, the hypercar smashed through the 482.803 kmph (300 mph) barrier in 2019. Never had a production car reached such speeds ever!

Occupying a spot in the history and standing as a marker in the quest for greater performance and speed, the hypercar was fitted with a re-engineered version of Bugatti’s legendary 8.0 litre W16 engine that produced 1,600 PS of power. A new thermal management system for the engine and gearbox were developed. Refinements to the software governing the engine, gearbox and turbochargers were also made.

To ensure top notch stability, the car was fitted with a ‘longtail’ that extended the car length by approximately 25 cm. This allowed the laminar flow to pass over the body for a longer period of time, reducing aerodynamic stall by more than 40 percent. Air curtains adorning the hyper sports car’s front corners dispersed excess air pressure towards the car’s sides. Simultaneously, air outlets at the wheel arches and behind the front wheels guided excess pressure away from each wheel arch, reducing drag by also producing a small amount of negative lift. Liberal use of exposed carbon fibre – flowing through into the car’s engine cover and the windscreen wiper, thereby contributing to crucial weight-saving that helps the hyper sports car push the envelope of performance – was resorted to. Extremely light and strong magnesium alloy wheels were deployed.

Andy Wallace – Bugatti Pilote Officiel and winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours – assumed the controls of the one-off W16 Mistral World Record Car, warming up the vehicle’s bespoke high-performance tyres on a first anticipatory lap. Ascending to a specified speed of 200 kmph into the banking of the track (of ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg GmbH), he increased the speed before unleashing the full power of the vehicle as the straight opened up coming off the banking, taking it to new heights of record speed in November 2024. Under the meticulous control of SGS-TÜV Saar GmbH, the achievement of a new world top-speed record for an open-top car was officially confirmed at the end of the run, with Andy reaching an incredible 453.91 kmph.

The EUR 14 million hypercar is powered by an 8.0-litre, quad-turbo, W16 engine that does an impressive 1,578 bhp. Innovative is the W16 Mistral’s X-taillight arrangement, which channels hot air from the radiators through ducts towards the rear of the vehicle. The air is expelled through the vents in the X-taillight arrangement.

The hypercar’s ramp-design diffuser accelerates the air’s journey from the rear of the vehicle, which increases downforce and helps the model excel at high speeds. Contributing to the vehicle’s excellent stability are bespoke high-performance tyres.

MT

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

German luxury automotive brand BMW Group extends its approach to sustainability to vehicle derivatives with the BMW X5, with an aim to optimise the vehicle lifecycle and minimise the carbon footprint across the supply chain, production, use phase and recycling.

Decarbonisation across the supply chain remains a lever for reducing CO2e emissions. The BMW Group focuses on renewables, recycled materials, and process innovations. During the product development process, CO2e emissions of the BMW X5 fell by 40 percent.

The body uses flat steel, of which 50 percent is electric arc furnace steel (EAF steel) with recycled material content, produced using renewables. This share of steel results from collaboration with suppliers in North America.

The BMW X5 uses recycled materials in components, including aluminium wheel rims, swivel bearings, wheel supports, rear axle supports and brake callipers.

Renewables power the electrolysis and production of these components. The aluminium for the doors contains 35 percent recycled material from the press shop at BMW Spartanburg. The material for the yarn of the headliner fabric consists of 100 percent recycled PET. In the BMW iX5 60 xDrive, one third of the vehicle consists of recycled materials, equivalent to a weight of 940 kilograms.

The Gen6 battery cells in the battery of the BMW iX5 include recycled materials in the cobalt, lithium and nickel content. Renewables power the production of anode materials, cathode materials and cell manufacturing. Compared with the Gen5 cell in the BMW iX, CO2e emissions fell by 28 percent per watt-hour.

The EfficientDynamics technology package optimises vehicle efficiency across subsystems during the use phase. This includes aerodynamics, lightweight construction, wheels, tyres and energy management.

The BMW iX5 features the ‘Heart of Joy’ from the BMW iX3 and BMW i3, with the BMW Dynamic Performance Control driving stack developed in-house. The system enhances efficiency: during deceleration, energy is recovered through recuperation down to a standstill.

Depending on the drivetrain variant, mileage and electricity source for charging, the BMW iX5 60 xDrive achieves a CO₂e advantage over a model with an internal combustion engine after one to two years of use.

The sustainability approach extends to vehicle manufacturing at Plant Spartanburg. Power for production at Plant Spartanburg comes from renewables. Between 2006 and 2025, energy consumption per produced vehicle decreased by 66 percent. The volume of waste sent to landfills fell by 88 percent over the period. The battery assembly plant in Woodruff runs without fossil fuels in operation.

The BMW Group will publish the Product Carbon Footprint for the BMW X5, validated by the German Technical Inspection Association (TÜV), to accompany the series launch. The report, including the calculation methodology, will be available to the public. The BMW Group provides transparency regarding raw materials and CO2e emissions across the vehicle lifecycle.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

German luxury carmaker BMW India has launched the new X6 M60i xDrive, a performance Sports Activity Coupé (SAC) as a Completely Built-Up Unit (CBU) at INR 17.79 million (ex-showroom).

At the heart of the new X6 M60i is a 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine featuring a 48V mild-hybrid system. The powertrain delivers 530 hp and 750 Nm of torque, enabling the SAC to accelerate from zero to 100 kmph in 4.3 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 250 kmph.

The SAC comes is equipped with an 8-speed Steptronic Sport automatic with paddle shifters, BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive with an M Sport differential. For handling it gets integral Active Steering and Adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers. The stopping power comes with M Sport braking system with red-painted callipers.

The exterior features a coupe silhouette, slim Adaptive LED headlights with M Shadowline accents and an M-specific kidney grille. The vehicle comes standard with 21-inch M light-alloy wheels.

The interior is anchored by the BMW Curved Display, which houses a 12.3-inch information display and a 14.9-inch control display under a single glass surface. The cabin is upholstered in Sensafin and includes features such as Harman Kardon surround sound, ventilated comfort seats with memory functions, and an ambient light bar. Customers can further personalise the vehicle with optional BMW Individual paint finishes and Merino leather upholstery.

The X6 M60i xDrive runs on BMW iDrive Operating System 8.5 and includes the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. Connected features provided through the My BMW app include Digital Key Plus, remote services and real-time traffic information.

Driver assistance systems include a 360-degree surround view for parking assistant, reversing assistant, which records and executes the last 200 metres of steering input. Safety suite features Six airbags, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and Cornering Brake Control (CBC).

Through BMW India Financial Services, customers can access BMW SMART Finance, which includes an assured buyback offer of 60 percent after three years or 10,000 km. Financing packages for service, secure advance and extended warranties are also available.

Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, “The new BMW X6 M60i xDrive is an absolute powerhouse engineered to command the road with an unmistakable, muscular stance. Positioned at the pinnacle of expressive luxury, this sports activity coupé is crafted for individuals who demand a distinct lifestyle. At its heart lies the legendary V8 engine, offering raw, emotional power.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Renault India has introduced four variants to its Kiger SUV range, updating the model’s powertrain and trim options. The changes include the addition of an Evolution+ variant and an expanded selection of turbo-powered models.

The French automaker has added the Evolution+ trim across its naturally aspirated (manual and AMT) and turbo (manual) engines. Features included in this variant comprise a keyless entry and start system, driver seat height adjustment, smartphone replication, automatic climate control and fabric upholstery.

Additionally, Renault has expanded its turbo-powered range from three to five options by offering the Techno trim with a 5-speed manual transmission. The naturally aspirated range has increased from six to eight variants.

With these updates, the Kiger turbo-powered line-up now starts at INR 789,000 (ex-showroom). The base price for the Evolution+ variant is INR 699,000 (ex-showroom).

Francisco Hidalgo, VP – Sales and Marketing, Renault India, said, “At Renault, our focus has always been on making innovation and mobility more accessible to customers. With the New Kiger range, we are taking this commitment further by bringing turbo performance, premium features, and greater choice within easier reach. As customer expectations continue to evolve, accessibility today goes beyond price—it is about enabling a more complete and rewarding ownership experience. This update reflects our effort to democratise features and technologies that matter most, while staying true to Kiger’s core promise of performance.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Stellantis-owned Citroen India has introduced the Aircross Comfort Edition, a limited-run series starting at INR 909,000 (ex-showroom). The launch coincides with the brand’s 108th-anniversary celebrations and aims to provide premium features and comfort-oriented upgrades across all trim levels.

A standout inclusion in this edition is the standardisation of premium leatherette interiors across all Comfort Edition trims, a move the company describes as a segment-first. Other ergonomic improvements include adjustable headrests for both front and rear seats, as well as refined interior finishes with soft-touch materials.

Citroen has introduced a structured accessory pack strategy to allow customers to personalise their vehicles.

YOU Pack (INR 36,600): Includes soft-touch IP, fog lamps, a 10-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reverse camera with guidelines and door cladding with chrome inserts.

PLUS Pack (INR 8,460): Adds a reverse camera with guidelines, a wireless charger, and door cladding with chrome inserts.

MAX Pack (INR 40,000): Focuses on technology and audio, featuring a JBL speaker system with an amplifier and an advanced front, cabin and rear dashcam with predictive safety alerts (e.g., front collision, lane change and pedestrian detection).

Kumar Priyesh, Business Head & Director – Automotive Brands, Stellantis India, said, “At Citroen, comfort is at the heart of our product philosophy. We have been closely listening to our customers, who are increasingly seeking more features, enhanced comfort, and a premium in-cabin experience at value-driven price points. The Aircross Comfort Edition is a direct response to this evolving demand.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!