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

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Czech automaker Skoda Auto has announced a significant milestone as the five millionth Fabia rolled off the production line at its main plant in Mlada Boleslav. This achievement the company shared underscores the enduring popularity and crucial role of the affordable entry-level model, standing alongside the Octavia as a key pillar of the brand since 1999.

The first-generation Fabia, built on a completely new Volkswagen Group platform, quickly established itself as a leader in its segment, offering exceptional space, practicality and value for money, coupled with Skoda's signature ‘Simply Clever’ features.

The current, fourth-generation Fabia continues this legacy with modern, fuel-efficient combustion engines and advanced safety systems. Demonstrating its sustained importance to Skoda's strategy, the company has confirmed that production of the popular hatchback will continue beyond 2030.

Andreas Dick, Skoda Auto Board Member for Production and Logistics, said, “Reaching the milestone of five million Skoda Fabia vehicles is truly an exceptional achievement – both for our production team and for the company as a whole. First introduced in 1999 as the second entirely new model developed under the umbrella of the Volkswagen Group, the Fabia quickly became a symbol of the brand and a cornerstone of our line-up. As Skoda’s entry-level model, it remains to this day synonymous with high-quality cars ‘Made in the Czech Republic’. Given the continued success of the current fourth generation – a practical, efficient vehicle packed with modern technology and a wide range of safety features – we will continue producing the Fabia beyond 2030.”

The Skoda Fabia has consistently ranked among the brand's top-selling models. In 2024 alone, it was Skoda’s third most popular vehicle globally, with 117,100 units delivered. The original Fabia, unveiled at the 1999 Frankfurt Motor Show as the successor to the Felicia, was built on an entirely new platform and offered a diverse range of engines, transmissions and body styles. Over the years, it has been instrumental in expanding Skoda's presence across European markets.

Beyond its commercial success, the Fabia name has become deeply ingrained in motorsport history. The Fabia Rally2, Fabia Rally2 evo, and the current Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 are celebrated as some of the most successful rally cars in their respective categories.

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Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicles manufacturers in the country, has announced its financial results for FY2025.

The company reported revenue of INR 691 billion for FY2025, which was flat as compared to INR 698 billion last year. The EBITDA came at INR 89.53 billion, down 2 percent as compared to INR 91.32 billion last year. The profit after tax  came at INR 56 billion, down 7 percent YoY.

For Q4 FY2025, the revenue grew by 2 percent at INR 179 billion, as against INR 176 billion last year. The EBITDA was flat at INR 25.32 billion, as compared to INR 25.21 billion for the same period last year, while EBITDA came at 14.1 percent and net profit at INR 16.14 billion, down 4 percent YoY.

The company stated that despite a turbulent market situation, it was able to sustain growth with SUVs now contributing almost 68.5 percent of its total sales across urban and rural markets. The Hyundai Creta continued to hold over 30 percent market share in the mid-size segment.

Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India, said, “FY2025 business performance demonstrates our ability to navigate the tides by responding quickly to the ever-changing customer aspirations. Launch of products like Creta Electric and Alcazar FL along with seamless product refreshments across segments helped us in maintaining our competitive edge. Hyundai’s strong brand presence in key global emerging markets enabled us to endure headwinds and sustain export volumes during the year. The year gone by signifies our resilience in the financial performance by way of sustained revenues and healthy operating margins attributable to improved realisation and cost control measures.”

Amidst macroeconomic headwinds, the automaker stated its domestic strategy centered around premiumisation and the surging popularity of SUVs. The company’s focus on advanced safety and comfort features, like ADAS and sunroofs, is part of its ongoing effort to meet evolving consumer aspirations.

On the exports front, Kim stated that “We aspire to become Hyundai’s largest export hub outside South Korea. For FY2026, we anticipate the growth in export volumes to be around 7 to 8 percent, supported by robust demand for our products in the emerging markets.”

As part of its long-term strategy, Hyundai Motor India is investing in expanding manufacturing capacity and preparing for the future of mobility. “FY2026 will mark a significant milestone in our growth journey, with the commencement of our third plant at Talegaon. Designed with flexibility at its core, the facility will be capable of producing both internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicles, enabling us to respond dynamically to market demand.”

“We also intend to deepen our localized supplier network by adopting an indigenisation strategy at the Pune plant, further reinforcing our ‘Make in India’ vision,” said Kim.

The company has also outlined an aggressive roadmap with 26 product launches planned by FY2030 – including 20 ICE, 6 EVs and new hybrid technologies.

On the other hand, he mentioned a cautious, optimistic outlook for domestic demand in near term amid prevailing macro-turbulences and weakening customer sentiments.

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Citroen India, part of Europe’s Stellantis brand, has introduced CNG retrofit kit for the Citroen C3 hatchback in the country.

The C3 CNG will now be available across Citroen dealerships with a certified retrofitment programme at INR 93,000, which will enable customers to lower the vehicle running costs and emissions, while still benefitting from C3’s signature comfort, performance and design.

The factory-tested CNG kit offers a claimed mileage of up to 28.1 km per kg and a running cost of INR 2.66 per km. It is engineered exclusively for Citroen C3 1.2 NA variants (Live, Feel, Feel (O) & Shine) and comes with a 3-year/100,000 km vehicle warranty.

Citroen states that the CNG system is integrated without compromising the boot space, and the spare wheel remains accessible. The CNG nozzle also gets integrated within the petrol filler port, ensuring ease of access during refueling.

Kumar Priyesh, Business Head & Director - Automotive Brands, Stellantis India, said, “We are pleased to introduce the CNG retrofitment option for the Citroen C3, reinforcing our commitment to provide accessible, economical, and eco-conscious mobility solutions. This initiative will enable our customers to experience Citroen comfort and design while benefitting from the cost-efficiency and environmental advantages of CNG. As CNG infrastructure rapidly expands across India – with more than 7,400 stations expected nationwide by FY2025 – Citroen India is proud to offer solutions aligned with the country's evolving fuel ecosystem and environmental goals.”

Shishir Mishra, Business Head & Director - Strategic Partnerships & Institutional Business, Stellantis India, added, “The CNG-enabled C3 is a strategic step forward for institutional customers, especially fleet operators, ride-share drivers, and last-mile mobility providers who value operational savings without compromising on quality and reliability. With Citroën’s comfort DNA and dual fuel flexibility, this variant is tailor-made for high-usage applications.”

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Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has announced its aggressive recovery strategy ‘Re:Nissan’, which aims for JPY 500 billion in total cost savings and a return to profitability by fiscal year 2026. The plan, led by new management, includes a sharp focus on cost reduction, manufacturing efficiency and a redefined global product and market strategy.

The urgency of the Re:Nissan plan follows a difficult fiscal year 2024, in which global sales stagnated at 3.346 million units amid intense competition. Consolidated net revenue stood at JPY 12.63 trillion, while operating profit plunged to JPY 69.8 billion – an operating margin of just 0.6 percent. The company reported a net loss of JPY 670.9 billion, with both free cash flow and operating profit in the automotive business turning negative. Compared to FY2023, operating profit dropped by JPY 498.9 billion, underscoring the scale of the turnaround challenge.

Going forward, the company is targeting JPY 250 billion in variable cost reductions through engineering efficiencies and supplier consolidation, alongside another JPY 250 billion in fixed cost cuts by FY2026.

Nissan will reduce its global vehicle plants from 17 to 10 by FY2027, along with cancelling a planned LFP battery plant in Kyushu and streamline powertrain operations.

The automaker also plans to cut 20,000 jobs globally by FY2027, including 9,000 already announced, covering manufacturing, R&D and SG&A functions.

By cutting parts complexity by 70 percent and halving vehicle platforms to 7 by 2035, Nissan aims to slash development lead times. Upcoming models include the all-new Skyline and INFINITI compact SUV.

Nissan will focus on key markets – U.S., Japan, China, Europe, Middle East and Mexico – with localised product approaches. For instance, in the U.S., the company will expand its hybrid lineup and refresh the INFINITI brand.

The Japanese automaker will also deepen alliances with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors and pursue ongoing collaboration with Honda Motor Co in electrification and vehicle intelligence.

Ivan Espinosa, CEO, Nissan Motor Co, said, "In the face of challenging FY24 performance and rising variable costs, compounded by an uncertain environment, we must prioritise self-improvement with greater urgency and speed, aiming for profitability that relies less on volume. As new management, we are taking a prudent approach to reassess our targets and actively seek every possible opportunity to implement and ensure a robust recovery. Re:Nissan is an action-based recovery plan clearly outlines what we need to do now. All employees are committed to working together as a team to implement this plan, with the goal of returning to profitability by fiscal year 2026.”

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