Commissioned by Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa, the bespoke Phantom Oribe is the collaboration between Rolls-Royce and Hermes. Built at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex, and Hermes in Paris, the Phantom Oribe, as requested by the client, reflects a 'Land Jet' bringing the sense of exclusivity of private air travel to the road.

The exterior of the Phantom is finished in a two-tone MZ Oribe Green and cream reflecting the colours in the clients antique Japanese Oribe ware collection. The Oribe Green is a bespoke creation for the client that Rolls-Royce has now approved to be used on the client's private jet that the Phantom will be paired with.

The exterior and interior of the Phantom Oribe have been designed and handcrafted together by bespoke specialists from Rolls-Royce and Hermes, using materials, techniques and know-how from both houses.

All touchpoints on the inside, including the steering wheel, duchess handles, gear selector and the rotary controls for the car's climate settings along with less visible surfaces like the glove compartment and luggage compartment lining, centre console, decanter stowage compartment and Champagne cooler, are finished in Hermes Enea Green leather.

The headrest cushions and calf support of the rear seats are finished in delicate Hermes piping's while Seashell White accents and matching lambswool floor mats bring airiness to the cabin. Bespoke Rolls-Royce craftsmanship is visible in the wooden speaker frets formed by meticulously perforating the Open Pore Royal Walnut veneer applied to the doors, creating a seamless textured aesthetic and delicate haptics. In another first for Rolls-Royce, the interior features Hermes 'Toile H' canvas on the door armrests, centre, rear consoles and the signature headliner.

One can see signs of the truly collaborative nature of the project in the Habillé par Hermès Paris embossment on the glove compartment lid and Rolls-Royce incorporation of Pierre Péron's artwork commissioned by Hermes for the Phantom's Gallery that runs the length of the car's facia.

Talking about the collaboration, Michael Bryden, Lead Designer, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective, said, "This unique Phantom is a fusion of East and West, ancient and modern, serenity and exhilaration. It was a great creative and cultural exchange working with Hermès; we learned a great deal from each other. It is always a pleasure when a client brings us a bold, clear and imaginative vision, and a great thrill to see it realised so perfectly."

Axel de Beaufort, Design and Engineering Director, Hermes Bespoke Division, added, "We are really delighted to see this bespoke car come to life after a remarkable journey of creation and craftsmanship conducted hand in hand with both of our houses. We are proud to have contributed to creating a unique and contemporary expression of our client's vision, thanks to our spirit of innovation, the quality of our materials and the know-how of our craftsmen, who have developed, amongst other things, unique stitching and upholstery techniques for the interior of the car and a hand painting technique for a bespoke gallery. It has been a real pleasure to work alongside the Rolls-Royce experts and to see how this car expresses all the values that Hermès cherishes every day." (MT)

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Maruti Suzuki India is commemorating 10 years of the Nexa brand with the launch of the Grand Vitara Phantom Blaq Edition. The vehicle is finished in an exclusive Matte Black colour.

The Grand Vitara Phantom Blaq Edition is available in the Strong Hybrid Alpha+ variant, which features matte black finish on the exterior and all-black with perforated faux leather upholstery and champagne gold accents on the interior.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “As we celebrate a decade of Nexa, the Grand Vitara Phantom Blaq Edition reflects our ongoing commitment to inspire customers with specially curated innovations. This Limited Edition captures the essence of indulgence, offering an SUV that not only performs exceptionally but also aligns perfectly with the refined lifestyles of our discerning buyers. Since its debut, the Grand Vitara has garnered an exceptional response, achieving the milestone of 300,000 sales in just 32 months, setting a new benchmark in the mid-size SUV segment in India. This success is driven by its versatile powertrain portfolio, offering customers the choice of Strong Hybrid, Allgrip Select, and S-CNG powertrain options, catering to diverse customer needs. The exclusive new Grand Vitara Phantom Blaq is set to elevate its desirability further.”

The Grand Vitara Phantom Blaq Edition has a panoramic sunroof and ventilated front seats with perforated faux leather. It features a 22.86cm (9-inch) SmartPlay Pro+ infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as a Clarion sound system. A 360-degree camera, Head-Up Display and wireless charging dock are also included. The vehicle uses Suzuki Connect for car capabilities.

Safety features on the Grand Vitara include 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Hill Hold Control, and reverse parking sensors.

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Stellantis-owned Citroen India has announced the launch of its ‘Citroen 2.0 – Shift Into the New’ strategy, aimed at strengthening its position as an accessible mobility brand in the country. The plan focuses on enhanced customer satisfaction, product innovation and a significant expansion of its network across India.

The initiative includes upgrades to the C3, Aircross and Basalt Coupe SUV, with improvements in design, in-cabin technology and comfort. Developed on the global C-Cubed platform with up to 98 percent localisation, the refreshed portfolio is tailored to Indian driving conditions.

Shailesh Hazela, CEO & MD, Stellantis India, said, “India represents one of the most exciting and demanding opportunities for Stellantis globally and our Citroen 2.0 – Shift Into the New strategic plan is a decisive step forward in our commitment to India. We’re aligning closer than ever with Indian customers through locally engineered products, deeper network reach, and a relentless focus on quality and customer centricity. This is not about quick wins – it’s about sustainable growth, built on trust and long-term value. With high localisation, strong after-sales systems, newer ways of customer engagement and a sharp understanding of evolving expectations, we’re here to grow with India and for India.”

Since entering the market in 2021 with 10 showrooms, Citroen has grown to over 80 customer touchpoints, with plans to double the number by the end of this year. The expansion will prioritise Tier II, III and IV markets, supported by a digital service model offering transparent pricing and real-time tracking.

The company has invested over INR 53 billion in manufacturing, product platforms and localisation, with further investments planned in EVs, ICE platforms and supply chain localisation. The strategic plan will be introduced with a teaser featuring cricket legend MS Dhoni as brand ambassador.

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South Korean auto major Hyundai Motor Company and American automaker General Motors have joined forces to develop five new vehicles, including four for Central and South America and one for the North American market. The partnership aims to leverage the companies' combined scale to bring new models to customers faster and at a lower cost.

The collaboration will produce a compact SUV, car, and two different pickup trucks for Central and South American markets. These vehicles will be flexible, offering both traditional internal combustion engines and hybrid options. For North America, the companies will co-develop an electric commercial van.

The new vehicles are slated to launch starting in 2028. GM will take the lead on developing the mid-size truck platform, while Hyundai will spearhead the compact vehicle and electric van projects. While the vehicles will share platforms, each company will design unique interiors and exteriors to reflect its own brand.

This strategic collaboration is expected to produce more than 800,000 vehicles annually once production is fully scaled. The companies also plan to explore joint sourcing for materials and logistics, and are committed to sustainable manufacturing, including the use of low-carbon emissions steel.

Jose Munoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company, said, “Hyundai’s strategic collaboration with GM will help us continue to deliver value and choice to our customers across multiple vehicle segments and markets. Our combined scale in North and South America helps us to more efficiently provide our customers more of what they want – beautifully designed, high-quality, safety focused vehicles with technology they appreciate.”

Shilpan Amin, GM's Senior Vice-President and Global Chief Procurement and Supply Chain Officer, said, “By partnering together, GM and Hyundai will bring more choice to our customers faster, and at lower cost. These first co-developed vehicles clearly demonstrate how GM and Hyundai will leverage our complementary strengths and combined scale.”

The partnership, which was announced in September 2024, is still exploring other potential joint ventures, including collaboration on additional vehicle programs and propulsion systems like hydrogen fuel cell technology.

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CUPRA has introduced new Shadow Edition variants for its Leon and Leon Estate models in the UK, featuring bold dark styling accents that amplify the brand's sporty aesthetic. Based on the V3 trim, these editions come equipped with premium features such as leather upholstery, advanced driver aids and Dynamic Chassis Control.

The exterior showcases 19-inch matte black alloy wheels, black side skirts and a sleek roof spoiler, complemented by advanced CUPRA Matrix LED ULTRA headlights for superior nighttime visibility. Buyers can opt for the IMMERSIVE by Sennheiser sound system, which includes a 10-speaker setup with a subwoofer for an enhanced audio experience.

Additional upgrades like a panoramic sunroof, towbar, and various paint options are also available. Starting at GBP 36,770, the Shadow Edition is now open for orders in the UK.

Marcus Gossen, Managing Director of SEAT and CUPRA UK, said, “The launch of the Shadow Edition in the UK is a big step forward in the design journey of the CUPRA Leon. The Leon is the flagship hatchback of the brand and remains a disruptor and a style-leading icon in the market. The new features of the Shadow Edition combine striking design and leading technology to ensure that the Leon continues to be a popular choice for drivers.”

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