To recognize the outstanding work and commitment of its sales and service teams, Bugatti has announced the most successful partners of the past year. The Sales Excellence and Service Excellence programs recognize teams and individuals who provide outstanding service that is true to the Bugatti brand. With almost 1000 vehicles delivered worldwide, service and maintenance have become an important focus for the brand. Customer service is a central part of Bugatti's efforts to maintain unparalleled standards.

Three large regions

To recognize the best service partners, Bugatti presented three regional Service Excellence Awards - one for North America, one for Europe and a third for the Middle East and Asia. In addition, a global title was awarded to the partner with the most outstanding performance worldwide, selected from the three regional winners. While Bugatti Zurich received the title of Regional Best Performing Service Partner in Europe, Bugatti Broward for North America and Bugatti Dubai for the Middle East and Asia were also honored with the awards.

Best service partner

In addition, Bugatti Zurich was named Bugatti Global Service Partner of the Year for the second time in a row. For Eligio Camiña, Aftersales and Brand Manager of Bugatti Zurich, this award means a lot: "It is an honor to have been chosen as the best Bugatti Service Partner worldwide. We are very proud to be part of Bugatti's global network. This award is recognition of the hard work of the team here, but we will continue to strive to provide the best possible service to our loyal customers." Also

Schmohl's Managing Director Roderick Pike is delighted with the development and thanks the team: "At Schmohl, we do our best for our partners and customers every day. Our team is fully committed to making quality and customer service a top priority."

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The start of the 2024 Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup season could not have turned out better. In perfect weather, numerous spectators followed the thrilling racing action at the Frauenfeld Auto-Renntage - and thus also the first double round of this year's Suzuki Slalom one-make cup, which is being held with the Swift Sport Hybrid. The start to the new season could not have gone better for last year's Cup winner Sandro Fehr. He took victory in both races and leaves Frauenfeld with full points. Second and third place were also equally distributed in both races. They went to Patrick Flammer and Rico Thomann.

Strong newcomer

The start of the new season was also the premiere for Gregory Kresta. He had to familiarize himself with motorsport, his Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid and the racing format. Although he finished 14th and therefore last in both races, he can still be satisfied with his performance. Without any previous racing experience, the newcomer immediately found his way into a field of experienced drivers. He improved by around three seconds from the first to the second race, showing that he has a lot of potential. It will be interesting to see how he develops as the season progresses.

Continuation in Bière

The riders now have to process the knowledge gained in Frauenfeld and draw the right conclusions. After all, the Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup 2024 is already going from strength to strength at the start of the season. The championship will continue next weekend on May 4/5 as part of the traditional Bière slalom. The extensive slalom course on the army's military range demands full concentration and maximum precision from the drivers. Once again, two races will be held there. For Sandro Fehr, the aim is to extend the lead he gained in Frauenfeld. No easy task in the highly competitive field of the Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup, in which all participants drive identical cars.

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At Auto China, Nissan presented four concept vehicles, New Energy Vehicles (NEV), which were developed in collaboration with partner Dongfeng. The car manufacturer is also presenting a wide range of electrified models at the show, which underline the company's current developments and future direction. In addition to the four concept vehicles, a further NEV was announced in Beijing. This means that five new models are to be launched on the Chinese market by the 2026 financial year. "For sustainable growth in the rapidly changing market, Nissan is pursuing a strategy tailored to China, which we announced in our corporate plan The Arc," said Makoto Uchida, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nissan.

EV for city and travel

The Nissan Epoch Concept is an electric sedan for city and suburban dwellers. The concept vehicle features an AI-supported Internet of Things. A personal virtual assistant makes life more comfortable through communication that recognizes and interprets emotions. The SUV Epic Concept is suitable for adventure-seekers who go exploring at the weekend. It can drive autonomously both in the city and on the highway and can also be used as a mobile energy source.

PHEV as a second home

The plug-in hybrid SUV Era Concept suits an urban lifestyle and is ideal for young business people who use their car as a second home. With a networked entertainment system and zero-gravity seats, the combination of all-wheel drive system and active air suspension provides a comfortable and safe driving experience. The Evo Concept model is ideal for special moments and weekend trips with the whole family. In addition to the driving assistance and safety functions, the AI-supported virtual personal assistant supports drivers.

The Nissan Hyper Force and Nissan Hyper Punk concept models, which were first shown at the Japan Mobility Show in October 2023, can be seen for the first time in China at the Beijing Auto Show.

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The up to 32 racing cars in the Supercup will run exclusively on e-fuels at each of the eight racing events in Europe. With this project, Porsche wants to set an example on the way to a low carbon footprint.₂-neutral motorsport and play a pioneering role here. The raw fuel comes from the Haru Oni pilot plant in Chile and is made ready for use through blending. The final product enables a potentially almost CO₂-neutral operation of the 911 GT3 Cup cars that make up the field.

Next stage of development

A bio-based, semi-synthetic fuel mixture has already been used in the sports car manufacturer's top one-make cup series in the three previous years. Now Porsche is systematically taking the next step. The racing cars, which unlike production cars are equipped with manually programmed control units, are fitted with an adapted program.

50,000 liters per season

The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup kicks off with the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola on May 19, and the finale takes place in Monza on September 1. Over the course of the season, the fuel requirement for the up to 32 Cup cars adds up to around 50,000 liters.

Michael Steiner (center gallery), Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG: "In the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, the new fuel is used under the toughest conditions. In order to slow down global warming, carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced - this also applies to motorsport."

With development partners

Thanks to the use of renewable energy, e-fuels are produced from renewable hydrogen and carbon dioxide from the air. This first produces e-methanol, which is then converted into synthetic petrol in a further step. The Haru Oni project in Patagonia obtains the energy for this process from wind power. This is available there in abundance and at low cost. The carbon dioxide currently still comes from a biogenic source. In future, however, it is to be extracted directly from the atmosphere in an environmentally friendly way. Porsche is working on a production plant together with the Volkswagen Group, its e-fuel partner HIF Global and MAN Energy Solutions.

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For many classic car enthusiasts, the Giulietta Sprint from Alfa Romeo is one of the most beautiful production coupés of all time. Now it is celebrating its 70th birthday. The world premiere caused a sensation at the Turin Motor Show in April 1954, with Alfa Romeo recording around 2000 orders in the first few days of the show.
Another spectacular event took place shortly before the market launch. Above the Alfa Romeo plant in the Portello district of Milan, the production site of the "little Giulia", the Giulietta, two actors jumped out of a helicopter in front of a large audience. They were dressed as Romeo and Juliet from William Shakespeare's play of the same name.

With Giulietta Masina
The Giulietta was the first Alfa Romeo model to bear a female name. It took the hearts of fans by storm and became a symbol of the economic upswing.
The number of units produced reached six figures - for the first time in Alfa Romeo's history. When the 100,000th Giulietta rolled off the production line at the Portello plant, Giulietta Masina, the actress and muse of director Federico Fellini, celebrated the historic moment with the workers and company management.

Big celebration in Milan
To mark the 70th birthday of the Giulietta, the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo is presenting its own logo. On June 2, the museum invites all fans of the brand to the official birthday celebrations. Part of the event will be the opening of the special exhibition "Giulietta, Fidanzata d'Italia", which has been realized together with the Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo.
As part of the birthday celebrations at the museum, there will be a parade of Giuliettas from the first model series. This will be followed by a talk on the history of the Giulietta, and later models from the second and third series will also have the opportunity to parade.

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The Suzuki Swift enjoys great popularity worldwide. The small hatchback has already sold more than nine million units. Now the seventh generation is being launched - with a new design, new 12-volt mild hybrid drive and additional assistance and safety systems. The radiator grille with a piano lacquer finish is just as eye-catching as the L-shaped daytime running lights in the LED headlights.
The side view of the Swift impresses with a striking shoulder line and muscular contours. The trapezoidal rear end with three-dimensional tail lights and a wide bumper give the car a dynamic appearance. Customers can choose from nine 1-color and four 2-color paint finishes.

Assistance and safety systems
In the cockpit, all controls are arranged around the driver so that they are within easy reach. The two-tone dashboard in black and light gray extends into the doors, creating visual width and a dynamic look.

Radar and camera detect other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians in front of the vehicle, thus preventing collisions. If the driver brakes with insufficient force, the brake assistant increases the deceleration. In extreme cases, the system can initiate emergency braking to reduce impact forces and limit the consequences of an accident. Other systems include lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and the eCall emergency call system.

New 12-volt mild hybrid system
The new 1.2-liter three-cylinder petrol engine has a maximum output of 82 hp. The high thermal efficiency of up to 40 percent and the low vehicle weight of around 950 kilograms (2WD) or around 1000 kilograms (4WD) ensure low fuel consumption. The engine is supported by a 12-volt mild hybrid system with integrated starter-generator (ISG). Power is transmitted either via a 5-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable automatic transmission. The optional Allgrip Auto all-wheel drive system engages automatically via a viscous coupling if a loss of traction is detected on the front axle. The new Swift is available immediately from CHF 19,990.

suzuki.ch

Auto China 2024 set new standards in the automotive industry by showcasing innovative technologies and pioneering concepts. Among the numerous exhibitors were well-known manufacturers such as Tesla, BMW, and local giants such as BYD, Dongfeng, GAC and NIO, who presented their latest electric vehicles and autonomous driving models.

Focus on e-mobility and sustainability

The trade fair underlined the growing importance of electromobility and sustainability. Particularly impressive was the presentation of NIO's latest model, which is equipped with revolutionary battery swapping technology that drastically reduces charging times. Tesla attracted attention with the launch of its new model, which offers an impressive range and improved autonomous driving features. Xiaomi has achieved impressive manufacturing efficiency at its "Super Factory" in Beijing, with the ability to produce a new SU7 vehicle every 76 seconds (video below).

Technological breakthroughs and collaborations

Another highlight was the unveiling of the first fully autonomous vehicle series of Baidu AI cars, developed in collaboration with various Chinese car manufacturers. These vehicles can navigate completely without human intervention, making them one of the most exciting offerings at the fair.

Luxury and performance

The luxury sector was not neglected either. BMW unveiled a new line of its i8 series, featuring impressive design innovations and advanced hybrid technology. The symbiosis of luxury and performance attracted many admirers.

Innovation forum and specialist discussions

In addition to the vehicle presentations, Auto China 2024 also offered an extensive program of forums and specialist discussions in which experts spoke about the future of mobility, the challenges of implementing e-mobility and the latest advances in vehicle technology.

autoshowschina.com

Felix Hirsiger got the racing season off to a brilliant start by dominating both rounds of the GT3 Cup. Despite strong competition from Dylan Yip and constant pressure during qualifying, Hirsiger demonstrated outstanding skills in his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. "It's fantastic to start the season like this," said Hirsiger after the race. "Every racing driver dreams of dominating the Red Bull Ring, and today was the day for me."

Young talents in the fast lane

Ekaterina Lüscher, a 17-year-old up-and-coming driver, stole the show in the GT4 Clubsport race. She fought her way up from a mid-position on the grid to third place and impressed the crowd and the experts.

Richard Feller, Head of the Porsche Sports Cup Suisse, praised her performance: "Ekaterina's performance today shows that our junior program is bearing fruit. Her learning curve is impressive and we are excited to see what the future holds."

Successful start to the season

In the Open GT group, experienced drivers shone with the 911 GT3 R cars and ensured exciting races. Philippe Menotti and Jörg Dreisow shared the victories in their respective categories, while Andreas Marti and Philipp Müller triumphed in the Porsche Drivers Competition Suisse.

Preview of the next event

The Porsche Sports Cup Suisse will continue its exciting season in Monza, where the drivers will once again be able to put their skill and speed to the test. Fans and participants can expect a top-class motorsport weekend that continues to keep the Porsche spirit alive.

With a successful weekend behind it, the Porsche Sports Cup Suisse is optimistic about the upcoming events. The mixture of experienced racing professionals and promising talents promises a season full of highlights and unforgettable moments.

porsche.ch

Rarely have so many spectators made their way to the Grosse Allmend in Frauenfeld to watch the racing action live and free of charge. The attractive supporting program with historic racing cars on and off the track and the food truck festival, which was staged for the first time and provided the public with plenty of culinary delights, probably also contributed to this.

Large starting fields

More than 300 drivers, divided into eleven fields, took part in the event, which was perfectly organized by the ACS Thurgau section. For the first time this year, points were at stake for the Swiss Slalom Championship and other racing series. Race director Alex Maag drew a positive balance afterwards: "We had a very tough Saturday with a long delay in the schedule, which is not unusual for the first race of the season. But we did everything right on Sunday by finishing the race almost an hour early. We were not only pleased with the accident-free race, but also with the huge crowd. It was the best advertisement for motorsport."

Permanent winner Egli

Philip Egli once again emerged as the day's winner on the 3.2-kilometer course in his Dallara racing car. In ideal conditions, he was the first driver ever to break the two-minute barrier with a time of 1:58.52 in the second practice run. Although Egli did not quite reach this fabulous time afterwards, the Glarus native from Zurich was still able to celebrate his ninth victory since 2015 with 1:58.96 and 1:58.87 as the new official track record. "That was a perfect start to the season. It doesn't get much better than that, because the times were pretty close together," said a delighted Philip Egli. After the withdrawal of two strong class rivals, Lukas Eugster on a Ligier Honda became Egli's only serious opponent. In the first race, the driver from St. Gallen incurred a time penalty, after which he had to complete a safe second run. With a gap of 2.36 seconds, he finished second overall in his open sports car, just like last year. Third place was secured by Lionel Ryter from Valais in a Tatuus Renault.

Local heroes

The drivers from Thurgau came up trumps. With two fantastic running times, Matthias Bischofberger from Wängi, who is only 19 years old, secured overall victory in the closed racing cars category in his home race in a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup. Stephan Burri from Affeltrangen came out on top in Group IS with his VW Scirocco. Manuel Santonastaso from Müllheim took second place in the class up to two liters displacement won by Burri, and Christoph Zwahlen from Pfyn took third place in the E1 group over three liters in his Porsche GT3 Cup.

The riders with an LOC license completed their races on Saturday. In the Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup, Sandro Fehr from Rorschacherberg won both championship races ahead of Patrick Flammer from Glarus and Rico Thomann from Winterthur. The fastest driver of the day was Dino Wintsch from Hombrechtikon in a Lotus Exige 430 Cup. All rankings can be found on the ACS Thurgau homepage.

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Behind the historic brick walls of the former alcohol depot in Romanshorn are the holy of holies: racing cars, road cars, limousines from the past that make car enthusiasts dream.
The twelve-sided polygon houses the world's only Formula 1 exhibition of the Swiss brand Sauber - the prima donna of Swiss motorsport. The autobau erlebniswelt is an oasis of well-being surrounded by beautiful cars. The terrace with a view of the race track invites you to linger, and you can also celebrate in the rooms of the listed industrial building. The location is particularly suitable for company events, customer events, weddings, birthday parties and celebrations of all kinds.

New visitor record
The management of autobau erlebniswelt can look back on a successful year with 23,000 visitors. This represents an increase of 21 percent compared to the previous year. The guided 90-minute tour through the collection of more than 120 breathtaking vehicles was booked 350 times.
Fredy Lienhard, owner and Chairman of the Board of Directors, is also pleased with the result: "I am extremely pleased that the geographical radius of visitors is growing and that the unique collection is inspiring so many people." The website and image flyer are now also available in English in response to this new reality.

Tiny Great Cars
From May 30 to August 31, the erlebniswelt will be enriched with ADO-16 models. Christian Rutishauser, architect, entrepreneur and collector of ADO-16 vehicles, will be responsible for staging the special exhibition. The kaleidoscope of models from the 60s and 70s of the last century also spans the arc into the future. The Tiny Cars could hardly be more up-to-date. They are analog and affordable - a rolling "gateway drug" for classic car fans and those who want to become one.

autobau.ch