At an auction, the Chiron Profilée set a new record as the most valuable new car ever sold at auction. The one-off is the last Bugatti with the legendary W16 engine that customers were able to buy new. This makes the Chiron Profilée a piece of automotive history and one of 81 Bugatti vehicles delivered by the Atelier last year.

Golden Era with 45 hand sketches
Bugatti unveiled one of the most ambitious Sur-Mesure projects at Monterey Car Week: the Chiron Super Sport Golden Era. This model internalizes Bugatti's heritage with 45 sketches drawn by hand on the bodywork. The car is the result of two years of bespoke craftsmanship with new techniques that elevate it from the world of the automobile to the world of pure art. Over the course of the year, other Sur-Mesure projects such as the 57 One of One also showed personalization possibilities.

Experience over 400 km/h once
Another prime example of a specially tailored customer experience is the 400 Drive that Bugatti organized for a small group of customers. The brand invited its customers to the opportunity to drive their own Bugatti hyper sports car on the same tarmac where the space shuttle once landed - at more than 400 km/h. This is one of the rare opportunities for customers to reach speeds in a vehicle that few others have reached before.

Molsheim remains the heart of Bugatti
By 2026, Bugatti and its partner network will have delivered more than 1200 hyper sports cars to customers around the world, making service and maintenance a key focus for the brand. Bugatti therefore emphasizes the importance of continuously developing its after-sales offering to ensure that every single step of owning a Bugatti is unparalleled.

bugatti.com

As the first Porsche model on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE), the new Macan is a completely new development. Ten years after its market launch, it will soon be rolling out as a fully electric model in its second generation. The effort put into development and testing is correspondingly high. The testing process, in which all components and systems are perfectly coordinated, is correspondingly complex. Real testing with camouflaged prototypes is of great importance to Porsche. At the same time, simulations in the virtual world and in the wind tunnel are becoming ever more precise and increasingly important.

Maintaining the product identity
Jörg Kerner, head of the model range: "When we develop a new model, it's all about driving dynamics and precision, of course. That is in our DNA. But it's also always about efficiency and design. One challenge was to maintain the product identity of the successful Macan model while at the same time meeting the aerodynamic requirements to ensure high efficiency and therefore a long range."

When cruising on the country road, the Macan adopts its ideal streamline. The rear spoiler then moves into the eco position, the air flaps close and the chassis level is lowered. Wiegand and his team have calculated a drag coefficient of 0.25 for this situation. This makes the new Macan one of the most aerodynamic SUVs on the market. The range according to WLTP will be more than 500 kilometers for all versions.

Characteristic steering feel
The electric motors draw their energy from a 100-kWh battery, and the 800-volt architecture enables fast charging with up to 270 kW. The charge level can thus be raised from 10 to 80 percent in less than 22 minutes.

Porsche has developed the E-Macan with a strong focus on the driving dynamics typical of the brand and a characteristic steering feel. These core competencies of the sports car manufacturer are a particular focus during testing. In the various test stages, the newly developed components must be coordinated with one another and their operational stability and functionality must be ensured in interaction with one another

Overboost power of 450 kW
Porsche relies exclusively on permanently excited synchronous motors on the front and rear axles. They enable a total overboost output of more than 450 kW, achieve a high level of efficiency and ensure optimum reproducibility of the power output. The electronically controlled Traction Management manages the distribution of the maximum torque of more than 1000 Nm available with Launch Control. For an adequate range between sportiness and comfort, the engineers rely on Active Suspension Management with two-valve dampers, air suspension, rear axle transverse lock and, for the first time, rear axle steering.

porsche.ch

Nyck de Vries, a former Formula E world champion, is returning to the Formula E field for the new season from F1 team Mahindra Racing. And with eight of the eleven teams featuring driver changes, it is impossible to predict the outcome of the 2024 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix on Saturday. Around 40,000 spectators are expected at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

16 races in ten cities
The new calendar for season 10, which consists of 16 races in ten cities, now includes Tokyo and Misano, while Shanghai is the venue for the return to China. The season will end in London on July 21.

Last year, the Gen3 cars competed for the first time - faster, lighter, more efficient and more powerful than their predecessors. In the field of eleven teams with 22 cars, there were seven different winners in season 9. The vehicles have been further optimized for the new season.

... these teams will start in 2024
Only three of the eleven teams will line up with an unchanged driver line-up. TAG Heuer Porsche with Pascal Wehrlein and António Félix da Costa, DS Penske with Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Éric Vergne, ERT Formula E and Nio 333 Racing with Dan Ticktum and Sergio Setté Câmara respectively. Abt Cupra will line up with Nico Müller (gallery left) and Lucas di Grassi, Andretti with Jake Dennis and Norman Nato, Envision Racing with Sébastien Buemi (gallery right) and Robin Frijns, Jaguar TCS Racing with Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy, Mahindra Racing with Edoardo Mortara and Nyck de Vries, Maserati MSG with Maximilian Günther and Jehan Daruvala, Neom McLaren with Jake Hughes and Sam Bird, Nissan with Sacha Fenestraz and Oliver Rowland.

Things get underway in Mexico City on Friday at 23:25 (Swiss time) with free practice. Saturday's race on the 2.6-kilometer circuit starts at 9 pm.

fiaformulae.com

Mercedes-Benz is presenting a series of digital advances that could massively change the customer experience in the vehicle. The focus is on the new MBUX Virtual Assistant, which uses artificial intelligence and advanced 3D graphics. This makes interactions more intuitive and personal. Together with the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), the MBUX Virtual Assistant paves the way for an exceptional digital experience.

In addition, Mercedes is continuously expanding its app portfolio to bring even more convenience and personalization to the vehicle. This includes MBUX Collectibles, for example. This is the first vehicle app from Mercedes for presenting NFTs such as the limited NXT Superdackel edition. It is a tribute to the brand's appearance at CES last year.

Sounds for podcasts and audio books
This year's CES also provides the stage for the North American premiere of the Concept CLA Class. The study is based on the upcoming Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA). One highlight is the MBUX Sound Drive music experience, which was developed by Mercedes-AMG in collaboration with US entrepreneur will.i.am (see video). In cooperation with Audible and Amazon Music, Mercedes is also taking the sound for spoken content such as podcasts and audio books to a new level.

The new electric drive with 800-volt architecture is intended to make the study a hypermiler. With a consumption of around 12 kWk/100 km, this results in an expected range of more than 750 kilometers. The system allows DC charging with more than 300 kW. There will be a four-door coupé, a shooting brake and two SUVs based on the MMA platform.

Platforms and partnerships
Mercedes-Benz is also announcing new platforms and partnerships at the CES that will expand its gaming offering. The cooperation with the streaming service Antstream Arcade brings cloud gaming into the vehicle. Mercedes also has its own vision for immersive gaming. It will be presented in the current E-Class.

mercedes-benz.ch

ces.tech

In future, customers in all Volkswagen models equipped with the IDA voice assistant will be able to seamlessly access the constantly growing artificial intelligence database and have content read out to them while driving and interact with the car in natural language. This new function is based on the Cerence Chat Pro program from technology partner Cerence Inc. Volkswagen is the first volume manufacturer to offer ChatGPT in series production in the first markets from the second quarter of 2024.

Lots of additional information
The chatbot is offered in conjunction with the latest infotainment generation in the ID.7, ID.5, ID.4, ID.3, Tiguan, Passat and Golf models. The integration of ChatGPT into the backend of the voice assistant offers a wide range of new possibilities that go far beyond the previous voice control. In future, the AI will be able to provide a lot of additional information as part of its constantly growing capabilities.

Kai Grünitz, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at Volkswagen, says: "With the seamless integration of ChatGPT, we are offering drivers added value and direct access to the AI-based research tool. This underlines the innovative power of our new products."

Data protection always guaranteed
Customers can use the IDA voice assistant as usual. There is no need to create a new account, install a new app or activate ChatGPT. The digital assistant is activated by saying "Hello IDA" or pressing the button on the steering wheel. IDA prioritizes whether a function should be executed, a destination searched for or the temperature changed. Only if the request cannot be answered by the VW system is it forwarded anonymously to the AI and the familiar voice responds. ChatGPT does not gain any access to the vehicle data. Questions and answers are deleted immediately to ensure optimum data protection.

volkswagen.ch

ces.tech

The fact that there were also van models under the Kia brand is still little known. They were sold in Europe under the model names Besta and Pregio and were regarded in their segment as inexpensive and unambitious alternatives. However, the Koreans have long since reinvented themselves and positioned themselves significantly higher. The commercial vehicles on a newly developed, all-electric platform called PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle), which Kia has now presented at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), are a perfect match.

Bodywork replacement on a vehicle
The PBV is not an ordinary vehicle platform. Rather, the Koreans want to open up previously unimagined possibilities for modularization with the beautifully designed PBV models. The electric chassis including cockpit remains, but the main body module is interchangeable and not welded. This means that one and the same vehicle can be used as a cab, a van or a large saloon, for example, by changing the bodywork. The mechanical and electromagnetic connections can be quickly detached and reattached. Kia intends to supply the bodies in the form of standardized kits.

Four variants planned for 2025
The first model on the new platform is called the PV 5 and will be launched on the market in four variants - as a basic passenger van, a van for freight, a high-roof version and a chassis with cab. The Robotaxi version, developed together with the supplier Aptiv, will be launched later. This model will be characterized by next-generation autonomous driving functions.

The PV 5 is to be launched in Korea in the course of next year. At the same time, the AI capabilities will be expanded. In a further step, the PV vans will become part of the mobile ecosystem of the future: highly equipped with apps from various providers, fleet management software and other AI elements.

Source: Car-Medienportal.net

kia.ch

ces.tech

Driving remains expensive, but it is not getting more expensive. The persistently high fuel costs, the increase in new car prices, higher interest rates and the high premium costs on existing insurance policies all contribute to the fact that the total cost per kilometer remains high. However, they will fall slightly in 2024 because, on the one hand, the depreciation period will be extended and, on the other, energy consumption will fall thanks to the increasing number of hybrid and electric cars.

If only cars with pure combustion engines were considered, the kilometer costs would be unchanged compared to the previous year. The model car used for the TCS calculation is based on a new price of 41,000 francs. The average annual mileage is 15,000 kilometers. This results in fixed costs of 6488 francs and variable costs of 4240 francs, i.e. a total of 10,728 francs per year, which corresponds to a price per kilometer of 72 centimes. With this calculation, the vehicles are written off after ten years and 150,000 kilometers.

Statistical energy consumption
The fixed costs include fixed costs such as depreciation, interest on capital, road tax, liability insurance, partial casco, ancillary expenses, garage costs and vehicle maintenance. The variable costs are dependent on mileage and include depreciation, fuel costs, tire consumption, servicing and repairs. In the calculation a year ago, the target price for petrol was CHF 2.04, 19 centimes higher than the current average annual price. However, this difference is only one centime less per kilometer, but is offset by the increase in interest on capital. On the other hand, tires have become slightly cheaper on average and the statistical energy consumption has fallen to 5.4 liters of petrol equivalent per 100 kilometers.

Mileage costs on a stick
The USB stick TCS-Kilometerkosten 2024 is a useful tool for company accounts departments and HR departments. It enables the operating costs of several vehicles to be calculated quickly. The stick also contains employment law and tax information regarding company cars and private cars used for business purposes, as well as calculation bases for motorcycles.

tcs.ch

The region around Bologna, Modena and Maranello is also known as the Terra dei Motori - land of engines. The most famous manufacturers in the Italian car industry are based here - for example Lamborghini in the small town of Sant'Agata Bolognese with its 7,000 inhabitants. Where better to celebrate the brand's 60th anniversary and the Huracán's fantastic V10 engine?

World premiere 2014 in Geneva
The Lamborghini Huracan series celebrated its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in 2014. After an eleven-year run, it replaced its predecessor, the Gallardo, which was equipped with a similar V10. To date, the manufacturer has delivered 25,000 units of the Huracán to customers. The model has achieved its highest sales figures in the past two years.

End of production approaching
Until 2019, the Huracán Performante was considered the sharpest derivative in the series. Since then, however, the Italians have added to the range - with the Evo, 2021 with the STO, 2022 with the Tecnica and finally in 2023 with the Sterrato series, which was limited to 1499 units. However, the latter pursued an independent approach with a raised body. The characters of these four models are therefore quite different. Unfortunately, production will now end in a few weeks.

lamborghini.com

In terms of sports policy, the Federal Council, the Federal Office of Sport and Swiss Olympic are calling for an increase in the quotas for women in the various sports associations. Auto Sport Switzerland has just five percent women in car racing and karting. On the political side, 40 percent of women at management level is wishful thinking. A figure that Auto Sport Switzerland will not be able to achieve in the foreseeable future.

Experience in karting

However, small steps can be taken to create incentives, at least from a sporting perspective. In karting, female drivers have been grouped together in a women's classification (not as a championship) for the past four years and also receive awards at the championship ceremony. Auto Sport Switzerland has therefore decided to award a cross-competition women's trophy for (modern) motor racing following the successful experiences in karting, such as that of Chiara Bättig.

All speed races

The project brings together all types of speed races (including dragsters, for example) and every holder of a Swiss license should have the opportunity to take part. In order to take into account the large number of female co-drivers in Swiss rallying, female co-drivers will also be taken into account when awarding points. Participants must register for the Ladies' Cup before the start of the season (March 1, 2024) and submit their results to the office for evaluation within two weeks of the race in which they took part.
The corresponding registration form will be published this month and made available to all license holders. The top 3 will be awarded prizes at the end of the year.

Illustration: Eichenberger
Source: Auto Sport Switzerland

motorsport.ch

Keeping a traditional car brand alive with a single model seems impossible. But Lancia is leading the way. Although the small Ypsilon has recently only been offered in its home country, it is one of the best-selling vehicles there.

Star among the small cars
Last year, 44,743 buyers opted for the high-quality small car. This means that the model once again exceeded the previous year's sales figures by nine percent. As a result, the Ypsilon took third place in the country's overall registration statistics. It achieved a market share of 14.9 percent in its segment - and also the second-highest share in its history.

And the story is set to continue. With the completely new Ypsilon generation (see gallery), the Stellantis Group is launching the relaunch of the brand in Europe in February. Two more models are to follow by 2028.

lancia.ch