For over four decades, the Toyota Supra has earned a reputation as an icon among sports car enthusiasts. From its first-generation roots as the Celica Supra in 1979 to its current fifth-generation form as the GR Supra, the model has captured drivers’ hearts over the years with a blend of power, handling, tech, and style. For 2024, Toyota pays tribute to that history with an eye-popping 45th Anniversary Edition.

Powerful Performance, Striking Style: The 2024 Toyota GR Supra

  • GR Supra 45th Anniversary Edition Brings a MkIV Tribute to Model Year 2024
  • Choice of 2.0L or 3.0L Twin Scroll Turbocharged Engine Equipped Models
  • 3.0 Premium Cabin and Seating Adds Rich Hazelnut Interior Color Option
  • Automatic or Manual Transmission Available on 3.0, 3.0 Premium and 45th Anniversary Ed.
  • GR Supra Connect Extended Up to 10-Year Trial Period for 2020-2023 Model Years on All Grades
  • Complimentary 1-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association, featuring a High-Performance Driving Event with expert instruction

PLANO, Texas 2023) – With its head-turning sports car style and powerful rear-wheel drive performance, the Toyota GR Supra has captured the fun-to-drive spirit of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Since it was relaunched in 2019, the fifth generation (MkV) model has earned a reputation for offering balanced handling and punch-above-its-weight performance, all while honoring its legendary place in Toyota’s sports car lineage. For 2024, the GR Supra lineup keeps the celebration roaring.

For starters, a 45th Anniversary Edition adds a GR Supra model to the lineup with a nod to the past. Paying tribute to the Supra’s place in pop culture, it’s available in a choice of fiery orange Mikan Blast or icy white Absolute Zero and equipped with an elevated gloss black rear spoiler, standard. Built on the 3.0 Premium grade, it wears 19-inch matte black wheels, features a black Supra side decal, and is available in a choice of Manual or Automatic Transmission (MT or AT), so it’s sure to turns heads while delivering smooth, satisfying shifts around the corners.

The 45th Anniversary Edition joins the already performance-packed lineup of 2.0- or 3.0-liter engine equipped GR Supra models. Drivers can choose from the GR Supra 3.0 or 3.0 Premium grades, powered by an inline six-cylinder turbocharged engine that outputs 382-hp and 368 lb.-ft. of torque or the GR Supra 2.0 grade with an inline 4-cylinder engine that outputs 255-hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. The 2.0 model does shave a bit of weight off the scales, with a curb weight that is about 200 pounds less than the 3.0 grades.

The GR Supra also continues offering performance-focused standard equipment across all models, like a double joint-type MacPherson front and multi-link independent rear suspension, sport calibrated electronic power steering, and dual rear exhaust outlets. All models wear high performance Michelin Super Sport tires for maximum grip of the Supra’s Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) platform.

On the inside, drivers experience a refined cockpit. The 3.0 Premium brings a luxury feel with power adjustable, leather trimmed seats, and for 2024 adds a new Hazelnut seat and interior color with black also being available. Black soft touch Alcantara and leather-trimmed sport seats are standard on the 2.0 grade and 3.0 base grade models, with manual adjustment on the 2.0 and power adjustment on the 3.0. All GR Supra models come with standard knee cushions for support while hugging the curves.

Audio options add a sonic dimension to a drive in the GR Supra with a 12-speaker, 500-watt JBL® Hi-Fi system standard on the 3.0 Premium. Both the 2.0 and 3.0 models can be upgraded to the 12-speaker JBL system when the available Safety & Technology Plus JBL Package is equipped. For 2024, all GR Supra 2.0 and 3.0 models equipped with the Safety & Technology package will come with Supra Connect Extended Services1. Additionally, Supra Connect Extended Services have been activated for eligible 2020-23 GR Supra models equipped with connected services hardware.

Exterior colors offered across the 2.0 and 3.0 model lineup include Stratosphere (blue), Absolute Zero (white), Nocturnal (black), and Renaissance Red. Mikan Blast is exclusive to the 45th Anniversary Edition. The 2024 GR Supra is expected to arrive on dealer lots this fall with a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Pricing (MSRP) of $45,540 plus Dealer Processing and Handling (DPH) of $1,095 for the GR Supra 2.0 model. The GR Supra 3.0 model starts at an MSRP of $54,500 plus DPH (AT or MT equipped).

Driving the GR Supra

The GR Supra’s balance of ride quality, powerful acceleration, and agile handling offers an experience that excites the senses from the moment drivers push the start button. Equipped with a dual-branch exhaust manifold, with six ports instead of two, a deep growl rumbles to life at ignition. The exhaust note is just one part of the equation, as the engine is also designed to manage heat and airflow to maximize its 10.2:1 compression ratio while preventing abnormal combustion due to high boost.

With an engine that produces high torque at high rpm, the GR Supra retains the eagerness to rev with turbine-like smoothness, delivering a manufacturer estimated 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds in the 8-speed AT and 4.2 seconds in the MT 3.0 models and 5.0 seconds in the 2.0 grade. Even with all that power, GR Supra 3.0 grades equipped with the AT will achieve a manufacturer  estimated 26 mpg combined (25 city/31 highway/27 combined), with the Supra 2.0 achieving a manufacturer  estimated 27 mpg combined. Fuel economy is due in part to standard  start/stop technology, which shuts the engine off while the car is at rest.

On all grades, drivers can select from Normal, Sport, and Individual modes that adjust throttle response, suspension damping, and power steering settings. Additionally, the 3.0 grade and up include an Adaptative Variable Suspension (AVS) with sensors that constantly detect changes in the driving operations and road surface conditions, and solenoid valves finely control the damping force of the shock absorbers. In 3.0 grade and higher, NORMAL mode provides a high-level balance between vehicle stability and supple ride comfort, enabling sports driving without sacrificing comfort. SPORT mode realizes a reassuring and flat vehicle posture with suppressed roll and driving with a more agile steering response.

All 2024 GR Supra 3.0 models, both AT and MT versions, also benefit from suspension tuning and shock absorbers set for a balance between body roll and ride comfort. The mechanical components in the electric power steering and the system’s operating parameters are also tuned for agile handling. All 3.0 models come with an active rear sport differential standard.

45th Anniversary Edition

It’s fitting that the fourth year of the fifth-generation model celebrates 45 years of the Supra name. Built on the 3.0 Premium Grade and equipped with the B-58 twin scroll turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine, th 45th Anniversary Edition GR Supra’s low-slung, condensed extreme design is complemented by a large, manually adjustable rear spoiler. The spoiler rises about three inches above the rear decklid and has an adjustment screw that allows drivers to change its angle and influence the amount of downforce being applied to rear wheels.

The 45th Anniversary Edition GR Supra will be available in either Mikan Blast [which means “orange” in Japanese and is pronounced as Mee-kahn] or Absolute Zero. On the outside, the special edition model also features matte-black finished 19-inch aluminum wheels and black painted, opposite mounted brake calipers that wear a GR logo up front. A black side panel graphic with a cutout Supra logo sweeps upward along the side, accentuating the vehicle’s contours. Altogether, the special edition brings a touch of nostalgia to the 2024 Supra lineup with a look reminiscent of the MkIV model of big screen fame.

Under the hood, the engine is flanked by exclusive 45th Anniversary Edition orange strut tower braces that bear the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing logo. It will be available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. The cabin features heated, black leather-trimmed sport seats, black leather-wrapped tilt/telescopic 3-spoke steering wheel, an 8.8-inch touchscreen, 12-speaker JBL® HiFi Surround system, and full-color Head-Up Display (HUD).

The 45th Anniversary Edition also comes with Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (AT models), Cruise Control (MT models), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Parking Sensors with Emergency Braking Function, standard.

Hands On with GR Supra Manual

In 2023, a welcome addition to Mk V Supra was the option of a Manual Transmission. Developed by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Engineers in Japan in cooperation with Toyota Motor Europe, and German transmission supplier ZF, the MT is an option on the Supra 3.0 and 3.0 Premium models.

The manual gearbox was built with components designed specifically to suit the power and torque characteristics of the GR Supra’s 3.0-liter 382-hp straight-six engine. The engineering team combined an existing transmission housing and gear set, developed a new shift lever, and removed elements that were not required, such as the acoustic package, which reduced weight, bringing the manual equipped Supra in at 3,389 pounds. At the heart of the transmission is a newly engineered large diameter clutch with a reinforced diaphragm spring. With a larger friction area and a stronger spring, this new component has the high-performance capability appropriate for use with the GR Supra’s high-torque engine.

Múnich, septiembre 2023

  • Se convierte en protagonista de la Volkswagen Group Night antes de su presentación en el CUPRA Open Space del Salón del Automóvil IAA Mobility 2023
  • El DarkRebel concept car es la máxima provocación del diseño CUPRA y se ha creado en colaboración con la Tribu CUPRA, utilizando la experiencia inmersiva del Hyper Configurator
  • El deportivo 100% eléctrico con carrocería shooting brake combina a la perfección el mundo virtual con el físico y es la interpretación definitiva del ADN de CUPRA

El CUPRA DarkRebel concept car se acaba de desvelar en su versión física. Nacido desde la pasión, representa la máxima provocación del diseño CUPRA. Se trata de un vehículo deportivo que traspasa los límites del diseño y el rendimiento, y cuestiona la forma en la que se imaginarán y crearán los automóviles en el futuro. Es la materialización del primer coche creado íntegramente en el espacio virtual de CUPRA, para una futura generación de conductores.

Más de 270.000 configuraciones de la Tribu CUPRA, incluidas las de embajadores de la marca como los jugadores del FC Barcelona Marc ter Stegen y Alexia Putellas, así como el actor Daniel Brühl, ayudaron a definir la versión física del DarkRebel. Los datos recopilados en el Hyper Configurator se trasladaron al diseño final del coche, que ha pasado del mundo virtual al real con la presentación del concept car en el IAA de Múnich de 2023.

El resultado es un deportivo biplaza con un propulsor totalmente eléctrico y una carrocería shooting brake, que refleja la pasión y la visión disruptiva de la marca CUPRA. Incorpora un enigmático color exterior líquido similar al mercurio, emplea la luz como material tangible y presta una gran atención a la sostenibilidad.

Wayne Griffiths, CEO de CUPRA, ha declarado: “Gracias a la pasión y la creatividad de la Tribu CUPRA hemos podido convertir una de nuestras obsesiones más poderosas en un auténtico showcar. El CUPRA DarkRebel es la máxima provocación del diseño de nuestra marca. Es un rebelde con un propósito: demostrar que los coches eléctricos del futuro pueden ser deportivos, atractivos y emocionales”.

La tecnología de iluminación es un elemento clave en el diseño del CUPRA DarkRebel y aparece, en primer lugar, en el logotipo de la marca. Pone de relieve el diálogo entre lo material y lo inmaterial, mostrando cómo la luz puede integrarse en diferentes materiales hasta llegar a convertir piezas transparentes en esculturas sólidas que adquieren diversas tonalidades de forma digital. El afilado frontal pone el foco en la icónica firma lumínica triangular de CUPRA, que da vida al automóvil. El concepto de iluminación se basa en la división del emblema CUPRA en tres triángulos que ejercen la función de luces diurnas.

En el interior, la espina dorsal conecta la parte delantera con la trasera como la quilla de un barco de vela, en este caso hecha de un material transparente como el cristal. Este concepto enfatiza el diseño progresivo del vehículo y acentúa su deportividad.

Las superficies sensuales creadas a partir de líneas nítidas aportan tensión al diseño y expresan energía e intencionalidad. Todo ello, subrayado por el enigmático color líquido de la carrocería.

El carácter fluido del tono violeta oscuro evoluciona y adquiere diferentes matices dependiendo de la incidencia de la luz. Esto fortalece la presencia del DarkRebel, que transmite la idea de ser un automóvil prestacional para amantes de la conducción.

Fuertemente asentado sobre el asfalto, el nuevo CUPRA ofrece un diseño de llantas influenciado por los coches de competición de la marca y focalizado en el rendimiento y la eficiencia. El logo CUPRA con forma triangular se expande paramétricamente a lo largo de toda la llanta, desde la estructura hasta las cubiertas aerodinámicas y las piezas de color Copper.

El diseño exterior vanguardista del CUPRA DarkRebel se ve realzado por sus dimensiones de 4,5 metros de largo, 2,2 metros de ancho y 1,3 metros de alto. Llaman especialmente la atención las puertas, que hacen cobrar vida al coche cuando se abren hasta una altura de 2,2 metros. Las proporciones del concept car, que otorgan 1/3 al habitáculo y 2/3 al resto del vehículo, transmiten una imagen de deportividad en combinación con otros rasgos de diseño como los hombros de gran anchura.

“El CUPRA DarkRebel representa el ADN y los valores de la marca. Con sus hombros marcados, su largo capó y su habitáculo situado en posición baja, se enfoca claramente en el conductor”, asegura Jorge Díez, director de Diseño de CUPRA. “El DarkRebel está diseñado para entrar en una nueva dimensión donde el deseo, la emoción y el empuje sin límites son nuestra obsesión”.

El lateral destaca por la conexión entre la parte delantera y la trasera mediante canales esculpidos en la superficie, que revelan todos los elementos técnicos y se plantean como un símbolo de la relación existente entre el exterior y el interior.

El CUPRA DarkRebel también desafía las reglas del diseño en su interior. A través de la dualidad entre músculo y esqueleto se crea un habitáculo tan innovador como inesperado. El diseño paramétrico y la fabricación aditiva ofrecen un claro enfoque en la sostenibilidad. Al entrar en el vehículo, los pasajeros se encuentran con un entorno envolvente, radical y extremo, delimitado por un elegante lienzo perfilado con formas dinámicas, del que emergen estructuras crudas y ligeras. Coronando el conjunto se encuentran los mandos relativos a la conducción, auténticas joyas de diseño, que aportan tecnología de vanguardia y precisión en sus formas con el objetivo de dar forma a un interior único.

En el habitáculo, la sencillez y la pureza se complementan con la cuidada elaboración artesanal de determinados elementos clave para la conducción.

El componente fundamental es la espina dorsal, de formas asimétricas y apariencia escultural. Fabricada con la última tecnología de impresión 3D en metal, aporta ligereza visual y rigidez estructural. Esta columna vertebral parte de la base de los asientos y se extiende hacia la parte delantera para abrazar al conductor. Además, sirve para integrar a la perfección los elementos de conducción más importantes. Su ajuste longitudinal, combinado con los pedales deslizantes, proporciona la ergonomía ideal para conducir.

También destacan los asientos bucket Supersport, que tienen una estructura transparente, inserciones en Copper y reposacabezas tapizados en tejido de punto 3D. Estos asientos envolventes se sitúan en una posición baja y, con su liviano armazón, ofrecen apoyo lateral para toda la pierna. Las zonas de contacto se adaptan a los ocupantes para ofrecer el máximo confort y un agarre óptimo a la hora de rodar a ritmo rápido.

Otro gran protagonista del interior del CUPRA DarkRebel es el volante, que combina geometrías de competición con la interactividad del mundo de los videojuegos. Las manos se adaptan perfectamente a sus formas y el conductor siente desde el primer momento toda la potencia y el control cuando el coche está en movimiento.

Desde aquí, la atención se dirige hacia la palanca de cambios, que se sitúa en la espina dorsal y está hecha de un material transparente como el cristal que proporciona luminosidad e invita al tacto.

El DarkRebel es un deportivo de altas prestaciones con una tecnología muy avanzada. Una cámara térmica situada en el techo recopila información sobre el estado del habitáculo y del sistema de climatización, para adaptar la temperatura y el caudal de aire en consecuencia. El aire circula a través de unas salidas de ventilación ubicadas en la parte inferior del parabrisas y enmarcadas con un tejido elástico transpirable proveniente del mundo del deporte de alto rendimiento, que se hacen visibles dependiendo de la cantidad de aire suministrada. Por su parte, el sistema de retroiluminación ambiental de esta zona muestra si el interior se está calentando o enfriando.

La comunicación a través de la iluminación continúa mediante el uso de un lienzo fluido en la parte superior del habitáculo, que funciona como una plantilla perfecta para crear efectos de luz, potenciando las emociones y experiencias de los ocupantes. La iluminación se dirige hacia la parte inferior del parabrisas y, desde ahí, hacia los laterales de los asientos y los respaldos. Y lo hace con gran vitalidad, cambiando de color entre el azul oscuro, un magenta intenso y un violeta reflectante. El volante es uno de los elementos que brillan con energía en este contexto. Otro punto a destacar en el interior es el empleo de materiales sostenibles elaborados con un 90% de bambú biodegradable.

El CUPRA DarkRebel ofrece una experiencia de usuario (UX) y un diseño de interfaz de usuario (UI) a la vanguardia. Dotado de la visión disruptiva y el ADN digital de CUPRA, el DarkRebel redefine la experiencia automovilística, combinando a la perfección los mundos físico y digital. Gracias a su inspiración en los videojuegos, los usuarios no solo conducen, sino que disfrutan de una conexión continua e inmersiva con la Tribu CUPRA.

En este sentido, el CUPRA DarkRebel ofrece tres experiencias únicas que se denominan Cuadrado Exponencial, Cubo Exponencial e Infinito Exponencial.

  • Cuadrado Exponencial: amplifica la experiencia a través de la moderna instrumentación Digital Cockpit, que integra gráficos futuristas y un avatar 3D personalizable que humaniza el proceso.
  • Cubo Exponencial: el vehículo adopta el ADN de competición de la marca y ofrece una experiencia electrizante, inspirándose en los coches de carreras de altas prestaciones y en el mundo de los videojuegos. Incluye posicionamiento en pista en tiempo real, cronometraje de vueltas y datos de rendimiento.
  • Infinito Exponencial: el DarkRebel se adentra en el territorio inexplorado de la movilidad conectada. Mientras el coche está aparcado y cargando su batería, los usuarios pueden entrar en Metahype, el espacio de CUPRA en el metaverso. De esta manera, el vehículo ofrece la oportunidad de interactuar con la Tribu CUPRA.

Las tres experiencias, que se controlan desde el volante, permiten una configuración total del coche, desde el exterior hasta el interior, pasando por la iluminación o el sonido, aportando funciones exclusivas.

El CUPRA DarkRebel concept car se ha presentado en la Volkswagen Group Night y se mostrará al público en el CUPRA Open Space del Salón IAA Mobility 2023 en Múnich, Alemania, del 4 al 10 de septiembre.

  • Comportamiento altamente dinámico y gran confort gracias a su sistema semiactivo de estabilidad antivuelco
  • Nuevo concepto de asientos 2+2
  • Tracción total AMG Performance 4MATIC+ totalmente adaptativa, de serie
  • Gran facilidad de uso diario gracias a la buena visibilidad panorámica y al gran portón trasero EASY PACK

La segunda generación del Mercedes-AMG GT es un vehículo rediseñado desde cero. La arquitectura del deportivo AMG, con su estructura de carrocería de aluminio compuesto, segura y rígida contra la torsión, permite una nueva configuración de plazas tipo 2+2, lo que en un deportivo de esta clase significa mucho espacio para los ocupantes y para el equipaje. Por un lado, el nuevo AMG GT Coupé cumple a la perfección los requisitos de un Gran Turismo.

Por otro, combina las características de conducción más deportivas -disponibles actualmente en la gama de Mercedes-AMG- con una gran practicidad para el día a día. Se lanzará al mercado como AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé (consumo combinado –WLTP- de 14,1 l/100 km, emisiones combinadas de CO2 –WLTP- de 319 g/km). El motor biturbo AMG V8 de 4,0 litros y 430 kW (585 CV) se asocia por primera vez en un AMG GT de dos puertas con el sistema de tracción total AMG Performance 4MATIC+ totalmente variable. Componentes de alta tecnología como el tren de rodaje AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL con estabilización semiactiva del balanceo, la dirección activa del eje trasero y la aerodinámica active subrayan sus argumentos para ser el buque insignia en la gama de automóviles deportivos y de altas prestaciones de la marca.

Características técnicas

  • Carrocería: su estructura ligera, de aluminio compuesto y la máxima rigidez, proporciona la base para una conducción precisa, un elevado confort y un aspecto óptimo.

o   Combinación de un bastidor de aluminio dividido en secciones con estructura autoportante.

o   Inteligente mezcla de materiales: aluminio, acero, magnesio y compuestos de fibra.

o   Marco del parabrisas de tubo de acero de alta resistencia fabricado en caliente.

  • Aerodinámica activa para un mayor equilibrio y eficiencia. Todos los elementos que optimizan el flujo de aire están perfectamente integrados en el diseño exterior.

o   Sistema de control del aire AIRPANEL en la parte delantera.

o   Perfil aerodinámico activo bajo el frontal.

o   Alerón trasero activo con funcionamiento inteligente.

o   Llantas de aleación ligera que optimizan la aerodinámica.

o   Amplias zonas revestidas en los bajos.

o   Paquete aerodinámico con deflectores de aire adicionales en el faldón delantero, spoiler en la parte trasera, difusor posterior aún más eficaz y alerón trasero rígido.

  • Motor V8 biturbo AMG de 4,0 litros con dos turbocompresores Twin-Scroll.

o   La modelo se lanza al mercado como AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé (consumo combinado de combustible –WLTP- 14,1 l/100 km, emisiones combinadas de CO2 –WLTP- 319 g/km), 430 kW (585 CV) de potencia máxima y 800 Nm de par máximo.

o   En algunos mercados le seguirá el Mercedes-AMG GT 55 4MATIC+ (consumo combinado –WLTP- de 14,1 l/100 km, emisiones combinadas de CO2 –WLTP-, 319 g/km), con 350 kW (476 CV) de potencia máxima y 700 Nm de par máximo.

o   Producción tipo “Un hombre, un motor” en Affalterbach.

o   Con soportes de motor activos de serie.

  • Cambio AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G (MCT = Multi-Clutch Transmission): combina una experiencia emocional con tiempos extremadamente cortos al pasar de una marcha a otra.

o   Un embrague de tipo húmedo para el arranque sustituye al convertidor de par. Reduce el peso y, gracias a su menor inercia, optimiza la respuesta al pisar el pedal derecho, especialmente durante los acelerones y los cambios fuertes de carga.

o   Función RACE START para una aceleración óptima desde parado.

  • AMG Performance 4MATIC+ tracción total totalmente variable: por primera vez, el AMG GT también está disponible con tracción integral.

o   Sistema de tracción optimizada para desafiar los límites de la física. Elevada estabilidad de marcha y seguridad de conducción en todas las condiciones: en seco, en mojado o sobre nieve.

o   Un embrague controlado electromecánicamente conecta de forma variable el eje trasero, de tracción permanente, con el eje delantero. El sistema calcula continuamente la mejor distribución posible del par motor dependiendo de la situación, para que la marcha seleccionada y la distribución de la fuerza motriz también sean las más adecuadas. El rango va desde el 100% de potencia en el eje trasero hasta un reparto 50%/50% entre los ejes delantero y trasero.

  • Los Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé y GT 55 4MATIC+ Coupé equipan de serie el tren de rodaje AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL con estabilización hidráulica y semiactiva del balanceo. El sistema permite un comportamiento óptimo en curvas y ciclos de carga, con características de conducción típicas de AMG en cuanto a dinamismo, precisión y respuesta para el conductor. Al mismo tiempo, aumenta el confort de marcha al conducir en línea recta y sobre baches.

o   Los elementos hidráulicos semiactivos sustituyen a las barras de torsión mecánicas convencionales y compensan en fracciones de segundo los movimientos de balanceo.

o   Para ello, los amortiguadores adaptativos disponen también de dos conexiones hidráulicas. Una de ellas está en el lado de compresión del amortiguador y la otra, en el de rebote.

o   Las cámaras de amortiguación de las cuatro ruedas y los conductos están conectados directamente a través de las válvulas de control de los amortiguadores adaptativos.

o   En términos concretos: cualquier barra de torsion puede trabajar desde cero hasta ofrecer una rigidez extrema de forma automática. En el día a día, esto aumenta el confort, porque incluso los baches aislados se compensan de manera individualizada.

o   Durante las curvas, el sistema hidráulico también funciona activamente sobre la inclinación. Gracias a la elevada estabilidad de caída resultante, el nuevo AMG GT gira con extrema precisión.

o   Al circular en línea recta, se abre completamente y también se adapta así a esa circunstancia en función del programa de conducción seleccionado y de la marcha elegida. Además, compensa y neutraliza los movimientos de balanceo que cualquier obstáculo pudiera provocar. Así, el conductor y los pasajeros disfrutan de una experiencia mucho más confortable.

o   En curvas, la reducción del balanceo resulta igual de beneficiosa en términos de comodidad y dinámica de conducción.

o   La misma tecnología alimenta el sistema opcional de elevación del eje delantero. En caso necesario, este puede elevarse 30 milímetros, lo que facilita, por ejemplo, la entrada en aparcamientos subterráneos.

  • Diferencial trasero de deslizamiento limitado.

o   De serie, el AMG GT 55 4MATIC+ Coupé y el AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé incorporan un diferencial trasero de deslizamiento limitado controlado electrónicamente, que proporciona una tracción aún mejor a la salida de las curvas, con mayor estabilidad de marcha y distribución de la carga sin pérdida de potencia en todas las condiciones de conducción. 

  • Hochleistungs-Verbundbremsanlage Disco de freno de material compuesto: para unos excelentes valores de deceleración y una dosificación precisa.

o   El disco de freno (de acero fundido) y el calderín (de aluminio) están unidos con pasadores especiales y no con tornillos. Este diseño ahorra un espacio que se utiliza para mejorar aún más la refrigeración de los frenos. El eje delamtero está dotado de dos discos de 390 milímetros.

o   Dirección perforada: además del ahorro de peso y una mejor disipación del calor, esta solución gana puntos con una respuesta más rápida en condiciones de humedad y una mejor limpieza de las pastillas tras la frenada.

o   El sistema de frenos cerámicos AMG de alto rendimiento con discos de 420 milímetros en el eje delantero estará disponible como opción a partir de 2024.

  • La dirección activa del eje trasero (HAL) de serie combina estabilidad y agilidad.

o   En función de la velocidad, las ruedas traseras giran en sentido contrario a las delanteras (hasta 100 km/h) o en el mismo sentido que estas (a más de 100 km/h). El sistema, adaptado con precisión al nuevo AMG GT Coupé, permite así una conducción ágil y estable.

o   El cambio del ángulo de convergencia es de hasta 2,5 grados en la rueda trasera.

  • Los seis programas de conducción AMG DYNAMIC SELECT (“Smooth”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport +”, “Individual” y “RACE”) permiten dotar al vehículo de un comportamiento variado, desde muy confortable a extremadamente dinámico.

o   Se modifican todos los parámetros relevantes, como la respuesta del motor, la transmisión, el tren de rodaje, los sistemas de control dinámico, la dirección, así como el sonido del sistema de escape variable.

  • LUZ DIGITAL con proyecciones de símbolos de advertencia sobre la calzada.

o   El DIGITAL LIGHT, de serie, permite funciones innovadoras, como la proyección de marcas de orientación o símbolos de advertencia sobre la calzada.

o   El DIGITAL LIGHT dispone de un módulo luminoso en cada faro con tres potentes LED, cuya luz se refracta y dirige con la ayuda de 1,3 millones de microespejos que ocupan la superficie de la uña del dedo pulgar.

o   Una unidad de control con un potente procesador gráfico utiliza una conexión similar a una HDMI para generar un flujo de vídeo continuo hacia los espejos. El DIGITAL LIGHT utiliza, por tanto, la tecnología de los videoproyectores.

Aspectos claves de su diseño

  • Diseño exterior: el diseño deportivo y equilibrado ofrece más funcionalidad y espacio en el interior gracias a su configuración de asientos 2+2. La larga distancia entre ejes, los voladizos cortos y el parabrisas muy inclinado confieren al nuevo AMG GT Coupé un aspecto compacto y poderoso.

o   Las nuevas proporciones con una excitante superficie acristalada, voluminosos pasos de rueda y expresiva vista frontal advierten de la aparición de un potente deportivo que también es apto para el uso diario.

o   La parrilla, baja y específica de AMG, acentúa el frontal y confiere al AMG GT una presencia aún más deportiva y dominante.

o   Los característicos faros subrayan el inconfundible carácter del AMG GT.

o   Desde las superficies fluidas, sin rebordes ni aristas, hasta los tiradores escamoteables de las puertas caracterizan la vista lateral. Las llantas de aleación, casi enrasadas con la carrocería, acentúan la potencia y el dinamismo.

o   La zona trasera de los hombros, modelada de forma expresiva, confiere al vehículo extra de deportividad en su atractivo.

o   Precisamente, dispuestos en la poderosa zaga encontramos los pilotos traseros LED. Son planos y están conectados horizontalmente, con una iluminación clara y precisa. Esta disposición remarca la estructura del vehículo y acentúa la anchura total.

o   El spoiler trasero activo está perfectamente integrado en el gran portón trasero.

  • Diseño interior: los genes de coche deportivo de altas prestaciones de AMG se han trasladado al mundo digital y se han desarrollado aún más. Los materiales elegidos, el cuidado en su manufactura y la atención al detalle subrayan el gusto por el lujo.

o   El diseño del puesto de mando se centra en el conductor y consigue una impresión general muy armoniosa.

o   El concepto 2+2 de los asientos ofrece más funcionalidad y espacio en el interior.

o   Sistema multimedia MBUX con indicadores y contenidos específicos de AMG y las opciones de menú adicionales y exclusivas AMG Performance y AMG Track Pace.

o   Los asientos deportivos con diseño escultural AMG y reglajes eléctricos son de serie.

o   Los asientos AMG Performance –también con reglajes eléctricos- son opcionales.

o   Volante AMG Performance con botones AMG, de serie.

o   La pantalla LCD de 12,3 pulgadas del cuadro de instrumentos está integrada en una unidad visual de alta tecnología.

o   Todas las funciones multimedia pueden controlarse a través de la pantalla táctil de 12,8 pulgadas, en formato vertical.

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé

Engine
Number of cylinders/arrangement 8/V
Displacementcc3982
Rated outputkW/hp430/585
at engine speedrpm5500-6500
Rated torqueNm800
at engine speedrpm2500-5000
Compression ratio 8.6
Mixture formation Microprocessor-controlled petrol injection, twin turbocharging
Power transmission
Drive system layout Fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive
Transmission AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G (automatic transmission with wet multi-disc start-off clutch)
Gear ratios
1st/2nd/3rd/4th/5th/6th/7th/8th/9th gear 5.35/3.24/2.25/1.64/1.21/1.00/0.87/0.72/0.60
Reverse 4.80
Suspension
Front axleAMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with semi-active anti-roll stabilisation, aluminium double wishbones, anti-dive control, coil springs and adaptive adjustable damping
Rear axleAMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with semi-active anti-roll stabilisation, aluminium double wishbones, anti-dive control, coil springs and adaptive adjustable damping
Brake systemDual-circuit hydraulic brake system; front: 390 mm composite brake discs, internally ventilated and perforated, 6-piston aluminium fixed calliper; rear: 360 mm composite brake discs, internally ventilated and perforated, 1-piston aluminium floating calliper; electric parking brake, ABS, Brake Assist, 3-stage ESP®
SteeringElectromechanical speed-sensitive power steering with rack and pinion, variable steering ratio (14.4:1 at dead centre) and variable power assistance. Rear-axle steering with up to 2.5° wheel angle
Wheelsfront: 10.5Jx 20 ET42; rear: 11Jx 20 ET33
Tyresfront: 295/35 ZR 20; rear: 305/35 ZR 20
Dimensions and weights
Wheelbasemm2,700
Front/rear trackmm1,683/1,686
Length/height/widthmm4,728/1,354/1,984
Turning circlem12.5
Boot capacityl321-675
Kerb weight acc. to ECkg1,970
Payloadkg190-350
Tank capacity/of which reservel70/10
Performance, consumption, emissions
Acceleration 0-100 km/hsec.3.2
Maximum speedkm/h315
Combined fuel consumption, WLTP1l/100 km14,1
Combined CO2 emissions, WLTP1g/km319
    

1 The specified values are the determined WLTP COvalues in accordance with Art. 2 No. 3 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption values were calculated based on these values.

Mercedes-AMG GT 55 4MATIC+ Coupé

Engine
Number of cylinders/arrangement 8/V
Displacementcc3982
Rated outputkW/hp350/476
at engine speedrpm5500-6500
Rated torqueNm700
at engine speedrpm2250-4500
Compression ratio 8.6
Mixture formation Microprocessor-controlled petrol injection, twin turbocharging
Power transmission
Drive system layout Fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive
Transmission AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G (automatic transmission with wet multi-disc start-off clutch)
Gear ratios
1st/2nd/3rd/4th/5th/6th/7th/8th/9th gear 5.35/3.24/2.25/1.64/1.21/1.00/0.87/0.72/0.60
Reverse 4.80
Suspension
Front axleAMG RIDE CONTROL suspension with aluminium double wishbones, anti-squat and anti-dive control, lightweight coil springs, stabiliser and adaptive adjustable damping
Rear axleAMG RIDE CONTROL suspension with aluminium double wishbones, anti-squat and anti-dive control, lightweight coil springs, stabiliser and adaptive adjustable damping
Brake systemDual-circuit hydraulic brake system; front: 390 mm composite brake discs, internally ventilated and perforated, 6-piston aluminium fixed calliper; rear: 360 mm composite brake discs, internally ventilated and perforated, 1-piston aluminium floating calliper; electric parking brake, ABS, Brake Assist, 3-stage ESP®
SteeringElectromechanical speed-sensitive power steering with toothed rack, variable steering ratio (14.4:1 at dead centre) and variable power assistance. Rear-axle steering with up to 2.5° wheel angle
Wheelsfront: 10.5Jx 20 ET42; rear: 11Jx 20 ET33
Tyresfront: 295/35 ZR 20; rear: 305/35 ZR 20
Dimensions and weights
Wheelbasemm2,700
Front/rear trackmm1,683/1,686
Length/height/widthmm4,728/1,354/1,984
Turning circlem12.5
Boot capacityl321-675
Kerb weight acc. to ECkg1,970
Payloadkg190-350
Tank capacity/of which reservel70/10
Performance, consumption, emissions
Acceleration 0-100 km/hsec.3.9
Maximum speedkm/h295
Combined fuel consumption, WLTP1l/100 km14,1
Combined CO2 emissions, WLTP1g/km319
    

[1] The specified values are the determined WLTP COvalues in accordance with Art. 2 No. 3 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1153. The fuel consumption values were calculated based on these values.

Mercedes-Benz AG en resumen
La empresa Mercedes-Benz AG es responsable de las actividades globales de Mercedes-Benz Cars y Mercedes-Benz Vans, y cuenta con una plantilla de más de 170.000 empleados en todo el mundo. Ola Källenius es el presidente de la Junta Directiva de Mercedes-Benz AG. Los fines primarios de la empresa son el desarrollo, la producción y la distribución de turismos, furgonetas y monovolúmenes, así como la prestación de servicios relacionados. La empresa aspira asimismo a liderar otros sectores, como la movilidad eléctrica y el software para automóviles. La cartera de productos comprende la marca Mercedes-Benz con las submarcas Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes-EQ y Clase G, así como la marca smart. La marca Mercedes me brinda a los clientes acceso a los servicios digitales de Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz AG es uno de los mayores fabricantes de turismos de lujo en todo el mundo. En el año 2020, la empresa vendió unos 2,1 millones de turismos y casi 375.000 furgonetas y monovolúmenes. Mercedes-Benz AG promueve continuamente el desarrollo de la red mundial de producción en estas dos áreas de negocio, con unos 35 centros de producción en cuatro continentes, y se orienta en especial por las expectativas del mercado de la movilidad eléctrica. En paralelo a estas plantas de vehículos se está creando y ampliando una red global de producción de baterías en tres continentes. La sostenibilidad es el principio rector de la estrategia de Mercedes-Benz. Para la empresa, este concepto supone aportar de forma permanente un valor añadido a todos los niveles, tanto para sus clientes como para sus empleados, inversores, socios comerciales y para la sociedad en su conjunto. La base de ello es la estrategia empresarial sostenible de Daimler. La empresa asume en todo momento su responsabilidad por las repercusiones económicas, ecológicas y sociales de su actividad comercial, teniendo en cuenta la totalidad de la cadena de valor.

CHIRON SUPER SPORT: FUEL CONSUMPTION COMBINED (WLTP): 21.47 L/100 KM; CO2 EMISSIONS COMBINED (WLTP): 486.72 G/KMW16 MISTRAL: THIS MODEL IS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECTIVE 1999/94/EC, AS TYPE APPROVAL HAS NOT YET BEEN GRANTED.

A truly exceptional Bugatti ‘one-off’ – the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ – takes center stage at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering for the 20th anniversary of the event. Being a masterpiece like no other, it is the creative result of the Bugatti Sur Mesure service, which offers ultimate automotive couture, taking customers on a collaborative journey to create their perfect Bugatti without limits. Now, Sur Mesure evolves once more to bring customers an even deeper and broader scope for personalization, blending the boundaries of automotive with pure artistry.

FUEL CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS

  • 1 CHIRON SUPER SPORT: WLTP FUEL CONSUMPTION, L/100 KM: LOW PHASE 40.31 / MEDIUM PHASE 22.15 / HIGH PHASE 17.89 / EXTRA HIGH PHASE 17.12 / COMBINED 21.47; CO2 EMISSIONS COMBINED, G/KM: 486.72; EFFICIENCY CLASS: GDOWNLOAD PDF
  • 2 W16 MISTRAL: THIS MODEL IS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECTIVE 1999/94/EC, AS TYPE APPROVAL HAS NOT YET BEEN GRANTED.
  • 3 BOLIDE: THIS MODEL IS NOT SUBJECT TO DIRECTIVE 1999/94/EC, AS TYPE APPROVAL HAS NOT YET BEEN GRANTED.

One of the most prestigious events of its kind, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering brings together extraordinary cars from around the world in a setting of unparalleled luxury with the Santa Lucia Mountain range forming the backdrop. At this year’s gathering Bugatti debuts the Chiron Super Sport1 ‘Golden Era’ and a W16 Mistral2 in a shimmering gold finish that radiates against the Californian sun.

Making its public debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ is the very embodiment of the elevated Bugatti Sur Mesure program. It was united with its owner for the first time a stage that is both iconic and fitting for such an illustrious work of art, having hosted many legendary Bugatti unveilings in previous years, like the ultimate roadster W16 Mistral last year or the track-only Bolide3 in 2021.

As with every Sur Mesure creation, the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ brings a story to life that weaves through time, legend and distinction. Today, this hyper sports car represents the pinnacle of hand-crafted luxury performance, taking bespoke craftmanship into another dimension. It took two years to create the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ a journey that was as meticulous as it is personal. The commission has resulted in a unique piece of art that beautifully captures the incomparable legacy of Bugatti in the form of a composition of 45 sketches of the brand’s timeless icons, all hand-drawn directly onto the exterior body of the hyper sports car.

The sketching process alone took more than 400 hours to complete. In fact, such was the intricacy that entirely new techniques and processes had to be formed to guarantee the longevity and exquisite finish of the artwork. A bespoke color, a celebratory shade of gold named ‘Doré’, was specially designed for this occasion and applied with a gradient color split into a special metallic variant of ‘Nocturne Black’.

Achieving a level of craftsmanship unlike anything before witnessed in the automotive world, the Sur Mesure program is a tailored personalization experience that knows no limits, bringing to reality the creative visions and exacting wishes of customers, no matter how challenging and complex the nature of the commission and the creative craftmanship underpinning the work.

A bespoke piece of art is an intimate ownership experience; and it is one that can only truly be appreciated when the artist and customer combine values of creative freedom to ensure the masterpiece is perfect in every sense.

Working with Bugatti’s team of specialists, the customer will embark on a journey of co-creation and inspiration, ultimately crafting a hyper sports car that is incomparable and personal. In that sense, a Bugatti Sur Mesure car brings to life a story, expressing the inner personality of its owner while challenging the design and engineering teams on every level to achieve perfection. For many customers that also includes establishing connection to their deep appreciation of Bugatti’s rich history, paying homage to the brand’s iconic automobiles and legendary racing cars. Building a Sur Mesure project often requires processes which might not be the easiest or quickest of implementations for the team of Bugatti specialists, such undertakings always result in the best outcome, adhering to the brand’s uncompromisingly high standards that guarantee perfection is achieved every time.

“The Sur Mesure program is truly limitless in the creative possibilities it offers to customers, creating a car that is an intimate, personalized and bespoke artwork. The service is also testament to the incredibly gifted and talented Bugatti team of designers, engineers and specialists. These are individuals operating at the very top of their craft, setting trends and defining new chapters in luxury, artistry and technology” said Bugatti Managing Director, Hendrik Malinowski.

“Our teams of designers and engineers walk step-by-step on this incredible and thrilling journey with the customer. It is the ultimate example in a collaborative partnership that knows no boundaries. A Bugatti Sur Mesure car is much like a timeless magnus opus. A painter may imagine their art hanging in a renowned gallery some 100 years into the future; a Sur Mesure masterpiece must be imagined on a Concours d’Elegance lawn a century from now.”

Since the earliest days of Ettore and Jean Bugatti’s leadership, the ambition of the brand has been to push boundaries, not just in the physical sense from wholesale engineering and technology innovations through to individual components but also in artistic form, bringing ideas to life that redefine design boundaries, delivering bespoke craftmanship that is unparalleled.

“If comparable, it is no longer Bugatti,” said Ettore. This ethos has stood the test of time. It is as true today as it had been on the day when Bugatti was formed in 1909.

Establishing a golden synergy at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering is a shimmering ‘Doré’ W16 Mistral, radiating its exquisite aesthetic form, a design immersed in pure elegance.

Bugatti’s ultimate roadster effortlessly evokes a sense of timelessness, making it truly incomparable; its status as a modern-day Bugatti icon already secured by being the roadgoing hyper sports car that draws to a close the era of the brand’s momentous W16 powertrain.

As part of the Sur Mesure program, the W16 Mistral can be customized to nearly any customer request. The first bespoke commissions are already underway with customers, artistic work that showcases an even broader array of creative possibilities. In the same sense in which Bugatti strives for nothing less than perfection in all the cars leaving the Molsheim Atelier, the unique masterpieces from the Sur Mesure offer follow the same principles, furthering the evolution of a unique couture service for customers.

Following The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, Bugatti will welcome its close customers on Saturday and Sunday at Le Domaine Bugatti, where they will be able to have a closer look at the Chiron Super Sport ‘Golden Era’ and the golden W16 Mistral, and discover a very unique golden Bolide.

An era ends: Achim Anscheidt passes the baton at BugattiBugatti Director of Design, Achim Anscheidt has retired from his role, bringing an end to 19 years of his personal oversight of the stylistic evolution of the Bugatti brand. Anscheidt will remain a senior advisor to Bugatti Rimac CEO, Mate Rimac, as the brand prepares to unveil the new hybridized Chiron successor. Achim’s long-standing deputy, Frank Heyl, becomes the new Bugatti Director of Design.Anscheidt, the son of three-time motorbike racing world champion Hans-Georg Anscheidt, started his car design career after being a motorcycle stunt acrobat until his early twenties.

He grew up surrounded by the sounds and smells of motorsport, and had a natural talent for art and perspective drawing. Eventually he combined the two at ACCD in Pasadena, graduating in 1993 and moving into a junior designer role at Porsche Design Weissach. Three years later, he was chosen to lead the Volkswagen Group’s advanced design operations in Barcelona and Berlin at a time when Bugatti was also under VW Group ownership.In 2004 Anscheidt became Design Director at Bugatti, when the Veyron design was mostly finalized but a rapid stylistic development of the product portfolio needed to be undertaken. With Anscheidt’s guidance, models like the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse and Veyron Super Sport became icons of performance. And with special edition models like the innovative Veyron L’Or Blanc with its porcelain applications, the Veyron Edition Hermès and the Legend Editions, Anscheidt and Bugatti pioneered new levels of bespoke craftsmanship. The brand grew in stature and in sales exponentially with Anscheidt’s collaborative influence.

Mate Rimac, Bugatti Rimac CEO said: “Since engaging in my role at Bugatti a couple of years ago, it was obvious that Achim was a crucial component in establishing the next generation of Bugatti hyper sports cars, so I sincerely encouraged him in 2021 to remain with Bugatti for a further three years before retiring. Not only has he very successfully led the stylistic development of a manufacturer renowned for some of the most beautiful cars in the world, but he has also evolved the brand into a true automotive luxury pioneer. His attention to detail and dedication to perfection extends to almost every part of Bugatti today; the visual quality perception, the consequent material philosophy, our communications with our customers and everything else in between. He has ensured that every interaction an individual has with our brand is incomparable by design.

“Achim’s understanding of the Bugatti identity, handed down from our founder Ettore and in the beautiful designs of his son Jean, is unrivalled, and his last commitment to Bugatti was to finalize the design of our next-generation hyper sports car. Without saying too much, it’s Achim’s masterpiece and the most beautiful and authentic evolution of Bugatti I could have imagined. It’s an honor to have Achim continue to develop the brand as our advisor, and with the stunning work that Frank Heyl has already undertaken, the future of Bugatti design is in the very best of hands.”

Christophe Piochon, President of Bugatti Automobiles, said: “Designing a Bugatti is a skill that only the very best can achieve. Not only do you have the enormous weight of a century of iconic automotive masterpieces on your shoulders, but you also have the complexities of millimeter-perfect packaging and extreme aerodynamic and thermodynamic requirements. To create a car around the W16 engine, and one capable of world record speeds requires a huge amount of balancing aerodynamic forces and active temperature handling. Achim has a very natural technical understanding all these demands, able to craft beauty from necessity.”

Achim Anscheidt said: “When I first arrived at Bugatti, I was inspired to make the famous Bugatti patrons of the past proud – especially Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean, but also Romano Artioli and especially Ferdinand Piëch. Jean was such a visionary of style design and for his life to have been cut so sadly short served as the catalyst for me to evolve the brand in his stylistic vision. I wanted to develop modern day Bugatti into a crowning jewel of brand perception and unique automotive excellence.

“The Veyron, the Chiron and the successor to the Chiron all share this one thing: they are not racecars for the road, they are the pinnacle of Grand Tourisme development, they are an intriguing mixture of a nimble Type 35, the luxury of the Type 41 Royale and the peerless elegance of the Type 57 SC Atlantic.

“I will be forever grateful for having been a part of this incredible developing Bugatti journey, the best is still to come, and I’m truly thankful to all who supported the brand and our design department to help us evolve the brand to a place where I know Ettore and Jean would be proud.”

THE BUGATTI DESIGN DNA
Under Achim’s careful guidance, modern day Bugatti design has evolved to spark a sense of wonder and joy into anyone that is lucky enough to discover one on a public road. Deliberately elegant, sovereign and free from overly aggressive lines, a Bugatti should evoke the same sensation as seeing a genuine and unique artwork. An automotive contrapost of beauty and beast and of utmost quality perception, visible in the refined reflections on the sculpted organic bodywork.

This is the overarching character upon spotting a Bugatti; something almost indescribable that creates a charming moment of automotive excellence with onlookers. But of course, it must also be recognizably Bugatti, and Achim has defined core elements that feature in some way in every model he has designed, including those still to be revealed.

A Bugatti has a distinct and unmistakable DNA. The horseshoe grille is the most precious brand identification symbol, as is the duotone split, used so effectively by Jean Bugatti on his Type 57 creations. The so-called ‘Bugatti Line’ creates a worldwide instantly recognizable sideview profile for every modern-day Bugatti, subtly developed over time to suit each individual Bugatti creation. And an expressive centre line, that traces from the arching crown of the horseshoe grille, across the top of the car flowing into the rear, is a subtle homage to the full-length fin, originating from the purpose-driven famous rivetline of the Type 57 SC Atlantic.

Perhaps most crucially of all, Bugatti design DNA should be ideally created in healthy correlation to its performance challenges. Achim’s philosophy has always been that a truly beautiful and authentic car design should not be engineered first then designed later. The technical requirements and the design must be developed at the same time, and that is especially the case with a Bugatti, complete with the enormously complex aerodynamic and thermodynamic requirements. A car that can travel at more than 400km/h, and with 10 separate radiators and a revolutionary 8.0-liter engine must delicately balance downforce, lift and cooling. This is a design vision developed under Achim’s leadership and known as ‘Form Follows Performance.’

Bugatti designers must have a very solid understanding about state-of-the-art automotive engineering, in order to achieve authentic stylistic ‘win–win’ solutions with Bugatti’s ambitious and talented engineers.

Much like a high-end timepiece, every part of this technical design process must be holistically beautiful. Even with the bodyshell removed, a Bugatti should be a work of art, capable of being displayed and appreciated by anyone who beholds it. It is a passionate undertaking of 360-degree beauty in engineering, from the ground-up. Just as it was with Ettore Bugatti and Jean Bugatti, every single component can standalone as an example of design excellence – “Nothing is too beautiful,” as he famously said.

BESPOKE AND THE COACHBUILDING RENAISSANCE
It has always been a part of Bugatti history that cars can perfectly reflect their owner’s exact desires. And even from the early days of the Veyron, Achim worked to push the boundaries of quality perception, precious materials and excellence in craftsmanship to create extraordinary one-off or few-off masterpieces.

This era of individualization began with the Veyron Pur Sang – a favorite of Achim’s as the first of its kind, but also for its pure and authentic materiality. Essentially an unpainted Veyron – with a visible carbon fiber monocoque and pure polished aluminum – it was a visual representation of Bugatti’s dedication to authenticity in materials. If something looks like carbon fiber, or titanium, or leather or aluminum, then it always is. Achim calls this: ‘What you see is what you get.’

In collaboration with famous brands and organizations, Achim oversaw projects that would push the limits further still. The Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport L’Or Blanc featured porcelain highlights as part of a design that mimicked the light reflections over the exterior body. The Veyron FBG Par Hermès was created in partnership with one of the world’s most famous luxury houses, featuring bespoke exterior touches and numerous interior additions, designed from scratch in the Hermès workshops in Paris.

With the evolution from Veyron to Chiron1, Achim’s design team pioneered a resurgence of the coachbuilding tradition that produced some of the most beautiful Bugatti cars ever to have existed. The modern-day coachbuilding era of Bugatti, all using variants of the Chiron powertrain and chassis, has led to the creation of design icons like Divo2, Centodieci3, the unique La Voiture Noire4, the Bolide5, the Mistral6.

BUGATTI UNSEEN
Although much of Achim’s design work is available for the world to see, a huge amount remains hidden. But designs and ideas are constantly reassessed, able to be reinterpreted in a timeless way for the modern era.

At many points in his career, Achim explored a second model line for Bugatti. In 2009, the Galibier – a four-seat Grand Tourisme – was revealed as a potential future model to join the Veyron. And then in 2015, a design for a V8-powered coupé in the style of the legendary Type 57 SC Atlantic was publicly featured. Neither made it to production, but it remains Achim’s wish that new model lines can still be created in the spirit of Jean Bugatti.

Famously, Jean Bugatti’s Type 57 generated many different coachbuilt body styles, including the four-seat Ventoux, the sweeping two-seater Atalante, the iconic Atlantic and convertible Tourer variants.

IN ORDER TO LOOK FORWARD, YOU MUST LOOK BACK
With an envious back-catalogue of revered automotive designs, Achim’s challenge for modern Bugatti design has been to capture the essence of what made those cars so timelessly elegant, without creating a retro pastiche.

It’s important to understand what the nucleus of the Type 35 is, or what the defining characteristics of the Type 57 SC Atlantic are. Only with a true understanding of these designs is it possible to design something that doesn’t mimic them, but recaptures their beauty for an entirely new era of cultural development and brand value.

A Bugatti would never directly copy, for example, the riveted body panels of the Type 57 SC Atlantic, but it would find inspiration in their purpose. The rivets were a functional performance decision for the Atlantic, beautiful because of their innate sense of purpose. In modern-day Bugatti, this ethos continues.

Much of this stems from the history of Bugatti as a brand born from a family of artists, and a brand with family values, with a passion for racing and a dedication to perfection. Today, these values continue to inspire Achim, instilled into every member of the design team and hard-wired into every Bugatti design. These are the foundations on which the next chapter in Bugatti design will be built.

PASSING THE TORCH
Achim now passes the torch of Bugatti design to Frank Heyl, having overseen the meticulous development of the Chiron successor and further products. His vision for the future of Bugatti – developed with Mate Rimac – is in place until around 2030. So passionate is Achim, that only with complete confidence in having secured a bright future for the brand, is he able to step back from his role. The successor to the Chiron has been undergoing its design process for over two years already and will be revealed only in 2024 before its launch in 2026.

With the imminent design future of Bugatti secured under his leadership, Achim can confidently hand over the reins to his long-time deputy Frank Heyl. The 44-year-old graduated in vehicle design from the Royal College of Art in London and worked at various manufacturers before kickstarting his career at Bugatti in 2008. At Bugatti he was involved in the design of vehicles including the Veyron Supersport, Vision Gran Turismo, Chiron and Divo. He was appointed Head of Exterior Design in 2014 and promoted to Deputy Design Director in 2019. Frank will lead the Bugatti design team, working hand-in-hand with the Bugatti Rimac design and engineering facility in Berlin, which is overseen by Jan Schmid and the Zagreb operation, headed by Ignacio Martinez.

  • BAC Saudi Arabia is launched following the successful dynamic debut of the Mono R at the March 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah
  • Expansion into Saudi Arabia, a strategically pivotal market for BAC, represents the latest stage in the company’s global expansion, having recently appointed brand-new dealership partners in North America and Asia
  • BAC’s presence in Saudi Arabia is in response to strong demand for the Mono range in the country and across the Middle East
  • BAC Saudi Arabia will operate out of regional hubs located in the iconic Saudi Arabian cities of Riyadh and Jeddah

17 July 2023 – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) is continuing to push ahead with its ambitious global expansion roadmap, having today officially unveiled its next-phase growth plans for the Middle East.

Following the recent announcement of three new dealerships across the USA and two new dealerships in Asia, BAC’s expansion within the Middle East is initially being underpinned by a new partnership in Saudi Arabia. It marks the first time the Liverpool, UK-based, supercar manufacturer will have a retail presence in the country.

The new dealership appointment in Saudi Arabia follows the successful dynamic debut of the Mono R in the country at this year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which saw the single-seater supercar set the tone for its wide-ranging appeal, impressing spectators, onlookers and the motorsport community with its seamless and high-performance demonstration runs which ran throughout the weekend around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

BAC Saudi Arabia will be run in partnership with Veloce Life, which operates at the heart of the country’s automotive scene, bringing together collectors, drivers and enthusiasts of some of the rarest and most exclusive cars on the planet. The new BAC dealership will operate out of the Riyadh and Jeddah regional hubs, whilst also presenting the Mono line-up at a host of key industry events throughout the region. The first Mono to be delivered to Saudi Arabia – a stunning smoked-visible-carbon Mono R – will be available to view for prospective customers in the country immediately. The first deliveries to customers will commence later this year.   

“I am thrilled to announce our first dealership in Saudi Arabia,” said Ian Briggs, BAC co-founder and design director. “There are very few places in the world that can match Saudi Arabia’s enthusiasm and passion for beautifully bespoke, high-performance and unique automotive creations like the Mono range, a point that was further underscored earlier this year when we received a remarkable response to Mono R’s dynamic on-track performance at the Grand Prix in Jeddah. The fact that we are now growing the BAC community into the Middle East is further proof that we are on track to deliver our strategic growth objectives.”

Faisal Binladen, founder of Veloce Life, added: “I am very excited to partner with BAC to launch the incredible Mono range in Saudi Arabia. The driver-focused nature of Mono – something that is a rarity in today’s automotive sphere – has garnered a lot of attention in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East. At the Grand Prix in Jeddah earlier this year, I saw in person how the Mono R stirs up pure excitement; when people lay their eyes on a Mono for the first time, they literally light up. I am looking forward to fusing the unique brand appeal of BAC into the heart of the Saudi Arabian car culture.”


Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) LTD
is the British manufacturer behind the world’s only road-legal, single-seater supercars – the BAC Mono and BAC Mono R. The Liverpool-based business was founded in 2009 by brothers Neill and Ian Briggs, who set about providing the world with a road vehicle that offers the most authentic and pure driving experience possible.

Mono and Mono R implement the very latest racing technology and are regarded as the ultimate pieces of sporting equipment for the sport of driving. They focus solely on the person behind the wheel; race cars for the road that can be described as A-to-A vehicles, rather than A-to-B – forget the destination, these models are all about pure driving pleasure.

BAC customers are predominantly passionate and knowledgeable car-lovers who have achieved entrepreneurial success; and as such have extensive garages with the finest models around. They invest in Mono because they seek a driving experience that nothing else in the world can offer, while maintaining an exceptional level of bespoke luxury.

Designed, engineered, and managed by experts with backgrounds in several leading automotive, high-end supercar and motorsport brands, Mono and Mono R are luxury products that owners can tailor to suit their needs. From performance to unique vehicle aesthetics, drivers are offered a truly bespoke buying experience – every single car rolled out of the BAC factory is a one-of-one vehicle.

BAC exports 80% of the cars it produces to over 45 different countries across five different continents – and counting. Its high-profile dealer network across America, Asia and Europe caters to an ever-growing global demand for Mono ownership and servicing.

Instagram: @DiscoverMono
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DiscoverMono
Twitter: @DiscoverMono
YouTube: www.youtube.com/DiscoverMono
Website: www.bac-mono.com

For media and PR inquiries please contact:
t: +44 (0) 151 486 8787 
e: press@bac-mono.com

Spéirling PURE track car objectives

  • To bring back legendary fan car technology
  • To restore passion for small and lightweight cars
  • To make record breaking performance accessible to track driving enthusiasts. 

 Key Facts – Spéirling PURE track car

  • It’s the first commercially available sealed skirt fan car – an opportunity to own and exploit this historically significant technology. 3G cornering now possible at accessible speeds. 
  • Its capability will exceed that of the machine which holds the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb record.  It is focused on multi lap runs on full race circuits with fast charge turnaround. 
  • It is eligible for the GT1 Sports Club. An exclusive hypercar driving programme held in the heart of the SRO GT World Challenge race weekends. Destinations include International FIA circuits in Europe, Asia and America.
  • Validation Prototype (VP1) will be unveiled to the public at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.  It will be in the supercar paddock neighbouring the start line. 
  • Pre-production protypes will follow in 2024.
  • Final Production will be limited to 100 units, deliveries will start in 2025. 
  • From £820,000 + taxes

Headline Technical Information

  • Patented Downforce-on-Demand Fan System
  • 1.02m height x 1.58m width x 3.45m length
  • <1000 kg Weight
  • 1000 bhp (745kW) Peak Output
  • 190 mph Top Speed
  • Rear Wheel Drive
  • 60 kWh Battery System – developed with Molicel
  • Fast Charge in under 20 mins
  • Carbon Fibre Monocoque designed to meet motorsport standards
  • Adjustable pedals and steering wheel to accommodate drivers up to 6ft 7” (2.0m) and 150kg.
  • Slick Tyres – 27/65-18 (Front), 30/68-18 (Rear)

Key Spokespeople
Thomas Yates, founding director: “The Spéirling PURE will herald a new era on the track. The sound, grip, acceleration, aesthetics and technology of this car are distinct.  Witnessing the car as a spectator or from the cockpit offers a rare and exhilarating experience.  With pre-orders from around the globe, I can’t wait for fan cars at the racetrack to become a new normality.”

Max Chilton, development driver: “Proving the Spéirling’s advantage via the outright hillclimb record at Goodwood was a proud life achievement. Since then, it’s been rewarding to see what customers can achieve in the driving seat too.  It’s hugely satisfying to be part of the company that are bringing this game changing technology to driving enthusiasts.”

Where to see the validation prototype
To see a Spéirling PURE and meet with the sales team, please visit the McMurtry Automotive stand at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed from 13th-16th July, in the Supercar paddock near the start line.

Ownership enquiries can also be made via www.mcmurtry.com/speirling-pure/.

Further insight
(Gloucestershire, 21 June 2023) Taking the outright hill record at Goodwood demonstrated the performance potential of a modern fan car and in the process of doing so created automotive history.

Now it is possible to own an evolution of that record breaking vehicle, in one of the most extreme, no rules track cars on the planet: the McMurtry Spéirling PURE.

Its natural home is on race circuits, where McMurtry’s bespoke fan downforce system gives drivers a step change in usable grip. It unlocks a new experience by delivering constant and approachable downforce, all of the time, regardless of speed. It is not affected by yaw angle or wind direction either. The sub 1000kg drivers car is focused on providing some of the most significant and talked about laps of an individual’s endeavours on a race circuit, time and time again.  

Direction changes are intensified. Senses are heightened as the rapid yet playful platform invites drivers to push harder than they thought possible. Braking and turn in points are redefined. Superior traction gives new operating regions to exploit on track. It’s driving on a new level.

The downforce-on-demand system offers the greatest benefit to drivers where most time is spent on track, in the low and medium speed corners. Spéirling PURE owners will have the tools to access the G forces felt in top flight motorsport, as cornering in excess of 3G can be achieved even in some of the tightest corners on Grand Prix Circuits – for example ‘The Loop’ and ‘Village’ at Silverstone, or the famous Monaco hairpin if one can gain track access.

To truly cut through the air onto its way to a top speed of 190mph, and to optimise energy consumption,  the streamlined body shape is vital. The frontal area is minimised by making the driver both the lowest and tallest point in the car and batteries occupy the space between the wheels and under the drivers legs in a U shape.This allows the cars frontal area to remain more akin to the classically proportioned 1960’s grand prix racers at 1.02m tall and 1.58m wide (3.45m long).

The 18” tyres of section widths 270mm front and 300mm rear fill the arches with a powerful stance. When combined with the patented downforce-on-demand system, it is a recipe for total track domination. The intellectual property protection on the system means McMurtry are now the custodians of this era defining advantage.  

Powertrain system performance and efficiency is balanced to maximise run time and minimise charge time, whilst delivering average lap speeds not seen before on many circuits. The cadence of driving and charging time fits nicely into the schedule of premium track programmes, such as the GT1 Sports Club, for which the Spéirling PURE is eligible. As a baseline the car is capable of doing 10 laps of Silverstone National at lap record pace and then fast charging in 20 minutes to run again. Tantalisingly the car has potential to go even faster, for a shorter qualifying simulation.  

Production will be limited to 100 units. Existing deposit holders will receive delivery in 2025.

The validation prototype will continue to test in the UK and Europe in 2023 alongside pursuing a record-breaking programme. This will be followed by pre-production prototypes in 2024, ahead of production starting in 2025.      

For those familiar with the Goodwood Hillclimb record holding Spéirling, McMurtry Automotive have been busy over the last 12 months. Here are some of the changes found on the Spéirling PURE prototype:

  • All new fan system – 15% increase in fan efficiency, 14% weight saving and significantly enhanced tolerance to flow variation.
  • Updated skirt design 15% lighter
  • New E-axle, Goodwood spec acceleration with 190mph top speed and 0.5% improvement gearbox efficiency.
  • New battery with improved thermal management and 3% mass saving enabled by Molicel cells and 15.5% mass saving on battery casing.
  • Revised chassis saving 4% mass.
  • Revised wheel arch and underbody aerodynamics.
  • New electrical architecture saving 35% on wiring loom mass.
  • Exterior – Wider tyres for increased and more progressive lateral grip.  60mm wider per tyre.  And now on 18” wheels vs 19” previously.
  • Front Tyres increased in width from 21/64R19 to 27/65R18, +28% width.
  • Rear Tyres increased in width from 24/640R19 to 30/68R18, +25% width.
  • Wheel rims 2% lighter on front and 12% on rear.
  • Suspension and bodywork re-engineered.
  • Revised pedal box saving 17% mass and addition of optional ABS.
  • 2.5% reduction in brake system assembly mass.
  • Lightened power steering unit saving 20% mass.

McMurtry Company Objectives

  • McMurtry’s ambition is to become one of the world’s most prestigious and long-standing automotive brands, founded on motorsport innovation. 
  • Inspired by legends of the past, we champion small and lightweight. 
  • We proudly showcase British innovation and engineering design.

Further information: 
www.mcmurtry.com

Instagram: @mcmurtryautomotive Facebook: @mcmurtryautomotive LinkedIn: McMurtry Automotive Ltd
Media contact: media@mcmurtry.com

Carlsbad/Stuttgart, June 15, 2023

CreatingIconicLuxury: The Mercedes-Benz brand history is a source of inspiration for the future.

From the three-pointed star to gullwing doors and cab-forward design: over the decades, the Mercedes-Benz design
teams have created and established iconic elements. These are unmistakably associated with the brand,
shaping the Mercedes-Benz myth and creating desire. The Mercedes-Benz design team will continue to
develop the brand’s iconic style to further strengthen this heritage and carry it into the future.

PinnacleOfExclusivity: Exceptional customisation options, one-offs from collaborations, limited collector’s

and special editions, pioneering show cars and research and concept vehicles are the epitome of exclusivity
for Mercedes-Benz.

IDCCarlsbad: The Mercedes-Benz Design Centers provide important impetus for the continuous

development of the design philosophy of sensual purity and for setting trends with new design ideas. At the
International Design Center Carlsbad, the Mercedes-Benz design Team creates show car exteriors, vehicle
studies and mobility concepts for tomorrow and beyond. It does this by picking up on stylistic trends on site,
then analysing and creatively implementing them.

The Californian lifestyle influences the site just as much as
its proximity to Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America. A very special form of creativity
flourishes in Carlsbad, leaving its mark on Mercedes-Benz design and opening up new perspectives.

VisionOneEleven: With the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven, the brand presents a concept sports car that

progressively reinterprets the C 111, a brand icon of the 1970s. Much like its historic predecessor, it
combines stunning design with the most innovative drive technology. The Vision One-Eleven makes use of
axial flux motors from YASA, which have an unmatched power density far beyond comparable radial motors,
while being extremely lightweight.

ExclusiveCollection: Mercedes-Benz is launching the “LIMITED EDITION 1 OF 111” collection along with the

Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven. This is the first time that an iconic design study has been accompanied by
a lifestyle collection consisting of five exclusive pieces. In addition to the striking colour of the concept sports
car, the individual accessories also reflect the vehicle’s characteristic design elements.

AugmentedReality: The Mercedes-Benz design team used augmented reality (AR) to create a visionary user

experience for the premiere of the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven and integrated it into a virtual test
model of the Vision One-Eleven interior. The physical vehicle interior and the digital interface merge
seamlessly, so that virtually the entire car becomes a user interface.

●       Ultra premium electric automotive brand AEHRA reveals design of its second model, a Sedan

●       AEHRA uniquely unlocks complete freedom afforded by state-of-the-art EV technology to set ground-breaking standards for automotive design 

●       Project led by AEHRA Chief Design Officer, Filippo Perini, a symbol of Italian automotive design

●       Customer deliveries of both AEHRA SUV and Sedan expected by 2026

Milan, 16 June 2023 – AEHRA, the new global ultra-premium electric automotive brand, has today revealed the exterior design of its second ground-breaking model, a sinuously styled Sedan.  Presented to the international media at the Milano Monza Motor Show today, the AEHRA Sedan follows swiftly on from the brand’s first model, an SUV presented late last year. 

Based on the same highly flexible ultra-advanced EV platform as the AEHRA SUV, the AEHRA Sedan was conceived in tandem with its sibling without compromise.  And while the new model shares the same design language and body surface treatment as the SUV, it is quite different in character thanks to unique graphic signatures at the front and the rear of the car. 

A shape inspired by centuries of Italian design and purity of expression

AEHRA’s soft, simple, uncomplicated design language is expressed in the new Sedan to stunning effect. From the side, the car features just one uninterrupted fluid line.  The brand’s design team resolutely shunned the need to create numerous edges within the body and, instead, amplified the new model’s character through the use of reflection, with the body divided by light and shadow.

The brand has used a similar ‘division’ approach to express other elements of the Sedan’s character, and this approach is particularly evident at the front of the vehicle. Here, technical elements, such as the active aerodynamic and cooling elements, are amalgamated in the lower section of the car. Combined with a bespoke battery solution developed in partnership with Miba Battery Systems, the AEHRA Sedan and SUV are designed and engineered to deliver optimum efficiency and target an 800km driving range.

By contrast to the more technical lower section, the top portion of the car represents a much cleaner, purer shape, and one that flows elegantly all the way from the hood to the windscreen and up and over the roofline. The crafting of this very fluid shape drew inspiration in part from the aeronautic sector, and it exudes a sheer sense of the AEHRA Sedan gliding effortlessly through the air with great efficiency, even when it is parked and not moving.  

“With the AEHRA Sedan, we have had the boldness to go even further and fully exploit the exceptional design freedom born out of our founder Hazim Nada’s philosophy and vision, and AEHRA’s ground-breaking use of only the most advanced technologies that the global automotive and aeronautic industries have to offer,” explains Filippo Perini, AEHRA Head of Design.  

“The design of the AEHRA Sedan is inspired by numerous sources. In Italy, it is often said we exist in a living museum. The influence of art and architecture is all around us, and beauty is all around us. A beauty that stems from purity of expression and aesthetic functionality.”

“For centuries, Italian architects, artists and designers have been inspired by the pursuit of the perfection of proportion. That passion and discipline are evident in every line and detail of the AEHRA Sedan. Adhering to AEHRA’s doctrine that form must always follow function; the Sedan is the anthesis to baroque design culture. Devoid of unnecessary adornments, yet alive with emotion, the AEHRA Sedan represents a new standard of natural beauty for zero-emission ultra-premium mobility.”

Balance and proportion for a new era of ultra-premium, zero-emission mobility

While the car expresses copious beauty, elegance, and agility, it also conveys an inescapable essence of power, dynamism, and energy, achieved by AEHRA’s unrelenting pursuit of balance and proportion. The AEHRA Sedan’s sense of superior strength comes predominantly from the rippling muscular effect of the front and rear fenders. These almost animal-like features convey that while the AEHRA Sedan is a car designed and engineered for a new era of ultra-premium, zero-emission mobility, pure passion, and sheer driving pleasure reside firmly at its core.

In the Sedan, like in the SUV, AEHRA’s unflinching determination to deliver a seismic shift across the automotive customer experience, and transform the EV mobility ecosystem, encompasses the use of ultra-advanced, exceptionally light, highly sustainable composite materials, including forged carbon fiber technologies. 

Typically the exclusive preserve of the supercar and hypercar sector, these materials enable AEHRA to push the boundaries of technical design far beyond anything yet seen in the passenger car sector. They empower the brand to encompass ground-breaking features such as the double-falcon doors, which feature on both the SUV and the Sedan. Opening upwards, they blend a stunning visual statement with exceptional practicality to provide effortless ingress and egress.

“The debut of the AEHRA Sedan, just eight months after we revealed our first SUV model and the recent announcement of our partnership with Miba Battery Systems, confirms that AEHRA remains firmly on track in its strategic mission to deliver a step-change in the design, customer, and ownership experience of ultra-premium electric vehicles,” commented AEHRA Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hazim Nada. 

“The first customer deliveries of the AEHRA Sedan and AEHRA SUV will commence by 2026. And when the final production variants take to the road, they will look virtually identical to the models we have revealed, ensuring no compromise on our promise to combine an extraordinary driving and ownership experience with exceptional design and technology.” 

With substantial private funding in place, AEHRA has established a clear roadmap to deliver its unique, transformative business model. A strategic model roll out is planned for key markets in 2026, including North America and Europe, with China and the Gulf States to follow.

For more information on AEHRA and to register interest in one of their forthcoming models, see www.AEHRA.com.

ABOUT AEHRA

AEHRA has been created to deliver a step-change in the design, customer, and ownership experience of ultra-premium electric vehicles (EVs). Headquartered in Milan, AEHRA is a privately funded global company that disrupts the existing automotive ecosystem by distilling the values of Italian design, world-class engineering, and American customer service to leverage the advantages of next-generation EV powertrain packaging and technology.

The Maison’s 36th appearance as world sponsor and official timekeeper

Chopard is proud to return to Brescia for the 36th time in succession as the World Sponsor and Official Timekeeper of the 1000 Miglia – otherwise known as ‘the most beautiful race in the world’. The partnership represents one of the longest in history between a watchmaker and an automobile event, signifying Chopard’s well known love of classic cars and its passion for motorsport. That passion is further confirmed by the fact that 2023 marks the 35th occasion that Chopard co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele will compete in the race from Brescia to Rome and back, having first taken part in 1989 with six-times Le Mans 24 Hours winner Jacky Ickx in the navigator’s seat. The pair will team-up again this year (as on more than a dozen previous occasions), once more tackling the gruelling course in the instantly recognisable  ‘metallic raspberry’ Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing in which they made their 1000 Miglia debut. And, of course, Chopard will continue its tradition of introducing new Mille Miglia timepieces, with four Mille Miglia Classic Chronographs, plus an additional, very special ‘Italian Limited Edition’ of the Mille Miglia GTS Chronograph – some of the proceeds from which will be donated to victims of the recent Emilia-Romagna flood disaster.

A new route, a new city – and an extra day

The 1000 Miglia was first run in 1927 but – in keeping with its reputation for never growing old – this year’s event features a new route and will be run over the course of five days rather than the usual four. For the first time the race will incorporate a section from Parma to Milan, a city never before included in the 1000 Miglia and the location from which the 405 starters will make their home run to Brescia on the final day (Saturday, June 17th). 

In between, the course takes them in a clockwise direction, with day one ending in an overnight stop on the coast at Cervio-Milano Marittima. An early start on Wednesday sends the group to the tiny, hilltop republic of San Marino (the fifth smallest country in the world) and up to 300 metres above sea level for a lunch break in Macerata, a town renowned for its striking palazzos and annual opera festival. The day finishes in Rome when the cars will parade around the city, followed by a dawn start on Thursday for the six-hour run to lunch in Siena (scene of the historic Palio horse race).

After tackling the famous Abertone Pass – frequently used by Ferrari’s test drivers – the crews end-up in Parma where they spend the night before heading out on Friday morning to begin the ‘home run,’ stopping at Piacenza military airport to mark the centenary of the Aeronautica Militare Italiana. After lunch in Alessandria and a further five hours on the road, the competitors will check-in at the new Milan time control point before dinner and a well-earned night’s rest.

A civilised 8am start on Saturday marks the beginning of the final 100 kilometres of the course, which will take the surviving cars back to the finish at Brescia where they will parade along the tree-lined Viale Venezia.

Two cars compete for Team Chopard

In addition to the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing crewed by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele and Jacky Ickx, Chopard Ambassadors Zhu Yilong, the acclaimed Chinese actor, and Romain Dumas, the celebrated endurance racing driver, will also compete under the ‘Team Chopard’ banner in a 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster.

Mille-Miglia-GTS-Chrono-Limited-Edition-Italy-2023
Mille-Miglia-GTS-Chrono-Limited-Edition-Italy-2023

A pre-start dinner in a stunning setting

But before the flag drops to wave the first car off the Brescia start ramp on Tuesday (June 13th), Karl-Friedrich Scheufele will host a special welcome dinner at the beautiful and historic L’Albereta hotel, just 20km from Brescia and close to the shores of Lake Iseo within the breathtakingly beautiful Lombardy countryside. Here, guests will discover the new Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph collection that celebrates this year’s race – maintaining Chopard’s tradition of creating an all-new, dedicated design that has prevailed each year since 1988.

The 2023 Mille Miglia watches – the tradition continues

Comprising four new models crafted in Chopard’s exclusive Lucent Steel™ (50 per cent more resilient than regular steel and incorporating material recycled from the medical, aerospace, car and watch industries), the 40mm chronographs are fitted either with the Maison’s signature rubber strap based on the pattern of a ‘60s Dunlop race tyre or a rich brown calfskin leather strap evoking traditional driving gloves.

What makes this year’s Mille Miglia Classic Chronographs extra-special, however, are their dials: each of the four variations is based on the paint hues and interior finishes typically found on the type of pre-1957 cars that are eligible for the 1000 Miglia. That means a choice of Rosso Amarena (cherry red), Grigio-Blu (grey blue), Verde Chiaro (light green) and Nero Corsa (racing black). In keeping with a 36-year tradition, each watch carries a miniature ‘1000 Miglia’ route marker on its dial and case back.

In addition to the Mille Miglia Classic Chronographs, Chopard has also produced a very special version of its larger Mille Miglia GTS Chrono. Being made from Lucent Steel™ in just 100 examples, part of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to victims of the devastating floods that swept through the Emilia-Romagna region in early May. This 44mm edition carries the green and red colours of Italy, with its olive green bezel featuring a tachymeter scale for speed and distance calculations. Further marking-out the ‘form and function’ nature of Chopard’s Mille Miglia watches, the Mille Miglia GTS Chrono Limited Edition Italy is also fitted with substantial ‘mushroom’ pushers and a large diameter crown to provide a firm grip and ease of use while on the road.

Both the Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph editions and the Mille Miglia GTS Chrono Limited Edition Italy are the prefect watches for anyone taking part in ‘the most beautiful race in the world’ as well as for those who follow it. And whether you are one or the other, we wish you a thrilling but safe journey to the finish.