JSW MG Motor India has launched the Hector Tomahawk PHEV at a price of Rs 25.69 lakh (ex-showroom) alongside the all-electric version of this brand-new SUV. This becomes the first mainstream plug-in hybrid SUV in our market. It is powered by a 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine paired to a 20.5kWh battery for a claimed fuel economy of around 40kpl and an electric-only range of over 115km. MG claims that the Hector Tomahawk can deliver over 1100km of range with a full tank of fuel and a fully charged battery. Bookings for the Tomahawk PHEV have commenced today and deliveries will begin in November this year.
Unlike the Hector Tomahawk EV that’s available in both 5- and 7-seater configurations, the PHEV is only available in a 7-seater configuration. MG is also offering the Tomahawk PHEV under the BaaS program, where prices start from Rs 21.79 lakh and Rs 3.20 is charged additionally on the battery rental.
Mercedes-Benz has introduced a thorough facelift for the C-Class sedan for 2026 and beyond. As part of the update, the C-Class features significantly revised styling inspired by the likes of the larger S-Class, a longer list of features, and an upgraded set of petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Prices for the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class start at 41,045 euros (Rs 45.43 lakh) in Germany.
Porsche could axe the Taycan by 2030, reported German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche. This comes just a couple of months following the global unveiling of the 2027 Taycan, and about five months after Porsche’s plan to merge the Taycan and Panamera nameplates.
Plummeting demand cited as a major reason
Production of the Taycan has been halted several times
Porsche Taycan faces an uncertain future
Demand for the brand’s first fully electric car has been weak in recent years
After hitting a peak of 40,960 units in 2023, the whole of 2025 saw worldwide sales of the Taycan dropping by over 60 percent (at 16,339 units). Similarly dismal numbers have led Porsche to halt production of the Taycan several times over the years, Autocar UK highlighted. A phased ramp-down aside, Porsche’s plans with the Taycan also included an immediate cessation of its production, as per WirtschaftsWoche’s report.
2027 Porsche Taycan with the Manthey kit shown for representational purposes only.
Even though the automaker is yet to officially sign on the paperwork, the German report claims that an understanding has been realised with Porsche’s Executive Board and General Works Council agreeing to proceed with a gradual discontinuation. In effect, this means that the Taycan is likely to be made at the automaker’s Stuttgart facility till its production comes to an end.
While the Taycan may bow out, Porsche is unlikely to give up on its aspirations for high-performance electric sedans. A successor is likely to join the Panamera line-up and likely be unified under a single nameplate, similar to what the brand has done before with the Macan and Cayenne line-up, Autocar UK explained. During his interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Porsche CEO Dr. Michael Leiters, said, “In the short term, we are not planning to discontinue the Taycan. We have invested a lot in the model and want to observe how demand develops.”
Porsche’s production road map
The Leipzig facility handles production of Porsche’s combustion and fully electric models
Like the Macan Electric, the Taycan’s successor could be produced at Porsche’s Leipzig facility.
Porsche’s Leipzig facility is where models such as the Panamera and Macan Electric are currently produced. However, its capacity isn’t being utilised as optimally as the automaker had once expected, according to Autocar UK. Meanwhile, WirtschaftsWoche’s insider sources claimed that Porsche was intending to move the Taycan’s production from the existing Stuttgart facility to the brand’s more accommodating establishment in Leipzig, whose production line can handle petrol, plug-in hybrid and fully electric models.
If Porsche wishes to consolidate and lower costs by benefiting from economies of scale, it could move the production of the expected Taycan successor to this facility. The German luxury marque has already written off EUR 1.8 billion owing to delays of this upcoming model’s platform development, according to Autocar UK.
On the sidelines of the world premiere of the Lamborghini Revuelto SV, the brand’s president and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, spoke to journalists about the new flagship hybrid supercar, the move away from EVs and even the Indian market.
India-EU FTA hybrid uncertainty could pose a problem
A hot topic at the moment is the India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) soon to come into effect, which promises to make imported cars a whole lot more affordable. While that’s great news for most super-sportscar brands, it’s not so for Lamborghini, as the India-EU FTA offers no clarity about benefits for hybrid cars, which make up the Italian brand’s entire range.
“The decision was made, I think, at the beginning of the year to lower the import taxes, but not for PHEVs,” said Winkelmann, responding to a question from Autocar India. “So, we see a drop in the market due to the uncertainty which is created by this. And there is still not enough clarity.”
While other brands do have some pure-ICE models, the prices of which are already being reduced ahead of the FTA’s introduction, at present, hybrid and EV models continue to attract the full import duty as before. Having moved away from pure-ICE models entirely, Lamborghini unfortunately bears the full brunt, at least for now.
Lamborghini’s current line-up features only hybrid models.
“I think this will come only in four years’ time. And this, for sure, is not helping the decision to buy a plug-in hybrid car, which is coming from [Lamborghini].”
Can ethanol-blended petrol work in Lamborghinis?
Regarding another hot topic in our country at the moment, Winkelmann responded to another question from Autocar India, suggesting that given the uncertainty around traditional fuels, blended biofuels were not off the table for Lamborghini.
“In Europe, we are extremely positive about it and are going to make a decision on biofuels soon,” he said, highlighting that any decision around the matter would have to start from its home region. “For us, this is a very important market, as you might know.”
He was quick to point out that the quality of fuel is what’s most important for any of Lamborghini’s models and their high-performance plug-in hybrid powertrains. While ethanol blending does increase the RON (Research Octane Number) of the fuel, it also depends on the petrol it is being blended with, which varies from market to market.
“They already exist, those fuels, but it always depends on how good they are. If you have a low octane, then you cannot use them for our type of cars. You have to have a minimum of 95 octane, and this is sometimes, with the few fuels around the globe, not available,” he stated, reiterating that such a decision would have to be globally compatible. “I don’t know exactly how this is in India.”
Revuelto SV arrives before Revuelto Roadster
As for the main event, Lamborghini has just revealed the Revuelto SV, the hotter version of its flagship V12 PHEV supercar, limited to 1,963 units. With increased performance, redone suspension and far more advanced aerodynamics, its goal is to surpass the Revuelto to become the highest-performance Lamborghini of them all. SV models date all the way back to the Miura SV from 1971, but this is the first time an SV has been launched so soon after the standard model, arriving before even a convertible Roadster model.
“I have to tell you that the coupe was and is so successful that it was exceeding all our expectations, even the most positive ones,” Winkelmann said in response to Autocar India. “So, we decided to go immediately from Revuelto to Revuelto Superveloce. And the first feedbacks we are getting on the Superveloce are really outstanding.”
The additional 50hp is extracted from an upgraded battery and motor rather than from the V12 engine, which Lamborghini says was intentional, as it allowed for better control and faster distribution of the power.
“We use the battery to create more boost and a better distribution of power output than only with the internal combustion engine. Also, together with the torque vectoring, the feeling of driving a car at speed is very much improved in comparison with the [purely] internal combustion engine guise of the past generations,” Winkelmann said.
Lamborghini customers don’t want EVs
That said, the engine is essential. Not long before rival Ferrari unveiled its first EV, the Luce, Lamborghini announced its decision to delay its own first electric offering, the Lanzador, which was scheduled to launch before 2030. The Lanzador – also a low-slung four-seat crossover – will now get a hybrid powertrain instead, as an EV would simply not be emotional enough for Lamborghini customers.
“Why? Because the customer behaviour towards what we were proposing at the beginning of this decade has changed; they are not adopting electric cars,” said Winkelmann. “I’m talking about our type of customers, because you don’t buy a Lamborghini because you need a Lamborghini or you need a car; you buy it because you want to fulfil your dreams. We are not selling mobility; we are selling emotions.”
He also stated that, Indian regulations aside, the brand’s all-PHEV line-up has proven to be a successful approach, at once helping meet prevailing and upcoming emissions regulations while also retaining the emotional appeal of an ICE engine that’s core to the brand.
“You have the sound, the vibration of an internal combustion engine, but you also have all the advantages of the new technology,” he said. “The combination of battery and internal combustion engine for us is not a transition period, but it’s really something which is here to stay.”
The Lamborghini Revuelto SV has been unveiled as the Italian supercar’s sharper, meaner, and more track-centric variant, of which just 1,963 units will be built. The Revuelto SV clocked an official lap time of 1:41.6 around Hockenheimring, making it the second-fastest manufacturer-timed car around the German circuit. It retains the Revuelto’s V12 plug-in hybrid powertrain, but adds 50hp for a combined output of 1,065hp, which is funneled to all four wheels via an 8-speed DCT. The 7.3kWh battery pack is also carried forward, and powers a trio of electric motors.
Ferrari has revealed the CZ26, a one-off supercar created through its Special Projects programme for a US client. Based on the SF90 Stradale, the CZ26 gets an entirely bespoke exterior and interior inspired by 1970s Italian industrial design, along with extensive aerodynamic revisions. While the styling is unique, the powertrain remains unchanged, with the SF90’s 1,000hp plug-in hybrid V8 setup carried over. Here are the best images of Ferrari’s latest one-off creation ahead of its public debut at Monterey Car Week.
Ferrari has unveiled the CZ26, a one-off supercar created through its Special Projects programme for a US client. Based on the SF90 Stradale, it gets bespoke exterior and interior design, revised aerodynamics and unique detailing while retaining the plug-in hybrid powertrain comprising a twin-turbo V8 and three electric motors.
One-off Special Projects model based on the SF90 Stradale
Bespoke bodywork inspired by 1970s Italian industrial design
Retains SF90’s plug-in hybrid powertrain
The CZ26 was designed by the Ferrari Design Studio under Flavio Manzoni as part of Ferrari’s Special Projects programme, where one-off projects typically take around two years to complete.
Ferrari CZ26: exterior design
Based on the SF90 Stradale, the CZ26 gets completely bespoke bodywork with a clean two-box silhouette, pronounced wheel arches and a truncated rear. Ferrari says the project was developed to give the car an immediately recognisable identity while retaining the SF90’s underlying architecture.
Up front, the CZ26 gets a full-width functional grille housing ultra-slim concealed lighting, brake cooling intakes and sensors. At the rear are cantilevered tail-lamps, a redesigned diffuser and titanium exhaust tips. The body is finished in an exclusive Argento Veloce silver paint with Rosso Lampante accents and exposed carbon-fibre elements. Ferrari says the styling draws inspiration from Italian industrial design of the 1970s, reinterpreted through a contemporary design language.
Ferrari has also reworked the aerodynamics. The cooling system, airflow management, underbody and vortex generators have all been redesigned, while an air-curtain system, a larger rear spoiler, a new diffuser and revised engine cover improve downforce, aerodynamic efficiency and engine cooling.
Ferrari CZ26: interior
The cabin receives a bespoke design to match the exterior theme. It features bespoke black technical fabric upholstery, additively manufactured seat inserts developed specifically for the CZ26, satin-finish carbon fibre trim and gloss carbon-fibre elements with metallic filaments. Rosso Lampante accents and body-coloured dashboard and door trim mirror the exterior finish, while an embroidered CZ26 logo highlights its one-off status.
Ferrari CZ26: powertrain and performance
Mechanically, the CZ26 remains unchanged from the SF90 Stradale. It is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 797hp and 804Nm, paired with three electric motors that contribute a further 220hp. Combined system output stands at 1,000hp. The plug-in hybrid system uses a 7.9kWh battery offering an electric-only range of 25km and is paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Ferrari claims a 0-100kph time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 328kph.
The CZ26 will make its public debut at Monterey Car Week in California. It joins Ferrari’s growing list of Special Projects one-offs, a programme that uses existing Ferrari models as the basis for bespoke customer commissions. Previous projects include the SP48 Unica, SP51, SP-8, KC23 and HC25. Ferrari has not disclosed the price of the CZ26.
JSW MG has teased its upcoming new SUV for India, which is to be called the Hector Tomahawk, our sources have indicated. The official launch date is set for August 26, 2026. Sold as the Wuling Eksion in the Indonesian market, the upcoming Hector Tomahawk will sit atop JSW MG’s new ADAPT (Advanced Drive Architecture Platform Technology) platform. The Hector Tomahawk will be launched as a fully electric model first, and will be slotted above the Hector in the brand’s line-up in India.
Teaser confirms rectangular headlamps, signature LED DRLs, a panoramic sunroof and more
Will be offered in EV guise first; PHEV could arrive later
Seating for 7 occupants; bench-style second row
JSW MG Hector Tomahawk exterior design
The teaser offers a few important design details on the outside of this upcoming MG SUV
The official teaser confirms the rectangular LED headlamps first seen in spy shots. It also reveals details like the twin-element LED DRLs (daytime running lights) at the front and rear of the Hector Tomahawk. Observable details here also include the silver-finished alloy wheels, black plastic cladding under the doors, pronounced front fenders, pull-type door handles, prominent roof rails and wraparound LED tail-lamps. It’s clear from the teaser that the Hector Tomahawk sports chrome garnish along the windowline, plus a relatively flat roofline that leads to a roof spoiler.
In terms of dimensions, the JSW MG Hector Tomahawk is likely to have similar dimensions as the Wuling Eksion 7-seater that’s sold in Indonesia. For reference, the latter measures 4,745mm in length, 1,850mm in width, 1,755mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,9810mm. Its two-tone exterior colour options are likely to be offered in our market, too.
JSW MG Hector Tomahawk interior design and features
Apart from the exterior, the brand’s latest teaser also confirms a few details upcoming Hector Tomahawk’s interior. For starters, we now know that there will be 7 seats on offer, with a bench-style arrangement for the second row. The teaser also shows a beige colour theme for this cabin, along with a panoramic sunroof as part of the equipment that’ll be on offer. While more details are to be confirmed, the Hector Tomahawk EV could share much of the rest of its design and feature set with the Wuling Eksion. This means a minimalistic cabin with physical switchgear on and behind the two-spoke steering wheel, on the centre console and the doors.
Depending on the trim level, the equipment on offer include a powered tailgate, leatherette upholstery, powered and ventilated front seats, a 12.8-inch touch-infotainment head unit, an 8.8-inch digital driver’s display, a 50-watt wireless charger, automatic climate control with AC vents for the second and third rows, a 360-degree camera system, an electronic parking brake, six airbags, and an ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) suite, among others.
JSW MG Hector Tomahawk powertrain details
ADAPT platform supports battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, range-extender and strong-hybrid powertrains
While JSW MG is likely to reveal the Hector Tomahawk PHEV (plug-in hybrid) on August 26 as well, the brand’s teaser suggests that the ADAPT-based SUV will be introduced in its EV avatar first. The fully electric version of the Wuling Eksion EV that’s available in Indonesia is equipped with a single front-mounted electric motor that generates 201hp and 310Nm, allowing a claimed top speed of 160kph. It’s backed by a 69.2kWh LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery pack with a CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) range of up to 530km.
The Hector Tomahawk PHEV is also likely to share its powertrain setup with its Eksion counterpart. For reference, the latter comes with a single electric motor that produces up to 195hp and 230Nm on its own, while the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine puts out 105hp and 130Nm. There’s also a 20.5kWh battery pack in the equation, and the maximum all-electric range of the Eksion PHEV is a claimed 125km. JSW MG’s ADAPT platform is capable of supporting battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, range-extender and strong-hybrid powertrains.
Audi will pursue a broader powertrain strategy spanning battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and combustion engines, stepping away from its earlier plan to become an all-electric carmaker. Global CEO Gernot Döllner said he reviewed Audi’s all-electric strategy after taking charge and decided that the company needed a more balanced product and powertrain mix to address the varying pace of EV adoption across markets.
“When I joined Audi, there was an all-electric strategy in place, which was one of the first things I reviewed,” Döllner told Autocar India in an exclusive interview. “We found a more balanced strategy between plug-in hybrids, especially important for Europe, combustion engine and electric.”
Global EV sales downturn lent ICE powertrains more time
The slower-than-expected pace of EV adoption in several global markets has extended the relevance of combustion engines and plug-in hybrids. Audi expects to retain a focused combustion-engine and plug-in-hybrid portfolio, particularly for SUVs.
Audi Q3 PHEV
The company has recently completed a major investment cycle covering new petrol and diesel engines, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles designed to meet Euro 7 and other global regulations.
“For sure, the majority of our investment will be in battery electric. That’s a given,” Döllner said.
Audi will continue to invest selectively in combustion engines, including efficiency improvements and transmission technology, but Döllner expects the pace of innovation to be much faster in EVs.
Audi RS5 plug-in hybrid powertrain
“The combustion engine is fairly mature. It’s at the very end of a 100-year innovation cycle, and battery electric is still at the very beginning, to be honest,” he said. “The dominant part of our investment will definitely be on the battery-electric side.”
Electric remains Audi’s leading technology
Audi’s decision to retain combustion engines and plug-in hybrids does not alter its long-term direction towards electric vehicles.
“Electric is, for Audi, still the leading technology,” Döllner said. “It’s our main priority to step by step become more electric.”
Prototypes of upcoming Audi A2 e-tron
Audi currently has four battery-electric model lines globally and expects to increase this to five by the end of the year, with some available in more than one body style. The company will, however, tailor the powertrain mix to individual regions. Plug-in hybrids will be particularly important in Europe, while the requirements of the US market will influence Audi’s future combustion-engine and PHEV portfolio, especially for SUVs.
In India, Audi’s immediate focus remains on petrol and electric vehicles. Diesel is not part of its current plan. The case for plug-in hybrids will depend partly on whether they receive any benefit under the India-EU FTA. New electric products are also planned for India.
Audi Q6 e-tron
“From what I know, we also have decided to enter with new products in the electric segment in India,” Döllner said.
Audi has decided to assemble an electric vehicle in India, Autocar India learns, although the model and launch timing are still being worked out. The move from fully imported EVs to local assembly is now a question of when, rather than if.
The company was among the first luxury carmakers to enter India’s EV market with models such as the e-tron, e-tron Sportback, e-tron GT and Q8 e-tron. High import duties, however, restricted their reach and affected their resale-value proposition.
Audi Q6 e-tron
The Q6 e-tron is among the products being studied, but Audi has not decided which EV will be assembled in India. The selected model will need to offer the right combination of volume, pricing and suitability for local conditions.
Audi believes electric SUVs make more practical sense in India because their ground clearance is better suited to local road conditions. Sedans have not been ruled out, but SUVs offer a more practical proposition for battery-electric vehicles in the country.
Regional focus to shape future products
The broader powertrain approach is part of Döllner’s effort to make Audi more responsive to the requirements of individual regions.
“Audi has to act much more regional,” he said. “The times where we had a one size fits all, and we then bring it to China, just extend the wheelbase and do the same car, that doesn’t work anymore. We have to listen carefully to the markets.”
The Q9 is the first clear example of that approach. Conceived around the requirements of American customers, it will be the first Audi to make its market debut in the US.
Audi Q9
“The Q9 is a perfect proof point of a car. The biggest Audi we’ve ever built,” Döllner said. “That car would not be there without the American market.”
India does not yet generate the volumes required for Audi to develop country-specific models. Local requirements covering ground clearance, suspension, tyres, weather, dust and fuel quality are, however, fed into its global development process. The introduction of new models in India is also expected to move closer to their global launches, helping Audi benefit from the interest created when a vehicle is revealed internationally.
Döllner said the improvement in India’s manufacturing and automotive technology has changed how the country is viewed within the global industry.
Audi Q9
“India is also an excellent proof point. It’s really unbelievable what the car industry has developed in India and what level of perfection and technology products are delivered,” he said.
“In the past, there has been this strong European automotive industry, and the world has turned around. Now we have a very dynamic Chinese market, a growing and rising Indian automotive industry. The US is a story of its own.”
“What keeps me awake at night is if we are able to change fast enough,” Döllner said. “We have to speed up.”
Lamborghini has unveiled the Revuelto Miura 60 Homage, a limited-run edition of its flagship plug-in hybrid supercar created to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the legendary Miura – widely considered to be the genesis of the supercar formula. Developed by Lamborghini’s Ad Personam personalisation division in collaboration with Centro Stile, the Revuelto Miura 60 Homage is limited to 99 units worldwide and will make its public debut at the 2026 Monterey Car Week.
Lamborghini Revuelto Miura 60 Homage exterior and interior
Many of the Miura’s signature design cues have been incorporated into the Revuelto Miura 60 Homage, including nine heritage-inspired exterior colours: Arancio, Bianco Monocerus, Blu Notte, Blu Tahiti, Giallo, Nero Noctis, Rosso Arancio, Verde Metallic, and Verde Scandal.
There are also two exclusive liveries inspired by classic Miura specifications, specifically Oro Elios accents with gloss gold-coloured wheels, and Grigio Nimbus detailing paired with matte titanium-finished wheels. Owners of original Miuras can even work with Lamborghini’s Ad Personam division to recreate their classic car’s original colour combination on the new Revuelto.
Additional styling revisions include Miura-inspired lower-body graphics, a discreet ‘Miura 60’ logo integrated into the side graphics, a gloss black Lamborghini wordmark at the rear, black brake calipers, and a matte black finish for the exhaust tips.
Inside, the retro theme continues with tan leather upholstery, classic ‘cannelloni’ seat stitching inspired by that of the Miura, and ‘Miura 60’ embroidery between the seats. Every example also receives a ‘Miura 60° – Serie Speciale 1 di 99’ carbonfibre plaque, identifying it as one of the 99 produced.
Lamborghini Revuelto Miura 60 Homage powertrain
Mechanically, the Revuelto Miura 60 Homage remains identical to the standard version, which means it’s powered by a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 paired with three electric motors, producing a combined 1,015hp and 807Nm. Power is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic, enabling a claimed 0-100kph sprint in 2.5 seconds and a top speed north of 350kph.
Lamborghini has not announced pricing for the Revuelto Miura 60 Homage. However, the special edition is expected to command a significant premium over the standard Revuelto, which is priced at Rs 8.89 crore (ex-showroom) in India, before options.
