TDS: Bugatti Enters a New Chapter Following VW Era as Porsche Divests Its Stake.

      The initial Bugatti Veyron 18/4 concept that led to the development of the production car that revitalized Bugatti’s reputation.

      Bugatti

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      Good morning and welcome to The Downshift, or TDS for short.

      Concise, informative, and precise, TDS scours the internet for the latest global automotive news and consolidates it in one location. Each story is summarized in a sentence or two, along with a link for those wanting more details. Happy Friday, let’s get started.

      🚗 What I’m driving: While the Corvette E-Ray may not have a long lifespan as it is set to transition into the more powerful Grand Sport next year, I currently have one, and trust me, this car doesn’t require additional power.

      ⌚ The Volkswagen era in Bugatti’s history has officially ended. Porsche has sold its 45% share in Bugatti Rimac and 20% of the Rimac Group to a consortium headed by the New York-based venture capital firm HOF Capital, as announced in a joint statement by Porsche and Rimac on Friday. This places Bugatti’s product future largely in the hands of Mate Rimac, allowing Porsche to “focus” on its “core business,” according to CEO Michael Leiters.

      4️⃣ Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa is reportedly narrowing investment efforts to four of the conglomerate’s 14 brands—Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, and Fiat—according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter.

      💵 The pricing for the 2026 Kia EV6 is out, showing it to be up to $5,450 less expensive than last year’s model, starting at $39,445, which includes destination fees, according to Car and Driver.

      🛒 Carvana has purchased its seventh Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram dealership since launching its physical car sales initiative early last year, according to Automotive News.

      🪦 Audi is phasing out the A1 and Q2 models as it exits the segment of smaller, more affordable cars, as reported by Autocar. While neither model was available in the U.S., the A1 had been on the market since 2010 and even produced the rare and impressive A1 Quattro.

      ⚡ Hyundai introduced a new electric vehicle specifically for China at the Beijing Auto Show, called the Ioniq V, as noted by Electrek. Its design resembles a mix between a Prius and a Cybertruck, which may sound unappealing, but it's actually quite stylish.

      ☀️ Also showcased in Beijing, BYD’s Fang Chang Bao subsidiary launched an electric two-seat convertible named the Formula X, which is slated for production next year, according to CarNewsChina.

      🏎️ Formula 1 has secured a five-year agreement with the organizers of the Turkish Grand Prix to return the sport to Istanbul Park starting next year.

      🏁 Weekend Races to Watch:

      WRC Rally Islas Canarias: Thursday, April 23 to Sunday, April 26 on Rally.TV

      NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Talladega: Saturday, April 25 at 4 p.m. Eastern on CW

      MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix: Sunday, April 26 at 8 a.m. Eastern on FS1

      NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega: Sunday, April 26 at 3 p.m. Eastern on FOX

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