Auto wrap this week: Volkswagen Golf GTI, Xiaomi YU7 and more

As May 2025 draws to a close, automakers have introduced a number of new models with amazing features, design enhancements, and state-of-the-art technologies. From Volkswagen Golf GTI to Xiaomi YU7, here is a summary of some of the most significant launches this week in the Indian and global automobile sectors.

Volkswagen Golf GTI

On May 26, the Volkswagen Golf GTI

was introduced to the Indian market at a starting price of ₹ 53 lakh (ex-showroom). The performance-focused hatchback is the second model of the brand to use the suffix ‘GTI’ in its name in the Indian market; the first was the Polo GTI, which has now been discontinued. The Volkswagen Golf GTI offers a potent 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces 265 horsepower and 370 Nm of torque.
Xiaomi YU7

China-based company’s newest electric vehicle (EV), the Xiaomi YU7, was launched in Beijing on May 22. It joins Xiaomi’s expanding line-up of electric vehicles, including the Xiaomi SU7 sedan and its high-performance counterpart, the SU7 Ultra.

It comes in China as an SUV rival to the Tesla Model Y. The front fascia of the Xiaomi YU7 is strikingly similar to that of the current SU7 sedan.

Volvo XC70

With a 245-kilometre electric-only driving range, Volvo is scheduled to launch the XC70 in China, with plans to make it available in other countries later. The Volvo XC70 has been reintroduced with a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology. The XC70 can accommodate large battery packs and contemporary electric technologies, and it is built on Volvo’s latest Scalable Modular Architecture (SMA).

Ducati Desmo450 MX

Ducati’s first motocross bike, the Desmo450 MX, is scheduled to go into production and be available for purchase by June 2025. Ducati’s first motocross bike, the Desmo450 MX, was developed as a component of the company’s latest off-road initiative. The Desmo450 MX is designed for the MX1 class, and Ducati intends to participate in further national and international racing competitions in 2025.

BMW M2 CS

BMW has launched the new M2 CS at the 2025 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The CS is a lighter, more performance-oriented adaptation of the M2 Coupe. The brand will soon reveal all of its technological details. Compared to the regular M2 Coupe, this upgraded variant offers improved performance and unique design characteristics.

Maruti Suzuki high-voltage EV

Maruti Suzuki is implementing high-voltage EV and hybrid training in 130 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in 24 states and four Union Territories in India to encourage the adoption of EVs and a qualified workforce. Maruti Suzuki’s Corporate Social Responsibility program includes the goal of creating a workforce with the necessary skills for the whole automobile industry. The company has invested roughly ₹ 3.9 crore in this project.