Ather Energy prepares to launch its most affordable electric scooter on August 29

Fiat has implemented a promotional campaign offering discounts of up to R$ 27,598 on vehicles in the Abarth line, which includes the Pulse and Fastback SUVs. This offer, valid until August 4th, also includes the possibility of interest-free financing and installments of up to 50 times, a number chosen in reference to the automaker's 50 years of operation in Brazil this year.

The Abarth Fastback model receives the largest reduction, dropping from R$ 183,990 to R$ 156,392. The Abarth Pulse will have a discount of R$ 16,250, falling from R$ 162,490 to R$ 146,240. These conditions apply exclusively to retail purchases and are available across the entire network, which comprises over 500 dealerships nationwide, according to the manufacturer.

Prices lower than launch prices

With the promotional values, both models have a nominally lower price than when they were launched. The Abarth Pulse, introduced in November 2022 for R$ 149,990, can be acquired for R$ 3,750 less. Similarly, the Abarth Fastback, launched in October 2023 for R$ 159,990, presents a reduction of R$ 3,598 compared to its initial value. It is important to note that these calculations do not take into account inflation during the period.

The celebration of Fiat's half-century of production in Brazil began in 1976, at the factory located in Betim, Minas Gerais, the unit where the two sports cars are manufactured. It was in this same plant that the Pulse Abarth emerged in November 2022, presented by the brand as the first SUV developed by the global sports division. The scorpion symbol had already been used on the Stilo Abarth in 2002 and would return after 500 years.

Identical mechanics for both SUVs

In terms of performance, the two SUVs share the 1.3 turbo engine, which generates 185 hp and 27.5 kgfm, coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. According to the automaker, both can reach 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds. The sports division's engineering included specific adjustments to the engine and transmission, as well as a stiffer suspension, differently sized brakes, and the Poison driving mode, which reduces the influence of stability control systems and makes the set's reactions more agile.

Aesthetically, the SUVs differ from the standard versions through features such as a dual exhaust, dark-finished alloy wheels, and the scorpion emblems. The interior maintains a consistent design, featuring dark tones and red stitching details. Standard features include a panoramic sunroof, digital instrument panel, the ADAS driving assistance package, and a 10.1-inch multimedia center with the Connect////Me platform, which integrates over 30 functionalities, as detailed by the manufacturer.

Asha Sharma, CEO of Xbox, released an internal memo to employees outlining the company's future objectives. Among the proposed goals is the ambition to reach 500 million daily players by 2030, starting from the current base of 100 million users.

The company's strategy involves strengthening Xbox consoles, expanding its franchises globally, and reinforcing Minecraft as a creator-dedicated platform, with projected growth until the end of the 2027 fiscal year. This move aims to intensify rivalry against PlayStation by consolidating exclusive titles and improving consoles, following a period focused on cloud gaming services and cross-platform play.

The memo was sent by Sharma on Thursday, July 30, serving to reassure internal teams after a cycle of mass layoffs that occurred at the beginning of the month. The document, accessed via The Verge website, also mentioned that 3,200 layoffs were announced in early July, affecting Microsoft's games division, including studios like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, and removing names such as Compulsion Games and Ninja Theory from the group.

Xbox management, as inferred from the memo, seeks to resume direct confrontation with PlayStation, its main competitor in the video game sector. While the company's previous approach prioritized cloud gaming and multi-screen compatibility, the new focus is on bolstering proprietary consoles and exclusive titles.

Historically, Sony has dominated this market, recording almost three times more total PS5 sales compared to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Additionally, PlayStation invests heavily in its exclusive catalog, while Microsoft opted to distribute its franchises across multiple systems, some of which function on PS5.

Recent financial results suggest challenges for Microsoft. According to data reported by The Times of India, Xbox's last accounting profit margin was 3%, contrasting with PlayStation's 9.9% and Nintendo's 16%, another major company focused on consoles and exclusives. Sharma's goal is to achieve similar financial levels in the next fiscal year.

The recent staff reductions have caused apprehension among studios acquired by Xbox. Important titles under the company's umbrella include Call of Duty, Diablo, and Fallout, as well as classics like Minecraft and Candy Crush. The intention is to boost these games to increase the player base in the coming years.

Sharma stated that three of these franchises generate annual profits of US$ 1 billion (equivalent to R$ 5.08 billion) each, although she did not specify which ones. The growth projection also covers the expansion of these brands beyond the gaming universe, through audiovisual productions, commercial partnerships, and licensed products.

Since taking the helm in February, Asha Sharma has already signaled a more aggressive stance for Xbox Game Pass, the main bet of Phil Spencer's management. Through more competitive pricing, the initial expectation is an increase in the number of users, with a forecast of 200 million new players during the 2026 fiscal year.

This represents only the first phase of the plan presented by Sharma. The subsequent plan involves both increasing the number of players and strengthening consoles and franchises to raise revenue. The third and final step is focusing on audience engagement to achieve the goal of 500 million daily active users on Xbox platforms.

The Ministry of Petroleum reported that if oil companies did not blend ethanol into automotive fuel, the price of gasoline in the capital could have reached approximately 125 rupees per liter when global crude oil prices reached $135 per barrel.

The Ministry defends this program against what it calls 'misleading' claims regarding its costs, impact on food security, and alleged taxpayer subsidies.

It was noted that consumers paid 94.77 rupees per liter because 20% of each liter consisted of domestic ethanol purchased at pre-agreed prices, which helped shield retail fuel prices from sharp increases in global crude oil prices. During the peak of the crisis, this resulted in savings of nearly 30 rupees per liter at the pump.

The government kept gasoline and diesel prices unchanged for almost 75 days after the start of the Middle East conflict on February 28 before raising them by 7.5 rupees per liter in May.

Currently, 91-octane standard E20 gasoline in Delhi costs 102.12 rupees per liter, and 100-octane gasoline is sold at a price of 169 rupees per liter.

Furthermore, the ministry rejected accusations that grain intended for low-income groups is being diverted to ethanol production, or that subsidized FCI rice is being used to support this program.