Articles by Nelson Ireson

Lamborghini has long been known for its extreme approach to design. Usually those designs are not just striking, but beautiful as well. Usually.Here we have the Egoista, apparently designed to echo the look and feel of an open cockpit formula car as viewed through a kaleidoscope.Unveiled during an event for the brand's 50th anniversary celebrations--and apparently not to the world, but just to the crowd on hand in Sant'Agata--little else is known about the Egoista except for its origin.Built, according to Luxury & Supercar Weekend, for an upcoming film called “Egoista,” the car may not even be a proper concept car, with no intent or future influence behind its design. We certainly hope that's the case based on the photos so far.www.motorauthority.com 

You might think you'd have to be drunk to crash your car into a tree to make sure your airbags are working correctly. You'd be wrong.You might also think you can stuff your airbags back into their containers after they've deployed, making them ready to go for another round. You'd still be wrong.You might even think the German man who did all of these things was clearly under the influence of some other psychotropic drug, if he wasn't drunk. Wrong again.A German man has proved all of these things with his contribution to the world of the automotive research. Uwe Schrager, 45, performed his ill-advised experiment in the Lower Saxony region of central Germany recently, reports the Austrian Times.When police arrived to sort the "accident" scene -- after another motorist reported seeing a Ford Mondeo ram into a tree --  Schrager explained his methodology: he had first crashed into two walls at lower speeds without deploying the airbags, and then embarked on the tree encounter."I knew that the car was fitted with airbags but I didn't trust that they would work, so I wanted to test them. I felt it was better to have a low speed crash that I was likely to survive if they didn't work rather than a high-speed crash when I only found out when it was too late that they didn't work," the Austrian Times cited him as saying.He added that he had expected to be able to repack the airbags back in their places after they deployed, but had discovered he wasn't able to do so. He also thought his insurance company would cover him for the damage to his car, but was also informed they would not compensate for deliberate crashes.His licence has been confiscated, and he has been ordered to be evaluated for psychiatric issuesThe police spokesman told the Austrian times: "They will need to carry out psychiatric test to determine whether the man is suitable to have a licence at all. He had apparently crashed into two walls at lower speeds before he finally hit the tree. That is not normal behaviour."www.motorauthority.com

Alfa Romeo is no stranger to style. The 2014 4C is evidence enough, though even the brand's economical hatchbacks have more presence than their price tags would suggest. Fortunately, the 4C has more than just good looks going for it. A turbocharged 1.75-litre four-cylinder engine sits just behind the occupants, generating 180kW, with a 221kW version also on the drawing board. With just 895kg to move around, the 4C should be quick -- and nimble. Alfa Romeo posts a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds for the 4C, and a top speed of 258km/h -- although confirming either of those will shred their fuel economy claim of 6.8L/100km. Other enticing features from the luxurious little sports car include a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, a carbon monocoque chassis, and a sleek, minimalist cabin. The Alfa Romeo 4C spearheads a product-led revival for Fiat and Alfa Romeo which is expected to boost value and increase the model mix for the brands -- which are now twinned with Chrysler in Australia under the global merger. Fiat Chrysler Group Australia has already confirmed the Alfa Romeo 4C will arrive here after mid-2014. But it's likely to be a more expensive car here than in other markets, costing somewhere over the $100,000 mark. www.motorauthority.com  

The idea of an SUV or crossover in Alfa Romeo's stable of flowing lines and sleek forms might shock the systems of some, but it's anything but unexpected. However the rumours have now been confirmed.The head of Alfa Romeo UK told the Telegraph at its Festival of Motoring, "There will certainly be an SUV in the next two or three years."Alfa Romeo's most recent SUV concept dates back to 2003 with the Kamal, and while it won't likely form the basis of the new SUV's design, it may inform the general theme. Perhaps not coincidentally, the Maserati Kubang was also first shown in 2003 before being revived in 2011 with plans for construction in Detroit.The tie-up between Alfa's parent company Fiat and Chrysler opened doors for more speculation, especially when it was confirmed that some Jeep models would be built alongside Fiats in Melfi, Italy.As unsurprising as the confirmation of an Alfa Romeo SUV is, with Jeep-leveraged underpinnings and Alfa Romeo design, an SUV might not seem in character for the brand, but it might just be a very good vehicle.www.motorauthority.com 

As SUVs and crossovers continue to prove profitable for many luxury carmakers, more brands with traditionally sedan-focused lineups are seeking to join the party. Maserati, Alfa Romeo, and, possibly Jaguar are among the next candidates for entry. While we've expressed scepticism over the idea in the past, there's potentially quite a lot to be said for a Jaguar-styled Land Rover-based SUV or crossover, especially when Ian Callum is involved. Now, it looks like Jaguar may have a name for its rumoured venture into off-road territory. According to Pistonheads, both "Q-Type" and "XQ" were recently registered with the European Union's trademark agency. Either name could fit with an existing Jaguar model, of course; the F-Type and XJ both provide a template. Both potential names, however, are built around the Q. With Audi's Q-series and Infiniti's all-Q lineup, the Q-factor appears to be nearing eleven. Mirroring the name, Jaguar now faces the task of creating and differentiating a crossover/SUV in an increasingly crowded market, a market not yet fully economically recovered. The Jaguar crossover is expected to reach the market before 2015. www.motorauthority.com  

There's still about a month left before Codemasters' ; GRID 2 racing game hits the shelves, but we've already brought you detailed coverage of the game and its features. Today, we get an extended look at the multiplayer aspects of the game.With up to a dozen competitors across discplines as diverse as endurance racing, drifting, touge, time attack, and more, the driving should prove engaging and difficult.A livery editor gives the player control over their car's appearance, offering the opportunity to make a unique vehicle even when facing a pack of cars of the same make and model. If past experience with other games is any indicator, it's sure to result in some eye-popping color combinations, too.Linked together through the RaceNet system, players can keep track of their stats and progress as challenges and objectives are attempted and met.www.motorauthority.com 

The next instalment in the guilty pleasure/cringe fest that is the Fast & Furious series of movies is about to hit, and in anticipation, a new "featurette" video has been released. While talking about "plot" in a Fast & Furious movie is a bit beside the point, the featurette does give us a taste of what to expect from the storyline. As usual, the wrong-side-of-the-law automotive bad boys and girls in the crew are persuaded to join a fight for all the right reasons. Along the way, lots of stuff blows up, jumps, gets shot, or does all three. There are even some cars involved.

The "shooting brake" has captivated the car-loving consciousness almost since the introduction of the automobile, but in recent years, it has risen to a new level, with cars like the Ferrari FF pushing the concept into unexplored territory.Mercedes-Benz has done its own work with the idea, although not meeting the strictest definition of the "shooting brake" term.The four-door CLS Shooting Brake has two more doors than is typical for the body style, but claims it over the "wagon" moniker due to the sloping roof line that preserves a bit of the four-door coupe's shape.Now, it looks like the CLA Class four-door coupe may get the shooting brake treatment as well. According to a report from WhatCar? Mercedes-Benz design boss Gordon Wagener has indicated the CLA Shooting Brake is in the works. Previous reports had hinted that Mercedes was planning to build two shooting brakes as much as two years ago.Perhaps even more enticing than the standard CLA Class getting the shooting brake treatment is the possibility that it will extend to the CLA 45 AMG as well, much like the CLS Shooting Brake has its CLS 63 AMG variant.www.motorauthority.com

The Lamborghini Veneno is, more or less, ridiculous. But it's a good kind of ridiculous. The kind that satisfies the kid inside you. Good news: it doesn't just look ridiculous--it sounds it, too. Powered by a 551 kilowatt version of the 6.5-litre V-12 that's inside the Aventador (and the new 529 kilowatt Aventador LP 720-4 50 Anniversario), the Veneno's brawn matches its racy looks. Even more so than your typical street-going Lambo, the Veneno's growl, even at idle, is raucous. Uncorked, it's downright righteous. www.motorauthority.com

The world of the luxury crossover is getting smaller, or at least more compact. BMW has released its X1, Audi has its Q3, Land Rover has its Range Rover Evoque, and soon, Mercedes-Benz will have its GLA. Teased in a new design image on the brand's Facebook page ahead of a concept premiere in Shanghai this weekend, the new GLA Class will be based on the A Class platform that also underpins the CLA Class. Power is expected to come from a range of 2.0-litre turbocharged engines, ranging from just over 147 kilowatts to more than 243 kilowatts in the GLA45 AMG. www.motorauthority.com