Articles by Staff Writers

Transformers Super Bowl adParamount pictures is using the 2014 Super Bowl to give us our first taste of the upcoming film Transformers: Age of Extinction. The upcoming fourth instalment of the Transformers franchise brings a new cast led by Mark Wahlberg, and new Tranformers too in the form of Dinobots. Seinfeld reunion Super Bowl adWe last saw Jerry Seinfeld during a Super Bowl battling Jay Leno for Honda NSX keys, but now Seinfeld’s web series ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’ is doing well enough to warrant its own Big Game ad. Now into its third season, the Super Bowl ad for the show sees Jerry Seinfeld and Jason Alexander reprising their roles of Jerry and George from Seinfeld’s classic 90s sitcom.Jeep Cherokee Super Bowl adJeep is pretty keen to show off its new Cherokee SUV’s adventure potential, so has created this Big Game ad to tickle at your outdoor heartstrings. Despite its fundamentally road-going Dodge Dart/Alfa Romeo Giulietta-based underpinnings, Jeep’s Super Bowl ad reckons the new Cherokee is the cure for restlessness, and prepared for whatever’s on the other side of the horizon. Bruce Willis Honda Super Bowl adTough guy Willis is doing duty for Honda’s Super Bowl commercial, highlighting that the Japanese carmaker builds more cars with top safety ratings in America than any other brand. To underscore his point, Willis emphasises the importance of the people around you. Friends, family, loved ones, "everyone you care about". They’re not test dummies, he points out. So he wants you to give them a hug. Right now ... go on. Bob Dylan Super Bowl adOf all the superstars that would seem an unlikely bet to ever advertise cars, iconic musician Bob Dylan would be the unlikeliest. And yet here he is for the Chrysler 200 sedan at the 2014 Super Bowl, his gravelly tones singing about how well America builds cars, providing a soundtrack for a cavalcade of glorious stars-and-stripes imagery.Maserati Super Bowl debut Maserati has showcased the launch of the four-door Ghibli sedan with a debut appearance in the world’s biggest advertising slot – the Super Bowl. The footage stars 10-year-old Academy Award-nominated child actress Quvenzhane Wallis from 12 Years A Slave, directed in this piece by David Gordon Green. Ford Super Bowl ad Twice as GoodLongtime stalwart of The Daily Show and Saturday Night Live, comedian Rob Riggle is performing a bit of transformational magic for Ford during the Super Bowl. The key ad showcases the Ford Fusion sedan, claiming to have double the fuel economy of the average vehicle.That's the take-off point to a series of magical morphs that show just having the Fusion in your driveway can do wonders for house and yard -- not to forget your wardrobe and pets. Riggle ultimately upgrades himself to Hollywood heartthrob James Franco, and the whole shebang should help put you in the mood for the Fusion's arrival in Australia next year, badged as the 2015 Mondeo mid-sizer.Jaguar teases first Super Bowl ‘bad boy’ adJaguar's first Super Bowl teaser shows they've got some top-shelf baddies lined up as part of the 'British Villains' theme to sell the F-Type Coupe. First off the leash is screen and theatre legend Ben Kingsley -- with a shelf of Oscar, Grammy, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG awards, but most recently seen as the Mandarin in Iron Man 3. VW teases Super Bowl ad with Carmen ElectraVolkswagen hits all the memes in engineering an algorithm for the perfect Game Day commercial. And apparently, the algorithm requires the integration of glamour model/actress Carmen Electra, puppies, babies, some twerking, a Wang Chung soundtrack and ... well, you've probably seen every highlight of every other ad.Danica Patrick gets buff for Super Bowl adIt wouldn't be the Super Bowl without an ad featuring race driver Danica Patrick touting for website hosters GoDaddy -- who also sponsored her Nascar Nationwide Series campaign for JR Motorsports. The Game Day commercial shows a lot of Patrick's body sporting a set of pumped muscles that almost shame the bodybuilders racing her to a tanning salon.Toyota taps Muppets and Terry Crews for Super BowlThe Toyota Highlander -- sold here as the Kluger -- has a strong family focus, and the car giant will underscore that by starring the Muppets in its Super Bowl commercial. The teaser video gives a glimpse, with a supporting role from former footballer and lately actor Terry Crews (The Newsroom and Arrested Development). 2015 Hyundai Genesis Super Bowl adThe 'Dad's Sixth Sense' ad shows the parent rescuing his son from a series of falls and mishaps from infancy onwards -- but then the Genesis' auto braking saving him from a crash when he's distracted by a pretty girl during a driving lesson.Audi unleashes mongrel for Super BowlAudi has created a miniature mongrel with a savage streak for their Super Bowl ad. The footage shows a couple trying to choose between a chihuahua and a doberman as a pet, and deciding to breed them together as a -- wait for it -- doberhuahua.VW channels Victoria’s Secret for Super BowlVolkswagen is aiming to tout durability and reliability in its Super Bowl, which features a father telling his daughter that every time a VW hits 100,000 miles (160,000km) an engineer back in Germany sprouts wings. While the appendages might usually be better worn by the Victoria's Secret 'Angel' models, the addition of the wings offers the opportunity for a few sight gags.Jaguar Super Bowl with Tom HiddlestonIt's good to be bad, Jaguar claims. And the luxury brand is pushing that theme for their Super Bowl ads, featuring a line-up of British villains. We've already seen Ben Kingsley in the main teaser, and now we get Tom Hiddleston in a second spot. Most recently seen playing Loki in the films Thor, The Avengers, and Thor: The Dark World.Jaguar full Super Bowl adContinuing the bad boy theme to showcase the F-Type Coupe, Jaguar has revealed the full 60-second commercial that will screen at the Super Bowl. Shot in a mock thriller style, with moody lighting and all the super-villain props of planes, attractive assistants -- and of course the F-Type -- the ad takes a tongue-in-cheek approach, and comes off being very engaging as a result.Terry Crews disturbs with shirtless Super Bowl teaserGet ready to see a whole lot more of actor Terry Crews than you ever bargained for. The latest teaser for Toyota's Super Bowl ad shows the sports star turned movie star without a shirt and demonstrating muscle control with his pecs in time to the cheesy jingle.Big Bang Theory star in Hyundai Super Bowl adThe theme for the Hyundai Elantra Super Bowl commercial is 'Nice' and actor Johnny Galecki is almost typecast in it, after playing nice guys on both The Big Bang Theory (Leonard) and Roseanne (David). In the footage, Galecki tries to chat up a woman who pulls up beside him in a matching Elantra, pointing out all the nice features of the car -- and getting some nice brush-offs in return.Kia plugs into The Matrix for 2014 Super BowlThe 60-second commercial, scheduled to run during the 2014 Super Bowl prime advertising slot, will see Fishburne as Morpheus offering the 'red vs blue' choice. In the movie it was red and blue pills, one of which would let you stumble on in an illusory world while the other would awaken you to reality. For the Super Bowl ad, promoting the Kia K900 flagship launching in overseas markets, Morpheus offers people the chance to choose either a red or blue key.Toyota full Super Bowl adToyota is aiming for catchy family fun with its 60-second Super Bowl, in which actor Terry Crews is piloting his new Highlander -- sold here as the Kluger -- along a remote highway, when he stops to help out after spotting a broken-down, brightly painted bus. Within seconds, his SUV is crammed with Muppets: Animal stuffing his drum kit into the cargo area and Dr Teeth hijacking the driver's seat to steer off into a series of adventures, all singing an annoyingly catchy jingle perfectly designed to stick itself limpet-like to the viewer's brain.Chevrolet Super Bowl ad is all bullIn the ad, titled Romance, we get to meet "a man ... a man and his truck ... and a very eligible bachelor" who just happens to be a prize bull. It goes on in the vein of "bated breath and lonely hearts" -- you get the picture -- as the driver hauls his new bull through the US landscape with Hot Chocolate's 'You Sexy Thing' in the background.The ad that shocked the Super BowlCreated for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) as part of its Zero Fatalities campaign, The Twist starts off with an image of a young boy curled up in a car seat, and a voiceover that starts off "Sam looks like he's sleeping..." but as the camera zooms out we see that he's been killed in a car crash, not by the crash itself but by being unbuckled and flying into the back of the seat in front of him. M&M's Super Bowl adConfectionary brand M&M’s has also delivered a Super Bowl treat this week, with a new ad for the colourful button-shaped candies. Yellow – the peanut M&M character – is unknowingly taken captive by Russian underworld types, in the boot of an oh-so Russian baddie black S-Class Mercedes-Benz. 

Ticket holders who have a Ferrari Paddock Pass will be among the first people in the Southern Hemisphere to calp eyes on the limited edition model in the flesh. LaFerrari is the company's first hybrid and boasts the highest power output of any Ferrari yet  but uses 40 per cent less fuel.Its mid rear mounted 6.3-litre V12 engine produces 588kW at 9000 revs and 700Nm of torque at 6750 revs. It is supplemented by a 120kW KERS unit that delivers short bursts of extra power. Combined output is 708kW and 900Nm. Drive is to the rear wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.LaFerrari has a top speed of more than 370 km/h and can blast from o to 100 km/h in under three seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) in under seven seconds. Ferrari claims the car has lapped its Fiorano Test Circuit in under 1 minute and 20 seconds which is faster than any other road-legal car that Ferrari has ever produced.Watch Alonso takes us for a spin in the Ferrari flagship LaFerrari.The car is equipped with carbon-ceramic Brembo discs on the front and rear and is fitted with the 265/30 19s at the front and 345/30 20s down the back. LaFerrari uses a carbon fibre monocoque structure developed by Ferrari's F1 technical director Rory Byrne, with 27 percent more torsional rigidity and 22 percent more beam stiffness than the famed Enzo.The car has a double wishbone suspension in the front and a multi-link suspension in the rear. EF1-Trac F1 electronic traction control is integrated with the hybrid system, along with an E-Diff 3 third generation electronic differential and SCM-E Frs magnetorheological damping with twin solenoids (Al-Ni tube), and active aerodynamics to enable maximum performance.The La Ferrari is built in a limited edition, and the one arriving in Sydney is among just 499 vehicles worldwide. "We are very proud to be able to showcase this phenomenal car at Ferrari Racing Days both for fans and owners to see?" Ferrari Australasia's CEO, Herbert Appleroth, said. 

Reports coming out of France are claiming Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher is gradually being woken from his coma and is responding "positively" to medical treatment, although there is still no official word from his management team.L'Equipe newspaper said medics treating the German seven-time world champion started the phase of gradual awakening several days ago, London's Telegraph reported. The reports forced Schumacher's manager to once urge fans to ignore any updates that do not come from an official source."I am stressing again that any statement regarding Michael's health not coming from the doctors treating him or from his management must be considered as speculation," a statement from Kehm said. "I repeat that we will not comment any speculations.""Michael's condition is still considered as stable," she told French publication Le Dauphine Libere. "I also repeat that Michael's family is very happy and confident with the work of the team of doctors treating Michael, and they trust them completely."Schumacher has been in an artificial coma since his skiing accident on December 29. It is the first positive speculation to be reported by the media since his accident, following some publications suggesting he may remain in a "persistent vegetative state" for the rest of his life, or that he may never even come out of the coma.The 45-year-old has been receiving round-the-clock care in Grenoble Hospital since he hit his head on a rock while skiing off-piste in Meribel, in the French Alps. His wife Corinna and his two children Gina Marie, 16, and Mick, 14, have remained at his bedside. Several F1 teams have shown their continuing support for Schumacher as testing for the 2014 season gets underway in Jerez, Spain.Reigning world champion and good friend Sebastian Vettel told media on the opening day of the test that he is praying for a "miracle". "It's horrible, especially for his family and close friends, not knowing what is going to happen," he said. "I think I am still as shocked as everyone else and I pray and hope he will just come back and the miracle will happen and he will be the person he has always been before."Ferrari, for whom Schumacher won five consecutive world championships, gathered for a team photo holding a pit board that read #ForzaMichael, their sole F14T racecar also bearing the same hashtag. Further down the pit lane, Mercedes, the manufacturer whom Schumacher has been linked with on and off since 1990, are running a similar message of support on their cars this season.

An all-new HiLux is still a couple of years away, so Toyota has given the popular ute -- Australia’s best-selling workmate for over 30 years -- the fourth of its updates to help it keep a leading pace.The changes move the 4WD HiLux to five-star crash safety across the board with six airbags, electronic stability control and satnav as standard, and reversing camera and live traffic updates on higher variants.Inside, the updated HiLux gets a new 6.1-inch display screen for the audio system along with fresh interior colours and materials, while the SR5 now adds live traffic updates to its satellite navigation system. A new five-speed automatic transmission is now available for the 4WD dual-cab versions.Prices have risen from $500 to $1000, depending on model, starting at with the 4X2 2.7-litre petrol Workmate manual at $27,490, and topping out at $54,490 for the 4WD SR5 automatic with either the 3.0-litre turbodiesel or 4.0-litre petrol V6 petrol.The HiLux has been a sales success for Toyota -- third on last year's overall leaderboard, and in some months topping it -- and has just marked 800,000 sales over its life. Dual Cab prices and models2014 Toyota HiLux Dual Cab 4X2 models2014 Toyota HiLux 2.7-litre 4-cyl petrol Workmate manual - $27,490 (up $500)2014 Toyota HiLux 2.7-litre 4-cyl petrol Workmate automatic - $29,740 (up $750)2014 Toyota HiLux 3.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel SR manual - $33,990 (up $1,000)2014 Toyota HiLux 4.0-litre V6 petrol SR automatic - $38,490 (up $1,000)2014 Toyota HiLux 4.0-litre V6 petrol SR5 automatic - $45,990 (up $1,000)2014 Toyota HiLux Dual Cab 4X4 models2014 Toyota HiLux 3.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel SR manual - $42,490 (up $500)2014 Toyota HiLux 3.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel SR auto - $45,240 (up $750)2014 Toyota HiLux 3.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel SR5 manual - $51,740 (up $750)2014 Toyota HiLux 3.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel SR5 auto - $54,490 (up $1,000)2014 Toyota HiLux 4.0-litre V6 petrol SR5 automatic - $54,490 (up $1,000)              2014 Toyota HiLux Cab Chassis2014 Toyota HiLux 3.0-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel SR manual - $40,990 (up $500) 

A young Brazilian boy has credited his survival of being run down in the video above as a miracle of divine intervention. A Brazilian traffic video shows five-year-old Joao Pedro showing what seems to be superhuman survival powers. The footage captures him walking along the road in a town in Goias with his grandmother, Vilma Teodoro do Nascimento, when both are hit by a white Volkswagen after it was smashed into their path by a Chevrolet that had lost control.And they're not just bumped into by the vehicle, either. It runs over the boy's head and torso, plus most of the woman's lower body and legs. She remains on the ground, obviously injured, although moving her head. But the boy just jumps back up as if he's had only a minor fall, and runs over to the woman. He appears to have broken no bones.Teodoro told US media she had tried to dodge the car. "I saw them, those two (cars) hit each other over there, I tried to get out of the way but there wasn't the time. When that white car ran over my back I didn't see anything else."Her grandson says he was hurt, but was alive due to the grace of the heavens.  "It was a miracle from God," he said. Watch the desktop version of the lucky Brazilian boy video here.   

The 45-year-old will tackle the 12-hour sports car endurance race aboard the No. 99 Lamborghini Gallardo LP520 with long-time friend Peter Hill and gentleman racer Simon Middleton.The Hollywood actor has raced in the Bathurst enduro twice - leading the race in 2011 before his co-driver crashed out - and is excited to be back behind the wheel at the legendary Mount Panorama."I can't wait to get back to the circuit," the man behind the movie Love the Beast said on Tuesday. "The car is fantastic to drive, and the thought of competing once again with a couple of mates at this event is very exciting. I am thrilled that my calendar has allowed me to once again test myself at one of the worlds most demanding circuits."The car is the same one Bana tweeted about at a track day late last year, which led to he and former Formula 1 racer Mark Webber putting together plans to race together in next year's Bathurst 12 Hour.This time around Bana's car won't be a contender for outright honours, their 2008-model Lamborghini competing in Class B while a host of international and local sports car stars race for the win in Class A. "We are there to have some serious fun among an incredible line up of International A-Level Endurance Teams and Drivers."Read the full story at Fox Sports.No such thing as a bad day at @PICircuit, 2008 spec GT3 Lambo, time for another #Bathurst12hour ?? pic.twitter.com/W0eBGWpS7q— Eric Bana (@EricBana67) November 8, 2013

Speculation on Michael Schumacher's prognosis for recovery from his serious head injuries is rampant in Germany, with one publication reporting that the multiple Formula 1 champion could be in a coma for the rest of his life.The Daily Mail is reporting that German outlets Focus and Bild have spoken with neurological experts, who have discussed their views based on reports of Schumacher's condition. The 45-year-old has been in a medically induced coma at a hospital in Grenoble since an accident on a ski field in the French Alps on December 29 last year.The latest official report on his condition being "critical but stable", Schumacher's management team adamant they will release no more updates unless there is a change in his condition. Schumacher's wife Corinna also pleaded with media to back off from their relentless hounding for updates and leave the hospital, where they had been gathered since news of Schumacher's accident broke. "Please support our shared fight with Michael," she said in a statement."It is important to me that you take the pressure off the doctors and the hospital so they can do their work. Please have faith in their statements and leave the hospital. Please also leave our family in peace."But according to the Daily Mail, the silence on Schumacher's condition has led to anxiety in his native Germany, as publications turn to non-official sources to gain an insight into the potential - or otherwise - of Schumacher making a full recovery.German publication Focus spoke to neurosurgeon Andreas Zieger of the University Clinic for neurosurgery in Oldenburg, a man not part of Schumacher's medical team. Professor Zieger said that, given the time Schumacher has been kept in an induced coma, "there may have been complications.""We should not speculate here. Ultimately, we are talking about life and death. A coma can in theory be maintained for a lifetime. It won't hurt the human brain."Read full story at Fox Sports 

Fancy a few laps in the latest Toyota two-door sports-car designed to appeal to the Fast And The Furious generation? It might be only a concept at this stage but you can check it out in more detail in the latest Gran Turismo game. Check out the Toyota FT-1 in Gran Turismo 6 video on our desktop site.     

British teacher Sarah Brooks and her fiance Jans de Klerk were celebrating their engagement with a trip to South Africa's famous Kruger National Park where they were almost killed.In footage of them taken by someone following their car, they are seen pulling up just metres from the elephant on a dirt road. Their blue Volkswagen is parked as the elephant begins to walk towards them, and while they try to reverse and drive off, it is too late for them to escape.The elephant starts ramming the car and then suddenly tips it upside down a few times before pushing it off the road. Those filming the terrifying ordeal start reversing to drive off themselves in a state of panic. Ms Brooks was gored in the back of her upper thigh by one of the elephant tucks in the attack while her fiancé suffered minor injuries.The person who filmed the attack, who wished to remain anonymous, told News 24 it looked like the tourists had been trying to drive past the elephant but it was clear the elephant was agitated. The News 24 reader said they wanted to warn the tourists but feared that beeping their horn could upset the animal more.Kruger National Park general manager William Mabasa said the elephant was put down after it rammed the car off the road and "trampled" it. Mabasa said people should not be quick to criticise their decision to kill the animal."Our rangers reported that the same elephant bull had been involved in previous fights with other dominant bulls since it has been in musth phase," he said. Ms Brooks was flown to hospital where she was treated for several days.Watch the video footage of the elephant rolling a car on our desktop site. 

Twenty years after the first WRX STI Impreza appeared, Subaru has unveiled the all-new latest car, promising more refinement and agility.See the 2014 Subaru WRX STI in action on our desktop site.