Articles by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Hugh Jackman risked being upstaged when showed up to the London premiere of his new movie The Wolverine in an Audi R8 V10 Spyder.What does the stunning Audi sports car have to do with Jackman and his latest movie? Well, in The Wolverine, Jackman’s character is driven by Yukio, played by Rila Fukushima, in the very same car. Wolverine doesn't take the wheel himself it seems -- and it would admittedly be difficult to steer with those adamantine claws.Jackman also happens to be an ambassador for the brand with the four rings, which means he takes an active role in raising the profile of Audi and its products during social events like the movie premiere.The R8 wasn’t the only Audi in the new movie. Also starring on the silver screen were an Audi A8 L and a Ducati Diavel (the Ducati brand is now owned by Audi).The latest version of the R8 is now available with a smooth-shifting dual-clutch transmission in addition to the standard manual. The range starts at $287,000 for the standard R8 Coupe, but if you want the R8 V10 Spyder Jackman used you will need to front up at least $395,800. Or you could upstage him in the Audi R8 V10 Plus Coupe at $408,200.See our reviews of the latest 2014 Audi R8 range.www.motorauthority.com 

If you’re looking for one of the fastest ways to transport you and four of your friends, in luxury and style, look no further than the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG 4MATIC, the latest weapon in AMG’s expanding arsenal and possibly one of the fastest full-size luxury sedans ever launched.Mercedes unintentionally gave us a sneak preview of the S 63 AMG in a video that showed it on the production line, but this is our first full and officially-sanctioned look.The car is the high-performance version of the sixth-generation S-Class, and will arrive in overseas showrooms later this year, following a public debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show in September, where it will be joined by several other 2014 S-Class members including the new plug-in hybrid variant.ENGINEFirst, the information you’ve all been waiting for: The 2014 S 63 AMG 4MATIC packs a direct-injected and twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V-8 tuned to deliver 430kW and 900Nm. This is the most potent version of AMG’s M157 engine we’ve seen yet, exceeding even the output of the 2014 E 63 AMG 4MATIC S-Model, and promises to accelerate the big sedan from 0-100km/h in 4.0 seconds. That’s nearly half a second quicker than the latest BMW M5, and the S 63’s top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h.4MATIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVEThe key to the car’s performance is its all-wheel-drive system, which is becoming an option on most left-hand-drive AMG models. This system is unique to AMG and features a 33/67 front-rear torque split, offering the rear-biased feel we all love but with the added traction of all-wheel-drive when roads get slippery. The system relies on a transfer case integrated with the gearbox. Torque is transferred to the front wheels via a second drive shaft and front differential.WEIGHTThe added weight of all-wheel drive is approximately 70kg, but despite this the 2014 S 63 AMG 4MATIC still weighs around 100kg less than its predecessor. This is due primarily to lightweight construction. Measures included adding light-alloy wheels, a lithium-ion battery (this alone saves 44 pounds), using aluminum for the brakes, roof and front panels, and even using carbon fibre in areas such as the spare wheel recess.TRANSMISSIONHandling gear changes is AMG’s familiar SPEEDSHIFT MCT seven-speed automatic transmission, which comes with several modes including a full manual option. The transmission also comes with an engine stop-start system that, thankfully, can be disabled.SUSPENSIONThe suspension, meanwhile, features Mercedes’ AIRMATIC setup and comes with adaptive damping. One new feature is the continuous damping adjustment, which can be controlled independently in the compression stage and rebound stage. It allows better adaptation to the driving and road-surface conditions, Mercedes tells us.Drivers have two settings for the suspension: Comfort and Sport. These settings also adjust the car’s electronic power steering and work in conjunction with the car’s electronic stability system. To aid handling, a torque vectoring system done via braking is utilised.DESIGNOn the styling front, designers have kept things a bit subdued this time, which sees the car maintain the elegant lines of the regular S-Class. A large, upright and distinctly three-dimensional radiator grille underlines the special status of this particular S-Class variant, and is joined by a front bumper with three large air intakes.The car also dons sporty side sills and a rear diffuser with integrated exhausts. Note, the exhaust features internal flaps which open up when in sports mode. The standard wheels measure 19 inches across while 20s available as an option. Also available are carbon ceramic brakes for extra stopping power and lower weight.Inside, the subdued design theme is continued, albeit with plenty of AMG-labelled components to remind you that this is no ordinary S-Class. AMG sports seats are fitted up front and lined with Nappa leather. Also present is an IWC clock, embossed AMG logo on the centre armrest and an AMG sports steering wheel.TECHNOLOGYInstead of a separate AMG DRIVE UNIT, all the specific AMG electronic controls are integrated with the standard S-Class user interface, which consists of two high-resolution screens and COMAND control dial. One of these screens serves as the car’s instrument cluster but gets unique AMG lettering and red and silver dials.www.motorauthority.com

Yes, the Fast and the Furious crew will be back next year for yet another installment of the popular car-themed action series -- that’s movie number seven in case you’ve lost count -- and they’re asking fans where the next one should take the franchise.The image above was posted on the franchise’s official Facebook page along with the message: "Where do you want to see it go next?" While most of the movies have featured locations found in the US, we’ve also seen sequences take place in Japan, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and Europe to name a few.Perhaps holding the key for Fast And Furious 7, which is slated for release on July 11, 2014, is the movie’s new director James Wan. Famous for horror movies like Saw and Insidious, perhaps Wan will bring the series to Australia where he grew up.He plans to make the movie edgier than past iterations, though it won’t fit into the horror genre. Instead, Wan plans to make it a suspense-filled action movie akin to one of the Die Hard movies. Apart from Vin Diesel's character Dom, it’s not clear which other characters -- or cars -- will return for the next installment. And in case you were thinking the franchise, even after all these years, was running out of steam, factor in that the Fast and Furious sixth installment has managed to take in almost $700 million worldwide, the highest of any of the movies so far.www.motorauthority.com 

Lexus' LF-CC Coupe Concept, shown at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, was a brilliant exercise in design and proportion--but it was clearly concept-only, despite hints that it might presage a production model. This appears to be that production model, the 2015 Lexus RC F. The latest images show the car testing on the Nordschleife. Earlier shots showed the car in testing on city streets.Why RC F? Because Lexus recently trademarked the name, as an expansion of the also-trademarked RC name. Given Lexus' penchant for somewhat sensible names, the C likely indicates a coupe. In fact, we expect the RC to be the coupe version of the IS sedan. The LF-CC was taken as a preview of the IS, in coupe form, at the time of its unveiling, as well. From the design elements seen in these spy shots, we can see the proportions of the LF-CC have held through to the current development vehicle quite clearly. The RC F's dimensions are tipped to be 4700mm long and 1845mm wide, with it riding on a 2730mm wheelbase. Details such as the extremely narrow headlights, blade-like side scoop, and involuted rear diffuser found on the LF-CC concept have been replaced by simpler, more production-oriented designs.Other differences include larger tail lights, stacked exhaust outlets (like on the current IS F) and what appears to be a functional centre hood vent on the car spied in testing. Inside the cockpit of the RC F, there is a dashboard and centre stack very similar to that found in the 2014 IS sedan.So what will power the RC F? Some reports are suggesting it will carry over the high-output 5.0-litre V8 engine found in the outgoing IS F sedan, which delivers 311kW of power and 505Nm of torque -- though even more is possible.Lexus IS chief engineer Junichi Furuyama hinted last week that the 5.0-litre V8 could be dropped because of its difficulty meeting Euro 6 emission standards, and be replaced by a completely new engine for the F model. We'll update you with more details and information as the car progresses through its development cycle, which should come to completion in time for a full unveiling sometime in 2014 as a 2015 model.www.motorauthority.com 

A fleet of 11 supercars, which included two Bugatti Veyrons, have sold at auction for just 3.1 million euros (approximately $4.4 million) in France. The cars originally belonged to Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, but were seized by French authorities during a 2011 investigation over the alleged theft of public funds in the African nation.The cars were seized at the President’s 101-room mansion near the Champs Elysees in Paris and included the aforementioned Bugattis -- which are priced at the equivalent of $1.5 million in overseas markets -- as well as a rare Ferrari Enzo ($1.7m overseas), a Maserati MC12 ($1.5m overseas), a Porsche GT2 RS ($560,000 here), a Ferrari 599 GTO ($569,000 overseas), a Rolls-Royce Phantom ($1.1m), a Maybach ($1.1m), an Aston Martin Vanquish ($472,000) and a pair of Bentleys, including an Azure ($750,000 here).According to International Business Times, the cars were sold by auction house Drouot and most had little or no mileage on them. Considering that a Bugatti Veyron alone, even used, will set you back more than a million dollars, the winning bidders have made quite the deal. Other items seized from the President’s Paris residence included vintage wines, jewellery, and paintings by renowned artists such as Degas and Renoir.Court documents reveal that the 11 cars were among a larger fleet of 26 exotics that were shipped to France from the US in 2009 at a total cost of $12 million. Many have since been transported on to Equatorial Guinea -- despite most of the roads there being little more than dirt tracks.The documents also reveal that an arrest warrant has been issued for Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue for the charge of misuse of public funds. The government of Equatorial Guinea is allegedly trying to appeal the case and have the investigation blocked on the grounds of diplomatic immunity, since it claims the Paris mansion where the cars were seized was part of the country's embassy.www.motorauthority.com

Before you file the Sin R1 as just another Corvette-powered supercar from some company you’ll probably never hear of again, take a moment and just factor in the car’s performance.Its maker claims the R1 is good for 0-100m/h in a Bugatti Veyron-rivalling time of approximately 2.5 seconds, and able to reach a top speed somewhere above 322km/h.That’s performance only a few million dollar supercars can match, and none of these come close to matching the simplicity and longevity of a good ol’ LS V-8.The particular LS engine powering the R1 is the 6.2-litre LS3 V-8 from the outgoing Corvette. In its latest application, the engine has been tuned to deliver 391 kilowatts and sends drive to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox borrowed from a Porsche 911 GT2.The Sin R1 was first shown to the world at the 2013 Autosport International event back in January. It has since made its dynamic debut, wowing audiences at the previous week's 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed.Thanks to a lightweight spaceframe chassis and carbon fibre passenger cell, the R1 tips the scales at just 1200kg. This helps with the car’s astonishing performance figures and should make it a beast at the track. Sin states that the weight distribution is split 40/60 front to rear, which should also ensure there’s a steep learning curve for anyone wishing to master the R1.Other specs include 19-inch alloy wheels from Braid, AP Racing brakes, and racing bucket seats from OMP. Sin is based in Munich, Germany, and has worked closely with British firm ProFormance Metals to develop the R1, with the latter primarily responsible for building the car’s lightweight chassis.Sin started out building race cars for private customers, usually as rolling chassis, but has since decided to expand into the world of turnkey models. No doubt we’ll hear more of Sin and its R1 supercar in the near future.www.motorauthority.com

Head-up display systems started with jet fighters, but have been around for decades in cars. But despite their added safety (by allowing you to keep your eyes on the road) you still won't find it a standard feature in many cars. However, there are a growing number of affordable aftermarket kits available.Navigation specialist Garmin is the latest to release a simple head-up display system, which is portable -- and links with your smartphone -- so it can be used in multiple cars.The Garmin unit receives navigation information from a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone running a Garmin StreetPilot1 or NAVIGON app. By attaching it to your vehicle’s dash, this information can be projected onto a transparent film on the windshield or an attached reflector lens.The brightness is automatically adjusted depending on ambient conditions so projections are clearly visible in direct sunlight or at night. Garmin boasts that its head-up display offers more navigation details than other portable head-up displays, yet presents them in a simplified way that doesn’t divert the driver’s attention from the road. The information includes turn arrows, distance to the next turn, current speed and speed limit, as well as estimated time of arrival. It even lets drivers know what lane to be in for the next manoeuvre and alerts them when they exceed the speed limit. It also warns users of potential traffic delays and upcoming safety camera locations.The Garmin head-up display is priced at US$129.99, though you’ll also need to download either the Garmin StreetPilot1 or NAVIGON app, which start at US$29.99. Garmin Australia says they have no plans yet to release it here, but “are looking into it”. They said there's no indication of what price point they are thinking of, but when questioned, they said there would be no reason interested drivers couldn't simply order the unit and app from the US.www.motorauthority.com 

A new supercar is brewing, one with the performance and looks to rival a Bugatti Veyron. The project is taking place right here in Australia, and right now is in its very early stages.The new supercar, which hasn’t even received a name yet, is the brainchild of Australian entrepreneur Paul Halstead. The 67-year-old, who made his fortune in the IT business, has long dreamed of building his own car and came close to accomplishing it during the 1980s.Back then, Halstead was running a performance car dealership and attempted to build and sell Alfa Romeo Sprint coupes modified to fit a mid-mounted V-8. The car was called the Giocattolo and was extremely advanced for its day, coming complete with Kevlar body panels, Brembo brakes and suspension developed by former McLaren F1 engineer Barry Lock.Unfortunately, Halstead only managed to build 15 examples before he had to fold operations due to poor sales. Now, 30 years on since the Giocattolo, Halstead is working on a new mid-engined supercar.Halstead is also in charge of an automotive design and engineering firm, HAL, which among its numerous duties supplied De Tomaso with Ford V-8 engines and built a Pantera race car. More recently HAL built a Holden Monaro concept powered by a 7.0-litre V-8 sourced from the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.It is this engine, the race-bred LS7, that will serve as the basis of Halstead’s new supercar, albeit with a twist: two of the engines, rolled over at 45 degrees, will be bolted together and used to power the wheels. Instead of merging their internals to form a single crankshaft, like in the aforementioned Veyron, which essentially features two W-8s on a common crank, Halstead explains that a “trick” transfer case will allow the two separate crankshafts of the LS7s to match up with a single six-speed sequential gearbox.An estimated peak output of 895 kilowatts will be derived from the 14.0 litres of swept capacity, which will then be channelled to the rear wheels via the sequential ‘box and a limited-slip differential. The mighty powerplant will be mounted to a lightweight carbon fibre tub and housed in a svelte body composed of more carbon fibre and Kevlar.Looking at the official drawings, it’s clear Halstead and his design team were influenced by the McLaren F1 as well as some modern Maseratis. The front, in particular, is reminiscent of a Maserati GranTurismo, while inside there is a central driver’s seat with a passenger seat to either side, just like in the iconic F1 supercar. Instead of doors, Halstead’s design calls for a jet fighter-style sliding canopy.As for production, Halstead says the project is simply a bit of fun and not a serious business venture. He plans to show the completed version, due in 2016, at the Detroit Autorama hot rod event where he hopes to win the prestigious Ridler Award. The final performance of the car and the level of interest, particularly from potential investors, will dictate whether a small run will enter production.Halstead is a great admirer of men like Horacio Pagani and Christian von Koenigsegg, who have achieved their dream of building world-class supercars, but concedes it’s a very difficult business. “I have been there with the 15 Giocattolos I built in the ‘80s and I really do understand just how difficult it is to become a Pagani,” Halstead explains. “That man is a true legend for what he has achieved.”www.motorauthority.com

Anyone still sore from missing out on one of McLaren’s 12C GT Can-Am Edition track cars, of which just 30 were produced, now have reason to cheer. McLaren today announced a new track car that will see regular production but will still be limited to only 20 units per year.The new track car is the McLaren 12C GT Sprint, and like all track-focused versions of McLaren’s modern supercars it has been developed exclusively by the McLaren GT squad, responsible also for the high-performance 12C GT3 race cars.The 12C GT Sprint sits somewhere between the 12C road car and 12C GT3 racer and shares parts from both. Using the proven platform of the 12C, engineers have focused on the handling and aerodynamics.Powering the car is the 12C’s familiar twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 engine, which rates at 453 kW. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via the 12C road car’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Borrowed from the 12C GT3 racer are the engine’s oil and cooling systems as well as the front radiator.In honing its track performance, engineers made adjustments to the 12C’s ProActive Chassis Control system, which needed to be recalibrated to suit the lower ride height (down 40 millimetres) and racing slicks that have also been employed. Steering is said to be sharper and the ride even stiffer, though the driver can select from three different settings in order to adjust this.Onlookers will be able to spot the 12C GT Sprint by its new front bumper, vented hood, lower ride height, carbon ceramic brake discs and centre-locking 19-inch OZ wheels. Changing the car’s Pirelli slicks is made easy thanks to an on-board air jacking system. Optional extras include a new polycarbonate windscreen and other weight-saving features made from carbon fibre.Inside, many of the 12C’s luxuries have been replaced by a roll cage, racing seat with harness, a lightweight air-conditioning system and a carbon fibre dash with a racing style digital display.Unfortunately, all these changes mean the 12C GT Sprint is not street legal. Still, with a final price expected to fall somewhere below 200,000 British pounds (approximately $327,000 here in straight conversion, but there would be bound to be an extra whack of taxes and other charges to hike the price in Australia), we could see it proving quite popular with well-heeled track enthusiasts looking for a reliable weekend racer.An official debut of the 12C GT Sprint will take place at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK tomorrow.www.motorauthority.com

The next vehicle to join SRT’s ever-expanding lineup may be a tuned version of the latest 2014 Jeep Cherokee, according to a new report. Citing an inside source, Allpar is reporting that a Jeep Cherokee SRT is in the works and due out soon.The vehicle would feature a ZF nine-speed automatic transmission and, presumably, all-wheel drive. Unlike the models in SRT’s current lineup, the Jeep Cherokee SRT would almost certainly feature an engine with fewer than eight cylinders.This shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering SRT’s decision to drop the cylinder count from its vehicle names overseas -- although the new Jeep Grand Cherokee range keeps the SRT8 monicker here in Australia.The most likely engine option for the Jeep Cherokee SRT would be a tuned version of the 3.2-litre Pentastar V-6 already available on the compact crossover. This tuned V-6 is tipped to deliver close to 400 horsepower and may eventually make its way into other SRT models like a rumoured Chrysler 200 SRT. Of course, a hi-po four-cylinder is also a possibility. Stay tuned for an update.www.motorauthority.com