Articles by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Infiniti’s new boss Johan de Nysschen is shaking up strategy at the Japanese luxury automaker in an attempt to reach a self-imposed goal of 500,000 unit sales by 2016. That’s almost triple the amount of cars Infiniti sold last year but de Nysschen believes he can achieve that goal with the right strategies in place.At the top of the agenda is a focus on higher volume models, such as Infiniti’s upcoming compact car, new crossovers and even a pair of flagship models. There are also plans to start production of Infiniti models in more locations around the globe, including at plants in the U.K. and China.Unfortunately for electric car proponents, the refocus means a delay in the launch of Infiniti’s first EV.At the 2012 New York Auto Show, Infiniti unveiled the LE concept car and promised a production version within the next two years. The LE was based on the platform of the Nissan Leaf so the quick gestation is not unreasonable. However, speaking with Automotive News, de Nysschen said plans for an Infiniti electric car were still in place but the timing for its release, originally slated for 2014, had been changed.The launch of the Infiniti electric car was part of Renault Nissan Group CEO Carlos Ghosn’s plan to have 1.5 million EV sales by 2016. Currently, the numbers are hovering around 100,000 units.The focus on volume will also mean the planned flagships won’t be as exclusive as originally envisaged. Designed to slot in above the current M70 (former M sedan), the new flagships will be launched before the end of the decade and will include a sedan and a GT.The sedan won’t be a conventional model like an S Class or 7-Series but something akin to the Porsche Panamera, de Nysschen explained. The GT, meanwhile, will be a 2+2 coupe riding on the same platform as the sedan. Infiniti’s stunning Essence concept of 2009 is said to point the way for the design of the new coupe.www.motorauthority.com 

The recently revealed 2014 Maserati Ghibli has been spotted for the first time in public, and we’re glad to report that the upcoming Italian sports sedan looks even better on the road than it did under the auto show spotlights. This time the Ghibli sports a striking blue finish, which we suspect will be its new hero colour. This particular car was spotted during an official shoot, presumably for a new advertisement or promotional video, which is said to have taken place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.   YouTube user TheMAXIMUMCARS also happened to film the car and was fortunate enough to upload this video for all to see. It gives us the chance to see the Ghibli in motion, with its daytime running lights and brake lights on. We also get to hear the growl of the car’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V-6 for the first time. The car’s numberplate reveals that this is the more potent Ghibli S, which develops 548 Newton metres of torque and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.0 seconds. The “301 KW” in the number plate represents the car’s 301-kilowatt power rating. The Ghibli will also be offered with a 242 kilowatt version of the turbo V-6 engine and overseas buyers will also have the option of a 202 kilowatt V-6 turbodiesel. All of the Ghibli's engines are built by Ferrari and all of them come matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. www.motorauthority.com  

Pagani is on the verge of launching a new model and today released a teaser image for the car, which is rumoured to be based on the Zonda R track special and limited to a production run of just five examples.Along with the teaser image, Pagani released the statement “The Revolution is about to begin...” The words suggest that the new car is in fact the rumoured Zonda R Evolution that we first saw a week ago.  Presented to a private audience at the recent 2013 Mille Miglia, the rumoured Zonda R Evo is said to be the most extreme version of Pagani’s Zonda supercar yet and could output as much as 597 kilowatts.That’s 37 more kilowatts than the Zonda R, but in addition to having more power the Zonda R Evo is also said to weigh less and have better aerodynamics. With the Zonda R capable of lapping the Nürburgring Nordschleife in an astonishing 6:47, we wonder what a lighter and more powerful version could do.www.motorauthority.com 

PGO Automobiles, a niche sports car manufacturer based in France, has previewed its latest updates for its Cévennes speedster with a new concept car. The concept was first shown at last month’s 2013 Shanghai Auto Show but PGO has only now released official photos and details.The concept is called the Cévennes Water Snake and it features a new blue carbon exterior finish that Cévennes buyers will soon be able to order.The concept also features a new sports body kit designed for the Cévennes as well as daytime running lights and BMW-style ‘angle eye’ headlights. It’s also got new aluminum wheels measuring 18 inches across and shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires.For the interior, there is a leather-wrapped dash, new carbon fibre trim and quilted leather on the seats. An updated centre console has also been installed. Power in the Cévennes Water Snake, as with all Cévennes models, comes from a mid-mounted, four-cylinder turbo sourced from BMW. The engine displaces 1.6 litres and delivers 135 kilowatts. A six-speed manual is the standard transmission.Sadly, being left-hand drive only, PGO’s retro beauties aren’t likely to reach Australia.PGO, founded in the 1980s, is the brainchild of two French auto enthusiasts that dreamed of someday building their own, purist sports car. The company started off by building replicas of classic European sports cars, namely Porsches, but by the turn of the century had its own model, the Speedster II.By 2005, PGO was acquired by Al Sayer International, which provided it with the financial backing to launch new models such as the Cévennes and the Hemera (basically a Cévennes shooting brake).www.motorauthority.com 

The growing number of supercars and other exotics being bought by Dubai Police shows no sign of slowing. The latest patrol cars spotted on the beat in the Gulf city are a BMW M6 Gran Coupe and a Ford

Porsche is about to expand its lineup with two brand new models. One will be the 918 Spyder at the top of the range and the other will be the Macan crossover positioned at the bottom of the range.The Macan will go on sale in early 2014 in the US and Europe, which means we’re likely to see it unveiled at a major international auto show towards the end of this year.Auto Express is reporting that the unveiling will take place at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show in November, which makes sense given Porsche’s penchant for the show in LA and the number of its previous debuts there.The US remains Porsche’s single biggest market, and within the country the state of California has the biggest concentration of the automaker’s iconic sports cars and crossovers.Production of the Macan will start later this year at Porsche’s plant in Leipzig, Germany. Sharing a platform with the Audi Q5, the Macan will nevertheless be as Porsche as the Cayenne, which itself shares its underpinnings with another Volkswagen Group model, the Touareg.The Macan is a crucial model for Porsche, as the automaker expects it to be its top-seller. Sales projections of around 50,000-55,000 units per year have been described by Porsche as "cautious estimates," and more recently there has been talk that sales numbers could reach as much as 75,000 units per year. At this level the Macan would represent more than 50 percent of Porsche’s total volume.The Macan should also be Porsche’s most affordable model, with pricing overseas almost certain to start below the Boxster’s starting price (from $107,000 here in Australia). It is possible that the Macan will receive a turbocharged four-cylinder engine as its base option, making it the first modern Porsche to do so. We also expect a range of gasoline V6 engines to be offered, perhaps even a 272kW Macan Turbo model, in addition to a diesel for overseas markets.Key competitors will include the Range Rover Evoque from Land Rover as well as the upcoming X4 from BMW and GLA Class from Mercedes-Benz.www.motorauthority.com 

News of Maserati’s plans to launch a sports car positioned below its GranTurismo first broke in May of last year. The speculation was quickly followed with confirmation of the car by Maserati boss Harald Wester, who added that it might feature a mid-engine layout.This led to talk that the car might use the platform of the Alfa Romeo 4C, which, incidentally, is built at a Maserati plant. However, it’s since been reported that the new sports car will feature an engine mounted up front. Now, Motor Trend has dug up some fresh details on the car after speaking with Wester.The Maserati boss said a new, small sports car was needed as a rival for the likes of the Jaguar F-Type and Porsche 911. He explained that volumes for cars like the bigger GranTurismo and GranCabrio (a.k.a. GranTurismo Convertible) were simply too limited. “The four-seat GranCabrio is in a segment where even the biggest-selling competitor sells just 2,000 a year maximum,” he said.Though it’s yet to be confirmed, the new sports car, which most are predicting to revive Maserati’s GranSport nameplate, will reportedly ride on a shortened version of the platform underpinning the Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans.This platform will allegedly be used for a number of performance models within the Fiat Chrysler Group including the new GranSport, next-generation GranTurismo and GranCabrio, and possibly even the next-generation Dodge Challenger and the long-rumored Barracuda it will spawn.The GranSport will be one of the smallest of these new performance models, stretching approximately 4.49m or roughly the same length as a C7 Corvette. To differentiate it from the larger GranTurismo, the GranSport will feature V6 power while the new GranTurimso will stick with a V8. The V6 in question is Maserati’s new twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre mill, which is manufactured by Ferrari and rated at 297 kW and 550 Nm.A convertible version of the GranSport is said to also be in the works, possibly as a replacement for the current GranCabrio. Both the new GranSport and the next-generation GranTurismo are expected to be launched on the market during 2015.www.motorauthority.com 

Infiniti will soon start production of a new compact car based on its Etherea concept from 2011. The car, which may be labelled a Q30 in line with Infiniti’s new naming practice, will be built at a Nissan plant in the UK and should be revealed towards the end of next year or in early 2015.Now comes news that a crossover version of the Q30, a potential QX30, is in the works. The key is Infiniti’s decision to base its new Q30 on the platform underpinning the Mercedes-Benz CLA Class, which will have its own crossover version in the form of the GLA Class.The premium compact crossover segment is booming, not only in Australia but in most other developed markets as well. As Motor Trend points out, Infiniti will be able to charge higher prices for the QX30 than it could for the Q30, so this could sway the decision of the brand’s product planners.In addition, Infiniti plans to launch a production version of its LE electric car concept in the U.S. This model will be based on the Nissan Leaf platform and compete in the premium compact sedan segment.www.motorauthority.com 

BMW was out in force at the weekend's prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Northern Italy with two concepts: the Concept Ninety motorcycle celebrating the 90th anniversary of its Motorrad division and the lavish yet somewhat restrained Gran Lusso Coupe.BMW announced the Gran Lusso Coupe a week ago and teased us with a few initial photos. Now we have a detailed look at the concept, which has been developed together with legendary Italian design house Pininfarina.The Gran Lusso Coupe marks the start of a partnership between the two firms and while there’s been no mention of production we can envision the concept serving as the basis for a new 8-Series. In fact, BMW even states that the look is ready to join the high-end luxury class, though strangely we also see a resemblance to Volvo’s Concept You from 2011.Generous surface design and taut contours give the Gran Lusso Coupe an elegant look, while hallmark BMW proportions--a long wheelbase, stretched hood, short overhangs and a set-back greenhouse--hint at the concept’s performance.That performance comes from a V12 engine nestled under the hood and spinning the rear wheels, though sadly we don’t have any specs for the mighty powerplant. BMW does mention, however, that the concept’s grille was made especially large to reflect the power of the V12 engine.Viewed up close it discloses highly accomplished detail work: the front part of the kidney grille is made of matte-sheen aluminium, while behind it an identically shaped part in high-gloss black adds visual depth.Moving rearward there’s a contrast of curved surfaces and sharp character lines, topped by a classic coupe profile. A high shoulder line extends almost horizontally along the entire side of the car, leading to an almost flat rear deck reminiscent of the design of the previous-generation 6-Series. The wheels measure 21 inches in diameter and blend matte-sheen aluminum with glossy black.BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso CoupeOn the inside, the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe blends themes of elegance and luxury. The minimalist and driver-focused layout of the classic BMW cabin is lent a thoroughly new touch through the influence of Pininfarina.Key elements include the unique color combinations, the sweeping patterns of the doors and the select material choices. The latter includes a special swamp-preserved wood called kauri that’s more than 48,000 years old.There are four generously-sized seats, set out in a 2+2 configuration, and all of these are lined in high-grade leather from the Foglizzo leather factory. Their light Tobacco Brown shade creates a warm, exclusive ambience. Metal highlights in black chrome set a technical counterpoint to the extensive application of natural materials.In addition to the Gran Lusso Coupe, BMW will also be presenting the Concept Ninety. This concept was built in collaboration with custom bike company Roland Sands Design and draws its inspiration from the BMW R 90 S of the 1970s. Like with the Gran Lusso Coupe, there has been no mention of production for the Concept Ninety.www.motorauthority.com 

With Honda recently announcing its return to Formula One racing in 2015 as an engine supplier to its long-time partner McLaren, talk of the Japanese automaker’s engines ending up in one of McLaren’s new road cars started to develop. McLaren’s 12C range of supercars as well as its upcoming P1 flagship are all powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 engine built by British engineering firm Ricardo. The P1, of course, features a more extreme version of the engine and an advanced hybrid system. With McLaren’s next road car to be an ‘entry-level’ model, it makes sense that the company would want to use a different engine than that used in its rarefied supercars. Whatever engine ends up powering McLaren’s next road car, it isn’t likely to be built by Honda, however. In fact, Honda’s renewed alliance with McLaren in F1 is not expected to have any impact on McLaren’s road car business, an insider revealed to Autocar. McLaren’s next road car, codenamed the P13 (the P1 was codenamed the P12 and the 12C before that was the P11), will target cars like the Audi R8, Ferrari California successor and Porsche 911. It will get its own version of the carbon fibre monocoque used in the 12C and P1 and, as previously reported, will most likely share those cars’ twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8, albeit with output detuned to something less than 373kW. A prototype is expected to be revealed next year ahead of a sales launch in 2015. www.motorauthority.com