Articles by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

GM's dark days of bankruptcy left the company without a compact sports car-- leaving room beneath the Camaro and Corvette for such a model. While the dynamically-focused 2014 Corvette Stingray starts at a reasonable $51,990 in the US (AU$50,750), that's about double the US price of the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ. Lesser Camaros can be had for 86/BRZ money, but they lack the dynamic edge of the new Japanese heroes. Chevy wants to step back into the affordable, compact sports car market, says GM's North American president -- and former head of Holden in Australia -- Mark Reuss. It's not much of a surprise after the launch of the Code 130R concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, though Reuss told Automotive News the 130R's design won't be used, as it's "already dated." Instead, a new design would be dropped on an entirely new platform -- something "scalable and efficient", according to Reuss, rather than the Alpha platform that underpins the Cadillac ATS and is tipped for the underpinnings of the next-gen Camaro. Considering the ATS' relatively light weight of about 1542kg, we would like to see a much more compact car using the same architecture. Such a car could conceivably check in under 1360kg -- perhaps as low as 1270kg, putting it in the range of the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ twins. If GM chooses to go with an entirely new platform, it will be a challenge to meet weight and performance targets within a cost-return ratio likely based on relatively small volume targets. If Chevy can pull it off, however, with a choice of normally aspirated and possibly turbocharged four-cylinder engines -- with options to upgrade to V6 and turbo V6 engines, at least in theory -- a light, rear-drive sports car might just find the niche Chevy needs below the larger, heavier, far more powerful Corvette. The idea, however, remains on the drawing board for now. GM hasn't yet decided to give the green light. www.motorauthority.com

BMW’s upcoming i3 electric car will be priced similar to a reasonably-equipped 3-Series sedan in the US, which means a starting price there of around $40,000. However, Australian buyers are likely to pay more than $60,000 when it arrives here in 2014.That estimation takes into account our higher prices for cars, and the levels already set by the less-prestigious Holden Volt at $60,000, and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Nissan Leaf -- both of which were just under $50,000, with the Leaf taking another price cut last week to $39,990 dirve-away.The US starting price also benefits from government rebates, and realistically becomes as low as $35,000 once various tax credits there are factored in. The pricing information was revealed by BMW’s US chief, Ludwig Willisch, who spoke recently with Automotive News.Willisch said BMW i3 pricing would be finalised closer to the car’s launch at the end of the year and that BMW was still in discussions with the federal government over the eligibility of the $7,500 federal tax credit. The credit is based on battery size, which means a range-extended version of the i3 may also be eligible.The basic i3 will come with a five-door body and electric motor rated at 125kW/250Nm, driving the rear wheels via a fixed-gear transmission. On a single charge of its lithium-ion battery, owners should expect a driving range of 150km.A second version uses a 650cc two-cylinder petrol engine (from BMW's scooter line-up) acting as a range-extender to give 300km of travel when a full tank of petrol and batteries at 100 percent capacity are employed.The i3 will make its official world debut in production trim at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show this September, before reaching showrooms by the end of the year. It will be followed up by the i8 sports car early next year.www.motorauthority.com 

The LaFerrari supercar is already the fastest and most powerful road car ever built by Ferrari, and if the automaker’s performance claims are to be believed it could just be the most capable production car the world has ever known.For its latest flagship, Ferrari is claiming a 0-100km/h time of under 3.0 seconds, a 0-300km/h time of 15 seconds and a top speed in excess of 350km/h. But could the LaFerrari’s performance envelope be lifted even higher? According to a new report, Ferrari plans to do just that.Autocar, citing LaFerrari designer Flavio Manzoni, reports that there are plans underway for a more extreme version of the car that could be sold in very limited numbers. We’re talking less than ten examples here. “When we were producing the original design proposals for LaFerrari, there was one proposal that I thought was especially beautiful,” Manzoni said. “So we decided to keep that one back for something truly special in the future.”Manzoni didn’t give any hints as to what this more extreme LaFerrari could be, though something along the lines of the previous Enzo supercar’s FXX track version is a possibility and is likely at some point in the car’s life cycle. Another possibility is a lightweight version developed using construction techniques previewed on 2007’s Millechili concept car. The Millechili weighed just 998kg, while the LaFerrari has a dry weight of 1255kg.According to another report from Automotive News (subscription required), Ferrari engineers had envisaged a kerb weight similar to that of the Millechili for the new LaFerrari and even proposed using a twin-turbocharged 3.0 litre V8 engine, though had to change plans when senior management insisted on a naturally-aspirated V12 and hybrid setup.Whatever Ferrari has in store for its more extreme LaFerrari, expect pricing to reach as high as $5 million or perhaps even more. As we’ve seen with Lamborghini’s Veneno, there’s no shortage of well-heeled buyers ready to drop serious cash on limited edition supercars.www.motorauthority.com

Just in case a Lamborghini Aventador and Ferrari FF weren’t enough, Dubai Police has gone out and recruited a handful of new supercars for its fleet including a rare Aston Martin One-77. Yes, one of the bespoke Aston Martin supercars, of which only 77 were ever built, will be used for police duties in the Gulf state and will be joined by a Bentley Continental GT and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The new police cars were presented at the Dubai Trade Centre recently, where these images were taken. Like the previous Aventador and FF supercars Dubai Police enlisted, the trio of new recruits will be used primarily as a deterrent for anyone considering breaking the speed limit, particular those owners of high-powered exotics. The cars will also be used in popular tourist areas to help promote Dubai. In fact, their first appearance was at a travel exposition. The One-77 is now the rarest and most expensive vehicle in the Dubai Police fleet and was no doubt donated by one of Dubai’s wealthy residents. All examples of the car are sold and Aston Martin goes to great lengths to ensure they don’t turn up on the open market, so it's unlikely the car was actually bought by Dubai Police.  The One-77 is also the most powerful car in the fleet, with its 7.3-liter V-12 engine delivering 560kW and 750Nm. The next most powerful car in the fleet is the Aventador, which rates at 515kW. At the time of its launch, the going price on a One-77 was 1.15 million pounds, which at today’s exchange rate is approximately AU$1.7 million. We wonder what's next, a Bugatti Veyron? www.motorauthority.com

Apparently so, claim researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and tech giant Intel, who are currently testing the technology. According to a report from CNET, first picked up by Autoblog, the technology uses a special headlight that acts more like a projector than as a pure lighting device. A camera integrated with the projector-headlight monitors the road ahead, relaying images to a processor that can detect rain drops and remove them from a digital image that is then projected ahead. The genius of the system is the processor’s ability to anticipate the path of each rain droplet, which speeds up the whole process to a time interval of just 13 milliseconds. The end result is a view of the road that is much clearer and with far fewer bright spots. The researchers claim this will reduce driver stress and make roads safer during rain and even snow storms. Apart from the cost and potential weight of installing a powerful projector in each of the car’s headlights, our only concern would be drivers not anticipating how poor conditions are outside their car due to the clear view being projected in front of them. The researchers claim a production version could be ready within a decade. www.motorauthority.com      

There are all manner of rumours concerning the next-generation Mazda MX-5, with reports claiming the car will feature a compact turbocharged engine, tip the scales at less than 997kg and perhaps even offer a dual-clutch transmission.What we do know is that the car will be based on a rear-wheel-drive platform developed by Mazda, and that it will be built at a plant in Hiroshima, Japan.We also know that the same platform will be used for a new Alfa Romeo model, which may end up reviving the “Duetto” or “Spider” names. Now Autocar is reporting that Mazda is considering offering a diesel option on its next-generation MX-5. Potential hurdles for the diesel, according to the report, include low demand, a lack of revs and too much weight (diesel engines typically weigh more than their gasoline counterparts).Though it’s unlikely a diesel-powered MX-5 will in fact see production, the next-generation Mazda MX-5 is due out in 2014 and will be joined by its Alfa Romeo sibling in the following year.www.motorauthority.com 

Aston Martin and Investindustrial have finalised a deal first announced in December that will see a 35 per cent stake in the cartomaker sold to the European private equity group.

Armchair racers all around the globe, this is the moment you have all been waiting for; Gran Turismo 6 will be released on November 28, 2013.The date suggests a formal announcement is likely to be made during June’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), though Sony may have a surprise or two up its sleeve.The release date was leaked by Italian electronics retailer Multiplayer.com, which has since pulled down the page containing information on the game, though not before CNET could jot it all down.Along with the date, which may only reflect the European launch, the page also included this cover art, which, if real, confirms that Gran Turismo 6 has been designed for Sony’s existing PlayStation 3 console and not the next-generation PlayStation 4 due out at the end of this year.Not much else is known about the game, though we know that a pair of unique muscle cars will be among the lineup of cars offered.The cars, a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 40 custom as well as a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, were handpicked for a virtual appearance in the latest instalment at previous SEMA shows by the game's creator, Kazunori Yamauchi.The original Gran Turismo was first launched in 1997 and has since sold more than 65 million copies of its various versions. The game is recognized for its realistic graphics and physics and the upcoming sixth instalment should be the best version yet.www.motorauthority.com 

Infiniti fans have been desperately waiting for a new flagship sedan to take on the likes of the Lexus LS and BMW 7 Series to be announced, and while senior management are aware of the need of such a vehicle, they are considering alternatives to a conventional, full-size luxury sedan.Speaking with Car and Driver, Infiniti chief Johan de Nysschen explained that the automaker was considering a model positioned above its Q70 (former M), with something akin to the Mercedes-Benz CLS Class and Audi A7 being a strong possibility.Being a flagship, sales will be limited so to spread costs de Nysschen sees Infiniti developing a second model from the same platform, likely to be a luxurious GT.“I think we need some kind of sexy sports car that might share powertrains and platforms with , but an even more emotional iteration,” de Nysschen said.The Infiniti exec went on to explain that this luxury GT won’t be a production version of the Emerg-E extended-range electric, as Infiniti has decided that a sports car isn’t the best platform for electric tech just yet, but is more likely to be a powerful and comfy tourer along the lines of the Jaguar F-Type.As for powertrains, V6s with forced induction are likely to be picked. Developing new V8 engines has previously been ruled out by de Nysschen, and late last year he confirmed that Infiniti would be launching a car packing a force-fed V6 with up to 410kW.Whatever the outcome, it's clear Infiniti is planning to add a genuine flagship to its lineup, though it looks like we may have to wait some years while the automaker makes up its mind on just what road--or roads--to take.www.motorauthority.com 

A fortnight ago, we brought you news that McLaren was about to launch an online interactive experience centering on its new P1 supercar. Featuring the heading Designed By Air, the interactive experience has just gone live and is ready to be pricked and prodded by P1 fans as well as those with a general interest in supercar design and development. The new interactive experience offers a detailed insight as to how the P1 is born from raw metallic and carbon elements and then crafted by airflow. The journey evolves to unveil the car within the wind tunnel, highlighting the aerodynamic focus of the design. There is also a 3D model with information about the finely honed aerodynamic features, along with simulations of the P1’s aerodynamics working in various locations including urban, highway, alpine and race track environments. What separates the P1 from most other high-powered cars is its aerodynamics, which McLaren concedes is the key to the car’s performance. Leveraging decades of Formula One know-how, McLaren engineers looked at managing air flow in and around the P1’s bodywork and optimised the aerodynamics in order to reach the performance targets for the car. This had the added benefited of creating a highly unique and emotive shape. Designed by Air is the first of a two part series telling the extraordinary story behind the P1’s design. We’ll bring you an update as soon as the second part is launched. But enough time wasting, click here to access Designed By Air. http://designedbyair.com/ www.motorauthority.com