Articles by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Italian design house Pininfarina will unveil a new concept car honoring the late Sergio Pininfarina at next month’s Geneva Motor Show, with the first teaser image released by the company today.It’s still too early to gauge any details, apart from the concept’s sultry hue, but we know that it will be called the Sergio and that it has been designed with exclusivity, innovation and passion in mind.Sergio Pininfarina, son of Pininfarina founder Battista Farina, passed away in his home in Turin, Italy, in July, 2012.He originally started working for the family design business in the 1950s and during his reign was responsible for some impressive cars, including the Fiat 124 Spider, Peugeot 406 Coupe, the Ferrari Testarossa and more recently the Ferrari Enzo and Sintesi concept.Last year Pininfarina used the Geneva show to unveil the Cambiano concept, a stylish sedan powered by a extended-range electric drivetrain consisting of a diesel engine, lithium-ion battery array and four electric motors.Given the description of the latest Sergio concept, we have a feeling Pininfarina is planning something a little sportier this year.www.motorauthority.com  

Ferrari’s replacement for the Enzo supercar, the code-named F150, is on track to be revealed to the public for the first time at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show on March 5, although Ferrari has already beg

With the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG, the first high-performance AMG version of Mercedes’ new compact range, set to debut next month at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, it’s only natural that the similar CLA45 AMG, the AMG version of the new 2014 CLA Class, makes its debut at the following major international auto show, in this case, the 2013 New York Auto Show. Well, the CLA45 AMG’s debut has now been confirmed for New York motor show, which kicks off late March. No other details have been revealed, though previous information released by Mercedes has given much insight into the new compact range of performance cars from AMG. Both the CLA45 AMG and the similar A45 AMG will feature turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines. The engines will be rated at close to 260 kilowatts and will send drive to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. There will also be a sports suspension setup with independently developed front and rear axles, electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive steering, and uprated brakes and tires to ensure the cars can make the most of their explosive powerplants. Performance should be scintillating, as you’d expect from any vehicle wearing the AMG badge. Expect 0-100 times of around 5.0 seconds or less. With the regular CLA's pricing starting at $30,825 US (including destination), expect the AMG model to command a hefty premium over that. www.motorauthority.com  

Just a couple of weeks ago, Bentley CEO Wolfgang Schreiber gave an update on the status of the company’s plans for its first-ever SUV, revealing that senior managers at the Volkswagen Group, Bentley’s parent company, were yet to give final approval for production. Schreiber also revealed that a significant redesign of 2012’s controversial EXP 9 F concept would be implemented for any production version. According to a recent report in Germany’s Handelsblatt, first picked up by Automotive News (subscription required), approval for production of the EXP 9 F has been given. Citing company insiders, the report also said the new SUV would retail in Europe for 200,000 euros (approximately $261,000 AUD). Despite the steep price, the SUV is expected to be Bentley’s most popular model, commanding a sales volume of up to 5,000 vehicles annually. Last year, Bentley’s total sales were just 8,510 units. A spokesman for Bentley said the company is still waiting for approval, though things were looking very positive. The new SUV is to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s new platform for mid- to large-sized SUVs. The platform will debut in the next-generation Audi Q7 and will eventually spawn new versions of the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg. The basic structure of the Bentley SUV will be built alongside the Audi version at a plant in Slovakia before being shipped to Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, England for final assembly. As for engines, Bentley’s new twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V-8 will likely be standard, with the twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W-12 remaining an option. This range-topping engine is expected to be updated soon for improved performance and efficiency. As previously confirmed by the automaker, a plug-in hybrid option may also feature. Based on the Volkswagen Group’s next-generation hybrid technology, the plug-in hybrid system likely employed in Bentley’s SUV will feature a V-6 engine and offer an electric-only driving range of about 30km and 0-100 acceleration in less than 5 seconds. There’s still no word on a possible launch date but previous reports have suggested a launch sometime in 2014. www.motorauthority.com  

Back in 2008, Volvo made the bold promise of zero injuries or deaths in its vehicles by 2020. Now, just five years on, the automaker is predicting that it will be able to eliminate crashes altogether for anyone driving one of its cars by the same 2020 deadline. To achieve its ambitious and somewhat noble goal, Volvo will rely on a number of technologies ranging from its City Safety low-speed collision avoidance system to its high-speed road train system that allows cars to follow each other in a platoon along the highway. Volvo already has a strong reputation for safety and remains at the forefront of innovative technology, having clocked up several world firsts including the recent debut of the pedestrian airbag on its V40 model sold overseas. Additionally, the automaker invests heavily in safety research with its unique safety centre in Gothenburg, Sweden, carrying out hundreds of simulated crash scenarios each year. Volvo also has a dedicated safety team that visits the site of any road incident involving one of its vehicles within 30 miles of its Gothenburg safety centre in order to collect real world data. If Volvo's prediction proves successful, and we see other automakers implement its technology, we could one day see the worldwide annual death toll of approximately 1.2 million people reduced significantly. www.motorauthority.com  

Australian racing legend Sir Jack Brabham and his family have won back the rights to the Brabham name after a lengthy legal battle taking place in German courts. The story goes back to 2008, when a tuning firm led by German Michael Trick started using the Brabham Racing name. It’s alleged that Brabham and his family never renewed the trademark on the Brabham name, leaving the door open for Trick to purchase the rights. David Brabham, son of Sir Jack Brabham and also a race car driver, took the battle to a court in Germany where he won back the rights to the family name. “I'm delighted that this situation has finally come to an end,” David Brabham told Autosport. “It's been a long and tiring battle, but this was something I felt we needed to do to protect the Brabham name.” Note, this isn’t the only time that another company has attempted to use the Brabham name. In 2009, a group set up by Formtech applied for an entry in Formula One under the name Brabham Grand Prix. The application was knocked back, however. Sir Jack Brabham, now 86, is a triple Formula One world champion, having one the championship in 1959, 1960 and 1966 with his own team and car. As for the future of the Brabham name in motorsport, David Brabham is alleged to have mentioned future plans but without stating any specifics. Motor Authority

You saw the new 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG make its debut recently at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, in both sedan and wagon bodystyles, and with standard 4Matic and a new S-Model trim.But now see it take to a race track, where it finally has a chance to stretch its legs. This video shows both sedan and wagon bodystyles lapping an empty race track, which despite wet conditions proves to be no concern to the Teutonic duo.In addition to its aggressive new look, the car also gets more power, improved handling and a more upmarket interior. The most potent model now is the S-Model, which gets a 577-horsepower version of AMG’s twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V-8 that’s gradually replacing the old 6.2-litre unit in the tuner’s lineup.As we see in this video, the new turbocharged engine doesn’t quite match the vocal qualities of the old naturally-aspirated mill, though it should still scare off any bystanders when you drop the hammer. It’s also a much better performer, being able to rocket the latest E63 AMG 4Matic S-Model to 100km/h from rest in just 3.5 seconds.www.motorauthority.com 

In the lead up to the reveal of the new 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith at March’s Geneva Motor Show, the first teaser image of the car has surfaced online, confirming that this is in fact the long-awaited Ghost coupe seen testing in prototype form for the past several months.Unlike the current Phantom Coupe, which features a boxy profile similar to that of the sedan on which it’s based, the new Wraith gets a fastback look that’s very sporting and sleek. The bold new styling hints at the extraordinary power and dynamic promise of the Wraith, which Rolls-Royce has already confirmed will be the fastest and most powerful model ever launched by the marque.Power is expected to come from the Ghost’s twin-turbocharged 6.6-litre V-12 engine, which for its latest application could be tuned to deliver more than 780kW and 420Nm. In addition to extra power, the Wraith will also benefit from a lighter chassis, stiffened suspension, and uprated brakes and tires.Sales of the new Rolls-Royce Wraith will commence in the fourth quarter of the year, and it’s almost certain a convertible version will follow the coupe. While you await the Wraith's reveal, click here for our previous spy shots of the car.www.motorauthority.com

One of the most important cars of the decade, Ferrari’s replacement for the Enzo supercar, the code-named F150, is scheduled to be revealed in the coming weeks.Ferrari has already teased us with a few shrouded images of its new flagship, and revealed some of the car's technology, but so far most of the details remain secret.For those readers that can’t wait any longer, and that probably means you, Iacoski Design has come up with a new rendering that provides clues as to how the Ferrari F150 will look.Based on prototypes spotted in the wild, as well as the previous teaser images, the rendering lights up the darkness and shows us the stunning beast hiding in the shadows.The rendering shows an evolution of the Enzo, with influences from the track-only FXX experimental cars as well as Ferrari’s Formula One race cars. This makes sense as the F150’s chief designer Flavio Manzoni previously stated he wanted a look inspired by F1 but not a carbon copy. The rendering also shows that the F150 will likely benefit from an advanced aerodynamics package, which may include active flaps in the front bumper. On the F12 Berlinetta, these open up to feed air to the brake cooling ducts, but only at high operating temperatures in order to minimize drag.The hood and lights, meanwhile, are designed to generate downforce by channeling air away from the upper part of the car to its flanks where it interacts with the wake from the wheel wells to decrease drag.At the heart of the F150 is a full carbon-fiber monocoque, which has been under development for over three years. Heading the design is none other than Rory Byrne, the engineering chief of Ferrari’s F1 team, who has selected four different types of carbon fiber for the monocoque and plans to build them to the same standard as the F1 cars.The end result, says Ferrari, should be a monocoque that displays 27 percent more torsional rigidity and 22 percent more beam stiffness than the Enzo. The structure will also be quite small, with the oversize of the F150 being about the same as the 458 Italia despite it packing a V-12 engine and hybrid system.The engine will be an evolution of the F12 Berlinetta’s 6.3-litre unit, though it will benefit from the addition of Ferrari’s HY-KERS hybrid setup to boost output and lower emissions. Ferrari claims a 10 percent reduction in the 0-200 km/h sprint, along with a 40 percent reduction in emissions compared to a non-hybrid solution.The system will allow for precise torque vectoring, traction control and brake force distribution, too, all of which translate to faster times around a race track. Even the batteries have been chosen for optimal weight and output, giving the electric power component of the F150 the same power-to-weight ratio as systems used in F1.Final output of the F150 could be as high as 686 kW while overall weight could be as low as 1,100 kilograms.Next year is shaping up to be huge for supercar fans, as well as fans of advanced powertrain technology. Not only will we see the launch of the hybrid Ferrari, but arch rival McLaren is planning to launch its new P1 supercar, which is tipped to feature a hybrid system of its own, and then there’s Porsche with the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid.www.motorauthority.com       

This new 2013 Continental GT Speed Convertible is one of the last models in Bentley’s Continental range to receive its mid-cycle update, with new versions of the Supersports and Flying Spur now the only models still under wraps. Though just a mid-cycle update, the changes that have been incorporated for Bentley’s latest Continental range are significant. They include slightly sharper styling, a revised interior, and a host of other upgrades under its skin. The GT Speed Convertible, like its hardtop cousin, gets a twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W-12 engine rated at 460 kW and 800 Nm of torque. The mighty powerplant is matched to the latest ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and drives all four wheels via a Torsen center differential. Despite the slight bump in power and torque, Bentley claims a 15 percent improvement in driving range, fuel economy and emissions. Fuel economy is expected to be around 15.7L/ 100km for the combined cycle. The GT Speed hardtop gets simlar figures except it's a bit thirstier in city driving. The 0-100 km/h sprint takes around 4.1 seconds, just 0.1 of a second off the pace of the hardtop, while the top speed is 325 km/h, making this the fastest four-seat convertible in the world. Not bad considering the vehicle has a curb weight of 2495 kilograms and can comfortable seat four in ultimate luxury. Boot space is a reasonable 260 litres. For the chassis, Bentley engineers have increased the width of the track, sharpened up the steering and lowered the suspension by 10 millimeters compared to the outgoing model. The suspension consists of double wishbones up front and a multi-link setup in the rear, all with self-leveling air suspension and anti-roll bars. The all-wheel-drive settings have also been made rear-biased. The wheels are a unique set of 21-inch alloys and come shod with Pirelli P Zero ultra high-performance tires. The brake discs are steel, though Bentley offers a carbon silicon carbide set as an option. Inside, the Continental GT Speed Convertible gets the Mulliner Driving Specification (first shown on the Mulsanne in Geneva this year) as standard equipment, along with soft-touch leather hides, an extensive range of wood veneers, cool-touch metals and deep-pile carpets. One special touch for the Continental GT Speed models is Bentley’s dark tint aluminum ‘engine spin’ finish, inspired by the dashboards of the automaker’s Le Mans winners of the 1920s. The infotainment system features Bentley’s latest software upgrades, which vary from region to region but include refinements such as point of interest mapping, optional satellite landscape imagery, live traffic data and, where the infrastructure supports it, digital radio. The system features 15 GB of available music space, as well as the facility to play music via an iPod, MP3 player, the car’s own six-disc CD changer or SD card. Stay tuned for the car’s debut in Detroit on January 15. www.motorauthority.com