Articles by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Audi's A8 flagship sedan has been refreshed for the 2015 model year and now boasts engines that are even more powerful and efficient, a bevy of new assistance systems and in certain markets innovative Matrix LED headlights with integrated sequential turn signals.The updates are crucial in light of the arrival of a brand new S-Class and a recently updated BMW 7-Series, and should keep the A8 fresh until a successor arrives around 2016.DESIGNDesigners have tweaked the exterior styling, though you'd have to be an Audi die-hard to spot the changes. The patterns in the lights are new and the grille and lower bumper more sculpted. At the rear, the lights have been made flatter and all models, except the S8, now have square-shaped exhaust tips.HIGH-TECH LIGHTSThe Matrix LED tech debuting on the 2015 A8 will allow drivers to leave the high-beam permanently on. The lights use an array of individually controlled LEDs that can automatically split a beam to block out sections that may blind other motorists.The sequential turn signal, meanwhile, uses individual LEDs that illuminate in a defined sequence in the direction that the driver wishes to take. But as yet, we've not been given confirmation that the high-tech feature will come to Australia.ENGINES AND TRANSMISSIONSAs for the drivetrain lineup, the 3.0-litre V6 TFSI now boosted by 15kW to 228kW and 420Nm, while the 4.0-litre V-8 TFSI rates at 320kW (up 11kW) and 600Nm. Also unchanged is the output of the range-topping S8's 382kW/650Nm twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8.The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 also gets a boots of 6kW to hit 190kW and 550Nm, while the twin-turbocharged 4.2-litre V8 diesel is lifted 25kW and 50Nm to deliver 283kW and 850Nm. The current eight-speed automatic transmission continues as standard, with the S8 and 4.2-litre diesel quattro getting a sport differential.INTERIORFor the interior, Audi now offers more options including ventilation and massage functions on more models. Electrically adjustable, individual rear seats are also available as an option across the range. Otherwise, things inside haven't changed much. 2015 Audi A8 owners are still coddled in the finest leather and wood trim, and they still have access to all of the car’s various electronic features via the MMI navigation plus interface.TECHNOLOGYWhat is new are some of the electronic assistance systems. These include lane assist, parking assist, a head-up display and a night vision assist that can recognise both animals and pedestrians. Though it hasn’t been announced yet, expect the range to offer full 4G LTE high-speed broadband support. The 2015 Audi A8 range makes its official world debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show on September 10 and should land in Australian showrooms mid next year.www.motorauthority.com 

Dick Van Dyke, famous for his roles in the Mary Poppins movie as well as television series The Dick Van Dyke Show and Diagnosis: Murder, had to pull over when a Jaguar XJ he was driving down a Los Angeles highway yesterday caught fire.A passerby, seeing the 87-year-old actor still in the car with smoke emerging from under the hood, pulled Van Dyke to safety before calling emergency crews.California Highway Patrol spokesman Leland Tang told News York Daily News that Van Dyke was able-bodied at the scene and didn’t actually need any help to get out of the car. Fortunately, no one was injured. Van Dyke’s wife Arlene, 41, later said on Twitter that her husband was fine.It’s not clear what the cause of the fire was but onlookers said it started in the engine bay. Jaguars aren’t particularly prone to catching on fire so the cause here is quite a mystery. As the video above shows, the fire engulfed the whole car before emergency crews were able to put it out.Jaguar has recently recalled the XF 2.2-litre diesel model over a defect that could cause fires, but the recall is not related to the vehicle Van Dyke was driving yesterday.www.motorauthority.com 

No details were released with the teaser, so we can only guess what the Japanese automaker has in store. The teaser shows the headlight of the concept as well as part of its grille. The design of the light resembles the design used on the 2014 IS sedan as well as the LC-CC concept from 2012, which served as a preview of the latest IS as well as the automaker's upcoming RC coupe.The new concept could well be a preview of another Lexus model still in the works: a compact crossover tipped to be called the NX. However, a concept version of the NX is thought to be on track for a reveal at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show in late November. This means that the teaser is likely to be for a new coupe concept that will preview the aforementioned RC.The RC is essentially an IS coupe and is expected to land in showrooms next year as a 2015 model. It will compete against the Audi A5 and BMW 4-Series and will spawn an RC F performance variant. Lexus has major motorsport ambitions for the RC and has already announced that a version of the car will compete in Japan’s Super GT touring car series.www.motorauthority.com 

Ferrari’s hardcore 458 Italia, the successor to the 430 Scuderia, has been revealed as the new Ferrari 458 Speciale.

Volkswagen has revealed its 2015 Golf R ahead of the car’s official debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show. The car is the high-performance variant of the latest MkVII Golf family and should arrive in showrooms within 12 months. We can confirm that power will come from a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine shared with the 2015 Audi S3. The engine delivers a stout 221kW, a gain of 30kW on the outgoing MkVI Golf R. Better yet, the 2015 Golf’s MQB platform is around 100 kilograms lighter than the unit replaces, which should guarantee that this latest Golf R is better all ‘round than its predecessor. The good news is that a conventional manual transmission is still offered, but a six-speed DSG dual-clutch unit is also on offer. The 0-100 km/h time will take you just 5.3 seconds in manual-equipped models, versus 5.7 seconds for the outgoing model. Opt for the DSG ‘box and you’re looking at a time of just 4.9 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h and combined fuel economy is expected to be around 7.1L/100km. Like its predecessors, the new 2015 Golf R benefits from an all-wheel-drive system. It is a Haldex system capable of sending up to 100 percent of the driving force to the rear wheels when needed. To ensure great chassis dynamics, there's a new sport suspension, the progressive variable-ratio steering system, and a stability control system which can now be fully deactivated for track driving. Other highlights include the optional DCC dynamic chassis control system that features a “Race” mode. In this setting, damping is increased and engine response and the shift points of the DSG transmission are configured to be even sportier. Finally, the car also comes with a cross differential lock (XDS) at the front and rear axles. When the car is cornering, brake pressure is applied to the inside wheel to aid traction as soon as the electronics detect excessively light loads. The XDS thereby operates as a transverse differential lock that helps compensate for understeer during fast cornering. Key visual features include a sporty body kit, 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, quad-exhaust tips and R badging. Inside, owners will find Alcantara trim, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and Recaro bucket seats. www.motorauthority.com  

Toyota’s new Yaris Hybrid-R concept car has been revealed ahead of its debut next month at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show. The concept was developed to showcase technology from the carmaker’s TS030 Hybrid Le Mans prototype in a road car application as well as lay the groundwork for the launch of a new generation of high-performance hybrids, including a potential successor for the Supra sports car.As previously reported, the Yaris Hybrid-R develops close to 300kW from an advanced gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain. At its heart is a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine. This is paired with two electric motors, which forms a through-the-road all-wheel-drive setup.Just like in the TS030 Hybrid, the energy recovered during the braking phase is stored in a super capacitor rather than a battery. Toyota explains that this is particularly suitable for performance applications because of the high power density and quick charge and discharge speed of capacitors.The engine, meanwhile, was developed by TMG, the German race car constructor responsible for Toyota’s former F1 cars and now the carmaker’s TS030 Hybrid. The design is based on TMG’s new Global Race Engine, which has been developed for various motorsport competitions that support the same 1.6-liter format. These include WRC, WTCC and several national championships.The engine develops close to 225kW and 418Nm of torque on its own. It will soon start real-world testing in a Yaris chassis and may be offered in a rally version of the Toyota subcompact to private teams. Further down the track, we may even see a detuned version of the engine in a future road car from Toyota.The Yaris Hybrid-R will make its world debut on September 10 in Frankfurt, where Toyota also plans to make a further announcement about its fuel cell plans. Toyota is committed to launching a fuel cell car by 2015 and will reveal the latest on the project at the upcoming German show.www.motorauthority.com 

Dutch sports car manufacturer Spyker has lifted the veil off a new convertible version of the stunning B6 Venator concept car that we first saw at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The convertible, aptly named the Spyker B6 Venator Spyder, made its debut today at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where Spyker CEO Victor Muller was on hand to present his new baby.Muller is not only the CEO of Spyker but also its chief designer. For the latest B6 Venator, he’s attempted to incorporate vintage cues of Spyker’s aviation past together with highly detailed design and bespoke materials. Key elements include V-pattern mesh in the front grille, which references Spyker models of the past century, a jet fighter-style cockpit, and LED rings for the tail-lights that mimic the afterburners of a modern jet fighter.The company’s Latin axiom, Nulla tenaci invia est via, which translates to “For the tenacious no road is impassable,” is featured on the exterior. The name Venator is also Latin and means “Hunter.” The name was originally used on one of Spyker’s fighter planes from the early 20th century.Stepping inside, it feels like you’re hopping into the cockpit of a vintage aircraft. Premium leather and turned aluminium can be found on most surfaces, and the use of plastic has been reduced to almost zero. More aircraft-themed items include a red cover on the ignition switch and a dashboard that lights up as part of a ‘pre-flight check’ whenever you hit the starter.But the B6 Venator Spyder, as well as its coupe sibling, are not simply styling exercises; Spyker plans to put both cars into production starting next year. They will complement the company’s current C8 Aileron and offer fans of the brand a more accessible price point. Pricing for the B6 Venator will start at approximately $150,000.Underpinning the car is a lightweight aluminium structure while the body is all carbon fibre. The power source is a 3.5-litre V-6, tuned to deliver at a minimum 280 kilowatts and mounted in a mid-engine position. In concept form, the B6 Venator comes with a six-speed automatic and powers the rear wheels. Spyker says the car has a curb weight of approximately 1401kg.Production of both the B6 Venator and this convertible version is slated to begin late next year, with overseas markets getting first deliveries in 2015. Sadly, with it not being built in right-hand drive, we'll not see it on public roads in Australia.www.motorauthority.com 

Spy photographers over in Europe have captured the upcoming Civic Type R, a high-revving hot hatch with race-inspired looks, taut suspension and impeccable handling. With the release of a brand new Civic in the European market recently, performance fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of its Type R variant.   The latest spy shots show a prototype for the new Civic Type R testing at Germany’s Nurburgring. Clear giveaways that this isn’t your run-of-the-mill Civic are the huge rear wing, pumped fenders, Brembo brakes, quad-exhaust tips and sporty body kit. Like the previous Civic Type R, the new car should stick with a four-cylinder engine delivering more than 150kW to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. We hear output may reach as high as 225kW, by way of turbocharging. This is said to be necessary for the car to set a new front-wheel-drive lap record of the Nurburgring, which is one of the goals for the car’s designers. The current record stands at 8:07.97, as set by the Renault Megane RS Trophy in 2011. As the spy shots confirm, the new Civic Type R will feature a five-door body instead of the three-door body used for the previous generation. There’s also the possibility that a dual-clutch transmission may be offered as an alternative to the regular manual, this time around. And if that wasn’t enough, we may even see an active suspension setup fitted. We may also see Honda’s in-house tuner and motorsport partner Mugen involved with some of the development. Given Mugen’s deeper integration with Honda’s road car program of late, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Honda offer some official, factory-installed upgrades for the Civic Type R as well as other models in the near future. Stay tuned for updates as development advances, and look for a debut in the first half of 2014. Key competitors for the car will be next-generation versions of the Ford Focus RS, Renault Megane RS and Volkswagen Golf R. Sadly, there's no hint we'll be seeing it on Australian roads yet. Honda has promised the Type-R only for Europe so far, and says it will be part of a model assault that includes a new mini SUV based on the next Honda Jazz platform, a small open sports car, a fuel-cell car, and a hybrid all-wheel drive Legend. www.motorauthority.com  

The reveal of the 2015 Audi A8 is almost upon us, with the brand with the four rings confirming recently that its facelifted flagship sedan will be revealed online on Wednesday, August 21. The car will then head to the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show for its official world debut on September 10.In the lead up to its reveal, Audi has teased us with some design sketches depicting the 2015 A8. They show that the changes to the styling of the car will be minimal but dramatic enough to keep it looking fresh until a successor arrives around 2016.The biggest change will be new lights front and rear, which will feature new Matrix LED technology and sequential turn signals. Unfortunately, these features aren’t likely to appear on examples delivered to the U.S. due to stricter lighting standards.It’s unclear if Audi plans any updates to the powertrain lineup, although we’re still unlikely to see the A8 Hybrid offered in the U.S. anytime soon. The current 3.0-litre and 4.0-litre TFSI units should carry over largely unchanged, as should the range-topping 6.3-litre W12. A 179kW 3.0-litre TDI diesel was just added for the 2014 model year, so this unit is likely to carry over with the same spec.www.motorauthority.com 

We were given a taste of what to expect back in July but now we have more details on the accessories, which include everything from aesthetic improvements to power upgrades.M Performance accessories are developed by the engineers at BMW M, using their motorsport racing expertise. Importantly, the accessories are perfectly tailored to BMW’s specific models and engineered to the same standard as the cars they are attached to.For the 2014 428i, a kit is available that boosts output by 21 kilowatts to a new peak of 200 kilowatts, while for the 2014 435i a similar kit lifts output by 27 kilowatts to a new peak of 260 kilowatts. The kits also see a similar boost to the torque levels of both cars.An exhaust kit is also available, with tail pipes finished in chrome or carbon fibre, and is joined by a limited-slip differential, uprated brakes and suspension, light alloy wheels and a sports steering wheel with a digital screen showing important data and ideal shift times.Anyone wishing to dress up their new 4-Series will be happy to know that the M Performance accessories range includes a blacked-out grille, sporty bumpers, a rear diffuser insert, side sills, aerodynamically-shaped mirror caps and custom striping. Inside, carbon fibre and Alcantara trim is available, along with steel pedals and custom floor mats.www.motorauthority.com