Articles by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

A mysterious McLaren MP4-12C Spider has been testing at the Nürburgring and on some of the German race track’s surrounding roads for the past couple of weeks. Snapped by one of our photographers just a few days ago, it was initially thought this vehicle was being used to test mild updates for the 12C range.According to McLaren, the car is actually a very early test mule for the company’s next supercar, an entry-level model currently doing the rounds as the P13. A spokesman for the company told Auto Express the test mule was running with some of the P13’s mechanicals.This makes sense, as the 12C has been on the market for only two years and has already been updated once. Considering it can hit 100m/h in approximately 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 343km/h, we’re happy with McLaren leaving it as it is for now.It’s also natural for McLaren to use the 12C as a test mule for the P13 as both cars are expected to feature the same carbon fibre monocoque structure, called the MonoCell. You may recall the flagship P1 uses a modified version of this monocoque, which McLaren calls the MonoCage.The P13 will also likely come with a version of the Ricardo-built 3.8-litre V-8 fitted to both the 12C and P1, which in its latest application will almost certainly be detuned to deliver less than 373 kilowatts so that it doesn’t step on the toes of its big brothers. The 12C was recently re-rated at 459 kilowatts and the P1 is delivering as much as 673 kilowatts in total, so this would leave a healthy gap between all three.Also common to all three cars should be the Graziano-sourced SSG seven-speed dual-clutch transmission already found in the 12C and P1. In terms of styling, McLaren previously told us the P13 will look something like a cross between the 12C and P1, and be the smallest of the three cars. It will debut as a coupe but will eventually be joined by a convertible.Despite its entry-level positioning in the McLaren lineup, it will still be a highly-capable supercar, targeting the likes of the Audi R8, Ferrari California (and its replacement), a new model from Mercedes' AMG division, and high-end Porsche 911 variants. Look for a debut of the P13 at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, with sales to commence shortly after.Production will take place at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England, where all McLarens are built, and volumes are expected to be between 2,000 and 2,500 units per year. Together with the 12C and P1, the P13 will see McLaren’s annual production reach the 4,000 vehicle target promised by Ron Dennis several years ago.www.motorauthority.com 

Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout--APEAL--is how J.D. Power measures the 'gratification' a car owner experiences with each new model on the market. For automakers, the vehicles that are the most gratifying, those with the highest APEAL, tend to remain on dealer lots for shorter periods, command higher transaction prices, and are more likely to create owner loyalty when they are ultimately sold or traded-in.The results of the latest APEAL Study are based on the responses of people that have bought or leased new vehicles. In the study, they are asked to evaluate their vehicles on 77 different attributes (e.g. infotainment, safety, fuel-economy) and from this a score out of 1,000 maximum points is calculated.The 2013 study was fielded between February and May 2013 and incorporated responses from over 83,000 people in the US. It probably comes as no surprise that Porsche is once again the highest-ranked brand in the study, since it’s held this position for the previous eight years. Its score was 884 out of the possible 1,000 points.Close behind was fellow Volkswagen Group brand Audi with a score of 857. and then it was BMW in third with 854 points. The Smart brand came last in the annual ranking.As for individual vehicles, Land Rover’s Range Rover SUV was the highest-ranking vehicle in the 2013 study, which marks the first time a model outside the large premium car segment has done so.Other top contenders in their respective classes include the BMW 5-Series, Fiat 500, Honda Odyssey, Kia Soul, Lexus LS, Mazda CX-5, and Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.www.motorauthority.com  

Aston Martin, celebrating its centenary this year, has confirmed it has signed a Letter of Intent to form a wide-ranging technical partnership with Mercedes-Benz tuner AMG. A formal alliance deal is yet to be made though both parties are confident a definitive agreement can be reached before the end of the year.The proposed deal will provide Aston Martin with access to AMG’s vast array of performance technology, namely its bespoke engines, but also to certain electrical systems. The firms confirm that their respective engineering teams will also work together to optimize the implementation of this technical partnership.For the privilege, AMG’s parent company Daimler will receive a stake of up to five percent non-voting shares in Aston Martin, joining existing shareholders in the British sports car manufacturer such as Investment DAR, Adeem Investment and Investindustrial.Rumors of such an alliance date back several years but heightened recently when it became known that Italian firm Investindustrial, which has ties with AMG from a marketing deal with its former subsidiary Ducati, was investing in Aston Martin.Interestingly, the two firms have only mentioned V8 powertrains, even though AMG also manufactures some of the best V12s on the planet and already supplies them to rival firms, one of which is Pagani. It may mean that Aston Martin’s V12 engines could continue to be sourced from Ford.In a statement, Aston Martin production development boss Ian Minards said, “Aston Martin sources cutting-edge technology from key suppliers around the globe and the opportunity to include content from AMG in our next-generation sports cars is, clearly, good news.”Those next-generation sports cars Minards is referring to will be a new range of Aston Martins, whose styling has already been previewed by the CC100 Speedster concept unveiled earlier in the year. The first of the new models is expected to be a replacement for the V8 Vantage.AMG CEO Ola Källenius said of the alliance, “This is proof of AMG’s technological and performance expertise and a real win-win situation for both sides.” Further details will be announced in the near future.www.motorauthority.com 

Bugatti will launch six new special editions based on its Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, celebrating the men that have shaped its history. The series is called the Les Légendes de Bugatti (Bugatti Legends) and the first of the six planned cars has been revealed.This first ‘Legend’ has been named after racing driver Jean-Pierre Wimille and will make its formal debut at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance taking place in California in just a couple of weeks.Wimille helped achieved Bugatti’s two victories in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans: in 1937, driving a Bugatti 57G Tank co-piloted by Robert Benoist, and repeating the feat in 1939, this time supported by Pierre Veyron in a 57C Tank.The winning race car from 1937 is the inspiration behind the design of the Bugatti Legend ‘Jean-Pierre Wimille’ Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. The original car appeared in the racing blue finish that habitually identified French racing cars. Accordingly, the special Veyron now shines in blue clear-coated carbon fiber and a light Wimille Bleu paint colour.No changes have been made to the mechanicals which means peak output from the car’s quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W16 remains at 883 kW and 1500 nM of torque. Top speed is limited to 375 km/h, though we know the car is capable of hitting 409 km/h --with its top down. The 0-100km/h run takes 2.6 seconds.Three examples of the Bugatti Legend ‘Jean-Pierre Wimille’ Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse will be built and we suspect all have already been accounted for. The remaining five special editions will be revealed over the next 12 months.According to Bugatti CEO Wolfgang Schreiber, the latest special editions help tell the story of the brand and at the same time create a link between its illustrious past and the present form.www.motorauthority.com 

Two years ago, Ford and Toyota announced their intention to jointly develop new rear-wheel-drive hybrid systems for use in full-size pickup trucks and SUVs. Since then, the two carmakers have been conducting a feasibility study for the project and have come to the understanding that it will be better to develop the new hybrid systems individually.The two will continue to evaluate the feasibility of working together on next-generation standards for telematics and Internet services, which was also outlined in the original announcement, and both are open to future collaborations.It should be noted that Toyota has also partnered with BMW in the area of green technology during the past two years and this is sure to have weighed in on the Japanese automaker’s decision to end its partnership with Ford.BMW has already launched several rear-wheel-drive hybrid systems including V8 and six-cylinder applications, though they were developed in-house, starting with a first generation jointly developed with Mercedes-Benz.Toyota remains on track to offer 18 new or redesigned hybrid models globally by the end of 2015 though it looks like it won’t have a full hybrid lineup by 2020 as it had previously predicted.Ford, meanwhile, has confirmed that it will have its own rear-wheel-drive hybrid system ready by the end of the decade. The automaker has revealed the system will be based on an all-new architecture to deliver the capability truck and SUV customers demand while providing greater fuel economy.www.motorauthority.com 

Jaguar’s stunning XF Sportbrake is about to spawn an XFR-S performance variant and we have our first spy shots of a prototype testing at the Nurburgring. The XF Sportbrake is essentially the wagon version of the svelte XF and it boasts a usable 1671 litres of cargo storage despite sharing a footprint with the sedan. The new XFR-S Sportbrake should be launched later this year and come to the market with the same specification as the XFR-S sedan.This means a supercharged 5.0 litre V8 will be spinning the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and limited-slip differential, plus the aural pleasure of straightened exhaust runs and a conduit for more exhaust noise to reach the cabin.Peak output of the XFR-S Sportbrake should match the sedan’s 404kW of power and 680Nm of torque, meaning 0-100km/h acceleration in around 4.6 seconds and a top speed limited to 300km/h.Clear giveaways that this is the XFR-S Sportbrake are the prototype’s enlarged air intakes up front, 20 inch staggered wheels, chunky side sills, rear spoiler and integrated rear diffuser. In addition to these performance features, the XFR-S Sportbrake will also benefit from uprated suspension and brakes, and sticky Pirelli tires measuring up to 295/30R20 at the rear.Jaguar Australia has already confirmed the XF Sportbrake will arrive here powered by the 2.2-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre V6 diesel versions, and the XFR-S sedan will hit our shores towards the end of this year in Australia -- so there's a good chance we might see the XFR-S Sportbrake join them in local showrooms.www.motorauthority.com.au 

The BMW i3 in production guise isn’t scheduled to be revealed to the public until later this week, but photos of the car have already hit the web.As expected, it closely resembles the handful of concept versions unveiled over the past two years, right down to the suicide-style rear doors and relatively spartan cabin. At the rear there is an “i3” badge denoting the vehicle’s name and a second “eDrive” badge is BMW's way of signifying it as an electric car.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 per cent capacity are employed.What’s so special about the i3 is that it is revolutionising the way mainstream cars are engineered and built. Most of its body is composed of lightweight composite materials such as reinforced carbon fibre plastic and its chassis is composed of aluminum and magnesium--the first mass-produced car with such attributes.www.motorauthority.com 

Mercedes-Benz has quietly added a new nine-speed automatic to its E-Class range, and the option is likely to arrive in Australia next year. The transmission, labelled a 9G-TRONIC, is selectable on the configurator of the automaker’s German website and so far is only available with E350 BlueTEC trim, where it replaces a previous seven-speed 7G-TRONIC.“We currently don't take the E350 Bluetec but are looking at taking it,” Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says. “Basically we tried to trim the E-Class range, but there is still some demand for the E350 so potentially we'll bring it here.“In terms of the nine-speed flowing through to the rest of the E-Class range, we expect it will happen next year, but the E350 Bluetec is the first application. We also expect the nine-speed to be offered on the new S-Class range, so in a nutshell we could see it here next year but don't have any more accurate timing at the moment.”McCarthy says the arrival of new technology on models that sit below the flagship S-Class -- traditionally the tech leader for Mercedes (and the rest of the industry) -- has been rare but not unknown.“Some of our safety technology was launched first on the B-Class,” he says. “Sure, in the past everything appeared first on the S-Class and then filtered down, but these days the technology is often being developed over more than one vehicle.  And the reality is that you are competing in every segment, so you are considering which other cars to put it in.”Land Rover was the first to announce a nine-speed automatic for one of its cars, a ZF unit designed for transverse applications. However, the Mercedes transmission is designed for longitudinal applications and has been developed in-house.The extra gears are said to yield significant improvements in fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Advantages over dual-clutch units include lighter weight, better reliability, less complexity and cheaper manufacturing and repair costs.In the E350 BlueTEC diesel sedan, which rates at 185 kilowatts, the nine-speed automatic helps the car achieve 0-100km/h acceleration in just 6.6 seconds and fuel economy of 7.7L/100km in the city cycle, up from 8.3L/100km with the previous seven-speeder. The highway figure remains unchanged at 5.6L/100km.The 9G-TRONIC will eventually feature on other Mercedes models, though its availability will be announced at a later date. Numerous other automakers are looking to additional gear ratios to eke out further savings in fuel consumption. The aforementioned ZF ‘box will soon be added to some Chrysler products and Ford and General Motors have announced plans to develop new nine- and ten-speed automatic transmissions together.www.motorauthority.com 

Land Rover is not done yet with the launch of new variants of its Range Rover SUV. These latest spy shots show a long-wheelbase version testing, a vehicle that we’ve known about for more than a year.Fans of the original Range Rover may recall the long-wheelbase Vogue LSE from the early 1990s, a name that Land Rover may revive for this latest version.Expected to be the most expensive Range Rover, the long-wheelbase model will target China’s chauffeur-driven class but we could see it proving popular in the Middle East and other markets.As confirmed by the spy shots, most of the extra length can be found in the rear doors, although it appears the rear overhang is slightly longer than on the regular Range Rover as well. This should translate into more legroom in the rear and additional storage. It’s possible a third-row seating option will be available, though we suspect most buyers will fill that space with optional reclining seats.Despite the Range Rover LWB’s increased proportions, its overall weight will likely still be less than the previous steel-chassis regular wheelbase model, thanks to the Range Rover’s Jaguar-derived alumium chassis construction.Powertrains should match those found in the regular Range Rover. This means supercharged V6 and V8 petrol engines, plus V6 and V8 turbodiesels.Speaking of diesels, Land Rover will unveil new diesel-electric hybrid versions of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show in September. It’s almost certain the ultra-frugal powertrain option will be offered in the long-wheelbase Range Rover as well. Stay tuned for a reveal of the latest luxury SUV in the coming months and look for a market launch before the year is out.www.motorauthority.com

Since going on sale two years ago, McLaren’s 12C supercar has received a power hike, spawned a convertible and gone racing, but the introduction of changes and new variants shows no sign of abating. A prototype 12C Spider has been spotted carving up the Nurburgring and is believed to  preview a facelifted version of the car due out towards the end of the year as a 2014 model.This time around the tweaks are expected to be mainly cosmetic, which we have no qualms about considering the 12C can already hit 100kmh in 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 329kmh. That means peak output from the car’s twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 should remain pegged at 460kW of power and 600Nm of torque.Instead of power gains this time, look for tweaks to the bumper designs, new headlights, new wheel patterns and some additional trim options for the interior. Some items borrowed from the P1, like the race-style digital gauge cluster, are also likely. A reveal of the facelifted 2014 McLaren 12C range could happen as early as September’s 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show. While you wait for the reveal, read our driving impressions of the current car.www.motorauthority.com