Australian Car Advice | News Blog

These days, sports cars seemed to have lost their edge, only a few companies stay true to the manual heritage and refuse to release automatic versions of their ultimate performance cars, the likes of BMW, Subaru and Mitsubishi come to mind. However supercars are in a different world. Many supercars come equipped with F1 racing technology, but not many come with a proper full blown Automatic gearbox, till now.

Maserati will launch the full automatic version of the Quattroporte sports sedan in 2007. The new Maserati Quattroporte Automatic will sit along side the existing DuoSelect gearbox equipped models. Don’t worry Maserati haven’t put a four-speed in this beast, the Quattroporte Automatic is fitted with an automatic six-speed ZF gearbox.

Maserati admits that the new transmission system results in a slightly different weight distribution ratio (49% front, 51% rear, vs. 47% front 53% rear of the DuoSelect version with transaxle layout), however the new version should still preserves the high performance nature of the Quattroporte.

The Maserati Quattrporte comes equipped with a 4.2 litre 90 degree V8 Maserati engine that punches out 400 bhp. The world debut of the Quattroporte Automatic will be at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show in January and it will make its Australasian debut at the Melbourne Motor Show in March in the same year.

The new Quattrporte will go on sale in Australia and New Zealand soon afterwards. Prices are still not confirmed, more details closer to the release date.

Piston heads reports that TVR are set to bring out a brand new supercar. For those in the know, you might be thinking “huh” Wasn’t TVR on the brink of closure? Having been sold of to some Russian Billioner? Well, thats what I thought too! Obviously, the new Russian owner is a little hesitant to give up on TVR and the new Supercar, named Typhoon, (not to be confused with Australia’s own FPV Typhoon) is set to go on display at the Geneva motor show next year.

The TVR Typhoon, will come with TVR’s all-aluminium Speed Six engine, thats already a goot 400bhp, but if TVR is going to survive, 400bhps isn’t nearly enough, so why not supercharge it and get 600bhp? Thats more like it! And thats what TVR have done. In order to actually stay in business, this car is going to cost a lot, around $300,000 AUD.

There are no official photos of the TVR, the photo in this article is what many suggest the new Typhoon will look like, but we are sure to expect the Typhoon to look like a TVR should, angry, aggressive and bold enough to make your mum cringe. So who would buy this car? According to TVR, they have already taken numerous orders for the new beast. Initial plans were to sell 60 cars to celebrate TVRs 60th birthday, but they might sell more!

More information regarding the TVR Typhoon is to be released within the next 2 weeks.

The King of Japanese Supercars is back! Its always a beautiful sight when I see a Honda NSX on the road here in Brisbane as they are just so rare. Honda gave up on the NSX for a while, and simply let it be.

However with Honda’s success in F1 and its growing popularity, Honda is focussed on the development of a new NSX set for launch in 2008.

The biggest complaint with the NSX was always “where is the power“, current models are powered by a 3.0 or 3.2 Litre six cylinder engine, but good news! The 2008 NSX is set to come with a 4.5 Liter V10 and a 3.6 V6.

The V10 is sure to confirms the NSXs place as a true supercar, whilst the V6 will be a nice compromise for the faint hearted. What else can get better? How does AWD sound? Yep, the new NSX is set to come with AWD technology.

“This new sports car will be the first of a new generation” said the director of Honda, Takeo Fukui.

I couldn’t agree more! Bring on the new NSX!

What the? Yep thats what I thought too, Mitsuoka of Japan has come up with this ugly, ugly supercar:

The mid-engined Orochi sports car, along with the car’s production plans, pricing, and specifications were released today by Mitsuoka. To begin with, its good to know what Orochi means, well, apparently its the name of an eight-headed serpent out of Japanese folklore. The car initially appeared in 2001 in concept form and hasn’t really changed much in the last 5 years.

So it looks like a supercar, but is it a super car? Hell no! The Orochi is powered by Toyotas 3MZ-FE 3.3L V6 engine which is found in the more common Lexus RX vehicles. The tuned engine makes a small 230 horsepower and is connected to a Toyota 5-speed automatic. Mitsuoka says that it picked efficiency and ease of use ahead of high performance.

The big Japanese monster weighs an enormous 1.5 tons and costs around $89,000 USD or at current exchange rates, roughly $116,000 AUD. Who would want one? Not me!

When you think of Audi you don’t think of supercars, but I guess it helps to know that the VolksWagen Audi group actually created the worlds best and fastest supercar, the Bugatti Veyron. Yes, its owned by VW/Audi. Anyway, this isn’t regarding the mighty Veyron but instead, the little known Audi R8.

The Audi R8 has:

- a high-revving V8 FSI engine
- quattro permanent four-wheel
- an aluminium body
- and options like adaptive dampers and ceramic brakes.

Audi says that they didn’t skim on costs when it came to the R8, and everything has been designed to ensure optimum driving dynamics.  Audi chairman, Ferdinand Piëch, says:

I started it when I returned to Audi as chairman in 2002. I have overseen the design and engineering teams for the past four years. Everyone has been looking forward to this day, the world premiere of our first mid-engined sports car. It is a key moment in the history of Audi.

The waiting is now over! The R8 is on display at the Paris Motorshow. Hope it makes its way down under for the Sydney  motorshow!

The Mercedez Benz SL55 AMG Roadster is Mercedes Best offering in Australia. Priced at around $375,000, the AMG tuned SL55 is the only car in this category not host to a V10+ engine. The V8 Supercharged 5.4 Litre engine produces a phenomenal 380kW @ 6100rpm and 720Nm @ 2600rpm-4000rpm. The 720Nm of Torque is almost the same as the Pagani Zonda which costs $1,400,000!

Now you would think with figures like this, the car would be using Fuel like the Ferrari SuperAmerica, but at only 13.5 L /100 km for both city and highway it uses less fuel than my car which produces about one quarter of the Mercedes Benz SL55 specs.

Given that its a Mercedes, the standard equipment list is enormous:

• 4 Wheel Disc Brakes
• 8 Speaker Stereo
• ABS (Antilock Brakes)
• Adaptive Accelerator (for driving style)
• Adjustable Steering Column - Power & Memory
• Air Cond. - Climate Control 2 Zone
• Air Conditioning - Pollen Filter
• Air Conditioning - Sensor for Humidity, Sensor for Pollutants Sensor for Solar/Sun
• Airbags - Driver & Passenger (Dual) Head for 1st Row Seats (Front)
• Alarm - Motion Sensor - Tow Away Protection
• Body Kit - Lower (skirts F & R Aprons)
• Brake Assist
• Brake By Wire
• Brake Emergency Display - Hazard/Stoplights
• Calipers - Painted Front
• Calipers - Painted Rear
• Carbon Fibre - Centre Console
• Carbon Fibre - Inserts
• Cargo Cover
• CD Stacker - 6 disc
• Central Locking - Driving Activated - Remote/Keyless
• Chrome Grille Surround
• Clear Indicator Lenses
• Control - Automatic Stability - Park Distance Frontl - Park Distance Rear
• Cruise Control
• Disc Brakes Front Vented Drilled/Grooved
• Disc Brakes Rear Vented Drilled/Grooved
• Drive By Wire (Electronic Throttle Control)
• DVD Player
• Electric Seat - Driver / Passenger with Lumbar
• Electric Seats - 1st Row (Front) with Memories
• Engine Immobiliser
• First Aid Kit
• Floor Mats
• Fog Lamps - Front Fog Lamps - Rear
• Footwell Lamps - Front
• Headlamp Washers
• Headlamps - Bi-Xenon (for low & high beam)
• Headlamps - Electric Level Adjustment
• Headlamps - See me home
• Headrests - Adjustable 1st Row (Front)
• Heated Seats - 1st Row
• Leather Seats - Embossed
• Leather Trim (Incl. Seats inserts)
• Leather Trim - Full Nappa
• Leather Trimmed - Instrument Pod Cover
• Lighting - Exterior Side
• Map/Reading Lamps - for 1st Row
• Metallic Finish Inserts
• MP3 Player
• Multi-function Control Screen - Colour
• Multi-function Steering Wheel
• Navigation System - DVD Audio Navigation System - DVD Video
• Performance Brakes
• Phone Preparation
• Power Boot Closing Aid
• Power Door Closing Aid
• Power Door Mirrors - Anti Glare
• Power Door Mirrors - with Memory
• Power Roof - Fold-away Hardtop
• Power Roof - Remote Control Open/Close
• Power Steering - Speed Sensitive
• Power Windows - Front & Rear
• Premium Sound System
• Rain Sensor (Auto wipers)
• Rear View Mirror - Electric Anti Glare
• Roll Bar
• Scuff Plates - Embossed or personalised
• Seat - Ventilated Drivers & Passenger Side
• Seatbelt - Load Limiters 1st Row (Front)
• Seatbelt - Pretensioners 1st Row (Front)
• Speed Limiter
• Sports Exhaust
• Sports Seats - 1st Row (Front)
• Sports Steering Wheel
• Stainless Steel Exhaust - Dual system
• Stopwatch - Digital
• Sunvisor - Illuminated Vanity Mirrors Dual
• Suspension - Active Ride (leans into corners)
• Suspension - Sports
• Tacho
• Tail Lamps - Blacked Out Surrounds
• Tinted Windows
• Trip Computer
• TV - Tuner
• Tyre Pressure Sensor
• Vented - Guards Front
• Voice Recognition
• Wood/Leather Gear Knob
• Wood/Leather Steering Wheel
• Woodgrain - Inserts

However the problem this car has, is much the same problem that the Audi Performance line up has, its not that easy to spot as a super car, its just.. another Mercedes. Sure its got massive wheels and twin exhausts and all that, but if you want to be noticed, for $375,000 there are far better choices. Even so, that doesn’t take anything away from the SL55 as an absolutely awesome car.

Return to Top 5 supercars in Australia 2006.

Although I can honestly say I have never ever seen a Pagani Zonda on Australian roads, I am assured that the Zonda does infact exist in Australia, even if the numbers are less than 10. Given the $1,400,000 price tag, the Zonda comes in as the most expensive car you can officially buy in Australia (more than the Maybach, but less than the Bugatti Veyron which hasn’t officially sold in Australia, yet).

The Pagani is powered by Mercedes AMG V12 engine with 550 Hp max power and 750 Nm of torque which pushes the Zonda to 100km/hour in just 3.7 seconds. Which is seriously fast, but only 0.1 seconds faster than the Lamborghini Murcielago and given the 1.4 million dollar price tag, you can buy two Murcielagos for that price! This is the reason that it hasn’t come in any higher on the list.

For the asking price of the Zonda, even if money was there to burn, there are many other alternatives that give relatively similar performance for a fraction of the cost. Nevertheless, for the true motoring enthusiasts, it must be said that the number of positive reviews of the Zonda are enormous and the excellent driving dynamics are the sole reason.

Return to Top 5 supercars in Australia 2006.

Given that the Porsche costs almost half of the Ferrari and Lambo which sit above it, you have to give Porsche some due credit. The reason I didn’t pick it as the Number 1 car for this category isn’t because the other cars are supremely better, but its because the 911 hasn’t had a face change since the beginning of time. Also there are soo many versions of the 911 that it just gets confusing, currently there are 25 different flavours of the 911 and 911 Carerra. 25! It is absolutely insane to have this many variants.

For the Porsche 911 they are:

1. Turbo Coupe 2dr Man 6sp 4WD 3.6TT - $308,900
2. Turbo Coupe 2dr SA 5sp 4WD 3.6TT - $316,900
3. Turbo S Coupe 2dr Man 6sp 4WD 3.6TT - $348,700
4. Turbo S Coupe 2dr SA 5sp 4WD 3.6TT - $356,700
5. Turbo Cabriolet 2dr Man 6sp 4WD 3.6TT - $337,500
6. Turbo Cabriolet 2dr SA 5sp 4WD 3.6TT - $345,500
7. Turbo S Cabriolet 2dr Man 6sp 4WD 3.6TT - $371,550
8. Turbo S Cabriolet 2dr SA 5sp 4WD 3.6TT - $379,550
9. GT3 Coupe 2dr Man 6sp 3.6i - $241,900

Now Porsche have the Porsche 911 Carerra

1. Coupe 2dr Man 6sp 3.6i
2. Coupe 2dr SA 5sp 3.6i
3. Cabriolet 2dr Man 6sp 3.6i
4. Cabriolet 2dr SA 5sp 3.6i
5. S Coupe 2dr Man 6sp 3.8i
6. S Coupe 2dr SA 5sp 3.8i
7. S Cabriolet 2dr Man 6sp 3.8i
8. S Cabriolet 2dr SA 5sp 3.8i
9. 4 Coupe 2dr Man 6sp 4WD 3.6i
10. 4 Coupe 2dr SA 5sp 4WD 3.6i
11. 4 Cabriolet 2dr Man 6sp 4WD 3.6i
12. 4 Cabriolet 2dr SA 5sp 4WD 3.6i
13. 4S Coupe 2dr Man 6sp 4WD 3.8i
14. 4S Coupe 2dr SA 5sp 4WD 3.8i
15. 4S Cabriolet 2dr Man 6sp 4WD 3.8i
16. 4S Cabriolet 2dr SA 5sp 4WD 3.8i

Holy crap! Which one are you going to buy? 911 Turbo S Cabriolet Manual 6 Speed. Perhaps the best of the lot, the Turbo S Cabriolet, not only looks good but with it’s twin turbo 331Kw of power and 620Nm of Torque, it has more Torque than both the Lamborghini Murcialago and the Ferrari Superamerica and it costs almost half the price! The 911 Turbo S gets from 0-100 in just 4.3seconds and weighs only 1660 KG.

Porsche claims that The twin-turbocharged, 3.6-litre flat six engine has been tuned to develop more power and torque while ensuring fuel consumption and emissions barely differ from the standard Turbo model, this is true, but what the Fuel consumption ratings of the 911 Turbo S? I am glad you asked because at 19.6L/100km for inner city driving, the figures aren’t that promising! But the combined city and highway usage is only 13.3L.

The brakes of the 911 Turbo are the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) system, offering a 50% weight reduction per wheel over the conventional steel brake disc equivalent, as well as superior fade resistance characteristics under heavy braking.

Additionally, the Turbo S offers 18″ alloy wheels painted in GT Silver metallic, plus full leather interior trim, aluminium-coloured instrument dials, cruise control and a CD autochanger.

For $371,550 dollars standard equipment includes:

• metallic paint (including a special colour – Dark Olive metallic),
• Xenon headlights,
• BOSE audio system
• Porsche Communication Management System (PCM) incorporating audio, telephone and satellite navigation functionality.
• 18″ alloy wheels painted in GT Silver metallic,
• full leather interior trim,
• aluminium-coloured instrument dials,
• cruise control and a CD autochanger

Return to Top 5 supercars in Australia 2006.

The Ferrari 575 Maranello Convertible has a limited edition, called the SuperAmerica, this edition not only boosts more power but also has a roof that can fold down in just 10 seconds! A car that burns 22 Litres of fuel per 100km should be fast, and it is, with 12 cylinders the 5.7 Litre engine pumps out 397kW @ 7250rpm and 588Nm @ 5250rpm with acceleration at 0-100Km/h in 4.2 secs. The car weighs 1900kg.

Using similar technology found in the Maybach, the Ferrari SuperAmerica uses The Fioravanti-patented rotating roof concept. The Superamerica is available with either an F1-style or manual gearbox. Options include the GTC Handling package offering Ferrari’s latest high-tech features including carbon ceramic brakes.

The Superamerica’s electric roof is referred to as Revocromico. The use of electrochromic glass gives the Ferrari driver the ability to completely control the level of light entering the cockpit. With five tint levels available the glass can go from light tint to dark tint in less than 1 minute!

Return to Top 5 supercars in Australia 2006.

Update : We spent a day in a Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster

Oh yes, the Lambo wins the number 1 spot, not because it’s the most expensive car in this list, but because it is an absolute beauty of a car. The looks are one thing but the sheer power generated from the V12 engine (426kw and 650Nm of torque) send the car to 100km/hr in just 3.8 seconds!

The car is available in the following blends:

1. Roadster 2dr Man 6sp 4WD 6.2i - $668,793
2. Roadster 2dr SMac 6sp 4WD 6.2i - $694,475

Even though the prices are listed above at below $700,000, in reality dealers are selling the car around $715,000 or so. There are also the Coupe version for those who would want to save a few thousand dollars, they start at $599,000 and $625,000 for the Man and Sequential Man respectively, but enough about the price since most of us will either never be able to afford one, or even in the rare chance that we could, we would probably find better things todo with our money, but in the even rarer instance where you do have the money and the will power to spend nearly $700,000 on a car, what do you actually get?

You get a car that weighs 1650kg, 42% at the front and 58% at the back. The engine is Lamborghini’s 12 Cylinder 60V, with a displacement of 6192 cc producing 580 horsepower (426kw) at 7500 rpm and a maximum torque of 650 Nm at 5400 rpm. There is Lamborghini’s permanent four-wheel drive as standard, with a central viscous coupling and limited slip rear (45%) and front (25%) differentials. There is independent front and rear double wishbone suspension and anti-roll bars with front Antidive and rear Antisquat systems.

The braking system is the H-type with power braking, with ABS and four ventilated disks. The wheels are 8.5″ thick and the front and gigantic 13″ thick wheels at the back, housed by 18″ Pirelli Rosso 245/35ZR tyres at the front and 335/30ZRs at the back. The Murcielago Roadster can get up to around 320km/hr and it gets to 100km an hour in just 3.8 seconds.

What does that all mean? It means the car is really really fast and whats even better, it can actually go around corners! With massive brakes and exlusive suspension system and the sheer aerodynamics, the Murcielago comes only second to the Bugatti Veyron (currently still not coming to Australia) as to what makes a dream car! With looks such as this, I seriously couldn’t think of a better car!

Hmm then again the interior doesn’t look that great now does it? Much like the Ferrari 360, the interior doesn’t give you the impression that you are sitting in a supercar, but you are easily reminded when you look out the window and realize you are about 5″ of the ground!

Return to Top 5 supercars in Australia 2006.