The Supercar Kids - Issue 3 - October/November 2012

The Supercar Kids Issue 3 - October/November 2012

SuperVettura are a new dealership on the supercar scene, created following tremendous experience in the luxury and sports car sector by Tommy Wareham and Paul Burrows.

They offer unsurpassed knowledge of exclusive supercars both past and present starting right away with a name of Italian flair, vettura literally being the translation for car. Specialising in the bespoke and niche, the company is able to offer some of the rarest and most exquisite modern and classic vehicles in the world and have the honour of being the UK's authorised dealership for both Koenigsegg and BAC. The car gracing this month's cover is the unique Koenigsegg CCR Revo, the exact car that will be featuring in Fast 6, the latest installment in The Fast and the Furious franchise, for which The Supercar Kids also helped provide a Mercedes SLS AMG and a Ferrari 458 Italia.

The Koenigsegg CCR was an evolution of the CC8S, produced between 2004 and 2006, a total of 14 examples were built with just 5 in right-hand-drive. Compared to the former model it featured an upgraded body design, larger front splitter, bigger brakes, new tyres and wheels and an upgraded suspension system. It also offered a more powerful engine with twin compressors for a total power output of 795hp. All in all, the CCR has a more race car-like stance and appearance compared to the more elegant CC8S. The CCR was to take the Guinness World Record for the World's Fastest Production Car at the Nardo test track Italy in February 2005, reaching a speed of 388km/h. This was to beat the previous record set by the McLaren F1 that had stood for 8 years before the CCR went on to set more records at the N端rburgring and other circuits, however it wasn't long after that a Bugatti Veyron prototype would take the crown.

This specific CCR, the Revo, was the first right-hand-drive one to be built and in 2012 it returned to the factory to be fully upgraded and serviced. During the upgrade the car was fitted with a visible carbon body and a completely re-upholstered interior. It is the only carbon fibre CCR and due to the effort and costs of re-skinning an existing car, it is highly unlikely that there will ever be another built ensuring the ultimate degree of exclusivity. The car is currently for sale with SuperVettura for ÂŁ469,950 and we doubt something this special will hang around for too long, it was even hard to tear ourselves away after this photoshoot.

Being an independent operation with a passion for modern, classic, sports and prestige cars, SuperVettura offer a besoke service in terms of souring and selling vehicles. With the benefit of extensive contacts worldwide, the company offers an eclectic selection of vehicles to satisfy the most discerning buyer.

A new supercar showroom is currently under development in Virginia Water, just doorstops away from the famous Wentworth Golf Course and a few minutes from the M25, M3 and London Heathrow airport. The excellent services also includes a collection and return service to Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports for clients who wish to fly in to view a vehicle.

For more information about SuperVettura and to take a look through the current cars on offer, please go to http://www.supervettura.com.

Article by Mahmood Ansari and Tim Burton Photography by Alex Penfold

Editorial Thanks for picking up the third issue of The Supercar Kids magazine. In this issue, we bring you the latest from the supercar world, beginning with an up-close look at the Audi R8 GT and its mighty V10 engine. From there, we get to the results of our fan-voted ‘scariest supercars’ in our Halloween special feature. After taking a look at this year’s Zoute Grand Prix, and get an idea of what it’s like to drive a tuned Nissan GT-R from the owner’s perspective, we move into our main feature: The Paris Motorshow.

This year’s Paris Mondial de l'Automobile 2012 brought quite the selection of new models and exciting additions to the supercar world. The Supercar Kids were at the show to provide in-depth coverage of the show’s highlights. The stunning array of photographs and editorial content will leave any petrolhead itching to get back out on the road. Find all of this and more right here inside our third issue of The Supercar Kids magazine. Thank you for reading, we hope you will join us again next month.

Mahmood Ansari - Founder & Director Tim Burton - Managing Partner Adam Gordon - Creative Director

Contributors Rick Hollister Gurps Kandola David Yu Wolfie Kutner Sebastian Delaney Jet Pouvreau

Sponsors

Shmee150

Holborn House

The Car Finders

SupercarNews

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Audi R8 GT Lighter car, lighter wallet. The R8 GT is the flagship model of the Audi range, but can it justify its ÂŁ140,000 price-tag?

Prepare to be excited by the top of the range Audi R8. Five years after the company brought us the original R8 and took the challenge straight to the Porsche 911, they finally released a more focused and limited edition version of their huge R8 success story. The R8 V10 GT has more power and less weight than its predecessor. Certainly an exciting combination but can it truly be worth the substantial price hike to ÂŁ142,000 plus change?

First impressions of the GT are the minor external, though eye-catching tweaks to the design including a carbon fiber front splitter, rear diffuser, side blades, front winglets and most notably a large fixed rear wing. Other changes over the standard V10 include round exhausts (as will be seen on the new R8 next year), 19" alloys and a change to the colour of the rear lights. The subtle modifications create the impression of a more striking, road hugging racer.

Inside, the Alcantara bucket seats illustrate that this GT derivative is no longer concerned with everyday usability. The design is less comfort and more performance orientated, flaunting closer ties with the R8 LMS race car.

The seats offer a 31.5kg saving and the fixed wing and smaller battery combine to save another 10kg. In total, the modifications to the GT lead to net weight loss of 100kg, which is combined with a 34 bhp increase over a regular V10 R8.

The enhanced engine note of the fettled V10 (compared to the regular V10), is immediately recognisable even on start up.

There is a real impression that Audi have concentrated on making this more of a "driver's car," more appropriate for a Sunday thrash or even at the track, as opposed to the daily commute.

On the move, the GT has small but important improvements over a regular R8. The increased power and reduced weight (362 bhp per tonne) create a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds (0.3 secs quicker than the standard V10) and top speed of 199mph, making this car one of the fastest cars in terms of real world performance. Even with its race-car genetics, the GT is confidence inspiring, but remains rewarding. The four-wheel drive system has a heavy rear-bias, creating a very intuitive yet planted drive, with the added safety and security that 4WD provides. Overall the main difference with the GT is an increased sense of driver involvement, a more engaging experience.

Drawbacks? Well, all 333 GTs (33 to the UK) come with Audi's singleclutched R-Tronic gearbox which most reviews have highlighted as the main issue for the car. At low speeds, the relatively old-fashioned box certainly does feel jerky and the automated clutch seems dim-witted. However this car is more about how the gearbox can respond at 8,000 rpm (when peak power is delivered) and beyond. With sport mode engaged and on the move, the gearbox is unrecognisable from its low-speed deficiencies. Smoothest shifts are with a slight lift of the throttle, however it’s refreshing that changing gears feels analogue, as opposed to the seamless (although undeniably quicker) shifts of a double-clutch box.

The naturally aspirated engine's increased power (over a standard V10) is at the top of the rev-range, encouraging the driver to take it all the way to the red-line and enjoy that wonderful sound-track. As with a standard V10, the noise is an overwhelming feature of the GT, truly appreciated when pushing on towards the 9,000rpm limiter. The V10 howl has become a trade-mark of supercars in recent years through models such as the Porsche Carrera GT and Lamborghini Gallardo, with the V10 in the middle of the GT definitely one of the best sounding engines currently on sale.

So, inside and out, the Audi R8 GT is very impressive. However, is it worth the price tag? With a V8 engined R8 priced at around £85,000, can the premium for the GT be merited? When comparing the GT with other R8s, it appears hard to justify the extra expense, R8 V8 and V10s are already fantastic cars. However, when comparing the GT to other cars in its own genre such as the Lamborghini LP570 Superleggera (£190,000+ with options), the look and performance of the GT appear relatively “good value”.

With all 33 UK cars selling instantly, Audi can easily quash any claims that the car is over-priced. All Audi R8s are incredibly competent machines, but with their individual number in the middle of the gear selector and added extras throughout the car, GTs are a more tailored product. It is this combination of exclusivity and capability that makes the R8 GT such a complete and appealing car to supercar fans and collectors alike.

Article and Photos by Wolfie Kutner

SCARY SUPERCARS Halloween, the perfect annual excuse for everyone to go all out and dress up as some obscure monster or character; the more gruesome it is, the better for scaring people. Some supercar designs seem to be just as scary whether it's Halloween or not! So, as voted by the fans of The Supercar Kids on our Facebook page here are some of the scariest and meanest looking cars that are out there to haunt us.

In no particular order we start the list off with the Veritas RS3.

Just look at the face! We would certainly be scared whether it’s coming at 10 or 100mph. With the front grill appearing to resemble the teeth of a shark, people would be sure to stay well away from it. Forget Halloween, this car will certainly make anyone jump in their sleep. For those of you wondering what exactly this car is, it is a single-seater vehicle produced by a small German company Veritas, who employ just 7 people. It comes with an impressive BMW sourced 5 litre V10 tuned to 600bhp. According to the company the 0-62mph time is just 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 216mph it's not hard to believe as the car weighs in at just 2360 pounds. The Veritas RS3 appears to be perfect for a lone ranger who’s up to no good!

Another car voted onto our list by readers is the Fisker Karma.

Jumping in with the looks, the Karma places right up there with the Veritas RS3 on the scary-scale. This electric powered supercar will be sure to give you the chills as it cruises past with an electrical whine. The concept that kicked off the product's development by creator Henrik Fisker was a simplle question: "What if?", just two simple words that would start it all for his company. They are the words that inspired a dream and are responsible for every single industry first that Fisker have acheived. To this day the phrase echoes throughout the company's headquarters, design studio, engineering department, lunchroom and in the minds of owners around the world. From a performance perspective the Karma manages a very respectable 403hp coupled with a jaw dropping 951 lb-ft of torque available from the base line at 0rpm! This translates to a 0-60mph time of 7.9 seconds and a 95 mile per hour top speed - in electric-only "Stealth Mode." Not impressed? With ‘Sport Mode’ activated, the Ecotec kicks in to boost performance, recording a 0-60mph sprint of 5.9 seconds and bumping the top speed to 125 mph.

Next up on our list of scary supercars is the Mansory tuned Aventador.

Not only have the team at Mansory added some extra kick to Lamborghini's flagship Aventador, but they've given the raging bull an image we wouldn’t mind being scared by! The sound of the car is just as dramatic as its looks, and no doubt this Lambo will leave anyone's heart heavily beating for a while after any encounter. Along with a badass image, they've also managed to achieve great downforce on the car with the replacement of the front wings and bonnet being replaced by proprietary versions. The sides have grown by 40mm on the front and 50mm at the rear axle with newly designed sidesills also installed. These steady the airflow between the axles and, thanks to the built-in channels, they also direct additional cool air to the drive unit and rear brake system. It is not only the aggressive design by Mansory that caught our attention. Both the engine power and acceleration have been improved by the company as well. Thanks to 754 PS / 555 kW at 8,300 rpm and 750 Nm at 6,000 rpm, the 12-cyclinder engine accelerates from 0-100 km/h in a breath-taking 2.8 seconds. The top speed of 355 km/h is also higher than the factory Aventador. We’re impressed. And a little bit frightened.

Last on our list of scary supercars, voted by fans, is the 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom Jonckheere. While not a supercar by most standards, we thought this creepy car deserved a place in our list.

Not only do we fear this car but we fear the person who's behind the wheel!

The vehicle has a six cylinder 7.66L OHV inline engine and a four-speed manual transmission easily capable of travelling up to 100mph. Its imposing length, menacing shape and oversize front grill make most other cars look boring. Furthermore, the benchmarks of size, stature, cost and risk will probably never be reached again. Such a striking car would probably have an eccentric owner and certainly be born in the Art Deco movement of the 1930s. The Jonckheere Coupe was very much a part of this movement with its stylish modernism and mathematical geometric shapes which were popular at the time. This is especially true of the car’s circular doors which give it a proper nickname “The Round Door Rolls”

What gets to have a place in your list of scary and mean looking cars?

Tell us by posting on our facebook page at facebook.com/thesupercarkids or you can always tweet us @thesupercarkids. We love to hear from you!

Article by Mahmood Ansari

Zoute Grand Prix

2012

The weekend of 4th-7th October saw the town of Knokke in Belgium host the annual Zoute Grand Prix car event, where it becomes the centre of automotive activity for some of the world's most prestigious cars, both old and new. The town has long been associated with a refined lifestyle in which recreation goes hand-inhand with class, sportsmanship and refinement making it the perfect location for a fabulous gathering of automobiles.

The event consists of 4 main parts, first up is the Zoute Top Marques where the streets become the stages for premium car manufacturers to showcase their latest creations. With particular highlights of the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, Aston Martin Vanquish and Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, other companies presenting also included: Jaguar, Mercedes, Porsche, Land Rover, Audi, Rolls Royce, Maserati, McLaren, Lamborghini, BMW and Fisker.

The second part of the event is the Zoute Rally where 150 prestigious old-timers, manufactured between 1920 and 1965, gather in Knokke for a short drive. There is also the Zoute GT Tour where modern GT cars under 10 years old drive from St-Martens-Latem through picturesque roads to the main event. The final day, and show-piece event, is the Zoute Concours d'Elegance, taking place on the prestigious Royal Zoute Golf Club a limited number of exclusive cars split into pre and post-war categories are on display and judged by an internationally renowned jury.

The event is a remarkable gathering of both the most fabulous pieces of classical engineering coupled with some of the latest and greatest cars currently available from top brands worldwide. Not only are the cars on show quite a sight but numerous guests attend in amazing cars of their own.

If you happen to be enjoying the beautiful sights of Belgium when The Zoute Grand Prix happens in October 2013, be sure to head along and check it out. You can find more information at http://www.zoutegrandprix.be Article by Mahmood Ansari and Tim Burton Photography by Philippe Collinet

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Over 100 years old, the bi-annual Mondial de l'Automobile exhibition is held in the Paris Expo at Porte de Versailles in Western Paris. The setting has been the home of numerous first showings, concept releases and production car launches over the years.

Two years ago, the Paris motorshow kicked off with a bang as Dany Bahar led Lotus in a huge launch with six completely new models and a celebrity filled press conference. That wasn't it from a British perspective as Jaguar also used the show to take the wraps off their C-X75 jet-powered concept.

Perhaps a stand-out car from Paris 2010 was the absolutely stunning Lamborghini Sesto Elemento; Gallardo-like in appearance but with many components made from carbon fibre to bring the total weight down to just 999kg . Let's not forget it also packed a 570hp V10 and some mind-boggling performance figures!

The 2012 show kicked in just as spectacular fashion with expected major launches coming from McLaren, Bentley and Jaguar to name a few.

McLaren P1 The car with the most anticipation at this year's Paris motorshow was without a shadow of a doubt the new McLaren P1, with the press conference scheduled for the very end of the day.

As the curtain raised, McLaren's new 'ultimate supercar' was revealed to the world; with a breathtaking 600kg of downforce and a power-to-weight ratio of over 600bhp per tonne, and looks that leave almost everything else in the segment standing.

The car sitting on the stand at Paris was not a 'concept' as a company would traditionally show but a Design Study, with McLaren giving the impression this was much closer to the final product than we may expect, in their words it is "more than 95 percent" of how the finished P1 product will be. The car will feature lots of new technologies that McLaren aren't yet ready to tell us about so we can only wait and see exactly how it evolves leading up to the first showing of the eventual car to release at the 2013 Geneva Motorshow.

The pure ideology of the P1 is based around "one simple goal... to be the best driver's car in the world on road and track". If the figures match up to what we're led to believe, it sounds like it will be just that.

Bentley Continental GT3 It was known that a new sportscar was coming from the Crewe based manufacturer but it wasn't until the press arrived in Paris that it was revealed to be the Continental GT3, a stripped out, performance based version of the latest Continental GT Speed.

The car is a change away from the all-wheel drive system usually found in the series by replacing it with a rear-wheel drive setup as Bentley confirmed they will officially return to motorsport, a decade after victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Development of the new GT3 is ongoing before the car is ready to launch into the racing circuit next year. Wolfgang Schreiber, chairman of Bentley said "The Continental GT3 is set to show the world what the Continental GT is capable of in its most extreme form", we certainly look forward to seeing the results.

Jaguar F-Type It has taken a very long time for the E-type's successor to make it to a motorshow, and with the level of history involved it is no surprise. Jaguar launched the new F-Type to the world in Paris with the eyes of the world's press waiting to see exactly how the baby-Jag would present itself.

The F-Type doesn't sit in a position of the market that is occupied at the moment, in size it's between a Porsche Boxster and 911 but in price it's around ÂŁ60,000 to ÂŁ80,000 depending if you are looking at the regular car or V8 which positions it below the Aston Martin Vantage or Audi R8.

Our pick by far is the S model with the 488bhp V8 up front, capable of a 4.5 second 0-62mph time and top speeds of 186mph. Time will tell how the new Jaguar sportscar will succeed but if it's anything like the current expectations, the car is a brilliant move for Jaguar Land Rover.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 Facelift

Lamborghini sure do know how to make the most of a product. The Gallardo line launched in 2003, it was followed by a Spyder and Superleggera before SE and Nera special editions. A major overhaul then introduced the LP560 model, again with a Spyder and Superleggera but this time a Performante convertible also. We've also since had the Balboni, Bicolore, Super Trofeo Stradale and this isn't even all of them before we end up at the LP560 Facelift for Lamborghini's 50th Anniversary that falls in 2013.

The car itself has not changed from the LP560 that came before it, however it now has a revised front and rear bumper featuring the 'triangle' styling along with side-skirts. Immediate impressions have been mixed regarding the new look but it's sure to be a big hit as all new Lamborghinis are.

Peugeot Onyx There is nothing Peugeot love to do more than turn up at the Paris motorshow with a concept car that they are never going to build. The Onyx is just such an example.

The 1,100kg car is built around a central carbon structure with a 3.7l V8 Hybrid HDI FAP engine bolted on - it's capable of 600hp. Very much based on the technologies from Peugeot's Le Mans prototype, the Onyx is more than just a concept as it has run up to 180km/h in testing.

It also features a kinetic energy recovery system to boost the power output by an additional 80hp to convert braking energy into power on acceleration.Even though it will most likely never go beyond this one-off, the Onyx "will influence all future Peugeot design" according to Sandeep Bahmbra, principle designer.

Ferrari F70 Chasis A successor to the Ferrari Enzo is going to go head on against the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder during 2013, and Ferrari teased us with a look at the chasses for their new hypercar at the Paris show.

At more than 20% lighter than the Enzo it's definitely not a bad start. Multiple technologies are incorporated that have been developed by the F1 department and Ferrari claim that the use of carbonfibre tech in the 'F70' will be unrivalled by all others.

Maserati GranCabrio MC

The GranCabrio MC is an obvious connection as a cross between Maserati's GranTurismo MC Stradale and the GranCabrio model, although it features the same 4.7l V8 with 454hp of the Stradale it is coupled with a ZF automatic gearbox rather than the overly aggressive box found in the coupe version.

The more aggressive aero design of the GranCabrio stretches it almost 5cm longer than the regular version however unlike the MC Stradale, the convertible remains a 4 seater affair.

Audi R8 V10 Plus

The R8 has proven to be a hugely popular car for Audi and a few years into the model's production it has come time for a minor refresh. That has taken the form up slight alterations to the grille and headlights at the front, with the rear lights and exhaust changing from oval to round at the rear.

Inside, the R-Tronic semi-auto gearbox has been replaced with the latest S-Tronic double-clutch system, and a new V10 Plus model added to the line at the top end with 24hp more than the normal V10.

Porsche 991 Carrera 4 The newest versions of the 911 are the four-wheel drive 991 Carrera 4 and 4S with 345hp and 395hp respectively. Each model has been released in both coupe and cabriolet format with prices between ÂŁ78,000 and ÂŁ97,000.

Featuring slightly extended rear arches to fit wider wheels and tyres, the new car is 65kg lighter than the predecessor and sets the model line up for the Turbo model to arrive in due course.

Lamborghini LP570 Edizione Tecnica Lamborghini added the Edizione Technica editions to the current fleet of Gallardos in both Superleggera coupe and Performante spyder configurations.

The special version is available in 3 limited edition colour combinations with various options included as standard.

Mercedes SLS Electric Drive

Mercedes enter the electric supercar market with the â‚Ź417,000 SLS Electric Drive, only available in the Gullwing coupe rather than the Roadster, the car is the world's most powerful series production electric car - long winded but a nice title to have.

There are four electric motors creating a total of 740hp, 177 more than the V8 petrol version manages, keeping performance figures at impressive levels including nearmatching of the 0-62mph time with a 3.9s effort.

Lexus LF-CC

Lexus previewed their new IS line-up with a coupe concept at the Paris show in the shape of the LF-CC concept.

Designed as the first hybrid drivetrain in a car of this class, the LF-CC is targetting an emissions level below 100g/km making it a class leader. The design cues are hopefully something that will carry through to the final car with more definitive Lexus branding.

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Porsche introduced an estate style Panamera concept at Paris, a concept that could well move into the world of production. The car in question is a hybrid but would go against the Mercedes CLS as part of a full-line up of new Panameras in the future.

Not only is the Sport Turismo a look into a new body style for the Panamera, but also a design study for Porsche regarding the styling aspects of the whole new range.

Article by Tim Burton

Photography by Sam Moores

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in 2006, Season Car Hire has developed a reputation in providing the finest cars at competitive rates with exceptional customer service. Based around this ethos, they have developed a reputation in providing vehicles for all sorts of occasions hence customers from TV shows such from The Only Way Is Essex and Coronation Street look at Season Cars when looking to make that special appearance. Other customers also include the West Ham United Football Club and the latest customer being the Fast And Furious (Fast 6) film.

Season Car Hire is a luxury rental company based in London with easy access to the city and surrounding areas. Unlike other similar companies all of the available cars are owned by the company themselves and through the fleet they offer vehicles from a huge range of manufacturers including: Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes, McLaren, Porsche and Rolls Royce amongst others. The most popular cars with their customers are certainly the McLaren MP4-12C and the Mercedes SLS AMG with the Lamborghini Aventador expected to join the Season Car Hire family in March 2013.

A pleasant service offered by Season Car Hire is the possibility to inspect the car in question prior to making a booking. They also offer meet and greet services at airports for those who simply want to land and drive away to a destination. The online system is user-friendly as well with no distracting objects and gets straight to the point, with help always available via phone and email or on their Twitter and Facebook pages for the more tech savvy. We recently tested out the Season Car Hire service with their Mercedes SLS AMG loaned to experiment with the process and have to say the whole experience was exceptional. The car was both delivered to us and picked up exactly on time and their customer service was always there in case we needed to ask anything - even if it was the simplest of questions. (No we did not need to ask how to start the car!)

Be it a simple day out with the family or a corporate day, Season Car Hire has a car for every occasion. For more information check out their website at www.seasoncars.com

Article by Mahmood Ansari & Tim Burton Photo courtesy of The Video Box London

Car: Ford GTX1 Photo by RaphaĂŤl Belly

VIDEO GAMES TO LOOK OUT FOR For many of us the opportunity to drive a Ferrari, Lamborghini or other supercar is not something that comes around every day but that most certainly does not make us any less keen on these beautiful pieces of art. What's the next best thing we can do? Drive them in a video game of course!

With a control pad or keyboard in our grips we can have full control of our favourite car, driving as fast as possible like we've always wanted or to show off our amazing driving skills to a massive online community.

This autumn features the launch of a number of new games across a variety of platforms. We'll take a look at some of the most anticipated releases, starting with Forza Horizon.

Release Date: October 26, 2012 Forza’s legendary authentic driving experience is back, but it's taken a turn away from the track and into the festival circuit and the wide open spaces of Colorado.

Forza Horizon is the franchise's first open-world game, complete with realistic open-road driving where every bumpy road and dusty track is felt.

But there's still plenty of chances to compete. The Horizon Festival offers plenty of events to put your skills on the line, or challenge other drivers in street races - and put your pink slip on the line! Both career mode and multiplayer offer contests and competitions to keep you at your best.

And when you're not driving, the Horizon Festival is your home away from home, a place where cars meet culture, where motoring meets music, and where you get the chance to party between races.

Next up is Most Wanted, the newest game in the Need for Speed franchise.

Release Date: 1st November 2012 Technically, Most Wanted is a title that has already exsited however developer Criterion have redeveloed the original title where you cause trouble by racing, chasing and exploring a vast and connected world of incredible cars, police chases and multiplayer competition.

To be Most Wanted, you’ll need to outrun the cops, outdrive your friends, and outsmart your rivals. With a relentless police force gunning to take you down, you’ll need to make split second decisions. Use the open world to your advantage to find hiding spots, hit jumps and earn new vehicles to keep you one step ahead. In true Criterion Games fashion, your friends are at the heart of your experience. In an open world with no menus or lobbies, you’ll be able to instantly challenge your friends and prove your driving skill in a variety of seamless multiplayer events.

Release Date: 3rd May 2013 Sequel to Race Driver GRID, the new game will push your driving skills further than ever before, as you compete in iconic cars whilst racing at breakneck speeds through city streets and treacherous mountain roads across three continents.

GRID 2 will see you not only competing in an extensive single player campaign, but also online. With RaceNet, you will have access to Codemasters online community where you will be able to track rewards and rivals as you fight for online supremacy.

What is your all time favourite racing video game? Is there a video game we’ve missed out that everyone should know about? Leave a comment on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheSupercarKids Article by Mahmood Ansari

West London Audi

Quattro Rooms

In 2009 the world’s largest Audi Centre, West London Audi, was opened. Audi UK invested a whopping £45 million for this new landmark building which was created by Wilkinson Eyre Architects.

The Audi Centre has over 190,000 sq ft of floor space and is spread over 7 storeys, two below ground and five above. The two basement levels have more floor space than the five above it and accommodate a double height workshop containing 28 work bays.

Above ground are the 3 showroom floors capable of displaying as many as 116 cars, and above that, and only accessible by a separate entrance, are where the Audi quattro rooms are situated. The Audi quattro rooms occupy the top two floors and serves as a separate meeting and events space which is also used to display many of the innovations from Audi’s 100 year history.

What we were interested in was the Quattro car. The original Quattro was launched on 3rd March at the 1980 Geneva motor show and it was immediately celebrated as a huge success. The Quattro was the first sports car with permanent all-wheel drive and was capable of 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds. With road-holding untouchable at the time and rarely equalled since then it has become a much-loved classic. The rally Quattros rewrote the book - today all World Rally Championship cars are four wheel drive – and they firmly established Audi's slogan: "Vorsprung durch Technik" (which basically translate to “Advancement through technology”) in the public’s consciousness.

The Audi Quattro Rooms are a meeting and event space however you'll need to make an appointment to see the cars stored on site to ensure your visit doesn't clash with an event being hosted. For mor information, contact them at 020 8326 1810 or you can e-mail them at audiquattrorooms@audi.co.uk.

Article by Gurps Kandola Photography by The Video Box London

P1 International The Pioneers of the Supercar Club Concept

In 2000, P1 pioneered the concept of a private members’ club offering shared access to a fleet of supercars. With twelve years expertise in refining the concept, the Club continues to offer its members an unrivalled experience, with access to a stable of the finest and fastest cars. In return for an annual membership fee, the Club takes care of the cost of depreciation, insurance, servicing and maintenance, leaving members free to enjoy the cars and the Club without the inconvenience and costs of ownership.

The Club continues to operate in the same way as it has done so successfully for twelve years now, with simple membership packages providing you with a block of points and miles for you to use as you wish during your membership year across the fleet. There are four packages for you to choose from to suit your usage, each with different payment plan options.

P1 International is the only Supercar Club with a brand in Europe and to have cars such as Wisemann on their fleet. Not only that but because P1 has been one the largest purchasers of supercars in Europe, over the years they have regularly been able to source the latest models to coincide with their official UK launch dates. This has become a hallmark of the P1 experience for their members, and P1 states that it will continue into the foreseeable future. The Switzerland branch is also now open with members having full access to supercars in other branches. In this way, P1 members will eventually have a network of supercars and clubhouses across the globe, for them to utilise and gain access to events and networking opportunities worldwide.

Membership fees include insurance for the member and their life partner subject to completion of a bespoke one-day P1 driver training programme.

The cost of this course is included in the joining fee in respect of the member. They also offer a number of bespoke corporate membership packages designed to meet the requirements of the individual business. Such packages suit three or more members and allow for the pooling of points and miles for maximum flexibility. Many of their existing corporate memberships are successfully provided as perks for key directors, partners and/or clients. P1 Membership points and miles can be used across international branches subject to a small administration charge to protect against currency fluctuations.

P1 members exchange their points for driving time in the cars throughout their membership year. The number of points used on a booking is dependent on the car’s group, the season and the number of days booked.

P1 is unique in offering four different driving seasons allowing members to spread their points throughout the year. Summer uses the most points, Winter the fewest, while Spring and Autumn offer members the chance to enjoy even more driving for six months of the year.

Currently, P1 Monaco members enjoy an average of around 70 days annual driving from their 1,000 points, but this number is often exceeded where members choose to access cars outside of peak times.

For more information on P1 International Supercar Club, check out their website at www.p1international.com or contact them by phone at +44(0)1372 721711 Article by Mahmood Ansari

Gemballa MP4-12C Many of us know Gemballa as one of the most famous tuning houses around, famous for changing innocent Porsche’s into outright beasts! But now however, Gemballa have decided to modify the already splendid McLaren MP4-12C. Why? You may ask, well in their own words “We saw room for improvement, mainly aesthetically but also mechanically”.

I was fortunate enough to be left in charge of show casing the car at the Top Marques 2012 motorshow. So after spending many hours a day with the car and being driven in it, I know my fair share about it.

First of all let’s start with that fantastic color, the beautiful deep sea blue, which was created (I was told) by McLaren themselves and that Gemballa have brought back. The colour fits the MP4’s character brilliantly, as it gives it more of a supercar feel. The modified car looks a lot better than the stock model in my opinion, and all of the changes made to the aerodynamic function of the car look great together.

Gemballa have made lots of little changes that have all added up to a great finished product. The changes consist of things like the air vents on the front bumper which have been redesigned, as well as the side skirts and rear bumper. The front is lower and more aggressive, yet still subtle. From the back however, Gemballa have put a large cover on some rather essential cooling outlets for the exhausts and engine. I’m not sure how this will affect the reliability until a long term test is completed.

The interior has also been slightly changed, with new leather and stitching designs which do look very good! It also has funky lights over the driver and passenger seats which illuminate the cabin in a very futuristic way.

As far as mechanical changes, the MP4’s only change under the skin (I think) is it’s power output, which is boosted from 600 to 670hp. I’m not sure how they did this, but I can tell you that when I was being driven in the car it felt very fast indeed. Despite the performance upgrades, the MP4-12C by Gemballa still features the stock McLaren steel brakes. I hope they are powerful enough, and that Gemballa knows what they are doing.

Overall, the Gemballa GT McLaren MP4-12C is a fantastic car, but then again, so is the stock version of the same car… So I think that if I was buying a McLaren, I would ship it to Gemballa, ask them to fit the bodykit but leave the back standard as well as the mechanics. If you want a slightly more exciting McLaren, this is the car for you.

Article by Sebastien Delanney