By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent

Lexus' first supercar is finally out - four years after the first concept appeared. Slated to be the costliest Japanese car ever, the LFA is powered by a front-mounted 4.8litre V10 with a 9,000rpm redline. It drives the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox. Maximum power is 552bhp and peak torque is 480Nm. The car hits 100kmh in 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 324kmh, putting it right in Lamborghini and Ferrari territory. Production is limited to 500 units, with Singapore getting 10 per cent at most. It is estimated to cost a whopping $1.3 million.

FABRIC-TOP AUDI CABRIOLETS

Audi still believes in convertibles with fabric canopies. It launched the A5 and S5 Cabriolets here yesterday, pricing the 2.0 211bhp TFSI quattro A5 Cab at $204,900 and the 3.0 333bhp supercharged TFSI quattro at $268,000. Both boast sizeable boots even with the roofs folded. The canvas tops can be operated when the car is moving at speeds of up to 50kmh. Among the comfort features are self-feeding front seatbelts.

NEW-LOOK S-CLASS

Mercedes-Benz launched the facelifted S-class limo on Thursday. It comes with new engine choices, including a first petrol-electric hybrid. Unfortunately, the latter, which uses lithium-ion battery pack, is only for left-hand-drive markets.

Cosmetically, the refreshed car is distinctive with its headlamps dressed up with LED daytime-running lights. It also boasts a new list of electronic aids, including sensors that can tell if the driver is too tired to drive (first seen in new E-class), a stability program that offsets effects of crosswinds and torque vectoring braking, which enhances cornering accuracy.

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