OIL CAPS: News briefs from the week

The curtains have closed on the production of the Audi R8, marking the end of an iconic era for the German carmaker. With the last unit — a Vegas Yellow Quattro Edition coupe — now complete, the “supercar era” at Audi has officially come to a poignant end. The final model, replete with bronze wheels and a carbon fibre styling package, is set to be enshrined in an as-yet unspecified museum, ensuring its legacy endures for future generations. The conclusion of R8 production took place at the Bollinger Hofe plant in Germany, where the supercar was ceremoniously assembled for one last time.

Kiwi drift superstar “Mad Mike” Whiddett has teamed up with British automotive firm Lanzante to introduce what is described as the “wildest drift hypercar” ever seen — Project: Madmac. The venture is in partnership with the luxury vehicle curators at O’Gara Coach, based in Beverly Hills, California. Project: Madmac is a vision brought to life around the McLaren P1 GTR’s track-focused bodywork. Having completed the initial stages at Lanzante’s UK workshop, the McLaren has made its way to Whiddett’s “Madlab” in NZ for drift-spec treatment under Mike’s watchful eye, with a little over 100 days until its global unveiling at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The Land Rover Defender is being pumped up with the upcoming introduction of the Octa, a new variant that promises to be the “fastest and most powerful Defender ever”. Equipped with a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged V8 (current Defender V8s have the JLR supercharged unit) and mild-hybrid technology, the Defender Octa aims to up the luxury and power within Land Rover’s line-up. Drawing its name from the geometric perfection of an octahedron diamond, the Defender Octa integrates this inspiration with diamond-shaped graphics. A standout feature is the gloss black diamond set within a titanium disc on each “Signature Graphic” panel.