Gallery: Zenvo ST1

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Watch the footage of the car plunging in the lake (warning: this video contains swearing)

And watch it being dragged out

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Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

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Diamonds might be a girl's best friend but a £140,000 supercar might just come close as one footballing WAG has just found out.

Melanie Slade, the long-term girlfriend of Theo Walcott, has just been presented with a brand spanking new Ferrari California by the Arsenal striker to celebrate her 21st birthday.

According to The Sun, the physiotherapist student is 'over the moon' and has already got personalised plates for the car.

It's a bit of a step up from the Volkswagen Beetle he bought her three years ago and the insurance premiums for the Ferrari are probably more than the Beetle was worth, but with a 193mph top speed we imagine Mel will find the upgrade more than makes up for the cost.

Gallery: Ferrari California

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With the Veritas RS III, Vermot AG are trying to recreate the looks and feel of a sports car from the 40s or 50s. The prototype caused quite a stir when it was unveiled last year. At the Salon Privé show in London, it effortlessly won the Best Super Car of 2009 award. Now, as this super sports model goes into series production, Vermot have released new photos of the Veritas RS III Roadster.

As you would expect of a super car, this will be a relatively small-scale production run. At the company's headquarters in Gelsdorf (Rhineland Palatinate), they expect to have sold out of the complete edition of 30 vehicles by the end of the year. Deliveries to the first batch of customers will then commence in January 2010. Vermot will be charging a basic price of 345,000 euros (£310,000). For this princely sum, customers can expect a racer that sprints from 0 to 62mph in under 3.2 seconds. Maximum speed is claimed to be 214mph (347 km/h). The 15-strong workforce operates in three teams: chassis, bodywork and cabin interior. Each Veritas takes eight weeks to assemble, and at any one time, three will be in production. The RS III has a 1+1 layout with a covered passenger seat available only as and when required. The whole production process is conducted according to the strictest quality norms and the final result fully complies with homologated EU standards. A couple of days ago, a test drive was staged at Brands Hatch (Kent) in the context of the Trackdays event. Potential purchasers who went for a spin in the demo model were thoroughly impressed.

Gallery: Veritas RS III

Gallery: Veritas RS III

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The 1,183bhp SSC Ultimate Aero TT is currently the world's fastest car. It's possible to achieve over 413 km/h (258mph) when the American muscle car really lets rip. In 2007, this supercar from the land of opportunity took the crown from reigning speed-king, Bugatti Veyron. The way in which the massive 1,183bhp engine propels the Aero from 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) in just 2.8 seconds is awesome. After six seconds, you have already passed the 200 km/h (125mph) mark. Adrian von Hooydonk, Head of Design BMW Group, is responsible for the Aero's aggressive looks.

SSC Ultimate Aero TT
413.83 km/h
1,199 horsepower
0-62: 2.78 sec

Gallery: SSC Ultimate Aero TT

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Men's hearts beat faster at the sight of a Bugatti Veyron. This sports car is one of the world's fastest production vehicles. Towards the end of April 2005, a Veyron broke the 400 km/h (250mph) barrier several times at the Volkswagen Test Facility under TÜV's watchful gaze. Average top speed during these tests was 408.47 km/h. The top speed entered in the vehicle's registration documents is given as 407 km/h.

Bugatti Veyron Coupe
407.5 km/h
1,001 horsepower
0-62: 2.5 sec

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron Blue

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron Centenaire

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu

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Putting out a thumping 817bhp, this extraordinary supercar can achieve 395 km/h.bringt der extravagante Sportwagen mit brachialen auf den Asphalt. This vehicle tipping the scales at 1,180 kilos accelerates from 0-62mph in only 3.2 seconds. Power is provided by a V8 4.7L supercharged engine. The Koenigsegg CCX replaced the McLaren F1 as the world's fastest road car in the Guinness Book of Records.

Koenigsegg CCX
395 km/h
817 horsepower
0-62: 3.2 sec

Gallery: Koenigsegg CCX

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The McLaren F1 supercar was built between 1994 and 1997 in a production run of 100 vehicles. Of that number, 72 were registered as road versions. Former Brabham designer, Gordon Murray, developed the bodywork of the McLaren F1. The car is a three-seater. The driver sits in the middle of the cockpit and passengers can enjoy the ride sitting slightly to the rear on each side. The XP 5 McLaren F1 prototype was until 2005 the world's fastest production road car with a true top speed of 386.4 km/h (240.1mph).

McLaren F1
386 km/h
627 horsepower

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Mercedes have given the boys and girls at AMG a free hand and just look what they have come up with: one of the most exciting cars available today. Sporty through and through, possessing luxury aplenty and with an historical pedigree - that's how to build a supercar and show that German engineering is still in the premier league. One perfect technology package consisting of, aluminium space-frame body shell with gull-wing doors, AMG 6.3L, front-mounted V8 engine having dry sump lubrication, rated at 571bhp and 650 Nm, transaxle-mounted seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and sport's chassis with twin aluminium wishbones, guarantees superior driving dynamics and fun of the highest order The bad news, as always, is the price. At around 178,000 euros (£164,000), it's not exactly peanuts. But we can all have our dreams, more so than ever, given the present climate.

Gallery: IAA Frankfurt: Mercedes Benz SLS AMG

Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

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Ferrari's most powerful and fastest model to date was named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. This supercar was designed by Pininfarina and is one of the world's most powerful vehicles. The Enzo was originally going to be limited to a production run of 349. Ferrari sent out a prospectus to existing customers and all 349 cars were sold before manufacture began. A while later, after receiving many requests, Ferrari decided to build another 50 models, bringing the total number of cars produced to 399.

Ferrari Enzo
350 km/h
660 horsepower

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This Bentley is characterised by its impressive dimensions. It is 4.43 metres long and two metres wide. The car is like a living room on wheels. Its name is a reference to the engine, indicating in litres the capacity of the motor and number of cylinders. Today, this design is displayed in the company museum.

Bentley BY 8.16 Hunaudieres
350 km/h
623 horsepower

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The 2009 IAA may have been the one and only opportunity for the many fans of beautiful fast supercars to admire the new open-top Lamborghini Reventon. Only 20 models will be built and they will disappear into the garages of well-heeled collectors. The complete Reventon range sold out in under two weeks. Eleven of the dream cars will find homes in America and seven will remain in Europe. One will be whisked off to Dubai and another to Japan. Financially, it's been a worthwhile exercise for Lamborghini, as each Reventon costs as much as three LP 640s.

The designers of the Reventon took their inspiration from fighter jets. They went to an Italian air force base and borrowed styling cues from the Tornado and the F22 Raptor. The end result is breathtaking. The Reventon, with its straight-as-a-die styling, looks simply out of this world. It's flatter, wider and even more extreme than the standard fare from Sant'Agata.

Lamborghini Reventon
340 km/h
650 horsepower
0-62mph: 3.4 sec

Gallery: Lamborghini Reventon

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The designation for this Lamborghini is a reference to the position of the engine - 'longitudinale posteriore' - and to the 640bhp output of the engine. In reinterpreting the Murcielago LP640, the design team at the Centro Stile Lamborghini strove to abide by the traditional styling principles of purism, sportiness and functionality. This 'bull' from Sant' Agata Bolognese performs the 0 to 62mph sprint in just 3.4 seconds. Fuel consumption is 13 mile to the gallon (21.3 litres per 100km). Just like its predecessor, the LP640 has permanent four-wheel drive. The combined sound of the engine, air resistance and tyre rumble at top speed resemble that made by an aircraft. In this Lambo, you feel like you are about to take off.

Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster LP640 E-Gear
210mph (340 km/h)
640 horsepower
0 to 62mph in 3.4 seconds

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When it was launched in September 1999, the Diablo's top speed of 338 km/h (209mph) made it the fastest series production sports car the world had ever seen. Essentially an upgraded version of the Lamborghini V12, the Diablo now delivered 575 horsepower, while the specification also included bigger brakes and a modernised interior. The weight had also been reduced through the introduction of lighter materials. Only 80 of this model were built. Designed by Marcelo Gandini, the car is characterised by its wedge shape. Once past the 4,000-revs threshold, the Diablo releases a magnificently apocalyptic wall of sound.

Lamborghini Diablo GT
209mph (338 km/h)
575 horsepower

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Italy's ultimate dream car is 4.7 metres long, over 2 metres wide and as flat as an arrowhead. With the lid up, it stands just 1,134mm tall and with the top down - 1,132mm. In other words, its like a stealth bomber. We're talking about the Lamborghini Reventon Roadster, which, like the glamorous girls, is causing quite a stir at the IAA in Frankfurt.

The heavily contoured bodywork with its razor-sharp edges and dramatic sweeps consists almost entirely of carbon fibre components. The raked-back windscreen and the wraparound side windows are redolent of a speedboat cockpit. The underbody culminates in a diffuser and a rear spoiler produces even more downforce. A few facts and figures: 60-degree V12 engine, 6.5L displacement, 650bhp at 8,000rpm. From a standing start, the roadster can reach 62mph in 3.4 seconds. Top speed is around 200mph (330 km/h).

Gallery: IAA Frankfurt: Lamborghini Reventon Roadster

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No fewer than 53 press conferences were held on the first day of the Frankfurt Motor Show, one of which proved so popular that they almost had to lock the doors of the Frankfurt Festival Hall. Fifty camera teams were on hand at the Mercedes-Benz press gathering to record the moment when the latest supercar from Affalterbach would be driven onto the stage - the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. For AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg, it was an emotional moment which left him struggling for words: "The whole team has been working really hard on this project for the past three years, so it's just a fantastic feeling to be presenting the vehicle to a worldwide audience here at the Frankfurt Motor Show. I won't try to hide just how proud we are of what we have achieved."

Since 11am on Tuesday, the red SLS AMG has been the centre of attention in the Mercedes hall. Camera crews have been queuing up to film the car from inside and outside, while photographers have been prostrating themselves to capture the full visual effect of the distinctive front end or chunky rear. The SLS is a real beauty. So much so that even Daimler CEO Dieter got a little carried away when the supercar rolled onto the stage shrouded in mist and illuminated by flashing cameras: "For someone like me who has petrol flowing in their veins, the fascination of a vehicle such as this is quite irresistible. It's a fantastic new product that obviously fills me with immense pleasure and pride: I also think it has been attractively presented." If you're one of those people for whom the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is a must-have, you're in for a long wait: the first SLS isn't due for delivery until 27th March 2010.

Gallery: IAA Frankfurt: Mercedes Benz SLS AMG

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What is the most appropriate setting in which to unveil a special model costing €1.3 million? At the Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, California, of course. VW subsidiary Bugatti celebrated its centenary by stealing the show with the Veyron Sang Bleu (French for 'blue blood'). Specially built for Pebble Beach, the bodywork of this roadster is a combination of royal blue carbon fibre and aluminium, which represents a new departure in the upmarket carmaker's traditional twin-tone design philosophy. The rear air vents are likewise in blue and the interior trim is a newly developed 'gaucho' leather that would come as a revelation even to an Argentinean cattle breeder. The figures for this Bugatti are out of this world: 1,001 horsepower, a top speed of around 250mph (400km/h plus) and acceleration from 0 to 62 in 2.5 seconds. Almost enough to make you overlook the colour.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu

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