The Good Oil: Grab bin Laden by the head

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato. Photo / Supplied

The American Shifter Company has created an Osama bin Laden gearshift knob - a grotesque death mask of sorts - of the former al-Qaeda leader, shot dead by US commandos in Pakistan in May.

It is cast from high-impact resin, uses a special hard-wearing paint, and has been described as "tasteless as fishnets at a funeral".

American Shifter says it will produce 5000 examples. Each Osama knob comes with its own threaded hardware and adapters.

Rekindled relationship stirs up passion

Few collaborations have stirred pulse rates like the Aston Martin V12 Zagato. The British carmaker and the Italian design house rekindled their 50-year partnership and unveiled the result on the shores of Italy's Lake Como.

Aston Martin hasn't confirmed production numbers but reports in Europe say the V12 Zagato will be limited to 150 examples, each priced at the equivalent of $650,000, or roughly twice the price of the DBS.

Toyota turns to Godzone for ute tests

Three waves of Toyota engineers, 35 in all, have been visiting New Zealand to develop aspects of the next Hilux ute, expected out in 2013. The country will also be used for durability testing of prototypes.

Toyota's head office highly regards New Zealand as a testing ground as it can replicate many of the world's toughest conditions. Improved durability will be a key selling point of the next Hilux. Meanwhile, a facelifted version of the current model goes on sale in late September.

Jeepers, it's hard to meet demand

Global demand for the Jeep Wrangler is growing to the point where the US factory is struggling to keep up and may have to off-load production - to Europe. Wrangler sales so far this year are up 13 per cent in the US alone and reports say that the Fiat-Chrysler alliance may have to use a Fiat plant to meet demand in Europe.

Fiat is already tooled up to build other Jeep models. The globalisation of Jeep products may lead to new models for the US, especially diesels. Jeep president Michael Manley has been tight-lipped about the future of Wrangler production.

It's red, it's hot and it will cost you a lot

A 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spider is expected to fetch around NZ$4million when it goes up for auction in California next month. It is one of only 35 built and first appeared at the 1955 Brussels motor show, after which it ended up in the hands of US Porsche importer John von Neumann. Neumann raced the car and its 195kW 3-litre engine in California.

Chassis 0492M is perhaps most famous for appearing in a fictionalised race, with Fred Astaire at the wheel, in the post-apocalyptic 1959 movie On The Beach.

BMW M5 may be fastest in the 'Ring

Only four sedans have beaten the eight-minute mark around Germany's 21km Nurburgring circuit: the Porsche Panamera, the Audi RS4, the Cadillac CTS-V - and now the new BMW M5. A BMW factory driver recorded an unofficial 7:55 lap time, according to reports. If true, the new M5 would stand as the fastest four-door on the 'Ring yet - and a good 18 seconds faster than the model it replaces.

Move over - it's the super Celica

The winning car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed was ... a Toyota Celica. The orange Celica, piloted by British rally champion Jonny Milner, blazed up the 1.9km hillclimb course in 48.07 seconds, beating supercars and Formula One flyers.

How so? Because its 2-litre four-cylinder twin-charged engine - taken from a WRC Toyota Corolla - pumped out almost 600kW to all four wheels in a car weighing only 1050kg. Milner and his team bolted on a Rotrex supercharger and Garrett turbocharger - and added a nitrous oxide system for good measure.