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Feb 2014 Issue no 150

14

YEARS

2013

cars tested
shortlisted

2014 Porsche
Cayman S in UAE

2014 Nissan Patrol

in Jordan

2014 Detroit Motor show report

winner
in each
category

28

COVERstory |

Mission
impossible

With the refreshed 2014

Nissan Patrol in Jordan

firstdrive |

Extended life

42

Aston Martin gives the

aging DB9 a few more
miles in its career with
interesting upgrades

48

54

60

in this issue
CONTENT METER

cover story
24-27 2013 AUTOMAN COTY WINNERS
28-35 2014 Nissan Patrol
36-41 2014 PORSCHE CAYMAN s
NEXT ISSUE
2014 chevrolet
camaro ZL1

Oman and regional news

6-11 Q&A WITH Kalyana Sivagnanam,

Director,Ford Middle East & North Africa,

10

AMG Performance Tour 2013

Porsche at Qatar Motor Show

Al Jenaibi child buckle up campaign

Chevrolet sponsors 29th GCC Club Cup

Audi Oman sponsors corporate workshop

Volksfest 2013/2014 Oman winner announced

Team Pajero Adventure in Oman

20

KTM 1290 Super Duke R launched in UAE

Regional performance indicators

brandwatch
12-15 Top management changes at Mitsubishi

Motors, Fiat-Chrysler merger spawns new

logo, Marchionne puts Jeep on the million

30

track, Lexus to fast track F performance

models, McLarens fourth model planned,

Opel files trademarks for Cascada, Calibra

in the US, Ford announced upgrades to Sync

AppLink, Cadillacs Don Butler to head Fords

24
Qs with Kalyana
Sivagnanam,
Director,Ford Middle
East & North Africa

,
n cars
o
i
t
c
u
and
rod
Star p g concepts
in
stunn
troit
@ De
e
r
o
m

connectivity programme, Open Automotive

Alliance announced at CES, Tata Motors MD

40

Karl Slym passes away, New role for Renault

India General Manager Marc Nassif

International news
16-22 2014 NORTH AMERICAN international

AUTO SHOW REPORT

50

tested
42-47 2014 ASTON MARTIN DB9
first drive
48-53 2014 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER
54-58 2013 RANGE ROVER SPORT
60-63 2014 ford F-150 FX
previews
64-65 ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST V-SPEC
66-69 NISSAN CONCEPT SEDAN
70-73 KIA STINGER GT CONCEPT
MOTORSPORTS
76-79 FORMULA ONE, regional HAPPENINGS,

60

70

NISSAN GT ACADEMY, WRC

16

80 Chicane
80

editor-in-chief

2014

Mohammad Al Taie

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During the past month, three high profile road accidents have brought back the topic
of road safety to the top of mind. A common theme among all these accidents is one of
human error. Oddly enough, concentrated effort through the years has managed to lower
Omans accident and road fatality rate, but the problem seems to be set to rise again.
The issue is not one of lack of regulation. We know that ROP has been constantly sending
out the message of staying in speed limits, staying off the mobile phone and of taking
rests during long trips. It isnt one of poor quality of roads or indeed of lack of regulation
of the cars sold locally. Oman enjoys some of the best driving roads in the world and the
cars that are sold here beat the safety norms in their home markets as well as the GCC.
The problem is finally our lack of intent to improve as drivers. We allow our children to sit
in the cars unharnessed, we call and answer that important call while driving at 100 km/h
and we forget common courtesies like indicating a turn, leaving a safe gap from the car
ahead or keeping our headlights dipped. Frankly we need to ask ourselves whether we are
a menace to other road users and are we allowed to be just because we had the basic
sense to get a driving licence and can afford to buy a high powered car?
How many more children need to die before we say that our bad driving causes every one
of them?
At the same time another statistic has hit us in the drop in retail sales of cars in Oman. We
are sure that most of the industry is just as perplexed as to why that should be the case?
2013 was not a bad year there were no financial issues and the economy in general
has been growing at a steady pace. At the same time, as a result of some good policy
directives, new projects are coming online, construction is in full swing around the country
and new companies and businesses are opening. Admittedly some of the old order is
being swept aside as the new comes in, but more Omanis are entering the workplace and
there has been a growth in skilled expats as well.
So why arent we buying more cars? A car is a must for anyone in the workplace in Oman.
But somehow car sales arent matching the entry of people into the job market. This must
have surprised many industry insiders especially of those brands that have done better
than before. It looks like some brands are losing volume and market share. Again change is
the only constant. We rather expect 2014 to be a swing back year where pent up demand
should translate into a greater volume for the car industry. Heres good luck to them while
hoping that these extra cars land up in the hands of responsible and safe drivers.

14

YEARS

We congratulate all the winners of the

Automan Car of the Year 2013. Look out for
a web-based voting scheme this year!

Oman & region

news

The Middle East and Africa is a region with

tremendous potential for growth for the automotive
industry with sales likely to increase by about 40
percent to around 5.5 million units by 2020

Qs with Kalyana
Sivagnanam,
Director,Ford Middle
East & North Africa

sales likely to increase by about 40per

cent to around 5.5mn units by 2020.
Ford intends to be a strong player in
this region, bringing our customers
more world-leading Ford and Lincoln
vehicles and technologies

Can u tell us a bit about your

role and responsibility at
Ford?
I am the director for the Middle East
and North African Markets recently
established Ford Motor Companys
Middle East & Africa Business Unit,
overseeing the sales, marketing and
customer Service operations in the
regions 17 markets, out of the Dubai
regional office.

What is the does the fifth

global unit mean for Ford?
The fifth global business unit is called
Ford Middle East and Africa, came into
effect as of Jan 1, 2014. It will operate
out of Dubai and the new set-up is
divided into two sub-regions South
Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, and
the Middle East and North Africa
covering 47 markets across the region.

Whats the outlook for this

region?
The Middle East and Africa is a region
with tremendous potential for growth
for the automotive industry with

www.automanweb.com

FEB 2014

Ford Middle East sales break the

85,000 unit milestone in 2013
In 2014, Ford and Lincoln gearing up to
launch seven new products
To support the business, Ford has
recently announced the creation of
its fifth Dubai-based global business
unit Ford Middle East and Africa as
of Jan 1, 2014. The new unit is divided
into two sub-regions South Africa
and Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa covering 47
markets across the region.
Middle Easts results come in just
weeks after Ford Motor Company
announced total US sales of 2,493,918
units, cementing Ford as Americas
best-selling vehicle brand for the
fourth consecutive year

What benefits will this region

see in the coming months as a
result of the One Ford global
strategy?
With considerable investments
already in process as we bring more
products to customers through
our One Ford global vehicle and
technology portfolio, including 17
new or refreshed vehicles in the next
24 months such as Fusion, EcoSport,
Lincoln MKC, Mustang and all-new
F-150, to name but a few.

You also have customer

service operations under
your fold. Whats going to
happen in this respect?
I am happy to report that our retail
partners are now willing to invest in
infrastructure required to expand their
service capacities and raise the bar
on customer satisfaction across the
region.

AMG Performance Tour 2013

Loosely translates into power, thrill and speed with the best and youngest MercedesAMG fleet of cars at Abu Dhabis YAS Marina Circuit

www.automanweb.com

FEB 2014

Oman & region

news

ith a combined 14,904hp and

19,165Nm of torque, AMG
signed 2013 off with an adrenaline
pumped Performance Tour with the
most impressive line-up of MercedesAMG vehicles to date. The late
afternoon-evening event was held at
the YAS Marina Formula 1 Circuit in
Abu Dhabi.
From the most powerful production
four-cylinder engined A 45 AMG, all
the way up to the top end SLS AMG
Black Series. The AMG Performance
Tour participants experienced the
thrill of driving on the world famous
Formula 1 racing track besides
learning driving skills from the
professionals representing MercedesBenzs high performance division.
With enough combined power to
almost launch a rocket into space,
the youngest ever fleet of MercedesAMG cars featured in the Performance
Tour 2013 included: A 45 AMG, C 63
AMG 507 Edition (Coup and Sedan),
E 63 AMG S 4MATIC, CLS 63 AMG
S 4MATIC, S 63 AMG, SL 63 AMG,
SLS AMG GT and the SLS AMG Black
Series.
Speaking at the AMG Performance
Tour, Dirk Fetzer, Director Sales and
Marketing at Daimler Middle East &
Levant said: The concept of time is
certainly challenged once youre in a
Mercedes-AMG car its almost like
launching into another dimension.
I am sure this is precisely what the
engineers at Affalterbach have in
mind when designing these incredible
vehicles. Each car we have included
in the Performance Tour this year has
earned its place with a remarkable
background, design and technical
specifications that make each and
every machine truly epic. The sign off
to the event was a friendly drag race
at the dedicated strip in the sedans.

FEB 2014

www.automanweb.com

Porsche to organise five regional

premieres at Qatar Motor Show
Five regional premieres have been earmarked by Porsche, Middle East for the forthcoming 2014 Qatar Motor Show. The Qatar Motor Show will see the revolutionary super sports car, the 918 Spyder,
showcasing its ground-breaking and powerful E-Mobility credentials at a regional exhibition for the
first time. The smallest and newest Macan SUV will also be showcased along with the brands latest
modern classic, the 911 Targa 4S, boasting unique state-of-the-art roof technology which shapes one
of the most recognisable 911s.
Porsche will also have on its stands bespoke models like the new Cayenne Platinum Edition and for
the first time ever, the long wheelbase Executive version of the Panamera Turbo S sedan.
Christer Ekberg, Managing Director of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, said: 2013 was a very
special year for the brand, with exciting model introductions, the celebrations around the 911 as
well as the significant increase in our new car deliveries. That said, with the sheer depth of stunning
new models set for launch in 2014, we cant help but be excited about what the year holds and it all
starts in Qatar.
The 2014 Qatar Motor Show begins from 21 February and will run for four days at the Qatar National
Convention Centre in Doha.

Corporate Workshop

Audi Oman, represented by Wattayah Motors, sponsored a Skills for Life corporate training workshop,
hosted by Light & Shadow Enterprises at the Grand Hyatt Muscat last month. The Skills for Life workshop
was conducted by Dr. Abhijit Das, Chief Trainer of the International Corporate Training Company Egetes
and the International Institute of Behavioral Studies.

Volksfest
2013/2014 Oman
winner announced

29th GCC
Club Cup

Chevrolet has become the Official Sponsor

of the 29th GCC Club Cup, an annual football
league championship for top clubs in the Gulf
region. A sponsorship contract was signed on
January 21 in the presence of Markus Leithe,
Regional Marketing Director of GM Middle
East Operations, and Adnan Merheb, Sales Director - West Asia of World Sport Group.

attayah Motors - exclusive dealers for Volkswagen in Oman have announced the first winner
of their new campaign the Volksfest 2013/2014.
Hazaa Mohammed Al Maqabali recently bought a
Volkswagen Golf GTI and has won a four-day trip for
two trip to the home of Volkswagen in Wolfsburg,
Germany. Hazaa Mohammed Al Maqabali will visit
Volkswagens main factory - the Autostadt as well
as enjoy a tour in the picturesque city of Wolfsburg.

Hyundai Motor Company has announced that the new, enhanced

2014 Elantra is now on sale across the
Middle East, introducing a number of
exterior and interior design upgrades
as well as a range of cutting-edge
features and an enhanced 6-speed
transmission.

10

www.automanweb.com

FEB 2014

Child
safety
campaign
Al Jenaibi International Automobiles launched a campaign Mommy & Me 2014 that encourages families
to use child car-seat restraints. The exhibition targeting women with children was held at Al Bahja Hall,
Al Qurum last month. The BMW Group importer in
Oman will offer the public complimentary Stay Alert
Stay Alive booster cushions appropriate for children
between the ages 6-11 years. In addition, educational
brochures will be provided for guidance on the different child car seats available for different ages. The
team will also be educating parents on the right procedure to install car seats keeping their children safe
throughout their ride.
Booster seats for children aged between four and 11
years old have been shown to reduce the risk of injury
compared to seat belts alone. To qualify for a booster
cushion, children need to weigh between 22 and 36
kg, the internationally recognised safest weights.

Regional performance indicators

Nissan

Nissan has announced sales for December 2013 of

2,249 Nissan Patrols across the GCC, an increase of
58 per cent compared to 2012, representing an SUV
market segment share of 28 per cent.

Rolls-Royce

Al Jenaibi International Automobiles, the sole dealer

of RollsRoyce Motor Cars in Oman, has announced
10 per cent growth in its sales in 2013.

Ford/Lincoln

Ford Middle East has reported total sales rising 12per

cent year-on-year and breaking the 85,000 unit milestone. In Oman, sales grew by 26per cent in 2013,
with Arabian Car Marketing, the local importer-dealer
for Ford and Lincoln, recording a strong fleet sales
growth of about 40 per cent. The Middle Easts positive results come in just weeks after Ford Motor Company announced its 2013 full year pre-tax profit of
$8.6bn, one of the companys best years ever.

maserati

Maserati has reported an outstanding 2013 with

impressive 24.5 per cent year on year growth in the
region and 148 per cent globally.

KTM 1290 Super

Duke R launched in
UAE

Pajero Adventure in Oman

itsubishi Pajero owners had a field day in Oman, thanks to

a dedicated desert adventure programme, organized by
General Automotive Company, the official distributors for Mitsubishi in the Sultanate. The month of January saw three waves
of participants and on popular demand theres one more planned
for this month. Mark Tomlinson, the General Manager of General
Automotive Company, said: We organize these excursions to the
desert in groups of no more than 50 vehicles so that our customers
and their families get the opportunity to fully test the capabilities
of the Pajero in a safe, controlled and fun environment. The Team
Pajero Adventure has received a terrific response every time it is
conducted with an ever increasing number of Pajero owners taking
part in these events.
The event beganat the Mitsubishi showroom at Athibah, and
after an on road drive, the convoy moved towards Wahiba Sands.
Participants were able fully test their off-road driving skills and the
Pajeros capabilities at the Al Raha Camp in Bidiya under the guidance of experienced marshals.

TM Middle East Al Shafar introduced the Austrian manufacturers newest model in to the Middle
East region-- the 2014 KTM 1290 Super Duke R at the Dubai Autodrome. Organized as the KTM 1290
Super Duke R Experience the brand invited riders to check out the bike at the circuit. The specifications
of KTMs new Super Duke R certainly hint at something special: 416 lb. (claimed) curb weight; 106 ft.lb. of torque, Bosch Ride-By-Wire fueling, Traction Control, and ABS. The chassis is a chrome-moly trellis
painted in KTMs signature orange. And wraps the liquid-cooled, 75-degree V-twin engine that displaces
1,301cc. The additional 100cc over the RC8 motor comes from a 2mm longer stroke and a 3mm bigger
bore. The Super Dukes compression ratio is slightly reduced at 13.2:1.Peak output is around 180hp that
comes around 8,870rpm, although the rev-limiter cuts in at 10,500 rpm. The motors power is transmitted
via a back-torque limiting slipper-clutch to a smooth shifting, six-speed gearbox.

FEB 2014

www.automanweb.com

11

Marchionne puts Jeep on the

million track

Lexus to fast track

F performance models

hrysler Groups SUV Jeep brand is in focus of global business this year and beyond. This is not
just because CEO Sergio Marchionne has set an ambitious target of one million global sales of
Jeep SUVs in 2014 [representing a huge, 37 per cent jump from 2012], but because of Marchionnes
skill and tactics used in clearing away housekeeping obstacles such as the complete unification of
Fiat and Chrysler and a now-ended federal investigation of the safety of several old Jeep models in
rear-end collisions.
Marchionne is now free to execute his plan for filling out the rest of the Jeep product lineup and
turning the icon of American SUVs into a truly global brand and contributing in this goal will include
strong demand for the new Jeep Cherokee, the mid-size SUV re-introduced in a new version late
last year, sales of Jeeps top seller last year, the larger Grand Cherokee [despite some production
bottlenecks at a Detroit plant] and a new unnamed compact future model. Weve got the small
Jeep coming out of Europe, Marchionne told reporters, pointing to some late-year sales for the
unnamed compact SUV to debut at the Geneva auto show in March.

hile media and audience reaction to the Lexus RC

F was well-received at the Detroit, Toyotas luxury
division isnt done with performance models yet. A report
from Japan hints that a next-generation IS F sedan will
be produced concurrently with the grand touring coupe.
Apparently, Lexus wants to take direct aim at Lexus German competition and hence the decision to fast track the
IS-F. Key rivals targeted are the Mercedes C63 AMG and
BMW M3/M4, which are offered in both two- and fourdoor configurations. Power would likely come from the
RC Fs naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8, estimated to produce just north of 450hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, with a
fuel-saving Atkinson-cycle cruising mode and direct- and
port-injection. Likewise, the RC Fs eight-speed automatic
and torque vectoring differential will follow.

Newly married Fiat and

Chrysler gets renamed,
adopts new logo

McLarens fourth
model planned

cLaren Automotive has confirmed it will add a fourth model to its supercar lineup.
Tentatively called the P15, it will be positioned between the quarter-million-dollar MP4-12C
and US$1.15mn P1.McLaren chief executive Mike Flewitt confirmed that the P15 will employ a turbo
engine mounted midship in the carbon fibre tub that underpins all modern McLaren road cars. The
engine is assumed to be an advanced version of the 616hp 3.8-litre turbocharged V8 that powers
the MP4-12C, but Flewitt says that the car is such a long ways off that technology could very well
change by the time its ready for production.
Meanwhile, McLaren is working overtime on bringing its Porsche 911 Turbo-fighter to production.
The car is code named as the P13 will carry a price tag in the US$198,000 range and will be offered
in open-top and track-ready performance versions. McLaren estimates that the P13 could account
for more than half its sales, or as many as 2,500 units once it goes on sale. The P13 is expected to
go on sale later this year as a 2015 model.

12

www.automanweb.com

FEB 2014

ollowing Fiats acquisition of the minority equity interest

in Chrysler Group LLC, previously held by the VEBA Trust,
the Fiat Board of Directors has reviewed options for the most
appropriate governance and corporate structure.
As a result on January 29, the Board of Directors of Fiat S.p.A.
(Fiat) approved a corporate reorganization and the formation
of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) as a fully-integrated global
automaker. This arrangement will help establish a true peer to
the major global automotive groups, in both scale and capital
market appeal, the Board has decided to establish Fiat Chrysler
Automobiles N.V., organized in the Netherlands, as the parent
company of the Group. FCAs common shares will be listed in
New York and Milan.
A new chapter of our story begins with the creation of Fiat
Chrysler Automobiles. A journey that started over a decade ago,
as Fiat sought to ensure its place in an increasingly complex
marketplace, has brought together two organizations each
with a great history in the automotive industry and different but
complementary geographic strengths. FCA allows us to face the
future with a renewed sense of purpose and vigour, said John
Elkann, Chairman of Fiat.

brandwatch

Opel files trademarks

for Cascada, Calibra in the US

Ford announced
upgrades to Sync
AppLink

The Cascada name is currently in service

on a four-seat cabriolet which Opel sells in
Europe and Vauxhall does in UK. The Calibra
name hasnt been used in over a decade
but was used on a coupe based on the
Opel Vectra, and was also sold by Holden in
Australia and Chevrolet in South America.

Breaking
news

Cadillacs Don Butler to head Fords connectivity programme

Its no secret that Ford has received its fair share of flak for the sometimes recalcitrant MyFord Touch infotainment system
and its Sync voice-controls and has realized that it needs an expert to fix these niggling issues. Blue Oval is so serious about
this that it has created a new position of Executive Director of Connected Vehicles and Services in the organization and
convinced Cadillacs VP of global strategic development Don Butler to take on this job. Butler, a virtual General Motors lifer
after spending nearly 30 years with the company has been reportedly looking a career options since August 2013. Butler
will now be responsible for the Blue Ovals global connectivity strategy. Not only does Don understand the connected
car landscape, but probably just as important, he understands customer expectations, said Raj Nair, who, as Group Vice
President of Global Product Development, is Butlers new boss. Having a leader with technology experience both inside
and outside the industry is a rare combination were excited to have Don join our team.

Future trends: Open Automotive Alliance

uto brands from Audi to Hyundai to Chevrolet made it clear at CES that superenhanced in-vehicle internet connectivity is among their most important
technological priority these days.
Chevrolet announced that the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette, Impala, Malibu And Volt
would be the first GM vehicles to come optionally equipped with OnStar 4G
LTE, an industry first across multiple product lines, to be followed quickly by the
majority of the 2015 Chevy line-up in the US and Canada. Among other things, the
initiative will create a Wi-Fi hotspot in GM vehicles. GM is also participating in the
recently rumoured huge new telematics initiative led by Google, called the Open
Automotive Alliance, which also includes Audi, Honda, Hyundai and chip maker
Nvidia in an effort to customize Googles Android platform for vehicles that will
allow for things such as app access and remote vehicle diagnostics. Work on the
new electronic ecosystem will further our mission to bring vehicles into our
owners digital lives and their digital lives into their vehicles, said Mary Chan,
president of GMs Global Connected Consumer unit, in a release. Ricky Hudi, Audis
head of electrics and electronics development, said: The worlds of consumer and
automotive technologies have never been more closely aligned, and this alliance
will only pave the way for faster innovation.

news

eneral Motors had always big plans for its European brand Opel. Outside continental Europe, Opel products are rebadged as Vauxhall in UK, Holden in Australia and Saturn in North America.
Ever since, GM has gone low on Daewoo, it has renewed its focus on Opel. For US, GM is also looking at
rebadging some Opel products as Buick. Thats how models like the Insignia [rebadged as Regal] and Mokka
[sold as Encore] will eventually make their way to American showrooms.
The buck doesnt stop there. In a bid to avoid duplication within the brands, GM is looking at new model
names.Recent filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office reveal that GM has applied to register the nameplates Cascada and Calibra in America. Interestingly, GM has filed the trademarks through the
Opel division itself and not through Buick or one of its other North American brands.

mid the flurry of infotainment announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show

in the US last month, Ford is trying to maintain
a lead in an area where it blazed trails by
expanding and enhancing its Sync telematics
platform and swiping a veteran executive with
experience in General Motors OnStar operation to help out.
Ford announced that it will expand availability
of its Sync AppLink to 3.4mn more vehicles
later this year with a free upgrade that enables
current Ford owners to access and control
smartphone apps via voice command. The
company ran into problems with consumers
over the last couple of years as subsequent
generations of Sync became more complicated to operate and owners pushed back via
third-party ratings such as Consumer Reports.
But Ford has worked hard to overcome those
difficulties, and its latest moves with Sync
represent an attempt to re-assert itself in the
pole position of a telematics revolution that
is vastly reconfiguring the very notion of a car
and which is drawing in not only automakers
but also a wide range of tech companies in
what Ford futurist Sheryl Connelly has called a
quiet riot of innovation.
Sync launched a sort of connectivity arms
race in the industry, Jim Farley, Fords CMO,
said in a statement. The opportunity is much
bigger than just in-car technologyits now
about connecting the vehicle to a larger ecosystem leveraging the internet of things. We
are creating a seamless and immersive experience for customers that begin with their first
visit to our digital sites and continue throughout their ownership experience.

Alliance members believe

that coming up with open
standards of innovation for
the connected car will help
extend mobile experiences
seamlessly to the vehicle.
Timing from each automaker
will vary, but alliance
members said that they
expect to see the first cars
with Android integration by
the end of this year.

FEB 2014

www.automanweb.com

13

brandwatch

people

Don Butler

Its no secret that Ford has received its fair share of

flak for the sometimes recalcitrant MyFord Touch
infotainment system and its Sync voice-controls
and has realized that it needs an expert to fix these
niggling issues. Blue Oval is so serious about this
that it has created a new position of Executive
Director of Connected Vehicles and Services in
the organization and convinced Cadillacs VP of
global strategic development Don Butler to take
on this job. Butler, a virtual General Motors lifer
after spending nearly 30 years with the company
has been reportedly looking a career options
since August 2013. Butler will now be responsible
for the Blue Ovals global connectivity strategy.
Not only does Don understand the connected
car landscape, but probably just as important, he
understands customer expectations, said Raj Nair,
who, as Group Vice President of Global Product
Development, is Butlers new boss. Having a leader
with technology experience both inside and outside
the industry is a rare combination were excited to
have Don join our team.

Karl Slym

Marc Nassif

Egyptian Marc Nassif who was appointed Executive

Director of Renault India and Country General Manager for Renault in India in 2009 and regarded as the
man behind the brands super success in India will
be taking up a much larger role within the company,
which could include a special focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
News of Nassifs departure hasnt been made official,
but it was made public within sections of Renaults

dealer community. For the India operations, there

are strong indications that Sumit Sawhney, Executive Director, is one of the leading contenders for the
top position.
Nassif, who has been with Renault India since 2006,
has played a critical role in the companys turnaround
since the time it pulled out of its Logan small car joint
venture with Indias Mahindra & Mahindra. At that
time, not many thought the French automaker could
manage a revival. Today, India is quickly on the way
to becoming one of Renaults top 10 markets.
While the Duster compact SUV has spearheaded the
recovery of the brand in India, Nassif has used handson approach in decision making by taking lessons
from the Logan debacle. Nassif realized the importance of localised knowhow for the Indian market
and among the key tasks he orchestrated was to set
up a strong engineering and R&D base. The next step
was the creation of a strong retail network and supplier base that could also participate in global vehicle
programmes.

Osamu Masuko

Suicide or Accident? In its official statement, Tata Motors announced the tragic demise of its Managing Director, Karl Slym, in Bangkok. Slym was in Bangkok
to attend a meeting of the Board of Directors of Tata
Motors Thailand Ltd. The probable cause of death
of this 51-year-old executive is being investigated by
Thai Police. First hand reports suggest that Slym fell
down from the hotel balcony on 22nd floor to the
fourth floor where he succumbed to his injuries before being found by hotel staff.
Karl Slym joined Tata Motors in October 2012 and
brought with him years of experience with several
global car manufacturers. He started his career as a
general manager at Toyota, moved to GM in 1995,
and since then has held various roles across geographies like director of manufacturing at Gliwice, Poland. He then went to GM in the US and Canada and
later became head of quality, APAC-Seoul, following
which he moved to India. GM Indias limited success,
from the Spark small car to the Beat and the Chevrolet Cruze, was largely lead by him. The company that
had struggled to find its feet here for more than a decade (GM set shop in India in 1995), was able to tot up
some volumes during his stint. He was also successful at protecting the India business from GMs global
troubles (the bankruptcy period of 2010-11).

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will appoint managing director Tetsuro Aikawa to replace Osamu Masuko as president. Masuko San, who has led the automaker for the past nine years, will become chairman after stepping aside.
The new structure will take effect on April 1 and current chairman Takashi Nishioka is expected to resign, according
to learned sources. The management changes would come as Japans second-tier automaker seeks to leave behind
an arduous decade of slumping sales and a tenuous capital structure that had threatened its standing in the increasingly competitive global auto industry. Aikawa, a 35-year veteran of Mitsubishi Motors, hails from an engineering
background with expertise in product development and manufacturing. His father is a former president and chairman of the car makers top shareholder, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, earning him the title Prince within the
Mitsubishi conglomerate. Aikawa will be faced with the task of putting the car maker on a growth track by relying
on operational tie-ups to save costs and make up for its lack of scale. Meanwhile, Masuko, 64, has won wide respect
among investors since arriving in 2005 from trading house affiliate MMC with the seemingly herculean task of reviving the battered carmaker. Thats not all. The Japanese maker of the popular Pajero and Outlander SUVs last year
announced a potentially wide-ranging project-based alliance with Nissan Motor Co and Renault SA RENA.SA that
would allow it to tap the Franco-Japanese groups resources to develop cars jointly.

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The year of turnaround

Three years ago, automakers showed off their latest and greatest at the 2014 edition of the North American Auto
Show in Detroit with a lot of optimism and hope. And it seems the resilient industry is more optimistic about its
prospects this year with the gradual recovery of global markets
Author: Chandan B Mallik

ts no secret that the past couple

of years have been tough for the
automotive industry which had to
face the effects of global economic
meltdown that resulted in lower sales
and production and a cap on investments.
The bright side was this period also acted as a
wake-up call to an industry which was focused
on limited safe territories to look beyond.
And this is where emerging markets like
China, India, Brazil and Russia came in to help
industry rewrite rules as to how to go about
in global markets. As a result, these new

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markets are now not only dictating product

lines but also encouraging automakers to look
at flexible approaches in car building while
optimizing production costs. And all that has
been evident in the motor shows in the past
couple of years.
Some hints of what was coming to Detroit as
the seasons opening motor show was evident
at Tokyo in November 2013. Nevertheless,
the excitement continues in the industry and
hopefully 2014 will be as busy.
We also made a special observation of how

US-based domestic brands went toe-to-toe

with European rivals at the Motor City show,
revealing important new cars and concepts.
As expected, the biggest unveilings in Detroit
were American badges, but this years edition
has taken an increasingly international twist.
Foreign brands like, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan,
Honda, BMW, Audi and and Asian brands took
to the stage this year with major international
unveilings.
Heres a snapshot of what was on offer. Read
on

Spotlight

Top

BMW M4

Formerly known as the M3, the Munichs high-performance coupe

gains a new name and loses two cylinders. The V8 is abandoned for
a twin-turbo straight-six which is also 178 lbs. lighter than before.
Both performance and efficiency have been optimised.

news

newsmakers @ Detroit 2014

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

With 625hp and 635 lb-ft of torque, Americas popular sports car just got a
whole lot better. Not only faster, the new Z06 also brings an array of new
technologies to the Corvette range, including an eight-speed automatic and
a Performance Data Recorder system.

Chrysler 200

Chrysler Group LLCs midsize sedan slot has been weak till recent
but the automaker wants that to be history. With the sharp looking
new 200, complementing upmarket interior and an efficient ninespeed automatic should be the ingredients helping the prospects of
the 200 in a rather busy and highly competitive segment.

Ford F-150

Detroit also saw the debut of the next-generation of Americas best-selling

pick-up truck which is said to be heavily inspired by last years Atlas concept.
The incoming pick-up goes on an efficiency drive and makes use of lightweight aluminium in its construction as a means of flab reduction. Losing up
to 318kg, swanky looks and improved fuel economy should also set the 2015
F-150 apart in its class. This truck also furthers the segments engine downsizing trend with a 2.7-litre EcoBoost twin-turbo V6.

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Top

newsmakers @ Detroit 2014

Lexus RC F

Bland and boring are two words that Lexus doesnt want to be associated
anymore. The premium luxury arm of Toyota has been giving us all the signs
and ample evidence of its blue-blooded ambitions. Officially, Lexus is getting
serious about becoming the new BMW. Proof of pudding comes in form
of the RC F, which boasts a 450hp V8, rear-wheel-drive and a three-mode
torque vectoring system.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

While Stanislas Wawrinka claimed his first Grand Slam title in dramatic fashion when he upset injury-troubled world number one Rafael Nadal in the
Australian Open final last month, in the automotive circuit, the budget
S-Class aka all-new C-Class could be this years underdog. With the new CClass, Mercedes-Benz is consciously moving upmarket to make room for a
new entry-level model.

Acura

Hondas premium brand is known as Acura in the US and this year it seems
the brand is in reorganize mode out there. In a bid to simplify its sedan
lineup, Acuras marketing team has suggested the merger of its TSX and
TL lines into a single model - the TLX. This idea debuted in prototype form
in Detroit. Although touted as a concept, the TLX Prototype is expected to
accurately preview the look of the future production model. Positioned between Acuras entry-level ILX and range-topping RLX models, the TLX borrows cues from both -- including the RLXs Jewel Eye LED lamps and the
ILXs sharp character lines.

Audi

Audi Allroad Shooting Brake, a four-seat E-Tron hybrid showcar powered

by Audis 292hp 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinder backed by a 40kW electric motor and a secondary 85kW motor. The motors also support the Quattro allwheel drive when extra traction and power is called for. As previewed a
week before at the Consumer Electronics Show, the Allroad Shooting Brake
features Audis forthcoming Virtual Cockpit technology, which includes a
massive 12.3in TFT screen that provides digital gauges and info for the navigation and audio systems, among other features. It is now widely believed
that the basic design of the Allroad Shooting Brake will be grafted on to the
next-generation Audi TT, of course with some modifications. On arrival we
can expect the rear end of the hatchback to follow the conventional route
and its suspension closer to the ground.
Interestingly, Detroit also saw the debut of the two-year old Q3 SUV. It
seems the success of BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque has wakened up the
four-ringed band to look at this segment as part of its volume aspirations.
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Chevrolet

Incoming GM CEO Mary Barra must be very pleased with the results of two
of Chevrolet models. For the first time in history, Chevrolet has taken out
both categories in the prestigious North American Car and Truck of the Year
awards. Its 2014 Corvette Stingray sports car was picked by the judges for
the car category while its 2014 Silverado 1500 pick-up truck was picked for
the truck/utility category in this years event.
Meanwhile a trio of Corvettes wooed the crowds beginning with the new
C7 Z06, which is the hottest street going version built on the aluminium
architecture of the Corvette C7.R racecar. nlike its predecessors, it features
a supercharged engine that produces 625hp and 635lb ft of torque. Chevrolet claims that its currently clocking faster lap times than the outgoing
Corvette ZR1, indicating that its a seriously capable car.

BMW

BMW Group was surely dressed to impress and it had a few reasons to
appeal to enthusiasts of the blue and white propeller logo company. BMW
had a number of debuts at the show this year. We got our first official
looks at the 2014 2 Series coupe, 2015 M3 sedan and the 2014 M4 coupe
on the show floor. The electric i3 city car and its plug-in hybrid i8 supercar
cousin were there as well, along with 2014 BMW Z4 convertible. We can
summarise the presentation by saying that 1-series replacement gets bigger and new M3 and M4 get lighter.

Chrysler Group

Chrysler Group completed its roll out of refreshed models just in time for the North
American International Auto Show and its key reveals included the refreshed Chrysler
200C, 200 C S and Dodge Viper.
Top on the Chrysler agenda has been the 200C which has been now designed to re-establish the models presence in the American mid-size sedan segment. The refreshed
sedan appeared as menacing as it is elegantly draped in layers of chrome with an exterior is distinguished by a bold grille, LED-infused headlights and sculpted bodywork.
A lot of attention has gone inside the car also.

Cadillac

A recharged Cadillac unveiled the new ATS Coupe, which the performance
luxury brand thinks will make it closer to competing with its European rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz in particular. BMWs new 4 Series coupe
has been launched and with this two-door version of the ATS sedan, Cadillac has its sights set on giving the Germans a hard run for their money.
The base four-cylinder turbocharged engine has nearly 14per cent more
torque than its four-door counterpart and a six-cylinder is also available.
Enhancements like a robust engine cooling system, limited-slip differential
and Brembo brakes prove that Cadillac is serious about track performance.

Honda

Honda was back on track with its mainstream bread and butter models and the focus this year was on the compacts the Fit [Jazz in our markets], in particular. Unlike most other cars that get redesigned and get bigger,
the Fit actually loses 1.6in in length, but gets a bit wider. The real news is that the interior is larger and more
useful. With the Honda-exclusive Magic Seat offering multiple configurable seating positions, the Fit provides
an unrivaled 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space when the second row seats are folded flat. With an overall height of
60in, the Fit allows for easy loading of items into the rear cargo and ingress/egress for passengers. The car also
features an all-new direct-injected 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine capable of generating 130hp at 6,500 rpm and
114 lb.-ft. of torque at 4600 rpm.
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GMC

In the US, Chrysler and Ford have both discontinued their smaller truck offerings, ceding the market to Japanese automakers such as Nissan with its
Frontier and Toyota with its Tacoma. And that leaves General Motors with the
responsibility of ensuring American presence in the segment with its all-SUV
GMC brand.
As a result GMC is thinking ahead with the introduction of a new mid-size
pick-up truck called the Canyon. With fuel prices and emissions standards on
the rise, it sees the opportunity to offer a more fuel-efficient alternative to
pickup buyers who might not need the capabilities of a full-size truck. The
new GMC Canyon targets small-business owners and other professional users, whereas Chevrolets version of this pick-up, the Colorado, which debuted
at the 2013 Los Angeles auto show, is more geared toward outdoor usage.

Hyundai

Hyundai has kept the pedal to the metal for years now in its bid to become one
of the major players in the global economy and, especially, the US market. This
year, however, Hyundais focus will be reinvigorating its model line-up. The South
Korean car-maker is planning to introduce at least three new models in 2014, and
the line-up could include a sporty sub-compact SUV similar to the Curb concept
it unveiled in 2011.
The first model to roll out will likely be a full-sized medium-class sedan replacement for the discontinued YF-Series i45. This new car will make its world premiere
as the LF Sonata at the New York International Auto Show in April. It will sport a
more subdued version of the current Fluidic Sculpture styling language. The new
Sonata will be feature packed to take on the likes of Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima,
Chevy Malibu and Kia Optima. Following the Sonata, theres the new look Genesis
sedan and down to the B segment, the ageing i20 hatchback is also expected to
be replaced this year. The next-gen i20 is also poised to spawn a sub-compact SUV
to take on the Chevrolet Trax, Ford EcoSport, Nissan Juke, Renault Captur, Suzuki
S-Cross and Peugeot 2008.

Mercedes-Benz

The C-Class used to be Mercedes most affordable and biggest-selling model series from
the German brand. But with the value-oriented CLA-Class now assuming that position
in the line-up, the C-Class naturally moves up market. Mercedes have packaged the new
C-Class on the lines of a baby S-Class, with a level of luxury and features several classes
above its pay grade. Its larger but lighter than before and, in typical Mercedes fashion,
introduces high-tech features like an adjustable air suspension and crash-avoidance systems typically not found in this segment.

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Infiniti

The name Eau Rouge comes from a difficult turn at Belgiums Spa-Francorchamps Circuit. Even the professional brave hearts fear that particular
corner during competition and naming a car which takes such a reference
may seem to be an unconventional idea to many. However, Infiniti thinks
otherwise and even goes forward to suggest that this was an exceptional
idea to help the brand capitalize on the sponsorship it has with the Red Bull
Racing Formula One team. At the press conference Infiniti launched a new
concept based on the new Q50 sedan called the Q50 Eau Rouge which it
claimed comes infused with the enticing spirit of Formula One.

Kia

After several pre-show teasers, Kia formally unveiled its GT4 Stinger Concept at the
2014 Detroit Auto Show. Its a 2+2, rear-drive coupe with a detuned version of the 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder used in the Kia Optima GTS racer from the Pirelli World
Challenge. With a 103.1in wheelbase and an overall length of just 169.7in, its only a few
inches longer than a Toyota 86 and is considerably shorter than the 182.3in long Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Most keen observers think that a production GT4 would be more
of a Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ fighter than a rival to the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. While the
Kia has clearly been influenced by the success of the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ twins,
Schreyer admitted that the Mazda MX-5 was the inspiration for the project.
Meanwhile, Kia could also look at a soft-top version of the GT4 Stinger coupe if the
swanky three-door coupe were given the production go-ahead. Kia Motors Corporation president Peter Schreyer said at Detroit that he would be inclined to engineer a
convertible offshoot as well. A decision on green-lighting the GT4 Stinger balances on
critical and public reaction to the concept car.

Mazda

Less than two weeks before the Mazda Skyactiv Prototype makes its
race debut at the 2014 Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Japanese Zoom-Zoom
brand brought its diesel-powered racer to the floor of the 2014 Detroit
Auto Show. The red prototype marks Mazdas official return to prototype
racing.

MINI

MINI is close to celebrating the

15th anniversary of the brands
revival and its re-launch in the
US market. At Detroit the British
brand showcased a new concept
called John Cooper Works MINI.
This concept looked decidedly
better than the standard car that
debuted in Los Angeles late last
year. Styling cues like the bigger
grille, lowered front valance and
flared wheel arches make the car
more visually compelling.

Lexus

The premium Japanese Toyota brand has accelerated development work

on the NX series. The NX represents the brands foray in the mid-sized
SUV segment, where models like Audi Q5 and BMW X3 are very popular. A
Lexus production version expected to be premiered before the end of this
year. Previewed by the LF-NX concept car at last Septembers Frankfurt
motor show, the new NX will give Lexus a belated presence in one of the
fastest-growing luxury segments.
It will be interesting to see how the production NX eventually comes
out as some of the concepts design elements divided critics when it first
appeared at Europes largest car show last year. While Lexus continues
its push to add eye-catching style to its repertoire as per directives from
president Akio Toyoda, it is expected that some of the edgy elements may
filter in, but overall execution will be streamlined as evidenced by its more
recent show and road cars. This means an end to the years of conservatism in design.

Nissan

At the Tokyo Motor show in November 2013, Nissan Motor Company executive vicepresident Andy Palmer gave us as a hint that a rear-wheel-drive 2+2-seater coupe could
slot in well below the current 370Z sports car in terms ofpricing, positioning and size.
At Detroit, Nissan confirmed that the Tokyo motor show-starring IDx Concept would
find its way to production sometime within the next two years. However, Palmer made
the distinction of singling out just one of the two IDx concept vehicles [one was stock
Nissan and other Nismo treated] as a manufacturing certainty, but which one, we still
dont know. I am not saying that we wont do both, but we definitely will do one of
them. Id sit in somewhere where 200SX/Silvia used to sit, said Palmer. The first of
the two, dubbed the IDx Freeflow is seen as a more accessible and eco-minded version designed to use engines displacing 1.2-litre to 1.5-litre with CVT continuously variable transmission, while the Nismo version gets the usual performance enhancements
and badging.But the biggest news at the stand was Nissans stunning sports sedan
concept. We are aware that Nissan is in the midst of overhauling its design language
and about a year ago we got a glimpse at the new design direction in the Resonance
crossover concept, which was followed in Shanghai by the connected-car Friend-Me
hatchback concept. Many believe the Sedan Concept previews the future Maxima.
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21

Toyota

A radical metamorphosis is taking place at Toyota. Toyota opened the 2014

season with its top players at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show. First to come off
the ramp was the striking FT-1 Concept [short for Future Toyota,]. Most
of us believe that the FT-1 concept is the successor of the supposed Supra
Concept we talked about last year. The FT-1 draws inspirations from the FT-HS
and the Lexus LF-LC concepts from 2007 and 2012 and has been penned by
Toyotas Calty Design Research team. Our team was heavily influenced by
Toyotas sports car past, especially Celica and Supra, and we sought to capture some of that history. It is an aggressive, track-focused sports car concept
with a presence that has been amplified for shock and awe, said Alex Shen,
Caltys Studio Chief Designer.

Porsche

Porsche is continuing to extend its performance and high efficiency competence

via intensive development work in the field of hybrid technology ever since the
brand decided to return to Detroit. Along with coupe and convertible variants,
the Targa has been a popular variant in the Porsche 911 range since 1965. We may
recall that it was the first safety cabriolet which made its debut at that years
Frankfurt Auto Show. The 2014 Detroit Auto Show marked the debut of the 2014
Porsche 911 Targa. From a design perspective, the new Targa continues in the
traditional and yet familiar formula used in several generations which is combining the traditional 911 profile with a unique B-pillar design and wrap-around
rear screen. As expected, two Targa models will be available at launch, namely
the 911 Targa 4 and Targa 4S. Both variants are all-wheel drive and get the wider
track of the all-wheel-drive coupes and convertibles to accommodate the bigger
drivetrain. Porsche Traction Management keeps the efforts of the two engines
in check--the 350hp, 3.4-litre Targa 4 and 400hp, 3.8-litre 4S. Porsches double
clutch transmission is also offered.

Volkswagen

In addition to bringing the US market-spec 2015 Golf R to Detroit for the

2014 NAIAS, Volkswagen brought the all-electric e-golf which has made
several appearances on the auto show circuit already as well as a couple
concept vehicles. But the car that attracted the audience was the urban
dune buggy concept built on the VW Beetle R-Line. The VW Dune Buggy
concept is aimed at those that love the outdoors. Two inches of extra
ground clearance improves the VW Beetles off-road performance and
since interior cargo room is at a premium, Volkswagen has built in an innovative roof rack that integrates with the rear spoiler to help transport your
skis, snowboards and surfboards. On the technology application front,
the Passat Bluemotion was an interesting take to improve fuel economy
where VW also showcased the industrys first four-cylinder engine with cylinder deactivation technology.

Volvo

At the Tokyo show, Volvos focus was on design with a concept. At Detroit, the Scandinavian brand went a step further with a concept car whose design is said to be Inspired
by modern sports equipment. The two-door, four-seat XC Coupe showcased was factory fitted with a complementing ski box, looking sharp on its large 21in wheels. According to Volvo, the box isnt an afterthought. As for the rest of the concepts genetic
makeup, no details were revealed. However, Volvo has admitted that the XC Coupe
rides atop its new boron-steel-intensive Scalable Product architecture and derivatives
will include a plug-in hybrid version.

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2013
Automan

Automans Car of the Year [COTY] is Omans most prized automotive award for excellence. And after a
hectic year of testing cars in Oman, various in the region and internationally, Automan proudly announces
the winners of the models in their respective categories in this issue. A total of 55 candidates were eligible
for Car of the Year 2013 award and all of the contenders are new vehicles available now or available
before 2013MY year end in the GCC markets. All cars under consideration for COTY have been driven
by Automan editors exclusively. Cars which were launched by manufacturers but not made available to
Automan have been excluded from this assessment.

COTY winners announced

Small Car

Performance SUV

Peugeot 301: Best car in the booming

small car segment, thanks to great handling
and impressive refinement.

Small SUV

Midsize SUV

Nissan Pathfinder: a sleek, aerodynamically styled exterior, a premium interior, class-exclusive user-friendly technology and a new unibody platform and advanced drivetrain that
helps it achieve best-in-class fuel economy while maintaining
class-lead towing and off-pavement capabilities.

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Range Rover Sport: Lighter, stylish and positioned appropriately in the line-up with a clear cut
agenda, this is the ultimate in off-road, SUV luxury
that many carmakers would love to emanulate.

FEB 2014

Toyota RAV4: once a segment pioneer, the new

RAV4 offers a thoughtful balance of performance
and all-around capability, including class-leading
cargo capacity and striking design and a compelling
array of standard features.

Oman & region

Large Car

news

Performance Car

Ferrari F12 berlinetta: a new generation of Ferrari powertrains that deliver unprecedented performance
from an exceptional new V12 engine, unparalleled
handling and innovative design and aerodynamics.

Large SUV

Lexus LX570: refreshed inside out, the eightpassenger Lexus LX 570 continues to deliver on
challenging off-road adventures as well as
luxurious daily driving.

Toyota Avalon: From a where am I positioned in the line-up to a focused slot with all
the luxury and efficiency attributes.

Premium SUV

Audi Q5: Sporty, attractive and versatile - the

Audi Q5 is performance SUV within the segment
with very little to complain about.

The year-long programme saw

Automan testing over 90 cars
in different locations around the globe.
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25

Luxury Car

Premium Car

Mercedes S-Class: In a battle of the big three

Germans, the rock-solid Mercedes-Benzs S-Class
successfully takes the top honours.

Cadillac CTS: Finally, a focused global model

that is capable of taking on Europes finest.

Hot Hatch

Sports Car

Porsche Cayman: Balanced handling, unadulterated driving experience without the technology restrictions or excuses.

VW Golf GTI: Reigning champ the Volkswagen GTI

retains its crown as king of the hatchbacks. It was a
comprehensive victory for the seventh generation
model, well ahead of Fords Focus ST etc.

Irrespective of location, each car was put through the

paces where the testers observed their dynamic ability,
steering response, chassis and suspension when it
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Midsize Car

Mazda6: style and functionality go hand in

hand. A combination of fuel economy and
dynamic ability makes it compelling.

Best Debut

Jaguar F-Type: Spiritual successor to the

E-Type isnt just on paper. And by introducing a
wide range of powertrains and pricing options,
theres one coupe for everyone.

Editors Choice

Rolls-Royce Wraith: Bordering on the GT,

this is the first Rolls-Royce with some impressive
sporting capabilities.

changed direction, grip availability and even things like

stability control. In addition, the feature and convenience
pack was also considered according to market
requirements
FEB 2014

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27

COVERstory |
2014 Nissan Patrol

The big gets

better
In a midlife revamp, the Nissan Patrol is back with restyled exteriors,
new interior colours and a more modern package.
Author: Raj Warrior | Photographs: Author & supplied

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29

The mid-life Upgrade

has now brought the
Patrol into territory
that is typically
Infiniti Yet with the
new entry grade
adds appeal for the
fleet market

he Nissan Patrol has had a rather

exciting year. For Nissan as a
brand, you couldnt ask for a
better flagship SUV. If it has any
competitor at all the Patrol has
only the Land Cruiser to contend with and
with the launch of the Y62 platform in 2010,
Nissan upgraded its game to take on the
LC200 platform. Sales of the marque are up
with 2012 sales in the region hitting 15,000
units and the first three quarters of 2013
bringing up the volume to similar levels. The

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FEB 2014

brand expects to close the financial year at

the 20,000 levels and with the changes being
brought in for the 2014 model year, expects
to hit the 30,000 mark.
Additionally, 2013 was a memorable year for
the brand based on its What if? campaign,
closing with a world record attempt at
the Sharjah airport where an essentially
unmodified Patrol hauled a IL76 transporter
plane with a weight of over 170 tons. And
finally, some semblance of order has been put

in place in the critical Saudi Arabian market

with Nissan Middle East entering as the
national sales company.
So things are looking rather upbeat for Nissan
as the 2014 MY Patrol hits the showrooms.
To highlight the model and its changes the
company laid out an elaborate test drive
event in Jordan that was originally scheduled
for December only to get literally snowed out
as a freak snowstorm hit the Levant region.
So we caught up in mid-January with the

rescheduled event that covered two days of

driving from the shores of the Dead Sea to
the hills around Petra and back through the
central plains to Amman.
The Patrol stays on the Y62 platform that
debuted in 2010. You could treat it as a midlife restyle, with most of the work done on the
outer panels which in any case are the first
target of a touch up. The fenders and front
lower airdam get sleeker and most of the

rest of the change is reserved for the tailgate

region which company officials admitted
was one of the problem areas in customer
feedback, with many considering the tailgate
as too bland. If you havent had your fill with
the restyle, then count your blessings with
the new lighting combination - with the front
LED piped headlight surrounds now having a
signature identity.
In addition to this the interiors too have gone

through a revamp. There is a new interior

colour in tan (to complement the grey and
beige interiors that were already on offer).
The tan is partnered with a light wood trim
and seems to have been put on the table as a
result of feedback from customers.
The company seems to have a strong
ongoing feedback program that has resulted
in different generations of models continuing
to be offered side by side in certain markets

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31

- like the Y61 platform, which was supposed

to be superseded in 2010 is still on offer due
to demand in Australia and the Middle East
region.
One part that hasnt really changed is the
powertrain - with the huge 5.6-litre unit
being the only size on offer although this
time there are two variants - with the VK56DE
and the VK56VD giving you a choice between
regular and direct injection and a subsequent
difference in the power output available.
In terms of grades of spec levels too there
has been a change. Now the entry level is the
XE with 6-speed manual (also on the SE-T1
model), 5-speed auto with manual mode on
the rest of the SE grades and a 7-speed auto

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with manual on the LE grades.

The bigger changes that the Patrol now
has are in the inorporation of a feature set
that is taken straight out of the Infiniti parts
bin - around view monitors, lane-departure
warning, rear cross traffic sensors and
independent monitors with independent video
or gaming streams.
Of course in terms of performance the Patrol
has its own unique blend of grunt and grace.
The torque from either of two V8 engines is
already among the best on offer - remember
that this is the vehicle that towed an IL76.
The rumble of the engine is audible with the
windows lowered but once you raise them the
cabin is an insulated cocoon with almost no

audible feedback.
The initial part of the drive involved a
departure from our hotel on the Dead Sea and
a climb into the mountains surrounding it. All
in all the climb seemed substantial until you
realise that most hill climbs in Oman are more
arduous. Up through the switchbacks, a stop
for coffee and tea over some freshly baked
fatiras with some stunning views on the side
and a descent back to the main road heading
south brought us almost up to our lunch stop
which was a little off the wadi rum area.
The evening turned out to be just a touch
more demanding - after a sojourn through
some villages that brought us out at little
Petra, the entire convoy had to drive through
some off-road tracks to a look-out point
where we waited as the Sun headed towards

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33

the horizon. Part of our drive back to the

hotel just outside Petra was back over the
off-road tracks in the dark. However, we
have tested the Patrol Y62 before and there
was no stage of the entire drive that would
have us screaming out about something new
we discovered. If any changes have been
brought about in the underbody, they are

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small in nature and really can be confused

in the gearshift patterns of the two different
auto gearboxes that we drove over the two
days.
The second morning began with a walk into
the hillside tomb city of Petra, albeit the
smaller condensed version due to the fact
that we were anticipating a three hour plus

drive back to Amman airport for an early

evening flight.
The drive back to Amman saw the Patrols
stretch their legs at greater than regular
highway speeds - quiet, composed and
definitely an elegant and luxurious alternative
to an outright luxury SUV purchase.

For thats where the bulk of the marketing

effort for the Patrol seems to be focussed
- with a direct injection engine for the top
levels, far better interiors, feature rich
cabins and an almost Infiniti like appeal.
All of that is of course without giving up on
its performance credo with Hydraulic body
motion Control, one of the most effective
4-wheel drives in town and the grunt of the
V8 engine. The target of 30,000 units being
sold in the region seems reachable, but what
really needs to be seen is whether the Y62
can take the battle completely to the LC200
in the region, especially in the larger volume
segment of the desert travellers and the
leasing fleets.

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35

COVERstory |
2014 Porsche Cayman S

Evocative
performer

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s a relatively new badge in the

Porsche line-up, the Cayman name
is just eight years old. When the
model was first launched in 2006
model, it was mechanically based
on the Boxster and was initially considered
more of a variant of a Boxster than a
standalone. And, why not? Most Caymans and
Boxsters are assembled in Finland for Porsche
by Valmet Automotive. The close relationship
between the Boxster and the Cayman goes
beyond this as the Cayman (internally known
as project 987c) and the second generation
Boxster roadster (project 987) shared the
same mid-engined platform and many other
components, including the front mudguards
and boot lid, doors, headlights, taillights
besides the cab forward stance of the interior.
Despite the close proximity with the Boxster,
the sheetmetal of the first generation Cayman
had borrowed some styling cues from two
classic Porsches, the 550 Coup and the 904
Coup.

This is as perfect Porsche

can be expected to deliver for
its second generation all-new
2014 Cayman S. Automan
took the car out for a spin in
UAE
Author: Chandan B Mallik |
Photography: author and
Nabeel Ferzan

In a bid to separate the models in the hierarchy

and as part of establishing the Caymans
standalone identity-cum-personality, the
Caymans successor has been designed and
engineered ground up instead of adopting
a pure parts bin approach [which Porsche
could but it would have led to its own set of
limitations]. In fact, the new Cayman is the
third sports car model series from Porsche to
take advantage of state-of-the-art lightweight
body construction.

the overall effect aided also by its lowered by

10mm chassis [11mm in the S], thus pushing
the wheels closer to the corners more than
before. Porsche has also widened the track of
the Cayman by 36mm and that of the Cayman
S variant by 40mm. The wheel arches are also
big enough to allow the standard 19in rims
be shod with 235/40 tyres in front and wider
265/40 profile tyres in back.

At first glance, the cars stance appears to

have changed in line with its proportions. The
overall profile and design DNA seems to have
matured, thanks in part to the 60mm longer
wheelbase and broader track. Despite having
grown just 33mm in length, the front overhang
has been shortened by 26mm to compensate

Like the Boxster, the Caymans character

lines have been sharpened and it appears
precision cut and although bit edgy in places,
seems balanced. While the lowered centre
of gravity should help in performance, the
windscreen has been shifted forward by
100mm while the sloping roof line appears to

have moved far back now with both utilitarian

and aerodynamics in mind, also evident from
the GT3-inspired functional air induction
scoops on the sides. Up front form meets
function quite nicely, and in some respects
aggressively. The lower valance is larger
now as it houses larger than before cooling
ducts on either side. The stretched headlights
now come with four-point LED daytime
running lights and mounted directly to the
rear lid is the thin blade of the rear spoiler,
which in contrast to that of the Boxster is
placed higher and also deploys at a steeper
angle. The newly designed tailpipes of the
exhaust system are placed centrally in the
valance and depending on design there visual
differentiation [an oval tailpipe for standard,
while the S gets two-branch bifurcated tips]
between the standard and S models. What
we liked overall in the new Caymans design
and profile is that it appears better defined
and exceptionally well-differentiated from the
previous model.
In its construction, one of the engineering
objectives was reduce weight while improving
power to weight ratios without sacrificing
torsional rigidity. As a result, the car now uses
more aluminium in its architecture [which it
shares with the new 911]. Aluminium makes
up to 44per cent of the Caymans bodyin-white and is used in the front and rear
body shell, floorpan, doors, and in front and
rear boot lids. This mixed aluminium-steel
construction has helped reduce weight by
around 47 kg while torsional rigidity has also
improved by 40 per cent.
Unlike older sports cars where interiors were
secondary considerations, the new Caymans
interior exhibits the Porsches design culture.
The cabin is genuinely luxurious, while not
forgetting about the functional aspects and
ergonomics. Build and material quality are

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37

now amongst the industry finest. As always,

instruments are more about visual efficiency
and detailing, something Porsche has excelled
in since 1957. Unlike many sports cars, the
Cayman offers cabin and useful storage space
besides two boots.
Our test vehicle was the Cayman S, which gets
a revised 3.4-litre version of Porsches classic
boxer engine. Along with various tweaks to
the induction system results in 325hp [plus
5hp] and 272 lb-ft of torque at 4,500rpm to
the wheels through the double clutch PDK
seven-speed gearbox.
The test car came with active suspension
which allows the driver to select between two
different modes: Normal which is a blend of
performance and comfort, and Sport where
the set-up is much firmer besides a further
10mm drop of chassis. The cars front axle
use redesigned MacPherson struts and the
set-up has been recalibrated to offer better
anti-dive qualities.
The electronic aid called Porsche Torque
Vectoring or PTV which the sports car maker
has introduced is something every enthusiast
would want in a sports car. The technical story
is that PTV mates a mechanical differential
lock with the cars anti-lock brake system and
slows the appropriate inside rear wheel when
cornering.

Driving impressions

Some cars have it all together right from

the start and it communicates the same the
very moment you fire the engine, select gear
and set off down the road. I am happy to
note that this new second-generation 2014
Porsche Cayman S is among those cars we
have tested in recent times.

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Even before we had drawn the frameless door

open and climbed in, we already had a fair
idea of what to expect from this strictly twoseater coupe. The upgraded 3.4-litre engine is
eager to deliver the best of both worlds which
means it is equally at home providing for
docile part-throttle traits in an everyday city
driving environment and captivating liveliness
when the conditions allow, particularly
above 4,000 rpm where the camshaft profile
is noticeably altered and it really begins to
deliver, in a track situation.
Significantly, we note some interesting aspects
of the remapping of the engine where peak
power and torque are delivered have now
risen by 700rpm and 1,300rpm respectively.
This has allowed the engine to offer a slightly
better torque delivery than in the old Cayman
S. While its core character hasnt changed
in any way greatly noticeable, but there is
now even more reason to explore the upper
end on open or winding fast roads. The best
attribute, the one that sticks in your memory
well after youve climbed out, remains
the sound it makes at wide-open throttle.
Changes to the induction and exhaust system
have enhanced what was already a stirring
soundtrack, providing the Cayman S with the
aural attributes to back up its exceptional
dynamic characteristics.
With a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.4secs
approximately, the car feels quick but not
supercar quick in a straight line, but the
performance is where you get your bang for
the money with the 2014 Porsche Cayman S.
Another aspect, we particularly recognize
is the advantage of the torque vectoring
system which Porsche has introduced. With
its engine mounted low down wholly within

Although enthusiasts will

prefer the more potent
engine in the Cayman S as
it delivers the one-of-a-kind
experience of a high-revving
engine wailing directly right
behind your head

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39

the wheelbase and the majority of its weight

concentrated over the rear wheels, the
Cayman has never lacked for traction but PTV
seems to have improve it even further.
Also on our short list of niggles relates to the
new Caymans electric-assist power steering
system set-up. Although the steering effort

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is spot-on and its precision is in-perfect, it

lacks the tactile feedback that distinguished
the original Caymans steering or even older
Porsches with hydraulic set-ups. But it is
the chassis that really shines, as its actions
are superbly responsive. Theres proper
compliance and it is never harsh, even on
badly pitted pavement when the suspension

is set up in Sport mode. The brakes are

beyond any criticism.

Verdict

In short, the 2014 Porsche Cayman S is

stunning piece of machinery to behold.
This Cayman hasnt lost any of its ability to
entertain and more importantly, it has enough

Notably, the Cayman

S is an easier car
to drive hard than a
911, as its responses
are more immediate,
predictable and
forgiving

merits to stand out on its own. Punters in

the market looking for a new sports car will
find the 2014 Porsche Cayman merits strong
consideration and will find that it probably is
the only mid-engine coupe in this price range.
Potential rivals include the new Nissan 370Z
and arguably the 911 itself. All are interesting
cars, but if you want to own the purest vision
of a Porsche sports car, theres no substitute
for the 2014 Porsche Cayman.

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41

RoadTests |
2014 Aston Martin DB9

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Still
compelling

Aston Martin hasnt produced an all-new mainstream product for a while, which means that Aston is in the
unfortunate position of having to celebrate its centenary with little more than upgrades and a few specialedition models. Automan checks out the upgraded for 2014, hardtop two-door coupe, the DB9 in Oman
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

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43

While the DB9 lacks the fun factor

of some smaller, nimbler cars like
the Porsche 911, its still athletic.
The adaptive suspension provides
much of the magic in this regard,
whether absorbing poor roads in
Normal, chasing up winding roads
in Sport mode

ston Martins middle-order DB9

was designed by Ian Callum
and Henrik Fisker, and was first
revealed at the 2003 Frankfurt
Auto Show. The DB9 was the
successor of the DB7 and it was the first
model built at Aston Martins Gaydon facility.
In the current pecking order of the line-up, it
is the DBS which sits at the top end and then
you have a V12 Vantage which is closer to

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the DB9s price bracket. In order to give some

differentiation, the suave and elegant DB9
was attended to for the 2010 model year and
then again last year to bring it up to speed.
While no new features join the spec sheet
for 2014, last years additions of a pop-up
navigation screen, rearview camera, and
automatic headlights help keep Aston Martins
DB9 GT sports car up-to-date.

Marek Reichman, Director of Design, Aston

Martin has largely retained the original Ian
Callum profile of the car and focused more
on the jewelry and detailing. Some of the
updated design influences can be seen from
the Rapide and One-77. The front bumper is
new and sports a more Rapide-esque nose,
clear lens adorn the rear lamp clusters and a
more definitive treatment on the side-skirts.
It may be noted that the five horizontal vanes

The DB9 has been

the subject of
several subtle,
model-year
changes during
the years so,
even though it
first appeared in
2003, it doesnt
feel outdated.

that make it up are chamfered to create an

aerofoil profile and they also feed air into the
new Carbon Ceramic Braking system, which
is now standard in this model. At the rear,
the 2014 DB9 adds a more pronounced rear
boot flip to further enhance the aerodynamic
performance of the car.
Inside the cabin, we observed that the revised
DB9 has become yet more elegant and more

luxurious, thanks to some nice detailing and

materials. The hand stitched leather welt
[first seen on Virage] is inspired by luxury
leather goods and detail and craftsmanship
can be seen in the jewel-like glass switchgear.
The interiors tightly fitted leather and
trim feel modern while the retractable LCD
touchscreen now offers sharper resolution but
the digital displays elsewhere appear from a
different era and mismatched. Aston says the

navigation software has been upgraded and

it is easier to use than before. Despite the
modest additions and improvements, if there
is a place where the Aston is beginning to
feel its age, its in the cabin. The DB9s small
rear seats are still unpractical, theres not
improvement in cargo space management.
Since the DB9 has been around for almost a
decade, the model has been witness to several

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in-house engineering enhancements which

have been applied on the newer or limited
editions. One of the ace cards Aston Martin
has enjoyed so far that it has based all its
cars on the VH extruded/bonded aluminium
architecture. The benefit is that when Aston
makes a significant engineering change, it
can be rolled across all models and some of
the tweaks made to lighten the chassis also
find their way in the current DB9.
Thats not all. In the earlier years of its career,
the DB9s performance was often criticized
as its engine and handling felt weak. With
European sports car manufacturers seemingly

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having just one high-level response to

updating their offeringsadd more power
Aston went to work under the DB9s bonnet
and as a result the current version of the DB9
incorporates many improvements. T
First, this DB9 sees the introduction of the
new generation AM11 V12 engine which takes
some of the Gen4 VH architecture hardware
technology [developed for forthcoming allnew super GT] that has been tuned to suit
the character of DB9. The result is an engine
which offers effortless torque of up to 620Nm
and peak power of 510hp. Key features
of the AM11 unit include a revised block

and new head including dual variable valve

timing, enlarged throttle bodies, uprated fuel
pump, revised intake manifold and machined
combustion chambers. Transmission is a ZFderived 6-speed sequential shift automatic
transmission with paddle shift operation. The
DB9 has a top speed of 295km/h and a 0 to
100km/h time of 4.6secs and despite it being
lighter at 3,800lbs, it is not as fast as others
in the peer group.
Carbon ceramic brakes now come as
standard and the large brake rotors [398mm
diameter at the front, 360mm at the rear]
are mounted onto the bespoke disc bells

While no new features join the spec sheet for 2014, last
years additions of a pop-up navigation screen, rearview
camera, and automatic headlights help keep it up-to-date.
using a floating disc system. This allows
the discs to flex relative to their mountings
thereby making them less prone to judder.
The discs are cross-drilled and dedicated air
intakes mounted behind the lower front grille
also force feed air into the brake discs to aid
cooling. This braking arrangement helps save
around 12.5kg versus a conventional cast iron
system.
Mechanically theres just the one change
related to suspension. Adaptive dampers are
now fitted as standard and they have two
driver selectable modes normal and sport.
The old optional Sport Pack is now redundant.

Driving impressions

Given the fact that the DB9 is among the

oldest in the pack which has been significantly
upgraded, it is able to exude the purest of
grand tourer experiences. The DB9 rides with
fluidity, and steers precisely, smoothly and
with decent feel. It is also is fast, comfortable,
and quiet unless provoked. The six-speed

paddle-shifted ZF automatic transmission

clicks quick shifts, but we think it lacks the
crisp, throttle-blipping precision of a modern
dual clutch which we find in a lot of fast cars
these days. The transmission set-up seems to
have a tight control over the torque converter
so it never feels slushy. We liked the decent
spread of power and fine response from the
engine and the exhaust note from the 12
cylinders is a delight especially when the
baffles open up in sport mode.
We also recall the fact that in early DB9s, many
drivers felt there was a tendency of some
unwanted steering kickback. Aston engineers
rectified this issue by designing a much stiffer
cross-member behind the dashboard and
the steering column is mounted to it. The
arrangement has delivered: it has reduced
the knocking effect through the steering
wheel considerably.
On the handling front, with the new adaptive
damping system, the DB9 handles quite

satisfactorily. Tyre grip is good and its

approachable in the style of the best long,
front engined, rear wheel drive GT cars.
Having driven other models in the Aston
line-up, we can confidently say that this car
is more mature and relaxed than the V12
Vantage. Interestingly, despite being built on
very similar architecture the two feel different
the Vantage is the sports car and the DB9
every inch a grand tourer.

Verdict

Closing in on a decade on the market, the

Aston Martin DB9 still manages to capture
the essence of the British marque. The model
even survived an attempt to replace it with
the Virage, which itself lasted only two years
on the market. With the improvements, the
car is as contemporary as it can be. Were not
arguing with its sleek exterior, elegant interior
or powertrain. In fact, were rather taken by
the whole package and think there are still a
few miles in this cars career.

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firstdrive |
2014 Mitsubishi Outlander

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s a car brand, Mitsubishi Motors

Corporation [MMC] is regarded as
Japans second-tier automaker, an
image which MMC is now keen to
leave behind an arduous decade
of slumping sales and a tenuous capital
structure that had threatened its standing
in the increasingly competitive global auto
industry. Mitsubishi has survived the odds,
thanks to its very strong fundamental
foundations and a focused product approach
engineered by outgoing president Osamu
Masuko [Masuko will become chairman of
MMC wef 01.04. 2014].
The first generation Outlander designed
by Olivier Boulay for the American and
European market was essentially a rebadged
and modified Japanese domestic market
Mitsubishi Airtrek. This version was also
sold in some other markets under the name
Mitsubishi Airtrek, while in the rest of the
world, it retained the Outlander name.
With the commercial success of Gen I
Outlander, Mitsubishi prepared the Gen II
in 2007 Outlander with a compelling blend
of driven-to-thrill dynamics, bold styling,
five- or seven-passenger versatility, plus the
segments first flap-fold tailgate for easy
loading besides several user-technology firsts
for the compact SUV segment. It was also
dimensionally larger as it was based on a
new performance-engineered global platform
thats also shared with Lancer and Lancer
Evolution models.
Mitsubishi have moved forward with Gen III,
the incoming model to inculcate it with new
level of innovation and premium feel besides

Eleven years after Mitsubishi

Motors Corporation first
coined the term crossover,
the Japanese brand has
unveiled its third embodiment
of this concept with the
all-new next generation
Outlander at the 2012
International Geneva Motor
Show. The production version
has now arrived in Oman and
Automan is among the first to
test drive this new arrival
Author: Chandan B Mallik |
Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

introduction of a re-focused design language.

Similar in dimensions to the outgoing model,
the car is offered in both five and seven
seating arrangement as before. Compared
with the most SUVs in the segment, the
Outlanders profile is sleeker, but the quirky
front has a snout to it that gives the Outlander
an unconventional look.
Compared the shapely and aggressive sheet
metal design of competition, we would say
the Outlander is modest and conservative,
but the clever use of blackout greenhouse
trim helps gives it a larger visual appearance.

While rest of the sheet metal isnt over

cooked, the character lines which run from tip
to toe [from the headlamp to the brake lamp
lenses] are elegant. While many would say
the sheet metal appear slab sided and solid,
Mitsubishi designers have been successful
to some extent in reducing the visual mass
through the clever use of blacked out rocker
panels.
The biggest change is noted inside the
cabin. The interior accommodation appears
big and spacious, thanks to an uncluttered
arrangement of the instrument panel and
flattened dashboard. Materials used are soft
to touch and fit, finish and tolerances of the
dual coloured dashboard and appointments
are among the finest the industry has to offer.
The cars dashboard has lot of controls which
are nicely angled toward the driver and we
liked the simple layout of instrumentation be
it the speedometer or tachometer along with
the various status meters. Among the graphic
display, the features an interesting pictogram
on the instrument panel that suggests how
economically the car is being driven! A built in
monitor offers an at-a-glance view of whats
going on inside. Convenience feature lists
also includes USB and Bluetooth connectivity.
The seats have been re-shaped to offer better
support and the operation of the fold-flat 60:40
second row and 50:50 third row has been
simplified for ease of use. The Outlanders
third-row seating is suitable for small children
more than adult. Cargo capacity behind the
front, second and third row seats dial in at
63.3, 34.2 and 10.3 cubic feet, respectively.
Considering, the 2014 Outlander retains the

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same wheelbase, length and track, but offers

more interior room, Mitsubishi designers
have done a great job in most departments.
Safety features on all Outlanders sold in Oman
include Active Stability Control (ASC) with
Traction Control Logic (TCL); Hill Start Assist
(HSA); anti-lock brakes (ABS) with brake
assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution
(EBD); and dual air bag supplemental
restraint system (SRS) consisting of driver
and passenger side dual-stage air bags. The
Outlander was recently named a Top Safety
Pick Plus by the independent Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety in the US.

Driving impressions

Our test car was the 2.4-litre four-cylinder

version. The new Outlander is also available
with a bigger 3.0-litre V6 engine and
Mitsubishis sophisticated Super All-WheelControl all-wheel-drive. The 2.4-litre engine
in our test car puts out 166hp and 162 lbft. of torque through a continuously variable
transmission. Riding on a conventional
MacPherson strut front and mutli-link rear
suspension, the Outlander controls its front
wheels via an electrically-assisted steering
rack.
On the road, the car is very quiet. This is

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a little surprising because the styling and

aerodynamic profiling didnt suggest to be
specifically designed to reflect that but they
are good in helping deliver coefficient of
drag 0.33Cd and it shows up very well on
the move.
Like Nissans preference for CVT transmissions,
Mitsubishis four-cylinder Outlander CVT feels
up to the job and between the quiet engine
and creamy smooth CVT, we couldnt feel
the ratio changes on the move. Although we
kept monitoring the tachometer, we could
see some movement, but could hear or feel
nothing.
After driving the car for several days in
varied terrain, we can confirm that Mitsubishi
has raised the bar, thanks to innovating
engineering that can make a CVT feel like a
genuine automatic transmission.
Acceleration and torque delivery is good for
the displacement and one need not expect a
super sedan lift off. Power delivery is linear
and very smooth while it feels a bit different

While most of
Mitsubishis
Outlander line-up
uses a small, 2.4-litre
four-cylinder engine
that makes 166hp,
while the top-end
3.0-litre V6 engine
offers 224 hp and
215 pound-feet of
torque.

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to a conventional automatic when extra power

is required [in an equivalent downshift situation]
and this is because most CVTs do their best to
keep the engine running at the most powerefficient rpms.
The cars electric steering is actually well balanced
with reasonably good feedback and makes the
car much lighter than it actually is. Unlike the
sports focused SUVs on offer these days, when
pushed into a corner, we did noticed some light
delay in the response to our input, but, since
it appears neither overly boosted nor sloppy, it
struck us as appropriate for this segment.
Mitsubishi claims that the new Outlander is more
than 90kg lighter, thanks to the use of more
high-tensile steel and design changes to the
suspension which include stiffened subframes
and new strut mounts in front while the new
multi-link rear suspension is an evolution of the
former Outlanders design that includes new
suspension arms for reduced unsprung weight,
makes the handling feel lighter and tighter
during cornering with less body roll.
The new cars driving character is also made
livelier with the push-button-activated and
electronically-controlled All-Wheel Control (AWC)
system features three distinct driving modes the highly fuel-efficient AWC Eco, the standard
Normal setting and the maximum traction
LOCK. This means that it can also perform
light off-road duties as well. And heres how the
S-AWC system works: in Eco mode, up to 20per
cent of the drive will go to the rear wheels if
needed for traction; in Normal mode up to 50per
cent and in Locked its mostly 50:50 but can
to go 30:70 front/rear. With such flexibility and
superb electronics, we were able to track the car
over some trails and water-filled wadis without
any hassles or worries.

Verdict

The new Outlander definitely comes across as

a vehicle with a lot of substance in terms of
competence and convenience. But when you
consider the pricing point and options available,
the Japan-built Outlander offers exceptional
value for money. Price as tested: OMR 9,550.

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alsodriven |

2014 Range Rover Sport Supercharged

Under Indias Tata

Motors ownershi p,
Britains Jaguar
and Land Rover is
on a roll. The British
luxury off-road
brand seemingly
cant put a wheel
wrong,releasing
only its fourth allnew Range Rover
and its secondgeneration Range
Rover Sport last
year, both of which
have come in for
rave reviews
Author: Chandan B Mallik
Photography: Elvis John
Ferrao

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Automan was among the

first few magazines in the
world to have test driven
the all-new Land Rover
Range Rover Sport in UK
extensively, when it was
first unveiled in 2013 and
now we drive this car in
the Sultanate.

Product
positioning
in the
line-up

It is placed firmly at the heart of the marques new three-model

portfolio between the Range Rover and the life-style oriented
Evoque. The Sport is a now a premium SUV that represents a
shift in focus for this SUV-oriented luxury British brand. While
traditional Land Rover models have combined unbeatable
off-road performance with the amenities of a luxury sedan,
the Range Rover Sport represents Land Rovers entry into the
growing and popular high-performance SUV arena.

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55

Exterior
design
Range Rover Sport has been designed
to capture the distinctive DNA of its
predecessor, but with a bold evolution
in design in a familiar profile. New
design interpretations of Range Rover
Sport design cues include the signature
clamshell bonnet, floating roof and side
vents on the mudguards. The vehicle
also features bold new versions of the
powerful wheel arch graphic, horizontal
body feature lines and distinctive rocker
mouldings. While retaining the powerful
Range Rover Sport character, the front
end has a more modern, streamlined
appearance, with its slimmer lights,
rearward sloping grille and more
sculpted corners.

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Powertrain
options

Engineering

The car was developed alongside the current Range Rover and hence shares some commonality with
its sister vehicle. However, 75 per cent of parts are unique to this model and for this 2014 model, its
structure has shed at least 10 per cent of its weight. This was done by replacing the steel backbone
with a stiffer aluminum structure. A solid base with less weight are primary advantages in automotive
physics and is significant when it comes directly to influence the way the new Sport feels and handles.
The new Sport is just 62mm longer than its predecessor, yet at 4,850mm, it is shorter than other
7-seater SUVs and most E-segment sedans. A significantly longer wheelbase (increased by 178mm)
provides greater room and improved access for rear passengers. The new Sport is 149mm shorter and
55mm lower than the new Range Rover on which it is based and model-for-model weighs 45kg less.

The model is offered in two trim levels, both

featuring 5.0-litre V8s. The HSE model produces
375hp and 375 lb-ft of torque, while the
Supercharged [our test vehicle] models V8
develops an impressive 510hp and 461 lb-ft. Both
engines are paired with a six-speed automatic
transmission with manual shift control. Terrain
Response 2 auto, two-speed transfer-case, torque
vectoring differential, paddle shifters come in the
supercharged version.

Inside the cabin

Level of equipment is exceptionally high. Material
quality has been raised to a new level, with more
luxurious soft-touch surfaces in key touch points
around the cabin. Standard kit includes grained
leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control,
14-way power front seats with individual, 60:40 splitfold rear seat, aluminium trim, cruise control, USB/
iPod port with full iPod integration, 8in touchscreen,
navigation, 380-watt/8-speaker Meridian stereo,
Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, rear view
camera among other things.

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57

Driving impressions
Handling performance is a definite step up from other Land Rover models.
The Range Rover Sport is the first Land Rover to offer the companys Dynamic
Response suspension system, which is standard on the Supercharged model.
Besides super acceleration, impeccable road manners that mimic a sports
sedan more than a SUV, the cars Dynamic Response works perfectly as
advertised. The active system gives the car more agile feeling when the roads
get twisty, as compared to previous Land Rovers. Off-road performance is
still within the Range Rover Sports repertoire as well and Omans varied
terrain is the perfect place to check out these capabilities. What amazes us
is that despite being smaller than the Range Rover, the Sport combines the
quiet, confidence-inspiring control and ride of the bigger sibling with more
enthusiasm, higher grip and a sportier edge.
Considering some of the key German competition from BMW, MercedesBenz, Audi and Porsche, thie Britain built and engineered Range Rover Sport
feels lithe and agile, thanks to way it is configured.
The cars dedicated Terrain Response System takes care of nearly any offroad task thrown at it. It offers five different settings that adjust throttle
response, gear changes, vehicle ride height and the differentials to optimize
performance in various working environments like asphalt or sand.
The weight of the distributed very well during cornering, and the default
power split favours the rear axle to help it feel more like a rear-wheel drive
car. Meanwhile, supporting the performance is the air suspension, which
soaks up dips with ease and keeps the road imperfections at bay from the
occupants.

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!
NG
I
C
N
OU T THAT
N
AN VEN
E
G
E
N
THE LL CHA ALUE
WI YOU V R
CA
W
HO OUR
Y

2014
NOW IN ITS 3RD YEAR

YOUR CARS SEAL OF

EXCELLENCE!

RoadTests |
2013 Ford F-150 FX

Ford has emphasized continuous

improvement by adding
something substantial to its
F-Series pick-up trucks every
year. Automan checks out the
2013 Ford F-150 FX in Oman
Author: Chandan B Mallik
Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

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What is a
F-150 FX?

Basically, the Ford F-150, which

is a light duty version of Fords
F-Series truck range. Variety is
the spice of life, and spice keeps
things lively and fresh. This logically
explains why the Ford F-Series of
trucks have been so popular for
65 years. Depending on markets,
there are three body styles, three
bed lengths, four engines, rearwheel- and four-wheel drive and
an extensive list of standard and
optional features from which to
choose from. The current twelfth
generation F-150 was introduced
for the 2008 model year as a
major update of the Ford fullsize truck platform. These trucks
are distinguished by their Super
Duty-styled grilles and head lamps.
Standard cab models have twodoors instead of four. Ford offers
many options in the F-150 lineup from entry to high end with
pricing based on hardware and
features. The top-of-the-line F-150
is represented by the Raptor, also
sold in Middle East and now the FX
variant has been introduced.

Design
For 2013,

Ford design team gave the truck some

mild exterior styling tweaks but the truck
retains its characteristic profile as before.

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61

Safety

Standard safety features for all

2013 Ford F-150s include fourwheel antilock disc brakes,
stability control, trailer sway
control, dual front-seat side and
full-length side curtain airbags
and safety canopy system for
occupants.

Powertrain

As part of a major focus on fuel economy, the entire engine line-up

for the F-150 (excluding the SVT Raptor) was updated for the 2011
model year. This may surprise many, the F-150 is actually offered with
three different powertrains in the US ranging from twin-turbocharged
EcoBoost 3.5-litre V6, a standard 3.7-litre naturally-aspirated V6, 5.0-litre
V8 and 6.2-litre V8 at the top. In Oman, the FX is sold with a Mustang
GT-sourced V8 which produces a healthy 360hp at 5,500rpm and 380-lbft of torque a 4,250rpm. This engine is mated to a 6-speed SelectShift
automatic transmission with tow and haul mode and electronic shift-onthe-fly 4x4 systems. The rear differential can be locked by the driver.
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FX
package

This is more cosmetic

oriented than functional
as most of the hardware
is already taken care of.
Unique 20in black wheels
come with 275/55R profile
tyres, and then there are
those tape stripes and
tubular runner boards,
Standout features in this
truck are the black Bar
Style grille insert and
headlamps and tail Lamps
with black surround.

Driving
impressions

In general , the functional life of the F-150 series

is well suited as a work truck due to its rugged
structure and hardware underneath. As with other
models in the line-up, the FX version also uses

leaf springs in the rear. The benefit of this over

a coil spring which give it the edge in capacity
but unlike coil springs, theres a comparatively
unsettled feel over the road. On road, theres a
lot of grunt available from the 5.0-litre V8 and the
truck appears mostly stress free. The cab is quieter
and impacts are absorbed with a well-isolated feel.
Steering is surprisingly light for a vehicle of this

size and weight.

And despite its lifestyle attributes, the FX can
perform like a truck off road whenever needed.
Only one has to remember its limitations key
among them are its relatively low-profile tyres and
a low-hanging front bumper. The optional locking
rear differential is a boon for slippery surfaces.
Overall, its a seasoned performer.

Interiors

As part of the FX theme which also continues inside the cab,

theres black leather trimmed seats with alcantara inserts, sixway adjustable power seat, leather wrapped, colour-coordinated
steering wheel. As such the F-150s cabin has always been
convenient and comfortable, but it lacked the high end luxury
feel when compared to several luxury market offerings. As
an affordable lifestyle vehicle, Ford has tried to offer a nice
balance between utility and class appeal.
However, the most important feature inside the cabin is the
integration of Fords MyFord Touch infotainment system which
Blue Oval has developed with Microsoft. MyFord Touch was the
first mainstream application of integrating infotainment features
and some of its operational complexities have been improved.
Meanwhile, the FX trim models feature two 4.2in LCD screens.
The dash-mounted touch screen controls radio, mobile phone,
and navigation while the LCD between the gauges displays the
trip computer, options for gauges, and towing setup.

Verdict

The F-150 FX appears as the most

refined traditional truck on the
market with an affordable price
tag. Not only have there been 12
generations of the F-150 series of
pick-ups, but within the current 2013
Ford F-150 lineup, there are seemingly
endless ways to configure one to your
liking.
FEB 2014

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63

PREVIEW |
2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost V-Spec

Uber-luxury British
marque Rolls-Royce has
added a limited-edition
V-Specification variant
to its Ghost four-door
sedan range featuring
a more powerful V12
engine and even more
high-end features

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olls-Royce has announced the V-specification for its Ghost models. Just to
make things clearer, the V post fix isnt used as a denominator like other
high performance car manufacturers. For Rolls-Royce, its a Roman numeral
representing five years, which commemorates five years since the launch of
the 200ex concept which previewed Ghost.
The V-spec Ghost features a slightly tweaked version of the twin-turbocharged
6.6-litre V12 petrol engine found in the rest of the range, boosting power by
22kW to 442kW. This has also lifted the straight line performance over the
regular model, with a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 4.7secs, 0.2 seconds
quicker than the standard Ghost.
Rolls-Royce will offers buyers any one of the 44,000 colours from the
palette or choose one of five new exterior colours especially created for the
V-Specification variant, such as Graphite, Black Sapphire, Black Kirsch, Arctic
White and Infinity Black. Further exterior options include chrome exhausts and

21in part-polished alloy wheels.

Bespoke touches in the cabin included V-Specification badging on the
handcrafted leather interior as well as engraving on the tread-plates, while
further branding can be found embroidered on the rear armrest. Steel inlays
on the multimedia screen cover at the front and an exclusively designed clock
with a black crown surrounding to the face adds to the super-premium feel of
the cabin.
This limited series celebrates one of Ghosts defining characteristics;
the exquisite 6.6-litre Rolls-Royce V12 engine, said Torsten Mller-tvs,
Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Since its introduction in 2009 an
extraordinary marriage of assured presence and remarkable driving dynamics
has endeared Ghost to a new generation of highly discerning businessmen and
women, ensuring the cars position as the statement of choice for a growing
band of successful entrepreneurs around the world.

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65

PREVIEW |

Nissan Sport Sedan Concept

The Nissan Sport Sedan Concept showcased

at Detroit this month is a design study with
a particular emphasis on next-generation
design and sporty style. It also previews a
future production vehicle, possibly the new
maxima

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67

issan starting off the companys 80th birthday

in style with the unveiling of the Nissan Sport
Sedan at this years opening motor show in the US.
Shiro Nakamura, senior vice president and chief
creative officer for Nissan said: It is a statement
and direction for the future of Nissan sedans, as a
reference design point.
Along with the Nissan Resonance and FriendME concepts that were introduced in 2013, the
Sport Sedan Concept shares the new V-Motion
front aspect, floating roof and boomerangshaped headlights and taillights. The exterior of
the concept is marked by low, wide proportions,
with a lowered bonnet line and reduced ground
clearance compared to traditional sedans.
A number of current Nissan styling cues can be
seen in this car, but with certain futuristic elements.
Take for instance the boomerang headlights and
taillights which are still there, but theyre much
more exaggerated and full of LEDs now. Nissans
new signature grille also grows up aggressively
as the V-motion graphic which is also seen in the
new Rogue. Sharply creased mudguards have
more than a passing resemblance of the GT-R, as
are the slim roof sitting on blacked-out A-pillars.
A slimmed C-pillar takes inspiration from the IDx
Freeflow concepts, while the overall shape seems
inspired by Infinitis rear-wheel-drive sport sedans
Inside, the SSC continues to be futuristic, but

The Sport Sedan concept is much more than a concept car

Shiro Nakamura, senior vice president and chief creative officer for Nissan.

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with a production-friendly layout. The gauges and

infotainment system are translucent blue displays
with silver trim, and the words, numbers, and images
appear to hang in space. Blue accent lighting around
the interior complements the displays. Controls are
simple, uncluttered, and appear nearly productionready. The dash, doors, central console and seats are
wrapped in stitched leather.
Nevertheless, the overall profile of the car is powerful
with wheels and tyres which seem to be pushed out to
the four corners. The car rides on custom billeted 21in
aluminium alloys mounted with low-profile 275/30R21
tyres. The front-wheel drive Sport Sedan concept
will be powered by a 300plus hp 3.5-litre V6 engine
backed by a sport-tuned Xtronic CVT and features an
innovative suspension layout with performance shock
absorbers. The concept was created by Nissan Design
America in San Diego, California and developed at the
Nissan Global Design Center in Atsugi, Japan.

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69

PREVIEW |
Kia GT4 Stinger concept

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Kia Motors unveiled the brands

most aggressive concept car ever
when wraps came off the Kia GT4
Stinger at the 2014 North American
International Auto Show (NAIAS).
Kias eye-catching design language
moves in a bold new direction with
the introduction of the GT4 Stinger

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71

he inspiration for this car was simple. Kias US design team approached the Kia GT4 Stinger project with an eye toward
weight reduction, functionality and pure driving enjoyment. The idea was further emboldened by the brands on-track
success in the Pirelli World Challenge racing series with a pair of turbocharged, GTS-class Optimas. As a result, the concept
shuns the luxury trappings of a traditional Grand Touring car and embraces the elemental experience of truly engaging
with the vehicle.
In profile, the GT4 Stingers body lines appear simple and the car gets the latest iteration of the signature Kia grille rests
low to the ground for maximum engine cooling and cold-air induction. The grille surround glows white and features a
multi-layered, satin-black border, a theme found throughout the car. Flanking the grille on both sides are vertical LED
headlamps, and front-brake cooling vents moulded into the bumper provide a clean, smooth appearance. A carbon fibre
front splitter mounted below the bumper provides added down force for the car at high speed.
The long bonnet gently rises to meet the cowl and two chrome accent pieces add visual interest to the otherwise rippleless pond of Ignition Yellow sheet metal. The bonnet closely embraces the front wheel arches, which are flared in the
mudguards up front. The result is a pronounced edge at the vehicles shoulders that eventually becomes the belt line.

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Continuing around the car, the transparent A-pillars provide a more than 270-degree view from the drivers seat. The
layered slots cut into the pillars reduce weight while improving outward visibility. The greenhouse design provides an
aggressive side profile and takes dome cues for the Soul hatchback. Along the rocker panels are satin black accent pieces
with integrated functional cooling ducts to enhance air flow to the rear brakes.
Around back, the body widens to cover the large 275-series Pirelli rubber. The glass hatch opens to reveal a built-in storage
compartment and rear strut-tower brace. The LED taillights illuminate from inside the outer edge of a blacked-out panel
just above the dual exhaust ports in the rear bumper.
The interior is purposeful in design and practical in nature. A pull of the billet-aluminium door handles reveals incredibly
lightweight doors, but their generous width makes dropping into the molded leather race-inspired bucket seats a breeze.
There is no carpet, only a rubber floor mat underneath the billet-aluminum pedals. Front and center to the driver is a thick
D-shaped steering wheel and red LED-illuminated instrument panel with large tachometer and gear indicator. In keeping
with the track theme and taking inspiration from sports and competition cars of the past, interior door handles have been
replaced by red-stitched pull straps. In fact, the Kia GT4 Stinger makes due without the luxury of a stereo.

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MOTORSPORTS |

F1 season 2014
car roll out
begins

Has the FIA has gone

a step too far when it
comes to pushing teams
into producing ugly cars?
Formula One participating teams have come up
with innovative solutions like a nose appendage to
conform with the sports radical new rules. A variety
of solutions are expected up and down the pitlane
in 2014, as teams make the most aerodynamically
of the new, lower maximum nose height, inserted
in the rules for safety reasons. Last month, teams
began releasing details of their 2014 season cars.
Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo is optimistic

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about the 2014 Formula One season. Its time to

win, said Montezemolo during the unveil of the
Ferrari F14 T racer. This is the chassis thats meant
to do it, and it is also Exhibit C in this wild, functionover-form F1 pre-season: the Ferrari F14 T.
The low, trunk-like snout is another imagining
of the years regulations, after the probing
proboscides found on the McLaren and in the
image of the coming Williams. The public name
of the chassis internally called 665 was chosen by

Ferraris social media fans, F14 T referring to the

brand, the year and the turbocharged powerplant,
not the McDonnell-Douglas F14 Tomcat.
The 60th Ferrari to contest an F1 season retains the
pull-rod front and rear suspensions of cars from the
last two years but little else. The narrower front
wing, having to package and cool the additional
power unit equipment, reworking the rear wing
and even moving to brake-by-wire has changed

F1 set to change
qualifying for 2014

every other aspect of the car.

Ferraris F1 driver Fernando Alonso is hoping
the F14 T will make the fifth time the charm; in
his fifth year with the team, he wants to win
the championship this year instead of coming

in second again, just like Michael Schumacher

won his first title with Ferrari after five years
with the team.
Williams has already released details of their
new anteater-nosed single seaters, and now
the nostril-nosed silver and black McLaren
MP4-29 has been launched online.
And, perhaps in retaliation for apparently
poaching its boss Eric Boullier, Lotus rained on
McLarens launch parade by simultaneously
releasing the first photo of its new E22, which
will not be officially revealed until Bahrain next
month.
Lotus black and red car has a notably different
solution at the front of the car, with the two
parallel nose tips resembling a musical tuning
fork.
Force Indias 2014 car will also feature a Williamslike anteater nose. Although the Silverstone
based team beat Williams to releasing a
computer-generated image of its new car,
Force Indias picture depicted the VJM07 only
from the side. It was therefore not possible to
see if the orange, black and green car has the
same anteater nose as Williams; a solution
expected to be adopted up and down pitlane
as teams interpret the new aerodynamic rules.
Asked what the 2014 Force Indias nose looks
like from the front, technical boss Andy Green
answered: Thin -- like the nose of an anteater.

Just weeks ahead of the Melbourne season opener F1

management ooks set to introduce an eleventh-hour
change to the qualifying rules for 2014. Team bosses,
Bernie Ecclestone and the governing FIA will meet in
Bahrain on February 21, to discuss the issue.
Among things to be discussed are changes that would
ensure drivers cannot sit out the decisive Q3 segment
of qualifying, in order to save tyres and for other
tactical and reliability reasons. Some believe a return
to the free-for-all hour long sessions of the past is the
answer because the current three-part formula has
added nothing to the Saturday spectacle.
UKs Telegraphs F1 correspondent Daniel Johnson
added: To try and maintain the spectacle, (the)
strategy group has asked the teams and the FIA to
come up with ways of forcing drivers to go for the best
grid positions in Q3.
Plans likely to be discussed are believed to include
supplying drivers with an extra set of qualifying tyres,
specifically for the final part of the session, he added.
Not likely to get voted through in Bahrain, meanwhile,
is an extension of Bernie Ecclestones highly unpopular
new double points concept.
To keep the title alive until the end, drivers will score
twice as many points at the season finale in Abu Dhabi
this year, but F1s chief executive has written to the
teams asking they vote for the concept to also include
the preceeding two races.
Red Bulls Christian Horner, no fan of the concept
initially, indicated he would support extending the
scheme to three races because that would take away
an element of lottery over that last race.
But because the proposed change is occurring so late,
it would require an unanimous vote, and there are
reports the Mercedes-powered teams have no mind to
support it. Other teams are reportedly also not keen,
and a British media report added: More than one top
team believes it would be wrong to change the rules a
month before the start of the season.

Brawn retires from F1

Formula One stalwart Ross Brawn has announced
his retirement from the sport, ending months
of speculation on what team he could end up
following his decision last November to quit as
team principal at Mercedes AMG. The British
engineer, 59, made the announcement during a
recent fishing trip in Scotland.
Im retiring--its not tongue in cheek, Brawn is
quoted as saying. Im going to take a year to enjoy
the fishing and then see what life brings.
This ends a chapter of F1 that started all the way
back in 1978 when Brawn first started out in the
sport as a machinist for the newly formed Williams
team. During that time, teams Brawn has been

associated with managed to rack up 16 titles, half

of which were Drivers Championships.
Brawns rise to fame was during his years with
Benetton, where he oversaw Michael Schumachers
first two championship wins in 1994 and 1995.
He then followed Schumacher to Ferrari and was
instrumental in the Germans five consecutive
championship wins from 2000 to 2004.
In 2006, Brawn took some time off from the
sport but returned to help run Hondas effort in
2008. Honda pulled out at the end of the season
and subsequently sold the team to Brawn. The
following year, the team, rebranded Brawn F1,
would take out both the Drivers And Constructors

Championships.
Brawn then sold the team to Mercedes-Benz,
which at that point was only operating as an engine
supplier. Despite the regrouping of Brawn and
Schumacher in the Mercedes camp, the team failed
to make any significant progress. Schumacher left
at the end of 2012 and Brawn followed a year later.

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MOTORSPORTS |

New Nismo athletes take victory at Dubai

24 Hours

he four newest Nismo Athletes, the winners

of Nissan PlayStation GT Academy 2013,
along with inaugural winner Lucas Ordonez,
stormed to the SP2 class victory at the Dubai 24
Hours today. This is the first Dubai 24 Hours victory
for GT Academy winners.
Dubai was the first international race for European
winner Miguel Faisca, German winner Florian
Strauss, US winner Nick McMillen and Russian
winner Stansislav Aksenov, who have all only been
racing for three months so to bring the No.123

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Nissan 370Z Nismo across the line first after 24

hours of racing was an incredible achievement.
We came here to gain racing experience and our
goal was to finish the race so it is amazing to win,
said European winner, Miguel Faisca. We have all
learnt a lot as it was a tough race with so many cars.
There wasnt a single lap where you didnt have to
overtake or be overtaken. It was a great pleasure
to compete in our first 24 hour race.
In the last three years I have finished third, then
second and now in first place at the Dubai 24

Hours, said Ordonez. It is always a very important

event for me and of course for the new winners.
This is their first international race so to win it is a
dream for them. The fact I have third, second and
first is very special for me and I will make sure I line
up the trophies at home. As always a big thank you
to Nissan, to RJN and everyone involved here.
The drivers of the Nissan GT Academy Team RJNs
sister car, the No.126 Nissan 370Z Nismo, joined
them on the podium, taking third place after
fighting back from problems during the night.

Karun Chandhok, James Moffat, Tor Graves and Ashley Oldfield were competing in
the international car, entered to pose the question of where GT Academy will go
next. That question will be answered soon but now it is time to celebrate a double
podium finish in Dubai.
You need luck in a 24 hour race, said Chandhok. We didnt get our share of
the luck but we fought back and took a podium finish. Its a shame we had a few
problems as we were matching the pace of the sister car at the start of the race.
The podium is a massive reward for the RJN boys so it was good to get it for them.
This event has been an education for me, learning about GT Academy. I have only
seen it from the outside before and have read about it in magazines. I hope it will
launch in India soon. Its good to see these guys getting the opportunities that
people like me didnt have. They have been given a golden opportunity and they
need to make the most of it.
It was great to be the first Aussie to benefit from the Nismo Exchange, said
James Moffat who switched from V8 Supercars to a GT car for this race. Ive
always wanted to do a 24 hour race and Ive definitely got the bug now. A smoother
run would have been good but thats racing. All credit to the team for getting us
back out there each time we had a problem. To get two cars on the podium is a
great effort so well done to them. The fact that over the years we have finished
third, then second and now first in the race is an indication of how the academy
keeps improving in every area, from the way that we approach our racing to the
way that we prepare our guys for every challenge they face as new drivers, said
Nissans Global Director of Motorsport, Darren Cox. Its great that we had nine
different nationalities of drivers here and they all finished on the podium. It shows
the international flavour of Nissan Motorsport and we look forward to seeing
which new markets we will move into next.

Season 3: 2014
GT Academy

The Nismo Athlete Global Team

The Nismo Athlete Global Team has arrived at Mount Panorama
and in doing so, has officially brought Godzilla back to Bathurst.
The last time a factory-entered Nissan GT-R raced at Bathurst was
in 1992, when Jim Richards and Mark Skaife earned their secondconsecutive Bathurst 1000 victory for Nissan.This weekend at the
2014 Bathurst 12 Hour, Nissan will aim to repeat that success with a
line-up of four drivers from across the globe.
The teams Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3, as well as drivers Rick Kelly
(Australia), Alex Buncombe (England), Wolfgang Reip (Belgium)
and Katsumasa Chiyo (Japan), were unveiled in pit lane at the
Mount Panorama circuits.

issan and Sony PlayStation have joined forces again to bring

GT Academy back to the Middle East for 2014. The hugely
successful inaugural competition in 2013 turned Qatari Salman AlKhater, a mechanical engineer, into a class-winning race driver at
his first attempt. Now, the GT Academy Middle East offers the same
opportunity to another aspiring motorsport maestro.
GT Academy is a unique programme offering Playstation gamers the
chance to move from virtual racing on Gran Turismo to the reality of
being a professional racing driver, said Darren Cox, Nissan Global
Director of Motorsport. GT Academy Middle East proved a huge
success in its inaugural year in the region, 2013. The success of GT
Academy around the world is demonstrated by the careers winning
entrants go on to forge in the tough cut-and-thrust of competitive
motorsport. We eagerly anticipate welcoming the regions next
competitors to Race Camp, said Samir Cherfan, Director, Managing
Director, Nissan Middle East. Demonstrating innovation as a
unique concept and raw excitement among the many thousands of
competitors, GT Academy encapsulates Nissans beliefs. We urge
anyone who dreams of grabbing the once-in-lifetime chance to take
the track and compete in the world of GT, added Chelfan.
First launched in 2008, GT Academy was designed to identify gamers
with the most natural racing talent in the virtual world, before
working with them to transform them into a professional racing
driver in the real world. Selection is initially made through times set
on a customized stage within the Gran Turismo game, now in its sixth
generation. The fastest gamers then have the chance at a Regional
Final event, before the very best head to Race Camp where they are
assessed on their fitness, mental attitude and car control. Ultimately
the winner gets a seat behind the wheel of a Nissan 370Z GT race
car. For season 3, this year, the age level for contestants has been
reduced to 18 and the only other qualification besides fitness is a
mandatory manual drivers licence.

FEB 2014

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77

MOTORSPORTS |

THREE-WAY BATTLE FOR EMIRATI DRIVERS IN

INAUGURAL UAE DESERT CHAMPIONSHIP

hree Emirati drivers will battle for outright

supremacy in the cars division of the UAE
Desert Championship, after a tight Round
Three contest of the new national rally series
attracted a record 96 competitors on two and four
wheels at the weekend.
Finishing fourth in the penultimate round of the
2013-14 Baja-style rally, Ahmed Al Maqoodi retains
his lead over Mansour Al Helei and Ahmed Al Fahim
in the cars overall category, but all three can snatch
the inaugural championship trophy when the final
round returns in two weeks time.

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Al Fahim won both the cars and buggies classes on

the 18km loop of undulating desert terrain in his
Polaris RZR, but still trails Al Maqoodi and Al Helei
overall, while Al Heleis second place in a Nissan
Patrol means he is guaranteed the T2 class title.
Another Emirati, Mohammed Shamsi won the
quads class on a Kawasaki 450 while pre-race
favorite Sebastian Husseini failed to finish after
running out of fuel. The result means Shamsi leads
the quad class outright and only needs to finish the
final round to secure the overall title.
Meanwhile, UAE-based Sam Sunderland dominated

the bikes class, as he led throughout on a Honda

CRF 450, completing seven laps and winning easily
with a margin of nine minutes over Sean Gaugain
and Mohammed Al Balooshi.
Gaugains consistency, however, keeps him in
the front-running to win the overall title in the
bikes class. His second place follows one win and
another second in the first two rounds of the UAE
Desert Championship, meaning he will be hard to
peg back in the final round.
Organised by the Emirates Motor Sport Federation,
with TAG Heuer Middle East as the official

timekeeper and founding partner, the UAE Desert Championship is run with the
support of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the national
motor sport authority.
Dr. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the ATCUAE and Vice President of the FIA,
commented: The UAE Desert Championship continues to grow from strength to
strength, with every round attracting more entries than the previous.
Last weekends record number of entries highlights the increasing popularity of
the series and vindicates the decision to launch such a championship that supports
desert rallying on a local and grass-roots level. We are confident that the final round
will attract more than 100 entries, capping off a hugely successful inaugural edition.
The fourth and final round of the UAE Desert Championship, which provides a natural
link into Aprils latest edition of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, is scheduled for 14
February 2014, with the location to be confirmed nearer to the time.

AL QASSIMI LOOKS FOR

NEW CITRON ABU DHABI
DUO TO MAKE STRONG
WRC CHALLENGE
The UAEs Sheikh Khalid bin Faisal Al
Qassimi is hoping the new-look Citron
Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team can
make a powerful start to the 2014 FIA
World Rally Championshi p in Monte Carlo

2013-14 UAE Desert Championship latest standings

Cars, overall
1. Ahmad Al Maqoodi, Polaris RZR XP
2. Mansoor Al Helei, Nissan Patrol

3. Ahmed Al Fahim, Polaris RZR
4. Almhan Ibrahim, Nissan Patrol

5. David Mabbs, FJ Cruiser

6 Khalid Al Jafla, Polaris 2012 XP

7. Ian Barker, Nissan Patrol

8 Michael Ziegler, Toyota Landcruiser

9. Michel Fadel, Polaris XP900

62pts
58pts
45pts
32pts
25pts
25pts
20pts
20pts
15pts

Buggies
1. Ahmad Al Maqoodi, Polaris RZR XP
2. Ahmed Al Fahim, Polaris RZR
3. Khalid Al Jafla, Polaris 2012 XP
4. Michel Fadel, Polaris XP900

69pts
45pts
25pts
15pts

Motorbikes, overall
1. Sean Gaugain, Kawasaki KXF450
2. Mark Grams, Honda CR250R
3. Rashed Abdullah, Honda CRF450
4. Ross Runnalls, Kawasaki KX450F
5 Sam Sunderland, Honda CRF 450
6. Cameron Waugh, KTM SX250
7. Jimmy Jonsson, KTM SXF350
8. Sebastian Husseini, Honda TRX700xx
9 Mohammed Shamsi, Kawasaki 450

69pts
60pts
44pts
41pts
41pts
37pts
32pts
30pts
30pts

Quads
1. Mohammed Shamsi, Kawasaki 450

2. Colin Mercer, Honda TRX700

3. Humaid Al Mashghouni, Yamaha Raptor
4. Sebastian Husseini, Honda TRX700xx
5. Obaid Al Kitbe, Honda TRX450

6. Patrick Gersch, Yamaha Raptor

7. Colin Wilken, Yamaha Raptor

8. Nasser Al Ali Abdullah, Suzuki LTZ450
9. Alex MacFarlane, Honda TRX700

72pts
54pts
51pts
47pts
36pts
33pts
28pts
20pts
18pts

l Qassimi, who will compete in four selected WRC events

this season starting in Sweden next month, is attending the
legendary Monte Carlo Rally to support the team and its new
driver pairing of Northern Irelands Kris Meeke and Norways
Madsstberg. As chairman of Abu Dhabi Racing, Al Qassimi initiated
the sponsorship agreement with eight-times WRC manufacturers
champions Citron Racing which is entering its second year, and he
believes Meeke and Ostberg can prove to be a strong combination.
Although I will not be taking part in the opening round, we at Abu
Dhabi Racing were very keen to attend Rallye Monte Carlo and show
our support to Citron Total Abu Dhabi WRT in this iconic event, he
said. The new season will be extremely tough, with a very high level
of competition, but this team has won the FIA WRC manufacturers
championship eight times and will be looking to gain as many points
as possible and make a strong challenge for the title.
Im looking forward to the new season, and Im giving my best
wishes and support to Kris and Mads. They will need time to adjust
and settle in as new members of the team, as I did last season, but
that doesnt mean that they will not be fighting for rally victories.
A first loop of three stages run twice in the Haute Alpes region is
followed on Friday by a leg featuring classic Monte Carlo stages of
49.25km and 36.70km. That night, the competitors head south to
Monaco for Saturdays final leg comprising two loops of two stages
in the hinterland of Nice - one by day and the other by night. The rally
ends on Sunday with the traditional awards ceremony in the square
of the Princes Palace in Monaco.
Al Qassimi, who will this season be partnered by Northern Irish
co-driver Chris Patterson, begins his own WRC programme in Rally
Sweden (5-8 May), followed by the rounds in Portugal (3-6 April),
Italy (6-8 June) and Spain (24-26 October).

FEB 2014

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79

ChicaneOpinion |

Is safety
negotiable?

Its been some years since Ive really had a look at the safety standards applied to cars in India. If you spend
enough time in Oman you begin to believe that the acceptable standard for any car is a minimum of 2
airbags, perhaps ABS and intrusion beams and if you insist there would be ESP. But it takes some off-beat
news to remind you thats not the case everywhere.
The new global new car assessment program came out with some interesting results from their recent test
of five entry level cars from India, all of them best sellers in the home market and with a couple of them
even being exported to other countries. The common theme was that none of them came with airbags as
standard, with the Tata Nano having no airbags in any grade. The common result was that they all scored a
resounding zero on the test. Really? Are the so bad? Well the cant be good if they havent scored anything!
Oddly enough the Hyundai i10 is made for world markets in India and when specced to levels that it should
have in Europe it manages to get 3 stars in the Euro NCAP. So is the difference only because of airbags? All
the manufacturers involved have stated that they meet Indian standards, with only Volkswagen declaring that
henceforth the Polo would only be available with twin airbags.
The deeper question here is who is responsible for safety? Is it a government that shows abysmal apathy
towards its own population by allowing low safety standards or can we hold manufacturers responsible? That
is especially true of global majors who know that they are going below an acceptable norm when measured
by global standards. After all, it is an inherent admission that a human life is valued differently depending on
where in the world the human lives.
To make matters worse, the authorities in India do not seem to have even noticed. They churn out bad roads
and allow ill-equipped drivers and vehicles on the roads. Now they are going to allow a new breed of four
wheeler, called the quadricycle, to play havoc and add to the 140,000 road fatalaties they have every year.
And the great Indian public remains happy that they are getting cheap cars in a heavily taxed regime.
In so many ways living in Oman seems conducive to a longer, healthier life. It isnt as if we dont have our
share of speedsters and maniacs on the road. You see the taxi drivers throw caution and the rulebook to the

Raj Warrior is editor of Automan and has been in the

thick of the Automotive journalism field from the past
15 years.

winds as they shunt across to the kerb or around a roundabout in the slow lane. And the kids on peoples
laps! God save them! Yet it somehow seems safer as long as you know that the authorities arent turning a
blind eye.
In the meantime, Ill be driving my 0 star scoring Nano in India only because I bought it to replace the

Want to comment or have your say?

Email at raj@alroya.net.
Identify yourself or your message will be trashed and
your id blocked

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FEB 2014

vagaries of riding a scooter there. Between the bad roads, dust and pollution-laden air and inclement
weather, even zero is a higher score than minus anything. For you must remember that for scooter riders,
even a helmet is optional.

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