2015 BMW X6

32

First drive of Gen II SAV

in Oman

COVERstory |

12

38

54

cover story

32-37 2015 Lexus RC F

Oman and regional news

NEXT ISSUE

6-10pAutoman 2014 COTY awards ceremony,

2015 Lexus NX arrives in region, 2015 Subaru
Legacy launch in Oman, Glimpses from fifth
edition of Qatar Motor Show, Al Nabooda
Automobiles introduces new Volkswagen
Scirocco, Refreshed for MY 2015 Audi A7
line-up on sale in ME, New TYREPLUS centre
inaugurated in Ghala, Continental Tyres
restructures part of its MENA business, Top
performers honoured by Nissanat

2015
vw cross gte

brandwatch

30-33 Rolls-Royce officially announces plans

for a crossover, British branded vehicles to
play key roles in next Bond flick, More SUVs
from Volkswagen planned, Nissan designer
honoured, Renault and Lexus release details
of cars for Playstation Gran Turismo 6, Jeep
confirms Compass, Patriot replacement,
Hybrid powertrain for next GT-R? Superbowl
commercials revealed a lot of stories
Hyundai design awad and Hyundai Retail
identity programme unveiled in UK, JLR
looking at US seriously as new production
base, Renewed Mitsubishi-Renault partnership
on rebadged cars? Jaguar special operations
looking at XK SS for limited production,
Toyota announces TRD expansion, Bugatti
may not proceed with Veyron successor,
Erstwhile GM bands unlikely to be revived,
German family auto brand Borgward to
stage comeback, Yamaha launches carbon
edition of V-max

International news

68
64

36-42 2015 Chicago Motor show curtain

raiser
Geneva Motor show curtain raiser

special geneva previews

20-21 Porsche Cayman GT4
22-23 Ferrari 488 GTB
24-25 Ford Focus RS
26-27 Renault Kadjar

First drives

38-43 lincoln navigator

44-47 audi tt roadster
48-53 Volkswagen Touareg
54-59 2015 Nissan Juke

previews

60-63 Infiniti Q60 concept

64-67 Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE concept
70-71 Hyundai Santa Cruz
68-69 Nissan Maxima
72-75 Subaru Legacy

MOTORSPORTS

76-79 F1 news and snippets, regional

motorsports

Chicane

80 A matter of perception

editor-in-chief
Mohammad Al Taie

AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING

PO Box: 343, Postal Code 118
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executive EDITOR
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contributing EDITOR
Anne Kurian
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HEAD OF Design
Antony Karlo
photography
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circulation
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2015
All editorial content of Automan in the magazine
and its website is copyrighted and may not
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consent of the management of AL ROYA PRESS &
PUBLISHING
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such material will vest with AL ROYA PRESS &
PUBLISHING

This is the first issue after we had our brilliant Car of the Year award ceremony for the
Automan COTY programme of 2014. This year, we have broken new records. In this fourth
award ceremony, we had guests from both regional offices and who flew in from head
offices too. And our usual support from the local automotive industry went through the
roof with the last holdout joining in.
Truly, if you had asked us in 2011 what our hopes were for the Car of the Year event, the
chances are that even our ever positive team would have given it only a 50:50 chance
of getting through the first couple of years. And the reasons for thinking so arent very
difficult to glean. In a market where importers rule the roost in terms of brand presence
and positioning, sensitivities are often very fragile. Most people do not like criticism,
period. In fact, no one likes criticism; its just that some people can handle it. But what
does an importer do, when the model they are selling is being assessed and criticised by
Automan? They can either go into a shell, which we have seen happen over the years,
or they can face up to the fact that any criticism is unbiased, fair and grounded in a high
degree of professional skills.
We finally have everyone on the same page and this telling endorsement of Automans
status as a mirror to the industry and its products as well as a barometer of quality and
consumer expectation is a hard earned laurel.
Perhaps what has really helped us over the years has been our unflinching belief in the
rightness of things we tell you whats good and bad about a car, what its competition is
like out there and endorse or cast aspersions on your choice. Thats our job, not always the
sort that wins friends, but we do influence people.
In this, the fifth year of the Automan COTY, we are adding in motorcycles into our
assessment programme. Two extra categories one for Sports or Supersports and one for
Bobbers or Cruisers is being added. In both cases we will only assess bikes that we ride
in that year, like we do for the cars and SUVs in the mother programme. And there is a
capacity limit of a minimum of 400cc.
We may drop a category or two in the cars and SUVs because of the increasing irrelevance
of some categories, but that hopefully will not happen this year.
In the meantime, we must thank our loyal readers, Omans automotive industry and the
regional brand offices for making the Automan COTY the single, unbiased, non-commercial
Car of the Year programme in the region.

Now, Automan is available in bookshops in

the United Arab Emirates too! Get your copy
or let us know which outlets you would like
to see us in

The Winners
Small Car
Mazda 3
Midsize Car
Ford Fusion
Large Car
Hyundai Sonata
Premium Car
Mercedes C-Class
Luxury Car
Bentley CGT V8 S
Hot Hatch
Mercedes A45 AMG
Sports Car
Audi TT/TTS
Performance Car Lamborghini Huracan
Small SUV
Lincoln MKC
Midsize SUV
Kia Sorento
Large SUV
Nissan Patrol
Premium SUV
Cadillac Escalade
Performance SUV Porsche Cayenne
Best Debut
Porsche Macan
Editors Choice Ferrari California T
6

MAR 2015

Automan 2014
COTY awards
ceremony held
in Muscat
The fourth edition of the Automan Car
of the Year 2014 programme came to a
glittering close at Muscats iconic lounge
On the Rocks, with the award ceremony
being graced by the movers and shakers
of the automotive industry.
Thirteen broad categories that cover
both cars and SUVs are joined by two
special categories, the Best Debut
(for a completely new model series or
completely changed one) and the Editors
choice.
Speaking at the occasion, Sh Hatim Al Taie,
CEO of Al Roya Press & Publishing and
Publisher of Automan said, I am pleased
to see the excitement that the Automan
Car of the Year award is generating in the
industry. We have set new standards in
unbiased editorial and assessment and the
automotive industry has risen to champion
the magazine and its unique initiative. I
also congratulate all the winners, with this
years selection really epitomising the best
of the best in their segments.
Speaking about the challenges of 2015, Sh
Hatim added, While no one can predict
how the global oil price scenario will play
out, we expect Oman and its broader
economy to be able to intelligently
address any challenges during the year. As
an outcome we have the best of hopes for
the growth of the automotive sector. We
also expect some interesting challengers
for next years awards.
On the topic of the awards, Raj Warrior,
Editor & General Manager of Automan
said, This edition has become a seminal
one with the participation of every major
player in the market. There is a feeling
of intense satisfaction that Omans car
industry offers us such support. And we
have to specially thank some winners
and guests who flew in for the evening
from their respective regional and global
headquarters.
The Automan COTY is a unique initiative
by Automan, Omans Car magazine. The
programme tests close to 100 cars every
year. Every car is placed in its appropriate
category and scored by the editorial test
team and the results are published in the
February issue of the monthly magazine.

MAR 2015

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2015 Lexus NX arrives in region

Al-Futtaim Motors, the exclusive distributor of Lexus in the UAE, has announced the arrival of the all-new NX 200t in the UAE,
reinforcing the brands presence in the fast growing compact crossover segment. Having pioneered the luxury-utility crossover
category more than a decade ago with the original midsized RX 300, Lexus has revolutionized this segment once again with the all-new
turbocharged NX 200t. Inspired by performance vehicles, the turbocharged NX combines the expertise of racers within the engineering
team and the impeccable touch of Lexus luxury through an exciting and sporty design to set a new benchmark in the automotive
world. The regional introduction took place at the Qatar Motor show last month. The NX is also available in Oman.

MAR 2015

Refreshed for MY 2015

Audi A7 line-up on sale
in ME
Refreshed Volkswagen
Scirocco now in region
Al Nabooda Automobiles has announced the arrival of the
Volkswagen Scirocco and Scirocco R model series. The
Scirocco is a sport compact coupe produced by the German
manufacturer Volkswagen. Two generations of development
took place between 1974 and 1992 and the model was officially
reintroduced as a third generation in August 2008.
The Sciroccos front-wheel-drive architecture is carried over
unchanged, and this means it soldiers on the proven PQ35
platform [also used in the MkVI Golf]. Power comes from
turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines. The regular
models output is 210hp, while top-of-the-line Scirocco R
receives a power boost to 255hp. The R also gets 6-speed DSG
transmission.
According to Thierry Seys, General Manager, Al Nabooda
Automobiles, Volkswagen: The Scirocco is a dynamic
performer. It offers pure driving pleasure and is an ideal
companion for the roads of everyday life in Dubai and the
Northern Emirates, especially those who love sports cars. In
UAE, it will be sold from AED149,500 onwards.

The entire A7 product line from has been refreshed and as a

result the spacious five-door coupe is now even more powerful
and attractive thanks to new engine configurations, new
transmissions, new headlamps, taillamps and new infotainment
systems. The new A7 combines the emotional appeal and
sportiness of a coupe with the comfort of a sedan and the
functional benefits of an Avant. The new Audi A7, Audi S7 and
Audi RS7 are now available in the Middle East. Starting price is
US$65,607.

New TYREPLUS centre

inaugurated in Ghala
Mohsin Haider Darwish [MHD], has announced the opening of
TYREPLUS and Michelin Truck Tyres Service centre at Ghala. The
new state-of-the-art facility houses the sixth Tyre Care Plus and
second Michelin Truck Tyre service centre in the Sultanate. This
new facility was formally inaugurated by the groups founder
Mohsin Haider Darwish last month. Herve Skrzypczak, TYREPLUS
Franchise Manager for Michelin AIM, said: We are all proud of
this very important milestone. This achievement is clearly in line
with our strategy to further expand our network to incorporate
80 new branches in the GCC by 2018. We take this opportunity to
thank our customers and dealers for their steadfast support and
trust in the quality of our service.

Continental restructures
part of its MENA business
Continental, a German branded tyre manufacturer, has
announced that it has relocated its passenger and light truck tyre
and commercial vehicle tyre replacement business from Hanover
in Germany to Dubai, UAE as part of its 2025 business strategy.
This move demonstrates our commitment to delivering the
best possible quality and services across all the countries in this
important region,said Andreas Bertram, Managing Director
Continental Middle East. A second service base is located in
Casablanca for the North African markets.
10 MAR 2015

Glimpses from fifth

edition of
Qatar Motor Show

Mercedes-Benz
Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles (NBK),
the exclusive dealer of Mercedes-Benz
in Qatar, displayed the Maybach S
Class, AMG GT S, CLA 250 and GLA 45
AMG. NBK also unveiled the all-new
2015 Harley-Davidson Street 750.
At the venue, NBK Powered Sports
also announced its partnership with
Husqvarna Motorcycles. Interestingly,
the 510hp AMG GT S is the second car
to be developed by the MercedesAMG and the first to house internally
mounted turbochargers

Guangzhou Automobile
Group Company [GAC]
DOMASCO introduced Chinese GAC
brand for Qatar with the GA3, the GA5
sedan and GS5 SUV.

Lexus
For the premium luxury brand the
headlines was the regional introduction
of the all-new NX 200t SUV.

12 MAR 2015

This event is held in the Qatar National

Convention Centre under the patronage
HE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa
Al-Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister
of the Interior of the State of Qatar.

Volkswagen

Bugatti

The inventor of the Golf GTI presented

a show car which was originally
created as a computer generated car
in bits and bytes for the PlayStation3
classic Gran Turismo 6: the GTI
Roadster, Vision Gran Turismo. VW
also introduced the new Jetta and fire
breathing new Golf R.

Officially, the worlds fastest streetlegal car, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super
Sport World Record Car (WRC) Edition
was presented. It may be recalled that
on July 3, 2010, the Guinness record
was set by Pierre-Henri Raphanel at the
VW Ehra-Lessien proving grounds near
Wolfsburg.

Ferrari

Motorcycles

Ferraris California T, its first

turbocharged offering took centre
stage for the brand while the world
waits for the 488 GTB reveal in Europe
next month.

Alfardan Motorcycles launched 2015s

latest motorcycle models at the
stand which included the New Ducati
Scrambler, the new Triumph Street
Triple LSX and Triumph Tiger 800 XRx.

Bentley

BMW

Kevin Rose, Board Member for sales

and marketing at Bentley Motors Ltd
introduced the brands fastest ultraluxury 530bhp/1,100 Nm Mulsanne
Speed.

Alfardan Automobiles hosted Middle

East debut of the all-new BMW X6M
and X5M. Other interesting cars at the
stands included the 1957 BMW Isetta
300 bubble car

Toyota
Toyotas FT-86 Open Concept was once
again presented and people are still
wondering will it ever be green lighted
for production?

Porsche

Porsche led the field with four regional

premieres including the 911 Targa 4
GTS, Cayenne GTS and Cayenne Turbo S
and Panamera Exclusive Series.

Infiniti
Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co brought to
the show the latest enhanced version
of flagship full size SUV, 2015 QX80.

Jaguar Land Rover

Alfardan Automobiles hosted the
regional introduction of the Jaguar XE
and Range Rover Sport SVR

Chevrolet
Jaidah Automotive and GM top brass
including Maurice Williams & Jeroen
Barwegen, unveiled the Silverado
Reaper pick-up, Tahoe Z71 and Corvette
convertible C7.

Lamborghini

Renault

Audi

The French brand displayed the Twizzy,

its full electric city car.

Lamborghini Doha showcased the

Lamborghini Huracn LP 610-4

The latest variant from the new TT

family, the TTS was presented.

Top performers
honoured by
Nissan
Nissan Middle East has honoured its top

performing sales executives and service

technicians from throughout the region
at a gala event in Dubai as it reaffirms
customer experience excellence is
top priority. The Dubai occasion was
to announce winners of Nissan Middle
Easts annual Regional Skills Contest.
Selected candidates had already won their
categories in their respective countries.
The first place under the Nissan Service
Advisor Excellency Competency Award
(NISAC) category was won by Munazir
Sayed from Arabian Automobile Co
in Dubai while the first position under
the Nissan Sales Executive Excellence
Competency Award (NISEC) category
went to Firas Ahmad from the Jordan
dealership. Satheesh RamanKutty
from Y K Almoayyed & Sons in Bahrain
was presented with the first place for
the Nissan Parts Executive Excellence
Competency Award (NIPAC).
The Best Performing NSC award was
given to Arabian Automobiles Co in Dubai.
The oldest and most coveted category
is Nissan Service Technical Excellence
Competency Award (NISTEC), now in its
18th year.
The first place under the NISTEC category
was won by Darwin George from the
A. A. Al Babtain Co in Kuwait. Other
winners included Majith Komath from A.
A. Al Babtain Co in Kuwait (NISTEC), Dan
Setunga from Arabian Automobiles Co in
Dubai (NISTEC), Kenan Huervana from
Saleh Al Hamed Al Mana in Qatar (NISAC),
Waseem Roshdi from Bustami & Saheb
Trading Co in Jordan (NISAC), Chadi Abdul
Khalek from Al Masaood Automobiles Co
in Abu Dhabi (NISEC), David Ghanameh
from Arabian Autmobiles Co in Dubai
(NISEC), Madhi Hossein from Al Masaood
Autmobiles Co in Abu Dhabi (NIPEC) and
Hany Sayed from Saleh Alhamad Almana
Co in Qatar (NIPEC).
Nissan has ambitious sales targets for the
Middle East and aims to sell 300,000 units
a year in the Middle East by April 2017.
MAR 2015

13

Nissan designer
honoured
More SUVs from Volkswagen planned
Volkswagen plans to have one SUV in every segment in the future and the
German automaker has started giving hints about what could be offered
beginning with the upcoming Polo SUV that will join the likes of the Touareg
and Tiguan which are already available in the line-up. In a recent statement,
Volkswagen said that the automaker plans to have a minimum of one SUV in
each segment. With the B-segment SUV space showing tremendous potential
globally, the company believes that a Polo based SUV will fit perfectly in its
line-up. The B-segment SUV is currently occupied by mostly European brand like
the Renault Captur, Nissan Juke, Opel Mokka and Ford EcoSport. New players
in the segment like Honda with its HR-V and Mazda with its CX-3 are all set to
join the growing bandwagon this year in Europe. The Polo based SUV could be
heavily influenced by the T-ROC concept, which itself based on the Golfs MQB
platform which has been the basis for the Polo based rendering pictured above.
Volkswagen is also working on two new full-sized SUVs based on the MQB
platform namely the CrossBlue and CrossBlue Coupe that will be first launched
in the US and China.

Shiro Nakamura, Nissans Senior Vice

President of Design and Chief Creative
Officer was honoured at the International
Automobile Festival in Paris last month.
Nakamura San was declared the winner
of the Grand Prix du Design and he
received the honour in recognition of his
illustrious career in automotive design
that has spanned four decades. Shiro
Nakamura said: I am very grateful to the
jury for selecting me for this prestigious
honour - but really this award should be
given to my entire global design team.
I feel I am receiving it on their behalf.
Nakamura Sans responsibilities include
the design of all vehicles under the Nissan
brand, plus those of Infiniti, the companys
premium arm and Datsun, the companys
budget brand.

British branded vehicles to play key roles in next Bond flick

Its no secret that the James
Bond franchise of films has
a special relationship with
cars especially British
marques. Traditionally, the
most familiar automotive
brand by far has been Aston
Martin, but Jaguars and Land
Rovers have also have had a
fair share of role playing in
recent titles. For the 23rd flick
which is slated for release in

14 MAR 2015

theatres early in November,

we are aware that a specially
crafted one-off Aston Martin
DB10 will be Bonds exclusive
transport and now news has
broken about the supporting
role candidates [cars]. And
its also no coincidence that
Aston Martin celebrates 50
years of being associated
with 007.
The supporting role line-up

will include the Jaguar C-X75

and heavily modified versions
of the Land Rover Defender
and Range Rover Sport SVR.
The C-X75 will be featured
in a spectacular car chase
sequence through Rome,
alongside the Aston Martin
DB10. Meanwhile, the Range
Rover Sport and Land Rover
Defender Big Foot edition
will be presented in scenes

filmed in Austria. The latter

SUV has been outfitted with
37in wheels, a customised
lift suspension system and
several modifications to
protect the bodywork.
Meanwhile, the Jaguar C-X75
supercar has been built
through a partnership with
JLRs Special Operations
division and Williams
Advanced Engineering.

Renault and Lexus release details of cars for Playstation

Gran Turismo 6
Fans of the hugely popular
Sony Playstation racing
simulator will be delighted
to get their hands on two
brand new cars in the games
version 6. Following a
massive leak last month and
two teasers later, Renault
revealed virtual details of
its new GT. Renault says the
concept is the fruit of the
collective imagination of

the designers and engineers

entrusted with developing
the 21st Century Alpine that
is due to appear soon in the
game. The virtual racing car
is powered by V8 4.5-litre
petrol engine with 450hp
released at 6,500rpm and
580Nm coming at 2,000
rpm. It is mated to a sevenspeed sequential gearbox
and drives the rear wheels.

The overall weight is 900 kg

with 47:53 front:rear axle
weight distribution, while the
top speed is 320 km/h. The
Alpine Vision Gran Turismo
will be available as part of
a complimentary update
for the Gran Turismo 6 for
PlayStation 3 this month.
Lexus also joins the latest in
the ever-expanding lineup
of Vision Gran Turismo cars

for gamers with LF-LC GT,

which is based on the Lexus
LF-LC Concept. It is also Lexus
designers vision of a race
version of what might be lead
into production of a possible
sports coupe. It adopts the
chrome-on-white livery seen
on the RC F GT3 when Lexus
announced a new worldwide
racing program at the Detroit
Auto Show.

Automans take

The Vision Gran Turismo project asks automakers to submit their ultimate expressions of racing machines for the Gran Turismo 6 video
game. Thus far, automakers including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, VW, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Aston Martin, Toyota, Infiniti, Chevrolet, Mazda,
Renault Alpine have contributed.

Jeep confirms Compass, Patriot

replacement
Evidence that the Jeep line-up is being consolidated now comes from Jeeps brand
director in the US, Jim Morrison. Morrison recently has confirmed that the brands
slow moving Compass and Patriot crossovers will be replaced by a single new model.
Those two models will become one, said Morrison. And going by the projects
internal code Compatriot, the new model will slot between the Cherokee and
Renegade. Both the Compass and Patriot are currently based on the Dodge Caliber
platform, while the smaller and new Renegade is a close relative to the Fiat 500X.
The replacement is not expected to be unveiled until 2016 at the earliest. Meanwhile,
as part of the brands expansion is also rumoured a new entry-level crossover that
would be sold below the Renegade, along with a new range-topper that could revive
the erstwhile Wagoneer name. Its too early to speculate whether Fiat Chrysler
Automobiles [FCA] will look at its Italian parts bin resources for the new model.

JLR looking at US
seriously for new
production base
North American state of Georgia has held
high-level talks with Jaguar Land Rover to
establish a new production facility within
the state. This follows reports from last year
that the British automaker was considering a
new production base in the southern United
States. According to The Atlanta JournalConstitution, Georgia Governor Nathan
Deal met with JLR executives in the UK last
month to discuss a possible development
deal. The Tata-owned automaker has a few
production bases outside of the UK, but
none in North America. The proposed plant
would have an annual production capacity of
200,000 units.
MAR 2015

15

Rolls-Royce officially
announces plans for a
crossover
In an open letter to media today, Rolls-Royce Chairman Peter
Schwarzenbauer and Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes
surprised motoring aficionados all over the world after they
confirmed the company was working on an all-new model with
exceptional presence, elegance and purpose. The top executives
avoided calling it a crossover but suggested the new model addition
will be a high-bodied car that can cross any terrain. They went
on to say the model will be extremely luxurious and worthy of
carrying the Spirit of Ecstasy into the future. No time line has been
suggested but the executive letter did mention the production
model will be based on an all-new aluminium architecture.

Automans take

Arguably, this is an interesting development in the world of

motoring as it involves a British high end uber luxury carmaker.
Since no major engineering details have been released, as
independent observers we think Rolls-Royce has several options
to begin with. The base will be aluminium space frame. Given
the possible dimensions, the forthcoming X7s underpinnings
could be used. For powertrain theres a choice of using
the current 6.75-litre V12 or go for a high output bi-turbo V8
with hybridization for extra torque. The key out here will be
weight management and performance. Also the type of AWD
technology to be used is also a major consideration in view of
the cars promised job description. Will it be a derivative of the
X-Drive that BMW currently uses in its X models or will be rearwheel drive with electric motors attached to the front wheels
and electronically synchronized? Last, but not the least, place
of manufacture. Given the fact that BMW Group has invested
US$1.08bn in its Spartanburg, North Carolina production facility
for the X7 assembly, a sensible idea would be to source the
chassis, stampings and unibody panels from this US facility,
engines hardware in CKD [completely knocked down] form from
Munich, Germany and final assembly and bespoke operations
in UK. Should Rolls-Royce opt for the V8 hybrid option, the new
machine could also pacify purists since it is an all-new model and
also gives Rolls-Royce the opportunity to look at downsizing,
which in turn will help create new variants and to some extent
help in meeting CAF regulations.

16 MAR 2015

Mitsubishi-Renault
partnership on
rebadged cars?

Design award for Hyundai

Hyundai Motor has once again received
international recognition for its vehicle
design from the prestigious iF Design
Awards jury. The New Generation i20
has won the iF Design Award 2015
in the Product discipline, under
the Automobiles / Vehicles / Bikes
category.
The award recognises the refined
design of the newest addition to
Hyundai Motors car line-up. The
distinctive appearance of the New
Generation i20 was influenced by the
latest interpretation of the companys
Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy,

characterised by the cars clean and

elegant lines and the prominent
hexagonal grille that marks it out as
a Hyundai. Peter Schreyer, President
and Chief Design Officer of Hyundai
Motor Group, said: Its an honour for
Hyundai to be once again internationally
recognised in the iF Design Awards, with
New Generation i20 following the success
of All-New Genesis last year. Design plays
a core role in shaping our brand and
driving consumer purchases of Hyundai
cars, so were delighted to receive such
a prestigious accolade from a respected
authority on design.

Hyundai retail identity

programme unveiled in
UK

Hyundai Motor UK has revealed the

first UK dealerships to feature the
companys new global dealer branding.
The significant change goes further
than the traditional car showroom
and reflects the advances in design
and quality of the companys vehicles
and will further position the dealer network for the brands next phase of growth.
Referred to as the Global Dealership Space Identity (GDSI), the end result features
extensive use of glass, premium ceramic floors, uncluttered and sophisticated
furniture and, perhaps most notably, bold exterior signage. As well as the new
exterior signage, flagship dealerships will feature extensive bronze exterior cladding
ensuring a highly distinctive appearance.

We are aware that Mitsubishis plan

to offer two rebadged Renault sedans
recently fell through. Now, a new report
suggests that both sides are reconsidering
the matter. Reportedly, Mitsubishi is
talking to Nissan about the possibility of
working together on at least one sedan. A
Mitsubishi spokesperson said that a Lancer
successor will be given priority since its
a global model. Meanwhile, the Galant
replacement is on an indefinite hold.

Faulty airbags
fiasco continues
to hurt automajors

Many car companies are now planning

to change their airbag suppliers after
facing expensive repeated recalls due to
ineffective procedures to remove defects
among other technical issues. Big names
like Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Honda and
Toyota will recall close to 2.1mn vehicles in
the US alone to fix faulty airbag modules.
These vehicles had all previously been
recalled, but the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration found that the
airbags could still malfunction at some
point. NHTSA has reportedly received
about 40 reports of airbag deployment in
such vehicles, even though the vehicle had
not been involved in a crash.

Jaguar special
operations looking at XK
SS for limited production

Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Managing Director

John Edwards has revealed the company could revive
the Jaguar XK SS for a limited production run. Edwards
said the company is looking for a follow up to the new
Lightweight E-Type that was introduced last year and the
company was considering three or four models and the
XK SS is a major contender. Twenty five XK SS models
were built but nine of them were destroyed in a fire. This
gives the model an interesting back story which Edwards
says is a requirement for recreating classic models.

MAR 2015

17

Superbowl commercials revealed a lot

of stories from Nissan
2014s Super Bowl was the most watched
television program in U.S. television
history with over 110 million viewers and
no wonder advertisers see this as their
best medium to convey messages.
Nissan has declared itself ready to take on
the worlds best sports car manufacturers
after revealing a glimpse of its Le Mans
challenger - the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo during the Super Bowl XLIX commercial
break.
The 2015 game was therefore the perfect
opportunity for Nissans With Dad
commercial to air for the first time,
revealing the much-anticipated Nissan

GT-R LM Nismo, the car that will take on

the best in the world in the race to glory
at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
In a bold move, the Japanese
manufacturer has interpreted the sports
technical regulations in an innovative
way, producing a front-engined, front
wheel drive car that is powered by a V6
3.0-litre twin turbo petrol engine and a
kinetic energy recovery system.
It gave us great pride to reveal the
Nissan GT-R LM Nismo during the Super
Bowl, said Roel de Vries, global head of
Marketing and Brand Strategy at Nissan.
The combination of the Super Bowl and

the Le Mans 24 Hours - two of the most

watched sporting events in the world presented us with a unique opportunity
to showcase our most ambitious
motorsport program in recent times.
The new car will contest the LM P1
class of the FIA World Endurance
Championship, the highest category
in world sports car racing. Starting at
Silverstone, UK on April 12, 2015, the
series travels around the world to Spa in
Belgium, onto the Le Mans 24 Hours and
Germanys Nrburgring, before going
global with races in the U.S., Japan,
China and the Middle East.

Hybrid powertrain for

next GT-R?
Another evocative sports car whose future has been debated the world
over. Yes, we are referring to the mighty Godzilla Nissans current
GT-R. With Nissan and Nismo engineers have extracted the most out the
current GT-R while marketing pundits have toyed with special limited
editions. The question that has been looming all long what to expect
from the GT-R successor?
Nissan has been presenting at motor shows and at petrol head events
like Goodwood a possible idea for a future sports car concept called 2020
Vision Gran Turismo. Design of the concept suggests it could be midengined, an in reality if that was to happen, then we are looking at an
all-new class of car.
However, as we know how Nissan operates, it is unlikely that the
incoming GT-R will be based on new architecture. And some light of the
future package has been shared by the carmakers chief creative officer,
Shiro Nakamura. Nakamura San has said that the next-generation GT-R
will be equipped with a hybrid powertrain and could borrow some design
elements from the concept. Meanwhile, GT-R chief engineer Kazutoshi
Mizuno San in an interview with media has said that the GT-R will always
remain as a front-engined 2+2-seater coupe. Rumours now suggest that
the flagship coupe will carry over with an improved twin-turbocharged
3.8-litre V6, paired with a 134hp electric motor. If true, the combined
output should 800hp. Nissan is in no hurry to launch the GT-R successor
and the new replacement model will arrive in 2018 at the earliest.
18 MAR 2015

Yamaha launches carbon edition of

V-Max
To mark 30 years since the arrival of the original VMAX, Yamahas Sport Heritage
range is strengthened with the introduction of the exclusive VMAX Carbon. Back
in 1985, the launch of the original Yamaha VMAX added a whole new dimension
to the motorcycle marketplace. With its brutal drag-bike inspired styling and
awesome acceleration, it offered customers the chance to experience a new level
of performance. Not only that, but the VMAX was also instrumental in firing the
imagination of a new generation of custom builders all over the world. Based
on the current 1,679cc 200PS V4 model, this iconic special edition combines
outstanding muscle bike performance with cutting edge style. The VMAX
Carbons tank cover, front and rear fenders and side covers are all manufactured
from lightweight carbon fibre - and for an even more evocative V4 growl this
special edition comes equipped with upswept Akrapovic slip-on mufflers.

Bugatti may not build

Veyron successor
Will the current Veryon ultimately end up as a
collectors piece is probably what people are asking
in view of nearing end-of-cycle of the current
Veyron and the six-part special edition series, Les
Lgendes de Bugatti? Bugatti management has
been mum on the subject till now.

German family auto brand Borgward to

stage comeback
Almost half a century later, one of Germanys automotive brands, Borgward, is being
revived with the first new model heading to the Geneva motor show this month.
Christian Borgward, grandson of company founder Carl F.W. Borgward, alongside
business partner Karlheinz L. Knss, have announced their intention to bring the brand
back. We began shaping and designing the future of Borgward nearly ten years ago and
are now ready for the next step. Incorporating the values and cutting-edge technologies
that Borgward stood for, combined with our ambition, drive and commitment to
succeed, I believe we are now perfectly placed to open up this plan.
Between 1919 and 1961 Borgward was one of Germanys biggest car companies. It built
more than a million vehicles and its claims to fame included being the first German car
maker to develop an aerodynamically styled production vehicle, the first German car
maker to offer self-levelling air suspension and the first company in the country to realize
that a vehicle that that combined the performance and handling of a sportscar with the
comfort of a limousine could be hugely popular. Unfortunately the company fell on hard
times and went out of business in 1961.

Erstwhile GM
bands unlikely to
be revived
General Motors CEO Mary Barra said in
a recent media event that the company
doesnt miss the retired or sold Saturn,
SAAB, Hummer and Pontiac brands. These
brands were consciously discontinued
during GMs 2008-2009 bankruptcy and
restructuring period. This can only mean
that Saturn, Hummer and Pontiac will
not be revived in the near future, at least
not while Barra is at the helm of General
Motors.
MAR 2015

19

GENEVA AUTO SALON SPECIAL

The 85th edition of the worlds only neutral venue promises to be an enriching
experience for everyone associated with motoring. Automan reveals details of some of
the new production and concept cars that are expected grab headlines
Ask any regular international motor show visitor, the Geneva Auto Salon packs in a punch thats rarely emulated in
other venues. The politically neutral platform attracts participants from all over the world ranging from volume players,
tuners, low volume players and makers of exotic merchandise. As confidence in the world economy grows, till now the
signals emerging from the automotive industry are healthy and this aspect is reflected in the respective presentations.
In this issue of Automan, we present some pre-show trailers.

Geneva Special Preview

2015 Porsche Cayman GT4

What a month its been for performance fans. Less than

24 hours after the covers came off Fords Focus RS
and Ferraris 488 GTB, we now have the first details of
Porsches new Cayman GT4
Author: Chandan B Mallik

20 MAR 2015

Technical aspects of this new Cayman GT4

car are based on the 911 GT3 and it follows
the conceptual tradition of such cars as the
904 GTS, 911 GT1, Carrera GT and 918
Spyder

or years, theres been a global debate

regarding two Porsche products in
particular. The debate revolves around
which is a better sports car -- the 911 or
the Cayman? And it seems that there are
aficionados supporting both camps with equal
zeal. For now, it seems that Cayman fans have
something to be really happy about following
the announcement of a GT4 derivative of the
Cayman.
So, the big question is: whats the deal and
what makes it so significant in the Porsche
line-up? To begin with, this is officially the first
Porsche GT sports car based on the Cayman
whose technical aspects are based on the 911
GT3 and it follows the conceptual tradition of
such cars as the 904 GTS, 911 GT1, Carrera GT
and 918 Spyder.
From the way the Cayman GT4 has been
packaged, it seems that Porsche very much
like Ferrari has been toying with the idea of
offering dual-purpose stock, track-oriented
machines for gentlemen drivers.
Performance credentials have already been set
with this engineering package. The Cayman
GT4 has successfully clocked a lap time of
7min and 40secs on the North Loop of the
Nrburgring. This means the Cayman GT4 has
clocked the same lap time as the 2011 911 GT3
and therefore is in a comfortable position to
project itself as the new benchmark in the
market segment it represents.
And the first cues of these are evident
when you look at the exterior treatment
of the sheetmetal. The biggest clues are
the three pronounced inlet openings at
the front and a large fixed rear wing are
part of an aerodynamic package which is
systematically designed for downforce. Upon
request, Porsche says that the performance
capabilities of Cayman GT4 can be taken even
further. Options include the Porsche Ceramic
Composite Brake (PCCB) system, full bucket
seats made of carbon fiber composite, and
a custom Sport Chrono Package featuring a
Track Precision app. Meanwhile, the car sits
30mm lower than the regular Cayman and this
arrangement is claimed to GT3 inspired.
The car is powered by a 385hp, 3.8-litre flat-six
engine located mid-ship. Unlike the GT3 which
can only be had with a dual-clutch transmission,
the Cayman GT4 will be offered only with a sixspeed manual transmission. So, you can forget
Porsches faster than manual 7-speed Porsche
Doppelkupplung (PDK) gearbox as of now.
The tangible advantage of not having the PDK
set-up is twofold. First, it saves around 15kg
of mass and thereby offers a better power-toweight ratio and secondly, it allows the driver
to be more in control. On the performance
front, the extra power reduces the Cayman
GT4s 0-to-96km/h sprint to 4.2secs, which
means it is a half second quicker than the
340hp Cayman GTS, and bumps top speed up
to 183 mph.
MAR 2015

21

Geneva Special Preview

2015 Ferrari 488 GTB

Turbo boost for

Maranellos smallest midengined car could change
the way how supercars
of the future will move
forward, says Automan
Author: Chandan B Mallik

22 MAR 2015

he metamorphosis of Maranellos
forthcoming Gran Turismo Berlinetta
or GTB from normally-aspirated
machine to a forced-fed set-up may have
a result of the regulatory environment
practices, but Ferrari engineers have toiled
hard to ensure that the replacement of
the epic 458 Italia is better than the car it
replaces.
The interesting fact with the incoming 488
GTB is that this mid-engined V8 supercar
arrives four decades after the debut of the
first 308 GTB. It may be remembered that
it was the 308 GTB the launched Ferrari
into the segment officially.

The unique selling proposition of the 488

GTB and the core engineering focus is that
this car has been designed to offer tracklevel performance even in stock form that
can be enjoyed to the full even by nonprofessional drivers in everyday use.
To achieve the given business objectives,
the new berlinetta encapsulates Ferraris
experience in both F1 and the World
Endurance Championships. Where
the outgoing 458 GT holds the World
Championship title and has won its
category in the last two editions of the
24 Hours of Le Mans, the new model
also exploits to the full the know-how

gleaned by Ferrari technicians over the last

decade through the XX programme which
is devoted exclusively in the design and
manufacturing of extreme track-only cars
for gentleman drivers.
Designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre, the
new car features very sculptural flanks
which are the key to its character. Its large
signature air intake scallop is a nod to the
original 308 GTB and is divided into two
sections by a splitter. The circular LED tail
lights have also been redesigned.
Inside the well-appointed cabin, theres
seamless integration of the new satellite
control clusters, angled air vents and
instrument panel. There are plenty of
classic Ferrari styling elements too, such
as the separated section between the
dashboard and tunnel, the multifunctional
steering wheel, the control switches and
the wraparound sports seats. The graphics
and interface of the infotainment screen
have also been upgraded from the 458
while the design of the cars new key takes
its inspiration from the cars cylinder banks
and allows keyless starts.
Besides the design and user-friendly cabin,
core to the cars performance is the new
3,902cc V8 bi-turbo engine. Ferrari claims
this engine is at the top of its class for
power output, torque and response times,
making it the new benchmark for this kind
of architecture. The engine unleashes
661bhp at 8,000 rpm along with 760Nm
of maximum torque in seventh gear and
a response time to the accelerator of just
0.8 seconds at 2,000 rpm. These figures
permit the car to accelerate from 0-200
km/h in 8.3sec flat. Compared to the 458
Speciales performance, the smaller by
600cc engine offers extra 64 horses and
impressive torque boost. Despite all the
extra plumbing, the car doesnt gain any

The unique selling

proposition of the
488 GTB is that it
has been designed
to provide track-level
performance that
can be enjoyed to
the full even by nonprofessional drivers in
everyday use.

weight and tips the scale at 1,370kg.

Torque management has also been a focus
area during development. Factoring in the
possible effects of turbo lag, the gearbox
comes with variable torque management
feature. This system ensures that the
driver gets a fat, flat torque band available
across the entire rev range. Furthermore,
the gear ratios ensure progressive
acceleration when the driver floors
the throttle. Ferrari engineers have also
dedicated great attention to perfecting
the 488 GTBs sound track!
The cars overall performance also
benefits from extensive wind tunnel
testing which has helped it to be the most
slippery surfaced car from the brand.
Its Cd 1.67 figure is a new record for a
production Ferrari and results in 50 per
cent more downforce than the previous
model and considerable reduction in drag
-- thanks in no small part to the active
diffuser that necessitated moving the
exhaust pipes upwards, a double front
spoiler, base bleed side intakes and, at
the rear, active aerodynamics coupled
with a blown spoiler. The aerodynamic
underbody, which incorporates vortex
generators and a blown diffuser [now
banned in Formula One] is claimed to be
highly sophisticated.
Thats not all. Theres more to the 488
GTB than the turbocharged engine and
a slippery body. Ferrari claims that it has
revised the electronic Side Slip Control
system, effectively a second-generation
system that is more precise and less
invasive. The revised Side Slip Control 2
(SSC2) system now which also controls the
active dampers and working in tandem
with the F1-Trac and E-Diff systems to keep
it on the razors edge without sliding off
of it.

MAR 2015

23

Geneva Special Preview

2016 Ford Focus RS

Ford has previewed its

30th RS badged model
the all-new thirdgeneration 2015 Focus
RS as a high-performance
model with new
technology applications
a few weeks before its
official European unveil.
Author: Chandan B Mallik

24 MAR 2015

wo generations of Fords hot hatch,

the Focus RS has been entertaining
enthusiasts since 2002. When
introduced, the Mark1 Focus RS was
fairly subtle by Ford standards, and its
successor Mark2 which came in 2009 took
performance to the next level. The latter
had a 300hp turbocharged 2.5-litre fivecylinder engine and some neat tricks to
control its somewhat unruly behaviour
of this front-wheel drive machine, mainly
related to understeer and unpredictability.
Ford engineers were aware of this and
hence employed their trick RevoKnuckle
front suspension, a Quaife limited-slip diff

and ESP -- which together did a great job

of putting the power down and managing
the torque-steer while still providing plenty
of involvement. The aficionado wish list
included four-wheel drive and with the
Mark3, Ford seems to have taken the issue
seriously ensured better management of
the hot hatchs power by introducing rear
axle into the game.
The vehicles exterior design has also
been developed to support the dynamic
objectives. Careful aerodynamic
optimisation of the front splitter, rear
spoiler and underbody features eliminates
lift forces, and the final design delivers a

balanced performance with zero lift front

and rear for optimum high-speed handling
and stability.
Other exclusive chassis features include
sports suspension with spring rates, bushes
and anti-roll-bars all of which are stiffer than
those found in the Focus ST, and two-mode
switchable dampers, which offer a firmer
setting for track driving. A carefully tuned
electric power-assisted steering system,
working in combination with a more rigid
front suspension knuckle design and
shorter link arms, delivers connected and
responsive steering with outstanding feel.
Ford engineers also worked with Michelin
to develop a selection of tyres. The car can
be shod with high-performance 235/35 R19
tyres or a standard Pilot Super Sport tyre
for every-day use. And for the first time on
an RS, an optional Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyre for
enhanced vehicle dynamics on the track has
also been developed.
The cars AWD system is based on twin
electronically-controlled clutch packs on
each side of the rear drive unit. These
manage the cars front/rear torque split,
and also can control the side-to-side torque
distribution on the rear axle - delivering the
torque vectoring capability, which has a
dramatic impact on handling and cornering
stability. The control unit in the rear drive
unit continuously varies the front/rear and
side-to-side torque distribution to suit the
current driving situation, monitoring inputs
from multiple vehicle sensors 100 times per
second. A maximum of 70 per cent of the
drive torque can be diverted to the rear
axle. Up to 100 per cent of the available
torque at the rear axle can be sent to each
rear wheel.

The Focus RS has been

developed by a small team
of Ford Performance
engineers in Europe and
US and is the 30th car
to wear the RS badge.
Technology trendsetters
wearing the RS badge
include the 16-valve 1970
Escort RS1600, the
turbocharged Sierra RS
Cosworth of 1985 with
its radical aerodynamics,
and the four-wheeldrive 1992 Escort RS
Cosworth.

During cornering, the rear drive unit preemptively diverts torque to the outer rear
wheel immediately based on inputs such as
steering wheel angle, lateral acceleration,
yaw and speed. This torque transfer has the
effect of driving the car into the bend,
achieving improved turn-in and stability,
and virtually eliminating understeer.
Ford claims that its AWD system has been
tuned to deliver exceptional grip [with
lateral acceleration exceeding 1G] and classleading cornering speed and acceleration
out of a bend. With neutral and adjustable
limit handling, and the ability to achieve
controlled oversteer drifts at the track.
With these, Ford says the Focus RS is
designed to deliver the ultimate fun-todrive experience.
Like its predecessor, the incoming Focus
RS gets a forced fed power plant. The
key difference is that it is 200cc and onecylinder less, but in terms of output is
more potent. The car gets equipped with
a special version of the 2.3-litre EcoBoost
engine which uses turbocharging and direct
injection and is programmed to produce
well in excess of 320PS. The all-new Focus
RS is the first ever RS model that will be
sold around the world and will be produced
for all markets at Fords Saarlouis,
Germany, manufacturing plant beginning
late this year.
The new Focus RS represents Ford at its
passionate best - delivering innovation,
unmatched driving dynamics and stunning
performance that was previously the sole
province of high-priced performance luxury
marques and exotics, said Jim Farley,
president, Ford of Europe, Middle East and
Africa. We are aware of the benchmarks
we have set ourselves with RS performance
models through the years, and rest assured
that this new car raises the game to a new
level.
Gymkhana and World Rallycross star Ken
Block was brought on as a consultant on
the all-new Focus RS and joined the Ford
Performance team at the preview event in
Cologne, Germany.

MAR 2015

25

Geneva Special Preview

2015 Renault Kadjar

Renault broadens its SUV footprint in

the C-segment with the launch of the
all-new 2015 Kadjar crossover. The
official launch takes place next month in
Geneva. Automan has the first details
Author: Chandan B Mallik

26 MAR 2015

his may come as a surprise to some,

but for many familiar with the
trappings of the global automotive
business, its a pre-motor show teaser
announcement. Instead of offering the
information in bits and pieces as a build
up to the official Geneva motor show
reveal next month, Renault was quick to
release full details of its all-new crossover
SUV after engineering a leaked image on
social media.
Renault has also gone lengths in explain

the logic behing the Kadjar name. The company says it is

based on two words: Kad is inspired by quad to represent a
go-anywhere four-wheeled vehicle and Jar recalls the French
words agile and jaillir respectively representing agility and
suddenly emerging from somewhere.
In keeping with the new design language, this new C-segment
crossover shares some of its DNA with the recently introduced
Captur crossover. New design cues also come from the DeZir
Concept and this means the car features soft organic lines as
opposed to aggressive angular ones, optional LED headllamps
and a Clio-hatchback inspired rear end. Theres also a
complete underbody protection and 19-inch alloy wheels,
available at an extra price.
Mechanically, the Kadjar uses the same RenaultNissan
Alliance Common Module Family [CMF] platform which is also
used in the Nissan Qashqai. The advantage of this set-up is
that it allows the slightly smaller than the Qashai 4,450mm
[4,520mm Qashqai] long car to be offered with both front- and
four-wheel drive configurations.
When it hits the markets, Renault has promised the
production model will come furnished with high-quality
interior appointments and dollops of modern equipment.
High end features include double row stitching on the seats,
door pads instrument panel and advanced connectivity with
the R-Link 2 multimedia system. Practical solutions will be
top on the agenda for occupants. Courtesy of handles located

This sibling to the Captur shakes up

established thinking by bringing an
innovative and attractive proposition
to the crossover market. The Renault
Kadjar stands out through its fluid,
athletic exterior styling.
in the boot, the Easy Estate system automatically unlocks
and folds the 60/40-split rear seats. Additionally, the front
passenger seat can be tipped forward. The two different boot
configurations make it possible to choose between a high
position with a completely flat floor or to low position to
help provide maximum carrying capacity.
Drivers of the all-wheel-drive versions will get choice of three
driving modes (Auto, LOCK and 2WD), allowing drivers to
select the ideal transmission option for any given situation.
Meanwhile, two-wheel-drive versions get extended grip
feature which enhances traction in difficult conditions. The car
will be offered with 190mm ground clearance and up to 19in
(depending on version) wheel combos which will complement
the cars approach and departure angles of 18 and 25 degrees
respectively. Front and rear skid plates protect the vehicles
underbody, while the stainless steel boot sill guard protects
against damage and dirt.
Although powertrain details have not been officially revealed,
the Kadjar will be offered with range of engines which
position it at the forefront of the segment in terms of low
fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In terms of positioning,
market is speculating that this lifestyle crossover will replace
the Koleos. The Kadjar will be unveiled to the public for the
first time at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show which opens on
March 5, 2015.

MAR 2015

27

Hyundai

The key message from Hyundai relates to

its popular small SUV. Hyundai plans to
re-market the Tucson badge as it global
model. In some markets, the Tucson is
being sold as the ix35. A teaser sketch
has been released and from it seems
that the new Tucson will incorporate the
latest features and cues from the Fluidic
Sculpture design language as it evolves
and also get closer to the Santa Fe in
profile.

Infiniti

Nissans premium luxury arm prepares to take on the likes of

the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 with the QX30. The brand promises
to reignite the premium compact segment SUV with the QX30
which has the sleek lines of a coup and the rugged looks and
commanding seating position of a crossover. Infinitis sole teaser
image of the actual car released last month highlighted the cars
rear, revealing a pair of trapezoidal exhausts that have been
integrated into the rear bumper which is set particularly high to
allow open space between the slim ribbons of the LED taillamps.
The QX30 will be mechanically based on the same platform of the
Q30 hatchback and will be built at Nissans Sunderland UK facility.

Mitsubishi

The Japanese brand is promoting plug-in hybrids and has been

showcasing concepts like the GC-PHEV. Similar concepts have
been showed at Tokyo in 2013, Chicago on 2014 and in Detroit
this year. The accompanying teaser image is an indicator of a
possible design study evolution as it seems to have retained
several design features of the concept last shown in Paris last
year. The Paris concept was believed to be the replacement
of the Outander. As of now theres no official word, so we will
have to wait for the reveal this month for exact details

Mclaren

Britain-based McLaren will present two cars -- the 675LT and the
P1 GTR. The 675LT, the first McLaren in nearly two decades to
wear the LT or Longtail name, will stay true to the spirit of its
iconic predecessor with aerodynamically optimised, dramatically
enhanced styling that results in 40 percent more downforce than
the 650S which it will sit alongside in the McLaren Super Series.
A total power output of 675PS (666bhp), and torque figure of
700 Nm (516 lb ft) plus a focus on weight saving will ensure an
electrifying, engaging and visceral driving experience. The P1 GTR
which is being production tested is based on the McLaren P1 road
car. Its design concept further optimises the aerodynamically
efficient shrink-wrapped body shape in order to offer maximum
performance, superior handling characteristics and optimised
driver engagement on track and through significant weightsaving measures and track-optimisation of the petrol-electric
powertrain, the P1 GTR will boast a power-to-weight ratio
increase in excess of 10 per cent over the road-going model, to
more than 700 PS per tonne.

28 MAR 2015

Suzuki

A new crossover SUV and replacement of

Suzukis hatchback has been on the anvil
and at Geneva, the first public unveil will
take place. Meanwhile, Suzuki released
the first teaser images for the iK-2 and
iM-4 concepts that will be unveiled. The
iK-2, according to Suzuki is an ideal
compact sized car, developed with an
innovative theme of Harmonized Force,
as the producer explains. Judging by the
teaser image, it will be a C-segment hatch
or the Swift replacement. The second iM-4
appears to be a mini-SUV and Suzuki says
it will feature a compact 4x4 DNA and
new technologies, as well as distinctive
styling that will give real inspiration to
drivers. We think it will be the Jimny
replacement.

Subaru

Prior to the show, Subaru announced its plans

to bring the Euro-spec Levorg and Outback.
The Levorg was first introduced for Japan
domestic market [JDM]. The JDM-spec model
comes either a turbocharged 170hp 1.6-litre
engine or 300hp 2.0-litre turbo. Both engines
work with a CVT to send power to an all-wheel
drive system. The Outback, this one originally
came out at last years New York Auto Show
and will hit European dealerships later this
year. Meanwhile, for Europe, Subaru also says
its Lineartronic CVT will be available for the
diesel model.

Koenigsegg

Swedish supermaker Koenigsegg has

announced that it will introduce two new cars.
The first one is dubbed as the Regera, and
is positioned as a megacar. The companys
second new model will be an evolution of the
existing Agera with RS badging.

Kia

Kias European design studio, located in Frankfurt, Germany will present

thenext-gen Optima as a concept. The concept is the 11th car to be designed
by this set-up. Designers have worked to refine the existing profile and have
refreshed the detailing, particularly up front with a new bumper and LED
headlamps. The Optima concept will also come with slimmer side mirrors,
unique alloys and possibly, a panoramic roof. The exercise attempts to give
the car a more upmarket and sportier presence.
MAR 2015

29

Automakers plan
important reveals
during second US
auto show
Nissan Nismo
Nismo, which till now was seen as
performance sub-brand for Nissan
exclusively for Japans domestic markets
aficionados is now expanding its footprint
globally. After introducing the sub brand
in Europe successfully, the US will be its
next port of call.
At Chicago, Nissan will formally introduce
a NISMO street concept alongside a
number of other regular NISMO models
like the 370Z NISMO, Juke NISMO, Juke
NISMO RS, GT-R NISMO and the GT-R LM
NISMO. The Sentra NISMO concept that
originally debuted at the 2013 Los Angeles
Auto Show will also be showcased.

Toyota

Toyota is enhancing its TRD catalogue offerings by including a

passenger portfolio. The Japanese marque wants to replicate
the success of its TRD-badged trucks with similar editions of
passenger cars, with the first candidate being the Camry midsize sedan. Company president Akio Toyoda wants to freshen
up the brands image in order to broaden its appeal and attract
more young customers.
It makes sense for the Camry to be the first to receive the
Toyota Racing Development treatment taking into account
the car races in NASCAR which is the most popular motorsport
series in United States. Toyota will also be revealing the all-new
2016 Avalon sedan.
30 MAR 2015

Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi sent out teasers prior to the show and claimed
that a legend was on its way. Its save-the-date flyer
depicted an indistinguishable silhouette of a crossover sitting
on top of a sand dune as the only hint of what the Japanese
brand has in store. It seems that Mitsubishi is giving the
GC-PHEV concept its North American debut, after originally
unveiling it at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. While its purely a
concept, the vehicle is a designers rendering of what a new
Montero could look like.

Kia

Kia released the first teaser image of a

new concept which appeared to be an
off-road inspired Soul with plastic body
cladding, skid plates and unique alloy
wheels.

Infiniti is planning to showcase its expertise in high-end bespoke operations and

a limited edition QX80 Limited, will be highlighting the brands aspirations with
unsurpassed levels of craftsmanship, technology, added comfort and convenience
features over stock QX80s. Also included in this years display will be the long
wheelbase version of its top-of-the-line performance luxury sedan, the Q70L.
Infiniti claims that the Q70L offers executive levels of rear seat legroom not found
within the segment it represents. Infiniti will show its Q50 sports sedan with 19in
performance wheel package.

Hyundai

The South Korean company is expected

to show a refreshed Elantra GT. Given
the now design language philosophy it
seems it will follow in the footsteps of the
recently facelifted i30. The other debut
expected is another special edition of the
Veloster.

Infiniti

Honda

Mazda
Mazda will reveal a 2016 MX-5 accessories design concept of the companys iconic
roadster, which will preview what may be in store for those looking to personalize
their cars. Also being shown for the first time will be MX-5 merchandise design
concepts from Mazdas upcoming Heritage Collection three apparel collections
inspired by key themes of Mazdas past, present and future.

Honda crossovers should take bulk of the

brands stage place at Chicago. Honda has
already announced that it will be revealing
the all-new Pilot at the Windy City expo,
and that it will also preview the styling of
the next Ridgeline pickup, while its luxury
counterpart Acura takes the wraps off the
new RDX. Developed and built in America,
the new Pilot will be entering its third
generation. The new model previewed
in the teaser image above will include
eight seats across three rows, with new
technology, advanced safety, class-leading
fuel economy and enhanced family utility
and versatility, all wrapped in what
Honda promises will be a dramatic shift
in design. Hondas luxury division in
the US, Acura, will reveal the new 2016
RDX. For the uninitiated, the RDX is the
smaller model based on the CR-V and was
introduced in 2006. The second-gen RDX
was introduced in 2013, but a refreshed
version according to Acura promises
to deliver a long list of styling and
performance improvements plus desirable
new luxury and safety features.
MAR 2015

31

Lexus 2015 RC F Coupe

o, it has finally happened at Lexus.

The brands in-house performance
F division has delivered a genuine
high performance version of the RC
coup with its own signature. The global
premiere of the RC F Coupe took place at
the North American International Auto
Show last year and now the production
version has landed on our shores.
The idea of producing a performance
car or variant on an existing model isnt
entirely new at Lexus. In the early 2000s,
Lexus took help from TRD [Toyota Racing
Development] and produced a few cars
32 MAR 2015

for the US market. Business picked up

and things at Lexus became serious for
the luxury brand in 2006, after Lexus
filed trademark applications for an F
logo. This event also led to speculation
that the luxury brand was indeed serious
about creating a performance sub brand
as a credible alternative to the likes of
Mercedes AMG, Audis S/RS, Cadillacs
V-series, and BMWs M division, among
others. Interestingly, at the time it was
suggested that F stood for Fast
or Flagship. Later reports surmised
that F referred to the Fuji Speedway

in Japan, whose first corner, 27R, was

said to have inspired the shape of the
F emblem. In September 2001, the
first vehicle in the F marque lineup was
the IS F. The second car which made
its presence felt in the performance
community globally with the limited to
500 unit production 500hp V10-powered
LF-A supercar. After building a pure track
focused LF A supercar, Lexus, technically
joined the niche performance club. But as
it transpires, Lexus was not to be content
with a single masterpiece of engineering
excellence. And after the end of the LFA

Natural
aspirations
Luxury Japanese carmaker Lexus promises a new meaning to back to the grind, with
the all-new 2015 RC F. Automan checked out the most powerful V8 performance car
ever developed by the brand in the Sultanate last month

production, it devoted its resources in

building performance variants of regular
road going models.
The application of technology by F
division in its cars is quite a contrast to
what the Germans are doing. While
German performance brands have
resorted to downsizing [displacement and
cylinders] and use force-feeding [turbo,
supercharging or both], the deal for Lexus
in that trend is still traditional bigger
displacement normally-aspirated V8s and
so on. So whats the RC F? The RC F is now
the performance and image flagship of

Lexus.
Technically, it is a high performance
version of the RC with a shoehorned
5.0-litre V8 engine, active chassis
technologies, lightweight construction
and lots of aerodynamic elements. Since
the RC F is based on the RC, its profile
in general and dimensions are quite
similar and theres evidence of shared
components like the LED headlamps, the
radiator scoops in the front valance. But
when you see the RC and RC F side by side,
the differences become much clearer.
Although, both models share the same

2,730mm wheelbase, the RC F is 4,705mm

long, 1,390mm tall and 1,845mm wide.
When compared to the RC, the RC F is
5mm wider as a result of its flared wheel
arches, 10mm longer and 5mm lower.
The platform of this car has been given
some extra treatment in view of its
intended job description. As with cars
of this nature, high levels of torsional
rigidity and anti-flexing elements are
among the critical focus areas which also
have to support of host of additional
technology led jobs, especially in the
suspension department. We are happy
MAR 2015

33

to report that the new coupe makes

maximum use of all the knowledge and
features Lexus has acquired in rigid body
design and manufacture. Very much like
the RC, the rocker cross-section of RC F
is almost double that of IS. Building on
these oversized rocker panels as the main
element, the design also incorporates a
highly rigid front lower brace to connect
the right and left sides of the underbody.
RC F has adopted several additional floor,
engine compartment and rear partition
braces and the number of front brace
coupling points has been increased. Lexus
has used special body bonding adhesives,
laser screw welding and additional spot
welding in constructing this car which
uses steel, aluminium and carbon fibre
reinforced plastic [CFRP].
The carbon fibre reinforced plastic kit
has help in flab reduction by 10kg and
components like the bonnet, roof among
others are made of these lighter but
stronger than steel resin composites.
The RC Fs bonnet has been raised to
accommodate the bigger V8 engine and
a meshed scoop in its centre provides
additional aerodynamics, and aids in
cooling. The carbon fibre parts for the RC
F are fabricated at the Aichi plant in Japan.
When you look at the detailing closely,
theres evidence of aerodynamic

34 MAR 2015

treatment all over. There are spats and

aids along the entire length of the car
which also contribute to the wide and low
stance. The rear bumper corners have
been maximised for air flow, contributing
to the effect of the four-link active rear

The RC F is now the

performance and
image flagship of Lexus
and has a lot of depth
to its talents. Its a
vehicle that is very
comfortable to drive in
traffic or highways in
complete luxury
wing which is unique for this car, In fact,
this piece of technology comes directly
from LFA. And then there are fins at the
bottom edge of the rear bumper direct
airflow from under the car. The car
rides on 19in forged alloy wheels with
asymmetric low-profile tyres [255/35R19
front and 275/35R19 rear].

As a luxury sports car, Lexus has endowed

the RC F with high levels of kit. Standard
kit in the coupe includes leather trim,
heated and ventilated front sports
bucket seats, keyless entry/ignition, LED
headlamps with automatic high beam,
exterior and ambient interior LED lighting,
satellite navigation, a 17-speaker Mark
Levinson digital-radio-compatible sound
system. In terms of practicality, especially
cargo management, the usable space
has shrunk from 423litres in the RC350 to
366litres in the RC F.
Powering this car is an improved version of
the brands 2UR-GSE V8 series V8 5.0-litre
normally-aspirated engine. The same
power unit is also used in the IS F sedan,
but in the RC F it has been further tuned
to deliver extra 40kW of power and 25Nm
of torque. This has been made possible
through the use of new cylinder heads,
exhaust and inlet manifolds, new camshaft
profiles, as well as upgraded direct fuel
injection systems. The engineering focus
has been torque management and as a
result it features a larger throttle body
and higher-pressure injection to produce a
maximum 351kW at 7,100rpm and 530Nm
between 4,800 and 5,600rpm, and comes
equipped with forged connecting rods
and titanium valves enabling a 7,300rpm
redline. Power is transferred to the rear

wheels via an upgraded version of the

eight-speed Sports Direct Shift torqueconverter automatic transmission. Top
speed is limited to 270km/h and Lexus
claims 100km/h is reached from standstill
in 4.5secs. One of the engineering
talents this cars engine is its flexibility in
character from an economy set-up on
one hand and high performance on the
other through a flick of a button which
means depending on mode the character
shift happens between the high-efficiency
Atkinson and Otto Cycles which maximise
fuel economy.
As this is no ordinary car, Lexus has given
the RC F fit-for-purpose suspension set-up.
It retains the double wishbone front and
a multi-link rear suspension set-up like
the RC, but utilises monotube dampers
in lieu of the 350s adjustable variable
suspension. Also unique to the RC F is its
three operating modes [Standard, Slalom,
or Track] Torque Vectoring Differential
(TVD), which is an industry-first application
in a front-engine/rear wheel drive vehicle.
The active and passive safety features
list is also quite impressive and includes
PreSafe accident preparation system,
active cruise control, airbags, electronic
stability and traction control, reversing
camera and parking sensors, blind spot
monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and

even lane departure warning. Brembo

has supplied four-wheel power assisted
disc brakes with anti-lock braking system
(ABS), electronic brake force distribution
(EBD) and brake assist (BA),
With all these, the RC F has a lot of
depth to aid its core talents. At least in
theory, it should be a vehicle that is very

The Lexus F marque

represents the highperformance division
of cars produced by
Lexus. The F marque
refers to Flagship
and Fuji Speedway,
the chief test site of
Lexus performance
vehicle development in
Oyama, Sunto District,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
Japan

comfortable to drive in city traffic or

highways in complete luxury.
Driving impressions
That Lexus F models like the RC F have
been developed by the Lexus Vehicle
Performance Development Division which
is also involved with the brands racing
activities becomes evident in the first
few kilometres of driving. The RC F can
be driven like a typical Lexus stock luxury
car [with eco mode] or in sport and sport
plus modes. Each mode engaged offers
distinctive handling and performance
characteristics and at times it feels like
three cars rolled into one. And thats one
great USP. The active rear wing activates
from the RC Fs boot lid at approximately
80km/h to increase down force as the cars
speed rises. As the vehicles speed drops
below approximately 40km/h it retracts.
However, when the drive-mode select is
in Eco mode, the wing will not deploy until
the vehicle speed reaches approximately
130km/h to save fuel. Alternatively, the
driver can control rear wing deployment
from the cockpit, according to personal
preference.
This car in my opinion will sell just on the
engine characteristics alone. In power and
performance hungry Middle East, having
a 2+2 coupe with a melodious V8 is among

MAR 2015

35

36 MAR 2015

Despending on
which mode the car
is being driven, the
digital speedometers
background and
infographics change

The RC F is equipped with a new specifically

developed 5.0-litre, 32-valve V8 engine. With
more than 450hp and 520Nm of torque on tap,
it is the most powerful V8 that Lexus has built
using new cylinder heads, exhaust and inlet
manifolds, new camshaft profiles, as well as
upgraded port and direct injection systems.

the right gets things leading off to a good

start. The powertrain is smooth, delicious
and the free-revving V8 has no problem
in touching redline, a tad on the other
side of 7,000rpm. We drove the car in all
modes and were surprised that despite
the various modes and its designated
performance outputs, common to all
modes is the silky smooth gear shift
quality while offering appropriate gears
for the driving demeanour. The Tiptronic
manual is also a delight to use as, unlike
many cars we have driven lately, is not
overriddenor dictated by interfering
electronic nannies.
Compared to the IS sedan, theres marked
improvement in ride quality. Whereas

the RC Fs chassis feel solid and planted,

sometimes a little heavy up front,
but overall engaging and thoroughly
entertaining. The absence of the more
sedate RC350s adjustable suspension
is hardly missed on the open road, even
when the surface degrades, such is the
set-up. Even in Eco mode, theres a magic
carpet ride feel as road bumps big and
small can be felt but the feedback hardly
reaches or unsettles its occupants.
The cars steering weight is slightly
on the heavier side befitting its job
description. It is sharp in communicating
feedback to the driver and the way it
has been calibrated makes the car a
point and shoot affair and also offers
enthusiastic turn-in qualities.
At open road cruising speeds the
drivetrain is usually quiet and only some
tyre rumble and low-level road noise is

The aerodynamic
package includes an
active rear spoiler, tuning
of the underbody, the
intakes in the grille and
the front fender vents
and aero stabilizing fins.

noted depending on the type of road

surfaces driven. What we lamented the
most in this car, was the inability to take
it on to a race track where we could have
explored the chassis at bit more. For a car,
thats had its chassis thoroughly tested at
the Fuji and Nurburgring circuits means
that it should be more than capable at the
track. For a typical track day, the car offers
information to the driver such as G-forces,
oil and water temperatures, mileage
information and a stopwatch.
Verdict
Lexus and its F performance division
have done a brilliant job in executing the
RC-based RC F. It has literally elevated its
compact executive coup, the RC to the
next level of performance. In Oman, the
prices begin at OMR33,000. At this level,
BMW should be worried about its M4!
MAR 2015

37

2015 Lincoln Navigator

38 MAR 2015

Luxury on an
efficiency drive
Fords luxury brand Lincoln is in the midst of what its marketing team calls a
product-and service-led transformation. Whether, the 2015 Lincoln Navigator is a
continuation of that philosophy? That was Automans task to find out with this fullsized SUV in Oman last month
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

MAR 2015

39

n many countries, large vehicles

have given way to smaller ultraefficient machines and in some cases
the luxury segment hasnt also been
spared. However, when it comes to
marketing led rebranding, what options
can an American luxury carmaker like
Lincoln really bank on? This is a relevant
question because in the same segment
of the Navigator sits domestic models
like the Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX80,
Mercedes-GL and it would also be unfair
not to include a perennial Middle East
favourite the Lexus LX570. Obviously,
the Navigator is surrounded by exalted
company.
Nissans full-size Patrol can also be
considered because the difference in
packaging with its Infiniti sibling is quite
narrow but definitely not the Toyota
Land Cruiser. In this group of models
listed, the closest competitor Cadillac
has comprehensively overhauled its topof-the-line Escalade [so impressive that
it won the 2014 Automan COTY Premium
SUV award] while the other brands are
fairly updated.
In a scenario like this what option did
Lincoln have and ultimately what path
did it opt for? So, what exactly is the

40 MAR 2015

refreshed 2015 Lincoln Navigator? Did

Ford go the whole nine yards with its
top-of-the-line model? Not exactly. The
2015 Navigator is based on seven-yearold the body-on-frame platform with
mostly unchanged exterior dimensions.
Depending on markets, it is offered with
standard and long wheel base variants.
The cars sheetmetal is mostly carried
over. However, there are exceptions
as there is evidence of the new styling
DNA up front and at the rear. Prominent
among them instantly noted are the
bonnet, front face and the tailgate. Up
front, the family-look split-wing grille has
been skillfully applied to accommodate
a truck that now stylistically falls in
line with most of the refreshed or
new Lincoln models. Theres a new
interpretation of the Lincoln split wing
grille with horizontal matt chrome effect
bars, modern HID headlamps with LED
accents. The rear end design treatment
isnt as modern as the front due to
structural restrictions, but designers
have managed to include a LED taillamp
assembly. Overall, considering the
profile, proportions and stance, theres
a nice feel about this morphing is that
it has blended very nicely and doesnt

appear as a hastily done cut-and-paste

job.
Inside, the cabin layout remains as
before but detailing and functional
elements like the dashboard and
instruments have been redesigned.
Theres a bit of the Taurus influence out
here with its swanky instrumentation
and complex information displays. Driver
gets a new steering wheel and leather
upholstery extends to all three rows. The
car also benefits from Ford-Microsofts
second generation SYNC infotainment
and My Lincoln Touch systems. The latter
set-up uses traditional rotary knobs for
radio tuning, rather than the previous
touch switches and this brings in a nice
touch of subtle modernity to the cabin.
However, the air-conditioning controls
are touch-sensitive. Meanwhile, Lincolns
current electronic architecture is unable
to support modern day features like
active cruise control or lane-keeping
assist which are beginning to show up
in this category of vehicles more often
than before.
In terms of space for occupants, the
Navigator has always been popular
with its users. Al though the external
dimensions of the car hasnt changed,

Lincoln is confident that its big utility will

continue to be best in class in terms of
interior volume and practical amenities
like folding flat seats [second/third row].
Although the climb to that third row is
a little awkward, optional motorized
running boards (that retract when the
vehicle is in motion) and the abundance
of headroom once inside certainly help
with this technical challenge.
As with any refresh, the key differences
in corporate philosophy comes clear
in the engineering of any car. For this
Lincoln model more than cosmetic
upgrades, the focus has been in the
departments of performance, handling
and as befits a luxury classed vehicle, its
ride quality.
Unlike the Cadillac which continues with
its only engine choice of a 6.2-litre V8
coupled to a six-speed automatic with
cylinder deactivation technology, FordLincoln counters that with a forced fed
3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine [it replaces
the old 5.4-litre V8s that propelled
all Navigators since 1998]. Ford has
already proven that in vehicles like the
F-150 pick-up truck and Ford Expedition
full-size SUV, it has brought in a sea
of change in both power outputs and

While there is
carryover at a
fundamental level,
there are genuine
elements of newness
to qualify differences
in the models
persona and
performance
efficiency. According to Lincoln, the
outgoing V8 offered 310hp and 365lb-ft
of torque, whereas the twin-turbo V6
offers at least 370hp and 430 lb-ft [gains
of 5hp and 10 lb-ft over what the engine
currently makes in the Ford F-150].
Power is transferred via a carryover
six-speed automatic in the all-wheel
drive test car which came with driver
selectable high/low range features [4x4,
4x2, autoselect etc].
The biggest news for this car
comes in the ride department. The

refreshed Navigator now arrives with

a new suspension system which uses
continuously controlled damping (CCD).
The fast reacting system monitors road
conditions and various parameters
using an array of sensors to update
shock absorber damping every two
milliseconds. CCD offers three driverselect presets: normal, sport, and
comforts. Complementing the new
suspension, driver also gets a new
electric power steering system. Newly
designed larger 20in aluminum alloy
wheels now replace the 18in wheels of
the outgoing Navigator.
Driving impressions
Given the hardware that underpins
this luxo-barge which is a derivative of
current Ford F-150the body-on-frame
architecture along with an active
suspension and torquey new engine
which is controlled by an electronically
module that includes electrically
assisted steering and optional adaptive
dampers [which can be set to Normal,
Comfort, or, um, Sport modes], this
large car does well in the acceleration
department and the torque delivery and
gear holding ability was at its best noted

MAR 2015

41

both during the uphill/downhill Qantab

roads. The car maintains the previous
Navigators personality, offering a quiet
cabin and a smooth ride quality, which
has vastly improved and so has the
cars swaying tendencies. Since it is a
large and heavy vehicle, it is expected
to wallow, but body roll is checked
efficiently, especially during roundabout
manoeuvring. The luxury SUV knows
it is not a sports SUV and hence sticks
to its original role play sincerely. The
steering weight is pretty good and the
weight of the vehicle is not felt. Turn-in
is good despite the bigger wheel set-up
and few found it quite handy in tight car
parks. The reverse camera is useful, but
it doesnt show the trajectories. The Sat

42 MAR 2015

Nav operation was Ford standard. Offroad, we had the choice of engaging the
4x4 systems and theres plenty of torque
available in low range to tackle most trail
drives. Also the cars ground clearance
and modest arrival and departure angles
ensure that it can go on the beach
without damage to undercarriage or
valance.
Verdict
Going by the market sentiments, its no
secret that the Cadillac dominates the
large luxury SUV segment with other
brands/models trying to catch up. In
fact, it owes Lincoln a big thank-you for
reviving the category back in 1997 with
the Navigator. With Lincolns market

share compared with GM in this category

being much smaller, it was hard for
Ford to justify unlimited investments in
making bigger and bolder changes for
the updated 2015 Navigator. And given
the circumstances and what Lincoln
has set out to achieve, we think it has
a better chance to score. With seating
for up to eight, a towing capacity and a
starting price of just under OMR 34,000,
there are few vehicles like the Navigator
in the market. And then you have the
latest Ecoboost [direct injection with
turbocharging] V6 engine technology
under the bonnet which guarantees the
best of both worlds contemporary
luxury and performance in one family
package.

What does this technology mean and why Ford is banking on it? Ford produces EcoBoost
[turbocharged with direct injection] engines ranging from 1.0-litre 3-cylinder right up to
3.5-litre V6. Blue Oval introduced the 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 to the F-150 pick-up line for the
2011 model year. The engine uses twin, parallel mounted turbochargers, which more than
compensate for the engines relatively small displacement. This turbocharged engine
outperforms the standard 5.0-litre V- in both horsepower and torque, while providing a
significant increase in fuel economy. The engine is rated at a maximum 365hp and 420
lb-ft of torque, and maintains 90 per cent of peak torque from 1,700rpm to 5,000rpm.
Four wheel drive models can achieve up to 21 mpg on the highway, while two wheel drive
pick-ups are rated at a slightly higher 22 mpg. Direct injection, similar to that used in diesel
engines, allows for a 10:1 compression ratio and the use of regular, low octane gasoline
without the risk of detonation.

Automans take

The engines performance characteristics prove that forced induction can be a replacement for displacement - power
when you need it and fuel economy when you dont. While there was some skepticism when the engine debuted,
its popularity can be deemed a success for Ford, who has employed extensive resources in the development of the
EcoBoost engine family platform.
While few expected the EcoBoost to be the backbone of the F-150 engine line-up, but thats exactly what it is. It carries
the F-150s highest tow ratings, and is the engine Ford highly recommends for the toughest jobs. With the EcoBoost,
Ford has proven that you can indeed get more from less. The success of the 3.5-litre EcoBoost in particular has led
Ford to develop a smaller 2.7-litre version for the 2015 F-150, which aims to increase fuel economy without making
significant sacrifices in performance.

MAR 2015

43

2015 Audi TT Roadster

44 MAR 2015

Open
to the
Elemental
With the soft-top iteration of the new TT,
Audi shows us why it is the new contender
for the luxury crown
Author: Raj Warrior

he third-generation Audi TT can be described as many

things but the one slogan that we will look at is gamechanger. It isnt as if the small 4-pot sports car as a genre
is either stodgy or lacking in incentive. For the author, the small
sports car has always been a favourite genre. There is nothing
that quite matches the class for a thrilling drive experience and
most enthusiasts are so enamoured by the genre that they are
willing to overlook many foibles of models that they love.
The game-changer element here is not so much in how the
new TT changes any of that. What it does to a great extent is
move the measurement criteria way ahead down the value
chain. Whether it is in the innate balance of the body, powerful
engines and gearbox combinations or the manner in which
the new generation Quattro makes its presence felt in a
programmed drive feel, the TT has thrown down the gauntlet
in the segment.
The other point that this generation of the TT will take care
of is a gradual widening out as a mini-Marque encompassing
various body styles along with performance variants. The TTS
is definitely the new base of the performance envelope with its
310hp output.
MAR 2015

45

So what does the Roadster add to the

new champs repertoire?
For starters, the choice to go soft-top is
one that indicates the importance that the
brand attaches to a lightweight rendition.
At 39kgs the roof is light and compact,
while stowing away in ten seconds
without impacting the luggage storage
volume. Once you have the roof open,
you fall into agreement with lovers of the
open-top as the perfect styling on a sports
car. Admittedly this will be tough for a car
buyer who lives in the Middle East or even
areas hit by tropical monsoon showers.
Weather is after all the best friend or
enemy of the open-top Roadster, though
with the winter we have been having
lately, it seems a natural fit even in Oman.
The TT itself doesnt have to change much
from hardtop to soft-top variants. The
biggest structural changes are around
the foldout bay and the strengthening of
the passenger cell. The doorsill members
are of the same cross-sectional width
as on the coupe, but the inner profiles
are all changed with an angled box-like
added insert that spreads load vectors

46 MAR 2015

With Matrix LED

headlights available as
an option, 12 small,
individually controllable
light-emitting diodes per
headlight generate the
high beam. The traffic
situation is analysed using
a camera on the interior
mirror and the controller
switches the individual
diodes on or off, or dims
them in 64 steps to
prevent oncoming glare
for others while lighting
the road up.
appropriately.
At the rear of the passenger cell a new

solid wall splits the cell from the luggage

area while serving as the foundation for
the twin rollover hoops placed behind the
headrests.
As for the rest of the car, lets remind
you what makes the TT platform so
interesting. It is made on an Audi Space
Frame developed on the MQB platform.
The footprint consists of a length and
width of 4177mm x 1832mm sitting on
a wheelbase of 2505mm. With the roof
down the height is only 1355mm. The
engine is traditional MQB transverse
and sits forward of the front axle, but
there is nothing in the styling that hints
at larger overhangs than absolutely
necessary. Proportions are decided down
to perfection, with the front grille and
fenders communicating a very newfound
muscularity.
The treatment of the headlights and
taillights also talk about Audi in 2015. Their
Le Mans signature headlight treatment
is on the TT, complete with vertical LED
strips that break the wide expanse of glass
into chambers.
The interiors of the car mirror the

treatment of the Coupe, while doing away

with the tiny rear bench. That space is
essentially the space that gets used by the
folding mechanism. As for the dashboard
and console, the airplane theme is carried
over with a large wing type dashboard and
multi-functional air-conditioning grilles.
Depending on your choice of variant and
specification you can have materials for
the interior that set you apart, including a
couple of new signature paint colours and
interiors combos only for the Roadster.
The two engines we are really interested
in for the region are the TFSI units on the
four-cylinder petrol block. The smaller of
the two is found on the front-wheel drive
and Quattro cars, while the more powerful
unit on the TTS is available only with
Quattro.
The two-litre engine has received
numerous improvements compared with
the previous engine, virtually the only
thing left unchanged is the displacement
of 1,984 cc (bore x stroke 82.5 x 92.8
millimetres. The high-performance
four-cylinder unit has been modified in
key areas: the pistons and connecting

rods, the main bearing seats and the

main bearing cover in the crankcase, the
cylinder head alloy and the valves.
The regular TFSI unit belts out 230hp
with a flat torque of 370Nm. The peppier
engine takes this up to 310hp with a
similarly useable torque of 380Nm. The
beauty of the torque graph in both these
cases is how it flattens out at peak values
as the turbo really kicks in, and holds it all
the way in to the upper 5,000rpms.
What this translates into is a blistering
performance on the road, even with
the less endowed engine. The S-tronic
gearbox has been selected for its lightness
and speed of response as well as its ability
to double-clutch as needed. Response
is super fast for the genre. We tested
the Roadster in the hilly roads around
Mallorca in Spain and the combination
of a narrow dual carriageway twists and
turns and quick elevation changes showed
how much at home the TT and TTS are in
the environment. You really never miss
a racetrack as you keep the gears held
low and accelerate, or indeed use engine
braking to the max as you slow down

for sharp hairpins. Our respect for the

chassis went up multi-fold as we screamed
through the hills above Soller on the
Mediterranean Sea. There is just a little
feel of brake-fade, but the engine more
than compensates by hugging and holding
the high revs.
While Audi have sold us on the charm of
having a soft-top, the degree of noise
insulation is decent but dont expect
miracles. It is a soft-top and you will feel
the wind noise as well as engine noise
through it. What helps is the no nonsense
manner it locks away on both ends of
its travel while you continue to drive at
reasonable speeds.
So will we see the Roadster unseat the
Coupe as a first-choice in the region?
It is very unlikely considering the early
indications we have had on the pricing
that puts it above RO 20,000 in two-wheel
drive form. We are sure that wont stop
the real open air loving driver from buying
the car, but as for us its the TTS Coupe
that will continue to charm until they
bring along the TT-RS. Till then, enjoy the
elements.

MAR 2015

47

2015 Volkswagen Touareg SUV

Delightfully
refreshed
Automan takes some time out and gets dirty with the refreshed for 2015 VW Touareg in Oman
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao and supplied

48 MAR 2015

MAR 2015

49

50 MAR 2015

ith the 2015MY refresh

programme, Volkswagen has
taken the trusted route which
most automakers are practicing these
days for its biggest SUV [as of now], the
Touareg. The first generation Touareg
was conceived as a result of a joint
venture project and co-developed by
Volkswagen Group, Audi, and Porsche.
The idea was to create an off-road
capable lifestyle vehicle that could
handle like a sports car. Fitting the bill
perfectly was Volkswagen Groups PL71
platform, which was thus shared by
the first timers VW Touareg, Porsche
Cayenne and Audi Q7. Apart from the
common chassis, there are distinctive
styling, equipment and technical
differences between the three SUV.
The production Gen I Touareg was
introduced in 2002 and Gen II was
revealed in Munich, Germany and later
in the 2010 Beijing International Auto
Show.
Since it was a clean chit design from the
beginning, the Touaregs packaging was
thoughtfully created be it design and
engineering and over the years in its
career it has been periodically upgraded
with new equipment without tampering
too much with the engineering. The
major change implicated was the change
in the 4x4 system between Gen I and
Gen II [explained in the article].
For the current model year, the car
gets a smart refresh and the marketing
agenda suggests that VW also wants
to encourage new buyers towards the
brand particularly with this upgrade
exercise. As a key model in the line-up

for SUV driven markets like the US and

Middle East, the Touareg remains a
formidable contender in the near-luxury
SUV segment. But, VW also realizes that
its competition is beginning to catch
up. I remember when the first 5-seater
Touareg was introduced with a choice
of three engines -- a 220hp 3.2-litre V6,
300hp 4.2-litre and 310hp 4.9-litre V10
turbo diesel. The following year saw the

Its clear that even

with this modest
refresh, Volkswagens
motto is not to change
the Touaregs proven
winning formula,
but rather to keep
it current by adding
content and refining its
looks
V6 engines output bumped by 20hp and
the V10 dropped temporarly. In 2008,
VW renamed the model the Touareg 2
and gave it slightly restyled front and
rear ends. And by the time the second
generation arrived in 2011, Volkswagen
has moved away from 4x4 utility idea
with an emphasis on increased the
fuel economy, comfort and overall
performance/handling.

Moving on in the game, the first

public glimpse of the refreshed for
2015 Touareg took place in Beijing as
a world premiere. In profile, the SUV
looks very similar to its predecessor
and this means it retains its profile,
proportions, athletic styling and stance.
Interestingly, the styling changes on the
second-generation 2011-12 Touareg were
closely related to the first-generation
2003-10 models. The change is subtle
but significant, ensuring continuity in
design cues. It looks like a Touareg, with
moderate tweaks, good enough to merit
recognition as being different.
The changes to the front end are
little more than updates to a readily
recognized design. Upper and lower
grille openings get the horizontal
chrome bars previously confined to
the upper section. Housings for the
compound, projector beam headlights
and strings of LED running lights are
squared off to achieve consistency with
the styling DNA of the current models
like Passat, Golf or Jetta.
The bodys sculpting below the
headlamps is now more sharply outlined
and so are the pronounced wheel
arches. From the side perspective, the
car shows softer, more rounded lower
door panels than the severely straightedge indent carved into the pre-2011
models. Likewise, the waistline sweeps
slightly upward as it nears the C-pillar
and is wider than before. At the rear,
horizontal taillamps have a bit of a raised
eyebrow look but remain connected
to the earlier models. Additional new
chrome bits in the car brighten up its

MAR 2015

51

overall appearance and theres a specific

package offered by VW.
Inside the cabin, theres very little not
to like about the cars creature comforts
and accommodations. Everything is
where it should be, works the way it
should, some of it remarkably well, and
for the most part shows commendable
attention to details not only in fit and
finish, but also in the extent of the
capabilities given certain features.
The front seats were comfortable
and supportive, and now come with
additional bolsters.
Driver gets a familiar instrument panel
and multifunctional steering wheel.
Climate controls are user friendly as are
the primary switches that bring up the
touch-screens icons for various layers
of options and functions. The keyless,
push-button start stop feature is typical
feature now found in most new cars.
As expected, the build quality, touch
and feel points are of high quality.
Tolerances between panels, coverings
and metal or wood insets are tight and
consistent all around. Our V6 variant
52 MAR 2015

came with a large panoramic glass

sunroof. It blessed occupants with
magnificent views and the built in heat
rejection film blocked the heat of the
afternoon sun.
Rear-seat legroom, we believe is among
the leaders in the class, topping 40
inches with the seat all the way back.
Rear-seat headroom splits the difference
with the Mercedes ML and the BMW
X5. Rear seats arent quite as cushy
as the front ones but occupants get a
clear stadium view. New technologies
common to all V6 and V8 models now
include automatic post-collision braking
system (helps prevent a secondary
collision in case of an accident), bi-xenon
headlights and a coasting function.
On the technology front, powertrains
both V6 and V8 direct-injection
FSI engines have been carried over.
However, VW claims that extensive
aerodynamic improvements such
as air inlet openings in the front of
the vehicle, modified door mirror
caps and new wheel spoiler and low
rolling resistance tyres have helped

improve fuel consumption by six per

cent. Regenerative braking has been
introduced along with automatic stopstart feature. This system turns off
the engine automatically when the car
slows to 7km/h and comes to a stop and
restarts it when the brake is released.
Meanwhile, the standard steel-spring
running gear has also been optimized
and improvements include more agile
steering response and a gain in comfort.
An air suspension is available as an
option. VW claims that changes in the
spring/damping unit have also resulted
in optimized driveability of standard
suspension.
Driving impressions
The driving exercise began at the launch
venue of Al Bustan Hotel in Muscat and
took us through both asphalt and offroad terrain [dune bashing excluded]. In
most driving conditions [on and off-road
trails that we encountered, we found the
V6-powered Touareg quite comfortable
and competent. While appreciating
the fact that the V8s offer more grunt

and in theory more fun to drive. All the

variants offer responsive turn-in and
good balance when it comes to direction
changes with minimal rolling tendencies.
The car does its job quite well when
it comes to tempering a drivers
enthusiasm. As a SUV that weighs more
than 2,275kgs, the a suspension exhibits
a fine balance when it comes absorbing
surface imperfections.
For off-roading, some hardware changes
were instituted in the outgoing model.
Gen I came equipped with low-range
transfer case and it seems that most of
the Touaregs users werent using the
SUV for hardcore off-roading and as
a result the 4MOTION all-wheel-drive
dropped the system and replaced it with
a Torsen limited slip rear differential. The
key advantage was that it saves weight.
In theory, the previous-generation model
was a bit more capable off road, but
that doesnt mean the new technology
provided is counter-productive. In fact,
it is more driver friendly as the system
adopts a dial-a-terrain response system
through a rotary knob. The system

appears quite capable when it comes to

shifting power between the front and
rear wheels. When four-wheel drive is
engaged, theres infographics showing
up on the LCD screen between the
speedometer and tachometer which
give live steering angle data display, but
the degree of torque distribution is not
shown. So, the driver has to adjust his
driving accordingly, as we did over rockstrewn mountain paths.
The eight-speed gearbox is very smooth
and even in Sport mode where it holds
the gears longer. And the good news
is that unlike some modern cars where
you lose a gear when in sport mode,
the Touaregs set-up allows the driver
to enjoy all the gears. In the winding
mountain roads, manual downshifting
via Tiptronic was useful in the V6
specially. While not suggesting the
powertrain set-up losing steam, it was a
matter of personal driving preferences
more than anything else.
The build quality of the car and NVH
management shows up well in both on

and off-road driving situations. The cabin

is quiet and very rarely did we encounter
wind or tyre noise filtering in. Off-road,
there are no body rattles or squeaks.
Overall, it is a well-bolted vehicle as
expected from this German brand.
Considering the fact the chassis is also
shared with the Audi Q7 and Porsche
Cayenne, the chassis and unibody
performance was best noted during the
off-road technical sessions during the
drive.
An interesting feature borrowed from
the Hybrid version is the coasting
feature in the V6 which means as soon
as the driver releases the accelerator
pedal, the engine is decoupled from
the gearbox and this operation is
even possible at vehicle speeds up to
130km/h.
Verdict
Modest refreshing will help increase
the Touaregs marketability. It is
recommended for punters looking at
some more than just a show-off lifestyle
crossover.
MAR 2015

53

2015 Nissan Juke turbo

Fun &
practicality in
small package
The forced-fed version of Nissans Juke crossover is now available in
the region and for MY2015, there are some upgrades too. Automan
tested this car in Dubai last month
Author and photographs: Chandan B Mallik

issan created the Juke as a lifestyle

crossover SUV as its pitch to those who
seeking a genuine alternative to the regular
fare of superminis. The orthodox designed car
was introduced in the line-up in 2010, and despite
its quirkiness, its popularity in compact car driven
markets like Europe is said to have motivated
several automakers to create a whole new range
of supermini based SUVs. And from the punters
perspective, theres a choice of several variants/
trims to choose from. Traditional rivals for the Juke
in the Middle East would be the recently introduced
Renault Captur, Mitsubishi ASX and Peugeot 2008.
The carmaker is banking a lot on the engineering
flexibility that aspect seems to be dialed into the
Juke. The car is built on Nissan-Renaults codeveloped B-platform which is also known as the
V-platform. It is used in Renault, Nissan and the
re-launched Datsun branded compact cars. At
last count, globally, the Juke has close to a dozen
variants in the range. The top-of-the-line model is
the performance orientated Nismo [not sold in ME]
and in our region, basically two variants are offered
with normally-aspirated and turbocharged engines.
However, as it is a lifestyle model, Nissan is able to
offer some factory-fitted bespoke options.
Even with the refresh, Nissan stylists have avoided
major changes in its profile which is dominated
by the prominent wheel arches and the bodys
high waistline which contrast with the slim
side windows, which Nissan says is a modern
54 MAR 2015

MAR 2015

55

interpretation of coke bottle styling

popular during the 1960s and 1970s.
Instead, theys have focused more on
detailing and equipment levels. Thanks
to its frog-eye front end, wide grille and
new LED infused lamps, the car retains its
purposeful stance when viewed from the
three-quarter angle and appears closer to
the other models in the line-up.
The cars rear end is more striking in
design and adds practicality too. The
370Z inspired lamps seem to gel well in
the sheetmetal of this car. Thats not all,
up front theres slight modified bumper
while at the rear end the bumper has been
softly reshaped. A coup-like appearance
of the Juke achieved by sloping roof and
rear door handles being located near
the C-pillars, within the window frame.
Dimensionally, the car stands at 4,125mm
in length, 1,765mm in width, 1,570mm high
on a wheelbase of 2,530mm.
Compared to a typical hatch, in the Juke
one sits relatively high to the road. Getting
in and out is comfortable due to wellplaced hip points.
Our bright yellow test car came with
all-round electric windows, split-folding
rear seats as standard. The car has good
ground clearance, and rides on 17in alloys.
Till now, there was a niggle with Jukes
non-me-too appearance. Although it was

56 MAR 2015

pitched from the beginning as a lifestlyle

car, it was a bit short on practicality and
connectivity features. The biggest niggle
was the boot space and connectivity
features. Then you had a squeezed rear
accommodation due to the cars sloping
roofline. The refresh exercise has factored
this in has attempted to address with

With the Qashqai,

Nissan pioneered the
original crossover
and with the Juke
the carmaker used
dramatic design and
advanced technology
to break new ground
in a more compact
crossover package
some success. The rear end of the car has
been redesigned and the encouraging
news is that theres more cargo space
now and also a two-deck arrangement
for managing cargo in the bay efficiently.

The rear accommodation still suffers and

hence is more suitable for children and
youngsters.
Whether sitting high or positioning the
seat at its lowest setting, a laid-back carlike driving position is possible to achieve.
Eitherway, sitting upfront one can still see
the edge of the bonnet, and we are sure
that owners of this car rely on the wingtop lights act as marker and positioning
guide, which is not a bad idea for drivers
who have upgraded from a regular car into
this crossover. The dashboard of the Juke
when introduced was sports motorcycle
inspired and it still is. Instrument cluster
has two analogue dials separated from
the dashboard by framed plastic shrouds
finished in aluminium with a cowling
floating above and joined to the dial
cases by two struts. The central console
which was also inspired by motorcycle
design remains unchanged. Among new
features is NissanConnect which enables
smartphone connectivity with access to a
variety of apps ranging from social media
platforms to entertainment including
internet radio through a large, 5.8in colour
touch screen.
The central console is also quite busy with
two LCD screens [bigger one for radio,
sat nav etc] and the smaller one below it
for air-con info etc. The graphics are still

Windows 2000-era fashioned, but the idea

should be likable by users of this car who
can access a variety of infographics like,
G-Forces, fuel consumption, turbo boost
etc. What makes the interior interesting is
that Nissan has introduced personalisation
packs that helps add drama and feel
befitting individual tastes. The metallic red
finish on the console is one such example.
The Jukes build quality, especially
hard interior plastic surfaces indicate
that it doesnt want to be considered
as a premium car, but more of a value
proposition. That doesnt mean that
Nissan has cut corners. Theres a plethora
of interesting details like chrome door
handles like giant ring-pulls, all-around cup
holders, a leather-rimmed steering wheel
with knurled switches for stereo and
cruise control.
The test car came with a turbocharged
1.6-litre four-cylinder engine. The direct
injection engine has been further
improved to deliver better lower end
torque below 2,000rpm. It pumps out
roughly 188bhp [vs 116bhp in the normallyaspirated versions] at 5,600rpm and is
mated to a belt driven Continuous Variable
Transmission.
The cars suspension package remains
flexible as before. On front-wheel drive
versions, suspension is by MacPherson

struts at the front with a torsion beam at

the rear while four-wheel drive models
have a multi-link rear suspension modelled
on the system found on Qashqai. The
All-Mode 4x4-i is a new development
of Nissans respected electronic allwheel drive system and now features
torque vectoring technology to enhance

The Juke is more

SUV than anything in
terms of handling, but
its still pretty decent
to drive and is quite
comfortable on open
roads
agility and reduce understeer when
cornering. On the safety front, Nissan
Juke received Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick in
2011. Standard safety features for the Juke
include ABS, traction control, stability
control, active front head restraints
and airbags. In National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration crash tests, the
government gives the 2014 Nissan Juke

four out of five stars overall, with three

stars in the front-end crash test, five stars
in the side-impact test and four stars in the
rollover test.
Driving impressions
While accepting the fact that this
crossover SUV is not expected to perform
exactly like a traditional hatchback,
especially when it comes to handling
and fast corneringBut the bright side is
that the chassis of the refreshed Juke
feels a bit more stiffer and therefore
more composed on road as the previous
tendency of wallowing isnt there
anymore. We entered the car using the
intelligent keyless entry and fired up
the engine with the starter push button
provided. The turbocharged 1.6-cylinder
produces] and springs into action when
the gear is selected for drive. Given the
powertrain set-up which includes belt
driven CVT transmission, we expected
the three driver selectable driving modes
to allow us to fully exploit the potential
of the car. We are also aware that the
performance limitation in such set-ups is
mostly related to torque availability and
its management by the Dynamic Control
System electronics. Each of these settings
has been electronically programmed with
optimization of characteristics in mind.

MAR 2015

57

58 MAR 2015

Driving in the Eco mode, means driving

the car with restricted throttle opening
and hence it can feel lazy or sluggish. In
normal mode, we find it better suited
for highway driving as it opens up the
throttle response via engine mapping
and helps routes the power delivery
faster to the wheels than the Eco mode.
As a result, the car feels much livelier in
this mode. In Sport mode, both engine
mapping and transmission responses
are involved. However, to get the best
kick, the engine has to hover around
2,500rpm before the impact is felt.
As, soon as the sweet spot is touched
[2,500-3,000rpm] the car is more than
willing and tries to give the impression
of its sporty behaviour on asphalt.
Irrespective of the driving modes, what
gives the Juke a feel good factor is
its chassis management. The Juke is an
agile handler and benefits from a precise
steering system and a firm suspension
set-up. Its particularly nimble in corners,
remaining stable and well planted even
at higher speeds. And like most good
sports cars, its performance seems to
tighten up more as its pushed harder.
However, as with the nature of most
electric steering set-ups available these
days, theres a bit of artificial feel which
is most evident when driving in Sport

As with the rest of the Nissan crossover family,

the Juke now comes with the latest generation of
NissanConnect. It offers smartphone connectivity
with access to a variety of apps ranging from
social media platforms to entertainment including internet radio - through a large, 5.8in
colour touch screen

mode. Its worse in Sport mode, where

steering changes unfortunately cant be
separated from the throttle response
changes. Sport, as is too often the case,
simply adds resistance to the movement
with no actual gain in transparency
of communication. However, there is
amusement inside the car from the Gforce meter which shows acceleration,
braking and cornering forces and gives a
little taste of GT-R in the car.
Verdict
The revisited Juke turbo offers the
functionality and elements of a hatchback
and it also delivers a fun-to-drive
experience thanks to a turbocharged
engine, precise steering and a sport-tuned
suspension. Although it is clearly biased
toward handling, its overall ride is, mostly,
comfortable and compliant. It may not be
as plush as some rivals, but its certainly
adequate for daily commuting and longer
road trips. The Juke will also be a standout
vehicle due to its design. The cars biggest
gains are NissanConnect connectivity
technology, Driver selectable Dynamic
Control System and some dynamic and
cosmetic improvements. The car is much
better than before and clearly belongs
to punters seeking modcons while being
stylistically different.

MAR 2015

59

Infiniti Q60 Concept

Confirmed for series production in 2016, Infinitis s Q60

Concept is the precursor to a premium sports coupe
from the brand. At Detroit in January, the brand gave a
clearer indication of what the incoming coupe could look
and feel like in the garb of the Q60 Concept
Author: Chandan B Mallik

60 MAR 2015

ill very recently, Infiniti was better

known for its G- and M-series
badged cars. In these models
Infiniti mixed performance with hightech luxury, but seemed to be slow
on innovation and model updates. In
the past three years or so, Infiniti has
indicated that it is on an overdrive and
the establishment has undergone a sea of
changes. In 2012, Infiniti moved its global
headquarters from the Nissan corporate
building in Yokohama and incorporated
in Hong Kong as Infiniti Global Limited,
with Carlos Ghosn intending for Infiniti
to have a greater focus on the luxury
market its key markets. Ex-Audi executive
Johan de Nysschen was appointed to
head the Infiniti division in 2012 and
during his two-year tenure instigated an
elaborate rebranding exercise. Nissan
appointed Roland Krger as president of

Infiniti has indicated

the expansion of its
portfolio into smaller
premium vehicles,
while also showing
a vision for a fullsize sedan and the
Q60 Concept signals
the brands plans to
bolster offerings in the
middle of the product
line-up

Infiniti Andy Palmer resigned from the

top job to join Aston Martin in September
2014. Now, the key product focus is on
innovation, design and engineering.
Infinitis current line-up includes coupes
and sedan and will continue so with new
nomenclature and the brand continues
to broaden its lineup to cover the
spectrum from smaller premium vehicles,
namely the Q30, to full-size cars such
as the Q70L. Meanwhile, the G37 coupe
has become the Q60, and the old G37
sedan is now known as theQ50. At the
Detroit motor show, Infiniti presented
the new almost production-ready coupe
Q60 concept as an original and bold
reinterpretation of an elegant lifestyle
2+2 coupe. Thats the qualitative
reinterpretation and quantitatively the
car is 4,690mm, 1,865mm wide and
1,370mm high and rides on 21in wheels.

MAR 2015

61

This also means that it is longer by about

an inch and a half and wider than the
current Q60 coupe [ex G37 coupe]. Its
also lower by about an inch in height. All
these suggest a new road-hugging stance
for the car. Structurally, the Q60 concept
has used the platform that underpins the
Q50. The key difference is that it uses
more aluminium.
On the styling front, theres a mix of
the old and the new. In more than one
way, the Q60 Concept is a progressive
culmination and evolution of the Q80
Inspiration and Q50 Eau Rouge, both
of which premiered globally last year.
Design cues from both vehicles have
found their way onto the Q60 Concept.
The shape of the front mudguards
and rear, in particular appear quite

62 MAR 2015

aggressive. Meanwhile, up front view,

interesting styling detailing includes a
ridge that runs from the grille into the
powerfully domed bonnet. A fixed glass
roof gives the cabin an open-air feel,
while the overall layout is takes a lot of
cues from current Q50 sedan.
Features from the Q80 Inspiration in
the Q60 Concept in particular are its
low roofline, fibre optic headlamps and
quilted leather seats while inheriting
the gill on the lower front valance and
Formula One-inspired lower intake from
Q50 Eau Rouge. Inside, the high-quality
finishes are seen and felt in the smallest
detail like customizable LED mood
lighting and two-tone steering wheel.
On the technology front, there will be a
plethora of intelligent technologies like

an enhanced version of the brands

by-wire Direct Adaptive Steering system
and a new family of 3.0-litre, twinturbocharged with direct injection V6
engines. This all-new engine was first
previewed in the Q80 Inspiration at the
Paris Motor Show last year and will be
part of a new family of lighter, smaller,
more efficient and more powerful
engines. As of now, in this application,
no hybridization is proposed. The V6 will
be mated to a seven-speed automatic
gearbox. Output figures havent been
released, but crossing 300hp in the Q60 is
quite possible. The proposed production
model will be heavily inspired by the Q60
Concept said Infiniti executives during the
US unveil.

MAR 2015

63

VW Cross Coupe GTE

Concept

It seems that Volkswagen is keen to expand its presence both vertically

and horizontally in the booming SUV segment. The latest concept
presented by the German brand is the Cross Coup GTE SUV. Automan
examines how the proposal will motivate future US-made VW models
Author: Chandan B Mallik

t the North American

International Auto Show in
Detroit in January, Volkswagen
unveiled a new five-seater midsize SUV
concept. Dubbed as the Cross Coup
GTE, it is technically a plug-in hybrid
with innovative all-wheel drive systems.
The design of the Cross Coup GTE also
previews Volkswagens new styling
language for its US-made models.
Meanwhile, work has already started in
regards to a new seven-seater midsize
SUV model at Chattanooga factory in
Tennessee which will hit markets next
year. This incoming 5,000mm long
crossover SUV will mostly be based on
the CrossBlue concept with styling and
64 MAR 2015

detailing influences from Cross Coup

GTE. The unnamed model is expected to
give the brand a significant sales boost
in the US and its a model that could also
be sold in our region.
In terms of SUV concept numbers from
VW, the Cross Coup GTE is the third
concept car presented by the brand
in less than three years. All the three
ideas [CrossBlue, CrossBlue Coup
and Cross Coup GTE] are significant
as they represent realistic engineering
possibilities on the brands highly
flexible modular transverse matrix
(MQB) architecture.
All the three concepts are connected
through design also. They exhibit

common stylistic features, but the

latest model breaks in many ways with
previous concepts. Key to the futuristic
design and detailing is the headlamp
treatment in particular. There are four
LED headlamps and the LED light wing
running lights. All these elements will
make it to VWs next production SUV in
the US.
The Cross Coup GTE is 4,847mm long,
1,736mm high and 2,030mm wide. This
means it is bigger than the Tiguan,
but smaller than the Touareg, but big
enough to accommodate a V6/hybrid
powertrain. In fact, thats what exactly
VW has in mind for this car.
The Cross Coup GTE will use a direct-

The Cross Coupe GTE is strictly a

plug-in hybrid SUV with a drivetrain
that combines a 276hp 3.6-litre FSI
V6 with a pair of electric motors (54
hp up front and 114 hp at the rear)
and all-wheel drive. The set-up is
paired to 6-speed DSG. Total system
output is 355hp

MAR 2015

65

66 MAR 2015

injection engine (FSI) 3.6-litre V6 petrol

engine in combination with two electric
motors. The engine is good for 276hp
and maximum torque of 350Nm, while
the two electric motors add 40kW and
220Nm to the front wheels and 85kW
and 270Nm to the rear. Total combined
output is 355hp. Electric motors are
powered by a compact lithium-ion
battery housed in the centre tunnel.
The total output of the drive system is
360PS which in theory should enable
the car to do 0-96km/h in just 6.0sec
and reach top speed of 209 km/h.
Since its a hybrid, it can be driven in
five different power modes: E-Mode,
Hybrid, GTE, Offroad and Battery Hold /
Battery ChargeIn E-Mode [pure electric
mode], the car will travel in up to
32km. The rear axle is powered by the
electric motor only as the V6 engine
remains decoupled from the drivetrain
[by disengaging the clutch and shutting
down]. But as soon as the engine needs
to be restarted due to the battery
charge status or other parameters, it

engages seamlessly in the drivetrain

again in a blink of a second.
The car will also offer a number of
different driver selectable driving
profiles: Onroad with the sub-modes

The VW Cross
Coupe GTE is a five
passenger, plugin hybrid SUV that
previews the styling
for VWs upcoming
seven-seater and also
highlights several
innovations like
gesture control
Comfort and Eco), Offroad with Rocks,
Sludge & Sand and Gravel and dedicated
Sport and Snow set-ups. The cars set-up
[throttle, transmission and steering] and
driving characteristics are programmed

for the specific mode chosen. For

instance, in Offroad drive mode, all four
wheels are powered. The systems also
factors in battery usage also. In off-road
mode, the V6 supplies power to the
front electric motor, which in turn acts
as a generator that powers the motor
for the rear axle. Hence, VW engineering
has nicknamed the system as electric
driveshaft. In normal driving conditions,
the Cross Coupe GTE is front-wheel drive
car.
The cockpit design is also modern
featuring horizontal lines and clear
digital controls with intuitive operation.
The new infotainment system is
controlled via a 10.1in touchscreen,
while a 12.3in Active Info Display offers
interactive graphic presentation of all
details in the digital dashboard. The
Cross Coup GTE features sports seats at
the front and a three seat bench in the
rear, which can be folded 70:30 or 66:33,
creating a continuous flat cargo floor.
Intuitive gesture controls are also being
considered.
MAR 2015

67

2016 Nissan Sport Sedan

Concept/Maxima

Quite a few carmakers used primetime Superbowl advertising

slots to promote various messages. And it was the racer dad who
appeared in the Sport Sedan Concept badged as the next Maxima
that gave the story away. Automan has the details of the concept
that is destined to be Nissans next sports sedan
Author: Chandan B Mallik

n the world of automotive advertising,

Super Bowl Sunday is the one day of
the year where pretty much anything
goes. Nissan exemplified that strategy
in its return to the Super Bowl ad ranks
for the first time since 1997, scoring
big today with a dramatic 90-second
commercial titled With Dad. The
commercial combined a touching storyline
with the debut of future Nissan race and
production vehicles. And here, the first
official glimpse of the new Maxima caught
many by surprise.
Interest for the replacement of the current
Maxima which is in its seventh generation
has been quite high, particularly after
Nissan ambitiously revealed its Sport
Sedan Concept at the 2014 Detroit auto
show. Following the concepts reveal,
speculation has been rife as to what the
68 MAR 2015

production version would be called. At

the venue in 2014, Nissan executives said
it was a just preview of the new design
language for future sedans, but going by
the dimensions among other things, it was
a perfect Maxima fit.
And then came the game clincher when
Nissan North America chairman Jose
Munoz officially said that the incoming
8th generation Maxima was arriving
with an exterior that is nearly identical
to the Sport Sedan Concept. Thats the
confirmation industry had been waiting
for.
Whats interesting for the new arrival is
that the Sport Sedan Concept, as a design
study paves the way for new-generation
design for this sports sedan. Whats
more, this sedan concept will join a trio of
advanced concepts that share signature

design aspects that will be adapted to all

future Nissan cars along with design cues
from the 2013 Resonance and 2013 FriendME concepts. As a result the the Sport
Sedan Concept aka new Maxima will share
the new V-Motion front aspect, floating
roof and boomerang-shaped head and
taillamps.
From a design perspective, the exterior
of the concept is marked by low, wide
proportions, with a lowered roofline and
reduced ground clearance compared
to traditional sedans. It sports a length
of 191.7in on 111.2in wheelbase. The
sheetmetal adds a strong sculptural
feel. The wheels are pushed out to the
four corners and the silhouette blends
smoothly into the rear, which is capped
by the high boot lid, large chrome boot
accent and wide, deeply scooped rear

valance. The car rides on custom 21in

aluminium alloy wheels mounted with lowprofile 275/30R21 tyres. The final exterior
touch is the unique Strad Amber paint
that was inspired by the craftsmanship
and rich finish of classic violins. The
concept has a blacked-out A-pillar and
side-window glass that helps hide the
B-pillar.
The cars interior also offers cues to future
production designs. Premium materials
will be used throughout and bespoke
features will include diamond-shaped

The new Maxima looks

significantly different
than the outgoing
model and represents
an interesting take on
the sports sedan body
style

graphics on the quilted seats, stitching and

panels. The interior also features highcontrast colours and metallic accents.
Although powertrain details havent
been released, it is expected the top end
spec will get 3.5-litre V6 and the entry
level will be hybrid 2.5-litre four-cylinder
supercharged unit. Transmission will be
the latest Xtronic CVT. The Nissan Sport
Sedan Concept was created by Nissan
Design America in San Diego, California
and developed at the Nissan Global Design
Center in Atsugi, Japan.

MAR 2015

69

Hyundai Santa Cruz

Concept

As a new entrant in the lifestyle truck business, Hyundais approach with

its out-of-the-box creative thinking is beginning to show. Proof of the
pudding is the stunning Santa Cruz Concept truck, recently showcased in
Detroit
Author: Chandan B Mallik

lmost a year ago at the 2014

Geneva Motor Show, Hyundai
presented the Intrado crossover
Concept as an advanced vehicle which
successfully merges latest technologies
and intelligent design in one single
package. For 2015, Hyundai has taken
these ideas to a new level with the Santa
Cruz Crossover Truck Concept coded
internally as the HCD15 which it presented
in Detroit in January.
Although, the Santa Cruz is only a concept
at the moment, Hyundais research
suggests there could be a niche market for
such a vehicle. Hyundai estimates that in
the worlds largest pick-up market [US],
consumers aged under 30 make up just
seven percent of all pick-up sales. And
compared to the last decade, lifestyle
pickup sales are down by more than five
per cent. It also seems that the timing
70 MAR 2015

has coincided with a rise in sales of CUVs

and growing women buyers. So, the logic
was to create a concept that marries both
pickup practicality and efficiency of CUVs
in a stylish packaging. And thats where
the idea of this concept comes in.
Hyundai at this juncture isnt worried
about the commercial aspects and has
kept configuration options open as it
explores the market further. At Detroit,
executives were quick to point out that
the Santa Cruz concept wasnt planned
an alternative to a traditional pick-up
truck that we are familiar with. Rather it
focuses on the needs of a new generation
of buyers, identified as Millennials, who
according to Hyundai represent the
second-largest population of car buyers in
the US. Whether this approach will work in
wooing customers should the project be
green lighted, its too early to say.

Since it uses a car platform, it definitely

exhibits the benefits of unibody
construction in its design, besides being
able to focus on practicality without the
usual pickup-truck compromises like high
price, large size, and poor fuel economy.
In the flesh, it appeared much shorter
in length and height as well as much
narrower overall, when compared to
regular midsize pickups like the Chevrolet
Colorado or Toyota Tacoma.
The concepts design marries neat
dimensions with complementing design
cues like the large hexagonal grille which
surrounded by recessed headlamps and
deeply sculptured fog-lamp nacelles.
Flared mudguards feature three tie-down
hooks to let users design their individual
cargo securing options. The bed also offers
a built-in slide-out tonneau cover. The side
profile is highlighted by oversized wheels,

Michelin tyres with a special tread design,

centre-locking hubs and large Brembo
brake calipers.
The four-door concept has seating for five,
with access to the rear seats provided
by rear-hinged doors that blend with
the front doors and share a door handle
recess [similar to the Toyota FJ Cruiser]
arrangement. As of now, no interior
details have been shared. One can expect
an indication of the same when the next
generation Tucson is revealed at Geneva
this month.
Thats not all. Hyundai engineers have
promised a parking-space-friendly
footprint for this vehicle. How? As such
the Santa Cruzs cargo bed is quite short
but can extend to about the length of that
of a mid-size pick-up [roughly five feet]
with the help of a nifty mechanism which

allows the entire aft section of the bed

to slide out like a drawer, bringing the
tailgate, taillights, and rear bumper with it.
This user-friendly feature could actually be
considered for production, says Hyundai.
In terms of production possibilities,

The HCD15 concept is

purposefully compact,
and although it has
four doors and seating
for five, its overall
footprint is similar to a
small CUV

Hyundais product planning chief Mike

OBrian did suggest that producing the
Santa Cruz would be as simple as adapting
a future Hyundai compact crossover
platform and creating a five-seater cab
body with a short bed in the back that
extends in various configurations to
provide space for stuff like surfboards and
bicycles.
Efficiency will be another key USP of the
Santa Cruz if it goes into production.
Hyundai have suggested a 190hp 2.0-litre
four-cylinder turbodiesel engine. Frontdrive will come as standard and Hyundais
HTRAC all-wheel-drive system as optional.
Theres also provision for adapting
standard gasoline four-cylinder engines
for specific markets besides bigger
displacement engines should there be a
demand.
MAR 2015

71

2015 Subaru Legacy

72 MAR 2015

Japanese automaker Subaru is riding on the

success of its strategy to redesign all of its
vehicles, build them better and endow them with
contemporary consumer features. The all-new
2015 Legacy sedan is the latest to arrive with this
philosophy
Author: Chandan B Mallik

he sixth-generation Legacy went on

sale this month in Oman last month.
The car was introduced as all-new
production sedan at 2014 Chicago Auto
Show. The incoming Legacy builds on
the models traditional strengths -- solid
construction, reliability, flat-four and sixcylinder Boxer engines and all-wheel drive.
To that equation, the incoming Legacy
adds the brands growing reputation for
safety, and an enhanced array of features.
The new Legacy sits in a busy segment
which has the likes of the Chevrolet
Malibu, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Honda
Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima,
Mazda 6, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry
and Volkswagen Passat. Despite hardcore
opposition, what has made the Legacy

stand out is that it is still the only car in its

class that comes with all-wheel drive as
standard. While, previous generations of
the Legacy have helped the model to be
seen as a competent car, but somehow
it has failed to become a major player in
the intensely competitive market globally.
With the incoming car, therefore Subaru
has a clear cut agenda both inside and
out. The overall aim is to make it a better
proposition and get bigger market share.
Its no secret that to support its ambitious
corporate agenda, Subaru has invested
in new platforms, technologies and
updated all models in the line-up. As a
result, the incoming Legacy now rides on
a slightly larger platform than before but
its 108.3in wheelbase is unchanged and

the car is 1.6in longer, 0.7in wider, and

0.3in lower. This arrangement also helps
in a modest interior volume increment. In
its construction, weight saving measures
include bonnet made out of lighter
aluminium [as opposed to steel].
And to announce the change in generation
the 2015 Legacy echoes many design
themes seen in the 2013 Legacy Concept.
The production model combines sporty
form and efficient function. Key to the
sleeker, coupe-like profile is a nosecone
front section that combines the grille and
bumper into one smooth piece.
Subaru says that the 2015 Legacy is the
best-equipped ever, with all trim lines
adding new standard amenities. As with
almost any new car, the new Legacy
MAR 2015

73

comes with more standard equipment and

more safety features. Among them are an
improved navigation system with a bigger
screen and a powerful audio option.
The Limited trim line models offer the
highest level of luxury ever in a Subaru,
including standard perforated leather
upholstery; two-position memory for the
10-way power drivers seat; a 4-way power

74 MAR 2015

front passenger seat; three-mode heated

front seats (also standard for Premium)
and dual-mode heated rear seats and
rear seat air conditioning. Subaru has
also significantly upgraded the cars
infotainment capabilities. In the dash now
sits a new 6.2in multifunction touch screen
display that offers swipe and scrolling
gestures. The Navigation Infotainment

System available for the Premium and

Limited trim levels, in addition to the
multi-function display, features an
interactive voice command system that
accepts natural language and phrases and
also operates the dual-zone automatic
climate control system. The cars boot
capacity has been enlarged to 15.0 cu. ft,
up slightly from 14.7 cu. ft. for the 2014

model. A standard 60:40 split fold-down

rear seat expands carrying capacity.
And from a dynamic point of view,
the sheet metal is 43per cent stiffer
allowing chassis engineers to retune the
suspension for more compliance without
sacrificing handling response. Standard
torque vectoring is also included which
contributes in helping improved stability
as well. Driver now gets new quick-ratio
electric power-assisted steering.
While Subaru positions the 2015 Legacy
as being all-new, the powertrains are
actually carried over with some modest
improvements. The Oman market will be
offered Legacy variants with a choice of
175hp [+3hp] 2.5-litre, DOHC, horizontally
opposed, 4-cylinder or a 256hp/247
lb.-ft. of peak torque from 3.6-litre,
DOHC, horizontally opposed, 6-cylinder
Boxer engine. Both engines are mated
to improved Lineartronic Continuously
Variable Transmission which now boasts
of changes made to reduce friction to
help contribute to higher fuel efficiency.
Meanwhile, the horizontal piston
movements make boxer engines very
smooth with vibration-free running that,
like all-wheel-drive, is the brands hallmark.
In terms of performance efficiencies, the
2.5i matches or exceeds fuel economy of

some midsize models that come only with

front-wheel drive and the 6-cylinder model
also sees fuel economy improve by 10 per
cent or more in city, highway or combined
usage. Peak torque in the four-cylinder
remains at 174 lb.-ft. but is spread over

Instead of focusing
just on exterior
styling, the Japanese
brand is trying to
make its vehicles
better qualitatively
by enhancing the
ownership experience
with better built
quality, trims and
other features.
a broader engine speed range for more
responsive performance.
Meanwhile, Subarus reputation for
safety has been growing, with five
vehicles rated as top safety picks by the

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in

the US. Safety features include a rearview
camera, a rollover sensor and depending
on market, an optional rear radar system
that has blind-spot detection, a lanechange assist feature and a rear crosstraffic alert systems. The 2015 Subaru
Legacy introduces a new type of airbag
restraint and a new available rear radar
system. All models are equipped with
Incline Start Assist and the electronic Hill
Holder System that holds the vehicle in
place until the driver applies the throttle.
The 4-cylinder Legacy now uses the
same ventilated rear disc brakes as the
6-cylinder model, in place of solid discs
used previously.
Subaru engineers have also worked
on improving the NVH levels in the car
and claim that it is much quieter than
the outgoing model because of thicker
panels and special foam insulation, as
well as liquid-filled engine mounts that
minimize noise transfer from under the
bonnet. The windscreen is more raked,
and aerodynamics has been improved by
10per cent. All 2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i
trim levels debut a standard Active Grille
Shutter system, which helps to improve
fuel economy by reducing wind resistance
when closed.

MAR 2015

75

Alonso in hospital after practice crash in Barcelona

ix years after pulling

out of the sport, Honda
is once again making
headlines in formula one for
all the wrong reasons. In the
midst of an horror run of
technical trouble as McLaren
struggles to run the new works
turbo V6, star driver Fernando
Alonso looks set to spend
some more days in hospital.
Spanish newspapers have
reported that Alonso remains
under observation in the
Hospital General de Catalunya,
with his discharge pending a
further series of tests.
With the Spaniard still in
intensive care, the conspicuous
delay in McLarens explanation
about the cause of the crash
and his precise medical
condition had fuelled wild
rumours. Was he electrocuted
by KERS? Did leaking battery

Automans
take
76 MAR 2015

fumes render him drowsy or

unconscious before he hit the
wall? Had the newly Hondapowered MP4-30 spectacularly
failed? It was just an
accident, Flavio Briatore,
reportedly still involved in
Alonsos management, insisted
to media.
With Alonsos participation in
the final Barcelona test now in
serious doubt, manager Luis
Garcia Abad also played down
any suggestion the 33-year-old
might have to miss the season
opener in Melbourne.
I do not think this is a serious
problem 20 days before the
championship begins, Abad
is quoted as saying. We are
happy to say that he is ok.
The team said it has been
busily carrying out a detailed
analysis of the cars damage
and telemetry, which shows

that Alonso lost control when

he ran onto Astroturf.
Our findings indicate that
the accident was caused by
the unpredictably gusty winds
at that part of the circuit at
that time, McLaren added,
and which had affected other
drivers similarly including
Carlos Sainz, who also crashed.
In defense, McLaren stated
categorically that the
evidence does not point to
mechanical or aerodynamic
failure, and also said Hondas
energy recovery system did
not shock Alonso.
That last point refutes the
erroneous rumours that have
spread recently to the effect
that Fernando was rendered
unconscious by an electrical
fault, the team insisted. Our
data clearly shows that he was
downshifting while applying

full brake pressure right up to

the moment of the first impact
-- something that clearly would
not have been possible had he
been unconscious at the time.
McLarens claim is also backed
by emerging photographic
evidence in the press,
depicting a single solid tyre
mark all the way to the wall,
and a crash angle that was
more acute than first thought.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated
move, the architect of
Hondas return to F1, Honda
president Takanobu Ito being
replaced by Takahiro Hachigo
in June. The change is a big
promotion for Hachigo as he
will become president, CEO
and representative director.
Ito San, will remain on the
companys board and assume
the post of director and
advisor to Honda Motor.

Whatever the reason behind Alonsos high speed crash which was followed with wild speculation about the cause is understandable
in view of the complexities involved in a F1 car. And it will be some time before the truth [if ever] emerges. But one thing is for sure,
irrespective of the outcome, that Alonso has survived virtually unscathed from this crash thereby indicating once again despite the risks,
safety ranks very high in F1. We hope Alonso recovers and is fit enough for the seasons opening in Melbourne.

Costs in F1 could be halved, says FIA

A study commissioned by the FIA reportedly shows that costs in formula one
could be halved without hurting the show. With smaller teams like Caterham
and Marussia ailing and even better-funded midfielders struggling financially,
it emerged that New York-based McKinsey and Company, a multinational
consulting firm, recently examined the finances of nine F1 teams at the behest
of the governing body.
In its findings, McKinsey has proposed new cost-cutting measures that could
help teams like Force India, Sauber and Lotus - with budgets in the range
of $120-$200mn - to survive and thrive. Focusing on a $120m per year team,
McKinsey reportedly found that almost $30 million - a quarter - is spent on the
engine alone, but that a 25 per cent cost reduction would be feasible.
The study also found that 35 per cent of the design and production process, 15
per cent of the grand prix activities and 20 per cent of testing costs could be
slashed. If this happened, then teams like Sauber, Force India, Toro Rosso and
Williams could be funded solely from the distributions from the commercial
rights holder

Rory Byrne
returns to Ferrari
as designer guru
South African legendary Ferrari
designer Rory Byrne has returned
to Maranello to be Simone Restas
mentor. It may be recalled that
Byrne was a key member of the
Ferrari dream team of last decade,
when along with Jean Todt, Ross
Brawn and Michael Schumacher,
they utterly dominated the sport.
Coming out of retirement, the
71-year-old will once again be seen in
the corridors of Maranello. His new
role is supporting Simone Resta,
Ferraris new designer in the wake
of the personnel shakeup that saw
the likes of Nikolas Tombazis, Pat
Fry and others all depart. Simone is
from the school of Aldo Costa, who
I respect a lot, said Ferraris new team boss Maurizio Arrivabene, referring
to the former Ferrari technical boss who now designs title-winning cars for
Mercedes. Byrnes enthusiasm for F1 has been re-fired as the fabled marque
now bids to end its period of turmoil and slump.

Button cool with Alonso

Jenson Button insists he is happy to be
paired with Fernando Alonso. Both faces
of the new McLaren-Honda garage have
won world championships, but Spaniard
Alonso is regarded not only as arguably
the best on the grid, but perhaps often
difficult to share a team with. Notably, he
clashed at McLaren with Lewis Hamilton,
and at Ferrari he humbled two consecutive
Ferrari teammates, Felipe Massa and Kimi
Raikkonen.
McLaren supremo Ron Dennis, however,
says he has noticed Alonso is now more
mature than in 2007, and has not arrived
demanding clear number 1 status. He
said equality, I accept equality, Dennis
revealed. Team veteran and Briton
Buttons last McLaren teammate was the
rookie Kevin Magnussen, but he insists he
is more than happy to now share a garage
with a driver of Alonsos status. Its
always good to see what the other guy can
do, their strengths and weaknesses, and
also to work with someone as experienced
as Fernando.
Hes a double world champion and has
been around almost as long as me, driving
for many different teams so I think its a
huge benefit to us, Button, 35, added.
Ive always said I want the best drivers
next to me. That I would love to have
Fernando as my teammate and here we
are -- its a good partnership and Im sure
well work well together.

Al Harthy optimistic about performance in last

four Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge races
Reigning champions Al Nabooda Racing
aim to take a decisive step towards a
third successive team title in the Middle
East at UAEs Dubai Autodrome.
After opening up an eight-point lead over
nearest rivals Sky Dive Dubai Falcons,
Clemens Schmid and Omani driver
Ahmad Al Harthy are aiming to build
significantly on that advantage before
the final race weekend of the season in
Bahrain on 18-19 April. The competition
is closer than ever and both the team
and drivers championships will come
down to the wire, said Al Harthy. But
the momentum is with us so our target

Porsche GT3 Cup

Challenge Middle East
- team standings:
1. Al Nabooda Racing (UAE) 288pts
2. SKY DIVE Dubai Falcons (UAE) 280
3. ClassicArabia Racing (KSA) 182
4. Team Bahrain (BAH) 177
5. Frijns Structural Steel ME (QAT) 147

now is to make the gap between us and

second place as big as possible.
Its great for us to be at the top, but we
have to focus and work hard to maintain
the lead. Its key for us to build on our
performance last time out in Qatar and
get quicker in the last four races of the
season.
Schmid, pursuing his second GT3 Cup
drivers title in three years, leads the
current standings by six points from
Kuwaits defending champion, Zaid
Ashkanani, and is looking to add to his
five wins from eight rounds so far this
season.

Driver standings
1. Clemens Schmid (UAE) 190pts
2. Zaid Ashkanani (KUW) 184
3. Saeed Al Mehairi (UAE) 145
4. Charlie Frijns (NED) 137
5. Hasher Al Maktoum (UAE) 135
6. Raed Raffi (BAH) 113
7. Ahmad Al Harthy (OM) 98
8. Wolfgang Triller (GER) 97

Catalunya testing in full spring before first

race in Australia
Formula Ones season opener in Melbourne
is just weeks away and participating teams
were busy preparing for the second, and
penultimate, pre-season test before the
first race. Media attention is focused in
Spain, at the circuit de Catalunya, where
teams have been preparing in their own
ways. Valtteri Bottas spent Monday in
the Williams simulator as part of his
preparation, whilst at Enstone Romain
78 MAR 2015

Grosjean has been carrying out similar

duties. McLaren has taken full advantage
of the rules that allow two days for
promotional events each year, Jenson
Button putting further mileage on the new
Honda-powered car, teammate Fernando
Alonso in action for the Woking team. All
nine teams were on duty at Barcelona.
Force India used its 2014 car for the testing
programme.

Lexus RC F is official Safety Car for V8 Supercars races in Oz

The 5.0-ltre V8 muscle coupe appears to be mechanically unmodified, as it is apparently suitable to the task right out of the showroom.
It has, however, been enhanced with a special livery, emergency lighting and an interior likely to have been upgraded with bucket
seats, racing harnesses, a roll cage and emergency equipment. The RC F safety car will be joined by an IS 350 F Sport thatll serve as the
medical car and another GS 350 F Sport support vehicle.

Toyota to bank heavily on motorsports

oyota Motor Corporation has

announced its motorsport
activities for 2015 and revealed
that it will return to the FIA World Rally
Championship in 2017 with a Yaris-based
car developed and tested by Toyota
Motorsport (TMG).
Toyota Racing will continue to
compete in the FIA World Endurance
Championship, defending the
manufacturers title it won in 2014. It
will also play a supporting role for teams
taking part in NASCAR in the USA, the
Japanese Super Formula and the Dakar
cross-country race.
Meanwhile, its luxury brand Lexus will
operate under the Lexus Racing banner
and will compete in Japans top-level
Super GT series and make the RC F GT3
coupe available for grass-roots GT racing
worldwide.

Gazoo Racing will be returning to the

Nrburgring 24 Hours, an event at
which Toyota employees have been
able to develop their skills by working
with the team since 2007. Gazoo will
be extending this aspect of their work

Toyota and motorsports

Toyota Motorsport (TMG) began life

as Andersson Motorsport, named after
the companys founder, the late Ove
Andersson, and which competed in the
WRC as Toyota Team Europe. During that
time the team achieved 43 wins, with
celebrated cars such as the Celica Twincam Turbo and GT-Four and the Corolla
WRC. The line-up of legendary drivers
included Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen
and Didier Auriol.

this year by entering a staff team

in the All Japan Rally Championship
and enabling Toyota technicians to
participate in Japans Super Taikyu
series. As well as providing a full range
of grass-roots motorsports events,
Gazoo have also established a support
programme to nurture professional
rally drivers.
For WEC [world endurance
championship] driver Anthony
Davidson and Sbastien Buemi, who
won the drivers championship last
season will join Kazuki Nakajima in
car No1, while Alex Wurz, Stphane
Sarrazin and Mike Conway will race
in car No2. The Yaris WRC follows an
illustrious line of Toyota WRC cars and
its 2017 debut will come 18 years after
Toyotas final WRC rally, in 1999.

MAR 2015

79

A matter of
perception
The latest Internet sensation seems to be the stuff that raises questions about what it
is that really matters to us human beings. A lady posts a picture of her dress and asks
what colour do you see? From the responses, there is a clear separation of respondents
into two main streams those who see in blue and black and the others who see white
and gold. I belong to the latter category, which I am led to understand means that I have
weaker eyesight.
Really? The mind boggles at the sheer stupidity of trying to use this to filter people into
groups. Hasnt anyone ever heard of the colour-blind? Do you think it takes an Internet
meme to tell us that human beings and their ability to perceive the world around them
differ in almost as many ways as we can devise tests.
After all perception is what really drives us. Irrespective of which colour we see or dont
see, the fact remains that a proper knowledge of optics will tell you that the colour we
actually perceive is the subtractive portion of the light bandwidth that falls on the cloth.
What reflects off is what we see. What reflects off is not the colour of the fabric that
is what is absorbed. Already, by this we know that what our eyes perceive is only part
of the story.
What then do we say about a car company that is willing to take our perceptions a
bit further? Nissan have announced plans to launch glow-in-the-dark paint? Now when
we see ghostly hues zipping by on unlit roads we will begin to associate them with
automobiles. But wont that add a further complication for exterior designers who have
only just about mastered the complications of using positive and negative surface forms
to sculpt their cars. Ambient lighting or the ever-present Sun is what has decided how
car forms are shaped. Now if the very skin of the car lights up, will we go back to flat
surfaces?
Raj Warrior is editor of Automan and has been in the thick
of the Automotive journalism field from the past 15 years.
Want to comment or have your say?
Email at raj@alroya.net.
Identify yourself or your message will be trashed and
your id blocked

What then happens to colour that changes depending on the source of the incident light?
Will the paint look different in LED lighting? Or will it sparkle differently in the Sun?
Perception is also what allows us to believe in the heads-up display. There is a huge
degree of comfort in reading a panel you know that a light-emitting diode or a bulb
behind it is communicating through language or graphics. But what do you make of a
message that floats, seemingly, in thin air? If you focus on the message it loses clarity
while looking off into the distance is what makes it legible and useful.
This ability of engineering our interfaces with the world depending on how we perceive
the world is what brought about both Google glass as well as the immersive gaming
headsets. You look at your friends in the middle distance, read their messages in the
near zone and a couple of blinks is all it takes for you to photograph them for the cloud
and posterity.
Even our acceptance of and increasing use of 3D is a lesson in the value of perception.
Until holograms become a reality (another lesson in perception there), our interpretation
of depth in a two-dimensional storyboard is governed by polarisation and deliberately
mistiming signals to fool our brains into the third dimension.
Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, has said, There are things known and there
are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.
I say that we should celebrate our differences. If you see blue when I see white, thats
good. Of course the best way to ensure that we all know what the exact colour is can
be decided by something as simple as a printers colour reference. The driver who is
colour-blind usually manages to get by knowing the position of the red bulb in the traffic
tree. There are constants that both guide us and allow us to decide on a functional truce.

80 MAR
FEB 2015