AutomanMag | Visit our website: www.automan.

me
now, the regions Best Automotive Resource FEB 2016 Issue no 173

OMR 0.500 AED 10 QR 10

ff the Road

On and O
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Also inside: Detroit Motor show report | Qatar Motor show

Tested 2016 Honda Pilot 2016 Ford Figo 2016 Lexus RX350
Face to Face : Hyundais regional managing director Jin Kim

New Wheels

6-11 2016 KIA Sportage Media drive,

2016 Subaru XV Launch, 2016 Jaguar
XF launch, 2016 Renault Duster
4x4 Launch, 2016 M-B AMG G-class
upgrade, 2016 Lexus GS F Launch

Oman and regional news

12-13 Shell Oman launches new

cards, Cadillac share ME results, M-B
offer, Maserati hold italian night
14-15 OLX Statistics, M-B Oman
awarded, Renault boosts Iran
presence, New head of Ford ME,
Nissan Training academy, Infiniti
pleased with results

regional news spotlight

16-18 Qatar Motorshow report

28

Brandwatch

20-21 Renault-Nissan alliance

declare results, Daimler announces
record figures, GM on a roll, Mary
Barra to become Chairman
22-23 are suzuki and toyota joining
forces? Audi announce bumper year,
tata faces zika issue, Ferrari listing

International news
spotlight

24-27 Detroit Motorshow Round-up

54

Cover story

28-33 2016 M-B AMG GLE 63 Road test

Road Tests

34-39 2016 Lexus RX350

40-45 2016 Honda Pilot
46-49 2016 Ford Figo

Face to Face

50-53 Hyundai MEA Head Jin Kim

automan coty 2015

54-61 The winners are announced in

all categories plus our editors two
select segments. We debut the bike
categories too.

Concepts

62-63 Audi Lunar Quattro being

developed for Lunar X-Prize

64-65 KIA Telluride. Is it the next
Mohave?

Previews

First Drive

66-69 Infiniti Q60 Coup

70-71 BMW M2 Coup

72-75 2016 Bentley Range on Media

Drive In Oman

Motorsports
76-78 Dubai 24 Hours and F1 snippets

Chicane

80 Ringing in the New

editor-in-chief
Mohammad Al Taie

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We are in 2016 and most of the doomsday predictions we have had for the economy
in general and automotive sales in particular have come to nought. Company after
multinational car company has come out with announcements of record or near record
profits and sales. In fact, in most cases, car companies have bounced back solidly from the
low point of 2008 to a healthy new paradigm.
However, that does not mean that challenges dont exist for 2016. Petroleum prices are
uniformly predicted to remain depressed and the regional economies are increasingly
going to have to find innovative solutions to keep their business going as usual. Every
regional business boss we have spoken with over the past couple of months has admitted
that 2016 would be far more challenging than the previous year. The run of record sales in
car numbers has also been powered by the increase of volumes in the premium and luxury
segment in the region, but once the government stops unnecessary expenditure, will we
see that segment dry up?
Infrastructure spending will be the key. As revenue from petroleum stays challenged, it
may be the right time for governments to borrow and plow money into infrastructure at
cheaper terms. This will no doubt pay back in the short term by injecting much needed
business into their local economies, while the longer term benefits will be seen in better
roads, bridges, airports, railways and the sort.
In the meantime, there have been some changes at Automan. As we had promised last
year, our portal has taken on a life of its own, with a 24x7 dissemination of automotive
news. We are increasingly becoming the first port of call for anything to do with cars and
bikes in the region.
This issue is also important as it carries the results of the 2015 Automan Car of the Year
programme. As always we have spent the whole of the past year testing and rating
vehicles we have driven that are sold in the region. Finally, we tally the scores through
January and reach the final result that appears in this issue. This began with the 2011 year,
making this the fifth edition of the programme. And we must say with a certain degree
of satisfaction that the programme is acknowledged across the region as being fair and
unbiased making the award winners real achievers. More power to them.
Heres to a great 2016 ahead - we look forward to your continued patronage as we drive
ahead as the regions best automotive resource.

Automan is now in its 16th year of

publication. Expect a great deal from
us through the year in terms of all your
favourite automotive content

NEWWheelS
2016 KIA Sportage

KIA unveils new Sportage with major

styling changes and turbo GT grade

utoman recently participated in

a media drive arranged by KIA
Motors regional office in Dubai. The
aim was to introduce media to the new
4th generation KIA Sportage, that is a 2016
model here.
The event was based at the Meydan
hotel and began with a press conference
and orientation session where various
speakers informed us about the salient
features of the new Sportage.
Soon-Nam Lee, managing director of
KIAs middle east and Africa operations
informed us that the new Sportage would
be sourced from the brands Slovakia
factory.
He also informed media that KIAs global
sales for 2015 was 3.15 million units,
making it the second year that the brand
had crossed 3 million units and marking 12
continuous years of growth.
Sales in the middle east and Africa region
is expected to hit 230,000 units out of
which the new Sportage is expected to
contribute 50,000 units.
6

FEB 2016

The new Sportage is designed to offer a

smoother ride and better handling and
builds further on the 43 models that have
either been released as new or upgraded
over the 2009-2015 period.
The Sportage also launched with a GT
Line specification that offers a truly
differentiated package for buyers,
complete with the 1.6-litre turbocharged
engine and 7-speed DCt gearbox, along
with front and rear skid plates, dual
exhaust pipes and 19 alloy wheels with
matt silver machine finish.
Higher grades of the Sportage have LED
DRLs and projector lamps, panoramic
sunroof, reversing camera, cruise control,
lane departure warning, blind spot
warning and even a tailgate that opens
when you swing your leg below the rear
bumper.
The vehicles interior features heated and
ventilated seats (in higher grades) tyre
pressure monitoring, multiple USB jacks
as well as the ability an eight speaker JBL
sound system that is supposed to be able

to boost the quality of compressed music

to that of an uncompressed media source
(called Clari-Fi).
After the press conference we drove out
to Fujairah and back to the Meydan taking
some of the longest detours possible so
as to clock in kilometres on the cars. The
turbocharged 1.6-litre GT Line is a gem of
an engine, largely made great because of
the 7-speed DCT. On the 2.4-litre unit, the
regular 6-speed automatic unit enjoys a
natural torque delivery but does seem a
little tall geared.
The Sportage has never been a hardcore
off-roader and the provision of the AWD
lock button on the dashboard does not
make it one, although we were provided
a stock of images of the Sportage
performing on sand. But thats really
not the market for it as Soon-Nam Lee
expressed to us, he believes that the
new vehicle will still be a success despite
launching into a tough market.
Our first impressions of the car are that
the NVH levels have improved, as has

2016 KIA Sportage:

Whats changed in this
model year?

KIA Motors regional managing director, Soon-Nam Lee addresses

the media gathered for the media drive.
the general stiffness of the body (with the greater use of high
strength steel). The electric power steering still stays a little
muted in feel despite the drive modes available, although the
gearshift pattern does change suitably. But once set revving,
the Sportage is a noisy little charger, with dreams of competing
against some rather premium marques.

The 4th generation KIA Sportage comes at a time of intense

competition in the compact SUV segment. Thus the styling
changes have brought about a sense of being contemporary as
well as takes the Sportage upmarket against its competition.
Major changes have been brought about in the light signature,
profiling and interiors, as well as in the use of more ultra high
strength steel in the construction of the body.
While there has been no move to actually perform a major
platform change, the new method of making large changes on
modified platforms shows through. You can see that the roofline
and C-D pillar hasnt been touched, but all outer panels have
undergone sea changes.
The interiors get a very modern interpretation of the KIA interior,
with large touch panels, LED lumination and a system that offers
features like multiple USB jacks, bluetooth streaming and even
wireless phone charging points.
The rearview camera has cross-traffic assist, Blind spot monitoring
on the outside mirrors and a large panoramic roof all add in to the
appeal - as does the new GT line with its unique 19 alloy wheels
and 1.6-litre turbocharged engine.
In our opinion, this Sportage will be a sure fire hit with its almost
Porsche like fascia, classy interiors and feature pack that takes
it into a rather premium territory. We do expect prices to move
higher accordingly.
FEB 2016

NEWWheelS
2016 Subaru XV

Subaru Oman
launches 2016 XV

Top right: OTE Chairman Saad Suhail

Bahwan addresses the assembled media
and guests at the launch. Bottom right: CEO
Anil Dua

MHD Launches Ford Trucks in Oman

MHD LLC and Ford Trucks,
celebrated the opening of
the newly constructed 4S
Ford Trucks facility in Muscat,
including showroom, spare
parts and service. The facility
represents the first Ford
Trucks dealership in Oman, 3rd
biggest truck market in Middle
East.
The 4S facility staffed by a
team of trained personnel
will provide Sales, Service &
Spare Parts support to the
Ford Trucks customers. Facility
is formed of 225 m2 internal
showroom, 192 m2 External
Showroom, 350 m2 Workshop
and 1000 m2 commonly
used spare parts warehouse
area. The showroom can
accommodate up to 3 trucks
8

FEB 2016

and the service area can

receive up to 300 trucks per
month.
Speaking at the launch
Gopi Subramanian, General
Manager of the Engineering
Products & Commercial
Vehicles Division, MHD LLC
said, We are proud to launch
the tough, technically superior,
fuel efficient FORD range
of Trucks in the Sultanate
of Oman. They have been
equipped with specifications
that will cater to all the specific
requirements of our clients in
cargo hauling, construction,
tankers or any other load
handling applications.
Ford Trucks General Manager
Haydar Yenign emphasized
that Ford Trucks continue

to establish global network

and stated; We have strong
business relations with our
distributors. And as a result
of this settlement in Muscat,
we are truly hoping our

long lasting relationship will

continue with Mohsin Haider
Darwish L.L.C. The Middle
East is very important for Ford
Trucks and Oman is among the
most important markets.

NEWWheelS
2016 Jaguar XF

Top: David Aziz addressing the gathering. Top right: Johnny Amiouni from
Jaguar Middle East joins (second from left)

New Jaguar XF launched in Oman

T

he all-new Jaguar XF launched in Oman

at a glittering outdoor ceremony
hosted by the brands importers, Mohsin
Haider Darwish LLC. The Jaguar XF 3.0
Litre V6 Supercharged Portfolio was
showcased at the event.
Speaking at the launch, David Aziz,
CEO- Automotive Products MHD LLC
said: Jaguar has a rich 80-year history
that spans key historic events and
sporting triumphs, a history of producing
stunningly designed cars which deliver
uncompromised form and function. The
All- New Jaguar XF is the latest addition to
this extraordinary heritage.
Johnny Amiouni, Regional Business
Manager, Jaguar Land Rover MENAP
region added: The All-New Jaguar XFs
elegant and progressive design stands
out from the crowd and makes it instantly
recognisable as a Jaguar from any angle.
Setting the benchmark for steering
response and feel, and exceptional ride
comfort combined with refinement and
performance, this dynamic luxury business
saloon offers our customers a compelling

package defined by Jaguars dynamics

DNA. The All-New Jaguar XF has been
very well-received since its launch at the
New York International Auto Show, and
I am very pleased to be launching it here
today in the Sultanate of Oman alongside
Mohsin Haider Darwish LLC.

The All-New Jaguar XF range consists

of: XF Pure, XF Prestige, XF R-Sport, XF
Portfolio and XF-S. The All-New Jaguar XF
range will be available with prices starting
from RO. 18,950 (along with 5 years/
250,000 KM Warranty and 5 years/ 65,000
KM service package).

The all-new XF is 4,954mm long: at 2,960 the wheelbase is 51mm longer than before, the front
overhang 66mm shorter. Though 7mm shorter and 3mm lower than the original XF, rear seat
space is class-leading thanks to 15mm more legroom, 24mm more kneeroom and up to 27mm
more headroom than before. Aerodynamics are also superior: the drag coefficient drops from
0.29 to just 0.26.
The light (190kgs lighter), stiff body is also fundamental to the all-new XFs superb vehicle
dynamics. Double wishbone front suspension and Integral Link rear suspension - combined with
near-50:50 weight distribution.

FEB 2016

NEWWheelS
2016 Renault Duster 4x4

Renault Oman expands entry level by

launching new Renault Duster 4x4
The new Renault Duster 44 (albeit
without any major platform changes) has
been launched in Oman by its importers,
Suhail Bahwan Automobiles.
With a refreshed front end, chrome strips
and a new air intake. The headlamps
also incorporate LED daytime running
lights and black alloy 16 wheels. The

interiors have also been upgraded with a

redesigned dashboard, beige fabric seats,
cruise control and a 7 media nav touch
screen that offers satellite navigation,
bluetooth connectivity and links to a
rearview camera.
It also now gets ABS and ESP as standard
along with tyre pressure monitoring.

. New Renault Duster 4x4 will deliver a

level of equipment normally associated
with vehicles from the next segment up,
stated a senior SBA official, Renault Oman
Team. He added: It is the ideal vehicle
for all who wish to own a stylish yet
affordable vehicle.

2016 Mercedes-Benz G500

Upgraded MercedesBenz G-class in region

he Mercedes-Benz
G500 is now available
with a new version of the V8
power plant based on the AMG tuned
unit found in those variants. This unit is
a 4.0-litre biturbo engine that has been
modified to deliver 422hp and a torque
of 610Nm. The turbochargers are also
10

FEB 2016

optimal response and low exhaust

emissions.

uniquely
positioned in
between the banks of cylinders instead
of outside them. The layout known as the
hot inside V offers a compact layout,

Both the G 500 and Mercedes-AMG G

63 are equipped as standard with an
ECO start/stop function that reduces
fuel consumption and emissions by switching
off the engine when the vehicle is at rest,
e.g. in a traffic jam or at traffic lights.

NEWWheelS
2016 Lexus GS F

2016 Lexus GS F
launched in Oman
The 2016 Lexus GS F launched in Oman in the presence of
Yukihiko Yaguchi, Chief Engineer for the GS F and Takayuki
Yoshitsugu, chief representative for Toyota Motor Corporation in
the region
The GS F is the first new F sedan after the launch of the IS F in
2007. It is seen by the brand as the complement to the RC F in the
middle layer of the F performance pyramid, with the LFA at the
apex and the F-sport variants as the base.
According to Yaguchisan, With the GS F, our aim was to develop
a car that combines the versatility of a sedan with the agility and
dynamic character of the F brand. He added, To enhance its
dynamic performance and hone its handling, our team also spent
countless number of hours on some of the most famous tracks of
the world, including Fuji Speedway in Japan and the Nurburgring
in Germany.
Yoshitsugusan says, The sedan embraces the virtues of sound,
response and limitless power feel to support Lexus F brand

identity of a performance car. We look forward to delighting our

customers with this latest model and would like to acknowledge
their support over the years.
An official spokesman for the Lexus importer in Oman also
informed the guests that the increasing range of F badged
cars with their unique styling and grilles as well as outright
performance edge had helped draw in younger customers to the
brand.

The GS-F is based on the partially revamped

GS and is equipped with a 5.0-litre naturally
aspirated V8 that outputs 471hp at 7,100rpm and
delivers a torque of 518Nm from 4,800-5,600rpm.
It is also equipped with an 8-speed sport direct
shift automatic gearbox, which has a manual
mode with quick shifts (as little as 0.1 seconds
per shift).
The rear-wheel drive sedan features a special
differential on the rear axle that also offers
torque vectoring and partners well with the
overall power delivery of the car. Yaguchisan also
confirmed that the body is specially prepared and
the chassis is tuned for performance with even
the brakes being Brembo units (six-piston on the
front axle).

FEB 2016

11

Shell Oman launches latest

fleet card system
Shell Oman Marketing Company
recently launched a new fleet
card management system in the
presence of outgoing managing
director Adil bin Ismail Al Raisi
and other members of the
senior management team.
The system comes with
enhanced control, greater
security and extra savings. The

new platform also allows for

a corporate Advance payment
system, allowing customers to
prepay for fuel.
Some of the new features
include PIN-enabled cards
and online authorisation
of transactions, with
downloadable invoices and a
variety of reports through the

web portal.
Shell also introduced their
vehicle recognition system
that uses RFID technology to
communicate fuelling type and
limits at the pump. This allows
vehicles to fill at the pump
without a card and with no
manual intervention.

Cadillac manages higher sales in tough year

In a year that saw a distinct softening
of the Middle East luxury car market,
Cadillac bucked the trend, reporting
20% annual growth.
Last year the luxury car industry
saw a slowdown in terms of sales
and growth. This was due, in part,
to geopolitical factors in the region
and consumers views towards
major purchases, said Felix Weller,
Managing Director, Cadillac Middle
East.
Weller said Cadillac has been setting
itself apart from the competition in
terms of its unique vehicle lineup and
by growing, even in a contracting
market.

12

FEB 2016

Cadillac is a leader in terms of last

years the fastest growing premium
car brands, Weller said.
He attributes the increasing popularity
of Cadillac to its strong foundation
of vehicles packed with modern
technologies, sophisticated design,
and advanced driving dynamics. The
range starts with the ATS sedan and
coupe, which saw 17% year on year
growth, and continues up to Cadillacs
flagship, the Escalade, which posted
an impressive 63% increase in sales.
As for the year ahead, Weller predicts
the luxury market to continue to face
some challenges, but expects Cadillac
to continue its growth story.

Mohammed Mahmood al
Balushi has been named
by the companys board
of directors as the new
managing director for
Shell Oman Marketing
Company, replacing
outgoing Adil Ismail
Abdullah al Raisi. The
appointment is effective
immediately and Balushi
will also represent the
interests of shareholder
Shell Gas BV as its
nominated director.
Balushis 23 years of
experience include 12
with Shell, with exposure
to corporate banking,
equity financing,
project management,
government relations and
fuel retailing. His previous
post was as country
manager retail and he
was a member of the Shell
Oman management team.

Indian battery brand Emtrac have launched

a series of zero maintenance batteries
in Oman along with local partner Eint
Automotive. Eint Automotive is a part
of the WJ Towell group of companies
and offer a range of tyre, battery and
accessories to the Oman market.
Emtrac say that their range offers the
highest cranking performance and low
corrosion over time due to their use of
SilvenX alloy. They offer an 18-month
warranty on the battery (unlike the
industry standard 12 month) and claim that
the battery will work flawlessly even in the
harshest environment.
Mr. Shajahan Azeez, Business Unit head,
Eint Automotive, PLB Division says We are
confident that our customers will find this
battery highly beneficial and are also pretty
certain that Emtrac will very soon become
a preferred choice in the market due to its
long life and extended warranty.

news

Emtrac batteries
launch in Oman

Oman & region

Alfardan Motors hosts

evening of Italian culture
for Maserati

Maseratis official importer

in Oman, Alfardan Motors,
hosted an evening of
Italian food, art and
culture for a select group
of customers and media
invited to their showroom
in Muscat.
Acclaimed Omani artist,

Ibrahim Gailani who is

collaborating with the
brand used the occasion
to unveil his Zeus portrait,
depicting the inspiration
behind the Maserati
Trident emblem.
Clients were invited to
join in and try their hand

at painting canvas boards.

Gailani is a contemporary
artist who also runs the
Gailani art retreat.
The latest Quattroporte
and Ghibli models were
available through the
evening for customers to
take test drives.

Mercedes-Benz announces offers on

models in Oman
Mercedes-Benz Oman has
announced offers on three of
its models in Oman.
The three models carrying
these offers are the MercedesBenz GLE400 4Matic, the C200
AMG and the Avantgarde trim
level of the E300 AMG sport.
Mercedes-Benz fans will be
driving their dream thanks
to this precision-engineered
package, commented Clive
Hammond, CEO of Zawawi
Trading Company-Automotive.
While the three vehicles
have distinct personalities,
what they have in common is
Mercedes-Benzs unrivalled
engineering, luxury and power.

The Mercedes-Benz philosophy

of The Best or Nothing
applies to our deals as much
to our vehicles, and with these
fantastic packages we are
confident that we achieved
that.
Available for OMR 29,995
while stocks last, the GLE400
4MATIC offer includes a 3 year
or 45,000 kilometre integrated
Service Package. With a similar
offer, the E300 Avantgarde is
priced at RO 24,995, while the
C200 AMG is at 22,495.
This offer is available till March
31st, 2016 or till stocks last,
whichever is earlier.

FEB 2016

13

OLX shares its Oman statistics

highlighting some trends
Months after the site OLX took over the
business of now defunct dubizzle.com in
the country, the site has communicated to
us the volume of traffic.
The total number of ads reached 102,742
with a total product value of OMR 22.6
million (USD 60 million) which is double
the number of international flights in
Muscat International Airport by end of
August 2015.
The report revealed that the most
searched car brands on the OLX website,
and its accompanying mobile applications
in Oman during the same period were
Toyota, Nissan, Jeep, BMW, Honda and
Mitsubishi. Regarding secondhand items,
the report revealed that the most searched
items were: beds, sofas, TVs, furniture,
ACs, fridges, tables, washing machines,
mobile phones and cameras.
Commenting on the Report, Abdallah
Touqan, Senior PR and Communications
Lead at OLX said, Such reports help us
not only in improving transparency within
the used product sales market within our
society, but to also educate consumers
to disrupt consumer exploitation. We are
proud to exceed the 100,000 ads mark in
Oman within just ten months of the year,
with a total product value of around 60
million USD.
According to the report, Samsung phones
topped the phone for sale category on
the OLX website and OLX Arabia phone
apps with 2,332 ads with an average price
per piece of OMR 100. Following closely
behind were iPhones with an average price
per piece of OMR 141 across 404 ads.

Zawawi Trading Company

(ZTC) scooped four top prizes
at the 2015 Mercedes-Benz
Middle East and Levant Sales
and Marketing Awards.

Zawawi Trading Company (ZTC) scooped

four top prizes at the 2015 MercedesBenz Middle East and Levant Sales
and Marketing Awards: Best Target
Achievement, Best Ever Sales Results,
Best Social Media Activation, and Best
SUV Sales Performance. Dubbed the
Night of the Stars, the stellar event held
in Dubai recognized the successes of the
iconic brands eleven General Distributors
in the Middle East and Levant as they
pursued the Mercedes-Benz philosophy of
The Best or Nothing.
Accepting the four awards on behalf
of ZTC, CEO Clive Hammond enthused:
Its a true honor to receive this major
recognition in these extraordinarily
competitive categories. These accolades
are the culmination of a remarkable year
for Mercedes-Benz in Oman, one in which
we have reinforced our commanding
position in the luxury automotive sector
thanks to an outstanding line-up and an
incredible set of new launches. We look
forward to continuing to set standards and
enthralling the market in the coming year.

Renault to increase business in Iran post sanctions

In a release timed with the visit of
Iranian president Rouhani to France,
Renault Groupe has communicated the
existing co-operation it has with Iranian
manufacturers and indicated a further
growth in volumes.
It says that over the past decade,
Renault Pars, a joint venture with both
Saipa and Iran Khodro, has produced
more than 500,000 vehicles. The
company considers the Iran market as an
important part of its strategy and calls it
calm and consistent.
It also says that two new vehicles
were produced during 2015 itself, the
Logan pick-up with Iran Khodro and the
Sandero with Saipa.
Thanks to the lifting of economic
sanctions against Iran on January 16,
14

FEB 2016

and as soon as smooth relations have

resumed between French and Iranian
banks, Renault will considerably intensify
operations in Iran and prepare future
model releases in association with its
two local partners.
With a market amounting to two
million vehicles by 2020, Iran has
undeniable potential. Renault has
ambitious plans in Iran and advanced
discussions are currently underway with
Saipa and Iran Khodro to step up our
presence, develop our structures and
support the automobile sector in Iran,
said Bernard Cambier, Director of the
Africa-Middle East-India region.
In 2015, Group sales soared by 56.1%
compared to 2014, to reach a total of
51,500 vehicles and 4.8% of market share.

Thierry Sabbagh is the new managing

director for Ford Middle East operations.
Sabbagh has vast automotive experience,
having previously been regional sales
director for the brand since 2012, where he
was responsible for supporting Ford and
Lincoln dealers across the GCC markets as
well as Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan
and Yemen.
For the continued success of Ford in
our region, certain priorities including
customer satisfaction will help us reach our
goals, said Sabbagh. An improved dealer
network and level of ability, along with
making the customer sales and service
experiences second-to-none, can make
sure of the growth of Ford in this region
moving forward.
Sabbagh also intends to improve
distributor marketing efforts, while
also getting serious about the fleet and
commercial vehicle business.
He has previously worked for other major
automotive brands in the region, including
another US-based major.

Oman & region

news

Thierry Sabbagh
to lead Ford
Middle East
as Managing
Director

Nissan upgrades its

regional training centre to
Academy status
Nissan Middle East has announced the
upgrade of its existing regional training
centre into a full-fledged professional
academy, complete with programmes
designed to address the skill needs of staff
around the region. This was announced
on the occasion of the 2,000th graduate
being trained at the centre.
At Nissan we already have the best
trained staff in the business but our
continuous pursuit of even higher
standards means that we always go
further than anyone else in the pursuit of
customer excellence, says Samir Cherfan,
Managing Director of Nissan Middle
East. Through dealing with unparalleled

expertise in every aspect of the ownership

experience, our customers remain loyal
to Nissan and extending the training
programmes for our staff even further
means a better deal for everyone.
The academy will see new certifications
available for sales advisors, sales managers
and fleet managers as well as the launch
of Front Line Coaching, which boosts the
number of programmes to 26 across 18
markets in the region. Each programme
can be of varying durations from one to
three years and is available in multiple
languages. The company claims that every
member of sales staff across the region
will be enrolled in 2016.

Infiniti happy with 2015 performance

Infiniti in the Middle East has concluded
2015 on a strong note, delivering over
8,300 vehicles at a growth rate of 18%,
making it one of the fastest growing
premium automotive brands in the region.
On a global level, Infiniti broke the global
sales records once again in 2015 with
sales of 215,250 vehicles, up 16% from the
previous year.
The double digit growth achieved for
2015 is testament to the excellent vehicles
we continue to deliver to our customers
around the region, said Juergen Schmitz,
Managing Director, Infiniti Middle East.

2015 was a great year for the Infiniti brand

which saw enhancement in its product
portfolio on a global as well as regional
level. The Infiniti Q30 unveiled at the
Frankfurt motor show. Representing
Infinitis first entry into the premium
compact segment, the Q30 is a product of
a new tie-up with Daimler.
Here in the Middle East, Infiniti launched
the new Infiniti Q70, with new exterior
styling and refreshed interiors.
Schmitz added: The Infiniti Q70 continues
to be a key driver of growth for our
brand in the mid-size executive sedan

segment across the region. So too, when

we introduce the all-new Infiniti Q30 in
the Middle East later this year, we are
confident that the vehicle will contribute to
Infinitis successes.
Focusing on growth, all of Infinitis
models performed well in 2015. Amongst
the sedans, leading the way was the
new Infiniti Q70 which accounted for an
increase of 116% with almost 600 vehicles
delivered to customers in the year. Infinitis
multi-award winning Q50 also performed
strongly registering a growth of 110% with
almost 1,900 vehicles sold.
FEB 2016

15

Audi reveals five new models at

the 2016 Qatar Motor Show

udi Middle East is displaying

three regional premiers at
this years Qatar motor show,
including the first RS model in the
Q series the Audi RS Q3. The Audi
SQ5 is also shown for the first time
together with the new S8 plus.
Also new for Qatar are the all-new
Audi R8 and the allnew Audi A4.
For selected VIP guests, the Audi A8
Security Car is on show too.
Speaking at the Qatar Motor Show,
Benoit Tiers, Managing Director
of Audi Volkswagen Middle East
said Audi Middle East is looking
forward to an exciting year in 2016
with many new models arriving in
our dealerships very soon. Qatar
is an important market for Audi
that has shown consistent growth,
and the recent opening of the new
workshop for Q-Auto has ensured
our customers here are given an
even better customer experience.

16

FEB 2016

AUDI S8 Plus

With a power output of 605 hp and a

top speed of up to 305 km/h, the new
Audi S8 plus delivers more driving
performance. The new flagship seeks
to set a benchmark. Its 231 kg body is
made from aluminium and is based on
the Audi Space Frame.
The standard spoiler lip on the rear lid
is painted in the exterior body colour,
and it is also available in carbon fibre
as an option. The flaps in the side air
inlets and the blade on the front apron
are made of carbon fibre. The mirror

housings in body colour are optionally

available in gloss black or carbon. The
Single-frame grille and double bars are
in gloss black, while the honeycomb
structure of the side air inlets and
radiator screen are in matt black.
Distinctive design characteristics of the
S8 plus also include darkened tail lights
and a gloss black diffuser insert, which
has an additional carbon surround.
The dual-branch sport exhaust system
branches into two oval gloss black
tailpipes on the left and right.

AUDI A4

The new R8 launches in two

engine versions as the R8
V10 plus with 610 hp it is the
most powerful and fastest
production Audi ever built.
The 5.2 liter V10 enables
breathtaking performance,
and its hissing, roaring sound
is highly emotional. Yet fuel
economy has been improved
by up to 13 percent in the R8
model series compared to the

AUDI SQ5

The new Audi SQ5 is the third

regional premiere on the Audi
stand. This version produces
354 hp and 470 Nm of torque
It sprints from zero to 100 kph
in 5.3 seconds and has a top
speed of 250 kph.
The new Audi SQ5 is powered
by a supercharged, three-litre
V6 engine with a displacement
of 2,995 cc. Its compressor
sits in the 90-degree V of the
cylinder banks and is beltdriven by the crankshaft.

previous model.
From 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2
seconds, from 0 to 200 km/h,
9.9 seconds and a top speed
of 330 km/h, the R8 V10 plus
has a dry weight of just 1,454
kg. and is also joined by the
R8 LMS that is a
GT3 race ready
version of the
Audi sports
car.

2
4

Two rotors
inside the
supercharger
spin at over 20,000
rpm. The supercharger
compresses the intake air
to as much as 0.8 bar; two
intercoolers then cool it for
greater power.
The 3.0 TFSI engine produces
354 hp between 6,000 and
6,500 rpm, and delivers 470
Nm of torque between 4,000
and 4,500 rpm.

The new model offers an

abundance of intelligent
technologies the new Audi
MMI display and control
concept. Technological
highlights of the new A4
include the Audi virtual
cockpit, the Audi
Matrix LED
headlights,
the Audi
smartphone

3
5

interface, the Bang &

Olufsen Sound System with
3D sound, the Audi phone
box with wireless charging,
the head-up display and new
driver assistance systems
like the parking assist, rear
cross-traffic assist, exit
warning, collision avoidance
assist, turn assist and the
Audi pre-sense systems and
optional virtual cockpit.

AUDI RSQ3

The second
regional
premiere on the
Audi stand is the Audi
RS Q3, which is the first RS
model of the successful Q
range of models. It takes just
4.8 seconds to complete the
sprint from 0 to 100 kph. The
2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo
produces 340 hp and has an
average fuel consumption
of just 8.4 liters of fuel per
100 km. This five-cylinder
engine has been named
International Engine of the
Year in its class for three
consecutive years.
The chassis of the Audi RS
Q3 is also impressive. 19-inch
wheels are standard; 20inch wheels are optionally
available. Thanks to the
wave design, the large
brake discs on the front
axle are now one kilogram
lighter. They are gripped

by eight-piston callipers.
The standard RS sport
suspension is also available
with optional adaptive
dampers. The steering is
tuned for sporty driving,
and the Audi drive select
dynamic handling system is
standard.
The seven-speed S tronic,
which transfers the power
has also been refined for
even faster gear changes.

FEB 2016

17

news

Oman & region

AUDI R8

Porsche debuts new 911

and Macan GTS

(R-L) Vice President of Region Overseas and Emerging Markets,

Matthias Becker, Porsche Centre Doha CEO, Salman Jassem Al
Darwish and Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, CEO, Deesch Papke

Led by the Middle Eastern premieres of

the latest 911 Turbo S and all-new Macan
GTS, Porsche delivered a total of four
regional debuts highlighting the brands
benchmark setting models. Porsches
911 premieres included the new 911
Carrera 4S and 911 Targa 4S.
In addition to this the Macan GTS was
shown for the first time in the region.
Deesch Papke, Chief Executive Officer
of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE,
commented: The Porsche 911 is the
brands most iconic model and we
are thrilled to be powering into 2016
at the Qatar Motor Show with three
new variants, including the top-of-therange 911 Turbo S which offers even
more power, driving excitement and
a sharper design. Through constant
development in the form of technology
transfer and a mindset of evolution our
engineers have been able to advance
the 911 range to a new high. With the

Volkswagen
shows new
Tiguan for
first time in
region
18

FEB 2016

premiere of the all-new Macan GTS we

are celebrating a landmark moment, as
we now have a powerful and dynamic
GTS version in every Porsche model
series.
The new 911 Turbo S is the top of the 911
range and thanks to new turbochargers
with larger compressors, the 3.8 litre
twin-turbo six-cylinder engine delivers
an output of 580 hp. This makes the
Turbo S the first production 911 to
accelerate to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds.
The models top speed is 330 kph, 12
kph higher than its predecessor.
The same traits are extended to the
911 Carrera 4S and 911 Targa 4S which
also made their regional debuts at the
Qatar Motor Show. The completely
new engine generation with bi-turbo
charging featured in both models
results in an increase of 20 hp across all
models, amounting to a total of 420 hp

in the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet and 911

Targa 4S.
The new exteriors of the 911 range
include new headlights with four-point
daytime running lights and a redesigned
rear lid with vertical louvres, as well as
distinctive four-point brake lights at the
rear. Meanwhile inside the car features
an updated Porsche Communication
Management (PCM) system with a multitouch display, offering an expanded
range of functions and controls.
With an output of 360 hp, the Macan
GTS features a 3.0 litre V6 bi-turbo
engine, Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)
and Porsche Traction Management
(PTM), with flexible power distribution
between front and rear axles.
Completing the zero to 100 kph sprint
in 5.0 seconds with the optional Sport
Chrono package, Porsches latest GTS
model has a top speed of 256 km/h.

Renault-Nissan alliance sells 8.5 million

vehicles in 2015
The Renault-Nissan Alliance sold 8,528,887
vehicles in 2015, up almost 1 percent from
the previous year, thanks to record sales in
the United States, China and Europe.
Combined sales for the worlds fourth
largest car group, which includes Renault
Group, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and
Russias AVTOVAZ, held steady from
calendar-year 2014 despite sharp
declines in the overall Russian and
Brazilian markets.
Renault, Nissan and AVTOVAZ,
Russias largest automaker, account
for about one in ten cars sold
worldwide.
Renault Group, Europes third-largest
automaker, sold a record 2,801,592
vehicles worldwide in 2015, up 3.3 percent
from 2014, in a market that grew by 1.6
percent. This marked the third consecutive
year of sales growth for Renault. Dacia
sales accounted for a record 550,920
vehicles, up 7.7%.
Renault reached a market share of 10.1
percent in a market that rose 9.4 percent.
Renault retained its light commercial
vehicle leadership in Europe for the 18th
consecutive year.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., sold a record

5,421,804 cars and trucks worldwide, up
2.1 percent. In each of its two biggest
markets, the United States and China,
Nissan sold at least 1.25 million vehicles.
Infiniti accounted for a record 215,250
vehicles, up 16 percent from the previous
year, thanks to all-time high sales in all key

regions, including the Americas and China.

AVTOVAZ, which sells cars under the
LADA brand, sold 305,491 vehicles, down
31.5percent due to the slump in the
Russian marketThe Renault-Nissan Alliance
has a majority stake in AVTOVAZ through
a joint venture with state corporation
Rostec. Together, the Renault-Nissan
Alliance and AVTOVAZ sell about one in
three cars in Russia.
The overall Russian car market plunged
by more than 35 percent. The Alliance

increased its market share from 30.7

percent in 2014 to 32.3 percent in 2015.
The Alliances top 10 markets in 2015 were
the US, China, France, Japan, Mexico, UK,
Germany, Russia, Brazil and Spain.
In the United States, Nissan set an all-time
record with 1,484,918 vehicles, up 7.1
percent, resulting in a record market share
of 8.5 percent. Nissan also set annual sales
records for Rogue, Versa, NV and NV200.
In the light truck segment, sales rose 20
percent compared with 2014.
In China, Nissan sold 1.25 million vehicles,
up 6.3 percent. Nissan remains the
leading Japanese automaker in China with
a market share of more than 5 percent.
In France, Renaults home market, Renault
sold 607,173 vehicles, up 5.1 percent.
Its market share totaled 26.4 percent.
The Clio compact car remained the topselling passenger vehicle for the sixth
consecutive year. Renault ZOE was the
leading electric passenger vehicle with at
60 percent market share.
In Japan, Nissans home market, Nissan
sold 589,046 vehicles, down 12.1 percent.
Nissans market share stood at 11.7
percent.

Daimler
posts
record
results for
2015
Daimler AG posted record sales in 2015
in terms of units and revenue as well as
earnings before interest and tax
2015 was a good year for Daimler, stated
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board
of Management of Daimler AG and Head
of Mercedes-Benz Cars, upon opening the
2016 Annual Press Conference. We know
from experience: Getting to the top is
hard, but staying at the top is even harder.
Thats our ambition: Daimler belongs at
the top on a sustained basis.
In financial year 2015, the Group
achieved its best ever EBIT of 13.5 billion
20

FEB 2016

(2014:10.8 billion) and its best EBIT from

the ongoing business of 13.8 billion (2014:
10.1 billion). Net profit of 8.9 billion was
significantly higher than in the previous
year (2014: 7.3 billion). Earnings per share
increased to 8.08 (2014: 6.51).
As previously announced, Daimler
significantly increased its total unit sales
in 2015. The number of around 2.9 million
vehicles sold was 12% higher than in 2014.
This growth was primarily driven by the
Mercedes-Benz Cars division (+16%) and
to a lesser extent by Mercedes-Benz Vans
(+9%). At Daimler Trucks, the growth in

unit sales of 1% was lower than originally

expected, mainly due to weak markets in
Latin America and Indonesia. At Daimler
Buses, for which slight growth had been
expected at the beginning of the year,
unit sales were significantly below the
prior-year level. This was primarily due to
the pronounced weakness of the markets
for bus chassis in Latin America. Driven by
the growth in unit sales, Daimler increased
its total revenue by 15% to 149.5 billion in
2015; adjusted for exchange-rate effects,
revenue grew by 9%.

transformation of personal mobility. We

believe the opportunities this will create in
connectivity, autonomous, car-sharing and
electrification will set the stage for driving
value for our owners for years to come.
Special items during the calendar year
impacted full-year net income to common
stockholders favourably, $1.5 billion,
or $0.89 per share, compared to an
unfavourable $(2.4) billion impact in 2014,
or $(1.40) per share. Among these special
items were a net gain from the reversal of
certain valuation allowances on deferred
tax assets, and charges for litigation
matters related to the ignition switch
recall and a Venezuelan bolivar currency
devaluation.
Total net revenue for the year was $152.4
billion, compared to $155.9 billion in 2014.
The change in net revenue is due primarily
to a negative net foreign currency

GM global sales
totaled 9.8 million
vehicles in 2015,
up 0.2 percent for
the companys
third consecutive
year of record
sales.

GM continued to grow in 2015 as our

focus on the customer and successful new
vehicle launches more than offset the
challenging conditions in South America
and the curtailment of our presence in
certain markets such as Russia, said GM
President Dan Ammann.
Deliveries in North America rose 6
percent in 2015 to 3.6 million cars, trucks
and crossovers. In the U.S., GM grew its
retail sales, which are sales to individual
customers, faster than any other
automaker.
In China, General Motors and its joint
ventures delivered a record 3.6 million
vehicles, up 5 percent compared to
2014. Their lineup expanded through the

exchange
impact of $9.3 billion. Holding exchange
rates constant, net revenue in 2015 was
$5.8 billion higher than 2014.
Based on its strong operating
performance in 2015 and consistent with
the outlook provided in January, the
company reaffirms its expectation that its
EPS-adjusted will be between $5.25 and
$5.75 in 2016.
introduction of 12 new and refreshed
models. SUV deliveries were up 144
percent, led by new models such as the
Buick Envision and Baojun 560.
In 2015, General Motors cars, trucks and
crossovers were leading automotive sales
in China and its North American and South
American regions.
GM has several major product launches
underway around the world, including the
new Opel Astra with more than 80,000
orders across European markets and the
new Chevrolet Malibu in North America,
which began arriving in showrooms at the
end of last year.

Mary Barra is next Chairperson

2016 begins on a good
note for General Motors
CEO Mary Barra, who is
now also elevated to the
position of chairperson of
the board.
She succeeds Theodore
(Tim) Solso, who will
continue serving as the
Boards Lead Independent
Director.
Barra has served as GM
CEO since Jan. 15, 2014.
At a time of
unprecedented industry

change, the Board

concluded it is in the best
interests of the company
to combine the roles of
Chair and CEO in order to
drive the most efficient
execution of our plan and
vision for the future,
said Solso. With GM
consistently delivering on
its targets and on track to
generate significant value
for its shareholders, this is
the right time for Mary to
assume this role.

Said Barra: I am honoured

to serve as Chair of the
Board of Directors. With
the support of our Board,
we will continue to
drive shareholder value
by improving our core
business and leading in the
transformation of personal
mobility.
In 1990, Barra graduated
with an MBA from the
Stanford Graduate School
of Business after receiving
a GM fellowship in 1988.
FEB 2016

21

news

General Motors Co. announced record

2015 calendar-year net income attributable
to common stockholders of $9.7 billion,
or $5.91 per diluted share, up from $2.8
billion, or $1.65 per diluted share in 2014.
Earnings per share (EPS) adjusted for
special items was $5.02, up 65 percent
compared to $3.05 in 2014.
Full-year earnings before interest and
tax (EBIT) adjusted rose to a record
$10.8 billion, up from $6.5 billion in
2014. EBIT adjusted margin for the year
also increased, to a record 7.1 percent,
compared to 4.2 percent in 2014.
It was a strong year on many fronts,
capped with record sales and earnings,
and a substantial return of capital to our
shareholders, said Chairman and CEO
Mary Barra. We continue to strengthen
our core business, which is laying the
foundation for the company to lead in the

brandwatch

General Motors declares

record income for 2015

Partners or not? Toyota and Suzuki

deal in question
A front page report in Japans
Nikkei newspaper has Toyota
Motor corporation and Suzuki
Motors in talks for a partnership to
develop a new range of small cars
targeted at developing markets like
India

Automans take
While a bit of a surprise, the potential of
such a partnership between Toyota and
Suzuki has nevertheless excited the local
stock market because of the perceived
synergies. But that would largely have to
discount the Daihatsu stable of offerings,
although it could also work well in terms
of a three-way sharing of costs in platform
development and technology. Similar
tie-ups exist with other brands for Toyota
and the brand can bring in significant
new drivetrain technologies to small cars,
including hybrid, electric and hydrogen
powered units. Perhaps, this year will see
an official confirmation.

owever both companies have come

out with denials, while the stock
market has reacted positively with both
their shares rising. This is on the back
of Toyota reclaiming its no. 1 slot from
Volkswagen group, whose problems
this year have added to the drop in
numbers. Toyota Motor claim to have
sold 10.15 million vehicles in 2015, leading
Volkswagens 9.93 million and General
motors 9.8 million.
The potential tie-up between the two car
companies would seem odd considering
the level of control that Toyota already
has in small car maker Daihatsu. However

Audi enjoyed a bumper year in 2015,

not facing the massive issues that
Volkswagen did with its diesel engines
in the United States and elsewhere.
Its annual figures show a growth to
1.8-million deliveries.
The company is also quick to point out
that it managed these record numbers
despite some of its newest cars, the
new Audi R8, the new Audi A4 and the
new Audi Q7 not being available in key
markets. The brand has also clocked
in market leader status is Europe and
China in its segment, with their US sales
growth actually twice the market rate
the company surpassed the 200,000
mark for the first time in its history, rising
11.1 percent to 202,202 units.
With sales of 1.8 million, we have
surpassed the target set in our Strategy
2015 of 1.5 million cars by 300,000, says
Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board
of Management of AUDI AG. 2015
has proved that Audi is solidly on track
and that we are able to master a year
22

FEB 2016

that presented various challenges very

successfully.
Regarding developments in the sales
regions, sales chief Dietmar Voggenreiter
explains: In Asia, we adapted very
flexibly to the slower market pace and
consistently geared our activities toward
healthy and profitable businesses. With
strong results in the United States and
the successful launch of our model
initiative in Europe, foundations for
Audis further growth have been
successfully laid.
The sales in China were lower than in
2014, a sign of the slackening premium
demand, despite the launch of the locally
produced A3 sedan that generated a
quick boost in sales volumes.

Suzuki has the advantage of having an

established operation in many developing
markets, with its India operations actually
being the most significant part of its
volumes and income.
Toyota Motor has also stated that it is
evaluating its Daihatsu relationship with
the possibility of even making it a wholly
owned subsidiary. However no decisions
have been made as of now.
Suzuki Motors has had a previous tieup with Volkswagen along similar lines,
with the target of developing models for
emerging markets. This partnership is over
as of 2015.

A car by any
other name is
no longer Zica!
A rather unfortunate side effect of the
ZIKA virus outbreak in various South
American countries is being felt in India,
with Tata Motors newest hatchback ZICA
being renamed.
A press release from Tata Motors, claims
that they are doing this as a socially
responsible company Empathizing
with the hardships being caused by the
recent Zika virus outbreak across many
countries. The name ZICA is claimed to
be the shortening of Zippy Car, which may
have sounded fine till a few weeks ago,
when the latest health emergency began
to raise its ugly head.
The new name will be announced by the
company at the Auto Expo that shortly
begins in New Delhi, where the new car
will be shown to the public for the first
time. The campaign behind it is labelled
Made of Great and by the rename, Tata
Motors will be cutting off any negative
associations that the similarity in sound to
Zika could have brought about.

manufacturer. I am quietly confident of a

strong year in 2016.
Record sales were reported in Asia Pacific
(up 13%), the Middle East (up 4%) and
North America (up 6%). Individual markets
that recorded record results included
Korea (up 73%), Japan (up 7%), Qatar (up
21%), Russia (up 1%), UK (up 2%) and USA
(up 7%). Emerging markets such as Taiwan,
Indonesia, Malaysia and Kazakhstan all
showed promising growth. In China,
significant headwinds impacted negatively
on the entire luxury sector and RollsRoyce
was not immune to these developments.
The region reported sales down 54%
compared to 2014.
The brands global dealership numbers
have risen to 130, with further expansion
planned for 2016. Numbers during 2015
were driven by the Ghost and Wraith
family of cars. The Dawn, shown last year,
will begin deliveries in the second quarter
of 2016.

news

Rolls-Royce Motorcars has closed out 2015

with the second highest sales in its history,
on the back of a strong market in the
United States
A press release from Rolls-Royce
Motorcars says that the brand has sold
3,785 cars during 2015, with the salient
factors for the year being a strong
performance in all regions except for
China, the United States returning to the
position of being the strongest market
and the Abu Dhabi dealership being the
largest selling for the third year in a row.
Torsten Mller-tvs, CEO, said, 2015
was a year of tremendous challenge
for the entire luxury industry. I am very
proud of our success which was achieved
against a backdrop of considerable global
uncertainty. We have proven that our
long-term strategy of globally balanced,
sustainable and profitable growth is
delivering and we have maintained our
position as the worlds leading luxury

brandwatch

Rolls-Royce enjoys
upbeat 2015 with strong
US sales

Land Rover announced the roll-out of the

last Land Rover Defender from Solihull

Ferrari
DEBUTS IN
MILAN

Ferrari: A new milestone, a new start,

these were the words Sergio Marchionne
inscribed in the guest book of the Italian
Stock Exchange during the Ferrari
Listing Ceremony on the MTA. Raffaele
Jerusalmi, CEO of Borsa Italiana (the
Italian Stock Exchange) presided over the
ceremony, which took place a few months
following Ferraris debut on the New York
Stock Exchange last October 21st, while
Matteo Renzi, Prime Minister of Italy, was
the guest of honour.
The stock began trading after Ferrari
Chairman Sergio Marchionne, FCA
Chairman John Elkann, Ferrari CEO
Amedeo Felisa and Ferrari Vice Chairman
Piero Ferrari rang the traditional opening
bell for the session.

To mark the occasion Land Rover invited

more than 700 current and former Solihull
employees involved in the production
of Series Land Rover and Defender
vehicles to see and drive some of the
most important vehicles from its history,
including the first pre-production Huey
Series I as well as the last vehicle off the
production line, a Defender 90 Heritage
Soft Top.
At the same time, Land Rover announced
a new Heritage Restoration Programme,
which will be based on the site of the

existing Solihull production line. A team

of experts, including some long serving
Defender employees, will oversee the
restoration of a number of Series Land
Rovers sourced from across the globe.
The first vehicles will go on sale in July
2016.
The last of the current Defender vehicles
includes an original part that has been
used on Soft Top specifications since
1948 the hood cleat. The vehicle will
be housed in the Jaguar Land Rover
Collection.
FEB 2016

23

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In his first-ever visit to NAIAS, President Obama toured the show with
2016 NAIAS Chairman Paul Sabatini and UAW President Dennis Williams.
Obama said, I believe that every American should be proud of what our
most iconic industry has done. He also noted that he wanted to see the
industrys progress firsthand.
President Obama is one of three U.S. Presidents to visit the auto show.

Chairman Paul Sabatini at the launch of the

show for the press

An all-new, more rigid and lighter architecture

is the Chevrolet Cruzes foundation for driving
dynamism, while also playing a significant
role in safety and efficiency. It is more than
200 pounds (91 kg) lighter than the previousgeneration model due largely to a body
structure that is 100 pounds lighter and an
24

FEB 2016

engine thats 44 pounds (20 kg) lighter. With

9 percent market growth in small hatchbacks
last year, its the perfect time to bring the
Cruze Hatch to America, said Alan Batey,
president, General Motors North America and
Global Chevrolet. As Cruze continues to set
the tone for Chevrolet globally, it articulates

the brand promise of offering cars with the

latest technologies, more features and greater
efficiency, performance and safety with fresh,
distinctive styling.
Cruze is Chevrolets best-selling car around the
world, with 3.5 million sold since it went on
sale in 2008.

The new Audi A4 allroad quattro takes to the floor at Detroit with a sharper
design with striking front end and a typical allroad look. Its quattro
drive as standard and the 34 millimeter gain in ground clearance make it the
perfect allroad. The engines deliver an output of up to 200 kW (272 hp).

Audi USA President

Scott Keogh and CE
O Rupert Stadler
quattro concept.
with the H-Tron
This model, which
Audi is unveiling fo
all-electric drive
r the first time, ha
using hydrogen as
s
its energy source.
of-the-art fuel cell
It combines statetechnology deliver
ing up to 110 kW wi
provides a tempo
th a battery that
rary boost of up to
100 kW. The electr
axle develops 90 kW
ic motor on the fro
, and its rear coun
nt
terpart 140 kW.

Volkswagenpresented the Tiguan GTE Active Concept.

The concept car is based on the new Tiguan, and it
showcases the technical capabilities of the modular
transverse matrix. The primary goal was to create a
synthesis of plug-in hybrid technology and maximum
off-road performance.
On the road, the concept car essentially runs as a zeroemission vehicle, operating 100% in electric mode.

autonomous driving
next step on the road to
The new E-Class marks the
can autonomously
ver assistance system. It
km/h, and at up
with the DRIVE PILOT dri
nt at speeds of up to 210
fro
in
ling
vel
tra
icle
veh
follow a
A distinctive feature is the
ut clear lane markings.
ho
wit
n
eve
/h
km
130
to
ly merge to create a
ch displays, which visual
two high-definition 12.3-in
personal preferences.
design can be adapted to
widescreen cockpit. The

2015 was the outstanding year in our very long history. It was the most
successful year for Mercedes since we invented the automobile. And we
are determined to build on this success by expanding and rejuvenating
our line-up. I think we owe it to Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler to mark
the 130th anniversary, said Dr. Dieter Zetsche
FEB 2016

25

The first-ever BMW M2 is not only the legitimate successor to the

BMW 1 Series M Coupe - it also continues the tradition of compact,
high-performance sports cars that started with the 2002 turbo. It
is characterised by a highly emotional M design language. A bold,
Motorsport-inspired appearance with an exceptionally wide stance
which reflects its powerful presence. Ian Robertson

The new 911 family was unveiled by Porsche at the North American
show. Highlights of the new generation 911 Turbo include Active rear
wheel steering enhances agility on the street and the race course, New
all-wheel drive controls distribute power with more speed and precision.
Two versions of the new 3.8-litre twin turbo engine produce 520 hp (383
kW) and 560 hp (412 kW), respectively.

The new Volvo S90 comes equipped with an advanced semi-autonomous

drive feature, Pilot Assist. The system gives gentle steering inputs to keep
the car properly aligned within lane markings up to motorway speeds of
around 130 km/h and no longer needs to follow another car. Pilot Assist is
another step towards full autonomous drive a key innovation area for
Volvo.

Ford launched the super cre

w version of
the F-150 Raptor. Built as a Baj
a racer and
using high-strength steel and
high-strength,
military grade, aluminium allo
y the Raptor
is a unique performance truc
k that has a
huge appeal in the Middle Eas
t region.
Ford also unveiled a new ver
sion of the
Fusion, with versions that offe
r hybrid drive
as well as electric motors.
Fusion offers people a lot mo
re car
including helpful technology
, beautiful
design and a more rewarding
driving
experience than other midsize
sedans,
said Raj Nair, Ford executive
vice president
and chief technical officer, Glo
bal Product
Development.
Seen to the right are CEO Ma
rk Fields and
Bill Ford Jr.

26

FEB 2016

Carlos Ghosnn com

mented: As the th
ird-generation versi
iconic sports coup
on of Infinitis
e, the new Q60 bu
ilds on Infinitis br
history of technolog
and heritage and
y leadership. It re
inforces Infinitis re
performance, elega
putation for
nce and driver-foc
used design.
Alongside the Q60
at the 2016 NAIAS,
Infiniti has reveale
versions of the Q5
d upgraded
0 sports sedan an
d the QX60 crosso
ver.

The LC 500, a provocative, athletic flagship car, makes the strongest statement yet about Lexus
future product direction. The production models design shares many of the key elements,
proportions and visual dynamism of the LF-LC concept car that inspired it. The luxury coupe is
powered by the proven, high-revving 5.0-litre V8 that is found in the RC F and GS F and features a
newly developed 10-speed automatic transmission. Akio toyoda said, I was determined to make
sure we became a more emotional brand and that the words boring and Lexus never
showed up in the same sentence again.

the first
luxury segment showed for
Hyundais new direction in the
ne with
alo
d
stan
now
esis badge will
time in North America. The Gen
the
of
sion
ver
ew
all-n
the
begins with
a unique set of models that
.
Centennial that is now the G90
was shown.
where the Telluride concept
To the right is the KIA stand
t Mohave.
nex
the
be
y
ma
platform, this
Built on a modified Sorento

FEB 2016

27

2016 M-B AMG GLE 63

hy: Elvis

hotograp
rrior | P
a
W
j
a
R
or:

Auth

28

FEB 2016

rrao

John Fe

The Mercedes-Benz GLE is a rather late entrant into the

space ruled by the BMW X6. With the AMG GLE 63 version,
the brand finally has a product that can take the battle to
the roads. Automan tests the car in Oman.

FEB 2016

29

30

FEB 2016

t has the profile of a coup but the

wherewithal of an SUV. But more than
anything the new GLE has a huge task
on its shoulders. For it comes at a time
when the brand has been reinventing
the way it approaches the SUV segment.
Admittedly now part of a cleaner, more
logical approach, the GLE is the switchover
model from the ML SUV and thus has the
ML shaped regular GLE as well as the more
visually unique GLE Coup.
However, that does not immediately
mean that the GLE is set out to be an X6
competitor. In the decades-old game that
the two German rivals play, their models
are set slightly apart so as to address
niches that dont directly compete with
each other.
In many ways the GLE Coup takes that
ahead by a stage.
For it comes at launch itself with the
full-specced AMG variant and that
could almost be the gamechanger that
Mercedes-Benz need in this equation.
The AMG variant of the GLE takes the
muscular lines of the Coup and add more
sinew in the form of design elements. The
front valance looks more aggressive and
the use of the chrome inserts against a
darkened grille match the signature DRL
treatment of the headlamps. AMG call this
signature treatment their A-wing, with the
fascia being a bit bottom heavy due to the
prominence of the A-shape.
For the profile, the swoop of the canopy
is placed just right over the rising
shoulderline, what this does is accentuate
the wedge shape of the form. The doors
do look rather metal heavy but avoid
getting a slab-sided feel.
The rear of the car actually looks more
interesting than the front, with the

multiple layers of visual energy descending

from the glasshouse to the muscular
haunches of the boot area (with taillights
that appear to widen the base and add a
certain squatness) all the way down to the
lower valance and its set of two by two
trapezoidal exhaust pipe tips.
In some respects, the rear on view looks
like that of a regular S-class coup.
The interiors are no less radical. The
clearly laid out dashboard reflects the
modern Stuttgart paradigm. An almost
tab like central display hogs the space
between the central air vents. Below
that is the console that is separated
into an infotainment zone and a climate
control mode. The controller (with writing
recognition and trackpad functions) as
well as the ride control switches sit on
the transom between the seats allowing
for ride height and quality controls as
well as the most extensive performance
adjustments.
AMG call it their dynamic select dial. You
can literally dial in whether you want the
car to handle slippery, individual, comfort,
sport or sport plus. Once you set it, all
the vehicles responses change including
the way in which it delivers power to the
wheels or allows wheelspin. In sport and
sport plus, you can feel that the car allows
a far greater degree of drift without the
engine getting throttled.
Even in something as select as an AMG 63
version, the company offers two engine
variants with the standard unit being the
557hp unit with a torque of 700Nm. The
S variant ups that just a tad further with
585hp and 760Nm on tap. Both of these
variants are built on the mechanicals of
the 5.5-litre V8 biturbo unit made by AMG
engine specialists who sign off their one-

man built engines.

The S variant of the 63 is capable of hitting
the standing hundred in 4.2 seconds, with
the regular flavour following close on its
heels with a 4.3 seconds figure.
The gearbox used is the AMG version
of the 7G-tronic box used by the threepointed star.
You need something as hefty as this box
to handle 760Nm of torque. But what this
also offers is the M override button that
switches the box to full manual control.
That means the shift controller will allow
the engine to both over-rev as well as get
loaded if the driver doesnt intercede. The
M is a true manual control choice - not the
M button of its competitor.
As for the regular shift pattern, it is
decided by a variety of factors including
which drive mode the car is in lightning
fast switches between gear cogs is made
possible by the ability to double de-clutch
for quick downshifts and the way in which
the car allows you to pop up and down
using the paddle shift, allowing for quick
bursts of activity and then settling back
into an automated shift pattern.
The handling of the SUV could have been a
problem with the higher centre of gravity
that it carries. You dial in a huge burst of
power to the 4Matic system, carry that
speed into the corner and you would
expect a lot of body roll. But here the
engineers have managed to out-guess
you. To a certain degree the variable
damping control and suspension response
already do a lot to offer a stiff, predictable
turn phase. And then to add to the fun,
active anti-roll bars kick in, using small
adjustments to hold the body flatter as
you take the curve. It is a sheer joy to use
the Sport and Sport plus settings as the
FEB 2016

31

The approach that the Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 adopts is to take a

rather luxurious interior and make it as sporty as possible. Our test car
had the benefit of white leather trims and seats, brushed aluminium ans
stainless steel metal interfaces, and the AMG three-spoke steering wheel
with its characteristic shape.
The AMG SUV gives you a feel of control. From the ride quality selector
knob, to an M button that puts you in full manual shift mode, to the
automation provided by a package that offers adaptive cruise control
and automated braking, the car has it all.
At the core of its performance is adaptability of the rear-wheel drive
biased E platform. Long wheelbase, short overhangs and a wedgelike profile even as a coup all add to the performance as does the
reasonable approach and departure angle. A point of caution is to
realise that the AMG skirts impact the base models approach and
departure angles.

32

FEB 2016

air suspension hardens up and the anti-roll

bars activate. You would still know that
you are sitting with your hip pojnt a few
extra centimetres off the ground but most
of the lateral forces will be fely by your
body directly, not what you glean from the
yaw as the car turns.
In terms of speed of response, the cars
air suspension is almost as good as the
magnetic fluid based systems used by
some brands. The part that gets added in
is the ability to vary ride height as well as
ride feel. As the car speeds up, it settles
down to present a lower profile and CG.
The car sits on proper sports car like
wheels. The regular AMG variant gets 21
10-spoke alloy wheels with tyres of size
285/45 R 21 (front axle) and 325/40 R 21
(rear axle). The S variant gets a blacker
look for its wheels to match the shiny
black treatment of its A-wing fascia as well
as going up by an inch. The wheels are
shod with tyres of size 285/40 R 22 (front
axle) and 325/35 R 22 (rear axle).
However, for all its performance
capabilities, the Mercedes-Benz AMG
GLE 63 will sell as much for the interior
package as it will for its muscle. Rich
leather feel tempered to add a sporty
edge, brushed aluminium inserts, leather

feel dashboard, a sound system that

brings a concert hall level of clarity
(you could opt for the B & O Beosound
surround sound system or the Harmon
Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system
depending on how much you want
to add to the price) to the interiors
and appointments that immediately
communicate a real classy ambience are
all there.
Driving Impressions
Driving any AMG car is always an
experience and the AMG GLE 63 is no
exception. From the moment you switch
on the engine and it settles into its
characteristic rumble, you know you are
about to have fun. The interface allows
you to select from a menu of parameters
to set an individualised ride mode, but
you really dont need that for regular
riding just leave it on comfort or take
sport for all the performance driving you
want to do. Sport plus does give you a lot
more latitude, but you can find that the
immense torque on tap from the biturbo
engines can catch you unawares. So we
suggest that you leave it for large, open
expanses or the racetrack, just so that you
can let the car slide around as the torque

hits the rear wheels. The natural tendency

of the 4Matic system is to apportion
power to the front, but Sport plus keeps
the transfer at an edgy level.
The speed sensitive steering tightens up
brilliantly, allowing you to keep hands on
at all times. The paddle shift manual only
mode is a rock solid advantage for the car.
Verdict
We find the AMG GLE to be a true
champion model. It is likely to be the SUV
model that marks out Mercedes-Benz (of
course alongwith the AMG G-class) and
helps the brand build the rest of its SUV
lineage. The shape is rather incidental to
the equation and the only bit that keeps
bringing up the X6.
With its combination of sporty, rich
interiors, massive power and torque as
well as the factory offered image boost
of a select (S) option, the mercedes-Benz
AMG GLE 63 ticks all the boxes of the
affluent buyer and gives the brand a real
halo model in the segment.
Now the question to ask yourself really is
what other types of luxury cars would you
be looking at with the budget of over US
$150,000 that you would need to have? Its
either a sports car or the sportiest of SUVs.
FEB 2016

33

2016 Lexus RX350

34

FEB 2016

The Lexus RX has undergone a generational change and

now both looks and feels like the top of its breed. Does the
car bring anything new to the equation? Automan tests the
RX350 in Oman
Author: Raj Warrior | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

FEB 2016

35

36

FEB 2016

exus has a rather unique position

in the brand universe. It is known
as the brand that was created to
signify luxury. And it has done that job
the products and experience it offers
stand apart from the mainstream and as
the years go by its offerings get taken to a
new level.
The RX350 is a good example of the
dynamics that underly Lexus as a brand.
Like Goldilocks bears were quoted to
say, this ones just the right size. And
thats what draws in the buyer who would
normally have been looking at the size
and convenience of a sedan yet wanted
something different. Its larger than the
new addition compact size NX, yet doesnt
get as large and unwieldy as the GX and
LX, which take the off-roader tag a lot
more seriously.
The new generation RX is marginally
larger than the previous one at
4,890mm. But the wheelbase has grown
disproportionately (now at 2,790mm) and
thus the new RX looks more tied together
with the feel of a shorter rear overhang.
The new treatment of the C-D pillar area
also changes ones perception of the
profile. Now there is a lot happening
visually, with a busy form that highlights
the swoosh from nose to tail on multiple
levels. The front fascia has also changed
dramatically, with a sharper form of the
Lexus spindle grille (almost notched
in at logo level) and a larger logo. This
generation brings new lighting technology
with the complete move to LED lights. The
headlights are now called 3-eye projectortype headlamps (quite self-explanatory)
on every trim level except the base
Premium grade (which gets single Bi-LED
element). The taillamps also carry the new
layered LED motif in a signature pattern.
This generation of Lexus lighting also
translates into turn signal indicators that
dont just flash, they ripple outwards,

effectively creating more drama and

catching your eye, just that bit more.
Flared wheel-arches and the matched
spindle like treatment of the rear panels
add to the drama of the RX.
The interiors also reflect the new Lexus
philosophy. The cabin layout is more driver
centric, with the dashboard and centre
console skewed towards the driver. To
effect this the passengers side of the
dashboard is lowered and made flatter,
although by doing so the dashboard is
now layered. This layering even extends to
the glove box zone. More visual energy is
created by the recesses around the centre
console.
The central screen is an almost tab like
12.3 display (8 is the base size) which
also has character with its trapezoidal
form (put in there to add to the visual
skew towards the driver).
The controller on the centre console is the
haptic feedback unit used elsewhere in
Lexus.
Of course the number of variants available
mean that you get sound systems from a
9-speaker Lexus unit, to a 12 or 15-speaker
Mark Levinson system. You also get
panoramic roof in grades above Premium
and two rear screens in the top grades.
What doesnt change is the power unit,
which is a 296hp 3.5-litre V6 unit with VVt-i
and direct injection mated to an 8-speed
automatic gearbox and an all-wheel drive
system. The torque is a healthy 362Nm.
The headers for the engine have been
redesigned with new intake ports. The
engine also offers the ability to switch to
an Atkinson cycle to conserve fuel. The
AWD system now adopts dynamic torque
control that uses a series of sensors to
determine the torque split between front
and rear, while detecting wheel slippage
and compensating accordingly.
Along with moving the wheels out further,
the new chassis layout incorporates a

re-engineered front strut and rear double

wishbone layout. Additionally, the engine
subframe has been modified to increase
its bracing, adding to a tighter handling
and better feel.
The modified platform has allowed Lexus
to lower the drivers hip point and thus
makes the car feel slightly less SUV like.
If you fork out for th ehigher grades,
the RX gets adaptive suspension too although this is limited to solenoid control
over the oil in the dampers. However, the
effect is worth it, especially in terms of the
recoil response and ride quality.
Steering feel is still very much along
traditional Lexus territory. Soft and still a
hint vague, the motor in column electric
power steering is nonetheless a blessing in
very tight parking situations. You can steer
the car with a finger if needed.
Drive mode selection is an added bonus,
with the ability to switch between Eco,
Normal, Sport and Sport+ modes. The
Normal mode is very American tuned,
which meant that we switched it to Sport
mode the minute we realised it. It isnt as
if the RX becomes and oversize go-kart.
Far from it, the car still has roll. But th
eSport mode means that the roll is held
in check and the swing back is controlled
and muted. This allows you to feel the
road better, especially to control the
understeer of the platform better.
Driving Impressions
If you are looking for a city SUV the
RX350 fits your needs perfectly. It doesnt
try to growl its way ahead (with even the
F-sport being primarily an appearance
package), nor does it lag in any
department. Switch th eengine on and you
can see th emodern day Lexus talk back.
Everything falls into place, you dont have
to shift your right hand off the console if
you really dont want to and the best thing
is that all essential controls are available

FEB 2016

37

The interiors display a good, clean layout with a dashboard that is biased towards the driver. When
matched with the light colour leather and trims and the enormous panoramic roof, the cabin is
very spacious and airy. The 3.5-litre engine has been re-engineered to offer more power with lower
fuel consumption with its ability to switch to an Atkinson cycle. The generous use of LED lighting
technology now results in the 3-eye LED projector lamps along with LED DRLs and turn light
indicators that offer sequential (ripple type) lighting

38

FEB 2016

off the console. You only have to get into

the infotainment screen for Navigation
and setup related entries if at all.
Dial in Sport mode, put it in D and you
can floor it. Engine noise remains muted,
with all of th ebrands expertise in NVH
reduction coming through. Push the car
hard through corners and you can get
the tyres to squeal although thats where
you find that the adaptive suspension
control is really meant to reduce, not
eliminate roll. The cars 235/55 R20 wheels
and tyres are large enough to fill the
profile visually, yet supple enough to take
a bit of pounding. Even in sport mode,
speedbreakers should not be an issue as
there is enough give in the springs.
Brakes are 328mm in the front and 338mm
in the rear although the front ventilated
discs are way thicker. The pedal feel is
good, with limited travel.

Verdict
Whats not to like in the RX350? Lexus has now taken this urban
crossover well away from its original positioning where it was seen as
a ladies car. The styling itself will tell you that alongwith the rest of
its stable Lexus wants the RX to appeal across genders and types of
buyers.
Also the investment in new age technologies is commendable, from
the extensive use of LED and piped LED technology both outside
and in the car. The cabin has an expansive feel to it, accentuated by
the enormous panoramic sunroof. The dashboard too is now busier
and more interesting to look at, while interfaces with modern day
conveniences like your smart phone are more intuitive.
And it has all the safety features you may ever wish for like airbags all
around including knee airbags.

FEB 2016

39

2016 Honda Pilot

From big and boxy to a sleek reborn version the all-new

Honda Pilot takes the largest of its SUVs into new territory
one where looking good counts for at least as much as
driving well. Automan tests the car.

40

FEB 2016

Author: Raj Warrior | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

The 2016 Honda Pilot comes in at a time

when Honda needs to push its SUV
segment. Especially here in the Middle
East region, Honda has had to depend
only on the CR-V for the lucrative SUV
segment as opposed to other Japanese
manufacturers who have a stable of
models to compete with.
However, it isnt as if the Pilot is new.
After the MR-V, the Pilot came into its own
from around 2003. But like the MR-V the
Pilot was built along the lines of a classic
SUV with basic attention given to styling
the two box shape. It has taken until this
model year for Honda to lavish the same
level of attention to the looks of the Pilot
as it does for the smaller CR-V.
But it has managed this sea change
without reinventing the entire genre.
What it does is take the solid mechanical
prowess of the established Global light
truck platform and build a whole new
vehicle on top of that. This generation
gets added doses of ultra strength steel
components, making for a lighter, more
rigid structure. This also inludes the use
of aluminium and magnesium alloys.
These alloys are generally used in critical
areas, like the use of the magnesium alloy
under the dashboard to hang the steering
assembly.
In terms of styling the Pilot now gets the

visual signature of the sedans and the

CR-V with the wing like treatment of the
headlamps and front grille, marking the
clearest signal yet of a cohesive design
philosophy coming through at Honda. Of
course the dimensions of the Pilot call for
some unique touches, especially around
the lower valance. In order to maintain
a sense of sleekness, the turnlights are
moved to a mid level while the lower
corners are reserved for the foglights.
These foglights bracket a large and
prominent underbody protection.
In the process, the boxy look of the old
Pilot has been consigned to the past as the
form now follows the looks of the CR-V
with softer shoulders, wider haunches and
prominent character lines on the hood and
along the profile. Even the tailgate has
been softened to reduce the sheer bulk
and height of the car.
The Pilot also gets better NVH treatment
with more padding as well as an acoustice
windshield. The wheelbase has increased
by almost two inches, making the SUV
bigger than before.
The interiors have changed too with all
the attention centering around the new
8 colour display on top of the central
instrumentation. This touch screen is
very connected with current technology,
being powered by Android and capable
FEB 2016

41

Acoustic windshield

Better styling and

aerodynamics

LED DRLs and projector

headlamps

Modern day Honda visual

signature for grille

Turn indicators placed to

break the mass

Metal scuff plate at front

and rear adds to look

2016 Honda Pilot

Whats different?
42

FEB 2016

of connecting to the internet, especially

if you have a data connection on your
mobile phone. Open your internet sharing
on the phone and the system can update
itself and offer online content. Admittedly,
it may have been better to mirror the
phone on the system, but it really wouldnt
work if you have an Apple device.
On the other hand, the entire cabin has
been cleaned up and made to seem more
luxurious, including comfortable seating
and large storage spaces for various odds
and ends. This includes a roller type cover
for the centre console and large glove
box. The concept of pushing storage is
taken to the next level by the ingenious
treatment of the rear cargo bay with a
parcel tray that is adjustable so as to allow
the inclusion of tall cargo.
Cabin room has increased along with the
added external dimensions and this means
more legroom in all three rows as well as
better headroom.
The steering wheel gets a central
triangular hub based on a four spoke
arrangement with a very American layout
of controls. Thankfully paddle shifters are
added in to match with the straight gate
automatic shifter so you dont really miss
a J-gate.
The instrumentation has also benefitted
from a rework, especially with the use

of lights and colours on the IP so that

you know whether the engine is in 3
or 6-cylinder mode just by the colour
that surrounds the dials. Of course you
also get the obligatory ECO button that
actively switches off or reduces electric
consumption by the air-conditoner
compressor and other ancillaries but you
dont really need to use it. The IP itself
is split into a digital speed readout and
analogue display tach and fuel gauges.
The cabin also benefits in the upper grades
from a large almost panoramic sunroof.
This is split by the crossbeam that the
central DVD unit is hung from making it
seem a little more sensible in acreage.
The engine has been thoroughly
reworked. This generation of the 3.5-litre
V6 offers 280hp at 6000rpm and 355Nm
of torque. It is a well-balanced transverse
unit coupled to a reworked 6-speed
automatic gearbox. The V6 banks are
rather compact with only 60-degrees in
between. For customers in the US, along
with the 6-speed, they also get a 9-speed
box but that comes with an idle stop/start
system as well. In this case the engine also
gets VCM or variable cylinder management
that allows the engine to switch from its
normal firing mode to using only the three
cylinders that occupy the front bank of
the V. In effect the system shuts down the

other bank without actually disconnecting

the cranks of the rear bank, shutting off
the inlet and exhaust valves while keeping
the spark plugs firing in order to keep the
plug temperature up. Additionally the
engine recognises the need to feed oil to
all the necessary parts and handles the
switch between both modes seamlessly.
The engine also gets active mounts to help
dampen out any vibration.
The chassis is also reportedly completely
redesigned. Yes, it has 4-wheel
independent suspension despite being
on the truck platform and speed-sensitive
electric power steering.
The front suspension is a strut type unit
using aluminium components and a
stabilizer bar. The rear suspension uses
a space saving multi-link design with a
tubular stabilizer bar. The rear suspension
is entirely of steel although the new
design of the chassis means that the loads
are transferred to the body side frame
instead of to the wheels.
All critical components of the engine,
transmission and chassis are mounted on
subframes to reduce vibration.
The other big story on the Pilot is the new
generation of AWD system tagged i-VTM4.
This system uses sensors and controllers
to shift torque both front to back and
across the vehicle. The intelligent bit
FEB 2016

43

The 2016 Honda pilot gets a new version of the 3.5-litre engine with variable cylinder
management and a reengineered six-speed gearbox. Depending on demand situations, the
engine switches over to operating only the front bank of three cylinders, while the system shuts
of the intake and exhaust valves on the rear three cylinders alongwith the fuel supply to that
bank. The spark plugs continue to fire.
The interiors of the new Pilot are a class ahead with Hondas new design and feature package
resulting in an 8 touch screen system based on Android.
The rear occupants get an overhead DVD based display system that is paired with two bluetooth
headphones. However, even the main front screen can take input from the rear DVD player and
be hacked to show video even while moving. That is a rather interesting outcome of using a not
so customised Android-based system.

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FEB 2016

attached to this means that all you need

to do in off-road situations is activate the
toggle mounted just behind the straight
gearshift gate to tell the system that
you are off-road. You can toggle through
Normal, Snow, Mud and Sand modes
and the system takes care of the rest. As
it is, the car is driven by throttle-by-wire
so that allows for the system to override
your pedal imput and throw in more
revs when needed as well as to actively
transfer torque to the wheels that need
it. This torque transfer also goes on to
offer torque vectoring, so as to make
turns much sharper and less prone to
understeer.
All of this has been done while shrinking
the rear drive unit and making it lighter.

Driving Impressions
The Pilot is comprehensively a generation
ahead of its predecessor in its handling
and off-road abilities. It doesnt try to
take on the generation of trucks, but aims
itself at the top of the crossover segment.
Extremely capable in gravel and turf, now
the sand capabilities have improved too,
while keeping the poise of a city crossover.
Engine response is good and you can
actually get a good feel of the road
through the EPS. It isnt as vague as
expected, while the 6-speed gearbox does
have to do a lot of work. One wonders if it
is only a matter of time before the 9-speed
comes to the region. In the meantime the
larger volume and the appeal of the three
rows make for a solid appeal.

Verdict
Would we suggest the Honda Pilot to a
customer who would normally be looking
at a Traverse or Explorer? The question
would be what makes it better? The
platform is spanking new, the drivetrains
carry the Honda seal of engineering and
the technology is well thought out. What
takes a bit of getting used to is the need
to hand over control to the system. The
system is engineered around a tendency
to jump into the most fuel efficient drive
mode. It is sometimes a little hard to
believe that the Pilot can handle off-road
conditions as well as any other crossover
can, but it does.
Now it is left to Honda to get the pricing
and feature pack right.

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45

2016 Ford Figo

Author: Raj Warrior | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

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FEB 2016

We test the Ford Figo, the small sedan

from the brands Indian operations. Does
it have enough going for it to take on the
Japanese competition?

he biggest problem with trying to

sell a small sedan is communicating
value without being able to get the
customer to really spend a lot. This does
not mean that car manufacturers wouldnt
like to sell more of the breed. Despite all
the profits associated with selling larger
cars and SUVs, most of the worlds first
time car buyers shop around in the A or
B-segments and usually buy a sedan if they
have a little more money. Thats why Ford
makes the Figo in India, for the countrys
burgeoning car buyer base and the Figo
meets the need of this market.
But what Ford has done in keeping with
its new approach to markets is to build
the Figo to a quality and with powertrains
that broaden its appeal outside the home
market. While the Figo is sold in India
with two diesel engines and two petrol

engines, it is only the petrol engine choices

that have migrated to the middle east (for
obvious reasons).
The Figo sells in the region with the 1.2-litre
and 1.5-litre inline 4 cylinder engines, but
the automatic 6-speed gearbox is only
attached to the latter. You can get the
manual 5-speed box with either engine.
depending on the variant offered, (i.e
ambiente, Trend or Titanium) the options
change, with the smaller engine only on
offer with the Ambiente. Interestingly, the
Indian mindset on the car has a fallout on
interior package on offer. The Ambiente
version offers the ability to plug in your
mobile phone and doubles up the top
storage hatch into a convenient mobile
holder to compensate for the lack of Sync
on the variant.
The test car we got was a trend with the

larger engine and the 6-speed gearbox.

The engine is part of the Ti-VCT family of
new age engines and offers 110 hp@6300
rpm and a torque of 136Nm. The engine is
more than adequate for the cars weight
and the gearbox is rarely taxed.
in terms of styling, Ford has migrated its
surrent grille treatment onto the small
sedan but it doesnt quite carry the finesse
of any of the European small cars. The side
looks a touch bland and the rear is almost
devoid of embellishments. The 14 wheels
that the car is shod with look good and fill
up the small wheel wells.
But the designers score better when it
comes to individual elements like the
headlamps and instrumentation. The
entire central assembly inside is quite well
thought out, with the air-conditioner and
Sync controls mimicking the EcoSports as
FEB 2016

47

The Ti-VCT 1.5-litre engine offers 110 hp of power

and is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
In the Trend grade, the audio pack includes Sync
and bluetooth alongwith the ability to integrate
input from smart phones as well as voice
control linked to the phone.
The auto gearbox has a tiptronic arrangement
linked to the +/- switch on the grip. Ford sells
the interiors on the amount of storage spaces,
including a hidden pocket on the dashboard on
the drivers side.

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FEB 2016

much as it does that of the slightly bigger

and better appointed Fiesta.
The cabin also benefits from a good
uncluttered layout with clearly legible
instrumentation and bluetooth as
standard.
We really didnt expect the car to be as
refined as it turned out to be. The engine
comes to life with lowest of vibration and
once you engage the gearbox you get only
a slight whine under acceleration. The gear
ratio spread is more than adequate for the
power delivery. Electric power steering
also cuts out any likelihood of aberrations
from the steering linkages communicating
back to the wheel. Road feel is good, with
a slight deadness around the centre but
effort required is minimal.
Once the car gets moving you really begin
to enjoy the value of this car. The engine
purrs along, the gearbox does it job
adequately and the suspension has just a
degree of stiffness dialled in for the quality
of Indian roads.
The car even offers features like Hill start
assist and hill hold in the top spec version.
Boot space, a feature that is really
important for the segment, is among the
best in class at 430 litres. Frankly, the Figo
looks like it ticks all the boxes of a first
time buyer even in the Middle East.

How does the Figo fare?

Figo features Ford

MyKey technology
that allows owners to
program cars keys with
restricted driving modes
such as increasing
seat belt use, limiting
vehicle top speeds and
regulating audio volume

The segment is rather crowded with

direct competition from the Toyota
Yaris, Honda City, Suzuki DZire and to
some degree the Mazda 2. Mitsubishi
have the Attrage that comes out of
Thailand and then there is Nissan with
the Tiida. If you are willing to expand
the price bracket slightly, a whole lot
more of competition exists. The point
here is that there is very little latitude
to offer more than the regular pack
of power windows, mirrors, central
locking and the likes. When you factor in
bluetooth and advanced audio controls,
the Figo seems to build on the Koreaninspired mantra of being able to sell cars
on the feature pack.
The Figo has a lot going for it it looks
better and feels solid compared to the
Dzire or Attrage. However when it
comes to th e City, Tiida and Mazda 2 it
matches quality at best, but falls short
on styling and appeal.
The Figo will most likely sell on the
interface as well as to customers who
take a drive in it. The NVH level is good,
ride quality firm and responsive and the
narrow tyres aid in the nimbleness and
small turn circle.
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49

Jin Kim has taken up his

position at the middle east
office just some months ago,
coming in at a critical time
for the brand. Hyundai has
enjoyed some phenomenal
growth and the coming year
offers unique challenges.
RW: What are your hopes for the Elantra?
JK: The car has been the best performer
in our product range and we have put all
our passion into meeting the needs of our
customers and we expect it to be very
very successful in this generation.
RW: For comparison, can you give us some
idea of how the previous Elantra has fared
in this region?
JK: I think the previous model has been
the driver of the brands success in the
region of Middle East and Africa. The new
version inherits that heritage and takes it
ahead to another level.
RW: Along with the Elantra, you now have
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FEB 2016

a clutch of models that lead or challenge

their segments. But you are entering a
rather tough year in the region. How do
you expect the model line-up to fare in
2016?
JK: I think that we are lucky to have a full
line-up in our portfolio. We can meet all
the demands of our customers and this
year will be definitely a very tough year.
We believe there are opportunities as
well. In the past, with good product line
and good demand that was enough to
create the necessary sales and we could
have been growing. This year we need a
more creative way of thinking. We should
tap the market for opportunities that we
have never considered before. So, my
colleagues are working very hard to locate
where are the opportunities are this year.
RW: Would these also include avenues like
moving into financial services or financial
backing to a purchase of your product,
to enable customers in the region to
take a chance on your product in a risky
purchasing environment?
JK: Yes, we are working on it and we have
a financial arm in the group. We have
asked them to study the situation but it
will take some time. But in the meantime,

FEB 2016

51

news

face to face

our partners in each country are very

sound and have the financial capability
and have their own arms to facilitate the
consumers need. We rely on them and we
will support them to execute the financial
services end.
RW: During this year, many of your outlets
across the region are switching over to
your new corporate identity guidelines
with investment in new facilities and
showrooms. Do you see any slackening
on this front due to the tighter market
conditions in 2016?
JK: We have been promoting our new CI
very strongly. But now we will slow down,
knowing the financial difficulties in the
region. We try to have some more room to
breathe. The facility issue is very important
in terms of customer satisfaction and
their experience in our showroom is very
important for the sales process. We are
going to keep moving, but to some extent,
knowing the environment is getting
tougher, we are going to tune the speed
of roll out.
RW: Slightly off-topic here, but what do
you see happening in the region in terms
of the Genesis brand?
JK: Genesis brand will be launched this
year in the region. When it comes to
the luxury car line-up of ours with the
Centennial and the Genesis, Middle East
has been a key market for us, so we are
going to launch in this market in a very
professional and effective way. We are
going to come into the customers mind,
who want to be very intelligent buyers.
The big challenge is there with the new
brand but up until now the brand has
been penetrating the peoples mind and
even the media is very welcoming initially
towards this brand from HMC. We are
going to be in line with that strategy so we
can very successfully push the popularity
of our Genesis brand.
RW: Are you looking at specific
marketshare with Genesis in terms of the
luxury segment?
JK: I think that with the current Genesis
model we are relatively good, but its
very difficult to put the marketshare. We
are working on the marketing strategy,
of how we can buy into peoples minds.
When everything is in place we can come
back with a figure, but we do pay a lot of
importance to it and the Middle East is one
of the key markets of the brand and we
are going to give customers a luxurious
experience.
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FEB 2016

RW: Bringing us back to the Elantra, are

you considering out-of-the-box solutions
for the mainstream sedan in a market
where price is the primary peg to induce
buyers away from market leaders?
JK: I think that the car itself is a fantastic
product. I think its most important to
give an experience to the prospective
buyer. We are going to be very proactive
in terms of giving test drives, not just in
the showroom but in every touch point
to the prospective buyer. We will do
very effective communication. From the
corporate point of very we consider more
aggressive communication very important
to get to more customers. We are also
going to very active with our fleet buyers.
We see some other opportunities in the
market, spaces where we were never
active. Putting all that together, we firmly
believe that we are going to meet targets.

presentation that showed the upmarket

feature pack available on the Elantra
(including rearview camera with crosstraffic warning). By offering the car with
such a high specification, would the car
then go into a price segment that you are
not used to selling it at?

JK: We have always been very competitive,

so the combination of the package is part
of the equation. We are going to develop
some other packages which makes the
customer more accessible to the product,
i.e. more affordable.

RW: How much of a percentage of your

volume does Elantra contribute?
JK: Elantra contributes almost 22-23% of
our volume. Thats really significant.
RW: We were impressed with the

Catch the interview film on our site at https://automan.me/am/people/2016/01/

automan-interviews-jin-kim-hyundai-middle-east-chief.html
FEB 2016

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CONceptual

Audi Lunar Quattro

Audi is assisting the Berlin-based engineering group Part-Time Scientists in the

Google Lunar XPRIZE. Audi is supporting the lunar expedition with its expertise
and the Audi lunar quattro

o win the competition, a team

which must be at least 90percent
privately financed needs to
transport an automated vehicle to the
moon. Competition rules state that
this rover must drive at least one-half
kilometre distance on the moon and
transmit high-resolution images and
video footage back to Earth. The lunar
vehicle with the Audi lunar quattro

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FEB 2016

rover must launch into space by the end

of 2017. The trip takes five days and is
380,000 kilometres one-way according
to estimates by the Part-Time Scientists
it will cost around 24 million euros. The
target landing zone is north of the moons
equator, close to the 1972 landing site of
NASAs last manned mission to the moon,
Apollo 17. In this region, temperatures
fluctuate an enormous 300 degrees

Celsius; when the sun is shining, it gets up

to 120 degrees Celsius due to the lack of an
atmosphere.
The Part-Time Scientists whose
headquarters is in Berlin are the
only German participants. So far, their
rover prototype has already won two
prizes known as Milestone Prizes in the
competition. These prizes, which carry

a monetary value of 750,000 US dollars,

were awarded by the competition jury for
development of the rover and its optical
systems. The Berlin-based researchers are
refining their lunar vehicle, and extensive
tests have been conducted in such places
as the Austrian Alps and on Tenerife.
Many of the rovers components are made
of high-strength aluminium, and it weighs
35 kilograms. In further development of
the vehicle into the Audi lunar quattro, its
weight will be further reduced by the use
of magnesium and design modifications,
even though the vehicle might grow
somewhat in size. A swiveling solar panel
captures sunlight, and the electricity it
generates is fed to a lithium-ion battery
that powers the four wheel hub motors.
All four of the wheels can be rotated 360
degrees.
The theoretical maximum speed is 3.6
kph but more important on the rugged
surface of the moon are the vehicles offroad qualities and safe navigating abilities.
Two stereo cameras that acquire detailed
3D images are mounted to a moving head
at the front of the vehicle. A third camera
is used to study materials, and it generates
extremely high-resolution panoramic
images.

Jorge Diez, head of Audi Concept Design Munich, revises the rover

The Audi working group that is assisting

the Part-Time Scientists currently
consists of ten employees from different
technical departments. In addition to
their lightweight design competence,
they have much more know-how to
offer, especially their expertise about
the quattro permanent all-wheel drive
system (although the rover itself is
electrically driven) and the electrical
e-tron drive system. The goal here is to
further enhance performance by making
additional improvements to the electric
motors, power electronics and battery.
Audi is also providing assistance in testing,
trials and quality assurance. Using their
high-tech tools and methods, specialists
from Quality Assurance will study the parts
of the future Audi lunar quattro for wear.
The motors and electronic components
must withstand stress tests in climate
chambers. In parallel, Audi Concept Design
Munich continues to refine the form.
The Google Lunar XPRIZE started with 34
teams, and 16 groups remain today. The
Part-Time Scientists team was founded in
late 2008 by Robert Bhme, who works as
an IT consultant in Berlin. The majority of
its team members, who currently number
over 70, come from Germany and Austria.

This space travel

competition was organised
for engineers and business
enterprises worldwide, and
it offers around 30 million
US dollars in prize money
FEB 2016

63

CONceptual

KIA Telluride

KIA showed a striking

large SUV concept at the
recent NAIAS motor show
in Detroit. Is this three-row,
seven-seat KIA Telluride
concept close to what the
new Mohave will look like?

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FEB 2016

he Telluride concept is KIAs

interpretation of the full size SUV,
the segment in its current lineup where the Mohave is placed. While
offering the convenience of a large SUV
and the power of a V8 engine, the SUV has
not really shared the appeal of its smaller
brethren, Sorento and Sportage, in the
region.
So should we be seeing the Telluride as the
visual direction that the 2018/19 Mohave
will carry? Admittedly, the strong, bold
treatment is very much an exploratory
direction from the brand. As it is, the Peter
Schreyer initiated new look has propelled
the KIA stable into a rather upmarket
direction, capped with the almost Porschelike bonnet and lights treatment of the
new 2016 Sportage.
Purely conceptual, the Kia Telluride is
based on an existing platform and reveals
the brands interest in potentially offering
an SUV positioned above the current
Sorento.

The Kia Telluride makes an aesthetic

statement for the Kia brand as a bold,
all-new luxury SUV with an abundance of
advanced technology, focusing particular
attention on the experience and comfort
of second-row occupants, said Tom
Kearns, chief designer, Kia Design Center
America (KDCA). Longer, wider and taller
than the recently redesigned Sorento CUV,
Telluride allows us to envision what a fullsize seven-passenger SUV from Kia could
look like.
The Telluride carries the look of a concept,
with the portal like treatment of the
opposed opening doors, large interior
volume, use of captain chairs in the front
two rows with a bench seat in the third
row. New concepts like the incorporation
of health-tracking sensors on the seats
and the software for that on-board are
being tested, although they are unlikely to
see the light of day soon. The other overthe-top technology is in the Light Emitted
rejuvenation system that uses a huge roof-

mounted LED panel to play light patterns

and colours to treat jet lag and boost the
passengers energy levels.
Another new technology being tested is
the swipe control band that allows media
to be selected and played by the second
row occupants. This could debut as early
as in the 2017 models. As could the use
of 3D printed customised parts similar to
some parts in the car.
While using a modified Sorento platform,
the Telluride is longer, wider and taller
than the Sorento, while the wheelbase
itself has been stretched by almost a foot
to 3,080mm. The wheels are similarly
proportioned at 22 and are clad in
275/45R tyres. The powertrain also gives
significant directions for what the new
Mohave could be powered with a hybrid
3.5-litre V6 with electric motor assist offers
400 horsepower in total with 130 hp of
that coming from the motor.
KIA has said that they have no intention
of actuating producing the Telluride, but
the indications are very clear that the
Mohave may just end up being placed
on a modified Sorento platform, with
a transverse layout engine and electric
motor assist (at least in some markets)
along with an AWD system.

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65

2017 Infiniti Q60 Coup

Building on the visual cues of the Q60

concept, the actual production version has
been unveiled at Detroit. The car is visually
striking with recognisable design cues like
the deeply inset double arch grille and
crescent headlights with LED light guide
technology. The car is also squatter, lower
and wider than before. The new shape
has resulted in a Cd of 0.28. Q60 models
with the new V6 engine feature an Active
Grille Shutter to balance the engines
cooling requirements with the desire to
enhance aerodynamics. Under normal
use, the shutter remains closed, opening
when greater performance is required.
The interior gets either an aluminium or
carbon-fibre treatment with a unique

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FEB 2016

white leather variant. The console follows

the visual style of the Q50 with its twin
panels.
Engines
The car debuts with a brand new engine
in the 3.0-litre V6 twin turbo engine from
the VR family. The high-output version of
the V6 delivers 400hp (298kW, 405ps) at
6,400 rpm and 475Nm (350lb-ft) maximum
torque at 1,600-5,200rpm; while the 300hp
(224kW, 304ps) version (at 6,400rpm)
produces 400Nm (295lb-ft) torque at
1,600-5,200rpm.
This power-to-efficiency performance was
made possible thanks to a set of newlydeveloped powertrain features, including

an advanced new twin-turbo system which

enables smooth and immediate responses
under acceleration, while aiding efficiency.
A four-cylinder turbo-charged 2.0-litre
petrol engine is also available on the Q60,
with enhanced fuel injection for efficiency
in all conditions. This engine delivers
208hp (155kW, 211ps) at 5,500rpm and
350Nm (258lb-ft) maximum torque at
1,500rpm. A high-pressure direct injection
with piezoelectric injectors delivers fuel to
the engine in precise amounts for greater
fuel efficiency.
Steering
The direct adaptive steering that we
saw on the Q50 has been improved for

the Q60. It is a drive by wire system that

disconnects the mechanical steering
linkages and controls steering through
electronic signals. The steering feel and
response has been improved. drive mode
selectors allow the steering to be dialled
in through six modes Customize,
Standard, Snow, Eco, Sport, and
new for certain models Sport+.
The Sport mode enhances the response
of Direct Adaptive Steering, elevating the
steering effort required while reducing the
required steering movement from lock to
lock. In the new Sport+ mode, steering
effort remains the same as Sport mode,
but the response of the steering is further
increased, with an even quicker steering

The Infiniti Q60 Sports Coupe is the latest addition to the Infiniti
stable. With a highlight on styling, new technology and V6 twin turbo
engines, the car seeks to build on the new direction for the brand
FEB 2016

67

ratio for precise performance.

As standard, Q60 models equipped with
the new 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine
feature Infinitis Rack Electronic Power
Steering. This all-new system provides a
linear and in-control driving experience
that can be tuned through the Drive Mode
Selector.
The four-cylinder turbo-charged Q60
models are equipped with a speedsensitive hydraulic electronic rack-andpinion power steering system as standard.
This increases assistance at low speeds
and reduces assistance for enhanced feel
and response at higher speeds.
Two choices of suspension system allow
the driver to tailor a dynamic response.
The standard suspension set-up, shared

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FEB 2016

with the Q50 sports sedan, ensures a low

level of road noise and minimal intrusion
of unwanted vibrations, while allowing for
more direct and linear handling responses.
Suspension link layouts and bushings
have been modified specifically for their
application in the Q60, while shock
absorbers are relocated for optimised
sports coupe ride and handling.
An all-new electronic suspension system,
Dynamic Digital Suspension, comes
as standard on the Q60 Sport grades
and has been designed to offer bestin-class handling responses and agility,
and enhanced ride comfort thanks
to software and hardware upgrades,
including a dedicated new set of dampers.
Drivers can change the focus of the

suspension from a comfort-biased ride

to one which offers more dynamic
responses, by placing the electronically
adjustable shock absorbers in either Sport
or Sport+ modes (adjusted via the Drive
Mode Selector), providing firmer damping
control for more agile handling. While in
these modes, the suspension is constantly
adjusting to provide ideal performance
and a level ride.
The car has also been equipped with
adaptive shift control, that measures the
nature of the driving road and optimises
shifting to deliver better handling. The
intelligent all-wheel drive system can
switch between 100% power delivery to
the rear wheels to a 50:50 split front-rear.

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69

2016 BMW M2 Coup

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FEB 2016

The move to a smaller platform is paying off for BMW with the new
BMW M2 Coupe. The BMW M2 Coupe is being unveiled at the Detroit
motorshow (NAIAS 2016)

he expected smaller sibling to the

BMW M4 and M6 Coupes is to
be unveiled at Detroit, although
details of the car are already available.
In launching the BMW M2 Coupe the
company has brought the power and
excitement of its signature M line to
the entry level of the brand, although in
keeping with its practice, the M2 Coupe
will be sold at a premium.
In order to add the M touch, major
components are changed, including
an adapted version of the lightweight
aluminium suspension components of the
M4 and a new 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder
engine that is paired with twin-turbos to
provide an output of 370HP at 6,500rpm.
Torque is a monstrous 465Nm that can
be overboosted to 500Nm for short
durations by the engine control. And if you
are looking for the full M effect, then the
optional 7-speed Manual DCT and launch

control allow you to push the car from

0-100kmph in only 4.3 seconds.
As previously mentioned the front and
rear axles are of aluminium and have 19
alloy wheels with mixed size wheels and
the steering is M servotronic with two
settings. The car is also equipped with an
active M differential to enhance handling,
traction and stability.
For the racetrack feel the cars DSC system
has an M dynamic mode that allows
for wheelspin and drift in track driving
conditions.
Modern features for the M2
A wide selection of driver assistance
systems and mobility services from BMW
ConnectedDrive is also available. The
ConnectedDrive Services provide the basis
for extensive vehicle connectivity, and this
option also enables the use of innovative
apps, which are integrated seamlessly

into the car using BMW ConnectedDrive

technology. For example, the GoPro app
allows the driver to record fast laps of the
track with a dashboard-mounted action
camera, using the iDrive Controller and
Control Display. Meanwhile, the drivers
individual style at the wheel can be
analysed as desired with the M Laptimer
app. Information on speeds and braking
points can be shared easily via e-mail or
Facebook.
FEB 2016

71

2016 Bentley range

Author: Raj Warrior | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

Bentley Oman organised a media drive as part of a bigger roadshow

that saw them offer customers the opportunity to drive and familiarise
themselves with the 2016 versions of the Continental GT Speed, GTC,
Mulsanne and both the V8 and W12 versions of the Flying Spur. We bring
you our impressions of each model

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FEB 2016

The best and brightest Bentley was

also the principal draw at the media
drive. Although the Continental GT
Speed is powered by a 626bhp, 820Nm
W12 engine, we were driving in convy
throughout, so the experience was
rather muted. As with the regular Conti
GT, the cabin is a major draw.
Subtle signature design cues distinguish
the GT Speed from its stable-mates,
including exclusive 21-inch, ten-spoke
alloy wheels, dark-tint matrix
to the radiator shell and lower
bumper grilles and rifled
exhaust tailpipes. Inside
the handcrafted cabin, the
Speed models are specified
exclusively with the Mulliner

Driving Specification, featuring quilted,

perforated leather and bright metal
detailing plus a broader choice of
optional technical finishes. This now
includes the exclusive-to-Speed dark tint
aluminium as well as carbon fibre.
The W12 engine is mated with an
eight-speed transmission. In terms of
performance the car can hit the standing
100 km/h in 4.2 seconds and on to a top
speed of 330 km/h.

The flagship Bentley Mulsanne is still an effective

competitor to Rolls-Royces Phantom although the
roller takes the cream of the crop of top end buyers.
Powered by the rather traditional 6.75-litre V8 engine
with 505bhp and 1020Nm of torque the car rockets off

The drive is transmitted to all the wheels

through a standard AWD system that is
biased to the rear with a 40:60 split in
power delivery.
Whether it was due to the exquisite
colour or just because we were at the
head of the pack, passerbys were drawn
to the GT Speed.
This will be a rather interesting car to
drive for a full road test and as part of
next years Car of the Year.

the stops to hit the standing 100 in 5.2 seconds and

reaches a top speed of 296 km/h.
But then this car feels just as good trunding along
in convoy, especially if you can get the rear seat to
yourself.
FEB 2016

73

The principal draw in terms of volume for the brand, the

newer Flying Spur was offered both in W12 and V8 guises.
The W12 engine and eight-speed gearbox are shared with the
Continental GT while the V8 (also seen in the GT V8) version is
engineered to bring the family of Continental based cars to a
price point that is only slightly over that of an AMG S-class for
instance. That and phenomenal fuel efficiency with its ability to
switch over to 4-cylinder mode.
Of course, the Flying Spur brings with it a degree of
sophistication and class that only a Bentley brings with,
including burled wood panelling, supple leather interiors and
an instrumentation suite that includes top quality audiophile
level equipment as standard.

74

FEB 2016

FEB 2016

75

Dubai 24 Hours

Finally, German car

manufacturer Audi can add
victory in the Hankook 24H
DUBAI to its already impressive
list of achievements in the
worlds major endurance
races. With their Audi R8 LMS
(#19), run by Belgian Audi Club
Team WRT, drivers Alain Fert,
Michael Meadows, Stuart
Leonard and Laurens Vanthoor
racked up a total of 588 laps of
the 5.399 kilometres long Dubai
Autodrome, equalling a total
of 3,174.612 kilometres. Belgian
driver Laurens Vanthoor drove
the winning car across the
finish line. A fantastic success
for our team, for Audi and for
ourselves, he commented.
With so many cars on track,
it was a difficult race, probably
the most difficult I have ever
driven. But that is making the
success feel even better. After
impressive progress from last
place on the grid, the Black
Falcon team finished second
with its Mercedes-Benz SLS
AMG GT3 (#16, Abdulaziz Al
Faisal/Oliver Webb/Adam
Christodoulou/Oliver Morley/
Frank Montecalvo), five
laps down on the winners.
76

FEB 2016

Another three laps down, the

C. ABT Racing Audi R8 LMS
(#4, Christer Jns/Andreas
Weishaupt/Isaac Tutumlu
Lopez/Matias Henkola/Daniel
Abt) finished third.
With a record field of 98 cars
on track, there were numerous
incidents, particularly during the
first half of the race. Some of
the front-running teams were
also affected. Former Dubai
race winners Black Falcon saw
both its Abu Dhabi Racing Black
Falcon Mercedes-AMG GT3 (#2,
Khaled Al Qubaisi/Hubert Haupt/
Jeroen Bleekemolen/Maro
Engel/Indy Dontje) and its Black
Falcon-Mercedes-AMG GT3
(#3, Abdulaziz Al Faisal/Hubert
Haupt/Yelmer Buurman/Bernd
Schneider/Michal Broniszewski)
retired with damage incurred in
separate collisions. The Scuderia
Praha Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 (#11,
Jiri Pisarik/Peter Kox/Matteo
Malucelli/Matteo Cressoni) ran
in the top three for most of the
first half of the race and led for
76 laps, but retired in the tenth
hour due to a collision with
the Primus Racing Ginetta G55
(#51, Thomas Martinsson/Johan

Rosen/Marcus Fluch/Peter
Larsen/Magnus Holmstrm).
That handed the lead to the
Land Motorsport Audi (#28,
Marc Basseng/Christopher
Mies/Carsten Tilke/Connor de
Phillippi) that led for over 100
laps before losing some time
due to running short on fuel
early on Saturday morning.
With the Audi Sport Team WRT
Audi now in the lead, the drivers
motored on to an undisputed
victory, the first victory for Audi
and the maiden overall win
for a Belgian team in Dubai.

There was plenty of drama in

the battle for the remaining
positions, however. With two
and a half hours remaining,
the Land Motorsport Audi
retired with gearbox failure.
A total number of 193 laps in
the lead and the fastest race
lap time of 1:58.712 minutes,
set by Christopher Mies on lap
three, were the only tangible
results for the team. But
drama didnt end there: in
the final 30 minutes, both the
SPS automotive-performance
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
GT3 (#27, Alex Mller/Tim

Mller/Lance-David Arnold/Valentin
Pierburg) and the Konrad Motorsport
Lamborghini Huracn GT3 (#26, Mark
Ineichen/Rolf Ineichen/Fabio Babini/
Christian Engelhart/Franz Konrad)
retired while on course for a podium
finish.
Victory in the A6-Am class went to
Swiss team Hofor-Racing with its
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 (#10,
Christiaan Frankenhout/Kenneth Heyer/
Roland Eggimann/Chantal Kroll/Michael
Kroll), three laps ahead of the similar
car from Preci-Spark (#22, David Jones/
Godfrey Jones/Morgan Jones/Philip
Jones/Gareth Jones). German team Car
Collection Motorsport finished third
with its Audi R8 LMS (#34, Ingo Vogler/
Elmar Grimm/Max Edelhoff/Gustav
Edelhoff/Dr. Johannes Kirchhoff). Team
Lechner Racing Middle East scored a
1-2 in the Porsche 991 Cup class with its
two fastest cars (#40, Saeed Al Mehairi/
Bashar Mardini/Sven Mller/Hasher
Al Maktoum/Jaap Van Lagen and #81,
Hannes Waimer/Wolfgang Triller/
Edward Jones/Christopher Zchling/
Charlie Frijns) in first and second place
respectively, from Black Falcon Team
TMD Friction (#61, Saud Al Faisal/
Manuel Metzger/Gerwin Schuring/
Saeed Al Mouri/Anders Fjordbach).
Two French teams came first and
second in the SP2 class with victory
for Porsche Lorient Racing with its
Porsche 997 Cup S (#64, Frdric Ancel/
Christophe Bourret/Pascal Gibon/JeanFranois Demorge/Philippe Polette)
and the Vortex V8 GC Automobile
GC 10 V8 (#203, Lionel Amrouche/
Alban Varutti/Cyril Calmon/Mathieu
Pontais) in second place. Belgian
team Speedlover finished third with
its Porsche 991 Cup (#85, Jean-Michel
Gerome/Vic Rice/Richard Verburg/
Dries Vanthoor/Yves Noel). British
sports cars locked out the top three in
the SP3 class with victory for Century

Motorsport (#229, Nathan Freke/Anna

Walewska/Aleksander Schjerpen/
Tom Oliphant) from CWS 4x4 (#178,
Colin White/Stephen Fresle/Matthew
Nicoll-Jones/Hunter Abbott), both with
Ginetta G55 GT4s, and the JW Bird
Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT4
(#221, Rory Butcher/Jake Giddings/Liam
Griffin/Kieran Griffin) in third place.
The TCR class brought victory for
the reigning 24H SERIES powered by
Hankook teams champions, Memac
Ogilvy Duel Racing with its SEAT Leon
Cup Racer (#1, Ramzi Moutran/Nabil
Moutran/Sami Moutran/Phil Quaife)
from Zest Racecar Engineering (#130,
Andrew Hack/Daniel Wheeler/Kane
Astin/Lucas Orrock) and NKPP Racing
(#125, Gijs Bessem/Harry Hilders/
Roger Grouwels/Bert de Heus), also
with SEAT cars. French Team Altran
Peugeot won the A3 class with its
Peugeot 208 GTi (#208, Stphane
Ventaja/Thierry Blaise/Guillaume
Roman/Kim Holmgaard) from the
two SEAT Leon Supercopa cars run by
RKC/TGM (#99, Gavin Spencer/David
Drinkwater/Wiliam Gannon/Thomas
Gannon/Ricky Coomber) and RTG by
Gladysz Racing (#21, Adam Gladysz/
Marcin Jaros/Robertas Kupcikas/Jerzy
Dudek/Simon Larsson). The CUP1 class
for BMW M235i Racing cars brought
victory for QSR from Belgium (#148,
Jimmy de Breucker/Mario Timmers/
Luc Moortgat/Pieter Vanneste/Dylan
Derdaele), followed by Duwo Racing
from Luxemburg (#235, Jean-Marie
Dumont/Maurice Faber/Frdric
Schmitt/Nicolas Schmitt/Thierry
Chkondali) and Bonk Motorsport from
Germany (#145, Philip Bethke/Volker
Piepmeyer/Axel Burghardt/Michael
Bonk/Liesette Braams). German team
Besaplast Racing won class A2 with its
Mini Cooper S JCW (#165, Friedhelm
Erlebach/Henry Littig/Fredrik Lestrup/
Franjo Kovac).

McLaren first to
announce 2016 car
unveiling

Formula One

Renault pushing new

focus on motorsports
Renault have confirmed that Kevin
Magnussen will help spearhead their
return to Formula One racing as a full
works team in 2016, as well as revealing
their new car for the forthcoming
season.
The new car, which was manufactured
at the teams Enstone base, features
a predominantly black livery, though
Renault Sport chief Jerome Stoll hinted
the colour scheme could change ahead
of the 2016 season opener in Australia.
The car will be powered by Renaults
R.E.16 power unit, which will continue to
be developed in Viry-Chatillon.
Meanwhile as part of its larger direction,
Renault will have two dedicated
operations for its motorsports thrust.
Renault Sport Racing will encompass
all Renaults motorsport activities,
including Renault Sport Formula One
Team, Renault e.dams, Formula Renault
2.0, Renault Sport R.S.01 Trophy, plus
further customer racing and rallying
programmes. Renault Sport Racing will
cover operations at the two Renault
motorsport sites at Enstone, UK, and
ViryChtillon, France.
Renault Sport Cars, an evolution of
Renault Sport Technologies, will manage
the development and commercialisation
of the Renault Sport car portfolio.
Renault Sport is recognised worldwide
for its excellence in hot hatches such
as the Mgane R.S. and Clio R.S. as well
as efficient and accessible GTs including
the new Mgane GT. Renault Sport
will develop its international footprint,
78

FEB 2016

brand appeal and portfolio growth with

increased R&D investment.
Renault will use the new structure for
two primary functions. Initially, it aims
to promote the Renault Sport brand
to a wider audience primarily using the
Renault Sport Formula One Team and
the global audience of F1. Secondly, it
will use Formula E and racing activities
such as the Clio Cup to showcase the
image and design of other aspects of the
Renault range such as electric vehicles.
At the core of the racing activities will
be the newly-created Renault Sport
Formula One Team.
A number of key appointments have
been made in the F1 team to avoid any
dilution of the specific requirements of
Formula One. Bob Bell is appointed F1
Chief Technical Officer and will manage
the efforts of Nick Chester as Chassis
Technical Director and Rmi Taffin
as Engine Technical Director. Kevin
Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer are
confirmed as Renault Sport Formula
One Teams race drivers, and will be
supported by Esteban Ocon.

McLaren have become the first team

to confirm a launch date for their 2016
car. The Honda-powered MP4-31 will be
revealed on February 21, on the eve of
this years opening pre-season test at
Barcelonas Circuit de Catalunya in Spain.
McLaren hope the new machine will revive
their fortunes after a hugely disappointing
2015 campaign, in which the Woking
team dropped to ninth in the standings
as drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson
Button scored just 27 points between
them.
The MP4-31 is the second car of McLarens
revived partnership with Honda, and
despite the extensive teething problems
experienced last year, they are expected
to retain the size-zero design concept for
the cars packaging.
The two pre-season tests of 2016 both
take place in Barcelona, the first on
February 22-25 and the second on March
1-4. The opening Grand Prix of the year is
in Australia on March 20.

Mercedes confident
2016 cars will be
significantly louder
Formula One cars will be significantly
louder in 2016 according to Mercedes
technical chief Paddy Lowe.
The advent of F1 racings 1.6-litre engine
rules led to a fall in noise levels, but for
this season steps have been taken to make
power units louder such as mandating two
exhaust tailpipe exits rather than one changes that Lowe is convinced will prove
a success.
Well see how much louder [the changes
prove], but some measurements have
been made in the labs and they have seen
a significant increase, Lowe said in a
Mercedes video.
The reason for that is the wastegate was
causing a sort of silencing of the main
exhaust pipe, so by removing it from the
main exhaust pipe we have less silencing
going on of the main flow.
In the last two years we have had a
situation where the main exhaust goes
through one tailpipe, [and] we have a
wastegate to spill out extra pressure from
the exhaust. We now have to duct that air
separately through an extra tailpipe, and
this is intended to make more noise. It will
work.
The changes will get their first public
outing when teams roll out for the first
pre-season test, which takes place in
Barcelona, Spain on February 22-25.

Ringing in the new

Change is in the air and Im not just referring to the rather chilly winds that have been
blowing down across the Arabian peninsula for the past couple of weeks. For a change,
the effects of global warming and the El Nio effect has brought colder air to regions that
arent so used to it. Yes, I know that we will have to pay for it with a much more severe
summer, but then that is still a few months away.
The rough and ready of the economics of the Oman media scene has had its effect over
at Automan headquarters. Weve had an organisational change, with some changes in
how we operate. But thankfully, our commitment to the greater cause of building on
Automans unique position in Oman and its fierce reputation for independence has seen
us emerge as a leaner, tighter operation.
But then the malaise that is afflicting publishing in Oman and the broader region has
managed to claim a few worthy titles over the past few years, with two more automotive
names dropping out over the new year. The main reason for this is not a change in
the way people consume magazines or newspapers it is the belief advertisers have
that somehow the micro-doses of media consumption that we have on social media is
somehow replacing the role of traditional media.
A recent media drive event was a sign of the times. Stuffed to the rafters with bloggers,
Youtubers and so called digital influencers, the traditional print media journalists were
outnumbered. The sheer numbers meant that the available cars were crowded, anyone
who had a GoPro camera managed to steal cars away from the fleet and now we had
practically everyone posing in front of the car for a selfie or the video equivalent of it.

Raj Warrior is now managing editor of Automan and has

been in the thick of the Automotive journalism field from
the past 18 years.
Want to comment or have your say?
Email at raj@alutoman.me
Identify yourself or your message will be trashed and
your id blocked

I know car companies are exploring every avenue to boost car sales. I sat down with
someone for lunch at this event who honoured me with the information that he wrote a
blog. He didnt seem to know anything about the car in question, so I wondered what
exactly he would tell his audience? I hope that marketers are doing their homework and
actually measuring these interactions in terms of whether the spend is worth their while.
And more importantly, I certainly hope that this sort of over-the-top inclusiveness is
limited to events in the region.
However, this year will also see many of this breed of media bite the dust. Do you really
believe that marketers with a tighter budget and very clear stress on value will have the
wherewithal to spread their largesse all around? Traditional media still has a lot to offer,
if nothing else, its ability to hire talented people who are good at their jobs and know
their subject.
That is the differentiation that will keep the best publications going for many more years.
Of course, they have to adapt in order to survive, just as we have had to do and are
doing. Fortunately, it isnt a fight or flight situation. Organisations are increasingly facing
this situation around the world, where they and their employees are having to learn new
skills, retool and reorganise in order to meet the challenges of staying relevant.
And it doesnt help at all that most of the change has to be brought about in an environment
that is facing the fiercest ever attack of a negative sentiment. I ask you, when was the
last time you heard someone upbeat about the economy in the past month? Methinks that
has to change first weve found new opportunity in the face of change and no doubt
so will many others. The point is to look for the opportunity in the first place. You never
know, the next management meeting that you are dreading may just be the place that it
strikes for you.

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DEC 2015