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NOW, THE REGIONS BEST AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCE MARCH 2016 ISSUE NO 174

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Also inside: Chicago Motorshow Tests 2016 Volvo

XC90 2016 VW Passat 2015 Triumph Thunderbird
Infiniti regional managing director Juergen Schmitz

New Wheels

6-11 2016 Volkswagen Passat, 2016

Toyota Prius, 2016 Honda Accord
Coupe

Spotlight

12-14 Infiniti Q50 ride and drive event

in the UAE highlights the power
behind hybrid drivetrains. Oman
hosts a Ferrari esperienza event

Oman and regional news

12-13 Nissan gets new partner in

Saudi Arabia, Landrover BAR team
wins Oman leg of Americas cup and
Mazda2 picks up award
14-17 Mitsubishi winds up another
years edition of its Team Pajero
owner experience event calendar

28

Brandwatch

20-21 Maserati Levante surfaces

ahead of Geneva show, Nissan spells
out new direction on intelligent
driving, Audi results and Lamborghini
gets new Boss

66

International news
spotlight

24-27 Chicago Motorshow Round-up

Cover story

28-33 2016 Maserati SQ4

Road Tests

34-39 2016 Toyota Prius

40-45 2016 Volvo XC90
46-49 2015 Triumph Thunderbird

Face to Face

50-51 Infiniti MEA MD Juergen Schmitz

Concepts

52-55 Going Boldly where no man

needs to Drive Nissan IDS Concept

56-59 A precise new Design Direction
the Acura Precision Concept

Previews

60-63 Lexus LC500

64-65 Porsche 718 Boxster

Motorsports

66-79 special season opening focus

feature on the teams, drivers and
races of the 2016 calendar

Chicane

80 Making the right waves

editor-in-chief
Mohammad Al Taie

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The year began on a mixed note, with local concerns outweighing the general state of the
global economy. Despite most opinions to the contrary, car manufacturers seem to have
had the best year ever in 2015, both in terms of numbers as well as profitability. And some
manufacturers who cater to the upper segments of the car buying market have really set
new benchmarks in both of these criteria.
What does this tell us about the condition of the economy? Arent we all in the process
of tightening our belts? We are speaking of lay-offs and consolidation, with companies
adopting a wait and watch attitude, all the while hoping that petroleum prices rise to
power local government coffers. And yet, premium and luxury car manufacturers seem to
have never had as good a year ever. Read this against the backdrop of the GCC markets
being the favourite hunting grounds for these luxury and premium brands and what this
tells you is that the rich are able to weather any problems with the economy far better than
the poorer citizen and expatriate.
However, as we look ahead to 2016, most market insiders are decidedly more cautious
in their assessment. While it seems to be fashionable for the moment to be pessimistic,
the year will be challenging. But the outcomes will vary depending on how each one of
the countries of the regional economy react to the conditions. We are hearing about
the possibility of VAT being introduced along with additional tightening of corporate tax
structures. Of course, the withdrawal of subsidies will see changes in how we view fuel,
electricity and water. Fuel price at the pump has already risen and come down marginally
due to the global price of petroleum.
The cars we have on this months cover seem to be at both these ends of the discussion.
The Maserati Ghibli SQ4 seeks to draw customers from the regular premium E-segment
to a slightly more aspirational level, the same sort of draw that it seeks to bring with its
Levante SUV, uncloaked just before the Geneva motorshow.
The other car is the Toyota Prius. It is seen as the pioneer in its segment, with the brand
having invested heavily in placing it as a Eco solution. The Prius is loved by Hollywood
stars as well as the professionals of Silicon Valley. But does it really address the markets of
the GCC? Do we need such high-technology vehicles in markets that even in unsubsidised
fuel markets care more about volume and number of cylinders than saving fuel. It is
definitely a car that makes for an interesting drive as well as offers solutions well ahead of
the problem generation.
We also take this chance to highlight the lead-in to the Formula One season. The 2016
season is largely seen as a work-in-progress one, before the design changes of next years
cars become reality. But this high-stakes, high-cost business is evolving, hopefully staying
clear of the economic worries of the year.

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 VW Passat

Volkswagen launches new 2016 Passat

with media drive in Dubai

uilding on the position that the

brand has reached in the region
with its US sourced Passat,
Volkswagen recently held a media event to
familiarise journalists with the revamped
model.
The 2016 Passat is available across the
region in four configurations - S, SE, SEL
and Sport - and features more aggressive
styling than its predecessor, with a new
hood, front fenders, grille, front and rear
bumpers, trunk lid and LED headlights and
taillights.
Thomas Milz, Managing Director,
Volkswagen Middle East said, The new
Passat is the epitome of a perfectly
balanced model combining great
features, enhanced value and a refined
driving experience. The striking new
design evokes passion and excitement
and is a package of perfect affordable
innovation, innovative technology and
safety features.
The new exterior offers slimmer
6

Mar 2016

headlights, a more substantial four-bar

grille, and a muscular, domed hood, with
all features blending harmoniously to give
the Passat a wider, more planted stance at
the front end. Additionally, a new chrome
strip on the trunk ensures the rear lights
appear lower, enhancing the grounded
appearance, while chrome on the window
surrounds, bumpers, and door trim
compliments the more premium nature of
the design upgrade.
Inside, the 2016 Passat showcases an
extensively upgraded interior, for a more
sophisticated look and feel including a
new steering wheel and two-tone decor
panels, and refined chrome and piano
black trim.
The Passat features the second-generation
in-car infotainment system, also known as
MIB II by Volkswagen. The system features
touchscreens as standard equipment on
all models. On most models, the display
utilises a capacitive touch sensor (similar
to smartphone and tablet technology)

enabling gesture controls like swiping and

pinch-zooming rather than the resistive
touchscreens that require pressure and
have slightly longer response times. Most
infotainment units also feature a proximity
sensor, which detects when a hand is
nearby and automatically switches its
display to allow easier selection of specific
features. USB and Bluetooth connectivity
are standard on all 2016 Passat models.
The system also integrates AirPlay,
MirrorLink and the Android system.
Customers will be familiar with the cars
offering of a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine that
generates 170hp and is mated with a sixspeed gearbox with tiptronic.
Additionally new features introduced to
the Passat include an automatic trunk
opener that senses the presence of the
driver behind the car and opens the trunk
if the car is on the driver and the car is
locked. Of course the driver needs to
swing his foot below the rear bumper to
get the trunk to open.

2016 Volkswagen Passat

Whats changed in this
model year?
The next iteration of the model cycle is on us and Volkswagen
has largely changed only what needs to be changed. Now the
car gets LEd DRLs, a high tech centre console, better integration
with smart phones and media and a new generation of its SDcard based navigation systems.
In the bargain, the car also gets a new, almost white interior
as well as a light tan one, both of which go well with the
redesigned surfaces and touch points. And yes, convenience
gets a boost with hands-free entry and start as well as handsfree trunk opening.

Mar 2016

2016 Volkswagen Passat

Important points to note

Not the best boot hinge design weve seeen, this

one uses corrugated piping to hide the harness

While the thunder of this feature

has been stolen by KIA and Hyundai
debuting it on cheaper SUVs, the
convenience of a hands-free trunk
opening may appeal to some. Also,
it doesnt work if the car is already
unlocked, in that case you have to
open the boot through the release.

MAR 2016

The Volkswagen LED signature treatment

ensures that the Passat is clearly identifiable

The redesigned dashboard brings a softer feel to it and a

dependence on the larger screen of the new interface

Volkswagen has not fiddled with the tried and tested 170hp
5-cylinder 2.5-litre unit considered just right for the regions
markets

The headlights use LED piping for use as DRLs, while the
projector elements offer a better throw and spread of the
beam.

The wheels range from the 16 steel wheels with covers to a

17 alloy option on the SE and SEL, to a full-blown 18 offering
on the Sport version.

MAR 2016

NEWWheelS
2016 Toyota Prius

Posing before the Prius Hybrid officials from Toyotas operations include Mr Sugiura,
Mr Yoshitsugu and Mr Miyamoto

Toyota launches Prius Hybrid in Oman

Toyota has finally taken the big
step of bringing its hybrid Prius
to the region. At the launch in
Oman, held at the Al Bustan
hotel, Toyota officials from the
global operations and regional
office were present along with
officials from the importer and
media.
The Toyota Prius Hybrid
launches at a time when fuel
prices in the United States are
at a low, while fuel prices in
this region are increasing due
to withdrawal of government
subsidies and market price
linkage. This makes the Prius
Hybrids phenomenal fuel
efficiency a major draw.
The Prius Hybrid is the first
commercially produced hybrid
and launched in 1997. This is
the fourth generation of the
Prius hybrid.
For eighteen years, Prius has
continued to build a legacy
of outstanding efficiency
10 MAR 2016

and innovation for hybrid

technology, said Kouji
Toyoshima, Chief Engineer of
the car. It has always been
a revolutionary car with a
unique DNA. So I asked myself:
What is essential for the next
generation? The answer was
our development concept
of Beautiful Hybrid. We
wanted the Prius to turn into
a charming, beautiful hybrid
vehicle, while maintaining
its essential qualities such as
outstanding fuel economy.
The Prius hybrid features a
1.8-litre petrol engine running
on an Atkinson cycle, that
is paired with two electric
motors on the front-wheels
that act as drive as well as
offer regenerative braking in
order to charge the battery
pack of the car. It allows for
slow speed driving on purely
electric energy, with the petrol
engine coming into play once

the system realises that more

power and energy is needed.
While the combined
powertrain is rated at 121hp,
the petrol engine offers a
95hp peak while the electric
motors offer 53hp. The car
is the first new model built
on Toyotas new global
architecture (TNGA). Takayuki
Yoshitsugu, the regional chief
representative said,The

Prius underlines Toyotas

continued commitment to
progressive thinking and being
environmentally conscious.
More than just a car, we see
the Prius as an opportunity
to really make a difference,
which essentially is what
Toyota is all about as we seek
to fulfil our vision of leading
the way towards the future of
mobility.

NEWWheelS
2016 Honda Accord Coupe

Honda Accord Coupe with sensing

technology launches in Oman
The latest generation of
Hondas Accord Coupe has
launched in Oman, with local
importer Oman Marketing and
Services Company bringing the
car in both the engine variants
on offer with a range of new
features bundled under the tag
of Honda Advanced Sensing
technology.
Along with new styling
elements that bring the
car closer to the current
day version of the sedan
version (including new grille,
new headlight and taillight
and the greater use of LED
lighting both for DRLs as
well as high visibility lights),
the car launches with two
Earth Dreams engines, i.e the
2.4-litre 4-cylinder and the
3.5-litre V6 units have been
reengineered to provide for
a cleaner, more fuel-efficient
drive and offer greater output

in both variants. The smaller

4-cylinder is now rated at 185
hp while the 3.5-litre unit is
rated at 276hp. The body is
built to the companys ACe
structural technology.
Honda is also promoting a
clutch of safety features under
its Advanced Sensing tag.
These include adaptive cruise
control, lane keeping assist,
with the ability to adjust the
steering wheel to keep in
the lane, collision mitigation
braking that not only senses
the likelihood of a potential
collision and warns the driver,
but also applies brakes in
case of real danger and finally
Road departure Mitigation
that prevents the car from
wandering off the road,
especially if it senses no input
from the driver. In that case it
corrects the steering as well as
applies the brakes in order to

keep the car on the road, while

issuing warnings.
The 3.5-litre equipped car also
gets Lanewatch, that works
like an extended blind spot
monitoring system to provide
visibility of the lane on the
right of the car on the central
monitor.
The regular suite of vehicle
stability control, traction

control, ABS and EBD pair with

Hill start assist.
The car is available in three
grades in Oman the 3.5-litre
with Advanced Sensing, the
regular 3.5-litre unit and the
2.4-litre EX grade. These are
available in six exterior colours
with beige interiors in either
fabric in the 2.4-litre or leather
in either of the higher grades.

MAR 2016

11

2016 Infiniti Q50 Hybrid

The Toyota Prius Hybrid offers increased fuel efficiency,

while the Infiniti Q50 Hybrid sells on the contrary notion of
lots of power. The end result is the same more bang per
litre of fuel (or engine capacity)

ast year, Infiniti called journalists

from around the region to be part
of an excludive event where they
highlighted the hybrid drivetrain of the
Q50. Unlike this years headline event of
the Toyota Prius coming to the region,
Infinitis hybrid came with a much lower
share of voice, largely due to the mainline
petrol engine variants of the Q50 being
cars that buyers were interested in for
their drive-by-wire technology as well as
the bundling of class defining features in
the cars. This is the point that Infiniti were
12 MAR 2016

seeking to rectify while also continuing

their association with Formula One,
although they have moved out of their
race winning partnership with Redbull.
The Q50 Hybrid features a combination
of a 3.5-litre V6 engine and an inline
motor assist that sits in the transmission
tunnel connected to the rear-wheels
that provides a combined peak power
of 360hp. Of this 67hp is provided
by the electric motor. But the more
important figure is that of the torque.
Most turbocharged engines offer stellar

acceleration characteristics when they

reach the state where engine exhaust
output is stable. That is usually at just
under 2000rpm in the normal petrol
engine. To avoid the effects of turbolag,
some manufacturers use superchargers to
handle the lower rev band.
In the Infiniti Q50 hybrid powertrain, that
zone is more than compensated for by
the inline motor assist. It can deliver peak
torque right from zero and that means
that the combined system then has a far
better take-off acceleration curve.

The combined system clocks in with a

torque figure of 640Nm out of which
the electric motor contributes 290Nm.
Its these torque figures that allow the
Q50 hybrid to hit the standing 100 km/h
in 5 seconds.
Infiniti has also been placing hybrid
technology in other vehicles like the
QX60 Hybrid. In that car the function is
similar though it does go a long way to
boost the performance of the 4-cylinder
engine.
During the orientation on hybrid and
Infinitis links with the same, the team
spoke of how the Q70 was the first car
to feature the hybrid and had at one
stage won recognition as the worlds
fastest accelerating hybrid car.
They also connected the use of this
technology to Formula One where the
car uses brakeforce regeneration and
the added power of the electric boost
to aid performance.
Where the Formula One and Infiniti
hybrid technologies differ, however, is
how the recovered electrical energy is
stored. The battery in the Q50 Hybrid
maintains a constant level of on-call
energy; ready to be deployed, whereas
the Formula One system nearly entirely
depletes its battery and must re-harvest
energy and charge the battery before
the next burst of power.
This year Infiniti shifts its connection
with Formula One to the new Renault
Sport Formula One team as a technical
partner, with special emphasis on
providing expertise in the hybrid
drivetrain.
At Infiniti, motorsport is an important
part of our business strategy, said
Roland Krueger, President Infiniti
Motor Company. Forming a technical
collaboration and enabling technology
transfer road-to-track and track-toroad is the logical next step. The
establishment of the Renault Sport
Formula One Team by our Alliance
partner Renault provides us with an
ideal opportunity to enter this next
phase of our long-term motorsport
strategy.
Infinitis strong expertise will be used
by the Renault Sport Formula One team
in Viry-Chtillon as a team of Infiniti
hybrid specialists move from Infinitis
technical center in Atsugi, Japan, to
France to support development of the
Renault Energy power unit.
At the same time, Infiniti will use the
experience from the F1 ERS system to
further enhance its hybrid powertrains
for road cars.

Seen above is a graphic that outlines the process by which electric traction is delivered to the rear
wheels of the Infiniti Q50.
Below is a graphic that shows a comparison of how the Infiniti Q50 Hybrid transmits its electric
power in comparison with the method applied on a Formula One car. The basic difference is that
the battery on the sedan is very rarely taken to depletion point while the F1 car operates through a
series of almost full discharges.

MAR 2016

13

Ferrari Esperienza

Ferrari aficionados in Oman were offered an opportunity to participate in a

Ferrari Esperienza event, hosted by local importer Alfardan Motors

lfardan Motors, the local importers

for Ferrari, hosted a customer
event at the Al Husn at Shangrila
Barr al Jissah hotel in the middle of
February.
A select group of customers, VIP guests
and media were invited to participate in
the Ferrari Esperienza event and get an
opportunity to drive the Ferrai California
T and Ferrari 488GTB along the roads
around the resort and down towards Yiti.
The experience involved participating
in a product and drive briefing and then
driving the cars guided by professional
Ferrari instructors who had flown in from
Maranello for the event.
About the 488GTB
Recently launched in Oman in September
2015, the 488GTB boasts a new 3902
cc turbo engine which is coupled with
a seven-gear F1 dual-clutch gearbox
14 MAR 2016

featuring Variable Boost Management

which optimally distributes torque (a
maximum 750 Nm in seventh gear). The
smaller of Ferraris GT cars has a long
heritage to follow and the move to bring
it in line with the California Ts use of a
turbocharged engine was done in order
to provide better power and performance
while staying within the new emmision
standards proposed under Euro 6 and
newer legislations.
The GTB uses extensive aerodynamic
body elements to reduce its drag, with an
ability to change underbody airstreams
depending on the speed of the car.
In addition to that the car makes the best
use of the second generation of Ferraris
stability control programming that allows
the cars to aggressively take corners with
drift built in (in the top drive modes on
its steering wheel mounted controller) as
well as offering impressive braking.

About the Ferrari California T

The Ferrari California T epitomises the
sublime elegance, sportiness, versatility
and exclusivity that have distinguished
every California model since the 1950s.
Sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6
seconds flat and from 0 to 200 km/h in
11.2 seconds, the California T is a brilliant
expression of Ferraris sporty DNA, while
its retractable hard top (RHT) and 2+2
configuration, amongst other features,
make it supremely versatile. Like all
Ferraris, the California T boasts cuttingedge technological solutions that make it
absolutely unique, most notably the new
turbocharged V8 engine.
Using equal length inlet and exhaust
piping, a flattened crankshaft and a
sophisticated oil sump arrangement, the
car is capable of high speed manouevres
while bringing with it the pleasure of
open-top motoring.

Petromin is Nissans new

Partner in Saudi Arabia
Nissan has announced a new
business partner - Petromin
Corporation (Petromin) in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Petromin will join Alissa as
the second strategic partner
to Nissan as it continues its
growth and expansion across
the Kingdom.
We announced in November
2013that Nissan was going to
renew its strong bond with
the Kingdom, with a direct
presence in the form of Nissan

KSA, said Samir Cherfan,

Nissan Middle Easts Managing
Director. We committed to
strengthening the brands
product line-up and to bring
the best of this great company
to Saudi Arabia by developing
Nissans sales and service
coverage and quality.
Nissan and Alissa have
managed to renew the bond
with the kingdom and to
reestablish a strong sales
and service network. We are

achieving fast growth while

achieving high standards in
customer service. Sustainable
growth and customer
satisfaction excellence is
the path for Nissan and its
business partners, he added.
Samir Nawar, CEO of Petromin
said: We could not be
more excited about working
alongside Nissan to help
achieve its stated goals. The
addition of car showrooms
and workshops to our vast

network of service facilities,

which comprehensively
covers the entire country, is
perfectly placed to provide
Nissan owners with the kind
of customer service they
rightly expect and demand.
We have been in this industry
for nearly five decades and
Nissans competitive edge will
surely be sharpened with our
involvement and drive.

2016 GMC Terrain for Just 1,023 AED A Month in UAE

GMC dealerships in the
UAE comprising Al Ghandi
in Dubai & Sharjah, and Bin
Hamoodah in Abu Dhabi are
currently running a monthlong promotional campaign
(until March 31) for the 2016
Terrain, one that provides
buyers with a comprehensive
array of benefits including a
5 year installment plan that
16 Mar 2016

starts at just 1,023 AED per

month. The offer includes free
registration, free insurance, a
three-year/60,000 kilometers
free service package, and a
five-year unlimited mileage
warranty. The warranty
also comes with Roadside
Assistance for a period of four
years.

Oman & region

news

LAND ROVER BAR DIG DEEP TO WIN IN

OMAN LEG OF THE AMERICAS CUP

Despite a race weekend of light

winds, penalty starts and a
collision, Land Rover BARs fast
boat speed and good tactical
decisions allowed them, in true
British style, to recover from
the brink to win this weekends
Louis Vuitton Americas Cup
World Series regatta.
Martin Whitmarsh, Land
Rover BAR Chief Executive
Officer said: Overall its been
a fantastic weekend, and
we have proved we are the
come-back kids as we came
back every time despite the
challenges. The boys were
fantastically quick on the water
and that enabled them to keep
their heads up and fight their
way through the field. They
deserved this great win for
the huge amount of effort and
courage they showed.
The first day of competition
saw Land Rover BAR dominate
the way after finishing two
races in first position, and one
in third. Despite a collision with
Groupama Team France in the

first race and a subsequent

penalty at the starting line the
Land Rover BAR team battled
back to finish third before
winning the next two races.
Super Sunday, with double
points at stake, saw the main
action of the weekend. All
the teams were pushing hard
and Land Rover BAR received
starting penalties in each of the
three races leaving them at the
back of the fleet with a fight
on their hands. Superb tactical
sailing saw the team climb their
way through the fleet to finish
with second, third and fourth
place finishes to seal the overall
win. The British Challenger is
the only team to have won
two of the four regattas in the
Americas Cup World Series.
The 76 points secured this
weekend halves the gap with
Emirates Team New Zealand
in the overall rankings and the
team now sit just one point
behind Oracle Team USA - in
third place with 185 points.

Mazda2 wins Best Compact

of the Year 2016 award

The all-new Mazda2 has been

recently crowned as the Best
Compact Car at the Wheels
Car of the Year 2016 award
ceremony, Australias most
coveted motoring award
judged by the best of the best

in the industry. The stylish

fourth-generation Mazda2 is
also the winner of the much
coveted 2014-2015 Car of
the Year Japan award and
Germanys illustrious 2014
Golden Steering Wheel Award.
Mar 2016

17

Mitsubishi Oman has just concluded the latest round of Team Pajero
Desert adventures, events that allow owners to experience the 4x4 terrain
and experience actual off-road driving conditions under expert guidance.
18 Mar 2016

news

Oman & region

eginning in November 2015, the

Team Pajero Adventure comprised
of several two-day trips and
saw over 1600 participating in over 270
Mitsubishi Pajeros, cumulative over all
the trips so far, driving into the popular
yet challenging Wahiba Sands. Organised
by GAC specifically for Pajero owners
and enthusiasts, each of these trips gives
Pajero owners a taste of a true desert
adventure in the vehicle best suited to
handle the challenge the Mitsubishi
Pajero.
Commenting on the success of this event,
Manoj Ranade, GM of General Automotive
Company said, The Pajero has been
a constant favourite in the region and
with good reason. Its capabilities and
reliability are amongst the best in its class
and our annual Team Pajero Adventure
trips allow our customers to experience
this first hand. Furthermore, our annual
Team Pajero Desert Adventure events
have witnessed growing demand with
each passing year. As a result we doubled
the number of trips from three to six last
season, and offered six trips right from the
beginning this season.
As with all the previous trips, over 220
people and 15 GAC staff in 45 Customer
Pajeros and 10 Marshall Vehicles
respectively participated in the final trip;
following a predefined course as they
headed to Wahiba Sands. Once at the Al
Raha Camp, the convoy of Pajero vehicles
were escorted by Marshalls and provided
with specialised desert driving training.
The drivers were then taken on a dune
bashing session, after which the group is
taken atop a dune overlooking the camp
to witness the stunning sunset. Once back
at the camp a large number of activities
and entertainment was prepared for the
families to enjoy. The following morning,
Camel riding sessions and dune bikes
were provided for the customers to use at
their discretion. The convoy left the camp
and returned to the Azaiba showroom
shortly after.
He also added, On behalf of GAC I would
like to thank all the staff responsible
for their hard work and commitment
in making this event a success. I would
also like to thank each and every one
of our customers for their participation
in the event, loyalty to the brand and
their valuable feedback. Given the
overwhelmingly positive response we
have received from our guests so far and
its growing popularity, our customers can
look forward to yet another Team Pajero
Adventure when the 2016 2017 season is
launched in the final quarter of this year.
Mar 2016

19

We also spoke to Rajesh

Sharma, the National
Marketing Manager for
Mitsubishi on various aspects
of the event.
Considering the expenses involved, have
you reached a level where the events are
self financing in terms of new prospects?
The event was planned as a driving
experience for the new customers, to
demonstrate to them the prowess of
vehicle called Pajero. Till date the event is
organized on the same principles. There is
a loyalty budget allotted for such activities
basis which these ideas are given wings to.
It would be true to say that such events
are leading to increase in sales rather than
new sales financing such events.
How do you manage to keep your events
distinct from other brands events?
Being the trend setter always helps in
being recognized. Ofcourse, being copied
is also a big threat, but at the same time a
compliment. The event has evolved over
the years. Various modules have been
added to it to give the customers not just
the driving experience but the benefit
of being a part of the Pajero family. The
event encapsulates the entire driving
experience within the greater realm

20 Mar 2016

of bonding, brotherhood and enjoying

together. Whilst some other events are
aimed at the driver, Team Pajero involves
the families and also friends in some cases.
Its a challenge to give the same level
of experience and joy to each customer
but the entire internal team of General
Automotive Company has mastered
this art. With everything being handled
internally it becomes a very enriching
experience when at the end of every event
customers come and compliment the
entire team for the great experience.
Could you summarise the current
season for us in terms of highpoint and
achievements?
The season has once again put Team
Pajero on top of the most talked about
events in Oman. Social Media has also
helped to take the message further to all
and all of this has helped us to strengthen
the sales of Pajero in an otherwise sliding
market. The event showcased the true
value of the mere vehicle bought, to many
and to others it helped strengthen the
bond with family and friends through the
invaluable experience they got. A bond
which goes beyond our rational realm.
Today over 300 cars are on Oman roads
from this season, proclaiming Proud
Member Team Pajero. A sign of them
having experienced the fruits of this
event. After all a Pajero is not merely 4
wheels. Its an experience which makes our

customer, Partners for Life.

What is the normal mix of owners? Do
you get many complete novices? Have you
had any lady lead participating cars?
The Team Pajero event has always been
one where we have always had a good mix
if nationalities, both Omani and Expats.
And amongst them we have customers
of various skill levels in terms of desert
driving.
But this season we have seen that almost
60-70% of our attendees have been first
timers in the desert. For them it was an
overwhelming experience also learning
the nuances of desert driving.
Have you had any serious incidents? Do
you get any cases of participant regret?
During any of the Team Pajero events,
there have been no serious incidents
involving the convoy. Utmost care has
been taken by the team to ensure all
customers and crew follow the laid down
rules of the event. And its a matter of
great pride that not a single customer has
ever regretted in any way being a part of
this event. Infact year on year customers
have shared their appreciation both with
us and their peers to make this event
larger, better and popular.

Mar 2016

21

Levante debuts in Geneva Nissan

Intelligent
Mobility
announced

Maserati reveals the exterior form of

the Levante, the first SUV in the brands
more than one hundred year history the
new model completes the existing range
of saloon and sports cars, extending the
offering together with the Quattroporte,
Ghibli, GranTurismo and GranCabrio
models.
Maseratis design signature is clearly
visible on the sides the three iconic air
vents on the front wings, the trapezoidal
C-pillar with the Saetta logo and the
large, frameless door windows. The rear
is dominated by the very tapered back
window and streamlined shape, both
typical of a highperformance sports car.
At a technical level, the Levantes chassis
is designed to combine the outstanding
onroad performance typical of every
Maserati with unrivalled handling even

22 Mar 2016

on very lowgrip surfaces and an excellent

offroad performance and ride. The new
SUV boasts a high level of content as
standard, with all versions featuring
sophisticated electronic suspension
with controlled damping and air springs,
which can be set on several levels,
Q4 intelligent allwheel drive and
8speed automatic transmission specially
calibrated for the brands new SUV.
When it comes to power units, the
Levante is equipped with both petrol and
diesel engines that are all Euro6compliant.
The Maserati Levante is built at the
Mirafiori plant in Turin the first cars have
already come off the assembly line with
the launch planned for this spring in
Europe, to be followed by the rest of the
world later this year.

Pursuing a goal of zero emission vehicles

and zero fatalities on the road, Nissan
unveiled its Intelligent Mobility vision at
the Geneva International Motor Show.
Created to guide the Nissan product
evolution, Intelligent Mobility will anchor
critical company decisions around how
cars are powered, how cars are driven,
and how cars integrate into society, all
while staying focused on creating more
enjoyable driving experiences..
At the core of Nissan Intelligent Mobility
are three areas of innovation:
Nissan Intelligent Driving creating
more driver confidence, spearheaded
by Nissans autonomous drive
technology, Piloted Drive
Nissan Intelligent Power more
efficiency, more power, spearheaded
by electric vehicles (EV)
Nissan Intelligent Integration new
links between vehicles and society
Each area represents cutting edge
technological advances by Nissan
safety innovations through autonomous
technology such as high-stability control
and high-reliability drive systems;
high-efficiency powertrains, including
alternative and conventional fuel engines
with advanced transmissions; and energy
management solutions.
Our Intelligent Mobility vision is a
framework to move customers around
the world toward a safer and more
sustainable future, said Carlos Ghosn,
CEO. To realize this vision, Nissan has
launched a long-term strategy, supported
by significant R&D investments.

news

brandwatch

Audi CEO Stadler: We plan to continue

our growth in 2016

The Audi Group plans to launch

more than 20 new or revised
models and to continue its
growth in 2016. Despite major
challenges, the Ingolstadt
based company performed
successfully last year and
set a new record for unit
sales: Worldwide deliveries
increased compared with 2014
by 3.6 percent to 1,803,246
automobiles. As a result of the
strong demand, the company
achieved a new record also for
revenue, posting a figure of
58.4 billion. Operating profit
amounted to 4.8 billion and

operating profit before special

items of 5.1 billion was at the
high level of the previous year.
Before the worldwide rollout
of important models like the
new Audi A4, the operating
return on sales amounted
to 8.3 percent despite the
challenging conditions, and
was thus within the strategic
target corridor of eight to ten
percent; before special items it
was 8.8 percent.
This year, Audi will maintain
the high speed of its product
initiative. With the new Audi
Q2 for example, the company

intends to conquer a new

market segment and continue
the success story of the Q
family. At the same time, Audi
is developing the key areas of
electrification and digitization.
Investment of more than 3
billion is planned in 2016. In
Mexico, a completely new and
ultramodern automobile plant
will be opened. In addition,
more than 1,200 experts in
strategic areas for the future
are to be recruited in Germany.
During the Annual Press
Conference held at the
companys headquarters in

Ingolstadt, Rupert Stadler,

Chairman of the Board of
Management of AUDI AG,
stated, We successfully
mastered a year of challenges.
We will now invest in 2016
alone more than 3 billion for
the mobility of tomorrow, and
we will push forward with the
electrification and digitization
of our products. With more
than 20 new or revised models,
Audi intends to gain more new
customers and continue along
its growth path this year.

STEFANO DOMENICALI TAKES OVER LEADERSHIP OF

AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI
Stefano Domenicali will become
the new President and CEO of
AutomobiliLamborghini on March 15, 2016.
He succeeds Stephan Winkelmann, who
will take over as CEOof sports Audi affiliate
quattro GmbH.
Over the past eleven years Stephan
Winkelmann has transformed Lamborghini
into a global leader in the manufacture of
super sports cars. His successor, who also
possesses a wealth ofexperience in this
area, will be continuing this success, says
Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board
Management of AUDI AG and Chairman
ofthe Administrative Board of Automobili
Lamborghini S.p.A. Stefano Domenicali

says: I am very excited to be taking on

the challenges of this great legacy. It is
now my duty to continue the successes
that my predecessor Stephan Winkelmann
achieved for Automobili Lamborghini.
Stephan Winkelmann comments: I have
been responsible for Lamborghini for a
significant periodof time in its history,
and in the process have always aimed
to use the brands potential to achieve
very ambitious goals. Lamborghinis
key corporate data displays continual,
profitable growth with a focus on the
development of new products, new
processes, and many other corporate
sectors.
Mar 2016

23

More direction
from Chicago
Chicago 2016

The North American International automobile shows 2016 edition did

much to highlight the swing back in fortunes of car manufacturers
For a change, Lexus did not have any stand-out debuts for
Chicago, especially on the tail of the big ticket LC500 unveil at
Detroit. Here too, the LC500 played the main role along with a
series of live performances from R&B artistes in the taping og a
live TV show called Lexus and verses.
The LC500 is Lexus new interpretation of the range topping
luxury coupe, replacing the SC in its pantheon. Powered by the
naturally aspirated V8 5.0-litre unit that also powers the RC F
and GS F, the LC paired with these cars on the stand to project
the new F direction.
In addition the stand also had the entire range of the product
line-up, including the hybrid variants.

Lexus
Nissan
The all-new Armada was unveiled the evening
before the motor show ony for it to feature
prominently on stand among the Winter
Warriors themed section.
For the rest of the world, we may be more
familiar with the new Armada as the Patrol.
With the introduction of the all-new, secondgeneration Armada full-size SUV, the last piece
of Nissans transformation of its SUV and
crossover lineup falls into place following the
recent makeovers of our Pathfinder, Murano
and Rogue models, said Phil OConnor,
Director, Chief Marketing Manager, Nissan
North America, Inc. Were particularly proud
that with this new Armada were setting a
new standard in class, offering advanced
safety and security features usually reserved
for much higher priced luxury sedans or
premium SUVs.
All three Nissan Winter Warriors feature
custom heavy-duty track systems with custom
matte-black finish frames. The snow tracks are
48 inches long, 30 inches high and 15 inches
wide and replace the vehicles wheels and
tyres. The suspensions and wheel wells were
modified to fit the snow tracks, but otherwise
all drivetrain components, including the
engines and Xtronic transmissions, are factory
fresh.
24 Mar 2016

A key component to Kia Motors Green Car

Roadmap was unveiled at the Chicago Auto
Show today as Kia Motors America (KMA)
hosted the global debut of the all-new 2017 Niro
Hybrid Utility Vehicle (HUV). A no-compromise
vehicle that combines driving enjoyment with
eye-catching design, functional utility and
hybrid efficiency, the all-new Niro strikes the
perfect balance for todays consumers and
stakes claim to a unique position between the
hybrid-electric vehicle and CUV segments.

KIA

The Niro hits the sweet spot by offering

the best combination of outstanding mpg,
an engaging driving experience, utility, and
most importantly, a stunning design that
doesnt shout hybrid, said Orth Hedrick,
vice president product planning KMA. The
subcompact CUV market continues to be one of
the fastest-growing segments in the world, and
the Niro offers a uniquely alluring yet practical
package that consumers havent seen before.

Subaru
First shown at Los Angeles last year, the all-new
Impreza that will follow this concept will be
the first example of Subarus next-generation
vehicles using a new modular platform. The
design is sportier and less angular than the
previous generation Impreza, but with a
powerful stance expressing Subarus new
Dynamic x Solid design language. The new
design direction hints at not only the new
Impreza design, but of Subarus future models.

Audi

The new R8 and the new A4 were the

stars of the show. The A4, is completely
redesigned for the 2017MY. Buyers have
their choice between the A4 Premium,
Premium Plus and top-tier Prestige trim
levels. Sole powertrain at launch is a
252-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-litre TFSI
engine that mates to a seven-speed dualclutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel
drive is standard and Audis quattro allwheel drive is optional. According to Audi,
the new A4 can race from 0-to-60 mph in
5.7-seconds. The five-passenger cabin boasts
leather seating surfaces, LED ambient
lighting, three-spoke multifunction flatbottom steering wheel with shift paddles
and seats with power lumbar adjustment.

Mar 2016

25

Ford
Ford unveiled the Sports appearance package for the
Ford Explorer XLT.
The addition of the package expands Explorer offerings
to six models. Other versions include base, XLT, Limited,
Sport and the Platinum edition.
The new XLT Sport Appearance Package joins the
Explorer family beginning this summer.
The 2017 Ford Escape, launching in the coming months,
will feature a unique Sport Appearance Package as well.
Our Sport Appearance philosophy is rooted in the
fact that we know exterior appearance is the No. 1
consideration in SUV purchase decisions, said Omar
Odeh, Explorer brand marketing manager. The XLT
Sport Appearance Package is a dramatic offering that
gives customers another attractive option.

Fiat
The Fiat 124 Spider, built in close co-operation
with Mazda (on whose Mx-5 it is based) was
shown at the Fiat stand.
In North America, the Fiat 124 Spider is available
with the proven 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo fourcylinder engine, the engines first application in
a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. The engine delivers
160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, and is
available with a six-speed manual transmission
or a six-speed automatic transmission.

RAM
Bob Hegbloom, Head of Ram Truck Brand, FCA North America, unveiled
the 2017 Ram Power Wagon at the Chicago Auto Show. The ultimate
off-road truck, 2017 Ram Power Wagon features a number of off-road
specific enhancements, including: a unique suspension creating 14
inches of ground clearance and more than two inches of lift; a best-inclass 410 horsepower, 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 engine; locking differentials;
a12,000-lb. electric winch; unique 17-inch wheels, and 33-inch Goodyear
Wrangler DuraTrac tyres.

26 Mar 2016

Toyota
The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro will join the rest of the TRD Pro series in the
2017 year. The car was unveiled at the Chicago show. The 2017 Tacoma
TRD Pro is designed to not only look tough, but to perform in the toughest
off-road environment. Based on the Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4x4 Double
Cab Short Bed model in either 6-speed manual (with clutch start-cancel
switch) or 6-speed automatic transmission, the new Tacoma TRD Pro will be
available in three exterior colours. Along with that a racing livery RAV4 SE
that will be raced by Ryan Millen was also shown.

Honda
The new Honda Ridgeline will begin sales later
on in 2016, but in the meantime the company
is building on the momentum of last years
launch. In Chicago, the truck was shown with a
bunch of accessories.
It is supposed to offer Superior on-road
performance with the segments best
handling, ride quality, cabin quietness and
all-weather traction capabilities courtesy of
its unibody construction, sophisticated chassis,
and available i-VTM4 torque-vectoring AWD
system. Class-leading space with the largest
and most versatile cabin and the only 4-footwide flat bed space in the midsize pickup
segment, along with payload capacity rivaling
top competitors.

Hyundai
The Hyundai Santa Fe lineup continues to
dramatically improve for the 2017 model year.
The improvements span everything from fresh
exterior design and LED lighting signatures to
additional infotainment, convenience and safety
technologies and new Drive Mode selection
with Sport, Eco and Normal settings. The 2017
Santa Fe line-up continues to offer front- or
all-wheel drive and seating options for five, six
or seven passengers. The 2017 Santa Fe Sport
is powered by an efficient 2.4-litre four-cylinder
direct-injected engine with 185 horsepower
or the more powerful, turbocharged 2.0-litre
four-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower. 2017
Santa Fe (three-row) uses the acclaimed 3.3-litre
Lambda II V6 engine, with 290 horsepower.

Mar 2016

27

2016 Maserati Ghibli SQ4

Author:

28 Mar 2016

ior

Raj Warr

raphy:
| Photog

hn Ferra

Elvis Jo

The brilliant Maserati Ghibli seeks to attract customers

from other premium E-segment models. And the S version
with the Q4 all-wheel drive arrangement helps the cause
along with a great handling experience

Mar 2016

29

ergio Marchionnes big gamble

with growth seems to have
paid off for the conglomerate.
Ever since the Fiat group bought into
Chryslers operations, the integration has
deepened to a level where it is no longer
blasphemous to speak of platform sharing
and badge engineering. Although that may
not be entirely true when it comes to a
brand like Maserati.
The catch with Maserati is that it is still
seen as a purists brand. Let us put aside
for the moment the fact that they are
debuting the Levante SUV to get more
fatcat owners into their stable. Maserati
only accepts association with Ferrari, no
other brand stands up to their ideals.
So it wasnt odd when a couple of years
back the Maserati product specialists took
great pains to explain the originality of the
Ghibli. We may see it as a shared platform,
but for Maserati there was enough
difference in the evolution to warrant an
independent tag. They give credit to the
Quattroporte as the platforms origin and
you can see the similarities, while there
surely were learnings from the wider FCA.
You can however give Maserati designers
due credit for spawning a creation that
truly takes the place of the smaller

30 Mar 2016

sibling of the Quattroporte. Even the

choice of engine made a huge difference.
Admittedly the smaller displacement of
the 3.0-litre V6 engine came as a bit of a
surprise. But with the S tune, the biturbo
engine output is above 400 horsepower
and that combines with a quick shifting
eight speed gearbox.
The Ghibli stands out from the crowd
with its styling. Every bit the traditional
Maserati, it takes the Trident brands ethos
to every panel, with the shark like snout,
cleverly crafted headlights and flowing
side panels complementing the thrust
out fenders. The pride of place just aft of
the front wheels is hogged by the typical
Maserati air-intakes. These are functional
considering the turbocharged engines
need for ventilation.
Modern day technology in terms of
lighting (focus lights and LEDs) plays a
major role in communicating this as a
modern day car. And we must say that
the rich blue of the test car is a stand out
colour, going very nicely with the deep red
and black treatment of the interiors. The
interiors are a good mix of luxury and a
performance theme. Scooped out sports
seats, a steering wheel that just slips into
your grasp and an instrument pod that

wouldnt look out of place in a Ferrari are

all part of the equation. The Maserarti
Touch control is a stand out feature of the
car. It takes the logic and technology of
the groups interface to a unique level.
From this model year onwards, the MTC
has a greater integration with Apple
devices due to the chipset it features.
Siri takes over the voice control and you
can pair your phone seamlessly with the
device.
Another small feature we really liked was
the placement of the left and right turn
indicators in the two separate dials of the
IP. It doesnt quite take you to Ferraris
choice of the appropriate switch positions
on their steering, but the feel is similar.
We arent too sure of how the optional
Ermenegildo Zegna interior with its
marriage of silk and leather would feel, but
the chosen leather seats and dark interiors
are completely to our taste.
The car is of course different to the regular
Ghibli that you would buy. For its takes
the purist rear-wheel drive characteristic
of the Ghibli to a new level with the
Chrysler engineered AWD arrangement.
It may seem counter-intuitive at first to
expect the AWD to make the car feel more
Maserati-like. But that is what happens.

Driving Impressions
The fact that this is an all-wheel drive
is communicated by the Q4 badge. The
system remains rear-wheel biased with
power transfer to the front-wheels
achieved through a wet-plate clutch in
the transfer case. When you start the
engine and put the car in drive, the power
split shows up as 50:50 on the panel in
between the two nacelles of the speedo
and tachometer. That would mean that
you would expect the default mode to be
an even split but that is not the case. The
system is highly sensitive to accelerator
input and measures weight shift as well
as wheelspin and power delivery. Under
quick acceleration the car shifts more of
the power to the rear (we saw the 20:80
ratio settling in most of the time) and the
second you relax and lift your foot off the
pedal the power delivery shifts to 100%
to the rear. That is D mode. But things
change with your selection of other drive
modes.
So, you have a system that plays to a
lot of strengths - a phenomenal power
delivery of above 400hp, the torque
flatness that only a good turbocharged
can deliver, undetectable (or almost)
turbolag and a ZF eight-speed automatic

Mar 2016

31

gearbox that is just as happy in full manual

mode. The car even has a mechanical
limited-slip differential that plays a handy
role when you are pushing the car really
hard. But that would be about par for a
performance sedan that seeks to outshine
the rest of the E-segment champions.
The Ghiblis exhaust is also engineered
to add to the excitement, with a variable
baffle arrangement, wherein the valves
stay shut upto 3,000rpm and then open to
enhance the richness of the exhaust note.
So, as you thunder around a curve
enjoying the suppleness of the Ghiblis
light aluminium double wishbone
suspension, you not only feel the nuances
of the road through the seat, you feel it
through your ears as well.
32 Mar 2016

Verdict
Were from that breed of people who
love the Italian supercar just as much as
we love their approach to performance
sedans. That said, neither of these would
really sell in todays day and age without
sticking to the highest standards of
technology, design, engineering and
product excellence along with reliability,
all of which need to partner the latin flair
of machismo and excess.
Yes, the Ghibli does take the equation
to a realm of greater sensibility. To start
with the car isnt priced too far out from
the rest of the benchmark premium
E-segment. And it does bring a package to
the table that makes for a compulsive nod
to the affirmative.

Whether it is the option to buy into

designer interiors, particpate in a
personalisation programme or even
to just choose between the standard
8-speaker audio systems, Harmon &
Kardon 10-speaker or the Bowers &
Wilkins Premium sound system with signal
enhancement and 15-speakers and a 1,280
watts amplifier, you never had it so good
with choices.
You definitely need to buy the S version
over the regular Ghibli, even if its just for
the extra bit of torque and power and the
Q4 tries to take you a little bit further on
that path. That may just be the bit you
choose not to opt for if you are a rearwheel drive purist. But in our opinion its
worth having as a backup plan.

At the heart of the cars brilliance is the S tune of the Ferrari engineered and produced 3.0-litre biturbo engine. That, coupled with the ability of the
transmission to shift the torque between a 50:50 front rear split to sending all the power to the rear.
The Ghibli does make a differential nod towards fuel economy both with its eco mode on the transmission choices as well as the systems dynamic
ability to read how you are driving and compensate for better fuel economy.
However, once the baffes are open over 3,000rpm you fully appreciate the cars brembo brakes, seen here with the calipers coloured in a distinctive red.

Mar 2016

33

2016 Toyota Prius

With its twin drivetrains and some brilliant engineering, the Toyota Prius
comes to the region hoping to change some entrenched beliefs
Author: Raj Warrior | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao
34 Mar 2016

his is an occasion that doesnt come

too often for a motoring journalist in
the region. We get to drive fast cars,
cars with large engines, some economy
stuff and some that dont really fit into
particular slots. But the one breed that
we normally dont get here are cars that
propound the intelligent ecological loving
path of the Toyota Prius.
We understand that the jury is out on that
particular arrangement too. How does a
car that has two drivetrains i.e. electric
and petrol engine claim to be minimalist
in anything else?
To begin with the Toyota Prius is not
new. It was launched around1997 and
is already in its fourth generation. Over
the generations, the car has evolved
on its initial idea of using an electric
hybrid combination to deliver better fuel
economy, phases of pure electric driving
and the greater power on offer of the
electric boost on a small petrol engine. In
fact weve even driven the first generation
of the Prius on Toyotas track in Japan
sometime in 1999 during an extended visit.
At the time, the concept was in its infacncy

and very few people actually saw a future

largely because of the state of battery
technology at the time.
But Toyota has persevered through the
years, boosting the technology on offer
and increasing the value proposition of the
car. The Prius is much-loved by Hollywood
film stars and Silicon valley types who
enjoy the green credentials that the car
provides.
Weve also had car czar Bob Lutz telling
us during a 2008 dinner in Paris about
how much money Toyota was investing in
the Prius but how all of that made sense
because of the sheer amount of goodwill
and green points it earned in return.
Remember, he was heading GM at the
time.
Now, in its fourthe generation, the Prius
is available in global markets both as a
regular and plug-in hybrid. The difference
a plug-in hybrid brings is a larger battery
pack and greater range on pure electric
energy. In the regular mode the battery
pack is smaller and depends largely on the
ability of the petrol engine to kick in with
its charging on demand.

Lets look at drivetrains. The regular petrol

engine is a 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder VVti engine
that combined with the electric assist
tops out at 121hp of power. On its own the
engine offers 95hp and 105 lbft of torque.
As you would expect from the car, the
engine is tuned for an Atkinson cycle
operation. The electric motors offer a
maximum of 53kW peak output (thats
71hp). As youll notice, the situation
does not arise of both the engine and
motors offering peak output together
which is what you would expect only
in a performance environment, not one
geared for fuel efficiency.
The electric motors are placed on the two
front wheels and serve as regenerative
sources for electric power during braking
as well as when the car is cruising
along under no load conditions. For the
interested driver, the exact mode that
the car is going under is visible from the
display. You see the energy flow to the
electric motors as the car sets off and the
moment the engine kicks in you see the
battery power taper off. At some stage
you see the flow of energy back to the
Mar 2016

35

battery as well. Thats also visible as you

apply the brakes. And when you drive for
enough time and switch off the engine
the car scores your driving in terms of fuel
efficient driving.
The latest Prius is the first car built on
Toyotas new global architecture that
aims to lower the centre of gravity and
provide more stability and safety. But
the combination of the platform and the
styling has offered a car with a dramatic
Cd of 0.24. To achieve this tiny figure the
car also offers grille shutters to divert air
over the hood and lower resistance and

36 Mar 2016

the characteristic tweak of the rear gate

that moves air ever so smoothly into the
slipstream.
The interiors of the car are very futuristic
and tech inspired, especially those on
our test car that had a combination of
light and dark surfaces, with the almost
white soft-feel plastic of the dashboard
matching with the piano black finishes of
various trims.
The dashboard is multi-tiered and
characteristic of the wider Toyota design
trend in modern cars. These surfaces
sometimes seem to just rise out of the

background, the centre of the assembly

is dominated by the large central display.
You dont need to have that kept on the
drive information, because you also see
the necessary information on a smaller
readout at the top of the console.
The large display serves as an extension
of your smart phone as much as it does as
a Navigation and entertainment console.
But after sometime, especially when you
are testing the cars performance, you
will default to the finer details of how the
drivetrain is working, inluding readouts on
efficiency.

The seats are generous and legroom is

large, both up front and for the rear bench
passengers.
If you put aside for a moment that the
car is supposedly special because of its
drivetrains, you will see a rather generous
package sitting under the meek identity.
It has all the creature comforts you would
expect including leather-wrapped steering
wheel, a full suite of airbags, reversing
camera, blindspot monitoring, lane change
assist and is even offered with a headsup display and leather seats in its higher
version.

Driving Impressions
You would expect the car to be
underwhelming because of its fixation
with fuel-efficiency. It isnt. Of course
you dont get any tearaway starts even
with the electric motor. Unlike the
Infiniti Q50s hybrid drivetrain, this ones
tuned for economy and that means that
you wouldnt usually try to floor the
accelerator.
When you press the start button, there is
no commotion. The petrol engine remains
off, and to engage the drive you have to
use the fly-by-wire drive controller that

needs to be pulled towards the driver

and tapped down for D mode. To get it
to N the controller should be held pulled
to the left. It takes a little getting used
to. Once in D mode, you can further
nudge the drive to a battery only mode if
needed. Getting it back to park position
is done by pressing the P button next to
the controller. For a second we wondered
whether that was an electric parking brake
till we remembered the foot operated
pedal off to the left of the footwell. The
systems battery voltage tops out at 600W,
delivering a highly efficient electric mode.

Mar 2016

37

The Prius is designed from the ground up to be super efficient. This begins with the highly efficient 1.8-litre petrol engine
and the two electric motors on its front wheels as well as to the 53kWh battery pack that it carries in this regular hybrid
version. The efficiency of the car is improved by influencing driver behaviour with readouts of actual consumption and
efficiency during a drive cycle.
The Prius also has one of the highest class cabins weve seen. Its unique combination of white and black interiors with
very tactile surfaces adds to the class of the car.

38 Mar 2016

The petrol engine is also more efficient

than previous units, with a boost to 40%
thermal efficiency with features like EGR
(exhaust gas recirculation) and the use of
the Atkinson cycle.
The transmission is through a planetary
CVT arrangement making for a compact
unit. Considering that you barely notice
the engine switching on as you drive, it
will be only a very perceptive driver who
ever notices the complete flatness of the
delivery curve.
Just as you wouldnt really notice that a
huge amount of the braking force is due
to the electric motors act as generators
instead.
The suspension is of a rather stiffer tune
than we would have expected from a US
centric car, but it does comes in handy
especially over speedbreakers and such,
where the normal sedan would bottom

out. The car is responsive around the

corners, but the electric power steering is
not the most direct in communicating feel.
When the car trundles along on only
electric power, theres a complete lack
of sound outside and in the cabin, except
for a bit more tyre noise than we would
have expected. To make up for that, the
car beeps when it senses pedestrians or
cyclists around, in order to warn them.
When the petrol engine switches on, the
sound is still muted although you can opt
for a slightly more vigorous drive mode by
selecting the appropriate mode.
Drivers will appreciate the amount of
glass around for the visibility although the
view out the back is slightly impeded by
the cross bar of the glass tailgate and the
rising windowsill line for the rear seats.
Thats when you really begin to appreciate
the large 7 screen with camera.

Verdict
Its hardly a million dollar question, but
what really needs to be asked is whether
the Toyota prius makes a difference to
the informed buyer in the region and
Oman? Are you ready to shell out a
couple of thousand Rials over a regular
drivetrain equipped car from the same
manufacturer (even taking all the features
and extras that the car has) for the sake
of the guaranteed extra mileage? The car
should get you better than 25 km/litre
in actual conditions and with the cars
instrumentation egging you on to improve
your green driving it should get even
better.
It is a pity that unlike in the US or Europe,
we dont actually get an incentive or
rebate for thinking green. Until that
happens, the chances are that the Prius
will only appeal to a discerning few.

Mar 2016

39

2016 Volvo XC90

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.
Author: Raj Warrior | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

40 Mar 2016

ur fond image of the XC90 was

one that was laid out a decade ago
when Volvo entered the segment
of a reasonably large SUV, with seven
seats and a powerful engine on offer. true
to its gloabl footprint in the day, there
were a range of engines on offer, but it
was for this model that Volvo had debuted
their narrow 60-degree angle V8 engine
sourced from Yamaha Marine origins. For
almost its entire lifetime, if anyone in the
middle east ever bought an XC90, that V8
engine partnered it on the road.
Now, the XC90 has been reborn into a
world were the V8 engine itself is part of
a dying breed. Admittedly, the lower fuel
prices of the past year may have added
some type of longevity to the format, but
it faces a tough battle, even in fullsize
SUVs. And then technology in general has
zoomed way ahead, both in terms of the
reliability and efficiency of turbocharged
engines, as well as in hybridised
drivetrains, so that most manufacturers
are using small turbocharged engines
with inline motor assists to offer the
performance of the older V8 engines.
This generation of the XC90 pays
homage to the V8 with its T8 designation
but the engine is no longer the larger
displacement unit of before. Modern
Volvos have changed a lot as has the

company itself. Now the petrol engines

carry a T5, T6 and T8 designation but they
are all based on the same 2.0-litre fourcylinder engine which is only turbocharged
in the T5 variant, turbo and supercharged
in the T6 and adds on an inline motor
assist powered by a battery in the T8
configuration. The change is tangible in
the power outputs.
Our test car was the T6 version in a deep
blue colour and this car has all the power
you need. The engine output is 320hp
with a max torque output of 400Nm. This
is mated with an eight-speed automatic
gearbox with a straight pass through
in sixth and overdrive in both the gears
above that.
Volvo has set itself a rather large goal.
It has to reinvent its presence in the
premium SUV space while reinventing its
whole line-up. And in the process it is also
taking the XC90 higher up the value chain.
The external styling has been worked on
so that you really wouldnt mistake the car
for anything but an XC90, without looking
like the older car in the least (except
perhaps around the tailgate).
There is generous use of LED lighting in
the new Thors Hammer arrangement
that the company will be using on all new
Volvos. What this does is move the LED
headlights to the forefront.
Mar 2016

41

42 Mar 2016

The rest of the fascia has hints of other

European marques design but the bold
grille makes the car stand out from
the crowd. The body sits on a 2984mm
wheelbase and comes in a couple of inches
short of the 5 metre mark but its the
width of the car that really communicates.
The roominess is carried over into the
interior with a scooped out cabin that
follows the minimalistic feel of the new
Volvo interior. Almost all the activity is
centered around the large central display
although there are the minimum of other
controls at hand just below that - with the
audio basics and drive mode control sitting
just north and south of the gearshift lever.
The cars HMI is based on a system called
Sensus that can handle voice recognition
as well as touch. In our day out with the
car we paired it with our phone and for
a change this unit can even keep track
of messages and events that happened
before the pairing. Ask the system to call
up the phone list and all you actually need
to do is voice the item number of the
dialled, missed or rejected call as it shows
up on the list. The system just works.

The seats are comfortable, and seem like

they are made with just a little bit extra
of wiggle room around them. The drivers
seat is slightly on the firm side, but comes
with an extendable thigh support as well
as lumbar adjustment.
The Volvo XC90 also gets the whole
gamut of safety technology that Volvo is
putting in its cars to hit its goal of having
no fatalities in Volvo cars by 2020. This
includes the latest generation of City Safe
and this model year the company also will
offer a form of self-piloting in the cars
ability to stay in its lane and stay in its
position in traffic courtesy of Pilot Assist.
The system takes care of steering,
braking and accelerator for the driver.
And its safety package also brakes the
car automatically if the driver is likely
to drive out in a crossroads ahead of
an approaching car. Even the reverse
camera has a unique way of plotting out
the cars track in relation to the steering
wheel input, which seems closer to the
reality that we experience, rather than
seeing straight lines or generic curves with
coloured bands.

Driving Impressions
The car lives up to the reputation of
Volvos T6 rating taken from its older V6
turbo engines. In the T6 rating both a
supercharger and the turbos are present
so even when you choose to step on
the accelerator you dont really register
any turbo lag. The cylindrical drive mode
controller is rather unique as is the knob
used to start and stop the engine. Scroll to
the drive mode you want and you instantly
get a whole different beast under you.
In dynamic mode, the gearshift is much
faster and more prone to switch to lower
ratios at the drop of a hat. Also the engine
tries to stay revved above the 2000 mark
in order to keep the turbocharger in its
sweet spot. In comfort the aim is to shift
as smoothly as possible while in Eco mode
the shift pattern is linked to the best fuel
efficiency for any given driving pattern.
Of course the system allows you to tune
in various parameters to give yourself an
individual setting so you can actually dial
in stiffer steering response while leaving
gearshift patterns running at regular levels
or vice versa.
Mar 2016

43

The 2016 Volvo XC90 gets the classiest interiors with a combination of leather surfaces a a
very high grade of plastic. The new generation of Volvo interiors eschews the floating console
in favour of the large new central display with almost every function offered on a tabbed
menu arrangement. The car also has the ability to pair seamlessly with all major smart phone
platforms as well as to communicate online with the owners phone through an internet access
point.
Of course the traditional Volvo fascination with a safe cabin also extends to one of the safest
arrangements to accommodate young children with the special centre seat of the second row.

44 Mar 2016

The car is provided with paddleshifters

and allows you to move into manual
mode whenever you choose. The car is
available with air suspension with five
modes and that partners well with the offroad mode available in the drive modes.
But even without the air suspension, the
cars double wishbone front suspension
and new integral link arrangement for
the rear (complete with a transverse
leaf spring) make for a supple ride with
the perfect combination of load carrying
characteristics.

Verdict
The XC90 always stood apart from
the general SUV crowd because it
represented an ideal for Volvo. With the
new generation nothing seems to have
changed. You wont be mistaking this car
for any other European SUV, despite its
dimensions. The brand has set out a path
that really requires an exceptional product
to carry through. Thats the load of the
expectations that the Xc90 has to carry
as it takes the competition into the upper
segments of the Premium zone.

The engine technology on offer is a

great advantage and so is the move to
a consolidated central screen, however
much of a learning experience that can
be. But Sensus is what really makes the
cabin environment stand out 9other than
the trappings of leather clad luxury and
scandinavian minimalism.
Would we recommend the SUV? Yes we
would, especially if you like a car that is
so very different from anything else you
could have chosen from the increasingly
crowded marketplace.

Mar 2016

45

2015 Triumph thunderbird

46 Mar 2016

In a cruiser market dominated by big bore

American bikes, what chance does the
Triumph Thunderbird have? We take it out
for a test around town
Author: Raj Warrior | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

he motorcycle industry is in a fix in

Oman. No one quite knows whether
expatriates can get new bike
licences or whether they can even buy
new bikes. The service industry depends
on expatriates riding small bikes to service
their clientele. But its the larger bikes that
bring in the big spenders and between the
layoffs of high earning expatriates and the
licence issues, no one really knows what
sells anymore.
Even Harley-Davidson is having to tread
carefully in order to retain its marketshare
among big bikes. So what chance then
does the local dealership for Triumph
have with its big bore twin the Triumph
Thunderbird?
Getting the product right is half the game.
The issue here is that the Thunderbird
has to appeal to the bulk of Harley users

with the familiar layout of switches and

controls, including getting the riding pegs
and gearshift lever up front. But is it just
that? What would really help is to taking
the traditional bells and whistles of the
thumper and produce a refined rider that
brings the more discerning onboard.
In that department, the Triumph
Thunderbird is way ahead of the Harley
mainstream. From the get go the
motorcycle displays a level of finesse and
class that very few Harleys show. The
only one we can really say even comes
close is the Fat Bob and that too the latest
generation.
The Thunderbird is a traditional Triumph
in that it has a parallel twin arrangement
(not the V-twin of the Harleys). The largely
oversquare layout of the cylinders features
a bore of 103.8mm and stroke of only

94.3mm with 270-degree firing intervals

to deliver the even Triumph characteristic
rumble. This is helped on by the chromed
exhaust arrangement of its two to one
to two split. The engine is relatively high
tech compared to the average thumper,
featuring DOHC and lightweight parts. The
1597cc engine offers an output of 86PS
and 146Nm of torque at only 2,750rpm.
The reliability and efficiency of the
engine are boosted by the use of longlife materials in the belts and pulleys to
avoid the need to open out the casings
frequently.
The fuel gauge and the speedometer are
placed on top of the 22-litre fuel tank on a
nacelle that then obviates the need for an
auxiliary readout. This throwback to the
large analogue dial is welcome, especially
in the face of everyone switching over to
Mar 2016

47

The Triumph Thunderbird is offered in two

colour schemes, with blue or red variants.
Detailing shows how modern technology can
pair up with classic shape forms, with the
teardrop shape of the tank being reflected in
the speedo nacelle and tail light.Accessories
available include nice saddle bags and a
forward guard with footpegs for riders who like
that layout.

The Triumph Thunderbird

uses its 700mm saddle
height to entice smaller
statured riders, while
its refined engine and
gearbox then make their
ride less of a chore
48 Mar 2016

a digital display. The gearbox offers six

gears with a really tall top gear that helps
to improve the fuel efficiency at cruising
speeds.
Ride quality is perfect, with a low saddle
allowing even my shorter colleague to
straddle the twin tube steel frame and
plant his legs on the ground. The vibration
from the engine is hardly noticeable and
at the handles you never have to fight
the bikes bulk. Its only when you are
at a halt that you feel the weight on the
handlebars. The wheelbase is just a bit
shorter than we expected considering the
Triumph Thunderbirds bulk but you soon
learn to trust the innate balance that the
bike brings to the road. The front wheels
get 19 and the rear 17 wheels, both
being 5-spoke alloys.
When you get the Thunderbird into traffic,
you can see that most other road users
automatically tend to leave a space around
you. perhaps its the bulk and presence
of the Triumph Thunderbird that brings
about that allusion to respect but its more
likely the fact that most car drivers dont
really know how to handle a biker.

But the traffic signal serves as a good spot

to show them how smoothly the bike
takes off, with the least bit of effort and
no clatter at all.
We ride a smaller Triumph Bonneville so
the character of the twin thumper is quite
familiar to us. But the grunt on offer in this
bike is something else, You can pop the
gear one over where it should be and the
bike still pulls without loading the engine.
The engine isnt really free revving but it
rises to the occasion once you are past
that torque high point and its better to be
on the highway then. The chase car has to
work to keep pace, although you do miss
the large windshield of the LT version of
the Thunderbird.
Does the Thunderbird have the
wherewithal to take on the Fat Bob? Now
that would be a very interesting shootout
and one that we would love to conduct.
Lets see what we can arrange.
In the meantime the bikes fortunes are
more closely linked to the availability
of big buck spenders who will take the
motorcycle out for a test ride. The bike will
do the rest.

Mar 2016

49

50 Mar 2016

RW: What is special about the new QX50?

JS: As the name indicates, this model has a longer wheelbase and
offers more room to the passengers, especially on the rear seat,
but we are also changing the design a bit, we are refreshing it, we
have a new front and rear bumper, new fascia, lower and wider
stance of the car. We are also adding new 19 alloy wheels, so it is
a real refresh.
RW: Is there a change in identity? Are you trying to make it look
more masculine in the bargain?
JS: It looks more masculine. Its true that it looks a bit more SUV
style. Even the predecessor was very successful, we have gained
a share in the segment what we call the C SUV segment and
we obviously expect that this car which will come into sale by
sometime in April-May here in Qatar and the wider region will
enter with an enhanced performance.
RW: How is the QX80 doing?
JS: The QX80 has done very well. You know its our flagship model
and we have just refreshed it around a year ago. We are very
happy with the performance. We are selling around 1600 cars a
year showing a slight increase. So its moving very well.
RW: Will the brand shift its association with performance,
considering that youve moved away from the Formula One
investment? Or do you still use the platform of performance?
JS: We have announced a new engine family a new V6 3.0-litre
twin-turbo that will enter ur line-up, not in all models, but for
example we have announced that this comes into the new Q60
coup shown at the Detroit motor show just a couple of days
ago and this new engine obviously takes us in this direction. It is
a performance-oriented engine. We are adding a new high power
version with 400 horsepower, which is fully new in the Infiniti lineup. This sort of proves the point youve raised the question about.
We have not changed this. Nevertheless, we are also looking into
new segments. The Q30 is one of these examples where we are
going into a segment, which is below where our current entry

RW: Would there be any positional shift because the Formula One
tie-up no longer exists?
JS: No. Formula One does not drive our strategy. It was a support
to enhance and make clear why we were going into a certain
direction, but it is not changing anything in our plans.
RW: Coming back to your other drivetrains the hybrids. Whats
been the scene on that, any significant uptake registered?
JS: We are offering here in the Middle East hybrid drivetrains on
the Q50. We have more hybrids globally on offer on other models.
Here in the region, so far, hybrids are not very well known or very
well accepted by customers. Its not our problem alone, it is a
reality for all automotive brands. So the situation remains that its
on offer, for us here it is part of the high-end, high-performance
offer, which is different to its presence in other markets where it
is more of a fuel saving opportunity. Our Q50 hybrid is a highperformance car. It is the fastest hybrid in its segment globally.
We are looking at the market, it might change and we may have
other models available globally which we can easily bring into the
region as soon as the demand structure is changing.
RW: Youve grown volumes in 2015. Have you also been picking
up marketshare?
JS: Dramatically I have to say. We have gained 0.5% share, bringing
us close to 6% in the premium segment and we are one of the
fastest growing premium brands in the region.
RW: Have you increased the differentiation between Infiniti and
Nissan in terms of showroom presence?
JS: We believe it has changed dramatically and in fact the sales
figures I just quoted are proof of this. Ill share a little insight
of what happened in the company a while ago. For Infiniti we
now have dedicated design centres everywhere on the planet,
in all the big markets, where people are looking for the needs
and request of Infiniti customers. All this goes together into the
global product development. The Q50, Q30 are products coming
from this process. I think there is now a very clear distinction.
Not to forget we are working very hard on improving the Infiniti
experience in the showroom. This means that we now have
nearly all of our showrooms Infiniti exclusive, what we call IREDI
showrooms. This is a process that is still ongoing but very soon
all of our showrooms will be exclusive and on top of this we
have a very dedicated customer experience programme for our
customers and their expectation levels. This distinction is also
mirrored by our training programmes for staff.
Mar 2016

51

face to face

level Q50 was and we are looking into new customer groups in
this premium compact segment. Q30 is one of the cars we are
bringing into the region in the next three-four months. Basically,
the brand develops in several areas.

news

Juergen Schmitz heads the Infiniti brand

presence in the Middle East region. As the
brands regional managing director, he basks
in the record performance of 2015 and touches
on how powertrains will help drive volumes for
the brand. We spoke to him at the Qatar Motor
show where the brand was launching the long
wheelbase version of the QX50.

CONceptual

Nissan IDS Concept

52 Mar 2016

Nissan highlighted its Intelligent Driving System or IDS Concept at the Tokyo Motorshow, playing
to the call of the event to showcase autonomous drive as well as electric drivetrains

The Nissan IDS Concept takes the learnings of

the Leaf to the next level, offering a self-piloted
electric vehicle with a decent autonomy
Mar 2016

53

ost new concept cars are

focussed on highlighting the
latest advances in technology.
But when that discussion comes to
powertrains, the participants are largely
electric traction based. Admittedly,
hydrogen fuel cells seem to be coming
back with a bang, but as Nissans IDS
(Intelligent Driving System) concept
shows, you dont have to deviate too
much from todays best in class to achieve
your goals.
The Nissan IDS Concept takes the electric
drive system from the brands Leaf electric
vehicle and advances the concept further
placing a 60 kWh battery in the car that
should give it a range of almost 300km.
But that isnt the real huge leap forward.
That comes in the form of a carbon-fibre
construction body built to accommodate
four chairs that can swivel around in order
to give the occupants a feel of being in a

54 mar 2016

living room. The seats are arranged in the

traditional two by two configuration of a
normal car, but the seats are motorised
and the two seats in the front swivel all
the way around to face the rear seats.
For this the driver has to select piloted
drive mode the steering wheel that is
available in Manual mode then recedes
into the dashboard and a large monitor
comes out to show all the parameters.
In many ways, the IDS takes Nissan a step
closer to its goal of introducing their 1.0
version of piloted drive in production
models this year. The system is set to be
launched in the orderly traffic systems of
Japan, to be later moved into markets in
Europe, China and the US.
In terms of design, the IDS concept takes
the purity of form that the EV platform
affords and avoids making it a bland
shell. The carbon-fibre structure displays
the form of a hatchback, but the large

wheelbase with the wheels thrust as far

out into the corners as possible make
it easier to accommodate the needs of
the cabin. Typical Nissan cues remain,
like the prominent fascia. But the view is
dominated by the huge panoramic glass
roof that puts the interiors on display.
The dashboard is very influenced by
current trends as well as traditional
Japanese idiom. Wood and nature blend
into future materials, with the central
display lording over the cabin .
In manual mode, the interior reverts to a
traditional layout, putting the control back
in the hands of the driver.
The company is at pains to stress the
importance of communication in the idea
of the IDS concept. They expect the car to
transmit information to the driver and the
driver talks back to the car.
A key point behind the Nissan IDS
Concept is communication. For

SCAN

autonomous drive to become reality, as

a society we have to consider not only
communication between car and driver
but also between cars and people. The
Nissan IDS Concepts design embodies
Nissans vision of autonomous drive as
expressed in the phrase together, we
ride, says Mitsunori Morita, Design

Director. The car also speaks to the world

around it, through an LED strip that forms
the side bodyline and serves as a means
to let pedestrians know that the car has
sensed them as well as a panel at the
front windshield that actually flashes out
messages to others, like After You.
The artificial intelligence built into the

car is able to handle voice instructions as

well as gestures, which would make for
an interesting combination in a real-life
situation.
In every situation, it is about giving the
driver more choices and greater control.
Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn
said at the show.

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Mar 2016

55

CONceptual

Acura Precision Concept

A Precise New
Design Direction
for Acura

56 Mar 2016

For long seen as a follower of parent

Hondas design direction, the Acura
brand is now trying to break out of its shell
with the Precision design concept

Mar 2016

57

The aim seems to be to set out an independent design

direction. In the process, the Acura Precision concept
definitely brings a level of excitement to the brand, with a
profile that seems best suited for a more focussed sports
sedan. This is definitely echoed by the brands DNA of
Precision Crafted Performance.
The Acura Precision Concept is more than simply a concept
vehicle, it is a design study model that literally will shape the
direction of all future Acura products around our Precision
Crafted Performance DNA, said Dave Marek, Acura
global creative director. The Acura Precision Concept is
the leading edge of a renewed commitment to delivering

Precision Crafted Performance in every facet of the product

experience and creating a powerful and very exciting
direction for the next generation of Acura models.
The shape is very muscular, with pronounced haunches,
sharp detailing and the use of LED lighting to enhance the
shape and contours. The wheels and tyres are based on a 22
size and aggressively sculpted alloy wheels.
The designers use the term quantum continuum to
describe the way they have treated the interiors, especially
with the use of new materials.
The human machine interface (HMI) is designed to offer a
curved screen and a floating touchpad.
No mention was made about the drivetrain, but then this is
being touted only as a design concept.
The seating is designed to match a high class lounge or
homes interior.
It isnt difficult to see how this concept can translate into
a performance sedan for the brand although the interiors
use of cantilevered seats and surfaces is unlikely to see
production. Nor will the lack of a B-pillar be accepted with
the current standards for side impact protection.
The Acura Precision Concept was created to explore new
and challenging ideas for future Acura design, particularly
Acura sedans. The concept was created by Acuras California
Design Studio under the direction of Acura global creative
director, Dave Marek. The exterior design was led by
Michelle Christensen, principal exterior designer, with the
interior design created under the leadership of John Norman,
principal interior designer. Both Christensen and Norman
also played a key role in the creation of the Acura NSX.
58 MAR 2016

SCAN

Sharper, Edgier and definitely packing oomph,

the Precision design concept brings excitement
to Acuras visual language

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MAR 2016

59

Lexus LC500

60 Mar 2016

Its been a long time coming. The Lexus LC500 is the new flagship
2+2 coup for the brand, complete with the power of the naturally
aspirated 5.0-litre V8 that powers the RC F and GS F.

hen you set about powering a

change in a brands offering,
the best way is to make the
flagship model tell the story. In terms of
performance, the limited run LFA did its
job of reinvigorating the brand. Now Lexus
has debuted the model that will take over
the task. The LC is the production version
of the stunning LF-LC concept that wowed
audiences four years ago at detroit. This

year, the LC did that job.

The LC 500 has been an important
product for Lexus and me personally,
said Akio Toyoda, Chief Branding Officer
and Master Driver for Lexus. A few
years ago, we decided to guide the
future of the brand with products that
had more passion and distinction in
the luxury market. This flagship luxury
coupes proportions, stunning design and

performance make a strong statement

about our brands emotional direction
and will grow the Lexus luxury appeal
globally.
The past few years have seen the brand
make the leap from a purely luxury
focussed one to a performance driven
one. The results of that can be seen in the
new RC as well as the more exacting F
versions of the RC and GS.
Mar 2016

61

The LC serves as a focal point for many of

Lexus current styling cues a pronounced
spindle grille, strong C-pillar treatment,
edgy flanks and the new triple LED
headlights pair with the sharply rising
waistline and the aggressive tailight
treatment to communicate the Lexus new
age styling.
The LC500 sits on a 2,850mm wheelbase
with dramatically low front and rear
overhangs, courtesy of the rear-wheel
drive arrangement of the naturallyaspirated V8. The engine delivers 467hp
and 389 lbft of torque and features an
active exhaust with baffles that open out
over 3,500rpm to provide both a freeflow
as well as a louder engine note. Of course
this car too gets the sound generator in
62 MAR 2016

order to boost the sound of the revving

engine to the driver over the insulation.
The transmission is the new 10-speed
automatic transmission that is reputed to
outperform a DCT gearbox in shift times.
The car sits on either 20 or 21 wheels
with the show car shod in 245/40 RF21 up
front and 275/35 RF21 at the rear.
The dynamic balancing of the car begins
with the brand new GA-L architecture
for the brands new rear-wheel drive
sedans. This has been stiffened, while the
placement of the wheels gives the car a
front midship layout.
The LC 500s engineers focussed on the
platforms fundamentals by placing most
of the mass, including the engine and the
occupants, in a position more centralised

and lower in the chassis to improve the

centre of gravity. The battery has been
shifted to the boot, while the doors are
aluminium outside and carbon-fibre inside.
The weight distribution is 52:48 front to
rear. The light weight of the platform is
further enhanced by a carbon-fibre roof
and composite material in the trunks
floor. The basic shell itself uses lots of
ultra high strenth steel. Internally, Lexus
engineers referred to this mass-arranging
tactics as the inertia spec.
Chief Engineer Koji Sato says,We spent
more than triple the usual amount of R&D
time to pursue linear steering and to find
the sweet spot for road contact feel. We
also focused our efforts on suspension
rigidity and enhancing geometry. Thanks

to advancements in product engineering,

we are now at a world-class level for
suspension rigidity, and performance
when lateral gs are applied.
The suspension on offer is a multilink
arrangement with double ball joints on the
upper and lower control arms for finesse.
The new LC also debuts with a standard
top end Pioneer system (or the Mark
Levinson system as an option), on top of
a full suite of safety elements like active
radar cruise control and pre-collision.

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MAR 2016

63

2016 Porsche 718 Boxster

With the move to the 718 classification, Porsche brings order to its naming
as well as tantalising us with the possibility of other sports cars in the future

orsche have had to manage a major reorganisation of their

entry sports cars only a year into the new body style. With
the 718 classification, Porsche attempts to bring a structure
to the model naming while continuing with the legacy of the
Boxster and Cayman tags.
In the process the brand also seeks to pay homage to their 718
cars of the 1960s and their four-cylinder turbos, although these
werent really the most remembered in their pantheon.
In this the 718 Boxster has undergone styling changes that
identify the car as different from last years Boxster, although
the powertrains are now two modern versions of four-cylinder
turbocharged units. The milder of the flat-four turbo units is a
2.0-litre unit with 300hp on tap, while the S version offers 350hp
from a 2.5-litre unit equipped with variable turbine geometry.
The engine layout is rear-mid as in the previous generations.
Torque on both the engines has also gone up with the smaller
64 MAR 2016

unit offering 380Nm and the larger one 420Nm, from just under
2,000rpm to the 4,500rpm bracket. And the performance figures
are no less interesting with PDK and the sports chrono package,
the cars hit the standing hundred in only 4.7 and 4.2 seconds
respectively and offer top speeds of 275 and 285 km/h.
In terms of styling, the front fascia looks wider and incorporates
a larger area for cooling air. The sides get aggressively styled to
incorporate larger sills and air intakes on the wings. The styling of
the tail is characterised by the central lip and the LED lighting.
Cars equipped with active suspension management allow the car
to ride 10mm lower, with the S version allowing a sport chassis
configuration that takes it down a further 10mm.
The sport chrono package adds an individual setting to the
Normal, Sport and Sport plus settings. When combined with
PDK, the car allows you to also dial in a sports response element
through a button.

MAR 2016

65

Formula One Season Opener

Exhaust layout
To improve engine noise,
teams must now use separate
exhaust pipes for the turbine
and wastegate rather than the
single exhaust used in 2015.
The rules allow for the option
of using a twinpipe for the
wastegate, though any exit
must not be more than 100mm
from the main pipe.
Power unit allowance
With the number of
championship rounds increasing
from 19 to 21 this year, the
number of power units each
driver is allowed to use over
the course of the season has
increased from four to five.
Consequently, grid penalties will
only kick in when each driver

66 Mar 2016

uses a sixth of any one of the six

disparate power unit elements.
Power unit development
Each manufacturer will be
allowed 32 power unit tokens
for in-season development.
They may use these at their
discretion. Additionally,
whereas previously no
manufacturer could supply
more than one specification
of power unit, engines
homologated in previous
seasons may now be rehomologated for use in 2016.
Cockpit safety
The head protection structures
either side of the cockpit are
now 20mm higher than before
and able to resist a compression
load of 50N per 30 seconds.

Tyres
To encourage variation between
race strategies, Pirelli are now
making three, rather than two,
of their five dry-weather tyre
compounds (including the
new purple-marked ultrasoft)
available at each event. The
Italian company will allocate
two sets of tyres for the race
(only one of which must be
used) and one set which
can only be used in Q3 (the
softest of the chosen three
compounds). Each driver will
then be able to choose 10
further sets of tyres from the
three compounds to take their
weekend allocation to 13.
Virtual Safety Car
The Virtual Safety Car (VSC)

may now be used in practice

sessions as well as races in order
to reduce stoppage times, while
DRS will now be re-enabled
immediately after a VSC period.
Accident analysis
For the purpose of accident
analysis, each car must be fitted
with a high speed camera and
each driver must wear in-ear
accelerometers at each event
and all tests which are attended
by more than one team.
Testing
The number of pre-season tests
has been slashed from three to
two, meaning that the teams
may participate in eight days of
track running ahead of the new
season rather than the 12 they
had available in 2015.

With some major rule changes planned

for next year, there have only been minor
tweaks to the regulations for 2016
Qualifying
A revised, elimination system has been
agreed. It retains the idea of three
separate qualifying segments to decide
the grid, but under a changed format:
Q1
- 16 minutes
- After 7 minutes, slowest driver
eliminated
- Slowest driver eliminated every 1
minute 30 seconds thereafter until the
chequered flag
- 7 drivers eliminated, 15 progress to Q2
Q2
- 15 minutes
- After 6 minutes, slowest driver
eliminated
- Slowest driver eliminated every 1
minute 30 seconds thereafter until the
chequered flag

- 7 drivers eliminated, 8 progress to Q3

Q3
-14 minutes
- Ater 5 minutes, slowest driver
eliminated
- Slowest driver eliminated every 1
minute 30 seconds thereafter until the
chequered flag
- 2 drivers left in final 1 minute 30
seconds
In each session, the final elimination
will occur at the chequered flag, rather
than when the time is up.

(All information in this season opener is

reproduced from official Formula One
source)

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79

Making the right waves

Lets talk about gravitational waves. Or actually lets say that gravitational waves and
humankinds discovery of proof that they exist may actually mean something to most of
us out there who would just go, Huh? when people talk about a LIGO detector and the
joy of hearing two black holes collide. Huh? Yeah, thats what I mean.
The theory that gravity existed in the form of waves was proposed by Albert Einstein
almost a century ago. Since then, weve never been able to detect these waves, largely
because we start with the knowledge that gravity is technically a very weak force. How
do you measure gravitational waves generated by astronomical bodies, without having
your readings clouded by the gravity of the Earth and its moon? The LIGO arrangement
is apparently tuned to such finesse that within days of the setup launching and being fine
tuned, the signature of the gravitational ripple of two colliding black holes was registered
in the contraption. Of course, I use the term contraption with the greatest of respect, for
not only could it detect something that originated a billion plus light years away (and
hence the same time in years in the past), it could hear that above the sound of our
noisy Earth.
Does it even matter to us? Weve had confirmation of the Higgs-Boson and now
gravitational waves. How does it even make an iota of difference to the common man?
Are we going to benefit because of this? Will gravitational drives or anti-gravity be the
next announcement? Are we all going to get cars that can levitate and zip around with
no expenditure of energy? Isnt that what the boffins try to tell us when they provide the
backstory to movies like Interstellar?

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

The story of almost all new developments in transportation are based on the better
understanding that we have of the higher thought processes of science. From the
wonders of LED and Laser lighting, global positioning satellites, to the nano particles that
form the paint coats on your car, to the sheer computing power under the hood or even
the maintenance-free batteries and engine oils, we can attribute almost every advance
to a much higher level of understanding of the physical domain as well as to our ability
to chemically alter almost everything.
But none of this predicates a need to know anything about the fundamentals. You just
need to know that your paint doesnt fade, your car knows exactly where it is and can
take you where you need to go and that nothing can escape the sheer brilliance of your
headlights.
Once we allow ourselves the satisfaction of knowing that our lives run just fine without
any need to grasp the complexities, life goes on just fine. We dont need to know how the
traffic ystem works, just that by siply following the rules we are able to avoid accidents.
Touching a switch brings all the technology you need on tap,
That allows us to sit back and postulate as to what are the next great discoveries that
we would like to witness, discoveries that will change our lives without our needing to
understand anything of the processes. Like when do we get to teleport like the folks at
Star Trek offer us? Or fly around in multi-layered traffic lanes like Star Wars, the Fifth
Element and Total Recall propose?
The discovery of gravitational waves may not end our dependence on Mother Earth
anytime soon, but Im sure it will impact our everyday lives in the future and a not so
distant one at that. Till such a time, well be tied down to the ground by the very force
that produces these waves.

80 Mar 2016