TRUCKSUV

No 130 June 2012 Oman’s Best Automotive Resource OMR 0.500 AED 5.00 QR 5.00

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SO MUCH MORE THAN FAST.

For more information call:2458 4530 or email us at info@chrysler-oman.com

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2012 Toyota 86 Exclusive test

Now your thrills are affordable

2012 Jaguar XF Refinement takes an upgrade2012 Honda CR-V Now more Macho!2012 Infiniti FX35 More than the grille

Mega Feature

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Automan Omn 460x300 E.indd 1 5/17/12 3:11 PM

ToyotaToyota staged world premieres for three vehicles including a compact sedan and hatchback, both known as Toyota Dear Qin. These global-strategic concepts focusing on design are aimed at attracting more people to the user base. According to Toyota, Qin means dear or intimate and represents the wish for these models to become cherished by many. Also, specifically for China only, making its world debut was the Yundong Shuangqing concept hybrid. In Chinese, Yundong suggests “movement upon clouds” and is Toyota’s corporate slogan in China, designed to convey an image of innovation, dynamism and eco-friendliness. Shuangqing suggests “dual support” and signifies the two power sources of the petrol-electric hybrid system. The car’s hybrid system was developed primarily at the research and development centre of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (China) Co., Ltd. in Changshu.TMC President Akio Toyoda said: “We would like to put smiles on the faces of our Chinese customers with hybrid technology. I want the people of China to be able

to experience the beauty of hybrid technology through a hybrid car born in China.” The Yundong Shuangqing was also joined on stage by the GT 86 rear-wheel-drive sports car.Automan’s takeIn 2005, China became the first country outside of Japan where the Prius hybrid was built when Sichuan FAW Toyota Motor Co. Ltd. started making the third-generation model. And two years ago, GAC Toyota Motor Co., which is in China’s Guangdong Province, started making the Camry Hybrid.

HondaPrior to the show, Honda promised that it would launch at least four hybrids specifically for the Chinese market. Honda is doing well in China and is interested also in promoting the Acura – its premium brand which is currently sold only in US. Honda introduced several models from its global stables including the CR-Z, Fit and Insight hybrids. Rolls-RoyceUltra luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce is also on a roll globally and considering its Phantom is on the market for almost a decade and

shows no sign of aging, one does wonder how does the brand keep up with market aspirations? And with the next-generation model not expected to arrive for another few years, Goodwood is keeping the Phantom fresh with the Series II update. The revisions include a refreshed front end with new bumpers and adaptable LED headlamps, the latest in infotainment systems and a new eight-speed automatic transmission to help the 6.75-litre V12 marginally improve its emissions and fuel consumption figures.While, new or refreshed versions of the Phantom sedan, coupe and DHC convertible are already finding their way to customers around the world, the car maker waited until the Beijing Motor Show to unveil the new extended wheelbase model in a particularly popular in the Chinese market [where extra rear-seat legroom is deemed the pinnacle of luxury]. Not surprising, the Phantom Series II Extended Wheelbase model for China is 20 feet long!Also sharing the stand was Ghost-based Six Senses Concept which Rolls-Royce was promoting as a

More and more automakers are focusing their attention on the world’s most buoyant market – China. Evidence of this and more came at the recent 12th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition

We have been patiently waiting and watching developments in the global automotive scenario as trends have been suggesting a new trend and to some extent a shift in direction. By direction we mean, there’s more and more focus in BRIC [Brazil, Russia, India and China] from the global automotive players, but unprecedented is what has happened in the past few months. Beijing’s pitch as a host for a top class international motor show with some spectacular reveals and announcements couldn’t have come at a better moment than this. And the Beijing show also highlighted the impressive progress made by domestic brands – some of whom also now have export aspirations. Read on…

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highly-bespoke luxury model that encapsulates the richness of experience that comes as standard with any Rolls-Royce motor car and takes it to a new level of sensory indulgence.

Automan’s takeThe Rolls-Royce Ghost Six Senses Concept displayed at is not headed for production as of now. Basically, Rolls-Royce wanted to give a well-heeled Ghost buyer a realistic idea of what can be done as far as bespoke opportunities are concerned.

BugattiThe Italian iconic brand’s seven-figure, record-breaking supercar is getting more exclusive by the day and a special edition showcased in Beijing was no exception to the rule. The latest: a unique version of the Grand Sport roadster created for the show was reserved for one lucky customer. Dubbed as the Wei Long edition, this one-off Veyron celebrates the Year of the Dragon. It was born out of the same collaboration with Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur that gave us the previous blue-

and-white marbled Grand Sport L’Or Blanc edition. The China display car was done in white with red trim.

LamborghiniAn excited Lamborghini released teaser details of its much-talked about SUV concept hours before official unveil at Beijing. Despite the hype around it, the manufacturer made clear that the vehicle — called the Urus — was an exploratory concept and there are no plans to put it into immediate production.

Automan’s takeIt’s no coincidence that both Bentley and Lamborghini are entering or planning to enter new territory as far as marketing goes. As far as engineering goes these two will benefit tremendously from the parent group’s expertise and donor platforms. If the world-wide reaction is anywhere as enthusiastic as it was at Beijing, it could be ready for sale by 2016. Engine options might include the 6.0-litre W12 or the new 4.0-litre V8 from Bentley.

BentleyThe reception to the second outing of Bentley’s unchanged EXP 9 F SUV concept was again somewhat polarizing. Now that China and Middle East are being considered as safe haven for aspiring super luxury SUV makers, especially latecomers, Bentley and Lamborghini in particular, however, it was expected that Bentley would offer a revised glimpse of its EXP 9 F concept. Instead, David Hilton, Bentley’s newly-appointed chief of exterior design gave media an extended lecture the look of the future production version and some valuable insights into the brand’s future plans.On the powertrain point, Bentley boss Wolfgang Dürheimer had previously hinted at plug-in hybrid technology being an option, and announced that it was being considered for the upcoming SUV – so the question was – is this car going to receive the first application? Soon after the launch of the V8 models, Bentley has positioned the smaller V8 as the sporting option while targeting the

W12 at the prestige end of the market. This philosophy will also apply to the forthcoming SUV. Bentley will be sticking with a three-line model offensive once the SUV is launched, though there will be variants of each. The big seller will be the SUV, which Bentley is boldly predicting will attain a sales volume of around 15,000 units annually. To put that into perspective, this figure is more than double Bentley’s total sales in 2011.Hilton overview“The response [from customers] has been incredibly positive,” said David Hilton. “They love the presence of the vehicle and the personality it projects.” Hilton did suggest at Beijing that the styling could be toned down for the production version. However, the quad-circle light design would remain and so would the commanding driving position and general proportions. As for that rear-end, with its simple rectangle tail-lamps and contrasting oval exhausts, Hilton explained that this is a look that will be appearing on more Bentleys, including one that will

be revealed in the near future. Though he couldn’t say what that vehicle was, he did state earlier in the interview that the Continental GT would be redesigned soon. As for the styling for all these vehicles, you can rest assured that they will remain big and elegantly styled. “We will continue to hint at the past while remaining modern,” Hilton explained. “And there are no plans to build a smaller Bentley.”

Automan’s takeSo far, what goes in Bentley’s favour is that for first time any major automaker has explored building an SUV for customers interested in ultra-luxury despite denials about this segment several years ago. The final execution, in our opinion should depend on what feedback and pointer Bentley designers have been able to pick up and decide what’s good for the brand and whether the SUV design should be drastically modified keeping in mind the overall sentiment.

At a time when most consumers around the world are conscious about spending and allocating

budgets for smaller car purchases, Chrysler Group LLC decides to revamp it revolutionary Ram 1500 pick up truck range for the light-duty lifestyle market. Redesigned in 2008, Chrysler Group has taken the next logical step and ensured it gets what the market wants – efficiency, comfort and better packaging -- thereby virtually guaranteeing a lease of life in this segment.

In a brand and power conscious Middle East market, the current Ram model is in its fourth-generation. The Ram 1500 as it is known now after Chrysler Group removed the

Dodge label and rebranded it as Ram sees most of its changes and enhancements beneath its skin. The top-of-the-line Ram Laramie edition, our test vehicle, has been subtly tweaked on the exterior for some freshness. The grille is taller and the front bumper is new, plus previously optional quad halogen headlights are now standard across the 1500 line, as are LED taillights. Also new is a headlight option that includes LED indicators and side markers. Also we note there’s a lot of chrome surfaces on the truck but no runner boards as standard kit.

The major portion of the revamp exercise has been focused on upgrading the vehicle. As a result the

utilitarian truck gets metamorphosed into a lifestyle edition with efficient and powerful engines along with new technology features such as multiple displacement systems. With these features on board, the Ram is now a few notches ahead of its class.

Our Quad Cab Laramie 1500 edition was powered by a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 which has been tweaked to offer some extra horses and torque. Now offering 390hp and 548Nm of torque, power is delivered through a new six-speed automatic transmission to the wheels. The truck is also equipped with electronic range selector and on-demand four-wheel-drive transfer case. This V8 Hemi also comes with cylinder

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deactivation technology. Besides that, Chrysler has also rolled out several fuel-saving technologies in the Ram inspired by supercars and first up on the list is an active grille shutter that automatically opens and closes depending on the engine’s cooling needs and vehicle speed. We’ve seen these on several efficiency-minded sedans and super cars, but this is the first application on a pick-up.

As the vehicle is quite high and its ground clearance is more than that of an average truck, thanks to it 20in rims and wheels set, one would have expected some convenience elements such as an adjustable ride height provision. Since that’s not available in this version, you

have to be really tall or quite agile to get in or out this truck. Even a runner board as standard kit would have also helped solve some of these issues.

Besides this niggle, we think most of the practical options included such as under-floor storage bins, lockable Ram Box integrated into the rear mudguards and in general, plenty of storage space befit the nature of the overall package. The wide cabin makes space for real three-across seating on the standard rear bench. Our tester came with the adjustable bucket seats and was divided by a huge centre console.

On the safety and security front, the Ram 1500 offers more than 30 active and passive safety

features, including standard front and rear side-curtain air bags with Enhanced Accident Response System, side seat airbags, knee bolsters, seat belt pretensioners, anti-lock brake system, BeltAlert® system and electronic stability control plus available adjustable pedals, ParkSense® rear park assist and ParkView® rear back-up camera. Safety ratings stand at three out of five stars and a couple of ‘marginal’ scores from the IIHS.

Driving impressionsIn any of the Ram versions, front seats are generously sized, soft padded and come with individual ventilation and cooling. Besides a commanding view forward, leg and head room are also

abundant in the rear as well. Rear view from inside the cabin is poor. To compensate that in view of the demands and job description of the vehicle, one of the things which we thought as odd initially was the abnormal long and large exterior rear view mirrors. Although designed to help drivers with highway lane changes or during towing, since rear visibility is poor when compared to a typical sedan or SUV, or when towing, it takes a while to get accustomed to the split mirror arrangement. However, we found it extremely helpful when trying the park the truck in tight parking spots later.

Once inside the cabin, one begins to realize that this refreshed Ram puts more

If you saw the General Motors of previous years

and the new General one aspect that is most noticeable is that slimmer GM has had to divest its stake in some other manufacturers. The older wisdom was that the organisation could have a controlling interest or close to that in some makers – like Suzuki, Daewoo and Isuzu and have access to their vehicle platforms, which were either co-developed or rebadged as GM products. But a few core changes have happened over the years.First, the Chevrolet badge has truly gone global, while other revered badges from the Gerneral have fallen by the wayside. Admittedly, while the badge is global, the local viewpoint is not necessarily the same. In the UK, Chevrolet and Vauxhall co-exist, while in Australia its all Holden. In the US of A the Chevrolet badge is still associated with big and strong American cars as much as it is now linked to the Cruzes and Optras. Here in the Middle East, with the region’s ability to import from any part of the GM empire, Chevrolet is many things to different people. It can boast of having the largest range of passenger cars and SUVs on offer and now, even its range of utes gets bigger.

Yes the Colorado or its equivalent was there before, but in those days it was essentially a rebadged Isuzu pick-up with a petrol engine. In the region, we thus saw the D-Max and the Colorado being sold as the diesel/petrol choice. And it wasn’t as if the petrol variant was doing any favours to the brand.Now, with the new GM things are different. There has been a concerted US$ 2 billion investment in developing the new Colorado, with a significant part of that investment in Chevrolet’s new pick-up plant in Thailand. The platform is still jointly developed with Isuzu, but now its just the basic platform engineering that is shared. The Chevrolet version is available with a choice of two diesel engines and two petrol, of which the petrol engines will come to the region first, to be followed by the diesel as well. GM’s new platform follows the tried and tested body-on-frame layout, with a choice of wheelbases, three cabin configurations and a four-wheel drive option as well, with manual and auto gearboxes. In the four-wheel drive arrangement the body rides higher to give fording ability.GM has had many years of association with Thailand as a

manufacturing hub. The country is known for its love affair with the pick-up truck and almost every Japanese manufacturer and both GM and Ford have manufacturing facilities that make pick-up trucks and their platform variants for both the local and export markets. Toyota famously centres its IMV platform here – with the Innova, Hilux and Fortuner being produced here and part supply going to other plants around the world too. As for GM it used to make the old Colorado till 2011, but once it switched over to the new platform, it now has set its sights firmly on getting its game up to a level where it can challenge Toyota both in the pick-up segment as well as in the Fortuner-type SUV.While vehicle plant took some level of investment, almost US$200 million has been invested in a new diesel engine plant that produces the 2.5-litre and 2.8-litre Duramax engines for the platform. The petrol engines come from further afield with the 3.6-litre V6 unit being procured from Holden in Australia.The Colorado is now targeted as being something more than a utility vehicle. Of course this is largely because the target market for the truck covers more than 60 countries, so Ch

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General Motors have had to reorganise product lines after their rebirth and the Colorado is one of the new spin-offs of this approach. Automan tests the Pick-up truck in Thailand

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A pocket rocket with all the road manners of an imp: Toyota’s new 86 floors our testers with its slightly unruly manners 20

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Compact SUVs seem to be getting a lot of attention from family users in particular these days and this is not

just a regional phenomenon. The trends worldwide are suggesting consumers shift in preferences especially when it comes to family SUVs. This segment as of now is the most active with a selection of models from almost every manufacturer and even new first timers joining the growing list vying for attention.

Honda and compatriot Toyota are pioneers of the crossover SUV craze which they began in mid 90s. Honda began the experience by engineering the then Civic platform and subsequent generations have firmly established the CR-V as the benchmark vehicle in its class in terms of quality, refinement and popularity.

The all-new 2012 Honda CR-V is the fourth generation of Honda’s most popular and widely acclaimed SUV in the global market. Honda created the original concept of this class of lifestyle utility model as a Comfortable Runabout Vehicle and hence the initials CR-V. The package was a revolution for its time -- four-doors with five-passenger accommodation and useful running gear. The successful pioneering philosophy continues and with each new version Honda has introduced is in general an improvement on the previous generation.

While, it is not surprising that the incoming CR-V retains its familiar profile and stance, beneath the familiar sheetmetal, the CR-V is reportedly based on a completely new platform that factors in improvements like improved interior space, a lower load floor, and a lower overall height.

The 2012 CR-V rides on a 103.1in wheelbase

and measures 178.3in in length which means it is 0.8in shorter than the previous-generation. At 71.6in, its overall width is unchanged and at 61.6in front/61.6in rear, the track is also the same. But the most significant departure is in height: at 65.1in tall, it is noticeable 1.0in lower on AWD models and 1.4in lower on FWD models.

At first glance its styling definitely falls more toward evolutionary than revolutionary category as it seems to have received specialized touches from its designers. While

most of the design changes are minor, one does note some of the family design DNAs which have dictated the headlamps to become sleeker, a lowered by an inch roofline and the side sheet metal sculpting bit more pronounced or aggressive. The most notable design difference is both functional and cosmetic -- front face is more corporate, a little sleeker and softer

round the corners. The grille still sports three horizontal bars but is wider spaced and the lower valance appears more pronounced with built in fog lamps. The bonnet sculpting has been reversed from convex to concave and wheel arches are bolder – all combined to give the new CR-V a stronger stance. Meanwhile, at the rear, the tailgate and tail lamp are re-done and appear more contemporary than anything currently available in the segment. The rearview of the 2012 CR-V looks complete, as if the stylists knew where they wanted to go when they started and finished the job. Overall, Honda designers are to be commended for not messing too much with the established and accepted design format.

Inside the cabin, the atmosphere is familiar and the model now offers a lot more than its

In the family business

Although Honda was delayed in introducing this model due to unprecedented circumstances, it has got its agenda spot on with the all-new 2012 CR-V, says Automan

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EDITORIAL NOMINEE

2012 HONDA CR-V

SMALL SUV2012

Honda’s challenge was to get the delayed production models

out onto the market in the aftermath of

production disruptions due to Tsunami and earthquake issues

Look into the heart of Infiniti and you will find emotion there. But that is hardly the feeling when you sit through a press

conference and have to see a video presentation by the chief engineer and designers where the subject matter is the emotional aspect of the FX’s design but the people concerned hardly show any emotion at all on their faces. The communication is strong about the ideas that get into the styling of the car including the use of Japanese brush strokes to define the shape and the soul of the car. But you wouldn’t know it from the steely demeanour of the protagonists. In some ways it is the essence of the Infiniti brand – emotion is there in the form of the products, the sublime powerhouses that propel them and the driver environment that is just that little bit different than any other luxury brand’s. But all of this is hidden behind the minimalist showrooms, the monochromatic use of colour and basic solidness of the sheet-metal on the cars.

We are admirers of the design-led form of the brand. The first generation FX was a telling indictment of the basic ugliness of most other SUVs. In many ways, the FX redefined the construct of the SUV form, bringing an abbreviated sports car profile to the largeness of the utility and proportioning it such a way that you got the messages – rear-wheel-drive, powerful engine, no excess volume or weight. The second-generation only built on it, with styling elements embellished further, path-breaking use of technologies like lane departure warning and around view and the evolution of a uniquely formed grille.

Which is one of the things we couldn’t

understand with the 2012 model that is sold in the region as all-new. The first thing you notice about the FX is the grille. It is nothing like the previous models – having given away its unique model-specific identity to move closer to a brand oneness. Now, between the FX and EX, their grilles look like adaptations of the QX grille. Is it bad? Not at all. The judicious use of chrome and the dark spaces in between highlight the new form of the grille with the strong top arch, a mirrored bottom and a cinched waist, sitting in between two

of the best stylized headllights in the business, albeit looking like they have been lifted straight off a sports car.

The hood has an aggressive sweep down to the grille, without influencing the profile, since the fender over the wheel is still high. This actually adds to the sports car feel – imagine the Jag E-type

pulled into slightly different proportions!Likewise at the rear, with the taillights

taking cues off the headlight’s twin humps and the rear number plate garnish mimicking the grille. The roof slopes down aggressively in this case, to provide a small rear glass hatch below a high-mounted spoiler.

But it is the profile that ends up being the most appealing, with the windshield rising upwards from a point far behind the front wheels, a compact greenhouse and the driver’s hip point being more than midway to the rear. And this is one SUV that doesn’t look slab-sided in the least -look at the body form, the use of chrome lower down and the chrome vents behind the front wheel.

From the driver’s seat the view outwards could almost be one from a car until you

Fashion statement utility

With a new look propelling the FX into its 2012 model year, the car remains as appealing as ever. Automan reports.

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Author: Raj Warrior Photography: Raj Warrior

EDITORIAL NOMINEE

2012 INFINITI FX35

PREMIUM SUV2012

While FX purists may lament the move from the identifying grille, the new look brings

with it better cohesion as a family of SUVs

LocaL06 Car launches this month in Oman

08 Regional news including Automechanika in Dubai

Brandwatch10 GM stops advertising on Facebook, Mazda and Fiat in tie-up 12 Bigger Evoque on the anvil14 Chery requests Chinese government approval of jv with Jaguar Land Rover16 New details of 2014 Volvo XC90 emerge

InternatIonaL18 Beijing motor show in focus

cover story20 Toyota’s 86 shows its brilliance in a constant state of an almost skid

sUv FocUs28 The new 2012 Honda CR-V tested

34 Sporty genes dominate in the Infiniti FX35 2012 model40 The Outlander in the news

road tests42 2012 Ford Fusion

46 2012 Jaguar XF 3.0

FeatUre50 The Passat’s new Chattanooga fixation

Motorsports52 Formula 1 race reports from Monaco and Spain54 WRC in Argentina and 3 MotoGP reports

tech taLK58 All about Seatbelts

prevIew60 Range Rover Vogue

62 Peugeot’s name challenged 301

trUcK FocUs66 The 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie

70 Chevy’s Colorado tested in Thailand

74 Ford’s Built Tough F-150

IntervIew78 Arun Kumar from Sayarati Group

chIcane80 The woes of Muscat’s new traffic jams

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NEXT ISSUE

2013 BoXSTEr EXclUSIvE!

28 34

Visit our website for daily updates!

Regular readers of Automan over the past 12 years (yes it is 12 years since we began,

to the month) will have noticed the manner in which we evolved from a high-grade

coffee table book to a regionally respected car magazine that has become the staple

of the automobile lover in Oman and to a certain extent in neighbouring countries too.

It is a pleasant surprise when you hear the words of people you run into telling you

about the places they have seen the magazine in, the people who read them and the

importance we play in the process of car buying in Oman.

Over the years, we have played an important role in tracking the evolution of the

industry on a global level. In the period of these twelve years itself the industry has

gone through a sea-change that matches the entire automotive story over the previous

century. Automotive hallmarks have gone bust, Giants have gone through bankruptcies,

partnerships have been struck between the unlikeliest of partners and new terms like

‘emerging economies’, BRIC and ‘environment-friendliness’ have become buzzwords.

Another feature of the Automan years was a decided shift from the days of the big SUV,

and the large car to a smaller, smarter solution. Driven by high production costs, even

higher fuel prices and the increasing urgency of exhibiting a greener manner, the past

few model iterations have seen all sorts of changes – new smaller platforms, the birth

and growth of the small crossover as a genre and the advent of the force-fed smaller

engine. We also should not forget that the hybrid and electric powertrain has really

come into its own over this time, with mainstream acceptance providing for future

growth. Now the second part of that equation needs to be put in place – government

investment in the infrastructure needed to draw in the volumes.

However, we can also gladly confirm that all the fun hasn’t gone out of motoring yet

– there are still some fantastic sports and muscle cars out there, even with all the

pressure on providing greener engines. The Veyron has proven that you can get more

than a 1000 horsepower, just as Formula One goes back to a regime of small engines

with turbo power and KERS.

This issue is really special – with its cover story on the 86, the car that brings Toyota

back to the days of the affordable Japanese sports car and an extended focus feature

on some of the latest Pick-up trucks in various sizes and a whole clutch of SUVs.

Again very topical, with the consumer trend of moving from cars into crossovers and

SUVs impacting the fortunes of car manufacturers around the world. So here’s wishing

ourselves a great anniversary and we look forward to another dozen years at least of

entertaining our readers.

editor-in-chiefMohammad Al taie

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Oman news

Hot cars launched in Sultanate of omanAlmost every segment has been represented this month!

Ferrari 458 SpiderThe new 458 Spider joins the 458 Italia, forming a wide range of Ferrari’s mid-rear engined V8s and offering the same uncompromising technological solutions, handling and performance in a refined open-top configuration. It is equipped with a Ferrari patented, fully retractable hard top which weighs just 50kg and takes just 14secs to open or shut. Claudio Piretti, General Manager, Shanfari Sports Car LLC said: “The 458 Spider is powered by Ferrari’s naturally-aspirated, direct-injection 4.5 litre V8 which was also nominated as the 2011 International Engine of the Year for its engineering excellence in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement.”

Renault DusterRenault claims that Duster SUV project was born out of the simple premise that a real need existed in the world for an affordable, comfortable and rugged 4x4. This is quite true as it represents a class which is currently not well served in any market. Cashing in on this opportunity, Renault decided to develop an all-terrain vehicle aimed initially at emerging markets, but realized its global potential in even SUV focus markets such as Oman. “It is a very popular concept especially following the world economic crisis, which hit households hard and made many people think twice before buying a new car,” said Mustansir Lakdawala, managing director of Renault GCC. The Duster features a region specific 2.0-litre engine and is available in two options - a 4x4 6-speed manual transmission, or a 4x2 4-speed automatic transmission. The price for the range begins at RO5,390 from Suhail Bahwan Auto Group, the official distributor of Renault in the Sultanate.

Audi Q3Following in the footsteps of its bigger siblings, Audi’s first compact crossover SUV, the 2012 Q3, has arrived. Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine offering a choice of outputs – 170hp and 211hp, power is transmitted by seven-speed S-tronic transmission to all four wheels via the Quattro AWD set-up. Abdel Karim Awwad, National Sales Manager of Audi Oman said: “The demand for both the Audi Q5 and Q7 still outstrips supply. We are constantly negotiating with the factory for higher allocations for our markets, even though the new generations of the Q5 and Q7 are expected only in 2013 and early 2015 respectively. We are positive that the new Audi Q3 will fare equally as well.” Prices begin at OMR14,999.

Hyundai Genesis coupe

The redesigned model made its international debut in Detroit at the 2012 North American International d Auto Show earlier this year and comes with more aggressive styling, with a redesigned corporate front face, grille, headlights, LED daytime running lights, fog lights and bonnet with heat extractor ducts. Riding on 18in alloy wheels, the car’s styling is signed off by dual asymmetrical exhaust tips which are smartly integrated in a blacked-out rear diffuser. In Oman, the coupe will be available with a bumped up 3.8-litre V6 engine producing 350hp mated to eight-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic and paddle-shifters for manual-shifting capability. The 2013 Genesis Coupe also packs in a redesigned interior. A new driver-side rear seat walk-in assist function has been added for more convenient rear seat access from the driver’s side.

Chevrolet MalibuThe new Malibu is Chevrolet’s first global midsize sedan that has been designed and engineered to meet the needs of customers all around the world. The car was introduced in Oman in the presence of Markus Leithe, Regional Manager, General Motors Middle East Operations, Sajed Sbeih, Sales Business Manager Oman, General Motors Middle East Operations and Ajay Chopra, Managing Director, OTE Group. “With expressive styling, a comfortable cabin, high levels of content and features, interior craftsmanship, outstanding ride and handling, and top-notch safety, Chevrolet Malibu will exceed customers’ expectations and also be a rival to high-end sedans,” said Leithe. With revised dimension, the incoming Malibu has a 114 mm shorter wheelbase and 1,574 mm front and rear tracks that are more than 51 mm wider than the model it replaces. Powered by GM’s new Ecotec 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with direct injection and continuously variable valve timing, it produces 170hp and 230 Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm allowing it to reach 0-100 km/h in 10.2 seconds via the car’s Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic transmission.

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VW CCThe CC stands for Comfort Coupé and this new CC, which made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2011, is a classic and unmistakable Volkswagen car that displays the characteristics of being highly articulate, extremely elegant and comfortably confident. James Oliver, General Manager of Volkswagen Oman said: “The CC has been redesigned to close the gap between the Passat and our flagship Phaeton, and establishes an exciting new model within the Volkswagen line-up.” The Passat pre-fix has been dropped from the nomenclature as the CC moves up the ladder in the line-up. Rich in features and content, the CC will be offered in S and SEL trims which will be powered by either 160hp 1.8-litre or 210hp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Seven and 6-speed DSG dual clutch gearboxes are also offered for this model.

Adding a stunning dimension for automotive aficionados, the Subaru-Toyota Motor Corporation co-developed front-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe Toyota 86 pays befitting tribute to the hugely successful Toyota AE86 – one of the most cherished and loved sports cars. Only to carry on the lineage, the number 86 has been retained. Toyota 86 uses a 197hp 2.0-litre, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine has a horizontally opposed engine and Toyota’s cutting edge D-4S injection system that incorporates both direct and port injection. The flat-four engine is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission that also features aggressive up-shifts and sporty rev-matched downshifts that are initiated by steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Power is transferred to the pavement via a limited-slip differential.

Toyota 86

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ReGIOnaL news}

brea

king

news

Infiniti, the luxury automaker from Japan, has announced the introduction of its first dedicated mobile website in the Middle East, allowing optimized access to its online offering from any location. Compatible with the main smart phone and tablet platforms, including Android, Blackberry®, Apple iPhone and iPad, m.infiniti-me.com delivers all the information on the Infiniti brand and its model range in the Middle East in a format best suited to handheld screens and resolutions. Visitors to m.infiniti-me.com are presented with a simplified main menu offering five navigation options: Infiniti Models; Locate a Dealer; Book a Test Drive; Request a Brochure; and About Infiniti. From here, users can access the information they are searching for in a matter of just two clicks, ensuring a speedy, efficient and rewarding journey through the site. Those visitors will also find all information is available in both English and Arabic languages.

[Below right] Sheikh Al Ghassan is seen receiving the Mulsanne award from Dave Hayter, Regional Director for Bentley Motors Ltd at the newly opened Bentley Motors showroom in Tahliah Street. [Below left] McLaren Jeddah officially opened for business with McLaren Automotive Regional Director, Mark Harrison and Al Ghassan Motors’ President and CEO, Sheikh Ghassan A H Al Sulaiman officially inaugurating the Tahliah Street showroom.

A Wildwood destination trailer and Georgetown XL motorhome in the new Gulf Coast RVs showroom in Dubai, the first of its type in the Middle East.

Automechanika Middle East has traditionally been a platform for the regional launches of a number of products and services over the years. This year’s edition represented the 10th anniversary. With an estimated year on year growth of 24 per cent, the venue saw over 1,300 exhibitors from 55 countries debuting a wide range of products and services. Key highlights included the Middle East launch of Bodyshop Revolution – designed to achieve better efficiencies in the body repair industry, regional launch of Aktas Newtone’s Air Spring; the entry into the market by Fildex Filters from Canada, BG Middle East’s new products for repair workshops and Autokontrol’s debut into the region with their speed limiters for school buses and mini buses which have recently received approval from UAE authorities.

Some hi-tech gadgets like satellite trackers and remote immobilisers were also on show.

This year, the display halls were divided into five product groups -- parts and systems, accessories and tuning, repair and maintenance, service stations and car wash and essentials such as tyres and batteries.

As always, representatives took advantage of their presentations by adding insights into the latest trends and developments in the field for a wide audience of visitors from the region. The exhibition is held under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline Group. Automan was one of the media partners of this event.

2012 Automechanika concludes

Nissan Middle East has delivered two brand new Juke crossover SUVs to winners from last year’s hit pan-Arab reality TV show Star Academy. The first car was delivered to Nesma Mahgoub of Egypt [above right], winner of the overall Star Academy contest, while the second went to Gilbert Simon of Lebanon for winning the ‘Jukeband’ competition to create a soundtrack for the first Juke TV commercial.

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bRandwatch

The consensus of several car-brand marketers and outside experts contacted by Automan seems to be mixed. Between the two platforms, surprisingly Facebook which is considered as a messaging and engagement platform, just as a paid platform will be affected most.“What car brands will do with Facebook is say that, although it is a giant, [advertising] really may not be delivering them what they need from a surgical point of view,” said Doug Scott, a branding consult. “But I don’t think there will be an exodus from the Super Bowl.” Honda’s U.S. CMO, Mike Accavitti,said that the brand’s social-media “adjustments” could include Facebook advertising if it doesn’t produce sufficient returns. “Just because there are 500 million people on Facebook, it doesn’t mean we have to advertise on it,” he said. “If it’s not engaging, we’re just wasting our money.” However, a Honda spokesman said that the company has no plans to change its Facebook strategy.But Jon Brancheau, Nissan’s U.S. CMO, said that he wouldn’t sell Facebook short — even as an advertising medium. ”Facebook is going to figure out how, in relevant fashion, to continue to draw advertisers again for all the right reasons,” he said. “It’s too powerful and too smart a company.”

reaction from industry on Gm’s fB decision

General Motor’s Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick created quite a stir in advertising circles last month. “We regularly review our overall media spend and make adjustments as needed. This happens as a regular course of business and it’s not unusual for us to move our spending around various media outlets — especially with the growth of multiple social and digital media outlets. In terms of Facebook specifically, while we currently do not plan to continue with advertising, we remain committed to an aggressive content strategy through all of our products and brands, as it continues to be a very effective tool for engaging with our customers.” The above statement was issued by General Motors today after a story by the Wall Street Journal was published onlineBy far, a bold announcement by one of the largest advertisers in the US, GM’s Ewanick didn’t wait long to drop the other shoe after departing Facebook and Super Bowl advertising.The focus then shifted to China where Chevrolet’s China-focused global sponsorship deal with the world’s most popular soccer franchise — Manchester United was announced. Obviously, the GM marketing chief switched the focus to a bold step of commission rather than omission, accelerated Chevy’s identification as a worldwide rather than an American marque, and just may have changed one of America’s most iconic brands forever.“As Chevrolet continues to grow as a global brand, this is the right time to make a commitment and establish a presence in international football,”

Ewanick said in a press release about becoming the official vehicle of the Barclays Premier League giant. “Our ambition is to connect with football in a fashion that transcends traditional sponsorship.”

Riding high on a 30 per cent increase compared with sales in May 2011 and the group’s best sales in the month of May since 2007 Chrysler Group LLC US sales of 150,041 units and some good, old-fashioned TV commercials seem to have helped bolster a brand’s perception with the public, according to YouGov’s Brand Index.Some analysts worried that Chrysler would have a difficult time finding the right positioning after its 2011 Super Bowl-originated “Imported from

Detroit” theme ran its course, especially without a reprise by Clint Eastwood of his role in the company’s halftime commercial during the 2012 Super Bowl. But judging by the feedback to YouGov, it appears as if Chrysler might have waited too long to

move past Eminem, Dirty Harry, gritty images of downtrodden Detroit, and its vehicles in the midst of it all.“This is about the highest point that Chrysler has been at for brand perception in several years,” said Ted Marzilli, global managing director of YouGov’s BrandIndex. “It tends to show positive momentum for the brand.”Apparently the ads help consumers focus on why they really might want to buy a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram instead of just root for Chrysler as a corporate participant in the U.S. auto industry and partial savior of Motown. The vignettes about the struggles of real Americans helped give Chrysler the highest opinion numbers for any of Detroit’s Big Three automaker in three years.

General motors reworks advertisinG strateGy for chevrolet

chrysler Brand perception rises

Automan’s take

2012 should turn out as a watershed year for the brand globally. There’s also the increasing noise of new products coming soon from Chrysler, including the 2013 Dodge Dart and revamped 200 sedan.

1313

is lotus ceo danny Bahar on his way out?

carlsson is now china owned

mazda-fiat to co-develop new cars at what cost?

An official statement released by Lotus has confirmed that CEO Dany Bahar has been suspensed till further notice. While, the suspension notice is classified as temporary by DRB-Hicom -- the organisation which acquired the parent company of Lotus Proton, analysts believe that the suspension period for Bahar will last long enough to facilitate an investigation into a complaint about his accused conduct.Exactly what sort of conduct is at issue is

unclear, although there are suggestions centering on how the top executive went about his expenses. DRB-Hicom is said to have confiscated Bahar’s laptop and mobile phone as part of the investigation. Reportedly, the executive rented in two homes in Norwich, both paid for by Lotus. While Bahar’s day-to-day involvement is paused, a team of company appointed administrators will handle the management of Group Lotus until the investigation is over.

“We’re willing to engage in discussions with anyone else,” is Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne’s now famous tagline when it comes to announcing or making deals aimed at larger economies of scale. When reports of a deal for Alfa Romeo was announced to co-develop a roadster with Mazda based on the next-generation MX-5 Miata platform, possible extended cooperation in Europe was also mentioned. Reuters is reporting that that Fiat is open to building Mazdas in Fiat and Chrysler plants worldwide. Mazda has registered losses for the past four years due in part to slow sales and a stronger yen and as a result is looking to tighten its belt around the world. Mazda is reported to be considering downsizing

it Europe and US workforce by at least 25 per cent. Currently, Mazda has no plans to cut its Japanese workforce, though some reorganization may take place in the coming months. Those efforts are largely expected to consist of moving workers from satellite offices in Tokyo and Osaka to the home base in Hiroshima.

Zhongsheng Group Holdings Ltd has acquired a 70 per cent stake in Carlsson Autotechnik GmbH. The group, which operates a number of automotive dealerships in China, wants to use Carlsson to help distinguish their cars from similar models sold by other dealerships. According to Zhongsheng chairman Huang Yi: “The problem is there are so many Mercedes, BMW and Audi cars in Shanghai and Beijing that those cars sometimes feel like very common cars - almost like driving a non descript Camry in Los Angeles.” Zhongsheng says they have “aggressive plans” for the tuning firm which include introducing a number of Mercedes-Carlsson dealerships and setting up production facilities in China to build accessories for the high and premium brands such as Mercedes, Lexus, Volvo, Porsche, Toyota and Nissan - that Zhongsheng currently sells.

breaking newsProton has issued a statement that says DRB-Hicom has no plans to sell the troubled automaker. “We acknowledge that Lotus can provide value to Proton. Lotus is an iconic brand with global presence and positioning, coupled with unsurpassed engineering expertise and a talented work force,” read a press release.While it is interesting to note the release came from Proton and not their parent company, DRB-Hicom, it appears Lotus’ future is secure for now. However, it remains to be seen if DRB-Hicom is willing to invest the resources required to launch several new models including the Elan, Elite and Eterne.

breaking newsAlfa Romeo will share Mazda’s next generation MX-5 sportscar from 2015, spinning off a born-again Alfa Spider from the Mazda-developed SkyActiv vehicle architecture. The roadsters will both be made at the Japanese company’s Hiroshima plant but, unlike the Toyota 86-Subaru BRZ sportscar twins, the Mazda and Alfa roadsters will have different styling and unique powertrains.

Automan’s take

When this kind of information is made public, it’s a clear indication of what lies ahead. Will the investigation result in Bahar’s eventual termination as CEO, only time will tell.

Automan’s take

Automan’s take

Such an agreement would allow Fiat to address unutilized factory capacity and the platform-sharing necessary to the arrangement would lower development costs – a hot-button for both Fiat and Mazda. Will this be only a statement of willingness on Marchionne’s part we don’t know as the same statement has been made so often now and Mazda being a bit desperate to cut costs pickle, how far these two partners will go is anybody’s guess.

According to a reliable factory insider tip in India, the Tata Motors-owned British SUV brand is working on a bigger version of the Range Rover Evoque. Internally, this bigger Evoque has been codenamed L560 and is expected to be in the market in 2015 in production form. Digital renderings as of now suggest styling of this bigger Evoque hasn’t been frozen yet and the company is still working on it.While it’s no secret that recently introduced Range Rover Evoque has been a super success for Land Rover. Besides winning several prestigious awards, the Evoque has been raved for its sharp styling and design. But the SUV does have its shortcomings, with the limited interior room being the major clink in its armour. This aspect has probably prompted

Land Rover to engineer a bigger Evoque. To do this, the wheelbase will be extended and despite the enhancements, the bigger Evoque will continue to be a 5-seater and Tata Motors has no plans to launch a 7-seater version.The bigger Range Rover Evoque (L560) will use the same set of engines which power the Evoque but with improvements over the period of time. It is still some time away from market launch and is part of Tata Motors product onslaught strategy. Tata Motors is also conducting a market research in India to setup a manufacturing facility for the next generation Land Rover Defender. This new facility could be setup in Gujarat and would only go under way in 2015.

Dongfeng Motor Company, Nissan’s joint venture company in China, will manufacture two Infiniti models starting in 2014 at its new plant in Xiangyang. “The localization of Infiniti at our Xiangyang plant is a significant milestone for us,” said Kimiyasu Nakamura, president of Dongfeng Motor. “It proves that we are fully capable of producing luxury vehicles of the highest Japanese quality standards here in China, at the same level of quality as the Tochigi plant, its mother plant, in Japan,” he added.The Infiniti brand was first introduced to China in 2007, and continues to strengthen its product lineup and expand its sales network to satisfy customers in the growing Chinese luxury segment. The two models to be produced at the Xiangyang plant will be named at a later date.Meanwhile, in Europe, Magna Styer, the specialist auto subcontractor for several low volume models is said to be the selected for building new Infiniti models on Daimler platforms.

Lexus U.S. Group Vice President and General Manager Mark Templin has revealed the possibility of gthe next-generation GX changing its architecture. Speaking with media, Templin said: “There is a potential that at some point, when we replace the GX, we can have a car-based SUV.” He declined to give a timeline, but the company has been hesitant till now to switch the model from body-on-frame construction to unibody because it has been a strong seller and could steal sales away from the RX.Talking about the latter, Templin said: “The RX kind of covers a big swath of the marketplace” and it appeals to people who want a seven-seater but “don’t necessarily have to have a third-row seat.”Besides talking about the GX, Templin said the brand is considering turbocharged engines. While they’re just being studied at this point, the executive said turbochargers have come a long way and they appeal to younger buyers.

Geely’s newly appointed senior vice-president of design Peter Horbury has signaled his intention to draw on Chinese cultural influences to create a uniquely Chinese identity for the brand’s cars. Horbury announced this during the Beijing motor show and the programme will include at least 27 vehicles -- from limousines to London taxis.The first Horbury designs are not expected to surface for at least three years, by which time Geely should be well established in export markets including Oman where Chevrolet Cruze-sized Geely Emgrand EC7 and Honda Accord sized EC8 and compact Panda have been introduced.“I know Chinese people love European cars, but let’s leave that to the Europeans because – let’s face it – they do it better,” said Horbury and also referred to the Japanese industry’s evolution from turning out what appeared to be scaled-down American cars to vehicles of their own design creation in the 1990s as evidence of the direction he envisaged for Chinese manufacturers.He said he had reached into Scandinavian cultural influences when designing Volvo cars – a method he was now intending to employ at Geely. “So that is my intention (with Geely), to search the catalogue of Chinese visual identity and find something new.”Geely, which is also listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange but operates out of China’s Zhejiang province, acquired Volvo in 2010 and has wasted no time in dipping into the former Ford subsidiary’s resources.

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china to produce infiniti models

BiGGer evoque on the anvil

next-Generation Gx could ride on a uniBody

architecture

Geely models to underGo extensive

desiGn overhaulAutoman’s take

Horbury shaped Volvo’s design language and had a major impact on Ford, Aston Martin, Land Rover and Jaguar styling with Ford’s Premier Automotive Group. Let’s see how a generally critical of the Chinese industry’s obsession with cloning European designs rather than finding its own styling identity Horbury moves forward.

British engineering firm and race car constructor Lola, established in 1958 and based in Huntingdon, England, has announced that it is suffering from severe cashflow problems and has appointed an administrator. The specialist company also has a separate composites division and also works with numerous companies outside of motorsports

Lola was diversifying its business into the development of electric race cars, teaming up with BAE Systems and Drayson to develop an electric Le Mans prototype. The company has attempted to get back into Formula 1 racing with its own team several times unsuccessfully and more recently lost out becoming a chassis supplier for Indycar to rival firm Dallara.

Toyota has succeeded in its aim of recapturing the classic sports car experience in its new 86, according to the expert judges of the 2012 Vehicle Dynamics International Awards. The global panel of specialist engineers, technologists and journalists have named the sports coupe Car of the Year (jointly with the Subaru BRZ) and honoured its chief engineer Tetsuya Tada as Dynamicist of the Year, alongside Toshio Masuda, his Subaru counterpart on the project.Toyota’s commitment to producing cars that are more rewarding to drive, championed by its president Akio Toyoda, has also earned it the accolade of Dynamics Team of the Year.The Toyota 86 has arrived in Oman [Automan’s cover story for the month] and other markets and will serve as a standard bearer for a revival of Toyota’s sports car heritage, a machine that has been designed in every aspect to be a true driver’s car.Its character is determined by its classic front-engine/rear-wheel drive configuration and the use of a compact, lightweight, free-revving 2.0-litre “boxer” petrol engine. Combined with a low centre of gravity, low inertia and overall light weight, the result is pure driving pleasure.Vehicle Dynamics International magazine’s editor Graham Heeps said this simple approach helped earn 86 its Car of the Year status. “In the face of rising power outputs and ever-greater levels of complication in the drivetrain, suspension and steering, cars from major manufacturers that take

a less-is-more approach and offer fun at legal speeds have been thin on the ground,” he said.Among the judges’ comments on the Dynamicist of the Year title, Matt Joy, the Press Association’s motoring editor, said: “By sticking to a tried and tested formula, Tada and Masuda have created a car that enthusiasts have been crying out for one that eschews the never-ending quest for ultimate grip in favour of balance, response and driving pleasure at realistic road speeds.”

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lola under administration

toyota 86 desiGners awarded

JaGuar tops uk Jd power survey

Automan’s take

The judging panel has given due credit to Akio Toyoda for inspiring a new direction in dynamics in both Toyota and Lexus models. A quick look at Toyota’s model line-up should remove any doubt that there is a fierce competitor in the company driver’s seat.

breaking newsnew model nomenclature

announcedAlong with release of the new 301 sedan details, Peugeot has announced it has revised its model naming system in an effort to differentiate models targeted to existing and emerging markets. The change is limited to the third digit of the naming system.Currently, Peugeot’s characteristic three-digit numbering system is structured so that the first digit indicates the vehicle’s segment (or size), the second digit is always ‘0’ which represents the Peugoet brand, and the third digit indicates the generation of the vehicle. Furthermore, a four digit naming system which always incorporates a central ‘double zero’ is representative of taller body structure vehicles such as the 3008 MPV and 5008 crossover.In the new naming system, only the third digit is affected. It will always end in either ‘1’ to signifiy value for money models for emerging markets, or always end in ‘8’ representing well equipped “status” models.All models that already bear a number with an end digit ‘8’, such as the 308 and 3008, will keep their name when they are renewed and generation 7 models will be replaced with an end digit ‘8’. All future generation models will keep the ‘8’ end digit.Automan’s takeIt seems that the tactical move comes in an effort to avoid confusion between models targeted to different markets as well as making it clearer for buyers to distinguish between budget and premium models - similar to what Citroen has done with its DS line.

Jaguar has been announced as the Number One manufacturer in the J.D. Power and Associates/What Car? 2012 UK Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study (VOSS). The study was based on the evaluations of nearly 18,000 individuals in the United Kingdom after an average of two years ownership. Every aspect of vehicle ownership was rated from performance, design and comfort to quality, reliability, cost of ownership, economy and dealer service satisfaction. The resulting data allowed the study to be the most comprehensive of its kind.

General Motors will be pulling off the wraps of the Chevrolet Trax at the Paris Motor Show this October. The compact SUV segment is one segment that has become a hot favourite among car buyers in recent times and looking at this, every car manufacturer wants to be in this segment.It is widely believed that GM’s move was prompted after Ford recently unveiled its production version

of its compact SUV called the EcoSport. Although, General Motors is quite tight lipped about the development of this vehicle, the company has released the first ever picture of the vehicle. Remember the company had shown a concept vehicle at the 2007 NY Auto Show called the Trax. It was also featured in Transformers movie in 2009. General Motors will be carrying over its design language of models like the Buick Opel Mokka and Encore brands. GM is planning on making the Chevrolet Trax a global product from General Motors. The car will be sold under the brand name of Opel in Europe, Buick in China and Chevrolet in Brazil and Korea. The Trax’s design was carried out at General Motors’ technical centre in America with participation of Brazilian and Korean studios.

Automan’s take

While Jay Leno taking to the Nano is indeed a surprise, and there is no better publicity than celebrity endorsement. Nano sales in India didn’t take off as expected so it will be interesting to see if Leno’s magic can help Tata Motors boost sales of this car.

According to a recent report, Bentley will enter the 2013 Dakar Rally to promote their upcoming crossover. A UK-based media source says that Bentley is attempting to buy back Volkswagen’s Race Touaregs - which were sold to private racing teams - in an effort to convert them into modified versions of the EXP 9 F concept.The Bentley versions of the racing Touaregs would be stripped off bare bones off-roaders. However, they could have an body shell that resembles closely resembles the production model. There’s no word on what will power the racing variants as Bentley’s existing W12 engines could be heavy for the job, but the Race Touareg 3 which uses a twin-turbo 2.5-litre TDI engine that produces 296hp and 599Nm of torque is one sure shot option for now until a Bentley specific alternative is developed or found. Automan’s takeAs a PR story it makes sense to have racer looking like the SUV. But the real deal is that if Bentley has to prove off-road credibility then a diesel is strictly a no-no as it is not in Bentley’s engineering DNA. We are also wondering whether Bentley would use the new 4.0-litre V8 petrol that punches out 500 hp and 500Nm instead?

The news comes directly from Chrysler LLC, CEO Sergio Marchionne. Marchionne dropped the bombshells last week during a media event at a Chrysler plant in Belvidere, Illinois . In February it was reported in several media that the Compass and the Patriot were both slated to be replaced in 2013 by a new, slightly smaller SUV -- code name: B-SUV. Al though the new model’s rollout has now been pushed back to 2014, the latest news is that the Patriot name will likely live on, while its close relative, the Compass is retired. Marchionne said that the Compass and the Patriot would both be built in Belvidere until 2014; after that, something else would take the place of the Compass on the assembly line.

Announced as part of the production kick off for the 2013 Altima, Nissan said the model would be built at the company’s plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, USA. Little else is known about the crossover, but it was recently teased in a commercial that aired in the United States. While the clip didn’t reveal too many details, speculation suggests the model could borrow a few styling cues from the Hi-Cross concept.

It seems that the world’s cheapest production car, the Tata Nano is indeed going places. American comedian and TV host of ‘The Tonight Show Jay Leno is also known for his passion for collecting cars and motorcycles. Leno’s garage includes 100 cars and 90 motorcycles including a Royal Enfield from India and now he has added the Nano to his vehicle collection. The Nano will now share floor place with Leno’s collection. Jay Leno dressed up in an Indian sherwani (long coat) to greet the Nano into his garage. He also roped in some Bollywood dancers to perform at the time the Nano drove into his garage.

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bRandwatch

Bentley to Buy Back dakar rally volkswaGen’s race

touareGs?

trax is chevrolet’s new compact suv

Jeep compass to Be axed? nissan confirmed plans to launch a redesiGned

roGue in 2013

leno adds tata nano to his car collection

Automan’s take

Marchionne’s business strategy continues to intrigue everyone.While automakers like GM and Ford spun off or shuttered brands during the downturn, Chrysler Group created Ram and added Fiat -- and is looking to add a sixth brand with Alfa Romeo.At the same time, however, Marchionne seems to be ensuring each of Chrysler’s brands gets a stronger identity for itself. That philosophy has been working for General Motors fairly well the past couple of years, so who’s to say it can’t work for Chrysler, too?

Automan’s take

With the compact segment heating up with the likes of Kia Picanto, Mazda2, Hyundai i10, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Micra with engines ranging from 1.0-litre to 1.5-litre, there are several good reasons for Mitsubishi Motors and its regional dealers to consider this model.

Last month we reported that Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover had signed a joint-venture agreement with China’s Chery Automobile Company. JLR’s US$1.9 bn investment, if approved, will pay for a plant in Changsu to build Jaguars, Land Rovers, engines and joint-venture models. The facility will also house a research and development center. Chery is keen to see the joint venture move forwards and has submitted the paperwork to clear the deal with the Chinese government. The deal must also be cleared by the Ministry of Enviroment Protection, after which it will go to the National Development and Reform Commission.When the agreement was first inked, an independent analyst with knowledge of how things operate in China had said that it will be some time before we see the results. Like India, in China government approvals can take a long time. But JLR has the long view in mind: it sold 38,890 vehicles in China last year – all imported – a figure representing double-digit sales gains for both brands. The proposed factory will have a capacity of 130,000 units, providing a healthy buffer in case the bureaucracy sits on things.

Volkswagen’s SUV line-up has successfully managed the last few years with its full-size Touareg and its compact Tiguan but the company has almost confirmed plans are afoot to produce a mid-size version as well. The news stems from Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen of America during a visit to Detroit. “It’s a great opportunity, if you could give it to me tomorrow, I would take it,” said Browning. While there is no official time frame of when this model would be produced, but the confident admission that the company has it under consideration suggests the possibility of production is strong. Considering Volkswagen’s global volume aspirations, it needs to find appropriate slots in the line-up.

Tata Motors has begun assembling the Land Rover Freelander 2 in India and had revealed its plans to assemble more vehicles from the JLR stable in the near future. The company’s next model to be assembled is the baby Jag, the XF. The Jaguar XF is priced higher to its competitors as it is brought in as a completely built up units.The Jaguar XF diesel will be locally assembled at Tata Motors’ Chikhali facility near Pune. It will be brought in through the CKD route from 2013, with the kits being imported from UK. The Range Rover Evoque is expected to be the next Land Rover model to be locally assembled in India as the company plans to sell close to 1,000 units fiscal year.

A prototype for the facelifted ‘VF’ Holden Commodore has been spotted testing in Australia.While it’s no surprise that Holden test vehicles on public roads in Australia for domestic consumption, but what caught the attention of spy photographers who were able to get a close shot of the prototype that it was a left-hand drive model.Holden does export left-hand drive versions of the Commodore to markets such as the Middle-East, where they are sold as Chevrolet Luminas. The prototype, which Holden was engineers were found testing was running alongside a Dodge Charger which is sold in North America and Middle East. So what could be the recipe GM is looking at? We

We are aware that Mitsubishi’s global compact car, the Mirage, has kicked off in Thailand. The new Mirage is being produced at Mitsubishi Motors Thailand’s third factory at the Laem Chabang Plant, which is the company’s largest plant and export hub outside of Japan.The car made its debut at the Bangkok Motor Show on March 27, and began selling in the Kingdom the next day, with five variants available for that market, all wearing a 1.2-litre three-cylinder MIVEC mill offering 78 PS at 6,000 rpm and 100 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

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chery requests chinese Government approval of

Jv with JaGuar land rover

JaGuar to assemBle xf in india

Gm’s holden preparinG left hand drive prototype

is volkswaGen considerinG a mid-size suv in

its line-up?

is mitsuBishi miraGe headinG this way?

Automan’s take

General Motors has officially confirmed that the new Holden-derived sedan sold in the U.S. will be called simply Chevrolet SS. The “limited production” SS will race in NASCAR beginning with the 2013 Daytona 500 and will appear in showrooms in 2014. However, when it arrives next year, it should appear in limited numbers and most likely will be positioned as the brand’s performance flagship model. The car is expected to have some common engineering with the current Camaro with which it shares a platform.

are aware that GM has confirmed that it plans to launch a new nameplate for its Chevrolet brand next year, a nameplate that it will also use as the replacement for the Impala in NASCAR. Many have suggested that the new nameplate will be for an American version of the Holden Commodore sedan, a car previously sold in the States as the Pontiac G8. In fact in April, GM accidently revealed that a new model dubbed the “SS Performance” will be joining Chevy’s line-up for the 2014 model year.

Volvo has already released several sketches of the next-generation XC90, but new details are starting to emerge about the upcoming model. The new crossover will become the company’s first vehicle to ride on the Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) which will also underpin the next-generation S60, V70, XC60 and S80. It will be powered by the company’s new four-cylinder VEA (Volvo Environmental Architecture) engines which promise to be lighter, more powerful and more fuel-efficient than the current crop of six-cylinder units. Petrol and diesel options are expected, but there could also be a plug-in hybrid variant.It is also speculated that Volvo could launch an XC30 to slot beneath the upcoming XC40. It would

likely be based on another automaker’s platform and could arrive by mid-decade if Volvo finds a suitable partner within the next year.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is on the road literally. With completion of the initial prototypes, Porsche engineers have been busy driving and testing the super sports car of the future. The 918 Spyder will go into production at the end of September 2013 as planned, with the first customers receiving their vehicles before the end of 2013 is out. “What we are doing with the 918 Spyder is redefining driving fun, efficiency and performance,” said Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board Research and Development of Porsche AG.The prototypes, their camouflage harking back to historical Porsche 917 racing cars, signal the final touches to the 918 Spyder. The focus is on the interplay between the highly sophisticated individual drive components. The combination of combustion engine and two independent electric motors – one on the front axle and one in the drive line, acting on the rear wheels – poses completely new demands on the development of the operating strategies.The car is designed as a plug-in hybrid vehicle combining a high-performance combustion engine with cutting-edge electric motors for extraordinary performance: on the one hand, the dynamics of a racing machine boasting more than 770 hp, on the other hand, fuel consumption in the region of three litres per 100 kilometres. Moreover, Porsche is breaking yet more new ground with the technology demonstrator with spectacular solutions such as the full carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque with unit carrier, fully adaptive aerodynamics, adaptive rear-axle steering and the upward-venting “top pipes” exhaust system. In the process, the 918 Spyder is offering a glimpse of what Porsche Intelligent Performance may be capable of in future.

1818

bRandwatch

hollywood Besotted with rolls-royce founders

new details of 2014 volvo xc90 emerGe

porsche’s pluG-in hyBrid 918 spyder prototype on trial

breaking newsoutGoinG volvo xc90 to soldier on as hiGh-end Geely model in china

Volvo’s XC90 SUV may retire from active duty, but not entirely. The current XC90 which has served long for Volvo and will be phased out out soon isn’t stopping parent Geely from using the platform to launch a new high-end brand for domestic China.According to China Car Times, Volvo’s new XC90 will be launching in 2014, and after that the original will soldier on in China, at least in some form. The report does not make clear whether the first-generation XC90 will merely be re-badged, or if the platform will be used for a new Geely design.Automan’s takeA sensible strategy by Geely and we hope some other manufacturers, especially those operating in BRIC countries will offer similar ideas.

Oscar-winners Martin Scorsese and Richard Attenborogh are teaming up to make a film called Silver Ghost, based, in part, on the lives of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. The screenplay was written by Jeffrey Caine (Goldeneye) and playwright Sharman Macdonald, who also happens to be actress Kiera Knightley’s mom.According to people close to the industry, the biopic will be set at the dawn of the 20th Century, during the seminal days of the auto industry. But the report says the real hero of the story will be one Lord John Douglas-Scott Montagu, the Second Baron Montagu of Beaulieu and a member of British Parliament who used his position in British society to champion motoring.While we’re not quite sure what all that Barons and Lords stuff is about, reading that in 1899 Montagu drove the first car to enter the yard of the House of Commons made us think he must have been a decent enough chap. According to the report, he even launched a monthly car magazine. And like any good period-film protagonist, he was romantically linked to another key figure in the story, Eleanor Thornton, the woman who is believed to have inspired the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy mascot that became a defining feature of the marque.The film is still a long way from the screen, although Scorcese’s involvement can’t hurt its chances of getting made.

ToyotaToyota staged world premieres for three vehicles including a compact sedan and hatchback, both known as Toyota Dear Qin. These global-strategic concepts focusing on design are aimed at attracting more people to the user base. According to Toyota, Qin means dear or intimate and represents the wish for these models to become cherished by many. Also, specifically for China only, making its world debut was the Yundong Shuangqing concept hybrid. In Chinese, Yundong suggests “movement upon clouds” and is Toyota’s corporate slogan in China, designed to convey an image of innovation, dynamism and eco-friendliness. Shuangqing suggests “dual support” and signifies the two power sources of the petrol-electric hybrid system. The car’s hybrid system was developed primarily at the research and development centre of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (China) Co., Ltd. in Changshu.TMC President Akio Toyoda said: “We would like to put smiles on the faces of our Chinese customers with hybrid technology. I want the people of China to be able

to experience the beauty of hybrid technology through a hybrid car born in China.” The Yundong Shuangqing was also joined on stage by the GT 86 rear-wheel-drive sports car.Automan’s takeIn 2005, China became the first country outside of Japan where the Prius hybrid was built when Sichuan FAW Toyota Motor Co. Ltd. started making the third-generation model. And two years ago, GAC Toyota Motor Co., which is in China’s Guangdong Province, started making the Camry Hybrid.

HondaPrior to the show, Honda promised that it would launch at least four hybrids specifically for the Chinese market. Honda is doing well in China and is interested also in promoting the Acura – its premium brand which is currently sold only in US. Honda introduced several models from its global stables including the CR-Z, Fit and Insight hybrids. Rolls-RoyceUltra luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce is also on a roll globally and considering its Phantom is on the market for almost a decade and

shows no sign of aging, one does wonder how does the brand keep up with market aspirations? And with the next-generation model not expected to arrive for another few years, Goodwood is keeping the Phantom fresh with the Series II update. The revisions include a refreshed front end with new bumpers and adaptable LED headlamps, the latest in infotainment systems and a new eight-speed automatic transmission to help the 6.75-litre V12 marginally improve its emissions and fuel consumption figures.While, new or refreshed versions of the Phantom sedan, coupe and DHC convertible are already finding their way to customers around the world, the car maker waited until the Beijing Motor Show to unveil the new extended wheelbase model in a particularly popular in the Chinese market [where extra rear-seat legroom is deemed the pinnacle of luxury]. Not surprising, the Phantom Series II Extended Wheelbase model for China is 20 feet long!Also sharing the stand was Ghost-based Six Senses Concept which Rolls-Royce was promoting as a

More and more automakers are focusing their attention on the world’s most buoyant market – China. Evidence of this and more came at the recent 12th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition

We have been patiently waiting and watching developments in the global automotive scenario as trends have been suggesting a new trend and to some extent a shift in direction. By direction we mean, there’s more and more focus in BRIC [Brazil, Russia, India and China] from the global automotive players, but unprecedented is what has happened in the past few months. Beijing’s pitch as a host for a top class international motor show with some spectacular reveals and announcements couldn’t have come at a better moment than this. And the Beijing show also highlighted the impressive progress made by domestic brands – some of whom also now have export aspirations. Read on…

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highly-bespoke luxury model that encapsulates the richness of experience that comes as standard with any Rolls-Royce motor car and takes it to a new level of sensory indulgence.

Automan’s takeThe Rolls-Royce Ghost Six Senses Concept displayed at is not headed for production as of now. Basically, Rolls-Royce wanted to give a well-heeled Ghost buyer a realistic idea of what can be done as far as bespoke opportunities are concerned.

BugattiThe Italian iconic brand’s seven-figure, record-breaking supercar is getting more exclusive by the day and a special edition showcased in Beijing was no exception to the rule. The latest: a unique version of the Grand Sport roadster created for the show was reserved for one lucky customer. Dubbed as the Wei Long edition, this one-off Veyron celebrates the Year of the Dragon. It was born out of the same collaboration with Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur that gave us the previous blue-

and-white marbled Grand Sport L’Or Blanc edition. The China display car was done in white with red trim.

LamborghiniAn excited Lamborghini released teaser details of its much-talked about SUV concept hours before official unveil at Beijing. Despite the hype around it, the manufacturer made clear that the vehicle — called the Urus — was an exploratory concept and there are no plans to put it into immediate production.

Automan’s takeIt’s no coincidence that both Bentley and Lamborghini are entering or planning to enter new territory as far as marketing goes. As far as engineering goes these two will benefit tremendously from the parent group’s expertise and donor platforms. If the world-wide reaction is anywhere as enthusiastic as it was at Beijing, it could be ready for sale by 2016. Engine options might include the 6.0-litre W12 or the new 4.0-litre V8 from Bentley.

BentleyThe reception to the second outing of Bentley’s unchanged EXP 9 F SUV concept was again somewhat polarizing. Now that China and Middle East are being considered as safe haven for aspiring super luxury SUV makers, especially latecomers, Bentley and Lamborghini in particular, however, it was expected that Bentley would offer a revised glimpse of its EXP 9 F concept. Instead, David Hilton, Bentley’s newly-appointed chief of exterior design gave media an extended lecture the look of the future production version and some valuable insights into the brand’s future plans.On the powertrain point, Bentley boss Wolfgang Dürheimer had previously hinted at plug-in hybrid technology being an option, and announced that it was being considered for the upcoming SUV – so the question was – is this car going to receive the first application? Soon after the launch of the V8 models, Bentley has positioned the smaller V8 as the sporting option while targeting the

W12 at the prestige end of the market. This philosophy will also apply to the forthcoming SUV. Bentley will be sticking with a three-line model offensive once the SUV is launched, though there will be variants of each. The big seller will be the SUV, which Bentley is boldly predicting will attain a sales volume of around 15,000 units annually. To put that into perspective, this figure is more than double Bentley’s total sales in 2011.Hilton overview“The response [from customers] has been incredibly positive,” said David Hilton. “They love the presence of the vehicle and the personality it projects.” Hilton did suggest at Beijing that the styling could be toned down for the production version. However, the quad-circle light design would remain and so would the commanding driving position and general proportions. As for that rear-end, with its simple rectangle tail-lamps and contrasting oval exhausts, Hilton explained that this is a look that will be appearing on more Bentleys, including one that will

be revealed in the near future. Though he couldn’t say what that vehicle was, he did state earlier in the interview that the Continental GT would be redesigned soon. As for the styling for all these vehicles, you can rest assured that they will remain big and elegantly styled. “We will continue to hint at the past while remaining modern,” Hilton explained. “And there are no plans to build a smaller Bentley.”

Automan’s takeSo far, what goes in Bentley’s favour is that for first time any major automaker has explored building an SUV for customers interested in ultra-luxury despite denials about this segment several years ago. The final execution, in our opinion should depend on what feedback and pointer Bentley designers have been able to pick up and decide what’s good for the brand and whether the SUV design should be drastically modified keeping in mind the overall sentiment.

22{cOVeR stORY}

86 points to nirvanaIt seems almost a generation late in coming, but finally the

ultimate homage to the compact Japanese sports car is back with the Toyota 86

Author: Raj Warrior | Photography: Raj Warrior

editorial nominee

toyota 86

sports car

2012

editorial nominee

toyota 86

Best deBut

2012

23

This month was the month I was reborn. Figuratively and if I could impose my will on this world – quite literally. You

would think that as an automotive journalist I would have an answer for the most question asked to me all these years, “which is your favourite car?” But no, for years I have side-stepped answering this, for if truth be told while a lot of cars really stay at the top of mind even years after I have driven them, none really stands out above the rest. It may, perchance, be a result of the status levelling effects of the passage of time, but to me the answer has usually been a quick, “no single car in particular”. But this month changes that – I have had the Toyota 86 with me for a few days. I am told that we bawl at birth, so perhaps my concept of a rebirth is valid. There were definitely tears of joy as I threw the metallic orange car around the roads of Muscat and the hills around it, there were more tears when I had to return the car.

For the first time in a very long time, I can say that this car will stay on the top of my mind for quite sometime.

For the sports car enthusiast, the territory of the small 2.0-litre sports car has resembled a rather arid plain for some time. The only real contender remaining in the fray remained the Mazda MX-5. Honda’s S2000, which was one of the most hallowed of the breed bit the dust of economic necessity. I say this as an enthusiast and a follower who has even visited the factory where the S2000 and NSX were made – the move to stop the S2000 was the day the music died for Honda. Toyota had also its story to tell here, with massive growth on the backs of mainstream models around the world leading to the demise of some iconic sporty models like the Supra (drum roll here) and the Celica. Even the MR2 couldn’t stand up to the task of giving the brand a halo car.

Fast forward to the mid-2000s and the story changes. For in a first of its kind collaboration, engineers at Toyota and Subaru were tasked with developing a sports car that brought the best of both the brands and the engineering expertise behind them to market. Team 86, under Toyota chief engineer Tetsuya Tada and Subaru’s chief engineer Toshio Masuda brought together a platform that was just what the doctor had ordered for the brands. A compact, front-engine, rear-wheel drive architecture, with a low driver hip point and an almost perfect front-rear balance, driven by a 2.0-litre boxer engine.

Ah, it is time for purists to rejoice as the 86

comes to showrooms. First the obvious bits – the 86 is Toyota’s version of the combined platform, with Subaru’s BRZ slated for a late-2012 release in the region. Then to clear the confusion, the 86 is the GT86 in Europe and the Scion FR-S in the US. The car will be just the 86 in our region as well as in much of Asia.

I fell in love with the car the minute I first set eyes on it. The design is just so right, with its balance of aggressive hood, with even firmer attitude out of the scoops and lower airdam. The design has everything you want in the car, a great profile, a set of front and rear

haunches that do the job of setting the car ever so low while keeping the wheels at 17” and just the right amount of glass area. Even the roof has character, with the double domes of the pagoda roof adding much appreciated headroom without overly raising the height of the car. At only 1285mm high the car is all sports – and with a footprint over 4240mm long, 1775mm wide and on a wheelbase of 2570mm, you will wonder why there are still some overhangs left.

Of course in styling terms, I noticed the lack of an aggressive spoiler on the rear. Open the boot and yes, there is room for a decent sized unit. Perhaps this is because the design has been evolved in such a way that the airflow around the car is used to stabilise it with the presence of small fins on the underbody and even on the lights. But the message is that exerting excess downforce will also increase drag. However, I suspect that the real reason is because the 86 is also meant to be the equivalent of a body in grey

for purists to sculpt their magic on – the body can accommodate a roll-cage if needed and the air spoiler will no doubt end up being an after market addition.

Staying with the theme of getting the job right first time out – one of the first things you notice on the interiors is that the car is like no Toyota you have seen till now. Yes it does have the faint resemblance to the 2000GT and the kit car feel of the AE86, but most important in this context is that the interiors have a stitched elegance, soft-leather feel and switches and instrumentation that cannot be mistaken as having come from the Toyota part-bin. Even the steering wheel gets only an 86, while externally, other than the single Toyota badge on front and back, the identity is hogged by the 86 logo, with its image of the boxer layout and the implied 4 wheels in drift position.

Oh yes, that’s right. It seems an age since I could take the words Toyota and ‘intentional drift’ in the same breath. But that is exactly what the dynamics of this car all lead to – first of all with the 4-cylinder 2.0-litre boxer engine with its inherent low centre of gravity. While the engine is no doubt Subaru-derived, the header arrangement is all Toyota, with the provision of the brand’s D-4S system, which brings direct injection to the boxer engine. Uniquely the injection system uses a combination of high-pressure direct-injection into the cylinder with port-injection at the intake and can selectively use either or both to optimise performance. That and the square dimensions of the piston – with a bore and stroke of 86mm (!) make the engine capable of redlining at 7,400 rpm and even then you don’t get the abrupt fuel cut-off of other engines, just a phased feedback that coupled with the red upshift arrow in the IP tells you when to shift up. This engine represents another first from Toyota – it generates 200 horsepower from 2.0-litres without the use of a turbo. In its attempt to stay in touch with the young boy racer the car appeals to everyone. The car is available in markets with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Not in Oman – here we get one grade with the automatic only, but for once I cannot complain. Don’t misunderstand me, the manual is sure to be a blast, with its short-throw stick and triple-cone synchromesh for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears.

But the automatic is what we are offered and I loved it. Yes, it has short, sharp shifts. Yes it is programmed to blip on the way

I suspect that the real reason is because the

86 is also meant to be the equivalent of a

body in grey for purists to sculpt their magic

on.

compact powerhouse

24{cOVeR stORY}

Perfect bay proportions for accommodating the squat profile of the 2.0-litre boxer engine

Aggressive styling includes large taillights, with tiny aero fins

Both the IP and the climate control piano switches have no

Toyota feel - let alone the drilled aluminium pedals

Sporty feel

compact rear

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If there is one item we would change it would be to get a touch screen audio system, perhaps with a rear camera

monitor thrown in for good measure

The badge includes the boxer pistons, a conjoined 86 and four

wheels in drift in the number

Perhaps it is the red and black leather feel or just the overall hand-stitched quality that connects to costlier sportscar

interiors, but you get more than you pay for here

You can get in and out of the rear seats easier than sitting with your head so near the rear screen in this heat

For punters looking for a v12 normally-aspirated

26{cOVeR stORY}

In terms of a perfection, you cannot come closer to nirvana. the car starts off offering the driver a low hip

point at 400mm. apparently that is even lower than the Boxster offers.

down. And the response to the paddleshift is immediate. All you need to do is imagine that the car actually has a weak turbo sitting on it and keep it revved to just the wrong side of 1000rpm to get the gears to instantly respond. However, it is when the rev band hits the 4500rpm mark that stuff happens. First of all the quiet unassuming engine note fades away as a much throatier note sets in – and this is not from the use of complicated baffles in the exhaust. A sound box with a resonator is placed in such a way as to transmit the deeper notes through a rubber pipe into the cabin and it all adds to the fun.

Steering feel is spot on. I thought that the EPS would be a bit of a damper, but no – in fact it doesn’t sap engine power and it is firm, well-weighted and feedback actually exists.

In terms of a perfection, you cannot come closer to nirvana. The car starts off offering the driver a low hip point at 400mm. Apparently that is even lower than the Boxster offers. Then in terms of field of view you get a feel for the road from the top of the fenders that ar ein your view, the marked out cabin centre on top of the dash and the large rimless rearview mirror. Then the steering wheel falls into the equation with a dia of 365mm and a soft leathery feel. Your foot rests so nicely on the

brake and accelerator, without feeling in the least bit unnatural. You don’t have to twist and bend anything unless you are over 6’6” tall. If you are short, you can even get someone into the seats at the rear, otherwise the tunnel and the small seats are more a pleasant add-on. Yes you can open the reasonable size of

the boot to larger dimensions by folding the seatbacks down.

But back to the drive and the car is so perfectly tuned for that. To start with the car has no excess weight. Even the roof metal is only 0.65mm thick. High-tensile steel gives the car stiffness, but no you don’t get or even want

27

you feel this the moment you hit your first sharp turn. the car sits in a zone that is always a tad over the oversteer point.

Front mid engine layout, low torsion tube and a hip point that is 400mm and just rear of mid point all lend to great

dynamics in this 53:47 weight split car.

The mass of the engine sits low in between the wheels in a sweet spot where there is very little rocking and the vectors

are all flat

low centre of gravity

Perfect dynamic balance

28{cOVeR stORY}

I am sorry that I had to give the car back, I enjoyed it so much. I even managed to get all my neighbours coming

over to chat me up – only the guys of course.

The 2012 Toyota 86 at a glance

What is it about?Bringing Toyota back into the space of a small, affordable sports car. This one is engineered in collaboration with Subaru.

Categorise the car for meSports car, through and through. Front engine, rear wheel drive with a compact 4-cylinder engine, great gearbox and perfect front-rear balance. Oh yes, it is a 2-door, 2+2.

How big is it?On a wheelbase of 2570mm it has a length of 4240mm, width of 1775mm

and a height of only 1285mm. The car is lean and mean with only 1239kg kerb weight and a Cd of 0.27

Under the hoodA 2.0-litre boxer 4-cylinder engine with square 86mm stroke and bore and Toyota’s D-4S gasoline direct injection, a redline of 7,400rpm and a 12.5:1 compression ratio mated to a unique 6-speed Aisin auto gearbox.

Under the bodyFront engine, rear-wheel drive with TCS, VSC and the works. MacPherson struts at the front, Double wishbones

at the rear with stabilizer bars. Brakes are vented discs front and rear, 294mm in front and 290mm rear. Electric power steering.

How does it handle?Always a hair’s breadth in oversteer, obedient to steering inputs and can be steered easily through brake pedal application. Body is tight, yet suspension has just the right amount of give and rebound.

HighlightsAffordable sports car for everyone, with good interiors, roomy cabin, snug

seats, excellent lumbar support and an everyday usability.

What competition does it have?Nothing. Perhaps the MX-5 to some extent. Definitely the BR-Z when that comes to town.

And I would buy it for?We could tell you Styling, balance, performance, affordability or just say – it’ll bring a smile to your face that won’t go away.

The original AE86 was a small, lightweight coupe powered by a fuel-injected 4-cylinder twin-cam 4A-GE series 1,587cc in Japan and Europe. The model was introduced by Toyota in 1983 as part of the fifth generation Toyota Corolla lineup. For the purpose of brevity, the insider-chassis code of “AE86” is used to describe the whole range. In classic Toyota code, the “A” represents the engine that came in the car (4A series), “E” represents the Corolla, “8” represents the fifth generation (E80 series) and “6” represents the variation within this generation. The AE86 was rear wheel drive (unlike the front wheel drive CE80, EE80 and AE82 models), and was among the last rear-drive cars of its type, at a time when most passenger cars were being switched to front-drive. In 1987, there was a limited edition model of the AE86 called “Black Limited” that served as a send-off model before the AE86 chassis was replaced later that year by the front wheel drive AE92 Corolla/Sprinter range. In Japan, the AE86 was also known as the Hachi-Roku Japanese for “eight-six”. And depending on market it was sold as Toyota Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno. Both the Levin and Trueno variants were offered with either a 2-door coupe or 3-door hatchback styles. The Levin and Trueno were generally identical, apart from fixed, rectangular headlights on the Levin and pop-up headlights on the Trueno. Minor bodywork changes were made in 1986 which resulted in different tail lights for both Levin and Trueno models, along with the coupe and hatchback styles. The models sold between 1983–1985 are sometimes referred to as “zenki” (early period), and the models sold from 1986–1987 are referred to as “kouki” (later period).The 4A-GE engine had a maximum gross power output of 120 PS and 142 Nm [net]. The AE86 came with a 5-speed manual gearbox, and later came with the option of an automatic. During its production life, the AE86 was a popular choice for showroom stock, Group A, and Group N racing, especially in rallying and circuit races. Even after production of the car was discontinued, many privateer teams still raced the AE86, and it is still a popular choice for rallying and club races today. The rear wheel drive configuration, combined with the AE86’s light weight (approximately 950–970 kg), balance and relatively powerful and easy to tune engine made it popular among the Japanese hashiriya (street racers in Japan).

29

a go-kart ride. When you turn in under hard acceleration you can feel the slight give of the front suspension. The layout is MacPherson struts in front and double wishbones in the rear, with anti-roll bars. Even the lower L-shaped arm has been reversed to allow the engine to ride lower. The Centre-of-gravity of the car sits at 460mm and in the general area of the hip point so you are sitting on the car’s performance fulcrum. And the weight balance is kept at 53% in thr front, 47% in the rear. You feel this the moment you hit your first sharp turn. The car sits in a zone that is always a tad over the oversteer point. You can slip the rear out even without trying at a low 2500rpm. If you really want to try the car will drift away as you please. Of course it isn’t the rear-wheel drive muscle car of the Mustang-Camaro brigade and it doesn’t have to be. You get all the excitement at a fraction of the grunt. This is aided by the 1240kgs kerb weight.

Quite unlike the old Toyota, this car has two sport modes. The regular sport mode tells your Auto gearbox that it needs to hold gears longer, start from 1st gear and allow the engine to rev way higher. In the VSC Sport mode, the Vehicle Stability control knows that you are looking for a larger performance envelope, allows you to drift and skid and still knows when to hold back just enough to keep on all wheels. But this wouldn’t be a sports car unless you could switch this controller off and all that takes is holding it down for more than 3 seconds. Now you have a raw car that is innately balanced, with a lot of torque and the low centre of gravity to have some fun.

I wouldn’t have stayed in love with the car if it didn’t also double up as a very handy regular ride. Getting in and out is no great trouble, low hip point or not all you need to do is plant your rear and slide your legs in and they have even provided a nice red grip pad to lever yourself out. The interiors are soft, the sound system is good (not great, but here again we see some customisation coming in) and the car takes USB input and streaming bluetooth. The dials are all sporty, with a large rev meter, digital speed readout, an additional swept speedometer and a gear indicator that tells you when to upshift and downshift, though you can choose to ignore it until you hit the redline. And engine start is through a Start/Stop button placed in a carbon-fibre like panel. Oh yes and the 86 even offers cruise control and a highly effective air-conditioner, which in the spirit of the good old cars of yore seems to add to the performance when you switch it off. As indicated before, there is enough handy storage around, even for bottles, a large knick-knacks tray and entry into the rear two seats is not too difficult, although the weather does play spoilsport by cooking the rear of your neck in the sun.

I am sorry that I had to give the car back, I enjoyed it so much. I even managed to get all my neighbours coming over to chat me up – only the guys of course. But then this is a guy’s car out and out. It transcends age and at only 12,000 rials it effectively transcends the money divide. I could buy it and so could most of you. If ever driving meant anything to you, if drifting just that little bit at a cross roads brings a smile to your face and if you still believe you can be emotional and sensible at the same time – you need to get an 86.|

Blast from the past

The Europe spec GT86 seen here behind two of the influencers – the two-cylinder boxer 800 and the dramatic

2000GT. The AE86 was heavily customised (below)

Compact SUVs seem to be getting a lot of attention from family users in particular these days and this is not

just a regional phenomenon. The trends worldwide are suggesting consumers shift in preferences especially when it comes to family SUVs. This segment as of now is the most active with a selection of models from almost every manufacturer and even new first timers joining the growing list vying for attention.

Honda and compatriot Toyota are pioneers of the crossover SUV craze which they began in mid 90s. Honda began the experience by engineering the then Civic platform and subsequent generations have firmly established the CR-V as the benchmark vehicle in its class in terms of quality, refinement and popularity.

The all-new 2012 Honda CR-V is the fourth generation of Honda’s most popular and widely acclaimed SUV in the global market. Honda created the original concept of this class of lifestyle utility model as a Comfortable Runabout Vehicle and hence the initials CR-V. The package was a revolution for its time -- four-doors with five-passenger accommodation and useful running gear. The successful pioneering philosophy continues and with each new version Honda has introduced is in general an improvement on the previous generation.

While, it is not surprising that the incoming CR-V retains its familiar profile and stance, beneath the familiar sheetmetal, the CR-V is reportedly based on a completely new platform that factors in improvements like improved interior space, a lower load floor, and a lower overall height.

The 2012 CR-V rides on a 103.1in wheelbase

and measures 178.3in in length which means it is 0.8in shorter than the previous-generation. At 71.6in, its overall width is unchanged and at 61.6in front/61.6in rear, the track is also the same. But the most significant departure is in height: at 65.1in tall, it is noticeable 1.0in lower on AWD models and 1.4in lower on FWD models.

At first glance its styling definitely falls more toward evolutionary than revolutionary category as it seems to have received specialized touches from its designers. While

most of the design changes are minor, one does note some of the family design DNAs which have dictated the headlamps to become sleeker, a lowered by an inch roofline and the side sheet metal sculpting bit more pronounced or aggressive. The most notable design difference is both functional and cosmetic -- front face is more corporate, a little sleeker and softer

round the corners. The grille still sports three horizontal bars but is wider spaced and the lower valance appears more pronounced with built in fog lamps. The bonnet sculpting has been reversed from convex to concave and wheel arches are bolder – all combined to give the new CR-V a stronger stance. Meanwhile, at the rear, the tailgate and tail lamp are re-done and appear more contemporary than anything currently available in the segment. The rearview of the 2012 CR-V looks complete, as if the stylists knew where they wanted to go when they started and finished the job. Overall, Honda designers are to be commended for not messing too much with the established and accepted design format.

Inside the cabin, the atmosphere is familiar and the model now offers a lot more than its

In the family business

although honda was delayed in introducing this model due to unprecedented circumstances, it has got its agenda spot on with the all-new 2012 cr-v, says automan

30

Photography: Raj Warriorhonda’s challenge was

to get the delayed production models

out onto the market in the aftermath of

production disruptions due to tsunami and earthquake issues

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editorial nominee

2012 honda cr-v

small suv2012

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Revisions include reworked powertrain and introduction of econ

mode for fuel efficiency. New dimensions and lowered rear

bay make the car more convenient. Lowered roofline doesn’t

compromise headroom Electric power steering feedback could

have been improved

predecessor. The finish is Honda-spec, with everything fitting snugly and pleasantly styled panels and trim pieces complimenting each other. However, to a trained eye, there’s ample evidence of Honda’s apparent cost-cutting efforts in places. Honda’s decision to go with hard plastic surfaces everywhere but the door armrests is somewhat disappointing.

While exterior designers lowered the roofline by an inch, interior designers had to live with it as there wasn’t much scope to save headroom. Seats are comfortable, with adequate if not remarkable thigh support. The shift lever is in the central console pod as before. The instrument panel is high tech and gets a simplified streamlined look with two layers. Climate controls are just below audio

controls and there’s a small, five-inch ‘i-MID’ trip-computer and audio screen in the recess in the centre of the dash. We liked the idea of simple gauges and straightforward switchgear. While the centre console runs between the front seats, it has been redesigned to include cupholders, a tray, two storage compartments and a USB port.

Drivers will note that on each side of the large round speedometer is a thin light strip that glows green to signal when the engine is optimizing fuel economy or blue when pushed. The rear cargo compartment is slightly larger when the rear seats are folded, but the cargo compartment is no longer perfectly flat. As new and fresh as the dash looks, it also hints at Honda’s efforts to shave costs on the 2012

33

CR-V. Nearly all surfaces are hard plastic. The surfaces are visually pleasing, with upscale-looking graining and metallic-like finishes, but the touch-feel communicates otherwise. This niggle gets overtaken as Honda’s engineering and management of the rear cargo spaces get top marks by outclassing all the competitors in the segment except the RAV4 because it has what we think is simply the best rear seat-folding arrangement of any vehicle in this class and with the rear seat backs up, there’s an impressive 37.2 cubic feet available. Useful kit includes side cargo net and higher spec levels get a removable and retractable cargo cover. Fold the back seats down, and an

almost flat cargo floor that’s 61.4 inches long is available. We note that the cargo floor has been dropped resulting in lift over height of just 23.6in.

Modern other convenient features include Bluetooth-enabled hands-free capability and streaming audio. Also included is a rearview camera, and its multi-angle unit that lets the driver choose between a top view and either a 130-degree or a 180-degree view. Automatic climate control, leather, heated front seats and a premium, 328-watt audio system with a subwoofer are in the package.

The incoming generation comes with the usual bells and whistles that have become

standard with Honda’s generally conservative policy, but the bonus is Honda’s focus on enhancing powertrain efficiency. As before, there is only one engine offered, which is an upgraded version of the previous CR-V’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder that now produces188bhp and 240Nm of torque with one transmission choice. However, the transmission has been upgraded over the 2011 version with revised gear ratios. With these enhancements, Honda promises a 10 per cent improvement in fuel economy. The CR-V’s suspension system uses a MacPherson strut design in the front and a precise multi-link rear suspension and the compact multi-link suspension has also helped

This engine has an almost Dr Jekyll and Mr hyde nature to it. It may be a bit short in the cc’s but more than makes up for it with GDI and turbocharging

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maximize second-row seating and cargo space. And depending on trim levels -- 17in or 16in rims are offered with 225/65R17 or 215/70R16 all-season tyres. The spare wheel is a space saver.

As with the trend in the new Hondas, new on the 2012 CR-V is the Eco-Assist system. This is designed to adjust transmissions shift points and will gently retard acceleration to improve fuel economy. The good thing is that the Eco-Assist can be overridden by the driver at will. Also included is hill-start assist, which applies the brakes when the car is stopped on an incline and releases them when the driver touches the accelerator.

Driving impressionsSince there’s some tweaking in the powertrain, the car’s mid range appears peppier now but where this car really shines over the older car is in its seamless power delivery. The car definitely feels a lot more comfortable on the highway thanks to its stress-free power delivery.

On highways and asphalt, the ride and handling is solid without being overly firm and stable with little body lean in corners even at elevated speeds. While driving this car, one hardly notices that there are only five gears, while most of the competition has moved up to 6-speed transmissions as the ratios are very well spread out. Surface irregularities are mostly filtered before they reach the occupants.

While the new electric power steering has been integrated with more jobs -- it now complements the electronic stability control system by helping stabilize the CR-V during heavy braking and introducing a degree of corrective steering input to mitigate understeer (when the vehicle wants to go straight instead of turn) and oversteer (when the vehicle wants to turn more than the driver intends). But in terms of feel and feedback it follows what most of the industry faces – a good amount of numbness instead of sharpness. Although the current trend in the automotive business is to replace energy consuming hydraulic power steering set-ups in favour of electric ones, very few carmakers have actually been able to remove that numb feeling altogether, including Honda.

Despite the introduction of electric power steering system to the CR-V and retuned suspension for a better ride and reduced harshness, compared to the previous version the car the cabin is quieter, thanks to the excellent double door seals and bolstered the body structure, but the overall handling has marginally improved and we think Honda engineers could do some work out here.

35

VerdictWhile there may be better cars when it comes to performance and dynamics, the new CR-V scores a lot of points as an ideal city car thanks to its user friendly nature. Although, it hasn’t changed much, but the meaningful refinements keep it at the top of its class, for the mission it has in mind. If you’re cross-shopping compact crossover vehicles for family use, you’ll definitely want to put the 2012 Honda CR-V on the list.

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editorial nominee

2012 infiniti fx35

premium suv2012

Look into the heart of Infiniti and you will find emotion there. But that is hardly the feeling when you sit through a press

conference and have to see a video presentation by the chief engineer and designers where the subject matter is the emotional aspect of the FX’s design but the people concerned hardly show any emotion at all on their faces. The communication is strong about the ideas that get into the styling of the car including the use of Japanese brush strokes to define the shape and the soul of the car. But you wouldn’t know it from the steely demeanour of the protagonists. In some ways it is the essence of the Infiniti brand – emotion is there in the form of the products, the sublime powerhouses that propel them and the driver environment that is just that little bit different than any other luxury brand’s. But all of this is hidden behind the minimalist showrooms, the monochromatic use of colour and basic solidness of the sheet-metal on the cars.

We are admirers of the design-led form of the brand. The first generation FX was a telling indictment of the basic ugliness of most other SUVs. In many ways, the FX redefined the construct of the SUV form, bringing an abbreviated sports car profile to the largeness of the utility and proportioning it such a way that you got the messages – rear-wheel-drive, powerful engine, no excess volume or weight. The second-generation only built on it, with styling elements embellished further, path-breaking use of technologies like lane departure warning and around view and the evolution of a uniquely formed grille.

Which is one of the things we couldn’t

understand with the 2012 model that is sold in the region as all-new. The first thing you notice about the FX is the grille. It is nothing like the previous models – having given away its unique model-specific identity to move closer to a brand oneness. Now, between the FX and EX, their grilles look like adaptations of the QX grille. Is it bad? Not at all. The judicious use of chrome and the dark spaces in between highlight the new form of the grille with the strong top arch, a mirrored bottom and a cinched waist, sitting in between two

of the best stylized headllights in the business, albeit looking like they have been lifted straight off a sports car.

The hood has an aggressive sweep down to the grille, without influencing the profile, since the fender over the wheel is still high. This actually adds to the sports car feel – imagine the Jag E-type

pulled into slightly different proportions!Likewise at the rear, with the taillights

taking cues off the headlight’s twin humps and the rear number plate garnish mimicking the grille. The roof slopes down aggressively in this case, to provide a small rear glass hatch below a high-mounted spoiler.

But it is the profile that ends up being the most appealing, with the windshield rising upwards from a point far behind the front wheels, a compact greenhouse and the driver’s hip point being more than midway to the rear. And this is one SUV that doesn’t look slab-sided in the least -look at the body form, the use of chrome lower down and the chrome vents behind the front wheel.

From the driver’s seat the view outwards could almost be one from a car until you

Fashion statement utility

with a new look propelling the FX into its 2012 model year, the car remains as appealing as ever. automan reports.

37

Author: Raj Warrior Photography: Raj Warrior while FX purists may

lament the move from the identifying grille, the new look brings

with it better cohesion as a family of sUvs

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The 2012 Infiniti FX at a glance

realise that you are looking at the roofs of other cars and that you have an inordinate amount of legroom in this layout. The steering wheel is feature-packed and the stepped layout of the centre-console adds to the brand’s uniqueness. Our test car was the FX35 with a nicely grained wood panelling around the gearshift and the door panels – combined with the asymmetric cabin layout and the deeply scooped out area over the dash on the

passenger side, there is a symphony of lines, elements and high-quality form inviting you in and encapsulating you.

The features that you expect from the FX are there – a good 7” colour display, high quality sound system with USB and bluetooth integration and a 3D navigation map with bread-crumbing. Additionally the major selling point here is the around view system. For any SUV user, the match between the camera and

an accurate audio read off the parking sensors is usually good enough. But as we learnt a few times in the smaller sized parking spaces now prevalent, the around view monitor is definitely the way to go. It isn’t difficult to understand the way in which the four cameras feed into a system that distorts and aligns the images in a way that makes it seem as if there is a bird’s eye view from above.

The FX35 is powered by Infiniti’s VQ35HR

What is it about?Style, elegance and oodles of power in a package that drives like a car, yet is all SUV as far as performance needs.

Categorise the car for mePremium segment SUV with two variants. The 35 caters to immediate volume competition, while the 50 brings in the performance lovers.

How big is it?On a wheelbase of 2885mm it has a length of 4859mm, width of 1928mm and a height of 1679mm with the roof rails. In terms of weight too it is sleek

and lightweight – under two tonnes kerb weight at 1943kgs.

Under the hoodTwo great engines – with the FX35 having a 3.5 V6 with 303hp and 355Nm. The larger V8 5.0-litre has 390hp and a whopping 500Nm of torque. Either engine is coupled with a 7-speed gearbox and Infiniti’s rear-biased AWD system.

Under the bodyFront engine, rear-wheel drive AWD. Double Wishbones front, Multi-link rear. All the bells and whistles for ESP and

Traction control with active rear wheel steer in the FX50. Vented brake discs at front and rear.

How does it handle?Heavier than a car, but on-road you can push the FX35 quite hard without the rear stepping out. The inherent balance is good and just a little brake fade. Steering feel is light, just a shade too insulated in road feel.

HighlightsPowerful engine, smooth gearbox, handy AWD and a pack of features that make it stand out. Around view is

worth every penny in tight situations.

What competition does it have?The FX35 could be pegged against the RX350, but the FX50 then stands out. But it is more an emotional buy altogether and as such competes with the X6 and ML350 and 500 too.

And I would buy it for?Styling, balanced power, good handling and the ability to stay differentiated. Definitely worth the money.

The FX has lost none of its sexiness , with a profile that looks like it is lifted off a sports car

39

The Infiniti analogue clock highlights the brand’s identity into this nicely evolved centre console

Cockpit feel and the push-button start are part of the

sporty feel of the FX

the seven-speed gearbox brings out the best in the front-engine, rear-biased awd, allowing quick manual shifts and rev-matching on the

downshifts, besides holding gears longer

V6 3.5-litre engine, which is a lightweight, yet powerful unit generating just above 300 horsepower at a peak 6,800rpm and 355Nm

at 4,800rpm. This high-revving engine uses a hugely over-square piston arrangement with its 95.5mm bore and 81.4mm stroke coupled to a seven-speed auto gearbox and the ATTESA E-TS AWD system, that uses the vehicle’s longitudinal engine, provides for a largely rear-wheel drive bias but ensures that there is more than enough

power available at all the wheels should the opportunity present itself.

The advantages of using a powerful engine, with its peaky power delivery and the 7-speed learning gearbox can’t be overrated. The AWD system shifts the power split from 100% on the rear to an even power split on both axles, but it is the quick-shifting gearbox that impresses more. It matches revs on the downshift, allows you to tap the lever back up in a split second and holds gears ever so nicely on the downhill. Even without the FX50’s bells and whistles that include active rear wheel steer, the 35 is a blast on corners. You can feel the power shift around the wheels as the weight shifts and ever so often the TCS has to knick in to prevent wheelspin as the wheel mount unloads. The suspension is a combination of double wishbones and multilink on this fully independent layout and the 50 adds charm to this with continuous damping control with two settings. The FX35 manages without but you really cannot complain about it.

Around view is a plus point that sets the FX apart from the

rest of the segment

There is just a small amount of excess body roll on the corners,

but that is more than compensated by the dynamic aspects of

the chassis

Any disappointment over the grille can be offset

with the knowledge that the headlight still looks

like it is from a sports car. The FX35 gets a

unique split type 5-spoke wheel.

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If there is any contra point at all it would be in the idea that you could have rear window controls that don’t have an Auto mode. Also that the FX is so America centric that it comes with the foot pedal parking brake and the dual lock for the doors.

In terms of competitiveness, the FX35 in particular and the series in general have it all – it stands out in the style department, hammers away the competition with its choice of the smaller and larger engines and builds on the base of a sports SUV well.

41

having a v8 5.0 and v6 3.5 on offer allows the FX to compete with the entry premium sUv as well as the higher echelons. chances are that the money will follow the FX50 and good sense the FX35

Even the 3.5-litre

unit is more than

needed with its 300+

horsepower mated

to a 7-speed gearbox

and a competent AWD

system. Then you

aspire for the 5.0

Mitsubishi’s Outlander crossover sports utility has been soldiering on for a while

in the Sultanate and it’s not surprising that this model still looks fresh and appealing in the growing crowd of crossover SUVs. Thanks to Mitsubishi Motor Corporation’s focus on this global model which has received a volley of updates and technical enhancements.

The most notable styling refresh was done in 2010 when the Outlander received a new face, largely inspired by its high-performance sports sedan - the Lancer Evolution. This timely facelift helped the Outlander to add more than a dash of spice in the segment.

As part of this special issue on SUVs and pick-up trucks, we recently checked out both versions of the Outlander in the Saqr mountain region in the Sultanate. While spending a day with both variants – the 2.4-litre four cylinder and the 3.0-litre V6, one doesn’t fail to notice that the interior is a smart mix of usefulness and material choices. The fabric-clad seats are comfortable for all - especially the front seats as they feature good torso and thigh support - while there is ample headroom for even the taller passengers. Besides a cosy interior, there’s evidence of features that a practical family car has to have such as plenty of storage space and cubbys for knick-knacks and a simple to operate controls for the multimedia set-up or air-conditioning. Mitsubishi have provided a total of five cup holders and even a centre armrest that moves fore and aft for the driver. Besides these, the way cargo space can be managed is commendable through the innovative flat folding rear seats.

Behind the steering wheel one gets a good command view despite the fact the car has a high waist line. Seating is comfortable and finding the right ride height is an easy affair. On the highway, even at cruising speeds the car appears quite smooth and responsive. Despite its tall body and high ground clearance, it offers a comfortable ride and is relatively predictable in its handling.

In terms of outright handling, the fuel-

efficient 170hp 2.4-litre four cylinder DOHC MIVEC engine paired with belt driven CVT transmission is generally entertaining to drive. Steering is a bit firm but comes with reasonable feedback, while the paddle shifters provided rapid-fire up and down-shifts similar to those in cogged transmissions.

After crossing the police check point, the real ascent drive began through the twisty and we were advised to engage the car’s 4WD. Unlike some 4x4s which have a complicated way of doing things, it is a fairly simplified affair out here. The 4WD Outlanders have a central dial control to electronically select 2WD, 4WD and 4WD Lock. Traction control is standard but with the absence of a low ratio transfer box and no Descent Control, going down very steep hills off road is all about being in the right gear. We reached our target height of 2,004m without any issues at all. The lightweight, electronically controlled 4WD system’s power transfer unit has its work cut out quite nice.

Meanwhile, the top end Outlander is offered in the GLS trim with 223hp 3.0-litre V6 SOHC MIVEC engine and is also paired with continuously variable transmission (CVT) with six-step sports manual mode. The powertrain is smooth but is capable of delivering surprising torque steer when you stab the throttle pedal, but the all-wheel-drive system seemed to kick in quick enough to control the car’s movements.

Considering that fact that Outlander has been engineered on the Lancer platform, as a SUV feels quite solid as a result of its modern construction which factors in Mitsubishi’s innovative RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Engineering) unibody. As this is more of a family car, active and passive safety features are places where Mitsubishi engineers paid a lot of attention. In terms of safety scores, the Outlander has received the highest crash safety rating from the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in US for front- and rear-impact crash tests.

competent and stylishstyling and

technology upgrades keep the 2012 Mitsubishi outlander sUv in vogue despite increased competition

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Verdict The Outlander is a positioned as family vehicle which can tackle most day-to-day jobs comfortably. Whether a trip to the beach or an impulsive drive to the mountains, it is capable of servicing the demands without much fuss. And the best part now is that the prices of the Outlander have been corrected and hence it is now more competitive in all departments.

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editorial nominee

ford fusion

mid-size car2012

The calendar year 2012 dawned with the regional car industry back in full form. From the number of launches of

new cars, upgraded regulars and some really intense brand activity, you know that there is a sense of catching up with the lull of the past few years.

In this automotive space it is interesting to see that Ford has neither lost its enthusiasm or competitiveness. Admittedly not the most competitive of brands in the region due to a host of historic issues, it now seems like it is bringing the full weight of its new global focus on the Middle East. In this context a mainline product like the Fusion takes on added importance. The Fusion went through a major model upgrade with the 2010 model year and the whole package was tailored to compete with the Camry and Accord in the US.

The car has beaten Ford’s expectations with sales in 2010 beating the 200,000 mark, which hasn’t happened for Ford since its heydays in the early 2000s.

The car is built on Ford’s CD3 platform, which has been the major building block for many successful cars and crossovers including the Mazda 6, CX9 and Mercury Milan and the Edge. With this platform Ford has effectively taken the fight into the opposing camp. In the region the advantage of being able to order models from the brand’s global portfolio meant that dealers were selling two cars that had related roots but were essentially different in the current generation of the Mondeo and Fusion. However, it isn’t as if the platform completely defines the vehicle and

the differences in the European made Mondeo and the American made Fusion mean that the Fusion can be offered at a better price point, especially with the Free Trade Agreement in place between the US and a country like Oman.

The shift to making the US a maufacturing hub for cars that are brought to the region has only become more accented in this year, with VW and Honda also shifting mainstream model procurement to the US, largely due to our direct linkage to the dollar and the

reduction in import tariffs.

For 2012, the car has not gone through any major revisions other than a standardisation of the 6-speed auto gearbox in both the S and SE models. The pricing on the car begins at a cash price of RO 7,595/- onwards.

We had reported on the car last year that:

The Fusion always enjoyed a good platform – what it suffered from was a particular blandness. With the 2010 MY evolution, things have changed significantly. The low-cost nature of the platform evolution still allowed for a redesign of the outer skin. The visual distinction is apparent right from the new look Ford grille with the three large bars. There is a distinct effort to provide variance across the fascia – the headlights have also got a shape, a trapezoidal one that matches in with the grille. The car gets projector lamps, additionally the headlight assembly is now horizontally laid out as opposed to the stacked layout of the previous car.

Other major changes include a busy lower airdam, with the design signature carried around the car with a three-dimensional effect

A fusion of form and substance

while the excitement has moved on to crossovers, the c-d segment in cars continues to be mainstream and Ford’s 2012 Fusion aims to stay competitive.

45

Author: Raj Warrior Photography: Raj Warrior

the overwhelming impression is

of a competent commuter sedan,

quiet, responsive and composed.

The interiors still have their fair share of upmarket features like rear a/c vents and controls and the Audi MMI with the

large slide out monitor. But as you can see the parking graphic is based on the sonic sensors and not on a camera,

while the system does not get navigation.

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What is it about?Taking the battle for the C/D segment straight to the Camry and Accord, with Ford having gained a lot of converts.

Categorise the car for meMainstream C/D segment sedan, with a highly competent engine and gearbox, coupled with segment standard features and good NVH.

How big is it?4841mm long, 1834mm without mirrors, 1445mm high on a wheelbase of 2728mm. Kerb weight from 1490kgs.

Under the hoodThat’s where the car really shines – a competent 2.5L 4-cylinder Duratec engine with a rated max horsepower of 175hp

and a max torque of 233Nm.

Under the bodyFront engine, front wheel drive. Independent short- and long-arm with stabilizer bar at front, Multilink, fully independent with twistblade lower control arms, stabilizer bar at the rear. ABS, EBD, AdvanceTrac and Traction control through

front ventilated discs and rear solid.

How does it handle?Its not a Mondeo. There is just a little excess give in corners, soft recoil and just a hint of gearbox lag. Smooth gearshifts through the range.

HighlightsAs the only real C/D segment contender in

the showroom it has managed quite nicely to offer a good price point for getting more customers

What competition does it have?A long list of C/D cars, most of which are finding it hard to stay at the price point. New Korean competition in the Sonata and Optima.

And I would buy it for?Excellent NVH, reasonable build quality, reliable engine and gearbox. Roomy interiors and a good sound system. Interiors are to segment levels.

The 2012 Ford Fusion at a glance

The SE grade gets a decidedly nice interior with

MyKey entry and the full-function steering wheel

Tightly packaged, the 2.5-litre Duratec provides

good pick-up and is a good match for the 6-speed

auto gearbox

Small bits of flash on a refined

shape. The headlight has a unique layout.

given to the rear deck by the addition of a notch as well as redesigned taillights.

In the process the 2010 and later models manage to look more aggressive than before. This is communicated by the relatively squat height of 1445mm on a length of 4841mm on a wheelbase of 2728mm. The large 17” inch wheels boost that impression.

Less aggressive, yet far more modern are the interiors. The steering wheel regains the simplicity of the traditional Ford layout, with all the cruise control and audio buttons coming onto the inner boss. The S variant gets only the former. However, the speedo console is common with a large three circle layout in vignetted blue and white to mark the points.

The light controls sit on the console, while the wiper, turn signal and dipper controls are on a stalk on the left of the steering wheel, with no stalk on the right.

The Fusion also gets a more pronounced treatment of the dashboard that removes most of the horizontal elements in favour of a vertically aligned layout. The SE version of the car gets a 6-speaker Sony sound system along with power operated driver’s seat to boost the already formidable offering in terms of a 6-airbag complement, Advance Trac with Stability control and Traction Control.

The steering wheel also is claimed to be improved because of a new electronic power assist. At low speeds it does help a lot, especially in the parking lot. However at speeds, the steering doesn’t load up, remains soft and has a dead centre.

The long wheelbase of the car adds some useful legroom to the rear seats as well as shortened overhangs. The strength of the car as a family car is furthered by the roominess of the cabin and the excellent NVH that isolates

47

practically all noise. This is a feature that is increasingly becoming a part of the Ford Line-up. The Fusion is powered by a 4-cylinder 2.5-litre Duratec engine that generates 175 horsepower and a torque of 233Nm, making it more than enough to handle day to day activities in the Fusion.

On straight roads the Fusion’s composure is its strength. The gearbox responds quickly and almost imperceptibly and at most stretches you have to rein back the engine to stay in speed limits. However when you hit the curves two things happen – the body roll comes creeping in and the gearbox doesn’t move fast enough allowing the engine to get loaded. Of course we can overcome that with the neat little manual override button on the top of the gear lever. That is an acquired skill since we normally expect to do something a lot more overt. Also using the manual shift mode with the little +/- toggle is dependant on slotting the lever into M first. Try getting used to your thumb doing all the work with no input from the rest of your arm.

All in all the Fusion does a good job of competing with the run of the mill C-D segment sedans. It offers size, comfort, power and a compelling package – at a price that stays competitive in these times of a rising Yen and Euro. And this remains true for the 2012 model too.

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Model line-up refreshes are getting interesting considering that more models are having to enter a bridging

action to fight all-new cars as they enter the market. Perhaps the economic roller coaster of the past few years has added a sense of unpredictability and urgency to the equation – but manufacturers can no longer put a model in the market and consider it new and fresh with just the usual model year bumper and trim renewals. The XF is now at that point in its model cycle where exactly that proposition needed to be tackled and it definitely looks like Jaguar have managed to get some excitement back into the car.

To be fair to Jaguar you have to consider that the XF can almost be considered the child that signified the revamp under the new management. It was conceived and engineered well ahead of the alliance, but fruition was under the hand of the Tatas and that in itself would have been good enough for most new owners. But this investment is definitely for the long term and we have seen the XF blossom in its role as the new entry level Jaguar (replacing the S-type), while bridging the gap from the old entry-level of the X-type to an all-new performance level with the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine.

What does the car now bring in its 2012 guise. Of course the external visual clues are the most important element of the refresh – outer skin can be reshaped and elements like the headlights and taillights can be modernised without blowing too deep a hole in engineering and production budgets. The XF has taken this path, while having a new benchmark to aspire to in the time since it first launched – the bigger, better and decidedly

more aggressive looking XJ is a good enough act to emulate.

Styling has been very careful that the XF does not stray too much in the process of upgrading its looks mid-model life. The small cues you should look for are the way in which the front fascia says it is an XF and you then have to do a double-take to see what the changes were. The most prominent part of the change is around the lower valance of the bumper – but then this is usually the part that gets the most changed. The next part that is visible is the hood join line adjacent to the grille – the join has risen higher, taking the interface between the headlights and the

hood to a plane that lies with the top of the contoured headlights, rather than trying to match the bottom as before.

The headlight assembly itself has changed – the highest point of the top contour is now pushed outwards, away from the centre line of the projector

lamp, thereby softening the sweep. The small DRLs around the projector have also been done away with – with a move to a line of LEDs that now fit along the bottom and outer edges of the assembly, largely because new technology allowed the main lamps to get bi-function HID xenons and to become smaller. This fringe is called as the J-blade signature look. The front and rear lower valances have changed significantly – different grades get one of three new layouts there.

The same use of a changed light signature is present on the rear with the new fully LED equipped layout extending inwards on to the rear lid – nicely offset by the strong element of chrome across the width of the lights. If all you get is a look from the side – then look out

Jaguar keeps the 2012 XF fresh

powered by a new global focus, Jaguar Land rover brings a refreshed XF to the region. automan drives the car.

48

Author: Raj Warrior Photography: Raj Warrior

replacing the s-type with a new version of the platform, the XF has become the car

that connects Jaguar to the numbers.

fIRst dRIVe49

editorial nominee

JaGuar xf 3.0

premium car2012

J blade LED lighting, new taillight arrangement and

the pleasure of having blind spot monitoring are only

some of the reasons this car stays fresh

fIRst dRIVe50

The 2012 Jaguar XF at a glance

for the new shape of the side vents behind the front wheels. Also take a good look at the mirrors.

The interiors have also been upgraded – not just in the electronics as you would expect in a mid-life upgrade elsewhere. Again the ghost of the XJ hangs over the head of the engineers as they make the car feel more upmarket with a definite benchmark to move towards. The seats have become more plush, yet now

incorporate a ridged profile that mixes in a bit of sportiness with comfort. The feel is lot more snug around the squab and lower back. The brushed aluminium feel has changed a bit and so has the layout of the centre console – with a full colour display, extra switches and integration with three audio systems including a top-of-the-line 1200W, 17-speaker set-up from Bowers and Wilkins.

The one aspect that hasn’t changed is the

choice of engines offered in the car in the region – the XF sports the 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine that is now also in the lower end XJ. With 235bhp at 6500rpm and a torque of 293Nm at 4100rpm, the engine offers the best of both worlds – a low cost and reasonable levels of performance. In case you desire more the car can be bought with the great naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 with 380 horsepower and a torque of 515Nm @3500rpm. Only the

What is it about?Too early for a model change, but just the right time to bring in a new look and some handy new features.

Categorise the car for mePremium segment competitor pitted against BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. From the 3.0-litre to the XFR’s supercharged 5.0-litre, the car bridges almost the entire premium segment.

How big is it?4961mm long, 1920mm wide with

mirrors folded, 1460mm high on a wheelbase of 2909mm. Kerb weight from 1690kgs in 3.0 V6.

Under the hoodDepends on which flavour you want – with a frugal and sporty 3.0 V6 (235bhp, 295Nm) to a larger V8 5.0 with a healthy 380hp and 515Nm all the way up to the XFR with a supercharged version of the V8 generating 503hp and 625Nm.

Under the body

Front engine, rear wheel drive. Wishbones, Multi-link rear. All the bells and whistles for ESP. Large brake discs.

How does it handle?Tight, with just the right amount of give. This car has already won accolades for its drive quality. Its only competitors are German.

HighlightsVersion 1.1 of the XF is more upmarket, very modern and brings the feel of the XJ into the interiors

with the floating console, high quality monitor and voice control.

What competition does it have?BMW 5 and perhaps now the 3 too, Merc’s E class and definitely the new A6 and A5 sportback.

And I would buy it for?Everything good about the Jaguar identity rolled into an affordable package. Still offers a distinct identity and understated elegance.

51

Class leading interiors with an upmarket cachet and a sense of

uniqueness will appeal to the owner

The 3.0-litre V6 is on top of the power and fuel efficiency game

without in anyway making you feel you are shortchanged

If you seek uniqueness you could do worse - knurled

knobs and the brand identifying rotary gear selector add the tactile

dimension

with visual and feature upgrades in mid-life, the XF is back at the top of its game with a

tried and tested powertrain

XFR’s supercharged variant of this engine with 503 hp and an extra 110Nm between 2500-5500 rpm due to the judicious use of its supercharger gets any better.

The gearbox for the petrol engines is a ZF 6HP28 six-speed automatic with torque converter lock-up.

In terms of performance, the XF had already taken the previous S-types platform to a much higher level. Admittedly the challenge is to match the tightness and responsiveness of mainstream German luxury sedans like the new 3-series and 5-series, the C and E-class as well as the slew of cars that Audi now offers at the same price. The performance is well within the envelope that these cars provide, chassis dynamics have been nicely tuned and even the 3.0-litre ensures that a comfortable drive can become a quick dash through an alpine road with no stress

on either the frame or geartrain.However, it is the knowledge that

Jaguar engineers are aware of the need to be modern that really enthuses us – small touches like streaming bluetooth audio indicate that the car is very up much in pace with current tech. The wish list could have also included a Euro 5 version of the 3.0-litre petrol engine, but with the rumoured 4-cylinder now seeming a more likely candidate to make an entry in a couple of years, we can understand the brand’s reluctance to move away from this engine for the region.

Overall the XF continues to offer an amazing amount of value in the segment. It sets one apart from the mainstream in a good way, while the brand’s focus on a premium used car program has kept resale values relatively high.

specIaL featuRe

52

volkSWAgEN SHIFTS FocUS WITH THE PASSATCan the German people’s brand replicate the success of the Jetta with the next generation of the Passat? Automan visits their Chattanooga plant

Author: Raj Warrior

53

Going from a middle of the order manufacturer to battling for the no. 1

position in the volume stakes may seem a tall order for some. But there are car brands that have set their goals on doing just that and this time around we aren’t talking about the Hyundai-Kia juggernaut. Volkswagen, the brand we are looking at here has also a stated purpose of grabbing that leadership crown and if you go by the numbers, the past couple of years have been really favourable to them.

However, the reason we were on a whirlwind 96-hour trip to their manufacturing plant in the Deep South of the United States was not so much about establishing this fact as it was to showcase their brand new plant from where the next generation Passat will be sourced.

As most buyers are aware, the Passat has been the mainstay of the brand’s C/D segment for many years. We know the car and its spin-off the CC. Available in the region with a choice of engines that connected the car

with the best in Europe, the only malaise affecting the car was its burgeoning price that kept it above the bulk of competition. It was almost as if the Passat was selling in the premium zone that should have been the territory of Audi.

That in some ways used to be the problem the Jetta faced. Seen as a Golf with a boot, the car had to be priced accordingly. The options available to VW are quite enormous – what with various generations of the Golf platform available in different markets in the form of the Lavida and Vento as well as the outright Golf variants. The Jetta came in last year as a new 2.0-litre unit sourced from VW’s Puebla plant in Mexico and right from the launch was sold on a keen price point. The Jetta starts from RO 7,350/- and that effectively takes the C segment contender up against the Corolla and Civic with smaller engines.

The Passat is now moving along the same lines. The car will be made at the brand new factory at Chattanooga. Both the factory

and the car are new – the Passat is bigger, with more rear legroom and now comes with a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder inline engine sourced from Puebla.

As part of the orientation, we took a morning to travel around the production and assembly lines. The factory was part of VW’s master plan of shifting its production into the dollar zone to avoid the high cost of European manufacture while taking advantage of getting closer to its target market in the United States. While the planning for the plant was during the heydays of pre-collapse US, the state of Tennessee offered incentives and it made sense for the manufacturer to set up its state-of-the-art plant in an area that has also seen other non-US makers start shop. Nissan, Toyota, BMW and Mercedes-Benz all have plants in the general belt and the labour force is non-unionised. This has had a positive fallout in better production and lower unit costs.

VW has a lot to be proud of with the factory. A mix of salaried and contract staff roll-out the

Passat for the US and South American market and the factory itself was designed from the ground up to be energy-efficient and environmental friendly. It is the only automotive factory in the world to be platinum rated by LEEDS – with design allowing maximum use of natural light, rain-water harvesting and waste-heat recycling. Even the biome around the plant is kept as original as possible.

The new Passat is to roll into the region in the month of July and we will be carrying an in-depth preview and test drive of the car in the next issue. In the meantime we were given an opportunity to drive the car at length with a scenic route laid out from Chattanooga through to Nashville, while meandering through parts of Georgia as well. A genuine outdoor barbecue for lunch and an opportunity to have dinner at one of the most popular night spots in Nashville, where budding music groups sing for contributions from the diners and plug their music, were highlights of the tour.

From pole position Webber got a good start, got to the first corner ahead of Nico Rosberg and

never looked troubled. 78 laps later the first six crossed the line nose to tail, but this was rather more exciting than that suggests. Behind him Romain Grosjean spun after contact with Michael Schumacher. Kamui Kobayashi’s Sauber hit the spinning Lotus and both were out.

The safety car was deployed, the order behind it was Webber leading from Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Alonso, Felipe Massa, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Räikkönen, Schumacher, Nico Hulkenberg and Bruno Senna. The variable in play was that Vettel, like Button and di Resta further down the order, was on the soft tyre, the other leaders were using the supersoft. Rosberg was the first man in for tyres, stopping on lap 27. Webber followed two laps later and got out comfortably in front of Rosberg.

Hamilton, Räikkönen and Hulkenberg stopped at the same time.

One lap later Alonso came in and picked Hamilton’s pocket. Schumacher stayed out until lap 34 and jumped Räikkönen. The Finn had emerged behind the Marussia of Charles Pic and, with no way through, was forced to lap three seconds slower than Schumacher for several tours. Vettel led the race and began to put in a series of fast laps. His hope would have been to build up a cushion of over 20 seconds to be able to stop and retain his lead, but Webber began to pace himself against his team-mate and Vettel’s lead never got above 18 seconds. Finally it began to decrease as his tyres went away: he pitted on lap 46 and emerged in fourth, having jumped Hamilton and Massa.

“I was a little surprised that Rosberg went then because the tyres were still going not too bad – but

it was worth a go,” said Webber in the FIA press conference after the race. “The prime tyre was a very tricky tyre to get started. Obviously Seb was in the groove and underway and he was doing some very quick lap times in that part of the grand prix. And it was hard for us to get going, so I had to keep an eye on the Sebastian gap but also manage the tyres. So when Seb pitted, then I could revert my concentration back to Nico. It was pretty good after that.”

Schumacher was forced to retire from seventh with a fuel pressure problem and then rain began to threaten but only a few drops fell on the circuit. It was enough to make Webber drop his pace by a few seconds and the leaders bunched behind him.

“It’s always tricky when you’re the first guy arriving into corners when it’s sprinkling,” said Webber. “On other tracks, a little bit of rain like that,

With Schumacher demoted from his pole, Webber took the race in a cool,

calculated manner.

54

Webber triumphs at Monaco

you wouldn’t really have to back off so much but all of a sudden the car is wheel-spinning, the front’s not biting, and around this place that’s not very encouraging. Particularly when you’re in the lead with only ten minutes to go in the race. So it required me then to really, really control the race and get

the car home.”Despite the first six being covered by two seconds, no-one attempted

anything desperate in the damp laps. “I was hoping I might get a chance or something but my tyres were really struggling too,” said Rosberg. “Also, I had Fernando behind me and at times it was very difficult, just front and rear warm up, tyres lost temperature and then they picked up again towards the end.”

Alonso, whose third place lifts him into the championship lead, agreed. “Five or six laps to the end with the drops of rain that we had, I think we were all praying ‘no more rain’ because it was so difficult.”

What rain there was soon abated and the track dried, allowing the front runners to resume lapping at their previous pace. Webber took victory, pushed across the line by Rosberg, Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton and Massa. Further back Force India had a good day with di Resta and Hulkenberg seventh and eighth. Kimi Räikkönen was ninth for a disappointed Lotus and Bruno Senna took a consolation point for Williams.

Alonso leads the Drivers’ Championship on 76 points, closely followed by Vettel and Webber on 73 each. Red Bull Racing had a fine day and extended their lead in that competition to 38 points, with 146 to McLaren’s 108.

“It was a very, very special victory today, and hopefully there’s more to come,” said a jubilant Webber. “The start was key, the pitstop was key, both of them went well. I did a little bit of work in between and we got an incredible victory that I’m very, very happy with. It’s great memories for me to win here twice, fair and square off the pole positions. Nico kept me honest. I had him under control but he drove well. It was good grand prix.”

The 2012 Formula 1 Airtel Indian Grand Prix takes place on October 26-28 and tickets are now available on Formula1.com. Making its second appearance on the F1 calendar, India provides a race-going experience like no other.For a unique insight into one of the paddock’s most exotic destinations and New Delhi’s spectacular Buddh International Circuit, check out Formula1.com’s Destination Guide, with tips on transport, accommodation, where to watch the race and more.

Jacques villeneuve pays tribute to his father with Ferrari T4 run

India 2012 - now on sale

55

mOtOR spORts

Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve was behind the wheel of a Ferrari 312 T4 on Tuesday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of his father, Gilles. Villeneuve was in action in the Ferrari at the Italian team’s Fiorano test track.Gilles Villeneuve died on May 8, 1982, after crashing during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. The Canadian drove the 312 T4 during the 1979 season and won three of his six Grands Prix victories behind its wheel.Ferrari’s 2012 line-up, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, president Luca di Montezemolo, vice president Piero Ferrari, managing director Amadeo Felisa and former technical director Mauro Forghieri were all in attendance to watch the 1997 title holder take to the track in his father’s car.

56

You wouldn’t have believed that the Spanish Grand Prix started on a different note when you saw the

race end order of Pastor Maldonado in his Williams, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen showing some of his heyday appeal in third. The Lotus cars had started out as race favourites and the Ferrari was really on pace this time around but the race result boiled down to incidents, pit strategy and tyre wear issues.

Maldonado started on pole position after being second fastest in qualifying, with Hamilton who had the time advantage being forced to move to the back of the grid after the stewards penalised him for having less fuel in his tank since they had to take their sample from on the track.

But Maldonado’s lead was always under challenge by Alonso as the Ferrari showed off the pace it has been able to build up. In the 27th lap, Alonso got ahead and from that point it seemed like Alonso would end up winning the race, especially since both the Red Bulls had suffered damage to their front wings necessitating pit stops to rectify that. However, in the second round of pit stops the Williams team managed to get Maldonado’s car out ahead of Alonso and from that point Alonso semed to be under pressure to keep up. But the third round of pit stops brought Alonso back into the challenge and he even managed a couple of really close peeks into moving ahead, creeping up on one occasion on the 57th lap to almost grab a shot at overtaking.

However, Maldonado held his nerve and position to win the race, while Raikkonen in his Lotus brought some consolation to the team by putting in a very strong showing in the session after the third round of pit stops, cutting Alonso’s lead on him from a healthy

18 seconds down to just half a second. Now, if only the race had lasted a couple of laps more, Raikkonen may have been happier, but as it ended he did voice his displeasure with the car being ‘slower’ than he had expected.

In the post-race conference he said, “I’m a bit disappointed. I expected us to be a bit stronger in the race, especially at the beginning. At the end we were very good, but it was too late. We were not fast enough and quick enough to race and that’s why we couldn’t fight for a win. But we showed in the end that we have to speed but we just have to look at what we did. Maybe we took the wrong choice in the first pit stop. In the end, like I said we were not fast enough in the beginning and that cost us the race, so I was not so disappointed during the race because I saw that I couldn’t follow them at the beginning. But at the end when you catch them up almost 20 seconds then you get a bit of a disappointed feeling afterwards, when you just needed a few laps to be even able to fight for the first place. That’s racing and at least I scored some good points and we’re going in the right direction.”

Try to balance that disappointment with the elation expressed by Pastor Maldonado, “ I think it’s a wonderful day, not just for me but for all the team. We have been pushing so hard since last year to try to improve race by race and here we are. Yesterday we were here after a great qualifying and today we did it again. It was a tough race because the strategy as well, it was tough especially because of the rear tyres – after a couple of laps we were struggling with them. I need to say I’m pretty happy because the car was so competitive since the first lap. Fernando did a better start than me but I was just following the

pace and it was so great. It’s my first podium and my first victory and you can imagine what I feel.”

Alonso also touched on the problems with his slowing down on the track in between to a mix of lack of grip and balance, though he did praise his team for making the car quick off the blocks, “Yeah, it was a fantastic start again. The team prepared quite nice again the clutch and everything – the procedure to do a good start. It was close on the straight until Turn One with Pastor, and then we had the better side, the inside.” His also acknowledged the pit strategy that saw his advantage undone, “We took the momentum there and we led the race for the first part but then William’s anticipated the stop and get in front and at the end it was close. We had a newer tyre than Pastor and we tried a couple of times but it was not possible out of the last corner. Then in the very last laps I felt the car was strange, we lost a lot of grip. Maybe we lost some aerodynamic part or something because we were very slow”.

Alonso summed up his feelings, “We were lucky at the end. Second place at home feels fantastic and thanks to the people that came here and the people at home and hopefully a step forward in terms of championship possibilities.”

Of course this is relevant because the mixed bag of winners so far this season has now brought Alonso to the top of the heap to join Vettel in the points table, though Vettel is technically still ahead. However you cannot discount the Lotus team or drivers. Roman Grosjean brought in an easy fourth for the team after having collided with Sergio Perez early on in the race. Unfortunately for Perez his visit to the pit also saw him getting a badly secured rear wheel and

venezuelan Maldonado cracks Spain for Williams

57

mOtOR spORts

An unbelievable race brings Williams its first race win in 8 years and gives the 2012 season its fifth winner in Pastor

Maldonado

GP3 racer Conor Daly enjoyed his first taste of Formula One power courtesy of Force India as he carried out an aero test for the Silverstone-based team at the wheel of the VJM05 at Cotswold Airport in Gloucestershire.The 20 year-old is the son of former Formula One driver Derek Daly and started karting back in 2002. After winning several amateur and professional karting awards, he moved to compete in the Skip Barber national championship and Ontario Formula Ford 1600 in 2008.The following year he finished third in the Star Mazda championship presented by Goodyear. In 2010 he enjoyed a record-setting year in the series claiming seven wins, nine pole poles and 12 podium finishes. He joined GP3 in 2011, driving for Carlin, but swapped to the Lotus GP3 team for this season.

Team principal and president of the board of directors Peter Sauber has transferred a third of the stake in the Sauber Group to CEO Monisha Kaltenborn. Sauber himself will retain the remaining two thirds.“When BMW pulled out of Formula One in 2009, Monisha Kaltenborn was instrumental in the team’s survival and since then she has been doing outstanding work in her capacity as CEO,” he explained. “Transferring one third of the stake to her represents an important step for me in providing continuity.

“My desire is to ensure that the company continues to be led as I would want over the long term. Monisha Kaltenborn and my son Alex, who joined the company as Marketing Director in 2010 and has since also been a member of the Board of Management, both embrace this aim. It means we can offer our employees a positive outlook for the future.”Kaltenborn added: “For me this step is a mark of the greatest possible trust, which I will do everything in my power to justify.”The Austrian has been the team’s head of legal affairs since 1998 and has been a member of the board of management since 2001. She completed a law degree at the University of Vienna before graduating as a Master of Laws from the London School of Economics. Kaltenborn became the first woman to head up the business operation of an F1 team when she was promoted to CEO in 2010.

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has told the company’s Formula One team that each and every member must deliver if they are to stand any chance of winning the 2012 world championship.Ferrari have experienced mixed fortunes in the first part of the year. Fernando Alonso has taken one victory and shares the lead in the driver standings, but the F2012 has generally struggled for pace and the Italian team lie fourth in the constructors’ championship.“The championship is in our own hands,” Di Montezemolo said in an open letter to staff in the build-up to this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix. “(It) is very open and so far, there has not been one dominant force.”Di Montezemolo also highlighted the need for both his drivers to produce results. It follows continuing media speculation over Felipe Massa’s future with Ferrari, the Brazilian having scored just two points to Alonso’s 61 this year.

conor Daly tests for Force India

Sauber cEo kaltenborn handed stake in team

Montezemolo: championship in Ferrari’s hands

this caused him to retire. The other William driven by Bruno Senna also didn’t finish the race after a collision with Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes saw both cars spin off into the gravel, with the Mercedes immediately out of the race. Post-race the stewards handed Schumacher a five spot penalty for the Monaco race, judging that he was responsible for causing the race. The big catch up story of Hamilton was rather overshadowed by all the excitement happening around him, but he still managed to haul his way up from last spot to end the race on eighth, avoiding Perez careering towards him on one corner as well as surviving a brush with a tyre in his exit from a pit stop.

The two Red Bulls had mixed fortunes, with Vettel managing a useful sixth position, but Webber unlucky in not getting the final point available as Nico Hulkenberg took the tenth spot ahead of him in the Force India car.

After the race there was added drama with a fire breaking out in the Williams garage that saw pit crews battling to contain, with teams running in to help. The fire began around 90 minutes after the race ended. An explosion in the fuel area of the garage happened at the time team principal Sir Frank Williams was giving a victory speech to the team. He was immediately evacuated from the garage, while team members of the Williams, Caterham and Force India teams rushed in and battled the flames in smoke-filled garage. The circuit’s emergency crews came in to action after that, leading some commentators to lash out at the track’s safety standards.

More than 30 people were seen and treated by the medical centre and a few people were hospitalised. There has rarely been such a major incident and this one certainly put a damper on the Williams team’s celebrations.

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loeb back on top with 70th win in Argentina

Getting his seventieth win in Argentina ahead of team-mate Mikko Hirvonen was the stuff of dreams for Sebastien Loeb. The same could be the description

of the state of mind of Adapta team driver Mads Ostberg who took the third spot to continue with his podium spots after Portugal where he was elevated to

winner after Hirvonen got docked by stewards.

A nother victory here in Argentina it’s incredible for me

and especially after Portugal it was important for the

team to react like this,” said Loeb, whose Citroen DS3 WRC

ran on Michelin tyres. “It has been a great rally here with

Mikko finishing second.”

With Hirvonen under orders to hold position, Loeb spent

Sunday’s closing six stages preserving his tyres and his

advantage out front, while Hirvonen was happy to be back

on the podium following his exclusion from Vodafone Rally

de Portugal.“It’s been a good rally and I really love the long distance,”

said Hirvonen. “They are such fantastic stages here.”

Behind the ultra-consisent Mads Ostberg, who overcame

handling issues during the final day, Martin Prokop took

a career-best fourth with Thierry Neuville also securing

a personal best for the Citroen Junior World Rally Team.

Prokop’s final placing was the best result so far in the WRC

for the DMACK tyre firm.

This result is a great comeback for Loeb, who was

unable to finish round four at Portugal. With eight WRC

championships under his belt, Loeb is a sensation that is

hard to beat. Petter Solberg remains in second spot till

now.Citroen’s one-two means its lead over Ford in the

manufacturers’ standings is 45 points. Ostberg’s podium

hands the Adapta World Rally Team sixth in the table.

lorenzo back on top in le Mans

Y amaha factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo delivered a master

class in wet racing today to take a flawless victory in the

Monster Energy Grand Prix de France.

Starting from fourth position on the second row, the

determined Mallorcan took the lead on the first lap,

immediately creating a gap to the following pack. Lorenzo

crossed the finish line almost ten seconds clear to take the

full 25 points and move eight points ahead at the top of the

Championship standings.

Second placed Valentino Rossi similarly started from the

third row of the grid. Nicky Hayden, despite an unfortunate

start, worked his way up to sixth by the finish. Having

started from seventh place, Rossi advanced to third by lap

three, at which point Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow

joined him in a long battle. He picked up his pace around

seven laps from the end, eventually setting the fastest lap

of the race and closing the gap to Casey Stoner, who he

overtook on the final lap. His runner-up finish behind winner

Jorge Lorenzo is his best result with Ducati so far. Stoner is

now second in the Championship standings, with 82 points,

8 behind Jorge Lorenzo.

Hayden was among the riders who spun their tyres on the

inside part of the track just after the start, but he pushed

hard the entire race, eventually matching his best result of

the year.Yamaha’s Ben Spies continues to be plagued by bad luck;

having made a good start the Texan slid on the start finish

line paint, dropping several places. A subsequent issue with

his race visor letting in water and reducing vision meant an

unscheduled pit stop, allowing the majority of the field past

and compromising his race. Spies finished 16th and remains

11th in the standings.Meanwhile ahead of the French GP, Stoner announced that

he would be retiring at the end of the season since he had

lost his passion for the sport. “This sport has changed a lot

and it has changed to the point where I am not enjoying it,”

he said. “I don’t have the passion for it and so at this time

it’s better if I retire.”

Stoner takes the elusive Estoril win

59

mOtOR spORts -wRc mOtOGp

Fans at the Spanish Grand Prix were witness to a tight victory for Casey Stoner, taking his first win on the new RC213V.

The reigning MotoGP World Champion took advantage of his superior pace to maintain a lead and gradually extend a gap from the rest of the field, pursued only by his most persistent of rivals. All this came after a slow start for the Australian, who found himself in fifth after the opening corners.Starting from pole, Lorenzo initially dropped to third, then swiftly moved up to second by lap three behind race leader Casey Stoner. The gap never grew to more than a second, then closed to just over 0.2 seconds in the last laps. Unfortunately by this point the soft front tyre choice left Lorenzo unable to make a pass. He crossed the line 0.947 seconds behind Stoner, taking 20 Championship points.Once he had the race under control, Stoner racked up a series of fastest laps that established a cushion between him and main contender Jorge Lorenzo. On the final laps the Spaniard had drawn closer, but Stoner held on to cross the line first, win for the first time at Jerez and move four points clear in the overall standings.

Stoner prevails in Jerez

Casey Stoner took his first premier class victory at the

Estoril circuit —the only track on the MotoGP calendar at

which he had failed to win in his career. With this result,

the Repsol rider moved into the lead of the overall

standings and extended his run of consecutive podiums

to just over an entire year. Teammate Dani Pedrosa

claimed third and an historic 100th World Championship

podium at this final Portuguese GP.

The MotoGP race began with a hectic first lap.

Pedrosa and Stoner were first and second, respectively,

at the end of the home straight. Jorge Lorenzo started

from fourth on the grid and he was quickly into second

at the first corner whilst Pedrosa dropped down to third

seconds later when he momentarily lost rear tyre grip

and held the position to the line after a determined

effort to stay with race leader Casey Stoner. The

Mallorcan’s legendary consistent lap pace meant Stoner

was never more than one second ahead until the final

lap and at times just 0.2 seconds in front. Lap three of

the race saw Lorenzo deliver a new fastest lap record for

Estoril of 1’36.909.

Once these opening positions had been decided, the

three leaders kept up the pace, lap after lap. Breaking

away from the rest of the pack, Stoner, Lorenzo and

Pedrosa extended their advantage and avoided any

change in position, right up until the chequered flag was

waved at the Autódromo de Estoril.

Meanwhile the other Yamaha rider Ben Spies started

well from fifth, slotting into fourth in the first corner

before running wide and dropping back several places.

The Texan made a couple of mistakes and dropped

to ninth where he battled Stephan Bradl for eighth,

eventually passing the German to take the position at

the line.The Repsol Honda Team riders were happy with a

weekend in which Casey Stoner claimed his first triumph

at the Portuguese track in MotoGP, whilst teammate

Dani Pedrosa settled for third place and the honour

of becoming the second youngest rider to reach 100

podiums —after Valentino Rossi.

60

tech talk

To the modern day driver, the three-point seatbelt is almost as ubiquitous as the steering wheel of the car. You get in, pull the metal tongue over and insert it into the clasp. Everyone tells you that you need it, it will one day save your life. But that was not always the case.

A harness or seatbelt is an invention of the late 19th century and after seeing early adoption in some aircraft, it made its way to automobiles during the 1950’s. If you discount all the harnesses used before, the first real seatbelt was offered by the now defunct American manufacturer Nash as an option on its cars, while Saab first put it in as a standard fitting. However, it is important to remember that the seatbelt was seen initially in two guises – it had some claim to being a safety feature of course, but more importantly the seatbelt was liked by some drivers as a means to secure them and leave their hands free to control the car. Naturally, the faster the car, the more the seatbelt was a help.

However, the period from these early introductions to the first mandatory rulings by government (in 1970 by the Victorian government in Australia) were covered by a series of on-again off-again attempts to make them acceptable to drivers. Moving from the lap restraints or two-point seatbelts used till then, Nils Bohlin developed the modern version of the three-point seatbelt from an idea patented by two Americans for Volvo who introduced it as standard equipment in 1959. Interestingly, even Volvo only introduced rear lap restraints as standard in 1967, bringing in the three-point seatbelt as late as 1972. Till today, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz are known for their early focus

BONDING WITH SEATBELTS

Seatbelts can be of many types, like the 5-point belt from a sports vehicle seen at the left to a handy lap strap. No, we don’t recommend using a belt to shut up

your passenger!

on saving lives.Today, it is a well-known fact, supported

by research and legislation, that a three-point seatbelt saves lives. The seatbelt is usually constructed from a webbing of tough polyester or Aramid fibres that offers excellent tensile strength while being soft and flexible. Manufacturers are known to have experimented with colours and materials that complement the interiors of their upmarket cars, but largely the focus in on providing a safe, high-volume, reliable

package. At the very least, today’s seatbelt has to be integrated into an inertia reel.

If you picture the three points of the seatbelt as the part on the top of the pillar behind you, the clasp and the part that is fixed at the bottom of the pillar, you will notice that the first part is essentially a slot into which the seatbelt retracts. An inertia reel is placed at the bottom of the pillar, inside the pillar moulding cover, fastened securely to the frame. Its function is to feed out the strap as needed and spool it in when you release the

Left: Preventive occupant protection with PRE-SAFE, seat belt tensioner from a current Mercedes-Benz car Right: A more generic seatbelt

retractor

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BONDING WITH SEATBELTS

The seatbelt is now a fixture of every modern car. But what separates it from a mere tie-down? Automan

investigates.

Author: Raj Warrior

Despite the belt’s lock mechanism, you can see the forces involved as the test dummy hits the airbag in a crash -

especially a severe one

clasp. For this it is spring wound. The ‘inertia’ bit refers to the additional safety feature built into the mechanism. Inertia is a physical term defined by the ability of a body to stay at a state of rest or uniform motion without applying an external force. You would have noticed that sometimes the strap locks when you try to pull it out while the car is moving, turning or just standing on an incline. In each of these cases the inertia of the car (and as an extension the inertia of the small locking mechanism in the base) changes and the locking ball or pin prevents the belt from moving. In a real world case this means that whenever a car accelerates, brakes or turns sharply, the passenger is held in place safely.

Mercedes-Benz took this one stage further with the inclusion of a pyrotechnic locking mechanism that was triggered by the airbag sensors. Now if the car suffered an impact, an explosive charge would shoot a series of balls that tightened the seatbelt in a matter of milliseconds. The effect was to keep the passenger firmly pressed back on the seat, lessening any secondary injuries from the airbag.

However most car companies, with their access to modern technology have gone far beyond this. Nowadays most cars are mandated to offer kinetic three-point seatbelts on all seat positions, with pre-tensioners usually found in the front. Lap restraints are falling out of favour as they have been linked to severe spinal

injuries in some cases in the US. Manufacturers have tried to introduce automated three-point seatbelt systems that wrap themselves around you as you enter and sit down, but this was never broadly accepted and fell out of favour by the 1990’s.

There was also an attempt by American manufacturers to link the ignition switch to the use of seatbelts – but this was also abandoned. In the meanwhile, audio and visual warnings are in vogue, with no clear global approach yet to how to get a driver or a recalcitrant passenger to use the seatbelt.

New technology in seatbelts is now being felt at the strap. Manufacturers are unveiling airbags that are housed in the strap and deploy as a first line of defence in case of an accident. Computerised pre-crash assessment and avoidance systems have meanwhile become mainstream, with makes like Mercedes-Benz linking seat position motors, seatbelt pre-tensioners, braking assist and the like to the car’s ability to deduce that a crash is imminent.

It is about time that the driver accepted that the old duality of purpose still exists even in this modern setting. The seatbelt will save your life someday, but till then it does a great job of freeing your hands to do what they should be doing, steering the wheel, not bracing yourself.

Left: An M-B lighted clasp. On the right is a typical inertia reel assembly.

Three latest generation add-ons from M-B Innovations to enhance road safety: The reversible seatbelt tensioner from PRE-SAFE® ensures that airbags and seatbelts have maximum effect; DISTRONIC assists drivers by monitoring the distance to the vehicle in front; a printed circuit board identifies the severity of a collision and

activates safety systems in a matter of milliseconds.

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pReVIew

Land Rover Middle East have stepped up and launched the Range Rover Vogue Gold Edition in collaboration

with Startech Middle East. Unique to the Middle East and the Middle East markets only, the Vogue Gold Limited Edition features a Startech aerodynamic package which consists of a front bumper attachment with LED daytime running lamps, gold painted fog lamp surround, centre section and a rear bumper attachment with black painted square exhaust finishers.

Complimenting the look are gold painted wing mirror caps, side vents, front grille surround, iconic gold painted “Range Rover”

lettering and a unique Gold Limited Edition badge. On the interior, in addition to the finest leather, advanced technology and world renowned luxury there’s a set of unique Gold illuminated tread plates. Adding further personalization to the Vogue Gold is the set of 20in gold painted Range Rover alloys.

The Supercharged LR-V8 remains one of the most uncompromisingly powerful and efficient petrol engines in its class, producing 510PS at between 6,000rpm and 6,500rpm with torque of 625Nm from 2500rpm-5500rpm. Key technologies include the sixth-generation, twin-vortex Eaton™ supercharger whose high helix rotor improves

thermodynamic efficiency by 16 percent compared to earlier designs and renders the unit almost inaudible. This immense performance, allows the Supercharged Range Rover to accelerate from 0-100km/h under six seconds.

The current Range Rover is further enhanced by improvements to the Terrain Response® system in the form of Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control.

The Gold Edition is now available in Oman, through the Land Rover Exclusive Importer, Mohsin Haider Darwish LLC, with a free Service Package for 3 Years/ 72,000 KM and 1-year free Comprehensive Insurance.

The 2012 Range

Rover consolidates its position as the world’s

most luxurious SUV with a host of style changes, feature

upgrades and bespoke editions such as the Middle East only

Vogue Gold edition

Going for gold!

peugeot.com

Test drive it now*3 years unlimited warranty plus 2 years extended warranty.

For more information call ourCustomer Relations Centre 98 902 874.

You may also email your enquiry tocustomer@em-oman.com

or simply send us an SMS on 80110.

PEUGEOT 308

UNLIMITED WARRANTY

FEEL THE POWER WITH308 163 HP TURBO

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Test drive it now*3 years unlimited warranty plus 2 years extended warranty.

For more information call ourCustomer Relations Centre 98 902 874.

You may also email your enquiry tocustomer@em-oman.com

or simply send us an SMS on 80110.

PEUGEOT 308

UNLIMITED WARRANTY

FEEL THE POWER WITH308 163 HP TURBO

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pReVIew

301 is the first new

‘conquest’ model to adorn new nomenclature

83 years of tradition ends at Peugeot under new model badge regime

Peugeot has revamped its 83-year-old model-naming system by ditching its policy of numbering each generation.

Instead, the numerical system that started with the Peugeot 201 in 1929, and is now in its eighth generation, will be locked at ‘8’ for all models in future. Meanwhile, new “conquest models”, will finish with a ‘1’. The new system means models such as the 208 and 308 will retain that name in perpetuity, through generation change, and never graduate to 209 and 309.

As before, the first digit of the model number is said to represent the size or class of the vehicle.

The first of its new “conquest models” will be known as the 301 which is actually the sedan variant of the 208.

According to Peugeot, ‘conquest’ models are being defined as vehicles for emerging markets such as Eastern Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. The final digit is a response to new challenges, new ambitions, according to Peugeot.

The wider coverage of the markets at international level calls for the launch of conquest models in the large volume segments at the heart of the market. Designed specifically to fulfill new customer expectations, these conquest models – affordable and offering status – will

supplement the range of models with a final digit ‘8’.” The middle zero is said to “identify Peugeot”, and will be retained.

As well, crossover vehicles that have been identified with a ‘00’ in the middle since 2005, will retain that system, but like the sedans and hatches will conclude with an ‘8’. Specialty body types, such as cabriolets and wagons, appear likely to retain the CC or SW tag attached to their model nameplates.Peugeot’s numerical numbering system is one of the oldest consistent model naming regimes, but started out in 1929 simply as the code for Peugeot’s 201 project.

The 301 will be built in Spain and will have its world premiere at the 2012 Paris Motor Show in September. It will then go on sale from in November 2012 in Turkey then into Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Greece, The Middle East, Gulf and African States, as well as in certain Latin American markets. The Middle East models are expected to come with Peugeot’s 1.6-litre VTi engine and automatic transmission set-up.

peugeot has been manufacturing motor vehicles for more than 100 years and has designed numerous saloons which have earned and continue to earn their place in motor vehicle history (404, 504, 305, 405, 406, 407, 408, and 508).

Carroll Hall Shelby, a man whose vision for performance transformed the automobile industry, has died at age 89. Born on Jan. 11, 1923, Carroll Shelby was one of America’s greatest success stories. Championship-winning racecar driver, “flying sergeant” wartime pilot, philanthropist, entrepreneur, car manufacturer and racing team owner, he embodied the ingenuity, tenacity and grit to overcome any obstacle. He is perhaps the only person to have worked at a visible level with all three major American automobile manufacturers.

Carroll Shelby founded Carroll Shelby International, a publicly held corporation involved in many industries. His licensing arm has agreements with industry giants, such as Mattel, Sony, Ford Motor Company and Electronic Arts. His car company, Shelby American, has a thriving parts business as well as a line of muscle cars including the Shelby GT500 Super Snake, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GTS. The Las Vegas-based company also manufactures a limited number of the 1960s Shelby 289 “street,” 289 FIA, 427 S/C and Daytona Coupe Cobras.

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, the illustrious grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, son of Ferry Porsche and designer of the iconic 911 – passed away at the age of 76 a few weeks

ago in Salzburg, Austria. It goes without saying that the 911 is the most important product in the history of Porsche, and it’s a testament to Ferdinand Alexander’s skill

as a designer that his original shape has evolved so little since 1963 when it debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The 911, though, isn’t his only achievement. He was

also reportedly very proud of another car he designed, the 904, as well as founding the industrial design company Porsche Design Studio in 1972.

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One of Middle East’s most popular press relations professionals, Julian Milward-Hopkins sadly passed away last month after losing a long battle with diabetes and health complications thereafter as a result. He was 58.My personal association goes back more 13 years when I met him for the first time in 1999, in UAE, shortly after he left his job as Features editor of Timeout magazine with Sharjah-based English language daily The Gulf Today. At the time he had joined a Dubai-based PR company MCS Action. I was Julian’s replacement at The Gulf Today and I remember our first project was to promote Foton, a newly opened kid’s play world in Al Mulla plaza in Dubai. In a year’s time, I moved into motoring journalism full-time and ever since Julian not only became a close friend, but also my career advisor. In my formative days and after, I would discuss with him about career moves and he would give me the best advice – most of them which I adhered to. I also remember the fateful day when I unexpectedly lost my job at wheels magazine. I told him what had happened

and realising that I was quite upset, he called me over to his apartment in The Greens for a chat. His calm assessment of the situation and assurance that nothing was really lost and that there were more avenues to explore couldn’t have been a bigger source of motivation!I’ve had the opportunity to travel with him several times over the years on motoring assignments and one thing that really stood out was his meticulous attention to detail and exceptional levels of professionalism. Having spent a few months in the PR business recently before returning to my journalistic roots, I can empathise the way Julian nurtured and somewhat pampered members of the media fraternity. Time to time he would encourage journalists to be objective and critical and in many ways, he had contributed in raising the PR benchmark in this market that we are accustomed to now. For me personally, the loss cannot be quantified or describe. I’ve lost a friend, a mentor and a very good human being.Chandan B Mallik

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Sayarti has announced that it is to become the exclusive distributor in Oman for Germany’s top car care product brand, Sonax.. The formal announcement was made during the first principal-distributor-retailer meet in Muscat. The first event of its kind saw over 150 retailers and wholesellers participating in the launch event where the entire range of Sonax products -- from DIY (Do It Yourself) to professional car care along with the latest offerings with unsurpassed features were put on display. KA Arun Kumar, General Manager of Sayarti Group said: “Sonax markets its products under several car care sub brands like PremiumClass, XtremeSerie, FormelPLUS, Sonax Professional and Sonax ProfiLine. All these products have been formulated with specific tasks in mind including the type of paintwork and age of the car. The complete range will be available in Oman now. Sonax products just don’t take care of the car and how it looks, but also ensures that it doesn’t harm the users or the vehicle’s components as they are also environment friendly.”

automan souqOTE introduces world’s thinnest LG 3D TV with astonishing features

Sayarti relaunches Sonax after car care products

LG’s quality innovations and growing market share have ensured its position as number one across the premium 3D Smart TV segment.

DY Kim, President of LG Electronics, Gulf FZE with Ajay Chopra, MD, OTE Group and other executives during the TV launch.

Photocentre launches Fujifilm X-Series digital cameras

automan souq

Fujifilm Middle East has said that it believes its X series of cameras have really taken off because people are put off by the weight and bulk of DSLRs. The X-Series line-up which was launched earlier with the X100, a premium compact camera housing an APS-C sized sensor, the X range has now been widened to include the X100, the X10 and the most recent addition, the X Pro1, the company’s first compact system camera. Although the price points aren’t too dissimilar from some DSLRs, one of the biggest advantages of these cameras is their small size and weight.The top-of-the-line X Pro1 marks Fuji’s return to interchangeable lens cameras, after it bowed out from the DSLR partnership it had with Nikon. The X Pro1 will be offered with a full assortment of nine interchangeable lenses by 2014, according to Fujifilm executives.

At a time when most consumers around the world are conscious about spending and allocating

budgets for smaller car purchases, Chrysler Group LLC decides to revamp it revolutionary Ram 1500 pick up truck range for the light-duty lifestyle market. Redesigned in 2008, Chrysler Group has taken the next logical step and ensured it gets what the market wants – efficiency, comfort and better packaging -- thereby virtually guaranteeing a lease of life in this segment.

In a brand and power conscious Middle East market, the current Ram model is in its fourth-generation. The Ram 1500 as it is known now after Chrysler Group removed the

Dodge label and rebranded it as Ram sees most of its changes and enhancements beneath its skin. The top-of-the-line Ram Laramie edition, our test vehicle, has been subtly tweaked on the exterior for some freshness. The grille is taller and the front bumper is new, plus previously optional quad halogen headlights are now standard across the 1500 line, as are LED taillights. Also new is a headlight option that includes LED indicators and side markers. Also we note there’s a lot of chrome surfaces on the truck but no runner boards as standard kit.

The major portion of the revamp exercise has been focused on upgrading the vehicle. As a result the

utilitarian truck gets metamorphosed into a lifestyle edition with efficient and powerful engines along with new technology features such as multiple displacement systems. With these features on board, the Ram is now a few notches ahead of its class.

Our Quad Cab Laramie 1500 edition was powered by a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 which has been tweaked to offer some extra horses and torque. Now offering 390hp and 548Nm of torque, power is delivered through a new six-speed automatic transmission to the wheels. The truck is also equipped with electronic range selector and on-demand four-wheel-drive transfer case. This V8 Hemi also comes with cylinder

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automan checks out the raMBo of double cab lifestyle trucks: the top-of-the-line 2012 ram 1500 Laramie edition and returns convinced that it is good enough to be taken out to a fancy restaurant or on an off-road trail

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deactivation technology. Besides that, Chrysler has also rolled out several fuel-saving technologies in the Ram inspired by supercars and first up on the list is an active grille shutter that automatically opens and closes depending on the engine’s cooling needs and vehicle speed. We’ve seen these on several efficiency-minded sedans and super cars, but this is the first application on a pick-up.

As the vehicle is quite high and its ground clearance is more than that of an average truck, thanks to it 20in rims and wheels set, one would have expected some convenience elements such as an adjustable ride height provision. Since that’s not available in this version, you

have to be really tall or quite agile to get in or out this truck. Even a runner board as standard kit would have also helped solve some of these issues.

Besides this niggle, we think most of the practical options included such as under-floor storage bins, lockable Ram Box integrated into the rear mudguards and in general, plenty of storage space befit the nature of the overall package. The wide cabin makes space for real three-across seating on the standard rear bench. Our tester came with the adjustable bucket seats and was divided by a huge centre console.

On the safety and security front, the Ram 1500 offers more than 30 active and passive safety

features, including standard front and rear side-curtain air bags with Enhanced Accident Response System, side seat airbags, knee bolsters, seat belt pretensioners, anti-lock brake system, BeltAlert® system and electronic stability control plus available adjustable pedals, ParkSense® rear park assist and ParkView® rear back-up camera. Safety ratings stand at three out of five stars and a couple of ‘marginal’ scores from the IIHS.

Driving impressionsIn any of the Ram versions, front seats are generously sized, soft padded and come with individual ventilation and cooling. Besides a commanding view forward, leg and head room are also

abundant in the rear as well. Rear view from inside the cabin is poor. To compensate that in view of the demands and job description of the vehicle, one of the things which we thought as odd initially was the abnormal long and large exterior rear view mirrors. Although designed to help drivers with highway lane changes or during towing, since rear visibility is poor when compared to a typical sedan or SUV, or when towing, it takes a while to get accustomed to the split mirror arrangement. However, we found it extremely helpful when trying the park the truck in tight parking spots later.

Once inside the cabin, one begins to realize that this refreshed Ram puts more

distance between itself and its closest rivals. For a truck, the cabin has a upmarket feel with premium materials covering the seats, door panels and other key touch points. Modern convenience features include adjustable pedals, Bluetooth, voice recognition, an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, smartphone app connectivity and even 30GB hard disk memory. Surprisingly, sat nav wasn’t included in the package.

On the move, the 5.7-litre V8 and its six-speed automatic combo really brings the capable chassis to life besides offering EPA-rated 20 mpg on the highway. We can vouch for that at we did over 400kms on half a tank of fuel during the Dubai-Muscat-Dubai drive. The powertrain is responsive and the cylinders do cut off at speeds

as low as 60km/h, but not as seamless as promised. We did note a bit of shuddering from the engine bay. Although, not an irritant to otherwise serene driving set-up, the flip side being the big gains in mileage, which is more important in the current context.

After driving over 1,100km for this test report including varied terrain sojourns, we can assure our readers that the Ram 1500 is among the best-riding pick-up and one of the best-handling models that we have driven in recent times. Although, the Ram retains a traditional live axle and has sacrificed its traditional leaf springs for a modern coil-spring set-up, it is now more lifestyle oriented than jigged for hardcore field work. The truck is a real delight to drive, thanks to a stiff

chassis, compliant tuning, and responsive suspension which ensures that it ends up friendly to the driver and occupants. For a large truck, electric steering is surprising quick and light, but what’s surprising is how quiet and composed the cabin stays as you cruise at fast highway speeds. We also noted that on off-road trails, the truck actually copes quite well and we are not really concerned too much with the marginal compromise with towing capacity limits due to changes in the rear suspension set-up.

On the utilities perspective there are a few things we ought to mention. The cargo section comes protected with a factory spray-in bedliner and to ensure various goods remain in place are anchor and an adaptable lockable partition arrangement.

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ram truck models like the 1500 Laramie now no longer carry the dodge badge. chrysler has created ram as standalone 100 per cent truck brand.

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VerdictIn its latest generation, the Ram 1500 became more capable and even bolder than before. A fresh does of style, new interior and revisited engineering quite simply catapults the model to head of the class. It’s one of the toughest, most composed pick-ups available for the Oman market

Main competitorsChevrolet Avalanche, GMC Si-erra, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F Series, Cadillac Escalade EXT, Toyota Tundra, Nissan Titan.

In 1994, dodge introduced a revolutionary ram - the 1500 - in the light-duty pickup market, with its “big rig” styling and iconic crosshair grille. the ram 1500 was then redesigned in 2008 and dodge pulled out all the stops for its all-new, next-generation pick-up.

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General Motors have had to reorganise product lines after their rebirth and the colorado is one of the new spin-offs of this approach. automan tests the pick-up truck in thailand

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If you saw the General Motors of previous years

and the new General one aspect that is most noticeable is that slimmer GM has had to divest its stake in some other manufacturers. The older wisdom was that the organisation could have a controlling interest or close to that in some makers – like Suzuki, Daewoo and Isuzu and have access to their vehicle platforms, which were either co-developed or rebadged as GM products. But a few core changes have happened over the years.First, the Chevrolet badge has truly gone global, while other revered badges from the Gerneral have fallen by the wayside. Admittedly, while the badge is global, the local viewpoint is not necessarily the same. In the UK, Chevrolet and Vauxhall co-exist, while in Australia its all Holden. In the US of A the Chevrolet badge is still associated with big and strong American cars as much as it is now linked to the Cruzes and Optras. Here in the Middle East, with the region’s ability to import from any part of the GM empire, Chevrolet is many things to different people. It can boast of having the largest range of passenger cars and SUVs on offer and now, even its range of utes gets bigger.

Yes the Colorado or its equivalent was there before, but in those days it was essentially a rebadged Isuzu pick-up with a petrol engine. In the region, we thus saw the D-Max and the Colorado being sold as the diesel/petrol choice. And it wasn’t as if the petrol variant was doing any favours to the brand.Now, with the new GM things are different. There has been a concerted US$ 2 billion investment in developing the new Colorado, with a significant part of that investment in Chevrolet’s new pick-up plant in Thailand. The platform is still jointly developed with Isuzu, but now its just the basic platform engineering that is shared. The Chevrolet version is available with a choice of two diesel engines and two petrol, of which the petrol engines will come to the region first, to be followed by the diesel as well. GM’s new platform follows the tried and tested body-on-frame layout, with a choice of wheelbases, three cabin configurations and a four-wheel drive option as well, with manual and auto gearboxes. In the four-wheel drive arrangement the body rides higher to give fording ability.GM has had many years of association with Thailand as a

manufacturing hub. The country is known for its love affair with the pick-up truck and almost every Japanese manufacturer and both GM and Ford have manufacturing facilities that make pick-up trucks and their platform variants for both the local and export markets. Toyota famously centres its IMV platform here – with the Innova, Hilux and Fortuner being produced here and part supply going to other plants around the world too. As for GM it used to make the old Colorado till 2011, but once it switched over to the new platform, it now has set its sights firmly on getting its game up to a level where it can challenge Toyota both in the pick-up segment as well as in the Fortuner-type SUV.While vehicle plant took some level of investment, almost US$200 million has been invested in a new diesel engine plant that produces the 2.5-litre and 2.8-litre Duramax engines for the platform. The petrol engines come from further afield with the 3.6-litre V6 unit being procured from Holden in Australia.The Colorado is now targeted as being something more than a utility vehicle. Of course this is largely because the target market for the truck covers more than 60 countries, so

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the platform has to be adaptable to the needs of these varied markets. In the GCC we will see most of the numbers generated by the truck being in the single cab, entry level petrol engined spec, with its larger bed. More evolved markets like Australia may see the truck being chosen in the 4x4 mode with a dual cab and high spec levels because of the preponderance of self-employed tradesmen.We drove the variants of the truck around the countryside in the green north of Thailand around the popular tourist areas of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. To start with the entire experience was a bit out of kilter – we had right-hand drive trucks (Thai spec of course) with manual transmissions and diesel engines. And we drove the trucks in convoy under police motorcycle escort. So it wasn’t much of a test drive until we entered a secluded forest area where the entire GCC group were shifted over to left-hand drive petrol trucks.Other than the odd complaint

from fellow journalists who were trying to judge the Colorado against the cars they drove, the general feeling was one of a good job, well done. The body-on-frame has been evolved nicely, with a general stiffening up of the frame and better mounts resulting in a quieter ride. Suspension would always have to be a compromise with the basic leaf-spring orientation having to be maintained to take care of the cargo carrying aspects of the truck. But someone has paid a lot of attention to the spring rates and especially the dampers and their packaging as the bounce we expected on unladen trucks was muted and there was no resonating tendency that we could determine. The petrol engines are both very capable. Of course the grunt of the 3.6 is very obvious and pervasive. However, even the 4-cylinder with its 150hp and 5-sp manual transmission was very capable.Inside the cabin, you get a feeling that the truck tries too hard to please everyone. We

had designers tell us about how they took the twin cockpit feel of the Camaro into the truck and that the family feel is carried on. Yes there is a line of stitches that is meant to emulate the feel, but frankly the cabin is just too much of a workplace to get that ambience. However, it definitely stays on top of the breed with its very circular automatic climate control option.Certain oddities are replete with the truck – when it is in 4WD mode there is no indicator to tell you when it is in low mode and you miss the map pockets in the rear of the seats.Would the Colorado succeed in the GCC? It definitely packages the right set of attributes for the market and we would expect its indicative keen pricing to keep it cheaper in an apples to apples comparison with the Hilux. As for Thailand itself, the truck is quite popular, even having proven itself in rescue work during the recent floods.

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CompetitorsToyota Hilux, Mitsubishi L200, Mazda BT50, Nissan Pick-up, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-MaxStrengthsNew platform, definitely modern and well-built, good range of engines and variants, competitive pricingWeaknessesNot the strongest player in the segment and likely to be compared head on with the new D-Max

the colorado’s suspension now shows the perfect compromise between a cargo carrier and a daily use family vehicle’s

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kFord Middle east recently held a unique truck event in the hills around hatta. the F-150 was the star of the event, with the new ranger making its first local appearance too.

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Trucks are an integral part of the automotive

business all around the world. No, not the huge trucks that spring to mind with the term. Of course these are important, but we have generally steered clear of the heavy vehicle industry in this magazine. What we are rather looking at is the pickup which brings the ability to haul cargo to an individual as much as to any company. And no brand has been so strongly associated with the breed of pickup truck as Ford has. But for Ford to claim their real sense of leadership they have to bring out the sheer volume of F-150s they sell and have sold for so many years.And since we weren’t really so well informed about what it takes to produce a great truck of the F-150 type, we went along on an invite from the company to participate in the Built Ford Tough event. To bring us up to speed the company had even brought in their spokesman Rick Titus, who is billed as a race car driver, independent motoring correspondent and contributor to some of the best motoring titles. Apparently one of his consultancy jobs is to take various trucks and analyze them for Ford. But more of that later.

The event was predominantly a showcase for the 2012 model year of the F-150. Actually you don’t have to do much to sell the truck even in the region. If you are in the market for anything bigger than a Hilux (or indeed the Ranger) the F-150 is one of the most visible alternatives in the market. And it helps a lot when the F-150 shares so many of its underpinnings with the Expedition, including the engines on offer. But this year there is a decided change in the air, for it is the first time that we have seen the F-150 engine choices widen to this degree.The F-150 is now available with three engines – both the smaller engines are taken from the Mustang, with the 3.7-litre V6 and the 5.0-litre V8 joining the large 6.2-litre V8 that powers the fancier versions. Ford tell us that their engines are:

3.7-litre four-valve Ti-VCT V6

Best-in-class 302 • horsepower at 6,500 rpm vs. V6 competitorsUnsurpassed • 377Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm vs. V6 competitorsBest-in-class 17 • mpg city and best-in-class 23 mpg highway (4x2)Best-in-class 6,100 • pounds maximum

trailer tow vs. V6 competitors

5.0-litre four-valve dual-overhead-camshaft Ti-VCT V8

Best-in-class • 360 horsepower at 5,500 rpm vs. standard V8 competitorsBest-in-class 515Nm • of torque at 4,250 rpm vs. standard V8 competitors21 mpg highway, • unsurpassed 15 mpg city (4x2)Best-in-class • 10,000 pounds maximum trailer tow vs. standard V8 competitors

6.2-litre two-valve single-overhead-camshaft V8

Best-in-class 411 • horsepower at 5,500 rpm vs. all competitorsBest-in-class • 588Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm vs. all competitors13 mpg city, 18 • mpg highway (4x2)Best-in-class 11,300 • pounds maximum trailer tow vs. all competitors

Now till a competitor says otherwise we have to believe that. But in the meantime we were presented the opportunity to actually haul around three different sizes of trailers, haul 1 ton of bricks on the load bay and drive the F-150 around

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some off-road stretches to get a feel of the truck. There is no doubting the competence of the F-150, it is solidly built, comes with a capable suspension and now gets a standard 6-speed automatic transmission on all the engine variants. As if that wasn’t enough the truck comes in different wheelbases, three different body styles and a multitude of trim levels that had the sales personnel assuring us that they were able to target entry level truck buyers in Saudi Arabia with a trimmed down version of the short wheelbase with single cab.However, one feels that the strong point of the day and

conversely the chink in their armour was using Rick Titus. There is no doubting the knowledge levels that he has and you know that he is a true oil-head. But when during an interactive session with journalists he began highlighting the ‘facts’ of how the F-150 was better than its competitors in terms of the size and strength of its box frame, size of bolts used to fasten the load bay to the frame and a head to head comparison with the Silverado where he said that essentially it had no crumple zone, you could feel the sense of disbelief in the room. It isn’t as if any of us had a cultural issue with the

comparisons (after all this isn’t how things are done here right?) but later research revealed that all the issues he was talking about including Toyota’s move from a C-channel frame to a reinforced structure were subjects of previous generations of the competitors that had been addressed in current models.This could not detract completely from the feature highlights of the Ford truck itself. Yes, the truck has some advanced roll-control, brake algorithms that factor in trailer load and sway and a good solid gearbox shift logic that understands the trailer load presence as well as three really good engines catering to all price

ranges. It is easy to manoeuvre even with a trailer and takes the off-road section with consummate ease. One would only question its sand manners, for which they had the Raptor on hand – but this was only a showpiece.In the bargain we also drove the 2.5-litre petrol engine version of the new Ranger with its 5-speed manual gearbox and 4WD. This truck is made in South Africa and seems all ready to take the battle to the Hilux.Are we convinced that the F-150 is great? Yes. Is it the best? Not till we have driven all of them and the Ram 1500 Laramie that we test elsewhere is quite good.

Automan_300x230 30th_Anni_E.ai 6/3/12 8:47:29 AM

What are the origins of Sayarti Group?Compared to Zubair Automotive Group, Sayarti Group is a relatively new addition to the business. Sayarti Group LLC was established in 2008 with the idea of offering two clear lines of business -- car care services and pre-owned car sales.

What is the status now?Both the business lines Sayarti Group represent flourished and as the responsibilities increased, we realized that we had to undergo another expansion within the Sayarti set-up. The objective was to examine the new support roles and assign appropriate functions for the expanding business. In 2010, even though the market was going through a stressful period, we were confident enough to establish Sayarti Mercantile as a fully functional set-up with specific role, responsibilities and business goals.

So, what’s the difference between Sayarti Autocare and Sayarti Mercantile now?

Sayarti Group continues to represent the car care division which you know for the first time in Oman offered a holistic approach to maintaining vehicles, while enhancing their operational performance and aesthetic appeal. The Pre-owned Car Division has also already distinguished itself as an innovative player in the rapidly growing market for pre-owned and trade-in vehicles. Both these operations remain unchanged in the organization structure.Meanwhile, Sayarti Mercantile takes up the role of a distributor and reseller of car related products – service parts, tyres, batteries, car tint films, in-car entertainment, among other product lines. This list is increasing every month.

What are the synergies between Sayarti Autocare and Sayarti Mercantile?

Think of it as an in-house customer-supplier structure. Sayarti Group’s auto care centre which offers maintenance packages uses only genuine parts and jobs are executed in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. The best premium brands are used for vehicle detailing, paint protecting, dent removal, banish odours, repair cracked windscreens

and damaged upholstery. In addition, car owners can professionally personalise their vehicle with a wide choice of alloy wheels, window tinting and in-car entertainment. All these products are sourced by Sayarti Mercantile and then sold to Sayarti Autocare[who are technically our customers also] and also to independent retailers or individual buyers.

How busy have you been in 2011-2012?

It has been an interesting phase for us. We have been able to restructure and make our business entities much stronger and efficient. We have also added several new product lines and new brands into the Sayarti Mercantile portfolio. This year we introduce the all-new range of Kenwood in-car entertainment systems and negotiated a deal to

relaunch Sonax, Germany’s # 1 after car care product brand, Mickeythompson Tyres, VisionX Automotive LED Lighting

What else is happening for Sayarti Group for the remainder of the year?

We are increasing the reach of our popular one-stop shop concept by opening new branches in Muscat. The first such facility shortly to be opened is in Qurum and in September we plan to open a unit in Muscat Grand Mall. In the next three years, we intend to open 20-23 such facilities in convenient locations in Oman that will focus on basic services such as oil, filter change, battery and tyre changes, brake pad replacement and servicing, minor body repairs, tinting, detailing etc.

We intend to create customer loyalty by value addition and offer best prices for services and retail products as we are able to pass on the benefits of our cost-effecting sourcing to customers. We intend to offer the best in professional services while keeping costs moderate and reaffirm Sayarti as the best independent service provider in Oman.

How do you see the future?

Oman will witness tremendous growth in the coming

years as the fundamentals of the economy are being laid with focus on infrastructural development and new investor oriented projects – be it ports, tourism or fisheries. With the growth will come demand for automobiles, commercial vehicles and after care services.

You recently acquired the distribution of Sonax. Tell us more.

Sonax markets its products under several car care sub brands like PremiumClass, XtremeSerie, FormelPLUS, Sonax Professional and Sonax ProfiLine. All these products have been formulated with specific tasks in mind including the type of paintwork and age of the car. The complete range will be available in Oman now. Sonax products just don’t take care of the car and how it looks, but also ensures that it doesn’t harm the users or the vehicle’s components as they are also environment friendly. Sonax is way ahead in developing technology for latest cars which are using different technologies when compared to older vehicles.

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KA Arun Kumar, General Manager of Sayarti

Group talks to Automan about the meteoric rise of the Sayarti Group, a member of the Zubair

Automotive Group which was created to complement the organisation’s diverse

automotive offerings

UP, UP AND AWAy

face tO face

Zubair Automotive Group, the flagship enterprise of the Zubair Corporation is by far, one of Oman’s biggest and diversified business houses that commenced business operations in 1973. From its humble beginnings as a low volume importer of cars, it has become one of Oman’s most prestigious multi-franchise automotive distributors. The success of the retail operations also encouraged the organization to expand its after sales support business, and this is done by Sayarti Group.

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Cars are a sign of affluence in most countries – some cars scream wealth, others suggest new riches, yet others imply upward mobility, while the bulk of the breed just point out that the owner can afford one instead of standing at a street corner for a taxi or worse have to travel by mass transport. You can travel from country to country and this basic theme doesn’t change. In most of Europe, the cars may be smaller but they follow the theme, in the US they are larger and in Japan they are smarter. But most of us buy one for the two advantages – transport from point A to B and onwards and the status it brings us.

Now my question is does status really matter anymore, partucularly when you are trapped in one of the almost omnipresent traffic jams on Muscat’s roads? I used to smirk at my friends who drove in from the suburbs like Mabela and Seeb everyday through stop and go traffic down the Sultan Qaboos Highway. “I stay in Ruwi to take advantage of driving against the rush hour traffic” was a standard refrain. If any of them remember that, then they’ll be having a great laugh. Now it doesn’t matter whether I leave office in Al Khuwair at 6.30, an hour later or 2 hours earlier, I inevitably have to crawl through bumper to bumper traffic on the Qurum heights road or worse on the highway that winds it way through Wattayah and Wadi Adai. And the only entertainment I have is watching the other prisoners on the road, trapped in their gleaming chariots hauled by new age horsepower. I’ve even started carrying a bottle of water along with me for the ‘just in case’. If it gets any worse I may need an empty bottle too. The other day I even found a test car running into the yellow warning zone for its fuel and looking at the trip meter with its remaining range readout is a recipe for high blood pressure as it goes from 70km to 30 km in the three kilometeres that you have crawled.

Of course the occupants of the other cars are now subjects to be analysed - “Is that his car or is he a driver?”, “where did he pick her up?”, “those kids should really be in the back and belted”. Of course too, most of us live in a shell surrounded by the force field of our belief that we are the only human beings among all these metal carapaces, until you lock eyes with a fellow sufferer.

I won’t even get into how unfair it is to us commuters that we have to suffer so, where a ten minute journey (remember the good old days in Muscat where everything was reachable in ten minutes?) has now become a 75 minute one and where you see the next stretch of road being dug up even before there is any sign of the previous being completed. I am actually looking forward to Ramadan with its usual ban on heavy traffic during certain hours and the shortened work day. I have colleagues who have become masters of the obstacle race, taking the small inside detours, cutting through petrol stations, cheating with a quick U-turn on a cross roads and cutting through parking lots to cut down their commute time to Wadi Kabir. As for me, I remain stuck in the hilariously named fast lane.

The Qurum heights road is no better as two lanes of traffic try to become one at Darsait, with the wedding proceeding because compliant lesser halves in the proper lane give way to the go-getters cutting in from the lane meant for Muttrah. It is hardly a Hobson’s choice as to which lane you should take – I try being rule-abiding and every single time I can feel road rage creep in as I count the number of smart alecks who pass me by and get ahead at the junction. So a ‘get-ahead’ pill is just what we need – choose to be the better half.

On these roads, status does not matter anymore – size does, aggressiveness does and so does the uncanny ability to go, in the manner of Captain Kirk and Tow Mater, where no gentle-car has gone before. It was something that defined the early morning commuter from Sharjah to Dubai prior to 2009. It defined my existence as a commuter in Mumbai and it is the canker that troubles car drivers from Bangkok to Los Angeles to Shanghai. Only in our case there is the hope that one day it will get better.

Surviving Muscat traffic

{ChiCane}

Raj Warrior is editor of Automan and has been in the thick of the Automotive journalism field from the past 15 years.Want to comment or have your say? Email at raj@alroya.net. Identify yourself or your message will be trashed and your id blocked