Car Xpress Feb 2013

Jaguar XJ8

2013 Altima

Special Guest

Nissan Middle East’s Atsuo Kosaka and the 2013 Sentra

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Road Test

Volume 9 . Issue 73 . FEBRUARY March 2013 2013

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Lamborghini Gallardo A whole new meaning to the term ‘super sports car.’

TAKE US ON A BORING JOURNEY, BECAUSE WE’VE NEVER BEEN ON ONE. Nissan Patrol gives your family the freedom to watch their favourite movies on individual screens with the Multi-screen DVD Entertainment System. As for you, the Music Box stores all the songs you need to keep you going. Experience all the classleading features with a test drive at your nearest Nissan showroom.

Nissan Patrol. The Hero of All Terrain.

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Volume 7 . Issue 67 . November 2011

The new V12 Zagato Brutally elegant!

Lexus LFA

Pursuing the dream

The Audi e-tron Spyder: 0 to 100 kph in 4.4 seconds

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issan’s launch of the 2013 Sentra should be interesting.

For one, the Sentra, which, by the way, is now on its 13th version, has everything a car-savvy motorist could ask for—from next generation CVT transmission to keyless entry—and yet is priced in the working class range starting at AED50,000.

The packaging altogether could give Altima lovers second thoughts.

Other launches in this issue are the 2013 Honda Accord and the 2013 RAV4.

Noteworthy is that the Accord’s EX grade and onwards has three highly coveted features: Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, USB/iPod integration and rearview camera.

For its part, the six-speed automatic RAV4 has a number of powertrain technologies that help deliver an engaging and satisfying driving experience, or so the carmaker said. The crossover SUV is available with Toyota’s 2.5-liter (2494cc) naturally aspirated four-cylinder, which produces 176 SAE net horsepower at 6000 rpm and 172 lbs-ft. of torque at 4,100 rpm.

On another note, Car Xpress has been busy test driving vehicles lately—the Mercedes Benz SLK, Jaguar XJ8 5.0, BMW 7 series, the 2013 Nissan Altima.

Check out our take on these works of art in this edition’s Road Test section.

Our line-up in the features pool makes for a really exciting read: the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera; Maserati Quattroporte; Pininfarina’s Cambiano, an electric sports saloon; the McLaren MP4-12C; a Volvo hot rod named Jakob; an awesome offroad concept car named Yotoda; and the slick Peugeot 301.

Atsuo Kosaka, Nissan Middle East Managing Director, talks to Car Xpress on a host of topics in this edition’s Our Guest section; and Lube Bay Special has the Lexus car that starred in the 2002 Tom Cruise film, “Minority Report.”

A

N

The provocative Reventon Inspired by the fastest airplanes

Cadillac XTS Platinum Re-imagining the luxury sedan

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P 66

concept car

Yotoda The offroader that is everything

On the Cover Cover Story

24

Road Tests

31

Our Guest

80

Lamborghini

On the driver’s seat, we tell you how it is with 2013 Altima Mercedes Benz SLK Jaguar XJ8 Nissan Middle East’s Atsuo Kosaka and the 2013 Sentra carxpressmag.com

5

BMW M5

2013 Altima

Special Guest

Nissan Middle East’s Atsuo Kosaka and the 2013 Sentra

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CONTENTS

Road Test

Volume 9 . Issue 73 . FEBrUarY March 2013 2013

WWW.CARXPRESSMAG.COM

Winner of the Dubai Intl. Printing Award

Line Up

2011

Maserati Quattroporte McLaren MP4-12C Cambiano Peugeot 301

for best magazine

Updates

GET A DIGITAL FEEL OF OUR NEWS, CARS, REPORTS, DRIVERS AND MORE @ WWW.CARXPRESSMAG.COM 8.72 million Toyotas sold in 2012

Music on the go

Toyota announced a strong growth in 2012 sales with global sales record –Toyota and Lexus – totaling 8.72 million units, a yearon-year (YoY) increase of 23 percent over 2011 sales. P16

Panasonic introduces SC-MC07 compact palm-sized Bluetooth speaker, the smallest of the new Micro System products, it combines the best sound quality with a small, compact size. P17

10 Updates

News, views & novelties

NEWS, VIEWS & NOVELTIES

Lamborghini Gallardo

BMW Group post record sales Tudor, Timing

Partner of FIA’s World Endurance Championship

21,314 sold across 12 Gulf countries

The BMW Group operates 25 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries.

Audi reports 16.4% in Middle East Trevor Hill, Audi

managing director

Audi has reported a sales increase of 16.4 percent to 9,155 vehicles delivered to customers, making 2012 another record year for the German car maker.

Audi now plans to concentrate on increasing capacities and quality for sales and after sales service in the region to support its growth on route to its Middle East sales target of 20,000 units annually by 2020.

“Audi is at present the fastest growing German premium brand in the Middle East. In 2013 our focus is on strengthening our infrastructure backbone

in terms of sales and after-sales service facilities. Together with our regional partners we currently have seven major construction projects on the way,” Trevor Hill, managing director said.

In 2012 the UAE made up 41 percent of Audi’s total sales across the Middle East with 3,819 units sold - a plus of 21.7 percent. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait followed closely with 1,918 and 1,279 units sold in 2012 respectively – a growth of 26.0 and 20.7 percent.

Overall Audi registered record results in all Middle East markets, apart from Syria, where business operations have been suspended, and Qatar, where a new dealer was appointed recently.

The brand with the four rings launched several new models to the market in 2012, including the new A4 and A5 model ranges, the Audi Q3 as well as the S models, but it was the traditional Middle

2

Eastern favorites, who again lead sales in 2012. 1,738 and 1,730 units respectively were sold of the large C and D segment sedans A6 and Audi A8 L. 36 percent of their volume was sold in the UAE alone. The C and D segment SUVs followed closely with 1,349 units sold of the Audi Q5 and 1,596 units of the Audi Q7. In terms of growth the A6 lead the board with a 54.1 percent increase followed by the A8 L with a 17.1 percent increase and the Q5 with 10.8 percent. The demand for the large Q7 SUV remained stable.

2013 will see the market arrival of the new Audi RS 4 Avant, the new R8 range and the RS 5 Cabriolet.

BMW Group delivered over 20,000 vehicles in the Middle East in 2012 –a 14-percent increase on 2011 figures, making it the most successful year in its history in terms of regional sales, company officials said.

Dr. Joerg Breuer, Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East, attributed the sales increase to the continued growth of the region’s economies, even as he noted that almost all of BMW Group’s importers recorded double-digit growth.

“It is also the first time that we have crossed the 20,000 unit mark – this has been a result of us making our best selling models even better, our committed importer partners who continue to invest in improving facilities and customer service and the strength of our desirable brands,” he said.

With a total of 21,314 BMW and MINI vehicles sold across 13 Middle East markets, the company’s year-end results clearly demonstrate customers’ desire to purchase into two of the world’s strongest and most respected brands – with record sales achieved in 10 markets, several of which recorded double digit growth.

The UAE remained the biggest market, accounting for 47% of BMW and MINI regional sales and almost 10,000 vehicles sold. Abu Dhabi was the highest volume selling market, with a 21-percent growth, while Dubai witnessed an increase of 5

carxpressmag.com

percent. Saudi Arabia was the third highest volume selling market, with Director a 17-percent Dr. Joerg Breuer, BMW Managing growth. Other top performing markets included Kuwait, with a growth of 37 percent, the highest amongst all BMW Group Middle East importers; Oman increased sales by 33 percent and Lebanon by 25 percent.

Since its launch in October 2010, the BMW 5 Series has been the global market leader in the premium segment of the upper mid-range class.

In 2012 the model retained its pole position with 5,210 vehicles sold – the highest volume seller, representing almost a quarter or 22 percent of all regional sales.

MINI, meanwhile, recorded another year of exceptional sales with 1,305 models sold across nine Middle East markets – an 18-percent increase over 2011. This is the most successful year in the brand’s history in terms of regional sales and an impressive feat when operating in a market that predominantly favours large, luxury cars, company officials said.

carxpressmag.com

A whole new meaning to the word ‘super sports car.’

Tudor, the prestigious Swiss sporting watch brand, has become the Timing Partner of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) chose TUDOR as its trusted Timing Partner for the seasons to come. For TUDOR, this agreement is not only a natural extension of the fabulous history that has linked the brand to motor sports for over half a century. It also seals the association between two partners that have made passion and performance the keys to their success.

Launched in June 2011 by the FIA and the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest), the WEC perpetuates the historical links with the World Championship for Makes in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the World Endurance Championship Group C in the 1980s and the World Sportscar Championship in the 1990s. With 8 races over the course of the 2013 season, the FIA World Endurance Championship alternates between legendary circuits (Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, Interlagos and Fuji) and locations where the history of motor sports remains to be written (Austin, Shanghai, Bahrain).

20 Launches

Nissan Sentra, Honda Accord Toyota RAV4, Kia Cerato Featuring in this edition:

44 Luxury Sports Car The GranCabrio Touching all five senses

3

Cover Story A special choice for an awesome read.

Gallardo LP 570-4

48 Exotic Cars McLaren MP4-12C Re-writing the rules Cambiano Pininfarina’s electric sports saloon

More power. Less weight. carxpressmag.com

carxpressmag.com

58 Super Car Maserati Quattroporte 100kph in 4.7 seconds. Top speed: 307kph

3

RoadTest

2

Curious Jack tries the

2013

AltimA

And here’s what he says

By Jeremy Icon

62

D

ear diary, Today I rode the new Nissan Altima 2013, now available in the UAE, and said to be a four-star car with a five-star feel, if it was a hotel.

The Altima is a result of Nissan’s most revolutionary and bold move to make luxury car features available in the midrange vehicles at a low price point ideal for first-time car buyers.

In short, the Altima is an attempt to capture this significant UAE market by providing good value. Is there? I think so.

Handling is superb. It’s not a tiring car, so to speak, especially for long-haul trips. The stylish design in and out, outstanding ride, handling, acceleration and fuel economy, and thoughtful technology solutions not currently found in this segment are there. Indeed, a new premium mid-size sedan just like the way I’ve wanted it.

The car’s upscale interior rivals that of premium luxury sedans, including best-in-class seat comfort inspired by zero-gravity research—frankly, I don’t know how “zero-gravity” seats work bit it sounds good and the seats are really comfortable so I vote aye for this.

City Car Peugeot 301 Built for all conditions

The 2013 Nissan Altima has next-generation

safety shield

technologies like Blind Spot Warning.

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3

Concept Car Yotoda The offroader that is everything

T

he British have Bowler and the Americans have their Rally Fighter, but it seems that a new competitor has just arrived: Yotoda, from the Spanish phrase “Yo toda,” which means “I am all.”

There are plenty of rally cars on the market, as well as companies that manufacture them. However, all this designs lack repeatability. Except for the British Bowler and the American Rally Fighter equipped with a two-wheel drive, all designs are of prototypical character, having been built on the basis of incidental parts that come from at least several different cars.

So, how to service such a car? Where would it be possible to obtain spare parts for it? By and large, car lovers are doomed to the lifelong servicing offered by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

Not with Yotoda, which was manufactured in Poland by eXpedycja.pl company.

The car was based on a particular vehicle: the Toyota Land Cruiser J9 and 99 percent of its mechanical components can be purchased at all Toyota showroom worldwide, using the VIN of the car.

“It was one of the first of our untypical assumptions, which outdoes the competition in this respect,” says Adam Sas, Yotoda chief designer.

“Yotoda is simply meant for off-road sports, particularly cross country-type rallies. On principle, Yotoda is not a car which has received homologation from FIA. However, it does not exclude it from competition in FIA rallies in the Open Class,” Sas goes on to say.

Yotoda is a rally vehicle intended for amateur cross-country action and it differs from its competitors not only in its origination, but also in the very concept of the car design.

The creators of Yotoda have focused not on the

72

Classic Car Hot Rod Jakob

power of the vehicle, but on the weight of the car.

The frame cage simultaneously constitutes part of the body. The laminates have been produced from epoxy composites, the internal equipment has been minimised, and all walls, baffle plates and floors have been made of light metal alloys and plastic panels.

“As a result,” says Sas, “we managed to create a super-lightweight rally vehicle which weighs 3,615 lb fully equipped and ready for participation in a rally, as well as filled up with fuel.

“This means in turn that the net weight of a vehicle, as declared by the majority of manufacturers, in the case of Yotoda amounts to less than 3,306 lb.”

There were several conceptual assumptions for Yotoda, explains Sas, adding that one of them was

The acceleration from 0 to 62 mph for the model of Yotoda equipped with the weakest engine, the turbo-diesel, takes 7.2 seconds, making it similar to the results of a BMW X5 or X6.

This off-roader is not excluded from competition in FIA Open Class rallies.

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76 2Ways Readers’ suggestions & comments let’s talk about it.

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Publisher Kalimat Group International FZ - LLC CEO Hekmat el Zein Managing Director Shatha Sharaffdeen Car Xpress Head Office Office G4, Building No.1, Phase One, P.O. Box 502408 Dubai Media City, UAE Tel: +971 4 391 0410/1/2/3 Fax: +971 4 391 6619 Editor Josua Joplin Assistant Editor Ayman Mujahed Creative Director Matt Drake Creative Designer Najeeb Hamza Photographer Maher Rashed Contributors Shawn Carroll Alistair Weaver Digital Creative i.

Marketing Ali Seif Arif Shah Crisna De Guzman Circulation Mohamad Jasnaz Car Xpress Lebanon Office Riad el solh 11072070 P.O.Box 11-1197 Beirut, Lebanon Tel: +961 3 208 528 Fax: +961 1 924 440

Car Xpress Silver Winner of the Dubai International Printing Award 2011 for best magazine

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kindly recycle when you are finsihed with it Car Xpress Disclaimer The material used in this publication is intended for informational purposes only. A sincere effort has been made to report details accurately, however, as specifications and models vary over time and upgrades are constantly appearing on the market, readers are advised to seek specialist assistance before acting on information offered in this publication.

All text and layout remains the copyright of Kalimat Group International FZ LLC, unless stated otherwise. Car Xpress is fully independent, and its views are not those of any company mentioned herein.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

All rights reserved. © 2012 Kalimat Group International

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The new 2013 Porsche Boxster Coming in the next issue

Updates

R ead more inside

NEWS, VIEWS & NOVELTIES

Rolls-Royce honours Arab inventor Rolls-Royce has created a unique collection of Ghost vehicles honouring legendary Arab inventor Abbas Ibn Firnas. P12

Sixth generation Maserati Quattroporte premiers in the Middle East The sixth generation Maserati Quattroporte has premiered in the Middle East at the recent Qatar Motor Show. A flagship of the Maserati product range, the new Quattroporte is larger, lighter, more luxurious and faster than the globally-acclaimed car it replaces.

The sixth-generation Quattroporte is a significant leap forward that not only sets the high-technology tone for Maserati’s upcoming range of new-models, but also remains faithful to Maserati’s long history of luxury sports sedans.

It is the essence of Italian car design with a style dedicated to proportion, dynamism and purity that delivers new standards in quality in every area from design to development, fabrication and process controls.

The first model of Maserati’s unparalleled strategic step in industrial growth, the new Quat-

10

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New Sony Xperia Sony has unveiled the Xperia Tablet S, which is thinner and lighter than the original Sony Tablet S and runs a speedy NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor and Android 4.0.3 operating system. P13

troporte is the start of a journey that will see the company’s sales increase by a factor of eight by 2015. It is an increase inspired by a near century of vehicles which define style, elegance, quality and performance. The Quattroporte will be followed by Ghibli and the Levant luxury SUV entering key growth segments for the luxury brand.

Starting with the original Quattroporte in 1963, Maserati invented the concept of the luxury sports sedan and the new Quattroporte continues to be the benchmark for high quality engineering, supercar performance and luxury sedan comfort.

0-100 kph in 4.7 seconds; top speed 307km/h

Lexus to host artist’s exhibition at Milan Design Week 2013

Lexus will hold a design exhibition in partnership with a world-renowned artist at Milan Design Week in April 2013, where winning designs from the first Lexus Design Award launched last year will also be on display.

Akihisa Hirata, an up-and-coming architect will create a space based on the concept of “-amazing flow-”. The space will present a multi-sensory experience of “flow” through which visitors can see the connection that brings together roads, humans, wind, and water as a single entity.

The exhibition aims to deliver an amazing experience that will challenge visitors to imagine how the cities of the future will be. Toyo Ito, an architect who has been serving as the judge of the first Lexus Design Award will be supervising the project. The exhibition will take place at central Milan’s Museo della Permanente art museum, April 10 -- 14, 2013.

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11

The show is also known as Milano Salone.

Details of the Lexus Design Award and the Lexus exhibition at Milan Design Week 2013 can be followed on the Lexus Global website (URL: http://www.lexus-global.com ).

Lexus continues to demonstrate its support of up-and-coming amazing artists that has been evident through the launch of the Lexus Design Award, Lexus Short Films and now the “-amazing flow-” exhibition in Milan.

Milano Design Week is the world’s largest design exhibition. Furniture makers and fashion brands stage a variety of related events throughout Milan during the week to highlight the appeal and originality of their designs. The show is also known as Milano Salone.

Updates

Record year “Audi is at present the fastest growing German premium brand in the Middle East. We currently have seven major construction projects on the way” —Trevor Hill, managing director. P14

NEWS, VIEWS & NOVELTIES

Rolls-Royce honours Arab inventor Abbas Ibn Firnas The story of his attempted glider flight using manmade wings and feathers is taught in textbooks in many Arab and Muslim countries, and given him legendary status in the Middle East, where he has postage stamps, streets and even airports named after him.

Abbas Ibn Firnas dared to dream that man could fly a millennium before the Wright Brothers did.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has created a unique collection of Bespoke Rolls-Royce Ghost vehicles honouring legendary Arab inventor Abbas Ibn Firnas, who is most famous for being the first man in history to make scientific attempts at flying.

The British ultra-luxury carmaker unveiled the Rolls-Royce Ghost Firnas Motif collection of vehicles, which are available exclusively through Abu Dhabi Motors, the sole dealer of Rolls-Royce Motor

Cars in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The unique models were conceptualised by Kadhim Al Helli, Rolls Royce Brand Manager at Abu Dhabi Motors before being hand-crafted by specialists at the home of RollsRoyce in Goodwood, England.

Abbas Ibn Firnas was a 9th century Arab inventor and poet in Cordoba during the Ummayad Dynasty, who made contributions to a host of different sciences including physics, astronomy and chemistry.

Ageless Mythical CarsTour ‘13 5-day first-of-its-kind classic car cross-country race to be launched This will be written as another first in UAE’s long-list of iconic events—“The Ageless Mythical Cars Tour 2013,” a regularity race to take place across the country from December 9 to 13 this year.

The approximately 1,000-km race will see 150 authentic classic cars drive across the roads of the UAE from the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, through different emirates to come full circle for a finish in Abu Dhabi.

The much-awaited race is being organized by DM Cube – a UAE-based design, corporate brand-

12

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ing communications and sports event management company, whose founder and managing director, Patrizia Azzariti, said there is a large number of classic car owners and enthusiasts in the region who finds the event an exciting chance to experience driving their cars in a professional race set-up.

Regularity racing is also known as Time Speed Distance rallying, whereby the objective of the race is not to speed past the competition but to maintain specific times with precise average speeds on a predefined route.

Usually conducted on public roads, the streets of the UAE will be raced by international brands including Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Bugatti, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lancia, Maserati, Mercedes Benz and Porsche.

For more information about the race, route, cars and participants, visit: http://www.theagelesstour.com

21,314 BMWs sold in 12 Gulf countries “It is the first time that we have crossed the 20,000 unit mark. This has been a result of us making our best selling models even better, our committed importer partners and the strength of our desirable brands.” —Dr. Joerg Breuer, Managing Director. P15

The car stands at the pinnacle of British luxury motoring.

Sony Xperia Tablet S—grace under pressure

Bentley Continental GT Speed debuts in Qatar Bentley Motors unveiled the new Continental GT Speed, described as the pinnacle of GT supercar performance and luxury, at the Qatar International Motor Show, Doha.

At the heart of the new Continental GT Speed is an up-rated version of the unique Bentley 6-litre, 48-valve, four-cam, twin turbocharged W12 engine.

For the new model, the legendary Bentley W12 develops 625 PS (616 bhp/460 kW) at 6000 rev/ min and 800 Nm of torque to deliver thunderous, supercar performance with effortless overtaking capability. The 0-100 km/h sprint is dispatched in a mere 4.2 seconds and the GT Speed has a top speed of 330 km/h.

Making its world premiere, the luxurious Mulsanne Fitted Luggage collection offers visitors the chance to see the bespoke hand crafted luggage for the first time. Mulsanne fitted luggage is hand crafted by Schedoni of Italy, specialists in bespoke

fitted car luggage. The shape of the luggage is inspired by the inner door panel design of the car.

With the side panels echoing the main feature of the door frame with a twin ridge and the shape of the dashboard buttresses, the frame gives the ability to guide the luggage in to position in the boot of the car protecting the handle.

A favourite amongst Middle Eastern customers, Bentley also showcased its highly distinctive flagship Mulsanne at the Qatar International Motor Show.

The Mulsanne is a pure example of the Grand Touring Bentley combining coach-built elegance and hand crafted luxury with immense power and sportiness that together offer the world’s most exclusive driving experience. It is a luxury car that makes the joy of driving its central focus. In an era of mass production, it stands at the pinnacle of British luxury motoring.

carxpressmag.com

13

Sony has unveiled the Xperia Tablet S, which is thinner and lighter than the original Sony Tablet S, and is crafted with premium materials that gracefully lends good looks and enable comfortable handling around the home or when on the move.

The Xperia brand delivers mobility in addition to design, cross-device connectivity and network services to enhance user experience. Through introducing a tablet device under the Xperia series, Sony allows consumers to seamlessly enjoy the immediate convenience of an Xperia smartphone and immersive entertainment of an Xperia Tablet.

The splash-proof aluminium casing of the Xperia Tablet S is designed for real-life use around the home and outdoors, doing away with the worry of casual water spillages. Running a speedy NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor and Android 4.0.3 operating system, the device comes with the power needed to enjoy the latest media, apps and games.

designed for real-life use

Updates

8.72 million Toyotas sold in 2012 Toyota announced a strong growth in 2012 sales with global sales record –Toyota and Lexus – totaling 8.72 million units, a year-onyear increase of 23 percent over 2011 sales. P16

NEWS, VIEWS & NOVELTIES

Audi reports 16.4% in Middle East managing director Trevor Hill, Audi

Audi has reported a sales increase of 16.4 percent to 9,155 vehicles delivered to customers, making 2012 another record year for the German car maker.

Audi now plans to concentrate on increasing capacities and quality for sales and after sales service in the region to support its growth on route to its Middle East sales target of 20,000 units annually by 2020.

“Audi is at present the fastest growing German premium brand in the Middle East. In 2013 our focus is on strengthening our infrastructure backbone

in terms of sales and after-sales service facilities. Together with our regional partners we currently have seven major construction projects on the way,” Trevor Hill, managing director said.

In 2012 the UAE made up 41 percent of Audi’s total sales across the Middle East with 3,819 units sold - a plus of 21.7 percent. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait followed closely with 1,918 and 1,279 units sold in 2012 respectively – a growth of 26.0 and 20.7 percent.

Overall Audi registered record results in all Middle East markets, apart from Syria, where business operations have been suspended, and Qatar, where a new dealer was appointed recently.

The brand with the four rings launched several new models to the market in 2012, including the new A4 and A5 model ranges, the Audi Q3 as well as the S models, but it was the traditional Middle

14

carxpressmag.com

Eastern favorites, who again lead sales in 2012. 1,738 and 1,730 units respectively were sold of the large C and D segment sedans A6 and Audi A8 L. 36 percent of their volume was sold in the UAE alone. The C and D segment SUVs followed closely with 1,349 units sold of the Audi Q5 and 1,596 units of the Audi Q7. In terms of growth the A6 lead the board with a 54.1 percent increase followed by the A8 L with a 17.1 percent increase and the Q5 with 10.8 percent. The demand for the large Q7 SUV remained stable.

2013 will see the market arrival of the new Audi RS 4 Avant, the new R8 range and the RS 5 Cabriolet.

Music on the go Panasonic introduces SC-MC07 compact palm-sized Bluetooth speaker. The smallest of the new Micro System products, it combines the best sound quality with a small, compact size. P17

BMW Group posts record sales Tudor, timing

partner of FIA’s World Endurance Championship

21,314 sold across 12 Gulf countries

The BMW Group operates 25 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries.

BMW Group delivered over 20,000 vehicles in the Middle East in 2012 –a 14-percent increase on 2011 figures, making it the most successful year in its history in terms of regional sales, company officials said.

Dr. Joerg Breuer, Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East, attributed the sales increase to the continued growth of the region’s economies, even as he noted that almost all of BMW Group’s importers recorded double-digit growth.

“It is also the first time that we have crossed the 20,000 unit mark – this has been a result of us making our best selling models even better, our committed importer partners who continue to invest in improving facilities and customer service and the strength of our desirable brands,” he said.

With a total of 21,314 BMW and MINI vehicles sold across 13 Middle East markets, the company’s year-end results clearly demonstrate customers’ desire to purchase into two of the world’s strongest and most respected brands – with record sales achieved in 10 markets, several of which recorded double digit growth.

The UAE remained the biggest market, accounting for 47% of BMW and MINI regional sales and almost 10,000 vehicles sold. Abu Dhabi was the highest volume selling market, with a 21-percent growth, while Dubai witnessed an increase of 5

percent. Saudi Arabia was the third highest volume selling market, with aging Director Man W a 17-percent BM er, Breu g Joer Dr. growth. Other top performing markets included Kuwait, with a growth of 37 percent, the highest amongst all BMW Group Middle East importers; Oman increased sales by 33 percent and Lebanon by 25 percent.

Since its launch in October 2010, the BMW 5 Series has been the global market leader in the premium segment of the upper mid-range class.

In 2012 the model retained its pole position with 5,210 vehicles sold – the highest volume seller, representing almost a quarter or 22 percent of all regional sales.

MINI, meanwhile, recorded another year of exceptional sales with 1,305 models sold across nine Middle East markets – an 18-percent increase over 2011. This is the most successful year in the brand’s history in terms of regional sales and an impressive feat when operating in a market that predominantly favours large, luxury cars, company officials said.

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Tudor, the prestigious Swiss sporting watch brand, has become the Timing Partner of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) chose TUDOR as its trusted Timing Partner for the seasons to come. For TUDOR, this agreement is not only a natural extension of the fabulous history that has linked the brand to motor sports for over half a century. It also seals the association between two partners that have made passion and performance the keys to their success.

Launched in June 2011 by the FIA and the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest), the WEC perpetuates the historical links with the World Championship for Makes in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the World Endurance Championship Group C in the 1980s and the World Sportscar Championship in the 1990s. With 8 races over the course of the 2013 season, the FIA World Endurance Championship alternates between legendary circuits (Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, Interlagos and Fuji) and locations where the history of motor sports remains to be written (Austin, Shanghai, Bahrain).

Updates

McLaren for everyone

R ead more inside

The 12C GT3 is now available to all GT teams globally and, for the first time, to collectors and non-race users as well. P18

NEWS, VIEWS & NOVELTIES

14% of

Ford gathers steam

Toyota vehicles sold globally are hybrids with five models available in the Middle East

Looks ahead with a beam Ford “gained momentum” in the last quarter of 2012 and is “geared to start 2013 on a high note” with a range of models on offer.

“2012 has truly been a landmark year for Ford in the region,” Larry Prein, Ford Middle East’s managing director said. “In the last quarter, we’ve gained momentum as our supply got better. With this, we are geared up to start 2013 on a high note.”

Prein said Ford will be introducing the all-new Ford Focus ST, Escape, Fusion and EcoSport, together with the all-new Lincoln MKZ this year.

Ford and Lincoln sales broke the 75,000 unit barrier in 2012– a 10 percent year-on-year growth.

Sales of both brands in the last quarter of 2012 jumped an outstanding 42 percent year-on-year according to Prein.

In the UAE, Ford and Lincoln sales recorded an impressive 55 percent growth owed largely to continued investments and expansion actions by the local importer-dealer, Al Tayer Motors. 2012 saw the dealership expand across Dubai and Fujairah with new sales and service outlets.

Passenger cars recorded a 38 percent growth with best sellers such as the Taurus, Mustang, Fusion and Ford’s all-new small car, Figo. Meanwhile, trucks and SUVs registered a whopping 55 percent increase, driven by increased demand on Edge, Escape, Explorer, Expedition and F-Series trucks.

Lincoln’s new-gen crossovers, the MKX and MKT were also among the well-performing models in the UAE having achieved a three digit growth.

Toyota posts global sales record of 8.72 million units in 2012 Toyota announced a strong growth in 2012 sales with global sales record –Toyota and Lexus – totaling 8.72 million units, a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 23 percent over 2011 sales.

In 2012, Toyota also crossed a major milestone of one million hybrid vehicles. The Middle East region also reported a record year selling 660,285 units, resulting in a YoY increase of 31 percent compared to the previous year.

Across the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), Toyota sold 624,400 vehicles which is a 31-percent increase YoY over 2011. Toyota maintained its position at the top of the GCC automotive industry with a further increase in its dominant market share to 43 percent achieving a 4-percent increase in market share from 2011.

“2012 has once again turned out to be a great year for Toyota in terms of our sales growth and it is especially satisfying considering we celebrated our 75th anniversary in 2012,” said Nobuyuki Negishi, head of Toyota Motor Corp.’s Middle East & North Africa Representative Office.

He added, “The Middle East region repre-

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sents a very important and strategic market for Toyota and with our new slogan of ‘Always Better Cars,’ we will continue our drive to exceed customer expectations across the region by pushing the boundaries of design, technology, craftsmanship and customer service to drive further growth in sales.”

In 2012, Toyota introduced a range of new and re-designed models in the Middle East which included notable highlights like the Toyota 86, an epoch-making sports model which has received worldwide adulation from customers, media and the motoring industry at large.

Toyota also introduced the new, redesigned 2012 Aurion to the Middle East market. Across the Lexus brand, Toyota introduced Middle East customers to a dynamic, fresh styling, that reflected the new face of Lexus through its bold new design and superior craftsmanship with the launch of its flagship LX570, RX 350 and RX 450h in the SUV segment and the all-new ES lineup which includes the ES 350 and ES 250 to name a few.

Start your car from anywhere The GAPCorp - Viper SmartStart hardware can now be installed in any vehicle along with the compatible Viper remote start which allows users to control their vehicle from virtually anywhere with their smart phones. P19

What makes the new 7-seater Mercedes-Benz GL a family car?

Collision Prevention Assist, 360° camera and a host of other safety features

Panasonic introduces SCMC07 compact palm-sized Bluetooth speaker Do you love listening to music while on the go or do you like to convert your house or office into a music centre and want to be able to hear music while discreetly placing the system? Panasonic’s SC-MC07 – Compact Palm Sized Bluetooth Speaker- is your solution to this!

The smallest of the new Micro System products, the SC-MC07 Compact Wireless Stereo Speaker combines the best sound quality with a small, compact size to create a device that allows you to place it anywhere in your home or office, and it can even be used as an on-the-go sound system so you can listen to your music anywhere, anytime.

Wireless music streaming with clear sound quality can be easily enjoyed anywhere with a smartphone, tablet, PC, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device offering full digital, clear stereo sound in the compact size.

With no external electrical plug-in needed, the MC07 is powered either by AA batteries or via an included USB cable. Users simply pair and connect their device to the speaker and can instantly play music.

Available in two colours – white and black and priced at AED 325, the SC-MC07 is available across all Al Futtaim Panatech (AFP) showrooms across UAE and also through ePlus – http://eplus.panasonic.ae Panasonic’s Online Shopping Portal.

The GL 63 AMG will arrive in the region in the first quarter of the year.

Mercedes-Benz has come up with the flagship seven-seater GL, whose safety features makes it an easy choice for people in the Middle East wanting to invest in the very best for their families.

Innovations such as the Crosswind Assist, the Steer Control steering assistance system, the load recognition and the Collision Prevention Assist (CPA) increase the active safety that make the luxury sport utility vehicle an easy choice as a family car.

Other new features to become available are assistance systems such as Active Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist, together with a parking package incorporating an automatic function for entering and exiting parking spaces. This year, a 360° camera will also be available.

Frank Bernthaler, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East & Levant sales and marketing director, said the new seven-seater GL occupies the top position in the luxury SUV segment with its comprehensive assistance systems that make for a pioneering role where safety and comfort are concerned.

With its balanced proportions (a length of 5120 mm, width of 2141 mm and height of 1850 mm)

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and the large wheelbase (measuring 3075 mm), the side view underlines the vehicle’s on-road emphasis.

At the same time the short body overhangs at the front and rear, together with the large ground clearance, point to its off-road suitability. The hallmarkSUV high beltline with its high-quality trim, the feature line which rises dynamically and the chrome edging on the window surfaces highlight the vehicle’s effortlessly superior look.

As part of its standard specification the GL is shod with attractive 20 inch light-alloy wheels, and as an option wheels up to 21 inches are available.

The tail end with two-piece LED tail lights featuring fibre optics, a large roof spoiler and the bumper with integrated exhaust system, delivering a sporty and aggressive appearance for the luxurious full-size SUV. For GL customers who place particular importance on a sporty, dynamic appearance, an extensive AMG Exterior Sports package is now available for the first time. In addition to the hallmark-AMG front and rear apron, it also offers special wheel-arch flarings, which span over the 21-inch AMG 5 twinspoke light-alloy wheels.

Updates

Eberhard & Co. Chrono 4 Geant Full Injection Limited The Chrono 4 Géant collection is enhanced with a new super-cool total black edition: Chrono 4 Géant Full Injection. The timepiece, that perfectly combines technique and aesthetical elegance, is produced in a limited series of 500 pieces. The complexity of the construction process, which makes this chronograph even more precious, allows in fact for only a limited production.

NEWS, VIEWS & NOVELTIES

McLaren 12C GT3 now available to all The 12C GT3 is now available to all GT teams globally and, for the first time, to collectors and non-race users as well.

As was confirmed at the close of last year, McLaren GT will produce further examples of the 12C GT3 available to compete in the 2013 season.

These new models are eligible for all GT3 championships and, for the first time, see the 12C GT3 available for global competition.

The 2012 season saw the 12C GT3 take part in 98 separate race events, and this was converted into 19 victories and a further 19 podium finishes for the 13 McLaren GT customer teams – a remarkable achievement for the car making its competitive debut. During the season, the 12C GT3 was only made available to European-based GT teams and, aside from a handful of stand-alone race events in Abu Dhabi, Azerbaijan and Macau, raced in championships across Europe.

The 12C GT3 will continue to be raced by all active GT teams who competed in 2012. In addition to this, several new teams have now taken delivery of the 2013 model year 12C GT3 and are confirmed for the forthcoming season. Clearwater Racing join McLaren GT as a customer team and, as reigning back-to-back champions in the Asia GT

Championship, the striking chrome, red and green livery of the 12C GT3 will wear the number 1. In addition to this, nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb has confirmed he will contest the FIA GT Series, and his team Sébastien Loeb Racing will run two examples of the 12C GT3.

Loeb will be joined in the cockpit by McLaren GT factory driver Alvaro Parente for the six-date season.

The 2013-specification 12C GT3 features a number of changes, all of which are available as a package to existing car owners, and which are designed to offer enhanced drivability, reliability and efficiency, coupled with reduced complexity. The changes include a revised aerodynamics package, an upgraded ECU with a revised electrical system and alternative dampers.

The 2013 12C GT3 also benefits from an updated cooling system designed to optimise performance of the car in the more varied conditions found in global championships. These enhance-

The enhanced 2013 McLaren 12C GT3 costs US$510,000 and is eligible for all FIA GT3-based race series. ments are evident through the updated bonnet and ducting, designed to ensure that the 12C GT3 can run competitively in higher temperatures than those experienced during 2012. The revised aerodynamic package will further improve the balance and tyre management of the 12C GT3.

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Nicolas Rieussec chronograph automatic The first mechanical movement manufactured in Montblanc’s own workshops in Le Locle took its inspiration from Nicolas Rieussec’s 1821 invention of the world’s first chronograph. The hand-wound Montblanc caliber MB R100 is the driving force in the Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph, featuring a classic column-wheel mechanism and a vertical disc clutch, which ensures virtually friction-free power transmission to the wheels of the chronograph.

Viper SmartStart

Start your car from anywhere

Loaded with features

The Vanquish is one of Aston Martin’s flagship cars on display.

Burj Khalifa has a new neighbor Aston Martin moves in next door There’s a new kid on the block—Aston Martin.

The exclusive luxury car marquee, has launched its new state-of-the-art showroom in Downtown Dubai, near the Burj Khalifa Tower.

The new showroom sees Aston Martin move to a luxury location in Downtown Dubai to differentiate itself from other car brands. With a dedicated sales team and exclusive models available, the new Aston Martin showroom is unlike a standard car dealership, and has been situated carefully to best reflect Aston Martin’s luxury attributes and brand values.

Aston Martin has enjoyed market prominence globally and in the Middle East even during periods of economic downturn. In 2011, global sales touched 4,200 units. The brand is now refocusing its attention on the UAE, investing in high-end shop floor space as well as a state-of-the-art service center.

The showroom will be the first in the world to offer the new Vanquish, as well as the newest DB9, Vantage and Rapide models.

In a launch that is set to revolutionize the use of technology in driving and accessing vehicles, GAPCORP – a leading company in providing value added products for automobiles – has introduced GAPCorp -Viper SmartStart graphical interface in the region.

The GAPCorp - Viper SmartStart app can be downloaded, and is compatible with iPhones and Androids. Users with a GAPCorp - Viper remote start system can remote start their engine with the push of a button, to pre-cool it in summer or prewarm it in winter. Users can also lock and unlock the doors, pop the trunk, or arm their security system and get an alert on their smart phone if their alarm is triggered. They can also control multiple cars from one smart phone.

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Launches

Nissan ups the ante on compact sedans in the region Introduces Sentra for the first time Nissan, Japan’s second largest Japanese car maker by volume, has upped the ante on compact sedans in the Middle East, having introduced the Sentra for the first time in the region with the whole nine yards from keyless entry to rear view camera, dual zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and next generation CVT transmission among other features that make the car too tempting to let go.

In fact, the Nissan Sentra has all the upgrades with rates starting at around AED50,000, which makes for a combination that could give Altima lovers second thoughts. Many of Sentra’s technologies have never been seen in cars of this class before, reflecting its upscale compact sedan positioning.

“The promise of Nissan Sentra is to allow a broad but discerning car buying audience to ‘shine brighter,’” said Atsuo Kosaka, Managing Director, Nissan Middle East. “Nissan Sentra’s seductive design,

unexpected spaciousness, class-defying features and ability to over-deliver on the basics move the game on significantly for compact sedans. We’re confident the new Nissan Sentra will strengthen Nissan’s position as market leader in what is a fiercely competitive segment.”

Sentra is Nissan’s newest model in the 1.6-litre to 1.8-litre compact sedan segment offering the spaciousness and comfort of cars usually found in the segment above. Positioned to give an accessible premium experience, the Nissan Sentra will appeal to the aspirational, smart and savvy compact sedan buyer.

The Sentra, while being the all-new nameplate in the Middle East’s compact sedan segment, is however the 13th generation Nissan sedan in its model line, globally.

“Nissan Sentra’s unique combination of features offers a driving experience associated with larger cars,

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creating an ‘aesthetic of driving’ which comes to this segment for the first time,” said Kosaka. “Nissan Sentra, the new name in premium compact sedans, is a high-value choice.”

The Nissan Sentra, the fifth all-new vehicle introduced in a 12-month period, is the 13th generation Nissan Sedan in its model line globally.

7 grades in sedan and 2 in coupe are available

Honda sees ‘very good’ ME market response to 2013 Accord ‘We made a deep consideration in meeting the customers’ demands.’

–Manabu Nishimae, COO for Regional Operations Honda has unwrapped the 2013 Accord in the UAE, confident that it will garner “very good” market response .

Manabu Nishimae, Honda chief operating officer for regional operations in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle and Near East, and Africa, told Car Xpress during the vehicle’s recent launch that all efforts were made to ensure that the new model meets the requirements of the automotive manufacturer’s customer base.

“I think the car will get a very good response from the Middle East market,” Nishimae said. “We made a deep consideration in meeting the customer’s demands.”

The Accord is Honda’s best selling midsize car and is now in its 9th generation. The 2013 Accord comes in coupe and sedan versions. The car is now on sale in UAE and is covered by a three-year/100,000km new-car limited warranty.

Among features of the 2013 Accord are LED daytime running lights and tail lights, as well as touchscreen panel which offers convenient control of audio, phone and many other functions, and a new MacPherson-strut front suspension which improves ride and handling qualities, while also reducing interior noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

The Accord 3.5 EX and 3.5 Sport, on the other hand, offers Honda’s first LED projector headlights for improved visibility; and lll-new Smart Entry & Push Button Start included on Accord EX and Sport models.

Included on Accord 3.5 EX and 3.5 Sport, is the Honda LaneWatch Blind Spot Display which provides an expanded rear view of the passenger side roadway through the intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID).

Three features highly coveted by consumers are also now available on new Accord EX grade onwards:

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Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, USB/iPod integration and rearview camera.

All Accord models feature standard Econ button with Eco Assist, as well as new side airbags that mitigate the risk of excessive airbag deployment force while eliminating the need for the prior Accord’s Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS).

The sedan and coupe models are powered by four cylinder or V6 engines mated to five-speed or sixspeed automatic transmission respectively.

The launch was held, Jan. 23, 2-13 at the RitzCarlton Hotel in Dubai.

‘Fun-gineered’ reinvented RAV4 unleashed ‘Emotionally engaging’ 4th generation car has 6-speed automatic gear and class-leading cargo room The fourth-generation RAV4, described as a “reinvention of the world’s original crossover SUV,” has been unleashed into UAE’s roads, offering balanced performance, striking looks, class-leading cargo capacity and an array of standard features, that makes it perfect for the young-at-heart out for a fuel efficient, fun-to-drive, ready-for-anything, affordable car.

“When it first debuted in 1994, RAV4 was considered a revolutionary crossover car, the concept of which was lately adopted by the automotive industry,” said Simon Frith, Managing Director, Al-

Futtaim Motors, which for the past 60 years has been exclusive distributors of Toyota in the UAE. Noting that the car has sold over 4.5 million in over 150 countries since it debuted in 1994, Frith said Al-Futtaim Motors expects “the all-new RAV4 to be well received by our retail and business customers due to its heritage of acclaimed capabilities, combined with a completely new athletic look, enhanced fuel efficiency, and exceptional in-cabin technologies” Frith said RAV4 demonstrates Toyota’s new spirit and reflects its ambitions towards more stylish and

All new Kia Cerato arrives in the UAE Kia Motors Corp., through its sole distributor in the UAE – Al Majid Motors Co.—recently unveiled the all new Kia Cerato Sedan at a gala dinner event held in Park Hyatt Dubai and attended by over 350 invited guests.

The third-generation Cerato made heads turn with its impressive makeover thanks to Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer and Tom Kearns, Chief Designer, Kia Motors America.

The new model has a re-engineered body shell, more space, improved intrinsic quality and a host of additional convenience and safety features, all coupled with class-leading fuel economy.

A look inside the new Cerato is a vision of sportiness that adopts nature’s ebbs and flows as a motif. The driver-focused cockpit places all the major and minor controls within easy-to-operate reach, while the sweeping curve of the centre stack creates a voluminous feeling while combining state-of-the-art IT imagery.

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fun cars while giving the driver a chance to take full advantage of an SUV. “RAV4 will spearhead the UAE market growth in the coveted crossover segment which is forecast for global exponential growth over the next two years” he said.

Makoto Arimoto, RAV4 Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation for his part said the car is yet another milestone in Toyota’s pursuit of “emotionally engaging cars.”

According to him, over 700 staff members of his team worked together to translate the feedback and needs of the customers into the development of the next-generation RAV4.

Successive generations of RAV4 have established a reputation for their ride comfort, ease of driving, maneuverability and reassuring capabilities on even the most challenging of road surfaces.

The 2013 RAV4’s dynamic exterior features a progressive silhouette, with a sleek-sloping roofline and an aggressive character line.

RAV4 engineers used several grades of highstrength steel to form key structural components in the roof, rocker sills, floor, engine compartment and door frames.

A strut tower bar links the top of the suspension strut towers to the main bulkhead at the rear of the engine, helping to increase torsional rigidity.

For 2013, RAV4 will provide a number of powertrain technologies that help deliver an engaging and satisfying driving experience. RAV4 is available with Toyota’s 2.5-liter (2494cc) naturally aspirated four-cylinder, which produces 176 SAE net horsepower at 6000 rpm and 172 lbs-ft. of torque at 4,100 rpm.

ALL THE STARTS SEPTEMBER COME JOIN US

MÖVENPICK HOTEL JUMEIRAH BEACH THE WALK @ JBR, DUBAI T: 04 449 88 88

Cover Story

Gallardo LP 570-4

A special choice for an awesome read.

More power. Less weight.

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The lightest road-going model in Lamborghini’s range gives a whole new meaning to the term ‘super sports car.’

E

ven more dynamic, lighter, more powerful and stunning – the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera is the new top model in the Gallardo line-up.

Its evocative “superlight” badge refers to a driving machine of true sporting character and describes a high-performance and lean automotive athlete.

The Superleggera makes its entrance to continue the success of its predecessor, launched in 2007, of which Lamborghini produced and sold no less than 618 in just one year.

Compared with the already lean Gallardo LP 560-4, the weight of the Gallardo Superleggera has been trimmed by 70 kilograms (154 lb). The super sportscar from Sant’Agata Bolognese boasts a dry weight of no more than 1340 kilograms (2954 lb) – the lightest road-going model in Lamborghini’s range, and a new arrival in one of the most exclusive market niche segments.

One key factor is the exterior and interior components made from carbon-fiber. Carbon fibre is ideal for the manufacture of sportscars as its use allows for weight-reduction and improved mechanical features. The car’s performance is thus enhanced thanks to a better weight-to-power ratio and reduced total mass, which means that CO2 emissions are also lower. Lamborghini has been at the forefront in this material’s application for many years, and now the brand is extending its leadership even further.

Weight-to-power

The V10 power unit with 5.2 liters (317.6 cu in) of displace-

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ment generates 419 kW (570 CV) in the Gallardo Superleggera. This puts the weight-to-power ratio of the new top model at only 2.35 kilograms (5.18 lb) per hp and guarantees breathtaking performance. The Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera handles the dash from zero to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds and flies past the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark only 6.8 seconds later, ultimately reaching 325 km/h (202 mph).

The engine with “Iniezione Diretta Stratificata” gasoline direct injection also boasts an impressive degree of efficiency. Its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been reduced by 20.5 percent compared to the previous model.

Uncompromising

The Gallardo Superleggera is an uncompromising driving machine. Its running gear, with its mighty braking system, has a dedicated and exceptionally precise set-up, while its 19-inch wheels, Pirelli P Zero Corsa, clad in Pirelli sports rubber, are extremely light. The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera brings a whole new meaning to the term “super sports car.”

The elegance of every Lamborghini rests on both its extreme power and precise functionality. On the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera, too, the design concentrates on the clear essence of its lines; the bodyshell is sculptured and completely free from stylistic additions. Dimensions define the contours of a dynamic wedge – 4.39 meters (172,7 in) long, 1.90 meters (74,8 in) wide, but only 1.17 meters (45,9 in) high.

Bodyshell

The model on which the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera is based, the Gallardo LP 560-4, is already a prime example of Lamborghini’s lightweight engineering philosophy, with its dry weight of 1410 kilograms (3108.5 lb). Its bodyshell is made from aluminum, with moulded node elements and extruded parts forming an extremely stiff framework into which the aluminum panels are integrated. The spaceframe structure is impactresistant and forms the basis for the super sports car’s precise handling.

Against this background, the task of reducing the weight by a further 70 kilograms (154 lb) presented a huge challenge to Lamborghini engineers – the target figure, a weight-to-power ratio of 2.35

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kilograms (5.18 lb) per hp, sets a new best among the competition. Lamborghini engineers handled the task as they usually do – with hi-tech competence and aesthetic flair.

Acceleration

The powerful V10, combined with the model’s weight reduction, gives the Gallardo Superleggera LP 570-4 breathtaking performance. The car accelerates zero to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 3.4 seconds, 0 to 200 km/h (0-124 mph) in 10.2 seconds – then continues relentlessly to its top speed of 325 km/h (202 mph).

In the Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera, LP stands for “longitudinale posteriore” and refers

The Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera handles the dash from zero to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds and flies past the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark only 6.8 seconds later, ultimately reaching 325 km/h (202 mph). to the orientation of the V10 engine – which is mounted longitudinally behind the driver, just like every Lamborghini engine. The number 570 refers to the maximum power output in hp, which equates to 419 kW and is available at 8,000 rpm.

Equally impressive is the pulling power – the torque curve peaks at 540 Nm (398,3 ft lbs) at 6,500 rpm. The increase of 7 kW (10 hp) is the result of the new dedicated engine management strategy.

The V10 has a displacement of 5204 cm3 and achieves a specific output of 80.5 kW (109.6 hp) per liter. Special features on this long-stroke engine with an aluminum crankcase include dry sump lubrication and a cylinder angle of 90 degrees.

Both solutions reduce the center of gravity, thus improving the handling dynamics. To ensure an ideal combustion chamber fill, the engine has an adjustable intake manifold and continuous control of the chain-driven camshafts.

with the e-gear transmission operated via steering wheel paddles, as standard. The automated system with electronic management shifts through its six gears extremely smoothly and far more quickly than could be achieved by human reflexes.

The e-gear control unit has three operating modes, two of which available in automatic. The “Thrust mode” delivers maximum off-the-line performance and is programmed to manage starting revs of around 5000 rpm with minimal wheel slip.

Every single kilometer in the new Superleggera is utterly thrilling – not least because of the relentless traction in practically every situation. This is largely attributable to the four driven wheels, as indicated by the number 4 in the model name.

The permanent all-wheel drive integrates a central viscous coupling and a 45 percent limited-slip differential on the rear axle. In normal circumstances, the power delivered by the V10 is channeled with a ratio of 30:70 to the front and rear axles. The weight distribution of the superlight Gallardo is 43/57 percent front/rear.

Running gear

The new Gallardo Superleggera is a highlyconcentrated driving machine – it thrills with breathtaking cornering speeds and fast, immediate feedback. Its handling is always precise, stable and predictable.

Power transmission

The Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera comes

lightest This version is the lightest road-going Lamborghini in the range.

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The running gear layout is derived directly from Lamborghini’s motorsport experience. The suspension is aluminum double wishbones. The precise rack and pinion steering keeps the driver very closely connected with the road.

Another special feature of the Gallardo Superleggera is the wheels. The 19-inch units are aluminum forged and are therefore extremely lightweight – saving 13 kilograms (28.6 lb). The wheel bolts are made from titanium and are also incredibly light and rigid. The tires are 235/35 ZR19 at the front and 295/30 ZR19 at the rear and come from the Pirelli P Zero Corsa series. Developed specifically for the new top model in the Gallardo range, they are closely related to pure race rubber.

Behind the huge wheels are brakes that serve to deliver uncompromising stopping power and are managed by the standard-fit ESP stability control system.

Indeed, Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera brings a whole new meaning to the term “super sports car”.

Lamborghini announced the release of the Gallardo LP 570-4 in March 2010, a more powerful version of the Gallardo LP 560-4.

Over 10,000 units of this car were built in its first 7 years of production.

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Road Tests On the driver’s seat, we tell you how it is.

We took them for a ride. Here’s, our take on the new Nissan Altima, Mercedes Benz SLK and Jaguar XJ8

RoadTest

Curious Jack tries the

2013

Altima

and here’s what he says

By Jeremy Icon

D

ear diary, Today I rode the new Nissan Altima 2013, now available in the UAE, and said to be a four-star car with a five-star feel, if it was a hotel.

The Altima is a result of Nissan’s most revolutionary and bold move to make luxury car features available in the midrange vehicles at a low price point ideal for first-time car buyers.

In short, the Altima is an attempt to capture this significant UAE market by providing good value. Is there? I think so.

Handling is superb. It’s not a tiring car, so to speak, especially for long-haul trips. The stylish design in and out, outstanding ride, handling, acceleration and fuel economy, and thoughtful technology solutions not currently found in this segment are there. Indeed, a new premium mid-size sedan just like the way I’ve wanted it.

The car’s upscale interior rivals that of premium luxury sedans, including best-in-class seat comfort inspired by zero-gravity research—frankly, I don’t know how “zero-gravity” seats work bit it sounds good and the seats are really comfortable so I vote aye for this.

The 2013 Nissan Altima has next-generation

safety shield

technologies like Blind Spot Warning.

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Also, the car’s next-generation Safety Shield Technologies, including Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Moving Object Detection (MOD) systems, rear view camera brings tears of joy. I can’t remember of I had driven a car like this before—probably not.

It has Remote Engine Start, is equipped with either 2.5-litre or 3.5-litre engines with the new generation CVT providing better performance, not to mention an increased fuel efficiency of 18 percent.

Moreover, the 2013 Altima has an attractive multimedia package including Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System and Streaming Audio, seven-inch colour touch display, Navigation and BOSE Premium Audio 9 speaker System Dear diary, I think the new Altima is handsdown the most engaging vehicle in its class. It’s a mid-size sedan redefined—in short it gave new meaning to mid-size sedan.

The Altima was the 2nd best selling car in the US in 2011.

Dear diary, I think the new Altima is hands-down the most engaging vehicle in its class.

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The Altima is a mid-size car reported to be a continuation of the 1957 Bluebird.

Best-in-class sit upholstery inspired by zero-gravity research.

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4 race-modified Altimas will join the 2013 International V8 Super cars Championship.

The very first Altima went on production on June 15, 1992. carxpressmag.com

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RoadTest

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Driving is a breeze Mercedes Benz SLK gives new meaning to the word roadster

By Jeremy Icon

W

ith all the rave reviews, this car has gotten so far, I felt a crave to check Mercedes Benz SLK myself and see how close to the mark these people

were.

I started with the looks. The SLK is sharp with its sharp formed as much by its racing heritage as by countless hours, apparently, in the wind tunnel.

The cross blade grille and signature power hardtop spark instant recognition, but its broad shoulders and athletic stance ignite immediate passion for the open road. And while its LED Daytime Running Lamps and tail lamps exude scintillating style, its aluminum-trimmed roll bars assert that the substance within is equally brilliant.

Moreover, the 300SL had its Gullwing doors; SLK, its power retractable hardtop that folds into the trunk in under 20 seconds. Now, that makes for some distinct character.

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SLK

The is a compact roadster manufactured in 3 generations from 1996.

The SLK is built in Bremen, Germany.

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The SLK, with its retractable hardtop, followed the 1995 Mitsubishi 3000 GT.

SLK stands for sporty, light, and short--in German, Sportlich, Leicht, und Kurz.

Inside is pure sports-car magic with two seats and everything at your fingertips. The SLK cockpit has both an intimate bond with the open road and a sense of total escape Indeed, the beauty of the SLK is not just how well it fits, but how perfectly it suits. It is a sporty coupe or open roadster; and it can give pure performance with rich refinement.

Lastly, the SLK’s Advanced Direct Injection engines deliver more power, a richer torque, cleaner emissions and greater efficiency, indeed.

The 1.8L turbo-4 in the SLK250, a 3.5L V-6 in the SLK350 and a handcrafted 5.5L V-8 in the SLK55 AMG are quicker from 0 to 60, and in some surprising other ways, too because, I learned, their advanced rapid-multispark ignition fires up to four times in a millisecond, while high-pressure Direct Injection fine-tunes the fuel spray with nearly molecular precision.

Indeed, the rave reviews hit the spot—the SLK gives new meaning to the word roadster.

quick look The SLK was announced to the US market on Sept.7, 1997.

A red SLK 200 appeared in Psy’s popular music video, Gangnam Style, driven by Yoo Jae-Suk. 1,980 SLKs were sold in the US in 2010

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RoadTest

The XJ Series reportedly starts at

US$ 73,200

Let it roar

This Jaguar XJ8 5.0 is hungry for roads!

By Sara Khalil

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At a glance

Jaguar XJ refers to a series of full-size luxury cars sold under the British Jaguar marque.

If all the cars on Zayed Road were a tribe of four-leggeds in a frenzied run, Jaguar XJ8 would be one lunging ahead wildly, making quick glances around and roaring in a manner intimidating to the uninitiated.

This baby is hungry for roads. Step on the pedal and you’d hear the engine’s muffled howls coming out like there’s something alive underneath the hood, kicking to break loose, jump and devour.

The six-speed automatic Jaguar XJ8 5.0 Portfolio SC 2012MY takes off at 60 mph in 5.4 seconds

with a top speed of 250kph. Fuel efficiency is 23.4 miles per gallon.

It debuted at the New York Auto Show 2011.

The original XJ was the last car designed by Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons and the latest car to wear the nameplate is as innovative, beautiful and desirable as its famous forebear.

There’s a thousand reasons why I fell in love with this brute.

The car has a lightweight aluminium architecture, a mould- breaking styling, 50 percent of which was made from recycled materials, offers improved fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

The weight saved by the use of aluminium an average of 150kg compared to its rivals - also has benefits for performance and agility and is complemented by the most advanced, powerful and efficient Jaguar powertrains.

The choice of engines has been enlarged for the 2012 range, I was told, with the fitment of a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. All engines are coupled to a shift-by-wire, six-speed automatic transmission controlled by the JaguarDrive Selector or steering wheel-mounted paddles. Cool!

Now the cabin. Advanced new technology has allowed for a state-of-the-art living space than a car cabin. Stunning 12.3-inch high-definition virtual instruments complement an innovative Dual-view 8-inch Touch-screen that allows my passenger to view DVD movies or TV programmes while I enjoy vehicle functions or satellite-navigation directions.

Premium surround sound options include the top-of-the-range 1200W Bowers & Wilkins system that is comparable in audio quality to the best inhome entertainment.

See you later then. I got a Jag to feed.

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Engine transmission 6-speed automatic performance.

Engine capacity (cc) 5000 (XJ5.0L Supersport).

Engine cylinders 8 (XJ5.0L Supersport) Valves per cylinder 4 (XJ5.0L Supersport) 0-100 kph 4.9 seconds (XJ5.0L Supersport) Top speed 250 kph (XJ5.0L Supersport) Max. power (SAE bhp) @ rpm is 500 @ 6000-6500 (XJ5.0L Supersport) Torque (SAE lb ft) @ rpm is 461 @ 25005500 (XJ5.0L Supersport)

The MWK 28G was the oldest Jaguar in existence. It was one of 20 pre-production Series 1 cars. The MWK 28G was the 19th.

It was registered on Aug. 1st 1968.

The XJ line had a facelift in the autumn of 1973.

Before WW II, Jaguar was known as SS cars.

The X in XJ is part of a numbering system where X stands for internal projects.

Line Up An independent account on the latest cars

In this issue we present a selection of the latest cars from the different segments: Maserati GranCabrio, McLaren MP4-12C, Pininfarina Cambiano, Maserati Quattroporte, Peugeot 301 and Yotoda offroader. Enjoy the ride.

luxury sports Max. power:

323 kW (433hp)

Max. torque:

490 Nm

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The GranCabrio A Maserati that touches all five senses

In Sport mode, the V8 gives the driver and passengers the full power of its 323kW, with a thrilling roar that becomes even more exciting with the top down, as it becomes one with its surroundings.

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he open-top GranCabrio is Maserati unadulterated, with an unmistakable Pininfarina design, spacious interior, handcrafted details, driving pleasure and high performances. The car touches all five senses in an open-air experience that retains all the typical comfort and performance brio.

The GranCabrio adds to a line-up of models that has made the history of the Modena manufacturer, such as the 1950 A6G Frua Spyder, the 3500GT Vignale Spyder (1960), the Mistral Spyder

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(1964), the Ghibli Spyder (1968) and the 2001 Spyder, the car Maserati chose for his comeback to the United States.

True to its tradition, the Maserati GranCabrio yet opens a new chapter, because never before have four-seater top-down models been produced at the Viale Ciro Menotti Maserati factory in Modena.

There are four proper seats, so that the rear passengers are not merely supporting actors, but co-stars of the journey.

The Maserati GranCabrio is powered by a 4.7

On September 28, 1929, in Cremona, the legendary driver Bakunin Borzacchini set world land speed record over the flying 10 km, driving a 16-cylinder vehicle designed by Alfieri Maserati. Borzacchini achieved a speed of 246.069 kph. liter V8 engine paired with the fluid 6-speed automatic transmission. In Sport mode, the V8 gives the driver and passengers the full power of its 323kW, with a thrilling roar that becomes even more exciting with the top down, as it becomes one with its surroundings.

The Maserati GranCabrio is fitted with Skyhook suspension as standard. The braking system uses high performance dual-cast technology, developed in collaboration with Brembo and already successfully employed on the GranTurismo and Quattroporte.

The GranCabrio’s roof is strictly canvas-made, emphasizing the link with the Maserati tradition.

In 28 seconds, passengers can enjoy the thrill of the open-air experience, activating the open/close mechanism even when the car is moving, at speeds of up to 30km/h.

The body of the Maserati GranCabrio has been thoroughly overhauled. Despite the lack of an overhead frame and a wheelbase at the top of its class (2.942mm: longer than its direct competitors) it guarantees the best possible performance in terms of structural rigidity. This enhances the smooth handling, safety and comfort of the car, and fully exploits

the powerful, efficient mechanics.

The newly-designed bearing monocoque has been made using materials and technologies designed especially to optimize weight: the bonnet and cross beams are made from aluminum, while the boot

is made from SMC (Sheet Molding Compound).

The excellent weight distribution (with higher load at the rear) also facilitates excellent on-the-road dynamics and improved safety, in combination with the vehicle’s control systems. These include, for the first time ever, the Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA), which optimizes brake performance both in frequent use and in emergency situations.

The new body took thousands of hours of

calculations, testing and development. The result of all this work is a static rigidity at the top of its class (75000 DaN/m/rad) and dynamic torsional frequency of 27.2 Hz. Particular attention has been paid to developing the aerodynamics, with the creation of a flat aluminum base that not only adds to the overall body’s rigidity but also reduces Cx by 6 points. In this way, for the first time, the convertible version of a car is able to maintain the same aerodynamic performance of the coupe, with a Cx of 0.35.

Behind the wheel of the Maserati GranCabrio, driving fun combines with comfort and safety in all road conditions. With the longest wheelbase in its segment, the Maserati GranCabrio gives all passengers an extremely comfortable ride even on long journeys. Their safety is enhanced thanks to the extendable roll bars behind the rear seats, which are activated if necessary.

Passenger comfort onboard the Maserati GranCabrio also comes from the perfect integration between the vehicle’s top and its main systems, guaranteeing maximum efficiency and drivability in all conditions. The automatic dual-zone climate control function optimizes the conditions inside the car, adjusting the internal temperature and the intensity of ventilation depending on the outside temperature, heat of the sun, and air humidity.

By capitalizing on the close collaboration between Maserati engineers and BOSE technicians on the GranTurismo, the GranCabrio has been equipped with a BOSE audio system that adds another dimension to open-air music.

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exotic cars

McLaren MP4-12C

Re-writing the rules of sports car design The McLaren MP4-12C is powered by a twinturbocharged, 3.8 litre V8 engine – the “M838T.” This marks the start of a new era in core segment sports cars – smaller capacity, lighter weight, higher efficiency and more economical power units.

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wenty years of sports car design, engineering and production combined with inspirational success in Formula 1 have driven Ron Dennis, McLaren Automotive Chairman, to announce his plans for the ultimate line-up of technology-led and customerfocused performance cars for the 21st century.

The rules in the sports car world are about to be re-written in the McLaren MP4-12C Through a rich modern history, McLaren’s automotive division has already built the world’s most critically acclaimed supercar, the McLaren F1 (1993-1998) and the world’s best-selling luxury supercar, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (20032009). McLaren Automotive now looks to the future with a new range of revolutionary sports cars.

“It is a long-held dream of mine to launch high performance sports cars that set new standards in

the industry,” said Dennis.

This step change in sports car design means that the 12C introduces new standards not just in handling, ride and outright performance, but also safety, economy and practicality in an already competitive sector.

The first car from the new company, the McLaren MP4-12C, is a high performance twoseat mid-engine model in the core sports car market segment for cars. It went on sale through a dedicated, worldwide retailer network in early 2011.

Inside out

The heart of the new car is the Carbon MonoCell. McLaren pioneered the use of carbon composite construction in the 1981 Formula 1 MP4/1 model and set a trend that all Formula 1

teams have followed. The company brought carbon fibre to road cars for the first time with the 1993 McLaren F1 and then built on this experience with a carbon fibre chassis and body on the SLR manufactured to the same exacting standards, but in higher volumes.

So, until now, carbon chassis have remained the preserve of the most expensive exotic cars; a purchase for the super-rich where costs are driven by the complexity of carbon fibre chassis design and build.

Design

The McLaren MP4-12C design follows similar principles to McLaren’s Formula 1 cars, and the legendary McLaren F1, where everything is for a reason and all lines, surfaces, and details are designed with a job in mind as much as styled. This

The McLaren MP4-12C is the first car wholly designed and built by McLaren since the F1 in 1998.

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0 to 97 kph in 3.1 seconds.

Since 1997, MP4 has stood for McLaren Project 4. From 1981 to 1996 M stood for Marlboro, when the cigarette company was McLaren’s title sponsor. ensures that the 12C communicates its engineering through its styling and will remain timeless as a piece of automotive design.

The 12C’s body has been styled to support sector-leading levels of downforce; downforce that then subsequently contributes to sector-leading levels of lateral grip and stability. Air flow has been manically managed to support all performance figures and light weight targets. For example, placing the radiators adjacent to the engine keeps the car narrow and reduces weight. However, this results in a huge challenge of ensuring ample air flow to

the radiators. The result? The large side air scoops and integrated turning vanes that are dramatic, but purely functional. No larger or smaller than required.

What’s in a name?

The name of the new McLaren sports car is MP4-12C. What does this signify? As one might expect at McLaren, everything has a purpose and the nomenclature is no exception.

• ‘MP4’ has been the chassis designation for all

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McLaren Formula 1 cars since 1981. It stands for McLaren Project 4, resulting from the merger of Ron Dennis’ Project 4 organisation with McLaren.

• The ‘12’ refers to McLaren’s internal Vehicle Performance Index through which it rates key performance criteria both for competitors and for its own cars. The criteria combine power, weight, emissions, and aerodynamic efficiency. The coalition of all these values delivers an overall performance index that has been used as a benchmark throughout the car’s development.

• The ‘C’ refers to Carbon, highlighting the

unique application of carbon fibre technology to the future range of McLaren sports cars.

Powertrain The McLaren MP4-12C is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8 litre 90 V8 engine – the “M838T.” This marks the start of a new era in core segment sports cars – smaller capacity, lighter weight, higher efficiency and more economical power units. The engine has the highest specific power output in its segment which, when allied to its low weight carbon composite chassis, delivers exemplary power- and torque-to-weight ratios.

“M838T” is a unique McLaren power unit,

developed specifically for the 12C. It is compact, lightweight, very stiff, and offers an uncompromising combination of very high performance and good driveability, with excellent economy and CO2 emission values.

Taking power and emissions in combination (measured by its horsepower to CO2 ratio), the 12C delivers its power at greater efficiency than any other car on the market with an internal combustion engine, including hybrids.

“M838T” features dual variable valve timing and produces around 600bhp and 600Nm of torque. A dry sump and flat plane crankshaft allow the engine to be placed extremely low in the chassis thereby lowering the centre of gravity and

The car is produced at the the McLaren Production Centre, which was officially opened

by British Prime Minister David Cameron on Nov. 18th, 2011.

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improving handling responses. It also features composite cam covers and intake manifolds, which reduce weight and heat transmission into the charge air, as well as Nikasil-coated aluminium liners for further weight reduction.

The McLaren engine revs to 8,500rpm, has quick transient throttle response and delivers its abundant torque throughout the rev range. A staggering 80 per cent of torque is available at below 2,000rpm, ensuring great driveability and no need to floor the throttle to deliver performance.

And it delivers a great soundtrack to highlight the engine’s performance, flexibility and driveability. The sound of the engine has been thoroughly engineered through exhaust manifold design and tuning of the exhaust and intake systems to deliver a unique engine note.

Chassis

The suspension for the McLaren MP4-12C breaks new ground, offering hitherto unseen levels of roll control and grip (an almost flat

The MP4-12C shares its name with the MP4/12 Formula 1 car that raced in the 1997 season.

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Heritage

The MP4-12C has a top speed of 333 kph and can brake from 200 kph to a full stop in less than 5 seconds. Braking from 100 kph to 0 can be done in less than 30 metres. cornering attitude, depending on the programme selected).

Although such track-like responses would normally imply a rock-hard ride, the 12C delivers compliance and ride comfort more akin to an executive saloon car. The mix of occupant cosseting and sporting potential is truly unique. The 12C offers the driver both class-leading ride comfort and class-leading performance.

The whole chassis package produces not only

a unique relationship between ride and handling, but also astonishing lateral grip and outstanding traction. The 12C is poised and balanced whether negotiating high or low speed corners, during direction changes, under heavy or light braking and on tightening or opening corners.

The trick behind blending such opposing objectives lies in the innovative Proactive Chassis Control system, uncompromised geometry, and weight distribution.

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Motor racing began the McLaren story, but the latest chapter sees the company take that inspiration and develop it further on the road – and track.

McLaren has a heritage that spans 45 years during which time it has won 163 Grands Prix, 12 F1 World Championship Driver’s titles and eight Constructor’s titles.

McLaren achieved the most dominant season ever in F1 (15 wins out of 16 races in 1988) just as it dominated the Can-Am championship winning five titles in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

McLaren has also won three Indianapolis 500 races and the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt in 1995.

McLaren remains the only manufacturer to win the F1 World Championship, the Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans – the ’triple crown’ of the motor sport world.

On top of McLaren’s racing record it can lay claim to a road car heritage spanning 20 years, having produced the fastest production road car in history, the McLaren F1. Success does indeed breed success and McLaren intends to continue in this vein.

Weight:

1300 kg. (dry).

Carbon fibre was used extensively

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Presenting the

Cambiano Pininfarina’s luxury electric sports saloon

The drive system is based on four electric motors, one for each wheel, and of their respective reduction gear.

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many years. In a way, it was Pininfarina’s first real concept car.

The Cambiano breaks with the general trend of design that is overloaded with elements, and confidently embraces the return of pure form as the absolute value, in the best “tradition” of Italian Style, reflecting the deepest essence of Pininfarina Design.

The Cambiano reveals its true character at first glance, starting from the unconventional layout of the doors: on the driver’s side the car is a sports coupe with a single door, but on the passenger side there are two doors that open from the centre with no central pillar. This simplifies access and makes the most of the spacious, luminous passenger

talian car design firm and coachbuilder, Pininfarina has launched a luxury electric sports saloon which it described as a “perfect combination of design, art and technology than embodies Italian style and respect of the environment.”

It is a new approach to luxury in the car, according to Pininfarina’s school of thought. The Cambiano, a concept car named after the town where Pininfarina is headquartered, is environment-friendly.

“The Cambiano is an expression of Pininfarina today, embodying all of the company’s skills in terms of style, planning and research in the field of sustainable mobility,” stated a statement from the company.

The luxury sports saloon embodies the innovative archetypes of Pininfarina design in full. Another example was a milestone in the company’s history, the Florida II, a concept car of 1957 which the founder Pinin Farina conceived and built for his own personal use, a saloon-coupé with an architecture and line that influenced global production for

Plug in charging time: 6 hrs. with 6 KWh grid and 20% min. state of charge.

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The Cambiano has an electronically limited speed of 250 kph with top speed of 275 kph. compartment.

The drive system is based on four electric motors, one for each wheel, and of their respective reduction gear. The four motors, which are produced

by Magneti Marelli, are mounted on the front and rear frames and each delivers a continuous supply of 60 kW with peaks of 150 kW for a total of 600 kW maximum power output, with torque of 640 Nm. Each motor is controlled separately and electronically to guarantee various functions, including energy regeneration when decelerating and braking, traction control with the option of continuously varying the torque split between the wheels independently (Vectoring Stability Program) and anti-lock braking assistance. The traction control strategies make the vehicle even more enjoyable to drive, guaranteeing outstanding performance and maximum safety over all types of routes.

The drive system incorporates an APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) to charge the batteries and, when necessary, to supply energy directly to the motors: this is a 50 kW Bladon Jets micro turbine which normally runs on diesel but which can be calibrated to be compatible with various types of fuel. In addition to this advantage, the turbine is smaller than those of piston engines with a similar power delivery, it weighs just 40 kg, and generates low polluting emissions. The micro turbine chosen for the Cambiano has technical features that make it particularly quiet and vibration-free, enhancing comfort for passengers. This type of extended range electric drive is thus amply in line with EURO 6 legislation, and is already compatible with possible evolutions (EURO 7 ready).

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Acceleration:

0 to 100 kph in 4.2 seconds.

Max. power delivery of electric motors: 600 kW

Peak power delivery of battery: 500 kW.

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super car

Maserati Quattroporte 100kph in 4.7 seconds.

Top speed: 307kph The Quattroporte is larger, lighter, more luxurious and more practical than the globally acclaimed car it replaces.

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he flagship of the Maserati product range, the Quattroporte is larger, lighter, more luxurious and more practical than the globally acclaimed car it replaces. With a 307km/h top speed, it’s also as fast as most two-door supercars.

The sixth-generation Quattroporte delivers a leap forward that not only sets the high-technology tone for Maserati’s upcoming new-model onslaught, but also remains faithful to Maserati’s long history in luxury sports sedans.

The powerful engine and the large cabin are at the core of the Quattroporte’s design, dominated by a long, powerful nose and a concave Trident grille and providing a clear link to both the outgoing Quattroporte and the GranTurismo.

Even with all of its new technology, the new Quattroporte remains true to Maserati’s roots. Its V8 twin turbo makes it not only the fastest four-door Maserati ever built, but also the most powerful and the most economical as well.

The direct-injection engine family will boast a 3.8-litre V8 and a 3.0-litre V6, both of which are all new, twin turbo charged, designed by Maserati Powertrain and assembled by Ferrari at Maranello.

The 3.8-litre V8 engine provides Maserati’s new performance benchmark, reaching 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds and achieving a 307km/h top speed. It is 20km/h faster than the Quattroporte Sport GT S and has up to 200Nm more torque as well. The V6 twin turbo doesn’t lack for performance, either, reaching 285km/h.

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With an eight-speed automatic transmission and both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations (V6), it is also the most secure all-weather performance car in Maserati’s history.

Emission

To offset its scintillating performance, the V8 Maserati Quattroporte has lowered both its fuel consumption and emissions by 20 percent over the outgoing Quattroporte.

The all-new architecture retains the Quattroporte’s traditionally exquisite handling thanks to its 50:50 weight distribution, a doublewishbone front suspension and a state-of-the-art five-link rear suspension. It can now deliver the added security and all-weather assurance of allwheel drive as well.

It also delivers new standards in quality in every area from design, development, fabrication and process controls. It is produced in a new plant that combines Maserati’s traditions of craftsmanship with cutting-edge technologies that are able to guarantee outstanding quality by controlling even the tiniest details.

Traditional hand crafted detailing continues in the Quattroporte’s cabin, and this has been added to with even more interior space in all seats and both four- and five-seat layouts.

Luxury

Cabin luxury leaps forward technically, too, with features like the Maserati Touch Control screen, adjustable pedals (left hand drive only), reversing cameras and the optional 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, as well as WLAN-based WiFi and compatibility with most modern mobile phone systems.

With the original Quattroporte in 1963, Maserati invented the concept of the luxury

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The Maserati Quattroporte has a direct fuel injection V8 engine with a displacement of 3798 cc. sports sedan and the new Quattroporte continues to be the benchmark for high quality engineering, supercar performance and limousine comfort.

The Quattroporte body design isn’t just about looks, and it has delivered a 12 percent improvement in drag (Cx), down to 0.31, and an enormous 24 percent reduction in lift. These figures reduce fuel consumption and increase high-speed stability.

has been developed to achieve the seemingly conflicting goals of exceptional comfort and extreme sports performance in mind.

The suspension package also uses anti-roll bars and steel springs damped by a faster and more accurate development of the Skyhook adaptive damping system. All four Skyhook dampers can be electronically controlled independent of the each other.

Aerodynamics

Stability

A large part of the Quattroporte’s aerodynamic work was out of sight, beneath the car. It has a flat floor that contains several aerodynamic features, including a NACA duct to help cool the differential without increasing drag and flaps on the rear suspension arms to channel airflows.

Double wishbone suspension layouts are a racebred tradition at Maserati and the new Quattroporte continues with this heritage but also incorporates some new technologies for greater accuracy.

The front suspension uses high-mounted allaluminium double wishbones to guarantee light and precise handling characteristics.

The rear suspension employs a five-bar multi-link system, with four aluminium suspension arms, and

Meantime, Maserati drivers have long known the benefits of the Maserati Stability Program (MSP) and the system has evolved and improved in the new Quattroporte.

Developed in the most extreme of test circumstances, the MSP uses a wide array of sensors to detect any need to intervene on the driver’s behalf.

The other key systems that make up MSP include: • ABS, which stops the wheels locking up under brakes, thereby maintaining steering control at all times.

• EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution), to distribute braking force between the front and rear axles to prevent rear-wheel lock up.

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Five or four-seat layouts is available, including workspace and entertainment options.

• ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation) stops the driven wheels from spinning in low-grip situations.

• MSR prevents the driven wheels from locking up when down-shifting on low-grip surfaces. It does this by measuring the speed of the driven wheels against the speed of the free wheels and accelerating the driven wheels slightly if needed.

• BAS (Brake Apply Sensor) uses a variety of sensors to recognise panic or emergency braking situations and increases the pressure in the braking circuit.

• Hill Holder. Automatically connects to the braking system to prevent roll back when the car moves away from rest on hills.

Safety

The new Quattroporte’s passive safety equipment has been given a tightly focussed overhaul to successfully improve its crash safety without compromising its weight or fuel consumption.

Maserati has balanced these conflicting demands by using hot-formed steels in critical areas of the passenger compartment for added occupant safety, while using aluminium in other areas to save weight.

The New Quattroporte is equipped with a sixairbag system to provide maximum occupant safety.

At the front, two-stage airbags are concealed from the occupants inside the steering wheel and dashboard, yet to protect the head in frontal accidents.

The chest and hips of the front occupants are further protected by the side airbags beneath the seat

leather.

The sides of the occupants’ heads are protected by two head “curtain” bags mounted in the roof of the car, next to the B-pillar. The “curtain” bag protects the heads of the front and rear occupants against lateral impact.

Comfortable

The rear-view parking camera, standard on the new Quattroporte, makes manoeuvring and reversing safer and more comfortable.

Installed next to the luggage compartment’s release button, it views the area behind the car, and shows the resulting colour image on the 8.4” MTC display. The interior of the new Quattroporte combines refined, timeless design with high technology and a functional sporting character.

The increases in the size of the Quattroporte have brought a huge evolution in roominess for the front and, especially, the rear passengers. Its increased wheelbase has allowed Maserati to add more rear legroom, more shoulder room for all passengers and more luggage capacity.

Incorporating Keyless Go technology, the body of the new Quattroporte’s key is made from polished aluminium and looks and feels heavy, elegant and confidently technical.

When the car is locked, it is enough to keep the key in a pocket or a handbag and simply open the car by pulling on the door handle or luggage compartment button. This way, there is no need to always find the key to push a button to open the car.

Acceleration:

0 to 100 kph in 4.7 seconds.

Top speed:

307 kph

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city car

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Peugeot 301

Built for all conditions

Meet the French carmaker’s new affordable status symbol compact saloon

T

he Peugeot 301, with engines combining performance and low consumption that best suits expectations of Middle East markets, will go on sale in the region this

year.

A new release from the French carmaker, Peugeot 301 is designed to appeal to a wide demanding customer base attracted by affordable three-compartment saloons that offer status.

The 301 has been developed to adapt to all conditions of use, even in extremes—hot countries, cold countries, poor road surfaces, and so on.

At 4.44m long, it sets itself apart with an optimized and generous structure which puts it a step ahead of the competition.

The Peugeot stylists who designed the 301 were inspired to a great extent by the SR1 concept car.

Interior

The interior forges the character and personality of the 301. Simplicity, elegance and strength are the key words of the interior design. Inside the Peugeot

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301, it is the feeling of space which predominates.

The 301 is a compact saloon of modern design.

Consequently, it is fitted with the most recent safety equipment.

According to country and engine, the new Peugeot may be fitted with ESP, ABS, emergency braking assistance or automatic lighting of the hazard warning lamps on sharp deceleration.

In the same way, the 301 may offer up to four airbags (front airbags and head/chest airbags for the front passengers) as well as front seat belt pretensioners.

Moreover, the 301 is the second vehicle of the Peugeot range, after the 208, to benefit from the new range of Euro 5 3-cylinder petrol engines (1.2 l VTi) which, due to its technology, combines driving pleasure and reduced consumption.

The 301 is the second vehicle of the Peugeot range, after the 208, to benefit from the new range of 3-cylinder petrol engines (1.2 l VTi) which, due to its technology, combines driving pleasure and reduced fuel consumption.

100 years

Peugeot has been manufacturing motor vehicles for more than 100 years (since 1889) and has designed numerous three-compartment saloons which continue to earn their place in motor vehicle history.

The new Peugeot 301 was manufactured in a factory in Vigo, Spain and first went on sale, in

The

The new Peugeot 301 was manufactured in a factory in Vigo, Spain.

Peugeot 301 was designed for emerging markets.

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Turkey on Nov. 1, 2012.

Inside the Peugeot 301, the feeling of space predominates. Its occupant space, both in the front and in the rear, is a benchmark in its market segment.

With a front overhang of 0.816m and a rear overhang of 0.974m, the overall length reaches 4.44m.

The space created as a result benefits in part the occupants and in part the volume of the boot.

Moreover, the boot volume of the 301 is of the same standard as its occupant space: 640 litres of which 35 litres under the boot carpet (506dm3 of which 20dm3 is under the floor, according to the VDA 210 standard). This is the record volume in the segment.

Temperature control

The 301 can be equipped with four levels of heating/air conditioning. The manual and electronic air conditioning systems, offered according to trim

level, are fitted with air ducts towards the rear seats to optimize performance.

The designers have likewise created a special “AC Max” button which provides maximum air conditioning with a single press on the electronic air conditioning.

And, since in numerous countries, the driver does not have to get out of his vehicle to fill up with fuel at a service station, the Peugeot 301 offers remote opening of the fuel filler flap.

Philosophy

The 301 was designed and built to adapt as much as possible to each market in which it is sold.

Such being the case, and noting that Peugeot has a global sales radar, a number of ranges have been developed according to the country of sale and customer requirements. In this case, a “Gulf-compatible” 301 is certainly available.

The car first went on sale, in Turkey on Nov. 1, 2012

Peugeot has been manufacturing motor vehicles for more than 100 years (since 1889).

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concept car

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Enter

Yotoda The offroader that is everything

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362 cm 189 cm 172 cm 1470 - 1640 kgs 270 cm 30 cm 120 cm 22 cm

SPEX

Length Width Height Gross weight Wheelbase Minimum ground clearance Wading depth Suspension travel

This off-roader is not excluded from competition in FIA Open Class rallies.

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he British have Bowler and the Americans have their Rally Fighter, but it seems that a new competitor has just arrived: Yotoda, from the Spanish phrase “Yo toda,” which means “I am all.”

There are plenty of rally cars on the market, as well as companies that manufacture them. However, all this designs lack repeatability. Except for the British Bowler and the American Rally Fighter equipped with a two-wheel drive, all designs are of prototypical character, having been built on the basis of incidental parts that come from at least several different cars.

So, how to service such a car? Where would it be possible to obtain spare parts for it? By and large, car lovers are doomed to the lifelong servicing offered by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

Not with Yotoda, which was manufactured in Poland by eXpedycja.pl company.

The car was based on a particular vehicle: the Toyota Land Cruiser J9 and 99 percent of its mechanical components can be purchased at all Toyota showroom worldwide, using the VIN of the car.

“It was one of the first of our untypical assumptions, which outdoes the competition in this respect,” says Adam Sas, Yotoda chief designer.

“Yotoda is simply meant for off-road sports, particularly cross country-type rallies. On principle, Yotoda is not a car which has received homologation from FIA. However, it does not exclude it from competition in FIA rallies in the Open Class,” Sas goes on to say.

Yotoda is a rally vehicle intended for amateur cross-country action and it differs from its competitors not only in its origination, but also in the very concept of the car design.

The acceleration from 0 to 62 mph for the model of Yotoda equipped with the weakest engine, the turbo-diesel, takes 7.2 seconds, making it similar to the results of a BMW X5 or X6. carxpressmag.com

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The creators of Yotoda have focused not on the power of the vehicle, but on the weight of the car.

The frame cage simultaneously constitutes part of the body. The laminates have been produced from epoxy composites, the internal equipment has been minimised, and all walls, baffle plates and floors have been made of light metal alloys and plastic panels.

“As a result,” says Sas, “we managed to create a super-lightweight rally vehicle which weighs 3,615 lb fully equipped and ready for participation in a rally, as well as filled up with fuel.

“This means in turn that the net weight of a vehicle, as declared by the majority of manufacturers, in the case of Yotoda amounts to less than 3,306 lb.”

Net weight:

3,306 lb.

There were several conceptual assumptions for Yotoda, explains Sas, adding that one of them was to build a car on the existing model of an off-road vehicle which had been positively verified by at least several years of use.

It was no accident that Toyota had been chosen for this project. Undoubtedly, this make of car is associated with manufacturing the most durable and reliable off-road vehicles worldwide, having rich experience and raising the bar to the highest level from among the manufacturers of four-wheel drive off-road vehicles worldwide.

It has always been worth it to strive for low weight, according to Sas. “Let us assume that we have two cars with identical power-to-weight ratio: the lighter one will be faster anyway. Why? Because during acceleration, both vehicles will behave similarly, however during cornering, the lighter vehicle will prove considerably faster,” he explains, noting that the weight of a Yotoda car ready for start in a rally, depending on the model, oscillates between 3,306 and 3,747 lb, including the full fuel tank.

The third assumption made while constructing the Yotoda car was the safety of the vehicle users, which was why its makers have based activities on

the FIA technical regulations while constructing the roll cage. The regulations specify both the material to be used and the cage design itself.

The Yotoda prototype was developed on the basis of a rally car which Sas says he was familiar with and in which he had participated in during cross-country rallies in 2010 and 2011.

As far as technical issues are concerned, the car was as similar to the T2 class as possible and was constructed in accordance with the J appendix of the FIA regulations. “These two years of using the

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Toyota Land Cruiser J9 gave us the possibility of reinforcing all structural elements for which such a treatment was required - e.g. front suspension arms, the frame or shock absorber mounts,” Sas says.

At that stage, he adds, the rally car weighed 4,850 lb and all modifications have been tailored to that weight. This means in turn that the structure of a Yotoda car, which is 1,322 lb lighter than its ancestor, is considerably exaggerated.

“Perhaps it comes into conflict with the concept of low vehicle weight, but at the same time it means less breakdowns while using the vehicle in rally conditions,” he says.

The manufacturer provides for three engine types: • 3.0 D4D turbo-diesel with the power of 198hp/2800rpm (after tuning) and the torque of 575Nm at 2600rpm.

• 3.4 petrol engine that comes from the petrol version of Toyota J9.

• And for enthusiasts, a V8 engine from Lexus LS 400, with the power of over 276hp.

Gearboxes come in manual or automatic.

The tested model, equipped with an automatic gearbox and a diesel engine with the power of 198 hp performed perfectly well during field tests. The car covered an off-road section that had lasted several hours without any breakdowns and losses.

Low weight and top-notch parameters of the engine of the Yotoda car resulted in very good acceleration. The acceleration from 0 to 62 mph for the model of Yotoda equipped with the weakest engine, the turbo-diesel, takes 7.2 seconds, making it similar to the results of a BMW X5 or X6.

Sas says they are capable of manufacturing from four to six Yotodas yearly.

Not before the forthcoming 2013 season will the Yotoda car be put to the test among the competition of the best cross-country teams in Poland.

In the spring of 2013, Sas says they will also start constructing the first Yotoda vehicle equipped with the V8 engine that comes from Lexus LS 400, with the output power of 252 hp.

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classic car

b o Hot Rod Jak

ot h s er h ot n a s get

ist, the car al im in m y hl is yl st d an t an eg el ly Aesthetical in the air g in at flo e ar ey th e lik ok lo s le ax body and

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‘The Hot Rod Jakob does of course go its own way, but I regard it more as a work of art than as a Hot Rod. The car is built with the very same Scandinavian design tradition as our modern Volvo models. Lean elegance, yet in a way that sticks out.’

—Steve Mattin Volvo Cars design director

O

n 14 April 1927, the very first series-produced Volvo car, the ÖV4 nicknamed the Jakob, left the factory.

Fast forward to 2005 and in a rural area south of Sweden, Leif Tufvesson1 and his company Caresto start work on injecting modern craftsmanship and design into the car—the result: Hot Rod Jakob.

This unique car had been unveiled at the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg, Sweden. Parked side by side, the similarities between old and new

are remarkable, including the curvature of the bonnet which has exactly the same radius. The characteristic windscreen attachment pillar that runs down the body side follows the original in detail as does dimensions, materials and the number of screws used.

Work of art

The Hot Rod Jakob project has challenged not only Leif ’s skills as a car builder but also perceptions of the Volvo brand. Just how does this car fit in with the image of safe, secure Volvo?

“Absolutely perfect, in fact. We have for some time now been moving Volvo towards a more daring design language. The Hot Rod Jakob does of course go its own way, but I regard it more as a work of art than as a Hot Rod. The car is built with the very same Scandinavian design tradition as our modern Volvo models. Lean elegance, yet in a way that sticks out,” says Volvo Cars design director Steve Mattin.

“That was exactly what made it so exciting. The paradoxes in the project. Challenging the usual perceptions of Volvo and showing that it is perfectly possible to balance modern design and technology with classic Volvo and Hot Rod traditions,” answers Leif Tufvesson when asked the same question.

Differences

Meantime, equally identical is the radiator grille with its characteristic mesh pattern and diagonal bar that incorporates the classic iron symbol. The body has been built by hand from raw aluminum panels that were bent into their final shape using a hammer and English wheel - exactly as it was done in the prototype workshop back in the 1920s.

There are differences, the Hot Rod Jakob is far smaller than the original. It is a two-seater instead of offering space for four and it has those typical Hot Rod attributes: large wheels, no wings and a muscular rear axle. And if you get a bit closer it is

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Jakob has a Volvo T5 five-cylinder engine possible to see differences in terms of materials and details. The chassis is built of lightweight carbon fibre, just like today’s most advanced racing cars, not from heavy steel beams as in bygone times.

The brake discs are remarkably slim, but their huge diameter (450 mm front, 515 mm rear) guarantee that the braking surface is still going to be more than sufficient. The wheel spokes are made of aluminum instead of wood, but they are exactly the same in number. The massive tyres with their specially milled tread in the form of Volvo’s iron symbol give an assertive, modern aura.

Most of the components have been hidden away inside the body of the Hot Rod Jakob, including the springs and dampers, electrical components and exhaust system, making the car aesthetically elegant and stylishly minimalist. The result is that the body and axles look like they are floating in the air.

bles the original, while the perforated flat upper section behind the seat echoes more modern styling cues. A glance at the instrument panels reveals no conventional gauges. Instead, all the functions are gathered into a single, in-house-developed instrument to the right of the steering wheel. The dial face changes colour and function when pressed.

Press once: the ignition comes on and the button glows red. Press the clutch and the button turns purple. Press once more and the engine fires up smoothly and the button’s colour turns Volvo Blue.

“I really love combining old solutions with my very own ideas. Creating a fine balance between high-tech and tradition that works seamlessly.

Dusting off old parts to renovate a car to original

Classic parts

A closer look at the seating compartment reveals deeply rounded backrests instead of a single flat bench, creating a robust and sporty atmosphere.

The seats are upholstered in light brown hide. The piping, the upright rifling on the backrest, resem-

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condition is not something that appeals to me,” says Leif Tufvesson.

There are also classic Volvo parts in the Hot Rod Jakob. The steering wheel comes from a 1962 P1800, as do the gear lever gaiter and steering column, while the brake pedal and brake master cylinder are from the 140 Series. All parts were supplied by Volvo Genuine Classic Parts (Volvo has one of the industry’s widest ranges of genuine manufacturer’s spare parts). The M90 gearbox is Volvo’s last rear-wheel drive variant and comes from a Volvo 960. The engine, on the other hand, is brand new - a powerful Volvo T5 converted to run on eco-friendly ethanol, all so as to underline the lifecycle approach to this entire project.

Max. power:

265hp Max. torque: 370Nm Transmission:

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5-speed manual M90 (Volvo 960)

2Ways READERS’ SUGGESTIONS & COMMENTS. LET’S TALK ABOUT IT.

SEND YOUR THOUGHTS, COMMENTS & FEEDBACK TO THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL: EDITOR@CARXPRESS-MAG.COM

Magic carpet ride

ing a hand-assembled, naturally aspirated 6.75 litre V12 direct injection petrol engine that develops 531lb ft of torque (720Nm) ?

Editor

Dear editor, The Rolls Royce Phantom Series II, apparently taking off from the 1968 hit by the CanadianAmerican hard rock band Steppenwolf (Yes, the “Born to be Wild” guys), is indeed a sublime “Magic Carpet Ride.”

It runs so smooth you’d feel seated in a business class flight that you wouldn’t want to end.

Indeed, as your article in the Dec. 2012-Jan 2013 edition quoted Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös as saying, Rolls Royce are “timeless cars (that) cannot afford to stand still in a modern world (where) technology moves rapidly.”

And so the magic carpet ride.

Hugo Schmidt Dubai, UAE

Cover S tory A spec ial choic e for an

awesome read.

Dear editor, That’s really something huh? Only 333 of the jaw-dropping Audi R8 GT Spyder will be manufactured as your recent feature about the sports car said.

I can just imagine the big boys wanting new toys jumping to get a piece of this lovely car.

Anton Norman Doha, Qatar Dear Mr. Norman, I knew a friend who had hoped to get one—reminds me to get back to him and ask if he did.

Seriously, who can argue with zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 317 km/h ?

Editor

feature

Dear Mr. Schmidt, As they say, the RR is everyone’s dream. Who could go wrong with, for instance the Phantom II’s new 8-speed automatic gearbox and rear differential complement-

Only 333?

MuseuM

Dear editor, Kindly keep me posted on when the next Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will be held and The the highlights. m o Tries II PhanSe Being an old car collector myself, I am overjoyed to see vintages on display in the same way a

T

he Mercedes-B enz Museum is the only museum in the world in a single continuous that can document timeline over years of very beginnings auto industry history from 120 to the present its and covering day. On nine a floor space of 16,500 square levels the museum presents 160 metres, vehicles and exhibits. As a over 1,500 place strates that history of innovation, it also demoncan point the way ahead.

The exhibition not only presents history of the the fascinating Mercedes-Benz illuminating brand, it also insights into the future. This affords function is also dual reflected in the Mercedes-Benz architecture of the Museum, designed of Dutch architects by the UNStudio van Berkel and their way down The building’s through the interior is inspired Bos, Amsterdam. extensive collection back to the museum structure of the and exit.

DNA spiral that by the double helix Benz and also The first of the genome. This carries the human presents topics tours consists in turn concerning the of the automobile rooms which of seven Legend brand’s philosophy illustrates the Mercedes-B future narrate . enz of originality brand. The second the chronological history create radically – to continuous of the tour groups the new ly Legend and on display into human mobility. products to advance the wealth of vehicles Collection five separate cause of Collection rooms, thematically The exhibition During a two-hour document the which is at the Mercedes-B breadth and tour of the exhibition, the brand portfolio divided into tors experience enz Museum diversity of Legend rooms a unique and collection. visirooms. The Legend and Collection switch from tive history. Transporte journey through automoThe visitor can one tour to the rooms narrate Mercedes-Benz other tours finish at level of the museum, d by lift to the uppermost brand, dividing the history of the the banked curve at any time. Both the visitor arrives epochs. The rows – Races year 1886, where rooms are ordered it into themes and back in the & Records. The entitled Silver Artwo museum the exhibition chronologically exhibition is off by the Fascination tours gradually is fully through-de rounded and spiral of Technolog tion offers a glimpse signed. The Collecrooms are arranged y display, which into day-to-day thematically the breadth and work at Mercedesand document diversity of the brand’s vehicles.

The seven Legend rooms, which take visitors 2

Jan. 29, 1886 which the automis known as the day on obile was when Carl Benz received born. It was the patent for the world’s very first car.

yry lux car

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into the A closer look to lower car designed the pulse

The p erfec T

joyri de 2

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SpeX

Engin Transmissi e 2.0 Litre, 1998cc, on Maxim BOXER um outpu 6 speed 4 cylind Maxim t 200 er um torqu hp/7000 rpm e 20.9 kg-m/64006600 rpm

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Parade

125 years of automotive history is in this building.

Tradition me ets

innovation The Merce des-Benz

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Do you have something worth featuring?

A Car, your Story or a Collection?

CAR XPRESS WELCOMES YOU. 76

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child would be so happy with ice cream.

Pierce Brannon Dubai, UAE Dear Mr. Brannon Noted.

It might interest you too, to know that a regularity race is currently being organized to be held later this year— please see this edition’s News section for more details.

It’s been dubbed, “The Ageless Mythical Cars Tour 2013,” and slated to take place across the country from Dec. 9 to 13 this year.

The report stated that the approximately 1,000-km race will see 150 authentic classic cars drive across the roads of the UAE from the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, through different emirates to come full circle for a finish in Abu Dhabi.

See you there.

Editor.

That’s really something huh?

Only 333 of the jaw-dropping Audi R8 GT Spyder will be manufactured.

lube bay special

Cast R Lexus’ vision of the future sports car

This ‘Minority Report’ vehicle has a new owner who bought it for close to $50,000.

emember this dazzling, jaw-dropping Lexus?

It’s been sold for close to US$50,000 to a car enthusiast whose name has been withheld for obvious reasons.

Hey, you’d certainly be having second thoughts having your name published as the owner of this one-of-its-kind car that comes out of production once in a lifetime.

Designed by Harald Belker—yes, that talented artist behind the incredible Batmobile of the 1997 movie “Batman & Robin,” this Lexus Cast was conceptualized as a high-performance, two-seater personal sports car for the year 2054 that Tom Cruise drove in Steven Spielberg’s “Minority Report.”

This car has a muscular design with the ultimate in cab-forward seating, a low, enclosed wheelbase for sportiness, aggressive lines, and proportions so unexpected that, at first glance, it’s not entirely evident which end is the front and which is the rear.

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The car has a smart recharging electric engine.

It has a reliable six-cylinder Chevrolet engine, automatic transmission, all lights and turn signals, custom 22-inch wheels, highly detailed paint job, and room for a stereo system and interior upgrade.

This vehicle was built with a highly reinforced chassis and built out of fiberglass and steel.

Based on a short story by science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, “Minority Report” was an action-detective thriller set in Washington, D.C. in 2054, where police utilized a psychic technology to arrest and convict murderers before they could commit their crime. Cruise played the head of this pre-crime unit and was himself accused of the future murder of a man he hadn’t even met.

When it became time to conceptualise the fantasy car of the future, Spielberg, who has a Lexus 4X4, said he “thought Lexus might be in-

Creating the film’s 2054 setting including its transportation systems started 3 years before actual shooting.

From the outset,

terested in holding hands with us and going into a speculative future to see what the transportation systems and cars would look like on our highways in 50 years.

“The result of that exploration was something that elevated and transformed driving into an environmental experience.”

Cool features of the Minority Report Lexus include a “heads up” display with night vision, an organic recognition, dent-resistant carbon composite body panels, laser guided cruise control, body conforming bucket seats with automatic heating and cooling, voice and gesture controled computer system, rear view video camera, retractable solar body panels for recharging and interior climate control during parking, DNA recognition entry and ignition system, and an ‘auto valet’ system which drops the owner off then parks the and recharges its batteries using the solar panels.

This car was envisioned to travel up an apartment building.

Spielberg was not interested in making a fantastical science fiction film, but rather, a future reality movie. The first step was to call a team of diverse designers.

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Our Guest A one-on-one interview with key industry players

Nissan recently launch its new Sentra at an event attended by over 100 VIPs and other invited guests in Dubai Mall.

Thirteen generations of the car since its first global debut, Nissan has finally introduced the compact sedan, Sentra in the Middle East.

Atsuo Kosaka, Nissan Middle East Managing Director, tells why and, as well, shares his thoughts on a range of issues. and fleet customers. On the retail side are mainly expatriates coming from Europe and Asia as well as the people who are now looking for a little bit upscale car. I think the Sentra meets the requirements of those customers.

Car Xpress: What is your assessment of the UAE car market?

Kosaka: The UAE car market increased very much particularly in 2012—both fleet and retail. We estimate that the increase in the car market will continue this year.

Car Xpress: What makes the 2013 Nissan Sentra different?

Atsuo Kosaka: The Sentra is complimentary between the Sunny and Altima. Sentra completely covers the gap between the two cars. Also, we felt the Tiida has already reached the end of its cycle and so Sentra is taking over.

Car Xpress: The 2013 Sentra is the 13th version so far. Why is it only now that the car is being introduced in the Middle East market?

Kosaka: We found the necessity for the Sentra to be introduced in the Middle East.

Car Xpress: What is your projection on the market response to the Sentra?

Kosaka: We expect to sell 25,000 units of the car in the region in the next three years.

Car Xpress: The car’s price starts at around AED50,000. Who’s the target market? Why would people prefer the Nissan Sentra over the other cars in the same segment?

Kosaka: The C segment mainly targets the retail

in brief: Describe as your “someday” car that has now arrived, Sentra has advanced features like a huge interior, Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control and Push Button Ignition.

The car is also equipped with a supersmooth Xtronic CVT transmission and class-leading fuel economy.

The Nissan Sentra likewise has an Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) which is designed to send extra force to the rear brakes when there’s additional weight in the back, an immobilizer, which only allows ignition with the a particular code key, the Zone Body Concept, and a World-class safety measure made possible by a super-strong chassis that reduces shock impact and protects passengers.

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RANGE ROVER SPORT

INTRODUCING THE 2013 RED LIMITED EDITION landrover-me.com/rangeroversport

Athletic. Dynamic. Bold.

Make a statement with the limited-edition 2013 Range Rover Sport with 375hp, unique 20� sports wheels, the exterior Red Sport badge and embossed Sport logo on headrests. Offering more excitement, individuality and luxury, it is available in different colours and designed to set you apart wherever life takes you. *HST Kit sold separately.