IT training wheels UAE TruePDF 18 31 january 2019

Made almost entirely from carbon fibre including the bumpers, the spoilers, and the side skirts we like the dive planes, extra vents, and new grille — and it also gets new rear lights an

INSIDE 2019 DETROIT MOTOR SHOW I REFRESHED BMW 7 SERIES

THE UAE’S FAVOURITE MOTORING MAGAZINE

EDITOR

Sony Thomas sothomas@gulfnews.com

FEATURES WRITER

Imran Malik imalik@gulfnews.com

DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY ART EDITOR

Atul Paradkar, Sohelur Rahman

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Jonathan Richards

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Kinan Alhabbal

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wheels is published and printed by

this is the perfect

way to one-up your

Ecoboost V6-driving

Raptor pals.”

IMRAN MALIK ON THE

FORD F-150 SHELBY

Thanks to your love and support, wheels magazine has grown to

establish itself as the undisputed leader in automotive journalism

in the UAE Today, 14 years since its launch in 2005, wheels is by

far the largest circulated automotive title in the country At a timewhen many ill-advised marketers buy into the misguided beliefthat print is dead and burn their precious dirhams on nonentitieswith bogus ‘followers’, we are grateful to you, our valued readers,for standing by us and helping us prove that print is still verymuch a highly effective way for brands to connect with realaudience We are also thankful that there are still enough brands

in the market that believe in the value of print and we will remainthe most dependable platform for them in this region

To ensure that we retain our position as the only credible printmagazine in the UAE’s automotive scene and allow the team tobring you even more focused and in-depth articles than before, weare altering the periodicity of the print version Starting from thisissue, the magazine’s frequency will be changed from a weekly

to a bi-monthly (two issues a month) Existing subscribers willreceive the same number of copies they have paid for While

we acknowledge the importance of bringing a comprehensivecross-platform experience to our readers with the support ofthe brand’s corresponding digital content, print will remain our

priority with www.wheels.ae continuing to bolster our presence in

the virtual world

These changes will help us continue being the reliable andinfluential medium that we are — in both print and digital — and

we look forward to the enduring support from our readers

As for this issue, a considerable amount of motoring goodnesshas been packed in as usual, including a lowdown on the Detroitmotor show, first images of the refreshed

BMW 7 Series, test drives of the FordF-150 Shelby, Hyundai Santa Fe and AudiQ3, as well as a feature offering helpfultips for off-roading

As always, we welcome your feedback

SONY THOMAS

EDITOR

“Proton once had hopes

of emulating Japanese

and Korean success on

a global sale, though

today it struggles even

ISSUE 711 JANUARY 18-31 2019

“You won’t find the Ecoboost V6 under the pumped

up bonnet; the F-150 Shelby features Ford’s 5.0-litre V8 and it’s supercharged to produce an astonishing 755 horses Take that, Raptor!”

THE BEST OF DETROIT

Check out our hottest picks from the 2019 motor show

SEVEN-STAR 7 SERIES

BMW gives its flagship an update — we get up close to it in Munich

JOIN THE Q

The Audi Q3 gets a refresh — but

do the changes keep it relevant?

GOING OUT IN STYLE AND FURY

The Testarossa bowed out in the shape of the mighty F512 M

A WOLF IN WOLF’S CLOTHING!

Martin shows us his beastly Dodge Challenger in My Wheels

46 38

6 10 20

We test the 2019 three-rowcompact SUV in Dubai

22

46

CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF

LETTER OF THE WEEK

I joined afriend of mine for the Gulf News Fun

Drive last weekend and had the best time! In

fact, I did not expect it would be as exciting as

it turned out to be if I am being totally honest

It far exceeded my expectations and am already

looking forward to next year

I have been on several desert drives with

respected tour operators in Dubai and enjoyed

them all — but never to the extent in which I

enjoyed the 38th Gulf News Fun Drive.

I think what made it so special was the sheer

number of cars and people that attended; I

believe there were close to 1,000 vehiclesparticipating in the event That is a hugenumber My friend and I came to the rescue ofhalf a dozen drivers who had got themselvesstuck and the camaraderie between all thedrivers and marshals (and those who arrangedthe event) was simply superb — it really felt like

a huge family mucking about in the desert!

I made so many new friends, saw somebreathtaking sights and learnt lots of new off-road driving skills too I am so glad I went

AHMED KHAN

SUPERSUPRA

The new Supra has been

re-vealed and I like the new look

I’m a huge fan of the model

(I’ve owned several of these

iconic Toyotas in the past) and

I’m looking forward to getting a

closer look at the newbie

I think it will be excellent to

drive since it shares the sameplatform and drivetrain as theBMW Z4, and believe it’ll go on

to be a huge sales success

DAVID HARPER

DREAMRIDE

I wish I was wealthy enough to

be able to afford a supercar such

as the Ferrari 488 Pista thatyou guys featured in last week’smagazine (issue 710) and thenflog it around the Dubai Auto-drome I can just imagine howmuch of a thrill that would be;

driving an exotic Italian car at full pelt — what a rush!

super-Maybe if I ever win millions fromthe Big Ticket draw I can makethis dream come true

TOM WILSON

The motoring extravaganza had it all from a plethora of EV concepts to the

long-awaited return of the mighty Supra and everything else in between

WORDS: GAUTAM SHARMA PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

2019 DETROIT MOTOR SHOW

NISSAN IMS CONCEPT

Nissan’s stylish IMs concept is billed as an “elevated sports saloon”, with its

jacked-up stance resulting from an underfloor battery pack for a full-electric

powertrain that thumps out 476bhp and 800Nm The design study has an

unusual ‘2+1+2’ cabin layout, whereby three occupants can sit in the rear, or the

outer two pews can be folded to yield a throne-like centre seat

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEK: NEW CARS TRENDS SPYSHOTS OPINION QUICK CHAT

’box, bespoke suspension with magnetorheologicaldampers, massive Brembo brakes, 20x11-inch alloysand a racecar-style rear wing Yummy!

GAC ENTRANZE

China’s GAC Motor has its sights set on the US market,and it signalled its intentions at Detroit by unveilingthe futuristic Entranze full-electric crossover concept.The seven-seater was conceived at the company’sCalifornia design studio and features unusual slidingglass doors There’s a tech bonanza inside withmultiple OLED screens, while 90 per cent of theinterior is crafted from cork

LEXUS LC CONVERTIBLE

We’re already familiar with Lexus’s LC500 coupe but get set for a drop-top derivative

that lands here in 2020 Unveiled in ‘concept’ form at Detroit, the LC Convertible is

arguably even more visually striking than its fixed-roof counterpart You could think of

it as a more wallet-friendly alternative to the Mercedes S-Class Convertible, Porsche 911

Cabrio and Ferrari Portofino

CADILLAC XT6

The premium American brand recently bolstered its SUVline-up with the XT4 and XT5, and now comes the eight-seat XT6 that sits below the gargantuan Escalade in Caddy’sline-up With edgy styling that mimics its smaller brothers,the XT6 is propelled by a 3.6-litre 310bhp V6 mated to anine-speed auto Standard models will be front-drive, withAWD available as an option

KIA TELLURIDE

The eight-seater Telluride is billed as Kia’s largest SUV to date, and

its funky styling sets it apart from anything the brand has given us so

far Like its Hyundai Palisade cousin, the Telluride is powered by a

291bhp 3.8-litre V6, and it’s offered in front-drive and AWD formats

Goodies on offer will include a 10.25in touchscreen and 630-watt

Harman Kardon sound system

FORD EXPLORER

Ford’s new sixth-gen Explorer turned heads with its clean

styling, plus the fact the ST performance flagship packs a

400bhp punch from its twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 However, base

models get the same 2.3-litre four-pot turbo that’s offered in

the Mustang It promises a sporty drive, as the Explorer will be

available with rear-wheel-drive (most rivals are front-drive in

standard form)

INFINITI QX INSPIRATION CONCEPT

Infiniti encountered a slight snag with its QX Inspiration as the electrified SUV concept initiallydidn’t make it onto the stage due to a technical glitch However, it got there eventually, giving show-goers a preview of the brand’s future design language Infiniti claims the QX concept serves up

“blistering off-the-line acceleration” from its twin electric motors and a “lounge-like” cabin

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

VW’s centrepiece is the second-gen Passat, whichretains its predecessor’s platform, but sports freshnew styling characterised by a thrusting chromegrille and sporty front fascia The cabin has also beensmartened up and standard safety kit in the newbieincludes Forward Collision Warning and AutonomousEmergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring.Power comes from a 174bhp 2.0-litre turbo motormated to a six-speed auto

MW crammed itscurrent-gen 7 Series

with a host of clever tech when it launched

in 2015, yet the flagship Bimmer has lived

in the shadow of the funkier

Mercedes-Benz S-Class in the sales race

The Bavarian brand’s brains trust hasn’t taken too kindly

to this, and the result is the vehicle you see pictured here

It’s the most extensive mid-life revamp any of the six

generations of the 7 Series have been subjected to, with

a raft of upgrades both inside and outside to boost the

limo’s appeal

The first thing you’re likely to notice is that massive

grille up front, and this is becoming a BMW trademark

of late, with both the X5 and X7 SUVs also sporting XXL

nostrils in an attempt to visually distance them from their

competitors

In the case of the 7 Series, the big grille is all the more

prominent due to the contrast created by a new headlight

cluster that’s slimmer than before The standard beams

B

2019 BMW 7 SERIES

BMWUPSLIMOANTE

The Munich carmaker’s flagship saloon gets an extensive revamp aimed

at boosting its appeal and taking the fight to the Mercedes S-Class

WORDS: GAUTAM SHARMA PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Out back, the lower rear apron mimics the design

of the front air intakes, while the integrated exhausttailpipes have broader chrome surrounds The

taillights are also 35mm slimmer than before andhave a three-dimensional profile Inside, there’s theoption of quilted Nappa Leather and new premiumtrim materials, and BMW claims the revamped 7Series is quieter than before thanks to acoustic tweaksthroughout the cabin

The powertrain line-up has also been updated andthe biggest gainer is the 750i/750Li, which scores abrand-new 4.4-litre V8 with 523bhp (up 60bhp on theoldie) and 750Nm (+100Nm) for a 0-100kph split of4.0sec

“The first thing you’re likely to notice is that massive grille up front, and this is becoming a BMW trademark of late.”

he first spyshots of a prototypethird gen i10 have landed in ourinbox with Hyundai ensuring thelittle hatch, which debuted back

in 2007 (the second gen followed in 2013) wascovered from front to back to keep any designdetails hidden from prying eyes — and maybe

to keep it warm while it was being driven in thesnow in Sweden we presume!

Even with all of that camo, we can see thatthe fog lights of the tiny five-door — which isset to launch in 2020 — are sitting higher

and closer to the headlights and it appears

to have new air intakes in the front bumper.The taillights look new too but that’s really all

we can tell — although rumour has it that itswheelbase will be stretched compared to thecurrent model which measures 2,385mm

It is also unknown if there will be any changes

to the drivetrain The current i10 is availablewith three- and four-cylinder naturallyaspirated engines (the smaller 1.0-litre has 66horses while the bigger 1.2-litre has 86) but

we won’t be surprised if the newbie gets thePicanto’s turbocharged three-pot 1.0-litre motorwith 100 horses

2020HYUNDAII10

Prototype of upcoming third gen city hatch spotted in the snow

T

THE HITS AND MISSES OF

THE TUNING WORLD

MUGEN CIVIC TYPE R RC20GT

Honda’s Mugen Motorsports

tuning division has created a

new body kit for the already

rather punchy looking Civic

Type R — and it gives the

hot-hatch a really aggressive look

In fact, some might say that it

makes the standard car’s

boy-racer looks appear positively

tame by comparison

The new extreme body kit —

called the RC20GT Package —

might not appeal to everyone

but if you want to give your

Honda a wild new look then

this is what you need Made

almost entirely from carbon

fibre including the bumpers,

the spoilers, and the side

skirts (we like the dive

planes, extra vents, and new

grille — and it also gets new

rear lights and some decals)

but the kit is more than just

a styling package; Mugen

says that it has improved the

car’s aerodynamics along

with its cooling efficiency

and they get a bit more out

of the 2.0-litre turbocharged

four-cylinder engine — which

makes 316bhp as standard —

thanks to a titanium exhaust

system, more potent brakes,

adjustable suspension, new

20in wheels, and harnessed

bucket seats

If that is a bit too much

for you, then worry not for

they also offer a more subtle

version of this kit

CUSTOM NEWS SPYSHOTS

INCOMING CARS YOU SHOULD

BE EXCITED ABOUT

with sales up 43.9 per

cent over the previous

year This is another

record for the company

which has increased

sales every year since

its formation in 2010

North America, which

represents McLaren’s

biggest single market

and over a third of

global sales, surpassed

the 5,000 cars sold

mark since sales

started in 2011 and

achieved another year

of record growth

European sales rose

44.2 per cent but the

biggest leap was seen

in China at 122.5 per

cent growth following

the introduction of the

570S Spider and 720S

China now accounts

for almost 7 per cent

of total global sales

in the UAE

Following an enthusiastic reception from theworld’s press at the recent global launch of the newbikes, fans in the UAE can buy them for Dh19,999and Dh20,399 respectively The Interceptor INT

650 and the Continental GT 650 will be on display atthe Royal Enfield exclusive store and dealerships inDubai starting February 2019 and booking will beginfrom January 15, 2019 The Royal Enfield Twins 650motorcycles will come with a three-year warranty andRoadside Assistance service These motorcycles willalso come with a wide range of Genuine MotorcycleAccessories that will have a two-year warranty

Addressing the press conference at the Royal Enfieldexclusive showroom in Dubai, Arun Gopal, Head-Business Markets - Europe Union (EU) and LatinAmerica, said, “The UAE is amongst the first tenmarkets where the Royal Enfield 650 Twins have beenlaunched and we are extremely thrilled to bring theseaccessible, evocative and fun motorcycles here RoyalEnfield continues to invest in the market potential of

R the UAE which has seen an increasing demand forclassically- styled motorcycles which provide pure

motorcycling joy Now with the launch of the RoyalEnfield 650 Twins, riders can have all more fun on cityroads and on highways alike.”

At the heart of every Continental GT 650 Twin andInterceptor INT 650 Twin is a simple but state-of-the-art air-cooled, 650cc engine producing a punchyyet user-friendly 47 horses In addition to emitting agorgeous exhaust note, the engine offers ample pullingpower across wide RPM range to make the motorcycleunfussy to ride in urban traffic and exhilarating onthe open road — meaning the pair offer the perfectmotorcycling package for both experienced and noviceowners across daily rides and longer excursions TheContinental GT 650 will appeal especially to sportierriders with its optional single seat, sculpted fuel tank,rearset footrests and race-style clip-on handlebars, all

of which have been ergonomically designed to remaincomfortable in the city, on the highway or on thetwisting back roads where the motorcycle really comesalive

The Interceptor INT 650, on the other hand,harks back to Royal Enfield’s Sixties twins throughits teardrop tank with traditional knee recesses,comfortable, quilted dual seat and wide, bracedhandlebars

KIAOFFERINGGREATVALUEDURING2019DUBAISHOPPINGFESTIVAL

During 2019 DubaiShopping Festival,

Kia Motors is offering special deals on

a wide range of new 2019 model year

vehicles

Known for its stylish and headturning

designs, your local Kia dealership has a

range of saloon, sports utility and family

vehicles with special value added packages

that includes, free insurance and services

up to three years, subject to model and the

trim

The popular sport utility seven-seatSorento starts with a price tag of Dh89,900and that includes one year free insuranceand three years maintenance package

Similar packages are available forpremium passenger cars, including theCadenza, Soul and the large 4x4 Mohave

One year free insurance deals are availablefor other popular models such as theSportage, Cerato, Rio and Picanto TheOptima, an ideal family saloon, bundles

with free insurance as well as one year freemaintenance package

The range of Kia vehicles are availablewith five years, 150,000kms manufacturerswarranty, with an exception of KiaCadenza and Mohave that goes with fiveyears, unlimited mileage warranty, termsand conditions apply

This is a limited period offer that isavailable throughout the UAE Kia salesoutlets

ROYALENFIELD650TWINS LAUNCHEDINTHEUAE

Interceptor INT 650 available for Dh19,999 and Continental GT 650 for Dh20,399

INDUSTRY

NEWS STUFF YOU

NEED

TO KNOW THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE HEADLINES

Porsche AG delivered256,255

vehicles worldwide in 2018 — more

than ever before

This represents a growth of four per

cent compared to the existing record

figures of the preceding year Of the

model series, the Panamera recorded

the strongest percentage growth

with a 38 per cent increase to 38,443

deliveries The 911 also recorded a

double-digit rise: despite the release of

a new generation of 911, the number of

sports cars delivered increased by ten

per cent to 35,573 vehicles

“The 911 capacity to fascinate is

stronger than ever,” said Detlev von

Platen, Member of the Executive Board

responsible for Sales and Marketing at

Porsche AG

PORSCHEANNOUNCES

NEWDELIVERYRECORD

HYUNDAIREVEALSNEW TECHNOLOGYTOASSIST HEARING-IMPAIREDDRIVERS

AUDITURNSTHECARINTOAVIRTUALREALITYEXPERIENCEPLATFORM

Hyundai has revealeda new innovativetechnology that assists hearing-impaireddrivers by replacing sounds with visual ortouch-based cues to help them ‘hear’ thetraffic around them

The tech employs two separate drivingassist systems that work togethersimultaneously — the Audio-VisualConversion (AVC) and Audio-TactileConversion (ATC) They use artificialintelligence (AI) to analyze sound patternsoutside the car, and then use vibrations

of the steering wheel and pictogramsdisplayed via the head-up display (HUD)

to alert the driver and explain what thesystem can hear The steering wheel isalso equipped with multi-colored LEDswhich indicate navigational informationwhile driving For example, it couldalert the driver of emergency vehicles byrecognizing the sound of a siren, vibratingthe wheel as an alert and displaying theappropriate pictogram on the HUD It alsotranslates data from vehicle sensors — such

as when reversing — so the driver knowshow far the car is from obstacles withoutrelying on the warning chime

Audi redefined in-carentertainment

at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

in Las Vegas In the future, backseat

passengers will be able to experience

movies, video games, and interactive

content even more realistically using

virtual reality glasses

The premium brand presented a

technology that adopts virtual content to

the movements of a vehicle in real time:

If the car drives through a right turn,

the spaceship in the experience does the

same, for example Through a subsidiary,

Audi Electronics Venture GmbH, Audi has

co-founded a start-up company, holoride

GmbH, which will commercialize this

new form of entertainment via an open

“We just celebrated the worldpremiere of the new 911 at the end ofthe year at the Los Angeles Autoshow,and yet our sports car icon once againinspired more customers in 2018 than

in the previous year,” he added TheMacan was still the most successfulmodel by volume with 86,031 vehicles,just ahead of the Cayenne with 71,458deliveries

The Chinese market held on to poleposition for deliveries again in 2018

Growth in this market hit twelve percent amounting to 80,108 units in total

In second place was the USA, with anincrease of three per cent to 57,202vehicles Deliveries in Europe came

in slightly below the previous year’sfigures

platform that will be made available to allcarmakers and content developers in thefuture Audi is demonstrating the immersivefuturistic technology with “Marvel’sAvengers: Rocket’s Rescue Run,” an in-car

VR experience for backseat passengersbeing brought to life by Disney Gamesand Interactive Experiences Wearing VRglasses, the passenger in an Audi e-tron istransported into a fantastical depiction ofouter space: It now functions as the shipmanned by the Guardians of the Galaxy,

as the passenger makes their way through

an asteroid field together with Rocket,

a character that will appear in MarvelStudios’ Avengers: Endgame in spring 2019.Every movement of the car is reflected inthe experience in real time If the car turns

a tight corner, the player curves around

an opposing spaceship in virtual reality Ifthe Audi e-tron accelerates, the ship in theexperience does the same

Hyundai’s Elevate concept is designed as the world’s first Ultimate Mobility Vehicle

2020 CADILLAC XT6

MAKES GLOBAL

DEBUT

Cadillac has expanded

its popular crossover

and SUV lineup with

the global debut of the

spaciousness, safety and

convenience features for

customers who thrive

on doing it all,” said

Steve Carlisle, Cadillac

president.

“It joins the all-new XT4,

which has soared to the

top spot in its segment,

our global best-selling

XT5 and the iconic

Escalade to accelerate

the brand’s global

growth, with a spirit that

is uniquely Cadillac,” he

added.

General Motors hasannounced the

appointment of Mark Reuss as company

president

Reuss currently leads the Global Product

Group and Cadillac and will now assume

responsibility for the Quality organization

“Mark’s global operational experience, deep

product knowledge and strong leadership will

serve us well as we continue to strengthen

our current business, take advantage of

growth opportunities and further definethe future of personal mobility,” said GMChairman and CEO Mary Barra

Reuss said, “I am very proud to have spent

my entire career at General Motors, and tonow take on this new role is truly a greathonour.”

Reuss has been building an integratedproduct development and Cadillacorganization to support an accelerated

product and technology launch cadence andthe brand’s global growth plans Cadillacwill be introducing a new vehicle every sixmonths through 2021

He has also been leading the transformation

of the company’s global product developmentworkforce and processes to drive world-class levels of engineering in advancedtechnologies and improve quality and speed

to market

MARKREUSSNAMEDASTHENEWPRESIDENTOFGENERALMOTORS

Hyundai’s Elevate ‘walkingcar’ concept hasemerged as an automotive highlight of the 2019Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas

Described as the first Ultimate Mobility Vehicle(UMV), the design blends technology found inelectric cars and robots, allowing it to traverse terrainbeyond the limitations of even the most capable off-road vehicle The concept is primarily designed toprovide efficient, rapid, resilient transportation fordisaster assistance, such as search-and-rescue andhumanitarian aid missions Wheels with hub-mountedelectric motors are attached to extendable robotic legs,

so the vehicle can drive, walk or climb over obstacles

At CES, engineers have used a working scale model

to demonstrate the design in action A full-size versioncould climb over obstacles 1.5 meters tall, or strideacross a gap 1.5 meters wide A variety of differentbodies can be swapped on and off the modular chassis,depending on need “When a tsunami or earthquake

Elevate is the result of almost three years’ work incollaboration with industrial design consultancy,Sundberg-Frear, as part of Hyundai’s mission tocreate new ‘last mile’ mobility technologies andsolutions It features robotic legs with five degrees

of freedom plus in-wheel propulsion, has the ability

to walk in mammalian and reptilian style gaits foromnidirectional motion amd is capable of climbing a1.5-meter vertical walls It is a product of Hyundai’sfuture mobility roadmap, showcased at CES 2019,highlighting the company’s strategy to create freedom

in mobility for customers

INDUSTRY

NEWS STUFF YOU

NEED

TO KNOW THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE HEADLINES

Arabian Automobiles, theflagship

company of the AW Rostamani Group

and the exclusive dealer for Infiniti

in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern

Emirates, offers an opportunity to make

the best of the New Year and the Dubai

Shopping Festival 2019

In one of the most rewarding

campaigns to be rolled out by Arabian

Automobiles, during DSF 2019, every

Infiniti customer is guaranteed

unbeatable cash awards From cash

back offers up to the value of the new

Infiniti, the luxury experience is made

even more worthwhile for customers

as the entire five per cent VAT on the

value of the car is paid by Infiniti

THISDSF,EVERYINFINITI

CUSTOMERWINSITBIGWITH

ARABIANAUTOMOBILES

NISSANE.DAMSONTHE PACEBUTOUTOFLUCK

VALUABLEPOINTSEARNEDFOR PANASONICJAGUARRACING

P Zero Worldhas reached its third

continent after Los Angeles, Munich

and Monte-Carlo with the latest

flagship store opening in Dubai

This bespoke symbol of Pirelli’s

retail strategy — and its leading

position in the market — now makes

its mark in a key territory that links

the Middle East with the rest of the

world A parade of more than 60

supercars belonging to fans and local

collectors celebrated the opening of

the new store, having first paraded

through the city, while the following

day more than 200 cars took to the

track at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi for

the P Zero Experience: Pirelli’s own

brand of track day

The P Zero World concept has often

been summarised as a ‘boutique for

tyres’: in other words, a shop where

customers can find Pirelli’s most

exclusive products alongside services

dedicated to the exotic worlds of

luxury and sportscars The P ZeroWorld boutiques are the only placeswhere the entire range of Pirellityres is available The P Zero Worldshop in Dubai is housed in a new600-metre square building featuringfive technicians, two salespeopleand a receptionist There are fourramps where tyre maintenance can

be carried out, using state of the art

of machinery Furthermore, P ZeroWorld in Dubai is equipped with one

of the quickest balancing machinesout there that is able to rapidly solveelusive problems, such as vibrationsthrough the steering wheel, thattraditional systems cannot identify

While they wait for work to becarried out, customers can entertainthemselves with a life-size F1simulator and enjoy real Italiancoffee, courtesy of P Zero World,while the technicians look after thecar

never-no other offer that will grant you all inone deal: A luxury drive, guaranteedservicing, one-year insurance and VATon-the-house, extended warranty —and cash rewards for every customer

Nissan e.dams demonstratedstrong pacebut suffered ill-fortune in the second round

of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship inMarrakesh

While Sebastien Buemi was credited with

an eighth-place finish, the Swiss driver’s pacethroughout the day indicated that successfor the first-ever Japanese brand to jointhe championship could be just around thecorner Buemi’s teammate Oliver Rowlandimpressed in the morning by recording thefourth and sixth-fastest times in the twopractice sessions A small issue and a mistake

in qualifying put him 12th on the grid for hissecond race for the team The No.22 entrycouldn’t replicate its early morning pace inthe race with Rowland crossing the line in15th place “This was not the result we wereexpecting after a great effort in the morningpractice sessions and qualifying,” said Nissanglobal motorsport director, Michael Carcamo

The second raceof the 2018/19 ABB FIAFormula E season only delivered a couple

of points for Panasonic Jaguar Racing inMarrakesh

Mitch Evans started the day well with afantastic drive in FP2, to set the fastest time.The Kiwi driver qualified into Super Polewith a P6 time and started the race in P5.His team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr alsoqualified in the top ten in P9 but they wereforced off the circuit to avoid a first cornerincident and lost ten places avoiding themelee

Evans also incurred mechanical damage tohis rear diffuser when the Mahindra of PascalWehrlein made contact with the back of hisI-Type3

Still, the New Zealander secured ninth placeand two valuable points Nelson also gainedfive places and eventually finished in 14th

UAEMOTORSPORT INTHESPOTLIGHT

f you werebusy driving

in the beautiful Liwadunes last weekend on

the Gulf News Fun Drive,

then I trust you enjoyedyourselves If you were in the desert, I

guess you can be forgiven for missing the

Dubai 24 Hour race at the Autodrome,

plus the Motorcycle Show at Dubai World

Trade Centre, which happened to both

take place over the same weekend Just

like London buses, you wait a while for

some petrol-head action, then three events

turn up at once!

Having missed the last couple of 24 Hour

races due to my commitments to the Fun

Drive, this year I let others enjoy the dunes

whilst I opted to go (mostly) without sleep

to watch the endurance racing and I am

delighted to say that thousands of others

took the opportunity to do the same Not

too many years ago I was writing opinion

OPINION

DRIVERS’ BRIEFINGTIM ANSELL HEADS FULL THROTTLE THROUGH

THE GRAVEL TRAPS OF LIFE

pieces expressing my dismay at how fewpeople made the effort to spectate at what is

a world class motorsports event and at whichentry was, and remains, free of charge tospectators Last weekend though there were

thousands of families in attendance — in fact,

I struggled to find a space in the main carpark and had to battle through large crowds

to get to the track in time for the start

Audi will have been delighted with theirfirst win (and second place) in the prestigiousevent after many years of trying and myfriends at Dubai-based Duel Racing addedanother class win to their already impressiverecord at the Autodrome Spectators were, as

always, treated to exciting nose-to-tail racing,pit lane dramas, heartbreak and elation as therigours of endurance racing took their toll onboth cars and drivers alike, so if you were one

of the thousands who came along to watch,Thank You, and I hope to see you there nextyear — provided you’re not at the Fun Drive

of course!

It would be remiss of me not to mention thateven as you read this, local competitors SamSunderland (KTM), Mohamed Al Balooshi(Husqvarna) and Benjamin Merlot (KTM)are still doing battle with the dunes in theDakar rally on their motorbikes, whilst TomBell and Patrick McMurren (SabertoothMotoring Adventure) are also competing intheir T.1 Nissan Navara There is no greatermotorsport challenge than the Dakar so Ihope you will join me in wishing themall well

It’s a good time to be a motorsport fan in theUAE!

There’s plenty of fuel-filled action to enjoy from the Gulf News Fun

Drive, Dubai 24 Hour race, Motorcycle Show and the Dakar rally

I

“I hope to see you there next year — provided you’re not at the Fun Drive of course!”

f at firstyou don’t succeed,

go and build another car That

seems to be the policy backed

by car-mad nonagenarian prime

minister Mahathir Mohamad

His first attempt, the lamentable Proton

brand, has not been much good since it

launched in 1983 Thankfully, now under the

stewardship of China’s Geely, its cars seem to

have been getting better, though admittedly

they start from a low base

Now Malaysia’s government has announced

it will turn back the clock and launch a new

national car project by 2020 Who was it

who said “insanity is doing the same thing

over and over again and expecting different

results”?

I have no problem with a country

sponsoring new car companies Doing so is

ridiculously expensive and governmentstend to have the money to start one upfrom scratch It also provides a boost

to the local supply economy, with tens

of thousands of components needed todevelop a vehicle

When it comes to Malaysia, though, Ireally don’t think the country is very good

at carmaking, and that’s not through alack of trying Proton once had hopes ofemulating Japanese and Korean success

on a global sale, though today it struggleseven to compete on the heavily protectedlocal market

To put unloved Protons into context,buyers must pay up to three times theoriginal price of an imported vehicle inMalaysia through taxes designed to makethe local car company more attractive

Yet Proton sold only 71,000 carsdomestically, and probably five or sixinternationally, compared to over 200,000new Peroduas in 2017

Those outside Malaysia probably haven’theard of Perodua, which now occupiesover half of the market there Founded

10 years after Proton’s glorious arrivaland really quite good in terms of quality

ROAD WARRIORAVID TRAVELLER AND CHRONIC

PETROLHEAD RICHARD WHITEHEAD HAS

DRIVEN IN MORE THAN 50 COUNTRIES

THIS WEEK

MALAYSIA

and packaging, Perodua essentially sellsrebadged Malaysian Daihatsus Theengines and transmissions are sent fromJapan to be rebuilt in Malaysia, wherethey get a preferential tax rate over otherimports—though not on the scale ofheavily protected Proton

Even Honda had a bigger market share

in 2017 than Proton, after selling some30,000 more units, despite the high taxes

it attracts Yes, people would rather paymuch, much more for a decent foreigncar than for an ugly and unappealing localone

I hope Malaysia will get it right thistime, but I wouldn’t bet on it Protonshould have closed the book, not led to anew chapter being written

“To put unloved Protons into context, buyers must pay up to three times the original price of an imported vehicle in Malaysia through taxes designed to make the local car company more attractive.”

I

he global carbuyingcommunity is gobbling upcompact SUVs at a fearsomerate, with the likes of theVolvo XC40 and Jaguar’sE-Pace showing that people really do like

a premium badge and a high ride height

more than most things It’s why this new Q3

is so crucial to Audi, as it’s an offering in a

drastically growing segment

There’s a fair amount going on here

The looks, for one, have been overhauled

compared to the older Q3 — gone is the soft,

rounded appearance in favour of a more

imposing and, well, Audi-ish design It’s the

same story inside, with Audi applying all

of its latest tech in pursuit of a genuinely

upmarket cabin A variety of new engines

are available, and there’s the choice of either

two- or four-wheel-drive, as well It means

that, in reality, there should be an option for

everyone

Here, we’ve got a 1.5-litre turbocharged

petrol engine under the bonnet, driving 148horses to the front wheels via a seven-speedautomatic gearbox There’s 250Nm of torque,too, and Audi claims that it helps to push theQ3 to 100kph in nine seconds and onwards to

It’s worthwhile if you’re after the best ridequality possible, mind

Let’s start with the fundamentals Theengine feels just about powerful enough forthe job in hand — although, on occasion, doesseem just a touch breathless, particularlywhen overtaking or pulling onto a motorway

Once you’re up to speed, it’s smooth andrefined; it’s just that initial take-off which can

be a little troublesome Likewise the gearbox,which shifts sweetly when up and running,can be hesitant when pulling away from a

T

ALL THE NEW CARS THAT MATTER TESTED AND RATED

Audi has updated its Q3 to keep up with SUV market rivals We find out what it’s like.

WORDS: JACK EVANS PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

DRIVES

“Do not, under any circumstances, buy the so-called tow ropes made from flimsy yellow nylon and recycled paper clips, sold in back street or even high street car accessory shops.”

Tim Ansell, contributing writer, with some valuable off-road safety tips

Around town, the ride is a little susceptible

to road imperfections, on occasions jigglingover larger bumps in the road when travelling

at slower speeds However, these iron outonce you’re moving a little quicker

The design of the new Q3 is far moredramatic than the car it replaces The frontend is in-your-face and hard to miss; it’scloser in line with the likes of the larger Q7and Q8 models now The chrome surrounds

to the grille and vents up front give it aclassier, more upmarket appearance, whilesharper design lines on the flanks make itappear far wider than it actually is It’s a soliddesign, and likely one which will find favourwith most Though the larger 19in wheels

do look good, the smaller 18in versions don’tdent the car’s overall appearance that mucheither

Audi has worked hard to lift the overallperception of quality inside the Q3, and savefor a few scratchy plastics lower down thecabin, it’s been wholeheartedly successful

The dashboard has been trimmed in touch plastics, and when coupled with plenty

soft-of brushed aluminium effect trim piecesmakes for a decidedly premium-feeling place

to be It’s really very good

A new widescreen infotainment systemdominates the centre of the cabin, whichwhen placed alongside Audi’s virtual cockpitgives the whole area a very high-techappearance Thankfully it all works brilliantly

in addition to looking good There’s plenty ofspace in the back too, while the 530 litres ofstandard boot space is respectable This can

be extended by moving the rear seats forward(they can be pushed forward on rails), or byfolding them down completely — boostingcapacity up to 1,525 litres

Three trim levels are available (in the UKmarket) with the Q3; Sport, S Line andrange-topping Vorsprung Edition Our testcar fell into the middle camp, packing a fullsports exterior styling package and tintedwindows You also get sports seats, finished

in a mixture of cloth and leather upholstery.LED headlights are fitted as part of the S Linespecification, and you get a multifunctionsport steering wheel too As mentioned, thestandard infotainment system not only looksgood, but is decidedly brilliant to use too It’seasy to navigate and responsive to commands

as well We’re glad there’s still a conventionalanalogue volume dial to use, but it’s beenplaced in an odd area — you’ll find it on theright hand side of the dash underneath theheating and ventilation controls, pretty much

as far away from the driver as possible

As we mentioned, the new Q3 falls into

a heavily congested segment, one whichits predecessor had nailed This updatedversion, however, is likely to do just as well.Slightly underpowered engine aside, thislatest Q3 feels a resoundingly good productboth inside and out We’d opt for a punchierpetrol, but do so, and you’ll find yourself in acar which is almost scarily well-rounded

22

It’s always been overshadowed by its siblings, but the Santa Fe has done well in fighting the odds and making itself noticed Can the fourth-gen model continue this trend?

WORDS: SONY THOMAS PHOTOS: ANAS THACHARPADIKKAL

yundai has alwaysbeen a bit unfair to the Santa Fe, Ifeel The mid-size SUV has always been forced to be inthe shadows of its siblings As ungainly and listless as itwas, the first generation model was just gaining traction

as the brand’s leading crossover SUV, when Hyundaibrought the Veracruz above it as their largest familyhauler Since 2006, the Santa Fe has been fighting adomestic battle for attention with the overrated Veracruzand the more popular Tucson And then in 2014, theKorean giant killed the Veracruz off and made the seven-seat version of the Santa Fe their leading SUV And justwhen it was starting to enjoy the limelight, Hyundai againbrings the Palisade above it as their flagship model

While this once again makes it an inbetweener

sandwiched by the entry-level Tuscon and the newrange-topper, there’s no denying the fact that the Santa

Fe is a highly practical family SUV that has contributedsignificantly in changing brand perception in globalmarkets And it’s become even more attractive in itscurrent all-new fourth-generation form The design

of the new model is more in line with Hyundai’s newcorporate look, featuring the signature Cascading Grilleand the Composite Light cluster that comprises slim LEDDaytime Running Lights placed above LED headlights.The overall appearance of the SUV is bolder than theprevious models, with sharp lines and creases adding toits muscular stance

The cabin has also been spruced up significantly, looking

H

23

and feeling more upmarket than before All controls,buttons and knobs are laid out ergonomically andthe crisp central touchscreen does its job well asthe interface between driver and the car While thefront seats offer extendable seat cushions as well as

10 electrically adjustable positions, rear seats alsoincorporate electrical controls on the sides for easyfolding Second row legroom has been increased by

38 mm and the seats are higher affording a better viewout for rear passengers

Although Hyundai says headroom has been improvedfor the third row, these seats are best reserved forchildren as legroom isn’t good enough for adults ofreasonable height However, those seated in the thirdrow will find the experience less claustrophobicthanks to the larger rear quarter glass and separate ACcontrols and vents

Ride quality and noise levels are excellent, adding

to the overall refinement of the Santa Fe, which isarguably among the best in this price range But do notexpect it to be an entertaining drive Behind the wheel,the Santa Fe is rather dull and detached, but sinceexhilaration isn’t part of the remit in this class, thiscannot be held against it What it does exceptionallywell is offering a smooth, comfortable ride for fouradults and two kids on long drives with barely anyfatigue once you reach the destination The 3.5-litreV6 engine has ample reserves of power and torque tohandle the Santa Fe’s heft and the eight-speed auto

‘box is smooth-shifting

As has been the case with Hyundais and Kias of late,

“The Santa Fe is also crammed with class-leading convenience features such as a wireless charging pad for mobile phones, and a host of

safety features.”

the Santa Fe is also crammed with

class-leading convenience features

such as a wireless charging pad for

mobile phones, and a host of safety

features like Blind-Spot Collision

Warning, Forward

Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian

detection, Rear Cross-Traffic

Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane

Keeping Assist, Rear Occupant Alert,

Safety Exit Assist and Speed Limit

Info Function

If all these fail to avoid a crash,then you can find solace in the factthat there are six airbags offered asstandard

Irrespective of whether it’s theflagship or not, the all-new Santa

Fe is a fine offering, and with pricesstarting from as low as Dh94,300 forthe 2.4-litre four-cylinder model,going up to Dh128,900 for the V6variant tested here, it’s also goodvalue for money

INCREDIBL TRUCK

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