174 automan march issue 2016

8/19/2019 174 Automan March Issue 2016

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OMR 0.500 AED 10 QR 10 NOW, THE REGION’S BEST AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCE MARCH 2016 ISSUE NO174

All-w heel driv e Maserati Ghibli SQ4 show s w h

y pow er and handling really w ork

AutomanMag | Visit our website: www.automan.m

Also inside: Chicago Motorshow Tests 2016 VolvoXC90 2016 VW Passat 2015 Triumph ThunderbirdInfniti regional managing director Juergen Schmi


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NEW WHEELS

6-11 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, 2016

TOYOTA PRIUS, 2016 HONDA ACCORD

COUPE

SPOTLIGHT

12-14 INFINITI Q50 RIDE AND DRIVE EVENT

IN THE UAE HIGHLIGHTS THE POWER

BEHIND HYBRID DRIVETRAINS. OMAN

HOSTS A FERRARI ESPERIENZA EVENT

OMAN AND REGIONAL NEWS

12-13 NISSAN GETS NEW PARTNER IN

SAUDI ARABIA, LANDROVER BAR TEAM

WINS OMAN LEG OF AMERICA’S CUP AND

MAZDA2 PICKS UP AWARD

14-17 MITSUBISHI WINDS UP ANOTHER

YEAR’S EDITION OF ITS TEAM PAJERO

OWNER EXPERIENCE EVENT CALENDAR

BRANDWATCH

20-21 MASERATI LEVANTE SURFACES

AHEAD OF GENEVA SHOW, NISSAN SPELLSOUT NEW DIRECTION ON INTELLIGENT

DRIVING, AUDI RESULTS AND LAMBORGHINI

GETS NEW BOSS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

SPOTLIGHT

24-27 CHICAGO MOTORSHOW ROUND-UP

COVER STORY

28-33 2016 MASERATI SQ4

ROAD TESTS

34-39 2016 TOYOTA PRIUS

40-45 2016 VOLVO XC90

46-49 2015 TRIUMPH THUNDERBIRD

FACE TO FACE

50-51 INFINITI MEA MD JUERGEN SCHMITZ

CONCEPTS

52-55 GOING BOLDLY WHERE NO MAN

NEEDS TO DRIVE – NISSAN IDS CONCEPT

56-59 A PRECISE NEW DESIGN DIRECTION

– THE ACURA PRECISION CONCEPT

PREVIEWS

60-63 LEXUS LC500

64-65 PORSCHE 718 BOXSTER

MOTORSPORTS

66-79 SPECIAL SEASON OPENING FOCUS

FEATURE ON THE TEAMS, DRIVERS AND

RACES OF THE 2016 CALENDAR

CHICANE

80 MAKING THE RIGHT WAVES

66

28


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The year began on a mixed note, with local concerns outweighing the general state of the

global economy. Despite most opinions to the contrary, car manufacturers seem to have

had the best year ever in 2015, both in terms of numbers as well as protability. And some

manufacturers who cater to the upper segments of the car buying market have really set

new benchmarks in both of these criteria.

What does this tell us about the condition of the economy? Aren’t we all in the process

of tightening our belts? We are speaking of lay-offs and consolidation, with companies

adopting a wait and watch attitude, all the while hoping that petroleum prices rise to

power local government coffers. And yet, premium and luxury car manufacturers seem to

have never had as good a year ever. Read this against the backdrop of the GCC marketsbeing the favourite hunting grounds for these luxury and premium brands and what this

tells you is that the rich are able to weather any problems with the economy far better than

the poorer citizen and expatriate.

However, as we look ahead to 2016, most market insiders are decidedly more cautious

in their assessment. While it seems to be fashionable for the moment to be pessimistic,

the year will be challenging. But the outcomes will vary depending on how each one of

the countries of the regional economy react to the conditions. We are hearing about

the possibility of VAT being introduced along with additional tightening of corporate tax

structures. Of course, the withdrawal of subsidies will see changes in how we view fuel,

electricity and water. Fuel price at the pump has already risen and come down marginally

due to the global price of petroleum.

The cars we have on this month’s cover seem to be at both these ends of the discussion.The Maserati Ghibli SQ4 seeks to draw customers from the regular premium E-segment

to a slightly more aspirational level, the same sort of draw that it seeks to bring with its

Levante SUV, uncloaked just before the Geneva motorshow.

The other car is the Toyota Prius. It is seen as the pioneer in its segment, with the brand

having invested heavily in placing it as a Eco solution. The Prius is loved by Hollywood

stars as well as the professionals of Silicon Valley. But does it really address the markets of

the GCC? Do we need such high-technology vehicles in markets that even in unsubsidised

fuel markets care more about volume and number of cylinders than saving fuel. It is

denitely a car that makes for an interesting drive as well as offers solutions well ahead of

the problem generation.

We also take this chance to highlight the lead-in to the Formula One season. The 2016

season is largely seen as a work-in-progress one, before the design changes of next year’s

cars become reality. But this high-stakes, high-cost business is evolving, hopefully staying

clear of the economic worries of the year.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFMohammad Al Taie

AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING

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Al Harthy Complex, Sultanate of Oman

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Volkswagen launches new 2016 Passat

with media drive in Dubai

Building on the position that thebrand has reached in the regionwith its US sourced Passat,

Volkswagen recently held a media event tofamiliarise journalists with the revampedmodel.The 2016 Passat is available across theregion in four congurations - S, SE, SELand Sport - and features more aggressivestyling than its predecessor, with a new

hood, front fenders, grille, front and rearbumpers, trunk lid and LED headlights andtaillights.Thomas Milz, Managing Director,Volkswagen Middle East said, “The newPassat is the epitome of a perfectlybalanced model – combining greatfeatures, enhanced value and a reneddriving experience. The striking newdesign evokes passion and excitementand is a package of perfect aordableinnovation, innovative technology andsafety features.”

The new exterior oers slimmer

headlights, a more substantial four-bargrille, and a muscular, domed hood, withall features blending harmoniously to givethe Passat a wider, more planted stance atthe front end. Additionally, a new chromestrip on the trunk ensures the rear lightsappear lower, enhancing the groundedappearance, while chrome on the windowsurrounds, bumpers, and door trimcompliments the more premium nature of

the design upgrade.Inside, the 2016 Passat showcases anextensively upgraded interior, for a moresophisticated look and feel including anew steering wheel and two-tone dcorpanels, and rened chrome and pianoblack trim.The Passat features the second-generationin-car infotainment system, also known asMIB II by Volkswagen. The system featurestouchscreens as standard equipment onall models. On most models, the displayutilises a capacitive touch sensor (similar

to smartphone and tablet technology)

enabling gesture controls like swiping andpinch-zooming rather than the resistivetouchscreens that require pressure andhave slightly longer response times. Mostinfotainment units also feature a proximitysensor, which detects when a hand isnearby and automatically switches itsdisplay to allow easier selection of specicfeatures. USB and Bluetooth connectivityare standard on all 2016 Passat models.

The system also integrates AirPlay,MirrorLink and the Android system.Customers will be familiar with the car’soering of a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine thatgenerates 170hp and is mated with a six-speed gearbox with tiptronic.Additionally new features introduced tothe Passat include an automatic trunkopener that senses the presence of thedriver behind the car and opens the trunkif the car is on the driver and the car islocked. Of course the driver needs toswing his foot below the rear bumper to

get the trunk to open.

6 MAR 2016

2016 VW Passat

NEWWHEELS


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2016 Volkswagen Passat

What’s changed in this

model year?The next iteration of the model cycle is on us and Volkswagenhas largely changed only what needs to be changed. Now the

car gets LEd DRLs, a high tech centre console, better integrationwith smart phones and media and a new generation of its SD-card based navigation systems.In the bargain, the car also gets a new, almost white interioras well as a light tan one, both of which go well with theredesigned surfaces and touch points. And yes, conveniencegets a boost with hands-free entry and start as well as hands-free trunk opening.

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While the thunder of this featurehas been stolen by KIA and Hyundaidebuting it on cheaper SUVs, theconvenience of a hands-free trunkopening may appeal to some. Also,it doesn’t work if the car is alreadyunlocked, in that case you have to

open the boot through the release.

2016 Volkswagen Passat

Important points to note

Not the best boot hinge design we’ve seeen, thisone uses corrugated piping to hide the harness

The Volkswagen LED signature treatmentensures that the Passat is clearly identiable


11/849MAR 2016

The redesigned dashboard brings a softer feel to it and adependence on the larger screen of the new interface

Volkswagen has not ddled with the tried and tested 170h5-cylinder 2.5-litre unit considered just right for the regionmarkets

The headlights use LED piping for use as DRLs, while theprojector elements oer a better throw and spread of the

beam.

The wheels range from the 16” steel wheels with covers to a17” alloy option on the SE and SEL, to a full-blown 18” oeringon the Sport version.


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Toyota launches Prius Hybrid in OmanToyota has nally taken the bigstep of bringing its hybrid Priusto the region. At the launch inOman, held at the Al Bustanhotel, Toyota ocials from theglobal operations and regionaloce were present along withocials from the importer andmedia.The Toyota Prius Hybridlaunches at a time when fuelprices in the United States areat a low, while fuel prices inthis region are increasing dueto withdrawal of governmentsubsidies and market pricelinkage. This makes the PriusHybrid’s phenomenal fueleciency a major draw.The Prius Hybrid is the rstcommercially produced hybridand launched in 1997. This isthe fourth generation of thePrius hybrid.“For eighteen years, Prius hascontinued to build a legacy

of outstanding eciency

and innovation for hybridtechnology,” said KoujiToyoshima, Chief Engineer ofthe car. “It has always beena revolutionary car with aunique DNA. So I asked myself:What is essential for the nextgeneration? The answer wasour development conceptof ‘Beautiful Hybrid’. Wewanted the Prius to turn intoa charming, beautiful hybridvehicle, while maintainingits essential qualities such asoutstanding fuel economy.”The Prius hybrid features a1.8-litre petrol engine runningon an Atkinson cycle, thatis paired with two electricmotors on the front-wheelsthat act as drive as well asoer regenerative braking inorder to charge the batterypack of the car. It allows forslow speed driving on purelyelectric energy, with the petrol

engine coming into play once

the system realises that morepower and energy is needed.While the combinedpowertrain is rated at 121hp,the petrol engine oers a95hp peak while the electricmotors oer 53hp. The caris the rst new model builton Toyota’s new globalarchitecture (TNGA). TakayukiYoshitsugu, the regional chiefrepresentative said,”The

Prius underlines Toyota’scontinued commitment toprogressive thinking and beingenvironmentally conscious.More than just a car, we seethe Prius as an opportunityto really make a dierence,which essentially is whatToyota is all about as we seekto full our vision of leadingthe way towards the future ofmobility.”

Posing before the Prius Hybrid ocials from Toyota’s operations include Mr Sugiura,Mr Yoshitsugu and Mr Miyamoto

2016 Toyota Prius

NEWWHEELS

10 MAR 2016


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Honda Accord Coupe with sensing technology launches in Oman

The latest generation ofHonda’s Accord Coupe haslaunched in Oman, with localimporter Oman Marketing andServices Company bringing thecar in both the engine variantson oer with a range of newfeatures bundled under the tagof Honda Advanced Sensingtechnology.Along with new stylingelements that bring the

car closer to the currentday version of the sedanversion (including new grille,new headlight and taillightand the greater use of LEDlighting both for DRLs aswell as high visibility lights),the car launches with twoEarth Dreams engines, i.e the2.4-litre 4-cylinder and the3.5-litre V6 units have beenreengineered to provide fora cleaner, more fuel-ecientdrive and oer greater output

in both variants. The smaller4-cylinder is now rated at 185hp while the 3.5-litre unit israted at 276hp. The body isbuilt to the company’s ACestructural technology.Honda is also promoting aclutch of safety features underits Advanced Sensing tag.These include adaptive cruisecontrol, lane keeping assist,with the ability to adjust the

steering wheel to keep inthe lane, collision mitigationbraking that not only sensesthe likelihood of a potentialcollision and warns the driver,but also applies brakes incase of real danger and nallyRoad departure Mitigationthat prevents the car fromwandering o the road,especially if it senses no inputfrom the driver. In that case itcorrects the steering as well asapplies the brakes in order to

keep the car on the road, whileissuing warnings.The 3.5-litre equipped car alsogets Lanewatch, that workslike an extended blind spotmonitoring system to providevisibility of the lane on theright of the car on the centralmonitor.The regular suite of vehiclestability control, traction

control, ABS and EBD pair withHill start assist.The car is available in threegrades in Oman – the 3.5-litrewith Advanced Sensing, theregular 3.5-litre unit and the2.4-litre EX grade. These areavailable in six exterior colourswith beige interiors in eitherfabric in the 2.4-litre or leatherin either of the higher grades.

2016 Honda Accord Coupe

NEWWHEELS

11MAR 2016


14/8412 MAR 2016

Last year, Inniti called journalistsfrom around the region to be partof an excludive event where they

highlighted the hybrid drivetrain of theQ50. Unlike this year’s headline event ofthe Toyota Prius coming to the region,Inniti’s hybrid came with a much lowershare of voice, largely due to the mainlinepetrol engine variants of the Q50 beingcars that buyers were interested in fortheir drive-by-wire technology as well asthe bundling of class dening features inthe cars. This is the point that Inniti were

seeking to rectify while also continuingtheir association with Formula One,although they have moved out of theirrace winning partnership with Redbull.The Q50 Hybrid features a combinationof a 3.5-litre V6 engine and an inlinemotor assist that sits in the transmissiontunnel connected to the rear-wheelsthat provides a combined peak powerof 360hp. Of this 67hp is providedby the electric motor. But the moreimportant gure is that of the torque.Most turbocharged engines oer stellar

acceleration characteristics when theyreach the state where engine exhaustoutput is stable. That is usually at justunder 2000rpm in the normal petrolengine. To avoid the eects of turbolag,some manufacturers use superchargers tohandle the lower rev band.In the Inniti Q50 hybrid powertrain, thatzone is more than compensated for bythe inline motor assist. It can deliver peaktorque right from zero and that meansthat the combined system then has a farbetter take-o acceleration curve.

2016 Inniti Q50 Hybrid

The Toyota Prius Hybrid offers increased fuel efficiency,

while the Infiniti Q50 Hybrid sells on the contrary notion of

lots of power. The end result is the same – more bang per

litre of fuel (or engine capacity)


15/8413MAR 2016

The combined system clocks in with atorque gure of 640Nm out of whichthe electric motor contributes 290Nm.It’s these torque gures that allow theQ50 hybrid to hit the standing 100 km/hin 5 seconds.Inniti has also been placing hybridtechnology in other vehicles like the

QX60 Hybrid. In that car the function issimilar though it does go a long way toboost the performance of the 4-cylinderengine.During the orientation on hybrid andInniti’s links with the same, the teamspoke of how the Q70 was the rst carto feature the hybrid and had at onestage won recognition as the world’sfastest accelerating hybrid car.They also connected the use of thistechnology to Formula One where thecar uses brakeforce regeneration andthe added power of the electric boost

to aid performance.Where the Formula One and Innitihybrid technologies dier, however, ishow the recovered electrical energy isstored. The battery in the Q50 Hybridmaintains a constant level of on-callenergy; ready to be deployed, whereasthe Formula One system nearly entirelydepletes its battery and must re-harvestenergy and charge the battery beforethe next burst of power.This year Inniti shifts its connectionwith Formula One to the new Renault

Sport Formula One team as a technicalpartner, with special emphasis onproviding expertise in the hybriddrivetrain.“At Inniti, motorsport is an importantpart of our business strategy,” saidRoland Krueger, President InnitiMotor Company. “Forming a technicalcollaboration and enabling technologytransfer road-to-track and track-to-road is the logical next step. Theestablishment of the Renault SportFormula One Team by our Alliancepartner Renault provides us with an

ideal opportunity to enter this nextphase of our long-term motorsportstrategy.”Inniti’s strong expertise will be usedby the Renault Sport Formula One teamin Viry-Châtillon as a team of Innitihybrid specialists move from Inniti’stechnical center in Atsugi, Japan, toFrance to support development of theRenault Energy power unit.At the same time, Inniti will use theexperience from the F1 ERS system tofurther enhance its hybrid powertrains

for road cars.

Seen above is a graphic that outlines the process by which electric traction is delivered to the rearwheels of the Inniti Q50.

Below is a graphic that shows a comparison of how the Inniti Q50 Hybrid transmits its electricpower in comparison with the method applied on a Formula One car. The basic dierence is thatthe battery on the sedan is very rarely taken to depletion point while the F1 car operates through aseries of almost full discharges.


16/8414 MAR 2016

Ferrari Esperienza

Alfardan Motors, the local importersfor Ferrari, hosted a customerevent at the Al Husn at Shangrila

Barr al Jissah hotel in the middle ofFebruary.A select group of customers, VIP guestsand media were invited to participate inthe Ferrari Esperienza event and get an

opportunity to drive the Ferrai CaliforniaT and Ferrari 488GTB along the roadsaround the resort and down towards Yiti.The experience involved participatingin a product and drive brieng and thendriving the cars guided by professionalFerrari instructors who had own in fromMaranello for the event.

About the 488GTB

Recently launched in Oman in September2015, the 488GTB boasts a new 3902cc turbo engine which is coupled with

a seven-gear F1 dual-clutch gearbox

featuring Variable Boost Managementwhich optimally distributes torque (amaximum 750 Nm in seventh gear). Thesmaller of Ferrari’s GT cars has a longheritage to follow and the move to bringit in line with the California T’s use of aturbocharged engine was done in orderto provide better power and performance

while staying within the new emmisionstandards proposed under Euro 6 andnewer legislations.The GTB uses extensive aerodynamicbody elements to reduce its drag, with anability to change underbody airstreamsdepending on the speed of the car.In addition to that the car makes the bestuse of the second generation of Ferrari’sstability control programming that allowsthe cars to aggressively take corners withdrift built in (in the top drive modes onits steering wheel mounted controller) as

well as oering impressive braking.

About the Ferrari California T

The Ferrari California T epitomises thesublime elegance, sportiness, versatilityand exclusivity that have distinguishedevery California model since the 1950s.Sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6seconds at and from 0 to 200 km/h in11.2 seconds, the California T is a brilliant

expression of Ferrari’s sporty DNA, whileits retractable hard top (RHT) and 2+2conguration, amongst other features,make it supremely versatile. Like allFerraris, the California T boasts cutting-edge technological solutions that make itabsolutely unique, most notably the newturbocharged V8 engine.Using equal length inlet and exhaustpiping, a attened crankshaft and asophisticated oil sump arrangement, thecar is capable of high speed manouevreswhile bringing with it the pleasure of

open-top motoring.

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

Ferrari Esperienza event, hosted by local importer Alfardan Motors


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18/8416 MAR 2016

Petromin is Nissan’s newPartner in Saudi ArabiaNissan has announced a newbusiness partner - PetrominCorporation (Petromin) inthe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Petromin will join Alissa asthe second strategic partnerto Nissan as it continues itsgrowth and expansion acrossthe Kingdom.“We announced in November2013that Nissan was going torenew its strong bond withthe Kingdom, with a directpresence in the form of Nissan

KSA,” said Samir Cherfan,Nissan Middle East’s ManagingDirector. “We committed tostrengthening the brand’sproduct line-up and to bringthe best of this great companyto Saudi Arabia by developingNissan’s sales and servicecoverage and quality.”“Nissan and Alissa havemanaged to renew the bondwith the kingdom and toreestablish a strong salesand service network. We are

achieving fast growth whileachieving high standards incustomer service. Sustainablegrowth and customersatisfaction excellence isthe path for Nissan and itsbusiness partners”, he added.Samir Nawar, CEO of Petrominsaid: “We could not bemore excited about workingalongside Nissan to helpachieve its stated goals. Theaddition of car showroomsand workshops to our vast

network of service facilities,which comprehensivelycovers the entire country, isperfectly placed to provideNissan owners with the kindof customer service theyrightly expect and demand.We have been in this industryfor nearly ve decades andNissan’s competitive edge willsurely be sharpened with ourinvolvement and drive.”

GMC dealerships in theUAE – comprising Al Ghandiin Dubai & Sharjah, and BinHamoodah in Abu Dhabi – arecurrently running a month-long promotional campaign(until March 31) for the 2016Terrain, one that providesbuyers with a comprehensivearray of benets including a5 year installment plan that

starts at just 1,023 AED permonth. The oer includes freeregistration, free insurance, athree-year/60,000 kilometersfree service package, and ave-year unlimited mileagewarranty. The warrantyalso comes with RoadsideAssistance for a period of fouryears.

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


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Despite a race weekend of lightwinds, penalty starts and a

collision, Land Rover BAR’s fastboat speed and good tacticaldecisions allowed them, in trueBritish style, to recover fromthe brink to win this weekend’sLouis Vuitton America’s CupWorld Series regatta.Martin Whitmarsh, LandRover BAR Chief ExecutiveOcer said: “Overall it’s beena fantastic weekend, andwe have proved we are thecome-back kids as we cameback every time despite the

challenges. The boys werefantastically quick on the waterand that enabled them to keeptheir heads up and ght theirway through the eld. Theydeserved this great win forthe huge amount of eort andcourage they showed.”The rst day of competitionsaw Land Rover BAR dominatethe way after nishing tworaces in rst position, and onein third. Despite a collision withGroupama Team France in the

rst race and a subsequentpenalty at the starting line the

Land Rover BAR team battledback to nish third beforewinning the next two races.Super Sunday, with doublepoints at stake, saw the mainaction of the weekend. Allthe teams were pushing hardand Land Rover BAR receivedstarting penalties in each of thethree races leaving them at theback of the eet with a ghton their hands. Superb tacticalsailing saw the team climb theirway through the eet to nish

with second, third and fourthplace nishes to seal the overallwin. The British Challenger isthe only team to have wontwo of the four regattas in theAmerica’s Cup World Series.The 76 points secured thisweekend halves the gap withEmirates Team New Zealandin the overall rankings and theteam now sit just one pointbehind Oracle Team USA - inthird place with 185 points.

LAND ROVER BAR DIG DEEP TO WIN INOMAN LEG OF THE AMERICA’S CUP

Mazda2 wins Best Compact

of the Year 2016 award

The all-new Mazda2 has beenrecently crowned as the BestCompact Car at the WheelsCar of the Year 2016 awardceremony, Australia’s mostcoveted motoring award

judged by the best of the best

in the industry. The stylishfourth-generation Mazda2 isalso the winner of the muchcoveted 2014-2015 Car ofthe Year Japan award andGermany’s illustrious 2014

Golden Steering Wheel Award.


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Mitsubishi Oman has just concluded the latest round of Team Pajero

Desert adventures, events that allow owners to experience the 4x4 terrain

and experience actual off-road driving conditions under expert guidance.


21/8419MAR 2016

Beginning in November 2015, theTeam Pajero Adventure comprisedof several two-day trips and

saw over 1600 participating in over 270Mitsubishi Pajeros, cumulative over allthe trips so far, driving into the popularyet challenging Wahiba Sands. Organisedby GAC specically for Pajero ownersand enthusiasts, each of these trips givesPajero owners a taste of a true desertadventure in the vehicle best suited tohandle the challenge – the MitsubishiPajero.Commenting on the success of this event,Manoj Ranade, GM of General AutomotiveCompany said, “The Pajero has beena constant favourite in the region andwith good reason. Its capabilities andreliability are amongst the best in its classand our annual Team Pajero Adventuretrips allow our customers to experiencethis rst hand. Furthermore, our annual

‘Team Pajero Desert Adventure’ eventshave witnessed growing demand witheach passing year. As a result we doubledthe number of trips from three to six lastseason, and oered six trips right from thebeginning this season.”As with all the previous trips, over 220people and 15 GAC sta in 45 CustomerPajeros and 10 Marshall Vehiclesrespectively participated in the nal trip;following a predened course as theyheaded to Wahiba Sands. Once at the AlRaha Camp, the convoy of Pajero vehicleswere escorted by Marshalls and providedwith specialised desert driving training.The drivers were then taken on a dunebashing session, after which the group istaken atop a dune overlooking the campto witness the stunning sunset. Once backat the camp a large number of activitiesand entertainment was prepared for thefamilies to enjoy. The following morning,Camel riding sessions and dune bikeswere provided for the customers to use attheir discretion. The convoy left the campand returned to the Azaiba showroomshortly after.

He also added, “On behalf of GAC I wouldlike to thank all the sta responsiblefor their hard work and commitmentin making this event a success. I wouldalso like to thank each and every oneof our customers for their participationin the event, loyalty to the brand andtheir valuable feedback. Given theoverwhelmingly positive response wehave received from our guests so far andits growing popularity, our customers canlook forward to yet another Team PajeroAdventure when the 2016 – 2017 season islaunched in the nal quarter of this year.”


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We also spoke to RajeshSharma, the NationalMarketing Manager forMitsubishi on various aspectsof the event.

Considering the expenses involved, have

you reached a level where the events are

self nancing in terms of new prospects?

The event was planned as a drivingexperience for the new customers, todemonstrate to them the prowess ofvehicle called Pajero. Till date the event isorganized on the same principles. There isa loyalty budget allotted for such activitiesbasis which these ideas are given wings to.It would be true to say that such eventsare leading to increase in sales rather thannew sales nancing such events.

How do you manage to keep your events

distinct from other brands events?

Being the trend setter always helps inbeing recognized. Ofcourse, being copiedis also a big threat, but at the same time acompliment. The event has evolved overthe years. Various modules have beenadded to it to give the customers not justthe driving experience but the benetof being a part of the Pajero family. Theevent encapsulates the entire drivingexperience within the greater realm

of bonding, brotherhood and enjoyingtogether. Whilst some other events areaimed at the driver, Team Pajero involvesthe families and also friends in some cases.It’s a challenge to give the same levelof experience and joy to each customerbut the entire internal team of GeneralAutomotive Company has masteredthis art. With everything being handledinternally it becomes a very enriching

experience when at the end of every eventcustomers come and compliment theentire team for the great experience.

Could you summarise the current

season for us in terms of highpoint and

achievements?

The season has once again put TeamPajero on top of the most talked aboutevents in Oman. Social Media has alsohelped to take the message further to alland all of this has helped us to strengthenthe sales of Pajero in an otherwise sliding

market. The event showcased the truevalue of the mere vehicle bought, to manyand to others it helped strengthen thebond with family and friends through theinvaluable experience they got. A bondwhich goes beyond our rational realm.Today over 300 cars are on Oman roadsfrom this season, proclaiming ‘ProudMember Team Pajero’. A sign of themhaving experienced the fruits of thisevent. After all a Pajero is not merely 4wheels. Its an experience which makes our

customer, ‘Partners for Life’.

What is the normal mix of owners? Do

you get many complete novices? Have you

had any lady lead participating cars?

The Team Pajero event has always beenone where we have always had a good mixif nationalities, both Omani and Expats.And amongst them we have customers

of various skill levels in terms of desertdriving.But this season we have seen that almost60-70% of our attendees have been rsttimers in the desert. For them it was anoverwhelming experience also learningthe nuances of desert driving.

Have you had any serious incidents? Do

you get any cases of participant regret?

During any of the Team Pajero events,there have been no serious incidentsinvolving the convoy. Utmost care has

been taken by the team to ensure allcustomers and crew follow the laid downrules of the event. And it’s a matter ofgreat pride that not a single customer hasever regretted in any way being a part ofthis event. Infact year on year customershave shared their appreciation both withus and their peers to make this eventlarger, better and popular.


23/8421MAR 2016


24/8422 MAR 2016

Levante debuts in Geneva ‘NissanIntelligentMobility’announced

Maserati reveals the exterior form ofthe Levante, the rst SUV in the brand’smore than one hundred year history thenew model completes the existing rangeof saloon and sports cars, extending theoering together with the Quattroporte,Ghibli, GranTurismo and GranCabriomodels.Maserati’s design signature is clearlyvisible on the sides the three iconic air

vents on the front wings, the trapezoidalC-pillar with the “Saetta” logo and thelarge, frameless door windows. The rearis dominated by the very tapered backwindow and streamlined shape, bothtypical of a highperformance sports car.At a technical level, the Levante’s chassisis designed to combine the outstandingonroad performance typical of everyMaserati with unrivalled handling even

on very lowgrip surfaces and an excellentoroad performance and ride. The newSUV boasts a high level of content asstandard, with all versions featuringsophisticated electronic suspensionwith controlled damping and air springs,which can be set on several levels,“Q4” intelligent allwheel drive and8speed automatic transmission speciallycalibrated for the brand’s new SUV.

When it comes to power units, theLevante is equipped with both petrol anddiesel engines that are all Euro6compliant.The Maserati Levante is built at theMiraori plant in Turin the rst cars havealready come o the assembly line withthe launch planned for this spring inEurope, to be followed by the rest of theworld later this year.

Pursuing a goal of zero emission vehiclesand zero fatalities on the road, Nissanunveiled its ‘Intelligent Mobility’ vision atthe Geneva International Motor Show.Created to guide the Nissan productevolution, Intelligent Mobility will anchorcritical company decisions around howcars are powered, how cars are driven,and how cars integrate into society, allwhile staying focused on creating more

enjoyable driving experiences..At the core of Nissan Intelligent Mobilityare three areas of innovation:• Nissan Intelligent Driving – creating

more driver condence, spearheadedby Nissan’s autonomous drivetechnology, Piloted Drive

• Nissan Intelligent Power – moreeciency, more power, spearheadedby electric vehicles (EV)

• Nissan Intelligent Integration – newlinks between vehicles and society

Each area represents cutting edgetechnological advances by Nissan –

safety innovations through autonomoustechnology such as high-stability controland high-reliability drive systems;high-eciency powertrains, includingalternative and conventional fuel engineswith advanced transmissions; and energymanagement solutions.“Our Intelligent Mobility vision is aframework to move customers aroundthe world toward a safer and moresustainable future,” said Carlos Ghosn,CEO. “To realize this vision, Nissan haslaunched a long-term strategy, supported

by signicant R&D investments.”


25/8423MAR 2016

Audi CEO Stadler: “We plan to continueour growth in 2016”

Stefano Domenicali will becomethe new President and CEO of

AutomobiliLamborghini on March 15, 2016.He succeeds Stephan Winkelmann, whowill take over as CEOof sports Audi aliatequattro GmbH.“Over the past eleven years StephanWinkelmann has transformed Lamborghiniinto a global leader in the manufacture ofsuper sports cars. His successor, who alsopossesses a wealth ofexperience in thisarea, will be continuing this success,” saysRupert Stadler, Chairman of the BoardManagement of AUDI AG and Chairmanofthe Administrative Board of AutomobiliLamborghini S.p.A. Stefano Domenicali

says: “I am very excited to be taking onthe challenges of this great legacy. It is

now my duty to continue the successesthat my predecessor Stephan Winkelmannachieved for Automobili Lamborghini.”Stephan Winkelmann comments: “I havebeen responsible for Lamborghini for asignicant periodof time in its history,and in the process have always aimedto use the brand’s potential to achievevery ambitious goals. Lamborghini’skey corporate data displays continual,protable growth with a focus on thedevelopment of new products, newprocesses, and many other corporatesectors.”

The Audi Group plans to launchmore than 20 new or revisedmodels and to continue itsgrowth in 2016. Despite majorchallenges, the Ingolstadtbased company performedsuccessfully last year andset a new record for unitsales: Worldwide deliveriesincreased compared with 2014by 3.6 percent to 1,803,246automobiles. As a result of thestrong demand, the companyachieved a new record also forrevenue, posting a gure of€58.4 billion. Operating protamounted to €4.8 billion and

operating prot before specialitems of €5.1 billion was at thehigh level of the previous year.Before the worldwide rolloutof important models like thenew Audi A4, the operatingreturn on sales amountedto 8.3 percent despite thechallenging conditions, andwas thus within the strategictarget corridor of eight to tenpercent; before special items itwas 8.8 percent.This year, Audi will maintainthe high speed of its productinitiative. With the new AudiQ2 for example, the company

intends to conquer a newmarket segment and continuethe success story of the Qfamily. At the same time, Audiis developing the key areas ofelectrication and digitization.Investment of more than €3billion is planned in 2016. InMexico, a completely new andultramodern automobile plantwill be opened. In addition,more than 1,200 experts instrategic areas for the futureare to be recruited in Germany.During the Annual PressConference held at thecompany’s headquarters in

Ingolstadt, Rupert Stadler,Chairman of the Board ofManagement of AUDI AG,stated, “We successfullymastered a year of challenges.We will now invest in 2016alone more than €3 billion forthe mobility of tomorrow, andwe will push forward with theelectrication and digitizationof our products.” With morethan 20 new or revised modelsAudi intends to gain more newcustomers and continue alongits growth path this year.

STEFANO DOMENICALI TAKES OVER LEADERSHIP OF

AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI


26/8424 MAR 2016

Chicago 2016

More directionfrom Chicago

The North American International automobile show’s 2016 edition did

much to highlight the swing back in fortunes of car manufacturers

For a change, Lexus did not have any stand-out debuts forChicago, especially on the tail of the big ticket LC500 unveil atDetroit. Here too, the LC500 played the main role along with aseries of live performances from R&B artistes in the taping og alive TV show called Lexus and verses.The LC500 is Lexus’ new interpretation of the range toppingluxury coupe, replacing the SC in its pantheon. Powered by thenaturally aspirated V8 5.0-litre unit that also powers the RC Fand GS F, the LC paired with these cars on the stand to projectthe new F direction.In addition the stand also had the entire range of the productline-up, including the hybrid variants.

The all-new Armada was unveiled the eveningbefore the motor show ony for it to featureprominently on stand among the WinterWarriors themed section.For the rest of the world, we may be more familiar with the new Armada as the Patrol.“With the introduction of the all-new, second- generation Armada full-size SUV, the last pieceof Nissan’s transformation of its SUV andcrossover lineup falls into place following therecent makeovers of our Pathnder, Muranoand Rogue models,” said Phil O’Connor,Director, Chief Marketing Manager, NissanNorth America, Inc. “We’re particularly proudthat with this new Armada we’re setting anew standard in class, oering advancedsafety and security features usually reserved for much higher priced luxury sedans orpremium SUVs.” All three Nissan Winter Warriors featurecustom heavy-duty track systems with custommatte-black nish frames. The snow tracks are48 inches long, 30 inches high and 15 incheswide and replace the vehicles’ wheels andtyres. The suspensions and wheel wells weremodied to t the snow tracks, but otherwiseall drivetrain components, including theengines and Xtronic transmissions, are factory fresh.

Lexus

Nissan


27/8425MAR 2016

First shown at Los Angeles last year, the all-newImpreza that will follow this concept will bethe rst example of Subaru’s next-generationvehicles using a new modular platform. Thedesign is sportier and less angular than theprevious generation Impreza, but with apowerful stance expressing Subaru’s new

Dynamic x Solid design language. The newdesign direction hints at not only the newImpreza design, but of Subaru’s future models.

The new R8 and the new A4 were thestars of the show. The A4, is completely

redesigned for the 2017MY. Buyers havetheir choice between the A4 Premium,Premium Plus and top-tier Prestige trimlevels. Sole powertrain at launch is a252-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-litre TFSIengine that mates to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheeldrive is standard and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive is optional. According to Audi,the new A4 can race from 0-to-60 mph in5.7-seconds. The ve-passenger cabin boastsleather seating surfaces, LED ambientlighting, three-spoke multifunction at-bottom steering wheel with shift paddlesand seats with power lumbar adjustment.

A key component to Kia Motors’ Green CarRoadmap was unveiled at the Chicago AutoShow today as Kia Motors America (KMA)hosted the global debut of the all-new 2017 NiroHybrid Utility Vehicle (HUV). A no-compromisevehicle that combines driving enjoyment with

eye-catching design, functional utility andhybrid eciency, the all-new Niro strikes theperfect balance for today’s consumers andstakes claim to a unique position between thehybrid-electric vehicle and CUV segments.

“The Niro hits the sweet spot by oeringthe best combination of outstanding mpg,an engaging driving experience, utility, andmost importantly, a stunning design thatdoesn’t shout ‘hybrid,’” said Orth Hedrick,vice president product planning KMA. “Thesubcompact CUV market continues to be one ofthe fastest-growing segments in the world, andthe Niro oers a uniquely alluring yet practical

package that consumers haven’t seen before.”

Subaru

KIA

Audi


28/8426 MAR 2016

Ford unveiled the Sports appearance package for theFord Explorer XLT.The addition of the package expands Explorer oeringsto six models. Other versions include base, XLT, Limited,Sport and the Platinum edition.The new XLT Sport Appearance Package joins theExplorer family beginning this summer.

The 2017 Ford Escape, launching in the coming months,will feature a unique Sport Appearance Package as well.“Our Sport Appearance philosophy is rooted in the fact that we know exterior appearance is the No. 1consideration in SUV purchase decisions,” said OmarOdeh, Explorer brand marketing manager. “The XLTSport Appearance Package is a dramatic oering that gives customers another attractive option.”

The Fiat 124 Spider, built in close co-operationwith Mazda (on whose Mx-5 it is based) wasshown at the Fiat stand.In North America, the Fiat 124 Spider is availablewith the proven 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo four-cylinder engine, the engine’s rst application ina rear-wheel-drive vehicle. The engine delivers160 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, and isavailable with a six-speed manual transmissionor a six-speed automatic transmission.

Bob Hegbloom, Head of Ram Truck Brand, FCA North America, unveiledthe 2017 Ram Power Wagon at the Chicago Auto Show. The ultimateo-road truck, 2017 Ram Power Wagon features a number of o-roadspecic enhancements, including: a unique suspension creating 14inches of ground clearance and more than two inches of lift; a best-in-class 410 horsepower, 6.4-liter HEMI® V-8 engine; locking dierentials;a12,000-lb. electric winch; unique 17-inch wheels, and 33-inch GoodyearWrangler DuraTrac tyres.

Ford

Fiat

RAM


29/8427MAR 2016

The new Honda Ridgeline will begin sales lateron in 2016, but in the meantime the companyis building on the momentum of last year’slaunch. In Chicago, the truck was shown with abunch of accessories.It is supposed to oer Superior on-roadperformance – with the segment’s besthandling, ride quality, cabin quietness andall-weather traction capabilities – courtesy ofits unibody construction, sophisticated chassis,and available i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring AWDsystem. Class-leading space – with the largestand most versatile cabin and the only 4-foot-wide at bed space in the midsize pickupsegment, along with payload capacity rivalingtop competitors.

The Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro will join the rest of the TRD Pro series in the2017 year. The car was unveiled at the Chicago show. The 2017 TacomaTRD Pro is designed to not only look tough, but to perform in the toughesto-road environment. Based on the Tacoma TRD O-Road 4x4 DoubleCab Short Bed model in either 6-speed manual (with clutch start-cancelswitch) or 6-speed automatic transmission, the new Tacoma TRD Pro will beavailable in three exterior colours. Along with that a racing livery RAV4 SEthat will be raced by Ryan Millen was also shown.

The Hyundai Santa Fe lineup continues todramatically improve for the 2017 model year.

The improvements span everything from freshexterior design and LED lighting signatures toadditional infotainment, convenience and safetytechnologies and new Drive Mode selectionwith Sport, Eco and Normal settings. The 2017Santa Fe line-up continues to oer front- orall-wheel drive and seating options for ve, sixor seven passengers. The 2017 Santa Fe Sportis powered by an ecient 2.4-litre four-cylinderdirect-injected engine with 185 horsepoweror the more powerful, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower. 2017Santa Fe (three-row) uses the acclaimed 3.3-litreLambda II V6 engine, with 290 horsepower.

Toyota

Honda

Hyundai


30/84

2016 Maserati Ghibli SQ4

Author: Ra j War

rior | Photograp

h y: El vi s John Fe

rrao

28 MAR 2016


31/84

The brilliant Maserati Ghibli seeks to attract customers

from other premium E-segment models. And the S version

with the Q4 all-wheel drive arrangement helps the cause

along with a great handling experience

29MAR 2016


32/8430 MAR 2016

Sergio Marchionne’s big gamblewith growth seems to havepaid o for the conglomerate.

Ever since the Fiat group bought intoChrysler’s operations, the integration hasdeepened to a level where it is no longerblasphemous to speak of platform sharingand badge engineering. Although that maynot be entirely true when it comes to abrand like Maserati.

The catch with Maserati is that it is stillseen as a purists brand. Let us put asidefor the moment the fact that they aredebuting the Levante SUV to get morefatcat owners into their stable. Maserationly accepts association with Ferrari, noother brand stands up to their ideals.So it wasn’t odd when a couple of yearsback the Maserati product specialists tookgreat pains to explain the originality of theGhibli. We may see it as a shared platform,but for Maserati there was enoughdierence in the evolution to warrant anindependent tag. They give credit to the

Quattroporte as the platform’s origin andyou can see the similarities, while theresurely were learnings from the wider FCA.You can however give Maserati designersdue credit for spawning a creation thattruly takes the place of the smaller


33/84

sibling of the Quattroporte. Even thechoice of engine made a huge dierence.Admittedly the smaller displacement ofthe 3.0-litre V6 engine came as a bit of asurprise. But with the S tune, the biturboengine output is above 400 horsepowerand that combines with a quick shiftingeight speed gearbox.The Ghibli stands out from the crowdwith its styling. Every bit the traditional

Maserati, it takes the Trident brand’s ethosto every panel, with the shark like snout,cleverly crafted headlights and owingside panels complementing the thrustout fenders. The pride of place just aft ofthe front wheels is hogged by the typicalMaserati air-intakes. These are functionalconsidering the turbocharged engine’sneed for ventilation.Modern day technology in terms oflighting (focus lights and LEDs) plays amajor role in communicating this as amodern day car. And we must say thatthe rich blue of the test car is a stand out

colour, going very nicely with the deep redand black treatment of the interiors. Theinteriors are a good mix of luxury and aperformance theme. Scooped out sportsseats, a steering wheel that just slips intoyour grasp and an instrument pod that

wouldn’t look out of place in a Ferrari areall part of the equation. The MaserartiTouch control is a stand out feature of thecar. It takes the logic and technology ofthe group’s interface to a unique level.From this model year onwards, the MTChas a greater integration with Appledevices due to the chipset it features.Siri takes over the voice control and youcan pair your phone seamlessly with the

device.Another small feature we really liked wasthe placement of the left and right turnindicators in the two separate dials of theIP. It doesn’t quite take you to Ferrari’schoice of the appropriate switch positionson their steering, but the feel is similar.We aren’t too sure of how the optionalErmenegildo Zegna interior with itsmarriage of silk and leather would feel, butthe chosen leather seats and dark interiorsare completely to our taste.The car is of course dierent to the regularGhibli that you would buy. For its takes

the purist rear-wheel drive characteristicof the Ghibli to a new level with theChrysler engineered AWD arrangement.It may seem counter-intuitive at rst toexpect the AWD to make the car feel moreMaserati-like. But that is what happens.

Driving Impressions

The fact that this is an all-wheel driveis communicated by the Q4 badge. Thesystem remains rear-wheel biased withpower transfer to the front-wheelsachieved through a wet-plate clutch inthe transfer case. When you start theengine and put the car in drive, the powersplit shows up as 50:50 on the panel inbetween the two nacelles of the speedo

and tachometer. That would mean thatyou would expect the default mode to bean even split but that is not the case. Thesystem is highly sensitive to acceleratorinput and measures weight shift as wellas wheelspin and power delivery. Underquick acceleration the car shifts more ofthe power to the rear (we saw the 20:80ratio settling in most of the time) and thesecond you relax and lift your foot o thepedal the power delivery shifts to 100%to the rear. That is D mode. But thingschange with your selection of other drivemodes.

So, you have a system that plays to alot of strengths - a phenomenal powerdelivery of above 400hp, the torqueatness that only a good turbochargedcan deliver, undetectable (or almost)turbolag and a ZF eight-speed automatic

31MAR 2016


34/84

gearbox that is just as happy in full manualmode. The car even has a mechanicallimited-slip dierential that plays a handyrole when you are pushing the car reallyhard. But that would be about par for aperformance sedan that seeks to outshinethe rest of the E-segment champions.The Ghibli’s exhaust is also engineeredto add to the excitement, with a variablebae arrangement, wherein the valvesstay shut upto 3,000rpm and then open toenhance the richness of the exhaust note.So, as you thunder around a curveenjoying the suppleness of the Ghibli’slight aluminium double wishbonesuspension, you not only feel the nuancesof the road through the seat, you feel it

through your ears as well.

Verdict

We’re from that breed of people wholove the Italian supercar just as much aswe love their approach to performancesedans. That said, neither of these wouldreally sell in today’s day and age withoutsticking to the highest standards oftechnology, design, engineering andproduct excellence along with reliability,all of which need to partner the latin airof machismo and excess.Yes, the Ghibli does take the equationto a realm of greater sensibility. To startwith the car isn’t priced too far out fromthe rest of the benchmark premiumE-segment. And it does bring a package tothe table that makes for a compulsive nod

to the armative.

Whether it is the option to buy intodesigner interiors, particpate in apersonalisation programme or evento just choose between the standard8-speaker audio systems, Harmon &Kardon 10-speaker or the Bowers &Wilkins Premium sound system with signalenhancement and 15-speakers and a 1,280watts amplier, you never had it so goodwith choices.You denitely need to buy the S versionover the regular Ghibli, even if it’s just forthe extra bit of torque and power and theQ4 tries to take you a little bit further onthat path. That may just be the bit youchoose not to opt for if you are a rear-wheel drive purist. But in our opinion it’s

worth having as a backup plan.

32 MAR 2016


35/8433MAR 2016

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


36/8434 MAR 2016

2016 Toyota Prius

With its twin drivetrains and some brilliant engineering, the Toyota Prius

comes to the region hoping to change some entrenched beliefs

Author: Raj Warrior | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao


37/8435MAR 2016

This is an occasion that doesn’t cometoo often for a motoring journalist inthe region. We get to drive fast cars,

cars with large engines, some economystu and some that don’t really t intoparticular slots. But the one breed thatwe normally don’t get here are cars thatpropound the intelligent ecological lovingpath of the Toyota Prius.We understand that the jury is out on thatparticular arrangement too. How does acar that has two drivetrains – i.e. electricand petrol engine – claim to be minimalist

in anything else?To begin with the Toyota Prius is notnew. It was launched around1997 andis already in its fourth generation. Overthe generations, the car has evolvedon its initial idea of using an electrichybrid combination to deliver better fueleconomy, phases of pure electric drivingand the greater power on oer of theelectric boost on a small petrol engine. Infact we’ve even driven the rst generationof the Prius on Toyota’s track in Japansometime in 1999 during an extended visit.

At the time, the concept was in its infacncy

and very few people actually saw a futurelargely because of the state of batterytechnology at the time.But Toyota has persevered through theyears, boosting the technology on oerand increasing the value proposition of thecar. The Prius is much-loved by Hollywoodlm stars and Silicon valley types whoenjoy the green credentials that the carprovides.We’ve also had car czar Bob Lutz tellingus during a 2008 dinner in Paris abouthow much money Toyota was investing in

the Prius but how all of that made sensebecause of the sheer amount of goodwilland green points it earned in return.Remember, he was heading GM at thetime.Now, in its fourthe generation, the Priusis available in global markets both as aregular and plug-in hybrid. The dierencea plug-in hybrid brings is a larger batterypack and greater range on pure electricenergy. In the regular mode the batterypack is smaller and depends largely on theability of the petrol engine to kick in with

its charging on demand.

Let’s look at drivetrains. The regular petroengine is a 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder VVti enginethat combined with the electric assisttops out at 121hp of power. On its own theengine oers 95hp and 105 lbft of torque.As you would expect from the car, theengine is tuned for an Atkinson cycleoperation. The electric motors oer amaximum of 53kW peak output (that’s71hp). As you’ll notice, the situationdoes not arise of both the engine andmotors oering peak output together– which is what you would expect only

in a performance environment, not onegeared for fuel eciency.The electric motors are placed on the twofront wheels and serve as regenerativesources for electric power during brakingas well as when the car is cruisingalong under no load conditions. For theinterested driver, the exact mode thatthe car is going under is visible from thedisplay. You see the energy ow to theelectric motors as the car sets o and themoment the engine kicks in you see thebattery power taper o. At some stage

you see the ow of energy back to the


38/8436 MAR 2016

battery as well. That’s also visible as youapply the brakes. And when you drive forenough time and switch o the enginethe car scores your driving in terms of fuelecient driving.The latest Prius is the rst car built onToyota’s new global architecture thataims to lower the centre of gravity andprovide more stability and safety. Butthe combination of the platform and the

styling has oered a car with a dramaticCd of 0.24. To achieve this tiny gure thecar also oers grille shutters to divert airover the hood and lower resistance and

the characteristic tweak of the rear gatethat moves air ever so smoothly into theslipstream.The interiors of the car are very futuristicand tech inspired, especially those onour test car that had a combination oflight and dark surfaces, with the almostwhite soft-feel plastic of the dashboardmatching with the piano black nishes ofvarious trims.

The dashboard is multi-tiered andcharacteristic of the wider Toyota designtrend in modern cars. These surfacessometimes seem to just rise out of the

background, the centre of the assemblyis dominated by the large central display.You don’t need to have that kept on thedrive information, because you also seethe necessary information on a smallerreadout at the top of the console.The large display serves as an extensionof your smart phone as much as it does asa Navigation and entertainment console.But after sometime, especially when you

are testing the car’s performance, youwill default to the ner details of how thedrivetrain is working, inluding readouts oneciency.


39/8437MAR 2016

The seats are generous and legroom islarge, both up front and for the rear benchpassengers.If you put aside for a moment that thecar is supposedly special because of itsdrivetrains, you will see a rather generouspackage sitting under the meek identity.It has all the creature comforts you wouldexpect including leather-wrapped steeringwheel, a full suite of airbags, reversing

camera, blindspot monitoring, lane changeassist and is even oered with a heads-up display and leather seats in its higherversion.

Driving Impressions

You would expect the car to beunderwhelming because of its xationwith fuel-eciency. It isn’t. Of courseyou don’t get any tearaway starts evenwith the electric motor. Unlike theInniti Q50’s hybrid drivetrain, this one’stuned for economy and that means thatyou wouldn’t usually try to oor theaccelerator.

When you press the start button, there isno commotion. The petrol engine remainso, and to engage the drive you have touse the y-by-wire drive controller that

needs to be pulled towards the driverand tapped down for D mode. To get itto N the controller should be held pulledto the left. It takes a little getting usedto. Once in D mode, you can furthernudge the drive to a battery only mode ifneeded. Getting it back to park positionis done by pressing the P button next tothe controller. For a second we wonderedwhether that was an electric parking brake

till we remembered the foot operatedpedal o to the left of the footwell. Thesystems battery voltage tops out at 600W,delivering a highly ecient electric mode.


40/8438 MAR 2016

The Prius is designed from the ground up to be super ecient. This begins with the highly ecient 1.8-litre petrol engineand the two electric motors on its front wheels as well as to the 53kWh battery pack that it carries in this regular hybridversion. The eciency of the car is improved by inuencing driver behaviour with readouts of actual consumption andeciency during a drive cycle.The Prius also has one of the highest class cabins we’ve seen. Its unique combination of white and black interiors with

very tactile surfaces adds to the class of the car.


41/8439MAR 2016

The petrol engine is also more ecientthan previous units, with a boost to 40%thermal eciency with features like EGR(exhaust gas recirculation) and the use ofthe Atkinson cycle.The transmission is through a planetaryCVT arrangement making for a compactunit. Considering that you barely noticethe engine switching on as you drive, it

will be only a very perceptive driver whoever notices the complete atness of thedelivery curve.Just as you wouldn’t really notice that ahuge amount of the braking force is dueto the electric motors act as generatorsinstead.The suspension is of a rather stier tunethan we would have expected from a UScentric car, but it does comes in handyespecially over speedbreakers and such,where the normal sedan would bottom

out. The car is responsive around thecorners, but the electric power steering isnot the most direct in communicating feel.When the car trundles along on onlyelectric power, there’s a complete lackof sound outside and in the cabin, exceptfor a bit more tyre noise than we wouldhave expected. To make up for that, thecar beeps when it senses pedestrians or

cyclists around, in order to warn them.When the petrol engine switches on, thesound is still muted although you can optfor a slightly more vigorous drive mode byselecting the appropriate mode.Drivers will appreciate the amount ofglass around for the visibility although theview out the back is slightly impeded bythe cross bar of the glass tailgate and therising windowsill line for the rear seats.That’s when you really begin to appreciatethe large 7” screen with camera.

Verdict

Its hardly a million dollar question, butwhat really needs to be asked is whetherthe Toyota prius makes a dierence tothe informed buyer in the region andOman? Are you ready to shell out acouple of thousand Rials over a regulardrivetrain equipped car from the samemanufacturer (even taking all the features

and extras that the car has) for the sakeof the guaranteed extra mileage? The carshould get you better than 25 km/litrein actual conditions and with the car’sinstrumentation egging you on to improveyour green driving it should get evenbetter.It is a pity that unlike in the US or Europe,we don’t actually get an incentive orrebate for thinking green. Until thathappens, the chances are that the Priuswill only appeal to a discerning few.


42/8440 MAR 2016

2016 Volvo XC90

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

Honda Pilot takes the largest of its SUVs into new territory

– one where looking good counts for at least as much as

driving well. Automan tests the car.



43/8441MAR 2016

Our fond image of the XC90 wasone that was laid out a decade agowhen Volvo entered the segment

of a reasonably large SUV, with seven

seats and a powerful engine on oer. trueto its gloabl footprint in the day, therewere a range of engines on oer, but itwas for this model that Volvo had debutedtheir narrow 60-degree angle V8 enginesourced from Yamaha Marine origins. Foralmost its entire lifetime, if anyone in themiddle east ever bought an XC90, that V8engine partnered it on the road.Now, the XC90 has been reborn into aworld were the V8 engine itself is part ofa dying breed. Admittedly, the lower fuelprices of the past year may have addedsome type of longevity to the format, but

it faces a tough battle, even in fullsizeSUVs. And then technology in general haszoomed way ahead, both in terms of thereliability and eciency of turbochargedengines, as well as in hybridiseddrivetrains, so that most manufacturersare using small turbocharged engineswith inline motor assists to oer theperformance of the older V8 engines.This generation of the XC90 payshomage to the V8 with its T8 designationbut the engine is no longer the largerdisplacement unit of before. Modern

Volvos have changed a lot as has the

company itself. Now the petrol enginescarry a T5, T6 and T8 designation but theyare all based on the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine which is only turbocharged

in the T5 variant, turbo and superchargedin the T6 and adds on an inline motorassist powered by a battery in the T8conguration. The change is tangible inthe power outputs.Our test car was the T6 version in a deepblue colour and this car has all the poweryou need. The engine output is 320hpwith a max torque output of 400Nm. Thisis mated with an eight-speed automaticgearbox with a straight pass throughin sixth and overdrive in both the gearsabove that.Volvo has set itself a rather large goal.

It has to reinvent its presence in thepremium SUV space while reinventing itswhole line-up. And in the process it is alsotaking the XC90 higher up the value chain.The external styling has been worked onso that you really wouldn’t mistake the carfor anything but an XC90, without lookinglike the older car in the least (exceptperhaps around the tailgate).There is generous use of LED lighting inthe new “Thor’s Hammer” arrangementthat the company will be using on all newVolvos. What this does is move the LED

headlights to the forefront.


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The rest of the fascia has hints of otherEuropean marques’ design but the boldgrille makes the car stand out fromthe crowd. The body sits on a 2984mmwheelbase and comes in a couple of inchesshort of the 5 metre mark but it’s thewidth of the car that really communicates.The roominess is carried over into theinterior with a scooped out cabin thatfollows the minimalistic feel of the newVolvo interior. Almost all the activity iscentered around the large central displayalthough there are the minimum of other

controls at hand just below that - with theaudio basics and drive mode control sittingjust north and south of the gearshift lever.The car’s HMI is based on a system calledSensus that can handle voice recognitionas well as touch. In our day out with thecar we paired it with our phone and fora change this unit can even keep trackof messages and events that happenedbefore the pairing. Ask the system to callup the phone list and all you actually needto do is voice the item number of thedialled, missed or rejected call as it shows

up on the list. The system just works.

The seats are comfortable, and seem likethey are made with just a little bit extraof wiggle room around them. The driver’sseat is slightly on the rm side, but comeswith an extendable thigh support as wellas lumbar adjustment.The Volvo XC90 also gets the wholegamut of safety technology that Volvo isputting in its cars to hit its goal of havingno fatalities in Volvo cars by 2020. Thisincludes the latest generation of City Safeand this model year the company also willoer a form of self-piloting in the car’s

ability to stay in its lane and stay in itsposition in trac courtesy of Pilot Assist.The system takes care of steering,braking and accelerator for the driver.And its safety package also brakes thecar automatically if the driver is likelyto drive out in a crossroads ahead ofan approaching car. Even the reversecamera has a unique way of plotting outthe car’s track in relation to the steeringwheel input, which seems closer to thereality that we experience, rather thanseeing straight lines or generic curves with

coloured bands.

Driving Impressions

The car lives up to the reputation ofVolvo’s T6 rating taken from its older V6turbo engines. In the T6 rating both asupercharger and the turbos are presentso even when you choose to step onthe accelerator you don’t really registerany turbo lag. The cylindrical drive modecontroller is rather unique as is the knobused to start and stop the engine. Scroll tothe drive mode you want and you instantlyget a whole dierent beast under you.In dynamic mode, the gearshift is much

faster and more prone to switch to lowerratios at the drop of a hat. Also the enginetries to stay revved above the 2000 markin order to keep the turbocharger in itssweet spot. In comfort the aim is to shiftas smoothly as possible while in Eco modethe shift pattern is linked to the best fueleciency for any given driving pattern.Of course the system allows you to tunein various parameters to give yourself anindividual setting – so you can actually dialin stier steering response while leavinggearshift patterns running at regular levels

or vice versa.


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The 2016 Volvo XC90 gets the classiest interiors with a combination of leather surfaces a avery high grade of plastic. The new generation of Volvo interiors eschews the oating consolein favour of the large new central display with almost every function oered on a tabbedmenu arrangement. The car also has the ability to pair seamlessly with all major smart phoneplatforms as well as to communicate online with the owner’s phone through an internet accesspoint.Of course the traditional Volvo fascination with a safe cabin also extends to one of the safestarrangements to accommodate young children with the special centre seat of the second row.


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The car is provided with paddleshiftersand allows you to move into manualmode whenever you choose. The car isavailable with air suspension with vemodes and that partners well with the o-road mode available in the drive modes.But even without the air suspension, thecar’s double wishbone front suspensionand new integral link arrangement forthe rear (complete with a transverseleaf spring) make for a supple ride withthe perfect combination of load carryingcharacteristics.

Verdict

The XC90 always stood apart fromthe general SUV crowd because itrepresented an ideal for Volvo. With thenew generation nothing seems to havechanged. You won’t be mistaking this carfor any other European SUV, despite itsdimensions. The brand has set out a paththat really requires an exceptional productto carry through. That’s the load of theexpectations that the Xc90 has to carryas it takes the competition into the uppersegments of the Premium zone.

The engine technology on oer is agreat advantage and so is the move toa consolidated central screen, howevermuch of a learning experience that canbe. But Sensus is what really makes thecabin environment stand out 9other thanthe trappings of leather clad luxury andscandinavian minimalism.Would we recommend the SUV? Yes wewould, especially if you like a car that isso very dierent from anything else youcould have chosen from the increasinglycrowded marketplace.


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2015 Triumph thunderbird


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In a cruiser market dominated by big bore

American bikes, what chance does the Triumph Thunderbird have? We take it out

for a test around town


The motorcycle industry is in a x inOman. No one quite knows whetherexpatriates can get new bike

licences or whether they can even buynew bikes. The service industry dependson expatriates riding small bikes to service

their clientele. But its the larger bikes thatbring in the big spenders and between thelayos of high earning expatriates and thelicence issues, no one really knows whatsells anymore.Even Harley-Davidson is having to treadcarefully in order to retain its marketshareamong big bikes. So what chance thendoes the local dealership for Triumphhave with its big bore twin the TriumphThunderbird?Getting the product right is half the game.The issue here is that the Thunderbird

has to appeal to the bulk of Harley users

with the familiar layout of switches andcontrols, including getting the riding pegsand gearshift lever up front. But is it justthat? What would really help is to takingthe traditional bells and whistles of thethumper and produce a rened rider that

brings the more discerning onboard.In that department, the TriumphThunderbird is way ahead of the Harleymainstream. From the get go themotorcycle displays a level of nesse andclass that very few Harleys show. Theonly one we can really say even comesclose is the Fat Bob and that too the latestgeneration.The Thunderbird is a traditional Triumphin that it has a parallel twin arrangement(not the V-twin of the Harleys). The largelyoversquare layout of the cylinders features

a bore of 103.8mm and stroke of only

94.3mm with 270-degree ring intervalsto deliver the even Triumph characteristicrumble. This is helped on by the chromedexhaust arrangement of its two to oneto two split. The engine is relatively hightech compared to the average thumper,

featuring DOHC and lightweight parts. The1597cc engine oers an output of 86PSand 146Nm of torque at only 2,750rpm.The reliability and eciency of theengine are boosted by the use of long-life materials in the belts and pulleys toavoid the need to open out the casingsfrequently.The fuel gauge and the speedometer areplaced on top of the 22-litre fuel tank on anacelle that then obviates the need for anauxiliary readout. This throwback to thelarge analogue dial is welcome, especially

in the face of everyone switching over to


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a digital display. The gearbox oers sixgears with a really tall top gear that helpsto improve the fuel eciency at cruisingspeeds.Ride quality is perfect, with a low saddleallowing even my shorter colleague tostraddle the twin tube steel frame andplant his legs on the ground. The vibrationfrom the engine is hardly noticeable andat the handles you never have to ghtthe bike’s bulk. It’s only when you areat a halt that you feel the weight on thehandlebars. The wheelbase is just a bit

shorter than we expected considering theTriumph Thunderbird’s bulk but you soonlearn to trust the innate balance that thebike brings to the road. The front wheelsget 19” and the rear 17” wheels, bothbeing 5-spoke alloys.When you get the Thunderbird into trac,you can see that most other road usersautomatically tend to leave a space aroundyou. perhaps its the bulk and presenceof the Triumph Thunderbird that bringsabout that allusion to respect but its morelikely the fact that most car drivers don’t

really know how to handle a biker.

But the trac signal serves as a good spotto show them how smoothly the biketakes o, with the least bit of eort andno clatter at all.We ride a smaller Triumph Bonneville sothe character of the twin thumper is quitefamiliar to us. But the grunt on oer in thisbike is something else, You can pop thegear one over where it should be and thebike still pulls without loading the engine.The engine isn’t really free revving but itrises to the occasion once you are pastthat torque high point and its better to be

on the highway then. The chase car has towork to keep pace, although you do missthe large windshield of the LT version ofthe Thunderbird.Does the Thunderbird have thewherewithal to take on the Fat Bob? Nowthat would be a very interesting shootoutand one that we would love to conduct.Let’s see what we can arrange.In the meantime the bike’s fortunes aremore closely linked to the availabilityof big buck spenders who will take themotorcycle out for a test ride. The bike will

do the rest.

The Triumph Thunderbird

uses its 700mm saddle

height to entice smaller

statured riders, while

its refined engine and

gearbox then make their

ride less of a chore

The Triumph Thunderbird is oered in twocolour schemes, with blue or red variants.Detailing shows how modern technology canpair up with classic shape forms, with theteardrop shape of the tank being reected inthe speedo nacelle and tail light.Accessoriesavailable include nice saddle bags and a forward guard with footpegs for riders who likethat layout.


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Juergen Schmitz heads the Inniti brandpresence in the Middle East region. As thebrand’s regional managing director, he basksin the record performance of 2015 and toucheson how powertrains will help drive volumes forthe brand. We spoke to him at the Qatar Motor

show where the brand was launching the longwheelbase version of the QX50.

RW: What is special about the new QX50?JS: As the name indicates, this model has a longer wheelbase andoers more room to the passengers, especially on the rear seat,but we are also changing the design a bit, we are refreshing it, wehave a new front and rear bumper, new fascia, lower and widerstance of the car. We are also adding new 19” alloy wheels, so it isa real refresh.

RW: Is there a change in identity? Are you trying to make it look

more masculine in the bargain?JS: It looks more masculine. It’s true that it looks a bit more SUVstyle. Even the predecessor was very successful, we have gaineda share in the segment – what we call the C SUV segment – andwe obviously expect that this car which will come into sale bysometime in April-May here in Qatar and the wider region willenter with an enhanced performance.

RW: How is the QX80 doing?JS: The QX80 has done very well. You know it’s our agship modeland we have just refreshed it around a year ago. We are veryhappy with the performance. We are selling around 1600 cars ayear showing a slight increase. So it’s moving very well.

RW: Will the brand shift its association with performance,considering that you’ve moved away from the Formula Oneinvestment? Or do you still use the platform of performance?JS: We have announced a new engine family – a new V6 3.0-litretwin-turbo that will enter ur line-up, not in all models, but forexample we have announced that this comes into the new Q60coup shown at the Detroit motor show just a couple of daysago and this new engine obviously takes us in this direction. It isa performance-oriented engine. We are adding a new high powerversion with 400 horsepower, which is fully new in the Inniti line-up. This sort of proves the point you’ve raised the question about.We have not changed this. Nevertheless, we are also looking intonew segments. The Q30 is one of these examples where we aregoing into a segment, which is below where our current entry

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

RW: Would there be any positional shift because the Formula Onetie-up no longer exists?JS: No. Formula One does not drive our strategy. It was a supportto enhance and make clear why we were going into a certain

direction, but it is not changing anything in our plans.

RW: Coming back to your other drivetrains – the hybrids. What’sbeen the scene on that, any signicant uptake registered?JS: We are oering here in the Middle East hybrid drivetrains onthe Q50. We have more hybrids globally on oer on other modelsHere in the region, so far, hybrids are not very well known or verywell accepted by customers. It’s not our problem alone, it is areality for all automotive brands. So the situation remains that it’son oer, for us here it is part of the high-end, high-performanceoer, which is dierent to its presence in other markets where itis more of a fuel saving opportunity. Our Q50 hybrid is a high-performance car. It is the fastest hybrid in its segment globally.

We are looking at the market, it might change and we may haveother models available globally which we can easily bring into theregion as soon as the demand structure is changing.

RW: You’ve grown volumes in 2015. Have you also been pickingup marketshare?JS: Dramatically I have to say. We have gained 0.5% share, bringingus close to 6% in the premium segment and we are one of thefastest growing premium brands in the region.

RW: Have you increased the dierentiation between Inniti andNissan in terms of showroom presence?JS: We believe it has changed dramatically and in fact the salesgures I just quoted are proof of this. I’ll share a little insight

of what happened in the company a while ago. For Inniti wenow have dedicated design centres everywhere on the planet,in all the big markets, where people are looking for the needsand request of Inniti customers. All this goes together into theglobal product development. The Q50, Q30 are products comingfrom this process. I think there is now a very clear distinction.Not to forget we are working very hard on improving the Innitiexperience in the showroom. This means that we now havenearly all of our showrooms Inniti exclusive, what we call IREDIshowrooms. This is a process that is still ongoing but very soonall of our showrooms will be exclusive and on top of this wehave a very dedicated customer experience programme for ourcustomers and their expectation levels. This distinction is alsomirrored by our training programmes for sta.


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Nissan IDS Concept

CONCEPTUAL


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

The Nissan IDS Concept takes the learnings ofthe Leaf to the next level, offering a self-pilotedelectric vehicle with a decent autonomy


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Most new concept cars arefocussed on highlighting thelatest advances in technology.

But when that discussion comes topowertrains, the participants are largelyelectric traction based. Admittedly,hydrogen fuel cells seem to be coming

back with a bang, but as Nissan’s IDS(Intelligent Driving System) conceptshows, you don’t have to deviate toomuch from today’s best in class to achieveyour goals.The Nissan IDS Concept takes the electricdrive system from the brand’s Leaf electricvehicle and advances the concept furtherplacing a 60 kWh battery in the car thatshould give it a range of almost 300km.But that isn’t the real huge leap forward.That comes in the form of a carbon-breconstruction body built to accommodatefour chairs that can swivel around in order

to give the occupants a feel of being in a

living room. The seats are arranged in thetraditional two by two conguration of anormal car, but the seats are motorisedand the two seats in the front swivel allthe way around to face the rear seats.For this the driver has to select piloteddrive mode – the steering wheel that is

available in Manual mode then recedesinto the dashboard and a large monitorcomes out to show all the parameters.In many ways, the IDS takes Nissan a stepcloser to its goal of introducing their 1.0version of piloted drive in productionmodels this year. The system is set to belaunched in the orderly trac systems ofJapan, to be later moved into markets inEurope, China and the US.In terms of design, the IDS concept takesthe purity of form that the EV platformaords and avoids making it a blandshell. The carbon-bre structure displays

the form of a hatchback, but the large

wheelbase with the wheels thrust as farout into the corners as possible makeit easier to accommodate the needs ofthe cabin. Typical Nissan cues remain,like th

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