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10
editor-in-chief
Mohammad Al Taie A year of great expectations
AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING For a grand old industry like automobiles, where many popular brands have
PO Box: 343, Postal Code 118 celebrated their centenary and others have made it beyond the 50 year mark,
Al Harthy Complex
Sultanate of Oman you would wonder why everything seems to be so new. Technology and its
by products suffer a very short shelf life, yet some aspects remain with us
Email: automan@alroya.net seemingly for ever – like the internal combustion engine. So we are presented
Website: www.automanweb.com
with situations like a 100-year old company like GM being essentially a new
Editorial office: one after its rebirth from bankruptcy, car manufacturers projecting electrical
Tel: +968 24479888 Extn 300, Fax: +968 24479889 drives as the vision of the future, even though they are essentially a 19th
Circulation office:
Tel: +968 2456 2138, Fax: +968 2456 2194 century innovation and the use of alternate power sources, which was last in
vogue before petrol became so commonly available around the world.
In this bold new environment, car manufacturers are increasingly having their
publisher jobs cut out in maintaining the USP of their brands, keeping their products
Hatim Al Taie hatim@alroya.net distinct and fending off the challenges from rising new powers from the Asian
EDITOR & GM automotive scene. Finally, the golden rule of the product being king is being
Raj Warrior raj@alroya.net torn to shreds as value, battered brand perception and constricted wallets take
their toll.
Co-ordinator
Pratibha N Kadam pratibha@alroya.net
It is indeed heartening that the year set out on a positive note. Along with an
HEAD OF marketing almost uninterrupted growth of the new markets of China and India, global
Abhyudit Greene abhyudit@alroya.net
automakers also saw some demand return from traditional markets, even if
marketing that was because of loss of volume mid-year. The top end of the car market
Nikhil Nigam nikhil@alroya.net continued to be relatively sheltered from the vagaries of the volume segments,
Supreme Philips philips@alroya.net
thereby allowing premium brands to enter this year with a degree of cheer.
circulation
books@alroya.net Product ternds also indicate further sales are expected around the corner. New
FINANCE & ADMIN four-door offerings from traditional supersports marques, a refreshening of
Abraham Daniel daniel@alroya.net the family car segment from market leaders and some really interesting top
end offerings from both the major Korean brands will only serve as appetisers
Printer
Ruwi Modern Printers LLC before the expected barrage from the European marques.
Tel: +968 2479 4167, 2479 8157
Fax: +968 2470 0545 At a time when economists are arguing over whether we are through the
recession or are about to face a double-dip version of it, it is indeed heartening
© 2010 that the year seems filled with products that carry the flavour and joy of
All editorial content of Automan in the magazine and its motoring with them. Here’s wishing you all a year of being able to afford your
website is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any
form without the written consent of the management of passions.
AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING
10
FEATURES
12 k Cover Story
Lexus’ new technology
34 k Road Test
KIA Sorento 3.5 V6 is put
flagship the LS600h L through the paces
20 k Cover Story 46 k Road Test
Lincoln MKS still makes a
A look at the master
craftsmen behind the Lexus good offer for this year
LS 600h and the LS460 Special
30 k FUTURE LOOK 38 k MOTORSHOW
Rinspeed fields a concept car The full report from the
and transport solution Dubai motorshow
Poster 500 with aMG spor
ts packaGe
,e
e-class caBriolet 103 | Feb 2010
Mercedes-Benz
Departments
4 k NEWS
62 k
All the news you can use
from around the world Launch
Bentley’s new Continental
26 k Interview
We meet Phil Horton,
supersport convertible
BMW’s regional head
about their plans for 2010
28 k Accessorise MOTORSPORTS
About Apple’s new iPad
and some fancy watches 52 k People
We meet a young racer
58 k Heritage
Of the Daimler wire-wheel car
from the UAE
O
nce again defining a brand new upright BMW kidney grille, large air intakes Oman, Johnny Oommen, Head of Operations
segment in the market, BMW has and dual round headlights slanted back at at Al Jenaibi International Automobiles, the
announced the arrival of the all-new an attractive angle. For the first time the exclusive importer of the BMW Group in Oman,
Gran Turismo in Oman. An embodiment of the daytime driving light function is provided by said: “BMW has a proud history of pioneering
leading premium automotive manufacturer’s corona rings with LED technology, while the automotive innovations, and the success of
commitment to innovation, the BMW Gran rear end is enhanced by L-shaped rear light the BMW X6 proved that there is a healthy
Turismo combines the characteristic features clusters with illuminated rows of lights in LED demand for a completely new segment of
of a prestigious sedan, the functionality and technology and a two-piece tailgate. innovative and aesthetic vehicles. The BMW
space of an SAV and elements of a traditional The luxurious interior of the BMW Gran Gran Turismo is the only vehicle of its kind in
grand touring car. Turismo enables the driver and passengers the market right now.
The exterior of the car combines the to vary the generous space inside the car “We are confident that this new model
proportions so typical of a BMW, an elegantly to their individual, personal requirements. will strengthen BMW’s position in the luxury
stretched silhouette and a coupé-like roofline, This superior feeling of comfort is further performance class, and our customers can be
as well as four doors with frameless windows enhanced by the large window areas, the assured of a truly exceptional offering backed
to create one complete, harmonious unit. optional panorama glass roof, as well as high- by excellent customer service,” Mr. Oommen
The front view of the car animates powerful class materials with supreme quality of finish. added.
dynamism through the sheer presence of the Commenting on the arrival of the vehicle in The BMW Gran Turismo enters the market
4
{news}
5
{news}
Chevrolet Cruze Wins Middle East
Car Best Small Family Car Award
6
{news}
Volkswagen Middle East
announces growth in
Suzuki and VW enter the automotive market
comprehensive partnership share in 2009
7
{news}
911 GT3 R Hybrid Celebrates World Debut in Geneva
8
{news}
Bosch to roll out new braking system in 2010 to improve
pedestrian safety in ME
road-related crashes will become the number towards better regional prevention of road
one cause of death by 2020 unless positive accidents,” said Volker Bischoff, GM, Robert
actions are taken. They are particularly Bosch ME.
focusing on the four hazard control measures The upcoming Bosch system detects
of Elimination, Engineering, Education potential obstacles and initially provides
and Enforcement. Bosch will support the an audible or visual warning, followed by a
Engineering dimension by introducing a brief application of the brakes. If the driver
predictive emergency braking system that will reacts and steps on the brakes, the system
provide drivers with support on three levels. uses the emergency braking assistant to
“More intelligence is being built into braking increase braking pressure and avoid collision.
systems to enable them to assess traffic However, if there is no driver response but
conditions and provide additional braking impact is imminent, then the system brakes at
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{news}
In other news
GREAT WALL OMAN Renault Clio ‘S’ features an
STRENGTHENS TIES overtly sporty feel thanks
WITH CHINESE to a competitively-priced
MANUFACTURER package of exclusive and
Zubair Automotive distinctive design details.
Strengthen ties with Great Renault Clio ‘S’ has
Wall Chinese Manufacturer December, 2009. As the is subject to a state been on sale in the United the time it will take to
to Bring Best Technical most popular model of guarantee which the Kingdom since January charge a THINK City from
Services to the Sultanate BYD, F3 made a new Swedish Government and is now available in completely depleted to
In an effort to enhance record of 40,000 units on approved on 26 January Belgium, Switzerland, 80 percent charged using
technical training, technical monthly sales and orders 2010. The EU Commission Spain and Portugal, as well an advanced fast-charge
support and provide a among the best-selling approved the Swedish as in the Nordic nations. In system, establishing a new
more efficient Great Wall models in China. BYD state-guarantee for the France, itwill be released at benchmark for the rapidly
parts supply in Oman, the also ranked amongst top Bank’s loan to SAAB on 8 a later date in the form of developing electric vehicle
Great Wall Motor Company 3 vehicle manufacturers February 2010. a Pack. industry.
distributed exclusively by together with Shanghai GM Victor Muller, Spyker CEO In addition to Europe,
the Zubair Automotive and Shanghai VW in terms said: “We are extremely it will also be marketed in First Omani
Group in Oman is setting of monthly sales which pleased with the decision South Africa, Israel and Certified Audi
up a centralized parts showed BYD’s strong sales by the EIB as this was Japan. Service Manager
distribution facility in Jebal momentum. a crucial component in
Ali in the UAE. BYD is represented in enabling the acquisition of ZERO TO 80 PERCENT
With easy access to Oman by the automotive Saab to proceed. Months IN 15 MINUTES
Oman, the new facility will division of MHD LLC. The of hard work have paid Electric vehicle
house over 95% of the BYD brand was launched in off. We cannot wait to manufacturer THINK today
current Great Wall range of Oman in November 2009. close this transaction now announced that it will work
spare parts and technical Launched from a totally as soon as practically with AeroVironment, Inc.
documentation. A training new facility in Azaiba the possible. We extend (NASDAQ: AVAV) (AV),
plan is also currently being range comprises of the our gratitude to the EIB a leading developer and Wattayah Motors
discussed between Zubair F3 1.6 Litre 4 door saloon officials who have worked supplier of electric vehicle Volkswagen workshop
Automotive and the Great available in both Manual & relentlessly to make this charging infrastructure, manager Said Darwish,
Wall Chinese manufacturer Automatic versions and the happen.” to pursue demonstration is the first Omani
that should be finalized F6 2.4 Litre fully automatic and commercial projects Audi Certified Service
soon. Great Wall customers 4 door saloon. Renault Clio ‘S’ to using AV’s level III fast- Manager in the Gulf due
will be able to receive the make a return in charge system and the to a successful training
most advanced diagnostic EIB APPROVES LOAN certain countries THINK City electric vehicle. programme that was
and repair methods that TO SAAB AUTOMOBILE The projects will be organized on behalf of
are utilized on the global AB Renault’s bid to market designed to jump-start the Volkswagen and Audi held
products in Oman. The EIB has approved a cars that deliver sporty development of fast-charge recently in Dubai.
A team of experienced loan to Saab Automobile appeal at affordable prices infrastructure in the United Said Al Balushi
automotive engineers were for €400 million. A has led to the return of States. representing Wattayah
also recently dispatched statement on the EIB’s a version of Renault Clio The announcement Motors in Oman was
to Oman from Great Wall website reads: that proved highly popular came at a 15-minute nominated for this training
to offer the technical team The EIB has confirmed in the 1990s, namely news conference at the amongst a list of service
some in-field specialized the authorisation to Renault Clio ‘S’. Like its Washington Auto Show. managers from various
training. conclude the EUR 400 predecessor, today’s Fifteen-minutes is Audi dealers across the
million loan to SAAB Middle East. He was
BYD AUTO RANKED Automobile AB in the only Omani and
TOP 3 accordance with the GCC national amongst
According to the statistics terms and conditions all the attendees that
released by China approved by the Board of successfully achieved the
Association of Automobile Directors on 21 October highest results in business
Manufacturers (CAAM), 2009 and to conclude planning, leadership,
BYD Auto hit a historic the guarantee agreement time management,
new high with monthly with the Swedish National budgeting, marketing and
sales of 60,150 units in Debt Office, as the loan management.
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Hybrid flagship
The much-awaited technology flagship is now in the market here
and is set to draw decision-makers with a conscience
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Arrives in Oman
T
he luxury marque from Japan is now therefore has a more ubiquitous role to play world’s first to combine a V8 petrol engine with
going places with its new generation of for the brand not just in Oman but in other an all-wheel-drive (AWD) hybrid drivetrain.
Hybrid technology. Especially to places Gulf states as well. Potential owners of the The LS 600h L’s combined estimated EPA fuel
like Oman, where petrol costs around 30 US car will be neither trying to save money nor economy rating of 21 mpg is equal to or better
cents a litre and very few car owners get worried about the cost of fuel. These are than the combined fuel economy ratings of
scared of buying a V8 engine. owners who will willingly put in the extra some mid-sized V6 AWD luxury sedans.
The Lexus LS600 money that the sophisticated drivetrain and The 2010 LS 600h L is distinguished by a
L Hybrid the ‘L’ badge dictate for the honour of saying revised front grille and bumper. Rear styling is
“I care”. enhanced with distinctive blue-tinted taillights
The brand’s flagship model, the LS 600h L and a revised license plate surround and
– the “L” signifying the long-wheelbase LS exhaust diffusers. New side mirrors integrate
platform -- provides the highest level of turn signals.
performance, technology and luxury Thanks to improved hybrid battery
in the LS line. The LS 600h L is packaging and placement, the trunk capacity
powered by the ultra- for the 2010 LS 600h L grows by nearly two
quiet Lexus Hybrid cubic feet. New Intelligent High Beams adjust
Drive system, their brightness in response to oncoming
which was the vehicles.
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Already lauded for its comprehensive luxury, (Ni-MH) battery pack is installed behind the softens accelerator pedal response, making it
the 2010 LS 600h L gains numerous additional rear seat. The battery’s power is directed easier to accelerate on slippery road surfaces.
luxury amenities and user technology through a boost converter that efficiently By pushing an EV switch, power reverts to full
features including a driver’s seat that now raises voltage to a maximum 650V DC. An electric mode for short-distance, low-speed
features a standard slide-away feature that inverter changes this to AC, providing its driving situations such as residential areas or
makes ingress/egress more comfortable; a elevated power to a 165-kW electric motor parking garages.
new LCD instrument cluster; the standard that turns at up to 10,240 rpm. The trunk
Lexus Navigation system employs new casual also contains a 12-volt auxiliary battery that Chassis
language recognition; Bluetooth® phonebook powers the audio, navigation, and other Multi-link front and rear air-suspension
capability and new music playing capability systems. systems help maintain superb vehicle posture
with USB/iPod® connectivity and Bluetooth The LS 600h L powertrain uses two motor and driving performance while maintaining
audio streaming. generators: MG1 and MG2. Each performs the ultra-comfortable ride that is synonymous
specific functions and can operate as either with all Lexus vehicles.
Drivetrain a motor or a generator, although MG1 is used The LS 600h L is equipped with large front-
The LS 600h L hybrid powertrain system as a starter motor and provides no motive and rear-ventilated disc brakes and standard
uniquely combines a 5.0-liter V8 petrol engine force. The engine-driven generator, MG1, can 19-inch, seven-spoke aluminium alloy wheels
with two powerful electric motors and a large- charge the battery pack or provide additional with all-season tyres. These special wheels
capacity battery pack. The hybrid powertrain power to the drive motor, MG2, as needed. receive extensive buffing.
generates a peak combined output rating of A regenerative-braking system further Electronic Power Steering (EPS) delivers
438 horsepower and can effortlessly accelerate boosts efficiency. When the vehicle is coasting a smooth steering feel and reduces parasitic
the LS 600h L from zero-to-60 mph in just or the brakes are applied, the electric motors losses. Variable Gear Ratio Steering (VGRS)
5.5 seconds. Mid-range acceleration is even function as generators, capturing kinetic optimizes the steering gear ratio according to
more impressive. The system’s electric motor energy that would normally be lost as heat vehicle speed, enhancing responsiveness and
is capable of delivering maximum torque on through the brakes and transforming it into driver control.
demand and is most beneficial during passing useable electricity to recharge the batteries. Networked with the Vehicle Dynamics
maneuvers. The LS 600h L can accelerate A state-of-the-art, full-time all-wheel drive Integrated Management (VDIM) system,
from 50-70 mph in just 3.5 seconds. system adapts to road surface conditions VGRS can make minor adjustments to the
The innovative V8 features an electric to help provide excellent vehicle control front-wheel angle to help provide improved
motor-driven Variable Valve Timing with during acceleration, high-speed driving and stability in challenging road conditions.
intelligence (VVT-i) and Electrically controlled cornering. The AWD system employs a
intake cam (VVT-iE). The combination of VVT- compact, ultra-quiet transfer case equipped Safety Features
iE and oil pressure-controlled VVT-i for the with a TORSEN® limited-slip differential The VDIM stability system incorporates and
exhaust cam provides superior engine-startup (LSD) that is 30 percent lighter in size and manages all of the car’s dynamic handling sub-
operation and high-output performance. A weight than previous TORSEN systems. systems, including: Electronically Controlled
specially developed Hydrocarbon Absorber The LSD provides rear biased torque Brake (ECB) system, EPS, Vehicle Stability
and Catalyst System is linked to the two- distribution of 40:60 during normal straight- Control (VSC), Antilock Braking System (ABS),
way exhaust to help prevent hydrocarbons line driving, automatically and continually Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and
contained in the exhaust from being released adjusting power distribution according to engine torque via the electronically controlled
into the atmosphere during cold start up when changing speed and road conditions. throttle. Monitoring a variety of sensors, the
the catalysts are not up to temperature. An eight-speed sequential braking mode, system anticipates the onset of a vehicle skid
The LS 600h L meets the Super Ultra Low activated when the shift lever is in the “S” or slide while cornering, and helps correct
Emission Vehicle II (SULEV II) certification, position, allows eight different stages of the situation with a combination of braking,
emitting nearly 70-percent fewer smog- response. When up-shifting, engine speed throttle and steering control in a way that is
forming emissions than the average new car. is controlled by the selected range, offering essentially transparent to the driver. VSC can
The super-low noise, vibration and harshness an exhilarating boost in acceleration during be turned off for particular circumstances via
(NVH) levels in the LS 600h L make it one of each of the eight “shift” stages. When the Trac Off button.
the quietest automobiles ever built. The LS downshifting, brake-force increases to provide In addition to the active safety features,
600h L is a full hybrid, capable of operating powerful deceleration. the LS 600h L is standard-equipped with
in electric-only mode or with a combination The driver can select “hybrid” (normal), eight airbags, with a maximum of 11 airbags
of the gas engine and electric motor. Lexus “power,” or “snow” modes to change the available through option packages. The
hybrid technology allows electric-mode-only rate of throttle opening for a given throttle- world’s first low-beam LED headlamps provide
operation when certain conditions are met at pedal angle. The “hybrid” mode provides superior road illumination, and the standard
low speeds or stop-and-go driving conditions, the smoothest operation and is ideal for Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) helps to
reducing fuel consumption and noise. city or suburban driving; “power” sharpens illuminate a turn or curve as the driver steers
A compact 288-volt DC Nickel Metal Hydride accelerator pedal response and “snow” mode into it.
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The available Advanced Pre-Collision As part of APCS, the LS also offers the begin to gently apply the brakes on its own.
System (APCS) was the world’s first system Driver Monitor System, which was another To help assist the driver in maneuvering
designed to help detect pedestrians in the world first. A third camera, mounted on the around the obstacle, the system reprograms
vehicle’s path when it debuted on the 2009 steering column, monitors the orientation of the steering ratio, amplifying the intensity and
Pebble Beach® Edition LS 600h L. This the driver’s face. quickness of the steering response. At the
system is now available for the 2010 LS 600h If the camera detects that it appears the same time, APCS automatically retracts the
L (and the LS 460 models) with Lane Keep driver is not looking directly ahead for a front seatbelts and prepares the brake system
Assist. Using two small cameras mounted at few seconds or more, and if an obstacle is to respond with full force when activated
the front of the car that work in conjunction detected ahead, then it alerts the driver, first by the driver in anticipation of a possible
with millimeter-wave radar, APCS is sensitive with a warning chime and a flashing light. As impact.
enough to detect certain nonmetallic objects. the car gets closer to the obstacle, APCS can
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Luxury For theater-level entertainment, the LS trunk, power door closers, headlamp washers,
The LS 600h L is based on the long-wheelbase 600h L features a standard 19-speaker 450- SmartAccess with push-button start and card
LS chassis, providing nearly five inches more watt Mark Levinson® Reference Surround key, electronic parking brake, Intuitive Park
legroom than the standard LS 460 model. Sound audio system. An auxiliary jack Assist, and laminated side glass.
This flagship sedan provides the highest level located in the front centre console allows for New standard features for 2010 include
of comfort and convenience features in the LS MP3 digital music players while a USB port the Cold Weather Package, which includes a
series. Standard features include a hard disk allows for iPod connectivity. windshield de-icer, upgraded battery and more
drive (HDD) Lexus Navigation system with a Additional standard features include efficient heater, and the Advanced Parking
backup camera, Bluetooth technology, Voice climate-controlled front seats, heated rear Guidance System (APGS). APGS is designed
Command casual language voice-recognition seats, a heated steering wheel, power rear to assist with parallel and back-in parking.
system. sunshade, one-touch open/close power Once the driver has correctly positioned the
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car and identified the desired parking spot via The Executive Class Seating Package II
the navigation screen, APGS utilises the rear includes all features in the Premium Package II
back-up camera parking sonar sensors and and adds a power right rear seat with ottoman.
electric power steering system to guide the The seat reclines up to 45 degrees with an
car into the space, while the driver controls upper-back recliner featuring a 17-degree
speed via braking. angle adjustment. A multi-function massage
feature for the right-rear seat recliner can be
Luxury Options used separately or in conjunction with the
The Premium Package II includes two new seat heater and cooler.
additions for 2010, butterfly rear headrests The package also includes a rear-seat
and left rear seat with lumbar massage. The wood-trimmed table, and the rear-seat
package also features rear climate controlled entertainment system features a rear DVD
power seats with memory and power player and wireless headphones. The rear
headrests, rear seat-mounted side airbags, a climate control is upgraded with an infrared
rear heater control panel, four-zone climate sensor located in the headliner that measures
control, rear audio controls, additional wood lap, upper body and seat surface temperatures
trim, rear air purifier, rear headliner and side on each side and adjusts airflow accordingly.
air ducts, power rear-door sunshades, and a
rear seat entertainment system equipped with
a power ceiling-mounted nine-inch screen for
DVD viewing.
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The LS600 L Hybrid is a technology leader even when it comes to cabin comfort. With streaming Bluetooth Audio or
the option of hooking up your iPod, entertainment and a comfortable ambience are part of the package.
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O
with putting the final nce upon a time, Master Craftsmen manufacturing culture. Chosen from a select
personified a valued old-world group of individuals who possess the needed
polish of quality and tradition that ensured quality and combination of production experience, sensory
workmanship. Because this tradition consisted evaluation expertise and management skills,
excellence on the of masters and apprentices, it also guaranteed they apply themselves with the same focus
that the skills involved in craftsmanship would and determination that local craftsmen have
redesigned Lexus LS be passed from generation to generation. devoted to their work for generations.
However, in all but a few factories, the pace So it is that valuable old tradition of quality,
600h L, LS 460 and of the assembly line and the insistence of craftsmanship and specialized training has
speed over excellence and quality almost been given new life in a place where it never
LS 460 L completely eliminated Master Craftsmen from completely faded away. A group of 10 of these
the automotive business. skilled, highly trained and highly specialized
The tradition of master craftsmanship workmen comprise the key ingredient to the
was well developed in Japan, where such stunning levels of quality found in the newest
people are called takumi. These were the generation Lexus LS.
artisans largely responsible for Japan’s unique The tradition of craftsmanship has a special
20
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his field in terms of skill, but he also had to illustrate what can be achieved when the
possess excellent management and training highest levels of quality are all that are
abilities. acceptable. As a result, the finishing touches
Six months before production was on each LS models’ exterior paint are also
scheduled to begin, the Master Craftsmen done by hand.
were selected for each of the 10 production In this way, each Master Craftsman and
areas. They were given extensive instruction his team was made aware of the targets in
and education about the idea of quality, which his own area and the gap in quality that was
was redefined to not only be quantitative, but evident between this target and current levels.
also qualitative, so that it can be both felt and The Master Craftsmen also needed to devise
sensed. an educational plan (both training, and tools
Each Master Craftsman is tasked with and equipment) to allow the plant technicians
innovating new methods for achieving to achieve a higher level of quality.
higher levels of quality within his area of One of the places the work of these Master
expertise. To achieve this goal, he works Craftsmen is felt is in the sanitized clean
with two assistant master craftsmen, who room where the LS engine is painstakingly
report to him. These two are in charge of the assembled and inspected. Every aspect
craftsmen for each area and are responsible of engine performance is examined, even
not only for implementing the new processes some aspects that others might label as
that the Master Craftsman develops, but they unnecessary.
also train the employees that will be working “One thing that differentiates the LS engine
directly on the line. from its predecessors is the beautiful sound
Early on in the development of this process, it achieves,” says Osamu Fujita, the Master
two challenges were identified: Engineering Craftsman in charge of engine assembly.
required tightened tolerances and higher “While prior LS engines were rightly valued
standards, and manufacturing required new for their quiet running, this time we strove
human skills and equipment to attain these to go further and create an engine that is
goals. powerful, yet melodious in its tranquility,”
For example, although the LS 600h L is Fujita said.
a mass-production vehicle, plant officials For Fujita, rigorous inspections such as
arranged for one of the best, most renowned checking the block and cylinder-head interiors
car painters to paint a new LS by hand to via X-ray and CAT scan were not enough to
22
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yield the sound qualities desired of the LS. He excellence from the new LS. conditions. Sakoto uses a specially made
personally fires up every assembled engine “The styling of the new LS is superb,” light tunnel that allows him to examine the
on a test bench and listens intently with a Sakato said. “Our mission is to bring out the surface flow over the entire body and carefully
stethoscope to detect even faint variations vehicle’s design sophistication even further for compare it against the theoretical ideals of
in sound. When Fujita discovers an off-key the enjoyment and excitement of drivers.” their CAD images. Kawamura goes over the
note, he makes minor adjustments, tuning To evolve the already advanced design paint job under three different simulated
the engine much as a specialist might tune a still closer to perfection, Sakato subjects light conditions. Together, they ensure that
grand piano until it sounds exactly right to his the car to a wide range of tests to ensure the surface is free of even the most minute
demanding ear. it meets the uncompromising standards set imperfections.
Later on, cars coming off the line will by the designers. Spacing between doors, Kawamura’s influence starts long before the
be driven by experts to ensure the engine panels, headlights and other adjoining parts car arrives at this point, however, beginning
produces precisely the right sound and feel. are precisely measured. The data is relayed with his redesigning of the production-line
These very human ministrations go beyond instantaneously to the production floor where robots to precisely mimic the movements of
the technical analysis of production data to any necessary adjustments are directly a craftsman’s hands, giving the mechanical
guarantee each LS delivers performance that implemented by Kaoru Chiba, the Master process a human nuance and bringing it closer
feels tailor-made to its customers. Craftsman for body assembly. Chiba’s vast to takumi techniques. The buffing robots’
Does this all sound just a bit extreme? skills enable him to align various adjoining movements create a deeper finish over the
It isn’t, at least it isn’t to these Master parts with incredible precision. curved body panels, while the painting robots
Craftsmen. Next, Sakato and Chikao Kawamura, the function as virtual human artists, eliminating
Masahide Sakato, the Master Craftsman Master Craftsman who specializes in paint color irregularities and clotting.
responsible for the body press line, has also application and finishing techniques, inspect Even this is not enough. Both of these
made it his mission to insure nothing but the exterior under a range of different lighting technical operations are further enhanced
23
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by Kawamura’s team, who step in to re-buff Perhaps that simplifies things too much. variety of sources, and foster communication
areas that are more detailed and perform the Actually, Lexus’ goal was much more complex between chief engineers to see that our
water polishing that gives the finished LS its than that. The brand’s chief engineer wanted, efforts contribute to strengthening the brand
unmistakable sheen. Before the cars leave basically, what he called a “realization of overall.”
the factory, every surface is given a final everything.” For example, the LS 600h L will In addition to the fundamental character
inspection, passing only when Kawamura utilize a 5.0-litre V8 hybrid system that will of the LS, such as excellent body control and
feels the results are something he can look produce 438 horsepower, yet meet the most rear stability, Koga is looking for a ride quality,
upon proudly. stringent worldwide emission criteria, with a a distinctive feel in the way the car moves and
The person who holds the job that might fuel target similar to a V6 midsize all-wheel- responds that belongs uniquely to Lexus.
be most interesting to enthusiasts is Lexus’ drive luxury-sedan engine. Among the challenging goals the design
tuning Master Craftsman. He works in a more “The goal for the LS 600h L,” Koga said, team had in mind for the fourth-generation
subjective area than some of the others, the “is for the driver to enjoy the vehicle without LS was that it should feel distinctly agile when
area that involves the actual feel of a vehicle any stress, and that all aspects of driving driving over winding mountain roads, but
as it is driven and its responses to driver can be enjoyed, everything from city driving without sacrificing performance for highway
inputs. Working with the car’s chief engineer, to freeways and interstates to the most cruising. The result is a thoroughly engaging
he helps develop the chief engineer’s vision challenging of mountain roads.” ride. Acceleration and braking are smooth
for the sound, feel, and handling of the car. A tall order, for sure. To help fill that and responsive, free from jolts associated
This concept of a Master Craftsman for order, one of the Dynamic Master’s activities with sudden changes in velocity, for excellent
Vehicle Dynamics was created in 2005. When occurs early in the vehicle-development driver and passenger ride comfort.
the Lexus brand was going to launch in Japan, process when a prototype is shown to third When this level of determination to polish
Hirokazu Koga was selected for this role. parties for vehicle evaluation. Koga’s group the LS’s dynamics is equal to the resolve
Koga works alongside Chief Engineer Yoshida uses this feedback and information during to polish its manufacture, the result meets
for each LS to ensure a consistent feel among development. Chief Engineer Yoshida’s high standards for
the Lexus models. Explained Koga, “Whether it’s our cars, our satisfaction.
This was, at the time, an entirely new prototypes or the cars of our competitors, “Only by joining the finely honed skills of
position within the corporation, but it was one I am constantly driving, comparing and our master craftsmen with the world’s most
that was judged to be absolutely necessary. analyzing. I work closely with the developers advanced production technologies can we
The Dynamic Master’s role is to drive and and chief engineers for each model to create a vehicle that achieves an unmatched
give input on each vehicle in the Lexus stable integrate key driving elements that form the degree of perfection,” Kawamura said.
to achieve a common tuning goal and feel for foundation of Lexus vehicles. On top of this And that, of course, is exactly the ideal for
every vehicle in the brand, while allowing each foundation, we collectively build the individual which Lexus is striving.
model to keep its own unique personality and driving characteristics required for each
driving feel. model. I provide input and feedback from a
24
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{Interview}
26
{Interview}
27
{accessorise}
This column brings the latest, the trendiest and the must-have accessories, gadgets and toys that we
think our readers should have.
28
{accessorise}
Parmigiani–Bentley
Timepiece
iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store,
including apps already purchased for your iPhone or iPod touch. The
iTunes® Store gives you access to the world’s most popular online
music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 11 million songs,
over 50,000 TV episodes and over 8,000 films including over 2,000 in
stunning high definition video. Apple also announced the new iBooks
app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to
browse, buy and read books on a mobile device. The iBookstore will
feature books from major and independent publishers.
Apple also introduced a new version of iWork® for iPad, the first
desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch.
With Pages, Keynote and Numbers you can create beautifully formatted
documents, stunning presentations with animations and transitions,
and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps
will be available separately through the App Store for $9.99 each.
iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch, using
the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable, so you can sync all of your
contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications and more from
your Mac or PC. All the apps and content you download on iPad from
the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced
L uxury Swiss watch manufacturer Parmigiani announced the
latest in the line of Bugatti concepts developed by Parmigiani
that underscores the watchmakers’ technological virtuosity in a new
to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer. dimension - or rather four.
iPad’s brilliant 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display features IPS technology The challenge this time relates to how the timekeeper is worn and
to deliver crisp, clear images and consistent color with an ultra-wide how it can always be kept close by, in all of life’s situations. Evolving
178 degree viewing angle. The highly precise, capacitive Multi-Touch to the rhythm of the requirements of both day and night, the new
display is amazingly accurate and responsive whether scrolling Parmigiani Bugatti concept with its prestigious tourbillon movement is
web pages or playing games. The intelligent soft keyboard being transformed. With the greatest of ease, it can be adapted for use
pioneered on iPhone takes advantage of iPad’s larger either on the instrument panel of the new Bugatti car, as a wristwatch
display to offer an almost full-size soft keyboard. iPad worn by the owner, a pocket watch for more discretion, or a table clock
also connects to the new iPad Keyboard Dock with a to mark the most private hours spent at home or in the office.
full-size traditional keyboard. The Bugatti mechanical watch is one of the most important control
iPad is powered by A4, Apple’s next-generation instruments. The removable case middle can be positioned or removed
system-on-a-chip. Designed by Apple, the new A4 with a single action. Integrated into the instrument panel, the support,
chip provides exceptional processor and graphics which was custom-designed by the Bugatti engineers, provides the
performance along with long battery life of up to 10 perfect housing for the timepiece. Its retractable system allows the
hours.* Apple’s advanced chemistry and Adaptive support to be pivoted over 180° once the engine has been started.
Charging technology deliver up to 1,000 charge cycles This accesses the pocket into which the case middle must be fixed.
without a significant decrease in battery capacity over At will, and when circumstances require, the driver can conceal the
a typical five year lifespan.** Parmigiani timepiece underneath the instrument panel.
iPad comes in two versions—one with Wi-Fi and The Bugatti wristwatch, entirely sheathed in barenia calfskin,
the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the perfectly complements the interior of the Bugatti car. The system it
latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support uses is based on the idea of a bonnet opening to reveal its mechanical
speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. Apple marvels. By simply pressing the two push-pieces positioned on the
and AT&T announced breakthrough 3G pre-paid lower lug, the bezel lifts to allow the watch middle to sit on the case
data plans for iPad with easy, on-device activation back. Once the bezel is folded down, the Bugatti tourbillon wristwatch
and management. is complete.
iPad will be available in late March worldwide As the third style suggestion, the Bugatti watch is transformed into
for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the a pocket watch. The solid 18-carat gold pocket, extended by a chain,
16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 houses the middle which sits naturally inside. The sporty design of the
(US) for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models Bugatti is turned into a great watchmaking classic.
of iPad will be available in April in the US and For the fourth style option, Parmigiani has designed a table
selected countries for a suggested retail price of clock, acting as a precious presentation case for this fine piece of
$629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the watchmaking, in which the middle can be housed.
32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model.
29
{Future View}
30
{Future View}
R
inspeed boss Rinderknecht always gridlock in the inner cities. At the same time
has a surprise up his sleeve and this an advanced railcar loading system will add
year is no different. Once again he the option to cover long distances by train,
does what nobody would have expected comfortable, without traffic jams and stress-
from the whiz kid known in the past for his free.
affinity for powerful machines: He’s building a The goal is to create a new mobility concept
subcompact car. But that’s not all: For the first that integrates individual car ownership and
time in the long history of its concept cars the public transportation. A transverse loading
Swiss automobile and concept powerhouse system using custom railcars allows loading
has developed not just a vehicle but an entire and unloading of numerous “UC?” vehicles
mobility concept. The cute two-seater with simultaneously and in a very short time.
electric drive is aptly called the “UC?” which Train passages are booked and reserved
stands for “Urban Commuter.” But the biggest online directly from the vehicle. Harman
surprise is that the “UC?” was designed to International provides the permanent 3G
be ready for future series production. The internet connection as well as marvelous
little speedster measures less than 2.60 sound on wheels. VoIP2Car technology
meters in length and is intended to help avoid provides IP telephone service, video chat,
31
{Future View}
32
{Future View}
video conferences, e-mail and many more electric drive system: The lithium-ion batteries ‘tank lid’ from Swarovski covers the necessary
features in the “UC?”. come from Li-Tec-Battery in Germany, a 230-volt plug. A stylized laser-cut coil
Integrated charging stations on board joint venture of Evonik and Daimler AG. The filament embedded in the crystal lid serves
the custom railcars ensure that upon arrival efficient and reliable on-board charger is as a battery charge indicator: red=empty,
at the destination the “UC?” battery is once supplied by specialist Absaar; the external orange=half charged, green=fully charged.
again fully charged for maximum operating stationary charger comes from ABB Sécheron. Rinspeed wants to change the electric drive’s
range. During the train trip drivers can visit Axpo Holding is yet another energy company image: The “E” signifying the electric drive
the train restaurant, use any of the other train that partnered with Rinspeed on this project. isn’t shamefully hidden but displayed openly
amenities or spend time in the privacy of their The electric heater and sphere-shaped and proudly: “Look here, I drive with electric
cars. vents were installed by the specialists from power”.
With this mobility concept Rinspeed Eberspächer. Rinspeed also received support The “UC?” is designed to be available
elegantly circumvents the obstacle of limited from the consortium Swiss Coop, which in several distinct versions: The “Ultimate
operating range that so far has kept many promotes decisive action and zero-emission Commuter” is the comfortable lifestyle vehicle
interested parties from switching to zero- mobility, and from the power plants of the for urban commuters. The vehicle of choice
emission vehicles. As Frank M. Rinderknecht Canton of Zurich that provide electricity and for pizza deliveries, mail carriers and workmen
sees it: “I can make more efficient use of the required infrastructure. To save as much in general will be the “Unlimited Commuter.”
my time than spending it driving on a boring energy as possible the developers have placed The experts from renowned A.T. Kearney
highway. I’d rather visit the train restaurant or highest priority on lightweight design: Ticona, Consultants designed the modular production
retreat to work in my car.” The Swiss visionary one of the world’s leading manufacturers of strategy to ensure that the car will be built as
is already in discussions with international engineering polymers, plays a major part in cost efficient as possible. The ultimate goal
railroad companies about his new mobility achieving this objective. The lightweight lift is to serve many different types of use and
concept. gate comes from Rehau, an OEM supplier for configuration variations: It will take just three
Anyone who lays eyes on the clever high- the automotive industry. The P7 Cinturato days to build an electric car. There is a good
tech bubble for the first time is reminded of ‘Green Tires’ from Pirelli in size 195/40 R 17 chance the “UC?” will enter series production.
the Fiat ‘Topolino’ models from the ‘30s to are mounted on special lightweight rims from The concept is designed be easily adapted
‘50s. This is loveable car design. Rinspeed German-Austrian manufacturer AEZ. The and integrated by volume manufacturers.
boss Frank M. Rinderknecht: ““UC?” is a delicate-looking rims weigh just 6.2 kilograms Intensive dialogues at the highest levels are
new and highly emotional web-based car each. Eco-friendly lubricants are provided already well underway.
world that interweaves individual and public by Motorex.And of course
transport in an intelligent way. We want to the electric “love bug” has
create a community of people who are open a number of features that
for a new definition of mobility.” will stir up emotions: An
As in past years, the concept car was built immediate eye-catcher is
by Swiss engineering company Esoro. The the paint that changes color
lightweight vehicle produces 130 Newton from yellow to green. The
meters of torque, reaches a top speed of paint was supplied by Akzo
120 km/h and has an operating range of 105 Nobel, one of the world’s
kilometers. That is more than enough for most largest paint manufacturers.
traffic in urban areas. Statistics show that in A new adhesive paint called
Europe 82 percent of all trips cover distances “Stickerfix” is perfect for
of less than 60 kilometers - short-distance touching up minor cosmetic
driving clearly represents the vast majority of paint blemishes sustained on
all individual traffic. the road.The jazzy leather
The “UC?” also features a number of interior including aluminum
technical highlights: Goodbye steering wheel, inlays and a custom leather
hello force-feedback joystick. The new joystick suitcase for the roof come
technology is supplied by German electronics from specialist Sellner
specialist Rafi. Rinderknecht says: “Forget Group. VDO Continental
everything you have learned about joysticks Automotive has designed
so far. Finally this system provides a better a new futuristic instrument
steering feel and clear feedback from the road.” cluster for the “UC?” The
The entire car is operated via Space Drive, a new cluster also houses
drive-by-wire system developed by Paravan, a Swiss-made mechanical
one of the leading manufacturers of handicap watch from Swiss premium
vehicles. Rinspeed and its partners had to manufacturer Carl F.
master numerous challenges surrounding the Bucherer. A beautiful crystal
33
{Road Test}
The not so
Light Champ
The new Sorento is now also available with the larger 3.5-litre V6
engine to beef up its offering in the 7-seater segment
W
ith a streamlined and attractive but that is more than acceptable at 184 mm.
look, the new Sorento represents a For a new-generation SUV that is more than
modern utility vehicle that is just the sufficient and the benefits are immediate and
right size for today’s consumer. Completely tangible. The entry and egress height has
redesigned from this model year, the all- similarly gone down – you no longer have
new Sorento now employs a unibody design to climb into the car and even in terms of
with the ability to comfortably fit up to seven aesthetics the lower floorpan is a winner.
passengers, offering more space and ride Now when you are seated behind the
comfort than the previous-generation model. steering wheel, the seating position is less
Prominently displaying the signature tabbed command seating and more comfort seating.
grille and wraparound headlamps soon to be The ambience inside the car is very much that
seen on all Kia models, Sorento offers a more of an upmarket car, improved by the quality
aggressive stance and sleeker profile than the feel of the instrumentation and cabin trims.
previous version. The lowered pan means that there is more
The new Sorento meets the needs of a legroom and foot space in the well while
burgeoning car buying segment that looks bringing the hood higher in the line of sight of
to SUVs as an extension of an urban-centric the driver. From the driver’s perspective the
lifestyle. To this end the 4685mm long by car seems a lot beefier than before.
1885mm wide platform is just right as it Interior space is intelligently used. In the
serves to offer a three row seven-seater higher trim level of the car we tested the
arrangement, with the third row consisting feature package includes a panoramic sunroof.
of almost full size seats that fold away to In the case of the Sorento that means that
provide a flat floor. What really surprises is the front row passengers get a large pane
how the styling of the new platform retains of glass on the roof that lifts up and slides
a hint or two of a connection with the past back, while for the rear of the compartment
while pressing the reset button on the that translates into a fixed pane on the roof.
overall identity. The front fascia of the car is In terms of solar insulation the glass meets
very much new KIA with the large notched the needs of Oman and thankfully also comes
pentagon grille, nice wraparound headlights with slide away blinds. Both blinds roll or slide
and a prominent framing of the lower foglight away towards the rear so that means that
ports. the rear blind cannot be operated from the
However, you will notice from the side that driver’s seat. However this feature is at par or
the car no longer appears perched as high as better than other cars even higher up in the
it used too. That is partly because the new price bracket.
monocoque integrates some of the structural Headroom and legroom have gone up in
elements while allowing various interior every seating position and unlike the older
features to be lowered, like the floorpan and Sorento, the third row in this case is completely
the seats. This lowering of the floorpan has usable and has air-conditioning vents located
decidedly reduced the ground clearance a bit at just the right positions. Even the second
34
{Road Test}
35
{Road Test}
36
{Road Test}
row gets vents at face level mounted into the don’t have to slow down the car. Unlike the
inside of the B-pillars. older car, there is limited bounce from the rear
Access into the third row is through the drop as you do that and the monocoque structure
and flip forward smaller part of the 60:40 split seems to be a lot more rigid. The overall effect
second row. While the seat flips ahead it does is one of being cocooned in a safety cage as
not remain locked there, so you will need to flip you push the car through its paces.
it back into position before moving. However, From experience we can say that the car’s
the latching is such that third row occupants suspension will prove to be a delight in gravel
can get out without needing any assistance and shale and while wheel travel may be
from the second row or the driver. limited, the body’s stiffness will allow you to
The larger engined variant of the do a bit of rock crossing.
Sorento gets KIA’s powerful 3.5-litre engine The final difference that the car has over
generating 274hp@6300rpm and a torque of the past is that there is no low gear. However,
335Nm@5000rpm. The power is immediately if you really want a car that does offer all the
evident on the car and it helps that the engine parts that you were lamenting are now not
is partnered with a modified version of the six- there you should be looking at the larger
speed gearbox that the car comes with even Mohave that doesn’t cost all that much more
in the 2.4-litre version. to buy.
The first gear is relatively low and if you For the mix of styling, excellent engineering,
are in a hurry the car can shoot off from a top rate interiors, great feature set and safety
roundabout like any normal six-cylinder kit the Sorento sets a new standard in the
can. Then the relatively peaky powerband mid-size SUV segment. And it brings in all
is evened out by the number of cogs that these without moving too far upwards in
are available in the geartrain. To keep fuel terms of price. Starting at the mid-8000 level
efficiency at a peak, the fifth and sixth cogs to the top of the line panoramic-sunroof kitted
serve as overdrive. And if you really do find one at the mid-9000s the Sorento gives you
yourself pushing the Sorento over rough and a choice that wasn’t quite in place till now. In
uneven terrain, then the car’s dashboard fact, when you use its price as a benchmark,
offers you the ability to lock the transmission there isn’t a single flaw in the reinvigorated
into a four-wheel drive mode rather than opt Sorento. We predict that it will be a huge hit
for the automatic demand-sensing control to with car owners who weren’t quite ready to
take over. sacrifice comfort, handling and car-like agility
The suspension is also quite good. Take it for the move into an SUV. The Sorento will
over speed bumps or rumbler strips and you take them through to that final frontier.
37
{Motorshow}
The 10th edition of the Dubai International Motor Show was quite
a handful with 13 global launches, 40 regional launches and about
200 new model introductions
38
{Interview}
T
he adage says, the best is reserved for the last and it seemed simulator and it seemed that Ford’s Raptor 150, Mobil’s and Yas Marina
that most participants at the Dubai International Motor Show, circuit’s racing car had the crowds mesmerised for the full duration of
which concluded last month, had reserved their energies for the show.
the region’s grand finale event of the year. It’s no secret that most Considering the record footfall this year at the show, some non-
car manufacturers and their retail partners have suffered from the participants who anticipated the show to be a mere formality must be
economic downturn, but players in the Middle East are optimistic that chewing their fingers by now!
the markets will be robust enough and recover to modest levels in
2010. And the Dubai motor show provided that platform to showcase Biggest disappointments
that optimism last month.
Amidst hype and hoopla of an action packed set-up, the absence of Aston Martin
show regulars such as Chery, Chrysler, Dodge, Honda, Infiniti, Jeep,
Porsche, PGO, Lamborghini, Volvo, Saab, Seat, Skoda, Suzuki and Just two days before the Dubai motor show closed, Aston Martin
Volvo was hardly felt. Since the Dubai show usually attracts a lot of announced officially that two of its top-of-the-range sports cars;
low volume and specialist car makers, some of the traditional high the DBS and V12 Vantage have undergone a unique Carbon Black
end supercar names such as Koenigsegg, Spyker, Pagani, and high makeover. The DBS and V12 Vantage may celebrate enormous success
profile customisers such as West Coast Customs were notably absent. commercially since launch, but these special editions are believed to
However, the absentee slots were capitalized by new names such as add a typically understated flair as they have several unique bespoke
Kepler Motors, Zenvo, Luxgen, Aroosh, Jason Castriota Design, while accoutrements. The cars feature specially formulated bespoke Carbon
first time home grown specialist manufacturer appearing in the show Black metallic paint with a subtle metallic twist to create a deep rich
was Abu Dhabi-based Alanqa. With its impressive presence, Alanqa patina effect. For the V12 Vantage, the iconic Aston Martin side strake
highlighted the entrepreneurial ambitions in the fiercely competitive has been fashioned from real carbon fibre backed by a black mesh
automotive world. and complimented with gloss black 10 spoke diamond turned alloy
While car makers, tuners and modders were in significant numbers, wheels. A bright finished grille and front parking sensors (normally an
the turnout of spares and accessories suppliers was comparatively low, option) complete the exterior detailing. Inside, swathes of Obsidian
but their shortfall wasn’t missed. Besides cars, many of the region’s Black leather highlighted with a contrast silver coarse stitch are all
two-wheeler and quad/dune buggy brands had an impressive array hand stitched. Clearly, the British marque missed a great opportunity to
of displays. That’s not all. Almost every display hall had a car-related present this highly desirable edition to the Middle East crowd.
39
{Motorshow}
and the engines will likely include a 2.0- and 2.4-litre with 156 and
173 hp, respectively. Kia will also equip the Forte Coupe with the new
1.6-litre GDI (direct-injection gasoline) turbocharged engine which it
co-developed with Hyundai. The Forte Coupe went on sale in South
Korea at the end of the summer and a December release for the US
market is on the schedule. Meanwhile, the Middle East versions are in
transit for early January introduction.
Maserati
A few months ago at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Maserati unveiled its
long-awaited convertible model. With the Maserati GranCabrio, it looks
like the Italian automaker has done a beautiful job of translating the
Pininfarina-designed GranTurismo into an open-top machine. Sadly, it
didn’t make it to Dubai show, but the GT4 and the designer MC line
did.
Audi
Toyota
Although Audi revealed its new product line-up and sported a surprise
of sorts with a hot 340 bhp version of the Audi TT badged as the TT Is it because Toyota feels the auto market has become so focused on
RS, the most significant car of Audi’s freshened line-up unveiled a few being green, eco-friendly that they thought that the FT-86 concept
weeks ago in Maimi, the top-of-the-line A8 was conspicuously missing would be over shadowed?
at Dubai.
Porsche
BMW
Kia the big markets for the marque and one wonders how could Porsche
let it slip the idea of not showcasing the Panamera, especially when key
Due to some logistics issues at Korea, Kia Motor’s forthcoming stylish rival Aston Martin was in full force with the Rapide and One 77. One can
‘budget sporting’ coupe couldn’t make it to the shores of Dubai in understand the not participating in smaller regional shows, but was it
time for the show. The production model is very similar to the concept really worth missing Dubai? Business in 2010 will tell.
40
{Motorshow}
Most significant consumer-oriented launches The 4WD Tucson or ix35 is the first Hyundai Crossover Utility Vehicle
to be designed and engineered in Europe at Hyundai’s Frankfurt-based
Hyundai design and technical centres.
It features precedent-setting engineering including advanced weight
The Centennial, new Sonata and Tucson are the three main models saving technology and the eco-efficient Theta II 2.4-litre four-cylinder
that Hyundai will be pushing for the next year. The 2010 Sonata engine delivering up to 31 mpg on the highway.
adopts Hyundai’s new “fluidic sculpture” design language, boasting
Kia
Kia Motors Corp, through its distributor in the UAE, Al Majid Motors Co,
held the world launch for the new Cadenza, the new hi-tech premium
saloon which replaces the decade old Opirus. Peter Shreyer, Kia’s
design chief was present at the show.
Alfa Romeo
41
{Motorshow}
most of them sold before you could say “bellissima”. Valued at around Arguably, the ZR1 is the greatest all-round performance car in the
£174,000 the chance of owning an example remains ultra exclusive, world, the undisputed “King of the Ring”, posting the fastest ever lap
but some will find homes in the Middle East. time for a true production car at 7:26:4 secs on the famed Nurburgring
Audi
Audi presented the new Audi TT RS, its 340 bhp souped up version of
the Audi TT, which was not expected to arrive in the region initially.
The TT RS sports a turbocharged five-cylinder 2.5-litre engine, which
has a long tradition of powering cars like the legendary “Ur-quattro”
rally car.
Super cars attract petrol heads and this year’s Dubai show had quite
an impressive turnout – from Brabus, AMG, Shelby, Zenvo and even a
company that no one has ever heard of. In this specialist field, a few
have managed to last more than a few years, like Koenigsegg and
Pagani, but most seem to disappear just as quickly as they appear.
Nordschleife in Germany.
The custom white show car came with impressive credentials, with
Corvette connection contrasting black suede leather interior and teardrop design. Castriota
said that the car’s design had equal inspiration from modern aerospace
and the world of Formula One and that the six-speed manual car’s
supercharged Corvette ZR1-based LS9 engine will power the car to
160km/h in seven seconds and has a top speed of 360km/h. Only five
will be made and it won’t be cheap. Expect to shell out a cool $1.6mn
for this exclusive machine.
Zenvo
There was a time when the famous VW Beetle and its air-cooled Boxer
engine was a hit with kit car makers and modders. Then came Ford and
now it is GM’s Corvette that inspires many specialists.
Mantide
42
{Motorshow}
Arash AF-10
The Arash AF-10 supercar may have its official global premiere in
January, but Dubai had a first glimpse of the real car. The AF-10
features a carbon fibre body and is quite light at 1,260 kg. Chassis
tuning has been done by Loris Bicocchi, of Bugatti Veyron fame. Under
the hood, the car is outfitted with the 550hp 7.0-litre V8 engine from
the Corvette Z06. Connected to a six-speed Graziano transmission (or
the optional six-speed sequential gearbox from Zonda F), the AF-10 is
expected to hit a top speed of 350km/h. In addition, all uprights have
been internally designed to fit AP Racing 6-pot carbon ceramic discs
and calipers, while floor mounted pedals offer a racing feel, better ‘heel
and toe’ control.
The British supercar maker will start selling the top-of-the-line sports
car in the region with a price tag of $580,000 in 2010. Arash wil partner
with its distributor in the region, Ultimate Motors.
Alanqa
One of the vehicles is built with the Corvette’s ZR1 V8 engine should
produces 620hp. The 2,400kg truck will sprint from 0-100 km/h in
seven seconds, on its way to a 210 km/h top speed. Off-road tyres can
also affect performance, as top speed and sprint times are likely less
Riding on the world’s first one-piece carbon fibre wheels, the ‘2010 impressive when the car is loaded to its 4,000 kg maximum weight.
Ultimate Aero’ is a mid-engine, rear wheel drive supercar with twin
turbo chargers, dual-water to air intercoolers and custom Recaro seats. Clearly off-road oriented, with a 650mm ground clearance, it is nice
Customised and road-tested to suit the harsh weather conditions in to see the GM 2-speed 4x4/4x2 transfer case in the package. With a
the GCC, the ‘2010 Ultimate Aero’ runs on an exclusive SSC-designed, 200-litre fuel tank capacity, the vehicle has a range of 750km. This
one-piece billet aluminum twin turbo V8 engine block designed to translates to a whopping 26.7-litres per 100 km, or roughly 8.8mpg.
improve structural integrity and oiling capabilities while improving
durability. Now armed with the more powerful new engine, the 2010 Production of the vehicles should be limited to about 100 per year,
model produces 1,287 hp, 15 per cent more horsepower than the 2007 with prices ranging from $120,000 to $277,000, depending on how
model, and 1112 ft-lbs of torque. much customization is required.
43
{Motorshow}
Chinese cars
Having started its cooperation with Mazda in 1992, Haima has
Although, Chery was the first Chinese automobile maker to export its moved on to build its own research and development, and quality
products, it seems to have gone into hibernation in the UAE at least. control system. The company started exporting its cars in 2007 and
Despite Chery being a top exporter among Chinese automakers in now the sales network covers the Middle East, North Africa, East
2009, other players such as Haima and BYD believe strongly in UAE’s Europe, South America and Southeast Asia. The countries the company
automobile market potential and hence have decided to go on the
offensive.
covers currently include Egypt, Algeria, the UAE, Syria, Jordan, Libya,
Venezuela, Peru, Moldova, the Philippines and more. Nearly 10,000
Haima cars and spare parts have been exported.
Luxgen
Just a few weeks before the Dubai show, BYD officially opened its
first overseas car manufacturing facility in Egypt. The F3 will be the first
model to be produced and there are strong indications that the F3DM
plug-in hybrid might also be manufactured in the plant. The ambitious
company plans to set up 40 overseas plants by 2025, according to its
overseas strategy. BYD and its local partner Naser Mohamed Nasser Al
Sayer Trading have ambitious plans to market non-hybrid cars in the
region.
Haima
Haima tested UAE waters in the 2007 edition of Dubai Motor Show keen eye for engineering detail was visibly impressed after visiting the
and within two years has been successful in establishing a complete Taiwanese automaker’s stand.
supply chain and sales and services framework in line with international Luxgen is currently in the process of final negotiations with Middle
standards. Now, it formally enters the UAE by partnering with First East retail partners and hopes to begin retailing the cars in the GCC
Motors, a company belonging to the Bin Omeir Holding Group. from Q4 2010.
44
{Motorshow}
Pimp my ride
The regional market’s affiliation for gold was quite evident at the show
with manufacturers offering individual interpretations. The matte
Lexus
45
{Road Test}
The mark of a
new Lincoln
Automan took the new Lincoln MKS out on a test drive – big,
powerful and surprisingly agile the new face of the brand helps
reinvent the brand
46
{Road Test}
W
e have had many run ins with big And that can cause some worrying nights
American cars in our test drives and to the bosses of the Ford group, especially
invariably one facet of the genre with its Lincoln brand. Ford as a whole has the
that repeatedly comes across is that they ability to build for the present and the future
are invariably just that – ‘big American cars’. on a host of smaller cars that originate from
Now that could be taken in any sense that across its global empire – especially from its
you wanted to – if you were a buyer from the European operations. But Lincoln is identified
US heartland before your gas cost 4 dollars with luxury and the large car, yet does not
a gallon you wouldn’t see much wrong with have the large footprint across the globe
the statement, just like if you were buying that would help even its equation in terms of
the car in neighbouring Saudi Arabia with the numbers. That’s why it is really interesting to
cheapest fuel in the world and some really see what it is doing in terms of product and
long roads to drive on, you would see it as a brand, in order to cater for the new realities
compliment. of the market.
Different strokes for different folks we The Lincoln MKS carries the mantle of being
guess. But in these days of a rampant fuel the introduction of Lincoln’s new approach
price and with more than a hint of eco- into our market. Launched at almost the
consciousness coming to the fore, you need same time here as it is in the US, the MKS is a
more reason to buy a big car even here in large car by any definition. But it isn’t the size
Oman. that hits you as much as the grille does – with
47
{Road Test}
a strong central zone flanked by two distinct
grille areas, each having slats that give the
are polished chrome on buff aluminium in
look, the car wouldn’t look out of place sitting
in the bat-cave. You can almost picturise the
caped crusader sitting behind the wheel and
just in case you were worried about whether
his pointed ears would hit the roof, no they
won’t. The roofline is taken way up and would
do justice even on on one of the modern day
SUVs. Surprisingly the grille is a part of Lincoln
heritage having originated in the 1941 Lincoln
Continental.
The MKS has an overall length of 5185mm
and sits on a wheelbase of 2870mm, which
gives it a bit of an overhang at both ends.
48
{Road Test}
But the styling has been done so nicely that character to the rear. cabin. While the Lincoln brand was always
you wouldn’t notice it. The overall cues are What is even more interesting is the way associated with luxury, the cabin of the MKS
borrowed from the MKR design concept. The in which the new design philosophy merges today feels as luxurious as any competitor’s
overall impression of understated power is with the traditional as you get into the Lincoln and at the same time matches all of them
there along with more than a hint of attitude. MKS’ interior. The modernity of the layout goes for the detailing and fit and finish. You only
The power bulge on the hood partners the well with a lot of old-style lincoln cues like have to run your hand over the stitched edges
broad stance of the car – from head on the the sweeping dashboard. This predominantly of the leather on the dashboard, the wood
car’s proportions look about right, but move horizontal theme is broken to the vertical by and leather steering wheel or indeed any of
over to the side and you begin to notice the the leather upholstery and wood in-lay that the touch points along the console or the
height of the roof – 1560mm. starts from the THX centre speaker and is door, including behind the handle and along
The boldness of the design is reflected in carried down through the centre console to the armrest to realise that after a long time
the profile as well with its use of stainless the split arm-rests. The shiny sides of the Lincoln has risen to the challenge of making
steel accents around the windows, ending centre console help keep the unit looking sleek the cabin one that speaks luxury and quality
in a prominent swathe at the C-pillar. The and long and the wood in-lay communicates a in the same breath.
taillights have a new LED treatment and use a high quality and finish. Of course, being a Lincoln you wouldn’t be
vertical white light bordering the trunk to add In fact that is the overriding feel of the entire surprised at the leg room in the rear or the
49
{Road Test}
comfortable seating and headroom that the passengers have
despite the sweeping confines of the roof. The kicked up rear
deck, while lending a dynamic wedge-like shape to the exterior
also brings with it the counterpoint of a slightly challenged rear
view and you are really thankful for the presence of the rear
parking sensors. The MKS also has a full complement of front
parking sensors too.
The other big upgrade that Lincoln provides to its brand
values in the MKS is the provision of SYNC as an integral part of
the car’s instrumentation. You still are able to navigate through
the entire spectrum of personal settings and customisation
through the normal console and these seamlessly integrate with
the features that distinguish SYNC in terms of communication,
bluetooth and media management. We look forward to the
promised late-availability colour touch screen which will add
instant appeal to the combination. There is also the possibility
that with the coming of the screen, we will get DVD-Navigation
and a rear-view camera.
However the hallmark of the MKS is its unique to Lincoln
3.7-litre V6 engine with pistons of 95.5mm bore and an
86.7mm stroke, differentiating it from the Ford 3.5-litre genre
in both critical dimensions. Both engines share the same
strong, die-cast aluminum block and lightweight four-valve
heads for smooth operation at high rpms. This engine has a lot
going for it - it is one of the latest generation units using DOHC
and variable camshaft timing on the intake side, allowing it to
produce more power and torque than the Ford unit. In fact,
in these days of increased focus on fuel efficiency, we even
get a system that reads when the driver has lifted off the
pedal completely and cuts off fuel delivery to the injectors.
This is called Aggressive Deceleration Fuel Shut-Off (ADFSO).
In addition it uses a two-speed fuel pump that moderates fuel
delivery according to need.
The powerful 273 hp engine is partnered with a 6-speed
automatic gearbox that delivers power to the front wheels.
Think that’s good? Take the car for a spin and you realise the
sheer amount of torque available at the front wheels. If you are
the hard-driving sort, you will no doubt appreciate the torque-
steer that grabs the front of the car, makes it leap ahead off
the block and then settles into a completely controllable rush
ahead. The 19” wheels are spot on, though we would love to
see the car bling out on the polished 20” aluminium alloys.
Even with these large wheels and tyres, the NVH levels of the
car are awesomely good. You can hardly hear the engine roar
away over the amazing THX surround sound system – you
wouldn’t be surprised if you saw the large and effective seals
that sit around the door and the amount of acoustic insulation
that seals off the cabin.
We had the MKS over a couple of days and we must say
that it grew on us. It is an admirable bit of engineering and
serves to showcase the direction in which the brand is moving
ahead. We must remember that Lincoln is not yet a global
brand - but with products like the MKS, the day is not far off
when we hear announcements that they are ready to take on
a worldwide footprint. Kudos to Lincoln on the fantastic bit of
product engineering that resulted in the MKS. There is nothing
that a bit of finely-honed marketing and pricing can’t do to
make this car a hot seller in the premium segment.
50
{Road Test}
51
{Motorsports}
52
{Motorsports}
Could you tell us something about your Championship races in both the TaG and Rotax Max Class
background? 2 Dubai 24h karting races
I was born in Mumbai and lived in Dubai till the age of 14. However, these are only races and do not include the
Whilst I was living in Mumbai I was at boarding school remaining time I have spent in racing Karts and Cars.
in the UK as well and would spend my time between the
UK and Mumbai. I then moved to Dubai with my family How do you balance your motorsport career with
and now divide my team between the UK and Dubai for your studies and daily life?
University and racing. I started University at the same time as my winter
programme began so initially it was tough. But over the
What encouraged you to want to become a racing winter I’ve improved my time management and have kept
driver? myself up to date with my studies as early as possible in
After watching a Formula 1 race on television with my order to focus on my racing.
family, I became fascinated by the sheer speed of the cars
and the whole event in general. The idea of racing at such What competitions did you compete in during
high speeds, along with my cousin’s interest in the sport 2009?
is what engaged me. We used to watch all the races every I competed in the British Formula Ford Championship
weekend on TV and the more I watched, the more my from April to October. The championship has been at
passion for the sport increased. Moreover, the fact that the very pinnacle of junior single seater formulae since
my family’s business involved construction equipment, I the 60s. Alumni include Ex F1 drivers Aryton Senna and
was constantly around engines and tools, which further Michael Schumacher as well as current F1 drivers Kimi
contributed to my growing interest in the sport. Raikonnen, Jenson Button and Mark Webber.
There are 9 Rounds and 25 races in the season.
What is your training regime? The championship is a support package for the British
Training for me in preparation for any race involves both Formula 3 & GT championships as well as being a
physical and mental facets. On the physical side, I did support race to the DTM and Formula 3 Euroseries
most of my preparation in the summer whilst I was in round at Brands Hatch.
Dubai before the winter programme started.
I have stepped up my training up a notch to be ready How do you balance your motorsport career with
to test faster cars at the end of the year whilst I evaluate your studies and daily life?
my options for the next year. I started University at the same time as my winter
Being part of the Andy Priaulx Performance Management programme began so initially it was tough. But over the
Programme, I do a lot of work on the mental side of winter I’ve improved my time management and have kept
driving-including visualization and a form of meditation. myself up to date with my studies as early as possible in
The tools we use to increase our mental strength are order to focus on my racing.
all tried and tested by Andy Priaulx (3 time World Touring
Car Champion and current BMW factory driver) himself Where do you see yourself in five years time?
and as soon as he discovers new ways to improve – we In five years, I will hopefully be on the boundary for F1
are trained. and racing in the GP2 series as well as being part of A1gp
Team India, I would also like to have competed in the Le
What does it take to become a top class driver? Mans 24h race.
Motorsport is a very unique sport and to succeed you need
to have many different skills. What advice do you have for other drivers who
A driver must be 100% committed to your goals if you share the same dream of making a name for them
want to come out to top. The competition is very fierce in motorsport?
and you are fighting for tenths of a second which seems You need to be very committed and have the dedication
very small but it requires a lot of work to gain the extra not only on track but in terms of sponsorship and raising
time. You also need to be very dedicated in your off - track their profiles. Without the right financial backing in
work e.g raising sponsorship, PR etc, sometimes it can be motorsport it is very hard to move up the ranks. I would
your off - track work that can affect your results in a huge also have to say that every time they are on track, it is
way so it cannot be overlooked. very important to use the time productively and make sure
they are pushing themselves every lap. It is very easy to
What and how many events have you participated go quick and settle into a rhythm however you need to
in? have the push on all the time to be the quickest.
I have taken part in approximately 10 UAE National Karting
53
{Motorsports}
B
ahrain International Circuit announced GM Middle East Regional Brand Manager, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Abdulaziz Al Yaeesh
today, Monday 15th February 2010, Chevrolet and GMC. and many more of the Middle East’s most
the participation of the Chevrolet The Chevrolet Supercars ME Championship talented drivers battle it out on the tarmac.
Supercars Middle East Championship as part has remained at the Yas Marina Circuit The fourth round saw Fahad Al Musalam,
of the support race line up for the first round following the fourth round of the series, last seasons’ Championship Title winner and
of the V8 Supercars Australia Championship. where it competed during the second currently top of the table, win race one, while
The Bahrain based series will be hosting its round of the GP2 Asia Series, held in the Australian Tarek Elgammal, the first-ever
fifth round during YAS 400, taking place at UAE. The championship will return to champion of the series, claimed victory in
Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit on the 19th Bahrain International Circuit, ‘The Home of the second race of the round. Shaikh Hamad
and 20th of February. The series is renowned Motorsport in the Middle East,’ to participate bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and Abdul Aziz
for its thrilling performances as some of as a support race for the 2010 Formula 1 Gulf Al Yaeesh of Saudi Arabia completed the
the GCC’s most talented drivers compete Air Bahrain Grand Prix, taking place on the podium for both races. Al Musalam has
in the V8 muscle cars. The championship 12th, 13th and 14th of March, 2010. maintained his lead with 57 points with Al
was created in 2006 following a unique As only two rounds remain in this year’s Yaeesh and Elgammal following with 44
partnership between Bahrain International season, almost all 20 competitors will be points each.
Circuit and Chevrolet Motorsport. participating in an attempt to advance as far While the SC09 class has featured intense
“Chevrolet delivers excitement on and as possible in the rankings before the third rivalries as several drivers compete for
off the track with spirited performance and season comes to a close. With six drivers the title, Bahraini Faisal Raffii has been
expressive design, especially with models like still in contention for the SC09 Championship dominating the SC06 category, winning seven
the legendary Camaro and the all-powerful Title, the following rounds will feature of the previous 8 races with his aggressive
Lumina CR8, which we will see in action this some of the most exciting racing action on driving style. Raffii has established a
weekend at the Chevrolet Supercars Middle this year’s regional motorsport calendar as significant 22 point advantage, leading the
East Championship,” said Luay Alshurafa, Fahad Al Musalam, Tarek Elgammal, Shaikh championship on 56 points. Saudi Arabia’s
54
{Motorsports}
at the BIC throughout the
Alqassim Hamidaddin followed in second celebrations.
with 34 points, while Husam Al Saleh trails in Although Alfa Romeo
third with 27 points. abandoned the sport at
Heading into the fifth round, all the drivers the end of 1951, a new
are determined to compete to the best of superteam was already
their abilities as the championship visits emerging. Enzo Ferrari
the Yas Marina Circuit for the last time this had raced for Alfa Romeo
season. Al Yaeesh, currently in second place in the 1920s and through
in the SC09 class, is particularly determined the next decade established
to do well as he looks to close the gap his privately-entered team
between himself and Al Musalam. One of under the name of Scuderia
those who is most focused on the task at Ferrari. After making a
hand is Al Yaeesh, who is looking forward to fortune producing ball
making the most of the upcoming races and
narrowing the gap on Al Musalam. Jubilee year of bearings during World War
2 Ferrari decided to become
“There is still a long way to go in the a constructor in his own
championship and I will continue to fight for
as many points as I can get, and hopefully
Formula 1 at Bahrain right and, at the 1951 British
Grand Prix, his 4.5-litre
another victory. I cannot wait to get back
out on track and on to racing, and it is going T he 2010 Formula
One Gulf Air Bahrain
Grand Prix marks the 60th
‘three F’s’ for its driver line-
up, consisting of Italian aces
Giuseppe Farina and Luigi
unsupercharged car became
the first to defeat Alfa Romeo
in the hands of Argentinean
anniversary of the world’s Fagioli plus the remarkable star José Froilan Gonzales.
biggest annual sporting talent of the Argentinean In 1952-53 Ferrari was
series with the most driver Juan Manuel Fangio. unbeatable. Due to an
illustrious gathering cars and absence of Formula One
drivers to have claimed the machinery, the world
title in living memory. On championship was held for
March 12-14 these legends Formula Two cars and in this
will join to celebrate Bahrain smaller category Ferrari was
as ‘Race Number 1’ of the supreme thanks to its 500 F2
2010 season and to mark cars. Ferrari won 14 out of
the diamond anniversary of 15 races entered and one of
Formula One racing. these gem-like cars will also
It was in 1950, after be present at the BIC from
44 years, two world wars March 12-14.
and one abortive attempt, In 1954-60 the 2.5-litre
that Grand Prix racing This trio were at their Formula One rules brought
gained the honour of an peak in time for the first stability and a raft of new
official world championship ever round of the World constructors – among which
under the auspices of the Championship; the British the return of Mercedes-
Fédération Internationale de Grand Prix at Silverstone Benz was far and away the
l’Automobile. At the outset on May 13 1950. Under most spectacular. With its
much still remained of the the watchful eyes of King heritage of success dating
sport’s origins, taking place George VI, Queen Elizabeth, back to the 1900s, Mercedes
on circuits formed from the princesses Elizabeth and had lain dormant since
closed public highways in Margaret and up to a quarter 1939. In 1954 the German
to be very interesting how everything will Europe and it was presided of a million fans, the world superteam was reborn;
play out until the very last race,” Al Yaeesh over by the last of the true championship began as a producing the innovative
commented. grandee teams: Alfa Romeo. demonstration run for the W196 car and harnessing it
The sixth and penultimate round of the The astonishing 1.5-litre ‘Three F’s’ from which Farina to the magnificent talents
championship will take place on the 12th, supercharged type 158 would emerge victorious. of Juan Manuel Fangio to
13th and 14th of March in support of the ‘Alfettas’ were designed The Alfa Romeo team dominate the next two
2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship’s during 1937-38 and kept remains statistically the seasons. One of these all-
inaugural race, taking place at Bahrain hidden in a monastery most successful of all time, conquering silver machines
International Circuit. The season finale will during WW2, but emerged losing only three races will be present to witness
then follow on the 31st of March and the to dominate every Grand between 1945 and 1951, the return of Mercedes-Benz
1st of April at Reem International Circuit in Prix they entered. In 1950 and the 1950 Alfetta takes after 55 years at the 2010
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. the team was known as the pride of place in the display Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
55
{Motorsports}
56
{Motorsports}
57
{Heritage}
58
{Heritage}
I
n 1889 the eyes of the world turned to Paris and the World slender iron wheels. This was an entirely new design. Of particular
Exposition. The biggest attraction – in all senses of the word – note are the technical similarities with the bicycle, in particular the
was the tower wrought in iron by Gustave Eiffel. But something frame and chassis, which is why in his design sketches Maybach also
else that fascinated the crowds of visitors to the show was the use of referred to the vehicle as a “quadricycle”. The frame and wheels of
electric bulbs to illuminate many of the exhibition stands – the very the wire-wheel car were supplied by Strickmaschinen-Fabrik AG of
epitome of the modern age. Never one to be left behind, Gottlieb Neckarsulm, a well-known local firm of bicycle manufacturers, which
Daimler installed thirty electric light bulbs around his stand, powered later achieved international fame under the name NSU.
by current generated from his “illumination car”, a mobile mini power Maybach additionally used the robust tubular steel frame of the
station equipped with Daimler engine and electricity generator. The lightweight vehicle as a conduit for coolant water and positioned the
light from his bulbs highlighted one exhibit in particular that had yet engine in the rear. On the rear axle beside the right-hand wheel he
to achieve its breakthrough – the four-wheeled “wire-wheel car”. fitted a sealed bevel gear differential, and on the left wheel a brake
Although it received considerable favourable interest, the car failed drum with a band brake operated by a hand lever from the driver’s
to strike many visitors as sensational. And yet only three years earlier, seat.
Gottlieb Daimler, aided and abetted by the engineer Wilhelm Maybach,
had built the world’s first four-wheeled automobile – a carriage
equipped with internal combustion engine and steering device. 1886
was also the year in which Carl Benz presented his Patent Motor Car;
this, too, was on display at the World Exposition. But the new Daimler
automobile featured a number of ground-breaking innovations: the
wire-wheel car had a two-cylinder petrol-powered V-engine and a
geared manual transmission. The same engine also powered two
boats brought by Daimler to Paris and with which he proved the
innovative drive system’s viability for watercraft on the River Seine. In
short, then, Daimler’s was an impressive display of products.
The first automobiles in 1886 had succeeded in demonstrating what
was feasible in principle. But they had also shown their limitations.
The output of 1.1 hp (0.8 kW) at 650/min achieved by the Daimler
single-cylinder engine was inadequate for many applications. Maybach
multiplied the power by adding a second cylinder canted at 17
degrees – thereby giving rise to the world’s first V-engine. In common
with the earlier single-cylinder engine, nicknamed the “grandfather
clock” on account of its vertical shape, the V-engine featured water-
cooled cylinder heads and was equipped with the curved-groove valve
control initially favoured by Daimler. The displacement of 565 cubic
centimetres was sufficient to develop an output initially of 1.5 hp
(1.1 kW) at 700/min. A major advantage of the new engine was its
lightweight design – it weighed just 40 kilograms per horsepower,
half as much as its predecessor. The patent awarded to this engine
in 1888 (DRP No. 50839) already included designs with cylinders in
parallel and in boxer configurations, overhead exhaust valves and Wilhelm Maybach at the wheel of the “steelwheel car” of 1889
cam-operated rather than curved-groove valve control.
The twin-cylinder V-engine was the perfect drive system for the There were initially problems with the steering – axle pivot steering
highly-elegant wire-wheel car initiated by Maybach, so called for its did not appear on a four-wheeled vehicle until Benz introduced it in
59
{Heritage}
60
{Heritage}
1893 – which explains why the design documentation still contained founded only the previous year. It was so perfect that it became the
a draft for a “three-wheeled velocipede” with steerable rear wheel. model for all subsequent gear transmissions for motor cars. The only
This three-wheeler design soon disappeared back into the drawer, downside was that technology of the day did not permit optimum
however, when a different solution was found to the steering problem hardening of the gear wheels, which meant that service life left
with the four-wheeled wire-wheel car. Here, using the same principle something to be desired.
as a bicycle, each of the front wheels was individually mounted in a In spite of all the innovations, the wire-wheel car for which Daimler
fork and linked by a track rod. So when the steering lever was turned, and Maybach had harboured the highest hopes, met with little interest
the wheels tracked a common radius.
Daimler’s wire-wheel car: The car with the world’s first V2 engine
was presented to the public for the first time at the Paris World
Exhibition in 1889.
61
{Launch}
Supersports in a
Convertible mode
The Continental Supersports Convertible is the fastest drop-top
Bentley ever built – 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of
325km/h. It is also the fastest four-seat convertible in the world.
T
he Continental Supersports Convertible power and torque remain constant regardless during the overrun. During transmission
further strengthens Bentley’s supercar of the ratio of petrol to biofuel. upshifts, fuel and ignition are cut momentarily
range, following the introduction of the Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive to give faster mechanical shift times through
Continental Supersports Coupé in 2009. The Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen welcomes the new torque reduction, also improving shift quality
new Supersports Convertible, with the same addition to the Bentley range, as well as the and durability.
630PS (621bhp/463kW) twin-turbocharged standardisation of the FlexFuel W12 engine The extreme performance of the Superports
W12 engine, is the fastest, most potent on all 2011 Continental models: Convertible is matched by precise, agile
drop-top Bentley has ever built, offering the “The new Supersports Convertible blends handling, while retaining class-leading levels
ultimate Bentley driving experience in the thrilling performance and dramatic styling of ride comfort and refinement. Developed
world’s most dramatic convertible. with luxury and practicality in the Bentley from the GTC Speed, chassis enhancements
The inspiration for the ‘Supersports’ name open-top tradition. Extreme power combines include retuning of the electronic Continuous
is the 1925 Bentley Supersports, a race-bred with pioneering FlexFuel technology, now Damping Control (CDC) system, stiffer front
version of the iconic Bentley 3-litre, that shared with all Continental models, reflecting suspension bushes and uprated rear anti-roll
delivered 85bhp when more ordinary cars Bentley’s ongoing commitment to more bar. The Supersports Convertible also shares
were equipped with a modest 15bhp. It was environmental motoring.” its ride height with the GTC Speed, sitting
also the first production car to reach 100mph The increased power and torque are 10mm (0.4in) lower at the front and 15mm
– extreme performance in its day. transmitted to the all-wheel drive system via (0.6in) lower at the rear than the standard
The new, muscular four-seat Supersports an uprated and rapid six-speed Quickshift GTC.
Convertible is unmistakably Bentley in its transmission, which more than halves shift The front suspension trailing lever features
design and craftsmanship but its interior times (to just 93 milliseconds) and maximises a new design of hydraulic bush, 33 per cent
signifies a dramatic re-interpretation of the new Convertible’s
Bentley luxury. Satin-finished carbon fibre, enormous potential.
Alcantara™ and ‘Soft Grip’ leather create a The revised gearbox
unique ambience with a distinctly sporting also has the ability
and contemporary style. to deliver double
All models in the Continental model range, downshifts (sixth
including the new Supersports Convertible to fourth gear, for
are now capable of running on both petrol example) and improves
(gasoline) and E85 bioethanol or any acceleration across the
combination of the two, reaffirming Bentley’s entire gear range. To
ongoing commitment to make all its cars bio- cope with the additional
fuel compatible by 2012. Pioneered by the power and torque, the
Supersports Coupe, this FlexFuel technology planetary gear set of
offers a reduction of up to 70 per cent in the ZF transmission is
CO2 emissions on a ‘well-to-wheel’ basis, a also strengthened.
measure of a fuel’s net contribution to the Positive torque
atmosphere, not just tailpipe emissions. during downshifts
To ensure seamless power delivery, the on- is achieved through
board fuel supply system detects the blending engine and gearbox electronic controller stiffer than those of GTC Speed, for improved
ratio of the fuel in the tank and ensures that interaction for extra throttle and fuel injection steering response while the uprated rear anti-
62
{Launch}
63
{Chicane}
T
he title may be a bit misleading, at a crucial time, as you are driving up to a
for frankly I am not going to be junction or through heavy traffic?
writing about any of the automotive Then compare that with the chances you
components listed above. The only topic of take by not wearing a seatbelt, buying a car
any interest at all seems to be the size, fallout without a full complement of safety systems
and repercussions of the largest recalls in because it has saved you some money,
automotive history. speaking or texting on your mobile while
Before I even start putting pen to paper driving or even buying a ‘seemingly’ perfect
on this, may I offer one piece of advice to car from a complete stranger because the used
expert, generalist and the interested onlooker car is just so right for your budget. Or even the
to this subject – stop getting carried away by chances that you take when running across
the media and our overwhelming interest in it. a road. I would take a brand new car from
As an industry this is the stuff that makes our any of the affected manufacturers, especially
mouth’s collectively salivate. Perhaps it can be Toyota any day over those chances.
only matched by a bankruptcy or two in its One lesson we need to learn that a man’s
ability to get people to notice the car industry and an organisation’s word is only as good as
on our pages. the lengths they will go to stand by it. Even
You may gasp. “but what about the risks if genuine mistakes are made, one needs the
attached to the failure of parts?” Before strength to admit them and then rectify them.
you manage to put your brows together in Toyota on a global basis has done just that.
tune with that question mark may I remind So have the other brands affected. Full marks
you that companies like Toyota, Honda and to them. I would still recommend them over
the like are the very companies that have other brands that ignore problems, or choose
brought automotive quality standards to to quietly address them in the silence of the
where they are today. Perhaps ironically, you dealers workshops.
are measuring their deemed failure against Perhaps now, more than ever, we as car
the massive success of the Japanese system buyers need to realise that there is no such
that bred this excellence. I am sure that there thing as a perfect machine. All cars are the
are many drivers, atleast of my generation, outcome of the work of designers, planners,
who have learnt in theory and sometimes by engineers, vendors and so on, who have
hard experience that systems do fail. So what to integrate supply, production and quality
do we do? Brakes fail, we use gears, throttle control. The aim for a zero failure rate is
control and finally the parking brake to stop. laudable but hardly realistic. A more pragmatic
Door latches fail, we tie the door handle to aim would be that any failure is safe, with no
the seat or B-pillar with rope and drive to the loss of limb or death resulting therewith.
repair station. I have never been a fan of big business
Raj Warrior is editor of Automan and has What we don’t do is make such a huge noise and usually stand with the underdog on most
been in the thick of the Automotive journalism about a quality-control failure that seems to issues, but in this case folks, you’ve got to stop
field from the past 15 years. have become so ‘safety-related’. worrying. As long as remedial action is put in
Ask yourself, “what are the chances?” What place there will be no long-term fallout of the
Want to comment or have your say? Email are the chances of you getting a car with a whole recall issue. And to the gentlemen from
at raj@alroya.net. Identify yourself or your defective component? What are the chances the not-affected brands who are sniggering
message will be trashed and your id blocked that the component will fail while you own at the embarrassment, remember next time
the car? What are the chances that it will fail around it could be you.
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