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 Panamera GTS returns for 2019 - ,s joined by Panamera Sport Tunsmc GTS

2018 SEMA SHOW PREVIEW

There'll be some fancy metal on display at the Las Vegas Convention Center

JEEPERS!
8 We test the rugged - but slightly more

civilised for 2018 - Wrangler Rubicon

LET'S RIDE
6 Is the Vukan 1700 Vaquero any good?

We hop on to the Kawasaki to find out

ALFA MALE
The 2600 Sprint was one of the best coupe's of the S1Kt1es

BEING BONO •••

Khalid Al Mulla and his fabulous Aston Martin 0811 1n My Wheels
As one who has bounced around the emirates to questionable advice on position or dubious

forthepast26yearsin atotallyreliableseriesof actionwhenproceedingdownthehighways.

Mitsubishi Pajeros. l was astonished to read last In relatively short time these instruments

week's Honda Accord Long-Term Review. become faulty. whereupon the driver is

The ridiculous list of Safety kit and Driver distracted to determine the necessary action.

Attention Monitor devices is completely 'over No, let's focus on good all round visrbility and

the top'. adequatemirrorssowecancontinueto�afcl)'

Se l domdo w es cca n yc omme nt on t he cnjoythesplcndidvlcwsandoutstanding

anticipated design life for these ems where creations in thrs country.

thedriver'sanentionisconstantlydiverted

WE NEED A SOLUTION! NICEJOB, FORD! new in 2004 and it was a proper

twashonouredtobeselected I hkethe lookofthe2018 Ford workhorse.lusedtothrowallof

as the tetter of rhe weekm F-150Limitedyouguystested mytools and eqcrpment back

issue 697. (issue698) there(lwasacarpenterthen)

Frankly my hcpers that some ltreallyisahandsometruck andrt was basicallymy moblle

car manufactunng bosses wrll wrthjust the nght amoont of cttrce.teven sleptmrt a tew

notice the customer feedback bnghtwork on the body - times'

lromoneofthebestcar some otrts compehtors tend TheF-150hascomealong

megazmesm the Mddte East to go overboard 1

11 this regard wayln a relanvely short space of

l hope they can fmd a solunon andtheylooktooflashy(lbet nme now wbat wnh the current

topreventthefurnacehkeheat owners wculd thmk twrce aboot modellcededwitb allkmds ot

youexpenencewhenyouget gett1ngthemmucky) fancygadgetsandaheckofalot

mtoacarparkedmthesun. lusedtohaveanF-150back of technology too

JAIBOY JOSEPH m the Uywhrchlbought brand GAR.YWATSON

 LYNK & CO

STRONGEST LYNK
Geely's Lynk & Co brand joins hands with Cyan Racing
to develop high performance track and road cars

yanRacing,thecurrcnttouring combination with the vest data that we will Racing in the 2019 race. 'To once again

B
carworldchampiontcam,Ls gain from the racing programme through mm for the World Tide when starting

cntcring1ntoapartncrshipwith thousands and thousands of bps on racing my seventh season with Cyan Racing is a

Lynk & Co, the recently bunched automotive circuits all over the world in extreme dream coming true. Espccial!ycombincd

brand from China's Gcdy to develop high conditions," said Chrisrran Dahl, CEO of Cyan wnh this groundbreaking cooperation

performance race and road versions of the Racing with Lynk & Co that will include the

03 sedan A� you would remember. Cyan The Lynk & Co 03 TCR race car was development of a high-performance

was the motorsport arm of Polestar until the unveiled by reigning champion Thed BjOrk, concept road car is nothingless than

latter was acquired by Vol, o. While it has had who will drive one of these cars for Cyan amazing," said Thcd BjOrk.�

along-standingandfruitfulcollaboration

with volvo, the Swedish car brand's Chinese

parents. the Zhejiang Gcdy Holdmg Group.

J

wants the now independent racing team to

[:\""'"
uscacurfromthcirflcdglingbrandinthc

2019 World Touring Car Cup. -,

Aimed at creating wider awareness about

Lynk & Co as it seeks to expand into the

- '

European and American markets, the

associationwillsccCy:rn Racing enter the

next year's FIA WTCR with the Lynk & Co

03 TCR race car. Alongside the race car.

thcbrandal>,0rc\'calcdaSOOhorbcpowcr

road-going version as well. Named the Lynk

& Co 03 Cyan. this concept car is said to be

thcfirstbtcptowardsancxtcndcdrangcof

per formancc offering from the brand.

"Our ambition as a race team is to reclaim

ourWorldTitlcandexplorenewwa)'bof

automotive performance together with

Lynk & Co. We will utilise our experience

frompabtperformaneeroadcarprojcctsin
 2018 SEMA SHOW PREVIEW

MUSCLE MANIA!
Taking place from October 30 to November 2 at the Las Vegas Convention
Center, here are a few of the goodies that you can expect to see

e always look forward to the Some of the new tech available now includes differentialsandanimprovedtransferca!>eto

ScmaShowbccauscthcrcarc Forward Collision Alert. Chevy isn't only giveit serious off-road ability,

alweys sornc rculcyc opcncrs lookingtothefuture-it'sre,•isitingthe The 840 horsepower Challenger SRT

ondisplayatthcmon�tcrcvcnt pasttoobyshowcabingitscrateengines Demon is potent enough but Spccdkorc gave

ofthcautoaftl.'rmarkctindustry. in,,intagcconcepb,thepickofthebunch it a mighty big shot in the arm regardless.

At the Las vcgas Convention Center will being a stunning 1973 Chcvcllc Laguna. lt With two6875 Precision Billet ball-bearing

bcscn,ralmusclccars(old,ncwandtrickcd features black 1 8i n w h ccls,abootlidsp o i ler T4 tu1bochargcrs replacing the stock

out!)todroolovcralongwithcducational andamassivc L T5 und c rthe b on nc t . The supcreha�'Cr, the tuner's version makes \,200

seminars and product demonstrations which supcrehargcd6.2-litreV8makes755horscs! horscs!Fordwillhavcfi,·ecustomMustangs

ha,·cmadcScrnasuchahitwithcnthusiasts. The Rmgbrothers will have a modific<l 1972 by CGS Mororsports, CJ Pony Parts, Galpin

lt'dbccasytoloscyoursclfinthci2hugc KS on display and from the single teaser Auto Sports, and Bojix Design who all tweak

scctionssowc'vcpid,cdoutthcmustscc image (below), it loo kb as if the Blazer has a t h e G T w h il etheT J I N Edition willgive us a

exhibits if you're head mg out to LA. lift kit, beefier roll bars and rugged knobby new take on the Ecoboost model.

First of all, Chevrolet will be showcasing a ty res.W ere cko nit'llalso ha,. eup dated A llth a t andl ot b morc -lc tt hes ho w be gi n!

brand new colour for the Camaro It's called

. ..,.\••
ShockYcllowandcr,itnccd�nofurthcr

explanation really (look at the photo!) but ,_ .... . .=

there's plenty to say about the 2019 model.
� · · ·
It's been refreshed and LS, LT and SS -, \ �·@-:---- Jt;':
models get a new front-end which includes

arevisedbonnet,grille,anddual-elcment

headlights with new LED bignature lighting,

new wheel designs and new LED taillights .... """'-

 MAS ERATI

EXTENDS

CUSTOMER

CARE SERVICE

Maserat,hasextended

1tscustomercare
serviceforcustomers
,ntheMiddleEastand
Afr,caofler1ngaseven·
year maintenance
andwarrantypackage
ensuring owners have
peaceofmindthattheir
veh1deiskeptinperfect
worl:ongcond1hon
The seven-year Service
PackageisMaserah's
exclusive service
that ensures that its
carsarema,nta1ned

attheh,ghestlevel
ofeff,ciencyand

performance for years

tocome"lheseven·
year Service package
g,vescustomers
maximumpeaceof
PATROL SAFARI RANGE EXTENDED
mind and assurance
thattheir11ehlde Nissan Patrol Falcon, Gazelle and Gazelle X added to iconic Saiari line-up
meetsthecomp,lny's
strict requirements for
safety.performance reatnews for off-road enthusiasts - and Gazelle logo embossed on the scats completes the look.
andrel1a�lity.This
Nissanfansmparticular!ThciconicPatrol Finall}•,thcl'atrolG:izcllc-X;ithasstcclfrontandrcar
exclusiveserv,ce,s
testament to our
unwaver1ngded,catoon
G Safari range has been extended with three

new editions - the Patrol Falcon, Patrol

bumpers (with rubber protection), both of which arc

detailed with the iconic Gazelle logo. The front bumper

tooorcustamersmthe
M,ddleE.istaodAfr,ca Gazelle and l'atrolGazcllc-X. has two J x Jm cube LED lights, while the rear-enforced

byprov,d,ngthebest Dcvclopedjustforandavailablctocustomcrsinthc bumper has additional extreme duty tow hooks and a
serviceca,eoveran
!\.liddleEast,thetriohavcbccninspiredbyandnamcd spare tyre carrier. It al ...o has a custom-made front skid
extendedpenod."sa1d
Domenico la Marte, after the majestic eocring Falcon and fleet-footed Gazelle. platccmbos..cd with bright red Gazelle insignia and a
General Manager
- two of the rncsr iconic animals to inhabit the desert bonnet scoop Also included arc a new set of black and
MiddleE.istandAfr,ca.
Thepackagecoversthe sands and sktcs of the region. red lined 17in off road alloys with J]Smm tyre.'>. A roof
scheduledma,n\enance
The Patrol Falcon has uniquely designed body stripes. rack has been added along with a JOin LED light bar.
atstandardserv,ce
!oruptosevenyears a chrome front bumper, silver satin front skid plate. Performance ha.'> been unproved by a fifth gear over­

or before 140.000km.
and LED beam light bar. A chrome-finished petrol can drive (only on manual transmission models), increased
whochevercomesf1rst
holder and wheel cover with falcon-design complement fr ont a ndr ea rdi ffc r c nt ia lr a t ms ,4. 0 inl iftk it a nd a n cw
Theoflerisvahduntil
October31st2018� thercar.Thcinteriorpacksprcmiumtan-lcather pe1 formancecnbrinceredcxhaust.'>ystem Theinterior

canonlyberedeerned
scats embroidered with a falcon budge. a refrigerated comes wi th custom-made tan leather scars nd door
a
fromtheor,g1nal
coontryofpurchase. coolcrbox,dualfrontmrbags,kcylcsscntrysystcm.air trim.'>, wi th a Gazelle logo detailed on the scats. A cage

conditionmg with Independent Rear Cooling System, has been :i ddcd between the cond
se ;ind third rows nd
a

MISSION E CROSS
ABS, and Automatic Speed Control (ASCD). a rea r retractable drawer se t has bee n installed o
t ensure
TURISMO TO GO

INTO PRODUCTION ms can tored nd A rope,

The Patrol Gazelle edition boasts a body decal, new ite be s safely a conveniently, tow

Porschew,llput
fcnderAarcs,17mbronzccolourcd-alloywhccls(with sand mp
rn and emergency kir come s standard with the
a
theM,ss1onE
CrnssTunsmomto :i Gazelle logo in the centre) wrapped with new 285mm Gazcllc-X. rther cementing the car's off-roading status.
fu

l)(oduction. lt"II have a

multi-terrain tyres. The rear roof spoiler is designed for "\\'ca rcconfidcntthatthclaunchofthel'atrol Falcon.
systemoutputof600
horsesandarangeof holdingAab'Swhilstdescrtdrivingandanair�norkcl Gazelle and Gazelle X will further cement the car's

SOOkm.Aderovative
hasbccnaddcdtoimprovcthcairflowtothcvchiclc, s tatusasthcall-conqucring,off-roadingvchicleofchoice
oftheTaycan
Por?;Che"sfirstpure whether in the desert or shallow waters. It i� also for desert-lovers in the Mi ddle E t," said Kalyana
a ...

EVw,llbelaunched
equipped with a tuned remote reservoir shock suspension Sivagnanam, Regional Vice President. Marketing and
onthemarketm
anod bed in Ni ...san red and black colours, along with Sales. Nissan AMI and President ofNi ...san M iddle East.
2019.Thesportscar
manufacturer will a2.0inliftkit.Thcadditionofafrontclcctricalwinch All three boast a powerful 4.8-litrc motor mated with
neate300add,tional
with a cap;icity of 4.JOOkg puts the driver, or their less­ a five-.'>pecd auto or fivc-spc,:d manual producing 280
1obs1nZuffenhausen
lorproduct,onofthe equipped friends, at case in off-road situetions. lnside, it hor scs and 452Nm ofto1·quc and will be available at
vehicle
comes with bespoke tan leather scats and door trims. A Nissandcalcrsncro,;.sthcrcb<ion.
 F O R M U LA E

ABT AND DI GRASSI

TEST NEW AUDI E·TRON FEOS
Final Formula E pre-season tests in Valencia

Allelevenf'ormulaE once chose himselfwhereas In addition, a simulation

teams rcccntly met for the the Brazrhun is switching of the new race fonnat

official pre-season tests of back to his favorite that will no longer include

the racing series in Valencia number following :1 year as a mid-race car swap but a

This is the only comparison champion in car number J. new "uttack mode" which

w1th the competition before In Valencia, both of Aud1 i� armed when the driver

the ABU FIA Formula E Sport ABT Schacfflcr's passes through the so called

Championship starts its new Audi c-tron FEOS cars arc -activation zone" is planned

season in mid-December on track together for the :is well.

on the occasion oft he test first time. Whil<' Dan id Abt When the driver passes

Audi unveiled the liveries has two white front wheel through this zone, the power

of Daniel Abt and Lucas di arches and red mirrors, di output of his cm will receive

Grassi's all-electric Audi Grass] can be, recognized a short-term boost.

c-tron FEOS cars to media by black mirrors and black While Formula E i� facing

and fans. front wheel arches. among major changes in terms of

#66 and #II - these arc other things. technology and regulations

the numbers of the cars "Following the private tests before season five, Audi has

in which Daniel Abt and in recent months, the pre- opted for consistency both

Lucas di Grassi intend to season test in valcncia now on the tr:tck and trncksidc:

defend the tide in the teams' mark both the conclusion Daniel Abt and Lucas di

classification and battle for and pinnacle of our Grnssi form the only driver

thedrivcrs'title. preparations on the track," pairingin thc ficld ro havc

The 25-year-old German said Team Principal Allan contested all previous 45

hasretained the number he McNish.

 ADNOC STARTS

PREMIUM FlEX

SERVICE IN

NORTltERN

EMIRATES
AONOC has started its

pavtopumpPl'ffl'ium

tle,serviceacross

thenorthernemirates

me;,ningmotorisls

willneedtoe,ther

pay the attendant for

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AONOC foel statlO<l.

rbs sevce tes elsc

beenmtegratedwith

theadvancedsmc1rt

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beouoedbyADNOC

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oilcorr-.,..nyinthl!UAE

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motoristscanask!or

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theyhndanyd,ffoculty

mrelvehngthe,rca,.
 NISSAN INTELLIGENT MOBILITY

'SAFETY SHIELD 360' COMING

TO TOP-SELLING MODELS

Aim to improve safety and the overall driving experience

Nissan ls lntroduclng Safety Shield for Nissan owners." According to

360,:isuiteofsixadvanccdactivc thclnsur:rncclnstitutcfor
Highway

safety and driver-assist technologies as Safety (IIHS), cross trnffic alert

st.:1ndordcquipmcn1onallofi1stop· r('duccscrashcsby22pl.'rccnt:thl.'

selling models by 2021, representing combination of rcarvicw cameras and

morcthanoncmillionvchicles scnsorsrcduccscrashcsby42pcrccnt;

annually. andaddingrcarcmcrgcncybraking

"Our philosophy is to bring Nissan reduces backing ems hes by 78 per cent

Intelligent Mobility technologies compared with "chicles with none of

to market in our most popular and these features. Nissan Safety Shield

affordable vehicles," said Denis U' 360, which includes front, side and

Vot, chairman. Nissan North America. rear sensing technologies - will first

"Safety Shield 360 combines six be introduced as standard equipment

advanced systems to give models like on SV and SL grades of the all-new

Altima a dass-leadingpackagc of 2019 Akima. It supports the Nissan

technologies that can improve safety Intelligent Mobility vision to redefine

3ndthem·ernlldrivingexpcricnce howcars arc driven.

A Kuwait-based visitor pickeduphisprizefrom emphasises the premium

tothe2018edltionof theA]YousufMotors experience and commitment

GITEXShoppcratthe Showroom in Dubai and to qualiry of'tbc rcjuvcnatcd

Dubai World Trade Centre will return to Kuwait brand.Khumanpursaid,

(DWTC), came away instylcinabrand-new "I've been participatingin

withfarmorcthanhe LS-litre STD 2019 MG theGitcxShoppcrfcstival

had bargained for. as the ZS. The MG ZS marks an for many years.so winning

winnerofabrand-newl\lG exciting new era of design thi�fonta�ticMGcarisrcally

ZS compact SUV, courtesy for MG Motor. the famous overwhelming. As a man-on-

of the visir & Win raffle British car manufacturer thc-go l doalotofdriving

draw at thc rcgion'slnrgcsr withtheintroductionofa and the MG ZS is perfect for

consumer electronics new design philosophy that mc.Withplcntyofspaccfor

shopping festival. i
s set to feature across all ullrnystuffItis also rcally

MustafoKhumanpur upcoming MG models, and fuel efficient"

 OPINION

SKILL AND
HEROISM
You had to be really good to compete in the open road

endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily

he Targa Florio was a rallyinvolvcs3routcofscvc1alhundr<.'G Thcnavig:itor'sjobiskcy,b.;\"enth3t

T long-distance

hcld on Sicilian
sportscar

public
race

roads
kilomctrcsonhistoricroutcs,runovcrthrcc

d3ys,withspcci3l�t3b'CSth3trcquircprccisc
the driver rnuse obey the navigator's

instructionsandpreferablynotcrash,a

froml906tol977whcns.1foryconccrns timing1311,,c,ts.Thcstagcsarcinr3pid­ regular ity competition is really a navigators'

substituted racing for rallying, including firc,a�youcxitonctimcdsuo'C,youcntcr competition.

TCb'llbritytri.1lsforcb.ssicc.1r�. another. The pro teams arc loaded with time/ Possessing the simple brain of a race driver

Forncarlyumy<'arsthcTarg:i.Florio's distance/avcragcspccdcakulatorswhilet whcrenavio'3tionisirrelc\'3nt,regularity

rcnaiss::incehasbe<-njoinl'dbythcFerr:iri wascquippedwithamcchanica!stopwatch navig:itiontoanoviceiscomplexandhectic.

Tt ibute; a rcgulariry tally open to any I have to admit to asking myself the point of

FC'rrari.Entriesthisyearcamcfrom "Possessing the regularity rallies. However, doing so heralds

aroundthcglobcandiwast:iskcdwith simple brain of a the question reg:irdingthepointofanysport.

navigationaldutiesin aFcrrari Fl2,asa Riskingyourlifchurt!ingroundandround

race driver where
ncw812Supcrfastwasnotrcady.This in circles is as pointless as hitting a golf ball
navigation is
mc:mt tackling the demanding mounrnin intoadistanthole,wherebeingstruckby

roads with only 740 horsepower instead of

inelevant, regularity lightningisth('predominantrisk.Happily

the Supcrfast's 800 horsepower. navigation to a novice this parriculur sport docs include lavish

l f l i k l.' m c , y o u h m • c n o i d c a w h a t a
is complex and hectic." hospitality and camaraderie.

regularity rally is, allow me to explain. The M)' lasting memory of the Targa Florio is the

format is similar to today's Mille l\llgli:i, and the car's normal trip counter. The skill and heroism of the period racers. The

which is Italy's retrospective of its 1,000- nnviguror's Job - apart from directing the pain of not having competed in the original

mile road race on public roads. Like the route - is to count down the seconds to the races. The beautiful disorder that is Sicily,

Targa, the original Ml\l was forced to shut driver who must cross various timinglmes at the cuisine, the dramatic scenery and the

down on for safety reasons. A regularity precise moments. And I mean precise. friend lincss of the Sicilians.i!.;!l

feelsonyforSpain. lthasabad
D
rcpthntiswhollyunjustificd.
Many pcop]c think of this
magnificent country ns a backwards, scrubby
mass of rocks-with most of its precipitation
follingon a central pletceu, as the rbyrnc
suggcsts.
ltisfrcqucn1cdbyboorishtourists
and saggy-jowled retirees from the lcss­
glamorous parts of Europe, they say. Its food
isnoma1chforlttily·s,itsbcnchlifcstylcis
more like :i dirham-shop COtc d'Ai:urc.
This is downri1,'Tit cobblers. to my mind. For
mc,Spainisoncof1hcunsungwondcrsof
Europe, with wonderful people possessing
unm:itchcJalcgriadc\'i1•ir,majcsticcitics
like Barcelona and Madrid and perhaps the
best road network in Europe.
Ycs,it'saboldstatcmcnt.butif)·ou
"The journey from the south
of France to southern Spain ls
a case In point. You zoom over
the high Pyrenees at cloud
height, surrounded by majestic
snowcapped mountains."
disagree with it. you're wrong. The
autopistasbctw<'<'nthcciticsandrcgions
maybe speed limited. an advantage '
thcautobahncnholdovertheSpanish :;
'
•
nctwork.butthat'sthconlyrcaldcficit. ••••••••
Otherwi�e,Spain'sroutesareshortof
traffic.incxccllcntnickandblesscdwith
tremendous views.
not'ndofwcll-pan:dwindingrural
Thcjourncyfromthcsou1hofFranee
roadsjustaboutan)•whcrcacrossthis
to southern Spain isacaseinpoinl.
mountainous country. You might get
You zoom over the high Pyrenees at
an old Seal van blocking your way now
cloudhcight,surroundedbymajestic
and:ig:iin,butSpanishcnginccrslo,·c
snowcapped mountains. If you're toking
building overtaking lanes everywhere
the AP-7 motorway down the coast. you
thcy dcslgn roads.
eomeclosctoBatcelona.aftcrwhich
Be careful, though. Spanish road laws
point many stretches of the Autopista dd
might catch you out if you're doing any
Mcdit:irr;inco arc just a stone's throw away
numbcr of things considered normal
fromthcsca.
elsewhere. Like having your elbow
You might think that a motorway doesn't
11.'Stingon your window sill, which can
constitutcanepicdrive.butl'dall,'\le
land you with a 100 euro fine. Or driving
that when they arc as good a" the ones in
Spain,cuttingthroughthewildt'rnt'ss:ind without:ishirtorinflip-flops,which
offeringpanoramicvicwsofthccountry'" fine-wiseis twice as bad.
harshandbeautifulbndsc:ipes,thcycome Oh.anddrivingontoabcachisahatcful
pretty close. offcnccinSpain.punishablctothetunc
Ifyou'rcastickler,though,youcanfind of 6.000 curos if you're caught. l!ll
 2019 JEEP WRANGLER RUBICON

AN ICON REINVENTED
Reimagining a legendary model is a tricky task. Jeep has done just that with the new
JL generation of its Wrangler. Has it managed to keep the essence intact?
WDRDS:SONYTHDMAS.PHOTDS:STEFANLINDEDUE

fever there was a baptism by fire in the automotive arc a Jeep aficionado, spotting the differences between the J K and

world, it is the Willys Overland MB Jeep that can the J Lis n 'tasingleglanccta3k.

I srnkcacbimtothat.Jointlydc\·clopcdandbuiltby

Willys, Bantam and Ford, the Jeep has been through

Designers have stuck to tradition with the interior as well, with a

clean, upright centre stack that harks back to olden day�. but gets a

situations that no other vehicle in history would have. From off­ dash of contemporariness thanks to a large LED display screen. In

road reconnaissance and carrying weapons and troops to lugging up re date with connectivity and comfort features and the knobs and

heavy artillery and doubling up as ambul:mccs during the Second controlsincludingawcathcrscalcdpushstartbuttonarealllaid

WorldWar,ithassccnitall,andhashvcd!ongcnoughtotcllthc out ergonomically The centre console houses the gear shift lever,

talc to m:my generations While the subsequent commercial models transfcrcaschand!eandparkingbr:il.e.Thcrc:irctwocupholders

havchadamuchlc�simcnsclifcthanthcirforcbcar.1hcyall lived onthecentrcconsolc,oncofwhichisoccupicdbythcashtrai',and

up to the incredible legacy of go-anywhere skills. And the boxy, the doors have mesh pockets Not the most generous of storage

minimalist design has srood the test of time and resisted modern- spaces but the glove box and the compartment beneath the centre

daywind tunnelcompulsions. armrest can be locked for added safety when the top is down The

So it didn't come as a surprise that the latest JL-gcncration Jeep cabin is washable 30 that )OU don't have to worry about all the sand

Wrangler's styling is evolutionary. FCA knows better than anyone andmudthat)oute3ca p adcsdum p intherc.

that mcseing with a winning formub is suicidal. Every iconic While Jeep says road manners of the new Wrangler has improved

clemcntfromthcroundhcadlight3andthc3even-slotb'tilletothc compared to the previous generation, it's still for from refined.

trapezoidal wheel arches and the visible door hinges ls retained and especially in the Rubicon wnh its all-terrain tyres. Ride is wobbly,

untouched However, within the constraints of a rigid design brief, tyrcrollandwind noi3earenoticeablc,andtheMeeringthe

they have manab'Cd to infuse some semblance of modern it)' with the elcctrohydraulic steering is light and vab'Ue. But such cl iticrsms

help of LEDs and a few minor tweaks here and there. But unless you leveled against a Jeep Rubicon is akin to complaining a Mercedes-
 rovr � \TO�Y

28 "So it's a blast to drive, oa the open road and even on a

serious race track, but does it do all that at the expense of

the other side ol the GT remit?"

Shane O' Donoghue, contributing writer, on the BMW MSSOi

"The 3.6-litre Pentastar V6

under the Rubicon's bonnet is
good for 285hp at 6,400rpm
and 347Nm of torque at 4,100
rpm and is mated to a new eight­
speed automatic transmission."

Ben 1, S-Class doesn't do well off-rood. Take it off tarmac, and the

Rubicon becomes one with the terrain like a duck takes to water.

While the Sport and Sahara trim levels get the Sclcc-Trac four

wheel drive system, the Rubicon gets the Rock-Trac as standard.

Sclcc-Truc is a full-t1mc two-speed transfer case for continuous

monitoring and management of the torque sent to front and rear

wheels. The Rubicon's system provides additional off-road ability

featuring a two-speed transfer case with 4.0·1 low-range gear

ratio and front and rear heavy-duty Dana 44 axles and Tru-Lok

clcctricfront-andrcar-axlclockcrstotacklcthccxtrcmctcrrains.

Additional articulation and suspension travel is provided by an

electronic system that lets drivers to dlsconnccr the front sway

bar to deliver additional wheel travel to negotiate tough trails.'[ he

Trac-Loklimited-slipieardiffcrentialprovidcscxtratorqucand

grip in low-traction situations such as driving over sand and gravel.

The higher approach, departure and brcakovcr angles compared

to the previous model adds to its already remarkable all-terrain

The 3.6-litre Pcntastar V6 under the Rubicon's bonnet is good

for 28Shp at 6,400rpm and 347Nm oftorqu,: at 4,100 rpm and

is mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission in our

market. Although peak torque doesn't arrive until 4.800rpm, the

V6 is good enough most situations you'll find yourself in an off­

road expedition. Jeep has also brought the new Wrangler up to

date with features like Blind-Spot Monitormg, Rear Cros� Path

detection, rear park assist, rear backup camera with dynamic grid

lines, electronic stability control with Electronic Roll Mitigation

and four standard airbags

Despite all the improvements made to the JL, the Wrangler

Rubicon cannot be recommended to someone who is looking to

buy a Jeep as a statement. For everyday usnbihty, the base model

will be a better choice, still being able to handle the occasional

cross-country jaunts with aplomb. But if you belong to the majority

customer bosc that bu ys� Jeep for its off-road prowess, you know

you don't need a recommendation to choose a Rubicon �

 ,_ - -.

AUDI 08

CUETHEB
Does Ingolstadt's latest SUV have what it takes to topple its cousins such as
the Bentayga, Urus and Touareg? We head to Oman to find out...
WORDS:GHAITHMIIDADHII.PHDTDS:SUPPLIED

Ith the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe

fixed fiimly in its sights, the Audi Q8 ls Ingolsradt's

gambit into the German-dominated so-called 'four­

door coupe· premium SUV segment. A well resolved

latecomer, the Q8 is based on the same platform

underpinning its larger Audi Q7 sister, Lamborghini Urus, Bentley

Bcntayga and Volkswagen Touarcgcousins. lntroducmg Audi's new

SUV design language, it is a tech-laden and sure-footed SUV Aagship

that inherits the Audi AS luxury saloon's 48v mild hybrid technology

andtwin.">Crccninfotainmcntsy�tcm.

Aptly ma ling lrs Middle Easr debut at Oman's demandingly steep

3.000-mctcr high Jcbcl Akhdar. the Audi Q8 has a distinctly imposing

presence, which with Dragon Orange finish and optional 22in alloys.

looks like it were sculpted from the rocky surroundings. With sharp

ridges and angles, and high, level waistline, the Q8 has a confident and

mature aesthetic scnsibrhry Its central design clements mcludc a vast,

�nouty and thick single-frame octagonal gnllc and low rooflinc, which

is subtle next to competitors' rakishly overstated angles.

Takmgprimary visual cues from the futuristic 2015 Audi E-tron

Quattro Concept. the Q8 however also references the past. Its

most obvious nods to the iconic and original Eighties Audi Quattro

include blistered wheel-arches and heavily browcd headlights, and

morcdiscrl.'Ctlyitsblad.edoutscctionbctwl.'Cnthl.'rearlights,and

C-pillars. Meanwhile, underneath its chiseled surfacing, the Q8

featurcsstcelandaluminiurnconstructionforstrcngth.ri1,<idity.

safety and to help keep its inevitably hefty weight in check.

Initiallyavailablconlyin55TfSiguisewithad1rcctinjcction

twin-turbo 3 0-litrc V6, the Q8 is expected to gain VS variants in

future. That said, the 55 TFS! was rarely found wanting for more

power on steep inclines and altitudes of 2.000 meters above scu

level. Developing J40bhp at a 5,000-6,400rprn plateau and 500Nm

torque throughout a broad and acccssibly versatile 1.370-4.SOOrprn.

thcQ8isAcxiblc.confidcntandquid.onthcrnove.andiscapablc

0-1001.ph in e.z-scconds and a 250kph maximum.

Responsive from standstill with quick-spooling turbos, the Q8

pulb hard and consistently through its rev range. Delivery is

smooth with a subdued sound, the Q8'� turbo whistle becomes

evident when it� framelcss windows arc open. Driving all four­

wheels through a �lick and quick shiftingc1ght-spcc<l automatic

 Stable, settled and refined at speed as expected, the Q8 also boasts

tcnacioustrnction:indroad-holdingcourtcsyofQuanrofour-wheel­

drive. Driving with a default 40:60 front-to-rear power split for

greeter agility, it can reallocate up to 85 per cent power rearwards or

70 percent frontwards as necessary on- und off-road. Driving through

Jcbcl Akhdar"s rollcrcoastcr-hkc hairpins, the Q8 tidy turn in is aided

by brukc-bascd torque vectoring. However. it is the Q8"soptional four­

whcel-stccring system that was the real star through such snaking

roads.

Turning 1 5 degrees in the sarnc direction as the front whee lb at

speed for added stability and responsive directional changes, the QS"s

rear-wheel-steering however turns 5 dcgtcse in the opposite direction

at lower "peed. or lib required. Entering and carrying corners with the

nimbleness of a smaller. lower and lighter car, the Q8"s rear-wheel­

steering effectively simulates a shorter and more maneuverable

wheelbase. Pullingspcc<l through inelminghairpins with unexpected

agility, huge grip levels and no tracc of tyrc squeal. thc Q8 was as

rcassuringasifridingonrails.

Drivenwithopuon:ilairsuspcnsion.thcQ8wast:iutandwcll

gearbox that makes thc most of its output for performance and containcd body roll in its firmer and lower riding Dynamic mode.

efficiency, the Q8 also features a 48v mild hybrid system used to focused and smooth if slightly firm dnvcn so. the Q8"s Comfort

power various ancillary, electrical and power systcms. mode however provides 3 morc forgiving. supple and fluent ride over

Recharged through regenerative braking and the combustion imperfections. Rising to a generous 254mm ground clearance for

cnginc. thc Q8's 48v system contributes to a 0.7 litre per IOOkm off-road driving. rnodcrarcly stccp dirt road inclines were dispatched

fuel consumption reduction. The 48,· system also allows seamless with case and greater ability than reasonably expected ofit!>

automatic coasting for 40-bcconds at speeds between 55 to 160kph, segment. 1 hrough winding gravel routes. it also proved comfortable,

and stop/srarr system operation from 22kph. Not designed to intrude maneuverable. adjustable and rcassur-ingly grippv.

on the Q8"s drrvclinc, the 48v system however provides a 7Nm Equipped with standard Middlc East specification 22in alloy wheels,

torque boost back from the eeartcr-gcncrator, as deemed necessary the Q8's 285/40R22 tyre" were slightly firm over Jagged speed bumps

by complex opcranng systcms. Additionally, the 48v b)'Stcm could and road imperfections. but otherwise adaptive air suspension well

potentially power Audi's hig

h tech clcctro-rnccharncal suspension, as compensated for ride comfort. However, one felt Euro-spec base

featured on high-end 1\8 versions. 19in alloys would have further improved ride. Smaller end lighter
 SPECS
MODEL

QBSSTFSI

JO-htre.turboclwg,od.\/6

E•tht-spe«lautoAWD

MAX POWER

340bhp SOOOrpm

SOONm tl70rpm

62·sec•

TOP SPEED

''°'�

Oh384.020(astrnod)

ON SALE

Road-hold,ng.lour·

whffj stetrilg1l,t� cab<n

awomt"""1\conl1dent
del,.,,,ry

LOWS

We,ght,rearheaodroom,

lowp,olilety,e,;

"Refined,
quiet and well­
insulated, the
QB'sclassy
cabin is swathed
with quality
soft textured
materials,
leathers and
optional black
Alcantara
roofline."

wheels could have also improved steering feel for its otherwise well- camera Front space. rear legroom and 605-litrc luggage room arc

weighted. direct and quick system Braking meanwhile was effective ample, while rear headroom is adequate for taller passcngcrs.givcn

and reassuring; with vasr v cntilatcd discs and six-piston front the Q8'� coupe-like rooflinc, but not as generous as its Q7 sister.

calipers well-resisting fade. yet worked hard on steep descents. Well equipped in Middle East specification. the Q8 comes with

Refined, quiet and well-insulated, the QS's classy cabin is swathed standard panoramic roof. four-zone climate control, configurable

with quality soft textured materials, leathers and optional black Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation, Isofix child scat latches and

Alcantara rooAinc. Design and layouts arc pleasantly user-friendly, Side Assist and Pre-sense safety system. Optional features include

and include large stacked twin infotainment screens with black glass ecat ventilation. parking assistance. HD Matrix LED hcadhghts and

huptic touch feedback buttons. more. Equipped with a single engine option at launch.one however

Driving position is supportive, comfortable and wcll-adJu�table, expects 4.0-litrc VS versions in futut c, and possibly Sor RS high

while rear and rcvcrsmgl'isib11ity is aided by an optional 360 degree pcrfo1mance versions to give its Italian cousin a run for its money.
 >BMWM850i

hat comes tom.ind when you're told about the launch ofa new 'GT'

car?Thc ccnccpt's orlgtns arc thought to be, in Europe, specifically

Italy, standing for Gran Turismo. l:mcrly translated into English as

Gran Tourer, but often just simply referred 10 as a GT. Regardless of

country, it was b'Cncrally accepted that a GT was a high·cnd model

with pcrform:mcc to spare. allied 10 a chassis 1h:11 could keep the

car's occup:mts comfortable ever long dist:mces. Today, the GT letters

are b:mdicd about willy-nilly, found on the back of mildly sporting

hatchbacks on one end oft he scale and ddining I whole sector of

mororspore on the other. BMW itself has GT versions of the 3 Series

a11d6Scrics,bu1,c,·cnthcydon'tM:cm10qui1cfitwiththcorib-inal

dcfinition.Cucthclnunchofit�ncwcstcar,thc8Serics.

That badge is a bit of a throwback, too. as l!M\V used it once before

(from 1989 to 1999). llut that is about all that's retro about the new 8

Scries. lteffcctivdyrepl:ieesthe6Scries(01herthan.ironic:illy,the

GT model - there will be an 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and four­

door Gran Coupe). but BMW reckons ii has taken such :i big etcp

for ward th at i1 wa rr a nt cda n ew n a me a nd pos i t ion i n its r a n ki n gs.lt

describes the new 8 Series as a dream car. prioritising performance,

design and luxury. And how docs it back that up? Well, h)' kicking

things off with seriously high-performance variants. An all-singing,

all-dancing MS will arrive next year (as previewed by the GTE racer

that has been competing for about a year already), but e glance at the

technical make-up ofits understudy. the M850i xlJrive. should be

enough to convince even the most cynical that BMW means business

withthisear.

Under the sharply contoured bonnet up front is a twin-turbocharged

4.4-litn: VS, which is the same specification as the engine in the

currcnl l!MW AIS, but this one is, despite the same capacity, quite

different. More or less all aspects of ii. from the inlet to the exhaust,

thcturbos,theinjectionS)'Stemandthecylindcrlinersareall

new.asis.crucially,thecr.;ankeasc. Why?Ononc,,idc,toenhance

efficiency and reduce weight. but speaking to BMW's engineers ee the

intcrnntionnl lnunch, we nlso discovered that the mechanicals of

t h i s u n i t w il! :i l l o w f o r m u e h h i g h e r o u t p u t s i n t h c f u t u r c . Y c s , c v c n

higher than the Ms manages.

For now. the M850i 'makes do' with 523bhp and 750Nm of

torque. enough to propel the big two-door coupe t

o IOOkph from

rest in just 3.7scconds. Plentiful use of aluminium and BMW"s

·carbon Core· has kept the weight down t

o a certain extent, but

i
t still weighs nearly 2.000kg, so it's no featherweight. Still. with

all that grunt divided between ell four wheels using the latcsr­

gcneration xDrh-e four-wheel-drive system. ii gets off the line

incredibly ra pidly, B�IW doesn't e 1ocall

lik it an all-wheel-drive

c ar, in cidentally. instead saying it's :i rear-drive cou pe with extra

tr.action wh en needs be. And in truth. that's how it handles. too. the

f ront wh eels onl y coming into play wh en th e rear end has started

10 lose traction. The set-up is II polished on e. as well. making th e

tr ansition rom full)' rear-drive

f to four -wheel dri ve sm oothly and

almost undetccteblc. lt just gets on w ith the business ofb l:isting

th rough corner s and Ii ring you ou t the oth er sid e in :i ury

f of

powerful VS noi se.

There's a lo t m ore happening und er th e skin to help th e 8 Series

belie its size and fe el like a genuine sports coupe when you sho w

i
t an interesting road. Adnprivc damping you'd assume, corr ectly,
is standard. and it works wonderfully, offering genuine comfort

on one end of the scale and firmer body control on the other. Just

as important. however, is the inclusion of four-wheel steering

(Integral Acti,·c Steer) and an electronically controllOO active rear

differential (tuned by BMW M of course). These conspire to give

the 8 Series a more agile manner than you could possibly imagine.

The rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the fronts at low

speeds. which i
s hugely useful in tight parking manoeuvres, it also

effectively shortens the wheelbase in the turns. This i

s allied with

a more direct front steering rack, which wouldn't be feasible if it

wasn't for the extra stability affordOO by the rear wheels turning

in the same direction as the fronts at higher speeds. And, like the

xDrh'c, the best thing i

s th at you don't re ally sense this system in

o peration: th e car just gets on with it.

Th a t a c tiv cdiff e rcn tia lp lay smor e th a n as m all p a rt i n

proceedings, especially if you switch the c ar into Sport Plus m ode.

The di fference between this and the Comfortsetting(and ind eed.

just 'Sport') h as been emph asised like never before in a BMW.

me aning a much loudcrcxhnust (it has active Aap control) , a

bCtiouslyoggrcssivemapforthethrottleand(newl)'devclopcd)

eight-speed automatic gearbox ond firmer d amping. Meanwhile,

th e d ffi erential m akes th e car feel seriously pointy on th e entry t

o

a cornet.

So it's a blast to dri ve, on th e open ro ad and even on a serious race

track (as we di scovered at Estoril in Portugaf}, but d ocs i

t do all

ther at the e xpense of the oth er side of the GT remit? Not a i

b t of it.

Switch it into Comfort mode, seule back into the gorgeously su pple

leather scats (consider the back scats as luggage space only). tun

your fingers ever the beautifully tactile materials coating every mm

of the cabin and immerse yourself in the effortless performance

o n t;ip litt le above idle, while the suspens on i isolates you r

f om the

road underneath , allowing you pass hundreds of kilometres at a

time without ever wanting to get out.

You will eventually reach your desrinarion. which will give you a

good excuse to disembark and look back and admire the car. B�tW

hns undoubtedly nailed the GT brief and the GT of 2019 looks t

o

be :i contemporary rwist on the good ol' days of motoring. Long live

the GT.
 SPECS

44 <�1w" ·l"'t V8

TRANSMISSION

E .Offli t AWC

M,.)(POW[R

,i 5( pm

M..-.XTORQUl

""' 1 pr
TOPSP(EO

PRICE

"'
HIGHS
 KAWASAKI VULCAN 1700 VAQUERO

RIDING IN STYLE
It looks great and has terrific stopping power - however, the ride can feel a tad harsh
and it also lacks a bit when it comes to equipment

WORDS AND PHOTOS: STUAN LINDEDUE: ADDITIDNAl PHOTOGRAPHY: SZILVIA MAROSI

hen conversation drifts towards sinister v-twin midnight. Analogue gauges help things looking suitably old school

power cruisers, it's fairly uncommon to look to thc East fromthcridcr.!opcr.!opcct1vcaswcll.

for prime examples. Kawasaki is well regarded in the Equipmcnt-whc, Kawasaki still furnishes it quite sparsely and there

supcrbikcandmotocrossarl.'nas-a fact that doesn't really aren't too many distractions. You get cruise control, and a stereo

b,:,arrcpcating-butthcJapancscm:mufocturerhaslargclynoibccn radio mounted in the fairing That's it. And this is where one would

too popular with producing touring motorcycles for all markets. start expecting a few more itcms as standard. For starters, it would

Originally launched in 1985 as a 700cc, the Vulcan of today comes be nice to have somewhere to charge a phone, even just a cigarette

in two offerings - a 900cc version in it's own assortment of some outlet would have worked (don't worry though, the after sales team is

six different trims and colours, :md 11·s bigger brother. a 1,700cc in expecting you. as there arc rwo blank off plugs in the fairing to have

two flavours. We taJ..c a closer look at the Vulcan 1700 Vaquero, the these fitted as option). Also, the radio is only a radio . no USB. no CO

(rclativcly)morcstrippcddownvcrsionofthctwo. no iPod not even an AUX inlet. Put this on your accessory hst as well..

First impressions, well it certainly has stature. From the front, that In 2018, really this should be a non-issue. Also available as extra i� a

massive, black batwing-style fairing with a single oversized halogen radio CB communication module. for those still familiar with their

headlight stirs up memories ofan old steam locomotive hurtling Yankee Foxtrots.

ahead. Bodp, ork then tapers in to an elegant waist, before the side Speaking of the fairing, there arc a few remarks worth mentioning.

panniers swoop, out again to a fairly wide but smooth back end - Setting off, immediately there is a problem on board the Vaquero.

from which side this bike looks even better. The flush-mounted tail Anything over 60kph and it soon becomes pretty clear that the

hght and short indicator bar arc nice touches, the radio antenna being (unadjustable) windscreen part ofit is completely ineffective. By

the only protrusion here. Chrome exhaust prpcs arc tucked neatly IOOkph it's downright unbearable. n's in fact the opposite of a

out of the way, and these - along with the shmy rocker covers on the windscreen if ever there was such a thing, because you get blasted

engine - arc pretty much the only items that aren't the colour of pure wi t h afaccfu ll of a ddit iona l a irthatwouldno 1mall y h av cby pass cd
 > Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero

,0

you. Yes. I wear an open face helmet and no, at 6 foot I'm not

abnormally ml!. An extra mcm's higher on the design would have

still looked good and made all thcdiffcrcncc so if! was buying, this

is the first thing rd have toch:mgc. The stock screen really spoils

what could be a great ridmg cxpcricncc. Another significant effect on

comfort is the trapped heat in the fairing cavity that radiates up from,

well. the radiator. This v-twin is liquid cooled and for some reason,

itrunshottcrthanyou'dl.'xpcct-Ifoundthctcrnpnccdkhovcrs

upwardsaroundthrccqu:utcratanygivcntirnc.

Ah. the needles on these analog gauges we talked about earlier. The

inner ring on the spccdo displays kilometers, but your eyesight would

need to be much better than mine to read any of it from the riding Enough about aesthetics and wind, what's it like, as a machine?

position. Ho" cv er, maths could save you here, as miles arc printed Ba� of low down torque as the power from the 1,700cc engine

nice and big, maJ..ing it clear which market this motorcycle takes aim come in early, but also leaves early, Almost too early. Useful range is

at Rcarvicw mirrors offered some of the best visibility we had been very short - anything above l,200rpm but below 3.000rpm, as after

for ages and the beat panniers will swallow quite a bit of luggage. that it runs out of breath. Power to the wheel is fed via a drivcbelt

and transmission consists of six gears, although sixth is labelled as

an 'ov crdrrvc' with no real paeemg or hill climb power. At 390kg's

dry weight you arc not going to be doing any drag racing anyway,

but highway speeds arc pleasant enough When it's time to slow

down. the brakes perform excellent. utilising a system called K-ACT

II (Kawasaki Advanced Coactivc-brakingTcchnology). It basically

mcansthcABShclpscnsurcidcalbrakcforccdistributionfor

confident braking.

Suspension is served up by telescopic air units up front and twin

progressive air charged coil-overs at the rear. Best described as plush

with only the rider on board, but with a passenger it gets foirly harsh,

to be sure. Rca1sarcadjustablctoadcgrccbutit'snotanon-thc-f\y

thing, and becomes a manual, experimental procedure that involves

some disassembly of the scat. a few clicks on an adjustable collar and

an(optional)handair-pumpwithaprcssurcgaugc. l didn't havc thc

tools to mydisposal but with practice I'm sure you could get the hang

ofit.

lf you'rc looJ..mg for a stylish and good looking two wheeler for

shorter day trips. with an American feel that you don't need to

rcmortgagc the house for. and don't mind spending extra on final

touches to make it your own - this could be all the bike )OU need l!i!l
 The 2600 series is sometimes overshadowed by many of Alfa's other gorgeous

offerings, but this two-door hardtop is still one of the best It ever made

he 2600 was

1962 Geneva
introduced

motor show by
at the

Alfa
round).
---
It weighed l,280kg and displayed

terrific handling thanks to a chassis with

Romeo with the successor to the front double A-arms with coil springs

2000 Series available in several body styles. and a sway bar, and a solid rear axle with

You had the four-door Bcrlina saloon and longitudinal radius arms and coil springs.

an open two-door Spider but the pick of the some of the amenities included leather

bunch was the Bertone-designed two-door scats, electric windows, a separate blower

Sprint. It wab simply gorgeous. fan to demist the rear screen and marker

The attractive two-door grand tourer lights in the trallmg edges of the doors.

fcaturc<lplcntyoffforc(chcckoutthcsubtlc

yctstylishbonnctduct)buckl.'tsl.'atsand

a racing-style three-spoke steering wheel

butmorethanitshandsom l.'aesthetics,

cnthusiastsfellforthl'Sprmtbccausl.'itcould

scoot; it had a top speed of 200kph.

ltsfobuloussix-cylindcr2.584ccmotor

withthrl.'cSolexcarburl.'tors(\Vebcrswl.'re

option al)made i45horses .T heengi ne

was derived from the Giulietta's and had a

reduced bore and stroke but the extra two

cylinders gave it robust performance. It

was mated to a five-speed floor-mounted

synchromesh manual (a, was the Spider

butthe B e rli n ahada column s hift ) whi lc

stopping power came from Girling disc

brakes at the front and turbo-finned drums

o n thcrcar(la t cr, itwo uldgc t disJ.:sall

 llN&-TERM ltVIEW

2019 RAM 1500 LARAMIE

WHAM, BAM, THANK YOU RAM!

We bag the 2019 pickup for a month and already love it so much that we may need to ask for an extension

.._ 1.111 IWJI. NITIS: SIIJU UIDElll

tlsoften�aidthatthingswon't

D
maJ..cyouhappy.lagrccwiththis

notion.oratlcastldidupuntil

last,,·cckwhl'nlpickcdupthishrandncw

pickup. I haven't stopped smiling since. Call

mcmatcrialistic,ldon'tcarc.

I'm not sun: what [ love most right now

about this 2019 Ram 1500 Lammie; is it it's

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 MYWHEllS

SHAKEN AND STIRRED!

Group 63 AMG founder and president Khalid Al Mulla likes his DBll so much
that he is considering starting up an Aston Martin club!
WORDS: IMRIIN MAUK. PHOTOS: ANAS THACHARPIIDIKKAL

NAMt:KHAI. )Atl,'1 lAJOIF'< [NTANL,- • ....JNDUOf spinsuchisitsabilitytothrill.Whcnlswitch with a racing interior end so I hope ru find
Gl!Ovl'6lAMGFIIOM '\A,WNUL$l, "'5l)'IMA�T1N
Di111NTH(UAf ._ ..
the drive mode to Corsa it blows me away thcprcviousl\lC.

with the way it changes gears so h:ard. You

Welcome back to My Wheels. Khalid. can feel thc'thud' in your epinc! And we still remember yow awesome

You were last here over ttuee years llikctoattcndsupcrcarcvcntswithil Brabus Bl53S - a car you love very

ago with yow very rare Gallardo where it always gets plenty of admiration. much. ..

Super Trofeo Stradale. They only This is my fin.t wife and I'll never let it go!

made lSO of these and you had We had a feeling you would keep I! helped me create Group6J which today

number 87. You're not going to let that that one, but. you parted with your is the biggest AMC dub in the world. Over

Lamborghini go are you? Maserati MC Stradale, right? the rears I have customized and modified

Thankyouforha1•ingmcb:ack. t ccrtainly Yep. gone with the wind! I used to call it The somany1hingi,1hatldon'tthinkthere·s

"on'tlctitgo.:asam::incroffoct,i1hasrnkcn Screamer because the sound it mode was just anyspaccinthecnginebaytoc,·enputa

nvcryspccialpbccinmyhcar1.lreallylo,·e unbelievable! mobilcphoneunderthere!lthastcached

it and even though I have had it for over three I am still in love with the MC but I sold it its maximum potential I guess and love

years,itstill feelslike lomdrivingitforthe because I am looking for a 2012 model with unleashingthisbcastespcciallyforlong

fit'!!ttimewhenevcrldccidetotakeitfora racing scats and racingharne�s. l love cars drives.

 �-�� �

' '
llJ jl_ �-­

OA

You have an Italian and a German ln

yow collection and now you added a

S.OOOrpm. The motor is mated to a rear-

mounted eight-speed automatic by ZF which

If you do ever get that you must

show it to us! Finally, what's the

-
fabulous British supercartothe mix! helps propel the car from 0-IOOkph in 3.8 latest news with Group 63 AMG?

TellusaboutyowAstonMartinDBll... seconds. It has a topspccdof322kph sol! Thcclubisgrowingfastandwenowhave

It was previously owned by a f1 icnd of mine has plenty of performance when you need more than 200k members in 27 countries.

who is an Aston Martin freak - he has every it but when you just want to cruise it is ever Ourhe:idquartersinBuijKhalifaisupand

model. Actually. when I saw his Vantage so smooth and docile too making it the ideal running and \
H ' arc finalizing our museum

GTl2 ll made me sec this brand in a different grand tourer for me. in Aj man which will be open to the public

light and I really began to appreciate them And since there aren't that many of these vcrv soon.

more. And, when he ordered the DBS and cars on the road, it sure docs get a lot of We broke the record for the biggest C63

decided to let the DBI! go, I didn't hesitate to attention from enthusiasts It's so good that I drive, A45 AMG drive, AMG GT R drive.

buy it. am thinking about starting an Aston Martin 4x4/6x6 G Wagon drive and the biggest

I think rhis car has so much prestige and club! Bugattidrivcinthcworld

personality I have several meetings daily and Now. we arc planning for Super Sprint

need a car that is ccrnfor table but at a push of You should! Ok, here's a tough 4.0,thcprcviou�cdition had 167cars

a button can trunsforrn into a ferocious beast question - which one do you like the worth Dh691 million but this coming

and this DBI I b that car. most from yow collection? December we arc aiming for a collection of

The Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofco cars worth Dh800 million. It b going to be

Just how good is that 5.2-litre twin- Stradalc - but one of my goals is to get the hcavcnforhypercarlovcrs!�

turboV12? Mercedes-Benz �LR McLaren 722 � and ifl

It isamning. lt produces 600 horses at ever do then I may have to rethink which one

6,SOOrpm and 700Nm of torque at 1,500- my favourite is!

 CELEBAATINGTHEGREATlSTCDCK-UPS
INIWTDMDTIVEHISTORY

RENAULT
DAUPHINE

ere•sproofthat more than

m two million people really can

be wrong. What we have here is

thcRcnaultDauphmc,acurvaccousrcar·

cngincds:1loonconccivcdbythcFrcnch

car·makinggiantin the early Fifticsa�a

chcap,no-frillsvchklcinthcmou!dofthc

Volkswagen Beetle, Morri� Minor and Fint

500.

Although not a bad looking thing (which

partlyexplains why so many hapless how delighted French criminals would rebirth (Dnuphinc is the fomininc form of

individuals bought on"), the Dauphinc have been when the local police force was the French feudal rirlc of Dauphin, the heir

carned a reputation as a bit of a laughing equipped with Dauphines. More laughable apparent to the throne).

stock. Propelled by a wheezy 845cc still was rhat the snail-like contraption Despite its shortcomings, the Oauphine

four-cylinder engine eking out 27bhp, was even used in car racing. holds nostalgic appeal for many people,

the bulbous Renault took a yawning 35 Another amusing gem is that Renault making it a sought-after collector's car,

seconds to reach lOOkph. and it was said considered the name 'Corvette' for its Renault marketed numerous variants of

to be so pi one to rusting that one severe new model. but to avoid a conflict with the Oauphinc, including the range-topping

winter could corrode the front fenders the recently bunched Chevrolet sportstcr Ondine.sportingGordini versions and a

into sieves. A standing joke in France with the same badge, the company instead factory racing model. There was also the

was that "if you stood beside rt, you could chose a moniker that reinforced the Caravellc/Floride, a Oauphine-based two-

actually hear it rusting". Given us woefully importance of the project's predecessor, door coupe and two-door convertible.�

slowaccckration.wecanonlyimagine the 4CV, to France's post-war industrial

n �L..JI � ......:. ,;... 1 17\ 800 HYUNDAI I qwww.hyundai-uae.com
� JUmaAIMajidEst. \U 4 98 8324 info@hyund11i-u11e.com <8) H Y U n D R I
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For more Information. please contact Abu Dhabi Motors LLC. Umm A.I Nar (02) 507 5800. Khalldlya (02) 681 1700. Mussafah (02) 401 6333. A.I Aln (03) 766 8282. (03) 722 2240

(I]tMINIADM I @!abudhablmotors I wwwMINI-ABUDHABl.com I e mall: mlnl@alsaqeri:roupcom