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42
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FIRSTDRIVE |
COVERSTORY |
Style icon All-new 2014 LincolnMKZ sedan makes itspresence felt in thesegment
Macan readyWith the all-new 2014Porsche Macan inGermany
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in this issue
CONTENT METER0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
COVER STORY
30-37 2014 PORSCHE MACAN
38-41 2014 HONDA CITY
OMAN AND REGIONAL NEWS
6-9 OMAN LAUNCH OF 2014 MITSUBISHI OUTLNDER
CROSSOVER SUV AND FIRST OMAN LAUNCH DRIVE.
REFRESHED FOR 2014 NISSAN PATROL. AUTOMAN
SIGNS OFF CORTY 2012 PRESENTATION AND
TEASES COTY 2013 SHORLISTED CANDIDATES.
BOSCH UNVEILS NEW PRODUCT PACKAGING AND
IDENTITIES, REGIONAL AND LOCAL SNIPPETS
2013 COTY
12-24 DETAILS OF SHORTLISTED CARS ACCORDING
TO NOMINATED CATEGORIES
BRANDWATCH
26-28 AUDI TO INCREASE MODELS FROM 49 TO 60,
HOLDEN TO DISCONTINUE PRODUCTION IN 2017,
VOLVO READIES PERFORMANCE POLESTAR MODELS,
KIA MOTORS SPORTS CAR ‘STINGER’ CONCEPT,
SWANSONG FOR BERTONE, CATERHAM SHINES AT
UK SHOW, CHINA REMOVES HIGH IMPORT TARIFFS
ON ‘MADE IN USA’ IMPORTS, NEW APPOINTMENTS AT
HYUNDAI, VOLKSWAGEN SERIOUS ABOUT BUDGET
BRAND, CHEVROLET’S EUROPE EXIT TO BENEFIT OPEL
TESTED
42-48 2014 LINCOLN MKZ
50-53 2013 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM
INTERVIEW
42-48 GEOFFREY BRISCOE, REGIONAL DIRECTOR,
ROLLS-ROYCE MOTORS CARS MIDDLE EAST
FIRST DRIVE
56-59 2014 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS
TECHTALK
60-61 ELECTRIC STEERINGS
PREVIEWS
62-63 2015 FORD MUSTANG GT64-65 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS
64-65 2014 HONDA VEZEL
66-67 2014 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN
72-73 2014 BRP SEE DOO SPARK
IN CONVERSATION WITH
72-73 KARL-FRIEDRICH SCHEUFELE , CHOPARD’S
CO-PRESIDENT
MOTORSPORTS
76-79 FORMULA ONE, REGIONAL NEWS
80 CHICANE
8-9
NEXT ISSUE
2014 PORSCHE
CAYMAN S
A u t o m a n C O
T Y 2 0 1 2
s i g n - o f f e v e
n t i n O m a n
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As a new year (2014) dawns on us, you will note that we have also changed the badge on
our cover to reect that it’s another new year of leadership for us (14). And on that note
allow us to share a few thoughts and observations as we enter the clean slate of another
fresh year.
For 2013 marked the demise of another grand automotive title in the region. We mark
that with a sense of sadness. Our team respects the title, what it stands for globally and
the team that produced it. We’ve also grown up reading the parent title as enthusiasts
and car lovers. All we can say is that a perfect storm of events seem to have happened
over the past few years that have put pressure on automotive titles in the region – and this
is just the latest magazine to bite the dust.
That makes us extremely grateful to our readers in Oman who have ensured that Automanhas grown through the years and stands as a mascot of the automotive industry in Oman.
In terms of content, analysis and production values, we have always prided ourselves as
being the best of the breed in the region. And this year too, we shall grow.
The move into 2014 also sees us join the Tifosi and his colleagues in wishing Michael
Schumacher a speedy recovery. For someone who has epitomized speed, it is somewhat
ironical that he suffered this life-threatening injury on the slopes of a ski resort. But it is
seemingly better than the fate of poor Paul Walker who lived out his Fast and Furious role
in the manner of his passing.
Which also makes us thankful for some statistics of 2013 that actually saw a drop in the
number of fatal accidents. Every one of you will know someone who has been in an accident
and know of someone who has had injuries or lost a family member. That is not good. But
the good work of the ROP in bringing greater control over reckless speeding, constant
education and a greater awareness seems to be reversing the trend. We denitely hope
that 2014 is a year free of any incident on the road for every one of you.
Another statistic of a different sort tells a completely different story. What is the malaise
with car sales in Oman? Do we really have a situation where retail car sales have taken
a signicant drop? Or is it just that some of the fringe resale and re-export business is
tapering off with competition from the manufacturer in target countries as well as a host
of regional problems? Whatever it is, 2014 will be a challenging year for the retail car
industry.
As for us Muscat residents, much of the ongoing roadwork is coming online, so travel
times a back to manageable levels – perhaps just in time too considering the possibility
of a fuel price realignment. All in all, 2014 does hold a lot of promise. Wish all of you a
Happy New Year.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEFMohammad Al Taie
AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING
PO Box: 343, Postal Code 118Al Harthy Complex
Sultanate of Oman
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.automanweb.com
Editorial ofce:
Tel: +968 24479888 Extn 300, Fax: +968 24479889
Distribution:
Tel: +968 24490386, Fax: +968 24121045
Subscription:
Tel: +968 24493701, Fax: +968 24121045
PUBLISHER
Hatim Al Taie [email protected]
EDITOR & GM
Raj Warrior [email protected]
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Chandan B Mallik [email protected]
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Anne Kurian [email protected]
HEAD OF DESIGN
Sawsan Al Muharbi [email protected]
PHOTOGRAPHY
Elvis John Ferrao
MARKETING
Sayantani Ghosh [email protected]
CIRCULATION
FINANCE & ADMIN
Sumy Mol [email protected]
WEBSITE & IT
Mohammed F Draz [email protected]
PRINTER
Ruwi Modern Printers LLC
Tel: +968 2479 4167, 2479 8157
Fax: +968 2470 0545
© 2013
All editorial content of Automan in the magazine
and its website is copyrighted and may not
be reproduced in any form without the written
consent of the management of AL ROYA PRESS &
PUBLISHING
Automan accepts unsolicited exclusive editorial
material, but reserves the right to publish any such
material. Once published, the copyright for any
such material will vest with AL ROYA PRESS &
PUBLISHING
2013
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NEW
S
New car arrivals in Oman
2014 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) togetherwith General Automotive Company, unveiledthe all-new third generation 2014 Mitsubishi Out-lander. The event took place at Shangri-la’s Barr alJissa Resort and Spa and was attended by ToshiakiNomura, President of Mitsubishi Motors Middle Eastand Africa FZE (MMMEA); Mark Tomlinson, General
Manager of General Automotive Company; other se-nior member of the General Automotive Companymanagement. The new Outlander is a strategic, in-
novative and premium vehicle developed arounda versatile global platform and elevates the level ofluxury, renement and fuel economy that consum-ers have come to expect in the aordably-priced
crossover segment. The new Outlander is oered in
5- and 7-seat congurations and is powered by either
a 2.4-litre inline-4-cylinder (GLX model) or 3.0-litre V6
GLS model) and available with Mitsubishi Motors’ All-Wheel Control (AWC) all-wheel drive system. A newdriver-activated feature is the ECO-mode setting that
is now standard on all 2014 Outlanders. ECO-modehelps to further reduce fuel consumption and CO2emissions by optimising engine power on initial ac-celeration as well as the airow volume of the air-
conditioning. Furthermore, when Outlander modelsequipped with All-Wheel Control (AWC) are drivenwith 4WD engaged, the driver-activated ECO-mode
will allow the vehicle to function as a 2WD vehicle un-til sensors instantaneously reactivate the 4WD systemwhen deemed necessary.
2014 NISSAN PATROL
Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, the exclusive importers and distributors of Nissan ve-hicles in Oman, has introduced the 2014 Nissan Patrol for the markets. Key stylingfeatures are the new front bumper and new chrome grille design. The Patrol has beenrefreshed with signicant styling enhancements and new features pack. The Patrol is
oered in VK56DE – 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine and VK56VD - 5.6-litre V8 engine equipped
grades with six-speed manual transmission on XE and SE-T1 grades or ve-speed au -tomatic transmission with manual mode on SE-T2, SE-Platinum, SE- Platinum City, and7-speed Manual transmission LE-T1, LE-T2, LE-Platinum and LE-Platinum City grades.
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New appointment at ZawawiDaniel Fitzjohn has been appointed asthe new general manager for after salesservices at Mercedes-Benz in Oman.Fitzjohn comes with signicant experiencein the automotive industry in a variety ofkey GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia,Qatar and UAE. Fitzjohn aims to developZawawi’s after sales operations to matchthe dealership’s rapid expansion acrossOman.
GCC celebrate Lamborghini 50th anniversary in UAE
Al Maha Rent-A-CarEuropean Motors, the ofcial dealers forPeugeot in Oman have announced theirlatest contract with Al Maha Rent-A-Car(RAC) with European Motors. EuropeanMotors will supply a eet of new 301sedans. Gurdeep Singh, brand managerof European Motors said: “We aredelighted to be fullling Al Maha’s demandfor more Peugeots, they have been realsupporters of the brand since 2009 andtheir latest order is a clear reection ofcustomers satisfaction with the Peugeots.The latest contract reinforces the 301sedan as one of the most popularEuropean vehicles in the sedan segment.”
More than 50 Lamborghini motorcars, plusowners from across the GCC countries joinetogether in Dubai to celebrate the 50th an-niversary of the ‘House of the Raging Bull’.On December 15, Dubai Police escorted the
cars which were paraded from Jumeirah Emates Towers Hotel to Burj Al Arab and backpast Burj Khalifa. On Day Two, the ownersleft Dubai city, on a tour that included a lunstop at Bab Al Shams.
Automobili Lamborghini President and CEOStephan Winkelmann joined a gala dinner o16 December with the participants. “This wa great gathering of Lamborghini cars andowners, from countries across the region,”said Winkelmann. “It demonstrates the passion and loyalty for our brand, and it’s beentremendous to meet so many Lamborghiniowners and enthusiasts during this event.”
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GOING INLANDWITH THEOUTLANDERWith a new engine and geartrain and some catchy new styling,
the Outlander is back as a MY 2014 car.
Author: Raj Warrior
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Mitsubishi Motors seems to be nal ly waking up from
a period of s lumber. For some strange reason, it was
almost as if the period post the 2009 car industry
crisis set the company into a period of living on
the sidelines. Other than a couple of new model
releases in the region in the form of the Lancer Fortis, ASX and ex-
Nativa Pajero Sport and some headlight and skirting refreshes, the
brand had moved into selling its staple Pajero and largely missing
the large sedan and entry SUV buyer.
Now with the new Outlander, things are set for a change. For
a company that hasn’t quite been able to charge into the big
league, the new Outlander is itself no mean achievement. Over
the years the older Outlander has been seen in markets around
the world in different guises, including as badge engineered
Citroens and Peugeots. That is in itself an achievement. The car
sits in a segment of the crossover utility, developed from car-
based platforms. In this case the platform is Mitsubishi ’s GS global
sedan platform and with some changes the platform continues on
into the 2014 edition.
Of course the rst change that you notice is the styling. The
large gaping prism of the old grille with its tiger-eyes headlight
surrounds has been replaced by an elegant treatment that is
reected by the new Mitsubishi family look. The headlights are
now logical extensions of the sleek gril le and the body has becomesofter, more rounded and improbably sports a higher belt-line than
before. That’s because the platform has not been signicantly
dimensionally changed. At the same time, new manufacturing
processes have caught up – there is increased use of high-tensile
steel as well as better NVH and insulation to make for a quieter,
more competent package. This time around the aesthetics are
better thought through and the CUV has distanced itself from the
almost stationwagon prole that it started out with. It is denitely
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interesting to see that Mitsubishi has
joined the other Japanese manufacturers in
introducing hygiene features like LED DRL’s.
In its new guise the car basically offers
three options – the 2.4-litre engine, CVT
transmission and 5-seats, secondly the 2.4with CVT and 7-seats or nally the 7 seater
with 3.0-litre V6 engine and six-speed auto
gearbox. And all of these are being offered
in a price band just south of RO 9,000 to just
below RO 10,000. It will be interesting to see
how the dealers manage to hold this price
bracket considering that most family sedans
are priced just about here.
The 2.4-litre unit is the 4J12 (though the
local brochure seems to classify it as the
4B12), which has been further adapted from
the SOHC 2.4-litre unit that we all know in the
Galant. With power of 166hp and 221Nm of
torque, the unit is powerful enough for most
city conditions as well as some off-roading.
The CVT that partners this engine is both
capable and almost imperceptible. And the
4WD is engaged by a button on the centre-
console that puts the transmission in a forced
split in power delivery to both front and rear
axles.
The 3.0-litre unit is the larger 6B31 V6 unit,
with 224 horsepower and 292Nm of torque.
Partnered with a six-speed auto gearbox, this
unit takes the CUV into an interesting value
bracket – offering almost Pajero like power
to weight as well as a decent turn of torque.
We took the 2.4-litre unit on a drive that
included the back roads from the Barr Al Jissah
towards Yiti and then through the hiking trail
up into the Wadi Kabir hill area. Again, this is
not the most challenging of terrains, but the
Outlander impressed with its quiet capability
– we didn’t even engage the 4WD button and
the CVT never complained.
The drive down from the hill was equally
eventless.
We will be featuring a full test drive of the
Outlander in the coming month’s issue and
will keep all further comments about the car
for that, except to say that the move to a
multi-link rear suspension is just about the
best news for the comfort and performance
angle of the car. You hardly get any jouncing
and the roll is so much in control. Take a test
yourself if you can – our opinion is that the
Outlander is a hidden Diamond.
The 2.4-litre unit is
the 4J12 (though the
local brochure seems
to classify it as the
4B12), which has been
further adapted from
the SOHC 2.4-litre
unit that we all knowin the Galant. With
power of 166hp and
221Nm of torque
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And the contenders nominated in their respective categories are detailed as follows
2013
2014 AUDI R8 V10 PLUS The second model in the line-up to wear the Plus badge, Audi’s engineers have skillfully added somemore performance oriented goodies in an existing set up. The R8 is the sporty halo representative of theAudi lineup. Since introduction in 2007, its unusual iconoclastic styling and handling prowess have beenwell accepted and subtle tweaks such as replacing the R-Tronic transmission in favour of a new S-Tronictwin-clutch unit, makes it the single biggest improvement in this new generation besides the additionaloutput in the Plus variant.
2014 MCLAREN MP-4 12C SPIDER McLaren added a convertible version of the MP4-12C for its 2014 line-up. McLaren cleverly designed andengineered the MP4-12C in coupe form with an open roof version in mind from the very beginning. Thatmeans the carbon-bre tub needed no extra strengthening for the Spider application. While, the caris slighty heavier than its solid roof sibling, it comes with all the bells and whistles and updated enginemanagement and hence is as equally engaging to drive.
2014 NISMO GT-R Nissan’s halo sports car, the GT-R has been receiving continuous renement sincelaunch and this makes the car up-to-date. Nismo, the in-house performance armtakes that experience a level higher with direct race track GT3 driven technologyand Nismo specic enhancements inside out. A Nismo-tuned GT-R with 591bhpand with some track focused additions lapped the Nürburgring in 7min:08.679sec,making it ofcially the fastest volume production model in the world.
2014 BENTLEY GTC SPEED The Bentley Continental GT Speed convertible’s spec sheet is designed to delight. The 616hptwin turbo W12 is capable of a drag-limited 320 plus km/h. It can cruise along at triple-digitvelocities all day and is the fastest four-seat convertible in the world. Actually, the ContinentalGT Speed convertible one of the fastest series-production cars ever built and will outpacea Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG or BMW M6 without batting an eyelid. The Speed variants getbumped up output and torque gures.
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2013 ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH For a loss-making entity funded by a venture capitalist, the carmaker thinks that the new Vanquish is thegreatest and ultimate grand tourer car it has ever produced and hopes that it will help reverse its aggingfortunes. The top-of-the-line model is still based on the VH architecture that debuted with the DB9 in2003 and as the DBS replacement, it is offered slightly cheaper.
2014 LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR ROADSTER Lamborghini’s Aventador Roadster, which features a two-piece forged composite targa top that can beremoved to expose the cabin to the elements for the ultimate wind-in-your-hair experience. What can bemore outrageous than Lamborghini’s stealth-bomber-inspired Aventador coupe? Besides out and outdriving pleasure, Lamborghini has added two new technologies to the coupe [which also debut on theroadster] for the latest model year in the interests of efciency and the environment.
2013 FERRARI BERLINETTAThe F12berlinetta not only ushers in a whole new generation of Prancing Horse 12-cylinders butis also the most powerful and high performance Ferrari ever built. That’s not all. Exceptionalstrides have also been made with regard to fuel consumption and emissions both of which havebeen slashed by 30 per cent, making the F12berlinetta a benchmark for its reference segment.
2013 BENTLEY GT SPEED By denition, the Continental GT is denitely not a sports car, but the way it is congured andengineered, it offers an amazing amount of fun driving in any situation. Compared to say, the
Nissan GT-R which is capable of topping this Bentley in every measured performance test, butthe Bentley more than makes up for it in luxury, comfort, and style. Even though the GT-R isfaster, there’s no reason not to be impressed with what the Bentley Continental GT Speed isable to accomplish ultimately. There is nothing else on the road this big and this fast.
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2013
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2014 KIA CADENZA
The Cadenza is Kia’s full-size luxury carthat was launched in 2009 to replace theOpirus. It has been refreshed for 2013 withnew corporate styling and a host of featureupgrades.
2013 TOYOTA AVALON One of Toyota’s key Australia manufactured frontwheel drive exports for Middle East, the new Avalonis slightly shorter and wider than the previous model.The model has become stylish very much in line withToyota’s current design language. The new car feelslike a luxury car both in terms of quality and touch
points as it comes with better materials, t and nishesbesides host of comfort and convenience features.Powertrain engineering is carried over.
2014 LEXUS IS350 Now in its third generation, this hot sedanpacks a hefty punch when it comes tocompeting with the German premiumbrands. For the Japanese brand, the IShas successfully elevated consumers’
expectations in the entry-level luxury sedanclass. The redesigned 2014 Lexus IS 350features notable upgrades, including anew interior with richer materials, a biggerbackseat and impressive equipment list.
2014 CADILLAC CTS The all-new third generation CTS
launched a few months ago is like a carwith a very specic mission. Cadillac’sdesigners and engineers have workedtogether in tandem to produce anAmerican global model which is quitecapable of taking on the nest fromEurope and Japan.
2014 CHEVROLET IMPALAThe Impala has been completely re-engineered for 2014, and it has become oneof the most popular sedans on the market.Even the base Impala variant comes loadedwith convenience and comfort features,many of which simply aren’t available in itsdirect competitors.
2014 AUDI S6
BMW’s supremacy in the segment was thwartedwhen the all-wheel-drive 2014 Audi S6 arrivedin the scene with its potent twin-turbocharged
V8, sophisticated air suspens ion, and top classhandling. The S6 represents a new direction forAudi sedans. The 2014 S6 is a genuine supersedan that any automotive enthusiast would feelprivileged to own.
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2013
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2014 AUDI A3 SEDAN
The A3 is Audi’s ticket in the compact sedan market. It is Volkswagen Group’s rst model on its new MQBplatform. Audi expects the sporty A3 will grow its market share signicantly with its enhanced featurepack. The sedan comes standard with a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and front-wheel-drive. In terms of features, the A3 sedan offers much more standard equipment than its key domesticrival Mercedes-Benz. Leather upholstery, a panoramic glass roof, xenon headlights, and LED taillights arestandard on the base model of the A3 sedan but optional on the Mercedes.
2014 HYUNDAI CENTENNIAL
Since 2009, Hyundai has been moving into premium luxury territory with an array of models. Going head-to-head with Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus and Inniti at the top end, the Centennial luxury sedan whichthe carmaker clearly benchmarked against the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Audi A8 and Lexus LS460 seems to be getting acknowledged in the market. GCC sales of the Centennial jumped 147 per centlast year and for its price the Centennial offers a decent package of performance, comfort, luxury and allthe technology to keep you safe and happy.
2014 AUDI A6With the 2014 A6, Audi thinks it is its best midsize sedan yet. But the perennial question stands:is it better than the 5 Series and the E-Class? The A6 lineup was completely redesigned for the2012 model year and depending on option the A6 turbocharged 2.0-litre inline-4 is offered withcontinuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and standard with front-wheel drive. Audi’sQuattro all-wheel drive system with an 8-speed automatic transmission is optional on the A62.0T. There’s also a re-breathing supercharged 310hp 3.0-litre V6 version in the line-up.
2013 JAGUAR XF 2.0 The Jaguar XF was launched as a 2009 model and its engines were upgraded for 2010. In 2012,its styling was revised. Elegant, owing lines make it a more visually interesting alternative tomany of the better-selling cars in its class. The Jaguar XF has presence, that intangible qualitythat allows it to stand out in any line of similar luxury sport entries. To help widen the model’sappeal, Jaguar introduced two all-new engines: a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder. Both are meant to offer buyers better fuel efciency than the existing V8. While theentry four pot is unusual for a premium segment, Jaguar is now amongst the industry leaderspracticing efciency and downsizing.
2014 PORSCHE PANAMERASecond generation Panamera is all about efciency – be it emissions or fuel efciency. Porsche has alsowidened the line-up with a hybrid and entry level V6. The naturally aspirated, entry-level 3.6-litre V6gets 10 more horsepower, for a total of 310 and unlike the Cayenne’s V6 which is borrowed from a VW,this engine is Porsche’s own and is based on a V8 less a cylinder from each bank. As part of downsizing,the 400hp, naturally aspirated 4.8-litre V8 [in the Panamera S and 4S] makes way for a twin-turbo3.0-litre V6 and produces 420hp. The hybrid uses Audi-sourced supercharged 3.0-litre V6 and the new
electric motor offers double the output. All Panamera models are equipped with a ZF-sourced seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, with the exception of the diesel and the hybrid versions, which are ttedwith an eight-speed torque-converter automatic.
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2013
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2013 CADILLAC ATS
An entry level model that Cadillac was desperate to introduce also takes off a lot of burden from thenew CTS. The ATS is clearly positioned in the line-up with new role and responsibility. It’s no secret thatthe Cadillac aimed the rear-wheel-drive ATS squarely at the premium Germans, particularly the segmentleading BMW 3 Series. Similar in size, the ATS is offered with ne build quality, good performance and aninvolving drive along with a supple ride.
2013 KIA QUORIS Kia has been slowly adding larger, more expensive models to its line-up and the South Korean brandmanaged to stage a coup of sorts with the large rear wheel drive luxury K9 or Quoris sedan. While itrepresents Kia’s ability and premium luxury aspirations for the future, the present task is more on howto market this car which has been benchmarked against premium German brands from conceptionto creation. With the Quoris, Kia is targeting the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class
buyers.
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2014 MERCEDES-BENZ
E-CLASS The 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class comeswith new sharper looking sheetmetaland is available in several models anditerations. The new E-Class will beremembered for many breakthroughtechnologies – particularly the intelligent
drive besides a host of electronicenhancements in pursuit of safety.
2014 MAZDA6That Mazda is pretty serious about the new2014 Mazda 6 is quite evident when you see it.Aiming to be at the top of the segment Mazdapresents a stylish car that offers promisingperformance and fuel economy while still
being roomy, practical and fun to drive. Whatdoes separate the new 6 from most of thecompetition is its sporty, involving personalityand a host of efciency technologies under itstheme-inspired sheetmetal.
2014 TOYOTA COROLLAThe 11th generation Corolla launched a few weeksago highlights once again Toyota’s determination in
keeping its global bestseller the best in class featuresbased on bulletproof engineering. Slightly biggerthan before, the incoming car is more stylish, morefuel-efcient and better-performing rivals in thecompact sedan segment. What makes it interestingnow is the there’s better differentiation and for therst time the Corolla gets a 2.0-litre power pot.
2013
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2013 GMC TERRAIN
There wasn’t a lot of activity in this segment in 2013 by competitors, but pick-up and SUV specialist GMCkept the ame up and running with a host of new SUV introductions. The 2014 GMC Terrain is a slightly-larger-than-compact crossover which accommodates ve adults in comfort and offers a relatively highlevel of luxury for this segment. GMC offers the car with generous standard equipment including a 7intouchscreen and a rearview camera. The car’s interior accommodations set it apart from competitors.
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2014 MERCEDES-BENZ
S-CLASS2014 BENTLEY FLYING SPUR Bentley’s entry-level sedan moves into itssecond generation with the idea of moreclarity and uptodate engineering. It loses the
Continental pre-x of its name and inheritsmore Mulsanne styling cues in its sheetmetal.The lavishly equipped Spur is a mansion-on-wheels with more than a few comforts ofhome.
2014 ROLLS-ROYCE DROPHEAD COUPE One interesting characteristic of a modern-day Rolls-Royce is that it seems no two examples are exactly alikeand bespoke options account for 90 per cent of the marque’s business in the Middle East. The DropheadCoupe is also no exception. Rolls-Royce engineered the Coupe with history and heritage of the Goodwoodracetrack in mind and the car’s sporty pretensions and ostentatious demeanor is what makes it stand out.
2014 ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH Technically, the two-door version of thesmaller Ghost, the Wraith is Rolls-Royce’s most“accessible” model. The Wraith rides on a heavilymodied version of the BMW 7-series chassis andis powered by a 6.6-litre V12. With its swoopy, lowrooine and a sportier design, the Wraith aimsto broaden the marque’s appeal to a youngeraudience. The Wraith is expensive than the BentleyCGT.
It’s less than a year old in the marketand Mercedes plants are workingovertime to cope with huge orders. Thesuccess of the new model proves twothings: rst the carmaker is beginningto understand the psych of the marketsworldwide and secondly, has been ableto deliver a truly world class car in terms
of design, engineering, performance andunique features. The top sedan model isexpected to help the brand regain lostground.
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2014 MASERATI QUATTROPORTE Keeping in mind the global trends and the brand’s aspirations, the new Quattroporte sensibly movesinto competitive territory with new aspirations but without forgetting its very sporty Italian sedan roots.Maserati has also widened the curb appeal by adding a V6 version to the line-up.
2014 BMW 7 SERIES A perennial S-Class rival, the current top of the line sedan is offered with turbocharged engines with six,
eight or twelve cylinders and an extended-wheelbase variant. While the previous-generation 7-Seriesushered in the controversial Bangle era of BMW styling, the latest model takes a much more conservativeand elegant approach while continuing to offer responsive driving dynamics along with an updated versionof the automaker’s iDrive infotainment system. What keeps the car in news is a host of new standardequipment for the latest model year and a dynamic instrument cluster.
2014 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM COUPE The Phantom Coupe has the same dimensions as the Drophead Coupe, at 18.5 feet long and 6.5 feetwide, but a half an inch lower due to the hardtop. Powertrain packaging is identical and most of thebespoke features are available to order. Since it sheds the convertible top, the Coupe also benets froma bigger petrol tank and boot space [when compared to its droptop sibling]. End of the day, it basicallycomes down to personal choice when choosing this motor car.
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2013 BYD S6Products from Chinese carmaker BYD are getting noticed in the region and the attitude towards Chinesecars also seems to be changing as the products get better and better. The S6 SUV is a ne example ofsuch a move. The 5-seater has more than a passing prole resemblance with the previous RX from Lexusand gets an economical under 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine. Fit nish and materials are pretty impressivefor the price point.
2013 TOYOTA RAV4Toyota’s bestselling small SUV is back with vengeance. Fully redesigned and sporting a new designlanguage and host of upgraded features and capabilities, the new RAV4 actually sets the benchmarkin the segment once again. The SUV strikes a good balance between ride comfort and sure-footedhandling. For 2013, the RAV4 comes with a four-cylinder only and also dispenses with a third-row seatoption. On the transmission front, it gets a six-speed transmission which replaces the old four-speedautomatic helping improve fuel economy and making it more responsive.
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2014 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE Chrysler Group’s master blaster Jeep Grand Cherokee receives a host of changes for 2014. Highlightsinclude a refreshed exterior design, a new eight-speed automatic transmission and an updated interiorwith new technology features.
2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE For a midsize crossover SUV manufacturer, just being merely good isn’t good enough anymore and
Hyundai has taken note of that with the new Santa Fe. The new Santa Fe is redesigned and markedlyimproved and offers everything shoppers have come to expect from the brand in recent years --outstanding value, attractive styling and feature content. The Santa Fe also moves into the three-rowcrossover segment also with a variant.
2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER Nissan’s product planners have worked out the core theme of the new Pathnder to reect moreconsumer friendliness even if it meant sacricing some core performance features. This seven-seater Pathnder lost some of its predecessors’ off-road and towing capabilities but the car’sinterior has gained a lot of space with genuine adult-size seating in both the second and thirdrows. Superior ride and car-like handling qualities are there, thanks to the award-winning 3.5-litre
V6 and a continuously va riable transmission (CVT) set-up.
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2014 LEXUS LX 570 The 2014 Lexus LX 570 moves on essentially unchanged following its 2013 overhaul with new features.It is more luxurious and the corporate “spindle grille” is now part of its signature front end. Despite themigration to unibody architecture by many SUV makers, the LX 570 still a classic body-on-frame SUV withprioritized performance and handling capabilities.
2013 AUDI Q5 It’s no secret that the 2014 Audi Q5 is one of the global media favourites in the compact luxurycrossover SUV class. Audi’s updates are limited to equipment changes across the various trimlevels and the base turbo charged 2.0-litre gets a power increase to 220hp.
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2014 RANGE ROVER SPORT Despite its luxury appearance, the new Range Rover Sport is quite deceptive when it comes to off-roadperformance. Completely overhauled for 2014, the SUV is lighter, more nimble, and more comfortablethan the outgoing model. Despite of its weight loss, the new model is actually longer and wider than itspredecessors and has allowed more passenger room in the cabin. For the rst time, Land Rover is able tooffer a third-row seat for young adults.
2014 JAGUAR F-TYPE The rst roadster from Jaguar in 40 years, the 2014 F-Type was designed to offer a thrilling blend of style,performance and luxury. The model represents the rst all-new Jaguar sports car since the legendaryE-Type that debuted in 1961 and ceased production in 1974 and hence a lot of expectations. Jaguar seemto have ticked most of the boxes right with this new model. The F-Type is every bit as satisfying to drive asits evocative styling suggests, however, it might not measure up to the venerable Porsche 911 in every testof performance. It does impress to the emotional side of driving and thus ranks among the best open-topsports cars in current times.
2014 LEXUS GX 460 Not much happened in this segment as most automakers are looking at downsized options more thanbefore. As a result only a handful brands and their models continue to serve the needs in large SUV marketslike Middle East and North America. Key to the SUV’s peerless off-road capability is its combination of ahighly durable, deformation-resistant, body-on-frame construction with the unique level of guidance andtechnical support it offers drivers. Now, it gets the corporate makeover, including style upgrades.
2013 INFINITI FX50 SV Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel is also Inniti’s performance division director. The FX50 is
Vettel’s company car and Vettel has added some extra panache to it. Several track inspired cues arethere and there are some performance enhancements too.
2013 PORSCHE CAYMAN The Porsche Cayman is fully redesigned for 2014 and is the near perfect sports car from the brand.Now in its second generation, it is lighter, faster and much closer to the 911. With the styling,engineering and performance revisions, the Cayman really does deliver the best of both worlds.
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2013 NISSAN TIDANissan’s new Tida is bigger and better. All the quirks related to the older model – be it styling or featureshave been artfully looked into and worked upon. There’s a spacious interior with a genuine adult-friendlyrear accommodation, comfortable ride and many convenience features. Performance and driving dynamicsare acceptable but certain features which could have been addressed to have been overlooked.
2013 MITSUBISHI LANCER FORTIS A new variant of the Lancer family from one of Mitsubishi’s global Asia-based manufacturing set-upscomes with couple of distinctive advantages – rock solid engineering and advantages of low tariffproduction.
2013 TOYOTA YARIS This global B+ best selling model from the Japanese brand gets full-on treatment for 2013. Toyotahas reengineered the car to bring it on par with its extensively refreshed line-up while ensuring thatit can lead the segment despite intense competition these days. The result is a stunning looker withbullet-proof engineering and reliability.
2013 VOLKSWAGEN POLO SEDAN The rst India-built Volkswagen to hit the Middle East markets which is slightly longer than theEuropean hatchback model. It is packaged and priced very sensibly as an entry model whileoffering class leading features such as rear legroom for passengers and efciency orientedpowertrain.
2013 PEUGEOT 301At corporate level, there’s a lot of talk about the French manufacturer in business circles, but atproduct level, the brand is ring on all cylinders as it aims to become a truly global player. Therecently introduced 301 is Peugeot’s entry level sedan offered in three variants. While the effort iscommendable, Peugeot has still a lot to learn and improvise in order to make its presence solidlyfelt in the ercely competitive segment currently dominated by Asian brands.
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2013 MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS The smallest new entry level member made a grand entry in the Middle East last year. With its new, third-generation A-class model that uses Mercedes’ CC (“Compact Car”) architecture, the brand is looking atregaining lost territory much more seriously with an exceptionally packaged deal. The production modelfollows faithfully the features from the concept which Mercedes has been teasing us with ever since. The
A-Class is stylish, and packed with safety and high-tech features normally found on more expensive models.
2013 VOLVO V40 Volvo keeps surprising the market s despite its new Chinese ownership and way of doing things. For the
rst time, Volvo has entered the small car arena with a car that caters to tastes of the market with demandsstyle, performance and features in a hatchback format. For Volvo, the V40 means a bit more. The newmodel essentially serves as a new range entry point in place of the discontinued C30 three-door and doesa pretty impressive job too.
2014 VW GOLF GTI The 2014 Volkswagen GTI, based on the seventh-generation Golf and this means it is built on the new
MQB platform. In base trim, the Volkswagen GTI is rated at 210hp and for the rst time, Volkswagenoffers a Performance Package that, among other things, will bump power to 220hp for select markets.Engineering upgrades like the addition of a proper limited-slip differential, along with DSG six-speed twin-clutch automatic makes this car truly entertaining.
2014 VW GOLF The tamer version of the GTI made its entry before the performance GTI variant and keeps the brand’shatchback aspirations alive. Interior design and quality, steering, brakes, ride, handling, thoughtfultouches, smart dash, spacious, safety technology applications are second to none.
2013 ALFA ROMEO GUILIETTAChrysler Group’s Italian premium brand has very few models to offer the Middle East markets,but it does try to create some noise with the stylish Guilietta hatchback. Arguably, the Giulietta isthe most chic and competent Alfa Romeo sold in the Middle East capable of narrowing the gapbetween the Italian way of doing things and the rival Europeans or Japanese.
2013 FORD FOCUS ST Ford created a formidable challenger in the perennial front wheel drive hot hatch segmentleader in the form of the Focus ST. Developed by Ford Team RS, the European arm of Ford MotorCompany’s Global Performance Vehicle group, the ST brings in a lot of technology from thegroup – be it Ecoboost or sophisticated chassis management or electronics. With the ST, it is yetanother proof point from Ford that small cars are anything but boring.
2013 MINI COUPE It’s very difcult to distinguish negligible differences in performance versus the regular Coopervariant and this means that the 2013 Mini Cooper Coupe really only delivers a sportier look, alongwith some inherent design drawbacks. Many in the business think that the Coupe is a stylingexercise and if its sleeker prole appeals to customers, then perhaps its drawbacks are an easierpill to swallow. However, a key USP with the JCW models now is the availability of automatictransmission.
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AUDI TO EXPAND MODEL RANGE FROM 49 TO60 ESCHEW ITS TRUCK UNDERPINNINGS
ASTON MARTIN AND DAIMLER FINALIZE ENGINE DEAL
SKODA SUV CONFIRMED VOLVO AND
POLESTARHAVE THREEREASONS TOCELEBRATE
PEUGEOT PLANNING AMERCEDESCLA COMPETITOR?
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Audi’s delivery of 1.5mn vehicles in 2013 PR also contained a passing ref-erence to the future of its lineup. This news was delivered at the AudiForum Ingolstadt during the handover of an A3 Sportback to a customer. CEORupert Stadler said Audi will “expand our product range from the current 49
to 60 models. We see a great deal of potential, particularly in the SUV seg-ment and in the especially prestigious fullsize category.” We have little ideaof what kinds of cars that could entail right now, other than the Q1, but we’dlike to think it could inc lude an RS8, a production version of the Sport Quattro
concept and even the Nanuk.
Aston Martin and Daimler have ocially tied the knot as the companies have a signed a series of denitive agreements which will see the two automakers working to -gether. Under the term of the agreement, Aston Martin and AMG will develop a bespoke V8 engine that combines high performance with fuel eciency. The enginewill be used in the “next generation of models that will incorporate cutting edge technology.” In return, Daimler will receive up to a ve percent stake in Aston Martin.
The company will have non-voting shares but will receive observer status on the Aston Martin Holdings board.
The arrival of the Audi A5 Sportback, BMW 2-SeriesGran Coupe and Mercedes CLA seems to haveignited a lot of passion in the compact performance
segment and it seems that other European brandscould follow suit. If reports coming out from Europeare to be believed then Peugeot seems to be eyeingthe hot segment with a new car that will be basedon the 308 mechanicals called the 408 GT. It will re-portedly slot between the 308 and 408 and will used
tweaked carryover powertrains from the 308, so
petrol choices are expected to have outputs rangingfrom 130hp to 270hp besides diesel options.If every-thing pans out, the 408 GT could be launched in 2016.
Audi has hit its target
of 1.5mn in annual
sales two years earlier
than planned and the
new model additionswill be part of Audi’s
ambitious push to
reach two million an-
nual sales by 2020.
Audi has reportedly led applications to trademark several nameplates which could indicate the company’s plans for future models. First up is the “SQ2”
which hints at a high-performance version of the Q2. Ditto with the “SQ4” which will represent a more powerful derivative of the Q4 and moving up the
ladder is the “Q9” designation which indicates Audi plans an even bigger range-topping SUV model to sit above the Q7. Lastly, the “F-tron” trademark ap-
plication hints at a fuel-cell production car in future. Meanwhile, Audi has announced plans to invest $30.3bn into its research and development operations
through 2018. Audi will spend about 70 per cent of that investment on developing new models and technology.
B r e a k i n g
Skoda boss Winfried Vahland has conrmed pre-liminary details of the unnamed SUV which will
be based on the VW MQB platform and launched asearly as 2016. Vahland said the new model will bebased on the production version of the VW Cross-Blue concept which is due for a 2015 release. Thevehicle is expected to be about 4.6m long and willbe oered with ve and seven-seat congurations.
In addition, customers will have the possibility toselect from standard FWD and optional AWD. En-gine lineup is not expected to go beyond a 4-cylin-der 2.0-litre petrol and 1.6-litre turbodiesel. A dieselelectric hybrid variant for Europe is also planned.
V
olvo and Polestar celebrated their Scandinavian Touring Car Championshipvictory by introducing the S60, V60 and XC60 Black R editions in Sweden
last month. Looking sporty and elegant, the special editions are equipped witha matte black grille, a sport-tuned suspension and Ixion wheels. The modelsalso have leather sports seats, a premium audio system, a Sensus Connect info-tainment system and alloy pedals. Under the hood, two Polestar-tuned petroland diesel engines are available.
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CATERHAM SHINES ATUK’S AUTOSPORT EVENT
HOLDEN TOCEASE
PRODUCTIONBY 2017
CHEVROLET’S EXIT COULD
BE OPEL’S GAIN IN EUROPE
KIA TEASES SPORTSCAR CONCEPT
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Kia has announced plans to introduce a new sportscar concept at the North American InternationalAuto Show this month. Till the show broke, the SouthKorean car company kept details a closely guardedsecret but they did conrm in December last that it
would follow the 2+2 sports car format. The concepthas been designed by Kia designers in Irvine, Cali-fornia. Kia also said the car was designed to deliver“head-turning looks whilst providing superb drivingenjoyment whether on the road or at the track.”
Caterham has big plans to impress visitors at the 2014 Autosport International Show othis month whichwill be held at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham UK. The British sportscar maker has en-joyed a landmark 2013 and will display a whole host of products from across the entire Caterham Group;headlined by the AeroSeven concept car which was revealed at the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this yearIn addition to the concept, the 2013 CT03 Caterham F1 car will be on the stand, alongside the SP/300.Rracing and trackday car, the new Superlight R300 championship race car, the Seven 485 SV and the
Caterham Kart.
In a surprise announcementtoday, Chevrolet has conrmedit will stop selling cars acrossEurope at the end of 2015. Theannouncement comes just daysafter GM CEO Dan Akersonexpressed his wish to put more
distance between Germany-based Opel and theBowtie brand. When the brand was launched inEurope in 2005, it focused on selling low-cost cars thatwere little more than rebadged, South Korean-builtDaewoo models. The business model was unpopularand the company was hit hard by the economic crisis
that rocked Europe several years ago. Chevrolethastily tried to move upmarket and woo Europeanbuyers by focusing on its American heritage, butEurope’s customers were not so convinced. Saleshave been stagnant at under 200,000 units with nochances of improvement, management decidedto back o. However, Chevrolet’s halo models like
the Corvette and the Camaro will continue to beimported and will most likely be distributed throughOpel dealerships. Similarly, Opel dealerships willhonour Chevrolet warranties and provide ownerswith parts and service.
The nal nail in Chevrolet’s con came from Opel, GM’s main European
division. Most of the products from these two brand are aimed at the same
target audience and GM believes that shuttering Chevrolet will help Opel to
return to protability in its home market after years of huge losses.
High production costs and just a two model domestic market portfolio and limited export potential isn’tenough to sustain operations for any car manufacturer and Holden, GM’s Australia arm has just learntthat the hard way. Holden and Toyota are Australia’s two leading car manufacturers and Toyota successfullyexports 70 per cent of its production to Middle East. Middle East markets get the Camry and Avalon, two ofToyota Australia’s key export models. The future of the Holden brand was thrown into question earlier lastmonth when General Motors announced that it would cease Australian manufacturing by 2017. Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux played down speculation that the decision was forced by thegovernment’s lack of commitment to the industry. “This is a General Motors decision,” he said. “We have althe information we feel that we need to make the conclusion that in relativity to the other economies that wecan build cars, and I don’t think this would be any surprise to anybody, that it is more viable to do that in otheplaces than Australia.” Devereux also acknowledged the impact GM’s decision would have on Australia, especially given Holden’s 65-year presence as a manufacturer in that country. Holden will become a full importerfrom 2017, just a year after traditional rival Ford ends its manufacturing operations in Australia.
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SWAN SONG FOR BERTONE?
Bertone’s design arm is on the brink of bank-ruptcy following years of mounting losses. Al-though, the design house has pro-duced stunning concept cars foralmost every major Europeanauto show held in the pastfew years, its order book hasbeen nearly empty for a longtime and it is operating in thered. A new sub-division calledBertone Workshop that aimsto build one-o cars at the re-quest of the lucky few that can aord it also failed
to win over customer. A court administrator is in theprocess of nding a new buyer for Bertone.
It is reported that there are some market interests
in the ailing company. An unidentied company
based in Turkey has expressed an interest in buyingthe design rm and its assets for the relatively
low sum of €2mn. The deal will bepresented to a judge and,
if approved, Bertonewill le for
bankruptcyearly nextyear in
order tofacilitate the
change of ownership. If the Turkish deal fallsthrough, Italian media outlets are reporting thatseven other parties have voiced an interest in buyingthe company in principle.
MORE DETAILS EMERGEON VW’S BUDGET BRAND
TOP EXECUTIVE CHANGES AT HYUNDAI NORTH AMERICA
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Heinz-Jakob Neusser, Volkswagen’s new head of research and development, hasconrmed the automaker is still looking into launching a low-cost lineup of cars,
vans and crossovers that will compete against Renault’s Dacia division and Nissan’sreborn Datsun.“We are still working on the cost side. What’s clear is that we will only make this carif it meets our standards on safety, ride, handling, comfort and so on - and that it canbe made protably. It must be durable, precise and meet all the quality standards
people expect from us,”said the executive.Neusser hinted full details about the upcoming low-cost brand will be unveiled overthe next year. He did not mention precisely what markets the cars will be sold in, buthe previously conrmed they will be designed and built with the input of a joint-
venture partner.Although pure speculation, a potential scenario is that Volkswagen engineers willdevelop the car’s basic structure in Germany and the rest of the design work will becarried out by one of the automaker’s joint-venture partners in China.
Cited by most analysts and industry insiders as the chief engineer of Hyundai’s massive growth inNorth America over the last few years, the brand’s North American market CEO, John Krafcik,will step down at the close of his contract with the automaker on December 31, 2013. Krafcik’s willbe succeeded by executive vice president of sales David Zuchowski this month. Krafcik had been incharge of Hyundai’s operations in North America since late 2008 and had been a product develop -ment and strategic planning chief with the Korean automaker. His resume also included nearly a
decade and a half at Ford Motor Company prior to arriving at Hyundai. “It’s been a sincere privilegeand honour to lead Hyundai Motor America over the past ve years, and I am condent that with
Dave’s succession, our brand will continue to expand and thrive for years to come,” said Krafcik in astatement. Zuchowsike has led Hyundai’s sales and marketing operations since late 2007. Previously,he worked for Mazda and Ford.
CHINA ENDS TARIFFS ON CARSIMPORTED FROM US
China currently levies taris on nearly 80 per cent of ve -hicles made in the US and sold in the People’s Republic.Some cars are charged 22 per cent import duties and vehiclesincluded in this category are mostly cars and SUVs with 2.5-li-tre engines and larger. This aspect even aected vehicles
from non-American brands like BMW and Mercedes also thatare built in the US and then exported to China.
Following US import taris on Chinese-made tyres in 2009, the
Chinese government decided to levy duties on some American-
made vehicles and for years this has been a strain aecting
the Chinese and US auto industries. The normalization process
should help boost sales of ‘Made in USA’ cars in China.
The trade dispute may be cooling o, as the Asian country has
announced an end to controversial.
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AEuropean winter is not quite the
most conducive time to be talking
about the next car. When the chill
of the winds from the Arctic Circle
hit you, all you want is the comfort
of a warm bed inside your hotel room. And
no amount of woolies are going to make any
difference if you have to drive in the snow.
But this time around the appeal and the
setting were different. We were in Dusseldorf
to participate in a technology workshop
being held for the forthcoming Macan. And
at 5-degrees C, with a hint of a winter sun,
it was almost as if Porsche had managed the
weather too.
In its role as Germany’s sports car brand
Porsche has had some tumultuous years.
Beginning as a rather low volume sports
car manufacturer, it catapulted into the big
league with the Cayenne in 2002. At the time,
though Porsche made the Cayenne Type 955
on the Volkswagen Touareg platform, the
two companies weren’t as tightly integrated
they are today, especially after Porsche’s
failed takeover attempt saw it becoming an
extended part of the Volkswagen empire.
Today, it only seems logical that the Macan
is debuting in the guise that it has taken. In
terms of platform, it uses a variant of the
parent group’s MLB platform that is also used
on the Audi Q5, it looks not much a smaller
Cayenne as it looks like a Cayman on steroids
and it is targeted in that all-new sweet spot
that appeals to luxury customers all around
the world – the X3, Q5 and GLK segment. A
Porsche SUV in that bracket answers a lot of
needs. For starters it is a Porsche, will come
with extremely powerful engines and all the
bells and whistles that you nd in a Porsche
these days and carries the advantage of being
in a size segment that spells responsibility
in Europe, luxury in China and India and
sportiness in the United States.
Porsche should have addressed this logical
point sooner, considering that the Q5 platform
has been available for a few years now, but
better late than never the Cajun (the project
code, as in Cayenne Junior) was hinted at and
the Macan has now landed.
But that’s just the point that Porsche needs
to take its buyers through as it seeks to set up
the market for the Macan. Is it just a souped-
up Q5? Are we looking at a smaller Cayenne?
Or is the relationship more akin to that the
911 and the Cayman have? That’s why we
were at the ADAC course near Dusseldorf, to
be taken through the ne print that makes up
the major differences.
Seeing the Macan in the esh for the rst
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A new feature on the Macan
is the bonnet with a raw air duct
integrated on the underside for
ventilating the engine. Two channels
direct the incoming air from the front
air intakes in the direction of the two
turbochargers. These channels are
precisely dimensioned to meet the air
requirements of the engine
The use of tyres on the Macan is typical ofa sportscar: The vehicle is designed to usemixed tyres with different dimensions at thefront and rear axle. The mixed tyres emphasisethe sportscar look of the Porsche Macan andalso offer some dynamic advantages.In combination with the all-wheel drive
system designed for tail-heavy vehicles,the wider tyres on the rear axle increasetraction and enhance driving stability. The
front tyres enable sporty yet precise steeringmanoeuvres, thereby contributing to theagility of the vehicle, too. Overall, the mixedtyres allow for more exible tyre tuning and,by helping to achieve excellent rear-endstability, contribute to the Macan’s exceptionaldriving performance.
Key objectives when developing the tyresincluded optimum vehicle stability and driving
pleasure, best-in-class braking distances,low rolling resistance and a good balance ofcomfort and performance with the help of thelarge tyre diameter.
235/60 R 18 (front) and 255/55 R 18 (rear)tyres are standard equipment for the Macan
S and Macan S Diesel, while the Macan Turbofeatures 235/55 R 19 (front) and 255/50 R 19(rear) tyres.
time doesn’t take away from the thrill of
seeing a new champ. It isn’t quite a smaller
clone of the Cayenne in the looks department,
even though we were told a few times about
the similarity. The major difference is that
the hood is now a clamshell design, with
cutouts for the headlights – all sports car
like in that. And when you open the hood,
all you see is a large polymer engine cover.
The engine cover is also designed to serve as
an air-intake manifold for the engine, routing
air up from the front and splitting it to the
intakes. The shut-line now runs horizontally
off from the top of the air-dam through the
fender region, actually cutting the wheel-bay
at the top. Even if the rest of the car wasn’t so
good looking, we would have given full marks
just for this treatment. The rear is all sports
car again, while keeping a decent amount of
storage volume. There is no chance that the
company will ever squeeze in two jump seats
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The 3.6-litre V6 biturbo engine has been re-developed specically for the Macan Turboand unleashes its maximum output of 400hp(294 kW) at 6,000 rpm – giving the MacanTurbo unrivalled performance within thecompact SUV segment. Two turbochargerswith a boost pressure of up to 1.2 bar ensurepowerful ventilation of the 90-degree V6engine. This power results in accelerationfrom zero to 100 km/h in just 4.8secs (4.6seconds with the Sport Chrono packagetted) and a top speed of 266km/h. The newPorsche engine is based on the three-litre V6biturbo engine with a stroke that has beenincreased from 69 millimetres to 83mm. The Macan S is powered by the new three-litre V6 biturbo engine which, like the 3.6-litreversion, was developed by Porsche and ismanufactured by Porsche in Zuffenhausen,Germany. The engine is particularly high-revving, thanks to its 96mm bore and short69mm stroke. The engineers focused onproviding uniform performance developmentand an even torque curve. By combining twoturbochargers, positioned in a compact formon the left and right, which were designedspecically for this engine and together delivera boost pressure of up to 1.0 bar, exceptionalperformance values have been achieved: Theengine reaches its maximum power of 340hp (250 kW) at between 5,500 and 6,500
rpm. Sprinting from 0 to 100km/h takes just5.4 seconds (5.2secs with the Sport Chronopackage tted), and the vehicle reaches a topspeed of around 254km/h. Both of the V6 biturbo engines feature Porsche
VarioCam Plus, a system for continuous andvariable inlet and outlet camshaft controlwith valve-lift adjustment on the intake side,effective on one intake valve per cylinder.This system allows the engine to respond ina exible manner to the relevant performancerequirements. The result is spontaneous acceleration andexceptionally smooth running. The reviseddirect fuel injection (DFI) concept with multi-hole injectors and a high pressure of 200bar enables optimum fuel distribution. DFIalso improves internal cooling within thecombustion chamber, as the fuel-air mixtureis generated in the cylinder directly. Theresulting higher compression ratio providesgreater engine power and better engineefciency. The turbochargers have beentailored to the engines and are capable ofbuilding up the boost very quickly. Integrated dry-sump lubrication and amodied oil sump shape have been developedfor the petrol engines destined for use in theMacan. These modications enable optimum
engine lubrication – even in extreme drivingsituations. They also contribute to a low centreof gravity while allowing the ground clearanceto be increased. The oil pump operates ondemand and is driven by the balancer shaftmodule. The diesel-powered 3.0-litre is also availablefor other markets and will generate 258 hpand a at 580Nm of torque. This engine istaken from the Cayenne and modied. The 0to 100 sprint takes 6.3secs on this engine –not bad for an oil-burner.
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Though a bit late in the day, Porsche seems to have thought out the
Macan as a complete package, suitable for world audiences. Between
diesel and petrol engines and a choice of ride and lux packages, the
Macan will appeal as much to the newly affluent buyer in the BRIC
countries as it will to the established Porsche afficionado in Germany
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here, but then they haven’t done that in the
Cayenne either.
The interiors are straight out of their
sports cars, with the steering axis being more
horizontal and the cabin having an enhanced
cockpit feel, especially with the large central
tunnel and the elaborate control adornment
on it. In the bargain, the platform has seen
some changes to lower the hip point, adding
to the sports car feel as well as lending some
extra headroom.
The Macan gets three engines at launch,
which set it out as a world car for the brand.
The smaller two engines are 3.0-litre V6
units, one petrol and the other diesel, while
the halo car will have the 3.6-litre biturbo
unit. Now the Turbo classication for the top
spec car is a bit confusing since the entry S
variant also is turbo powered but all you need
to do is think of it only as a badge for the
performance variant. At some stage in the
future there will no doubt be a GTS too.
As part of the technology sessions we were
taken through the engine development, use
of a hang-on arrangement for the four-wheel
drive system and the changes that set the car
apart from the regular MLB SUV.
Admittedly, being on a track and not
getting an opportunity to drive the car was
frustrating, but the trainer instructors took
us around a mildly demanding off-road track
and a small twisty road track from the ADAC
course. First impressions of the car as a
passenger border on the sublime. The off-
road track isn’t too demanding and doesn’t
have sand. But the diesel unit that was doing
the off-road bit wasn’t even trying and with
the ability of the air suspension to rise 40mm
on one touch of the 4WD button, there really
isn’t so much thinking. The hang-on AWD is
taken off from the Carrera 4 and can handle
a torque of up to 900Nm. The car also gets
a version of terrain response so that torque
delivery to individual wheels is controlled by
the response.
Air suspension also allows the car to lower
from Normal ride height by 10mm (at speeds)
and also offers the ability to lower only the tail
to afford a better load height.
In all cars the gearbox is the 7-speed PDK
unit and the car also gets the optional sports
differential that comes complete with a diff
lock and the ability to dole out Porsche Torque
Vectoring Plus (not the regular PTV).
On the road track, the immediate takeaway
was the almost complete lack of roll in the
Turbo variant. We don’t expect the mechanical
spring equipped unit to be as rock steady, but
then we think that almost all buyers would
take the air suspension and gain the handling
advantage. Although, knowing the Porsche
strategy, we would expect steel springs
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Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTVPlus)The Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTVPlus) system has been specially tailoredto the Macan in order to improve drivingdynamics and driving stability. The PTV Plus
uses a variable standard torque split at therear wheels combined with an electronicallycontrolled rear-axle differential lock. Inresponse to the steering angle, steeringspeed, accelerator pedal position, yaw rateand vehicle speed, the PTV Plus improvessteering behaviour and steering precisionthrough targeted brake interventions onthe inside rear wheel to enhance agility.This gives the outside rear wheel a greaterpropulsion force and enables an additionalturning impulse in the steered direction.The result is direct and dynamic steering
into the bend. PTV Plus improves agilityand steering precision at low to moderatevehicle speeds. The system also offersenhanced vehicle stability at high speeds,when cornering at speed and in case ofspinning wheels. In combination with Porsche
Traction Management (PTM) and PorscheStability Management (PSM) systems, PTVPlus ultimately provides improved traction ondifferent road surfaces, and for wet and snowconditions, thanks to the rear-axle differentiallock. The same applies when acceleratingout of bends, moving off and on roads withdifferent friction coefcients on the left andright, for instance. The PTV Plus also makesa positive impact when the Macan is takenoff-road: On loose ground, rear wheel spin isreduced through targeted locking and brakinginterventions.
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with Porsche active suspension management to be as much in
demand, for its reliability and performance.
Another surprise was in the choice of wheels. Wheel sizes
begin at 18in and go all the way up to 21in, but the front andrear axles get different wheel sizes. This means that the car is
usually supplied without a spare or with only a space saver.
In most ways the car seems to keep it technologically relevant.
Let’s not even look at the cabin, where the sports car ambience,
decent legroom and comforts make for a surere winner. The
Macan looks like a Cayman on steroids and will easily make a
name for itself on the roads of the world - and Porsche are
banking on this with a new extension to their Leipzig plant that
is designed to produce 50,000 units a year when the car hits full
production in 2015. Compare that with 2002 when the entire
production of Porsche was in that range and you can see where
the brand has come now. By the time the whole world is buyingthe Macan, Porsche would be hitting the quarter of a million
mark, making itself the new champion of the sports car world.
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FIRST DRIVE|2014 Honda City
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There are very few city cars in Asia which
have a fan following like the Honda City.
Honda was among the first few to launch
a sedan in emerging markets like India,
way back in 1998 with the f irst generation
Honda City. The fourth generation model
has just been launched in Asia and
Automan checks out the new model during
its India launchAuthor and photography: Faisal Khan
S
ince 1998, Honda’s C-segment City
has become a perennial favourite
in the hotly-contested segment in
many Asian countries and in some
pockets in the Middle East. Quite
popular as an entry level sedan, particularly
in high fuel cost markets like India the model
began losing steam to its rivals which had
the diesel technology advantage. For the
record, Honda has been selling the City in 55
countries worldwide and 2.2mn units have
been sold already.
Honda revived the City nameplate in
1996 for the Asian market with the rst
generation model being based on the Civic.
The rst Honda City was launched in 1981
and technically the City model is now in its
sixth generation. However, since the rst two
generation models were hatchbacks, the City
sedan is therefore considered to be in its
fourth generation now.
Things started moving aggressively at
Honda, by the time the City entered its third
generation. Honda particularly looked at
styling and efcient powertrains and began
to package the car in line with global trends.
Gen III sported a new revolutionary design
language which also set the tone for its
successor and this is evident in the incoming
fourth generation which has further evolved.
At rst glance, to the uninit iated, the new
City will pass off as the old car and that’s
because both the third and fourth generation
models have very similar dimensions and
prole. The new City [code: 2CT] is built
on the same platform as the upcoming
new-generation Jazz. It has a length of
4,440mm [same as the outgoing City], but
the wheelbase is 50mm more at 2,600mm,
height stands at 10mm more at 1,495mm
City slick
EXCLUSIVE
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no speed limiter on the City like it’s on the
Brio and Amaze and thus you can comfortably
cruise at high speeds. 100km/hr in top gearkeeps the rpm needle ticking at 3,000rpm.
Like most Hondas, the suspension is set a
bit on the stiffer side, more attuned for the
heavier diesel model. While, the petrol variant
rides better, the ride overall is compliant on
smooth asphalt, only to be unsettled on
broken patches. High speed stability is good
and occupants don’t realise the speed of the
car. Tyres and wind noise is contained to some
extent due to improved NVH management,
but both the diesel and petrol engines are
quite audible at high revs. The steering is
light at low speeds and only decently weighed
at high speeds lacking feedback you would
expect from a very potent driver ’s car. Turningradius is short making city driving and parking
a breeze. . The CVT box can be noisy at times,
but the paddle shifters on the steering wheel
and the option of choosing Sport mode livens
up things. The CVT model also gets Hill Hold
function and like most higher Honda cars, all
City variants come with ambient meter rings
which are blue in regular driving and turn
green when you drive efciently.
VerdictHonda’s approach towards the City clearly
reveals the importance of the car for the
Japanese brand. Not only is the City an
important car for the manufacturer, it’s also
important for other C-segment companies asthe vehicle always sets a new benchmark in
the segment thereby indirectly dictating the
next move of Honda’s competitors. Honda
knows customers have high expectations from
the City as the vehicle is an achiever’s car
and the company wants to deliver more than
what people ask for. Have they succeeded?
Yes, in spades. The new City builds on the
good points of the old car and offers good
balance of features, styling, performance and
efciency.
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ROADTESTS |2014 Lincoln MKZ
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E l e g a n t S i m p l i c i t y
Nearly identical to the Lincoln MKZ
Concept shown at the North American
International Auto Show in January
2012, the production version of the
new Lincoln MKZ embodies a design
language that is subtly distinctive as
per the brand’s business objectives.
Automan tests this car in Oman
Author: Chandan B Mallik
Photography: Elvis John Ferrao
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Ford’s luxury brand Lincoln has been
in the process of redening itself as
a luxury player and the effort goes
beyond design and engineering.
The MKZ sedan is an important
model in the current line-up and in fact, the
MKZ was the rst of the “MK”-series of Lincoln
luxury vehicles, which has since been followed
by the MKX crossover, MKS full-size sedan
and MKT full-size crossover. Since 2008, the
MKZ has been Lincoln’s best-selling vehicle
in the US domestic market and the all-new
second generation MKZ, which is essentially
an enlarged variant of the international Ford
Mondeo/Fusion platform went on sale in early
2013. This new arrival has been recently
introduced in the Middle East.
With the 2014 Lincoln MKZ, the brand is
keen to reclaim some of its former Detroit
glory which it enjoyed till the imported brands
from Asia and Europe came in and dominated
the segment. And the journey begins with new
design language and prole. While, the MKZ
is mechanically related to the Ford Fusion,
but at least on the outside, there’s plenty of
differentiation between the two cars. Most
noticeable about Lincoln’s MKZ is its fres
and distinctive coupe like exterior styling and
the split winged grille and Europe-inspired
waistline. But it’s the sweeping rooine tha
actually denes the car’s smart prole which
is supported by a steeply raked windscreen
and horizontal tail lamp stretching end to end
It’s not just looks, besides being sleeke
and more owing, the car is 10 per cen
more slippery when it comes to aerodynami
proling when compared to the outgoing
model. What is nice in the design and prole
that although it is strikingly modern, th
classic Lincoln design DNA and key element
like the rened interpretation of the split-win
grille, rst seen on the 1938 Lincoln-Zephy
are retained almost faithfully. The car feature
ush t headlamp assemblies which includ
bright, energy-efcient LED technologies
The front headlights also turn in sync with
the steering wheel and at the rear too, LED
technology rules full-width literally.
Ford is slowly but
surely attempting
to revitalize the
luxury Lincoln brand,
with the new MKZ
sedan pointing the
way forward for theBlue Oval’s premium
division
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Ford is slowly but surely attempting to
revitalize the luxury Lincoln brand, with the
new MKZ sedan pointing the way forward for
the Blue Oval’s premium division
Betting the exterior, the car’s design
teams created an inviting interior featuring
bold architectural elements, rich natural
materials and ne details. There’s a dramatic
sweep of the new instrument panel, a owing
open central console and conspicuous by its
absence is the fact there’s no traditional gear
shifter either on the console or steering stalk.
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Instead, there’s a ve-button interface,
very similar to what you nd in an Aston
Martin these days. The individual buttons
of Push Button Shift engage Park, Neutral,Reverse, and forward gears in two modes,
Drive and Sport. Meanwhile, this arrangement
has given interior designers more freedom to
create functional storage areas in the elegant
central console.
From the trim perspective, there’s premium-
grade, supple leather covers all seats and
responsibly harvested real wood and metal-
toned surfaces complement each other and
create a luxurious and comfortable interior
environment. The car offers quite good head,
leg and shoulder room. Another signature
feature not to be missed in this car is the
retractable panoramic roof. The 15.2-square-
foot glass panel offers one of the largestopenings available on any current sedan.
In terms of technology application inside
the cabin there’s oodles of gadgetry positioned
ahead of the driver. There’s a large full-colour
10.1in LCD instrument cluster operates with
the latest version of SYNC with MyLincoln
Touch. An equally important element of
MyLincoln Touch is the 8in LCD touch screen
that displays information.
As an entry level luxury model that has
moved up, standard luxury features include
11-speaker audiophile entertainment system
and cabin air ltration, power driver’s seat
featuring 10-way power controls and remotestart capabilities. Active Noise Control is
among new technologies that have been
incorporated to ensure the car is whisper
quiet on the move.
Lincoln claims that the MKZ is the only
sedan in its class to offer inatable second-
row outboard seat belts. These outboard
seat belts spread impact forces across more
than ve times the area of conventional belts
reducing pressure on the chest while helping
to control head and neck motion and helping
reduce the risk of injuries.
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Driver also gets some interesting
contemporary technologies like lane departurewarning, adaptive Cruise Control and Collision
Warning with Brake Assist. Active park assist
and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®)
with cross-trafc alert use multiple short-
range wide-angle radar sensors in this car.
We found SYNC with MyLincoln Touch
as a neat combined system that makes it
easier to use most of the entertainment,
climate and available navigation features as
well as connectivity for external devices like
phones, PDA, MP3 players. While two ve-
way controls on the steering wheel manage
essential systems, many functions can be
voice-activated via SYNC.
Powering our test car was top-of-the-line
3.7-litre V6 produces signicantly more power
(37 horsepower and 28 lb.-ft. of torque) than
the previous Lincoln MKZ V6 while improving
fuel economy approximately 5 per cent. This
engine is mated to a six-speed automatic
transmission with paddle shifting facilities
[levers mounted behind the steering wheel].
The car’s suspension is designed to offer
occupants an ideal balance of a smooth ride
and condent handling. This is done through
Lincoln Drive Control is an electronic system
that intuitively responds to driver commands
and the road by interacting continuously. The
car features Continuous Controlled Damping
(CCD) adjustable suspension, electric
power-assisted steering (EPAS), engine,
transmission, Active Noise Control (ANC),
traction control and stability control systems.
In fact, CCD offers three modes (Sport/
Normal/Comfort) that are accessible using
MyLincoln Touch.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
It takes a little while to get used to the
absence of a gear shifter. Unlike in the Aston
Martin which uses a robotic gearbox where
the in-between shifts can be noisy and jerky,
the gear shifts in the MKZ are ultra smooth.
The car is certainly very quiet on the move
and the ride and handling are on par withsimilar premium luxury models, like the Lexus
ES, part in thanks to Lincoln Drive Control,
an intelligent system designed to deliver a
well-balanced driving experience. The engine
is quite responsive to general duties and
doesn’t feel stressed when pushed. Steering
feel and feedback is neutral and overall, when
compared with the new Cadillac CTS, which
is a far more engaging driver’s car, the MKZ
feels quite sedate and relaxed.
While the push button gears are
entertaining, unlike some driver-selectable
Sport modes, the Lincoln Drive Control
actually produces noticeable changes in the
car’s performance and ride. In every mode,
we note that the chassis motions are well
controlled, which is surprising as one would
have expected of a car which has so much
inuence from a Fusion. Our test car rode
tolerably with the suspension set to Comfort,
yet with Sport mode selected, changes are
felt, but the car doesn’t get aggressive. The
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Handling isn’t too aggressive
and the new MKZ’s chassis
is set-up for several driving
modes. It’s on the borderline
of sports sedans
brakes have adequate power to stop the car
from 110km/h in 169feet, which is better
braking than that of a BMW 528i or Lexus
GS350.
VERDICT
The 2013 MKZ is a much more thorough
rework of the Fusion architecture now.
Overall, the 2014 MKZ should be considered
less of an enthusiast’s car, but more as an
all-rounder. This is because the MKZ is not
designed or packaged to sit in the same
performance tier as the Cadillac CTS, BMW 3
Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. We wouldn’t
recommend it as a luxury sport sedan choice,
but would see it as a standalone car which
is stylish, feature loaded, comfortable to ride
in and easy to live with. The new MKZ is the
most rened and engaging MKZ ever.
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We met Infiniti’s new designer SimonCox on the sidelines of the Dubai
motorshow. He gives Automan an
interesting perspective of what it takes
to design products at a t ime of change
for the luxury brand.
Interviewer: Raj Warrior
RW: It’s a pleasure to meet you Simon.
Coming from a background of designing
for American marques, how different do
you nd the task that you now have in
bringing out future Innitis at this time
of their growth surge?
SC: For us at Inniti it is now much more than
a one size ts everything approach. We have
challenges. We have established players to
contend with – we have BMW, Audi , Merc