171 Automan November Issue 2015

8/19/2019 171 Automan November Issue 2015

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4/84is image of Hurricane Gonzalo was taken f rom the International Space Station by European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst on Oct. 16, 2014


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32

COVER STORY | 2016 Ford ExplorerMoving up

24

Tokyo Motor ShowCon dence returns to thisvenue as participation byautomakers jumps

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COVER STORY 32-37 2016 FORD EXPLORER

OMAN AND REGIONAL NEWS08-19 2015 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOWCURTAIN RAISER, REGIONAL MEDIA’S FIRST OUTINGWITH GEN II 2016 AUDI Q7 IN OMAN, REGIONAL MEDIAGETS FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE OF CADILLAC V-SERIESPRODUCTS, NISSAN’S NISMO PERFORMANCE ARMARRIVES IN REGION, NEW CAR LAUNCHES -- 2016 BMW7 SERIES, 2015/16 GEELY GC9, 2016 FORD EXPLORER,HYUNDAI TUCSON AND CRETA SUVS, IVECO’S ‘NEWDAILY’ TRUCKS

BRANDWATCH20-23 TOYOTA IN 2015: COULD BE WORLD’S #1, FERRARI TO RAISE PRODUCTION, FERRARI IPOOVERSUBSCRIBED, EX VW CEO MARTIN WINTERKORNTO RELINQUISH OTHER VAG POSITIONS, FRENCHGOVERNMENT UPS STAKE IN RENAULT-NISSANALLIANCE, FIAT’S AEGEA PROJECT GETS A FORMALNAME, TAX CUTS TO BOOST SMALL CAR SALESIN CHINA, BOGWARD PRODUCTS TO BE MADE ININDIA BY BEIQI FOTON MOTORS, VW PHAETON TOGO ALL ELECTRIC, NEW CLS-BASED MODEL UNDER

CONSIDERATION BY MERCEDES-BENZ, DIESEL GATESCANDAL TO AFFECT OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS?PRODUCTION LINCOLN CONTINENTAL TO DEBUTIN JANUARY, MICRO CARS TO BE JOINTLY BUILTBY NISSAN AND MITSUBISHI, MITSUBISHI LANCEREVO FORMALLY RETIRED, NISSAN’S NEW CVT,

VOLKSWAGEN’S GROUP’S STRATEGY 2018 CHANGEDTO 2025

INTERNATIONAL NEWS SPOTLIGHT24-28 2015 TOKYO MOTOR SHOW

FIRST DRIVES38-43 2015 MINI COOPER S 5-DOOR44-49 2016 AUDI RS750-53 2015 JAGUAR XE2.5T

EDITOR’S CHOICE: TOP 5 TOKYOCONCEPTS20-23 NISSAN IDS CONCEPT20-23 YAMAHA SPORTS COUPE20-23 LEXUS LF FC20-23 MITSUBISHI EX20-23 TOYOTA KIKAI

NEW CAR PREVIEWS54-55 FERRARI F12FTB56-59 MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS COUPE60-63 PORSCHE 911 CARERRA

64-65 CATERHAM SUPERLIGHT

66-67 MITSUBISHI LANCER GT

TECHTALK

68-73 SUSTAINABILITY: OPTIONS AHEAD OF US

MOTORSPORTS74-79 F1, MOTOGP, REGIONAL, SNIPPETS

CHICANE80 LETTING THE MACHINE TAKE OVER

54

60

2016 Honda PilotNEXT ISSUE


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We have been trying to avoid harping on Volkswagen’s issues this month, yet somehowthere is always another twist to the sordid tale that calls for attention. The month endsaw US federal authorities now add another facet to the issue of the not so clean dieselengines when it said that around 10,000 of the company’s 3.0-litre 6-cylinder units ttedin its premium brands like Audi and Porsche were also being added to the almost half amillion smaller engines.

Of course a month is now a long time in a car brand’s history. People have been red, newmanagement types hired and the company is strengthening its ethics oversight while fully

co-operating with investigators around the world. If the engine has been sold anywhere,the authorities in that country will not want to be seen as slow to act. However this alsobrings with it some ironic moments, like when VW has to recall cars in India, where the bulkof vehicles sold are still Euro 3 compliant.

And while on the topic of recalls, the exercise is on full-swing around the world, with defectsranging from defective seats, defective airbags, oor mats, leaking power steerings andengines with metal lings in them. It is almost as if every error that could crop up in makinga car has now become visible and the world is working overtime to correct it. By ourreckoning, one day in the not so distant future we will have more cars recalled in a yearthan were actually manufactured.

But the issue with a business that’s on the scale of the global automotive business isthat you are never actually making today’s car. Between R&D, engineering, tech trendsand consumer behaviour, 90% of your effort is always on the car that will come to theshowroom a couple of years in the future. The rest is all marketing. We don’t doubt thatlessons being learnt from today’s ascos will be applied in this next generation of cars.

In the meantime, Muscat had a generous crop of today’s cars being launched in the spanof a week in October – from the Ford Explorer, the new look Land Cruiser, the new Tucsonand Creta and the brilliant new BMW 7-series, the third week of October was a car lover’sdelight. As always, we have covered the lot, while having already met the new Explorerand Tucson in the esh. The Explorer features on this month’s cover with an early test-drive. Look out in coming issues for the rest of the bunch.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFMohammad Al Taie

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G lo ba l t rends w h ic h are keep in

g t he mo t or ing indus t r y bus y in

c lude f ind ing prac t ica l so lu t ion

s for

less fue l consump t ion and mo

re sus t a ina b le cars. I t seems t

ha t t hese issues w i l l a lso be o

n t he

agenda a t t h is year ’s Du ba i In t

erna t iona l Mo t or S ho w ( D I M S )

as t he M idd le Eas t loo ks t o ne w

eco-

fr iend l y mo t or ing op t ions. A war

eness o f more fue l e f f ic ien t an

d ‘green ’ ve h ic les in t he reg ion

has

been s t ead i l y increas ing, par t ic

u lar l y in t he Un i t ed A ra b Em ira

t es [ U A E ] fo l lo w ing t he deregu l

a t ion o f

pe t ro l pr ices t ha t came in t

o e f fec t in A ugus t . Go vernmen t

in i t ia t i ves are a lso focused on

sus t a ina b i l i t y,

w i t h Du ba i Po l ice un ve i l ing i t s e lec t r ic m in i-cars and m

o t or b i kes w h i le t he Roads and

Transpor t

A u t hor i t y [ R T A ] o f Du ba i con t inu

es i t s campa ign for runn ing h y br id t a x is. Some o

f t he ma jor g lo ba l

p la yers in sus t a ina b i l i t y produc

t s inc lude B M W Group, Jaguar

Land Ro ver, Cad i l lac, Le xus and To yo t a.

Mean w h i le, au t oma kers w ho a

re beg inn ing t o ma ke t he ir pre

sence fe l t inc lude H yunda i and

K ia. On

s ho w, a l is t o f cars t ha t one s h

ou ld par t icu lar l y wa t c h ou t for w

ou ld inc lude:

Touted as the world’s most progressive 2+2 seater plug-inhybrid sports car, its powertrain package uses an electricmotor and a petrol engine. As a plug-in hybrid, it combinesthe performance and appeal of a sports car with the fuelconsumption and emissions of a small car. It acceleratesfrom 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds, using just 2.1 litres of petrolper 100kms and emitting just 59g/km of emissions. An all-embracing sustainability concept runs throughout the entirevalue chain of the BMW i8 using 100-per cent renewableelectricity along with a high proportion of recycled andenvironmentally friendly materials.

As one of the world’s lightest and most agile full-size luxury sedans, the Cadillac CT6 takes a big step towards more e cient andsustainable transportation by combining a variety of new technologies to achieve dynamic performance, e ciency and agility. It comeswith the industry’s rst application of cylinder deactivation technology on a turbocharged V6 engine. The car also features lightweightarchitecture that utilises 11 materials achieving strength, performance and competency. The world premiere of the XT5 SUV [all-new

replacement of the SRX] will take place in Dubai.

BMW

Cadillac

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Audi Middle East will present the all-new second generation R8, all-newAudi A4 and RS 3 Sportback. The RSmodel represent the high-performanceautomobiles of quattro GmbH. Theregional premieres of these cars willhighlight Audi’s brand philosophy“Vorsprung durch Technik”.

Chevrolet will unveil its newest productline-up for the Middle East region withno less than four new unveils. Chevroletwill be taking the wraps off the all-new2016 Chevrolet Camaro, 2017 ChevroletMalibu, 2016 Chevrolet Spark, andenhanced 2016 Chevrolet Silverado.

Infiniti will present the Q80 Inspiration,what it considers as the halo modelfor Infiniti’s design language and theQ60 Concept, its vision for a futuresports coupe. Initially unveiled at theParis Motor Show in 2014, it will bethe first Middle East debut of the Q80Inspiration. The Q60 Concept was firstpremiered at the 2015 North AmericanInternational Auto Show.

GMC has planned the regional premiere of the 2016 Sierra,its best-selling truck in the Middle East. The incomingmodel boasts a fresh appearance that takes its signaturepremium styling to a higher level – and offers new, advancedengineering features designed to complement its craftedinterior. GMC will also showcase the brand’s latest inconnectivity programmes. It has added Apple CarPlaycapability to the 2016 Yukon and Sierra. Essentially, AppleCarPlay takes the iPhone features customers want to accesswhile driving and integrates them into the vehicle’s display in asmart, simple manner with the brand’s IntelliLink system.

Maserati has announced that it will be exhibiting the MaseratiAlfieri, a 2+2 concept car. The Alfieri is hailed as archetypal forthe future design DNA of Maserati. The striking concept bearsthe name of the most prominent of the Maserati brothers - theengineering genius who founded “Officine Alfieri Maserati” inBologna over a century ago. According to Lorenzo Ramaciotti,the mastermind behind the project, “The Alfieri is a transitionpoint between 100 glorious years of history and the future thatis opening up before us.”

Audi

Chevrolet

Infiniti

GMC

Maserati

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Mirai is name plate that will mark itsdebut at Dubai and will represent asignificant chapter in automotive historyfor zero-emission cars in this region.Toyota/Lexus have been selling hybridvehicles to major fleet operators in theregion and the production Mirai fuel cellvehicle has been recently been launchedin the US and Europe following Japan.

Jaguar will showcase its new aluminium family of vehicles withits new Jaguar XE and Jaguar XF sedans at this year’s show.The all new Jaguar XE uses an aluminium monocoque body

with the lightweight metal accounting for 75 per cent of thecar’s structure. The weight reduction ensures that the JaguarXE is the most fuel-efficient Jaguar yet with fuel consumptionand CO2 emissions on the NEDC combined cycle of over 75mpgand less than 100g/km respectively. Jaguar will also hold theregional premiere of its F-Pace SUV.

Land Rover will have bigpresence at this year’s showand besides displaying itscars, Range Rover has plans tocelebrate 45 years of luxury,design and innovation. Thebrand will also introduce themanufacturer’s Special VehicleOperations. On display will

be the full Land Rover line including the Range Rover SportSVR, Range Rover Evoque HSE Dynamic, Discovery Sport, LandRover Defender Adventure and Heritage Editions and LR4Landmark Edition

Al-Futtaim Motors, exclusivedistributor of Lexus in theUAE, offers the largest line-up of Lexus premium hybridvehicles in the UAE, and willbe showcasing three hybridmodels at this year’s show -

the Lexus LSh, GSh and RXhThese vehicles are equipped

with cutting-edge hybrid technologies combining a powerfulgasoline engine and an advanced electric motor allowing themto run purely on electric power at lower speeds whilst emittingzero emissions.

Toyota

Jaguar

Automan’s takeThe regional show will have a lot to appeal for motoring aficionados in the region. While new car launches and world premiereswill take centre stage, classic and historic car lovers will have the opportunity to see a magnificent collection, thanks to a newevent addition. A collection of the finest and most significant cars in the history of the automobile from Europe, the UnitedStates and Asia have been generously loaned from Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Tomini Classics, the Sharjah Museum and the Al AinClassics collections as well as from a number of proud owners from the Dubai Grand Parade for the duration of the show.Titled as

‘The Motoring Nostalgia Museum’, the display will take the visitors on a historical journey through motoring history with classicsranging from the 1950s to the 80s. Everything from a delectable 1951 Riley RMC Roadster with its graceful, sweptback looks thatdefined the immediate postwar period through to the model that virtually coined the “supercar” phrase, the twin-turbocharged,all-wheel drive 1988 Porsche 959 will be on display in their dedicated auto alley located in DWTC’s Zabeel 1 Hall. They will joina wide variety of cars covering the full spectrum of desire including a stunning 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, an original LandRover, a striking 1955 300SL Gullwing Mercedes-Benz and a 1974 Ferrari Dino to name just a few. In keeping with the familyfriendly feel, visitors to Motoring Nostalgia will be able to take guided tours from resident experts. Visitors will also have theopportunity to hear forums covering topics such as how to buy and register a classic car in the UAE.Master craftsmen will showcase their skills and interest for disciplines including leather stitching, to a cobbler at work as wellas artists painting, all of which shows an appreciation for classic cars as a lifestyle just as much as a beautiful motor vehicle. The2015 Dubai International Motor Show will be open from 6pm to 10pm on November 10; 11am to 10pm on November 11; 11am to11pm on November 12 and 13; and from 11am to 10pm on November 14. Ticket prices are AED 65 for single-day entry with childrenunder 12 entering free. Price of ticket includes entry to the Motoring Nostalgia Museum and children under the age of 16 must beaccompanied by an adult.

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As part of an elaborate exerciseaimed at getting media anda cionados familiar with Cadillac’s

performance ‘V’ sub brand in the region,Cadillac Middle East introduced the line-up three V-Series-badged all-new cars atthe Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi lastmonth.For the event, select media and customersspent a day with the cars on track and alsogot the opportunity to meet one of thekey members responsible for the V- Seriesproducts -- vehicle chief engineer TonyRoma who works in the groups’ GlobalPerformance Luxury Car division in the US.

Roma specially ew down to Abu Dhabi to

present the cars in the pit lane converted‘V’ garage.At the garage Roma did the walkaroundswith the cars, namely the Cadillac CTS-Vsedan, coupe and sedan variants ofthe ATS-V. Besides the cars, there weredemonstrators highlighting the engines,brakes, sports seats among other modelspeci c items.The V-Series cars can be identi ed bytheir badging and what di erentiatesthem from their non-V siblings arethe aerodynamic packages like biggergrille which facilitate air vents thatsupplemented drivetrain cooling and

brakes.

Complementing these mechanical andexterior performance focused featuresas an equally driver focused interiorwith high-performance seats, optimizedergonomics and interfaces. The car’smuscle car like pro le comes withwide ared mudguards and aggressiveaerodynamics features. The interiorfeatures Recaro seats, faux carbon trim,and touches of dark suede.While discussing the features of the carsindividually, Roma insisted that the ATSis quite capable of holding up its ownagainst the world’s best sports sedan andcoupe competitors like the BMW 3 Series,

Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4 and to

RE G I O N A L me dia ge t s

FI R S T - H A N D e xpe rie nce o f

C a d ill a c V - S e r i e s produc t sW

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some extent In niti Q70 [G37]. While, theATS comes with four doors or two doors,the two-door coupe variant is slightlysmaller than its sibling but comes with awider track. It looks the same but actuallyhas di erent sheetmetal. The ATS-V ispowered by a 3.6-litre turbocharged V6that o ers 464hp and 445lb-ft of torque.Itcan sprint for 0-100km/h in under 4.0-secs.The sti chassis is made of aluminium andsteel and besides the magnetic dampingsystem, it also comes with PerformanceTraction Management (PTM) system.The CTS-V performance midsize sedan ispositioned as Cadillac’s fastest production

car in history. The CTS-V is based on the

CTS sedan, but to make it faster and morepowerful it uses lightweight materials andrace-bred technology for track-worthyperformance, according to Roma. Greatattention has been paid by engineers inthe chassis department which has beensti ened by 25percent over the regularCTS. This was done to ensure lesser bodyroll and more stability when cornering.The car’s bonnet is made of lightweightcarbon ber and features a functional ventthat extracts hot air from the engine andalso helps to create downforce. The grillehas been increased by roughly 30 percentand the valance features larger front air

intakes that help with additional cooling.

The CTS-V gets new supercharged6.2-litre V8 that cranks out 640hp and630lb-ft of torque. 0-100km/h comes inaround 3.9secs and top speed is 32km/h,according to Roma. The engine is pairedexclusively with GM’s 8-speed automatictransmission with paddle shifters andlaunch control.Roma said in his presentation that, onpaper, the CTS-V’s performance overshadows the BMW M5’s standard 560hpV8 performance comfortably and is closeto with the performance of the 5.5-litrebiturbo V8 used in the Mercedes-Benz E63AMG 4Matic.Common to all V-badge models is thePerformance Data Recorder (PDR). PDRallows drivers to record high-de nitionvideo, with data overlays, of their drivingexperiences on and o the track. The data

is recorded on a memory smart card. PDRfor this car was developed with Cosworth,the British motorsports-engineeringcompany that supplies General Motors’Racing Teams with data acquisition andtelemetry systems. In addition, bothATS-V and CTS-V models also feature aprofessional-level motorsports CosworthToolbox telemetry system that allowsdrivers to analyze their laps in incredibledetail and nd opportunities to improveand ne tune their driving and lap times.The telemetry software combinesCosworth’s professional-level motorsportdata analysis with an easy-to-use graphicinterface.All the 2016 models track tested wereout tted with the latest third- generationMagnetic Ride Control, which accordingto Roma delivers 40 percent fasterdamping response. This allows betterchassis control by the driver, whocan in turn optimize his performancerequirements for touring duties and trackday experiences. The track exercises wereperformed under supervision of the trackmarshals and included fast laps on the

circuit and some handling exercises.

Tony Roma

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Nissan’s motorsport and in-houseperformance brand, NISMO, made itsMiddle East debut last month in Dubai.“NISMO is the ultimate essence ofNissan’s promise to deliver ‘Innovation

that Excites’,” said Samir Cherfan,Managing Director of Nissan Middle East.NISMO was founded in September 1984as a specialty company to support allmotorsports activities of Nissan MotorCompany (Nissan).We are aware of two Nismo productioncars -- 370Z and the GT-R, but at theregional launch there was a third surprisein store. “We could not have launchedNISMO in the region without includingour most iconic model, the NissanPatrol, in the range of NISMO vehicles.As a result, the event also marked theworld premiere of the Patrol NISMOprototype. Recognizing that o -roadingand motorsports are the life-blood oflocal driving enthusiasts, Nissan stronglybelieves the time is right to introduce thePatrol NISMO in the Middle East.“Bringing the high performance brand tothe Middle East and launching the PatrolNISMO as a world premiere model is proofof our commitment to making thrillingdriving experiences accessible to all ourcustomers.”According to Cherfan, NISMO is an

important part of Nissan’s long termproduct plan. “We view the additionof NISMO as a key element of ourbusiness expansion strategy based onour successful motorsports heritage inthe region. The NISMO brand is a highlyvaluable, credible and desirable additionto our range and we are honored to bringthe brand to the Middle East.” Regionalmedia members were also given anopportunity to get familiarized with thecars at Dubai Autodrome.

Nismo arrivesin region

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Audi Middle East organised the regional debut of thenew top-of-the-line SUV model in Oman. With the newGen II Q7, Audi has set some interesting standards in thepremium SUV segment. The incoming model is built ona new group platform and even the base model is 325kglighter than before. Although the exterior dimensions have

gotten smaller, it o ers substantially more interior roomfor passengers and luggage. The Q5 TSFI 45 is the variantthat will be sold here with the bi-turbo 3.0-litre V6 enginemated to 8-speed transmission. The Q7 is feature loadedand its innovative assistance and infotainment systemstake it to the front of the pack. The day long drive tookthe drivers and cars to some of the scenic routes and alsoincluded some o -road trails.

Regional media’s first outing withGen II 2016 Audi Q7in Oman

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Al Jenaibi Automobiles, the Oman importer retailer ofBMW cars arranged the rst public viewing of the incomingBMW 7 Series at the Royal Opera House in Muscat.BMW Group has tried to rede ne the positioning of theincoming car as an exclusive one that o ers luxuriousdriving experience, looks ontemporary and incorporatesthe latest in groundbreaking technologies in the areasof lightweight design, powertrains including hybrids,chassis, operating systems, intelligent connectivity andinterior ambience. BMW claims that the handing over ofthe baton from one generation to the next at the top endof BMW’s model line-up sees the brand presenting a raftof innovations unmatched by any of its rivals. Depending

on variant, factors in enhancing dynamics, e ciency,comfort and safety have been considered and there’s useof carbon- bre-reinforced plastic in the body structure,engines from the BMW Group’s new generation of powerunits, including a plug-in hybrid 740e. On the performanceside, there’s and active chassis which BMW calls ExecutiveDrive Pro and the driving experience control switch withadaptive modes. BMW is the rst to introduce its Laserlighttechnologies and the application nds its way out here.Optional Executive Lounge bespoke appointments and MSport package will also be available to order. BMW alsointroduces a biturbo 2.0-litre engine with electric motors inthe 740e set-up. Autonomous parking is also introduced inthis car.

The Korean embassy’s charge d’a airesand the head of their trade delegationaccompanied Hyundai’s VP Jin Kim, whois the head of the regional o ce handlingthe Middle East and Africa at the launchevent. They were hosted by the localdistributors OTE group, whose chairmanSh. Saad Suhail Bahwan and managingdirector Anil Dua hosted the evening.In his welcome address, Mr Dua harkedback to the 25 year association withHyundai as well as to how the sales andafter-sales network have grown acrossthe Sultanate. Mr Kim then went on tohighlight the importance of the newTucson and the Creta in the product mixo ered by Hyundai in the region, with

a rather lengthy and detailed productpresentation that followed.The Tucson has been reviewed by usearlier, with its new looks and clutch ofnew technologies making it an attractiveproposition for family and eet marketsin Oman. This new generation bringswith it a choice of two engines – the2.0-litre 4-cylinder unit as the baseo ering and a very European inspired1.6-litre turbocharged unit as the premiumo ering. This marks a departure fromthe brand’s previous o ering of a 2 and2.4-litre unit. The smaller engine is morepowerful and is o ered with a 7-speedDCT gearbox for better response. Interms of features the car now o ers

better infotainment options with a largecolour screen, up to 6 airbags, a seamlesspanoramic roof, second row seatingthat has more legroom and adjustabilityoptions. The car also has blind spotmonitoring and rear cross tra c alert.As for the Creta, the India-made compactSUV has been designed to take on theFord EcoSport and Renault Duster in thehome market, thus putting Hyundai ina position to emulate this in Oman. Theexpectation is that this keenly packagedcar will have an aggressive pricing to drivevolumes. It comes to Oman with a 1.6-litreengine and six-speed auto gearbox alongwith a 5-speed manual and features like hillstart assist.

2016 BMW 7 Series

The third generationof the Hyundai Tucsonand the completelynew Creta were

launched in at a galaevening in Muscat

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Ford has upgraded its Explorer for 2016with some cosmetic upgrades and newfeatures. Two versions are sold in Omanand the model will be available in severaltrim and powertain options. The entrylevel XLT and Limited get a 3.5-litre Ti-VCTV6 engine o ering 294PS and 346Nmoftorque when paired with a six-speedSelectShift® automatic transmission.The Sport variant is powered by aturbocharged 3.5-litre V6 [Ecoboost]engine which o ers 370PS and 475Nmof torque when paired with the sametransmission. Ford’s Sync system is voiceactivated. Among the cosmetic changesis a redesigned bonnet and front new endwith new grille design. Headlamps areLED fed and the cluster includes daytimerunning lights. The rear tail lamp design is

also refreshed.

For the Middle East, just a few weeks forthe regional automotive extravaganzain Dubai, Lexus along with its authorizedimporter retailers introduced therefreshed LX570 for their respectivemarkets. The brand’s agship premium

luxury sport-utility now features thenew corporate spindle grille, LED DRLSand LED taillamps. With a powerful V8,sophisticated 4WD chassis and seating foreight, the model remains one of the fewSUVs that combine genuine luxury withtrue o -road capability.

2016 FordExplorer

2016 ToyotaLand Cruiser

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International Equipment & Contracting Company, aSuhail Bahwan Group member along with top o cialsfrom Turin-based Iveco introduced the re-engineeredthird generation Iveco Daily trucks for the Oman market.“Oman is the rst country in the GCC to see the launchof the new Daily in the Middle East,” said Pierre Lahutte,Brand President at Iveco. “We give a huge importance tothe Africa and Middle East region, particularly the GCC,as they are a critical area for Iveco.”For the Middle East, the trucks get an extra air-conditioning pack and some modi cations in the dieselset-up to ensure they are compliant with the fuel gradethat is available out here. The Daily line-up for Omanintroduced are the single wheel models with twowheelbase options [3,250mm and 4,100mm] whichallows exibility to the user and their speci c customizedneeds like water tanker or recovery vehicle. Iveco o ersthe Daily with low ownership and servicing costs. “Thisproduct launch raises the segment standards to newheights in this region,” said Marco Torta, Sales Managerfor Gulf region at Iveco. “More than 2.6mn Daily vehicleshave been sold to date in over 110 countries worldwideand 80 per cent of the new Daily components have been

redesigned for optimized performance.”

Chinese automaker Geely which also now owns Volvo plans toexpand its sedan line-up with new GC9 sedan in the Sultanate.Last month, Towell Auto Centre, which o cially represents Geelyin Oman announced that the rst consignments of the GC9, thebrand’s new premium sedan were on their way to the Sultanate.Geely’s new sedan takes its inspiration from the KC Conceptwhich was showcased at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show. The car’sdesign was signed o by ex-Volvo designer Briton Peter Horbury,

who joined Geely in 2012 as its chief designer. Meanwhile, as partof the brand restructuring, Geely has dropped the idea of threesub brands and hence the Emgrand marque is now defunct. Asa result, what we knew as the Emgrand GC9 is o cially now theGeely GC9.Geely GC9 is the rst model to be presented as a top luxuryo ering from China and it has received several engineering inputsfrom Melbourne, Australia-based Premcar – the out t whichunder its previous Prodrive Engineering ownership, developedFord Performance Vehicles (FPV) models for Ford Australia untillast year. This team nalized the suspension set-up for the GC9.The fastback pro led he 4,956mm long car on a wheelbase of2850mm will be o ered with a four-cylinder 2.4-litre and 3.5-litreV6 mated to six-speed automatic transmission developed inAustralia by Geely-owned Drivetrain Systems International (DSI).Geely is hoping that the new car will represent a game-changerfor the brand, not only taking the Chinese company’s levels oftechnology and safety to new levels, but also showing o thenew design language.

Oman is Iveco’s first port of entry

for ‘New Daily’ trucks

2015/16 Geely GC9

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It’s a numbers game and with just a few weeks more till the endof this year, it seems that Toyota has an upper edge. Toyota hasdelivered 7.49mn vehicles from January through September andin the process also regained the lead in the global volume battle.This means Toyota has just beat Volkswagen’s 7.43mn numbers inthe rst three quarters. General Motors has shifted 7.15mn unitsin the same period. VW’s diesel emissions scandal might seem tobe the current argument for losing the top position, the EPA’s

violation notice only came on September 18. Actually, fallingdemand in China likely played a more signi cant part in the lossesthan the cheating software scandal.

Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn who took the blameof the ongoing dieselgate scandal will also resign from his otherkey positions within VW Group brands. After his departure fromVW, Winterkorn was still serving as chairman of Audi and chiefexecutive of Porsche SE, a holding company with a majority stake

in VW. He was also chairman of truck maker Scania.Under pressure from labour unions, Winterkorn has agreed toresign from the remaining positions and completely sever tieswith the company. Meanwhile, following Winterkorn’s departure,the company is continuing to proceed with an internal investigationthat aims to identify any workers responsible for the scandal. Criticspoint out that, like GM’s ignition-switch crisis, the answer likely goesmuch deeper than a few rogue software engineers.

Fiat has announced plans to resurrect its Tipo nameplate forthe Aegea Project sedan that was introduced earlier this year inIstanbul, Turkey. Introduced in the late 1980s, the original Tipowas sold as a boxy hatchback with mass-market ambitions acrossthe globe. It proved a strong seller in many markets, beforeretiring after less than a decade in production.The new Tipo has similar global ambitions, focusing on deliveringa competitive value-for-money proposition in Europe and exportmarkets where it will replace the Linea. Buyers in various marketswill be able to choose from a wide range of gasoline and dieselpowerplants, with power output ranging from 95-120 horsepowerand a choice between manual and automatic transmissions.Designed in Italy and developed in Turkey, the Tipo will be built inthe latter country where it will retain the Aegea nameplate. The

company has not announced speci c launch details or pricing.

China has decided to boost the declining auto industry by o ering

tax breaks. In a major decision it has reduced sales tax on smallcars by 50 per cent. The tax break will run until the end of 2016and apply to cars with 1.6-litre engines or smaller, a segment thataccounts for nearly 70 percent of total sales in China.The move, announced by Chinese cabinet last month boostedshares of major Chinese automakers like Great Wall MotorsBYD, BAIC Motor and SAIC Motor. Car sales in China, the world’sbiggest market since 2009, were at in the rst eight months ofthe year and could contract in 2015 for the rst time since themarket took o in the late 1990s. In August, sales fell 3 percentfrom a year earlier to 1.7 million vehicles. Many analysts expectauto sales growth to hold in low single-digits in coming years andglobal carmakers are cutting production and reining in wages andother costs. China’s central bank has also provided support for auto

nancing rms by slashing the amount of reserves they need to hold.

Toyota in 2015: couldbe world’s # 1

Winterkorn to relinquishother VAG positions

Fiat’s Aegea project gets a formal name

Tax cuts to boost small car sales in China

Automan’s takeVolkswagen did have a lead over Toyota in the first six monthsof the year, but it now seems that Toyota will edge past VWwith the 2015 title since VW’s current dieselgate crisis will likelyhave its effect on sales in the remainder months of the year.

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Currently, Ferrari is considered to be an exclusivity focusedsupercar brand with its xed 7,000unit annual production.However, that is about to change as reports from Europe aresuggesting that the Prancing Horse brand is preparing itself tosigni cantly increase production to 9,000 units annually.

This would roughly represent an increase of nearly 30per centand the reason for removing the current production cap is tohelp meet growing demand in emerging markets. That’s not all.New products will also be created to accommodate demographicchanges as the size and spending capacity of target client grows,according to Ferrari.It may be recalled last year that a debate related to productionof cars during the tenure of then chairman Luca di Montezemoloand Fiat Chrysler Automobiles chief Sergio Marchionne resultedin the latter winning the battle and the former resigning.Montezemolo was in favour of maintaining the brand’s exclusivitywhile Marchionne who currently serves as Ferrari’s new chairmanpushed for higher sales numbers and has aired con dence thatproduction can be increased to 10,000 units without any ill e ects.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [FCA] o cially launched Ferrari’sinitial public o ering [IPO] last month. The Italian company putup 10per cent stake up for sale that included more than 18mnshares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol

“RACE” with a price o ering range of US$48 to US$52 pershare [total value between US$9.2 and US$9.8bn]. Demand forstock in the Ferrari IPO surpassed market expectations and theIPO was oversubscribed more than ten-to-one across its entireprice range. Following completion of this o ering, FCA expectsto distribute its remaining 80per cent interest in Ferrari to FCAshareholders at the beginning of 2016. As part of the spinofrom FCA, Ferrari will assume US$3.1bn of debt. Enzo Ferrari’sson, Piero Ferrari, will also receive a 10per cent stake in theautomaker as well as a $318.5mn cash payment.

Ferrari to raiseproduction

Ferrari IPO oversubscribed

Volkswagen’s Group’s Strategy2018 changed to 2025

Automan’s takeThe Maranello-based car company has long known that itcould sell many more cars than it currently builds. Till now thebusiness model is based on balancing profits with exclusivityand short supply. However, parent FCA’s experience withupping Maserati production from 15,000 units to 75,000 unitsin just four years is beginning to show up. In 2014, Maseratideliveries were up by 137per cent globally.

A ve point agenda has been proposed by Matthias Müller,chairman of the board of management at VolkswagenAktiengesellschaft last month as part of damage control andfuture business objectives and prioritization. “We have to lookbeyond the current situation and create the conditions forVolkswagen’s successful further development,” said Müller. Müller announced that the cornerstones of the Group’s Strategy2018 plan has been revised as Group’s Strategy 2025 and the coredetails will be presented next year. Here are the highlights of the

5-point plan:

1. First priority is to support the customers a ected by the dieselissue. According to Müller, Volkswagen is working intensivelyto develop e ective technical solutions. In contact with theKraftfahrtbundesamt (KBA – German Federal Motor TransportAuthority) the implementation is set to begin in January 2016.

2. Müller’s second priority is to systematically drive forwardand complete the investigation into what happened. For thispurpose,audit rm Deloitte has been engaged in addition to thesteps already announced. According to Müller, those responsiblefor what has happened must face severe consequences.

3. Müller’s third priority is to introduce new structures in theVolkswagen Group. “The key point is that Group managementwill be decentralised to a greater extent in the future,” hesaid. Board of Management will focus on addressing cross-brand strategies, leveraging synergies and ensuring that Groupresources are used e ectively.

4. As his fourth priority, Müller is driving forward a realignmentof the Group’s culture and management behaviour. He notedthat the pursuit of perfection, the employees’ commitment andsocial responsibility in the Volkswagen Group must be retained.However, he believes that changes are necessary in howVolkswagen communicates and how it handles its mistakes.

5. The Volkswagen CEO announced that the fth priority will beto transform the Group’s Strategy 2018 into a Strategy 2025.“Many people outside of Volkswagen, but also some of us, didnot understand that our Strategy 2018 is about much more thanproduction numbers. According to Müller, the point is not tosell 100,000 more or fewer vehicles than a major competitor.Instead, the real issue is qualitative growth

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In the Renault-Nissan Alliance set-up, the French government isthe largest shareholder and the Japanese brand generates abouttwo-thirds of the sales. CEO Carlos Ghosn wants to put morecontrol into the Nissan side and observers suggest that the largestakeholder will not give up so easily. So what has prompted thisdesire?It is strongly believed that the French government is responsiblefor creating a wall of distrust, after giving him just a few hoursof notice to raise their stake in Renault’s stock from 15per centto 19.7per cent. To mitigate state control formally, Ghosn needsformal approval from the Renault board. The French governmentisn’t ready to just hand over power to Ghosn due to politicalreasons, mainly because it wants to protect jobs in the country.The Alliance “must not be destabilized by governance changesor adjustments that could also lead to con icts of interest,”economy minister Emmanuel Macron told reporters.

Mercedes-Benz is reportedly developing a C-Class-basedfour-door coupe. This is according to a new report comingout of Germany. It seems that Mercedes-Benz has startedto develop a car that will slot between the CLA and the CLS.Tentatively called CLC, the segment-stretching coupe will bebased on the long-wheelbase version of the C-Class that’scurrently built in China exclusively for the domestic market.The bigger dimensions will allow Mercedes designers to givethe CLC a flatter roof line, and to provide the passengers ridingin the back with a lot more space. Using a longer rear-wheeldrive platform will also help set the CLC apart from the lessexpensive CLA which will continue to ride on a modular front-wheel drive platform. The CLC will share its engines with thefacelifted C-Class and also will have a petrol-electric hybriddrivetrain version. An AMG-tuned model equipped with thesame 503hp twin-turbocharged V8 as the C63 S will round outthe lineup. Interestingly, the CLC nameplate was first usedfrom 2008 to 2011 on the final evolution of the C-Class SportCoupe. The CLC was a budget-focused model designed tolure younger buyers into showrooms but it ultimately proved

unpopular. It was then replaced by the C-Class based Coupe.

At the 2015 Frankfurt Show, some concept vehicles wereshowcased by a relatively unknown German brand calledBogward. Now, as things much clearer about the brand’s originsand organizational set-up, it seems that Beijing, China-based andChinese government owned Beiqi Foton Motors has taken overthe rights of the brand name.Interestingly, instead of looking at China as the possible domesticproduction and export base, Foton Motors is said to be in theprocess of reactivating its plans for India. It may be recalled thatFoton had plans of entering India in 2011 and at the time hadacquired land near Pune for establishing a manufacturing unit.However, those plans went into the freezer as India at the timewasn’t seen as a ripe market for Foton products like heavy andlight-duty trucks, vans and buses. And after acquiring the GermanBorgward brand, things are now being fast tracked. The rstvehicle to be manufactured would be the BX7 SUV which would

be sold in markets like Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle Eastin 2017. Domestic market launches are planned for next year

French government ups stake inRenault-Nissan Alliance

New CLS-based model underconsideration by Mercedes-Benz

Bogward products to be made

in India by Beiqi Foton Motorst

Automan’s takeIf successful, the proposed plan would overhaul the closepartnership between the automakers. Whereas the French sidecurrently has the final say in decisions, this move would grantboth of them equal power. In addition, Nissan would becomethe largest owner of Renault, but the French wouldn’t havethe same control over its Japanese ally.

Automan’s takeIf the rumour turns out to be true, Mercedes will introducethe CLC before the end of the decade. When it arrives inshowrooms, it will fight head-to-head against the BMW 4Series Gran Coupe.

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It seems that Volkswagen is not alone in the ‘dieselgate’ scam.Rumours are thatHonda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi and Mazda could be the nextautomakers to come under scrutiny. This comes after a new studyfound that diesel vehicles produced by those companies releaseup to 20 times the legal levels of NOx.According to data obtained by media from vehicle testing

rm Emissions Analytics, some vehicles produced by Honda,Mercedes, Mitsubishi and Mazda emit far more diesel pollutantsduring real world driving than they do during testing. “The VWissue in the US was purely the trigger which threw light on aslightly di erent problem in the EU - widespread legal over-emissions,” Emissions Analytics’ Nick Molden said. “For NOx,[diesel] cars are on average four times over the legal limit,

because of the lenient nature of the test cycle in the EU.”

Lincoln has confirmed that it will officially unveil theproduction Lincoln Continental in Detroit in 2016. The conceptwas revealed earlier this year at the New York Auto Show.While the Continental concept introduces a bold new designlanguage with a focus on luxury, it’s styling and profile cameunder flak for being too similar to that of the Bentley FlyingSpur. Despite industry criticism, the car’s front end features aglimmering chrome mesh grille, swept headlamps with LEDsand lasers, and a sculpted bonnet.The Continental will succeed the MKS and it will use Ford’sfront-wheel-drive architecture from the Fusion and MKZ. Thecar will be powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost enginewith all-wheel drive as an available option. Additional detailswill likely be disclosed ahead of the Continental’s Januarydebut.

Nissan and Mitsubishi have announced plans to jointly develop anew generation of microcars. The next-generation of microcarswill bene t from Nissan’s deeper involvement in developmentand testing and will also feature new technologies. All this willhappen through their joint venture NMKV and both entities havecon rmed plans for a new EV variant.Although no timeline has been announced, the production isplanned to take place at Mitsubishi’s Mizushima Plant. It willeventually build the successors to the Nissan Dayz and Dayz Rooxas well as the Mitsubishi eK Wagon and eK Space.Nissan CCO Hiroto Saikawa said “This new opportunity will enableus to deliver even more competitive vehicles to consumersby enhancing our product and lineup, by strengthening our

partnership and combining the expertise of both companies.”

Volkswagen announced last month that it is planning a massiveshift in future product development based on major developmentthrust involving the MQB platform and marrying it to hybrid andplug-in technologies. One model which hasn’t done very well forthe brand is the Phaeton and its fortunes could be revived anall-electric version. On the new Phaeton, Volkswagen said: “Thespeci cation features a pure electric drive with long-distancecapability, connectivity and next-generation assistance systems aswell as an emotional design.” VW also announced that US $1.14bnwill be stripped from the company’s annual investment while

focus shifts from diesel development to electri cation.That’s not all. There will more work on the MEB [“E” for electric]platform to facilitate electri cation of both passenger cars andlight commercial vehicles under the VW Group umbrella. Thestandardized system will be designed for all body structuresand vehicle types, thus allowing particularly emotional vehicleconcepts, and will enable an all-electric range of 250 to 500km.

Dieselgate scandal to affect

other car manufacturers?

Production Lincoln Continental to debut in January

Micro cars to be jointly built by

Nissan and Mitsubishi

VW Phaeton to go all electric

Automan’s takeThis is the first official confirmation that the Phaeton has afuture at Volkswagen.

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A f t e r s e ver a l lo w-ke y year s in t he

bus ines s , t his yea r ’s 44 t h edi t ion o f t he

biennia l Tok yo Mo t or Sho w in J a pa n

wa s b y fa r t he m os t im pr es s i ve . Ther e

wer e som e s ur pr is e pa r t ic ipa n t s fr om

Eur ope t ooA u t h o r : Ch a n d a n B

M a llik

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Despite the impact of economicslowdown in South East Asia whichhad impacted several editions ofthe biennial Tokyo Motor Show, therewas no let down in terms of audienceentertainment in terms of wild conceptsand cool technology this year. These two

aspects are integrated and will alwaysbe the focus and USP of the Tokyo AutoShow. That con dence was returning tothis part of the world was clearly indicatedby the participation rather return tothe fold by Mercedes-Benz, Porsche,Volkswagen, MINI, BMW and several

other brands from Europe. As expected,all eyes focused on Japanese companieswho were eager to introduce a long list ofconcept and production models besidestechnology applications. Here’s a snapshot from the show and details of the keynewsmakers.

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BMW Group came fully prepared with its fastest and most track-ready new M4 GTS. The M4 GTS is ‘M’ division’s most hardcorevehicle and also one of its most expensive cars with a price tag ofroughly US$160,000.

Taking centre stage at the Lexus stand was the LF-FC Conceptwhich represents the brand’s future vision in terms of design andtechnology that will come in the agship 4-door coupe-inspiredsedan which is due in a year or so. The LF-FC styling includes the“L- nesse” design philosophy along with an evolved versionof the signature grille with a new mesh design. The rear ishighlighted by striking new taillamps that adopt the same oatingtheme as the DRL.

Mazda says that it has not given up on the rotary engines despitestopping production of the RX-8 in 2012. At Japan, the brandrevealed a new design study called RX-Vision Rotary SportsCar Concept which it claims was inspired by racing heritageand technology applications. The concept introduces the next-generation SKYACTIV-R rotary engine and Mazda’s vision of theultimate in front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car styling. Alongwith this display, Mazda had a section devoted to two racing-specMazda MX-5s, as well as the 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S – thecompany’s rst rotary powered mass-production model.

Honda’s stand was among the largest and the displayshighlighted the diversity of its current product line-up. Asexpected, it also included innovative mobility solutions designedto improve the day-to-day lives of customers. Highlights includedthe debut of its all-new fuel cell vehicle, the FCV, the all-new NSXhybrid supercar and a range of racing machines from a range ofinternational race series. The NSX is being engineered to giveHonda back its mojo. Honda also presented the Odyssey MPVwith a hybrid powertrain.Honda also took o the covers from the stealthy lookinglightweight Supersports concept which is essentially the bikeon which the production CBR250RR will be based. The new bikewill be more of a track focused machine and will sit above theCBR250R in the product portfolio. Other Honda displays includedthe Project 2&4 concept, which is an amalgamation of Honda’scar and motorcycle division and is powered by a 1.0-litre V4 motorborrowed from the automaker’s MotoGP winning superbike. Twoconcepts – Neowing, a three-wheeler hybid vehicle and EV-CubConcept, an electric commuter bike echoing the retrostyling of

rst-generation Super Cub were also on display.

BMW Lexus

Mazda

Mercedes Benz

Honda

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After returning to the motor show after a hiatus, Mercedes-Benzwasted no time in presenting the Vision Tokyo Concept. It’s thelatest trailblazing spatial experience to come from the brandhighlighted by its monolithic structure, futuristic design linesand unique lounge ambience. Spatially e cient, versatile andintelligently connected, the Vision Tokyo is also capable of drivingautonomously. At the same time, this ve-seater continues atradition of design-study showcars from the tri star brand thathas included the Vision Ener-G-Force (Los Angeles, November2012), AMG Vision Gran Turismo (Sunnyvale, 2013) and G-Code

(Beijing, November 2014).

The Japanese automaker showed o the third variant of itselectric SUV. The key highlight was the eX compact SUV Concept.This vehicle not only previewed the company’s next-generationelectric vehicle (EV) technology but also the application of theDynamic Shield design language. The ve-seater 4,240mm car’spowertrain includes a lithium-ion battery packs that drive thetwin motor 4WD and S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) system.Other features include the automated driving technology whichcombines connected car technology, utilizing next-generationinformation systems, and advanced active safety technology andaugmented reality (AR) windscreen. We are now convinced thatMitsubishi is planning to slot a new compact crossover into itsline-up between the Outlander and Outlander Sport and the eX

could t the bill.

Nissan had quite a diverse line-up this year and exhibits includesome familiar and some new stu . The recently showcasedConcept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo, Gripz concept and updatedLeaf were among the known names. However, the true debutwas the quirky Teatro for Dayz EV concept that imagines theultimate vehicle for young people. According to Nissan, theTeatro for Dayz is designed for the so-called digital nativegeneration – basically those with the Internet widely availablefrom birth. The original Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo, aconcept supercar that was rst unveiled at Goodwood Festival ofSpeed 2014 has been updated with a new face and body colourfor Tokyo. The Nissan IDS Concept unveiled embodies Nissan’svision of the future of autonomous driving and zero emission EVs.

Porsche has slipped a new GTS version of its compact MacanSUV into the model mix while gifting the entire range for MY2017with added standard equipment. Under the bonnet of the GTSis a tuned version of the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 from theMacan S, which produces 360PS and 500Nm of torque. Paired toa 7-speed PDK gearbox as standard, the GTS is capable of hitting0-100 km/h in 5.2secs. Porsche also showcased the faceliftedCarrera 4S, which is an AWD version of the Carrera S unveiled at

the 2015 IAA in Frankfurt.

Mitsubishi

Nissan

Porsche

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Prior to the show, Subaru had announced the global debut oftwo show cars – the Impreza 5-Door Concept which essentiallypreviews the next generation Impreza, and the VIZIV FutureConcept. The latter focused on technology and safetyapplications. The Impreza 5-Door Concept is the rst of Subaru’snext-generation strategic vehicles envisioned in FHI’s Mid-TermManagement Vision “Prominence 2020” programme which wasannounced in May 2014. It will also serve as an entry model inthe Subaru line-up when it goes into production. Meanwhile,the VIZIV Future Concept gave an insight into Subaru’s designinspiration and its vision for automatic driving functions andadvanced safety technologies.

As a follow-up to the 2013 MOTIV.e concept, Yamaha presentedan eye-popping four wheel concept. In the past, Yamaha hasteamed with with McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray to developa city car concept called the Motiv and this time it was a newsports car concept developed in line with Murray’s iStreamprinciples. The 3,900mm long two-seater sports car is made ofcarbon bre and weighs 750kg and takes a lot of inspiration frommotorcycles. Yamaha also produced a surprise when it showeda motorcycle-riding robot. Unlike most two-wheeled debutants,Yamaha’s new Motobot isn’t starting out on a small capacitymotorcycle, but release images show the humanoid robot riding

Yamaha’s most sporting motorcycle, the 1,000cc R1M.

At the Volkswagen press conference, Herbert Diess, CEO ofthe Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand began his speech byapologizing for the current diesel scandal crisis. Diess who camefrom BMW has promised to win back customer trust. Meanwhile,the key concept model for Japan from VW was the Tiguan GTE,which was showcased in Frankfurt earlier. The Tiguan GTE is the

rst plug-in hybrid SUV from Volkswagen.

Suzuki Motor Corporation seems to be on the o ensive and thetheme strongly highlighted was its future plans. Suzuki will becelebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, so most of the displaysdepicted proposals for products and technologies.A range of concept models include the IGNIS, which gives shapeto Suzuki’s foray into the new compact crossover genre and theMIGHTY DECK, a fun and practical mini car. Also on display wasthe Air Triser, a newly conceived three-row compact minivan witha private lounge. Meanwhile, the IGNIS-Trail concept focusedon urban and outdoor versatility with even greater rough-roadruggedness. Last, but not the least was the Baleno, the brand’sall-new B-segment hatchback. It used to be bland in its earlieravatar and hence Suzuki has re ned its styling, performance, fueleconomy and practical features besides the introduction of all-new powertrain technologies.

Toyota’s display was quite large and diverse ranging from theupdated Prius, a fuel cell vehicle and some quirky concepts.Among the showstoppers was the retro-inspired all-new coupeS-FR concept that could be added to the line-up as the GT/FT86’s smaller sibling, subject to audience feedback. If produced,it will sport FR (front engine/rear drive) architecture. The slightlylarger than MINI S-FR was conceptualized as the kind of vehiclethat attracts its own die-hard fan base, whose members lovedriving and customizing it. The second car on display that tickledthe audience was the Kikai concept. De nitely, it was a retroconversation-starter at the show that salutes the company’sroots in monozukuri, the Japanese term for the art and craftof manufacturing. In fact, the KIKAI as a concept car wasdeveloped from an innovative design concept that challenges theconventional rules of auto making. The exposed buggy-esque caruses a 1.5-litre engine and motor-combined hybrid system and forthe drive system, a mid-engine rear-wheel-drive (MR) layout has

been adopted.

Subaru

Yamaha

Volkswagen

Suzuki

Toyota

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Although Yamaha is better known formotorcycles, scooters, outboard motorsand designers of ultra-compact V engines,occasionally a four-wheeler in concept formdoes turn up at motor shows. This year wasno exception. In 2013, the brand presentedthe MOTIV.e concept, designed andconceived by legendary British designerGordon Murray who was also responsiblefor the design of the McLaren F1. The latestis that the MOTIV.e concept has beengreenlighted for production.As a follow-up to the 2013 concept,Yamaha and Gordon Murray Design[GMD] presented a new sports car calledSports Ride Concept which is based on

front-engine, rear-drive architecture. Theproject has been developed using iStream®Carbon, which is the world’s rst a ordablehigh volume carbon bre chassis structure.It’s USP is that it brings Formula Onematerials and technology within reach ofthe everyday motorist. The new productionsystem replaces the glass content iniStream® with carbon bre which o erseven more performance for lightweightand rigidity.GMD has been developing iStream® Carbon

for the last 2 years with partners TorayIndustries, Innovate UK and ELG, and theprocess is now fully industrialised. Unlikeany other carbon bre chassis technology,iStream® Carbon is a fully mechanisedsystem with a cycle time of just 100seconds. iStream® Carbon is true FormulaOne racing technology utilising twocarbon skins sandwiching a honeycombcore, unlike many expensive handmadesupercars which employ monolithic singleskin carbon panels.The 3,900mm long car is marginally smallerthan the Mazda Miata and weighs just750kg. No powertrain details have beenreleased and Yamaha has no shortage of

potent motorcycle engines that could beused. Possible candidates could includethe small displacement 3-cylinder 1.0-litreengine from the MOTIV.e where it wasbelieved to develop 70-80bhp As for thedesign, Yamaha took its inspiration fromthe artistic style of Elementarism and cameout with an attractive sports car whichlooks just about ready to reach productionand has a driver-focused cockpit with doorstraps instead of regular handles as a wayto cut weight even further.

Nissan’s new IDS autonomous electricconcept car presented at Tokyo signi esthe next step of its plan to launch anumber of autonomous vehicles by2020. The concept is signi cant as it alsopreviews key engineering and designtechnologies that will be incorporatedon future Nissan vehicles. Technologyapplications will include carbon- breconstruction, e cient aerodynamicpackaging and electric motors.Unlike many automated car conceptspresented in recent times, the IDS isdesigned to be personalised. The car canbe piloted by the driver using the manualdrive mode. The car’s interior will alsochange depending on which mode it isin. In the piloted in autonomous mode,the seats rotate inward, and the steeringwheel recedes into the dashboard,giving the driver space to relax. Andwhen the driver selects Piloted Driveand turns over driving to the vehicle, thecar’s performance -- from acceleratingto braking to cornering – imitates the

driver’s own style and preferences.

The electric car concept will have long-distance driving range and Nissan saidthat its 60kWh battery, in combinationwith a lightweight and aerodynamicallydesigned carbon- bre body wasdesigned to also meet the speci cneeds.As a technology-cum-designdemonstrator, the concept alsohighlighted potential solutions to onekey challenge facing every automaker:how to enable autonomous carsto e ectively communicate withpedestrians? The solution Nissan hascome up with on the IDS Conceptinvolves an outward facing displayscreen in the dashboard that

ashes messages like “After You,”to pedestrians and cyclists. Nissanalso incorporated an “IntentionIndicator”—a strip of LED lights alongthe side body that shine white whenpedestrians or cyclists are nearby toindicate the car is aware of them. Thecar’s autonomous driving functions can

be controlled by voice or gestures.

Concept # 1: Yamaha Sports Ride

Concept # 2: Nissan IDS

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The top-of-the-line Lexus LS is due for a change soon and all hopes atTokyo centred around a possible announcement. However, this didnot happen, but instead Lexus conveyed two important messagesas regards to what it has in mind for a large sedan that could rivalthe current segment leader, Mercedes-Benz S-Class. As a resultthe presentation of the LF-FC concept revolved around design andtechnology applications. The LF-FC concept is dimensionally biggerthan the current LS and is marginally longer than the current long-wheelbase Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ, andMaserati Quattroporte.its highlights dramatic styling which now includes a “four-doorcoupe” silhouette, lower and sleeker roo ine, an oversized“spindle” grille, daytime running light blades similar to the ones onthe production IS. The rear end features highly sculpted taillampassemblies and contoured bodywork. The concept’s unique cab-rearward stance add to its sporty vibe supported by 21in wheelsmade from carbon bre-reinforced plastic. Underneath the sleeksheet metal is a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain. Power is sent toall four wheels, with two in-wheel motors used at the front. Thefuel-cell stack is mounted in the rear of the car, with a control unitin front and a T-shaped array of hydrogen storage tanks. Lexus

says this ensures balanced weight distribution, helping to improvehandling. The interior was designed to re ect this car’s likely dualrole as personal vehicle and chau eur-driven limousine. There’salso some autonomous-driving technology, including “elevatedtra c environment recognition, prediction, and judgment function”and gesture technology. No production plan information has beenreleased, but it is believed the replacement LS may features some ofthe design and technology applications inside the cabin.

Among several interesting cars and exhibits,Toyota presented an unusual 1+-seater conceptcalled Kikai, which the manufacturer says hasbeen designed to reconcile man and machine. InJapanese, the word kikai can mean both machineand opportunity. The car sports minimalisticdesign elements and most of its engineeringhardware like engine, suspension, brakes areamong elements which can be clearly seen fromoutside. As a result, the hot rod-cum-dune buggy-esque vehicle o ers an eye-catching, custom-builtbolt-on component look.The interior can be accessed via minivan-likesliding doors and the cabin o ers space for threepassengers in a triangular con guration that putsthe driver front and in centre. The concept’s cabin

was bound in red leather upholstery and a smallwindow near the driver’s feet allows occupantsto see the tyres and suspension in actions. Thesteering is commanded through a retro-inspired,button-less wheel, and the instrument clusterconsists of four analogue gauges mounted on acurved piece of tubing.Surprisingly, Toyota hasn’t revealed anypowertrain details although the concept appearedto have been tted with a petrol-electric hybriddrivetrain built around a four-cylinder enginelocated right behind the passenger compartment.An automatic transmission sends power to therear wheels.

Concept # 3: Lexus LF-FC

Concept # 4: Toyota Kikai

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Mitsubishi Motors has repeatedlyreiterated the fact that its future businesswill be based on plug-in hybrids andelectric cars. In the recent past severalplug-in hybrid concepts have beenshowcased and at Tokyo last month, theJapanese brand showcased an all-newcompact crossover SUV concept calledeX. The eX Concept is Mitsubishi’s visionfor a compact SUV powered by a nextgeneration EV system.The SUV’s styling follows the trendy coupésilhouette while, the front end expressesa new interpretation of MMC’s DynamicShield front design concept. In both itsexterior and interior, the concept indicatesthe direction future design is taking. Thenext-generation EV system employs a high-capacity and high-performance batterytogether with compact high-outputelectric motors making it lighter and more

e cient. With further weight reductions inthe vehicle itself, it can provide a cruisingrange of 400km on a single charge. The45KW/h lithium-ion battery which powersa pair of electric motors with combinedoutput of 187hp is placed beneath thebody which has lowered the centre ofgravity. And together with its Twin Motor4WD and S-AWC integrated vehicledynamics control systems helps it providehandling control which faithfully re ectsdriver inputs as well as outstandingvehicle stability. Other features includethe application of automated drivingtechnology which combines connectedcar technology, utilizing next-generationinformation systems, and advancedactive safety technology. When itdetects danger it quickly and preciselyutilizes its safety features and is alsoequipped with functions which detect

malfunctions or abnormalities early andadvises the driver to take the vehicle infor repair or servicing. The twin-motorsystem incorporates Mitsubishi’s SuperAll-Wheel Control (S-AWC) integratedvehicle dynamics control system whichuses braking to control the front wheelsand a transfer mechanism Active YawControl (AYC) that varies torque splitbetween the rear wheels. The driver hasthree modes to choose from: Auto, Graveland Snow. The eX also previews a varietyof automated (and semi-automatedrunning) driving technologies which arevery compatible with EVs. These includean autonomous parking system and ahighway driving assistant. In addition, anobstacle avoidance system uses camerasand radar mounted to the vehicle andcommunications with vehicles in the vicinity,to detect any obstacles for the car to avoid.

Concept # 5: MITSUBISHI eX

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EXPLORERREVISITEDFord Motor Company has refreshed its Explorer mid-sized

SUV for 2016. We check out the recently launched XLT variant in Oman Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

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In the automotive business somemodel names carry a lot of weight forthe manufacturer. In the case of Ford

Motor Company’s mid-sized Explorer SUV,there’s no exception. In its 25 years ofexistence, the Explorer has gone throughseveral generations and witnessed a sea ofchanges. And even today, it remains oneof the models that the Blue Oval brand canbe particularly proud of.The rst Explorer was built on atruck platform in 1990 and in the rsttwo decades it continued on those

underpinnings. However, there were someblack spots in the Explorer’s career in2008 when it got involved in the Firestonetyre/rollover debacle. At this juncture,Ford took a major decision to move theExplorer into crossover territory andrepackage the vehicle to meet the markettrends. In fact, it was adversity that helpedFord pave the foundation of the modernExplorer which was introduced in 2011.In one stroke, Ford engineers abandonedthe old Explorer’s pick-up truck-basedunderpinnings with unibody constructionand paired it with carlike driving dynamicsand safety features. While, the downsidewas reduced maximum towing capacity, itwas a feature not really used by majorityof Explorer owners hence not on thepriority list. The Gen V Explorer wasrecognized as a crossover also grew indimensions – it was nearly 4in longer inoverall length and 5in wider than its pick-up based predecessor. At launch in 2011,the Explorer was out tted with a newlydeveloped normally-aspirated 290hp3.5-litre V6.In terms of styling, the exterior design

was also revisited and its design was

consciously connected to Ford branddesign DNA. The wheel arches wereinspired by the Mustang and a bodycharacter lines were in uenced by thenew Taurus sedan. The CUV also featuredblacked-out A, B, and D-pillars to producea oating roof e ect similar to LandRover’s oating roof design used onits sport utility vehicles; a design whichFord previously used on the Ford Flex.Up front, the 2011 Explorer introduced anew interpretation of the Ford signaturethree-bar grille and below the bumper, thesignature trapezoidal lower grille o eredvisual continuity across Ford vehicles. Thestepped style headlamps used were similarto the Flex, Edge, Escape, Expedition andF-150, as well as new stepped style taillamps. Commercially, the Gen V Explorerhas been a winner for the brand it Fordsells over 150,000 of them annually.

So, with such background, changingcustomer preferences and fast movingtechnological applications, Ford has keptthe momentum alive with new powertrainintroductions including a four-cylinderEcoboost engine and two 3.5-litre V6based set-ups.For the current iteration Ford hasupgraded the model for MY 2016 withsome cosmetic changes, feature packs andeven added a new 2.3-litre turbochargedEcoboost replacement engine [notavailable here]. Interestingly, the small

Ecoboost is roughly half the displacementsize with twice the horsepower of the V6engine in the original 1990 model yearExplorer.So what are the changes for 2016 inour markets? From the exterior, what isevident is a new grille and revised bonnet,which now has a clamshell e ect, givingthe front of the car a bolder and smarterappearance. Design tweaks also include aredesigning of the LED headlamps and foglamps in the new front bumper. There’snow more than a passing resemblancewith the Range Rover! Our test model wasthe XLT grade which features attractivechrome roof rails and an automatic rearhatch.The cabin of the model also ushered ina new era of interior quality for not onlythe Explorer, but also for the Ford brandas a whole in 2011. The hard and cheaplooking plastics were replaced withsofter materials, better switchgear wasintroduced and also some variants camewith the touch-operated with the optionalMyFord Touch infotainment system. Thecabin also became more spacious than

before. On the safety front, the Explorer

The more thingschange, the morethey remain the same,however. Thoughthe refresh and newexterior detailing, theExplorer’s mission and

concept is the sameas before, that of ahighly capable midsizedfamily crossover SUV

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gained in atable second-row seatbeltairbags, which was an industry rst forthe automotive sector aimed at improvingsafety for smaller occupants. The core

message that came out from this versionwas that Ford successfully gave theExplorer name a second lease of life verymuch in tune with what consumers lookfor in modern crossovers. It also drovewell, o ered good fuel economy for itsclass and retained most of the versatilityof its predecessor.With the second- and third-row seatsdown, the Explorer boasts 81 cubicfeet of cargo space. The test car had asecond-row bench seat, which makes it aseven-passenger vehicle. Included in thispackage was the latest version of MyFordtouch telematics system, Keyless entry,dual zone climate controls, premium audiosystem with nine speakers, remote start,a forward sensing system and the leatherinterior. The rest of the vehicle’s designremains largely the same, but the faceliftalone gives it a whole new look, makingthe Explorer appear more sophisticated.Ford’s idea was also to make the Explorerfeel more premium for its users and oneof the focus areas was improving noisevibration and harshness [NVH]. As aresult, all versions of the 2016 Explorer

get improved door seals, special vibration-

absorbing engine mounts and acousticglass in upper grades. Engineers alsorevised the Explorer’s wheel wells toincorporate “air curtains” that smooth

air ow over the wheels and minimizeaerodynamic drag and noise. This is afeature which premium brands like BMWuse on their SUV/SAVs. New for 2016 are180-degree viewpoint cameras both frontand rear, and both have washers to keepthe view clear in all kinds of weather.Some features have been improved aswell, including the enhanced automatedparking system that not only can park in aparallel space but can pull into and out ofa perpendicular parking space as well.The 294PS / 346Nm normally-aspirated3.5-litre V6 with six-speed automatictransmission has been carried overunchanged. Our test car featured an all-wheel-drive set-up which is electronicallycontrolled via a pre-set rotary controllerlocated on the base of the dashboard. Thedial-a-terrain-response system is similar tothat found in Land Rovers and dependingon mode actively varies the torque splitbetween the front and rear wheelsaccordingly.The all-wheel-drive system is quite

exible ad allows the driver to alsomanually prepare the Explorer for normal

traction, sand or mud. It will deliver

an appropriate combination of enginepower, transmission shift schedule, ABSactivation, and torque split for eachcircumstance. Hill-descent control is also

part of the all-wheel-drive system and canbe activated/deactivated by the driver.On the hardware side, it features avariable centre multi-disc di erential withcomputer controlled lock. Conventionalfront and rear di erentials are used with3.39:1 gearing. The centre multi-discdi erential controls the front-to-reartorque split, biasing as much as 100percent of torque to either the front orrear wheels. The power take o (PTO)unit includes a heavy-duty dedicatedcooling system to allow the four-wheeldrive system to supply continuous non-stop torque delivery to all four wheelsinde nitely, without overheating.Explorer’s overall o road crawl ratio is15.19:1 with high range – no low range –gearing only.The car also features four-wheel electronictraction control [ABS braking] is employedto simulate front and rear di erentiallocks via aggressively “brake locking” thefront or rear di erentials, transferringup to 100 percent of torque from side-to-side. In the right conditions, the Explorercan keep moving even if only one wheel

has traction, regardless of which wheel

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it is. The suspension set-up has beencompletely retuned for a smoother rideand to give each trim level its unique rideand handling characteristics.

Driving impressionsAs most of the powertrain re nementsthat came in the 2011 Ford Explorer havebeen retained we found the V6 still quitee cient and con dent. The car’s take ois smooth and response to throttle inputsis rewarded with good acceleration andplenty of torque, which is available at alltimes. The notable change on the moveis that that car is quieter than before,thanks to the improved insulation e orts.Even as a unibody car, it feels rock-solidand its suspension o ers well-dampedperformance over rough stretches.In terms of handling, driver gets thecon dence to the way it negotiates acorner. The responsive and lightweightsteering is a ne example of Ford engineersknowing how to tune electric powersteering for the general job descriptionwhich also factors in automatic parkingsystem in some higher spec variants.Unlike sports oriented vehicles which areo ered with paddle shifters on or behindthe steering wheel, the Explorer o ersdrivers to manually select or lock gears

only through the gear shifter. The best

part of this set-up is that the transmissionis programmed to stay in the gear you tellit to, in manual mode and shifting with thelever on the center console. However, the

speed of the shifts, as expected in a SUV isslower compared to sports cars.There have been changes in the electricpower steering set-up for 2016 and itfelt nimble and neutral. Explorers useMacPherson struts with an isolatedsubframe in front, and independentmulti-links in rear, with stabilizer bars atboth ends. There are some changes inthe suspension for 2016 and we felt thedamping set-up on the rmer side whichmeans less tendency of body roll. The overallride and handling quality in our 4WD modelis quite commendable for a tall vehicle.Since the Explorer is a crossover on acar chassis, it can’t match be expectedto match the outright 4x4 o -roadcapabilities. Given this is a lifestylepackage, the car does have some o -roadcapability. Interestingly, the Explorer’sall-wheel drive system has no transfercase. This arrangement has saved weightand minimizes the fuel-mileage penalty.Its Terrain Management system controlsstability and enhances traction throughit modes: Normal, Mud and Ruts, Sand,and Snow. We took the car for an o -road

course, and were pleasantly surprised that

absorbed deep ruts and cleared bumps sosmoothly.In the Normal mode the vehicle sendsabout 90per cent power to the front

wheels, 10per cent to the rear. Torqueshifts to the rear as and when needed,which means that if the front wheels losetraction and can’t do as much work. TheSnow/Gravel mode allows less wheelspin,provides conservative throttle control,and enables earlier transmission upshifts.The Sand mode provides more aggressivethrottle, holds the transmission in gearlonger, and desensitizes traction control.This is needed because to make progressin sand, sometimes a bit of wheelspin isrequired. Mud/Ruts allows more torqueas throttle increases. Stability control isdesensitized to help maintain momentumover soft or uneven surfaces. The TerrainManagement in the Explorer also includesHill Descent Control, which proved itselfon a steep downhill on the o -roadcourse, holding the Explorer’s speed to6km/h without driver input.

VerdictThe Explorer is designed for families, andyet it has been packaged to meet mostrequirements of such users and more.The upgrades for 2016 make it even more

attractive for punters.

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2016 Ford Explorer

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MINI BLITZ With each generation, MINI products are getting better andin many respects closer in performance to its parent BMWGroup’s products. The recently introduced 2015 Gen IIIMINI Cooper S five door hatch can also claim that it is no

fluke. Automan spends some time with this car in UAE Author: Nabeel Ferzan | Photography: author and Chandan B Mallik

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Over the past couple of yearswe have been bombarded withnews that MINI is expandingits portfolio and realigning its businessstrategy which also includes sharing fourwheel drive components with new andfuture BMWs to help reduce developmentcosts and enhances pro tability for bothbrands. But, there’s always a fear thatsuch growing commonality can also

back re if either brand does not carefullyplot its career path. We have been o eredsome hints in this respect from MINI afew weeks ago wherein o cials spoke ofrealigning the product and brand strategy.MINI plans to grow into the premiumcompact segment which is somewhatof a surprise since it is a territory that’scurrently covered by BMW. On one handBMW launched its rst FWD car last year,the 2 Series Active Tourer, which is basedon a new architecture shared with thelatest MINI and on the other MINI breaksthe subcompact or smaller mould with theall-new Clubman wagon.The 3-door MINI Cooper hardtop hatchas it is known at the factory in Oxford,

UK is now in its third generation and itwas refreshed in 2014. The hotter versionof the hardtop is the Cooper S. Thehatchback has been expanded with theaddition of the 5-door variant. From theexterior if one is familiar with the newstyling and pro le of the MINI hatch, thenthe 5-door version is arguably no morethan a mildly stretched hatchback withan extra pair of doors built in. The 5-door

body is roughly six inches longer with awheelbase that has been stretched bythree inches approximately. Despite thedimensional changes, designers have triedtheir best to ensure that the addition ofrear doors doesn’t make the car look tooawkward.As a di erentiator between the siblings,the Cooper S get a protruding lowerfront valance with squared-o intakes,a twin central exhaust, a chrome-platedhoneycomb grille and ‘S’ badges. Thebonnet scoop is purely cosmetic anddoesn’t feed air to the engine.In terms of accommodation, designers andengineers seem to have agreed to mergestructural engineering with aesthetics

considering this is to be a proper 4-seaterwith room for one extra. Notable changesin the 5-door model are the side doorswith frames [3-door hatch has framelessdoors], an extra 72mm between the frontand rear wheels, plus an extra 89mm atthe very back to boost the boot. Half ofthe stretched wheelbase has been movedinside to facilitate extra legroom forrear occupants. The car’s width remains

unchanged and rear passengers getC-pillars in their peripheral vision. Rest ofthe car bears a near identical interior toits 3-door sibling which means the cabinupgrades in the 3-door like the transitionof the large speedometer from thecentral console to a more popular speedo-over-the-steering-column arrangement.Meanwhile, the central console isnow home to MINI Navigation XL andBluetooth package that is centred on an8.8in display and works in conjunctionwith the 10-speaker Harman/Kardonpremium audio system.That the interior has been substantiallyreworked is evident from the waythe switchgear has been relocated.

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Meanwhile, the familiar line-up of toggleswitches is still housed on the centreconsole, but the window buttons arenow on the doors and a BMW-style iDrivecontroller sits between the front seats,replacing the old car’s joystick. The caralso featured LED mood lighting.In terms of comfort, the front seats aredesigned to be sporty and come withsignature styling cues. They are rm and

designed to keep front occupants rmly inplace. The rear seats, however, present adi erent story. With the tight con nes, wethink it is best suited for short trips or useby young adults.In terms of driver-assistance technologieson board, there’s no shortage. Featurepack in the test car included a head-updisplay, camera-based adaptive cruisecontrol, collision and pedestrian-impactwarnings, and even an automatic brakingfunction. As with most modern cars thesedays, MINI has also joined the electrically-assisted power rack and pinion steeringsystem bandwagon.Under the bonnet, same as in the 3-doorversion, the 5-door Cooper S comes with

an upgraded version of the 2.0-litre twin-power turbocharged and direct-injectedfour-cylinder engine that produces 192hpbetween 4,700-6,000 rpm and 207 lb-ftof torque at 1,250rpm. Power is sent tothe front wheels via six-speed automatictransmission.As standard package, the 5-door variantgets the same suspension packaging ofthe Cooper S which means it is comprisedof MacPherson struts in front with a multi-link kit in the rear.Other functional (and standard) driving orsafety-based features included DynamicStability Control, Dynamic Cruise Control,Electronic Brakeforce distribution, ABS

and Corner Brake Control, which is MINI’sway of talking about brake-based torquevectoring.

Driving impressionsWhile, the base Cooper arrives with the1.5-litre force-fed 3-cylinder engine, theCooper S with the 2.0-litre unit we had for the weekend bringstogether a much more rewarding drive.

The 2.0-litre 4-cylinder is equipped witha twin-scroll turbo charger that puts out192hp and 207lb-ft of torque at just1,250rpm. The latter means that thereis absolutely no lag o -the-line andwhenever the driver spurs the car on;the response is almost immediate. It alsotouches the 100km/h mark in 6.9secs whenmated to a six-speed manual transmission,although the one we had was mated to asix speed automatic transmission, whichby far will be the most sought after in thismarket.The cabin of the 5-door screams if MINI’susual toggle switches fare and centrally-mounted information gauges. The car forits size is extremely comfortable, thanks

The Cooper S gets apowertrain upgradefrom a 1.6-litre to a2.0-litre four-cylinderengine with 192hp ontap

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171 Automan November Issue 2015

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