172 Automan December Issue 2015

8/19/2019 172 Automan December Issue 2015

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/172-automan-december-issue-2015 1/84

OMR 0.500 AED 10 QR 10

www.automan.me | Facebook: AutomanMag | Twitter: @automanmag | Youtube: AutomanVideoFind us Online :

NOW, THE REGION’S BEST AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCE DEC 2015 ISSUE NO 172


http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/172-automan-december-issue-2015 3/84oto courtesy Mercedes-benz Trucks



48

COVERSTORY | 2016 Nissan Patrol

Desert EditionPurely for ME enthusiasts

8

Dubai Motor Show A show of regional condence

5460



COVER STORY

48-53 2016 NISSAN PATROL DESERT

EDITION: FACTORY APPROVED FOR ME

OFF-ROADING ENTHUSIASTS

OMAN AND REGIONAL NEWS

6-7 REGIONAL 2016 HONDA PILOT

LAUNCH AND FIRST DRIVE IN UAE, NEW

APPOINTMENT AT CADILLAC MIDDLE

EAST, OMAN-BASED AL ZAWAWI

LAUNCHES MERCEDES-BENZ NEW GLE,

GLE COUPE AND GLS SUVS IN A LIFESTYLE

SETTING

REGIONAL NEWS SPOTLIGHT

8-31 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MOTOR

SHOW: FULL REPORT FROM THE FLOOR.

FROM DAZZLING DEBUTS TO FUTURE

CONCEPTS

32-33 THE RISE AND RISE OF CHINESE

BRANDS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

BRANDWATCH

34-36 ‘GENESIS’ IS THE OFFICIAL

LUXURY SUB BRAND FROM HYUNDAI,

MOTORS, KIA MOTORS MOVES FORWARD

WITH GREEN PROGRAMME, SUBARU

EXPLORING NEW DESIGN LANGUAGE FOR

FUTURE SEDAN MODELS, RETURN OF THE

FIAT 124 SPIDER, FIRST EDITION BENTLEY

BENTAGYA READY TO ROLL, FISKER TO

USE BMW COMPONENTS, GERMAN

BOUTIQUE BRAND WIESMANN TO BE

SOLD TO UK-BASED INDIAN INVESTORS,

MAHINDRA PININFARINA DESIGN HOUSE

ACQUISITION DEAL COULD CLOSE SOON

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

SPOTLIGHT

38-42 CAR CRAZY CENTRAL: SEMA 2015

PROVES THAT A TRADE SHOW CAN ALSO

BE A CROWD PULLER

FIRST DRIVES

54-59 2016 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER

60-65 2016 SSANGYONG TIVOLI

66-71 2016 KIA OPTIMA

AUTOMAN COTY 2015

72-75 FULL LIST OF CARS TESTED BY

AUTOMAN IN 2015 LOCALLY, REGIONALLY

AND INTERNATIONALLY WITH SEGMENT

DETAILS.

MOTORSPORTS

76-79 F1 SEASON FINALE IN ABU DHABI,

WEC RACE REPORT FROM BAHRAIN

CHICANE

80 THE BUSINESS OF BALANCE SHEETS

66

38

2016 Volvo XC90

NEXT ISSUE



As we come into the last month of the year, the frenetic pace of activity that marked this

year’s automotive scene sees no let up. The just concluded Dubai motorshow is one such

indicator. While the only global launch of any importance was that of the Cadillac XT5,

there was a clutch of regional debuts as well as the usual offering of special edition cars

designed for the region’s wealthy buyers.

However, all the excitement of the media day speeches and activity could not hide the

underlying worry on executives’ faces. The direct result of low petroleum revenues is

being felt on the ground around the region. Some companies have enjoyed growth over

2015, but this has been at the cost of others. The feel good phrase that is being bandiedaround is “we’ve exceeded our targets”. But what are these targets?

But is it all doom and gloom? We don’t think so. The catch is that 2016 will be the year that

Iran opens up to a greater degree of trade and commerce, not just with the wider world but

also with UAE and Oman on its doorsteps. That single move will make a huge difference to

the export trade in both these countries. And on the other hand, the question of whether

Saudi Arabia will be able to afford its decision to keep oversupply in a depressed market

will be answered sometime next year.

In the meantime, a lot will happen on the ground. You have to remember that a GCC region

that is under these sorts of pressures is still a far better market for global majors than

many other parts of the world. A young, educated population is coming of age, enteringthe workforce and will bring with it a demand for the better things in life, including cars.

Industry may nd it harder to get customers and may have to offer better deals, but the

customers will be there. That’s the condence that powers the smiles after the speeches.

However, none of that brainstorming is required of the two vehicles on our cover this

month. Both the Land Cruiser and the Patrol have an almost cult following. Both of them

have been upgraded to reect the latest technology on offer. With the LC, the interiors

and infomatics are now contemporary, while the Patrol gets two new special editions – a

Nismo version for on-road use and a Desert patrol version for better off-road use. If you

still want to spend good money on brilliant cars – you need no further excuse.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFMohammad Al Taie

AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING

PO Box: 343, Postal Code 118

Al Harthy Complex, Sultanate of Oman

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.automan.me

Editorial ofce:

Tel: +968 24652400/1/2/3/4/5 Extn 300,

Fax: +968 24652444

Distribution:

Tel: +968 24652400/1/2/3/4/5 Extn 555,

Subscription:

Tel: +968 24652400/1/2/3/4/5 Extn 650

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

Antony Karlo

PHOTOGRAPHY

Elvis John Ferrao

MARKETINGSayantani Ghosh [email protected]

CIRCULATION

[email protected]

FINANCE & ADMIN

Sumy Mol [email protected]

WEBSITE & IT

Mohammed F Draz [email protected]

DISTRIBUTION

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Dar Al Hikma LLC [email protected]

Tel: +971-4-2665394 | Fax: +971-4-2669827

PRINTER

Al Anan Printing Press LLC

Tel: +968 24446163 | Fax: +968 24446287

alananprinting.com | [email protected]

© 2015 All editorial content of Automan in the magazine

and its website is copyrighted and may not be repro-

duced in any form without the written consent of t he

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

Now, Automan is available in bookshops in

the United Arab Emirates too! Get your copy

or let us know which outlets you would like

to see us in



Honda introduces completely

redesigned Gen III Pilot for 2016

For the third generation of thePilot, Honda has reengineeredfrom the ground up, virtually every

aspect of the incoming Pilot. The SUVhas been thoroughly redesigned tobetter accommodate the needs of allits occupants by delivering more family-friendly utility, more advanced technology,and more premium attributes andamenities than ever before. The 2016 Pilotalso has aspirations to be considered asa model that oers premium renement.This has been achieved with majorupgrades to interior quality and morestandard comfort and conveniencefeatures on all trims.The new arrival has abandoned thepredecessor’s boxy looks in favour of amore chiseled appearance which brings it

closer in prole with its key sibling that’s

sold here – the CR-V. As before, the Pilotis manufactured exclusively by Honda inAlabama, North America. The new Pilot islonger (+80 mm), lower (-65 mm) and atouch wider (+2 mm). The track is slightlynarrower now. Gen III Pilot’s career startswith chassis and body revisions that haveincreased torsional rigidity by 25 per centwhile reducing curb weight by 135kg.For the interior, Honda designers havefocused much of its attention to thelayout, convenience features and trimmaterials. The layout now appears moremodern, more rened and easy to readinstrumentation. The Pilot has traditionallyoered a decent mix of space andversatililty, and in the new arrival, there’sextra leg- and headroom in the third row.There are also more bins and cupholders.

Up front, a new 8in touchscreen interface

brings the Pilot up to date in terms oftechnology features and controls. Otherpremium features that are now oeredinclude large 20in wheels and tyres,ventilated front seats, heated second-rowseats, a heated steering wheel, a rst-everpanoramic glass roof and many otherluxury features.The big news is in the hardware thatappears for the rst time in this modelwhich ensures that the SUV can serve asboth a lifestyle as well as a genuine o-roader machine. Driver selectable Terrainmanagement has been introduced in thePilot which enables its genuine o-roadcapabalities.The new arrival continues with a carryover3.5-litre normally-aspirated direct-injectedi-VTEC V6 engine which produces 280hp

and 262lb-ft of torque. This new Earth

6 DEC 2015



Dreams V6 features Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) thatwill shut o half the cylinders under light cruising conditions,beneting fuel eciency along with an ECON setting and IdleStop technology. While a 9-speed transmission is oered insome variants in the US, the Middle East editions a new 6-speedautomatic transmission. Honda claims that this transmissioncontributes to improved acceleration and fuel eciency.Standard safety features of the 2016 Honda Pilot include antilockbrakes, traction and stability control, front side airbags, sidecurtain airbags and a rearview camera.Honda Middle East arranged a test drive for selected media inUAE as part of the launch. The car was driven on highways andalso in the famous Red Dunes near Fujairah. The ride and handlingare also improved thanks to a stier structure made with morehigh-strength steel and a weight reduction. The ride is worthy ofa luxury car, and although handling still isn’t sporty, however, Itappears controlled and the sophisticated all-wheel-drive systemprovides impressive traction around corners as well as in sand. Inthe hands of experienced drivers, the new Pilot can be taken into

desert and it will perform well.

New Middle

EastManaging

Director for

Cadillac

Mercedes trio of new SUVs arrives in Oman

Felix Weller has been appointed Managing Director, CadillacMiddle East as part of its strategy to grow its global presence.Prior to joining Cadillac in 2014, Weller worked extensively withAudi, including a three-year stint as sales director for the MiddleEast. Weller started his career with Mercedes Benz in Germany.“Over the last year we have seen the Cadillac brand transformand grow in the Middle East under Felix’s stewardship. Forinstance, we have recently posted the highest October salesin our history, which also adds to our 21per cent year to dategrowth,” said Mario A. Spangenberg, President and ManagingDirector of GM Africa & Middle East.Weller previously held the role of Vehicle Sales and ServiceManagement Director for Cadillac Middle East. In the roleof Managing Director, he will be responsible for all aspectsof the business in the Middle East including sales, networkdevelopment, eet, and management of Cadillac’s certiedpre-owned vehicle program. He will also oversee the region’smarketing activities that relate to retail advertising, digital and

social media, as well as product marketing.

Three of Mercedes-Benz’s new SUV range – the 2016 GLC,the refreshed for 2016 GLE and all-new 2016 GLE Coupewere introduced to a select audience at Al Mouj Golf Club inMuscat last month. The event was branded as Mercedes-BenzG:Volution which not only served as the launch pad of the new/refreshed arrivals but also served as an introduction of the

new naming programme and to some extent a hint of theirmechanical origins.Under the new naming scheme of things, the GLC replacesthe compact GLK and new car is based on the C-Classunderpinnings. Formerly, known as the M-Class, this modelgets a new lease on luxury-crossover life as the refreshedfor 2016 GLE. Meanwhile, there’s more on the GLE whichwill be available in two body styles – a classic SUV and in anall-new Coupe inspired format. The latter is the latest andnewest model to be added to the SUV/SAV line-up. With theintroduction of the GLE Coupe, the GLE-Class is now moreclosely aligned in-line with the BMW X5/X6 format.

7DEC 2015



A u t h o r : C h

a n d a n B M

a l l i k | P h o t

o g r a p h y : a u t h o r a n

d R a j W a r r

i o r

8 DEC 2015



This year’s biennial Dubai

International Motor Show hosted16 concept cars, 18 world premieresand 139 regional debuts. In all, there were600 cars on display in various halls andfor the rst time, a new dimension forvisitors and petrol heads to the show wasadded. Dubbed as the Motoring Nostalgia

Museum for exotic classics from the 1950s

to the ‘80s, the cars were courtesy of HHSheikh Hasher Bin Juma Al Maktoum, DrMohammed Ben Sulayem [President ofthe UAE’s governing body of motoring,the Automobile and Touring Club], TominiClassics, Select Nano, the Sharjah ClassicCars Museum, Sharjah Classic Car Club

and the Al Ain Classics collections, as

well as from a number of owners fromthe Dubai Grand Parade. The show wasocially opened on by Sheikh Hamdan bin¬Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, theshow occupies more than 85,000 squaremetres of oor space, and is the largest todate.

Here’s a round-up of the key presentations from the show.

9DEC 2015



The DB10 that was created for the 24thJames Bond lm Spectre was not the onlycar on the Aston Martin stand. It sharedspace with the Vulcan, which is a limitededition 800bhp supercar, Lagonda sedanand Rapide. Only 10 working DB10s weremade and 8 used in the lm. There are noproduction plans but some of these carswill be sold at auctions. The functionalDB10 is powered by a 4.7-litre V8 engine

with a manual gearbox and goes from0-100km/h is around 4.7 seconds witha top speed of 305km/h and its designdoes oer a hint at what future Astons,including the new DB11, might look like.The DB11 will be the rst Aston to come othe production line to have an input fromMercedes AMG and is part of a £700minvestment plan for the future of Aston.

Audi Middle East focus was on highlightingthe brand philosophy “Vorsprung durchTechnik”. Three new cars -- the all-newR8, all-new Audi A4 and the Audi RS 3Sportback had their regional premieres.Enrico Atanasio, brand director of AudiMiddle East said during the mediapresentation: “We are also proud topresent the all-new Audi Q7 and the TTRoadster, which have recently arrived at

our dealerships.”

Aston Martin

Audi

10 DEC 2015



The ¬Bentayga SUV, the brand’s rst SUV was among thekey introductions at the show. The ultra-luxury, go-anywheremachine will be introduced as First Edition with a limitedproduction of 608 units for customers worldwide.

David Brown has been associated withAston Martin as most of us know, butnow there’s another entrepreneur fromYorkshire, UK bearing the same initialswhose name is beginning to appear in theworld of exotic motoring. While, there’sno connection to the Gaydon-based sportscar maker, the man behind the super-exclusive Speedback GT, which uses thecontemporary underpinnings from oneof Jaguar’s nest cars in a prole thatrefers to the most iconic features of theAston Martin DB5, are all captured nicelyin a modern engineered package. TheSpeedback uses a Jaguar XKR chassis,engine and all its other signicantmechanical components. The car’s stylingwas entrusted to well-known ex-Land

Rover designer Alan Mobberley.

David Brown

Bentley

11DEC 2015



BMW presented an impressive range of 17 models underliningits leadership positioning and bringing its vision of sustainablemobility in focus. Karim Habib, Head of BMW Designintroduced the all-new BMW 7 Series which had its worldpremiere at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Also on displaywere current models from the line-up including the i8, X6 M,X5 M. Exclusive presentations included a bespoke 7 Seriesversion called Solitaire and the all-new BMW X1.

BMW

12 DEC 2015



The most signicant product launch forthe brand outside of the US was thesuccessor to the SRX crossover SUV, theXT5. It is also the rst in a series of fourcrossovers bearing the XT name andis a cornerstone product for Cadillac’sambitious growth plans to double its salesby 2020. “This is one of Cadillac’s mostimportant upcoming products. It willbe a key aspect of Cadillac’s expansionglobally, starting in early 2016. It has beenour great pleasure to introduce the newCadillac XT5 to the world from Dubai, a citythat is rife with entrepreneurial promiseand dynamism,” said Uwe Ellinghaus,Cadillac chief marketing ocer. Thereason Cadillac chose Dubai for the globalreveal of their rst-ever XT5 crossover,and the regional debut of the CT6 sedanis to reiterate its intent as a global brandwith global ambitions. The 2016 edition ofCTS features signicant enhancements inperformance, eciency and connectivity.Interestingly, the 2.0-litre turbo-chargedengine returns in the CTS for 2016, addingthe fuel-saving Stop/Start feature, and ismatched with the new 8L45 eight-speed

automatic transmission.

Cadillac

13DEC 2015



Chevrolet’s key message for the region

was related to the 2016 model line-upwhich is was represented by freshenedmodels. Models paraded included the2016 Chevrolet Camaro, 2016 ChevroletMalibu, 2016 Chevrolet Spark and 2016Chevrolet Silverado. The sixth-generationChevrolet Camaro oers higher levels ofperformance, technology and renement

and is designed to maintain the sporty

car segment leadership earned over thepast years. This has been enabled by anall-new, lighter architecture and a broaderpowertrain range. The all-new 2016Malibu comes as a completely restyledmidsize sedan engineered to oer moreeciency, connectivity and advancedsafety features than ever. The car is also

longer and lighter, with more interior

space and improved fuel eciency.The 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500brings in muscular designs, new lightingtechnologies and engineering solutionslike the introduction of new 8-speedtransmission.

Chevrolet

14 DEC 2015



The combined Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM stand had thebrands most recognisable vehicles in the region - Chrysler 300[and its derivatives], Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Renegade, DodgeCharger and Ram Trucks. FCA’s Italian brand presence washighlighted by the Alfa Romeo 4C and soon-to-arrive Guilia sedan.The big news from this multibrand organisation came from Fiat.Fiat presented its all-new compact sedan, the Tipo, which hasbeen designed in Italy at the Centro Stile Fiat and scheduled to beproduced in Turkey. The Tipo will be sold in over 40 countries ofthe EMEA region. However, the star of the Fiat stand was the new500, with which Fiat is preparing to face future market challengeswhile remaining true to its own deep roots. Also created by theCentro Stile Fiat, the car has a refreshed exterior and interiordesign that is unmistakably 500 and even more attractive. It hasnot grown in size but it is packed with more technology, engineversions and customisation options. The 500X, a new crossoverbuilt in Italy comes in as a completely new dimension of the500 brand, where style, substance and made in Italy dene thiscomfortable, high performing car that is always connected withthe world. Fiat’s newest medium duty pick-up truck, the 2016Fullback, was also unveiled. The Fullback is heavily based onthe Mitsubishi L200 pick-up and to dierentiate itself, it gets anew horizontal Fiat grille, revised bumper and new alloy wheels.Most of its other parts are from its Mitsubishi counterpart. Alsonotable presentations included some very serious Moparisedand modied Jeep models. Three modied o-roaders werepresented at the show. One of the models is inspired by the

Cherokee, while the other two are based on the Wrangler.

FCA [Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep & Fiat]

15DEC 2015



The metallic red all-new GT supercar withwhite stripes was arguably the star carfor Ford this year. The GT is one of morethan 12 new Ford Performance vehiclescoming by 2020 and it joins with existingmodels like the Focus RS, F-150 Raptor,Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R whichrepresent the growing Ford Performanceline-up. As a technology showcase, the GTis a ultra-high-performance supercar thatserves as a technology showcase for topEcoBoost® performance, aerodynamics

and lightweight carbon ber construction.The GT will go into production in late 2016and is expected to hit the road in selectglobal markets to coincide with the 50thanniversary celebration of Ford GT racecars which were placing 1-2-3 at the 196624 Hours of Le Mans. Besides the currentmodel line-up that is sold in the regionFord also had Gymkhana sensation, KenBlock and regional drift champion RogerFeghali on the stands.

Ford

16 DEC 2015



Following its recent global debut inSeptember at the Frankfurt Motor Show,Ferrari unveiled the Ferrari 488 Spider for

the region. The car is the latest chapterin Maranello’s ongoing history of open-top V8 sports cars and is Ferrari’s mostpowerful ever mid-rear-engined V8 carto feature the patented retractablehard top, along with the highest levelof technological innovation and withinnovative design. Also on display werethe 488GTB, F12berlinetta and California T.

Ferrari

17DEC 2015



GMC premiered three enhanced models– the 2016 Sierra, Terrain, and Yukon.These three introductions now get the

Denali nameplate and help reinforceGMC’s 112-year legacy of rugged capability,practical renement and incredible powerin luxurious connes. Also on display wasa bespoke version to commemorate the45th anniversay of UAE’s National Day.

GMC

18 DEC 2015



Hyundai Motors was among the most

vibrant at the show and the South Koreanbrand had a lot of interesting things totalk about besides introducing cars. Theglobally unveil of the all-new Elantra andregional debut of the Creta, a totally newcompact SUV were among the key newproduct messages. “The all-new Elantrafollows in the footsteps of its predecessorby setting new standards and oeringthe world’s best technology packagedin the body of a world-class compact-size sedan,” said Jin (James) Kim, vicepresident and head of operations for

Hyundai Africa and Middle East.“ Equally,

the new Creta SUV oers striking looks,

competitive performance and a robustbuild at an aordable price, furtherstrengthening Hyundai’s impressive SUVoering in the region.”The announcement of Genesis as the newluxury sub brand was also conrmed byKim and for the rst time a dedicatedsection was created for N performancebrand. “The sub-brand N builds onHyundai Motor’s successful motorsportexperiences and technology capability todrive future performance-oriented andrace-track-capable models forward and

bring ‘the most thrilling winding road’

fun to customers who truly love cars,”

according to Hyundai. Based on thepassion of engineers and strategies fromHigh Performance Vehicle DevelopmentCentre, Hyundai N cars will feature newpowertrains and lightweight materialsderived from Hyundai Motor’s WorldRally Championship (WRC) participation,as well as performance-focused handlingand aerodynamics. By providing carefullybalanced levels of power and agility,Hyundai N cars promise performance andwill deliver optimum thrills to patrons whoappreciate focused and engaging driving

dynamics.

Hyundai

19DEC 2015



The Tata Motors-owned British brand hadquite an agenda both inside and outsidethe venue. A night before the media dayproceedings, JLR had a special mediapreview of its bespoke division and thesoon-to-be-auctioned two-millionth LandRover Defender. John Edwards, ManagingDirector, Special Vehicle Operations(SVO), Jaguar Land Rover presented a

uniquely prepared a two-tone conceptwhich is also the most powerful andluxurious Range Rover ever – RangeRover SVAutobiography. This specialcreation now adds even more luxury,design sophistication and performanceto an enhanced line-up. Engineered byLand Rover’s Special Vehicle OperationsTechnical Centre in the UK and hand-nished at SVO’s Oxford Road facility, theRange Rover SV Autobiography bringsa new level of design sophistication tothe Range Rover line-up. It comes with a550PS supercharged V8 engine.

Celebrating its rich 80-year heritage,Jaguar is also sho wcasing its enhanced2016 Jaguar XJR and All-New 2016 JaguarXF-S, as well as the award-winning newJaguar XE-S. The highly anticipated all-newJaguar F-PACE performance crossovermade its debut.The Jaguar Bloodhound SSC Experienceoered thrill-seekers the chance toexperience driving at an exhilaratingspeed of 1,609km/h. The digital simulatorchallenged participants to get behind thewheel of the Bloodhound SSC and try toset a new virtual Land Speed Record.

Jaguar Land Rover

20 DEC 2015



As the production of current Defenderenters its nal phase, this vehicle has beenbuilt to commemorate the UK productionof the two-millionth Series Land Rover

and Defender. With a bespoke designand an all-star cast of special guests whohelped complete the momentus build, theDefender 2,000,000 has been created tocelebrate 67 years of iconic Land Roverproduction. “The Land Rover Defenderhas been an all-time favourite for longerthan I can remember. From agriculturalworkhorse to a worldwide design icon,the Defender has a rich history spanningalmost seven decades and this milestoneDefender is giving avid fans the chance toown a piece of this heritage.” says JohnEdwards, Managing Director, Special

Vehicle Operations (SVO), Jaguar LandRover.Jaguar Land Rover’s stand also proudlyfeatured vehicles that have appeared inthe latest Bond adventure, SPECTRE. Carsincluded the Jaguar C-X75, Range RoverSport SVR and specially prepared LandRover Defender.Land Rover’s Mobile Experience teamwho were visiting the Middle East for thevery rst time oered driving enthusiaststhe opportunity to experience the uniqueall-terrain ability of Land Rover vehicles at

the show.

21DEC 2015



Inniti is focusing on design and hencethis year’s presentation at the showfocused on this aspect with two conceptcreations. One of the concept highlightswas the Q80 Inspiration which isexpected to serve the brand as its halomodel representing Inniti’s designlanguage in future. The impressive, well-

proportioned and stylish Q80 Inspirationdoes set the tone and direction forexisting and future Inniti models. Itwill be a signicant step forward for thebrand which is now looking at makingits presence felt in the upper echelonsof the premium sedan category. From

the convention-breaking proportionsand arresting body styling, the full-size Inniti Q80 Inspiration four-doorfastback will also benet from smartpowertrain technology. The secondconcept was the Q60 sports coupewhich was rst premiered at the 2015North American International Auto

Show. The two-door concept hints atInniti’s next sports coupe oering.Also on display for the rst time wasthe QX30 crossover. The QX30 hadits simultaneous global debut at the2015 Los Angeles and Guangzhouinternational motor shows and is one

of the new models that signals the nextphase of the company’s global growthstrategy.“Design was a big focus for us at theMotor Show this year,” said JuergenSchmitz, managing director, InnitiMiddle East. “What we have seen sofar is that both media as well as the

public have been fascinated by the Q80Inspiration as well as the Q60 Concept.From our perspective this couldn’t bemore ideal – as it demonstrates that ourdesign language really resonates withour customers in the region.”

Infiniti

22 DEC 2015



Al Majid Motors Company, the soledistributor for Kia cars in the UAE,launched the all-new Gen IV Kia Optimasedan. The new car had its premiereearlier at the 2015 New York InternationalAuto Show and is a pivotal model of thebrand. The outgoing version of the carhas also helped changed the image ofKia in brand conscious markets like theMiddle East, thanks largely to the stylingof design director and now presidentPeter Schreyer. Generation IV Optima hasfurther evolved and features a modernnew exterior, a bold interior design and is

oered with an array of new technologiesand a wide choice of ecient powertrains.Kia says it is condent that its new-generation Optima sedan can take a biteout of its competitors in the segment bypitching the model as a more premiumoering than its predecessor.

A few weeks ago Ford’s luxury brand Lincoln had announced that the productionversion of its soon-to-arrive Continental all-new full-size sedan and agship model

would be presented at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2016. The Dubai showsaw the brand present the car in near production guise. With a sleek silhouette anda newly minted chrome grille, the Continental Concept signals the arrival of a newface for Lincoln. Kumar Galhotra, Ford Motor Company vice president and presidentof Lincoln presented the car on press day. Galhotra reports to Ford President andCEO Mark Fields and is the most senior executive overseeing all Lincoln operationsglobally, including product development, marketing, sales and service. “Some brandstalk about ‘the machine,” said Galhotra. “Lincoln is dierent. For us, it is about morethan the machine. It is about what our vehicles do for our clients.”

KIA

Lincoln

23DEC 2015



Visitors of Lexus stand were treatedto a completely revamped line-up,

as seven out of the 11 cars on displayhave been introduced this year alone.The all-new 2016 RX crossover SUVwas also introduced. The new arrivaloers advanced redesigned petroland hybrid powertrains, sophisticatedsafety technologies including the newLexus Safety System+, driver aids, newconvenience and technology features thatmake it the best Lexus sport-utility vehicleever oered to date.Also on display was the new Lexus GS-F,the latest performance car from the Frange with a race inspired 467hp 5.0-litre

V8, and the Lexus IS 2.0-litre turbocharged version, which is the model carafter the NX to feature this engine.“Lexus is currently at full speed,introducing some exciting cars thatrepresent the latest design attitude,expressiveness, and performance andI am pleased to announce that we areforecasting a new record year for Lexusin the UAE,” said Chris Buxton, generalmanager of Lexus Sales at Al-FuttaimMotors.

Lexus

24 DEC 2015



Maserati’s stand oered a future glimpse of itsdesign DNA via a concept car called Aleri. The

Aleri concept is a sleek, Italian style 2+2 and takesinspiration from one of the most fascinating carsof all time, the Maserati A6 GCS-53 designed byPininfarina in 1954. The well-travelled concept carwas rst presented at the Geneva Motor Showin 2013 and is characterised by a long, low nosealong with aggressive headlamps as well as thesignature triple air ducts on the wheel arches.But more than a future concept, Maserati’s overalfocus was on how the brand was moving forwardin terms of customization and sartorial excellenceFor the rst time in the Middle East – the newErmenegildo Zegna Interiors, exclusively forMaserati was presented.Managing Director for Middle East, India & Africa,Umberto Cini, said: “In the midst of progress,we must remember our heritage. Maserati isquintessentially Italian, exclusive and sporty with astrong focus on tailor-making. Owning a Maseratimust be like wearing a tailor-made suit in a worldof uniforms. With Zegna we have taken this adageto the ultimate level, by bringing the suit into thecar and making a fabric, that is normally wornas luxury clothing, last the lifetime of a car. It issomething no one else can oer.” On display,in addition to the 2016 Maserati Quattroporteand Ghibli with Ermenegildo Zegna Interiors, the

GranTurismo and GranCabrio were also on stage.

Maserati

25DEC 2015



Many carmakers have a guiding philosophy and for Hiroshima, Japan-based Mazda itsJinba Ittai, the rider-and-horse-as-one-body doctrine that has dened the relationshipbetween drivers and their sports cars. In fact, Mazda has spent a quarter of a centurywith everything that can be used to dene lightweight sports. All the Jinba Ittaiinspiration gained over three model generations has gone into the all-new Gen IV2016 Mazda MX-5 which was one of the key attractions for the brand. The secondcar that was revealed was the brand’s smallest crossover – the all-new CX-3. Theaggressively styled CX-3 also benets from Mazda’s Kodo design language DNA.As with most current Mazdas available, the CX-3’s body, chassis, transmission, andengine employ the brand’s Skyactiv engineering philosophy, which is intended toharmonize all elements of the vehicle to operate with maximum eciency.

Mazda

26 DEC 2015



The year 2015 is signicant for best-knownPullman sedan based the Mercedes-Benz

600 as the marque celebrated its 50thbirthday. Following a special debut atthe 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the newPullman is now Mercedes-Maybach’ssecond model that gets the top-of-the-range position. The 600 Pullman waspresented with vis-à-vis seating in thepassenger compartment and high-endautomotive luxury features that has beentraditionally associated with Maybach. Thecar had its regional unveil at the show.The second car worth mentioning was thehumongous G500 4×4². This project comesfrom the developers of the Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG 6×6. The G 500 4×4²s basicrecipe is simple: take the all-wheel-drivepowertrain including portal axles from the6×6, take away one axle and blend it allwith a newly-developed variable chassisand the series-production G-Class bodyand use a 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine topropel it.The third signicant model to be revealedwas the AMG S63 Cabriolet. This isbecause for the rst time in its 48-yearhistory, Mercedes Benz’s sports car andhigh-performance brand is oering a four-

seater Cabriolet in the S-Class segment.

Mercedes-Benz

27DEC 2015



The World Premiere of the Nissan PatrolDesert Edition took place. This newvariant has been made even more capableo-road and has been conceptualizedand developed in collaboration with theMiddle East’s most famous and inuentialmotorsports personality, Dr MohammedBen Sulayem, specically for this region.This variant is identiable with special‘Desert Edition’ and ‘MBS’ badges, thisnew model is based on the Nissan PatrolLE, powered by Nissan’s powerful 5.6-litreV8 engine that generates 400hp and560Nm of torque. It is mated to a 7-speedautomatic transmission that incorporates

manual mode and synchronised revcontrol. Meanwhile, the recently revealedNissan Patrol NISMO variant will beavailable before the end of its scal yearaccording to Samir Chelfan, managingdirector of Nissan Middle East. The PatrolNISMO will be priced from $100,470 USDin the UAE and prices for each market willvary from region to region.With a continued focus on ‘Innovationthat Excites’, Nissan also used the eventto announce its partnership with Etisalat.Headed by Nissan, and powered byEtisalat’s network and M2M ControlCenter Platform, the ‘Nissan SmartCar’

application enables customers to controlkey features of their car using their phone,a rst for the region. Owners of the NissanPatrol MY16 and all-new Nissan Maxima2016 will be able to turn on the AC, lockand unlock their cars remotely and trackthem, among other capabilities.In addition to both the NISMO rangeand the Nissan Patrol Desert Edition, theall-new Nissan Maxima also took takingcenter stage. The complete Nissan rangeincludes the MY2016 versions of the NissanPatrol, 370Z, Altima, Juke, Pathnder,Pathnder Hybrid, Sentra, Sunny andX-Trail.

Nissan

28 DEC 2015



Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presentationfocused on the brand’s bespokeprogramme and representing the deedwas a one-o special commission calledthe Tiger Phantom Coupé. Conceptualized

AGMC, the sole dealers of Rolls-RoyceMotor Cars in Dubai, Sharjah and theNorthern Emirates of the UAE, anddeveloped over a two year period bycraftspeople at the Home of Rolls-Roycein Goodwood, England, the Rolls-RoyceTiger Phantom Coupé draws its designinspiration both visually and spirituallyfrom its animal namesake, conveying itspower, grace and ferociousness in aniconic automotive form. The brand alsopresented several bespoke creations, butit was the new Dawn [Automan Cover,

September 2015] that stole the show.

Rolls-Royce

29DEC 2015



Sustainability was the key themefor this year’s show and quite a fewmanufacturers actually showcasedinnovative solutions. So it was notsurprising to see cars like the hydrogen-powered Mirai hogging the limelight withconventional models. Toyota is among theworld leaders in automotive hybridizationand the brand also showcased its GenIV Prius hybrid. The new Prius is the rstglobal vehicle to implement Toyota’s NewGlobal Architecture (TNGA), an innovative,integrated development program forpowertrain components and vehicleplatforms.The Toyota stand also featured the currentline-up of Toyota vehicles, while a specialToyota Racing Development [TRD] zoneshowcase some of the products likes theToyota 86 TRD Cup car, the Toyota 86Emirates Drifting Team TRD car and theYaris TRD variant.

Toyota

30 DEC 2015



GM’s European brand Opel has little presence in the MiddleEast, but its UAE-based ocial importer-retailer LibertyAutomobiles has stayed loyal to the brand and its condenceis to be commended. The brand was represented by the latestmodels for the region’s markets and included six models like theall-new Astra hatchback, the GTC, the all-new Mokka compactcrossover SUV, the new Corsa OPC, the Corsa Color Edition andthe Insignia Sports Tourer. “The UAE is a dynamic, fast-movingcar market that continues to evolve, presenting a tremendousopportunity for established European manufacturers such asOpel to demonstrate value and appeal to local consumers. Our2016 models will add another layer of renement and showcaseEuropean quality and excellence in performance,” said ShadyBakry, Opel Brand Manager at Liberty Automobiles Co.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera and the Porsche 919 Hybrid werethe key highlights for the German sports car brand. The 919Hybrid represented the latest of the brand’s latest E-Performanceinnovations which include lightweight design to pioneeringeciency-oriented technologies. Both Carrera and Carrera Sversions are oered with increased power output, more torque,faster acceleration and higher top speed. In addition, both carshave achieved a signicant reduction in consumption of abouttwelve per cent compared to the previous generation.

Volkswagen presented a diverse modelline-up, including the Golf GTI Clubsportconcept car and Beetle Cabriolet. Thisconcept marks the 40th anniversary ofthe Golf GTI which takes place in 2016.The GTI Clubsport is the most powerfulproduction GTI ever, and featuresa more powerful engine, with anextensive exterior and interior redesign.

Opel Porsche

Volkswagen

31DEC 2015



China’s largest automaker, SAIC MotorCorporation, has recently opened itscorporate oce in UAE from where itwill spearhead its aggressive sales andmarketing for the region as part of itsglobal ambitions. SAIC internationalbusiness executive director YangXiaodong, told us during last month’smotor show in Dubai that the expansionwas now beyond China’s borders andwill also involve investments in newmanufacturing plants in Thailand that

will contribute in building a full range ofpassenger and commercial vehicles.SAIC now owns British marque MG andproduces several models which are alsosold in Oman and some other countries inthe region. In some markets in March thisyear, SAIC relaunched its two core models– the mid-sized MG6 and compact MG3hatch. The MG GS mid-sized crossover SUVthat the company launched at the Dubaishow will follow suit and join the line-up asa global model.

Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor Company’s currentportfolio of vehicles has 10 models sold domestically under theTrumpchi and GoNow brands. At the Dubai show, in the presence

of Chinese Ambassador to UAE Chang Hua, Consul General ofChina in Dubai Li Lingbing, CEO of Gargash Enterprises SamirGargash joined general manager of GAC Motor Wu Song, GACMotor introduced its second generation models including theGS4, GS5 Super, GA6, and also the all-new 1.5-litre turbochargedengine. “GAC Motor’s second generation products not only abideby the highest quality and safety standards, but also achievedtechnological breakthroughs that can represent GAC Motor’sresearch and development capabilities while demonstratingcondence in the global market,” said Wu Song.In J.D. Power Asia Pacic’s 2015 China Initial Quality Study (IQS),GAC Motor has the highest ranking of all Chinese brands for thethird consecutive year at the eighth place side by side with GACToyota among the 270 brands being surveyed.

Formerly Shanghai Automotive IndustryCorporation, SAIC is owned by theShanghai provincial government. SAIChas partnered with General Motors andVolkswagen in China for many yearswhere it produces more than ve millionvehicles annually. SAIC is the ninth largestautomotive company in the world whichnow owns British brands like MG and LDV/Maxus.

SAIC has global ambitions for MG

GAC Motor

RISE OF CHINESE BRANDS IN MIDDLE EAST At last month’s Dubai Motor Show, at least seven Chinese

brands were present. Here’s a quick look.

Automan’s take

32 DEC 2015



Dongfeng Motor (DFM), the second largest motor company inChina, has brought its full range of motorcade to the show thistime including Fengshen series such as AX7, A30, H30 CROSS,Dongfeng Joyear S50, S500, XV, high-mobility special o-roadvehicle Warrior, DFSK C35, and Flagship RICH pick-up.

Kenbo, is a new name for this region and it was their rstappearance at the region’s show. Kenbo was created by a joint-venture company controlled by the giant Beijing-based BAIC(Beijing Automobile Industry Holding Company) and used Saabtechnology. Kenbo vehicles are made the huge industry city ofChongqing in south-west China. At Dubai, Kenbo introduced itsSUV and MPVs.

Taiwan-based automaker which also has some Middle Eastpresence presented their latest vehicle line-up including SUVs,

hatchbacks and MPVs. A refreshed version of the Luxgen U6 SUVwas unveiled-at the show.

GAC and Kenbo were among seven Chinese car-makersdisplaying their products at the Dubai motor show last monthfor the rst time. These new player came well prepared and arelooking at potential distributors for GCC markets.

Dongfeng MotorFirst time for Kenbo @ Dubai

Luxgen from Taiwan means business in luxury segment

Automan’s take

33DEC 2015



‘Genesis’ is the

official luxury

sub brand from

HyundaiLast month, Hyundai Motor announcedthat it was creating an all-new luxuryglobal brand. The name has been nalizedand the cars that it will produce and sellwill adorn the Genesis badging. Hyundaisays that Genesis branded cars will deliver‘human-centered’ luxury through a rangeof new models that feature the higheststandards of performance, design andinnovation.From the marketing perspective, Genesis

will be a standalone brand and its portfoliowill see six new models by 2020. Genesiscars compete with the world’s mostrenowned luxury car brands.Genesis models will embody four keyaspects: Human-focused innovation,rened and balanced performance,athletic elegance in design and hassle-freecustomer experience. “We have created

this new Genesis brand with a completefocus on our customers who want smartownership experiences that save timeand eort, with practical innovations thatenhance satisfaction. The Genesis brandwill fulll these expectations, becominga market leader through our human-centered brand strategy,” said EuisunChung, vice chairman of Hyundai MotorCompany.To dierentiate the Genesis brand from

Hyundai, the automaker has created aPrestige Design Division. Hyundai hasrecently hired Luc Donckerwolke, whowas previously responsible for the designof Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, SEAT andSkoda models at the Volkswagen Groupto lead this new division alongside hisrole as Head of the Hyundai Motor DesignCenter. The work of the new Prestige

Design Division will be overseen by PeterSchreyer, as part of his group-wide designresponsibilities as President and ChiefDesign Ocer (CDO) of Hyundai MotorGroup.The Genesis brand will also adopt a newalphanumeric naming structure and willlaunch at least four models in the comingyears. “We will add G80 and G70 sedansalongside sport utility vehicles and sportscoupes to our line-ups to complete the

world of our new luxury brand Genesis,”Hyundai Motor vice chairman YangWoong-Chul has announced.Peter Schreyer commented, “In creatingthe design signature of Genesis brandcars, we set out to display condenceand originality, creating highly desirableproducts that present new charm throughinnovative styling and proportions.”

Genesis G90 revealed in South Korea

The top-of-the-range G90 luxury sedanwill be named EQ900 in Korea. The newcar will debut this month in Korea andwill give indications on the technologyand design direction for Hyundai’snew Genesis brand, announced at therecent Tokyo Show, and for whichthe carmaker is planning to launchsix models by 2020. The focus of thecar will be around ‘human-centered’technology and driving dynamics, whilethe styling will be based around thetheme ‘Athletic Elegance’, interpreted

by the newly-formed Prestige DesignDivision.As expected, the engine range willconsists of three petrol units - a 3.8-litreV6 GDI with 334hp, a range-topping5.0-litre V8 with 425hp and a new3.3-litre V6 biturbo motor with 370hp.These will be mated to an 8-speedautomatic transmission and optionalall-wheel drive system.Other technical highlights of the5,200mm long sedan include Hyundai’sVariable Control Suspension system

and the Highway Driving Assist system that provides semi-autonomous drivingfeatures. Jang Rag, executive vice president who supervised the G90 project, addedthat “through our telematics program, Blue Link, we will also provide emergencyrescue systems including air bag activation.”The interior of the luxury sedan is equipped with “rst class VIP seats” that can beadjusted to three dierent positions – relaxing, reading and video-watching, at thetouch of a button on the armrest.

34 DEC 2015



Kia Motors moves forward withgreen programme

Return of the Fiat 124 Spider

Subaru exploring new designlanguage for future sedans

Mahindra and design housePininfarina deal could close soon

Kia Motors has announced its mid- to long-term plans for thedevelopment of a greatly increased range of environmentallyfriendly vehicles. The brand’s ‘green car roadmap’ sets out Kia’sambition to become a leader in the low emissions car market by2020. It is anticipated that the ve-year development plan will seeKia further increase its investment in research and development(R&D) into fuel-ecient technologies and new products, witha range of all-new models and highly advanced powertrains forglobal markets. The new investment by Hyundai Motor Group,Kia’s parent company, totals US$10.2bn for the development ofa range of new eco-friendly models and building the facilitiesrequired for the brand’s eorts to further reduce its CO2 output.

Almost 50 years since the original was introduced, the Fiat 124Spider is back! True to its celebrated nameplate, the all-new Fiat124 Spider brings classic Italian styling and pure driving pleasureto a new generation, with its powerful turbo-charged petrolengine, sophisticated suspension and traditional rear-wheeldrive layout. Designed at Centro Stile in Turin, Italy on a Mazdaplatform, the new FIAT 124 Spider takes its inspiration from the1966 original, not only in terms of its proportions and stance butalso in terms of its detailing. A horizontal line emerges from the

front wing, kicking up over the rear haunch and owing towardthe tail lamp, aping the distinctive bodywork of the originalcar, while the style and position of the LED headlamps, and thehexagonal upper grille, both draw heavily from the details ofthe classic roadster. Fiat will add its 160hp 1.4-litre turbochargedengine mated to either a six-speed manual or automatictransmission.

The Impreza Sedan Concept showcased at Los Angeles lastmonth is a design concept car previewing the next-generationImpreza which is to be the rst one of Subaru’s next-generationstrategic vehicles envisioned in FHI’s Mid-Term ManagementVision “Prominence 2020” announced in May 2014. Whilepositioned as an entry model in the Subaru lineup, its compactbody features a blend of bold expressions of Subaru’s Dynamicand Solid design elements and a quality feel beyond its class -hinting at the design direction not only of the new Impreza but of

Subaru’s future models as a whole.

Pininfarina has announced they expect to nalize the deal withIndia’s Mahindra & Mahindra in the next few weeks. The deal hasbeen sot of on and o in the last few months, but now seems thatboth parties are moving forward. In the past few months, it wasthe creditors who were not pleased with the deal as it stipulatederasing half of the €87 million debt. Now, everything seems tobe in order and the deal is expected to go ocial in the comingweeks. Pininfarina has been hemorrhaging money for 10 of thepast 11 years and in the rst half of 2015 they posted a net debtof €52.7 million. The last car to wear Pininfarina’s signature is theSouth East Motor (SEM) DX7, an SUV that made its debut earlierthis year at Auto Shanghai.

Automan’s takeThe Mazda Miata-based roaster has been planned since 2012 by Fiat when the next-generation MX-5 Miata was first announced.The partnership called for “a new roadster for the Mazda and Alfa Romeo marques based on Mazda’s next-generation MX-5 rear-wheel-drive architecture” with “differentiated, distinctly styled, iconic and brand-specific” designs and powertrains.

35DEC 2015



First edition Bentley Bentagya ready to roll

German boutique brand Wiesmann to be sold to UK-based Indianinvestors

Fisker to use BMWcomponents

The Bentayga First Edition was revealed at a private event in Los Angeles last monthto prospective customers. The rst batch of 608 production units will be sold as theBentayga First Edition and the special-edition package is distinguished by Union Jack

British-based Indian investors Roheen and Sahir Berry havebought the rights to the Wiesmann sports car business, includingthe company name and gecko logo. Wiesmann was liquidatedin May 2014 and the new owners plan to restart production atWiesmann’s home in Dülmen, Germany, as early as 2016. Thesale will be conrmed subject to approval from creditors and acrucial meeting between the creditors and their administratoroverseeing the bankruptcy takes place this month. Preliminaryreports suggest the new owner is looking to widen the marketreach of Wiesmann’s existing line-up, with the production ofright-hand-drive versions also.

badging, illuminated tread plates and22in black painted and polished wheels.The SUV’s interior has been outttedwith Bentley’s luxurious ‘Diamond withinDiamond’ quilting, customized ambientlighting, and unique contrast stitching onthe embroidered seats. The batch limitmatches the Bentayga’s metric poweroutput of 608PS. Its 6.0-litre W12 enginealso delivers 663 lb-ft of torque, launching

the SUV to 96km/h in four seconds at.Bentley claims it is the world’s mostpowerful and fastest SUV. Buyers willalso receive a unique Breitling watchto complement their new SUV. Choicesinclude the Emergency, which features apersonal locator beacon, along with theCockpit B50 and the Chronomat 38, sizedfor women. Each features an all-blackcase, black mother-of-pearl dial, bronze-tone hands and a rubber strap matchingcertain interior design elements.

36 DEC 2015

Karma is the new name of Fisker afterthe company was taken over by Chinesecompany called Wanxiang. This, ofcourse, is the same name Fisker used forits extended-range electric sedan, whichKarma plans to start selling in updatedform sometime next year. The latestupdate from the set-up is that Karma hasconrmed it signed an agreement withBMW to source powertrain components.Few specics have been revealed butsome of the components will includeBMW’s high-voltage battery chargingsystems as well as a wide range ofhybrid and electric car systems. Futureproducts from Karma, which the companyis already working on, will utilize evenmore of BMW’s powertrain technology.One of the new products is likely to bea production version of the Atlanticsmall sedan concept Fisker rst showed

in 2012. “The Wanxiang Group is giving

Karma Automotive the opportunity to bring a stunning car back to the market, and thepartnership with BMW and their outstanding track record is a great t for the future,”Karma CEO Tom Corcoran said in a statement. “We will continue to develop cars with thelatest cutting edge hybrid and EV technology.”Production of Karma’s products will take place at a new plant located in Moreno Valley,California. Fisker had outsourced its production to Finland’s Valmet. Interestingly, one ofthe key people working at Karma is none other than Bernhard Koehler, who co-founded

Fisker together with Henrik Fisker and previously served as the company’s COO.



This is an annual automotive event

in the US that touts itself as atrade event, but over the year’s

enthusiastic participation by car majorsand their tuner-performance partners [in-house and independent] have elevated itto a ‘must see, must visit’ calendar eventfor petrol heads and enthusiasts. The

annual SEMA show in Las Vegas is now

famous for its no-holds-barred displayof tuning and customization oerings.On display, there will mind-bogglingpresentations ranging from lifted trucks,slammed imports, and engine-swappedmuscle cars. Yet there’s far more tothe show than that—the parties, the

celebrities, the high-octane demos, the

excess of it all. Funny thing about SEMAis that general public don’t have access,but we at Automan have ensured that ourreaders can experience what it’s like toattend the craziest show on planet earth!Here’s our report. Read on…

Author: Chandan B Mallik

38 DEC 2015


http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/172-automan-december-issue-2015 41/8439DEC 2015



Chevrolet Chevrolet teamed up with Kid Rock tocreate a customized 2016 Silverado 3500HD that “celebrates freedom and honoursAmerican workers.” The imposing one-otruck featured customized features likea chrome grille embedded with “BornFree” lettering and enlarged Chevroletbowtie emblems. The truck also camewith patriotic graphics package, oversizedchrome exhaust tips and 22in chromewheels. Since the truck was dedicated tofreedom and enjoyment, it was connectedto a trailer. Power is provided by a 6.6-litreDuramax turbodieselIn the second presentation, Chevroletteamed up with Realtree and The Bone

Collector star Michael Waddell to createa customized Silverado 1500. Dubbedthe Realtree Bone Collector concept, themodied Silverado 1500 High Country crewcab featured black exterior paintworkwith Realtree Bone Collector graphics andcamo-inspired accents. The truck alsohas an LED light bar, a cooler and unique

drawer system in the bed that allows forthe safe and secure storage of outdoorequipment and gear. On the performanceside, the concept was outtted withChevrolet Accessories o-road package- which includes a front push bar, sidesteps and a sport bar - and 22in black alloywheels with o-road tyres. Inside, leatherseats came with contrast stitching andcamouage trim. Power is provided by astock 420bhp 6.2-litre V8 engineChevrolet also unveiled the 2016 COPOCamaro, which has been designed fordrag racing. Co-developed with Funny Cardriver Courtney Force, the red car featureda carbon bre bonnet, red grille inserts

and special graphics. A choice of engineswill be available including a supercharged5.7-litre V8, a 6.2-litre V8 and a 7.0-litre V8.Complementing its job description, thecar has been equipped with an adjustablefront suspension, adjustable coil oversand a solid rear axle with an aluminiumcentral section featuring a spool-type

dierential and 40-spline gun-drilled axleshafts. The car also features a race-specchassis, special brakes and a fuel cellwith an integrated high-pressure fuelpump. The model also has wheelie bars,a parachute and lightweight Weld wheelswith Goodyear racing tyres. Chevrolet willbuild 69 COPO Camaros for 2016 and theSEMA show car will be auctioned o at aBarrett-Jackson sale next year with theproceeds going to the United Way. Thisturn-key race car is eligible to competein both NHRA Stock and Super StockEliminator classes.It’s not just concept vehicles that the bow-tie brand showcased at SEMA. Chevrolet

revealed the new Corvette Z06 C7.REdition. The special edition of the agshipperformance model is based on the Z06 in3LZ trim and comes equipped with the Z07Performance Package, including Brembocarbon-ceramic brakes, Michelin PilotSport Cup 2 tyres and a series of specialtouches and upgrades.

40 DEC 2015



FCA Prior to the event, Fiat ChryslerAutomobiles had announced plans toshow 20 Mopar-ized models from theChrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and FIATbrands. Following the recent introductionof Chrysler 300 S, the one-o matte

blue nished 300 Super S conceptpresented has been designed to blendsophistication and style with attitude andperformance. The car was presented withtinted headlamps, a lowered kit and amatte black grille with miniature Mopar“M” letters that are painted Dark HyperBlack. Inside, the rotary shifter has beenreplaced by a new T-handle shifter. The caris powered by a 5.7-litre HEMI V8 enginethat has been equipped with the MoparStage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 Upgrade Kitsthat include CNC-ported high-ow cylinder

heads, new exhaust manifolds, high-performance catalysts and an assortmentof other upgrades. This enables theengine to produce up to an additional75bhp and 59Nm of torque.Dodge ocially unveiled the Challenger GTAWD concept, as a one-o model is beingdescribed as a “year-round muscle car thatlets you have your cake and eat it too.”

Featuring special paint and equipped witha wide body kit, a front splitter and rearspoiler, other highlights include a SatinBlack fuel ller door, a four-tailpipe sportsexhaust system and custom 20in ve-spoke alloy wheels. Power comes from a

5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine with the Scat Pack3 Performance Kit which includes CNC-ported cylinder heads, hi-ow manifolds,hi-ow catalysts and new exhaustmanifolds among other things.On the pick-up brand side, you had RamRebel X in Dark Copper exterior withMatte Black and Mopar Blue accents. Thetruck also had a “sport performance”hood, extended fender ares and 17-inchcast-aluminum beadlock wheels with 35inToyo tyres. The truck’s 5.7-litre HEMI V8engine has been outtted with a cold-air

intake and a cat-back exhaust system.The Jeep Red Rock Concept is based onWrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard RockEdition and pays tribute to the Red Rock4-Wheelers o-road club that hosts theannual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah.To ensure the model can tackle the toughterrain of Moab, the concept has beenequipped with a Rock-Trac transfer case,

Tru-Lok electronic locking dierentials andnext-generation Dana 44 solid front andrear axles. The Wrangler also featured a2in lift kit and a 73.1:1 crawl ratio.On the Fiat side of things, the 500XChicane and Mobe concepts were

unveiled. The Chicane was describedas a street-tuner vehicle that featuresa Competition Blue exterior with sidestripes and a gloss black roof. The modelalso has a sportier front face, loweredride height and 20in wheels. Katzkinleather seats with blue piping and “X”embroidery, embossed oor mats and acargo management system were part ofthe kit. On the other hand, the 500X Mobewas named after a kite-surng trick andthe car featured an Ivory Pearl exteriorwith Matte Bronze accents and blue side

stripes. The model also has a roof rackand two-tone 18in alloys with Moparblue accents. The well-equipped interiorcame with two-tone leather seats, whitetrim and a blue kite surfer decal on thedashboard. Both vehicles are powered bya 2.4-litre Tigershark MultiAir2 engine witha cat-back exhaust system.

41DEC 2015



FordFord and Rally Innovations presenteda concept based on the new Focus ST.Promoted as the future of rallying, theone-o featured an aggressive bodykit with a three-piece aluminium frontsplitter, revised side skirts and a largerear wing. The model also has extendedwheel arches, a ventilated bonnet and 19inRays 57 Xtreme wheels shod with NittoNT555 tyres. The car also has a four-pointroll cage and the rear seat also has been

removed to help reduce weight. To helpoptimise performance, the car gets GreddyAirinx intake system, a sports exhaustsystem and a intercooler. The car alsocomes with a COBB Tuning AccessportV3 tuning system which will enable the2.0-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine toproduce more than the standard 252bhp.Two modded Fiesta models were alsopresented. The lifestyle-oriented greenCinemotive Media Fiesta ST came with a

carbon bre front lip spoiler, side skirtsand rear wing. The car rides on 17in ADV.1ADV5 Track Spec wheels with Falken RT-615K tyres. The cabin is largely untouchedbut Ford says there are Recaro seats, anew shift knob and an SS Tuning steeringwheel. The 1.6-litre EcoBoost four-cylinderengine gets a cold air intake, a newintercooler and a sports exhaust system.The model also has a new downpipe and aStage 3 power package from COBB tuning.

The second model is the DSPORT Fiesta STand it is being billed as a track-ready modelthat could produce more than 400bhp.Ford lived up to its promise of introducingeight modied Mustangs at SEMA.the most eye-catching example is theDRAGG Mustang which is being billedas the “sexiest police vehicle you willsee outside of Dubai.” It featured ablack and white exterior, a carbonbre body kit and 20in Velgen VMB7

wheels shod with performance NittoInvo tyres. The model also has a custompush bar, a police lighting package anda police communications system. On theperformance front, the model has beenequipped with a Vortech Engineeringintercooler, an AIRAID intake andWilwood brakes. There’s also an Air Liftperformance suspension and “BAMAtuning” by American Muscle. The BisimotoEcoBoost Mustang came with a custom

body kit, a coilover suspension and 19inFifteen52 Tarmac rims shod with ToyoR888 tyres. The latter’s 2.3-litre EcoBoostfour-cylinder engine gets a TurboneticsBTX7668 turbocharger, forged billet pistons,a new camshaft, custom exhaust, upgradedfuel injectors, new fuel rails and a MagnaFuel750 fuel pump. Other highlights include aSpearco intercooler and an Innity 6 ECU.Thanks to all these modications, the engineis tuned to produce 900bhp!

42 DEC 2015



BMW

Hennessey

Honda

BMW presented a selection of distinctively sports-orientedBMW M Performance Parts and the displayed included a

BMW M Performance modied BMW M4 Coupé as well asthe rst BMW M Performance Parts for the new BMW M2Coupé.

The 00-200km/h Bugatti Veyron beating Hennessey VenomGT was already one of the fastest cars in the world whenintroduced in 2011. It’s powered by a GM-sourced 6.2-litrebored out to 7.0-litre twin turbo V8 engine producing1,200bhp and 1,155 lb-ft of torque. The producer of the nearly8sec quicker than the Veyron announced at SEMA that theGT has been upgraded to produce a whopping 1,451bhp.

Hennessey says the performance increase is a result of beingable to run E85 Flexfuel. This enables the boost pressure ofthe engine to be increased from 19 psi to 26 psi.Thanks to the extra power, Hennessey says the car shouldbe able to accelerate from 0-96km/h in 2.4secs, 0-160km/hin 4.4secs and 0-320km/h in 12.8 secs. The company alsoestimates the car will run the quarter mile in 9.4secs at268km/h and have a top speed in excess of 450km/h.

Honda used SEMA this year to celebratetheir return to o-road racing by unveilingthe new Ridgeline Baja Race Truck. Thetruck will compete in the tube-frameunlimited Baja 1000 class. Honda says itprovides an “early glimpse at the stylingdirection for the all-new 2017 HondaRidgeline” that will go on sale in the rsthalf of next year. Power is provided by atwin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine developedby Honda Performance Development. Ituses the same block, cylinder heads andcrankshaft as the engine that will power

the 2017 Ridgeline but in this application itdevelops more than 550bhp.Honda also showcased some tuning ideasfor their new HR-V with help from tunerslike Bisimoto Engineering, MAD Industries,Tjin Edition and Fox Marketing. The 2016Pilot Elite Concept “Black Edition” waspresented with production and conceptcomponents from Honda GenuineAccessories.

43DEC 2015



Hyundai

Nissan

Hyundai rolled in to SEMA this year withthree custom creations based on theTucson crossover, two on the GenesisCoupe and one on the Veloster. TheTucson SUVs were treated by names likeBisimoto, John Pangilinan and RockstarPerformance Garage. The Bisimoto exfuel Tuscon got a high-boost turbocharger

helping it cross to the north of 700hp. ThePangilinan JP Edition Tuscon was morepractical as an o-road adventure machinewith a pop-up tent and a lifted suspension.And Rockstar went with a Baja-style o-road competition approach with a massive6in lift kit and 32in tyres.The Genesis Coupes were treated byARK Performance and another by TJIN.The Solus edition by ARK focused onperformance and luxury with a wide bodykit, carbon-bre trim and a superchargedV6 with over 500hp. The TJIN editionwas also supercharged to produce more

than 500hp. It also came with a free-owing exhaust, intercooler, blow-ovalve besides KW coilover suspensionand custom body kit. The Veloster TurboR-Spec was prepared by Blood TypeRacing with a boosted 500hp plus engine,custom paint job and carbon-bre widehp-body kit.

Nissan and Cummins are keen to push a5.0-litre V8 diesel-powered Titan XD for aland-speed record. “Project Triple Nickel”is a working collaboration betweenCummins and Nissan North America.Modication began on the 2016 TITAN XDa few weeks ago, and thus far it featuresa special lowered suspension, salt-atstyle disc wheel covers, Mickey Thompsontires, an Ultra Shield seat, a Stroud Safetyparachute, a custom-fabricated frontair dam and bed covers and a custom,brushed nickel-colored wrap. Additionalmodications – including a roll cage,

additional safety equipment and more –will be added within the next few monthsas the truck is developed with an eyetoward setting new class speed records.Nissan also showcased some of itsNismo concepts. The GT-R NISMO NAttack came with a host of aerodynamicadd-ons including a huge rear wing andcomprehensively redesigned suspensionsystem. The N Attack package is installeddirectly at the NISMO Omori Factory inJapan.

44 DEC 2015



KiaKia began its SEMA campaign well aheadof the show with several teasers. On theground, the South Korean brand camewith six concepts. The Kia Optima A1Aconcept is just one in a series of regionalspecials that the Korean automakershowcased as a four-door open-air body-styled convertible. The car was outttedwith suicide rear doors and 20in on alowered suspension set-up. The car usesa turbo charged 245hp four-cylinderstock engine, but is tted with a high-performance exhaust.The Cerato/Forte Koup Mud Boggerconcept has been designed to represent

the “adventurous American South andthe inexplicable joy of getting dirty onfour wheels”. The one-o model camewith a 4in lift as well and matching thechanges were 28in o-road tyres, revisedside skirts, ared wheel arches, a ruggedfront bumper and LED auxiliary lights. Kiasaid the model had a stripped out cabinwith two Sparco Evo II Red race seats androll cage. The carpeting has also beenremoved and replaced by a special Line-Xprotective coating.The one-o bright green Kia PacWestAdventure Sorento concept was inspiredby the lush forests of the region.” The

crossover came with a rugged frontbumper, skid plates and a custom o-roadsuspension kit. Other notable changesinclude auxiliary LED bars, a snorkel, ablack mesh grille and a roof rack.Minivans usually aren’t given muchthought by the tuners, but Kia attemptedto change that perception by introducingthe Photo Safari Sedona concept createdby LGE-CTS Motorsports which drewinspiration from lush green foliagefound in the north eastern parts of US.The uniquely styled minivan has beentransformed into a “two-passenger image-capturing machine.”

45DEC 2015



Lexus

Mazda

For this year’s presentation, Lexus teamed up withGordon Ting and Beyond Marketing to create twocustomized models. The Burnt Orange colouredGS F came with an aerodynamic carbon bre bodykit that included a front splitter, extended sideskirts and rear spoiler. The model also sportedAdvan Racing GT wheels with Falken Azenis FK453tyres. On the performance front, there’s Brembo

brake package and an Advanced Flow EngineeringTakeda retain intake. The model also has a Teinstreet advance damper kit and a GReddy SupremeSP exhaust system.The RC F also in a similar coloured wrap went in aslightly dierent direction. It featured a widebodykit, a front splitter and a rear wing. The car alsohad Brembo brakes, a KW coilover suspensionand 20in Rays Engineering Volk Racing TE-37wheels shod with Bridgestone Potenza tyres.Sparco racing seats, a six-point roll cage, a GReddySupreme SP exhaust system and an AdvancedFlow Engineering Takeda retain intake wrapped upthe rest of the packaging.Rounding out the Lexus stand were turbo-four-cylinder versions of the RC coupe and the IS sedan.The RC200t, in Cosmic Blue, was customized withStance 20in wheels, a lowered suspension, andan aftermarket exhaust. The IS200t came witha carbon bre aero kit, 20in Vossen wheels anda lowered suspension. Lexus also showed o itscompetition RC F GT3 racer.

Mazda presented two design conceptsbased on its all-new MX-5 -- a Spyder and

a Speedster. Designers took inspirationfrom vintage roadsters and both conceptstake the MX-5’s lightweight fun-to-driveroadster factor a step further. This hasbeen done by reducing even more weight.The Spyder featured a bikini top, carbonbre aero kit, grille intake, lightweight17inYokohama ADVAN Racing RS II wheelsand natural full-grain leather interior.The Speedster pared the roadster backto the bare essentials. The windscreen isreplaced by a deector. Mazda took itsweight-cutting passion to extremes withfor example carbon bre doors and seatsas well as custom 16in ultra-light wheels.The Speedster tips the scales at only943kg, and is also 30mm lower than theproduction MX-5.

46 DEC 2015



ToyotaToyota’s portfolio was quite interestingwith 14 new vehicles at this year’s event.

Each one of them was unique and had aninteresting story to tell. Some bona deracing machinery was also visible at theirstand and included the Camry that driverCarl Edwards participates in the NASCARSprint Cup and Ryan Millen’s Rally AmericaRAV4 SUV.However, the Ultimate Utility Vehicle[UUV] was by far one of the coolestvehicles of the 2015 SEMA Show. Toyotabuilt the UUV on a stock Sienna chassisand while keeping the looks intact,reengineered the rest with a specic jobdescription in mind. It was designed for

Toyota’s Ever-Better Expedition whichwas part of the brand’s Five ContinentsDriving Project which sent engineerson grueling road trips to push Toyotavehicles to the limits and engage withcustomers along the way. The UUV’srole is to provide a place for engineersto monitor vehicle data from all ninevehicles on the expedition, record video ofvehicle performance during both day andnight stretches, and communicate with

Toyota HQ via Skype. The captain’s chairsin back provide access to a high-tech

logistics system that goes way beyond thetypical in-vehicle telematics hardware. Itincludes a 60-in Sony LED TV, TracVisionmobile satellite television receiver, mobileInternet, laptop trays, Wi-Fi, 17-in monitor,USB ports, 2,500-watt JBL audio system,and Flir M-324xp night vision camerasystem with HD recording.The Tundrasine concept with side stepsand eight dierent doors was described asa “stretch limo that stretches the limits ofwhat a full-size pick-up can become. Theconcept was based on the Tundra 1794Edition CrewMax model and features a

stretched by 90in wheelbase. The cabinused inspiration from private jets andfeatured leather seats, wood trim andcontrast stitching. The concept also hadindividual rear seats.Toyota also introduced TRD versions ofits Camry and Corolla. The TRD kit forthe Corolla included a sporty body kitcomprised of a front lip spoiler, revisedside skirts and a rear diuser. Otherhighlights included a cat-back exhaust

system, lowering springs and 19in wheels.Meanwhile, the Camry featured a body kit

that included a front lip spoiler, extendedside skirts and a new rear diuser. Themodel also had TRD lowering springswhich reduced the ride height by 1in upfront and 1.5 inches out back. Roundingout the exterior changes are 21-in alloywheels.Other collaborative eorts included aconcept by Toyota and the Funrise ToyCorporation. The two partners teamedup to create the Tonka 4Runner concept.Designed to be the ultimate plaything,the heavily modied model has a matteblack and yellow exterior with Tonka

badging. The concept also featuredrugged bumpers, side steps, a ladder and acustom roof rack which can accommodatea tent. The truck was outtted with 20inUltra Motorsports Type 250 Colossuswheels with Mickey Thompson Baja MTZ38×15.50R20LT o-road tyres. The conceptcan ride high, thanks to its ten inch lift kitand new suspension components.

47DEC 2015



2016 Nissan Patrol Desert Edition

48 DEC 2015



Nissan Middle East takes its Gen VI Patrol full-sized

SUV into a new benchmark territory with the specially

created Desert Edition. Automan was invited to exploreits enhanced capabilities in UAE’s famous off-roading Liwa

region

Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Charles Varghese and author

49DEC 2015



T

he current Nissan Patrol [Y62]doing the rounds in the Middle

East was introduced as an all-newGen VI model in the rst quarter of 2010.The large SUV is oered in four dierentlevels of trim in the Middle East: XE, SE,LE, and City Package. Common to all isthe VK56VD Series 5.6-litre V8 that oers400hp and 560Nm of torque when matedto a seven-speed automatic transmission.The engine is pretty modern and comeswith “VVEL” Variable Valve Event andLift and direct injection. As a capableo-roader its variable 4×4 mode packageallows switching between four drivemodes: sand, on-road, rock and snow,

with the ick of a switch. And uppertrims feature “Hydraulic Body MotionControl System” system which Nissaninvented and implemented as a handlingenhancer. It uses two hydraulic systemsconnected by cross-link hydraulic pipesto the 4-wheel independent suspension’shydraulic cylinders absorb road bumps andhelp reduce body lean when cornering.This helps minimize uctuation of viewof those on board and provides a morecomfortable ride. Unlike other similarsystems, this does not need a powersource, so there is no trade-o with

fuel economy. Besides these featuresand the regular trim models, Nissan has

been keeping the Patrol newsworthy.In 2014, the Patrol received a signicantfacelift with revised tail lamps and built-inLED head lamps. A new tan interior wasadded and new sets of wheels. A yearlater Nissan also introduced a limited-runPatrol Black Special Edition which had alimited production run of 200 units. Theseversions were oered with two outputs[320hp and 400hpV8 engine] severalenhancements such as red seats, chromedetailing and a black matte exterior paintscheme. Also available are an electronic-locking rear dierential, hill start and hill

descent control, as well as lane-departurewarning, automatic braking and stabilitycontrol.This year Nissan also gave a furtherindication of what it could do with thePatrol by rolling out two new variants withspecic job descriptions. The rst one tobe showed was the Nismo edition whichreceives a performance enhancementtreatment from this specialist agency.Till now, the Nismo full-on treatment hasbeen mostly reserved for top end carslike the GT-R or 370Z and also availablefor smaller cars, but never on a SUV. As a

result, the Patrol becomes a standalonemodel to benet from Nismo and instead

of taking an o-road or luxury approach,the Patrol Nismo version is focused for outand out on-road performance. As a result,the 5.6-litre V8 engine has been tuned byNissan’s Takumi craftsmen up from 400hpto 428hp and its suspension has beenrmed up with Bilstein shocks. This versionrides on 22in alloys from Rays. The powersteering system has tuned by Nismo forsportier handling. The bodywork has beenupgraded for an aggressive look and zeroaerodynamic lift. And the interior hasbeen retted to make it a more suitableenvironment from which to command the

added performance capabilities.So, this is good for those who would liketo stay on-road, but what about the otherhalf who are keen to go o-roading in theirPatrols? Two answer this specic need,Nissan has taken an interesting route.They invited Dr Mohamed Ben Sulayemto work out a desert capability edition forenthusiasts who could not only get a stockversion kitted ocially without the hasslesof going to aftermarket suppliers wherewarranties become an issue if somethinggoes wrong. After rigorous eld testingof over 4,200km in the sands in the

50 DEC 2015



region, the production version was worldpremiered at the Dubai motor show last

month. The Desert Edition as it is badgedocially is based on the stock Patrol LEvariant which was specically chosson asthe donor model since it comes with thehydraulic motoion sensor set-up. It comeswith an unchanged 400hp and 560Nm oftorque producing 5.6-litre V8 when matedto a 7-speed automatic transmission witha manual mode and low-range gearing.The key changes are in its suspensionand related kit relevant to o-roadingduties without compromising the on-road comfort usually associated with thistrim. The suspension receives a new set

of springs to help lift the vehicle aboutan inch and high performance German-built nitrogen shock absorbers are usedinstead of the stock ones. To protect theunder belly, special skid plates have beenprovided both front and back. Specialwheel arch kit has been added. The mostimportant change is in the wheel set-upwhere the conventional rims [which areprone to having tyres coming o whendriven in low pressure] are now equippedwith ‘bead-lock’ type of rims. Conveniencefeaturs include an on-board tyre inator/compressor snugly tted in the rear of

D-pillar which is powerful enough tohandle the requirements of two wheels

simultaneously. O-road accessoriesinclude roof rails, sand ramps, laser shadesand a kinetic rope. A ag is also availableand the car can also be identied itsspecial ‘Desert Edition’ and ‘MBS’ badges.Also standard are cloth upholstery, anavigation system, and forward-facing andreversing cameras. Interestingly, there’sa modest increase of just 30kg due to theadditional kit and most of this is attributedto the bead lock rims.Driving impressions

To demonstrate the car’s core o-roadcompetencies, Automan was invited to

take the car out to the desert in Liwaregion of UAE. With tyres deated toaround 18PSI, we took rounds in doing so.On the sand ats, the car can be drivennormally in D mode. There’s plenty oftorque always available. When the dunedrive became technically tough, all wehad to do was to dial in the sand modeand keep the car in 4High settings. Formost of the drive we kept the all-wheel-drive system set at Auto. The Patrol’sall-mode 4WD system has Auto, 4H and4L modes and in Auto, up to 50 percentof the engine torque goes to the front

wheels when needed for traction. Thetorque delivery and largely muted roar of

the V8 are recognizably Nissan. Although,the drive was more about the car’s o-road capabilities, we cannot help alsoappreciating the powertrain hardwareand the way it has been set-up. The VVELsystem combines hydraulic-controlledvariable valve timing and electronically-controlled variable valve lift on theintake side, to help improve performanceand response. Throttle response isenhanced by directly controlling theintake valve. VVEL also oers improvedemissions and fuel eciency by reducingintake resistance. The direct-injection

system provides better wide-openthrottle performance and improvedfuel economy/emissions, by improvingcombustion stability and oering moreprecise injection control. As a result ofall these, the car is very smooth and onecan virtually glide over the dunes even inthird gear! For the serious dune bashers,we also recalled our experiences withthe recently tested [also in this issue]facelifted Toyota Land Cruiser. The torquedelivery in the Patrol is far superior thanthat of the Toyota which ensures thePatrol not only remains stress-free, but is

51DEC 2015


http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/172-automan-december-issue-2015 54/8452 DEC 2015



also capable of handling bigger o-roadjobs with ease. We are also aware thatthe Patrol has a rigid frame with thick siderails and independent suspension. The ridequality of the Desert edition is rm butalways comfortable despite the absenceof the Hydraulic Body Motion Controlsystem. Even on road, the Desert Editionis as easy and pleasant to drive as a car, as

long as you pay attention to the cornersthat are way out there. Despite its size, itfeels condent than many sedans. Despite

the modest height and weight increase,the handling is secure and stable.

Verdict

A new dimension for stock Patrol usersawait in the Desert edition which hasbeen conceived and produced locallyusing high tech and precision hardwaresourced from Germany. Nissan claims

that such a kit in the aftermarket wouldcost around AED50,000 without warrantyand aftermarket kits can also void the

manufacturer’s warranty on the car. Thebest part is that Nissan is also oeringwarranty on the keenly priced kit/packageand the standard manufacturer’s warrantythat comes with the car also remainsunaected. The retail price of he NissanPatrol Desert LE Edition in the UAE isaround AED255,000. As of now thereare no formal plans to oer this kit to LE

owners and it cannot be used with Patrolstted with the Hydraulic Body MotionControl System.

53DEC 2015



2016 Toyota Land Cruiser

It’s no secret that Toyota’s LandCruiser is among its top sellingmodels in the region and the current

model is known as the J200. The modelalso resides in what has become a veryactive segment where rivals off latehave been creating interesting variantsdedicated specifically to on- or off-roadperformance by either involving in-housetuner-cum-performance set-ups or usingapproved aftermarket components.In this respect, Toyota’s approach

has been somewhat different, rather

conservative. However, this is not tosuggest that Toyota hasn’t tried thisapproach before. An extreme version ofthe Land Cruiser was created a few yearsago, but the exercise meant that the carbecame a niche model. But, to ensurethat the volumes were met and that theLand Cruiser still remained within reachof its customers, Toyota did what it isbest at: repackage the content and makeit more contemporary and mainstream.And this ploy has worked quite well for

the brand.

For the 2013 model year, as part ofthe content enrichment process,Toyota ensured that all previouslyoptional safety and luxury optionswere incorporated as standard kit. Theexercise saw quite few changes andupgrades like pushbutton start, HIDheadlamps with beam level adjustment,a power moonroof, automatic rainsensing windshield wipers, heated andventilated(perforated leather) frontand only heated rear seats, a rear-seat

DVD entertainment system, bluetooth,

54 DEC 2015



C r u i s e

C O N T R O L

T o y o t a ’ s u b i q u i t o

u s L a n d C r u i s e r s

o l d i e r s o n w i t h a

g e n e r o u s r e f r e s h

a n d n e w c o n t e n t

f o r 2 0 1 6. H a s i t g

o t

e n o u g h t o k e e p i t

s s t a t u s i n w h a t ’ s

n o w a d y n a m i c

s e g m e n t ? A u t o m

a n a t t e m p t s t o f i n

d o u t a f t e r t e s t i n

g t h e

c a r i n O m a n

A u t h o r: C h a n d a n

B M a l l i k | P h o t o g

r a p h y: E l v i s J o h n

F e r r a o a n d R a j W

a r r i o r

rearview camera with parking sensors,navigation system among others.The most important piece of hardwarewas the introduction of a driverselectable Multi-terrain system whichhelps control wheelspin and brakelockup giving the selectable choices of:Rock, Rock & Dirt, Mogul, Loose Rock,and Mud & Sand. Along with the Multi-terrain Select system also came theadaptive Anti-lock Braking system whichuses sensors to help the car adapt to the

condition of the road like mud or sand

and efficiently uses the ABS to reducebraking distance on any type of terrain.By now it became obvious that suchan upgrade also touched on the LandCruiser’s styling in the same year. Asa result, there were some revisionsmade to the imposing grille, headlamps,taillamps, exterior moldings and mirrors.Toyota designers ensured that thestylistic changes and detailing wererelatively subtle.There were no further changes for 2014,

but for MY2016, Toyota decided to up its

game with this model. The Land Cruiseruse body-on-frame type of architectureand its sheet metal has been redesignedfrom the A-pillar forward and this givesit a whole new look. Its body structuremakes extensive use of high-strengthsteel, especially in the A-, B-, C- andD-pillars and rocker area. Also thebumper, grille, projector-beam LED lowand high beam headlamps, headlightcleaners are detailed with integratedLand Cruiser logos. These now

contribute to the new design s ignature.

55DEC 2015



The car’s bonnet is highlighted withdistinctive power bulges.

The makeover also continues to the rearas well where it shows a new signaturestyling and detailing involving featureslike newly designed taillamps with light-tube design and LED brake lights. A newfull-width chrome molding and a newbumper is also part of the kit and onceagain, there’s branding on chrome bodyside molding now embossed with theLand Cruiser logo. The 18in alloys arealso new.In terms of accommodation, there’s nochange which means that it will continueto serve as a fully equipped car withproper seating for eight adults. For 2016,new semi-aniline perforated leather isoffered in black or new Terra (brown).The black interior and Terra interiorsare accented by real wood trim. Thehigh-quality trim materials complementa central console, which has also beenredesigned to accommodate a tabletstyled multimedia touchscreen system. Itblends nicely with the intuitive controls.Since it is a genuine eight seater, thecomfort requirements are also befittingwith four-zone automatic climate control

system controlled by 7-level blower

control that circulates heated or cooledair via 28 air vents located throughout

the cabin!Driver gets familiar Optitron gauges, adigital information centre between thespeedo and tachometers. The centreconsole, which was redesigned for2016, integrates a cooler box, USB portand cup holders. The Multi-InformationDisplay also monitors parking assist,steering wheel angle, Multi-TerrainSelect including Crawl Control, DynamicCruise Control adjustment information,TSS P pre-collision warning alarmadjustment, Lane Departure Alert andeven sway warning when towing.Space management is top class in thiscar. The seats split 40:20:20 and alsohave recline feature. A one-touch tumblemechanism makes it easy for passengersto enter and exit the third row. Tomaximize room for either passengersor cargo, the middle row seats alsoslide forward and aft 4.1in. The thirdrow splits 50:50 and with the middleand third rows folded, the Land Cruiserprovides generous 81.7 cubic feet ofcargo space.The powertrain set-up uses a carried

forward 381hp normally-aspirated

In day-to-day driving,

the Land Cruiser feelsand behaves just

like any other well-

appointed full-size SUV.

Its premium ride quality

is achieved by use of

coil-over spring-and-

shock combinations in

the front, and a four-

link/coil spring setup in

the rear. There is a fair

amount of travel at the

rear, which translates

into decent ride quality

for passengers closer

to the rear axle56 DEC 2015



5.7-litre V8. New to the equation isthe brand’s first 8-speed automatic

transmission with ratios calibrated tohelp enhance acceleration. The DOHCengine features Variable Valve Timingwith intelligence (VVT-i) and produces401 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm. Theengine produces 90per cent of peaktorque at just 2,200 rpm. Meanwhile,the transmission also offers the drivermanual control via Tiptronic.Although, the Land Cruiser is a largevehicle, its suspension has beenspecifically designed to optimize bothon and off-road performance. Key tothe suspension design and particularlywhen it comes to off-road competenceis suspension articulation and itsmanagement. The car’s long wheeltravel is facilitated by some high-techhydraulic help. Hardcore off-road driverslike to disconnect the suspensionstabilizer bars in order to increase wheelarticulation. In the Land Cruiser, suchwork is taken care of by the car’s KineticDynamic Suspension System (KDSS).It uses hydraulics to adjust the leanresistance provided by the stabilizerbars, reducing it for off-road driving to

help minimize any tendency for wheel

lift. On road driving where stabilizer barfunction is beneficial for agility and safe

control, KDSS enables the bars workconventionally to help reduce body leanby as much as 50per cent. The systemoperates without the need for complexelectronics. Meanwhile, a decentride height coupled with favourableapproach and departure angles of 30°and 20° respectively helps driver to beconfident during off-road sojourns.The Land Cruiser’s full-time 4WD systemuses a TORSEN® limited-slip lockingcentre differential to distribute torque40:60 front-to-rear. Should wheelslippage occur, the differential can directmore torque to the wheels with the bestgrip. Active Traction control (A-TRAC)employs both brake and throttleintervention to help control wheel spin.Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), with acut-off switch, helps maintain directionalcontrol during cornering.On the safety front, the 2016 ToyotaLand Cruiser is the first in the model’shistory equipped with technologydesigned to help prevent or mitigatecollisions and, under certaincircumstances, help protect pedestrians

in a collision. The new Toyota Safety

Sense-P system includes Frontal CollisionAvoidance, at speeds below 24 mph

(including pedestrian protection);Frontal Collision Mitigation (also forspeeds below 24 mph); Lane DepartureAlert; Auto High Beams and DynamicRadar Cruise Control. Also included arefeatures like a new blind spot monitorand rear cross traffic alert system. Allthe new driver-assist systems comestandard and a reverse camera is alsonow standard. Depending on trim, thecar features 10 airbags: driver and frontpassenger Advanced Airbag System;driver and front passenger knee airbags;driver and front passenger seat-mountedside airbags, second-row outboard seat-mounted side airbags and three-rowroll-sensing side curtain airbags.

Driving impressions

Once inside the car, there’s actuallylittle to complain about. It is no doubta brilliantly executed machine when itcomes to comfort or performance orboth. All occupants sit high, the frontoccupants get commanding view andbesides these elements the strongestpoint of this car is that it features

genuine all-terrain capability. With a

57DEC 2015



brilliantly designed suspension thatenhances performance on irregularterrain yet does not compromisecornering or braking on paved roads,one can enjoy an exceptional ly secure,comfortable SUV that can make extremeuse seem normal, thanks to the body-on-frame construction which provides thebasis for rugged durability during harduse off-road.The car’s rack-and-pinion steering setup,feels light at low speeds, which aids in

maneuvering and parking. Because it is avariable-ratio system, at higher speeds itfeels solid and progressive, not twitchyin any sense, with a nice return-to-centretendency.We are fully aware of the requirementsof a four-wheel drive vehicle and thatnot all 4WD systems offered in themarket are equal. As off-road driverswe know that a 2-speed transfer casewith low-range is a must for tacklingsteep inclines and particularly difficult

trails. The Land Cruiser’s set-up does notwork alone as its Multi-terrain Selectsystem allows the driver to match wheelslip control to the surface and drivingconditions. Multi-terrain Select allowsmore-than-normal wheel slip in looseterrain, such as mud and sand, to helpthe Land Cruiser keep moving withoutdigging itself in.The V8 is smooth and seems well pairedto the new transmission. Power deliveryis also smooth and not aggressive like

58 DEC 2015



some of the car’s rivals. There’s alwaysan air of pleasantness in the drive bothon and off-road. Land Cruiser alsofeatures an enhanced Multi-TerrainMonitor with selectable front, side orrear views with near 360° visibility. Whya Land Cruiser excels in rough terrain ismore fundamental. It is proportionedwith a wide track and very little bodyoverhang, so it can climb slopes up to 45°,sidehill up to 43° without rolling over, anddrive in and out of a 30° ditch with ease.

We also discovered two more interestingsystems that help us out on off-roadtrails. The car’s Downhill Assist Control(DAC) can augment the low-rangeratio’s low-speed descending ability byhelping to hold the vehicle to a targetspeed with minimal driver intervention.And then you also have Hill-start AssistControl (HAC) that helps prevent roll-back when stopping and then startingagain on a steep incline or low tractionsurfaces.

Verdict

Over the decades, the Land Cruiser hasevolved from a utilitarian go-anywherevehicle to a luxurious full-capabilitySUV. Land Cruiser customers are amongthe most loyal who are accustomedto ultimate capability and luxury in athoroughly thought out package thatcomes with Toyota’s core values andunderstated character. The new arrivalcontinues in that vein and adds moresubstance.

59DEC 2015



Ssangyong is South Korea’s oldestcarmaker but unlike the successof domestic counterparts Hyundai

and Kia, it has remained much of its life

in shadows and mostly dependent onbought out technologies. SsangYong hasbeen building cars since 1954, focusing onheavy duty 4x4s and large people carriersthat while cheap and durable fell a longway short of European standards in mostother areas. But all that is changing forthe brand as a global player, Ssangyongdoes have aspirations and wants the breakout from its status as a minnow in thebusiness.As of now, Ssangyong embarks on a newchapter as a result of its new ownership.India-based conglomerate Mahindraowns the controlling rights of Ssangyongsince 2011 and very much like the fruitfulrelationship between Tata Motors andJaguar Land Rover, Mahindra has giventhe brand not only a new lease of life butalso the necessary encouragement for it tomove forward condently.The rst all-new product that comes fromthis association is the Tivoli crossoverwhich is Ssangyong’s ocial candidatethat represents the brand in a ercelycompetitive and popular compactB-segment crossover market. The idea

for a compact SUV from Ssanyong was

rst indicated at Paris a few years agowhere the automaker showcased its XIVAdventure and XIV Air concepts. The coreidea behind these two concepts was that

they combined the compactness andagility of a supermini, with the high drivingposition and fashionable rugged style of

an SUV.The Tivoli has been created specically forthe European market and that is evidencedin its name. The automaker have name

this new car after the Italian town Tivoli,

but it’s also “i lov it” spelled backwards.In a way, the incoming Tivoli representsa subtle shift in focus for SsangYong andis also expected to shoulder a lot of the

burden as the brand moves forward. Asa result of this business objective, theTivoli starts life on an all-new in-housedeveloped platform and when comparedto, say, the MINI Countryman, it is a littlelonger at 4,195mm versus 4,097mm),wider at 1,795mm versus 1,789mm andtaller at 1,590mm versus 1561mm).On the styling front, considering thereare quirky and weird looking modelsinltrating the segment, and not to forgetSsangyong’s past design language inmodels like the Actyon, the new designis contemporary and stays away fromcontroversy. By segment standards theTivoli is by no stretch of the imaginationan odd looking car nor does it exhibit astriking standalone design. Actually, thenew car evolves the traditional European-inspired design language in an interestingway with some neat detailing. Details thatimmediately catch the eye include theoating eect roof and the satin roof railsin particular.From three-quarter view, the Tivoli oersa wide, purposeful stance. The A- and B-pillars are blacked-out to achieve that in

vogue ‘oating roof’ eect and the C-pillar

The Tivoli is a small

SUV that competes

with crossover cars

like the Nissan Juke,

Peugeot 2008 and

Renault Captur. In

this class, the main

selling points are fuel

economy, ease of

driving and trendy SUV

styling

62 DEC 2015



is wide. Most of the car’s sheet metalblends at surfaces with deep creasesthat accentuate the haunches and bonnet.At the front, a dark stripe connects theLED headlamps and a slim grille belowproduces a friendly appearance. At therear, the lines pinch together to form acentral plain and the light clusters curveup into the rear wings. Panel gaps and tnish are at par with premium models andwhile technically the Tivoli is the smallestSangYong yet, it’s also intended to be therst one discerning customers might buy

for emotional reasons as well as practicalones.The interior of the car is designed to

appear spacious, practical and cosy.Meanwhile, the elevated hip points thatusually dene the crossover class helpsmake entry and exit a pretty eortlessaair. There’s a wide range of seat andwheel adjustment, so getting comfortableis easy. The combination of a highwaistline and a low-slung driving positionmakes the Tivoli feel like a hatchbackfrom behind the wheel, rather than ahigh-riding crossover.While, the frontseats are supportive, but the steeringwheel doesn’t adjust for reach, meaning

some will struggle to nd a comfortabledriving position and most of the time theinstruments are actually placed lower in

line of sight.Driver gets instrumentation comprisingof analog speedometer and tachometerand digital information centre. The variousinformation modes can be accessedby the driver using the controls on themultifunctional steering wheel.Even as a supermini-sized car, a tallsix-footer can sit relatively comfortablybehind another adult of similar height. Wethink, this one of the best cars in the classfor buyers intending to regularly use theirrear seats.

In terms of practicality, there’s a 423lboot space available that comparesfavorably with the Nissan Juke at 354l or

63DEC 2015



the Peugeot 2008 at 350l, but less so withthe Renault Captur at 455l. We liked thesimplicity in design and the ergonomics.A special mention does go to the high-resolution 7in multimedia touchscreen set-up located in the dashboard and controlswhich are sensibly laid out with big, easyto prod buttons and a large dial for theair-conditioning system. The only bit whichlooks dated in the smaller orange backlitLCD panel.The six-speaker multimedia systemunusually features an HDMI socket sothat videos from a handheld device canbe played on the screen. Our tester camewith a sunroof and convenience featurelike cruise control.We also noted that the car’s cockpit is notwithout unusual bits. The manual overridefunction for the transmission is there, butthese shifts are not executed throughtapping paddles or icking a lever. Instead,

gear changes are executed through a

button on the gear shifter similar to thatfound in certain Ford models these days.The Tivoli’s engines [petrol and diesel]have been specially developed bySsangYong’s parent company Mahindraand are all new The Tivoli for our marketsis powered by a normally-aspirated1.6-litre petrol unit which delivers 128bhpat 6,000rpm and 160Nm of torqueat 4,600rpm. This engine is mated toa 6-speed Aisin-supplied automatictransmission which is also found in MINI.With this set-up, the 0-100km/h for thisfront wheel drive car comes up in 12.3secs.This is because unlike rivals equippedwith smaller turbo charged units wherethe mid-range boost plays a key role, theTivoli with its set-up has to live with a bitof handicap when it comes to mid-rangeperformance.Our test car wasn’t equipped withSsangYong’s Smart Steer electronic power

steering system which oers Normal,

Comfort and Sport settings.The Tivoli’s suspension featuresMcPherson strut up front and a Torsenbeam set-up at the rear. In some marketswhere the AWD version is sold, the set-upreplaces the rear suspension with a moreadvanced multi-link system.In terms of safety, there’s a lot of kit in thiscar. Safety features include seven airbags,ESP and a tyre pressure monitoringsystem. Features like adaptive cruisecontrol or lane departure warning are notavailable in this model. Driving impressions

The driver’s view upfront is clear, but therear can be constricted if you have adultpassengers at the rear due to the wideC-pillar. However, this is not a deterrentas one gets a nice overall view, thanks tothe enhanced ride height. It would beunfair to expect a high-riding crossover to

deliver driving thrills of a typical sports-

64 DEC 2015



focused SUV, but the Tivoli in that respectis surprisingly engaging from behindthe wheel. Despite its size, it feels agileand responds much more eagerly to thesteering than many of its rivals. Pace ofinitial acceleration appears a bit sluggishand we suspect the engine management isprogrammed like that in view of emissionsand fuel consumption. Interestingly,while the same automatic transmission

is also found in the MINI, in the Tivoli itappears slow in upshifts, but when it doesit shifts very smoothly and this can beconsidered a good option in urban drivingconditions. Once the engine revs over2,500rpm, it seems to nd its comfortzone and from there onwards everythingappears as it should be. However, withthis set-up the Tivoli can feel a bit strainedor underpowered when driving up steepinclines like the ones we encountered inAmerat. The front end of the car appears abit heavy than others.

That the car has sound build quality comesfrom the fact that we noted no rattlesor unwanted squeaks from the boltedcomponents in the cabin. As expected,there’s a bit more body roll noticedthan with a standard family hatchback.The feel is no worse than what we haveexperienced in the past with the NissanJuke and denitely it is less pronouncedthan say the previous generation Kia

Sportage or Hyundai Tucson.Overall, the car handles competentlywith a at cornering stance and decenttraction out of the bends, although gripsoon runs out at higher speeds. Low speedmaneuverability in urban runs is good,with one of the tightest turning circles inthe class. And while the steering is a littlelight, it delivers decent feedback. The bestpart is that the Tivoli’s nimble handlingdoesn’t come at the expense of comfort.Supple suspension means the crossoversoaks up bumps eectively, while the

interior in general is well insulated fromexterior wind and road noise. However,the slightly sti suspension setup cancause the car to bounce a bit on roughpatches and the only performance relatedniggle we would say is a slight waywardnesson the highways, which requires smallcorrections with the steering wheel, but thisaspect can be expected in small cars whentravelling through high velocity crosswinds.

Meanwhile, braking performance appearsadequate, but the pads can appear grippy attimes. Verdict

Consciously moving away from its moreutilitarian roots with the older generationof SUVs, the smarter Tivoli attemptsto become a member of the trendy,fashionable, high-riding family cars. TheTivoli brings a versatile cabin, decentdriving qualities and generous kit for itsclass.

65DEC 2015



Optimising THE

OPTIMAModerately evolved in terms of styling, Kia has focused more

in refining the new 2016 Optima sedan as it enters the market

worldwide as generation IV. Automan attended the regional ride and

drive event that was held in Oman last month. Author: Chandan B Mallik

66 DEC 2015



Time ies and in the motoringindustry it seems to move evenfaster when it comes to new model

introductions. Just ve years ago KiaMotors debuted the re-designed Optimaat the New York International AutoShow and condently introduced whatit considered a game-changing midsizesedan product. Yes, we are referring to theGen III all-new Optima sedan that was one

of the key models that has help catalyzedthe brand’s design-led transformationunder the tutelage of Peter Schreyer.With a benchmark set for the model,the Gen III Optima has done extremelywell on at least two accounts. First it hasbrought in a whi of fresh air in a ‘me-too’ and not so ambitious when it comesto styling segment and secondly, it hasgiven the brand a great image boost andtalking point. In fact, brand engagementis a big consideration when it comes toselling a car, and the Optima seemed wellcut for the job. And the job of preparing

a successor also therefore becomes botheasy and tough!Easy, because a certain benchmark andacceptance has been created. Toughbecause, there are two routes two beconsidered – revolutionise the product orevolve it to the next level. In this respect,Kia has played it safe by not going infor a radical transformation, but rather

a smooth transition to a newer prolethat stays very much connected to theoutgoing edition. However, this is not tosuggest that Kia went into a cost-cuttingmode and kept a minimalist approach likemany others.Once again, the incoming Gen IV Optimahas been conceived under the watchfuleye of Kia’s president and chief designocer, Peter Schreyer. Schreyer’s

design team has attempted to keep thecar modern and fresh. And to do this,designers have blended nicely sweepingcontemporary surfaces and hints frommodern architecture inspired the design

of the all-new Optima, revealing asophisticated standalone personality,stance and prole. From a marketingperspective, this is extremely signicantconsidering the segment also hasseasoned rivals like the Nissan Altima,Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Ford Fusionand the Chevrolet Malibu.While it is clear that at rst glance that thecar’s design and styling has evolved and

the outgoing model’s pleasant coupe-inspired prole has largely been retained.Front and rear styling touches are modestand are aimed to give the car an upmarketlook and feel.However, there is a comprehensive suiteof engineering changes under the sheetmetal. The car now rides on a chassisthat is longer, wider and has been madestier in its constructing by using variousgrades of steel which not only increase thestructural stiness but also contribute inenhancing the car’s performance. How isthat possible? According to Kia, 50percent

of the body is now made up of AdvancedHigh Strength Steel (AHSS) whichrepresenting an increase of 150percentincrease over that of the previous carwhere only 20percent was used. There’salso 450percent increase in the amount ofstructural adhesive used. The result is thattorsional rigidity has been improved by50percent over the model that it replaces,

Interior space has also

grown in every area

from headroom to

legroom and shoulder-

room and the cargo

space has lifted by fivelitres to 510 litres with

the rear backrests in

place, matching the

capacity of the Sonata.

68 DEC 2015



while the body shell is also 8.6 kg lighter.The higher-strength steel alloys have beenapplied to reinforce the A and B-pillars,side sills, roof, oor, front wheel archesand rear bulkhead, boosting the all-roundstructural integrity of the body.In a matter of other signicant changes,the Gen IV Optima is 10mm longer, 25mmwider, 10mm higher and oers a 10mm-longer wheelbase than its predecessor,

but maintains the same front and rearoverhang.Quite a few of the styling cues comesfrom models that sit above, notably theCadenza and K900. The grille is inspiredby the K900 luxury sedan. The new GTvariant gets its own styling kit and keydierentiating features include a bolder,more aggressive front bumper design;black high gloss side sills; a subtle rear airdiuser with integrated dual tailpipes andspecial GT badging. The car rides on alloywheels ranging from 16 to 18in with threenew unique 18in wheel designs, depending

on trim level.Compared to the work done for theexterior if felt to be modest, thenthere’s relief and bundles of evidenceof more attention been paid out here.The front seat designs have improveddue to optimise use of space. With the10 mm growth in the wheelbase of theall-new Optima, and reshaped seats,

rear passengers now enjoy 25mm morelegroom than before. The wider bodynow oers more shoulder room for allpassengers [20 mm and 17 mm extrain front and rear], while the longer,higher roof results in greater headroom

throughout the cabin [+5 mm and +15 mmfront and rear].Seating comfort is quite nice, courtesyof a new seat design with longer lowercushions and greater side support.The door pads are atter and help giveappearance of more cabin space. Compareto the comfort levels up front, the rearseats aren’t as luxurious or pampering,

but for the segment, are comfortable.Due to the sloping roof line, there’s beenan attempt to reengineer the kit in termsof occupant usage in mind and one doesnotice that the base cushions are shorter,atter and set low.We also noted that trim materials,buttons, and switchgear are markedlyimproved and appear to be lesssegmented than before and the front end

of the dashboard layout is lesser orientedtowards the driver than before for betterergonomics and access to controls. TheOptima is now among the rst models tooer Android Auto and Apple CarPlay andthere’s a wireless charging pad for mobilephones. The GT models get bespoke kitlike unique-to-GT sports seats wrappedin black leather with red stitching, or redleather with dark gray stitching, and theGT logo stitched into the seat backs.Depending on markets, Kia oers theincoming Optima with a choice of severalengines ranging from a new 1.6- and two

2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder andnormally-aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder.The largest displacement engine produces185hp and 178 pound-feet of torque. The2.0-litre turbo is sporty and produces245hp and 260 pound-feet. A 6-speedautomatic transmission is standard anda powertrain switch oers choice of Eco,Normal, and Sport settings. The 2.0-litre

With products like the

all-new 2016 Optima,

Kia has communicated

very clearly of where

the brand is heading

and its aspirations are

supported through

continuous refinement

and obsessive

attention to detail.

69DEC 2015



turbo charged version is marketed as theGT edition.To improve the ride quality of the car,besides a slightly longer wheelbase,

the suspension has been retuned asthe mounts in the front section of thesuspension have been moved forward.Suspension up front is based on H-typesub-frame for better isolation while atthe rear it is a multi-link set-up with a duallower arm.On the safety front, while ocialratings for the new car are available,Kia executives, during the productpresentation mentioned that theirengineers have targeted the highestpossible global safety ratings throughoutthe Optima’s development programme,

including ve-star Euro NCAP and USNHTSA safety ratings, as well as Top SafetyPick Plus status from the USA’s IIHS.Meanwhile, Kia’s Vehicle StabilityManagement (VSM) is tted as standard,ensuring stability under braking andcornering by controlling the car’sElectronic Stability Control (ESC) andelectric motor-driven power steering if itdetects a loss of traction. Safety featureson all models include seat-mountedairbags, driver’s knee airbag, rear viewcamera. Rear parking sensors, blind-spot

detection and rear cross-trac alert are

optional depending on market. Higherspec models can be had with features likeautonomous emergency braking, frontcollision and lane departure warnings, and

surround-view monitor.

Driving impressions

As the regional drive was organized inMuscat and the driving exercise beganfrom the Bar Al Jissah resort, within a few

kilometers of driving, what the car wantsto communicate to its occupants anddriver becomes clearer. As a progressiveand forward thinking automaker, Kiastrongly believes in taking big leaps witheach new-generation model. The tangibleimprovements between the outgoing andincoming model is clearer and also how itfares when compared to key rivals. In thisrespect, when compared to rival sedans ingeneral, the incoming Optima now feelsmuch more responsive and nimble at thesame time.Acceleration pace is good and torque and

power delivery is smooth. The six-speedautomatic transmission is a paired well andoers faultless gear changes at any speedwhile up or down shifting and holdingthem for as long as they are required.The car’s ride quality has improvedconsiderably as a result of relocating thesuspension mounting points outward. GenIII’s too-soft suspension compromisedcontrol, the car had lots of body rolltendencies, it would wallow dynamicallyover bumps, and a somewhat felt oatyat highway speed. All that is gone now,

thanks to the changes in suspension

Both engines are

mated to a six-

speed automatic

transmission with

Sportmatic® shifting

while the SX and SXL

trims add paddle

shifters. Both engines

have been retuned

for fuel economy and

better performance

and drivability with

maximum torque now

available at a lower

RPM.70 DEC 2015



set-up, its state of tune and the benetsassociated with a stier body. The car isalso much quieter, thanks in part to theNVH management and also improvementsin drag coecient. With drag reducedfrom 0.358 Cd to 0.353 Cd, this Gen IVis the most aerodynamic Optima to beproduced till date.In terms of ride quality, it feels morecompliant over mild bumps, as well as lessbouncy over potholes or rough patches.While the overall performance will notbe considered out and out like a sports

car, it can condently claim to oer anappealing ride without compromising onhandling too much. And when comparedto European models like the VolkswagenPassat for instance, the Optima sits prettyat through corners and even performsmuch better than the German whentackling some of the sharper corners wewent through. Steering feel is neutral butconnected with decent feedback.

Verdict

With the new arrival, Kia seems to have

its agenda quite clear. The carmaker hassmoothened out most of the formerniggle areas for this fourth-gen model,including ride and handling, NVH levelsand, most importantly, its dynamic ability.We are sure the new Gen III Optima willbecome an instant hit with consumerslooking for a fresh alternative to anotherwise staid segment. The Gen IIOptima has been KMA’s top-selling vehiclefor three consecutive years, and theall-new model has all that is needed tocontinue that success.

71DEC 2015



Automan is the rst automotive magazine in the Sultanate of Oman which introduced Car Of The Year [COTY].This year, it is in its fourth iteration. As before, the selection criterion and the nomination categories remain

unchanged. This means all of the contenders are new vehicles available now or before year’s end in the MiddleEast markets. Only cars and motorcycles which have been tested by Automan’s jury/editors are eligible for

nomination and the nomination process goes through two stages. In the rst stage Automan will produce a list ofnominees in their respective segments and will be announced in June and December of the current year. The second

round will nd the single winner of the respective categories that will be made announced in January 2016.For this year, we also note the importance of design driving new cars and hence we have decided to include a

special award for design under ‘Editor’s Choice’.

Here’s a list of the nominated cars and their respective categories till June 2015

Nissan Patrol Desert Edition

Ssangyong Tivoli

Kia Optima

Toyota Land Cruiser

MINI Cooper 5-Door

Large SUV

Hot Hatch

Mid-size

Large SUV

Hot Hatch

73DEC 2015



Ferrari 488 GTB Jaguar XE/XE-S

Ford Explorer Volkswagen Scirocco R

Chrysler 300 S Audi A8L

Audi Q7 Jeep Renegade

Lexus NX 200t Hyundai Creta

Sports Car Premium Car

Mid-size SUV Performance Car

Large Car Luxury Car

Premium SUV Small SUV

Premium SUV Small SUV

74 DEC 2015



Audi RS7 Inniti Q50 t

Suzuki S-Cross Nissan Maxima

Subaru Legacy Toyota Camry

Lexus IS t Honda Pilot

Mitsubishi Outlander

Performance Car Premium Car

Small Car Large Car

Mid-size Car Large Car

Premium Car Mid-size SUV

Mid-size SUV

75DEC 2015



It wasn’t what LewisHamilton would havewanted for his year ending

race. Hamilton was crowned2015 Formula 1 Champion for athird time in the pit lane at YasMarina Circuit and was hopingto make today his 44th win inhis number 44 Mercedes justbefore the UAE celebrated its44th National Day. But despitebest working conditions andperfect weather, Hamilton wasout paced by team mate NicoRosberg who kept increasingthe lead in each lap for 55 laps.Hamilton had to settle withsecond place on the podium,with Kimi Raikonnen placedthird.Rosberg led from the start,and controlled the race fromthe front. Hamilton’s mainchallenge came when heextended his second stint,but he was unable to nd therequisite pace on his nal set

of soft tyres – the team having

decided against him gamblingon supersofts. Rosberg won by8.2s. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonencharged up from 15th on thegrid, and used superior pace onthe supersoft in his nal stint toseal his position.From the nal grid of theseason, poleman Rosbergmade a great getaway soHamilton had to defend fromRaikkonen and a quick-startingSergio Perez (Force India).The second Force India of NicoHulkenberg got up to fth fromDaniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull andthen a huge battle behind inwhich Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull)and Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso)touched exiting Turn 6.Vettel clipped Max Verstappen’sSTR at high speed on theopening lap, after Verstappenhad brushed wheels with Kvyatjust a few corners earlier. Vettelended the rst lap in 12th,already 10s o the lead. Massa

passed Sainz for seventh at Turn

8 for seventh on lap three, whileKvyat and Bottas swappedninth through the DRS zones.Ricciardo passed Hulkenbergfor fth on lap six, with a neatoutbraking move before theyboth pitted to switch to softs.Hulkenberg only just rejoinedahead of Massa, but well behindRicciardo. Massa was ninth,ahead of Kvyat. Rosberg setfastest lap on the seventh tourafter reporting “I’m pushingthe tyres a bit more now” andpulled 4.7s clear of Hamiltonbefore he pitted at the endof lap nine, the same tour asRaikkonen.Vettel, who was running a longrst stint on the soft tyre fromhis lowly grid position, wasbriey promoted to secondwhen Hamilton pitted on lap 10.Hamilton retook second fromVettel with a routine pass withDRS on lap 14. By this stagewas 7s behind Rosberg, which

Hamilton reduced to under 5s

by lap 22, then halved it againover the next three laps.Hamilton’s engineer suggestedthat Rosberg was suering fromright-front graining, the gapclosing to 1.3s before Rosbergstopped again at the end oflap 31. Hamilton respondedwith a fastest rst sector, ashe attempted to ‘overcut’ histeammate by staying out forlonger. “We’re going to try andextend this stint,” his engineerconrmed.Rosberg’s engineer askedhim to “pick the pace up andclose up to Lewis”, to be ina better position to defendif Hamilton switched to thefaster supersofts for his nalstint. Rosberg slashed into the18s post-pitstop gap, getting itdown to under 10s with 15 lapsto go. Hamilton then consideredtaking his softs until the endof the race, but the idea wasrubbished on his pitwall, and

Hamilton pitted for another

F1

Nico Rosberg won a third consecutive Grand Prix for the first time in his career in

Abu Dhabi – his sixth victory of 2015 – to end his season in style to defeat his World

Champion teammate Lewis Hamilton once again.

2016 Abu Dhabi race report

Hat trickfor Rosberg

76 DEC 2015



set of new softs. He rejoined 12s inarrears, and needed to nd a second alap to win the race.Rosberg’s lead continued to dwindleas the laps unwound, with Hamiltonlapping up to 1.7s per lap faster. He wastold “at out until the end” but couldn’tquite produce the times he needed, andnished over 8s in arrears.On far fresher softs, Raikkonen

caught Vettel, who let him throughfollowing a team order on lap 16.Vettel pitted for his rst stop onlap 24, dropping to sixth. Grosjeanpitted on the same lap as Vettel, andrejoined in a ght with McLaren’sJenson Button for 11th.Ricciardo attempted to undercutPerez at the second pitstops, butPerez stayed a second clear in theirbattle for fth and then set the fastestlap of the race overall to pull well clearand keep in the hunt for fourth againstthe three-stopping Vettel.

Raikkonen suered a slow secondstop, as the team couldn’t get theright-front wheelgun to work, puttinghim behind Vettel again who had onemore stop to make. Vettel pitted forthe nal time, switching to supersoftswith 15 laps to go. He rejoined right

behind Ricciardo in fth, and tooka lap to get ahead of him to takefth. Vettel then chased down Perez,passing him for fourth with 10 laps togo, and seemed to have no problem innursing his supersofts to the nish.After that, the closest battle on trackwas for seventh, with Hulkenbergfending o Kvyat and Massa. Sainzhad suered a horrendously slow rst

pitstop which dropped him out of thetop 10 after his feisty start. RomainGrosjean used his three-stop strategyto surge into the points in the closingstages, passing Sainz and Kvyat tonish ninth right behind Massa.Verstappen nished 12th, but willbe investigated after the race forignoring blue ags. Among incidents,Bottas hit the McLaren of Button inthe pits as he was rejoining and theMcLaren was coming in. Bottas lostthe left half of his front wing, andhad to pit again, dropping him down

to 16th. There was also a rst-cornercrash: Pastor Maldonado and Alonsocollided, with the Lotus of Maldonadoout on the spot with broken suspensionand Alonso’s McLaren requiring a newnose. Alonso was penalized for causingan avoidable collision.

Pos Driver Team Time

1 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:38:30.1752 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +8.2003 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari4 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari5 Sergio Perez Force India6 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing

7 Nico Hulkenberg Force India8 Felipe Massa Williams9 Romain Grosjean Lotus F1 Team10 Daniil Kvyat Red Bull Racing11 Carlos Sainz Jr. Toro Rosso12 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso +1 lap13 Jenson Button McLaren +1 lap14 Valtteri Bottas Williams +1 lap15 Marcus Ericsson Sauber +1 lap16 Felipe Nasr Sauber +1 lap17 Fernando Alonso McLaren +2 laps18 Will Stevens Manor +2 laps19 Roberto Merhi Manor +3 lapsR Pastor Maldonado Lotus F1 Team Collision

A capacity, sell-out crowd of 60,000 fans

watched Nico Rosberg hold off current World

Champion Lewis Hamilton, as he took advantage

of his sixth straight pole to snatch victory from

his Mercedes teammate at a thrilling close to

the 2015 Formula1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi

Grand Prix



2016 Formula 1

calendar confirmed,

US GP uncertain

2016 F1 calendar:

Engine deals

confirmed so far

Formula 1’s biggest ever calendar hasbeen signed o by the FIA, with the 21-race schedule having been approved bythe FIA’s World Motor Sport Council onWednesday.

However, there remains some uncertaintyabout the future of the Austin event, withits October 23 date being pencilled in assubject to conrmation.The event needs to nalise a contractwith the national sporting authority, plusBernie Ecclestone – against the backdropof funding issues.The uncertainty about the event may haveprompted the only tweak to the scheduleagreed several months ago, with Mexico’sdate having been shifted from November6 to October 30.This means it will be a back-to-back with

Austin again, rather than with Brazil.The June 19 date for the Baku Grand Prixhas also been set in stone, meaning thatit will clash with Le Mans – as had beenoriginally feared.Although the early start time for the racewill ensure it will not clash with the nishof the endurance classic, it means Le Manswinner Nico Hulkenberg will be unable todefend his title.

Date Venue

20 March Melbourne

3 April Bahrain

17 April Shanghai

1 May Sochi

15 May Barcelona

29 May Monte Carlo

12 June Montreal

19 June Baku

3 July Red Bull Ring

10 July Silverstone

24 July Hungaroring31 July Hockenheim

28 August Spa-Francorchamps

4 September Monza

18 September Singapore

2 October Sepang

9 October Suzuka

23 October Austin

30 October Mexico City

13 November Interlagos

27 November Abu Dhabi

Renault and Red BullTeam Red Bull will stay with Renault supplied power units for the 2016 season,but the branding will now sport TAG Heuer. Tag Heuer, which has been a McLarensponsor for 30 years, will take naming rights for the Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer RB12.Red Bull boss Christian Horner said: “TAG Heuer and Red Bull are two transcendentbrands which have both a passion for racing and a drive to do things dierently, andthis unique collaboration is further evidence of that.”We are also pleased to seeRenault conrm its long-term commitment to F1 and would like to thank them fortheir contribution to the team since 2007.”

Ferrari and Torro RossoThe Toro Rosso team has conrmed that it will use year-old Ferrari engines duringthe 2016 Formula 1 season. The deal was expected for some time, but it was onlyafter the FIA approved a rule change that allows the Italian squad to return to Ferraripower units. Manufacturers were unable to run two types of engines before the FIArule change this week. Faenza-based Toro Rosso used Ferrari power from 2007 to2013, before switching to Renault units for the past two seasons.

78 DEC 2015



Porsche win Bapco 6 Hours of Bahrain and seal WEC drivers’ crown at BIC

Porsche Team were in

a jubilant mood afterwinning the hotly

contested Bapco 6 Hoursof Bahrain and securing thedrivers’ world title in the2015 FIA World EnduranceChampionship (WEC). The WECseason came to a dramaticclose under the bright lightsof Bahrain International Circuit(BIC) in Sakhir.Taking the Bapco 6 Hours ofBahrain victory were the trioof Neel Jani, Marc Lieb and

Romain Dumas driving the no.18 Porsche 919 Hybrid; whileteammates Mark Webber,Brendon Hartley and TimoBernhard in the no. 17 car werecrowned FIA World EnduranceDrivers’ Champions despitebeing classied only fth.Jani was in the cockpit as thechequered ag came down onthe race. His team completeda total of 199 laps to claim rstplace overall while also lead

the pack of Le Mans Prototype

1 (LMP1) teams.

Finishing one minute 25.310seconds behind were the AudiSport Team Joest trio of AndreLotterer, Marcel Fassler andBenoit Treluyer. They were therunners-up in their no. 7 AudiR-18 e-tron quattro.Taking the nal podiumspot was the Toyota GazooRacing team of Mike Conway,Stephane Sarrazin andAlexander Wurz with 196 laps.They nished 1.177secs aheadof their Toyota teammates

Kazuki Nakajima, SebastienBuemi and Anthony Davidsonin the other TS040-Hybid infourth place.After experiencing technicalproblems that saw them loseplenty of time in the pits,newly crowned championsWebber, Hartley and Bernhardcould only manage fthplace with 190 laps, but itwas enough to seal thisyear’s drivers’ title with 166

points. Their tally gave them

a sensational double to end

the WEC season, having alsowon the FIA World EnduranceManufacturers’ Championshipprior to heading to Bahrain.Ending the year just ve pointsbehind were the Audi trio ofLotterer, Fassler and Treluyer.In the Le Mans Prototype2 (LMP2) class, the G-DriveRacing trio of Sam Bird, RomanRusinov and Julien Canal alsohad plenty of reason to beoverjoyed.Driving their no. 26 Ligier JS

P2-Nissan, they managed a latepush that helped them claimrst place in their categorywith 183 laps.Matthew Howson, RichardBradley and Nick Tandy ofKCMG were second in theirno. 47 Oreca 05-Nissan; whileGustavo Yacaman, Luis FelipeDerani and Ricardo Gonzalezcompleted the podium in thirdplace in their no. 28 G-DriveLigier. In the Le Mans Grand

Touring Endurance Pro (LMGTE

Pro) class, the Porsche Team

Manthey duo of Patrick Pilet andFrederic Makowiecki triumphedwith a total of 173 laps in theirPorsche 911 RSR. In second placewere AF Corse’s Gianmaria Brunand Toni Vilander in a FerrariF458 Italia; while Aston MartinRacing’s Darren Turner andJonathan Adam in a Vantage V8were third.Claiming rst place in theLe Mans Grand TouringEndurance Amateur (LMGTEAm) class was Paul Dalla Lana,

Pedro Lamy and Mathias Laudaof Aston Martin Racing. Theydrove their Vantage V8 to atotal of 170 laps.Abu Dhabi-Proton Racing’sMarco Mapelli, Khaled AlQubaisi and Klaus Bachlerin a Porsche 911 RSR weresecond; while Dempsey-Proton Racing’s ChristianRied, Patrick Long and MarcoSeefried, also in a Porsche 911RSR, completed the podium

nishers.

WEC

79DEC 2015



Many years ago, I had the dubious pleasure of learning just what it was that a balancesheet did. Oh yes, it wasn’t in isolation by any means. The learning was all aboutbusiness, so we covered everything, from profit and loss statements to double entrybookkeeping, to depre ciation. But it was the whole concept of a ba lance sheet that reallygot to me.

Somehow, tradition, the latent accountant gene in all of us or indeed the distaste fordisorder has made the balance sheet take on a life of its own. You have two sides thatmust tally. What you owe and what you are owed sit among your assets and liabilities.The stark reality of the figures tell you and anyone who is interested to be part of yourbusiness, what your worth is – with various type of capital thrown in for good measure.

From the multitude of annu al reports that land up in the mail sho uld you be but a passinginvestor in a company, you get the equivalent of a snapshot of the health of a company,

sometimes with the convenience of seeing last year’s figures alongside the current one.But somehow, it’s the bits the balance shee t doesn’t tell you that make all the diff erence.

For instance, how do you value entrepreneurial acumen? Do you just go on inflatinggoodwill to show a growth? Do you otherwise assign some value to capital? After all, theability to find a growth industry and deliver products or service that propel the companyskywards isn’t something that you can judge until after the fact. A Bill Gates or a SteveJobs should come with a balance sheet entry that says “future billions” at the very least.

Another bit that really needs to reflect on the balance sheet is a value for marketshare.You see the term bandied around at will. The bigger the company, the more emphasisis laid on building marketshare, usually with aggressive measures to make it happen.Indian shopping po rtal Flipkart is in the news recently for the leng ths they are ready to goto for building marketshare. At last count they seem to be on target to reach a turnover

of US$ 10 billion. But it is going to be at the cost of discounts and incentives that iscontributing to a loss of $2 billion to achieve that. Yes, the loss shows up on the P&Lstatement and from there to the balance sheet. But can you just put in a clarifying entryto say that the asset you built up was marketshare?

The issue with a balance sheet is that it offers as much to understand a company asyour passport photograph do es for an individual. Anyone who has seen my mug shots onthe series of passports I’ve held usually comments on my obvious ageing coupled withmy misadventures with developing a fashionable facial presentation. My use of largespectacle frames predated the fashion trend by two decades, while my current relativelyhairless patch in between my nose and lips should have been my norm twenty yearsback. What it does is tell the viewer that I’ve been hopelessly out of sync with fashion.

For an industry observer, that’s what a balance sheet does. Or a series of them.Fortunately, as individuals we don’t need our own versions of a balance sheet. We’veno issue with not knowing how our lives or our finances balance out. You just stick tothe real important stuff – like can I afford the new iPhone? Or if I can’t, can I get it oninstalments? As long as I spend less than I earn next month – all is well. But is it really?Or is that lack of a focus on a personal financial balance sheet the real rea son why megacorporations are profiting from the world’s consumers? Do we really need another newcar, new iPhone or television? Could we, instead, shore up our personal balance sheetsby prudence and saving, while battling to include the intangibles like a charitable mien,personal happiness and a green footprint? It’ll take some learning, but then that’s abalance sheet I’ll be happy to study.

THE BUSINESS OF

BALANCE SHEETS

Want to comment or have your say?

Email at [email protected].

Identify yourself or your message will be trashed and

your id blocked

Raj Warrior is editor of Automan and has been in the thick

of the Automotive journalism eld from the past 15 years.

172 Automan December Issue 2015

Documents

Transcript of 172 Automan December Issue 2015