Thursday, November 27, 2008

PANAMERA

Porsche has unveiled the first official photos of its new model Panamera in its final look.
In its design, profile and silhouette, Porsche’s unique four-seater stands out clearly as a new member of the Porsche family, said a company official.
Conceived and designed as a four-door grand touring sports car, the Panamera combines numerous talents in typical Porsche style: sporting driving dynamics, a generous and variable interior, and the supreme driving comfort of a Gran Turismo.
Joining the 911, Boxster and Cayman sports cars as well as the Cayenne Sports Utility, the Panamera is Porsche’s fourth model series.
The designers of the Panamera have succeeded in positioning this unique car as a brand-new and truly different model while nevertheless retaining the looks of a typical Porsche.
Through its proportions alone, the Panamera stands out clearly in its market segment: measuring 1931 mm or 76.0” in width, the Panamera is wider, and measuring 1418 mm or 55.8” in height, lower than comparable four-door models.
The unmistakable, sleek GT silhouette is created by the car’s overall length of 4970 mm or 195.7” and short, sporting overhangs front and rear. In its styling and details, the Panamera follows the design philosophy refined over decades on the 911 and successfully implemented also on the Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne.
The elegant roof arch extends stylishly over the generous interior, simply begging the beholder to get inside. Like all Porsche models, the Panamera is oriented in every respect to the needs and wishes of the driver.
But now, thanks to the new concept of space and the sporting architecture of the interior, the car’s occupants are also able to experience this special “pilot feeling” on all four seats.
All four occupants enjoy supreme ergonomic comfort on both the front seats and the two firmly contoured single seats at the rear. The luggage compartment easily takes up all the passengers’ luggage, the variable space concept with its folding rear seat backrests enabling the driver and passengers to adjust the luggage space individually to their personal requirements.
And last but not least, the coupé tailgate in the sporting rear end combines superior suitability for daily use with stylish elegance.
The Porsche Panamera will be built at Porsche’s Leipzig Plant, where a production hall measuring some 22,000 square metres or almost 237,000 square feet and a logistics centre are currently under construction.
While the engines featured in the Panamera are built at Porsche’s main plant in Zuffenhausen, the painted bodyshells will be supplied by the Volkswagen Plant in Hanover.
The Leipzig plant will then assemble the Panamera for final delivery, with an annual sales target of some 20,000 units. Porsche is once again cooperating largely with German suppliers in the production of the Panamera, with some 70 per cent of the car’s overall value being created domestically.
The Panamera will be making its world debut in spring 2009 and the first models will be at dealers worldwide in late summer of next year.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Banks rejecting more car loans in Gulf

Acc to press reports quoting 'a General Motors official', the number of vehicle loan applications being rejected by banks in the Middle East has risen from 5% to more than 20% due to the global financial crisis, Gulf News has reported. The UAE and Qatar are among the markets that have seen a significant rise in these cases. The situation is different in Saudi Arabia, where there are more cash buyers than customers purchasing cars through bank financing, General Motors Middle East operations president Mike Devereux said.

We live in a wired world. People are waiting for an update on the bail-out request by the Big 3 from Detroit. This will be more so for GMC, a popular brand in GCC and as such more focus on the status of the bail out specific to GM.

On a lifghter note, let me share : Imagine the Middle East Without General Motors

http://wiki.gmnext.com/wiki/index.php/Imagine_the_Middle_East_Without_General_Motors

Friday, August 29, 2008

Camel Race at Jordan

Camel in Middle East is more than a mere animal.

This animal is so much an integral part of desert life. Among other things, camel used to the main source of transportation, till cars entered the scene.

Check out the link for info on Camel race in Jordan, ME

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index2.php?option=com_gallery&id=528709&img=0&mment=p

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Gulf investors eye GM's Hummer brand

Two Gulf Arab investors have expressed interest in buying General Motors Corp's (GM) Hummer brand. GM was readying sales documents for its Hummer brand and had initial interest from potential buyers, that it hoped to develop into formal sale talks, the automaker's Chief Executive Rick Wagoner had said earlier.

Rapid economic growth, low fuel prices and the brand's position as a status symbol have made the Gulf one of the biggest buyers of the Hummer. Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development bought a 5 percent stake in Ferrari in 2005, while Kuwait's Investment Dar bought half of Aston Martin last year. India's Mahindra & Mahindra was rumoured to be one of prospective buyers. But, they were prompt to refuse...

With the world moving towards smaller & fuel efficient, cars such as the iconic Hummer may end up being relevant only in the oil rich Middle East

All New 2009 Honda Pilot Launched in Saudi Arabia

Abdullah Hashim Company Ltd has launched the Grand Comfort Cruiser
  • The Grand Comfort Cruiser – ‘cruiser’ J. formerly MV4
  • Comfortable for 8 adults
  • 253 HP 3.5 Litre i-VTEC V6 engine
  • 253 HP VTM-4 : Variable Torque Management 4-Wheel Drive , delivers torque to all four wheels
  • Vehicle Stability Assist & Parking Sensors are other features
for more details check out : http://automobiles.honda.com/pilot/

Honda's new Accord is a big hit in Middle East.

Swiss to vote on SUV Ban

Swiss campaigners launched a bid to ban off-roaders, SUVs and gas-guzzling executive and sports cars, winning enough support for a referendum.

The Young Green party said on Monday in a statement, it had turned in 120,000 verified signatures gathered in support of a referendum, to be held within 18 months. A spokesman for the Federal Chancellery said it will now check the signatures, although the 100,000 valid signatures necessary to call a referendum "should easily have been surpassed".

"Our initiative slows global warming, protects cyclists, pedestrians and children, stops the arms race on the streets..., reduces pollution and is still reasonable," the initiators said on their website.

The initiators want all new cars
  • to emit less than 250g of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometre, and diesel engines to be equipped with particle filters.
  • to weigh less than 2.2 tonnes and have a safer front in order to protect pedestrians.

Cars which do not fit these criteria but are already registered should have a speed limit of 100 km/h.

Various European countries have introduced higher taxes to penalise pollution, hitting sales of cars such as SUVs.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Nissan's new technology

Nissan previewed a new safety technology that goes beyond a warning beep if drivers veer into the path of danger, and actively tries to pull the car in the direction of safety.

A car installed with the brake-resistance device would try to deter the driver from changing lanes, for example, if it detected a car zooming up from behind in the motorist's blind spot, Nissan said.

Motorists can still 'override' the deterrence in an emergency but a test drive in a car fitted with the feature prompted the brakes to vibrate when danger was detected -- leaving little doubt about what the car thought was safe.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

JD Power 2008 Vehicle Dependability Results

Based on their research into the problems faced over last one year by owners of three-year old vehicles, Lexus is the clear winner.

For more info, check out
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/articles/2008-Vehicle-Dependability-Study-Results

Friday, August 8, 2008

Cause of road accidents - STRESS

One major reason for the road accidents in Middle East (ME) is supposed to be STRESS.

  • Why stress ? : Key reason is INFLATION. Rising cost of living... and the pressure thereon.
  • Another key reason is road congestion

It is our duty to drive safely... for sake of others and ourselves... JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO DRIVE SAFELY..

HAPPY DRIVING !

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Nissan's controversial ad

The advertisement depicts wealthy Arab oil barons cursing and hitting the Tiida, angered at the car being so fuel efficient.

The commercial ends with a voice over saying: “It’s clear the oil companies won’t like you.”


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaWYNQfn_Cw

PS : Update - Nissan has got the dealer to withdraw the controversial ad

Thursday, July 17, 2008

BMW World

The spectacular BMW World

The iconic carmaker's exhibition centre, called the BMW Welt -- or BMW World, provides an awe-inspiring experience for customers and helps the company display its offerings in a dreamlike, almost other worldly, setting.
It sits cheek by jowl to the BMW headquarters in Munich, Germany.
The magnificent building was designed by architects Coop Himmelb(l)au for the BMW Group.

As many as 275 architecture firms submitted tenders for the BMW Welt, but in a unanimous decision the winning design was by Professor Wolf D Prix and the Viennese architecture firm Coop Himmelb(l)au.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Tata's Air Car


First it was an indegenously developed car, Indica. Then, announcement of Nano. Thereafter, takeover of the iconic brands, Landrover and JaG ! But, this is mind-blowing stuff...


  • India's largest automaker Tata Motors is set to start producing the world's first commercial air-powered vehicle. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy Nègre for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine's pistons.

  • Some 6000 zero-emissions Air Cars are scheduled to hit Indian streets by Augustof 2009. The Air Car, called the MiniCAT could cost around Rs. 3,50,000 ($ 8177) in India and would have a range of around 300 km between refuels. The cost of a refill would be about Rs. 85 ($ 2).

  • The MiniCAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis that is glued not welded and a body of fiberglass powered by compressed air. Microcontrollers are used in every device in the car, so one tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, indicators etc. There are no keys - just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket. According to the designers, it costs less than 50 rupees per 100Km (about a tenth that of a petrol car). Its mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car (200 to 300 km or 10 hours of driving), a factor which makes a perfect choice in cities where the 80% of motorists drive at less than 60Km. The car has a top speed of 105 kmph. Refilling the car will, once the market develops, take place at adapted petrol stations to administer compressed air. In two or three minutes, and at a cost of approximately 100 rupees, the car will be ready to go another 200-300 kilometers.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

GM US sales beat Toyota in June

  • General Motors suffered a big fall in US sales in June at 262,000 units ( - 18.5%)
  • But its figures were still better-than-expected, but worst June in 17 years… may be a bleak period ahead in near-future
  • For the same reason perhaps, the share prices, which had fallen to a 54-year low on Monday, recovered from early falls to close up 2.2% in New York
  • Bonus it beat Toyota
  • Toyota sold 69,000 less than GM ( drop by 21 %, with its truck sales in particular falling by 38.9%)
  • Ford sales fell by 27.9 %

The shrinking market continued its shift toward more fuel-efficient models. Some automakers were caught with too few of the smaller cars.That includes Toyota, which didn't have enough of its fuel-efficient Prius, Corolla or Yaris cars at dealerships to keep up with demand. Prius sales were hurt by a battery shortage, while sales of the Corolla and Yaris suffered because of plant capacity.
When consumer tastes change as quickly they have this year, it's tough for automakers to react in a matter of months. Additional workers have to be brought in to factories and trained to build different cars
Only Honda, whose lineup is tilted toward smaller and more fuel-efficient cars, reported a sales increase for June - slightly over 1 percent. Honda car sales were up nearly 20 percent, truck sales down 24 percent.
Elsewhere, the picture was far worse. Nissan Motor Co. reported sales off nearly 18 percent. Sales at Ford, which still relies on trucks and SUVs, plunged almost 28 percent. And Chrysler LLC took a huge hit - down nearly 36 percent.

Old vehicles face ban from UAE roads

Acc to reports, vehicles older than 20 years will no longer be allowed on the UAE's roads from January .

Licences for light vehicles manufactured before 1988 would not be renewed after January, while the import of cars manufactured five years earlier would be banned

The decision was aimed at regulating licensing of light and heavy vehicles with the objective of reducing traffic, and to protect the environment from the emissions.

Licences of cars manufactured 15 years ago would also not be renewed from January 2010, he added.

The decision also bans transfer of licence of vehicles aged more than 10 years.

However, vintage and classic cars have been exempted from the new rules, if they fulfil technical requirements, he said.

The UAE has 1.8 million vehicles of different makes and manufacturing years. Import of used light vehicles would be allowed if it is not more than five years old or not more than seven years old for heavy vehicles.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Responsibility

NDTV Car & Bike Show reported, India's minister, Mrs Renuka Chaudhary, has suggested drunken driving among youngsters needs to be curbed lot more strongly

She suggests taking off the licence of parents also, not just the young-drivers themselves. Parental responsibility...

What do you feel ?

Auto Stop

Many high end cars now offer this new feature.

When the car comes to a halt at a red signal or otherwise, it automatically goes into 'auto stop'. When we need to move, no need to use the key to start. But as soon as we take leg off the brake, engine comes alive...

Cool & Green !

Courtesy - C &B Show, NDTV

BIsB Monthly car finance prize

Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIsB) has announced the winner for the third car finance monthly prize draw. The winner for May 2008 will now be exempted from paying the remaining instalments of the car she had bought through finance provided by BIsB.

“The prize was worth BD5980.447 ($15,891) which will be deducted from the principal amount of finance provided by the bank,” retail banking general manager Abdul Rahman Mohammed Turki.

BisB’s car finance product is approved by the bank’s Sharia’a Supervisory Board chaired by Shaikh Dr Abdul Latif Al Mahmood.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Psychology of Car Choice

    Useful insights into the psychology of car choice
  • one gulf resident has moved from a Porsche Boxter S to Range Rover SportV8 . ME gives us the luxury to drive a 4X4, thanks to lower price of the car and lower price of fuel. I liked the part where he appreciates the experience of buying the car. My personal experience has been quite opposite, may be I have not purchased any luxury car. But car-purchase is an important decision for every one. But the sales team at dealer-counters do not go the extra bit to ensure customer delight

  • another gulf resident graduated from rent-a-car to own car. Thought of a Lumina SS (for its 'practicality & performance')and Ford's Mustang ('charisma'), but then got hooked to a Honda S2000. Reason ? To fulfil a dormant dream...!! SO often, car purchase is more than mere acquisition of an asset !
Source : CAR ME edition May 2008

Friday, June 20, 2008

Tiguan, Volkswagen’s new Sports Utility Vehicle

The Tiguan is a compact crossover SUV, which received a five-star safety rating after being tested by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).

The chassis of the Tiguan sets new standards in the world of SUVs as it is extremely driving-active and safe. For the first time on the global SUV market all engines are charged without exception, which deliver powerful propulsion just above the idling speed.

Upon request, the Tiguan can be parked nearly automatically in the urban jungle by the Park Assist feature.

Off-road, on the other hand, the latest radio-navigation system (RNS 510) navigates its occupants back to civilisation using its off-road function.

One of the main characteristics of the Tiguan is its versatility. It is recommended for drivers who enjoy the individual appearance and flexibility of a SUV, but also expect a premium level of comfort, agility and variability.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

MACDA CX 9

The Mazda CX-9 deftly blends sporty driving spirit with seven-passenger sport-utility vehicle (SUV) practicality. It is powered by a 270-horsepower, 3.7-litre, V6 engine, truly enhancing the driving experience and offering cutting-edge safety technology.
  • Won this year’s prestigious North American Truck of the Year Award and Motor Trend Magazine’s Sport/Utility of the Year Award.
  • Other awards it has won so far Kelley Blue Book “Best New Family Vehicle” and
    Two accolades from Cars.com - “Best New Car for Large Families” and “Family Car of the Year”.
  • CX-9 has also received the top rating of five stars in frontal and side impact crashes from the US government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) vehicle safety tests and a top rating of Good from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for front and side crash protection.

The vehicle is a beauty !

The first Hummer golf carts in ME

· The four and six-seat electric carts are proportionally identical to the Hummer H1, H2 and H3 models, and with Hummer Chrome wheels and a rugged aluminium I-beam chassis.
· The Hummer Golf Car is the first proportionally correct and only licensed custom Golf Car.
· The interior is ergonomically designed with cup holders in the centre console, and all of the controls at the driver’s fingertips.
· The Hummer Golf Car is equipped with a long range 48-volt system to ensure maximum range while delivering optimal power to the high torque motor.
· The Hummer Golf Car incorporates safety features that most other custom-made electric vehicles simply don't offer. Standard features include extra large mirrors, head lights, brake lights, turn signal lights, fog lights, a reverse warning buzzer, safety horn and hazard lights.
· Equipped with a standard four wheel braking system that features front hydraulic disc brakes and self adjusting rear drum brakes.
· Can also be upgraded with a selection of optional chrome brush guards, running boards, leather seats, body colours and graphics and a state-of-the-art sound system. There is even an optional “Golf balls washer”
(www.minihummeruae.com)

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Quote

"Luck and Destiny are the excuses of the world's failures."- Henry Ford

Friday, May 23, 2008

Buy a car, get a free gun

A Missouri car dealer said on Thursday sales have soared at his auto and truck business since launching a promotion this week that promises buyers a free handgun or a $250 gas card with every purchase.
Max Motors, a small Butler, Missouri dealership that has as its logo a grimacing cowboy wielding a pistol, has sold more than 30 cars and trucks in the last three days, far more than its normal volume. And owner Mark Muller credits his decision to start offering buyers their choice of a $250 gas card or a $250 credit at a gun shop.
"This thing has taken off. Sales have quadrupled," said Muller. The store sells both used and new vehicles including General Motors and Ford products.
Every buyer so far "except one guy from Canada and one old guy" has elected to take the gun, Muller said. Muller recommends his customers select a Kel-Tec .380 pistol.

THAT IS SOME SMART SELLING !

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Car Purchase

Malaysia Pushy advisors slow auto sales
· Professional sales advisor will influence decision to buy : 65% : Yes & 25 % : No
· Good service : 67% : yes ( dealers better improve service quality !!)
· Choosing a particular car : 83 % normally have a specific model in mind
· What would prompt a new car purchase :
o 59% affordability & 46% price reduction !!!
o 51 % A good deal campaign + low down payment & 45 % favour discount

Based on report on study by Synovate – 1010 potential car buyers – 29 to 60 yrs – all income levels

Monday, May 19, 2008

GM's Vehicle Locator Website in ME

  • In a move to make life easier for buyers of used cars, General Motors (GM) has launched its Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle Locator Website
  • website will offer customers a wide range of the highest quality used GM cars, from the company’s Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Hummer and Saab brands, at extremely competitive prices, said an official spokesman.
  • Managed by Manheim, the world's largest vehicle remarketing company, the scheme will initially be launched through seven dealers in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, before being rolled-out across the Middle East over the coming months.
  • Users simply log on to www.gmcertifiedarabia.com and enter their search criteria by make, model, location or price in order to pinpoint their ideal car and the dealer location. Each model featured includes images of the vehicle itself, allowing customers to view the actual car they are interested in. The buyer can then follow up directly with the dealer to complete the purchase.

Friday, May 2, 2008

VOLVO TO MAKE INJURY-PROOF CAR BY 2020

Seat belt is supposed to be one of the most important development in car safety. But, how many actually use it ?

Now Volvo plan to take their USP, one of the safest cars, to a new level.

Great initiative, when over one million people die in road accidents world wide every year and over 50 million suffer injuries. The cost is just beyond calculation, as human lives are most precious.

Great initiative !

PS : let us be more careful while driving !

Thursday, April 24, 2008

GM Award in ME

Abdullatif Alissa Automobile Company wins 'President's Challenge' from General Motors
Abdullatif Alissa Automobile Company, accredited agent of General Motors in Saudi Arabia, has won the General Motors President's Challenge 2007, after achieving a significant increase in sales volume, as compared to 2006, as well as recording high levels of customer satisfaction.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Toyota to invest $350 mn in India

Yesterday, as I drove in my Toyota (Prado) to east along with my colleague, he enquired who was the market leader of Indian automobile market. He was taken aback it was Suzuki. Quickly I added it used to be a JV et al...

I always felt Toyota has been quite unfair to Indian automobile market yet. They have been very slow to tap the big opportunity unfolding in India. Also, how come they have still not launched Dahiatsu and Lexus to Indian market ? Dahiatsu could be a good vehicle to compete in the lower segments of Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai.

Qualis was a good vehicle and a big hit. But, Indian consumer deserved a more contemperory vehicle ! Camry is a popular limousine elsewhere, esp in Gulf, it is a luxury in India !!

Thank God I am able to drive a Pradoin ME

Audi Ad

I continue to depend on mail-forwards.... but this ad is too good. hence, uploading...

car of the year joke

I continue to be in joking mood...

'The Mercedes-Benz M-Class has won one of the most prestigious readers’ votes in the off-road and SUV world', says press reports in ME. The report goes on to make some claims on GL too... Followed by some official comments, followed by features of the vehicles !!!

I am curious, presuming it is by one of the real prestigious panel/award.

I read on...readers of a magazine Auto Bild Allrad have chosen ! Now, I am more curious ! there seem to be good auto magazines I am not aware of. I am overwhelmed with shame... Thanks to 'Live Search', I am able to check and get enlightened.

This is an 'all wheel magazine' published in Ukraine... We are living in interesting times... Smart way to advertise :) But the iconic brand, tristar/mercedes benz, does it need it ? !

Saturday, April 12, 2008

JOKE

I am unable to post anything ... so sharing this internet-forwarded zoke :)

A blonde, wanting to earn some extra money, decided to hire herself out as a 'handywoman' and started canvassing a nearby well-to-do neighborhood. Shewent to the front door of the first house, and asked the owner if he hadany odd jobs for her to do.

'Well, I guess I could use somebody to paint my porch,' he said, 'How muchwill you charge me?'
The blonde quickly responded, 'How about $50?'

The man agreed and told her that the paint and everything she would needwas in the garage.
The man's wife, hearing the conversation, said to her husband, 'Does sherealize that our porch goes all the way around the house?

He responded, 'That's a bit cynical, isn't it?'The wife replied,'You're right I guess I'm starting to believe all those 'dumb blonde' jokeswe've been getting by e-mail lately.
A short time later, the blonde came to the door to collect her money.'You're finished already?' the husband asked.

'Yes,' the blonde replied, 'and I had paint leftover, so I gave it twocoats.'

Impressed, the man reached into his pocket for the $50 and handed it toher.
'And by the way,' the blonde added, 'it's not a Porch, it's a... Lexus'.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Mercedes

Mercedes-Benz Middle East and Levant today reported first quarter sales of 4,936 passenger vehicles in the region, up 10.5 per cent on the same period in 2007.
“This excellent performance is mainly due to the success of the region’s favourite luxury sedan, the S-Class, the excellent reception of the C-Class and continuously good results for the E-Class combined with an unprecedented push on the M-Class luxury SUV,” said Frank Bernthaler, director, sales and marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East and Levant.

The UAE remains the leading market for passenger cars sales with Saudi Arabia a close second.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Nissan's anti drunk driving




Safe-driving is one of my 'labels' ! Drunk-driving is one of the elements of safe-driving.
Good to hear, Nissan has rolled out a concept that showcases its anti-drunk driving (!) technology. The vehicle sports "multiple preventative features" designed to curb inebriated operation of vehicles, and essentially detects the driver's state of sobriety and kicks into action if you've had a bit much. Amongst the detection agents are alcohol odor sensors built into the locking shift knob, seat-mounted sensors that can activate a voice and navigation screen warning, and a facial monitoring system that determines your "state of consciousness through your eyes."
We await its mass roll-out ! SO drivers in habit of drunk-driving, watch-out :)

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Volvo XC 60






Volvo has a reputation to live upto. Of being one of the safest cars...


The much awaited Volvo XC 60 is tipped to be ' not only the safest Volvo ever, but also it's also the most stunning' said Volvo Cars president and CEO Fredrik Arp.

A variety of intelligent safety systems are another important part of the XC60 model's special character. The big news is City Safety - a unique feature that can help the driver avoid or reduce the effects of the type of low-speed impacts that are common in city traffic and traffic tailbacks. If the car is about to drive into the vehicle in front and the driver does not react, the car brakes itself.
The XC60 project has its sights set on a target group that imposes high demands on design, brand integrity and high-tech content in its choice of lifestyle products.
'One might say that this could be the C30 owner's next car. It's as sporty and exciting, but way more capable. With the XC60, we're widening our model range to attract even more customers
with an active urban lifestyle,' added Arp.

Infinity EX35


The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list has added the Infiniti EX35 to its “top safety pick” list, because of “superior overall crash protection” based on front, side and rear crash tests.


Standard safety features include the Infiniti Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual stage supplemental front air bags, driver and front passenger side-impact supplemental air bags, and roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bags for front and rear seat outboard occupant head protection

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

New Phantom Sapphire from Rolls Royce



SAPPHIRE is the new edition of Phantom from Rolls Royce.
It features:
  • Hand-made inlays to the Walnut Burr Veneer
  • Bespoke Milori Sapphire paint finish
  • Hand engraved crystal glassware.
  • The interior can be specified with either Seashell and Navy Blue accents or Navy Blue with Seashell accents.
  • As a centerpiece to the dashboard, the standard clock face has been augmented with blue enamel detailing and a single sapphire at the 12 o’clock position.

ME auto fraternity will eagerly wait for release of this beauty on their roads...

Every Rolls-Royce is hand-made to an exceptional standard. They recorded 1,010 cars in 2007 worldwide, an increase of 25 per cent over 2006.

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Nissan - rough road ahead?

Japan's Nissan Motor has reported a 16 per cent rise in quarterly profit, thanks to Rogue and Qashqai SUVs ( what names !) However, the company warned a weak dollar and US economic woes meant a rougher road lay ahead.

But for an accounting change, third-quarter operating profit fell 7.2 per cent but Japan's number three carmaker - 44 per cent owned by Renault - stuck to its forecast for annual operating profit to rise 3 per cent.

Nissan is enjoying powerful growth in emerging markets such as China, Russia and the Middle East, as well as a recovery in the US.

Global vehicle sales climbed 13 per cent in the quarter, with all regions posting a rise except Japan, where the car industry faces a contracting market as the population ages.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

GM in ME 2007

GM brands – Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, HUMMER and Saab -

Qatar: sales up to 7,424 units ( 42 % increase)
Oman: 3,221 (39%)
The UAE, GM’s second biggest market in the region: 18,862 (up 20%)
Bahrain: 2,478 (10%)

Total sales 128,154 in 2007 ( up 1 %)

Saudi Arabia remaining the biggest market, accounting for almost 60 per cent of the company’s regional sales. Sales for the five brands in the Kingdom were 79,168.

GM sales in Kuwait totalled 17,001 units.

Chevrolet continues to be GM’s strongest brand in terms of volume and the GCC saw its sales rise by two per cent to 88,755 units in 2007, buoyed notably by the popularity of the Tahoe and Suburban full-size SUVs.

The Premium brands - Cadillac, HUMMER and Saab - performed well with a combined rise in sales of 10 per cent to over 6,000 units. With sales of just over 33,500, GMC also remains popular with GCC car buyers.

The full-size SUVs, Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, were the company’s best-sellers in the GCC, with a 29 per cent rise in the course of the year to a total of 36,210 units. Industry sources indicated that this performance gave Chevrolet and GMC a clear lead in the segment in 2007.

The Chevrolet Caprice took the title of GM’s second best seller in the GCC, with sales of around 16,500 units, followed by the Chevrolet Aveo, which saw sales rise by eight per cent to 14,713. Other strong performers included the Cadillac Escalade (up 63 per cent to 1,799), the HUMMER H2 (up 12 per cent to 463) and the new GMC Acadia with sales of 2,770.

Women may drive in KSA

this report appears in the press quite regularly these days, thus perhaps picking up the tempo. Women in KSA may get to drive cars sooner than expected if the press reports are to be believed, though speculative. The ban in place for over 75 years since 1932 when Kingdom was founded, may be lifted. A new market for the car companies and related industries...

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Carlos Ghosn was not successful in forging a deal with GM. But, here is an alternative !

Nissan and Chrysler have agreed to have Japan's number one carmaker supply cars to Chrysler for sale in South America from next year, the companies said.

The car model, based on the Nissan Versa sedan, will be supplied under OEM agreement.
That means Nissan Motor Company will supply the cars, which are also sold as Nissan models, to Chrysler so the US carmaker can sell them under its own brand.They can help cut costs and strengthen product offerings immediately.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Tata's NANO



Robin Sharma recently wrote in his Robins Blog about IPod. Indeed, IPod is not only an exciting innovation, but also a shining example how you can further 'innovate' !


Tata's own Nano is as exciting too. We may complain about the impact it will have on environment. But think of a family who use a two wheeler as their 'family vehicle' !


With a length of 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, with adequate ground clearance, mono volume design, wheels at the corners and powertrain at the rear will translate to space and manouvrability... a critical need to drive around India's rural and urban landscape.


Has a rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, 623 cc, 33 PS, multi point fuel injection petrol engine. This is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine is being used in a car with single balancer shaft. The lean design strategy has helped minimise weight, which helps maximise performance per unit of energy consumed and delivers high fuel efficiency. Performance is controlled by a specially designed electronic engine management system.


Tata has taken care to provide basic safety features and claims less polluting compared to two wheelers. Hero Honda and Bajaj Auto, watch out... Tata Motors have taken the fight to your territory.


Ratan Tata had dared to dream. He challenged his team and himself by voicing his plan to launch a people's car. Though Maruti Suzuki was conceived by Sanjay Gandhi to provide a people's car to India, the dominant market leader clearly failed to lead from the front. I have personally had opportunity to interact with senior members at Tata Motors at their launch of Ace, Starbus/Globus, Daewoo trucks, etc.


Kudos to Tata team. In future, people may compare this model to Ford's model T !

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Driverless car

DETROIT: Cars that drive themselves could be ready for sale within a decade, General Motors Corp executives say. GM, parts suppliers, university engineers and other automakers all are working on vehicles that could revolutionize short and long-distance travel.

And on Tuesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas GM CEORick Wagoner will devote part of his speech to driverless vehicles. "This is not science fiction," Larry Burns, GM's V-P for R&D said. The most significant obstacles facing the vehicles could be human rather than technical: Government regulation, liability laws, privacy concerns and people's passion for the automobile and the control it gives them. Much of the technology already exists for vehicles to take the wheel: Radar-based cruise control, motion sensors, lane-change warning devices, electronic stability control and satellite-based digital mapping. And automated vehicles could dramatically improve life on the road, reducing crashes and congestion. If people are interested. "Now the question is what does society want to do with it?" Burns said. "You're looking at these issues of congestion, safety, energy and emissions. Technically there should be no reason why we can't transfer to a different world." GM plans to use an inexpensive computer chip and an antenna to link vehicles equipped with driverless technologies. The first use likely would be on highways; people would have the option to choose a driverless mode while they still would control the vehicle on local streets, Burns said. He said the company plans to test driverless car technology by 2015 and have cars on the road around 2018. Sebastian Thrun, co-leader of the Stanford University team that finished second among six teams completing a 60-mile Pentagon-sponsored race of driverless cars in November, said GM's goal is technically attainable. But he said he wasn't confident cars would appear in showrooms within a decade. "There's some very fundamental, basic regulations in the way of that vision in many countries," said Thrun, a professor of computer science and electrical engineering. The Defense Department contest, which involved 35 teams, showed the technology isn't ready for prime time. One team was eliminated after its vehicle nearly charged into a building, while another vehicle pulled into a house's carport and parked itself. Thrun said a key benefit of the technology eventually will be safer roads and reducing the roughly 42,000 US traffic deaths that occur annually 95% of which he said are caused by human mistakes.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Autocae ME Awards

Hyundai’s Elantra won the Autocar Middle East Awards 2007 for best small car.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Suzuki to unveil Concept A Star in India


IT is an A-segment five-door hatchback reflecting a focus on world-class environmental compatibility and comfort, as claimed by Suzuki.

Thanks to a newly-developed Euro 5-compliant 1.0-litre aluminum petrol engine with CO2 emissions lower than those of European competitors (target: lower than 109g/km). And like the already-launched Suzuki world strategic models, it will prove that sporty and exciting performance can be enjoyed together with outstanding fuel economy.

The production model that inherits some of the design themes of the Concept A-Star will be manufactured at Maruti Suzuki India Manesar plant, to be marketed mainly in Europe and other countries including India. The start of production is scheduled in October 2008. Substantial production for Europe is targeted to start in December 2008, followed by expansion to other markets around the world.

The new 1.0-litre aluminum engine will be produced by Maruti Suzuki India, and a manual transmission for it will be manufactured by Suzuki Powertrain India, an SMC subsidiary that based beside Maruti Suzuki India Manesar plant.

Suzuki Powertrain India produces a 1.3-litre diesel engine, but SMC does not plan to use it in the new production car since the new 1.0-litre petrol engine is environmentally superior. SMC is ready to study options for small diesel engines from Suzuki Powertrain India in future.

Given the importance of India to the Suzuki world strategy, it is planned to invest ¥200 billion for plants in India from 2007 to 2009. Also, it plans to expand Maruti Suzuki India production capacity to 960,000 units per year by March 2010 in line with growing demand in India and a vision of exporting the new world strategic model from India to markets around the globe.

The Concept A-Star is the first concept car in which designers from Maruti Suzuki India research-and-development division have been involved from the initial stage for its styling, the company said.

Suzuki has been early to recognise India potential, it partnered with the Government of India to establish Maruti Udyog Limited (now named Maruti Suzuki India Limited, an SMC subsidiary), whose Gurgaon plant began producing cars in December 1983. But, have they invested enough in India?? Have they done enough for the market, in spite of being a dominant market-leader ? A question to ponder.

Ladies Driving School ( exclusive)

The Emirates Driving Institute has launched an exclusive ladies driving institute, the first of its kind in the GCC and Middle East, in Dubai.

The institute boasts a full training yard for conducting training on parking, garage, and uphill. Also fitted with devices and aides for holding courses and lectures, in addition to simulators enabling trainees to emulate driving on roads in changing weather conditions, and other related aspects such as crossing light signals, intersections, detours, and overtaking vehicles in front, aided by three-dimensional screens fitted to the device.

For kids accompanying their mothers, there is a play area too...

These initiatives will surely 'Safe Driving