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Automan NOV 2014
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NOV 2014 Issue no 159
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe | 2015 Porsche Cayenne | 2014 McLaren 650S Coupe/Spider | 2014 Subaru Forester | 2014 BMW X4 | Paris Motor Show report | Motorsports
cover story
24-29 2015 Cadillac ats coupe 44-49 2015 Mclaren 650s coupe/spider
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe
44
Oman and regional news
Luxury line-up gets strengthened with new entry level variant
6-12 automan coty award ceremony, red bull drift challenge, 2015 cadillac cts coupe regional launch in uae, 2015 lexus is 250 f sport arrives in uae, refreshed hyundai santa fe on sale in region, maserati quattroporte now with v6, new suv tyre from michelin, new brand ambassador for gmc in region
face to face
11 felix weller, cadillac regional director for sales/marketing NEXT ISSUE 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale
COVERstory |
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14-15 2015 land rover discovery sport in
paris
brandwatch
68
Star and car power together
French capital was abuzz with concept and production cars
exclusive world premierereport
16-19 Jaguar Land Rover serious about global expansion and US production, first production Land Rover Discovery Sport rolls out, Hyundai performance push could mean new sports models, Cadillac CEO announces new models, Red letter day for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles @ NYSE, Mercedes-Benz’s SUV renaming plan detailed, Porsche CEO admits mistakes with gen 1 Panamera design, Toyota GT/FT 86 will get a successor, Nismo Note launched for JDM, India’s Mahindra to take stake in Peugeot Scooters, Kia to produce 5-door GT. Aston Martin losing money on cars, Sergio Marchionne to retire in 2018, Interbrand 2014 Best Global Brands study results announced, Ferrari celebrates 60th year in North America with special edition, Total’s CEO Christophe de Margerie dies in plane crash, luca de montezmelo takes on critics
International news spotlight 20-43 2014 Paris Motor Show report
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First drives
50-54 2015 porsche cayenne 56-61 2015 bmw x4 68-73 2014 subaru forester
previews
74-75 2015 suzuki vitara
MOTORSPORTS
76-79 F1 japan and russia race reports, snippets, regional motorsports, moto GP oz race report
Chicane
80 The role of marketing in pushing new frontiers
editor-in-chief Mohammad Al Taie
AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING PO Box: 343, Postal Code 118 Al Harthy Complex Sultanate of Oman Email: automan@alroya.net Website: www.automan.me Editorial office: Tel: +968 24479888 Extn 300, Fax: +968 24479889 Distribution: Tel: +968 24490386, Fax: +968 24121045 Subscription: Tel: +968 24493701, Fax: +968 24121045 publisher Hatim Al Taie
hatim@alroya.net
EDITOR & GM Raj Warrior
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executive EDITOR Chandan B Mallik chandan@alroya.net contributing EDITOR Anne Kurian annekurian@alroya.net HEAD OF Design Antony Karlo photography Elvis John Ferrao marketing Sayantani Ghosh sayantani@alroya.net circulation books@alroya.net FINANCE & ADMIN Sumy Mol
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Website & IT Mohammed F Draz mohammed.draz@alroya.net Printer Ruwi Modern Printers LLC, Muscat Tel: +968 2479 4167, 2479 8157 Fax: +968 2470 0545 © 2014 All editorial content of Automan in the magazine and its website is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the management of AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING Automan accepts unsolicited exclusive editorial material, but reserves the right to publish any such material. Once published, the copyright for any such material will vest with AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING
Are we really entering a new age in motoring? An age where the car no longer needs an internal combustion engine to define its identity? It looks like that if you consider what’s happened in the past month itself. No, there hasn’t been an announcement of a huge improvement in battery technology or fuel cells for that matter. And getting a car to run off solar power is way in the future. And while there has been an announcement that scientists have invented a method for powering a car off salt water, it still remains part of science fiction as much as the warp drive does. It has just been the small, incremental stages of development that have given rise to the feeling that we are reaching some sort of existential barrier. Tesla has added a D to its S sedan range and now, from all the media hype, we have a car that does justice to the sports sedan name. In the meantime, Tesla have been adding charging points in its key markets so that potential owners are never too far from power. Is that in itself enough to give us that tingling feeling? No. But consider this – the very first of the anti-Tesla laws is being passed in Michigan. That’s where Detroit is located and is home to the big three automakers. So now the lawmakers, instead of promoting clean technologies are actually trying to stop the march of progress. This despite all three big carmakers having tried for years to mainstream electric propulsion. What does this tell us? For starters, it looks like the electric motor drive is finally commercialised at the top of the automotive spectrum. And people in the know feel that it could hurt vested interests. We need to watch out for the next phases in this story as they could have long-term implications. Also, this month we gave out our COTY 2013 awards at a fancy new venue here in Muscat. A gala evening saw most of the winners collect their awards and tell us how eagerly they were looking out for the results on our ongoing COTY 2014 program. Next month we will give you a look at the final contestants going into the assessment. As usual, this month we also have some of the best cars on test as you can see on our cover. Again, we continue to lead the introduction of these models in our market by a few months at the very least. But then that’s one of the reasons why our die-hard aficionados love reading Automan.
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
Oman & region news
Automan ‘Car of the Year’ awards ceremony held in Muscat
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t an exclusive ceremony held in oneof-a-kind location, Automan, held its annual ‘Car of the Year’ awards night at the recently opened luxury lounge ‘On the Rocks’ last month. In an impressive and well attended ceremony, the coveted awards were conferred by Shk Hatim Al Taie, Publisher and CEO of Al Roya Press & Publishing to the winners. Speaking on the occasion, Shk Hatim Al Taie, publisher of the Automan dwelt on how relevant the ‘Car of the Year’ programme had grown since its inception in 2011. “It is a true measure of the cars that are most relevant to Oman and the wider region, especially due to the nature of the assessment. Only cars sold in the region that have been tested by the team during the year are judged and scored and winners are chosen purely on merit.” Shk Hatim went on to add, “this year has been one of growth for Oman’s local car industry and we expect this growth to be sustained due to the infrastructure growth and increased Omanisation. Automan’s ‘Car of the Year’ program was instituted in 2011 and remains the only programme where the team drive and assess every car that competes in a yearlong assessment period. Only cars that are sold in the region and are driven in that year qualify and a winner is objectively selected in each of 13 categories. In addition, two extra categories cover the Best Debut in that year and the Editor’s choice, which are subjectively rated as well.
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Automan COTY award winners Small Car Mid Size Car Large Car Luxury Car Premium Car Performance Car Small SUV Mid Size SUV Large SUV Premium SUV Performance SUV Sports Car Hot Hatch Editor’s choice Best debut
2014 Peugeot 301 2014 Mazda 6 2014 Toyota Avalon 2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class 2014 Cadillac CTS 2014 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta 2014 Toyota RAV4 2014 Nissan Pathfinder 2014 Lexus 570 2014 Audi Q5 2014 Range Rover Sport 2014 Porsche Cayman 2014 VW GTI 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith 2014 Jaguar F-Type
Nov 2014 | www.automan.me |
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Al Balushi smokes opposition in Red Bull Car Park Drift The Red Bull Car Park Drift Oman Qualifier crowned Ali Al Balushi who battled for first place as spectators watched the series of exceptional drift shows at the Oman Automobile Association. The Omani “King of Drift” from the pro category will represent the Sultanate in the regional finals hosted in Dubai. Runner up Arif Al Balushi will also head to the regional finals leading up to the announcement of the new Regional King of Drift. Only 15 of the country’s best elite drivers were selected to compete in the fifth season of the Red Bull Car Park Drift. With their specially modified cars, drivers managed to take on the twists and turns of the track with exceptional precision, while drawing the admiration of cheering spectators. Sooner after being announcing as the winner, Ali Al Balushi said: “I am very excited to have won for the second year in a row. I knew there was a lot of strong competition but I felt that a lot of spectators were with me because of last years’ win. Last year I came third in the Regional Finals in Dubai and I hope this year I have a chance at coming first.” The competition took place on a track designed by Lebanese Rally Champion and Red Bull face Abdo Feghali. The technical aspects of the competition were also supervised Feghali. The panel of judges evaluated the drivers’ performances based of specific criteria. The final score was based on five factors; 50 per cent allocated to the art of drift while the remaining score is equally divided between the engine’s roar and tyres’ smoke, crowd’s reaction, the appearance of the car, front clipping point and rear clipping point. Preparations are now underway in Dubai for the Red Bull car park drift regional finals. In addition to the Sultanate of Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Mauritius, Jordon, Lebanon, the regional tour of the Red Bull Car Park Drift 2014 will visit Turkey and Kuwait before reaching the final round for the battle of the regional title. The Red Bull Car Park Drift was held in partnership with Ford Middle East, Nawras, Ministry of Tourism among others.
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After the qualifier, an evening ‘Meet and Greet’ was hosted by Ford in their Wattayah Showroom with Abdo Feghali. Feghali judged a car show with prizes being awarded for ‘the oldest Mustang’ and the ‘best customised Mustang’ along with a photography and signing session.
10 Qs with felix weller
You left Audi, an established German premium manufacturer with a very wide range of products [Audi is much larger the GM’s luxury brand] and services to join Cadillac. What made you do so? Cadillac is one of the most iconic automotive brands out there. There is a clear strategy to grow the brand globally, the current and future product line up is the strongest the brand has ever had. It’s an exciting time for the brand, a unique chance to be part of this path in the region, and a great personal challenge. As Cadillac is in the process of reinventing itself, especially its identity, beginning with the new logo, what will be its positioning – Luxury or premium? Cadillac’s focus is the premium market. Our heritage combined with the bold new design language, the integration of technology and the dynamic driving experience are putting us up there with the best. The new logo is the herald of a new and exciting chapter for Cadillac. How will you take Cadillac forward in the Middle East? We have a clear growth strategy for the region. Together with our partners in the dealership, we are planning to double our volume by 2020.
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe officially launched The sixth new model in Cadillac’s regional line-up, the ATS Coupe has arrived. Felix Weller, the newly-appointed regional sales and marketing director for Cadillac in the Middle East introduced the new arrival at the formal media launch event last month which was held at the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah resort. The rear wheel drive coupe is an extension of the entry level ATS family and will be offered in the region with the top end 3.6-litre V6 engine mated to 6-speed automatic transmission. The product launch event also gave Weller the opportunity to share Cadillac’s vision for future growth and reflect on the brand’s performance for 2014. [Eds note: see first drive report in this issue of Automan] 10 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Q: What are your key priorities and how will you address them? We have identified four key focus areas: • The further expansion of our product line up – we have exciting new products coming up, four launches are planned for the next two years • Working with our partners in the network to ensure the best customer experience in sales and service • Our ownership experience – we are looking at constantly improving our offer to our valued customers, for example through our Cadillac Premium Care program with four years warranty, free service and roadside assistance • And of course, and most importantly, our customers. We know their expectations and we want to develop the right communication channels and interaction points. We will ensure that our products and services fit their lifestyles What organizational changes have been effected at your end? We have already implemented the separation of the Cadillac brand in General Motors Middle East. My newly formed team and I are focusing specifically on the brand. This is in line with the reorganization that has happened in the US and globally. In your opinion, what are the key differences you find working in a German
Felix Weller
Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Cadillac
vs American set-up? I can see that there is a stronger focus on developing talent with General Motors, with a lot of back up from top management. German manufacturers have a very good grip on processes – something that I have learned in my time with them and that I could bring into the game when we set up the Cadillac strategy.
address overseas or specific market requirements? With the re-organization, we have a direct communication channel to our top management in Detroit and New York. The Middle East is the third biggest export market for Cadillac and we have already started to cooperate closely with our counterparts in the US to ensure that our requirements are reflected.
“In this part of the world, the demand for top-tier premium vehicles is growing fast. At Cadillac, we, together with our dealer partners, understand what premium customers want and need: our extensive portfolio of products and roster of after-sales services are tailored-made to befit their lifestyles. This ethos is what will continue to guide the brand’s overall direction for the region”
Can Cadillac become a true global player? Absolutely. The brand has an enormous heritage, and with the direction that Johan De Nysschen and his team are currently taking, I have no doubt that we will succeed. I am sure you will hear more about the global strategy for Cadillac in the next weeks and months.
What product support are you getting from Cadillac in the next few years? We have four exciting products coming in 2015: the V series for ATS, ATS Coupe and CTS are making their way into the region. On top of that, our new top-of-the-range CT6 will be presented next year – we are very excited to launching these vehicles. On top of that, we are working on some surprises for the Dubai Motor Show next year. Often, American car manufacturers are accused of building cars for North American markets and then exporting them to other markets. How will Cadillac
Where do you think Cadillac, as a brand will be positioned in the next five years in the region? 2015 is going to be a big year for us. We have a lot planned for the brand and this will help us in paving the way for future growth. I believe firmly that in five years Cadillac will be considered as a first choice for premium car customers in the region. The launch of the all-new 2015 ATS Couple marks the first of four new models to be introduced in the region in the next two years. In addition to helping Cadillac reach new market segments, this impressive line-up will further cement the brand’s iconic reputation, dotted with bold designs, sophisticated engineering and advanced technology. Cadillac, which already offers all customers a comprehensive after sales program and owner ship benefits, will continue to focus and expand on premium service, caring for its existing customers and introducing new ones to its line-up of vehicles. With pioneering product launches in the pipeline and premium after-sales services, Cadillac is expecting significant growth in the Middle East in the coming years. Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 11
2015 Triumph motorcycles now in Oman
Improved Hyundai Santa Fe on sale in region
UAE dealer introduces 2015 Lexus IS 250 F Sport Al-Futtaim Motors, the exclusive distributor of Lexus in the UAE, is among the first to introduce the 2015 Lexus IS 250 with F Sport features. The car is aimed for motorists looking for high performance and outstanding design. The IS 250 F Sport comes in bespoke exterior and interior colours and features special alloy wheel design, unique mesh grille, sporty spoilers, paddle shifters, as well as F Sport - pedals, steering wheel, seats and exclusive badging. In addition, the F Sport comes with an innovative and exclusive Lexus LFA inspired meter cluster. The rear-wheel drive car is powered by high output version of the 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine which features technologies like direct injection and Dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent) to both intake and exhaust camshafts. It develops 207 hp at 6,400 rpm and 250 Nm of torque at 4,800 rpm, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 8.1secs and giving a maximum speed of 225 km/h when using a close-ratio 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential manual shifting mode. It incorporates numerous technologies including faster shift speeds, earlier torque converter lock-up and downshift throttle blips to support the range of driving modes available through the Drive Mode Select system. UAE price of the car begins at AED 190,000.
Hyundai’s Santa Fe crossover SUV has been on sale since August 2012 and following feedback from media and consumers, the carmaker has addressed most of the issues related to performance and practicality. The car’s handling and responsiveness has been improved with features like ‘Flex Steer’ and the introduction of a ‘Sport Mode.’ Engaging sports mode now provides a stiffer suspension and more stable feeling while driving. On the practical front, the panoramic sunroof sees that the glass and screen shut separately and are operational for 30secs after the driver has turned the ignition off. Meanwhile, the power tailgate is programmed to open automatically if the driver has full hands and is within a metre distance of the rear of the vehicle. No revisions have been made to the powertain and the revisited Santa Fe is now available in the region.
Alfardan Motors, the official importers of Triumph Motorcycles in Oman has some exciting news to share with motorcycle aficionados in the Sultanate for the coming year. The motorcycle line-up for 2015 will be an extensive model range that includes 27 individual models encompassing Cruisers, Tourers, Supersports, classics as well as adventure motorcycles,
Commenting on the 2015 motorcycle line-up, Muhanad Abualia, Manager of Alfardan Motors said, “For over 110 years Triumph Motorcycles has produced iconic bikes which perfectly blend authentic design, character, charisma and performance. With each passing year these motorcycles evolve, raising the industry benchmark in almost every two-
wheeled category the world over. I am confident that with such a strong line-up of models, Triumph will carry on this trend in the Sultanate in 2015.” Forming the mainstay of the model lineup, Triumph cruisers offer surprising levels of agility and performance in a bike that can deliver an engaging ride every day; doing so with that pure classic cruiser
style. In 2015 Triumph will be offering nine cruiser ranging from the entry level America to the ultimate Triumph Cruiser – the Rocket III Touring. Meanwhile, the supersports motorcycles are precision designed that feed every bit of rider information directly to the rider, responding to their every input and is available in two flavours, the Daytona 675 or Daytona 675R. The Sprint GT SE and Trophy SE Touring models have been built to cross continents with a ride that’s as engaging as it is comfortable. Characterful
engine performance, sublime chassis capabilities and supreme levels of rider and pillion comfort combine to provide bikes, perfectly suited to all-day two-up touring. Triumph’s design approach to its roadsters emphasize power, handling, dynamic feel and exhaust note and hence have a look that’s muscular, hunched forward, mean and aggressive profile: the Street Triple, Street Triple R, Speed Triple and Speed Triple R. With the exception of the Speed Triple R, each of the roadsters have also
each received refreshed styling as well as new colour options for 2015. Completing the classic range including the Bonneville, Bonneville T100, Bonneville T100 Black, Thruxton and Scrambler. The adventure side of riding is represented by five available models: Tiger 800, Tiger 800XC, Tiger Sport, Tiger Explorer and Tiger Explorer XC. According to the dealership, the 2015 model range is now available for sale from the multibrand motorcycle showroom located in Wattayah.
Maserati Quattroporte with V6 comes to Oman Maserati has announces the arrival of a new entry-level engine for its flagship luxury sedan, the Quattroporte. The 3.0-litre twin turbocharged V6 engine offers 330hp. The new variant will be available as an addition to the existing portfolio of the 530hp V8 Maserati Quattroporte
GTS and the 410hp V6 Quattroporte S. The Maserati Quattroporte is produced in Grugliasco, Italy and comes with a three-year service and maintenance package as a standard. Prices start from OMR 37,900.
Michelin introduces new SUV tyre
For the region’s lifestyle SUV users, tyre maker Michelin has introduced its new Latitude Sport 3 tyre. According to the manufacturer, the new tyre offers SUV drivers with both safety and exciting drivability. Designed entirely for onroad use, the tyre delivers superior performance in the areas of safety, total mileage, comfort and noise. “At Michelin, we are dedicated to sustainably improving mobility and developing innovative tyre technology to meet the demand of a dynamic automotive industry,” said Hany Abdulsamad, marketing manager for Michelin in the UAE and Oman. 12 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
GMC has announced Dr. Mohammad Al Redha, Director of the Health Data and Information Analysis Department at the Dubai Health Authority, as its new brand ambassador for the Middle East.
Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 13
Land Rover staged the public debut of the 2015 Discovery Sport on an 80m long specially prepared barge in Paris. The barge traveled down the Seine river and onlookers were treated to a dynamic debut as the Discovery Sport tackled steep inclines and a water pit. British supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley also made a cameo appearance as did seven pairs of “brightly coloured, giant-sized Wellington boots” which represent the model’s seven-seat interior. As we have previously reported, the Discovery Sport models will powered by either a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that develops 240bhp and 338Nm of torque or a 2.2-litre SD4 turbo diesel engine that produces 190PS.
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Jaguar Land Rover is getting serious about global expansion, and that means it can’t only build its vehicles in the UK anymore. The British automaker is cutting the ribbon at its new plant in China tomorrow, marking the opening of its first factory outside the UK. In 2016, it will open another factory in Brazil. But the latest information doing the rounds is that JLR is looking into a US production facility too. The report indicates that the company is evaluating locations for a North American factory, with options centering around Southern right-to-work states like South Carolina, where BMW operates its plant in Spartanburg and a wide array of other automotive operations are based as well. The JLR plant would reportedly ramp up to a capacity of 200,000 units per year. In related news, while that new plant JLR is inaugurating in Changshu, China, is initially slated to produce the Range Rover Evoque, it is also expected to start building the new Discovery Sport as well.
First production Land Rover Discovery Sport rolls out
Barely, a few weeks after making its motor show debut at Paris last month, the first Land Rover Discovery Sport has rolled off the Halewood production line. Ian Harnett, Jaguar Land Rover’s Purchasing Director said: “A strong, competitive supply chain, meeting our rigorous cost and delivery metrics, is fundamental to the sustainable growth of our business. With many more new products in the pipeline, gearing up to supply Jaguar Land Rover is a solid business proposition.” The Kaikoura Stone HSE Luxury specification car was officially handed over to Stephen Attenborough, commercial director at Virgin Galactic to support Land Rover’s long-term global partnership with Richard Branson’s pioneering commercial spaceline. Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 15
brandwatch
Breaking news
news
Impressive world debut for Land Rover Discovery Sport in France
Hyundai’s performance push could mean new sports models It’s now clear that Hyundai wants to build more performance-focused cars. The South Korea-based automaker has already confirmed it is preparing to introduce a hot-rodded variant of the new i20 hatchback aimed squarely at the Ford Fiesta ST. Now, reports are emerging from reliable sources that the brand is considering adding a new sports car to its global portfolio of models. The yet-unnamed car will slot beneath the Genesis Coupe but
Hyundai is clear that it will not be seen as a direct successor to the Coupe/Tiburon that was sold until 2008. Allan Rushforth, the former senior vice president of Hyundai’s European arm said: “Cars like these, such as the Audi TT, create a huge demand when they’re new but then that dies off quickly. It’s about demographics, too.” Rushforth also hinted that Hyundai’s upcoming sports car could borrow a noticeable amount of design cues from the PassoCorto concept that was presented at the Geneva Motor Show last March which was penned jointly by Hyundai and the IED design school in Turin. In terms of architecture, it was a small, low-slung two-seater coupe powered by a mid-mounted engine. It may be recalled that at the Busan motorshow earlier in the year, Hyundai did showcase a mid-ship Veloster concept [left].
Cadillac announces new models Cadillac CEO Johan de Nysschen says he’s planning a “blitz” of new products to expand the Cadillac portfolio by 2020. Besides moving Cadillac’s headquarters to New York, and overhauling the company’s naming structure, Cadillac has aspirations to become a global premium player. In an interview with media, de Nysschen says his company has “just signed off on” a new flagship tipped to be called CT8 or CT9. It will compete with the long-
wheelbase versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series, and should come to market by the end of this decade. And in addition to offering several variants of its forthcoming CT6 sedan, including a plug-in hybrid, Cadillac will also introduce a battery-electric vehicle and a successor to the ELR. These models would contribute to expanding the Cadillac product count “from five to 10 models over the next six years.”
Porsche admits mistakes with the Panamera At the sidelines during the Paris Motor Show last month Porsche CEO Matthias Müller candidly admitted that some mistakes were made during the Gen I Panamera’s development. The second generation Panamera is due in 2016 and Matthias Müller has promised that the first-gen’s glitches will be fixed appropriately. Müller acknowledged “there have been some mistakes” with the first generation, pointing out the exterior and interior design “could be better.” The second generation Panamera will have a “faster” roofline and based on spy shots appearing on the net, the incoming car will get a sleeker appearance without shaving off rear headroom while the car’s overall dimensions will be virtually the same. Müller also hinted that designers had created a “very unique shape” for the new Panamera that hasn’t been done so far in this segment but is sure “a lot of people won’t like the design of the next generation.” It seems that Müller prefers coming out with a polarizing design rather than just playing it safe. The Gen II Panamera will ride on the MSB platform and should lose weight while power is expected to come from a new range of in-house developed V6 and V8 engines compatible with both rear- and all-wheel drive systems. 16 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Montezemolo hits back at critics
Luca di Montezemolo has hit back at suggestions he was ousted as Ferrari president because of the Italian team’s struggles.”A lack of results?” the 67-year-old, who was recently replaced by Fiat’s Sergio Marchionne. “Remember that since 1999 we won 14 titles in 15 years. Fortunately or unfortunately, sport is not an exact science, and in formula one there are cycles. Ours was very long.” “In the last years we are the team that won the most. In 2008 and in 2010 and 2012 we lost the championship in the last race. The most disappointing was the last one, but that’s sport. “Renault had its cycle for two years, we’re coming out of Red Bull’s and into Mercedes’. Now Ferrari opens a new cycle with a lot of work and investment taking into account that today’s cars are hybrids,” he said. Montezemolo said the most disappointing thing about his departure was the manner in which it took place. “I’ve always had a very strong relationship with the Agnelli family,” he said, “and I think I did something important in 2004, when I agreed to be chairman of Fiat in extremely dramatic circumstances. “Perhaps a ‘thank you’ in the least would have been expected. “I do not hide that I was not very pleased about how, but it is part of life and it is right that it is the owner who can make decisions,” Montezemolo added. He explained that his removal as president was related to parent group Fiat-Chrysler’s debut on the New York stock exchange. “Everything happened a little fast in relation to the listing of Fiat-Chrysler on the American stock exchange which happened last month.”
Marchionne to retire in 2018?
The end is in sight for Fiat Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne, who confirmed in an interview with journalists that once FCA’s sweeping five-year plan is completed, he’d be stepping down from his post. That would mean that Marchionne should finish up after 2018 if all goes according to plan. Marchionne has been at Fiat since June of 2004 and is one of the chief architects behind the Italian company’s acquisition of Chrysler told reporters: “It’s as important to walk away from the table as it is to sit down”. As for who will replace Marchionne, Fiat Chairman John Elkann pointed out that it won’t be him. Elkann said that potential replacements for Marchionne could include Jeep boss Mike Manley, Fiat’s Brazilian and European executives Cledorvino Belini and Alfredo Altavilla.
Red letter day for FCA @ NYSE
Last month, it was a red letter day for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and CEO Sergio Marchionne, because the company officially started trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker FCA. The event also represents a milestone in the resurrection of Chrysler and survival of Fiat that seemed unlikely five years ago, when Fiat and the US government bailed out the American automaker. Marchionne has grand plans for growing Fiat Chrysler even though the company faces several marketing obstacles like the slowdown in European car sales and a delay in the return of Alfa Romeo to the US market until at least 2016. But Marchionne has an ambitious agenda for offsetting, if not overcoming, those problems as well as other challenges. Before Marchionne retires in 2018, he plans to spend about $60bn adding more than 30 models across the company in the next four years. To critics who say this is all a reach too far, Marchionne told reporters: “If you dream of peanuts, you get monkeys.”
India’s Mahindra to take stake in Peugeot Scooters Peugeot’s two-wheel division is Europe’s second-largest scooter maker behind Italy’s Piaggio, but the company isn’t a moneymaker. PSA PeugeotCitroën already lost a lot of control of its automotive business earlier this year when Dongfeng and the French government each bought 14 per cent shares. Meanwhile, the scooter division which is also one of the oldest in the world [founded in 1898] is also facing a similar situation. However, Indian motoring giant Mahindra has offered to buy out 51per cent of its share worth $35.5mn. The first rumblings of the possible purchase came just a few weeks ago and should all go wheel, the deal could be completed in three months.
Toyota GT86 will get a successor Toyota Motor Europe Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing confirmed recently that the carmaker is “pretty serious about keeping the GT 86 pure and keeping a car like that in their lineup.” Karl Schlicht went on to say the company wants to keep fun cars in their portfolio as dropping them would hurt the company’s image in the long run. When asked for more details, Schlicht confirmed plans for a second-generation GT 86 were on and that the current model has to go through its “usual lifecycle” first. Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 17
Interbrand 2014 Best Global Brands study results announced
Aston Martin still loses money on cars Aston Martin’s current line-up may be the best it’s ever had, but that doesn’t mean the British sports car maker is making money. Despite having the Vantage, DB9, Vanquish and Rapide dream machines and global sales up from 3,800 to 4,200 units in 2013, the company accounts reveal that it lost $41mn in 2013, but that pretax figure is actually a third lower than in 2012 while revenue was up by 12.6 per cent. The Kuwaitiowned British manufacturer blames
its losses on the still troubled global economy, acknowledging that it’s seen a small recovery in the ultra-high-end segment of the market. To put it all in perspective, $41 million in losses on 4,200 units works out to around $9,700 lost per vehicle sold. Aston’s CFO, Hanno Kirner is hoping for a big bounce back by 2016. Meanwhile, Aston’s fortunes in the US remain uncertain due to new federal sideimpact legislation and as a low volume producer, Aston has filed for exemption.
Total’s CEO Christophe de Margerie dies in plane crash In a freak accident, Christophe de Margerie, the chief executive of French oil company Total, has died in an air crash in Moscow. Apparently, de Margerie’s corporate jet was trying to take off at Vnukovo airport and collided with a snow plough on the runway and then was engulfed in flames. All four people on board were killed. de Margerie, 63, had been chief executive of Europe’s third largest oil company since 2007. He was highly regarded within the oil industry.
Nismo Note launched for JDM
Ferrari celebrates 60th year in North America with special edition To celebrate Ferrari’s 60th year in North America, Maranello has returned to its 1950s and 60s tradition of producing strictly limited edition, built-to-order cars. The result is the F60America, of which just 10 will be produced. The new car combines our American clients’ two great passions – the V12 engine and open-top driving – and is being unveiledtomorrow evening at an anniversary celebration gala dinner at Beverly Hills City Hall. The decision to 18 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
produce such a strictly limited edition pays homage to another great tradition. Just 10 F60Americas will be built as was the case, for example, with the 1967 275 GTS4 NART Spider, the open version of the 275 GTB4 that the importer, Luigi Chinetti, specifically requested from Enzo Ferrari for his US clients. The F60America is powered by Ferrari’s award-winning mid-front-mounted V12 which enables the car to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.1secs.
Following an announcement made late July, Nissan has introduced in Japan the Nismo and Nismo S versions of the Note hatchback. These two cars come with a more aggressive body finished in grey, black silver or white with red accents. They ride on 16in wheels (17in for Nismo S) and both benefit from suspension tweaks, a shark fin antenna, LED daytime running lights. The S also has stiffer braces along with aluminium pedals, sportier gauge cluster, suede upholstery and bespoke shift knob. The Note Nismo is powered by a standard 1.2-litre engine mated to a CVT whereas the Note Nismo S comes with a 1.6-litre engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. This engine offers 138bhp at 6,400 rpm [29bhp more than the stock engine]. Aside from the beefier motor, the Note Nismo S also comes with a sportier exhaust system, a high-flow intake manifold and brake discs on all wheels.
The Best Global Brands study is Interbrand’s annual report on the world’s 100 most valuable brands. Interbrand’s method looks at the ongoing investment and management of the brand as a business asset, taking into account financial performance, the role of brand in the purchase decision process, and the strength of the brand. Only 13 automotive brands cracked
the top 100. Toyota remained the most valuable automotive brand worldwide for the 11th straight year in Interbrand’s new ranking of the 100 Best Global Brands. But Audi, Volkswagen and Nissan comprised a trio of “top risers” that are pushing the envelope and mixing the picture for car brands worldwide. Here are the results rank-wise.
Mercedes-Benz’s SUV renaming plan detailed
Rank
Brand
Value
% movement
Status
8
Toyota
$42.4bn
up 20%
-
10
Mercedes-Benz
$34.3bn
up 8%
-
11
BMW
$34.2bn
up 7%
-
20
Honda
$21.7bn
up 17%
-
31
VW
$13.7bn
up 23%
‘Top Riser’
39
Ford
$10.9bn
up 18%
-
40
Hyundai
$10.4bn
up 16%
-
45
Audi
$9.8bn
up 27%
‘Top Riser’
56
Nissan
$7.6bn
up 23%
‘Top Riser’
60
Porsche
$7.2bn
up 11%
-
Lately we have been hearing rumours about Mercedes-Benz’s decision to rename their crossover and SUV offerings. This is being done in order to better reflect their size more clearly to customers. All high-riding models will use the “GL” designation followed by a third letter which will represent the position of the model. This has already happened with the “GLA” which is related to the A-Class and will be followed by the “GLK” that will be renamed “GLC” in relation to the C-Class. Using the same formula, the M-Class is set to become “GLE” as a connection to the E-Class. There’s also going to be a “GLE Coupe” (previously known as ML Coupe) and lastly, the bigger “GL” will be renamed “GLS” as a reference to the S-Class.
Kia to produce 5-door GT
Kia Motors has ambitions to enter the four-door coupe market in the near future and the model they want to promote is none other than a production version of its GT Concept from the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Kia executives at that Paris Motor Show strongly hinted that the GT finally has been given the green light for production and given the speed at which things are done at Kia, the car could arrive as early as in 2016 in key markets. While, Kia would focus the GT’s marketing primarily in the US market, but a European version with a diesel is also a possibility. This means that Kia has set its sights on the Audi A7 and Porsche Panamera. In concept form, the rear wheel drive GT sported a 389hp 3.3-litre turbocharged V6 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 19
Spotlight news Over thirty three mainstream global automotive brands kept audiences on their feet with captivating presentations at this year’s Paris Mondial. In two press days, world’s automakers revealed more than 100 cars, from the outrageously powerful to exotic hybrids and some quirky city-cars in-between Author and photography: Chandan B Mallik
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As always, The Mondial de l’Automobile halls are packed with lavish stands hosting the best new production and concept cars. The elaborately planned press days was designed to give all the manufacturers and participants their moment in the limelight. Here are the key highlights from the show.
Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 21
Audi
Bugatti
Audi has been hinting at extending the TT family with new bodystyles and kept true to its promise. The four-ringed brand showcased their new TT Sportback Concept, which is essentially a four-door TT. With the TT Sportback Concept, Audi attempts to create a niche with a time tested formula. It took the small sports car and made it a bit longer, a bit wider, and added two doors. This car is powered by a 400 hp version of the familiar turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder engine. It will not come as a surprise that a production version closely resembling the TT Sportback Concept will follow in the coming months. Audi also officially unveiled the facelifted A6 line-up.
The sixth and final member of the “Les Légendes de Bugatti” collection -- the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Ettore Bugatti special edition which was originally shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance had its European outing at Paris. The Ettore Bugatti Edition is powered by a quadturbocharged 8.0-litre W16 engine that produces 1,200PS and 1,500Nm of torque. It is connected to a seven-speed dualclutch transmission which enables the car to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 2.6secs and hit a top speed of up to 408.84 km/h with its roof down.
Bentley
Bentley officially unveiled the Mulsanne Speed variant at the show and described it as the “pinnacle flagship” of the brand. The Mulsanne Speed features a familiar design but is distinguished by a dark tinted matrix grille and 21in forged alloy wheels. The car also has rifled exhaust tailpipes and tinted head- and tailllamps. Interior changes are more dramatic. The car’s the 6.75-litre V8 engine has been tuned to produce 530 bhp and 1,100 Nm of torque. It is connected to a recalibrated eight-speed automatic transmission that has an “S” mode gives that maintains the engine speed above 2,000 rpm so the turbochargers are “always ready to deliver instantaneous performance.” This setup enables the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.8 secs before hitting a top speed of 305km/h.
Aston Martin
While the no-show of the Lagonda was expected, Aston Martin did officially unveil the V12 Vantage S Roadster. On sale to order, the model is described as the company’s “most potent, quickest and fastest-accelerating series production convertible yet”. The UK-based brand’s Vanquish Coupe and Volante were unveiled in new Carbon Edition guise ahead of the show.
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Citroën
Homegrown brand Citroen used Paris to its full advantage and revealed one of the craziest ideas in motoring. The brand’s most exciting cars exhibited at the show without any doubt was the Divine DS concept. Although it does not preview a production model, it “represents a vision of the DS brand.” This means that the Divine DS concept may never be built or sold as a production car, but a lot of its intriguing design details could make their way onto the road in future cars. We won’t be particularly surprised if elements from this angular, edgy, near reptilian look creep into production cars, especially since DS plans to double its line-up from three to six models in the coming years. Citroen also unveiled the C1 Urban Ride which is mechanically based on the new C1. The Urban Ride concept follows in the footsteps of the Opel / Vauxhall Adam Rocks and features a rugged exterior with plastic body cladding, silver skid plates and a retractable cloth roof. Citroen also tried to change people’s perceptions with the C4 Cactus AIRFLOW 2L concept, that fuel efficient cars can also be exciting. Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 23
BMW BMW has introduced the first ever 2-Series Cabriolet, its smallest open-top. Compared to the defunct 1-Series Convertible, the new model benefits from extra insulation which has slashed interior noise by 5 dB in the front and 7 dB at the back, thanks to its multi-layer fabric roof. And after the new X5 and it’s the turn of the new BMW X6 coupe crossover to take its share of the spotlight.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles The multibranded franchise was represented by several of its Euro-centric brands – Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia in particular. Fiat enters the crossover action with the new 500X. The Fiat Sedici replacement is amore retro version of the Jeep Renegade and joins an ever-expanding Cinquecento lineup alongside the 500, 500C and 500L models. From the US Jeep stable, newsworthy items included the recently introduced Renegade and a special Wrangler which is product of a joint venture between Jeep, Mopar, and Centro Stile. The high riding Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon ‘Stealth’ one-off wears a variety of off-roading gadgets, such as strengthened Rubicon bumpers, rock rails, a raised ride kit, 17in rims with 37in tyres and an LED light bar. Jeep also announced a special ‘Red Vapour’ edition of its Grand Cherokee SRT.
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Kia
After several rounds of teasers and preshow release of basic details, Kia finally revealed the European version of its revised crossover at Paris. It seems that for the latest Sorento, Kia has borrowed a few of the elements from the Cross GT concept and adapts them for the road. The new model grows by about 3.7in overall with roughly three inches more wheelbase and is offered in both 5- and 7-seating configurations. The new production model has the brand’s familiar mesh grille up front and headlamps that wrap around the body with large foglamps below. It features a modified version of the concept’s swept-back stance that thankfully removes the awkwardness from the original design. Kia says that shaping the latest crossover was truly a global effort with input coming from Korea, Germany and the US. Kia also showcased a revised version of the Rio compact and Venga small MPV. Kia is definitely showing a big focus on styling and design in its cars. Kia also unveiled its Optima T-Hybrid concept, following an online reveal at the end of September.
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Jaguar
It’s no secret that UK’s Jaguar has been on a roll this past year, putting the terrific F-Type sports car on the market and making us shiver with delight at the resurrected racing version of the iconic E-Type. Now it’s making good on its plans to expand into more segments with the XE, an all-new midsize sedan set to compete with the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class. After the London debut last month to selected guests and VIPs, Paris was the car’s first official public debut. In the line-up it’s the smallest of Jaguar’s sedans, fitting into the range below the XF and XJ. It’s also the first production model to use Jaguar’s scalable aluminium architecture that’s intended to reduce weight, yet increase flexibility for both engineers and designers. At 4,672mm long, 1,850mm wide and 1,416mm tall, its dimensions are incredibly close that that of the latest C-Class. However, although pitched into the mainstream of the mid-size exec segment, the XE’s new platform helps give cab-rearward proportions closer to that of niche models like BMW’s 4 Series Gran Coupe. Up front, the lamps follow the theme of the latest XF, with J-shaped DRLs, while the creases that run from the lamps to the upright grille appear to create a more cohesive relationship than on the larger XJ. Although not exactly a retro mobile, the XE references the E-Type with the power bulge in the hood and LED signature in the tail-lamps. The most aerodynamic Jag ever produced, the XE packs a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine that will send it from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9secs. In the event of a collision with a pedestrian, the uniquely designed aluminium bonnet automatically pops up a few millimeters, creating a cushion of air between the relatively soft metal and the much harder engine underneath. Also on display were the F-Type Project 7 and performance versions of the sedans. 26 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Land Rover
The brand is now more focused and clear with the three family sub names [Range Rover, Discover and Land Rover] that represent clear cut, yet non-overlapping product lines. The latest addition to the Land Rover family is the Discovery Sport, which is a 7-seater crossover. Designed from ground up on the firm’s latest scalable platform, designers have blended very well modernity and traditional elements in this package. Also on display were the Range Rover SVR high performance SUV and probably the last of the current Land Rover production Defenders.
Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 27
Maserati
Lexus
A Maserati Ghibli S Q4 by Ermenegildo Zegna was presented as a bespoke concept. This car stood out from the rest of the current Ghibli range due to its special colour finishes, materials and trims. Maserati says that this exercise was intended to showcase the brand’s first milestone towards its renewed future product line-up. The car is powered by the high-performance 410 hp/550Nm V6 twinturbo engine, with “Q4” four wheel drive, ensuring 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 4.8secs. Meanwhile, other regular models included the MC Stradale and once again the Alferi concept.
Lexus has big ambitions for Europe as far as numbers go. It wants to sell at least 50,000 units by 2015, going up to 65,000 by 2016 and 100,000 in 2020. As a result, a product offensive is also expected. Meanwhile, the ‘Mystery Concept’ that Lexus has been teasing was revealed as the new mid-sized NX crossover. On debut, the new NX will available with two powertrains: a 2.5-litre full hybrid drivetrain in the NX 300h and a newly developed 2.0-litre petrol turbo engine mated with a new 6-speed automatic transmission in the NX 200t. The NX will be offered with Front – and All-Wheel Drive systems. Also on display were the new RC F and RC 300h models.
Mercedes-Benz
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors presented perhaps the most impressive facelift of a car in its Outlander plug-in hybrid as the Concept S PHEV. The concept adopts a fresh front fascia with an “X” layout and chrome accents, new and aggressive crease lines, an Americanised front and rear end with horizontal LED strip lamps sign off the refreshed design. The second concept SUV in red, the XR PHEV is said to give a hint of the styling direction for the next ASX crossover which is due for replacement soon. 28 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
With most of its top end line-up already introduced with the SLS AMG GT and S-Class Coupe in particular in nnautomotive events recently, the venue didn’t stop Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Daimler to introduce the MercedesAMG GT and the C 63 AMG. Meanwhile, Mercedes has gone up one step by introducing a range of styling accessories for the C-Class sedan. And after last month’s online reveal, Mercedes-Benz also introduced the facelifted for 2015 B-Class. Mercedes-Benz is also showcased the C63 AMG sports sedan and wagon variants [standard and S] along with the other members of this family. The introduction of the GT was another opportunity for Mercedes to remind everyone that the collaboration with its AMG performance arm — on models like the GT and its Formula One cars — which now represent a separate profitable sub brand. Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 29
MINI
Two cars – one a production and the other a one-off concept were among the key highlights of this BMW Group-owned British brand. The 2015 MINI five-door hatchback had its premiere and is a car designed for regular MINI users who need the extra two rear doors. The bigger hatchback comes with a hardtop and will be offered in regular and Cooper variants. The Superleggera concept was also presented as a design study.
Mazda
2014 is a momentous year for Hiroshima, Japan-based Mazda Motor Corporation. Just a month after revealing the latest reincarnation of one of the most beloved sports cars ever, Mazda used the Paris Motor Show to tell us the MX-will be powered by a sub 2.0-litre fourcylinder turbocharged engine. First revealed last month at Mazda’s new facility the “Mazda Space” in Barcelona, the all-new MX-5 has shed 100kg versus the outgoing model. The model on display in Paris features SKYACTIV Technology, including a SKYACTIV-G 1.5 petrol engine and six-speed SKYACTIV-MT manual gearbox in the roadster’s classic front-midship engine, rear-wheel drive layout with near perfect 50:50 front-rear weight distribution. Its designers came up with a breathtakingly sporty KODO – Soul of Motion design for the exterior, with a lower centre of gravity and longer bonnet along with character lines expressing vitality and motion. Inside, the new model retains the close-fitting yet comfortable fit inherent to all MX-5s over the years. But Mazda has also added state-of-the art technology like i-ACTIVSENSE active safety technology and MZD Connect, the company’s in-car connectivity concept. The new MX-5 celebrates 25 years after the original MX-5 was unveiled at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show. 30 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Nissan
While the Paris Mondial tends to focus on the luxury and supercar segments, it’s nice to see a break. CEO of Nissan Carlos Ghosn not only introduced the C-segment Pulsar hatchback on the floor but also unveiled the sportier Pulsar Nismo Concept too. With the Pulsar, Nissan is back in Europe’s highly competitive C-segment and the Nismo version of the Pulsar in satin grey with contrasting red lines is indicative of the aspiration of the company which is looking to develop its Nismo line-up with the ambition of delivering bold new performance models to a new generation of drivers including the C-segment. The Nismo transforms the five-door Pulsar with its aerodynamic flourishes, sitting lower to the ground, and equipped with a new suspension to keep it going on track day. However, no powertrain details were released for the Nismo Pulsar at the show.
Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 31
Infiniti
Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury brand which now has a technical tie-up with Daimler did make an impression at the show with its ambitiously named Q80 Inspiration concept. This concept’s design is a future take on where the brand aspires to be [with or without Sebastian Vettel]. Also on display were the Q50 variants and QX70 SUVs.
Lamborghini
Italian supercar brand Lamborghini has opened a new chapter in the company’s history with the launch of the company’s first plug-in hybrid: the Asterion LPI 910-4. Asterion is the name of the mythical character, which is part man, part bull – a perfect hybrid. CEO Stephen Winkleman described the car as a technology demonstrator and it is built around a carbon fibre monocoque chassis and features the V10 from the recently introduced Huracan. This is assisted by three electric motors; two mounted in the front wheels and a third mounted alongside the conventional petrol engine. The combined output is around 900 bhp. When needed the ‘Hyper Cruiser’ has a pure electric range of 50 km. This plug-in hybrid electric charging bull delivers a remarkable efficiency of 75mpg. No production plans have been announced.
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Hyundai At the Paris presentation Hyundai made it clear that its latest i20 is up to the task because it’s designed in Europe specifically with European buyers in mind. The new i20 takes a small step a bit more upmarket with features like LED front and rear lighting and a rearview camera. However, the biggest change is the jump in interior room, as the wheelbase is now two inches longer than before. This gives the hatch best-in-class legroom and cargo capacity with the rear seats up, according to Hyundai. Rounding out the improvements is an available panoramic sunroof that the company also believes is unique for the segment. The wheelbase is two-inches longer than before, and the growth gives the hatch best-in-class legroom and cargo capacity with the rear seats up, according to Hyundai. Rounding out the improvements is an available panoramic sunroof that the company also believes is unique for the segment. Also on display was the i20 WRC in racing livery.
SsanYong
Among the Asian surprises at Paris, South Korea’s SSanYong attracted a lot of attention with its XIV-Air concept. Designed to preview a production model that will be launched in South Korea early next year, the XIV-Air has a distinctive targa roof that allows drivers to “enjoy the benefits of open top motoring.” The crossover has also been equipped with HID headlights, plastic body cladding and aggressive bumpers. While, SsangYong isn’t exactly known for creating fun and exciting vehicles but the XIV-Air concept seems that the brand is heading in a new youthful direction.
Suzuki Honda
While Honda is quietly migrating its sedans to CVT in the name of efficiency, it was a welcome gesture at Paris where the Japanese brand revealed that the new Civic Type R. Last year Honda confirmed ambitions for the Civic Type R to become the fastest front wheel drive car around the infamous Nurburgring circuit in Germany. This incoming Type R will be powered by a direct injection turbocharged 2.0-litre engine and will deliver at least 280 PS. The Type R has already been put through its paces by Honda’s WTCC driver Gabriele Tarquini. Also on show were three concepts [thinly veiled production models] including the CR-V, Jazz and HR-V. The regular HR-V introduced is the European version of Honda’s compact SUV, also known as the Vezel in Japan. The HR-V is scheduled to go on sale in Europe next summer and promises to provide one of the roomiest and adaptable interior cabins in this segment. At the show, Honda somehow gave the impression of consolidation of its line-up and also introduced the facelifted Civic hatchback and wagon variants for Europe. 34 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Smart
Daimler’s other brand Smart showed what amounts to a completely new model range in Paris with its new city car and supermini offerings. Also included were the Electric Smart ForTwo and ForFour, which will hit markets in 2016. Smart says the electric version of all-new city car will get brand new battery technology.
Suzuki took the wraps off the new conservatively looking Vitara SUV, which essentially is the production version of the iV-4 concept, revealed in Frankfurt last year. The incoming Vitara marks the return of Suzuki to its compact SUV roots after a 25 year hiatus in Europe. The car comes with a toned down styling that features a massive chrome radiator grille and integrated LED daytime running lights in the front bumper.
Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 35
Toyota
Toyota created quite a bit of noise at Paris after executives confirmed the possibility of the production version of the futuristic C-HR concept. “Yes, we’re serious about building it. Sure, the concept car is a bit exaggerated, you can understand that it’s a bit stretched... bigger wheels, but most of this we’re serious about putting into production,” siad Karl Schlicht, the vice president of Toyota’s European arm. The production version of the C-HR will approximately be 165inc long, making it smaller than a RAV4 but a couple of inches longer than a Nissan Juke. The concept’s silhouette will carry over to the production model relatively unchanged but designers will graft on an extra set of doors on the soft-roader for practical reasons. The crossover will ride on a brand new platform that will underpin a host of upcoming Toyota and possibly Lexus products. Most models will come with turbocharged fourcylinder petrol engines, while the range-topping models will be offered with the next generation of Toyota’s petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain. Toyota also believes that hydrogen is key to the future of motoring and hence the FCV Concept. The unimaginatively named fuel cell sedan made its European debut in Paris. On the technical front Toyota says that the FCV can drive 300 miles on a full tank of hydrogen, refill in just a few minutes, and the exhaust pumps out nothing but water vapour. Downside of the application of this technology is that it is still expensive with hydrogen fuel hard to find and it is not cheaper than regular or natural gas. 36 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Opel
Porsche
Just a few weeks ago, Porsche gave motoring journalists a taste of the all-new second generation Cayenne in Barcelona, Spain. At the technical presentation out there, Porsche had promised some more news for the incoming model. Well, the beans were spilled in Paris. The new Cayenne S E-Hybrid joins the Panamera S E-Hybrid and the 918 Spyder in Porsche’s growing hybrid line-up. Based on the recently updated Cayenne, it stands out from the rest, thanks to the combination of its supercharged 3.0-litre V6, eightspeed automatic transmission, 95hhp electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. That’s more power than the previous Cayenne S Hybrid, and can also be topped off directly from the mains. As of now, Porsche tops the hybrid list with ever increasing models.
That Opel, General Motors’ European arm was back in the business was evident from two things at Paris. One was the absence of Chevrolet which suggested that there’s now a ‘hands-off’ approach for the German brand, the introduction of the all-new Corsa and Adam models besides the appointment as brand ambassador, Germany’s super model Claudia Schiffer. Not surprising that the presentation of Opel at the Paris motor show was something of a marketing and branding coup for Opel Chief Executive Karl Thomas Neumann and Tina Mueller, his chief marketing officer. The new Opel Adam Rocks as a three-door urban pocket-crossover opens up a new market niche. Opel designers have developed new design elements, décors and seating trims all unique to Adam Rocks which, together with the Swing Top canvas roof fitted as standard, give it its very own chic charm. The latest member of Opel’s urban lifestyle family is also powered by an all-new three cylinder 1.0 ECOTEC direct injection turbo engine.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen offered a first glimpse of what is to come with the first public unveil of the XL Sport show car which combines the lightweight XL1 chassis with a 200hp V-twin motorcycle engine from Ducati. Thanks to the great performance characteristics of thehigh-revving desmodromic engine and the slippery exterior design, the four-wheel XL Sport is capable of a top speed of 270 km/h. Unlike the XL1 which has limited production, the XL Sport is a one-off for now with no official plans for series production. VW also showcased hybrid models of the Passat besides the Polo GTI with a new engine. The 1.4-litre TSI engine has been replaced by a new 1.8-liter TSI that produces 192PS and 320Nm of torque when connected to the new six-speed manual transmission. Interestingly, models equipped with the seven-speed DSG will only produce 192PS and 250Nm of torque. Up for order now, the first deliveries are slated for February 2015. Meanwhile,the latest addition to the Volkswagen Golf MkVII model line-up, the Golf Alltrack was also features. It’s basically a jacked-up version of the Golf Estate with mild off-road styling tweaks. 38 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
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Volvo A revived Volvo under Geely ownership presented the most important new Volvo -- the second-generation XC90. The new XC90 is a three-row crossover for 2015 and for Europe it drops the first-gen model’s top-end, turbocharged six-cylinder in favour of a more efficient single twincharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. And by pairing that with a plug-in-electric powertrain, the king of the XC90 range, the T8 TwinEngine, will offer 400hp. Also appearing on 2015 XC90 will be an entirely new, Apple CarPlay-compatible infotainment system with a big, vertical touchscreen display at its heart. Based on the demos that we’ve seen, the new system looks responsive, feature-laden and quite contemporary. And as part of its future business direction, Volvo will continue to banks a lot of its reputation on safety. The new XC90 shows the Swedish automaker’s intentions to eliminate crash-related deaths in its cars by 2020. The SUV is “semi-autonomous,” and has an industry-first auto brake function that stops drivers from making risky left hand turns.
Renault Renault’s stand was huge and the brand officially introduced the new generation Espace people-mover. The flagship Europe-market model has undergone a comprehensive transformation compared to its predecessor and now it combines “the sweeping lines of a large crossover” with “an elegant yet robust stance”. In France, the 2015 Espace will be offered in three different trim levels – Life, Zen, Intense and Initiale Paris. Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of the Renault Group said that “Renault has reinvented the Espace.” Renault has also joined other automakers in the quest to develop an ultra-frugal car and for this year’s show they highlighted the Eolab concept. Hiding underneath the futuristic design is a hybrid powertrain featuring a small three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine which works with a clutchless three-gear transmission that has a builtin electric motor.
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is on an overdrive with its creativity. A couple of months ago Rolls-Royce launched the Phantom Drophead Coupe Waterspeed Collection and at Paris, the brand introduced the Metropolitan Collection which again has been developed through their high-end bespoke customization program. This latest iteration of the Phantom will be built in a limited series of 20 units and all will pay homage to the great metropolises of the world through marquetry which refers to inlaying small pieces of wood veneer to form decorative motifs.
Venturi French specialty marque Venturi introduced its America electric buggy. Although a small player, the Venturi America is set to enter limited production of only 25 units each priced at whopping £290,000. The two-seater is an evolution of a concept revealed back in 2012 and comes with an increased ride height granting a generous 280mm ground clearance. Power is provided by an electric motor producing 400hp and an instant torque of 354 lb-ft (480 Nm) which is enough for a 0-100 km/h run in 4.5secs. The car’s battery pack offers enough juice to enable a maximum range of 250km while a full recharge will take three and a half hours. The Venturi America is 4,125mm long, 2,060mm wide and 1,450mm tall, with a 2,670mm wheelbase and 1,525kg curb weight. It sits on 20in wheels wrapped around in Michelin Latitude Sport tyres and benefits from a carbon Kevlar aluminium chassis covered with composite carbon body panels. 40 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Tesla Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, finally put an end to rumours of what the much-anticipated ‘Model D’ might be. The super-fast P85D model will be a dual-motor four-wheel drive version of the Model S sedan. Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 41
Ford
Ford’s stand reflected most of its European model line-up along with the Euro-spec Mustang. The Mustang will go on sale across the continent in 2015 in fastback and convertible variants. In Europe, the car will be offered with two engines – the 5.0-litre V8 with 420bhp and 528Nm of torque and the 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbo unit generating 305bhp and 406Nm of torque. Ford also unveiled the Euro-spec Edge which closely echoes the North American variant in styling but will be offered in Europe with 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine with two different outputs. Ford also introduced two multipurpose vehicles – the facelifted C-MAX and the production version of the S-MAX [S- MAX concept was presented at last year’s Geneva Motor Show]. The S-MAX comes with a lot of design cues from the new Mondeo.
Peugeot Ferrari
Ferrari released the first details of the 458 Speciale A. The ‘A’ is short for Aperta or Open and refers to the Spider configuration of this limited production, high performance machine. Powered by the same, 605 hp V8 engine as the Speciale coupe introduced last year. The 458 Speciale A will have a limited production run of 499 examples. On the executive front at the Fiat press conference, interestingly, Sergio Marchionne, said that it was inappropriate to comment on the acrimonious exit of Luca Montezmelo since Ferrari had him as chairman until October 13. On the issue of increasing Ferrari production from 7,000 to 10,000 units promptly did comment saying that he felt that Ferrari volumes were fine at the moment. It may be recalled that a few feeks ago, Sergio Marchionne, the 67-year old chief executive of Fiat, took over the top job at Ferrari just prior to a crucial Wall Street listing for the Fiat Chrysler Group on October 13. 42 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Peugeot’s stand in Hall #1 was bright, busy and entertaining. And this was expected following an online reveal last month of the Quartz concept SUV which is described as Peugeot’s thoughts on a “SUV for the future”. The Quartz is a hybrid that uses a 4-cylinder 1.6-litre THP turbocharged gasoline engine with 270hp and 330Nm along with an 115hp electric motor which charges the 400V battery during deceleration. At the back of the vehicle there’s another 85 kW electric motor for propulsion and battery charging. Among production models was the facelifted 508 sedan which now looks much sharper and stylish. Also revealed was the 308 GT family which will be available as a sedan or wagon body styles. Meanwhile, among the stars at the stand was the updated Exalt concept sedan. The original concept was introduced at the Beijing Motor Show in China and for its Paris outing, Peugeot made some modifications for the Eurospec version which features a bare steel exterior with a Shark Skin rear end as well as different shades of grey on the rest of the body to create a special look. Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 43
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe
ed w ene R form y xur u l M’s coupe G from 5 ATS nt. e p ou w 201 d inte the c t les all-ne ns an car in de l a ri sm the tio f the l a e a r i h n t be t ac, bu of asp rival o e regio y a r t ll It m d Cadi th a lo d the a d in th or auth i e d n t e n w s a bra mes entten Weigl a nes articip v t e i o w c p ve hy: Thors i n r o a d s ap al om andik | Photogr Aut n and all io BM g n a e d r han or: C
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adillac which is General Motors’ luxury brand is once again among the most talked brands after exAudi/Infiniti executive Johan de Nysschen took control. Nysschen’s fast track agenda includes reorganizing and nurturing the brand with an exciting product line-up helping it as part of the masterful strategy to make this American brand the standard of the world. Among the first steps taken in this direction has been shifting the brand’s HQ from Detroit to New York, a new nomenclature system and revised corporate logo. The first new car to sport the new logo on its grille is the 2015 ATS coupe which was introduced in the region last month. Technically, the two-door car is mechanically based on the four-door sedan, but it comes with its own styling, profile, bells and whistles. In building the car, Cadillac’s philosophy has been to give it its standalone personality and profile. This means the parts sharing, especially of what you see has been kept to a minimum and not surprisingly, the only common exterior
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components are the bonnet, headlamps, and sundry trim pieces on the front valance. The underlying architecture of the ATS uses a combination of several metals, including high-strength steel, aluminum, magnesium, and many others that together help achieve rigidity and lightness. ATS coupes are wider and sleeker than the sedans. They also come with wider mudguards and elongated bodylines. Exterior styling on the ATS can be described as bold and distinctive as it continues with the angular Cadillac’s Art and Science design language. New in this car is the redesigned front grille, with a multi-dimensional pattern that’s a modern take on Cadillac’s signature egg carton grille. The redesigned, laurel-less Cadillac crest is quite prominent now and is settled in the centre of the grille. And as before, the headlamp cluster is vertically placed and comes with LED daytime running lamps and HID head beams. Vertical LED foglamps underneath accentuate the upright look of the front face. The front end is not only aesthetic, but functional:
Inside the front grille are shutters that automatically close at certain highway speeds, which reduce aerodynamic drag and help fuel economy. We also note that car’s mirror design is also different. Meanwhile, there are some dimensional changes too. The coupe’s body now stretches 0.8in in length and is also 1.4in wider, while the roofline is 1.1in lower. And as befitting a coupe, the rear windscreen slopes at a flatter and sleeker angle. Interestingly, the ratio of the sheet metal to glass is also optimized and the coupe’s window sills are actually quite lower. All these elements give the visual appearance of a slim car. The car at first glance, especially, from the three-quarter view appears more planted than the sedan, thanks to its 0.8in wider tracks [front and rear]. On coupes, the boot lid spoiler is instead created from sheet metal and the brake light is inlaid below. Like the sedan, dual chrome exhaust pipes sit below the rear bumper. Even as a proper coupe, despite best of intentions from design and engineering, there are some generic flaws like
notably rear seat access and limited rear headroom. The floorpan is common to both ATS bodystyles and hence rear legroom is the same as the sedan and the C-pillar is also wider. This results in quite a bit of difference as regards to the available headroom at rear which is 1.8in lesser than that of the sedan. While Cadillac engineers have offered a powered front seat base for fore and aft movement, access to the second row is obstructed by the C-pillar bolted seatbelts. If one is unmindful, then it can trip passengers up during the egress process. As expected, front occupants are pampered with very comfortable and supportive seats that are also mounted a bit lower to facilitate headroom and also help rear occupants with better sight. In fact, the rear seats are much better designed than that of BMW’s X4 [also tested in this issue of Automan]. Once settled in, the cabin is cosy and somewhat exudes an air of elegance with a mix of materials, cut-and-sew leather trim dashboard and door panels along with genuine aluminium or carbon fibre or gloss
ATS coupes are wider and sleeker than the sedans. They also come with wider mudguards and elongated bodylines. On coupes, the decklid spoiler is instead created from sheet metal and the brake light is inlaid below. Like the sedan, dual chrome exhaust pipes sit below the rear bumper.
piano black finishes. Semi-aniline leather is also offered that also brings fancy, fauxsuede seatbacks. Constant improvements to Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system makes it better to operate, but it still has a long way to go. Meanwhile, techno-geeks will appreciate the car’s head-up display feature and the newly optional 4G LTE wireless hotspot connectivity and wireless charging for certain mobile devices. Fit and finish inside the Cadillac ATS is comparable German premium brands. The chassis of the ATS is designed to accept a variety of engines – ranging from a direct-injection 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo to the naturally aspirated 3.6-litre direct injection V6. The Middle East markets get the top-end V6 which belts out 321hp at 6,800 rpm and a relatively modest 276 lb-ft of torque at 4,800rpm. Transmission used out here is six-speed automatic with Tiptronic function. Paddle shifters are located behind the wheel and are not of the fixed type. Instrumentation is a mix of analogue and digital. The dashboard design is simple and uncluttered.
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Driver gets adjustable FE3 sport suspension and the package includes Magnetic Ride Control, a mechanical limited-slip differential an 18in low-profile performance tyres. The chassis set-up buttons are placed at the base of the central console. The car’s suspension setup has been designed for greater flexibility for both dynamic and regular road usage. Cadillac claims nearly perfect 50:50 weight balance and low centre of gravity for this car and suspension hardware includes fivelink independent rear suspension featuring lightweight, high-strength steel and efficient straight link designs while multilink double-pivot MacPherson-strut front suspension with direct-acting stabilizer bar completes the front. As with the safety package, the coupe benefits from the hardware and software from the sedan and this means it gets the usually array of technologies and
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Like other recent Cadillac models, the ATS was tuned at some of the world’s most famous racing circuits, including the Nordschleife section of Germany’s Nurburgring. some more advanced features. Cadillac’s “control and alert” strategy, which employs up to two cameras, eight ultrasonic sensors and six radar signals
to help prevent crashes is available for this model. Cadillac’s advanced crashavoidance systems, such as automatic braking, lane departure warning, precharge and automatically applies braking in response to potential hazards. New safety features for 2015 include an optional lane keep assist, which will automatically help guide drivers back into their lanes if they drift. An automatic safety belt tightening feature will take up any slack during fast stops. Driving impressions We recalled prior to the drive of this car that a couple of years back the sedan sibling was able to carve a befitting presence in the segment which till then was dominated primarily by the German duo of BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Key elements in the success were its distinctive design, lightweight
construction and agile handling. As the 2015 ATS Coupe rides on the same 109.3in wheelbase as the sedan and hence even before settling in, we mentally listed our expectations based on our previous encounters with the ATS sedan. On the move, The V6 is wonderfully smooth and delivers predictable response to throttle inputs. Despite being slightly torque deficient than BMW’s 435i and the Audi S5, it makes up for that through its optimized power-to-weight ratio. At roughly 1,04kg the ATS coupe benefits from a slight weight advantage over its key rivals. Acceleration is quite entertaining and in-between upshifts are smooth in drive mode. Switch into Sport plus and the powertrain shows its true colours at about the 2,500rpm rev range where gears shift quite fast. On the handling perspective, we do have some mixed feelings about the ZFsourced variable-effort electric steering. The steering gear used in the ATS is belt driven, which Cadillac claims makes for a smoother feel, but we found it a little too numb on demanding turns. Most drivers might not notice this in daily driving as the car’s turn-in is good and we think
it is better than the BMW because in the Beemer, the shift of weight from the rear to the front is quite noticeable and in some cases it also induces extra understeer [which is not good for the rear rims!] Meanwhile, the chassis copes well with what is thrown at – our drive up and down on UAE’s hot Jebel Jais mountain road in Ras Al Khamaih is testimony to its near flawless performance. The sportier rear suspension of the coupe [compared with sedan], allows for a firmer and more confident feel around twists and turns. We were also thrilled with the performance of the Brembo brake set up. While the pedal is firm, it conveys strong, linear, communicative braking without upsetting the car’s balance and hence appears well tuned for this kind of car. What we particularly like about the handling of this car is that it’s not that aggressive like its V cousins and not timid either. One thing we did note during the drive -- the sixspeed automatic comes across as rather busy when pushed and rather too eager to upshift into higher gears, even in sport mode. And when using manual shifts via the paddle shifters, the shifts still lack the overt crispness that we remember from
previous experiences with the ATS sedan. The balance of ride qualities is good for the type of car it represents, however, our wish list would have asked for a slightly faster steering set-up and perhaps the benefit of the wider ratios in the eight speed ZF transmissions. As a lifestyle car, the NVH management is very impressive. A virtual quiet cabin is testimony to the way the car is built and materials used in isolation. Wind-noise at highway speeds is negligible. Some tyre noise can be heard, depending on road surface driven. Verdict While the 2015 ATS Coupe is still no BMW 4-Series from a driving standpoint, we are quite convinced that it is an appropriate package that represents a return to form for Cadillac as a brand. It’s a tidy lifestyle car with a genuine three-box (engine-cabin-boot) configuration and a slightly lower price point than the German premium brand equivalents. Combined with decent performance and comfort creatures, this should help broaden its appeal amongst the aspirational seekers segment of the market. Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 49
2015 Porsche Cayenne
More is less Ever since Porsche introduced the Cayenne SUV in 2002, it has been appreciated as the best all-around SUV worldwide. Now in its second generation, how much does a midcycle refresh affect or influence this top seller? Automan travelled all the way to Barcelona in Spain to find out Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: author & supplied
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or German sports car maker Porsche, the Cayenne SUV is a significant product in several ways. First, it helped the brand to establish a foothold in the SUV markets and its commercial success has also paved the way for a smaller SUV, introduced earlier this year as the Macan. With the arrival of the Macan, many observers felt that it would cannibalise into the Cayenne territory. On the contrary, the Cayenne has held on to its ground and Porsche have kept the interest in the bigger SUV by expanding the line-up in the past few years. As a result, at least five variants are now sold in the Middle East and include the Turbo, S, Diesel, S diesel and S E- Hybrid. The current model is in its second generation and has recently received its mid-cycle refresh. With the refresh, Porsche has focused on two significant areas: performance and efficiency. These come in addition to some cosmetic tweaks and detailing in jewelry. For a change in our usual style of writing where we look at the exterior, interior following by engineering, we will reverse the order for this report representing the focus areas first. The biggest news for the Cayenne upgrade is that S variant drops the old V8 in favour of the new bi-turbo 3.6-litre V6 engine which was introduced in the smaller Macan. Despite small in displacement and having two cylinders less Porsche claim that the V6 surpasses the V8 in all
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departments – lightweight construction, output and efficiency in particular. As a result, power output has increased by 20hp to 420hp and the torque has increased by 50Nm to 550Nm, whilst the fuel consumption has fallen by 0.9 litres to less than ten litres per 100km. Meanwhile, the power output of the top-of-the-line Turbo has also increased by 20 hp to 520 hp and the torque by 50Nm to 750Nm. It accelerates three tenths of a second more quickly than its predecessor and reaches a top speed of 279 km/h and fuel consumption has been reduced by 0.3 l/100 km. And it’s not the S E-Hybrid but also the diesel powered models that set standards in fuel consumption. The hybrid drivetrain has already proved itself in the Panamera and has now been adapted for use in the Cayenne S E-Hybrid. Meanwhile, the Cayenne Diesel now has more power and torque coupled with a reduction in fuel consumption. Thanks to a larger turbocharger, the maximum power output of the 3.0-litre V6 has increased by 17hp to a total of 262hp, whilst the maximum torque has increased by 30Nm to 580Nm. The diesel will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h 0.3secs faster and has a top speed of 221 km/h with miserly fuel consumption of 6.8 to 6.6 per 100km. Meanwhile, the car’s eight-speed transmission with Tiptronic S has also been optimised with coasting function, which is a further developed auto start/stop function Plus. For the sprint from 0 to 100km/h the optional Sport Chrono package offers PerformanceNov 2014 | www.automan.me | 51
Start for the first time in the Cayenne. The suspension department also has received some attention. It may sound trivial, but new low friction bushing system has bought in a great deal of refinement in the way the parts travel and react helping engineers to increase the spread between comfort and sportiness in every variant irrespective of the type of suspension package it uses – like the conventional steel suspension in the diesel or Porsche Active Suspension Management [PASM] set up in higher specification modelsMeanwhile, the three PASM suspension programmes are Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus which also work in tandem with the Turbo. In the PASM enabled models the ride height can now be increased and the level control system included with the air suspension has been made more flexible. It now offers a total of six different vehicle heights depending on the driving situation. The user-friendly load sill height adjustment is a new feature for the Cayenne which is activated by pressing a button in the luggage compartment. In action it lowers the loading level by 52mm when the tailgate is open. The height of the load sill is then approximately 690mm. The familiar profile and silhouette of the Cayenne to some may appear unchanged.
But it will take a Cayenne aficionado to figure out the changes in a few moments of observation. For the first time active cooling air flaps are fitted behind the central air inlet which is controlled by engine management. They open and close depending on the driving situation and the cooling-air requirement. This regulates the
The Cayenne S Diesel cleverly combines the advantages of a turbocharged diesel V8 engine with the emotional appeal of a petrol engine. Its torque delivery is outstanding air volume, influences the aerodynamics and is part of the thermal management so that the engine and gearbox warm up quickly and reach an optimum working
temperature. The lower valance is designed to accommodate these features and in turn makes the front end look a bit more aggressive. A close look up front reveals that the bonnet is wider now and has a soft clamshell design. The central air inlet is now somewhat smaller than before. The changes at the rear of the car complement the front. For instance, the rear lamps are flatter and similar to the LED daytime running lamps at the front the brake lamps have a four-part design. Among the design sign-offs are the new design of the exhaust tailpipes for each derivative that are integrated in the lower rear valence. We think the “floating” four-point LED daytime running lights clearly identify the refreshed car. Key change to the interior which can be spotted immediately is the 918 inspired multifunctional steering wheel with paddle shifters and the softer second row seats.What’s more, as with the front seats, seat ventilation is now available for the rear occupants if required. Elsewhere, the cabin is familiar with its Panamera inspired central console and split rear seating. Interestingly, curb weight has marginally increased when compared to the outgoing model due to more standard equipment.
lower boast ls e d o nne m oved 5 Caye d impr All 201 umption an 3.6-litre V6 ns w fuel co ance. The ne es the now ss m r la c o t f per S ou nce e h t in rforma engine ued V8’s pe tin discon
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Driving impressions The Barcelona drive included an array of driving situations – highway sections including winding mountain roads, country roads, city roads and an off-road course with hill climb, a dirt track and muddy water trough thrown in. Porsche’s event management specialists ensured that we were exposed to every possible on or off-road scenario and they also offered us all the Cayenne variants for the job. We began our drive with the new downsized turbo charged 3.6-litre V6. The V6 turbo Cayenne S might be slower on paper but feels almost as quick as its bigger and 100kg heavier brother. No great surprises out here as the car is agile and smooth as before and there’s no sign of it being underpowered or outclassed by its previous set-up. In more than one way the S is more of a charmer and even entertaining to drive since there’s less weight over the front wheels which in turn helps in a lighter steering feel and more feedback, while the engine can rev to its 6,700rpm redline point more freely. Despite being 200Nm down on the 54 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Turbo, the stock Cayenne’s peak torque is developed lower in the rev range at just 1,350rpm. We found that when driven gently, it propels the car down the road rapidly even on light throttle applications. The off-road course which was set-up in a 600-hectare private property actually helped us to get acquainted with the enhanced capabilities of the car. Now, we all know that the Cayennes have allwheel drive set-ups which have dedicated software managing the show. Till now, it was more the driver’s skill than the kit helping manoeuvre the car off-road. While, the Cayenne is no Range Rover when it comes to all-out off-road capabilities, the refreshed AWD Cayenne now gets the benefit of a driver enabled torque/traction lock system. This system works similar to the diff-locks of pure 4x4s and gives the Cayenne an edge when it comes to negotiating tricky situations like a slippery, low-traction uphill climb or where a driver wants to avoid wheel spin in soft ground. This system works very well and we are sure new owners in the Middle East will find better use of the same. With a bundle
of new driver aids now, the refreshed Cayenne is much more capable and refined both on- and –off road. For the return journey, we took the Audiderived 4.2-litre V8 diesel engine variant and were tremendously impressed with the powertrain performance in terms of quietness, willingness and smoothness in particular. In fact, if Porsche didn’t badge the car, there’s no way of knowing what’s underneath. The powertrain guys need to be saluted for this stellar achievement. We’d never expected a diesel to be so fast and refined. Verdict The Cayenne gets refreshed with innovation, performance and efficiency. These three factors will see the Cayenne once more lead the competitive pack. For our region, the bottom line for the 2015 Cayenne S should do well career-wise. While brand purists may miss a big, freebreathing V8 of the pre-refreshed line-up, but once they experience the smaller turbocharged V6, they will quickly know where the winning equation is. Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 55
2014 BMW X4
Under of big the shadow brot
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The new 2014 BMW X4 is based on the mechanical blueprint of the BMW X3, but is tailored with specific design and performance attributes in mind. Automan checks out the smaller X6-styled sibling, the xDrive35i variant in and around UAE Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Nabeel Ferzan
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MW Group is flexing its muscles when it comes to creating variants and intermediate models using common engineering. The latest creation using this formula is the new compact crossover which it calls the X4. The X4 was initially announced in 2013 as a concept car and was formally launched at the 2014 New York International Auto Show and is manufactured at its US factory in South Carolina. Key rivals include the Porsche Macan and Audi Q5/SQ5. The X4 is based on the same platform and running gear as the X3 SUV, but BMW has ensured that it gets its standalone design and profile. So, how does BMW differentiate between the X3 and X4? Quite simple, really and the concept that BMW has used in creating the profile of this car isn’t exactly new. One could say comfortably when you see the vehicle in flash that it’s indeed a revisited the formula it used for the X6. This exercise saw designers taking an existing SUV and changing the roofline to create its range of 58 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Sports Activity Coupé inspired models. On the styling front, even as a new unibody entrant, it seems to be over shadowed by the bigger X6. While, the X4 may exhibit aggressive and polarising looks, it actually does attract a lot of attention wherever it goes. While the X6 looks aggressive and imposing when compared to the X5, the differences
As a car from BMW, it has its mechanicals sorted well for dual purpose use. As a vehicle with AWD, one can empathise with its limitations off-road, but the car is good for light off-road duties.
between the X4 and X3 seem to be more restrained. The car rides high off the ground, with a pronounced gap between its chassis and 19in wheel/tyre package. Overhangs on both ends are short while sheetmetal cues suggest an extrovert design blended with versatility. The X4 looks a little slab-sided, despite featuring sculpted lines, it looks bigger than, say the Macan [see box]. Meanwhile, for better physical differentiation within the line-up, the X4 is 14mm longer and 36mm lower than its X3 sibling, but most of the bodywork below the windows looks identical to the X3’s, aside from new tail-lamps. The roofline drops steeply to the rear end which some may argue that it is short of the intended job. The X4, for many observers may appear more like an SUV hatch than a 2+2 coupé. The X4’s proportions are slightly awkward and this is evident mostly at the rear due to the car’s raised ride height. At this stage of the review, we are not too concerned with the styling – which is a
‘like it, hate it’ affair. For the interior, BMW have significantly reduced development costs by borrowing stuff mostly from the X3. This means that the X4 has an almost identical cabin to the X3, which in a way is good news for the punters. The X3’s uncluttered layout was liked and most of BMW cabin features including the improved iDrive control system is available in the X4. On the practical front, if one compares the X4 with the X3, then the latter is a winner. At 500-litres, the X4’s boot is 50 litres smaller than the X3’s with all five seats in place. With the split-folding rear bench stowed, it is 200 litres smaller at just 1,400litres. And then you have a sharply raked rear window and high loading lip makes the space less useful than conventionally shaped SUVs too. It also seriously impedes rear visibility. The flip side is that BMW has also thrown in a bit more kit as standard in the X4. Our tester was equipped with the M Sport trims that included an M steering wheel, M
BMW X4 vs Porsche Macan
These two rivals are pretty much identical in terms of dimensions, with the same roof heights and similar length and wheelbase measurements. In terms of practicality in cargo space, the Macan beats the X4 hands down. These cars have identical 500-litre boot capacities. The Macan has a squarer floor and wider opening, but the boot lip is slightly higher off the ground than the X4’s. Both cars feature 40:20:40 split back seats, but when folded, neither has a completely flat floor. The Macan’s 1,500-litre maximum is 100 litres ahead of the X4’s.
sill plates and M embossed pedals. For the exterior, the M kit incorporates the usual BMW M Sport large fake air intakes in the body kit or appearance package. While most lifestyle cars are getting loaded with gadgets and gizmos, we liked the feature pack options offered which included navigation, a colour head-up display and the brand’s ConnectedDrive services, which allow users to pair their smartphones to access multiple apps and information. While, some of the functional buttons might take a bit of getting used to, but the quality of the materials is first class, with soft-touch plastics, soft leather and classy metal trim throughout. As with most BMWs, ergonomics and comfort levels are top notch. However, headroom as expected in the second row is constricted due to the sloping roof line. Our tester, the variant designated as xDrive35i, came with a twin turbo 3.0-litre in-line six cylinder producing 302hp hp between 5,800-6,400rpm and torque of 400Nm between 1,200-5,000rpm. The X4 Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 59
also benefits from a close ratio ZF eightspeed automatic transmission. The car gets all-wheel drive. As expected, BMW engineers have deliberately tuned the suspension on the X4 more aggressively than on the stock X3 or X5 models. The X4 suspension also features Performance Control, which uses the electronic stability control system to guide power to the outside rear wheel when cornering helping reducing understeer. Active safety options include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot detection and pedestrian/ collision warning with automatic braking. Driving impressions Inside the car, occupants sit high and front occupants enjoy command view. The turbocharged V6 powertrain is quite entertaining and the on-road ride quality echoes mostly that of the X3, which itself is attuned to high spec levels. Cabin is well insulated with the occasional hum from the engine and unavoidable road noise from the asphalt. The only niggle we had was related to some of the loose 60 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
The X4 was initially announced in 2013 as a concept car and was formally launched at the 2014 New York International Auto Show
weak spot out here which relates to the shift in weight from rear to front. This aspect is evident with the rear lifting and the nose diving upon brisk acceleration in sand and this also causes the X4 to understeer quite more than you would expect and the soft steering also aids in this handling character. So, the driver has no option but to quickly adapt his driving style instead! As a precaution, we didn’t go extreme dune bashing in view of the low profile sports tyres.
the dynamic side down a bit, sometimes feeling under servoed when repeatedly asked to slow almost 1,900kg of crossover. We’d also like more communication through the steering, which is accurate and keenly weighted but lacks feel when compared to say Audi Q5 or Porsche Macan. However, when we went off-road, we were pleasantly surprised to note that despite being essentially a lifestyle vehicle, it is capable of light off-road duties. On gravel or rocky trails, there’s no problem of damaging the undercarriage as there’s plenty of ground clearance. But there’s a
Verdict We think the X4 fits a marketing niche more than anything else for the brand. It can boast of unique looks and even put a smile on its driver’s face. But like the bigger X6, the X4 will need to earn its stripes in a niche segment. Its handling seems to be far higher up its priority list than practicality, so if you’re after a lifestyle SUV, look to the X4, otherwise the X3 instead. In our market, the X4 will face some stiff competition fromthe Audi Q5/SQ5 and recently introduced Porsche Macan.
plastics in the cargo bay which kept rattling. Otherwise, the X4 is fitted with an excellent automatic gearbox and rearbiased all-wheel drive, which can send up to 100 per cent of torque to either axle in a matter of milliseconds should the stability control demand it. The car’s torque delivery is exceptionally smooth and befits the ZF transmission which up or downshifts when needed quickly and without hesitation. We would say, the steering is light for an almost two-tonne car and hence the turn-in seems to feel sharper. Actually, we would have preferred a slightly more weighted feel on the steering befitting the mass of the car. Why? We explain below. The BMW X4’s handling strength is noted when it tackles a section of winding roads. The Eco Pro and Comfort modes are best left for highways, while the standard-fit xDrive all-wheel drive system gives the car generous traction capabilities and it in return inspires huge confidence in fast corners. Add into the mix a lower centre of gravity and retuned suspension and there’s a genuinely entertaining and engaging SUV. But, it’s the brakes that let Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 61
2014 McLaren 650S Spider/Coupe
S p l it personalities
McLaren is moving forward steadily with its model expansion and the latest road cars, the 2014 650S Coupe and Spider can be considered as the most up-to-date models after the 12C was introduced three years ago. Automan was invited by McLaren to check out these cars in UAE last month. Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: author and supplied
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K-based McLaren’s entry into the road car business has been a result of one man’s vision supported by several decades’ worth of track presence and engineering prowess. Ron Dennis, McLaren Automotive Chairman had announced his plans for the ultimate line-up of technology-led and customer-focused performance cars for the 21st century and true to his word had the organization behind him when it came to deliver the first McLaren MP4-12C production car on 17 January 2011. Since then, there’s been no looking back and over the past few years, the establishment’s foundations have been made stronger with standalone design, engineering and production combined with inspirational success in Formula 1. The current McLaren line-up includes the limited-production P1, the 12C and the new 650S variants. So, have the rules in the sports car world been re-written? McLaren’s first car, the MP4-12C featured a revolutionary carbon fibre chassis structure which it refers to as the Carbon MonoCell. It was the first time a car in this market segment which was based around strong and lightweight racing car engineering fundamentals and as the first time any car has ever featured a one-piece carbon fibre structure [besides
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The 650S simply feels crisper in its most aggressive setting and even more soothing in its most relaxed modes. Both come with a far broader dynamic repertoire than the older 12C the SLR – see box]. As a result of this uniqueness and engineering success, this engineering feat now is the foundation of the road and track cars which it builds including the latest 650S Coupe and 650S Spider. McLaren has plans to build around 1,400 650S models annually. In terms of positioning, it sits above the 12C, in terms of performance, refinement and price and below the limited to 375 unit production of the P1. At first glance, beneath the composite structure, hitherto unseen is a thick
carbon fibre tub which weighs just 80kg. The front and rear subframes which are made of lightweight alloys bonded, riveted or welded complete the structure and mounting points for suspension and other hardware. Interestingly, the common carbon fibre Mono Cell chassis required no additional strengthening or reinforcing even in open-top guise. This means, at least in theory, on-road performance should mirror each other as far as these two variants are concerned. From the exterior, while both the coupe and Spider are unmistakenly McLaren in profile, with styling elements borrowed from the P1 and the nose treatment is the most prominent feature as the differentiating factor. The rear receives minimalistic styling changes and noticeable elements include a mildly redesigned diffuser and a carbonfibre treatment around the taillamps. Both 650S variants look all but identical to a 12C from the rear. We chose for the ride and photography the Tarocco Orange coloured car, which is a new addition to the McLaren colour collection, developed with technology partner AkzoNobel. Meanwhile, the Spider weighs 40kg more than the Coupe, due to the extra mass coming on account of the retractable hard top and its related
mechanical set-up. The two-piece retractable hard top can be automatically raised or lower in less than 17secs and can also be activated while stationary or at any speed up to 30km/h. What’s more, despite sharing its key engineering fundamentals with the 12C, over 25 per cent of the 650S is brand new. As with the 12C Spider, the 650S Spider uses a heated glass rear window, operating independently of the roof. With the roof down, the rear window acts as a wind deflector, reducing cabin buffeting. Roof up, the rear screen can be lowered to allow more engine noise. The interior of the car is where designers have paid a lot of attention to materials and kit given the space constraints related to the tub arrangement. Using exotic materials like Alcantara and a plethora of modern conveniences including infotainment and connectivity, this car tries to appear as civilized as it can be. The infotainment centre takes its cues from the P1 and is much more intuitive to use now. To keep the central consol as narrow as possible, the GPS screen is mounted in portrait, rather than the traditional landscape aspect ratio. Build and trim material exhibit improved perceived quality and so do the touch points. As a two passenger car, the passenger gets a better deal in terms of space and
movement. Egress and ingress is via the vertical as opposed swing out scissor door arrangement. Both variants get a slightly tweaked version of the now proven 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine mounted at the rear. Output is 641bhp at 7,250rpm and 678Nm at 6,000rpm. Both cars use the same seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission from the 12C. McLaren says that some modifications
Although every manufacturer of super or sports cars is quick to mention the “everyday” drivability of their respective machines, the McLaren can now make most on this claim
have been applied to both the software and hardware of the suspension to sharpen the handling while ensuring that the car can be as smooth and complaint with its normal road ride quality. Carbonfibre ceramic brake discs become standard fitments, as do Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres. Driving impressions Arguably, the Jebel Jais mountain climb in Ras Al Khaimah is the best route for testing any car’s dynamic and handling capabilities and its popularity is growing each day within the regional automotive fraternity opting for the same. In the same spirit, McLaren continues to reset performance and refinement benchmarks in its cars and we can confirm both Coupe and spider have met every possible variable thrown at them. Ingress and egress is via the scissor doors and you have to swing in as the seat is quite low due to the low centre of gravity. The driver’s seat has very limited adjustable choices and the cabin is snug. Both these aspects, in our opinion could limit the choice of who can and who cannot drive this car. While we do appreciate the luxury and modern conveniences provided in this car, we still think that it’s the track/ performance element that will help sell
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this car. At this juncture, it’s about the performance and handling that we are keen to explore. Once settled inside, it is easy to communicate with the cars. We started the drive at dawn from Waldorf Astoria resort and within the first few kilometers of driving through the tight city roads, it’s clear that it can serve both roles – a day to day car and as a track day machine even in stock form. The benefits of mass centralization are clear as the car feels more neutral in its handling. By the time we reached the base of Jebel Jais, the Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyres had warmed up suitably and we decided to forget about restricted speed limits and push the car within the given parameters of safe driving. Having driven the 12C before, this car’s set-up is the 650S is actually quite interesting in the way it does everything so much better than the 12C. It feels sharper and refined, which is in contrast to the 12C’s raw and rough handling on road. Steering weight feels good and feedback is instant like that of a go-kart, but since this car has rear wheel drive, both variants do have a tendency to understeer a tad bit more than what you would really want. Excitement happens when you dial into the car’s three different drive modes Normal, Sport or Track. In Normal the 650S has a genuinely calm quality to its damping and ride in general, while in Sport mode, it feels as if it has acknowledged the extra bits it has to do and in Track mode settings it feels as if its spirits have been freed, but not a lot unlike a track car in the way it reacts to the driver’s inputs. Out here, it is at its sharpest best and a tap to the throttle not only rewards with acceleration but also G-forces. Turn by turn we took to both variants 66 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Key McLaren road car projects
In 1992, McLaren released the F1, a true modern motoring legend and one of the highest-performing supercars of all time. It was powered by a 6.1-litre BMW V12 engine. The F1 set a then record for production cars with a top speed of 390 km/h.
The company’s next road car project was the SLR in 2003. The SLR was co-developed with Mercedes-Benz [which owned 40 per cent of McLaren at the time]. The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was powered by a supercharged 5.4-litre V8 and the fastest version, the 722 Edition, had a reputed top speed of 337 km/h.
and did the full run several times. While we realize that the overall dry weight of the 650S Spider is 1,370kg [an increase of only 40kg over the Coupé], it is really very difficult to quantify which is better – they actually feel identical! While, we would have loved to experience an all out straight line performance on track and do 0-100-km/h runs, for the tie being we will go by the book and emphasise with the improved 0-96km/h figures supplied by the manufacturer which suggests that the 0-96km/h time has dropped from 3.2sec to 3.0sec while the 0-160km/h time has fallen from 6.2sec to 5.7sec. While, the 650S isn’t capable of outclassing either the F1 or the SLR in terms of top speed, it is still a commendable achievement for a UK-based sports car maker. Braking power is also impressive in the 650S, thanks to new levels of performance from the large brakes and the brake pedal feel is normal even under light city duty usage. This is interesting since sports cars with carbon ceramic rotors behave differently. Verdict On the engineering front, McLaren has proven once again that it will not just sit and use savvy marketing techniques based on past laurels alone. That it will continue to improve and innovate with the times factoring in how the industry is moving forward. And with these two new specimens arriving on the market scene, what helps the brand develop its niche is the extraordinary packaging through innovation. Both cars offer punters spoilt choices as currently it’s hard to think of anything that delivers better value than a 650S line-up. And there’s something more -- the opposition will be clearly watching! Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 67
2014 Subaru Forester
The Boxer difference The fourth generation 2014 Subaru Forester was developed with the goal to maximize its value as a true SUV. Has it? Automan rediscovers its virtues in the Sultanate Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao
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ubaru seems to have spent a lot of time and effort in bringing its models up to speed. The Forester mid-sized SUV is an important model in the line-up and the outgoing model represented 27 per cent total sales with 170,000 sales globally in 2013. Building on the strengths of the model series and factoring in the packaging requirements of the segment, the new model fast tracks in to the markets with lot of confidence and market expectations. The new Forester is built on a new unibody platform and dimensionally differs from the outgoing model. It is 2mm taller, 15mm wider, 35mm longer on a 25mm longer wheelbase when compared with the outgoing model. The car’s styling is evolutionary and somewhat conservative. In no way, one would say it is polarizing like some other SUVs that are in the market right now. However, from Subaru’s perspective, the detailing it has done makes it a much more bolder styling statement than before. The A-pillar has been moved forward for a sleeker silhouette and improved aerodynamics and forward visibility is improved despite a slightly higher bonnet which 68 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
meets European pedestrian-protection requirements. Meanwhile, the ‘hawkeye’ headlamps and a slightly taller hexagonal grille define its slightly bolder face. To optimize weight, the bonnet is made of aluminium. While most modern SUVs have short overhangs these days, the Forester remains old-school in this respect. From the side when you view the vehicle, it would seem to be front heavy. But it’s not, due to this unique feature of a flat four Boxer engine. This type of engine is used by very few manufacturers [Porsche, Subaru and Toyota in the co-developed / FTGT86], and wherever used [SUVs/sedans or even sports cars] it helps lower the centre of gravity and can be positioned anywhere on the front subframe to optimize front to rear weight balance. As a result, the Forester can exhibit genuine dynamism in handling depending on the type of suspension hardware it gets. The ride height of the car is planned in such a way that it gets good ground clearance to go over ruts or off road trails, but the nice part is the hip points, stress free egress and ingress. The cabin by today’s standards would be best Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 69
described as busy but not fashionable like lifestyle SUVs/SAVs. There’s still a lot of plastic surfaces and spread out instrumentation. When you switch on the power, the instrument cluster lightens up with a vast array of idiot lights – these days a multifunctional digital LCD display takes care of the information needs. There’s a small LCD display on the top of the dashboard which offers a mix of information in digital format and live infographics which relate mostly to the asymmetrical all-wheel drive system. The dashboard definitely will appeal to drivers who still like the old school of thought. That comfort and convenience needs may not be confused with design niggles. The designers have genuinely improved the quality and ambience inside the car when compared to the outgoing model. It is now more spacious and the use of higher grade materials on the dashboard, the centre console and doors makes it move upmarket to some extent. Particular attention has been given to the controls and areas touched by the driver, such as the steering wheel and gear shift, while attempts have been made in optimising the touch points and switchgear controls.
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On the practical side, the front seats use a new cushion spring array for comfort, the hip point is 1.1in higher than before, and the driver’s seat has 1.3in more foreaft and 0.6in more height adjustment travel. Materials are upgraded compared to previous models with soft-touch surfaces on the upper instrument panels and armrests. The addition of a heightadjustable powered rear tailgate with memory is also provided. We found the covered console box small, but there’s a large open bin under the climate dials that also contains a convenient 12V accessory outlet. The steering wheel gets an assortment of buttons for audio, cruise, phone and multi-function display control. The chassis of the car has been designed
with the flexible powertrain options in both petrol and diesel. Oman’s market needs will be served by a carryover DOHC 2.5-litre FB series horizontally-opposed gour-cylinder engine which produces 170hp and 174 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is mated to an upgraded version of Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission which replaces the old model’s 4-speed automatic without losing the benefits of paddle shifters for manually changing the ratios. And then you have what Subaru calls Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive), which allows drivers to choose between different driving modes to match road conditions. The all-wheel drive system in all Subarus are unique to the brand and the closest that is in the market and sub branded very well is Audi’s Quattro technology application. Fundamentally, they do the job of managing the traction on all wheels, but in the case of Subaru it also factors in trailer or towing assignments. All 2014 Forester models come with Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. Subaru is a leader in all-wheel-drive technology and this sets Forester apart from front-wheel-drive competitors that
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offer all-wheel drive as an option. Our tester also came with a selectable low shift mode that adds engine braking on downhill grades. A new X-Mode feature on the test vehicle according to Subaru optimizes control of the engine, transmission, Active AWD, brakes, VDC and other systems to further improve control on slippery surfaces and steep inclines, while Hill Descent Control uses the VDC system to maintain constant speed and improve control on downhill grades. Like any other responsible Japanese brand, the new Forester comes with top class safety credentials. It has been awarded the full five-star Euro NCAP crash safety ratings and the package includes upgraded Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) electronic stability control system, a new Trailer Stability Control also improves safety during towing. Greater use of ultrahigh tensile steel reinforces the vehicle, making it exceptionally strong yet light. All safety equipment is fitted as standard to every model in the Forester range, including twin front, side, curtain and knee airbags, upholding Subaru’s commitment to improving crash safety performance.
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Driving impressions As a utility-oriented SUV with a Boxer engine arrangement is actually a rarity in the business and Subaru makes the best out of this. That the boxer engine has been refined further in terms of power delivery is evident in the first few kilometres of driving on asphalt. In fact, it makes pretty good use of its very broad torque curve to provide a kind of effortless, drama-free acceleration from most any speed aided by a fine transmission. I’m not particularly kind to continuously variable transmissions, but the set-up in this SUV changes my view. The car’s transmission performance feels very natural in most driving situations be it on- or off-road. In most SUVs that we have tested recently with CVT, they are either tuned for on- or off-road and rarely in sync for both types of terrains. For the off-road section we took the via Wadi Kabir highway towards Amerat and then down to the rock strewn water filled wadi. This car takes all these scenarios quite well in its stride and no special efforts are require on part of the driver. The Forester is a very balanced performer with superb temperament. And when compared to the previous-generation model, this car feels more agile thanks to a 50 per cent stiffer
structure, retuned front strut and doublewishbone rear suspensions and larger, 17inch tires and wheels. The upgraded rear suspension uses pillow ball joint mounts for its lateral links to smooth the ride. We found the four-wheel independent suspension delivers fairly agile handling with good ride. The new electric power assisted steering gives surprisingly good feel and sensible feedback to the driver. For both road and track, and we made good use of the information provided by its top-centre data screen. Verdict Despite technologically superior than several of its rivals, the 2014 Subaru Forester is a highly underrated SUV in our region. We are totally sold on this SUV’s performance and handling capabilities. Although, it will take time for it to woo buyers on the basis of looks alone, the new Forester has the ease of use and practicality that appeals to customers looking for this type of vehicle. Key features that should help in the Forester’s USP are its standard all-wheel drive at a lower than premium pricing than Toyota’s RAV4, Honda’s CR-V or Mazda’s CX-5 with optional all-wheel drive.
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2015 Suzuki Vitara
Ever since its market launch in 1988, the Suzuki Vitara SUV has earned acclaim for stylish, city-oriented designs, compact, easy-to-manage dimensions, comfortable on-road performance, and genuine offroad capability. The new model will arrive with more lifestyle bias than hard core abilities
The name may be old, but the idea is new and more than a quartercentury after the original model’s debut, Suzuki’s Vitara heritage is once more rekindled for the modern day user
Suzuki says that from the initial development stage, the incoming model is designed with personalisation in mind.
Author: Chandan B Mallik
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uzuki’s compact SUV, the Vitara/ Grand Vitara or Escudo, as it is known in some markets needs no re-introduction. The global model was in production from late 80s to 2006 in and with the global trend looking at downsizing has prompted Suzuki to look at a modern proposal. The new Vitara was one of the concept highlights at last month’s Paris Motor Show. The all-new Vitara will come with smaller dimensions and its simplistic design DNA connects it with its predecessor as well as the smaller model known as the Jimny. With a length of 4,175mm on a wheel base of 2,500mm, it will offer accommodation for 4-5 adults as a two row model. The SUV styling heritage is reflected in its reuse of clamshell bonnet (a hallmark of the Vitara series) and the slab slided sheetmetal treatment. For the interior, Suzuki says that from the initial development stage, the incoming model is designed with personalisation in mind. Diverse exterior colours and a range
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of design details enable owners to express their individual personalities. Each customer can choose from 15 body-colour possibilities that include three brand-new colours and several two-tone combinations. Other mod cons include latest connectivity and panaromic roof options. In view of the efficiency drive the unibody structured car is expected to be lighter and will be powered by smaller displacement four-cylinder engines instead of the 2.7-litre V6. The engine choice will
The incoming crossover will drop its four-wheel-drive system for a part-time all-wheel-drive system called Allgrip
include 1.6-litre diesel and petrol engines with transmission options. A six-speed automatic transmission is available for the 1.6-litre petrol engine while the diesel gets six-speed manual. Petrol versions will get five-speed manual transmission. The biggest change compared to the last Vitara will be in the drive system which now moves from two four-wheel-drive options to a single all wheel drive system with programmed preset terrain response management which Suzuki calls ALLGRIP. A limited-slip differential will also be part of the specifications. Two-wheel drive versions will get a five-speed manual transmission and common to all variants will be the large-diameter wheels and the high ground clearance. Suspension package will include MacPherson-struts up front and torsion beam at the rear. The new Vitara will first go into production at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary in early 2015 for European markets. It will later be exported around the world as Suzuki’s global compact SUV.
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Motorsports F1
F1 race report # 1 Japan Lewis Hamilton won, Nico Rosberg came second helping the team score their eighth 1-2 finish of the year.
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t will be a race everyone in the Formula 1 business will not forget so easily. Inclement weather conditions at Suzuka welcomed the race which began behind the Safety Car in wet conditions. Weather got worse and the race was suspended at the end of lap two. The race resumed at 15:25, once again behind the Safety Car, which then pitted at the end of lap 9. From this point, the race ran uninterrupted on a wet track in mixed weather conditions but was brought to a premature end by a red flag on lap 44 after a life-threatening accident involving Team Marussia’s driver Jules Bianchi at Turn 7. Reports in Germany claim the G-force sensor located in the Formula One driver’s earplugs recorded an incredible
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Sadly, Marussia driver Jules Bianchi was involved in a near fatal crash at the incident filled 2014 Japanese Grand Prix
92G impact during the crash. Sauber driver Adrian Sutil had crashed two laps earlier. According to a report issued by Formula 1’s governing body the FIA, Bianchi lost control of his car, travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the tractor that was being used to remove Sauber driver Adrian Sutil’s car which had crashed two laps earlier. The French driver is in hospital with a severe head injury sustained when his car slid off the track, drenched by rain brought in by the approaching Typhoon Phanfone. Meanwhile, Marussia has angrily responded to allegations Bianchi and his team ignored instructions to slow down before the ill-fated crash. While, Hamilton won and increased his lead in the championship, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Ricciardo, Vettel, Button, Bottas, Massa, Hulkenberg Vergne, and Perez, needless to say, all our thoughts are with Jules, who, according to the FIA was unconscious when removed from his car and has been taken to hospital.
F1 race report # 2 Russia Hamilton wins maiden Russian Grand Prix No matter how in intense the pain for a seriously injured colleague, the pain felt by Formula 1 after Jules Bianchi’s horrific accident in Japan and the shock is deep that followed was somewhat evident at Friday’s inaugural Russian GP practices. On race day, the mood was back to business and a repeat of stellar performances as seen in Japan with Briton Lewis Hamilton in blazing form. Hamilton won the inaugural Russian GP and Nico Rosberg finished in second, as Mercedes clinched their first ever constructors’ championship. Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin made his presence very well known as he watched the nation’s first Formula One grand prix on Sunday with
F1’s top brass including Bernie Ecclestone. The opening ceremony featured a display by the Russian air force, an elaborate dance routine and a Kuban Cossack chorus. And after these formalities, it was business as usual for the racers. Hamilton became one of only four drivers to win nine races in a season and his victory was essentially assured as soon as Rosberg made that mistake on turn one. For the second time in a year Hamilton has also won four races in succession equaling the achievement of Michael Schumacher in 2004. His 31st victory pulled him level with Nigel Mansell as Britain’s most successful F1 driver. He is going from
strength to stranglehold in this world championship and if he does not win the thing it will be a travesty. Rosberg, though, provided the outstanding drive here. He drove 52 laps on the same set of medium tyres to take second place,more than 13sec behind Hamilton. Hamilton, starting from his seventh pole of the season, defended his advantage by cutting across Rosberg, but the German drew level and then moved slightly ahead of his great rival. But, as he did so he locked up and flat-spotted his tyres, forcing him to pit for fresh rubber on only the second lap. When he asked about strategy he was told he would probably have to finish the race without making another stop. He not only finished it but made up 21 places, getting annoyed on separate occasions near the end, when he was expected to come in
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for another change. It was an astonishing performance in view of the fact that some drivers had to make two stops and others struggled to get to halfway without coming in for a change. Rosberg, who appears to have been in decline during Hamilton’s recent onslaught, admitted his costly error. “It was just a mistake on my side,” he said.
Hamilton has won five more races than his sole rival, his teammate Nico Rosberg, but leads by only 17 points with that ridiculous and possibly championship-spoiling, double-points seasonender in Abu Dhabi this month “I just braked too late, that was it. It was very unnecessary. It was my corner and I am very disappointed with that. After that my tyres were square so I couldn’t see where I was going and had to pit. “I thought that was the end of the day, so partly I’m happy to have managed to get back all the way to second. In hindsight, I could have pushed more during the race. It’s always easy to know more afterwards. In the end my tyres were fine. It is a pity. I just messed up. Very simple explanation – I braked too late and too hard.” It was also a good afternoon for Valtteri Bottas, in his Williams, who took his fifth podium position of the season to go fourth in the title race behind Daniel Ricciardo. Bottas said: “The beginning seemed to be very good and I was not far off from Lewis and everything was going to plan. The tyres were feeling good and suddenly the rear tyres started to go, started to lose pace and I was struggling more and more and Lewis was getting far away. Jenson Button was fourth, one place ahead of his team-mate Kevin Magnussen, as McLaren continued their impressive weekend in Russia, positively effulgent by their recent modest standards. Button was cautious about describing McLaren’s result as a turning point. “Some of it is the circuit, but also I think we have improved the set-up of the car and we have found some other things that work for us,” he said. 78 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
MotoGP
Button for Le Mans with Porsche? Jenson Button could move into Le Mans sports cars next year if he loses his McLaren seat, manager Richard Goddard has admitted. With just three races left to run in 2014, McLaren is still yet to announce its next driver lineup, although it is obvious talks with Fernando Alonso are taking place. “McLaren aren’t sure what they’re doing and what their lineiup will be,” Goddard confirmed to UK media. “Jenson is an incredibly competitive racing driver who wants to race. He’s too good to sit at the back of the F1 grid, so he either gets a competitive car in F1 or he goes to get one elsewhere.” The newspaper said 34-year-old Button, who has been with McLaren since taking the ‘number 1’ to the British team in 2010, has already had talks with Porsche. Fernandes exits GP2 Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes has completed his exit from top openwheeler racing by selling his Caterhambranded GP2 team. According to reports, Fernandes sold his Leafield-based F1 team to a mysterious group of SwissMiddle Eastern investors, led by Colin Kolles, earlier this year. A statement said Caterham’s GP2 team has now been sold to the GP3 outfit Status, owned by Teddy Yip, whose namesake and father was the Macau F3 chief and F1 team owner. However, Fernandes still owns a Caterham-branded Moto2 team, competing in the second tier of world championship motorcycle racing.
Drivers demand better wet tyres after Bianchi crash Several top F1 drivers are calling on the sport’s sole tyre supplier to improve its wet-weather product. It may be recalled that critically injured F1 driver Jules Bianchi lost control of his Marussia in worsening rain conditions at Suzuka when raining on worn ‘intermediate’ tyres. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton said drivers often prefer to run on that tyre when it is wet, because the ‘full wet’ Pirelli is so much slower. “It is no secret that they are not the greatest wet tyres that I have known,” said the Mercedes driver. “The slick will always be improved, but I guess not so much focus gets put on the wet,” he was quoted by media. “You want a tyre that clears the water and does not force us to go to the intermediate when it is so much quicker, and when it is probably not safe enough to do so,” Hamilton added. Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel admits the drivers’ concerns have been passed on to Pirelli. “It’s definitely something we’ve passed on already, not just after Japan,” he said, reportedly having raised the issue in the pre-race briefing last week in Russia. “As soon as you’ve got rid of most of the water (with the full wet tyre), you try to put the intermediate on, taking a lot of risk into account, just because it’s the quicker tyre,” the Red Bull driver added. Can Vettel cope with Ferrari demands? Michael Schumacher’s former manager, Willi Weber doubts Sebastian Vettel can emulate the F1 legend’s success at rebuilding a beleaguered Ferrari team. Weber, better known as the lucrative ‘Mr 20 per cent’ after brokering Schumacher’s jaw-dropping Ferrari contracts, is worried quadruple world champion Vettel’s personality might not be as suited to the task. Ferrari is expected to confirm German Vettel’s arrival as departing Fernando Alonso’s replacement in the days before the US grand prix.
Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy to participate in ME Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge S6 Porsche Centre Dubai, Al Nabooda Automobiles LLC, Porsche Importer Dubai & Northern Emirates, announced the driver pairing at the team press conference last month. Clemens Schmid has now been paired with Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy, who one of the region’s most experienced circuit racing drivers for the 2014-15 season. The duo look to complete a hat-trick of team titles in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East for their sponsors. Al Nabooda Racing secured a second successive team title in the Porsche GT3 Cup series last season, finishing with a 65-point margin over the runners up, Saudi Falcons. They won the team prize outright in seven of 12 rounds, sharing top place on another occasion and finishing runners up twice. Al Harthy, who replaces Karim Al Azhari in the Al Nabooda Racing team, will be returning to the Porsche GT3 Cup series in which he finished sixth overall in the 2011-12 season despite making only a limited number of appearances. He scored his maiden race win in the series that season at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit. Al Harthy made his racing debut in 2006 when he entered the Thunder Arabia Middle East series, becoming the first Omani driver to
compete in single-seaters and finishing the season as vice-champion. Schmid won seven of 12 rounds in the 2012-13 campaign as Al Nabooda Racing secured the double of team and individual drivers’ titles. His seven race wins last season put the Dubai outfit in control of the team championship again, while he was edged into second place in the drivers’ standings by a single point. “We’re very pleased to welcome Ahmad to the team and to pair him with Clemens for the first time,” said K Rajaram, CEO, Al Nabooda Automobiles. “We believe this is a combination which can help us secure the team championship for a third year. Schmid and Al Harthy will take the wheel of identical brand new 2015 Porsche GT3 Cup Cars when the 12-round, one-make series enters its sixth season, with the first two rounds taking place at Bahrain International Circuit on 14-15 November.
2014-15 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East race schedule Round 1 Race 1- 14th Nov 2014 Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain
Race 2- 15th Nov 2014
Race 3- 5th Dec 2014 Round 2 Dubai Autodrome, UAE
Race 4- 6th Dec 2014
Round 3 Race 5 - 23th Jan 2015 Losail International Circuit, Qatar
Race 6 - 24th Jan 2015
Race 7- 13th Feb 2015 Round 4 Losail International Circuit, Qatar
Race 8- 14th Feb 2015
Round 5 Race 9 - 27th Feb 2015 Dubai Autodrome, UAE
Race10 - 28th Feb 2015
Round 6 Race 11 - 4th April 2015 Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain
Race 12 - 5th April 2015
Rossi dazzles Oz The MotoGP™ race at the Tissot Australian Grand Prix saw Valentino Rossi take his second win of 2014, with Jorge Lorenzo and Bradley Smith also on the podium. Marc Marquez crashed out of an incident packed race whilst leading and Dani Pedrosa was forced to retire after being clipped by Andrea Iannone Marc Marquez, the 2014 MotoGP title already tucked into his leathers, crashed out of the Oz MotoGP on Sunday to hand the race to Valentino Rossi. He was one of four fallers in the race, one of them team mate Dani Pedrosa – their first double DNF of the season. Rossi, racing his 250th GP race, was followed home by Jorge Lorenzo and Bradley Smith, the latter taking the first podium place of his career. Rossi rolled back the years to win his sixth premierclass Australian MotoG on Oct 19 after 2014 champion Marc Marquez’s cruise to a pole-to-flag victory was ended by a crash on lap 18. With a second successive MotoGP title secured in Japan a week earlier, 21-year-old Honda rider Marquez looked destined to match Mick Doohan’s record of 12 race wins in a single season when he led by four seconds. Ten laps from the end, though, his front end was snapped away from under him and he slithered along the asphalt and on to the trackside grass. Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 79
Pushing the frontiers Neil Armstrong was a really lucky man. In the midst of the space race between the United States and the erstwhile USSR, hundreds of astronauts were in training for space missions. But it was to his good fortune that he was commander of the Apollo XI, thereby giving him the opportunity to leap off the ladder of the lander and leave his imprint quite literally in the story of man’s progress. His one small step was rightly a huge leap for mankind. As a race, we tend to remember stuff like that – Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on Everest, Piccard and Walsh at the bottom of the ocean in the Trieste and Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier in the Bell X1 come to mind immediately. Another one that was drummed in by one of the most effective marketing campaigns of its time was the leap from the edge of space by Felix Baumgartner. One can only imagine the challenges of sending up a man to jump from the then record height of 127,852 feet. It seems quite anticlimactic to then hear of the record being broken so soon. Over the past week, Alan Eustace, a Google management team member, rose well above this height to free-fall from 135,908 feet. And he didn’t go up in a protective capsule with prominent branding, all he had was a protective suit that kept him alive. But how likely are we to remember him in the future? If you see the amount of media coverage you know that his feat will be but just a passing blip on pages of sub-space travel. Fearless Felix and his RedBull sponsored record will remain on the books as the defining moment when man leapt off from a really high board. And if you don’t believe me ask yourself who was the astronaut on duty in the orbiting command module of Apollo XI? Poor Michael Collins didn’t stand a chance – with his story being one of “so near, yet so far”. But why have I spent so long on this topic? Raj Warrior is editor of Automan and has been in the thick of the Automotive journalism field from the past 15 years.
Want to comment or have your say? Email at raj@alroya.net. Identify yourself or your message will be trashed and your id blocked
It’s because I have come to the conclusion that almost all future records and achievements will be governed by how well they are marketed. Admittedly, many of these records are themselves the result of costlier enterprises – like being the first man on Mars. Unless a government, or indeed multiple governments are funding this, how exactly is anyone ever going to cover the tab? Yes, the bogey of sponsorship is there to stay. One can well imagine a future where a Starship Enterprise is cloaked entirely in Pepsi branding and a future Captain Kirk needs to yell out “divert all power from the rear billboards to the deflector shields” And you know the Klingons because of the large KFC on their warbirds. The subtle and not so subtle marketing aspects of modern business are hitting us on a daily basis. From the umpteen brand managers who are upset with yours’ truly because “your story doesn’t match our marketing message”, to the new breed of content peddlers who send in proposals for free content (also with offers to pay us) that is tailored for our platform, with relevant links included, there is no story too small and no limits too low to which marketers won’t reduce themselves. In today’s marketing driven world a venture like the Apollo XI would be tailored – you would have a politically correct mix of astronauts and you would also have celebrities endorsing the flight. What you don’t get anymore is the sheer thrill of exploration, of being a pioneer, of doing something well just because it has to be done. Sit and calculate eyeballs, return on investment and measure of voice and tell the pioneers, “It’s just not worth doing it.” Admittedly, having access to the money is important for any endeavour, whether run-of-the-mill or challenging. In the good old days the sponsors were rich gentry who only wanted to do good. Or were outright mercenary – taking a cut of all new lands discovered, treasures looted or goods traded. After all even the Americas wouldn’t have been discovered without sponsorship. So here’s an idea for the next big record – the first privately funded manned flight to the moon. And an idea for paying back your sponsors – spray paint a giant billboard on the surface of the moon. What bets that RedBull’s already considering the idea?
80 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014