GAZ January 134

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WAYS E L P M I S CING A L P E R OF TER THE WA P PUM Issue 134

January 2018

Gulf Auto Zone

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editor’s note

JAN 2018 ISSUE 134 CGAZ709

Year 2018 begins with the Gulf Auto Zone (GAZ) looking at many new sectors in depth. The Bahrain market waits to witness the hike in petrol prices. The price per litre of high grade petrol has risen a little over 12 per cent even as salaries remain static.

The impact of the move will surely be available by the end of the first quarter of the year.

GAZ Team CEO/Editor-in-chief Ebrahim Al Khaja Managing Editor Arif Al Khaja

Automobile industry watchers wait to see the impact. While the industry was already suffering about 30 per cent, it remains to be seen how heavy the impact will be in 2018.

Add to it the switch from conventional fuels to green fuels and other improvements planned in technology by the global manufacturers. The shift to electric vehicles seems to be gathering pace all over. Add to this the development of driverless cars the import it will bear on the pricing, one waits with bated breath. How all these will impact the car buying population of the Middle East is what experts in this region wait to see. We look at the two-wheeler industry going electric as also the plans of European companies and their Japanese counterparts to engage technology firms in building high-tech automobiles.

Production Director Sawsan Al Khaja Editor Arrackal Alexander M.

Graphic Designer & Online Editor Hassan Aldoy Marketing & Sales

Off the beat the issue looks at the new yachts and the watches that are hitting the market, introducing them so our readers are abreast of the latest.

abzinvest.com Accounts ABz Invest

Wishing you a very healthy, fruitful and blessed New Year.

We hope our readers enjoy the magazine. If you should have something to tell us, use the gaz@gazgroup email to shout out to us. We wait to hear from you.Every page in our magazine is a dedication to the entire automobile aficionados all around and for sure you can feel it when you flip through. We as a team have tried our best to strive hard and touch perfection. But, the driving force is always the opinion and genuine criticism from you our readers. So, please give us your feedback on our style of presentation at Gaz@gazgroup.com. Enjoy and experience the ride, lets move together. Cheers!

Design & Lay-out Consultant Ammar Alsadiq Photography

MK Studios Moh’d AlKhaja Aziz Al Kharaz Test Drivers Osama Buflasa Ahmed Al Khaja Carina Abdul Rahman

Editor-in-chief Ebrahim Al Khaja

For Editorial / Advertising Contact Gulf Auto Zone (Journalism, Publishing & Distribution), P.O. Box 33603, Kingdom of Bahrain.

E-mail: gaz@gazgroup.com Tel: (+973) 17 000920, Fax: (+973)17 930090 Distributed by Al-Ayam Corp Publisher:

The information presented in this magazine was verified for its correctness from various sources. Any error, omission or inaccuracy thereafter will not be a legal responsibility of the magazine. The materials used in this magazine are the exclusive property of GAZ Journalism, Publishing & Distribution. No reproduction in any form is allowed except after receiving a written permission from the company.

Gaz_Magazine

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Gaz Magazine

Printed at Awal Press. Bahrain.

contents 06

NEWS Launches Motoring Updates Motoring Economics

GAZ TECH

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SIMPLE WAYS OF REPLACING THE WATER PUMP

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COVER STORY HD

TEST DRIVE

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GAC GA8 Subaru Impreza

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EVENTS Race Car Show Rides

GAZMAN

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NEWS

UEFA fans surprised by Nissan London: Nissan surprised football fans on their way to a match by challenging them to put their playing skills and knowledge of Europe’s biggest club competition to the test, as part of the celebration of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Teaming up with former stars and UCL legends Marcel Desailly and Mario Basler, Nissan took to the streets of London and Munich to find fans who would have what it takes to not only answer a series of tough questions on the history of the UEFA Champions League but also test their football skills against Nissan’s formidable Crossover the New X-Trail.

Those capable of rising to the challenge won tickets to the matchday six crucial final group games at both Chelsea and FC Bayern München. Nissan announced a three-year extension to its global partnership with the UEFA Champions League, including the UEFA Super Cup in September 2017.

New JLR models expected in Bahrain The agency for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in the Kingdom of Bahrain, announced a line-up of the JLR vehicles set to be launched in 2018. The first quarter of 2018 will see the launch of two Land Rover models, the All-New Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. First revealed at the Design Museum in London in early October 2017, the Rover Sport has been restyled and engineered to be a more refined and luxurious vehicle offering a modern ecological drive. The Sport received a mild facelift along with numerous upgrades and addition to its interior.

Spring 2018 will see the launch of the E-PACE, Jaguar’s first compact SUV. With its sculpted bonnet and muscular rear haunches, the model bears the lines of a coupé. With a driver-focused cockpit sitting at the heart of a familyfocused interior it takes the rewarding Jaguar driving experience and adds everyday practicality with class leading interior stowage.

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Rexton 2018 launched with easy financing.

Manama: Motorcity launched the 2018 SsangYong Rexton. The SUV is now a seven-seater. The new version was launched with the American market in focus, said Dr Bijan Majidi, Senior General Manager. The new Rexton comes in three main trim levels: Low, Mid and High. Prices for the three versions are: BD8,995 for low, BD 10,500 for Mid and BD11,400 for high. The BD 8,995 comes with ‘0’ down payment and BD131 monthly instalment.

an extremely robust and durable car, yet features a dignified and beautifully balanced style throughout.

The new Rexton is powered by G20DTR DI, a 2.0-litre turbocharged directinjection gasoline engine, delivering maximum power of 225HP and maximum torque of 350Nm, with an Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission.

It measures 4,850mm in length, 1,960mm wide, 1,825mm high, and has a 2,865mm wheelbase. It also features a body-on-frame construction to create

The car’s safety features include brake assist, electronic brake force distribution and ABS, traction control, active rollover protection, front airbags and an emergency stop signal. SsangYong has also added new driver assistance safety features such as lane departure warning and high beam assistance.

The sense of refinement is demonstrated with the beautifully executed interior.

The ambiance is fresh, contemporary and well laid out, with a choice of seating including full high grade Nappa leather trim, with a touch of quilted Nappa leather for the seat inserts and other interior trims on the High model.

The top of the range Rexton adds front

and rear cameras, blind spot detection as well as rear cross traffic alert to provide a clear view of the area surrounding the car to increase safety and driver convenience during low-speed driving and parking.

The Rexton really moves the game forward for SsangYong technologically.

The advanced infotainment system includes DAB radio, excellent connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto for device mirroring, a rear view reversing camera, all displayed on an 8.0” screen.

Other features include a Supervision instrument cluster with a particularly large 7” LCD display for driver information, and a ‘smart’ electronic tailgate for added convenience when loading and unloading the boot, according to model.

The SsangYong Rexton costs come with a 5-year /or 150,000km* warranty, and 5 years of roadside assistance.

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NEWS MOTORSPORT

Ford plans Ranger for the US in ‘19 DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is re-entering the midsize pickup segment with the 2019 Ford Ranger, after eight years.

The Ranger offers truck buyers some of the features and benefits available in an F-150 but with fewer customization options, a smaller footprint and lower price tag. It will come in three trim levels: XL, XLT and Lariat. Ford will sell two-door SuperCab and four-door SuperCrew configurations.

The revived Ranger, to be made in Michigan, is expected to hit the market next year. It has a similar architecture to the pickup Ford sells in dozens of markets overseas, but its design and powertrain have been developed specifically for US buyers. Ford plans to formally introduce the Ranger at the Detroit auto show. It will, however, offer only one engine option: a 2.3-liter EcoBoost mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The latest Ranger has a mostly steel body, rugged axles from Dana Inc. and an exterior design similar to its larger F-series counterparts. During development, it went through the same

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torture tests as the F-150. It is all about about designing and engineering specifically for the North American customer and the conditions the trucks will undergo in the market, said the Ford marketing manager.

The Ranger will include a host of new technology – including a standard 4G-connected Wi-Fi hot spot, FordPass Connect and pre-collision assist

technology as well as a number of other optional driver-assist features.

An off-road FX4 package will be offered across all trims. That will give drivers the terrain-management system first offered on the F-150 Raptor that includes four drive modes: normal, grass/gravel/ snow, mud/ruts and sand. The package also includes a new trail control, which acts as an off-road cruise control by

accelerating or braking to maintain a set speed while traversing gravel or mountain trails. It’s an extension of the automaker’s hill-descent control, which controls braking on steep grades. The FX4 package will come with standard automatic emergency braking.

The Ranger will include a host of new technology, such as a standard 4G-connected Wi-Fi hot spot, FordPass Connect and pre-collision assist technology, said the company The model will also have a blind-spot information system with sensors that can extend their line of sight to the back of a trailer up to 33 feet long. The system will be standard on the XLT and Lariat trims.

The exterior will include frame-mounted steel bumpers as well as the Ranger’s name prominently stamped into the tailgate and some grille designs. The interior includes an 8-inch touch screen as well as two LCD screens in the instrument cluster. The rear seats offer waterproof under seat storage.

Ford expects the Ranger to have bestin-class payload capacity but wouldn’t divulge any details on power, fuel economy, dimensions or weight. The US midsize pickup market peaked at

1.32 million in 1986 and then staged a modest rally in recent years, which however remains small. The Ranger was always among the segment’s top sellers, including No. 1 as recently as 2004.

During the 1990s, Ranger sales routinely

totaled more than 300,000 units a year before fading in the 2000s.

The auto maker wants the Ranger to add to its strong overall pickup sales; the fullsize F series has been the nation’s bestselling pickup for 41 straight years.

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NEWS

Byton to unveil electric SUV 8

Electric vehicle startup Byton recently unveiled a concept electric sports utility vehicle with autonomous technologies, a lounge-like interior, and face recognition cameras at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES). A production version is expected to reach China by the end of 2019, followed by Europe and the US in 2020, said a media source.

A bold claim, but Byton President Daniel Kirchert says the vehicle will be the firstever affordable premium EV that fulfills the requirements as the first car in every household. The midsize SUV will start at around $45,000.

Up front, the Byton concept features lights that can change depending on different driving scenarios and the messages it wants to communicate to others on the road. Face recognition cameras on the B-pillars can unlock the doors for drivers or passengers. Instead of traditional side mirrors, the vehicle has discreet side-view cameras to help drivers see their outside surroundings.

Step in the cabin, and the concept reveals a living area with a wooden floor, leather upholstery, and rotating seats. A large screen almost 50 inches wide sits on the dashboard, complementing a smaller driver tablet behind the steering wheel and two screens in the rear seats.

To control functions like navigation, users can use hand gestures from any position in the car.

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NEWS MOTORSPORT

F-Pace at ‘0’ down payment

Bahrain: Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover launched the Jaguar F-PACE with ‘0’ down payment at BHD 499 per month.

The campaign allowed customers to own the F-PACE by making it budgetfriendly. Along with the amazing payment scheme on offer, customers were additionally provided with benefits such as five years free warranty, free five year service package and free 24/7 road assistance services for 5 years.

The Jaguar SUV blends sporty handling and breathtaking beauty with everyday practicality and efficiency.

Technologically advanced to the core

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it keeps one safe, connected and entertained.

The recipient of two highly coveted awards, World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year, at the 2017 World Car Awards in New York, the F-PACE is only the second vehicle in the awards 13-year history to claim a famous double victory. To win the pair of trophies, the F-PACE saw off the competition in a vote of 75 influential motoring journalists from 24 countries. The incredible showing this year takes the SUV’s global awards tally to an exceptional 34 titles.

The Jaguar F-PACE is a performance

SUV with the DNA of a sports car. Its powerful, agile looks make it utterly distinctive and give it a head-turning road presence. From the bonnet bulge to the pronounced rear haunches, F-PACE reinvents the energy, strength and purity of form of the F-TYPE. F-PACE provides the driver with headup display and activity key, as well as advanced driving aids to make every journey easier and more relaxed. These include advanced InControl multimedia system, which keeps one entertained and ensures that they are always connected to the outside world.

Pirelli aims to improve tyres

Pirelli tyres, Formula 1 tyre manufacturer, has predicted another big reduction in lap times for the 2018 season. It is expanding the line-up of compounds to offer to teams this year and adding a new superhard option at one end of the spectrum, and a hypersoft at the other.

The tyre manufacturer announced that neither will be appearing in the first four races of the season. The tyres available to teams at Baku will be the soft, supersoft and ultrasoft tyres.

The 2017 line-up included the medium tyre, but it was not used. Pirelli’s director of motorsport Mario Isola said that the company was offering softer options in general in 2018. The tyre manufacturer is now trying to understand where to use it. It was looking for more data on this.

Probably Monaco will be the first race where the hypersoft will be used.

The Baku tyres are the same as Pirelli is bringing to the season opener in Australia. The medium compound will be offered at Bahrain along with the softs and supersofts. And for China, teams can choose from medium, soft and ultrasoft tyres.

Drivers automatically get one set of each available compound. They then make an individual selection for the rest of

their 13-set weekend allocation. A set of the softest compound must be held in reserve for use in Q3, and two different compounds must be used in a dry race.

Overall, the softer tyres should mean that cars are able to go even faster this year than in 2017, when many circuits saw new track records. There is the natural development of the cars because there are no big changes in terms of technical regulations Isola told journalists. The estimates from the teams are roughly

one second per lap as an average from the end of last season to the beginning of this season. In the first half of the season Pirelli will probably have the biggest difference compared to last year, said the manager. He added that in 2017 the approach was changed from Silverstone onwards. Spa was already aggressive, Suzuka was an aggressive choice. He said he believed that 1 or 1.5 seconds in terms of performance is reasonable.

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NEWS

i-PACE likely on road in 2018

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Dubai: Jaguar is in town with a production prototype for final range and durability tests ahead of its official global reveal in 2018, exactly a year on from showing the I-PACE Concept at the LA Auto Show. Ian Hoban, Jaguar Vehicle Line Director, said: “After 1.5 million global test miles, the I-PACE is ready for production and is proven to deliver long distances on a single charge. Jaguar’s first battery electric vehicle will also be fast to charge; our target is a zero to 80 per cent charge being achievable in a short break.”

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Full specification and pricing for Jaguar’s electric performance SUV will be announced in March 2018 when order books will officially open.

Thousands of potential customers have pressed the ‘I want one’ button on www. jaguar.com to place a deposit or register a strong interest in the hotly anticipated electric SUV. Not only will they be at the front of the queue when order books officially open in March, but a lucky few have been chosen to accompany Jaguar’s engineers as prototype vehicles complete final validation tests.

Ann Voyer from Pasadena asked Jaguar if the I-PACE would have enough range to complete her favourite road trip along California’s West Coast. To answer her question, Jaguar engineers took her on a long-distance range test – on one charge only. The I-PACE production prototype drove 200 miles from Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, to Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, on a single charge of its advanced Lithium-Ion battery.

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NEWS

Ioniq wins 2018 women’s award

The 2018 Hyundai Ioniq, was awarded the Women’s World Car of the Year Supreme Award. The Hyundai model that offers three electrified powertrains won the top prize on the decision of an all-female jury comprised of respected international automotive journalists.

Jurors named it a “clear winner” among more than 400 initial contenders. It was also won it the top honor in the competitive Green Car category.

The Ioniq is perhaps the first ecofocused vehicle platform in the world to offer Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid and Electric models, said the company. The car maker’s approach for the Ioniq line delivers an uncompromising design and driving experience coupled with the latest in safety and convenience technologies, making it an appealing choice for a wide range of buyers. For the awards competition, all three Ioniq variants were considered and treated as one car for voting purposes.

“The car that wins the Supreme award has gone through a rigorous test by 25 judges from 20 different countries who are on the panel of Women’s World Car of the Year,” said Sandy Myhre, CEO, Women’s World Car of the Year. “It’s a democratic process and cars that have won categories and the supreme winner really have to stand out.”

“Ioniq was designed for drivers who appreciate all forms of sustainable powertrain options and represents a significant step forward for eco-friendly driving,” said ByungKwon Rhim,

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Executive Vice President & COO, Hyundai Motor. “Earning the unique honor of the Supreme Award from the judges of the Women’s World Car of the Year demonstrates that Ioniq has achieved a new benchmark for performance in an environmentally friendly package.”

The brand also earned the 2017 Green Good Design Award™ from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and has been named a Green Car of the Year® finalist by the Green Car Journal.

Women’s World Car of the Year(WWCOTY) is unique world-wide.

It is the only automotive award voted on exclusively by women. Judges in

the WWCOTY awards are not voting for “a woman’s car”. Rather, they vote as experienced journalists and assess cars accordingly. They do, however, take into account what they think women would like to buy. This difference makes the Women’s World Car of the Year Supreme Award one of the most unique in the industry.

In the contest, judges for the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards nominated their preferences. This year 420 cars were on the first nomination list, whittled down to the top 60. Judges then voted on those cars by allocating points.

Voting is by secret ballot and audited by international accountancy company, Grant Thornton, from their Auckland (NZ) office.

EVRT 2018 to span 1,217 km

Abu Dhabi: The Electric Vehicle Road Trip (EVRT) is expected to return in January for an epic, 1,217-kilometre, nine-day road trip across Oman and the UAE - all without using a single drop of petrol.

Buoyed by the success of last year’s road trip across the UAE, the 2018 edition of the EVRT has been expanded to include a visit to Oman’s capital Muscat and the city of Sohar.

The nine-day road trip will see a convoy of all-electric powered vehicles drive through the deserts of Abu Dhabi, the mountains of Oman and along the rugged coastline of the Northern Emirates.

Setting off from Abu Dhabi on January 18th, the cars will visit Madinat Zayed before driving to Sohar in Oman and on to Muscat. The convoy will then return to the UAE, calling at Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah before passing through Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Sharjah.

The vehicles will reach the finish line and final destination, at The Sustainable City in Dubai on January 26th, just in time to join in a special family fun day celebrating the road trip and all things sustainable; giving the public a chance to learn everything they need to know

about electric cars through test drives, workshops and exhibitors.

Each day of the trip will see the Tesla and other electric car models explore the open roads before stopping at sites of outstanding natural beauty as well as important sustainable energy projects such the Shams 1 Solar Park.

The cars, which can travel as far as 400km on a full charge (depending on make and model), will be recharged using a network of green parking charging stations at IHG hotels.

Car lovers could participate in the 2018 Electric Vehicle Road Trip Middle East and join the epic trip from January 18 to January 26.

Tickets are available for the full nine day journey or for one of the two fiveday stages, where participants can join for Abu Dhabi (January 18) to Muscat (January 22) or Muscat (22) to Dubai (January 26), with the chance to drive an electric vehicle on sections of the route.

Road trip participants can also enjoy activities such as visiting Oman’s Botanic Garden with the country’s first solar park, sightseeing in Muscat, experiencing authentic Omani culture in Sohar, relaxing on the beaches of

Fujairah, and driving through the famous golden sand dunes of Madinat Zayed, amongst other activities.

Ben Pullen, Managing Director of Global EVRT said: “The Electric Vehicle market has developed significantly in the last 12 months in the UAE and it’s fantastic to see that there are other forward-thinking governments and industry in this region, such as Oman who are already working on smart city development, with inevitable plans for electric vehicles in the near future. However, there is still a lot of misunderstanding amongst consumers of what these cars are capable of.

“By tackling this tough terrain across 1,217km we are demonstrating that these cars are not just environmentally friendly options for the future, they are real options for car buyers right now, with innovative gadgets and technology to excite and impress.

“Driving an electric vehicle during the road trip is the perfect way to fully appreciate the capabilities of the technology that is shaping the future of transport and to see first-hand how well the cars handle the open road, especially over long distances.”

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NEWS

Electric motorbikes and revolution in fuel

Electric motorcycle manufacturers are expected to find life on the other side of the bike world from the contemporary very different. It will have to do with every aspect of creating and maintaining the vehicle as the fuel changes.

As an electric bike manufacturer the little knickknacks are not to worrisome. The reason for the confidence in whipping the tank up and off to have a look for it is because, with internal combustion engine bikes, the dangers when poking around under the proverbial hood fairly obvious: be wary of hot bits if the bike’s

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been running recently; don’t smoke in the vicinity (or play with fireworks); and so on.

With an electric bike, many of those familiar precautions become irrelevant, or change in such a way as to no longer be familiar. Electric bikes don’t get hot, electricity doesn’t smell or audibly slosh around in the tank, and batteries are never really “off.” To make matters more interesting, a staggering amount of energy is stored in that “always on” battery, and it’s DC electricity – the most dangerous type to be around. Jump

onto YouTube and catch a glimpse of what happens when even a small lithium ion battery from a smart phone gets punctured and you’ll get the idea.

This new fangled electric bike stuff can be seriously dangerous in the wrong hands – to the point that riding around with a tank of explosive liquid between your legs seems relatively sane by comparison.

All of this has the potential to change how people might behave when owning an electric bike. One might begin to think twice about flipping up the tank for a quick poke around with a flashlight and a screwdriver, knowing that live electricity is lurking within. Suddenly those cold winter weekends tinkering with the bike in the shed, running through that upgrade list, might begin to look slightly different as one realise that one cannot mess nearly as much with an electric bike as a gas powered one.

All of the consumable parts on a gaspowered bike still need maintaining on an electric bike: tires, brake pads, suspension, brake fluid. transmission fluid (in some cases), suspension linkages to grease, and perhaps some chain or belt adjustment. But that’s pretty much it. No valve clearances, air filters, cam chain tensioners, pistons,

and all the rest of it to worry about.

Certainly where the electric bike goes for service or repair will change.

Farewell the do-it-all garage. Electric bike manufacturers are producing wildly different bikes with bespoke parts and technology. For example, Energica’s bikes run on 300V, where as Zero’s run on 110V. Knowledge of how these bikes work doesn’t necessarily transfer between manufacturers, so dropping the electric bike off at a local garage to have some gremlins taken care of may no longer be possible. Instead it’ll likely have to go back to the dealership’s shop – to a garage with mechanics trained by a manufacturer to work safely on that manufacturer’s bikes – and that might be two states away. According to Energica’s CTO, Giampiero Testoni, standards are plucked from the electric car world and used in the electric bike world, but the live wires in Energica’s bikes might still be colored differently from, say, Zero’s.

Life for the electric bike manufacturers is completely different, too. When it comes down to it, electric bike manufacturers are actually somewhere between software companies and technology companies. 70 percent of bike

manufacturer Energica’s research and development budget goes directly into software engineering. The remaining 30 percent goes into chassis development.

With exception of the battery, all of the hardware and knowledge is bought in from outside companies. There are plenty of companies out there who can build a chassis, plenty of companies who can build an electric motor, said Testoni The single biggest problem for an

electric bike manufacturer is making the bike safe. That means many, many hours testing the software in the “brain” of the bike to make sure it can’t and won’t accidentally apply 100-percent throttle when you do something weird, eg, attempt to change the riding mode while holding down the starter button.

In the case of an electric vehicle, a bug could be the cause of serious injury or worse. Most electric bikes lack even a clutch lever that could be relied upon to disengage the final drive in an emergency. Additionally there is need to think differently about how the power source is looked at. In many ways, batteries are living, breathing things that perform differently depending upon atmospheric conditions, their age, and how they’ve been used and charged.

A fun twist is that each and every one of them performs slightly differently.

And, for packaging reasons on a bike, they have to be made of flat cells rather than cylindrical cells. Those flat cells are made almost entirely by hand because it’s hard to automate their construction; there are hundreds of the things in every bike battery.

Meanwhile, electric bikes present challenges not present in other electric vehicles. Take a Tesla car for example: the AC system is used to keep batteries at a constant temperature, so the car performs as predictably as possible.

There’s no such system available on a bike, so the software in the ECU has to constantly assess the current atmospheric conditions and work out how the battery is currently able to perform.

It’s all too easy to spend an hour or two on an electric bike and walk away thinking the only difference is whether one plugs into a wall socket afterwards or fill up with gas. The truth is that the changes go far, far deeper. EV manufacturers have different goals, different problems to solve, and are more so technology companies than traditional engineering companies.

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NEWS

GM Cruise AV by 2019

General Motors has entered the autonomous revolution with its Cruise AV. |The company spent $1 billion on acquiring Cruise Automotive 2016. Now the Cruise AV is a driverless car. Iit has no steering wheel, no pedals and no real driver controls at all. There is only a touchscreen. The model is expected to hit the road in 2019.

Intended just for a GM-operated ridesharing service, the commuter will summon the Cruise using an app, much like they would if using a service like Lyft.

Users can also input their destination through the app and the car will safely, silently usher them along.

However, there is more than that. Users can also input things like preferred temperature and music, and the car will make sure it’s set to your preferences before showing up on the curb. Once

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inside, passengers will receive constant updates on the car’s progress and status through a series of touchscreens, placed one in the dash up front and two more behind the headrests for passengers in the rear. It’s through these screens that the car will give an idea of what it can “see” of the world around.

Its vision is through a complex and redundant series of optical, laser and radar scanners, including three separate radar systems. In the event of a sensor systems failure, a backup system could cover. Likewise, the autonomous processing system is fully redundant, so that any failure there would simply result in switching from one to the other.

The Cruise AV has been tested extensively in San Francisco and presumably will launch there first in 2019, when they start hitting the roads.

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NEWS

Alliance plans $200 m mobility tech fund

Nissan it is reported is ready to invest in new technology with Mitsubishi and Renault. A media report has it that the three plan to pool $200 million to create a ‘mobility tech fund’. The fund will find use to invest in startups, theoretically giving Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi the opportunity to better adapt to the industry’s shift toward autonomy and electrification.

Alliance CEO, Carlos Ghosn is expected to make the announcement on the fund at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Renault and Nissan will each reportedly contribute 40 per cent of the cash, with Mitsubishi contributing the final 20 per cent is w3hat one gathers at the moment.

Where Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi will begin investing this money is yet not known, but Ghosn may explain more during the announcement at CES. While this will be a new fund, the idea itself isn’t necessarily new. In the past, several other automakers have done something similar. BMW it is said put about $600 million into its iVentures fund. General Motors has put about $240 million into GM Ventures. PSA Group’s fund is smaller, only receiving about $100 million.

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NEWS

Italian in tech and feel

Alfa Stelvio

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a car expected to hit the streets in 2018. It steers with a steady linear effort. Braking is done with a slight touch. The brake pedal responds obediently. Alfa’s brake-by-wire system feels more natural and better sorted in this model. The Stelvio doesn’t drive small but there is a precision to the controls inviting one to use more road and corner closer to trees that crowd the driving line.

The Stelvio’s transmission is the rare automatic that doesn’t race to upshift upon leaving a stoplight, even with the driving-mode selector pointed at the default Natural setting. The driver can be sure that the 19- and 20-inch wheels calmly roll over imperfections.

Its measurements suggest tighter rear-seat and cargo space than its competitors, although neither feels especially cramped. To keep Alfa’s entry from being a me-too vehicle, the brand is applying technology in its own way.

Every Stelvio carries a carbon-fiber driveshaft and enough aluminum reducing the overall weight. The available performance package installs

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a helical limited-slip differential between the rear wheels. To drive home the brand message, Alfa makes the driver thumb an engine-start button mounted on the steering wheel. In Sport and Ti Sport trims, massive column-mounted aluminum shift paddles block the control stalks. Standard in the Stelvio is the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four paired with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. The variable-valve-lift engine is the strongman of the class, however, at 280 horses and 306 lb-ft of torque. Yet it’s also a gentleman, revving smoothly with minimal turbo lag.

Stelvio specs include 10-way power seats for both the driver and passenger, real leather, 18-inch wheels, proximitykey entry, remote start, adaptive headlights, rear parking sensors, a backup camera, and a power liftgate.

The step up to the Ti trim adds heating to the front seats and the steering wheel, satellite radio, front parking sensors, and an 8.8-inch infotainment display (up from 6.5 inches in the base model).

Sport variants, available in both base and Ti configurations, include paddle shifters, aluminum interior trim and pedals, larger wheels, painted brake calipers (in red, black, or yellow), and gloss-black exterior trim. A couple of different driver-assistance packages bring blind-spot monitoring, autodimming exterior mirrors, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beams. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility will become standard equipment within a couple months of the Stelvio’s late-June arrival, but that feature is unavailable in the initial batch of cars.

Alfa also gets its own premium-feeling switchgear and a new infotainment system that is exclusive to the brand. The interior design can be accented with real aluminum, wood, or carbon fiber. At the same time, the designers didn’t attempt to dress up some of the plastics, such as the untextured, flat-finish trim that surrounds the unfortunate, ambiguous electronic shifter.

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COVER STORY

Quite a ‘Heritage’ indeed

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COVER STORY

The Harley Davidson motorcycle in itself is a machine of much reverence and ‘Oomph’ for those who know what ‘mean bikes’ reflect. That mean look factor is multiplied many times over with the every element of customisation finds the Gulf Auto Zone (GAZ) as we uncover the ‘ 2017 Harley Davidson Heritage’ owned by Ammar Alhasan, Director of Bahrain Gas. The Chopper he owns is a ‘one-of-its kind’ in Bahrain.

Talk about this passion and the man lights up. Indeed, he has much reason to as the motorcycle shows. He told GAZ, the machine is a Heritage customised to chopper. “I bought it from the Harley Davidson dealership in America and the customisation was done by an expert on motorcycle modification living in Oklahoma. The level of modifications has made it a head turner.”

“A ‘heritage’ indeed when one looks at the artistic handmade engravings done on it, combined with 1970s chopper look. The steel shines out in the sun and in stark contrast is the modern colour design and comfortable seating,” he added. The luxury provided is very 21st century, thus making it a perfect combo of performing, shows stealing and daily use motor cycle, said Alhasan.

“Owning a motorcycle was a dream for the lad in me. So as a 14- year= old, I was riding the chopper bike as a pillion.

This was in the 70’s and that is how it all started,” said Alhasan. “That you may know, I have been riding all over the

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Middle East and Europe and America carrying the flag of Kingdom of Bahrain and it’s morals all over.”

Talking about the rides, he said, “I ride with different clubs and do enjoy it. The groups make me feel protected and part of it. This helps in riding safe. Thus it is that I have been in many big gatherings in the Middle East, America --like Daytona bike show -- and Fokker C bike show in Europe to name but a few and also had come across huge fellowship.”

“I cannot help having passion for my motor cycles. I highly recommend to try this spiritual experience which has lot to offer in my well being and it gives me the opportunity to connect and to give unconditionally with my fellow bikers.”

GAZ was inquisitive to get the cat out of the bag and prodded him on the modifications he’d done to the engine.

“I did not modify the engine. Except for that aspect I have customized everything on the bike, including the covers. My attention was more on the wheels, the exhaust, fenders, petrol tank, seat, handle bar, CC bar (the supporting bar at the back) and the fork,” he added.

In some of the areas modified one can see the pride of the owner, what with his name engraved into it. One is reminded of the choppers seen on the mean streets of the US, made famous by the rider gangs and the many movies including Born to be Wild. Alhasan has ensured handmade engraved design.

‘A change over’ can we call it that at the

least to this motorbike? The motorcycle today wears a completely different look than the original Harley he bought. “I have used the engine and customised the frame. As is generally said in the biking world ‘adding a neck ‘to have a chopper look. One of the key areas of change over is the silencer – which was changed to add a special sound. I call it the ‘musical sound’ and as most bikers believe, ‘a loud exhaust saves life.”

Pouring credit for the changes made to all those who helped him, Alhasan said, “My motor bike fabrication is done with advice from my friend Ali Al Attar, an ardent bike lover. I have also used the resources of a professional, Jerry Covington from Covington Customs , Oklahoma. Nader Mohamed, my friend and local dealer and builder is also in the chain. He is now working on a new bike for me. I look at how I am going to change fork, in addition to the options I have in fixing handle bar and deciding their size. Information is always coming in from my friends on the wheels and their sizes, petrol tank size and all other aspects. Ali and I we generally brainstorm and do homework until we make it very personalised.”

He added that the bike was his pride, “I ride it with utmost pride as it is and it is a unique piece ridden in the Kingdom of Bahrain.”

Going personal on the love for riding, Alhasan said, “I first started to ride at 12 years of age. There was a scooter next

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COVER STORY to my father’s shop. It was a kick-start scooter made in India. When I kicked it once, the machine jumped and banged on to the wall of my father’s office. That was my first knowledge of riding .My second attempt was riding in the fields of Tubli .It was a gear free motor cycle which belonged to one of our technicians and I was imagining myself that I am ‘Evel Knievel‘. My experience included a few times that I fell down. However, I continued riding. By the 70’s and 80’s I was riding a 400 CC Honda that I owned That is where the customization came in. I customised the Honda. Then life became busy and I stopped riding.

Today I perceive riding as an art and a way of life and sometimes I feel I am in a circus and I have to be very vigilant .

Thank God for making me understand the language of the traffic.”

Turning to the fabrication industry in Bahrain, he said that the fabrication industry is good and needs more improvement. There is the desire and willingness of the bikers and builders in Bahrain to improve. The passion could work wonders.

Riders generally evoke a mixed reaction among the people across the many countries, but in Bahrain it is very friendly and passion oriented he said.

Most of the riders abide by the law and have great respect for the law, especially the cruising bikes.

Going away from the motorcycle and looking at the profession he follows, he said, “Bahrain gas is my’ bread and butter’ and it’s my family business. The

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Alhasan family is deeply involved in it with all the passion we have. I am a family man and I like to work in my family business. I also give time for my voluntary works which I really love. Riding gives me a sense of freedom. It also gives me a sense of centeredness. In other words I feel my foot on the ground and my performance become better and better.”

Every rider has to call it a day some time and then what happens to this chopper we asked. He was quick on the stirrup, “I will stop riding because of wear and tear of the human body. But I can assure you this bike -- the chopper -- the only one of its kind in Kingdom of Bahrain, will stand in my majlis as a show piece.”

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TEST DRIVE

A lavish, roomy and quiet Chinaman GAC GA8 320T

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TEST DRIVE

The GA8 320T, with its uninterrupted lines give it a quaint grace and feel. Overall it has a stately poise. Look at the pedigree, and one realizes that this feel is not beyond the car maker, Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor Co (GAC Motors), a Chinese major. The company’s assembly lines produce Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda and Jeep to name just a few, for the Chinese market.

The Shell white GA8 appealed even from the exterior look. The lines of the bonnet flow onto the passenger shell and down the rear of the car as in a free-hand drawing. The windows of the car add to the elegance with the doe-eye shape. The grille is nothing much to boast about, since it was traditional in most all cars of 2016, 2017. The beauty though is in the emblem G fitting snug into the grille, as though it is part of the face and the manufacturers forgot to fix the emblem.

The second line of the car running only two inches below the windows gives the impression that the top segment is completed. It runs uninterrupted onto the top of the headlamp and cascades flowing to the base of the grille as though supporting it. At the rear, this line flows uninterrupted over the tail lamp creating the impression of a clear segmentation. At first glance it does look that the car was made in three layers and fixed one on top of the other.

A third line falls exactly under the prominent second as though a plumb line was

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used to fix the door handles. It again cascades a little below the headlamps and gives the impression of a differentiator between the bonnet and the front bumper.

At the rear the same line looks like the differentiator between the back bumper and the luggage compartment. The last line travelling from the back wheel to the front clearly says that the chassis is about

to begin.

The test drive model was handed over in the night and opening the door the first shock was the logo ‘G’ spreading out.

That element really impresses.

The beige interior is indeed very soothing.

What caught my immediate attention was the cover for the speakers. It looked that light steel or aluminium was used as the

speaker mesh.

Once the door was closed, the seatbelt fastened and the keyless ignition pushed to life, came the next surprise – the seat adjusts according to the needs of the driver without asking for it. But minus the seatbelt being triggered the seat adjustment would never work. The ignition on, the heater went on automatically to warm

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TEST DRIVE the cabin. . In addition, the front seat heating took over without being asked. I guess it is programmed. These facilities are surely in existence in premier models and yes I can vouch having driven higher end models coming out of the US of A or Europe.

After turning on the engine I waited to let the engine tell me how noisy it was. Not even down with a count of five the engine seemed to me to have shut off. More out of curiosity I pressed against the brake and gently depressed the gear lever. Without any complaints the gear lever moved to the Drive gear, but the vehicle refused to move from its stationary position. Only on pressing the accelerator did I realise that the hand brake release would only occur once the gear was in drive and the pad had been released.

In my quest to find the comforts available to a novice I pushed the 360 degree around view monitor, the lane deviation warning system and the attention assist.

On a road with dense truck traffic, I realized how much these meant. Pretending to be a little careless I gently pressed the accelerator only for the around view monitor and the attention assist to take off. I should say that the safety of the driver is about guaranteed. So, having waited a while and ensuring that there was no on-coming traffic I hit the road and tried

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to change lanes. Although I did not see, the lane deviation programme did spot a car coming in without its lights. The assist programmes deserve certification. The headlights beam bright and I was mighty pleased. Driving in Bahrain, though, one rarely finds a road to check the span of the headlamps. But on the highway stretch it did exhibit a span of about six feet, encouraging enough.

Once on the highway for about 10 minutes the urge was to relax and let the cruise control take over. As in most other vehicles the cruise control did perform to satisfaction.

The GA8 offers a fairly decent drive with the 320 T engine, mated to a six-speed Aisin automatic transmission. Its hats off to the torque this engine produces between 1600 and 4500 rpm, when the torque hits 300Nm, a decent power horse.

Why is the GA8 a delight? A Chinese car that gives a run to its competitors for BD10,500. On a quite and beautiful evening with the weather in excellent mood one can enjoy the ride with the sunroof open.

The wheelbase of 2900 and 17 inch wheels offers adequate grip on the road and safety while turning. The double fork arm independent suspension in front and the five-link beam independent suspension in the rear proved more than ade-

quate to take on the dirtiest part of the Bahrain roads.

One word of caution though: Never open the 500 litre boot without opening the front door. It will call all your neighbours and the security personnel in the vicinity. The boot I must say is roomy enough to give one a good space to carry three suitcases.

The icing, though, is the more than a treat rear airconditioning.

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TEST DRIVE

blending old and new technologies

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TEST DRIVE

Impreza 2.0i all wheel drive (AWD) is a combination of the old and the new.

Testing a blood red coloured vehicle, I found that it had a blend of the old and the new features. While entry into the car is keyless, switching on the ignition is only possible through the use of a key. Once inside the car the seats are normal fabric. Once in ignition the car waits literally to take the orders of the driver and yes the take-off was powerful indeed.

The horizontally opposed four-cylinder four-stroke petrol engine is mated to an active torque split AWD system, the reason why the engine was quick on the uptake at just the touch on the accelerator. It does boast a manual gearing as well, but given that Bahrain is a small and flat geography I would not know if this aspect would ever come into effect.

The infotainment is as normally seen in all the new cars launched into the Bahrain market. The 2.0i Impreza is a direct fuel injection fuel system with a 50 litre tank capacity. The torque is 196 Nm at 4,000 rpm. It travels from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 11 seconds, against the 9.8 seconds mentioned by the company. Why the difference – because the roads of Bahrain do not allow a free jump from 0 to 100. A city car, the 2.0i has a wheelbase of 2670 mm, making it a safe car on the streets.

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The suspension of the car I must say was impressive enough, having taken on some of the tough terrains that one finds in Sitra. This drive was further helped with a more than enough wheel size of 17 inches.

The overall conclusion is that the Impreza 2.0i when considered for Bahrain is a good car for a small family just looking around to move. It is handy and economical, given that the per litre cost of fuel is on the rise.

The agency tells me that there are higher versions of the car, though I do not have anything much to say on that since I did not test drive the other models.

39

REVIEW

Heesen’s Maia sold 40

Project Maia from Heesen Yachts’– the first in the 50m Steel class, designed

by Clifford Denn – was sold. Maia sale marks the sixth Heesen yacht sold in the past 12 months, making 2017 a record year commercially for the yard.

The client is an American serial yacht owner who spent over a year shopping for his new yacht. He was introduced by Chris Collins from Ocean Independence, Fort Lauderdale. The client was allegedly attracted by the bold profile of Project Maia and her world-cruising capabilities.

At 50m, the motoryacht is below 500gt and has a traditional displacement steel hull, with naval architecture and engineering by Heesen’s in-house team.

Powered by twin MTU engines, she will reach a top speed of 15 knots and will have a range of 3,800 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 12 knots.

Clifford Denn intended to design a yacht with a strong character, with curvy flowing forms and sharp knuckle lines recalling iconic car designs. Details such as the ‘fisker whiskers’ grille of the aft fashion plates and the navigation lights are borrowed from classic car designs. A ‘military style’ wheelhouse

with forward slanted windows and a large roof overhang gives the yacht a heavy-duty appearance, said the news release. The yacht can accommodate ten guests in five suites, with the owner’s stateroom set forward on the main deck.

Reymond Langton has created a warm interior design with light-bleached oak contrasting with stained walnut. The contemporary and calm architecture feel has been achieved by combining simple lines with textured materials. The design is softened by the use of pale taupe leather and fabrics, with colour highlights introduced in artwork panels, decorative fabrics and furnishings.

The news report said that the owner and his team are currently working with the designers and the shipyard engineers to tailor Project Maia to their taste and lifestyle and create a yacht that will take them around the world in comfort and style. It has already been revealed that the yacht will boast a unique light misty grey colour scheme.

Project Maia will be delivered to her new owners after intensive sea trials in the North Sea in June 2018.

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REVIEW

Sunseeker, Red Bull to pair up

Sunseeker International, British yard used the occasion of the 2018 London Boat Show to announce a new partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies. This will benefit as the two companies work together on a new range of yachts.

Part of the Red Bull Technology group, which includes the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Formula One team, Red Bull Advanced Technologies was established for exactly this reason — sharing technological breakthroughs from F1 with other related industries Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner conveyed his delight at working with Sunseeker. As a leading name in the marine industry, and one focused on innovation and development, a relationship with Sunseeker is an organic fit, he said.

Sunseeker CEO Phil Popham agreed that the partnership was a natural fit, due to the British yard’s reputation for performance. This isn’t Sunseeker’s first F1 tie-up of course. Sunseeker also revealed that it will be an official partner of the Fifa World Cup 2018.

The announcement was made in the company of former England captain Sir Geoff Hurst and the replica Jules Rimet Trophy that will be awarded to the winning team in Russia this summer.

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REVIEW

Tankoa reveals new yacht plans

Genoa-based Tankoa Yachts presented a new 53m planing yacht capable of achieving a top speed of 28 knots.

Following on from the 58m Open announced in 2017, Saetta (S533) joins the Tankoa line of fast, planing yachts with exterior design by Francesco Paszkowski. Referencing its clean yet dynamic lines and ample use of glass, the designer described the new model as a leap forward, a glimpse of the future.

With naval architecture by fast hull specialist Andrea Bacigalupo, Saetta will be powered by three MTU 16V 2000 series engines with twin KaMeWa water jets, plus a booster for a top speed of 28 knots and a cruising speed of 24 knots.

Like the 58m Open before it, the S533 represents a return to the Baglietto roots of Tankoa’s top management.

When the Tankoa guys were with Baglietto prior to 2005, it was basically the only European yard along with Heesen building large yachts capable of 30-35 knots, said Michel Karsenti, Tankoa sales director.

Despite this wealth of experience, when Karsenti joined Tankoa as a consultant in 2013, he advised that as a start-up brand it should introduce entry-level products in the region of 50m in addition to the 70m-plus yachts. This led to 50m Vertige in the semi-displacement range and several other models in between, including the planing 58m Open.

Karsenti added that an owner with a Mangusta 108 or a big Leopard is not necessarily going to step up to a 58m.

For that to happen the company needs to develop another model so at least

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there is a range of fast boats. The boat maker is currently working on a bid for a 43m fast hull, so at the end of the day they may well see a range from 43 to 58m.

After the positive reception of Vertige in Monaco and Fort Lauderdale, Tankoa has seen a growth in enquiries from clients for 50m yachts and smaller, for various reasons: perhaps they want to take their boat to St Tropez or Portofino, where 50m is at the top end of the size limit, or don’t want to pay a large crew all year round.

The clients are people who have the money, but don’t want to go too big and are asking for yachts in the 40-43m range, said Karsenti. There are also clients in the wake of Vertige who would build up to 70m and larger, but don’t want a five-deck wedding cake on the water. So that’s another area Tankoa is working on for a couple of clients.

Karsenti also confirmed that the 72m (S701) project currently in build is available for sale “off-market”, as first reported by SuperyachtNews. In fact, her owner wanted to build bigger and was interested in Tankoa’s 80m project from the beginning, but at the time

the ever-cautious Karsenti informed the client that the engineering was not ready. Technically, Tankoa is now in a position to build to that size and beyond, but another question mark remains: The boat manufacturer is developing a 65m for a specific client and the price estimate accounts for a margin of error of around two per cent, Karsenti. Said, according to the media. On a 65m,

Tankoa can absorb that no problem.

But as the size increases, so does the financial risk for the yard. If a client came asking for a 90m, then the yacht maker would build at cost-plus. This is the issue with the very large yachts: you sign a contract, but you never know until it is finished, delivered and the warranty period is over, how much the boat really costs.

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NEWS

Mahindra takes Marakkech podium

Felix Rosenqvist took the podium for the second time in the first three races of the 2017/18 FIA Formula E Championship with victory in a closelyfought Marrakesh E-Prix. Rosenqvist, driving a Mahindra, started the race from third, but eventually overcame pole-man Sebastien Buemi in the closing stages.

The win let him take the lead in the championship standings for the first time in his Formula E career.

Buemi made a strong getaway in his Renault e.dams machine, leading second placed starter Sam Bird in the DS Virgin Racing car with Rosenqvist third. The top trio were undoubtedly the class of the field, pulling out a healthy margin to the chasing pack, although Bird struggled with a car issue in the first half of the race and was passed by the Mahindra on lap 16.

Reigning champion Lucas di Grassi also suffered technical difficulties and endured a difficult day despite showing strong pace. After getting into the superpole shootout, he began experiencing issues with his Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler car. He was eventually forced to retire with the issues from qualifying appearing to recur, despite starting the race well.

As the top three broke away and Di Grassi dropped out of the running, Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s Nelson Piquet Jr had another strong showing to finish fourth for the second time this year. He had dropped behind Lopez in the early laps but got past during the mid-race car swaps and stayed there for the remainder of the laps With the front three having broken away there was intense racing further back

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from fifth to tenth place. The TECHEETAH of Jean-Eric Vergne would take the chequered flag in fifth to continue his consistent run of strong scores, while Lopez ended up an impressive sixth on his Dragon debut.

The battle for seventh was perhaps the most heated of all, with several drivers clashing in the latter stages in a bid to make a pass stick. Ultimately a robust defence from winner Rosenqvist’s teammate Heidfeld netted him the position, while the two Venturi cars made contact with each other and then the Mahindra, resulting in Edoardo Mortara dropping back with damage and Maro Engel receiving a penalty for causing the collision that put him down to 12th.

This late drama meant that Tom Blomqvist was able to impress on his Formula E debut for Andretti in eighth, while Alex

Lynn and Daniel Abt completed the top ten for DS Virgin Racing and Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler respectively.

This third round of the 2017/18 FIA Formula E Championship has left an intriguing championship order, with Rosenqvist leading Bird by four points ahead of Vergne, Piquet Jr and Mortara.

The next round takes place for the first time in Santiago de Chile on 3 February.

The Mahindra Racing driver said that at one point of the day he was going to be settling somewhere in the middle of the mid-field after free practice as the struggle was hard. However, after some analysis and in qualifying solutions on how to work the tyres properly were realised, so that was a really good comeback before the race. He added, �Before the race, Spark told me I had to change my battery thirty-minutes before

jumping in the car before the grid, so I was praying that my second car would be ready. Big thanks to the Mahindra guys. I think I was a little bit lucky with Lucas dropping out of the race quite early on, and obviously Sam had a problem with his car on the main straight as well. I tried to keep calm and look at my energy, because this race wasn’t really about the temperature but more about energy, and when the moment was right I went for it - super happy!”

Sebastien Buemi, Renault e.dams, said: “I had an issue with the water pump and it wouldn’t start so we had to switch cars, so the car I started with was supposed to be the second one. Because of this we didn’t get fanboost sorted properly, Felix had a bit more pace in the second stint, not much, but then I was overtaken at the end. I was annoyed, I didn’t properly move over to the inside and he managed to pass me, otherwise I would’ve closed the door a bit better, so I don’t know what happened. He had a little more pace and he deserved the win, so I don’t really think second is bad, but a big disappointment when you lead for most of the race.”

Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing, said: “We’ve had an issue since Hong Kong which you wouldn’t have noticed from the outside. We had tried to address it but it came back, and it came back big time in the race. We actually noticed it a

lot in FP2, during a 200kW lap attempt - I noticed some difficulties with the rear of the car and I came in early from my run.

We thought ‘do we change it, do we not’, and anyway we said no, let’s not change the component and unfortunately it’s come to bite us a little bit in the race. But

still, third place is strong points and it’s a third place with a big issue! I didn’t think I was going to finish the race in the first car, I thought I was going to be pulling over and retiring so actually we were quite relieved with the full course yellow came and saved my bacon a little bit.”

Cost cap alone cannot trim F1 costs says Todt Imposing a budget cap alone will not be sufficient to trim Formula 1 costs, reckons FIA president Jean Todt. Although a defined limit on team spending is being pursued by F1’s owners as a key change for the future, he believes it would be a mistake to rely on it exclusively as a means of controlling expenditure.

A cost cap must go hand-in-hand with other regulations that help make F1 cheaper, otherwise there is a risk of the concept failing, said Todt. There have been talks on cost control/cost cap for a while but it has to be a combination with regulations which will have some impact on the actual costs. To simply look at a cost cap will not solve the issue, he said.

Todt spoke about being able to agree something that will be more sophisticated in order to achieve that. F1’s commercial chiefs are due to sit down individually with teams this winter to discuss in more detail the idea of a budget cap.

However, while all teams acknowledge that something needs to be done about costs, there remains some scepticism about whether or not a cost cap is workable. Red Bull boss Christian Horner is unsure about its policing, which has always been one of the reasons that

attempts in the past to introduce it have failed.

“I’m not a huge fan of budget caps because I question how policeable it is – because everyone’s corporate structure is different,” Horner told the news media.

“It absolutely has to go hand in hand with dealing with the cost drivers upstream,

because the costs are generated through the regulations. That is what determines the amount we spend,” he added.

“So you have to deal with the root cause, and then it becomes far less sensitive to be imposing a cap. “If you put all your reliance on a cap, there is too much pressure on the dam.”

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BIC NEWS

Locals take honours at the BDRC

Four homegrown drivers -- Mohammed Bu Hashr, Nawaf Al Manai, Adel Khamiri and Khalid Saif -- were among the winners in the car classes of the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship (BDRC) 2017/2018. The race was hosted on the quarter-mile strip of Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

A total of 170 participants from Bahrain.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE were at the Bahrain International Circuit to participate in the drag racing series in the region.

Bu Hashr took first place in the Outlaw FWD category, clocking 10.214 seconds in his final run. He beat Jassim Qamber’s 11.675s. Ali Yousif finished third.

Al Manai won the Super Street six Cylinder runners. He won with a 7.735s run in the final, where Sayed Yahya Sharf could only manage an 8.638s time. Ali Saleh was third.

Khamiri followed suit in the Street V8 class. His 7.891 second mark beat the 8.093s of runner-up Jalil Abdulhussain.

Mohamed Suliman came third.

Saif won the Outlaw 10.5 division, beating Nabeel El Essa. Mohammed Qassim came third.

In the other cars categories, Hani Hashim won over Jameel Ebrahim in the Street 4 and 6 with Ali Abdulla finishing third; Jasim Zaman won ahead of Khalifa Al Ali in the Outlaw 6-Cylinder with Mohamed Khalid taking third; Mohamed Qasem won the Super Street V8 followed

by Turki Khalid and Majid Al Harbi; and

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Hisham Al Mulla claimed first in the Competition 4.5 with Ahmed Al Jheel the runner-up and Ahmed Al Zaabi in third.

In the Pro Mod category, Turki Al Hamedu won with Khaled Alfowzan the runner-up and Jaber Al Magrabi taking the third.

In the Index 10.5 class, Mohamed Khalfan was first; Hussain Al Hammad was victorious in the Index 9.5 category, and Mohamed Al Blooshi clinched the win in the Index 8.5 category.

Among the motorbikers, Abdulla Al Doseri was the lone Bahraini to ride his challenger to first place. Competing in the Pro Bike category, Al Doseri clocked a time of 11.636s to beat the 23.280s of Suliman Dawood in their final run. Fahed Khadada was third.

In the Street Bike, Mesfer Al Mesfer beat Mirshari Al Turki. Yaqoub Al Ali was third.

In the Super Street Bike Meshal Al Saber claimed first ahead of Bradley Dale and Mohammad Borashed.

Yousif Abdulla claimed the win in the Street Fight Bike 9.50. Abdulla Ghuloom was the runner-up and Khalid Abdulkarim in third.

The 2017/2018 season is set to feature five rounds in all, to be held until March of next year. Round two is set from January 9 to 12, followed by round three the very next weekend from January 16 to 19.

The final two events will be another pair of back-to-back weekends, with round four from February 27 to March 2 and then the round five season-finale from March 6 to 9.

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BIC NEWS

Positive response in Bahrain Drag Race

More than 180 participants from Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and elsewhere took to BIC’s quartermile drag strip to compete in one of the 16 categories for cars and motorbikes.

There was plenty of action to enjoy in a thrilling second round of the 2017/2018 Bahrain Drag Racing Championship, held over the weekend at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

In the Street 4 and 6 class, Mohammed Al Jalahma won the first place with a run of 9.801 seconds, beating the 9.909s of runner-up Hani Hashim.

Bader Dashti followed suit in the Outlaw FWD category. His final pass of 9.115s was enough to claim the victory against Ali Mahfoodh.

In the Super Street 6-Cylinder class, Nawaf Al Manai won in 7.158s, while Hamed Al Merbati was second in 7.488s.

The Outlaw 6-Cylinder category was claimed by Jassim Zaman who had a best time of 7.502s. Mohamed Haji placed second.

In the Street V8, Mohammed Suliman won in 7.394s, beating Jalil Abdulhussain’s 8.010s.

Turki Khalid triumphed in the Super Street V8 category with a final pass of 4.762s. Mohammed Qasem finished as the runner-up.

In the Competition 4.5 category, Mohammed Bu Sylom beat Hisham Al

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Mulla for first place, as did Nabeel Al Esa in the Outlaw 10.5 category, where Mohamed Awadh was second.

In the Pro Mod class, Turki Al Humaidy was victorious with a run of 4.031s in the final against Hani Hussain, who had a time of 5.656s.

In the Index 10.5 category, Abdulaziz Al Qattan beat Suliman Dawood, Hussain Al Sheikh did the same against Yousif Abdulla in the Index 9.5, and Sayed Al Hadad won over Abdulla Al Ogab in the Index 8.5 class.

Among the motorbikes classes, Jehad Al Jamal won in the Street Fight Bikes with a final pass of 9.645s, finishing ahead of Mohamed Al Taitoon’s 9.903s.

Bader Bin Eidan clinched first place in the Street Bikes category with a winning run of 9.808s. He beat Meshari Almarri.

Mishari Alturki then claimed the win in the Super Street Bikes category. His final time was 4.406s, beating the 4.465s of rival Bader Bin Eidan.

In the Pro Bikes class, Yaqoub Al Ali 6.614s helped him defeat Meshal Alsaber.

Following all the action, the winners were honoured in a podium ceremony.

Presenting the prizes were officials from BIC, the Bahrain Drag Racing Club, the Bahrain Motorcycle Club and the Bahrain Motor Federation.

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TESTNEWS BIC MOTORSPORT DRIVE

Shaikh Hamad outshines 3rd round of National Race Day

Manama: Shaikh Hamad bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa headlined four different winners in an exciting third round of National Race Day, held at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir. He took the chequered flag in the BIC 2,000cc Challenge. Other winners on the day were Salman Khalaf in the Bahrain Superbike Championship (BSBK), Georges Mokbel in the BSSP 125 and Ahmed Almuyini in the Bahrain Motorcycle Racing (BMR) 600.

The action locale was BIC’s 2.55-kilometre inner track. In the BIC 2,000cc Challenge, Shaikh Hamad completed its 12-lap race distance in his Honda Civic with a total time of 15 minutes 55.824 seconds. Shaikh Hamad’s elder brother, Shaikh Salman bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, followed a close second in his own Honda Civic 2.665 seconds behind. Ahmed bin Khanen in a Honda Civic EG4 followed in third place 5.342s back.

Nasser Al Alawi (Honda S2,000), defending champion Tim Birkin (Honda Integra) and Raed Himmo (Honda

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Civic) were classified fourth through sixth, respectively. A total of 16 drivers started the race, making for a high level of competition in the field. Meanwhile, Salman Khalaf triumphed in the BSBK race in 12:56.640.

Al Muyini came in second place 6.111s behind, and then Wesley Pearce claimed the final podium place 9.809s back.

Georges Mokbel won the BSSP 125 race in 13:08.467. He finished 7.332 ahead of runner-up Abdul Samee, while Hussain Al Aswad came third 12.449s back. In the BMR 600, Ahmed

Almuyini completed the 11-lap event in 12:57.261. Mohammad Al Zaidan followed in second place 6.383s behind while Nasser Al Khadra was a distant third 28.096s off the winner’s pace. All three were the podium placers in the BMR’s Super Stock class. In the Hornet category, Mohammed Al Ateeqi led two others on the podium, namely Pawel Rosciszewski and Ahmad Abdulsalam.

The next round of national races is scheduled to be held on January 12 next year.

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Look for the GAZMAN on www.gazgroup.com

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Steps to save on petrol The fuel costs in Bahrain and the rest of the Gulf cooperation Council member states is on the side. GAZ looks at how our readers can benefit in this situation. Less petrol consumed per kilometer is more money in the pocket.

The first and most important step is to ensure that the speed of the car is maintained between 80 kilometres and 100 kilometres. Driving at these speeds, until otherwise advised by the traffic authorities will ensure that the engine consumes less fuel. Driving over 100 kilometres an hour or even lesser than 70 kilometres per hour will result in consumption of more petrol and more wear and tear to the engine.

One could ask about the signs to drive at 50 and below. The traffic authorities generally advise such lower speed limits taking into account the density of population and traffic congestion, the width and condition of roads and other factors.

Maintenance Get the car serviced regularly to maintain engine efficiency and make

sure to use the correct engine oil.

While some engine oils advertise improved effect on the engine, it is important to check on the engines that these oils impact. The best engine oil for a performance car will have no effect on a sedan or saloon. This is because the sports cars engines are built with super speeds in minds unlike the engines of sedans.

However, the cheap engine oils should be completely avoided because quite often these oils are made from spent oils and therefore affect the engines.

They cause abrasion to the engines and the various parts. Often the lower priced engine oils are thick and cannot lubricate the pistons and cylinders as quickly as needed.

A very important step towards conserving petrol is to control the drive at the traffic lights. Should the driver arrive at a traffic light when it has just gone red it is very important to move the gear to neutral and disengage the engine and brakes and other moving parts. Wait until traffic from the three other sides has moved out before getting ready to drive out of traffic.

However, should the car enter a traffic junction with a lot many cars already ahead then it is important to be ready to move out since going into neutral gear for only a short while is counterproductive. It must be remembered that a live engine uses petrol to sustain itself.

Always switch off the car engine when the halt is for over 10 minutes and you know the parking gear is about to be

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engaged. It not only reduces the flow of petrol, but also reduces the wear and tear in the brakes and other parts of the engine.

are expected to carry. Likewise for the heavier vehicles. Maintaining the weight carried ensures that less petrol is consumed.

It is important to know the road ahead and ensure that the driver is aware and anticipating traffic lif around. Always anticipate pedestrian and animal traffic when driving along pocket roads and sub-arterials. However, this will not be the case along arterial roads.

In cases where the outside temperature is not harsh it is advisable to cut off usage of air conditioners and heaters.

Even while using air conditioners ensure that the doors are kept open for enough fresh air to circulate and take away the heat that has built up while the car was left in the open. During winters it is important to follow the same pattern so the chill does not stay in causing the need for greater heater use. Opening the windows lets the surrounding air to flow in and removes the cold. This way the use of heaters can be maintained to a minimum.

Longer use, and higher fan speeds in air conditioners and heaters push up

The less braking and acceleration, the less fuel used. If a driver is levelheaded and in no mood to rush then the consumption of fuel is reduced drastically. The rule for driving near schools is to be at the lowest speed and anticipate children to move around at all times.

Some motorists let the revs (revolutions per minute or RPM) run to 3,000 per minute (petrol car) and 2,500 (diesel) before changing up a gear.

the consumption of fuel.

A car is a necessity and not a luxury.

Never use it to go the neighbourhood grocery store. Where one can use public transport it is important to resort to such methods. Where it is It sounds obvious, but the simplest way to save on your fuel costs is to cut your car use – try walking, cycling or public transport for shorter journeys, or car sharing for your commute.

Always fill the fuel tank in the morning and ensure that car is parked in the shade in summer. This helps to reduce evaporation.

Fill the tank when it is a little less than half empty. Waiting for the fuel light to go on will negatively impact the fuel consumption. Car pooling is the most impressive way of conserving petrol.

Always ensure that the car is moving in high gear but at permissible speeds.

The higher the gear the more the engine benefits.

Another important component of fuel saving is well maintained tyres.

Tyres with good treads permit enough grip on the roads and reduce the consumption of fuel. Near ideal tyre pressure ensures that the petrol stays in the tank and not rushes into the engine. Ensure that the tyre pressure is maintained. Always consult an attendant.

Always ensure that the weight in the car is not too high. Always iknow that the car is for the family and not for carrying the loads that trucks or jeeps

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GAZ TECH

SIMPLE WAYS OF REPLACING THE WATER PUMP To the layman changing of the water pump when the temperature goes up on the dial is a garage man’s responsibility. GAZ takes a look at how the same can be done by anybody using the simplest of tools.

The water pump generally handles 1.7 million litres of coolant in about four years, or 100,000 km (62,000 miles).

However, when it fails it causes an engine to overheat. The result of an engine overheating is catastrophinc and one that every driver knows. So check the health of the water pump at every service.

There are some very obvious ways to tell if your water pump is bad, aside from simple overheating. Sometimes the pulley on the front of the water pump will just shear right off. That’s a bad pump. If everything else seems to be functioning well in your cooling system, start paying attention to your water pump.

Remove the belt drive components following the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended procedures.

To get the water pump off, first access it by removing all of the stuff that is in the way. Remove the fan shroud --the plastic shield surrounding the cooling fan, it is usually attached to the radiator with small bolts.

Remove the hose attached to the water pump. Drain the coolant. Remove V-Belt or water pump belt. Remove the engine cooling fan. Disconnect the inlet and outlet hoses to your water pump. Loosen the bolts and remove the old water pump.

Remove the old seal/gasket or old sealant remains and make sure the mounting surface is clean.

The best way to see which bolts need to be removed on the old pump is to take a look at the new pump. Be sure to scrape away any of the old gasket that remains on the engine. This can cause a leak later.

Before installing the new water pump, inspect the other cooling system service parts: the coolant hoses, thermostat and pressure cap.

Install the new water pump. Do not force the pump on by striking the pump shaft. Replace the gaskets and seals with new ones. Never use the seals that were already on the car. Only apply sealant if specifically recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Put an even bead of sealant along the edge of the part, but don’t use too much sealant. If you do get too much sealant

Removing Your Old Water Pump

The first sign that your water pump may fail you soon is called weeping.

Water pumps are designed so that when the bearings inside start to fail, the seal begins to weep, allowing small drops of coolant to leak out. This is intentional, and those drops under your car are meant to warn you that your water pump isn’t going to last much longer.

It’s also important to listen to your water pump. You shouldn’t be able to hear it. If you hear rubbing, grinding, whining or other noises coming from the area of the pump, that’s a sign that the bearings inside might be failing.

According to experts, the standard time for installing a belt kit usually includes fitment of a water pump.

Always change the belt now alongside replacing the water pump. Also change the old gaskets and seals with new ones.

It’s essential to check the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations before attempting to replace any water pump. Each engine design is likely to have its own belt drive system configuration, so observe any specific instructions. Switch off the engine and allow the car to rest for about one hour to be on the safest side. In this time every part of the car will have cooled enough.

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Remove the cooling fan to allow access to the water pump Water Pump Removal and Disconnection

After disconnecting the water pump, loosen the bolts and remove the pump.

on the part, wipe off the excess before mounting the new water pump. Too much sealant compromises the correct installation and will break off within the cooling system, contaminating it.

Sealants are also made with different drying rates, so respect the sealant’s printed instructions.

Tighten the bolts evenly to the manufacturer’s torque specifications.

components at the same time is good preventive maintenance.

Do a final visual inspection to ensure there are no leaks after the cooling system refill. When a water pump is new, some seepage from the weep hole is normal as it takes about ten minutes of operation for the pump’s internal mechanical seal to properly

seat itself (break-in period). More pronounced seepage and drips from the weep hole after this break-in period or leakage from the mounting surface are abnormal and signal part failure or faulty installation.

Keep in mind that some leaks will become obvious when the engine is cold, but others only when it is hot.

Re-attach the hose.

Refill the cooling system with the correct vehicle manufacturer’s recommended coolant.

Manually rotate the pump and make sure it rotates freely.

Make sure the belt drive system that will drive the new water pump is in perfect condition and installed following the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended procedures The belt drive system works hand in hand with the water pump. That is why according to Gates changing the water pump, belt and other drive Installing the Replacement Water Pump

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GAZ LIFESTYLE

Inspired, not imitated Patek Philippe 5320g Perpetual Calendar

The very latest in Patek Philippe to reach the shores of Bahrain is the 5320g Perpetual Calendar. The piece has a unique look and a clear vintage inspiration – without mentioning a case to die for. The 5320g Perpetual Calendar is among the special watches that has prompted a unanimously positive response. The Perpetual Calendar is a contemporary creation of one single vintage model. Everything starts with the creation of Patek’s first serially-produced perpetual calendar wristwatch, the Reference 1526.

First issued in 1942 and produced in only 210 examples, it was the first time the complex perpetual calendar was integrated into a wristwatch intended to be sold in the regular collection of a brand. Although there were previous attempts they were one-off pieces

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made on request (including the 1925 Patek Philippe 97’975, the world’s first wristwatch with a perpetual calendar).

The reference 1526 and its horological sibling, the reference 1518 (with a chronograph in addition to the QP), displayed time, age of the moon and the perpetual calendar with a subtle and streamlined display, quite close to many of the complete calendar watches available at that time. One main specificity was the absence of leap year indication (a feature brought on the market in 1955 by AP, with the ref. 5516).

The ref. 1526 introduced a display that would later become iconic.It showed a sub-dial at 6 with the moon and the date, alongside two windows at 12 for the month and the day of the week. This exact display (with the exception of the leap year indication) was the basis for

the watch we focus on the 5320g.

As for the style of the dial, things get a little more obscure. A look deep into Patek’s archives reveals the source behind the creation of the 5320g, especially for the luminous/militaryinspired dial. One watch, a unique piece manufactured in 1944, might well be the answer to our questions. The reference 1591, a unique stainless steel perpetual calendar, a watch that was unknown to literature and the market until 1996 when it was first offered at auction, was owned by a Maharaja who was wearing this robust timepiece occasionally when playing polo.

Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 1591 could be called the primary inspiration for the 5320g dial.

This piece, with waterproof steel case, central second and classical QP display,

presented a specific luminous dial, with painted Arabic numeral and blued syringe hands filled with luminous material. The watch, last sold by Christie’s in 2007 for an impressive CHF 2,513,000. Patek Philippe 2405 inspired the lugs of the 5320g.

The last source of inspiration for the 5320g concerns the lugs. Clearly, these lugs might be the main attraction of this watch. A relatively rare reference, the 2405, a simple 3-hand watch from the 1940s, yet with a very specific case with gadroons and triple-stepped claw lugs – a typical late Art-Deco style used by several other manufactures in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

The background was made necessary to understand where the Patek Philippe 5320g Perpetual Calendar found inspiration. Clearly, the watchmaker dug into its rich history, knowing that collectors want something slightly different from the conservative offers, including Calatravas or the classical 5140 Perpetual calendar.

Vintage is a hot trend and surprisingly, such retro-inspired watches are the

best way to attract younger clients. With the 5320g Perpetual Calendar, Patek changed stance.

It is thin, elegant, original, perfectly assembled and finished and very unique to this watch. Measuring a reasonable 40mm diameter and 11.13mm height, its proportions are elegant and refined. Only available in white gold for the moment, it shows straight lines and sharp angles, as well as a flawless polishing.

The case of the 5320g Perpetual Calendar is indeed stamped and not milled (a process used in lower price ranges, as usually less costly than a milling process). The decision for such a case is deliberate and guided by the need to have clear straight lines and sharp angles, especially on the junction between the central container and the lugs. A stamped case doesn’t mean that no human hands were involved either – at least at Patek. Once the single block of white gold is stamped, many steps are required to achieve these sharp angles and all the details of the lugs.

One of the key features of the 5320g is

the three-step claw lugs, which alone could well be a sufficient reason to buy this watch. The “inspired by” has resulted in thin, elongated and elegant lugs that provide a strong character to the watch, without being too present or feeling overdone. They perfectly match with the rest of the case.

For the dial, Patek chose to go wild. The resemblance with the unique reference 1591 is undeniable. There, however, has been a clean contemporary touch added to it. For the 5320g Perpetual Calendar, Patek went for a cream-coloured lacquered dial that recalls the patina found on certain vintage watches, linked to a box-sapphire crystal, highly domed.

Both features add great warmth to the piece and a period-relevant appeal, again without overdoing it. The rest follows the same rule: applied luminous Arabic numerals in blackened white gold with a military style and syringe hands that recalls the ones found on the reference 1591 (even if Patek claims that they were inspired by some luminous versions of the 1463 chronograph, and

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GAZ LIFESTYLE MOTORSPORT named “fine-tipped baton hands filled with Superluminova”).

For this 5320g, Patek has created a new display. Indeed, the combination of central second and perpetual calendar was, in the current collection, linked to the retrograde display found, for instance, on the reference 5496. This reference has a combination of windows for the day and month, as well as subdial for the date and moon, and finally small circular windows for the leap year and the day-and-night indicator (on each side of the moon). This recalls the QP module used on the Chronograph Perpetual Calendar 5270, yet in the context of a QP-only watch. This is no revolution here, just an update of an existing movement with a different module. However, this display is in line with the vintage/sporty context wanted

by Patek and is a clear reminiscence of the display found in the steel 1591 shown above.

Overall, Patek Philippe mastered the design of this 5320g Perpetual Calendar. The elegance of the case, the slightly quirky shape, the precision with which the case is done and polished, the association between the colours, the hands, the indexes, the historically relevant display, the use of vintage elements in a perfectly dosed way… in short spells that 5320g is both Patek at its best, and Patek gone wild.

The mechanics of the 5320g is based on a well-known movement of the brand, the automatic with centrally-mounted rotor Calibre 324 – used in various simple Calatravas, in the Nautilus 5711, in the Aquanaut, and as a base for the annual calendars or for the 5496.

The calibre 324 S Q (S stands for seconds, Q for quantième perpétuel – the French term for perpetual calendar) is a refined QP version of the legendary self-winding 324. The update, compared to previous versions of this movement, is essentially focussed on the top module, in order to create the new display. It also includes Patek’s latest innovations, meaning the Gyromax balance or the Spiromax balance spring made of hightech Silinvar (silicon technology).

Under the large 21k gold rotor are

beautifully decorated parts, with roundchamfered and polished edges, Geneva striping and gold-filled engravings, screws with polished, chamfered slots in bores with polished countersinks. All of that is certified by the Patek Philippe seal, which implies great precision, with maximum rate deviation ranging between -3 and +2 seconds per day. If the decoration is faultless and perfectly executed, this movement might miss a bit of eccentricity and “panache” to make it even more appealing. Also, its power reserve of minimum 35 hours

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – PATEK PHILIPPE 5320G PERPETUAL CALENDAR Case: 40mm diameter x 11.13mm height – 21mm lug width – 18k white gold – sapphire-crystal on the dial side – sapphire-crystal case back and interchangeable solid 18K white-gold back – 30m water resistant Movement: Calibre 324 S Q, in-house produced – Patek Philippe Seal – self-winding – 4Hz frequency – 35-45 hours power reserve – 367 parts, including 29 jewels – hours, minutes, seconds, moon phases, perpetual calendar with date, day of the week, month, leap year and day-and-night indicator Dial: Brass, cream-coloured lacquer – Applied Arabic numerals in blackened gold – sharp-tipped baton Hour and minute hands in blackened 18K gold Strap: Hand-stitched alligator leather with large square scales, shiny chocolate brown, fold-over clasp in 18k white gold Reference: 5320G-001 Price: BD 30,250 (CHF 73,000)

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and maximum 45 hours feels slightly outdated compared to the competition – even if the length of the power reserve is less relevant on an automatic watch.

Patek Philippe clearly is gradually changing direction, sometimes with rather controversial pieces, sometimes with almost unanimously applauded watches such as this 5320g Perpetual Calendar. The price for the Patek Philippe 5320g is Bahraini Dinar 30,250 (CHF 73,000) and it is now available at official boutiques and retailers.

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