GAZ March 135

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GAZMAN

motorsport

interview

ir gulf a rand in g bahra untdown o prix c arts st Issue 135

March 2017

Gulf Auto Zone

BORN TO BE TOUGH!! www.gazgroup.com Gaz_Magazine Gaz Magazine

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Tested hyundai azera


editor’s note

MAR 2018 ISSUE 135 CGAZ709

Youngsters from Bahrain aspiring to join the Rolls Royce apprentice programme have until March 18 to submit the forms. We look at the programme opening and how it has helped shape the life of youngsters who joined the. At GAZ we hope you can benefit from this apprentice programme. Look at the best seat in the Cullinan, the Rolls Royce SUV.

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

Bahrain is heating up to the celebration of sound and speed with the Gulf Air Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix 2018, arriving with many changes, at least with an impact on the local population. The event will also host that musical icon Carlos Santana. The changes brought about by the new management are expected to pump adrenaline levels much higher. An enlightened political leadership of the Kingdom of Bahrain has ensured that the auto sector does not sink under the heavy burden of taxes and increased fuel charges. The roll back in taxes and an expected roll back in fuel prices should indeed have a positive impact on the industry, which was reeling. In 2017 automotive sector suffered a slide of 40 per cent across the board and that was continuing to hit another 20 per cent. The new announcements are expected to contain this backward turn in the sectoral prospects. In line with this, the market is expected to react positively with more buying. We introduce the Azera 2018 and the Cayenne S, the feel of these two cars and the new entrant Jaguar F Pace. In our Do It Yourself we take you through how the rust in your car can be contained. See how to change the fuel pump in an emergency. The second part of changing the fuel pump will appear in the next issue.

Production Director Sawsan Al Khaja Editor Arrackal Alexander M.

Graphic Designer & Online Editor Hassan Aldoy Marketing & Sales

abzinvest.com Accounts ABz Invest Design & Lay-out Consultant Ammar Alsadiq

We wish our readers some happy hours reading.

Photography

MK Studios Moh’d AlKhaja Aziz Al Kharaz

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!

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

INTERVIEW

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GT3

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COVER STORY Porsche Cayenne S

TEST DRIVE

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Hyundai Azera

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EVENTS Race Car Show Rides

GAZMAN

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COVER STORY

born to be tough!

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Mob: +973 36650501 info@abzinvest.com

Design | Printing | Exhibition Interactive Media | Branding | Signboard abzinvest.com | Tel: +973 17000920 | Fax: +973 17930090 P.O Box 33603 - Kingdom of Bahrain 21


NEWS

Flying cars project to the fore

Stuttgart: Porsche, Daimler and Volvo owner Geely joined hands with Italdesign as companies that see flying cars as a way to escape congested roads in the world’s megacities. Porsche’s director of sales, Detlev von Platen said, addressing a media conference, that cities the world over struggle to keep pace with the constant influx of new residents. Making the journey to any airport is an arduous one in many of the major metropolises, he added. Mexico or Brazil, he said, taking them as examples, are cities overflowing and to travel 20 kilometers (12 miles) it can take four hours. However, in the air it only

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takes a few minutes, said Von Platen. Porsche believes that the so-called “three-dimensional mobility” in which drones quickly bypass the congested roads on the ground by taking to the sky would better differentiate itself from competitors. Just like one drives a Porsche, you could fly the drone, without needing a pilot, he added. Porsche, he said, was in the early stages of sketching the blueprint of a flying taxi. The technology to power and make the flying taxi operational would take upto a decade said the development chief Michael Steiner. At the Geneva auto show Italdesign and Audi pushed a further development of

the Pop.Up self-driving ground car and flying cab modular concept shown last year at the same venue. Italdesign, Audi and Porsche are all Volkswagen Group companies. Last year Daimler invested in Germany’s Volocopter in an effort to develop an electric flying taxi. The German company, though, is contemplating the development of the five-seat vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft aimed at the taxi market. Volvo owner Zhejiang Geely Holding Group bought Terrafugia, a U.S. flyingcar developer, which expects to deliver its first flying car to the market soon.


New Mazda Toyota entity to produce 150000 cars in the US

Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation established Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, USA, Inc.” (MTMUS), the new joint-venture company that will produce vehicles in Huntsville, Alabama starting in 2021. The new plant will have the capacity to produce 150,000 units of Mazda’s crossover model that will be newly introduced to the North American market and 150,000 units of the Toyota Corolla. The facility is expected to create

up to 4,000 jobs. Toyota and Mazda are investing $1.6 billion towards this project with equal funding contributions. Mazda’s Executive Officer Masashi Aihara, who will serve as President of MTMUS said that he hope to make MTMUS a plant that will hold a special place in the heart of the local community for many, many years. By combining the best of technologies and corporate cultures, Mazda and Toyota will not only produce high-quality cars but also

create a plant employees will be proud to work at and contribute to the further development of the local economy and the automotive industry, he said. It is hoped that cars made at the new plant will enrich the lives of their owners and become much more than just a means of transportation. Asked for comments on the implications of this move on the Bahrain or the GCC market, Ayman Shehadeh, Marketing Manager of Toyota, said there was not expected to be any implication since the vehicles would be produced for the North American and Latin American markets. The new plant, Toyota’s 11th manufacturing facility in the US, not only represents the company’s continuous commitment in the US, but also is a key factor in improving competitiveness of manufacturing in the country, said Hironori Kagohashi, executive general manager of Toyota and MTMUS’s Executive Vice President. The new company is committed to realising a highly competitive plant and producing vehicles with the best quality for customers by combining Toyota and Mazda’s manufacturing expertise and leveraging the joint venture’s synergies. Based on this competitiveness, they will make every effort to becoming a bestin-town plant that will be loved by our hometown, he added. In collaboration with the state of Alabama and the city of Huntsville, MTMUS will soon begin land preparation for the new plant, and the full-scale construction of the plant is expected to start in 2019.

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MOTORSPORTS

The Kids on the grid for 2018 F1

The 2018 Gulf Air Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix hosted by the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is set to grab the auto racing world’s focus from April 6 to 8. At a media meet to launch the event, BIC Commercial Director Sherif Al Mahdy, said the 14th Bahrain Formula 1 would see the introduction of ‘Grid Kids’ instead of ‘Grid Girls’. The initiative would help budding young local karting drivers playing a major role in the prerace build up, GAZ had earlier said that the introduction of Grid Kids would help the aspiring drivers get much closer to their racing icons. The opportunity to mingle with the drivers would help them improve their techniques. In Bahrain the opportunity would also be permitted to the parents of the chosen grid kids to meet the F1 drivers. He told the Gulf Auto Zone (GAZ) magazine that the opportunity was expected to have a psychological impact on the elders. In response to a question on the details of the selection of grid kids, Al Mahdy said the grid kids would ‘not only be boys. There would also be grid girls. It would be unfair to keep them off the tracks’. An equally important part would be the flagging off of the finale at 6.10pm instead of 6.00 pm. He said the time adjustment was implemented by Liberty Media, current Formula 1 bosses with the aim of allocating more time for broadcasters to show an extended prerace build-up.

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Another hot event would be the new Formula 1 Pirelli Hot Laps programme, a Bahrain first. It would be launched at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Asked to elaborate on this, he said, the hot laps would offer a few lucky fans the chance to be driven round the track by an F1 driver. The new management, as part of its plan to involve racing buffs in the extravaganza, has ensured that a new event ‘Truck Tours’ would encourage fans to win an opportunity to be paraded around the circuit in open top buses during the race weekend. Off the track, the big attractions will include a trio of extreme rides -- a reverse bungee, a SCAD (Suspended Catch Air Device) Freefall and a sky coaster. There will also be entertainment throughout each of the three days at the Circus Stage, and from the Roaming Acts and Street Musicians and Dancers. The tunnels connecting the exterior to the concourse, which generally are empty will also have live performers to keep them entertained. Music enthusiasts will have live performance by Carlos Santana – who brings the Divination Tour- to Bahrain. The massive tent erected in BIC’s Formula 1 Village will provide the young children much enjoyment. BIC has created four zones allocated for circus shows, theatre, a Candyland Interactive Zone and a play ground. On the track, McLaren has entered into engine partnership with Renault. In Bahrain, reigning Formula 2 champion

Charles Leclerc, will join Sauber. Bahrain, by being only the second F1 venue for 2018, will be the cynosure of all eyes, especially so since the use of a halo cockpit protection device, an additional safety feature for the drivers in case of an incident, is being tested here. The FIA Formula 2 Championship and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East will form the support races. Formula 2 is the chief feeder series to Formula 1. It is here that many of the future racing icons cut teeth. LeClerc was until the last season an F2 driver. The Porsche GT3 Cup is the biggest and most popular one-make motor racing championship in the entire region. It has been the number one choice of the Arab world’s most promising circuit racing drivers to broaden their racing experience in a professionally run series. The series will be holding its sixth and final round of its 2017/2018 campaign. The 2017 event was a record-breaking one, with 33,000 fans in attendance on race day and 93,000 over three days. The hottest event though is the 57-lap Formula One, especially so this year Red Bull arrives with a new car ready to take competition and provide heat to the top teams. Gulf Air Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications Mrs. Diya Al Shakar told the media that Gulf Air was proud to be one of the key organisers at the event, providing visa and reasonable fares to the event.

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INTERVIEW

‘Porsche GT3 Cup - proven pathway to international racing’ Lechner Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East, the region’s leading series comes to a gripping conclusion, with the final two races held in support of the official 2018 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend in April. GAZ talks to Walter Lechner the promoter in the Middle East. The premise for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East and benefit to the local talent: I would see the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East as a highly successful one-make racing series that sees drivers take to the best tracks in the region in Porsche cars. The series is a proven pathway to international racing but also the ultimate opportunity for passionate racers to experience professional motorsport. Since we introduced the series in 2009, we have given regional drivers the opportunity to develop their skills and balance life with a racing career, and we continue to do so in Season 9. The drivers vary from seasoned professionals to rookies. Although racing in the same race overall each is categorized into levels of Gold, Silver and Bronze. This allows for one overall winner, but also podium finishes based on experience and driving level. The series was the first and remains the only regional championship backed by a professional manufacturer in the Middle East. Compare the season that just got over with the one that was in the past. Do you see any areas of upgrade? Season 9 witnessed a new GT3 Cup car featured in the series and the region for the first time, in addition to a good mixture of experienced and rookie drivers participating. So this season is completely different. This has made podium finishes tougher than ever. The standard in each category continues to grow, giving us competitive racing. Every driver has something to race for and every point matters.

involvement of both Al Faisal Al Zubair (Oman) and Zaid Ashkanani (Kuwait) in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. We always aim is to have young, passionate, skillful racing drivers from the region, learning and developing through the ranks of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. Having both racing in Europe shows that we are delivering on our promise. Both Zaid and Al Faisal have gone on to perform extremely well in Europe and they are proof that the system works. We hope to attract further young drivers with the desire to build their motorsport careers and race at the highest level possible.

In Season 9 we have an expanded grid with quality new drivers from South Africa, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia and Oman all making their debuts.

Benefit to Porsche from this racing, plans to take it to the grass roots so the true racing blood will be able to benefit from your effort.

This perhaps is one of the races where one finds many youngsters from the GCC competing. One does not see them in such large numbers in any other form of auto racing. The benefit to auto racing scenario in this part of the world:

The series is of a high professional standard, but at the same time it’s open to anyone in the region. It’s for all backgrounds and levels of racing experience – we can even train drivers and work with them to ensure that required licenses are achieved. The championship is based on an arrive and drive concept. Anyone to wants to drive just need passion, commitment

The biggest example of how the series effects motorsport in the GCC is the

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and desire to learn. This lies at the heart of the Porsche formula for success. Every Porsche one-make series worldwide is based on the same ideal; equal opportunities to all teams and drivers via technically identical cars. Over the years, we have had many different drivers moving from Karting into the series. We try and encourage young drivers to start in Karting as it teaches the fundamentals of racing from a young age, including awareness and discipline. Implication of three sectors including the Silver and the Bronze. Having three categories is our way to offer everyone who participates in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East a fair chance to compete. New drivers who don’t have enough experience to aim for the overall title, but have the passion and motivation, can still compete for the Bronze Category. This system has proved to be a success through helping drivers in setting their goals early in the season and witnessing their progress by moving up in categories each year. This ensures growth and improvement for drivers.


‘Plan to close in on Magnus Ohman, pressure him’ Isa Bahrain International Circuit will host the final two rounds of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. Bahraini driver and icon Isa Al Khalifa, at the top of the silver category round 5 looks to closing the gap on the drivers. After securing the bronze category title in Season 8, the young driver has taken the step up into the silver category in his stride, and has showed just how much he has developed over the last four rounds. He talks to GAZ about racing and how the reach can be expanded. Isa S Al Khalifa What brought you into the cockpit of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East? What factors have influenced you to keep going? I was brought into the driver’s seat by my cousin Isa Abdullah Al Khalifa, who used to race with me in karting and decided to start racing in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. I raced once as a trial, was offered the opportunity to compete in the series and since, I haven’t stopped racing. I competed in Season 8 and came back to race again in Season 9 for the second consecutive year.

that could be adopted to popularise motor racing at the grassroots: I believe that through media and social media we can create more interest in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East Championship and in motorsport in general. The more interest and exposure we receive the more the sponsors would be open to look at young drivers and give them the opportunity to show their talents on the track.

Scrutinise your performance this year and comment on what Porsche championship mean to you as an auto race driver: My performance started off great this year, in the first round on my home track of Bahrain. I managed to secure a podium place and was hoping to continue this good form for the rest of the season. But I suffered a few bad rounds and was DNF for one race. I am performing better now after Round 4 at Yas Marina Circuit, where I achieved good results and was on the podium again. I am very proud to be involved with Porsche Motorsport, being associated with the history and legacy that with such a name is something not many other drivers can have. You look a cool driver taking time off to be with family and yet studying the charts to improve. Look at the driver in you and tell us what position you aspire for by the year end? This season in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Championship Middle East, I would like to finish higher than last season to show my growth and improvement in the past year. I also want to achieve better results in the Silver category and try to finish closer to Magnus Ohman who is leading the category. I will be try my best to put the pressure on him in the last remaining rounds. There are raw drivers who burn their rubbers on the road mostly since they cannot afford the tracks. Measures

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NEWS

Rolls’ apprentice programmes open to all

Aisling Copeland, a sixteen –year- old, unsure of the next step in life after taking her GCSEs at Hayling College pondered on what interested her most and realized that was resistant materials. She visited Chichester College to enquire about a course in furniture making and design. There at open day event, she asked about apprenticeships and heard about Roll‑Royce Motor Cars’ programmes and decided to apply. Initially commuting was an issue, says the release, as she was only 16 and not eligible for a driving licence. Her line manager encouraged her to join the company’s lift-sharing scheme so commuting was made easy. To get her acclimatized to the programme, Rolls Royce also staggered her start time, as she was finding the early morning start a challenge. As she went on, she was given the opportunity to visit Sweden and Switzerland for dealer events. Her peers say that although it was daunting at first, she found these events useful, as it helped her develop her communication skills. She could also demonstrate what she was learning in the woodshop, by crafting the substrates for dashboards before potential customers. Aisling’s confidence has improved dramatically and she is determined to work her way up through Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as high as she can go. Steve Mann, another candidate, studied golf management at college. He went

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on to be a self-employed plumber for two years prior to applying for apprenticeships as a way to making a career change. Although offered an aeronautical engineering place with another firm, he chose Rolls-Royce as it provided the opportunity to be more ‘hands on’. He is now on the specialist plastics team in the surface finish centre. He has worked across a number of departments in surface finish and among his favourite parts during the apprenticeship was vehicle repairs training at the worldrenowned Thatcham Research in Berkshire. Steve has found that the support RollsRoyce apprentices get has been a real

help. Sean Chinomona, a third apprentice found the opportunity to work at RollsRoyce too good to turn down. He made the commitment travelling down from Liverpool to work at Rolls-Royce in Goodwood. The opportunity to get some real ‘hands on’ experience was more beneficial to Sean than studying ‘A’ levels in Liverpool. It was his dad who suggested that Sean consider an apprenticeship after completing GCSEs. Sean believes that taking pride in the work one does is one of the key traits of working for RollsRoyce. He says the brand is recognised as the ‘best of the best’ and he wanted to represent that.


Sean’s favourite job is working on the engine build, and exploring how the car works. This is where it became clear that this level of engineering detail is not available anywhere else in the world. Sean confides that the opportunities he had through the apprentice scheme were incredibly exciting. The chance to be chauffeured in the cars with his family on the company Family Day, was a great opportunity. The induction apprentice trip to Devon saw the group take part in a number of team building activities such as rock climbing and archery. This was a real confidence booster for Sean as he got to meet other apprentices across the business. Callum Rafferty, after his GCSEs, joined the Rolls-Royce apprenticeship programme after attending a careers talk at his school. He was able to work with some of the finest materials at Rolls-Royce, learning both on site and at college. He used these skills to build a small refectory table and wall cabinet during the early training. Currently he is working on his final project of making a large table. Callum looks forward to working in a number of areas across the woodshop. He is excited about the opportunities the apprenticeship scheme offers and what the future holds during his time with Rolls-Royce. Ethan Brown, since joining the team at Rolls-Royce, has worked in a number of departments with different roles and responsibilities. After his first year studying full time at college, he moved on to supplier parts quality. Here Ethan joined a team that ensures every single part of the car is the finest Rolls-Royce quality. His current placement sees him working in a number of department’s learning how the wider business works. The opportunity to work on the assembly line has been one of the most exciting parts for Ethan. “It is amazing to say that I have built Rolls-Royce’s” he says. The opportunity to lead projects has helped support Ethan’s personal development. With support, Ethan is leading a project looking into metrology

(measurement for the brand new RollsRoyce Cullinan). The apprenticeship programme has afforded him the opportunity to learn new things and gain new experiences that can help further his career. After graduating from the Art University of Bournemouth, in BA Textiles, Brienny Dudley was looking into local textiles job opportunities when she stumbled across the ‘Leather Sewing Apprentice’ role at Rolls-Royce. Since joining, she has completed three, two-month placements within the leather shop. Her first role was in cutting, then sewing and more recently, in her favourite role -- seat build. This is where the luxurious Rolls-Royce seats with their numerous massage settings are built. Her stand out moment was collaborating with the bespoke department to create a series of leather Christmas decorations. Along with another apprentice, Brienny designed and produced over 1000 decorations that were sold in the run up to Christmas, with all proceeds going to the company’s house charity.

Brienny will shortly be completing her first year. In that time she will have had the opportunity to work in all six areas of the leather shop. This will provide her with the ability to pinpoint a preferred area to pursue in her career. For the car lover in Georgia Dickinson, the prestige of working for the world’s most luxurious car brand was a once in a lifetime opportunity. After finishing Business BTEC she applied at RollsRoyce. Her first week was quite an experience, being ‘blown away’ by the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood. The opportunity to go through different placements within the leather shop was a great opportunity. The apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce has taught her lessons such as how to be independent, working in a team and improving her confidence. The management support has been key in this, with their help assured at all times. Georgia looks forward to continuing to develop her skills in a variety of locations in the leather shop and expanding her knowledge.

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TEST DRIVE

Noiseless, smooth and affordable Hyundai azera

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TEST DRIVE

The shining marble white Hyundai Azera 2018 3.5 GLS AT stood among its contemporaries, beckoning me to test on the raw tarmac. The sales lady introduced the new model on the ramp as belonging to the premium segment – Premium SE indeed. The exterior looks nice and clean the lines melting into the design giving it the luxury silky feel. At BD14,000+ the 2018 Azera is the car of the middle upper class elite. The grille on this Azera has veered away from the normal three plates and the Hyundai seal to six plate front with a dip further, creating the feel of a semi-luxury model – as a continuation of the grille in chrome is generally seen in models vying for that stately regal looks. As the eyes follow the lines to the top of the car, the tint of the windshield breaks the flow of white and gently takes it into a soothing dark ash and into black hue. An inch away from the wind shield as the eyes move north is the panoramic sunroof. At least on first appearance, it is a Wow!! feel. The white body and black top, I must confess, has that soothening effect. Move to the side of the car and what immediately catches ones attention is the rather large 19 inch tyres. It gives the added safety feeling. Large tyres make one feel the car is a lot more safer than one where the suspension is visible. Added to the larger tyres is the rather large wheelbase at about 2845 mm. The large

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TEST DRIVE wheelbase adds to the safety component. The car stays 15 cm off the ground in the front, which also means that the model is generally safe when parking and its front will not rub the kerbs. Once inside the car I could feel the interiors being roomy, large enough to accommodate a full man like me. The key is just the size of a cardholder. Depositing it into the glass holder I closed the door and put on the seat belt. The driver’s seat immediately adjusted itself. At the touch of the Start/Stop key the engine silently purred to life and it beeped to point to an obstruction in its path. Talking about the engine, it is a 3.5 litre multi point injection. Driving the engine are 286 horses. Feel the push exhilarate the driver at 6,600 revolutions. At the heart is a V6 capable of 3,470 cc displacement. The transmission is an eight speed automatic. The engine is capable of creating 34.5 kg.m of torque when the wheels hit 5,000 rpm. The car has nine airbags, though it is better not to use the airbag. Live without the need for airbags.

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As soon as the engine came to life the airconditioner showed the temperature outside and adjusted the internal cooling – such a relief especially when one walks into the car from a sweltering Bahraini summer. The airconditioner has two options – automatic temperature setting as also setting manually. If one were to be driving in the winter the thermostat would take control and heat not just the insides but also the front seating. Moving off the parking area from First Motors and hitting the tarmac, the sensors clearly said they meant business – beeping at the pass of the heavy trucks I encountered since the setting was mid noon. Once on the Sitra Highway I let the lane assist take over only to check how effective it is and there it was monitoring every move of the car closer to the lane markers. What caught my eyes was the capacity of the car to automatically brake when the accelerator is released. This heightens safety in that the car comes to a complete halt. Unless the accelerator pedal is depressed the car stays stationary. Combined with the lane assist and the

360 degree monitoring system, an accident is quite in the region of impossible. I can vouch on the safety unless the driver decides to go ahead. The sensors beam quite loud that it alerts even the driver who is nodding. Another noteworthy feature of the 2018 Azera is the blind spot detector. Most accidents that I have seen in Bahrain have resulted from the inability to see the vehicle in the blind spot. Here is one vehicle that alerts the driver rather rudely and I must say that is a good feature, of the vehicle in the adjacent land that is not seen. In addition, there is the autonomous emergency brake, electric parking brake, the electric heated folding O/S mirror; solar glass system ▪ outside mirrors that move into the body when the ignition is turned off and opens out when the ignition is turned on. The seats are of Nappa leather. The infotainment system in this Azera comprises 12 speakers and the brand is Infinity Surround System. The pillion is never taken care of in most cars. However, here is a car that has a rear airconditioner.


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BIKE

GSX- R1000 Suzuki’s superbike comeback

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BIKE

The Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2017 model is a comeback for the GSX models. Look at what it has and then decide to lay your bets on it. The sheer power of the machine is up and touches 202 horses. Rider after rider has much to talk about the Big Gixxer. For Suzuki it joins the world’s greatest superbikes. On the midrange, turn off the 10-stage traction and the grunt equals bulk wheelies. The 2017 R1000, each cylinder of this grunt has a 76 mm bore and 55.1mm stroke – more like the inline four-engined compatriots. This configuration screams wild top-end horsepower at the expense of lowend torque. However, its very civilized at lower revs. The acceleration is smooth, putting behind the throttle snatch issues from the magnificent GSX-S1000 naked bike. Driven on the asphalt tarmac, the Gixxer has advantages of many technologies designed to push power. The variable valve timing in the R1000 is indeed a big ticket item – using centrifugal force to push a series of steel balls outward in the intake valve sprocket. This helps operate a mechanism that alters the valve timing. This superbike can run an advanced intake timing at low revs. The result is increased power in the midrange, and a rather significantly retarded one

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with the engine speed pushing beyond 10,000 rpm. The air intake gets attention too, but not to the degree of using variable length intake trumpets. Here Suzuki uses a stacked system for the outer two cylinders, which effectively lets air in from both lengths without needing a mechanical intervention. An extra set of top feed fuel injectors spray fuel directly into the intake funnels from the top of the airbox to complement the primary injectors in the throttle bodies. The exhaust headers has 1 and 4 and 2 and 3 linked. In addition a set

of butterfly valves in each of these connector tubes can open and close to control exhaust gas pressure waves. The whole symphony is conducted by a fully electronic fly-by-wire throttle. That helps keep the bike Euro IVcompliant even while enabling fun stuff like riding modes and traction control. Talking about traction control, it is a 10-stage, lean angle-sensitive system. The electronics package on the GSX-R lags slightly behind the top-end competition; there’s no quickshifter, and despite the fact that the bike runs a six-axis IMU, the non-switchable ABS system included isn’t Continental’s lean angle-sensitive Cornering ABS.


One of the riders said that he could sense the benefits of Cornering ABS. The quickshifter is terrific. The standard Gixxer suspension is a Showa Big Piston and a fully adjustable remote reservoir shock. The Gixxer’s road feel was exceptional. Its all praises for its geometry. It really is one of the sweetest steering motorcycles on the road. Most of runs on Bridgestone RS10 supersport rubbers -- magnificent gear on any bike. Turning to the fuel tank, it holds 16 litres. The consumption is good at 6.5 litres/100km for about 200 km before the tank light goes on.

with 1.5mm larger intake valves (also titanium) it results in a much-needed boost in top-end power output. The GSX-R1000 also uses new dualstage funnels on cylinders 1 and 4, which essentially act like a variablelength intake funnel system but without the added parts and complexity. Throttle bodies have a 2mm larger bore (46mm versus 44mm) and are 19mm shorter, possibly what helped Suzuki to lower the fuel tank height by some 21mm. Other changes, including a smaller

stator, re-routed oil passageways in the crankcases and reduced cylinder angle (six degrees in total), allow for the engine to be 6.6 mm narrower and 22.2 mm shorter. The wheelbase grows 1420mm, or 55.9 inches. The longer swingarm is on both sides instead for increased rigidity. swingarm is expected outright mechanical traction.

15mm

to

now braced of just one, That longer to improve rear-wheel

It’s a bike that gets out of the way and becomes an extension of yourself, thus helping concentrate on lines and braking points in the knowledge it’ll do exactly what you expect. The displacement is 999.8cc. The Gixxer pistons wear shorter skirts for lighter weight. Suzuki has updated the entire valve train. The steel exhaust valves have been replaced with smaller, 24mm titanium pieces (versus 25mm), resulting in weight saving that allow for raising the rev ceiling by an impressive 1,000 rpm, to 14,500 rpm. Combined

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COLUMN

‘Prevent accidents’ the victim could be your kin Bahrain’s General Directorate of Traffic Affairs’ accident census for 2017 reads ‘seven people killed and 150 injured in motorcycle accidents alone’. Of course, the question being raised is, whose fault resulted in these accidents? The important point is how could it have been avoided. A fact is that some drivers just hit and run fearing punishment by the traffic department. With some it is complete ignorance to having hit a motorcycle rider. Running off while a soul is left on the road fighting for life is not just a traffic violation, but also against moral laws we follow. Very often critical traffic situations arise due to a misunderstandings on either side. It is important to follow the points mentioned below to prevent loss of life. This includes: Road manners for both driver and rider, Anticipating and avoiding critical situations to avoid accidents, Circumstances that the riders and drivers should be aware of, Safety issues, Technical issues, Weather conditions, Road conditions, Driving behavior and, Rider signals. It is important for all road users to pay utmost attention to the road and fellow motorists. Be aware of impending danger and obstacles on the road. Pay heed to the environs, especially during the peak hours. That brings a few questions to the way business is conducted today.

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Why are motorbikes filtering, accelerating engines loudly? The bike rider must anticipate the action of motorists all around. Always be alert. There are motorists who often never use direction signals. It is not only cars, but trucks as well. Another visible threat can be cars in bad condition. Overloaded pickups and trucks also pose a grave danger. All these create dangerous situations for the biker, while the drivers of cars and other vehicles will never think about it or realize the impact and consequence. Turning from being alert on the road and gauging the motorists, we also have to think of the three types of bikers -the cruisers, sports and delivery motorcycles -- each of them having their own style and behavior of riding. Each of them can annoy the drivers and other bikers in their own ways. All the while as we ride remember that we can communicate with each other and the motorists using simple signs. Here we also talk about the delayed reaction of the drivers. I often point out to drivers --as there are so many distractions while they drive. Some of the common distractions include -kids playing inside the car, playing loud music, messaging on mobile phones, whatsapp messaging and phone calls. I have seen mothers in the car carrying babies on their lap, speaking on the mobile phone and driving all at the same time. The other kids in the car could be climbing around obstructing vision. Simple accidents can occur due to bad driving habits leaving only damages for the motorist. The biker, on the other hand, could lose his life. A car can be replaced, a life cannot. Always keep in mind that the vehicle near you can be a family member of yours. Do you want to hurt your brother, sister, wife, husband or close kin? All of us want to reach our destination safely and return to our waiting families. Keep in mind, the real hero is the supportive one, whether it’s a driver or a rider. Be safe. Always remember your Mother is expecting you to return home. (Views mentioned here are from content provided by Anna Daimantidou. )


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Look for the GAZMAN on www.gazgroup.com

gazman

Keeping rust away and De-rusting Rusting is natural, when metal is left to open atmosphere and it can eat into even the best of metals. Not only are they ugly to see, they can also eat into the metal and damage the equipment. Rust on the car is not just a sign of carelessness but also a drain on the purse if not treated on time. GAZMAN tell you how to deal with rust on the car: First it is important to spray distilled white vinegar on the areas where the rust stain shows and around the sides. When the vinegar has soaked into the surface, sprinkle some baking soda. Gently scrub with a ball of aluminum foil (it is important here to ensure that it does not scratch the surroundings. Go with the grain. Sprinkle a little bit of salt on the rust and squeeze the lime over the salt until it is soaking. Leave the mixture sit for two to three hours. Never throw away the lime. The rust has to be cleaned with the lime rind. This can also be done with a lemon. Sprinkle baking soda directly onto the rust, and with a toothbrush apply water and scrub. Always remember to scrub in the direction of the grain of the surface and never against the surface as that could scratch the surface. When removing rust of tools in the

car, place the rusted items in a bucket filled with vinegar and leave it soaked overnight. In the morning one can find the rust removed completely. Rinse off with clean water, and then completely dry. To remove rust from tools, nuts, bolts and screws, fill a quart-sized jar with white vinegar. After removing the objects from the vinegar – wipe off the rust. A light coating of oil can help prevent rusting in the future. If nuts and bolts have sunk into the metal because of rust, pour club soda over rusty nuts and bolts to loosen

when they’ve become stuck. The bubbling action of the carbonation helps to remove the rust. Cut a potato in half and then dip the cut end into dish soap or baking soda. Next apply the soaked end to the rusted area and rub. To keep going, just cut the potato’s top layer and reapply the soap. To address larger areas of rust, use sandpaper to remove the damage. When working with larger areas, don’t forget to wear a mask and safety goggles to protect yourself from airborne particles. Wear gloves to protect your hands and skin. For stubborn rust, you may want to use an electric sander. The abrasive action that tin foil can have on some objects can be used to get rid of rust. Crumble the tin foil up and rub against the surface of a rusty item. A paste made from baking soda and water can be used to clean rust. Add enough water to baking soda to make a paste thick enough to stick to the rusted surface. Allow the remedy to sit on the rust for a bit of time before

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scrubbing off with a piece of steel wool or a wire brush. For stubborn rust, you may have to repeat the process a couple of times. One of the most popular sodas on the market has the power to treat rusty areas. Apply Coca Cola to rusty spots, and scrub with a crumpled up piece of aluminum foil. Add more of the soda and continue to scrub until all of the rust is gone. Follow up by washing with warm soapy water to remove the sticky residue. Use a clean cloth to thoroughly dry the object. Some people have successfully removed rust on their car by using Coca Cola. Use on chrome and the trim of your car. Simply use a sponge soaked in Coca Cola, and scrub using the crumbled up aluminum foil. Scrubbing a rusty object with a wire brush can remove the unwanted damage or prep an object for a more deep-cleaning method by removing the flakiness of surface rust.

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GAZ TECH

Basics in fuel pump replacement Fuel pump replacement is an important surgery in any car. However, it is important to know how this can be carried out easily, since a choked fuel pump can strand the car anywhere and at any time. If the engine does not have a functioning fuel pump, it will immediately “starve” and stop functioning. When fuel pumps are not replaced properly, the whole system is damaged. Although it might sound difficult, fuel pump replacement is easy. Depending on the kind of fuel pump, a few set of instructions should help. Anyone can easily install a new fuel pump through these series of steps. In the middle of the night on a highway with a choked fuel pump, it is essential for every driver to be able to replace it and scramble out of a messy night. GAZ Tech looks at how this can be done. Have the following items ready always in the car so as to be able to carry out any operation anywhere. Fire extinguisher, •

Replacement fuel pump

Open end wrench set

New fuel line

Socket set

Phillips head screwdriver

Flat head screwdriver

Large fuel catch container

Safety is top priority when it comes to replacing fuel pumps. Never carry out a fuel pump replacement in a closed place. It is almost always done in an open and well-ventilated area. The fire extinguisher should be within reach. Always remember the fuel pump emits high fuel pressure, since it supplies fuel to the injection system. The cylinder receives the fuel to power the car from the pump. Therefore it is important first of all to shut down the engine and let it rest a while so the pressure that already exists is released. In an electronic fuel pump, locate the fuel pump fuse and pull the fuse out to relieve the engine’s pressure. After shutting down the engine and removing the key, disconnect the battery terminals. Removing the pump system from the fuel engine can produce sparks, which may easily cause a fire and cause great harm to both the individual and the vehicle. Most of the cars have either of two

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kinds of electric fuel pumps. One type has the pump placed inside the gas tank while in the other it is placed beneath the car. Fuel pumps that are located under the car are held by several bolts. For cars with pumps placed under the car, sliding under the car should help locate the pump. Jack stands are normally used to lift the entire system. Once the pump is located unbolt it and then pull it slowly. Make sure that every component is unbolted. Fuel pumps inside the fuel tank are removed inside the car. A person can usually access fuel pumps inside the tank either under the carpet or beneath the back seat. In some cases, there is also an access point inside the trunk. Just like in the fuel pumps under the car, everything has to be unbolted before the fuel pump can be removed. After removing the fuel pump carry out the following actions to install the new fuel pump. Always disconnect the fuel lines prior to taking the new pump. Use a strong clip to block the fuel lines and rest the line vertically so there is no fuel leakage. Once the new fuel pump has been connected it is important to first connect fuel lines again. Ensure that the pump is bolted in exactly the same

place as before it was disconnected. Thereafter reconnect terminals and start gradually.

the the

battery engine

There are three main types of fuel pumps that one can find. Each has its own way of working its own qualities. It is important that you are able to know which one does what so that one knows how to get the right one. That is why it is important to do all the homework well in advance and shop around. It can be tricky to find the right one for the car. Make sure you aree aware of of the fuel pump that will pump the gas into a carburetor or into the fuel injection system. Know what the differences are and what they can accomplish for you. Mechanical Fuel Pump The mechanical fuel pump is one that is most often used with engines that use a carburetor. Back before fuel pumps became a necessity for cars, the fuel was fed directly into the carburetor. This was done through the act of gravity. They are on their way out as they pump fuel at very low pressure rates. Over time they are being used less and less, most exclusively in older cars. Pretty much any new or even newer car is not going to use this type of fuel pump. Eventually they will be


completely phased out as newer cars do not require them at all. Because the mechanical fuel pump pumps the fuel into the carburetor, this slows down the efficiency of the fuel delivery. The fuel injection has become the more contemporary source with cars. The fuel is pumped at a higher pressure and will help to deliver the fuel in the most efficient way possible. Electric Fuel Pump The electric fuel pump is the most commonly used in contemporary cars. It is slowly taking over the place of the mechanical fuel pump. You will find that the electric fuel pump is located directly inside the fuel tank. In comparison to the mechanical fuel pump, the electric fuel pump pumps gas to the fuel injection system at a much higher pressure. Because of this they are gradually taking over and are found in most new or newer cars as opposed to the mechanical fuel pump. The electric fuel pump works with the fuel injector in the car. It helps to get the fuel going where it needs to quicker and easier. Because of this, it obviously is the more desired choice when it comes to fuel pumps. Turbo Pump The turbo is not often found in a road going automobile. They are very large and are normally reserved for a more high volume engine type. Typically, you will more often than not see these types of fuel pumps on a jet or something of that nature. They will over time become more popular as technology allows for more research to be done and the parts to make them become less expensive. They are still very large pumps and will not be used for your typical automobile or a smaller engine as they are much too powerful to work properly. It is important to choose the right type of Electric Fuel Pump. GAZ Tech suggest the following equipment to get the best purchase: One of the most important equipment in choosing the right pump is the Voltage tester Electric pump An electric fuel pump is very efficient and is usually located near or inside the fuel tank. There are two types of electric pumps. An inline fuel pump, which connects to the fuel line and its wires connected to the battery while an in-tank pump is located inside the fuel tank. The pump creates pressure that pushes gas into the engine to fire up the vehicle. Choosing the right

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GAZTECH but also resulting into problems such as engine surging. The second important requirment is to establish the fuel efficiency. As the pressure of the fuel system rises, the volume of the pump decreases. Knowing the maximum pressure of your vehicle’s fuel system will guide you in choosing an electric pump whose flow volume matches the pressure. Equally important is finding the Voltage of the Pump Establish the voltage of the pump required for the total engine load of your vehicle and the pump’s flow volume at that voltage. Ensure that the voltage of your electric fuel pump is the correct one to pump sufficient fuel to the engine. The voltage of the electric pump creates pressure on the fuel and moves it into the fuel system. Therefore, the higher the voltage the greater the volume of fuel pushed into the fuel system. You must however ensure that your electric fuel pump’s voltage matches the pressure of the fuel system. The fourth imporant component is to ientify car and engine details Other engine details that will aid in choosing an electric fuel pump are size of engine, the year of manufacture as well as the make and model of the vehicle driven. This will guide the driver in getting the fuel pump best suited to fuel the exact provisions of the engine. Although there are enough cheap pumps always buy the Trusted Brands Having matched all the electric pump qualities to the needs of your car, choose a pump from a trusted brand. A strong brand will guarantee quality and the pump will perform as stipulated. At the same time, buying your electric pump for your vehicle will ensure that it maintains an efficient supply of fuel to the engine for the ultimate performance of the vehicle. There are simple guidelines that will help you choose the correct electric fuel pump. First is to determine Engine Power The full power of the engine of your vehicle and how much fuel it requires to achieve this is the first determinant of the kind of fuel pump to choose. Get the fuel pump that matches the power of your engine. Getting a small pump will blow up the motor of your vehicle and cause it to perform poorly. On the other hand, getting a bigger pump for a less powerful engine will draw in more fuel than the engine can consume not only costing you the fuel

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fuel pump from a trusted dealer comes with a warranty, which is a form of security within a certain period to avoid loss of money in case the pump does not function as expected. Among the most imporant prepurchase steps is testing the Fuel Pump Voltage. Equipment needed here are two jumper wires and a digital multimeter It is essential occasionally to perform a test fuel pump to confirm a pump’s effectiveness. The pump voltage test is important for checking the effectiveness of the fuel pump. To get optimum results and ensure that the voltage is optimum first prespare the equipment. Connect the digital multimeter to the positive and negative terminals of the fuel pump. Make sure there are no broken circuits anywhere between the fuel pump and relay. Test to see if the relay is working properly. Then switch on the ignition and insert the key into the ignition and turn on the key without starting the engine. A soft whirl sound should come from the pump indicating that it is ready to pump fuel into the engine. If the pump is functioning, find out if it is receiving enough electrical power. A deficiency in power supply may cause the digital multimeter to indicate a false voltage reading at the pump. To confirm the reading it is necessary to perform a voltage drop test. The third test is checking the negative terminals. Split the circuit into two. Have the ground phase on one side and the positive on the other. Use the jumper wire to power the fuel circuit and energize the pump. Connect the digital multimeter to the battery and the pump, both on their negative terminals. Conduct the tests using a live circuit wire. If the meter indicates

a reading of more than 0.1 then this indicates a loss of voltage power. The reason for the loss could be damaged harness connectors or poor wiring. Thereafter test the positive terminals. Connect the digital multimeter to the positive terminals of the pump and the battery. Also test the output terminal of the fuel pump to see if it is functioning as expected. If the voltage drop is greater than the recommended reading of 0.1 volts then this is a confirmation that indeed the harness connectors or the wiring is faulty. Locate the exact position of the fault to rectify the problem.

pump connector at the back of the car and test for incoming voltage using a digital multimeter. Important it is to test the pump by removing the fuel pump from the vehicle and put it on a flat surface. Use the jumper wires connected to the battery to test for voltage. If there is difficulty in removing the pump from the vehicle, pick your battery and carry it over to the back of the vehicle. Then connect your jumper wires to the battery and the fuel pump and test.

Test the pump relay, after to establish the location of the fuel pump relay on the dashboard or the engine compartment. Remove the relay and have some one switch on the ignition without starting the engine. Check for voltage at the relay connector using a digital multimeter. Trace the fuel

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