THE GULF’S moST popULar moTorinG maGazinE ISSUE 198 / january 2016
"iF iT'S noT in HErE, iT'S noT worTH TaLkinG aboUT"
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SEMA MOTOR SHOW ››AMWAJ CAR SHOW›› DRAG & DRIFT BMF AUTO CROSS ›› BAHRAIN SUPER BIKE CHAMPIONSHIP CARS
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january 2016 Issue 198
super veloce The Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 SV
COVER
STORY
50
TESTS&DrIVES
42
meet the new boss Toyota Land Cruiser GXR
46
ChARACteR LInes Force-induced Lexus IS200
58
bAD boY GReen Bad Boy Porsche 911 Carrera (Type 964)
46
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Contents www.arabiamotors.co
arabiamotorsmagazine
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30
54
34
88
FEaTuRES&DEpartmEntS 10
motoRInG news All the latest automotive news from the region & the world
26
DRAG & DRIft ACtIon We go Drifting!
30
38
the RACInG LIne Action from the BMF Autocross
34
nAtIonAL pRIDe Celebrating National Day - The Petrolhead way!
38
DefInInG foRmULA The super-exotic Ferrari F50
78
Am GeAR All the Coolest Car-Stuff that you Need
80
Am tRADeR LIstInGs The most comprehensive pre-owned automotive listing in the Kingdom
88
2015 semA show Exclusive from the coolest motoring show in the world
6 www.arabiamotors.co I january 2016
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ed page THe ArAbiA motors Team Editor-in-Chief SAMEER Z. UCHI Group Editor MOHD. A. KAYANI Deputy Editor SANgEETH.M
if and only Aventador SV – as cover this month – the one our on is s car er hyp of il The Holy Gra s enough. sic cars from Bahrain, the Aventador wasn’t bonker off with a gathering of clas k kic s tion bra cele Day al Autocross in Muharraq. We had the Nation , and the BMF put on a great oon Lag waj Am the the at ait Saudi and Kuw of some sideways action at e, I decided to get a taste tlin fancy igh stra who ng you goi of of se d tho tea Ins le guide for I’ve put together a handy litt Drag and Drift Nights, and ed; found it to be much improv going drifting. el of the latest Cruiser – and whe the ind ing beh rific e sac t tim e hou som wit I spent edges; thankfully othed out some of the rough my Toyota have definitely smo king of this region. I also got it de ma t’s tha road capability out on day fun a for de ma ch any of the truck’s superb offwhi bo, l turbocharged Lexus IS Tur hands on the latest entry-leve er the backroads of Hidd. you guys – we have two sup s, this is a bumper issue for And for you biking enthusiast pages. per race bike gracing these as human custom bikes as well as a pro alizing forces on earth as far equ st ate gre the of one are s car t lt, it can tha bui is ieve ) bel too I – es s Car s, I mean bik of where a car (when I say car to ng owi t rac inte er nev beings go. Because regardless lly ld otherwise norma wou who ple peo er; class, eth of tog rier magnetize people suddenly every bar automobile into the mix and an on row ed Th es. bas be forc l can ura is Th cult various d is formed. e it, is broken down and a bon SV. nam dor you – nta n Ave gio ni reli ghi ed, bor cre Lam e, rac or a supercar such as the cel Ter ota g Toy a irin be adm ld of cou sole intention any platform – it from all walks of life with the ple peo er s eth Car tog m. g the e brin driv can A car show people who own and ns and getting to know the one of man’s greatest creatio or an adult. kid a it’s r the driving force whe es, car shows and everything are aspirational – a positive n, we need to have more rac nio opi ble hum my in , why Which is Kingdom. r! else automotive-related in the toring-action-packed New Yea h you all a very Happy and mo wis to On that note, I’d like , car talk? Hit me up! Enjoy the read and as always Deputy Editor
HArAN
SANGEETH MurALEED Contact us on: +973 39393398
Sales & Marketing Director TAREK RASHDAN
Art Designer Haroon Rasheed Photographer Honey Sharma Videographer CARlOS ACUESTA Contributing Photographer Mohammed Hamza Ali Contributing Photographer Mohamed Anwar Sheikhaldeen Social Media Contributor Abdulla Bazian Produced by MAXMEDIA CO. W.L.L. P.O Box 108, Manama Bahrain. Tel: 973 17 402482 Fax: 973 17 402483 E-mail: arabiamotors@maxmediaco..com www. maxmediaco.com. ARABIA MOTORS is published monthly (12 issues) and has a GCC circulation of 15,000 copies. It is available in all supermarkets and book stores across the GCC. If you cannot find our magazine in your area, please call +973 17402482. Annual Subscription to ARABIA MOTORS. Bahrain BD15 ($40.000) GCC Subscription is BD25 ($66.000) for 1 year. Foreign Subscription is BD35 ($93.000) for 1 year.
3 easy ways to subscribe e-mail: subscription@maxmediaco.com Online at www.maxmediaco.com Call +973 17402482, Fax +973 17402483 E-mail Us Your Motoring News! arabiamotors@ maxmediaco.com Anything to do with: Car Clubs, Races, Car Agents, Dealers, Tires, Associations, Engine Oils, Electronics, Motorbike, Boats, Jet-skies, Vehicle Rental, Accessories, Vehicle Loans & Insurance, Mobile Phones and more........ CAR 213 Copyright 433\04 ARABIA MOTORS Magazine all rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without our written permission. The content of this publication is the exclusive property of MAXMEDIA CO. W.L.L. and must not be reproduced in any form without written permission. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, MAXMEDIA CO. W.L.L. and all its publications cannot accept any legal responsibility for any error or omission. Magazine is printed at AWAL PRESS Bahrain and distributed by Al Hilal Corp. Tel: 17480800, Fax: 17480818
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Latest gossip from the motoring industry
Showroom Extravaganza Jaguar Land Rover Splurges On New 30 Million US$ Home In The Kingdom
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aguar Land Rover Bahrain, threw the doors open to its brand new, state-ofthe-art showroom in Sitra mid last month (December 2015). The showroom which consists of three floors and a service center is the brain child of local JLR distributor Euro Motors. Construction work on the $30 million testament to automotive perfection began in April 2014, and to mark its launch, Euro Motors held a stellar event in celebration of the occasion, and also as an early celebration of the National Day of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The showroom is the first purpose built facility in the MENA region to be fully compliant with Jaguar Land Rover’s latest corporate identity
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standards. Located adjacent to the existing Euro Motors showroom in Sitra, the two level showroom is spread over 5,000 square meters and has been specially designed from the outset to solely house new as well as Approved Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles for a minimum of ten years. The Ground Floor of the showroom is constructed such that it follows the Jaguar Land Rover “Arch concept” wherein one showroom entrance leads to two separate areas that exhibit the entire range of Jaguar cars and Land Rover SUVs, each reflecting the respective brand’s identity thereby emphasizing the strengths and uniqueness of the cars. The display space capacity for new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles has been doubled as compared to the existing showroom and the new and improved showroom is expansive enough to accommodate a substantial increase in the Approved vehicles section as well. The functional new showroom also incorporates a state-of-the-art workshop with its capacity more than twice that of the current workshop. This will allow work on 32 vehicles at a time. The facility growth will be supported by an increase in the total staffing levels to a total of 100 technical and non-technical personnel. In addition to this, Jaguar Bahrain also launched the Dynamic new XF sedan on the occasion, as well as presenting the keys to the winner of a brand new Jaguar XF -marking a spectacular close to the day’s proceedings.
December JANUARY 2016 2015 I www.arabiamotors.co 11
Motoring news
Bahrain Bans Classic Cars
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ot exactly Classic Cars, but that’s a gray area since the Traffic Directorate had announced recently that cars over 5 years of age will be banned from being imported into the Kingdom from abroad. The report does not state whether cars of a particular vintage / classic / historic significance would be given exceptions. What this means is that
if you fancy a super clean 1998 Mercedes Benz S500 or a MK3 Toyota Supra or a Silvia S15 or that super clean 1990 Cadillac Brougham D’Elegance from say Japan, the States or anywhere else in the world, come May 2016, you’ll be sold out of luck. There’s possibly a silver lining to this; all those shady used-car dealers who import rust buckets and shine them
ToyoTa Holds TecHnicians skills Grand Prix
up and charge over the market price for a quick buck will hopefully go out of business, thereby saving you nice folks out there your hard earned money. And prices for used cars in the Kingdom should increase as well. Nevertheless, we are still waiting on word from the authorities as to whether there will be an exception on collector cars, specialty cars and classics.
Under the patronage of the Labour Minister H.E. Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Toyota organized “The 2015 GCC Technicians Skills Grand Prix” at the Toyota Training Centre in Bahrain. Ebrahim K. Kanoo’s top management, Toyota Motor Corporation officials, GCC Toyota distributors, as well as guests attended the event from the relevant ministries and technical institutions.
2016 Lexus GS Debuts in Bahrain L
exus Bahrain has announced the arrival of the new 2016 Lexus GS range at the Lexus showroom in Sitra. A new, third model, the rear-wheel drive GS 200t, joins the line-up with an exceptionally smooth 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine teamed with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The turbo engine delivers 241 HP, giving the GS 200t outstanding all-around performance and efficiency. In the GS 350, a more muscular 3.5-litre V6 produces 311 HP and
is also paired with the same 8-speed automatic transmission. The V6’s combination of direct fuel injection and additional port fuel injectors ensures ample power and crisp responsiveness. Leading the GS line-up is the GS 450h – a highperforming hybrid. The Lexus Hybrid Drive system combines output from an Atkinson cycle 3.5-litre V6 engine and a water-cooled permanent-magnet electric motor for a combined 338 horsepower, channelled through a planetary-type continuously variable transmission.
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Motoring news
McLaren Appoints New Managing Director
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cLaren Automotive has appointed Andreas Bareis to the role of Managing Director, Middle East and Africa in an important and strategic change for the region. Andreas was previously Executive Director of Quality at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England and replaces Ian Gorsuch who will take the position
of Sales and Marketing Director for McLaren Special Operations. Andreas, who has worked for McLaren Automotive for three years, joined originally as Director of Quality from MercedesBenz. He was promoted to the decision-making Executive Committee a year later and became Executive Director of Quality. Since then he has been part of the company’s leading group
responsible for steering future product and brand strategy including the establishment this year of a three-tier product line-up which take the company forward to its next decade and beyond. As a key member of the Executive Committee, Andreas has also been inherent to the setting of the company’s year-over-year sales growth targets.
Ford creaTes “druG drivinG suiT”
Porsche appoints new Member of Executive Board
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he Porsche Supervisory Board announced the appointment of Albrecht Reimold (54) as new Member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. He will take up his new post on February 1, 2016, succeeding Dr. Oliver Blume, who is Chairman of the Porsche Executive Board since October. Reimold will be moving to Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen after managing the Volkswagen plant in Bratislava for the last four years. The Supervisory Board also appointed Jürgen Rittersberger (43) Executive Manager for Porsche AG with immediate effect.
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Ford has come up with an ingenious way of showing young people the dangers of driving while under the influence of drugs. They’ve built a ‘drugged driving’ simulation suit that accurately replicates the effects of being high. Driving while wearing the suit will now be a compulsory module in the company’s worldwide driver education program, ‘Ford Driving Skills for Life’. The suit, developed in collaboration with scientists from the Meyer-Hentschel Institute in Germany, is specially engineered to simulate distortion of the senses. It comes with padding, ankle weights, goggles, and headphones, all of which create the effect of reduced mobility and vision. So anyone wearing the suit will experience slower reaction time, distorted vision, and poor coordination. The goggles create tunnel vision while the headphones play random distracting sounds. Knee and elbow bandages slow limb movement, a neck brace limits head movement, while tremor generators make the hands shake uncontrollably.
Motoring news
A Convertible For All Seasons
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and Rover has unveiled the world’s first luxury compact SUV convertible. Range Rover Evoque Convertible combines the bold design and refinement of Evoque with comprehensive specification and a sophisticated folding roof to create a no compromise, all-season convertible. Evoque Convertible’s eye-catching exterior design is
made possible by a sophisticated fabric roof shaped to create a crisply defined silhouette that remains faithful to the original design. The fabric roof is the longest and widest currently fitted to any vehicle on sale today. The fully-automated roof stows in 18 seconds, and can be raised in 21 seconds, at speeds up to 30mph. Safety hasn’t been overlooked
with a Roll-Over Protection Device featuring deployable roll-over bars hidden in the rear bodywork. It deploys two aluminium bars within 90 milliseconds in the unlikely event of a roll-over situation to create a survival space for occupants. Land Rover’s full suite of lightweight, all-aluminum fourcylinder petrol and diesel engines
Infiniti Introduces 3.0-liter V6 Twin-Turbo Engine
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nfiniti has previewed an all-new engine; the 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo from the new and exclusive ‘VR’ powertrain family. The new compact and lightweight 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine is the most advanced V6 engine that Infiniti has ever offered, striking an ideal balance between drivability, efficiency, and performance. The engine’s reduced weight and contained size is credited, in part, to lighter and more compact cylinder blocks.
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The result is greater mechanical efficiency, while a series of new features and in-house innovations secure superior performance. The 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine has been developed to deliver optimal power and torque for an engine of its size, together with optimized fuel efficiency. The high-output version of the power unit delivers 400hp at 6400 rpm and 350lb-ft maximum torque at 1600-5200 rpm; while the 300hp version (at 6400 rpm) produces 295lb-ft torque at 1600-5200 rpm.
is available with the potent 240hp Si4 petrol providing outstanding levels of performance and refinement. The new Range Rover Evoque Convertible will be produced at Land Rover’s Halewood plant in the UK, alongside the five door and Coupé bodystyles, and goes on sale across from Spring 2016 in more than 170 markets worldwide.
Green liGHT For PorscHe Mission e The first 100 per cent electrically powered Porsche is on its way. The supervisory board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG has given the green light for the Mission E project. Dr. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Porsche Executive Board, referred to the decision as “beginning a new chapter in the history of the sports car.” The vehicle is due to be launched at the end of the decade.
Motoring news
Lexus Unveils Drivable “Origami Car”
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uxury car giant Lexus is making headlines for creating a fully functional, drivable cardboard replica of its IS sedan. The ‘Origami Car’ was made by gluing slices of cardboard together on a steel and aluminum frame, with an electric motor powering it. The one-of-a-kind vehicle comes with fully fitted interiors, functioning doors, headlights, and wheels. The striking cardboard car is meant to be a tribute to the thousands of skilled men and women – called takumi – who work on the Lexus production lines. These
people apparently sharpen their craftsmanship and dexterity by practicing making an origami cat using only their non-dominant hand. London-based companies – “LaserCut Works” and Scales and Models, which specialize in creating prototypes and architectural models, built the car. Lexus provided them with a digital 3D model of the IS sedan, which they used as a base to create the Origami Car. The team started by dividing the model into parts – the main body, dashboard, seats, and wheels – and then digitally rendered them in 10mm slices.
volvo xc90 receives FivesTar raTinG The Volvo XC90 has been awarded five stars and achieved top ratings in its 2015 Euro NCAP tests. The XC90 with standard City Safety technology stood out as the first car from any manufacturer to score full points in Euro NCAP Autonomous Emergency Braking Car to Car rear-end tests (AEB City & AEB Interurban). The XC90 scored one hundred per cent in the Safety Assist category and is also the first model to achieve maximum score in the two Autonomous Emergency Braking tests AEB City & AEB Interurban. The XC90 also features advanced pedestrian protection functionality that independent safety regulators have yet to include in their testing protocols, demonstrating once again how the Swedish carmaker continues to dominate and innovate in the field of car safety.
Company Builds World’s First Automobile Vending Machine
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hanks to used-car website Carvana, it is now possible to buy your own set of wheels at the touch of a button, from the world’s first and only coin-operated car vending machine in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s err… not cheap, but cheaper than buying a car the old fashioned way. The company has been working on the concept for the past two years – their original car vending machine was installed in Atlanta in 2013. But they’ve spent time on improving the design, in order to take user experience to the next level. The machine consists of a five-story glass tower that can hold up to 20 cars at a time. Inside the tower are a ‘welcome center’, an automated delivery system, and three delivery bays. The tower basically serves as a pickup point for used cars that customers purchase through the website, enabling competitive pricing and eliminating delivery costs.
18 www.arabiamotors.co I JANUARY December2016 2015
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Motoring news
BFGoodrich Introduces Toughest All-Terrain Tyre B
FGoodrich, the company that created the first all-terrain tyre in 1976, has launched its most advanced 4X4 tyre ever, with the new All-Terrain T/A® KO2 tyre for off-road enthusiasts in Africa and Middle East. As compared to the already formidable KO Tyres, the newly launched All-Terrain T/A KO2, is 20 percent stronger in critical offroad performance1, is durable, lasting twice as long on gravel roads and 15 percent longer on asphalt2. The All-Terrain T/A KO2 also improves its already legendary tradition of performance with 10 percent greater traction in mud3. Engineered from BFGoodrich’s championship off-road motorsport racing technology, the new All-Terrain T/A KO2 will give consumers the confidence to take on the toughest challenges for work or play.
Drive It Like Beckham
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JaGuar and ranGe rover baG MecoTy awards
Jaguar Land Rover was the proud recipient of two prestigious automotive accolades at the second edition of the Middle East Car of the Year (MECOTY) Awards. Jaguar saw its new Jaguar XE win the title of MECOTY ‘Best Compact Executive Sedan’ of the year, winning against a very competitive set of established vehicles in the segment. Land Rover also witnessed its most dynamic SUV ever, the Range Rover Sport SVR, scoop up the award for ‘Best Premium Performance SUV’.
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very special Range Rover Sport first owned by David Beckham will be offered by Classic Car Auctions (CCA) in its sale on this month (5th December 2015) at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre. The 2007 car was exclusively designed and upgraded for the ex-England football captain by Kahn Conversions at a cost of £100,000. It’s now offered for sale at auction, estimated at between £23,000 and £25,000. This car is powered by a throaty 4.2-liter supercharged V8 petrol engine and on the outside presented in Beckham’s favorite black with a striking Kahn body kit and black five spoke alloy wheels. With every optional extra conceivable included, inside the Range Rover features a unique interior with hand-stitched quilted leather seats, good enough to please Victoria, twin rear screens for Brooklyn and Romeo to play their PlayStation and a bespoke Genesis sound system. There is also plaque bearing the moniker “Designed for David Beckham”, as well as the Beckham name embroidered into the floor mats. The car has covered just over 62,000 miles and offers a superb driving experience. First registered with the number plate “DB1001” the history file includes a speeding summons in the name of David’s sister Joanne, to whom he subsequently gifted the car with the V5C listing David as the first owner and the current vendor as the second.
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Monti wins Maserati trofeo world series Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit played host to the final round in the sixth Maserati Trofeo World Series season. Frenchman Romain Monti was crowned champion as the series that began at Monza in 2010 came to an end. The Frenchman held a comfortable lead going into the race and got the better of second-placed Riccardo Ragazzi. He did so in the best way possible: taking Race 1 in this final round at Yas Marina, the circuit in Abu Dhabi. The second and last race in Abu Dhabi was won by Giorgio Sernagiotto, making a return to drive for Team Red Dragon, flanked by Emanuele Smurra. Sernagiotto, from Veneto, headed a pack of four drivers who applied the pressure to the very end. Monti, fresh from his title win, managed to climb to second spot after starting on tenth and with a 50kg weight handicap on board. In the Maserati Trofeo Hall of Fame, Monti joins Mauro Calamia (2014 winner), Renaud Kuppens (2013 and 2012), David Baldi (2011) and Pietro Zumerle (2010).
draG CHaMPionsHiP sets tHe traCK on fire
The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) hosted an exciting second round in the 2015/2016 Bahrain Drag Racing Championship last month (December 2015). Recordholding Bahraini racer Salah Salahuddin was among a long list of winners at the meeting. Salahuddin triumphed in the Street V8 category, which was one of 14 different competition classes for both cars and motorbikes to take to BIC’s world-class quarter-mile drag strip. Salahuddin clinched first place amongst the Street V8 participants after winning the final run in 8.020 seconds. In the Outlaw 10.5 class, Abdulwahab Salim claimed the number one spot after beating Abdulla Alsory in the last round. The Street 4 and 6 category was won by Mohammed Aljalhma. In the Outlaw Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD), Ibrahim bin Hasher secured the top spot after winning the final against Mohammed bin Hasher. Saeed Yahya Saeed won the Super Street 6-Cylinder class, finishing the final race in 8.133secs. There was plenty of heated competition in the Outlaw 6-Cylinder category. Hammed Haji was the big winner with a 6.879secs
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run in the final. Fesal Al Isa claimed first place in the Super Street V8 class. In the Competition 4.5 category, Salem Nasser was the winner in 4.531secs, beating out the challenge of Moslem Algallaf. The Outlaw 10.5 category, Abdulwahab Salim won against Abdulla Alsory in the final run. Bader Korshid followed suit, rising to first place amongst the Pro Mods. In the Index 10.5 class, Ebrahim Khalil powered to the top of the podium with a winning run of 10.511secs in the final. In the Street
Bike category, Khalid Al Doseri was the top man with an impressive 8.392secs run in the final, where he beat out runner-up Masfer Al Masfer. Amongst the Super Street Bike contestants, Masfer was this time triumphant after registering a best mark of 6.677secs. The Pro Bike class was claimed by Mohammed Bu Rashid with fastest run of 4.191secs in the final. The championship resumes with the third of five rounds scheduled to take place at BIC from January 12 to 15.
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BiC launCHes tiCKets for 2016 forMula 1 BaHrain GP The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) has launched ticket sales for the 2016 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix weekend on 1 to 3 April, with an ‘early bird’ discount of up to 20% on offer for the next month (January 2016). The race is set to be the second on the F1 calendar for 2016 and will be the third night race hosted by BIC. With the previous night races hailed as the most enthralling and action-packed races ever seen at “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”, the exciting build up for the 2016 race has already begun. Starting from December 24 until January 24, 2016, ticket prices will be reduced by up to 20%, offering fans the chance to snap up an early bargain for the race weekend. With adult ticket prices starting at BD54, including reduction, tickets are some of the most affordable for any F1 venue in the world.
HaMad and salMan win BiC 2000 CC CHallenGe
The third round of local championship Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) 2000 CC challenge ended last month (December 2015) at the BIC track. Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa won the title for the first race and Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa won the title for the second. Hamad bin Isa won the first race with 12 laps around the track in 15:53.024, and in second place after fierce competition
came Hussein Karimi with a difference of 49.417s and in third place Salman bin Isa with 16:04.758. Alex Longden came fourth in 16:10.333 and in fifth place were Team Beerkin with 16:49.417, in sixth Salah Salahuddin, seventh Lee Stones and in eighth Michael Brister. During this race, Hamad bin Isa achieved the fastest lap in 1:18.482. As for the second race, a fierce battle took place for the three podium finishes.
Salman bin Isa managed to come up ahead and win first place in 15:64.950, with Hamad bin Isa coming in second after an intense competition for first place with a difference of 0.748s. Alex Longden came third, finishing in 16:21.107, fourth was Hussein Karimi 16:27.803, fifth Team Berkin with 16:36.044, sixth Salah Salahuddin, seventh Lee Stones, and eighth was Michael Brister. Salman bin Isa achieved the fastest lap with 1:18.107.
BaHrain sws enduranCe CHaMPionsHiP KiCKs off first round The first round of the Bahrain SWS Endurance Championship 3 Hours kicked off last month (December 2015), taking place on the Bahrain International Karting Circuit (BIKC) racetrack. Batelco Racing managed to win first place in the first round in the general classification of the championship, after an intense race between 21 competing teams from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Batelco Racing completed 136 laps on the 1414m long circuit, driving the BIKC’s Sodi RT8 13HP 390cc karts. The fastest lap came from Ra’ed Rafi’i, driving for the BBK Racing team, with a lap of 1:12.490. BRM Racing came second in the competition and BBK Racing third. As for the company category, BBK Racing surprised by coming in first place, Blazing Raptors 1 in second and LM Racing third. In the third category, BRM Racing came first, in second place ABC Pro-Ice Racing and in third Motorsport Solutions. In the professional category, Batelco Racing came first, Rainbows 4 Kids second and Mahla EKT third. For the women’s category, Mahla Angels came first.
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ALL THE SIDEWAYS AND STRAIGHTLINE ACTION FROM THE EK.KANOO DRAG & DRIFT NIGHTS
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Ek.kanoo drag & drift nights EVENTS
Altima needs a Limited Slip Diff
Gang Signs...
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These guys look familiar.... 2JZ powered E30 gets sideways
More Gang Signs
Smoke Show
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Ek.kanoo drag & drift nights EVENTS
The usual suspects
Genesis 3.8 gets radical
The green abomination
Cobra from across the border
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THE
RACING LINE
BMF PUTS ON YET ANOTHER SPECTACULAR AUTOCROSS ne of the best gateways to motorsport is the Autocross. It is a proper entrylevel motorsport that puts you and your machine on a predetermined course against the clock. An Autocross is a test of driving skill – which means that no matter what you drive, the course is laid out in such a manner that if you’ve got skills behind the wheel – it’s going to show whether you drive a Porsche or a Hyundai.
30 www.arabiamotors.co I JAnuAry NOVEMBER 2016 2015
Cars are split into categories based on their engine size and modifications; the only caveat is that if there are less than three cars per class, you get bumped up automatically to the next higher class. Each car goes out individually on timed runs (after a course walk and a couple of practice runs to memorize the track) and the best time from each category gets a place on the podium. An Autocross course is highly technical and therefore involves large speed changes and requires quick steering, brake and throttle input from the driver. If you get caught by a corner (sort of like a deer in headlights) because you forgot the course layout, you inevitably end up losing time while you fumble through the turn and misplace your car for the next. The key to getting a fast time is to look ahead, remember the course and place your car on the track accordingly. Typically a lap time on an Autocross course ranges from 30 seconds to a minute and change, depending on the
Photography by: Mohamed Anwar
BMF AUTOX
EVENTS
Honda CR-X fights through the cones
Super-clean Miata gets its racing stickers
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coNSumEr rEViEw inFiniTi Q50
Subie with a GT wing
Setting up the Go-Pro
Our friendly neighborhood Traffic Police
number of turns, the kind of car you’re driving and how good you are behind the wheel. So, as you can clearly see, an Autocross can be won or lost by mere milliseconds. This past month (December 2015), the Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF) organized an Autocross in Muharraq. If you’re wondering why Muharraq – the BMF is basically bringing a grass-root level motorsport to the community. The course layout was superb and featured some winding “intestine-like” u-turns, and a couple of fast sweepers. Some of the fastest drivers managed to do a sub 30-second lap. Over 40 participants showed up for the event, with cars ranging from Porsches to a little Kia Piccanto.
Drivers at the mandatory briefing 32 www.arabiamotors.co I JAnuAry NOVEMBER 2016 2015
BMF AUTOX
EVENTS
At the end of the night, medals and cash prizes were presented to the winners of each category at a podium ceremony adjacent to the course. The event itself was well organized with the requisite fire crews, ambulances and security forces (Traffic Police) on standby. This is one of those rare occasions where you can drive your loud, modded street car past the Muroor and they’ll just wave you through. RedBull were on hand to provide some music to add to the already adrenalin filled atmosphere.
This isn’t the drift buddy - you’re in the wrong place!
Track marshal Osama (Right) in action
Hyundai Genesis cools down
Cars line-up for their runs nOVEMBEr JAnuAry 2015 2016 I www.arabiamotors.co 33
EvEnts AmwAj CAr show
l A N O I NAT PRIDE CELEBRATING BAHRAIN’S NATIONAL DAY – THE PETROLHEAD WAY Photography by: Mohamed Anwar
Bandit
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Super clean Mach-1
These cars have something sinister going on under the hood
Pair of Snakes
The Herbie club
e here in Arabia have our own unique way of celebrating the country’s National Day – with cars!
They’re real Professional...
So this past 16th of December, the guys over at our favorite classic car group Bahrain Classic Cars organized a little show n’shine of some of the Kingdom’s best Classic cars and Hot Rods, along with a smattering of Japanese Samurais. Even guys from Kuwait called the Q8 Hot Rod Club decided to join in on the action and drove their precious classics across the border to mark the event. To add to this, local car group Gulf Muscle Cars and the infamous American Eagles also made a showing with some select beauties – including an absolutely mint 1955 Ford pickup truck that looked as though it just won a Concours show in the States. We went along with petrol head and contributor Mohammed Anwar to check out the action.
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Gorgeous TransAm
Drift monsters in some public display of affection
Datsun 280 Z
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AmwAj CAr show
EvEnts
View from the top...
The show took place over at the Amwaj Island’s Lagoon area, and it was packed to the rafters with Camaros, Corvettes, Mustangs, and everything else in between. There was also this one weird Jaguar XJ that was stuck in between a smattering of Skyline R33s and R34s. One can only wonder why. The Mini club from Saudi brought along their collection of Mini Coopers – the original (Mr.Bean) ones, all finished in flashy paintwork. Going to the show certainly beat being stuck in the absolutely exquisite traffic that enveloped the Southern region on National Day. Dig the Metal!
The JDM Crowd
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THE FERRARI CHRONICLES
50 F e h T up s m su he T F o one iconic T mos cars oF r supe 1990s The
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Ferrari F50
T
he F40 may still be regarded as one of the greatest Ferrari halo-cars ever produced, but if you came of age in the early 1990’s, then the F50 has a special place in your heart. All it takes is one look at the F50 in all its composite glory to strike awe into the heart of any petrolhead. Causing a sensation after it was unveiled at the 1995 Geneva
Auto Salon, Ferrari President Luca Di Montezemolo stated that just 349 examples of the hypercar would ever be made.
The F50:
Unlike the F40, the F50 (so named owing to Ferrari’s 50-year anniversary) ditched the twinturbo V8 engine configuration for a screaming, F1-derived V12 lump. Ferrari claimed that at the time, the F50 was as close to a road going Formula One car that they’ve ever made. As such, the F50 was devoid of power steering and ABS (anti-lock) brakes; it even had roll-up windows and a spartan interior in keeping with
Feature
the thoroughbred racecar-for-the-road theme, ergo it still came equipped with air-conditioning as standard. Penned by Pininfarina, the body of the F50 was created with aerodynamic efficiency in mind, rather than aesthetic beauty. As such, the F50 shared very little in common with Ferraris of old, save for the classic twin-roundel taillights reminiscent of the F40.
powerTrain and chassis:
The carbon fiber passenger cell had the front suspension mounted directly to it, with a tubular substructure projecting forward to support the radiator and ancillary equipment. To the rear
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THE FERRARI CHRONICLES
of the cell was bolted the engine, which was a load bearing member for the transmission and rear suspension, just as on Formula One cars. The 4.7-litre engine was derived directly from the Formula 1 unit used on the 1989 F1-89. According to Ferrari’s spec sheet, the F50’s engine had five valves per cylinder, twin overhead camshafts per bank, each bank having its own chain drive, dry sump lubrication was provided, and a Bosch Motronic 2.7 combined ignition/ fuel injection system, to provide a claimed power output of 520bhp @ 8000rpm. The differential assembly was mounted on the back of the engine along with the rear mounted six speed synchromesh gearbox. The chassis construction incorporated rubber fuel cells within the structure, between the passenger compartment and the engine mounting points. All the body panels were made from composite materials as well. The brakes were cross-drilled and ventilated with twin hydraulic circuits, but were devoid of servo assistance. Four wheel independent suspension featured via wishbones with a pushrod system to horizontally mounted spring and damper units, akin to the system used on F1 cars, together with an electronic damper control system to optimize damper performance dependant upon road speed.
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Ferrari F50
Feature
The F50 was manuFacTured From 1995 To 1997 and a ToTal oF 349 uniTs were builT.
inTerior:
Despite its relatively spartan interior, somehow the F50 managed to look luxurious and classy; you had two choices of composite seats, both trimmed in leather with fabric centers – a “standard” or a “large” seat size. The instrument panel featured a multicolored illuminated display panel in the binnacle in front of the driver. The F50 featured a removable roof panel. However, when the panel was removed, there was no place to store it in the car, so a canvas canopy was provided.
producTion run:
The F50 was manufactured from 1995 to 1997 and a total of 349 units were built. Three GT1 prototypes were also manufactured, but none saw race duty.
aucTion Values:
As is the case with Ferraris, F50 values are appreciating steadily. As of 2015, RM auctions have sold a 1995 F50 for the price of US$1,980,000.
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42 www.arabiamotors.co I january 2016
ToyoTa Land Cruiser consumer review
The ToyoTa Land Cruiser has been refreshed and updaTed – but it still packs its rugged appeal. Photography by: Mohamed Anwar
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he Ibex is perhaps one of the toughest animals on earth; for those of you who don’t watch Animal Geographic or National Planet (whatever they’re called), the Ibex is a type of Mountain Goat that has capabilities that allow it to traverse and thrive on some of the most treacherous and inaccessible terrain on the planet. And they’re resilient and tough as well, not to mention the fact that they seem to prefer living in specific parts of the world. Pretty much like the Toyota Land Cruiser – there isn’t a trail on earth this truck can take on – and it will do it a hundred times and still feel brand new when its back on the blacktop. And its preferred home is Arabia – where the Cruiser is the perennial Gentleman’s automobile of choice. After over forty years in the Middle East, it serves no purpose to even begin to detail the kind of heritage that the Land Cruiser holds in this region. The Cruiser is so revered that it has its own genre of car culture. There are precious few other cars that can stake a claim to that fame.
What’s new for 2016?
Well, as you can tell from the photos, the exterior is the car’s biggest change; the Cruiser’s profile is now more square and crisp (as opposed to the more rounded look), and the overall effect is incredibly handsome and gives the car more presence out on the road. For the first time you will actually notice the car for the car itself than the fancy license plate. The front end looks more like a freightliner semi truck, and has a cool, imposing presence to it. The hood has two, massive ‘power bulges’, so much so that the view outward from the driver’s seat is pretty confidence inspiring. There’s lots of chrome – swathed on the grille and the lower front fascia – even more so if you opt for the body kit. The side profile remains unchanged from the outgoing model, and although the rear carries a silhouette reminiscent of the previous gen, the taillights are more prominent with a cool LED effect that makes it pretty pleasing to look at.
On the inside
Our test car, which is the middle-child GX-R V8, came equipped with a full leather interior (including some bits on the dash that were cleverly disguised with faux stitching). The helm is wood and leather wrapped and is a real pleasure to hold. The layout of the dash is the same from the outgoing model, but the position of certain control buttons – such as the all-important four-wheel-drive selector have been changed. The infotainment unit has been upgraded as well, and now features a more responsive touch operation and feel, as well as an iOS-like interface. Standard features include a power sunroof, Bluetooth/telephone connectivity, 44 www.arabiamotors.co I january 2016
Ground clearance is exemplary
ToyoTa Land Cruiser consumer review
Interior is straightforward & well-made
Navigation, MP3 and USB ports, as well as a clever feature that allows you to stream content from your phone to the car’s infotainment screen. There’s also a proper cool-box in the centre console that can keep beverages or whatever needs to be cold – really cold. The Cruiser can seat up to seven adults, and there’s a foldable third row seat out back. Second row passengers get plenty of room, ergo the Cruiser’s truck underpinnings are pretty apparent from the raised floor. What’s clear however, is that Toyota have raised the bar for the overall quality of the Cruiser’s interior; so much so that it’s now pretty difficult to tell the difference between a Lexus and a Toyota.
What’s it like to drive?
Smooth with a capital S! The 4.6 liter VVTi DOHC V8 engine that our test car came equipped with is so smooth and quiet that our Lens Man Moe Anwar had to step on the gas just to see whether the engine was running or not. Toyota has changed the weight of the steering, and it now feels “lighter”, which is an improvement on the heavily weighted steering of the outgoing model. Out on the road, the Cruiser is quiet, refined and composed – a proper all-round luxury SUV. The suspension soaks up the larger bumps with ease, but its off-road bias and solid rear axle do let a shudder in every now and then – although you would never really notice it unless you knew exactly what to look for. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic that also allows you to shift gears manually via the Sport/ Tiptronic option. Shifts are smooth and dispatched with in the background; in Sport mode, the transmission holds gears for longer giving you power and engine response when you need it. We took the Cruiser out into the desert – and true to form, that’s where the Cruiser came together; this two and a half ton behemoth can plough through the thickest of sand, loaded up with passengers, cargo and with the a/c cranked without breaking a sweat. The
“This Two and a half Ton behemoTh can plough Through The ThickesT of sand... wiThouT breaking a sweaT.”
steering is dampened enough so that it doesn’t “kickback” if the tires catch a sudden rut on the trail. You don’t have to push many buttons as you get on the trail since the Cruiser comes with full time four-wheel-drive. Additionally, the Cruiser also comes equipped with differential locks and Low range – just in case you’re in over your head.
driving Home
The Cruiser is still the same tried and true workhorse that it once was; there may be some refinement thrown into the mix, but underneath it all, this is an SUV that is most at home in the wild and unknown. What makes it great is that it combines great on-road, daily-drivability, Toyota’s stellar reliability and great off-road credentials. But let’s face it – you already knew that.
Infotainment unit is all-touch & is very intuitive
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Photography by: Mohamed Anwar
T
he redesigned new IS has been around for a few years now. We drove the V6 equipped variant a while ago and found it to be taut and tail happy – a great small luxury car, with certainly decent driving dynamics – for a Lexus, to say the least. Now Lexus has decided to go forceinduced, and have replaced the IS250, which featured a 2.5 liter four with a turbocharged 2.0 liter four, and features a great deal of tech as well as improved efficiency and driving dynamics.
ThaT angry Face
Lexus has got it made in the looks department – our test car that you see pictured here comes equipped with the F-Sport appearance kit, that adds an aggressive-looking front fascia, side skirts and a revised tail complete with a deck lid spoiler. Those front lights are true works of art, with Nike-esque LED driving lamps and sculpted, projector-like headlamp clusters that appear to be almost chiseled into the bodywork. That trapezoidal grille is a statement of Lexus’ latest design trend and complements the aggressive fascia quite nicely. The tail lamps wrap around the body and there are twin tailpipes nestled at the either sides of the bottom rear fascia. Stylistically speaking, the IS leaves nothing wanting, and when finished in this superb electric blue hue as our test car here, it looks sporty and luxurious at the same time.
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Lexus Is turbo consumer review
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Techy InTerIor
This being a Lexus, you’d expect the interior to be sumptuous – and the IS definitely lives up to that expectation. There’s a large infotainment screen atop the dash and is controlled by a mouse-like controller mounted within easy reach on the centre console. There’s also a drive mode selector dial, that allows you to choose from “Eco”, “Normal” or “Sport” driving modes. Climate controls are intuitively touch operated and there are redundant controls for audio. The helm is a chunky three-spoke leather wrapped affair that feels and looks sporty. The driving position is very cockpit-like and you feel like you can throw this car into corners with ease. The instrument cluster on the F-Sport is incredibly cool – inspired by the LFA supercar. The tachometer takes center stage, flanked by gages for coolant temperature and fuel. The speed is shouted out at you digitally from within the confines of the tach roundel. This being a turbo car, you’d expect a boost gage, as well as gages for monitoring oil temperature. This is done by pushing a button on the steering wheel that then slides the tach off to the left side to reveal a multitude of customization options as well as your choice of gages for monitoring the car’s parameters. The mechanism itself is mechanical and is a really cool party trick. It goes without saying that the IS comes equipped with creature comforts such as heated and cooled seats, auto climate, sunroof, leather everything, as well as tech stuff such as Bluetooth telephone connectivity, navigation et al.
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The DrIve
The 2.0 liter turbo four is a smooth and quiet performer – so smooth that you’d be forgiven for thinking that it was actually a V6 under the hood. This is perhaps the smoothest four cylinder engine I’ve ever experienced in any car – it doesn’t rattle or produce thrummy noises like most four pots, and has a sporty tone in the upper revs. Not that you’d hear the turbo though – if no one told you it was turbocharged, you would never know by driving it; boost kicks in progressively and the engine delivers the power with such linearity that there is no credible evidence of ‘boost lag” or “boost kicking in”. I guess this was a calculated decision by Lexus engineers to maintain a good balance between sporting aspirations and a luxurious drive. The engine features a twin scroll turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and is mated to a quick-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission that also calls the RCF coupe its home. Thus combined, the IS Turbo puts out a healthy 241 horses to the rear tires and is capable of a (claimed) 230kph top speed. Lexus say that this is the first car in its stable
to feature a transmission that varies shifts in accordance with G-forces. Dawdling around town, the IS is smooth and quiet – every bit a Lexus, but you can’t help but feel that there’s a bit of tail-out action to be had in a car that feels as taut as this. It does take a bit of prodding with the traction and stability systems turned off to get the tail to slide, but when it does let go, it is easy and controllable. The steering is well weighted but is devoid of any actual road feel, which again harks at Lexus’ inclinations to keep it a luxury car first and a sport sedan second. It’s a good compromise and for the average Lexus buyer, it will be just what they are looking for in a comfortable, luxurious, daily-driver.
Summary
While not a track-day toy, the IS Turbo definitely adds some character and sportiness to Lexus’ entry-level line-up, and if you want a great daily driver that looks superb and has a dollop of dynamism to it without breaking the bank (remember Lexus’ bullet-proof quality and residual values), then this is a choice that you can’t go wrong with.
“IT does Take a bIT of proddIng wITh The TracTIon and sTabIlITy sysTems Turned off To geT The TaIl To slIde, buT when IT does leT go, IT Is easy and conTrollable.”
Lexus Is turbo consumer review
Drop-dead gorgeous interior
Tach slides across to reveal nifty boost gage
Wheels look like they came off an RCF
2.0-liter turbo four peeks out
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SUPER
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Lamborghini aventador Sv
Cover story
VELOCE LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR SV LP750-4. 0-100KPH IN 2.8S. BATMAN – YOUR CAR HAS ARRIVED.
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ecessions, low oil prices, economic turmoil – balderdash. In the world of hyperexotics and supercars, those concepts are alien – inapplicable. Want proof ? Meet the Lamborghini Aventador Super Veloce. A 740hp testament to hyper excess; a peek into the world where mortal concepts of economics (and physics, for that matter) simply do not exist.
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THERE ARE LAMBOS, THERE ARE AVENTADORS AND THEN THERE’S THE AVENTADOR SV
It may be based on its lesser Aventador brother, but the SV is lighter, faster and more extreme in every conceivable way. For starters, there are those drop-your-jaw-to-the-tarmac, eyegasm-inducing looks. It might as well be a LeMans Prototype; it puts near every other hypercar this side of a Bugatti Veyron to shame. In keeping with Lamborghini’s tradition of producing the meanest looking supercars ever, the SV has creases, vents, and sharp angles crisscrossing its wedge-shaped silhouette. And if you think that this is simply a run-of-the-mill Aventador with a big wing and some go-faster bits, you’d be dead wrong; for the SV features new doors, rocker panels, fenders and modified intake scoops, topped off with that massive, manually adjustable rear wing. It goes without saying that all these elements are made from carbon fiber, and Lamborghini says that this helped them shave 50 kilos from the car’s performance-killing weight. In addition to this, Lamborghini also claim that the SV has 170 percent more downforce and is 150 percent more aerodynamically efficient than the regular Aventador. Those numbers would definitely explain that enormous rear diffuser and quad tailpipes that are “turned down” at the tips.
Lamborghini aventador Sv
Cover story
“The SV feaTureS new doorS, rocker panelS, fenderS and modified inTake ScoopS, Topped off wiTh ThaT maSSiVe, manually adjuSTable rear wing.�
Massive fised rear wing and turned-down quad exhaust
Looks more like a stealth bomber
6.5 liter V12 sits pretty. Dig the horizontal pushrod-actuated suspension
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ExTREME INTERIOR
Lamborghini has actually discovered a new carbon fiber-based fabric that they call “Carbon Skin”, of which the headliner and various other trim pieces in the cockpit are made of. The seats are proper lightweight carbon racing buckets, covered in microsuede and feature contrasting stitching as well “SV” logos. The interior does away with door handles and features pull-cords on the exposed carbon fiber door cards. The center stack features the infotainment unit and controls for climate and power windows, as well as a fighter-jet style flip-cover starter switch. The helm is a chunky, three-spoke unit covered in grippy Alcantara with a marker for top-dead-center. Large, fixed paddle shifters feature at the back. The carbon fiber instrument cluster binnacle houses a TFT screen that’s backlit in a screaming yellow hue, a blue shift indicator
light and a G-Force meter. There are metallic floor-hinged pedals and custom floor mats that add a dash of exclusivity to the otherwise bare floor.
CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION
The SV features a carbon fiber monocoque with aluminum front and rear frames. The suspension features horizontally-mounted Magnetorheological dampers with pushrod actuation. The steering has a variableratio feature (called Lamborghini Dynamic Steering), and the brakes are massive carbonceramic satellite-dishes with 6-piston front and 4-piston rears. Forged matte-black wheels measuring 20-inches up front and 21-inches out back, shod in Pirelli P-Zero Corsa rubber complete the package.
“The SuSpenSion feaTureS horizonTallymounTed magneTorheological damperS wiTh puSh-rod acTuaTion.”
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Lamborghini aventador Sv
Massive rear wing made out of pure carbon fiber
Cover story
How 窶話out a vent on top of a vent on your Aventador?
Louvered plexiglass & carbon fiber engine cover looks like a work of art
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THE BEAST THAT DwELLS wITHIN
Interior is covered in grippy Alcantara & microsuede
TFT instrument cluster in yellow
Starter button is located underneath the red firing cover
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Quite literally! The Aventador’s 6.5 liter V12 has been reworked with revised valve timing and intakes, as well as an all-new exhaust system. All said and done, the SV makes 740hp@8,400RPM – an increase of 49 horses over the standard Aventador. Combine this with Lambo’s 7-speed dual clutch transmission along with that 4WD system, and the SV can take your head off with a 0-100kph sprint in 2.8 seconds, past the 200kph mark in a hair over 8 seconds and on to a top speed of over 350kph. There are also three drive modes to choose from - Strada, Sport and Corsa - that progressively dial up the SV’s dampers, throttle, exhaust, steering and transmission response depending on what your driving mood is on that particular day. So nothing to get excited about then. A supercar is supposed to elicit emotion – both to the driver and to those staring as you drive past. This is just something that Lamborghini has simply perfected – from those “Lambo doors” to the exhaust note and the sheer ungodly presence of the car owing to its design, and bonkers performance. The Aventador SV takes no prisoners. It is the Batmobile – a car that you’d dream of owning regardless of whether you’re 12 years old or 40 – the Aventador SV speaks a language that every petrolhead across the world understands.
Lamborghini aventador Sv
Cover story
“The SV makeS 740hp... combine ThiS wiTh lambo’S 7-Speed dual cluTch TranSmiSSion along wiTh ThaT 4wd SySTem, and The SV can Take your head off wiTh a 0-100kph SprinT in 2.8 SecondS, paST The 200kph mark in a hair oVer 8 SecondS and on To a Top Speed of oVer 350kph!”
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BAD BOY Call 911. This is One Bad POrsChe
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Y GREEN porsche 911 carrera (964)
classic culture
T
he year was 1995 and Michael Bay just made a movie that would blow the socks off the Box Office – Bad Boys. Starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, it was pretty much the Hollywood action hit of the year. There was another element in the movie besides the title and the dialogs that would go down in movie history – it was the black on black Porsche 911 Turbo (Type 964) that Will Smith drove around. january 2016 I www.arabiamotors.co 59
It gained so much notoriety through the movie, that until this day, the 964 Turbo body style – which is a proper collector car now – is referred to as the “Bad Boy Porsche”.
Ok sO ThaT was BlaCk – BuT This One is green!
True, Salman (who is the owner of this custom 911), chose this bright hue simply because there are only a handful of 964s sporting this color on earth. This here is a 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera 964, finished in the astonishing shade of arrest-me-green, or officially known as “Signal Green”. It’s a fact that this isn’t an actual “Turbo”, since those are mighty expensive and even harder to find, owing to the car’s celebrity status and low-number production. But
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having a 964 Carrera is cool enough, and when you have one with a custom Turbo body kit, it makes it even cooler. “I believe that the 964 Porsche is one of the most beautiful Porsche body styles in the world!” says Salman. “I was looking out for this body style specifically, and this particular one caught my eye because of how clean it was, the unique color and the fact that it had the ‘Bad Boys’ Turbo kit on it” he adds. Despite being over 20 years old, seeing this low-slung Porsche in the metal is quite the sight; you simply don’t see these classic Porsches on the road – even more so because they are air-cooled. In every sense of the word, it looks like a true supercar – an exotic if you will – which is more than what anyone can say about a newer Porsche. “I love Porsches and I have since I was a kid. The Type 964 has always been a boyhood dream of mine and now I’ve finally managed to get my hands on one – albeit with a twist” Salman says with a smile.
whaT dOes iT feel like TO drive? Salman - being the proper petrolhead that he is, kindly offered to let me have a go behind the wheel of his prized possession. The sensations that an older, air-cooled Porsche will afford you are truly alien if you’re used to driving newer cars. Pull open the door using the little tab behind the door handle and you notice that the door itself is surprisingly light. Slide into the leather bucket seat and you instantly feel comfortable; it is a welcoming cockpit, with the hard-cut plastic dash and race steering wheel with the huge center-mounted tach staring deftly at you. Turn the left-mounted ignition key and the Flat-6 rasps to life, settling into a semi-uncomfortable chatter of air-cooled awesomeness at idle. Slot the tiptronic gearbox into Drive (yes, this is an auto); prod the floor-hinged gas pedal, and the Carrera takes off with a slight take – almost like a dual-clutch box. On the
porsche 911 carrera (964)
Yellow gages & a Momo steering wheel
classic culture
Factory red-painted Porsche brake calipers
Look at that phat rear end!
move, the view out through the wrap-around windshield is amusing, as what you see across the hood are the twin-rounded fenders on either side. The ride is surprisingly compliant, although the chatter of that Flat-6 chugging away a few inches from your back reverberates around the cabin with the acoustic equivalency of an opera house. Push the throttle a bit further to the thin carpet and the 911 drops a gear, the revs rise and you immediately notice how the car comes to life around you. The non-power assisted steering sends feedback of every single irregularity or undulation from the tarmac to your palms. Driving this car is a learning experience – you learn to feel and hear things that you may never have felt behind the wheel of a car before. It is addictive. You will dream up reasons to take this car out every day, if not make it your daily. It may not be a Turbo, but once you’re behind the wheel of this Bad Boy, that’s the last thing you’ll care about.
“Push ThE ThROTTlE A BiT fuRThER TO ThE ThiN cARPET AND ThE 911 DROPs A GEAR, ThE REvs RisE AND YOu immEDiATElY NOTicE hOw ThE cAR cOmEs TO lifE AROuND YOu.”
Air-cooled 3.6 liter Flat-6
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bike news
aprilia rsV4 gets wsb special
KawasaKi target supercharged future Kawasaki have revealed more images and details about their new direction for supercharged motorcycles with the Spirit Charger and Soul Charger concept images, and their new ‘Balanced Supercharged Engine’. Kenji Tomida, President of Kawasaki’s Motorcycle and Engineering Company, shared a second concept sketch of their new bike – which has been dubbed the SC-02 Soul Charger, which sits alongside the Concept SC-01, the SC standing for
Spirit Charger in this case, that was shown at the Tokyo Show last month. Just like the H2 and H2R launched last year, this new model would be designed in-house using a new superchargered engine, but this time it could be a smaller capacity, rumoured to be around 600cc. Kawasaki say it demostrates the company’s ability to make their technology ‘scalable’ for different applications, and hints at even more variants in the future.
Aprilia’s constant evolution of the RSV4 is continuing with this updated version of their RF model, which gets minor modifications for 2016. Changes listed by Aprilia include new ‘Superpole’ graphics, revised rear suspension set-up and the V4-MP multimedia platform as standard fitment. The V4-MP system is a full-blown telemetry system that will communicate with a smartphone, and allows the adjustment of parameters within the traction control and anti-wheelie systems. The level of detail available for change drills all the way down to setting individual parameters for each corner or section of a track.
Victory taKe step towards future with combustion Victory Motorcycles have revealed the final installment in their 1200cc concept series. This concept, called ‘Combustion’, is powered by the new production engine that made its debut last month at EICMA in Milan, and was built by Zach Ness of Arlen Ness Motorcycles in Dublin, California. This Combustion Concept follows the reveal of the Ignition Concept at the Milan show last year, which was built by Urs Erbacher of Switzerland. While Ignition is a European
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take on what kind of bike could be powered by the new engine, Combustion is the USA’s impression of what a new bike could potentially look like. Both the Ignition Concept and the Combustion Concept are built around the same engine that will power a new model to be revealed in 2016. The engine is a 1200cc liquidcooled 60 degree V-Twin with four valves per cylinder.
suzuKi giVe VanVan a boost The VanVan 125 is a surprisingly good performer in the Suzuki range, and for 2016 it gets a visually identical bigger brother, boasting a 74cc capacity increase for its air/oil-cooled, fuel injected single cylinder engine. The rest of the bike remains essentially the same, with its trademark balloon 130 and 180 section tyres, tiny 6.5litre fuel tank and relatively low 770mm seat height.
New Metal
electric superbiKe charges up This is the first glimpse of the all-new British-designed and built Saietta NGS electric superbike, which promises blistering performance from its radical engineering and design. Beneath the futuristic looks is an electric-powered superbike with a loadbearing carbon fibre battery compartment, powerful electric motor and double-wishbone front suspension. Saietta may not be instantly familiar, but the company have
yamaha’s 60th anniVersary r1 breaKs coVer Celebrating 60 years of motorcycle production and competition, this 60th Anniversary YZF-R1 gets the iconic Yamaha Kenny Roberts yellow and black speedblock racing colours and graphics, complete with ‘60th Anniversary’ decals on the fairings. The only other significant change is the addition of a lightweight titanium Akrapovic slip-on muffler and carbon fibre heat shield.
been building electric bikes since 2008, and are a leading developer of electric motors and battery technology used by other manufacturers around the world. This Saietta NGS – the name stands for Next Generation Saietta – is still a prototype, and huge amounts of development still need to be conducted on the bike before it can make it into production, but it’s expected to go on sale within the next 12 months.
KawasaKi reVeals new J125 scooter
Kawasaki launched their first ever scooter – the J300 – only last year. Now Kawasaki have double their scooter fleet with the all new J125, an all-new single cylinder 125cc four-stroke engine which is water-cooled and produces a claimed 13.8bhp and 8.5ftlb of torque. With a claimed weight of 182kg the J125 is on the heavy side and competes directly with Suzuki’s Burgman (159kg) and Yamaha’s popular X-Max 125 (173kg). The J125 mirrors the attractive lines of the J300 and like the J300 comes with under-seat storage, this time enough for a single full face helmet and A4 briefcase, instead of two helmets like the J300. Additionally there’s a small glove box at the front which has a 12v accessory outlet. ABS comes as standard as does an anti-theft ignition switch.
yamaha launches updated fJr1300 Yamaha pulled the covers off their newfor-2016 FJR1300, and while it might not look very different from the outside, the firm has made some key upgrades beneath the skin. Leading the charge is the long overdue addition of a sixth gear to the FJR’s smooth, but ultimately frustrating five-speed ’box. Rather than simply finding a way to shoehorn an extra set of cogs into the existing unit, Yamaha have completely
redesigned the gearbox to give it the full expected complement. In the process, it becomes the first Yamaha to feature a separate dog clutch with newly designed helical gears. Compared to the current bike’s conventional transmission with a single unit dog and spur-type gears, this new six-speed design is around 400 grams lighter and is no larger than the five-speed unit.
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SUPERBIKE
SPECIALE
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BSBK DUCATI PANIGALE 899 FEATURE
CHECK OUT THIS VERY SPECIAL PANIGALE – CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR A ONE-MAKE BIKE CHAMPIONSHIP IN BAHRAIN
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hat championship is the Bahrain Superbike Championship or the BSBK in short.
TO START OFF, YOu’LL NEED TO KNOw wHAT THE BSBK IS ALL ABOuT
The BSBK is a one-of-a-kind superbike championship, and is a first for Bahrain. The concept for BSBK was born from a need for motorcycle racing that enhances the racer’s skills without focusing on the equipment used. This unique championship is limited to 15 riders, who will battle each other for the title of Bahrain Superbike champion over a season of races. The BSBK season covers 12 races over the period of 6 months and will play out on the Bahrain International Circuit. The championship is designed to level the playing field, and focus on the riders skills, as all riders will compete on identical Ducati 899 Panigale bikes.
wHAT DOES IT TAKE TO gET INTO THE HOT SEAT?
3500 Bahraini gets you the lease to a brand new Panigale 899 for the entire season, which is 12 races over a period of six months; that figure also covers service and maintenance for the motorcycle, which includes oil & oil filter, brake pads, spark plugs, air filter and a fresh set of Pirelli tires for each round. Furthermore, as part of the sum, you also get full coverage on all repair and warranty related 66 www.arabiamotors.co I january 2016
issues that may arise over the course of the championship from local Ducati distributor Wheels of Arabia.
DIg THE BIKE
This here is a Panigale 899 – oft described as one of the most balanced superbikes in the world. The mods list is short but substantial – race fairings replace the standard bodywork and crash protectors are added. That’s it – the only other modification that a rider can do is to fine-tune the adjustable suspension. This means that winning or losing the championship comes solely down to your skill as a rider. It goes without saying that every 899 Panigale on the grid is identical in every way.
wHEN DOES THE ACTION START?
The season kicks off on the 8th of January 2016 (which probably means it’s been flagged off as you are reading this article). Each round is a one-day event where each rider will have a 40-minute practice session and a 20-minute qualifying session. There are two races every round and each race consists of 11 laps. That’s a lot of racing. If you fancy participating in the BSBK, you will need a valid Race License issued from your respective federation that is recognized by the FIM and a Start/NOC Letter to compete in BSBK. The BSBK is organized by five-time superbike champion Hussain Al Kooheji, along with Wheels of Arabia who are the authorized distributors for Ducati in the Kingdom of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
BSBK DUCATI BMW PANIGALE RNINET899 BikER FEATURE zonE
“ThE ChAmPIonShIP IS dESIgnEd To LEvEL ThE PLAyIng fIELd, And foCUS on ThE RIdERS SKILLS, AS ALL RIdERS wILL ComPETE on IdEnTICAL dUCATI 899 PAnIgALE BIKES.” january 2016 I www.arabiamotors.co 67
BMW nine-T cusToM
Biker zone
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If you follow this space regularly, you’d know that this isn’t the first time we’ve featured a bizarre work of two-wheeled art from Ali; a few months ago he created two custom nineTs with a “love-it-orhate-it” paint scheme and a flavor that will appeal to enthusiasts who can acutely appreciate what individual customization is all about.
WHAT MAkES THE BMW NINE T UNIqUE? Well, the one that you see pictured here has a custom yellow paintjob along with a brown saddle and contrasting yellow stitching. But you don’t need details like that to fall in love with a nineT. Notice the engine jutting out from both sides of the bike? That’s because the nineT has a Flat-Twin Boxer engine mounted in the frame – and that gorgeous looking lump is air-cooled. Perhaps the best feature about the nineT is how extensively it can be customized simply by using all-BMW parts; from a single Akrapovic exhaust, to solo seats, to Café-Racer style handle bars, this is one extremely versatile motorcycle. Owing to its low center of gravity, lightweight and an inherent balance by virtue of its engine placement, the nineT is the preferred bike of choice for those with stunt inclinations. 70 www.arabiamotors.co I january 2016
BMW nine-T cusToM
Biker zone
“If those looks don’t get you to whIp out the change, then all you need to do Is to hop on and go for a rIde...” WHY BUY ONE?
Well, if those looks don’t get you to whip out the change, then all you need to do is to hop on and go for a ride – something that the local BMW Motorrad distributor is more than happy to arrange when you walk into the showroom. The nineT is a sophisticated piece of machinery, but it belies that fact with its relatively simple exterior lines and its user friendliness – even for a novice biker. Combine this with standard safety features such as anti lock brakes and it’s not that hard a choice – maybe when it comes down to choosing a color perhaps.
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Ducati Scrambler cuStom
feature
Super retro cuStom Ducati Scrambler
I
t’s a great thing to see distributors embrace the time-honored tradition of automotive customization. But ever so often there are a bunch of passionate petrolheads for whom a simple make over doesn’t sit well – they need to take the usual rules of custom and throw it out the window, and create something absolutely out of this world. The result of one such group of passionate bikers is what you see here – this super custom Ducati Scrambler.
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Built by the guys at the local Ducati distributor – Wheels of Arabia, the idea came to life when Ducati threw the idea for a custom Scrambler competition for Ducati distributors across the globe. The Scrambler is pretty much the perfect platform for a custom project, owing to its distinct identity and tons of customization potential with parts from both Ducati and the aftermarket available aplenty.
Build details
To start off, the bike was fully stripped down to the bare frame. The handlebar, swingarm, wheels and the frame itself was powder coated in matte gold. The frame was actually shortened in-house at Wheels of Arabia to achieve the desired look. The tank was also locally customized and finished in blue. The bike features an aftermarket offroad headlight with a custom-made bracket. The saddle is also covered in custom leather. Mechanically, the engine features an exposed belt cover along with a cool, heat-wrapped titanium exhaust system, as well as a Ducati engine guard. There are aftermarket LED turn indicators as well as a Ducati “V7” side cover that features a chrome plate. While they were at it, they even got rid of the front mudguard, painted the brake calipers and threw on some chunky Continental TKC off-road tires. Ducati gearbox cover peers out through the heat wrapped titanium exhaust
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The completed bike is a Retro Off-road Tracker with modern underpinnings. Check out the bike on the Instagram account @customrumble.
Ducati Scrambler cuStom
feature
“ThE SCRaMblER IS PRETTy MuCh ThE PERfECT PlaTfORM fOR a CuSTOM PROjECT OwIng TO ITS dISTInCT IdEnTITy and TOnS Of CuSTOMIzaTIOn POTEnTIal wITh PaRTS fROM bOTh duCaTI and ThE afTERMaRkET aVaIlablE aPlEnTy.”
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PrOduct revieW
HORSEPOWER IN A BOTLE an Octane BOOster that actuaLLy BOOsts PerFOrMance? here are the dynO-tested resuLts!
hen octane boosters first became all the rage in the early 2000s, every racer worth his or her salt was throwing a can into their tanks before a race. Slowly but surely however, people slowly began realizing the fact that many of those so-called boosters weren’t doing Jack, and in many cases, were actually hurting the car’s performance. Over the years, this has actually been proven with many strapping their cars to a dyno to debunk the “horsepower in a bottle” myth. Why use an Octane BOOster such as BOOstane? We horsepower mongers have a major problem with Bahrain’s best ‘Mumtaz’ fuel being rated higher than it actually is octane wise. This presents a huge problem for those wanting to get their engines – specially
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tuned and force-induced motors running to their full potential. To explain further and in lay-man’s terms, the worse the quality of the fuel, the more the engine’s tendency is to “knock”, a process wherein the air and fuel mixture in the cylinders ignites outside of the spark plug’s firing sequence, thereby causing a loss of power when engines equipped with a knock sensor retard engine timing, or in worse cases, leading to engine damage. When you have better octane in your fuel, the engine can actually hold off knock for a longer period of time, increasing the combustion efficiency and thereby making more power, leaving lesser combustion residue as well as reducing fuel consumption. This also allows the tuner to add more timing to make more power safely when the car is on the dyno.
What dOes BOOstane dO? Boostane is effectively an “Octane Enhancer”; what it does is essentially raise the number of octane points of the fuel that you have in your tank. See the table below: Octane LeveL
Liters OF FueL treated
Quarts OF BOOstane added
95
114
1
99
95
1
102
57
1
107
19
1
110
4
1
BOOSTANE
product review
The Boostane mobile app
The Dyno never lies - from 405hp to 433hp - an increase of 28hp simply by adding Boostane
What the table shows is the amount of octane points that are increased when you add a whole can which contains one quart (0.946 L) of Boostane to a specified amount of 93 octane pump gas. Therefore, if you require more octane, all you need to do is to add more Boostane corresponding to the amount of fuel you need to treat. So supposing you hit a Drag night and want some quick boost to make some good numbers down the strip, thrown in a can of Boostane and allow the ECU to get acclimatized by making a shake down pass or two. The same goes with dyno numbers or dyno tuning – if you want your naturally aspirated car to make some more power by increasing the timing, throw in a can of Boostane; or if you just want peace of mind when tuning or running your FI motor, a can of Boostane is an effective safety net.
sO What haPPened On the dynO? did the nuMBers shOW uP? All this sounds incredibly promising, so naturally, we wanted to see for ourselves whether this product could actually be a viable replacement for a proper tank of race fuel. We headed down to Bahrain’s pre-eminent performance garage – SMS Design and Performance and met owner Salah Salahuddin who then told us to go back and bring a few cars with us for testing. We obliged and brought along a stock and stomping 2014 Mercedes Benz CLS63 AMG.
If you do a quick search for Boostane on the interweb, you’ll see that a lot of people with FI cars have had incredible success using a can of Boostane when their cars are on the dyno; some GTR owners have even reported over 100hp dyno-proven gains, which is pretty astonishing to say the least. But what would it do on a stock FI motor? It was time to find out. l The car was strapped to the dyno and in-house tuner Majid spun the rollers to get a baseline – the CLS put down 405 hp@ 5500RPM. l Salah then poured a quart of Boostane down the Merc’s fuel tank and Majid spun the rollers again to allow the computer to get acclimatized to the added octane. l On the third run, the Merc put down 433 hp@ 5500RPM to the tires. That’s a proper gain of 28 horses simply by adding a can of Boostane. l At 5,700RPM, the Boostane-equipped CLS put down 425hp. During the baseline run, the CLS put down just 395 hp – a gain of 30hp. It is worth mentioning that all other parameters such as dyno settings, car settings and environmental conditions were the same. l The car picked up power not just at the top end of the scale, but throughout the RPM range. What’s more is that the ‘power curve’ actually smoothed itself out as opposed to having sharp ups and downs.
Check out the photos – they don’t lie. january 2016 I www.arabiamotors.co 77
The latest products you need in your life... SeVenFrIdaY GulFrun X
Just 50 of the SEVENFRIDAY GulfRun X watches were produced worldwide and only those taking part in the GulfRun X in the Kingdom of Bahrain were able to purchase one. The watch is based on the M-series but with unique orange discs that have an X instead of the number 10 and an engraved caseback, unique for each driver. Available from: Wheels of Arabia Price: POA
GoPro hero 4 SIlVer lCd harleY daVIdSon men’S SCaVenGer modular helmet
Harley Davdson has engineered the Scavenger Modular Helmet with essential comfort-focused qualities. Like better venting to keep it cool inside, and a washable liner that wicks moisture and battles bacteria. For high-function features, Harley also designed a tinted Sun Shield that deploys without effort and a unique pinlock system to swap shields. Available from: Harley Davidson Bahrain Price: 275 US$
duCatI metroPolItan leather jaCket
Quality sheepskin leather jacket with 3 outer pockets and 3 inner pockets. The special perforations on shoulders and inner sleeves make it a highly appealing and comfortable garment ideal for Spring/Summer use. The printed jersey lining and sober customisation provided by the Ducati patch on the right sleeve make this jacket simple but at the same time full of character. Available from: Wheels of Arabia Price: 565 US$
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For all your racing aaction! Features 1080p60 and 720p120 video, 12MP photos up to 30 frames per second, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and Protune for photos and video. Waterproof to 131’ (40m). Available from: GoPro Bahrain Price: 470 US$
Chrono Formula ItalIa S SCuderIa FerrarI
Scuderia Ferrari’s Formula Italia collection of limited edition strap timepieces launched last year captured the simplicity, interior color palette and time-honored Italian craftsmanship of revered 60’s Ferrari racing cars. Powered by precise quartz 3-hand and chronograph engines. Water resistant to 50 meters/5 ATM. 2-year limited international warranty. Available from: store.ferrari.com Price: 440 US$
Automotive Gear
IXooSt audIo doCk
Developed from an idea by Matteo Panini and the pencil of Mirco Pecorari, this is the first audio system for iPhones and iPods 100% made inModena. Created thanks to the collaboration of entirely Modenese crafts workshops, ‘iXOOST’ – this is the name of the dock station – goes straight to the heart of all those who love engines and the sounds they can make: the body of the audio system is in fact a genuine exhaust manifold from an eight, ten or twelve-cylinder supercar. This is the only dock station in the world that pays tribute to the craftsmanship of Modena and its race cars.
lamborGhInI 4 SCrewS watCh
Available from: ixoost.it Price: 5,500 US$
PorSChe deSIGn roadSter hardCaSe SerIeS Set
FerrarI CaVallIno ramPante blazer This stylish men›s Ferrari Cavallino Rampante Blazer, hand made in Italy, is made of soft 12 gauge wool. With its two front applied pockets, this garment features a central opening with 4-hole buttons and the Cavallino Rampante logo on the front left breast.
The Hardcase Trolley Set. Sizes S, M and L in one set. The perfect tarvel set. The Porsche Design Roadster Hardcase Trolley is more than an intelligent travel companion, carrying your luggage safely from A to B. Protecting it. In the tedious crowd of hard cases on the conveyor belts of the world›s airports, this luggage piece is a statement of personality, of one›s demand for design and quality, and of one›s passion for the extraordinary.
Available from: store.ferrari.com Price: 307 US$
Vertu aSter QuIlt blue
Available from: Porsche Design Store, Al A’Ali Mall Price: 1070 US$
The Tonino Lamborghini 4-Screws collection created by the Bolognese design brand is - like many others - inspired by the key values of its heritage: from the shape of the watch case to the look of its dials, from the pushers of the crown to the material of its strap, every detail emphasises the passion for speed and mechanics that has always characterised the raging Bull brand. The 4890 model goes even further in making explicit its celebration of the iconic characteristics of the automotive world: the screws, the strap and the counter dials of the Tonino Lamborghini 4 Screws are all evoking the Lamborghini family heritage. Available from: lamborghini.it Price: 1,370 US$
Aster Quilt Blue is handwrapped in fine grain leather, from one of Europe’s oldest tanneries that supplies many of the world’s best loved fashion houses. The leather is both protective and supple, creating a beautiful counterpoint to the chevron quilt stitching. The running stitch gives the leather a softer, more feminine shape and form. With polished and brushed Grade 5 Titanium sides, back plate and pillow, and a black PVD polished sound bar that complements Asters flowing lines. Available from: Vertu Boutique, Moda Mall Price: POA
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AM TrAder
SUVS & TrUckS 2007 CR-V 2007
2007 CR-V 2007, BD 3,600 Contact: 39470811
2015 Acoord
2015 Acoord, 10.000 KM, BD 9,200 Contact: 337744777
2006 Range Rover Sport
2006 Range Rover Sport, 207,000 KM, BD 5,500 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2014 Metcedes S400
2014 Metcedes S400, 6000 KM, BD 38,000 Contact: 337744777
2016 BMW 325i
2016 BMW 325i, 90.000 KM, BD 5,200 Contact: 337744777
2015 Lexus LX570
2015 Lexus LX570, 7,000 KM, BD 32,500 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
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2012 BMW 740LI
2012 BMW 740LI, 95000 KM, BD 11,500, Contact: 37744777
2007 Mercedes Benz GL450
2007 Mercedes Benz GL450, 90,000 KM, BD 7,500 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2009 yukon 2009
2009 yukon 2009, BD 8,500 Contact: 39470811
2006 Odyssey
2006 Odyssey, BD 2,600 Contact: 39470811
2008 GMC Sierra
2008 GMC Sierra, 159,000 KM, BD 5,000 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2004 Honda MRV
2012 Jeep Cherokee
2004 Honda MRV, 200,000 KM Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2012 Jeep Cherokee, 38,000 KM, BD 6,000 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2011 Audi Q7
2011 Audi Q7, 78,000 KM, BD 13,500 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2013 Range Rover Evoque
2013 Range Rover Evoque, 63,000 KM, BD 14,500 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
AM TrAder
SUVS & TrUckS 2013 CRV BD7500
2013 CRV BD7500, BD 7,500 Contact: 39470811
2009 Land Rover Defender
2009 Land Rover Defender, 106,000 KM, BD 11,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2012 Toyota Land Cruiser
2012 Toyota Land Cruiser, 44,000 KM, BD 20,000 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2015 Grand Cherokee
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 1,220 KM, BD 22,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2010 Lexus RX 350
2009 Toyota Sequoia
2010 Lexus RX 350, 85,000 KM, Contact: 36057006
2009 Toyota Sequoia, 119,000 KM BD7,800 Contact: 39992882, 17000870
2009 Infiniti FX35
2009 Infiniti FX35, 73,000 KM, BD 9,500 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2014 Mercedes Benz AMG G63
2014 Mercedes Benz AMG G63, 7,500 KM, BD 57,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2008 Mazda 3
2008 Mazda 3, BD 1,700 Contact: 39470811
2010 Nissan Pathfinder
2012 Toyota Prado V6
2010 Nissan Pathfinder, 61,000 KM, BD 5,500 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2012 Toyota Prado V6, 81,000 KM, BD 9,500 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2009 Mercedes ML350
2009 Mercedes ML350, 93,860 KM, BD 7,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2008 nissan tiida
2008 nissan tiida, BD1,900 Contact: 39470811
2015 Chevrolet Corvette, 5,400 KM, BD 27,000 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2006 G35
2006 G35, 200,000, BD 2,500 Contact: 39470811
2007 Lexus ES350
2007 Lexus ES350, 124,000 KM, BD 6,200 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2013 Porsche Carrera S
2013 Porsche Carrera S
2012 Porsche Panamera
2013 Porsche Carrera S, 21,000 KM, BD 31,500 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2013 Porsche Carrera S, 97,000 KM, BD 15,500 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2012 Porsche Panamera, 79,000 KM, BD 20,500 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2014 Bentley Continental GT
2014 Bentley Continental GT, 20,000 KM, BD 69,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2011 Lancer
2011 Lancer, BD 2,700 Contact: 39470811
2011 Toyota Prado TX-L, 105,000 KM, BD 8,500 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2011 Chevrolet Tahoe
2011 Chevrolet Tahoe, 34,000 KM, BD 9,500 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
AM TrAder
SporTS cArS & LUxUry cArS 2015 Chevrolet Corvette
2011 Toyota Prado TX-L
2010 Porsche Panamera S
2015 Dodge Charger SRT
2010 Porsche Panamera S, 51,000 KM, BD 19,500 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2015 Dodge Charger SRT, 0 KM, BD 25,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2008 Mercedes Benz CL500
2007 Range Rover
2007 Mercedes Benz CL500, 59,000 KM, BD 15,500 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2007 Range Rover, BD 7,000 Contact: 39470811
2012 Lamborghini Gallardo
2012 Lamborghini Gallardo, 49,000 KM, BD 42,000 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2010 Porsche Panamera 4s
2010 Porsche Panamera 4s, 79,250 KM, BD 19,500 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2007 yukon
2007 yukon, BD 5,000 Contact: 39470811
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AM TrAder
SporTS cArS & LUxUry cArS 2010 Lexus GS300
2010 Lexus GS300, 45,000 KM, BD 10,700 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2012 Audi A6
2012 Audi A6, 54,000 KM, BD 11,300 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2013 Cadillac CTS
2013 Cadillac CTS, 43,217 KM, BD 17,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2012 Mercedes Benz CLS350
2012 Mercedes Benz CLS350, 52,000 KM, BD 18,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2013 Mercedes Benz SLK200
2013 Mercedes Benz SLK200, 10,000 KM, BD 14,200 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2001 Land Cruiser
2001 Land Cruiser, BD 4,000 Contact: 39470811
2008 BMW 528
2008 BMW 528, 90,000 KM, BD 5,500 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2007 Mercedes Benz S500
2007 Mercedes Benz S500, 72,000 KM, BD 9,500 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2010 Mercedes CL500
2005 BMW 735Li
2010 Mercedes CL500, 86,000 KM, BD 16,00 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2005 BMW 735Li, 114,000 KM, BD 5,200 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2014 Maserati Ghibli
2014 Maserati Ghibli, 7,000 KM, BD 26,800 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2012 BMW 640i
2012 BMW 640i, 42,000 KM, BD 20,000 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2007 Accord
2007 Accord, BD 2,400 Contact: 39470811
2014 Mercedes Benz S500
2014 Mercedes Benz S500, 16,500 KM, BD 48,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2007 Camry
2007 Camry, BD 3,300 Contact: 39470811
2010 Porsche Panamera S
2010 Porsche Panamera S, 95,000 KM, BD 20,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2013 Mercedes Benz E350
2013 Mercedes Benz E350, 13,700 KM, BD 15,500 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
2011 Porsche Turbo
2005 Porsche Carrera
2005 Porsche Carrera, 59,000 KM BD 11,500 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2012 Corolla
2012 Corolla, BD 4,200 Contact: 394708110
2007 Lexus ES350
2011 Porsche Turbo, 22,390 KM, BD 32,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2007 Lexus ES350, 65,000 KM, BD 5,500 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2012 Mercedes Benz CLS350
2011 BMW 730iL
2012 Mercedes Benz CLS350, 32,000 KM, BD 20,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2011 BMW 730iL, 112,000 KM, BD 12,500 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2007 Lexus GS300
2012 Porsche Panamera
2007 Lexus GS300, 180,000 KM, BD 7,300 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2012 Porsche Panamera, 79,000 KM, BD 22,500 Contact: 77144404, 39121280
AM TrAder
SedAnS 2005 Mazda MPV
2009 Honda Accord
2005 Mazda MPV, 175,000 KM, BD1,800 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2009 Honda Accord, 166,000 KM, BD 4,000 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
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2010 Nissan Sunny
2010 Nissan Sunny, 78,000 KM, BD 2,700 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2012 Nissan Altima
2012 Nissan Altima, 65,000 KM, BD 4,500 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2009 Nissan Altima Coupe
2009 Nissan Altima, 148,000 KM, BD 4,000 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
AM TrAder
SedAnS 2005 Lexus RX330
2005 Lexus RX330, BD 4,000 Contact: 39470811
2006 Grand Marquis
2006 Grand Marquis, BD 2,900 Contact: 39470811
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer, 51,000 KM BD3,400 Contact: 39969991, 17449991
2008 Honda Accord
2008 Honda Accord, 155,000 KM BD4,200 Contact: 39992882, 17000870
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer, 45,000 KM, BD 3,400 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2009 Nissan Altima Coupe
2009 Nissan Altima, 148,000 KM, BD 4,000 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2007 Galant
2007 Galant, BD1,800 Contact: 39470811
2007 Maserati Quattroporte
2007 Maserati Quattroporte, 56,000 KM, BD 5,500 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2011 Toyota Avalon
2011 Toyota Avalon, 65,000 KM, BD 8,800 Contact: 33355955, 17000570
2012 Honda
2012 Honda, BD 2,900
2006 BMW M5, 86,211 KM, BD 9,000 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
2007 Dodge Charger
2010 Piaggio Gillera 500
2012 Piaggio MP3 Yourban
2013 Vespa LX 125 Touring, 14,00 KM, BD 2,897 Contact: 77050333
2010 Piaggio Gillera 500, 45,00 KM, BD 1,500 Contact: 77050333
2012 Piaggio MP3 Yourban, 4,00 KM, BD 2,900 Contact: 77050333
2010 Harley Davidson V Rod, 14,000 KM, BD 5,500 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
2014 Ducati 899 Panigale
2014 Ducati 899 Panigale, 50,00 KM, BD 6,000 Contact: 77050333
1993 JLG Scissor Lift 35 Feet BD 3,000 Contact: 39997277
2015 Ducati Scrabler
2015 Ducati Scrabler, 17,83 KM, BD 4,150 Contact: 77050333
2008 Honda Accord Coupe Contact: 39997277
2013 Corolla
2016 Mitsubishi Lancer
2013 Corolla, BD BHD 4,300 Contact: 39470811
2016 Mitsubishi Lancer, 0 KM, BD 7,100 Contact: 38898903, 17552233
AM TrAder
2013 Vespa LX 125 Touring
1993 JLG Scissor Lift 35 Feet
2008 Honda Accord Coupe
2007 Dodge Charger, 200,000 KM, BD 3,800 Contact: 39423332, 17423332
BIkeS & oTher crAfT
2010 HD V Rod
2006 BMW M5
2014 Ducati 899 panigale
2014 Ducati 899 panigale, 50,00 KM, BD 5,400 Contact: 77050333
2012 Aprilia RS4 125
2012 Aprilia RS4 125, 5,00 KM, BD 1,900 Contact: 77050333
1995 JLG Scissor Lift 43 Feet
1993 JLG Scissor Lift 43 Feet BD 4,300 Contact: 39997277
2015 Ducati Diavel dark
2015 Ducati Diavel dark, 47,81 KM, BD 7,000 Contact: 77050333
2011 Ducati Diavel carbon
2011 Ducati Diavel carbon, 21,000 KM, BD 5,500 Contact: 77050333
2011 Aprilia RSV4
2011 Aprilia RSV4, 71,00 KM, BD 4,400 Contact: 77050333
2012 Vespa LXV 125
2012 Vespa LXV 125, 25,46 KM, BD 1,100 Contact: 77050333
2014 Ducati Hypermotard
2014 Ducati Hypermotard, 5,00 KM, BD 5,000 Contact: 77050333
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AM Business directory
NEED A BODY SHOP? Call BLACK COBRA GARAGE on +973 17242007 or +973 33755535 info@blackcobragarage.com Auto customization, bodyworks and complete restorations for classic and luxury cars. Opening soon in Bahrain Investment Wharf, Al-Hidd www.blackcobragarage.com
84 www.arabiamotors.co I january 2016
Business directory AM
Mobix Autocare is an eco-friendly, steam mobile car wash & detailing company. We focus on offering a premium services that is convenient and hassle-free manner, which save your time and money. Our steam cleaning process, clean, dries, sanitize and polishes car interior and exterior using only dry steam and micro fiber cloths.
Exterior Service
Interior Service
Full Exterior Steam Wash
Interior Vacuuming Floor & Seats
Wheels & Rim Dressing
Plastic & Vinyl Clean & Polishing
Door Jambs Cleaning
Cleaning & Sanitizing AC Vents
Engine Compartment Dress-up
Car Seats & Roof Steam Cleaning
Shining Spray Wax
Interior Mats Steam Cleaning
Full Exterior Vehicle Polishing
Leather / Fabric Seats Treatment
Rims Polishing
Air Freshener
Head Light Restoration
Mobix Autocare proprietary washing carts are 100% portable and independent, running on their own power and water supply, and do not leave foam, water or dirt on the floor. That’s what makes it possible to offer car washing and detailing services in just about any indoor or outdoor parking facility without the need of any additional infrastructure.
1766 3026
3888 6418
info@mobixautocare.com
www.mobixautocare.com
@mobixautocare
january 2016 I www.arabiamotors.co 85
أقساط مريحة للمتقاعدين واصحاب السجالت التجارية لموظفي الحكومة والقطاع الخاص ذوي الرواتب التي تبدأ من 250دينار
(اآلن يمكنك تأمين سيارتك بأرخص األسعار مع الفخامة (تأمين شامل بمناسبة افتتاح الفرع الجديد ....خصومات على جميع موديالت السيارات
اول معرض يضم اكثر من 200سيارة في مكان واحد
زورونا يف فرعنا اجلديد يف منطقة احلد ال�صناعية ، 115هاتف13303000 :
Hurry! Good news for government & private sector employees whose salaries start from BD 250 - transferred or without transfer - very simple procedure م�صاء اإىل 8:30لي ً ال اأوقات الدوام :من � 8صباح ًا اإىل 1ظهراً ومن 3:30 ً
Mob: 66991118
BMw 7SeRieS
Working Hours: from 8am - 1pm & 3:30pm - 8:30pm
Tel: 17466663 (Arad) - 13303000 (Asry) /
LaNd CRuiSeR 2015
PORSCHe PaNaMeRa 2015
Tel: 16666660, Mob: 66991888
2015
Sema
Show ARABIA MOTORS GROUP ED MOE KAYANI BRINGS YOU THE HOTTEST CUSTOM SHOW IN THE WORLD!
88 www.arabiamotors.co I january 2016
Tonka Toy-ota
2015 Sema car Show
international events
This is how the RCF should’ve been built!
Straight off the JGTC
Girl or the Car?
Rad bike
he SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. The 2015 SEMA Show drew more than 60,000 domestic and international buyers. The displays were segmented into 12 sections, and a New Products Showcase featured nearly 2,500 newly introduced parts, tools and components. The only problem is – it isn’t open to the general public. This means that you either need to be a media type or someone related to the show itself like an exhibitor to actually go in and check out the goodies. january 2016 I www.arabiamotors.co 89
Holy F@#!
Looks like a Mars Rover
90 www.arabiamotors.co I january 2016
And goodies they are – picture the wildest custom car that you could ever dream about; rest assured that car is going to be gracing the floor of SEMA with mods that you would’ve never heard of till date. The purpose of the SEMA show is to showcase the world of car customization – what’s new and what we can expect to see in future. Tuner companies like Garrett, Shelby, Hennessey, and even companies that manufacture toys like Tonka show up, in addition to OEMs with their latest customized versions of production cars. Want a supercharged Toyota Camry? TRD (Toyota Racing Development) has that covered. Want a 1970 Camaro with the entire chassis and powertrain of a C7 Zo6? Chevrolet’s skunk works have that wrapped up. OEMs even use SEMA to showcase their wildest concepts.
2015 Sema car Show
international events
Proper work of art!
VW Short Bus
991 Targa with an old-school Whale-Tail
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Hello there!
No idea what this is - but it’s HUGE!
The best part of all this is that the products that are featured on these cars are stuff that you can actually buy from the manufacturer. Since the event is held in the fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada, US of A, it goes without saying that taking a trip to the SEMA show is more than just about cars – which is all the more reason why going to this event should be on any petrolhead’s bucket list. And just incase you do decide to go, make sure you wear comfortable shoes – since you will easily cover a distance of over twenty kilometers on foot just checking out the metal. And if you don’t have a good camera, buy one! For now drool over the metal – and the babes!
92 www.arabiamotors.co I january 2016
Been a while since we’ve seen one of these
2015 Sema car Show
international events
Balleriffic Rolls
Slammed dually
New S-Coupe on some gorgeous wheels
january 2016 I www.arabiamotors.co 93
“CONCEPTS, CLASSICS, BIKES, RACECARS, SUPERCARS... EVERY THING THE CUSTOM WORLD ENCOMPASSES RIGHT UNDER ONE HUGE ROOF!”
Rust-rod E28 BMW
94 www.arabiamotors.co I january 2016
2015 Sema car Show
international events
Super custom BRZ/86
Rat Rod
Back To The Future Toyota
january 2016 I www.arabiamotors.co 95
Channel
our youtube channel has been resurrected - troll the vids!
This is the official
Arabia Motors
You Tube channel. We will be posting up videos of car shows, test drives, every car event and of course the underground racing stuff.
SUBSCRIBE! NOW!
This is the new Ford F150.
Our review of the new SSangyong Korando.
Our review of the new Nissan Juke.
Bahrain Mustang Club in action.
Dig the action at the 2015 Batelco Motor Show.
We drive the new Audi TT.
AbdulMajeed AlAali’s home-built Mammoth Cobra.
This is the all-new EcoBoosted Ford Expedition.
Audi’s latest hooligan - the S3.
96 www.arabiamotors.co I JANUArY october 2015 2016
Powermaster Motorsports Mob: +(973) 39656517 / +(973) 39343429 Tel: +(973) 17687875 Fax: +(973) 17687873 Kingdom of Bahrain
Ibdaa Altaqadom Trading Est. Mob: +(966) 503444549 Tel: +(966) 138210773 Fax: +(966) 138210776 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Power Master Mob: +(974) 33363311 State of Qatar
BOOSTane Mob: +(965) 96657885 State of Kuwait