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The Future of Motoring In Jamaica
Since launch last year, ATL Automotive has become Jamaica’s leading automotive distributorship exclusively offering some of the world’s finest automobile brands from its state-of-the-art showrooms in Kingston and Montego Bay. Now comprising three distinct divisions, ATL Autohaus and ATL Britannia recently joined the long-reigning ATL Motors - the ‘Home of Honda’ under the ATL Automotive umbrella. Whilst in Kingston ATL Autohaus and ATL Britannia share a midtown site on Oxford Road in relative proximity to ATL Motors on Hagley Park Road, in Montego Bay all three divisions come together seamlessly in the newly-built US$4.5m state-of-the-art sales and service facility at Bogue City Centre. Making impressive strides as the newest ‘kids on the block’, ATL Autohaus and ATL Britannia have emerged to assertively lead the charge as the exclusive Jamaican distributor of some of the world’s most prestigious brands. Boasting a refined luxury with its premium and vast offering of the Audi and Volkswagen brands, ATL Autohaus touts superior German engineering backed by sleek design and German warranty. A mainstay on the wish lists of the rich and famous, Audi’s are truly the zenith of luxury and functionality. Audi Jamaica offers beautiful saloons such as the hugely popular Audi A4, A6 and the stately new A8. Moving forward is also the effortlessly cool Audi A3, the sporty A5 and A7 as well as the spacious and stylish Audi Q5 and Q7 SUV’s.
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On the commercial front, Volkswagen’s amazing new pick up the Amarok has taken Jamaica by storm thanks to its rugged good looks and peerless capabilities. Other vehicles in the Commercial suite now available are in the Transporter range and include the Passenger buses the Caravelle, Multivan and Kombi, the Dropsides which come as a single cab or double cab and Panel Vans in two configurations with a standard roof or high roof. Completing the trilogy of divisions is ATL Britannia which came on stream in September 2010 as the exclusive distributor of prestigious British brands Jaguar, Land Rover and Range Rover. The highly-acclaimed Land Rover vehicles range from the rugged like the Land Rover Defender to the stately, awardwinning Discovery 4 and the LR2. Meanwhile Range Rover lovers can choose between classic Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport. Followers of current auto trends who have seen the LRX concept develop will be thrilled to know that the fuel efficient, technologically advanced Range Rover Evoque, whose interior was designed by Victoria Beckham, will arrive in the country towards the end of the year. The majestic Jaguar is the final offering in the ATL Britannia line, offering the Jaguar XF and XJ. The sporty and powerful Jaguar XK with its 5.0L V8 Petrol engine is also available to the market by custom order.
The 2012 Audi model line-up positively steeps with excitement and will see the bold new A7, the feature-laden new A6, the notably luxurious A8, as well as the characterfilled super mini - the Audi A1.
Boasting a team of 150 expertly trained specialists, ATL Automotive is dedicated to providing the utmost highest level of sales and service. Both new and existing motorists will benefit immediately from ATL Automotive’s investment in new diagnostic equipment and specialist tooling as well as its US$500k stock in spare parts equating to an extraordinary ‘parts pick rate’ - which means no lengthy wait for parts to arrive.
Meanwhile Volkswagen, one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, has made a triumphant resurgence in Jamaica offering a wide range of awardwinning vehicles suitable for any taste or budget. With a range of well known and loved models such as the Polo, Tiguan, Touareg and the elegant Passat CC, Volkswagen has also thrilled motorists with the arrival of the new Passat, the stylish new Jetta and the Golf GTI MK6.
In addition to its huge venture in the latest diagnostic technology, ATL Automotive has also moved to ensure that its service teams in both Kingston and Montego Bay are the best in the business with ongoing training and development programs in place to maintain standards that meet and surpass global manufacturer benchmarks and keep our cars and customers where they should be – on the road.
Jaguar - Sporting Perfection Has Arrived
Celebrating 75 years of sporting perfection, technical innovation and design originality in the automotive world; Jaguar can be described simply as the ultimate luxury car. Displaying characteristics tantamount to its elegant and agile feline counterpart, Jaguar has found a new home at ATL Britannia Motors, here in Jamaica. The Oxford Road, Kingston and Bogue City Centre, Montego Bay situated dealerships are breathing new life into the brand locally. An undisputable leader in its class, Jaguar represents a signature line of cars with a rare blend of art and performance, science and beauty. Some cars are built, some engineered but a Jaguar is created and several of these outstanding creations are currently available to the local market through ATL Britannia. Founded by Sir William Lyons in 1922, the development of the company tells a spectacular tale of a British car brand built on excellent manufacturing principles. The latest chapter in Jaguar’s story is being penned by the multinational corporation Tata Motors. Since acquiring Jaguar Cars in 2008, Tata Motors has set a course for domination in the luxury car market. A course which ATL Britannia Motors has all intentions of charting itself in Jamaica. David Hastings, the man who puts his knowledge and expertise behind the Jaguar brand at ATL Britannia Motors notes “It is timely that ATL Britannia Motors, a division of ATL Automotive started official representation of Jaguar in the year during the brand’s worldwide 75th anniversary celebrations. We have been able to give the brand the exposure it deserves, which is an excellent start not only for our dealership, but also for the symbolical rebirth of Jaguar here in Jamaica.”
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JAguAr XJ Oozing opulence and totally transforming the idea of luxury, the Jaguar XJ dispels the notion that large cars should be conservative or restrained. The perfect marriage of sculptural elegance and visual drama, its unique design features as well as generous interior accommodations are bonuses to the internal configuration of the vehicle. Housing high-performance powertrains and a smooth and responsive six-speed electronic automatic transmission
with Jaguar’s Trademark Sequential Shift feature, the XJ commands the road with a flawless, supercharged, 5.0 litre, V8 diesel engine which quietly roars with power moving from 0-60 mph in six seconds flat. Crafted from high-grade aluminium, the car is lighter than much of its opposition by up to 150kg with the commensurate gains in performance, agility and economy. Michael Fisher, Brand Manager for Jaguar at ATL Britannia Motors praised the impressive pulling power and agility of the XJ, “The Jaguar XJ packs up to a whopping 600nm of torque which allows for exceptional performance and strong economy credentials yet with a refined and quiet engine. It is truly a beautiful animal.” And whilst it displays confident sporty elegance on the exterior and a major roar under the bonnet, once inside, passengers will find themselves cocooned in unparalleled luxury. Bathed in natural light from the panoramic glass roof, the interior is meticulously crafted from the finest materials in a manner that is strikingly contemporary. Motorists sliding behind the wheel of the XJ will also find its cabin design most enchanting, with futuristic precision controls largely accessed by way of the eight-inch touch screen. A range of premium surround-sound entertainment systems is topped by the 1200W, 17-speaker system from British experts Bowers & Wilkins and provides concert-hall levels of audio fidelity. All infotainment systems feature hard disc-based music storage and connectivity for audio and video devices via a powerful Media Hub. Setting benchmarks in prestige, exclusivity and automobile design, the Jaguar XJ is the most dramatic car in its class and has received over 20 international honours including “Luxury Car of the Year” from Top Gear (UK), ‘Best Luxury Car’ from China’s Auto News, Automobile Magazine’s “2011 Design of the Year” and Best Executive Sedan” at the Bloomberg Awards (US). Jaguar continually breaks the luxury car market’s design mould by creating a series of vehicles with exhilarating lines as well as outstanding build quality, which speaks volumes about the future of the Jaguar brand as a leading edgy premium car maker.
Land Rover - The Ultimate Off Road “Discovery” Today’s Defender is the toughest vehicle in the Land Rover range. A staple of the Land Rover series, this British four wheel legend has maintained its rugged excellence since 1948. With the ability to conquer the challenges faced by drivers in the modern world - exploring new horizons with the robust Defender is easy.
command you have with this vehicle on or off the road”.
The latest vehicle in this long evolution, the 2011 Defender, is a result of six decades worth of experience in designing and building the world’s most distinctive four-wheel drive vehicles.
A central feature of every Land Rover vehicle, the highly celebrated “command driving position” was first established in the Defender. It allows for greater visibility, adding to the driver’s control and overall security.
New Defender models are available in nine core bodystyles including Station Wagon, Hard Top, Pick Up and Double Cab Pick Up; and a further five bodystyles covering Soft Tops and Chassis Cabs with three different wheelbases 90, 110 and 130. According to Michael Fisher the Land Rover Brand Manager at ATL Britannia “When it comes to handling rough terrain nothing comes close to the Defender, no competitor can match the
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Unlike many of its competitors, the Defender has permanent four-wheel drive with the centre differential distributing torque evenly between front and rear axles to give optimum all-weather performance every time the engine is started.
The driving experience is additionally enhanced by the Defender’s 2.4 litre Diesel engine which produces a classleading 360Nm of torque as well as its sixspeed manual transmission. Specifically developed for heavy-duty applications, it is light, strong and also provides sleek on-road performance and smooth gear changes. The chassis and framework of this vehicle is colossally strong, it is
considered one of, if not the single most important component in Defender’s structural design and contributes to the vehicle’s strength, versatility, durability and capability. The mantra of the Defender is strictly form and function – its interior mirrors its robust exterior with a scuff resistant facia and extremely durable seat covering. The Defender makes no apologizes for its iconic and unusual build. A far cry from the mainstream SUV, there is little doubt why this 4 x4 is a first choice as a reliable and sturdy vehicle.
Doug “Hollywood” Gore We recently caught up with ATL Automotive Racing Team race-car driver Doug “Hollywood” Gore and interviewed the Jamaican speedster for our Coffee Shop. Turns out that he has quite the sense of humor… What project are you focused on right now? The design and building of my office/warehouse complex, the new home of MoBay Freight Services, has been very time consuming. Additionally the acquisition and development of the new Audi DTM race car is currently quite an exciting and learning opportunity for me and the ATL Automotive racing crew. Who is your favorite designer? I seem to lean toward comfort and casual dress over Armani or Calvin Klein suits and ties. Fortunately my business and lifestyle does allow me this luxury so a simple Polo shirt and casual style jeans would be me. Your favorite place in the world to relax? How do you unwind when you’re there? Traveling and seeing and doing new things are always fun and exciting yet often not actually relaxing. Relaxing to me is being able to escape my phone and responsibilities and enjoy the day with my wife, Debs, daughter Sabrina and son Tommi at the Silver Sands beach enjoying our beautiful Jamaica waters. Favorite new trend, worst new trend? Best new trend this decade obviously has been the global technology development which has really changed all our lives. I too find myself now dependent on internet, email, Blackberry etc. which all obviously also have their pros and cons. Just don’t mess with my HD signal during a football game and we’ll be good. Worst new trend is also technology development as today’s young generations are now missing out on so many outdoor and physical activities that they’ll never experience. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen kids playing “hide and seek” or “cowboys and Indians”. If it’s not a video game they don’t seem interested. Finally another worst new trend has to be the recent “pants falling off” fashion. Enough said. One item that you always purchase at the grocery store. Smirnoff Ice and Slam Condoms. (oops sorry please don’t print that, my wife will kill me) Most recent splurge? Our ATL Automotive, Boom/Wata, Petcom/Pace Audi Racecar! Top 3 things that make you feel sexy? When the girls at races ask me for my Autograph, a new suit, standing at the start line of a new race. Who would you most enjoy inviting to dinner? Where would you dine? White Witch restaurant at the Ritz Carlton in Montego Bay with Clint Eastwood. But I also enjoy going with my wife Debra. Your biggest celebrity crush? Jessica Alba! Favorite appetizer? Stuffed mushrooms at Captains Tavern in Miami. Special Advertising Section
Doug with CEO Adam Stewart
One thing that gets you through Monday mornings? A cup of coffee and reading Wheels Jamaica online. Your favorite hotel? Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston. If your life had a theme song what would it be? “ROCKY” (many hard knocks, but get up to fight another day). If you only had 7 hours in your most favorite city in the world what would you do? Go to the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Dallas Texas and have a big juicy steak. If you could eat one food in excess, without gaining a pound, what would it be? Chocolate Ice Cream 3 things that you often dream about at night. Cars, Girls, My Mom -(I miss her) Favorite way to stay in shape. I enjoy swimming in the ocean whenever I get the chance. It really seems to be best exercise when trying to get the most out of your time served. For the full interview log on to oceanstylemagazine.com.
World Demand for Audi In a world of burgeoning new economies and a demand for the very best, the concept of luxury is being redefined again and again. Establishing itself as the ‘must have’ automobile amongst the planet’s elite is the Audi. German auto maker Audi has risen to seize the lion’s share in leading international markets throughout the world such as China and India thanks to its heart-stopping aesthetics and peerless reliability. As part of the Volkswagen group, the car company recently delivered the highest profits in the automotive industry last year. Audi enjoys shared engineering and technology with some of the world’s leading car brands. Featuring the ‘luxurious creature comforts’ perfected by Bentley, the high performance of Porsche and safety features pioneered by Volkswagen, Audi incorporates distinctive and stylish aesthetics to make it truly unique. These are some of the reasons Audi has become the car of choice for the world’s wealthiest and most famous people. Etus Collman, Senior Sales Consultant for ATL Autohaus - Jamaica’s exclusive Audi dealership notes, “Audi represents the world’s best in engineering, technology, and design as well as performance. Here in Jamaica, our clients love Audi and our stock is a hot commodity. The demand is fast and furious and we simply can’t get them here quickly enough. There is a waiting list!” Audi Brand Manager Anthony Desnoes concurred with Collman stating, “Consumers worldwide are clearly rewarding Audi for its superior vehicles by propelling the brand to the top of the luxury vehicle market. The Audi plants are in constant production mode working to fulfill the global demand” said Desnoes. “At ATL Autohaus, we have several Audi models on pre-order including Q5 and Q7 SUV’s as well as the new A6 sedan, a car we’re expecting great things from. The stunning new Audi A7 Sportback and the most technologically advanced vehicle Audi has ever produced - the new A8 model - are both here. I think it says a lot that the most successful people, the kind of people who could drive any car in the world are choosing to drive an Audi.” Indeed, customers worldwide have refused to settle for anything less than the four ringed German brand with notable international celebrities including Kevin Costner, Seal, Johnny Depp, Ben Affleck, models Gisele Bündchen and Sienna Miller, Hugh Grant, David Bowie, car enthusiast David Hasselhoff, and the indomitable new Mr. Bond - Daniel Craig, all sporting Audis. Available exclusively at ATL Autohaus - Jamaica’s authorized Audi dealership, customers may whet their Audi appetites with detailed tours as well as scheduled test drives with any of the available models. While special orders can always be made and customers can specify the types of inclusions and colour they would like on their new Audi the current stock offerings have been specified to suit varying customer requirements. Amongst them are the new A1, the A3, A4 and A5, the new Audi A6, A7 and A8 and of course the dynamic SUVs the Q5 and the Q7. A look ahead to early 2012 sees the arrival of the highly anticipated, newly developed Audi Q3. Demand is such that official mid-year sales tables show Audi on a sharp upward sales curve, maintaining its record-breaking performance for this year, and surpassing Mercedes Benz locally by 14 percent. This represents an impressive milestone for Audi – an unprecedented feat for the brand in local market competition.
The All New Audi A6 Audi is once again setting the standards in the full-size class with the new seventh-generation A6. With a broad portfolio of innovations and a lightweight body featuring numerous aluminum components, this new sedan is destined to write the next chapter of the A6 success story.
Body and design
The design of the A6 exudes athleticism and elegance. The sedan is over 16 feet long and six wide, but at less than five feet tall offer the sportiest proportions in its class. The long hood, the low, taut roofline and the distinctive lines on the flanks create a dynamic overall impression. Up front, optional LED headlights underscore the distinctive appearance. Thanks to an intelligent composite construction concept, the body is extremely lightweight, rigid and safe. Its numerous aluminum and hightech steels reduce its weight by roughly 30 kilograms from its predecessor, making the body, the backbone, of a consistent lightweight design concept. Depending on the version, the new business sedan is much lighter than the previous model. Audi, the pioneer of lightweight design, has once again reversed the weight spiral and thus established new standards. The body offers additional advantages too. Modern materials and construction methods provide for a very low interior noise level. The precise matching of all components and systematic hydraulic damping in the axle and drivetrain bearings provide excellent vibration comfort.
Interior
The spacious interior of the new Audi A6 takes up the sinewy style of the exterior design. Its salient element is the “wraparound” – a decorative inlay encircling the driver and the front-seat passenger. The elegant face of the instrument panel emphasizes the tension of the cockpit. Every interior detail documents the care with which Audi builds cars. All materials, including “Beaufort oak,” an innovative layered wood veneer to be introduced later, are carefully selected and processed. The front seats are available with optional ventilation and massage functions. The ambient lighting or the interior lighting package accent the interior with tiny highlights.
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The new Audi A6 features the intuitive ergonomics concept that characterizes all of the brand’s models. An efficient deluxe automatic
air conditioning system and the MMI radio advanced control system come standard. The MMI navigation plus system with MMI touch is available as an option. Many features of the hard drive navigation system can be controlled via the touchpad. Audi offers an optional head-up display that projects important information onto the windshield.
Chassis
Drivetrain
The Audi drive select driving dynamics system comes standard with all engine variants. Audi can also deliver the comfortable adaptive air suspension with variable damping on request. The optional dynamic steering will be available somewhat later.
Audi Jamaica offers the new A6 with powerful and highly efficient V6 (super charged) engines. These gasoline engines produce between 204 hp and 300 hp. All engines use key technologies from Audi’s modular efficiency platform – the innovative thermal management, the start-stop system and the recuperation system. Compared to the previous model, fuel consumption has been reduced by as much as 21 percent – a top mark in its class.
The engines:
• 2.8 FSI and 2.8 FSI quattro with 204 hp • 3.0 TFSI quattro with 300 hp Audi offers the new A6 with a wide range of drivetrains depending on the engine. The continuously variable multitronic and - new in this model line - the sporty seven-speed S tronic. With their wide gear spread and low internal friction, all engines make major contributions to efficiency. Power is delivered to either the front or all four wheels, depending on the engine. The latest evolution of the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system features a crown-gear center differential and torque vectoring for superior traction, stability and dynamics. Models featuring the top engines will be available somewhat later with the sport differential, which actively distributes the power between the rear wheels.
The chassis of the new A6 combines superior comfort with sporty precision. Its links are made of aluminum; the power steering features a new electromechanical drive for high efficiency. The big sedan rolls on wheels measuring between 16 and 20 inches in diameter, behind which are powerful brakes.
Equipment and trim
Topping the line of hi-fi options is the high-quality Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System. The chassis of the A6 is based on a fourlink front suspension and trapezoidallink rear suspension. The optional adaptive air suspension enables the driver to switch among four settings to vary the adaptive dampers’ performance and characteristics. ATL Autohaus Audi Senior Sales Consultant, Etus Collman visited Germany earlier this year to test drive the new A6. When asked to tell us what most impressed him about the new A6, Collman raved about the interior design and styling, the full LED lights and smooth S-tronic transmission – shifting is quick and precise. Yet still, he felt that the features which created the most awe were the adaptive cruise control and the head-up display which is projected onto the windshield of the car.
The new Audi A6 is highly anticipated in Jamaica and is likely to be the saloon car favourite of corporate executives and distinguished professionals.
ATL Automotive – Superior Service The ATL name is synonymous with service, and so at every step of the way service teams at ATL Automotive extend themselves to develop and maintain creative programs and procedures that ensure a customer care level that the owner of a premium automobile would expect, and more. There has been no holding back in the investment in facilities, equipment and human resources. Each ATL Automotive division has its own Master Technician working together with a team of factory-trained service technicians, using state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and genuine parts - in spotless facilities. A strong customer service leaning is necessary for all service staff and training is continuous. Timothy Fairhead, the Kingston-based After Sales Manager has been pouring energy into sourcing best materials, best staff and best training opportunities. He gave us some insight into his role and some of the developments now taking place, as along with spearheading technical repairs and servicing, a number of projects keep this resolution-oriented After Sales Manager very busy. Amongst them is the building of new sites such as a central warehouse facility for parts storage. Over 8,000 sq. ft. of storage is being established for carrying all key parts and more. Industry Standard Operations (ISO) based on the European model are being put in place for the range of vehicles carried by ATL Britannia and ATL Autohaus. A comprehensive service plan comes included for all Audi models, and 24/7 Roadside Assistance for all, is offered. New vehicle owners can also enjoy up to 3 years bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage. Sometimes seemingly little things make all the difference, and ATL Automotive employees - through empowerment, endeavour to find the best fix, the first time. ATL Automotive is excited about the possibilities of offering a continually elevated level of service that will delight customers over and over, every step of the way.
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The Proof is in the Passat
Seven generations of the Volkswagen Passat and we can count this generation as the best yet! It’s not just the fact that it is the preferred family vehicle for most, that makes consumers want to drive a Passat, but it’s that German engineering, that just seems to get consumers back behind the wheel again and again. “The 2011 Passat exemplifies true German engineering, class-leading standard features, and superior fuel efficiency, all for amazing value,” said Adam Harris. From the top of the steering wheel to the grip of the tire, it’s the way the suspension holds up to every bump and crack in the road. Its part of what Volkswagen does best and why consumers love the all-new 2011 Passat. With this upgraded version buyers can expect:
Clever Technology
Hats off to the cool techs who designed this Passat, it features some seriously crafty technology including a user-friendly Multi-Function steering wheel that allows you to be in control of the radio, your music and other systems - even your phone - without taking your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road for a second. The steering wheel’s easy-to-use ergonomic design means you’ll be driving with maximum comfort, convenience and added safety. The 2011 version also boasts features such as a keyless push button start / stop system and keyless access. Volkswagen even went all out in upgrading this version of the Passat with rain sensing wipers, auto hold function for safe and relaxed driving in slow traffic.
Interior Highlights
The all-new 2011 Volkswagen Passat is built with superior
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qualities and lives up to its reputation in refined, comfortable interiors and with premium features such as the touch file touch (TFT), touch screen entertainment system with stereo, six-disc CD changer and 42 station memory.
Safety
The previous Passat model already attained an impressive 5 stars in Euro-NCAP crash testing. In the new model, the Volkswagen experts have beefed up the safety vices, by adding features such as seatbelt fastening detection for the rear seats, Crash Optimized front end, which is integrated in the front structure of the Passat to absorb and minimize collision energy. An Intelligent Crash Response System is also integrated - with you in mind, in the event of a crash the doors are unlocked, the fuel pump disengaged and the hazard lights comes on.
Quiet
Subtle but by no means shy - this car is extremely quiet. The reason? Heavy insulation materials, and new acoustic film have been integrated in the dashboard, doors and front windscreen and work to filter exterior and engine noises. .
Comfort and Quality
The 2011 Passat offers even more luxury than other vehicles in its class, having improved the material and finishes in its seating, door trims and ambient lighting. From the center console to the armrests, glove-box and cup-holders, the Passat is roomy, comfortable and beautifully built. It is even more spacious than its predecessor, especially when it comes to rear leg room and increased elbow room. The 2011 Passat has a smartly designed interior that places a premium on ergonomics and convenience. The Passat 2011, definitely worth a test drive!