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march 2014 Issue no 151

14

YEARS

2014

ce
fAce to fA
S
V
tV
mLLer-
ceo torSten

!
g
n
i
m
o
C
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a
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C
roLLS-royce

egment
dynAmic s
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s
d
the worl
tested
merging in
e
g
in
k
in
h
t
f
o
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t
v
2014 Audi A3
ncep
A new wA
uLt KWid co
oSport
A
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2014 Ford ec
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iews
v
to
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o
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p
1
s
-0
u
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S
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emAn
Bo
Lotu
2014 mini pAc
LiForniA t
io
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br
A
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c
A
S3
rr
i
Fe
d
Au
2014
oncept
t 108
LexuS rc F c
2014 peugeo
V
Su
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VW tAigun
ts
ow repor
motor sh
deLhi
go And neW
From chic A
iser
A
curtAin r
2014 geneVA

34

COVErstory |

MINI Paceman

With the seventh MINI

model in the Sultanate

firstdrive |

28
Barrier breaker

New Audi A3 sedan has

its job description cut
out in the segment

40

46

72

in this issue
cover story
28-33 2013 audi a3
34-39 2014 mini paceman

CONtENt MEtEr

oman and regional news

6-9 classic nissan pathfinder back in Oman, audi

NEXt issUE
2014 MasErati
ghibli

Oman intrOduces new a3 sedan, renault twizy

launched fOr middle east, qatar mOtOr shOw

10

highlights, mhd intrOduces apprOved jlr pre-

Owned sales, kia regiOnal technician cOntest,

renault Oman Organizes rally with fluence
Owners

brandwatch
10-13 fOrds ex-pOrtfOliO Of expensive hObbies

20

jlr, vOlvO, astOn martin where are they nOw?

pOrsche tO add seventh mOdel, ecObOOst fOr

lincOln navigatOr, pOOr safety scOres fOr basic

indian cars, nissan drOps hai assOciatiOn in india,

lifeline fOr peugeOt, bmw tO revive shOrt film

making, daimler Offers suv platfOrm tO astOn

martin, mitsubishi tO sell rebadged renault

30

prOducts, peugeOt designer jOins fOrd, subaru

teases new legacy, nO amg tags fOr astOn martin

26

Qs, CEO tOrstEN

MllEr-tVs

rolls-royce Motor Cars

14
ars,
tion c ng
c
u
d
o
i
r
Star p cles, stunn
y
@
c
r
e
moto s and mor
t
p
conce lhi
e
D
New

international news
14-17 2014 autO expO new delhi repOrt
18-21 2014 chicagOr mOtOr shOw repOrt

40

curtain raiser
22-25 2014 geneva mOtOr shOw
face to face
26-27 rOlls-rOyce mOtOr cars ceO tOrsten

mller-tvs

50

first drive
40-45 2014 fOrd ecOspOrt
46-48 2013 hOndajazz
previews
50-51 audi s3 cabriOlet
52-53 chevrOlet adra cOncept suv
54-57 ferrari califOrnia t
58-59 lexus rc f cOncept
60-61 peugeOt 108 hatchback
62-64 renault kwid cOncept
66-69 tOyOta ft-1 cOncept
70-71 vOlkswagen taigun cOncept
72-73 lOtus c-01 mOtOrcycle

60

70

motorsports
74-79 fOrmula One, regiOnal happenings, uae

desert challenge, wrc, mOtO gp

80 chicane

80

editor-in-chief

2014

Mohammad Al taie

AL roYA PreSS & PUBLiShinG

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As consumers, all of us have to contend with trends. Some tend to be flash in

the pan moments, dictated by some hollywood stars choices. Others tend
to stay around for years and decades, but they nonetheless also fall victim to
time and our changing tastes.
take the compact car. for a product that has ever grown from one iteration to
another, the car has seen some tectonic moments when downsizing played a
role. the second world war brought with it limited availability of resources, a
poorer populace and a shift in peoples expectations. the british car industry
thus shifted to a whole generation of small cars perhaps highlighted best
by the original mini. Other markets have seen similar trends to small cars.
the japanese market has an additional love affair with miniaturisation. as
well as the challenges of existing as a large population on a small group of
landmasses. so the small car is considered a status symbol, with some of
these little stars being souped up and decked out so that they cost more
than a large one does.
in other parts of the world, the challenges of urban transport, low incomes
and skewed taxation have also made the small car, well, big. most of asia
plays host to the small car and we have been told by many industry leaders
that if they had to have a chance in a growth market like india, they needed
small cars in their portfolio.
it is little wonder then that this years crop of releases at various motorshows
include a fair share of small or compact cars. renault went so far as to debut
their kwid concept at the delhi auto show. volkswagen has similarly shown
their taigun and we can expect other global giants to bring out their compact
offerings in the coming months. for the market for compact cars remains
significant, even as large cars are being challenged for the reason to exist by
the new breed of suvs.
Oman, thankfully, remains a market where the compact car makes sense.
there are enough challenges with affordability and the eminent sense of
making do with less is understood here. while we dont really much room
for sub-compacts like smarts fortwo here largely due to safety concerns, the
compact car will continue to rule the roost even as more people buy compact
suvs to give them the active lifestyle they seek.

14

YEARS

We congratulate all the winners of the

automan Car of the Year 2013. look out for
a web-based voting scheme this year!

Oman & region

news

wo years after it was first showcased, with the launch of the A3 sedan
in Oman, Audi is entering the worlds largest market segment, the class
of compact sedans. The dynamic four-door car offers all of the strengths of
the model series like low weight thanks to lightweight design, powerful and
highly efficient engines and numerous high-end solutions for infotainment as
well as driver assistance systems.
Ahmed Shariefi, general manager of Wattayah Motors, said, This is the right
car at the right time for Audi. Premium compact sedans are one of the fastest
growing segments in the Sultanate thanks to their compact dimensions,
sporty dynamics and attractive pricing; and the A3 Sedan epitomizes
these characteristics. With Audis renowned engineering and performance
expertise behind it, we strongly believe the A3 Sedan has tremendous
potential in the market and expect it to contribute substantially to Audis
sales in the country. It will no doubt be a valued addition to Audi Omans
product portfolio.
Two engine variants will be offered. Key performance parameters of
the 1.4-litre TFSI four-cylinder are 120hp and 250 Nm and the 1.8-litre TFSI
produces 180hp and 250 Nm. It utilizes an extensive package of high-end
technologies, including dual injection into the combustion chambers and
the induction manifold. Both engines are paired with S tronic dual-clutch
transmission and larger engine variant is also available with quattro all-wheel
drive. The base price for the 1.4 TFSI is under OMR10,000.

NissaN tO sEll bOth VErsiONs

Of PathfiNdEr iN OMaN

aUdi OMaN
iNtrOdUCEs a3
sEdaN

YUtONg bUsEs iNtrOdUCEd iN

OMaN

ts not unusual to have both incoming and outgoing

models selling together and Nissan Middle East
seems to have experienced the same with its
outgoing Pathfinder SUV. While the new Pathfinder was
launched in 2013, its development and packaging revolved
around user-friendly efficient technologies on a new unibody
platform with advanced drivetrain and effectively moved
the new model into the lifestyle segment, but as Nissan
discovered post launch of the new Pathfinder that there
was still a strong demand for the body-on-frame Pathfinder.
Nissan found a way to oblige its faithful, by ensuring
allocation of the Pathfinder Classic [as it is known
now] from its Spain manufacturing facility. As a result
of this effort, the Pathfinder returns after absence of
over a year in the Middle East. The Pathfinder classic
is built on a high strength fully boxed, all-steel frame
[it is based on the full-size Nissan Armada SUV] and
comes with a normally-aspirated 4.0-litre VQ40DE V6
engine tuned to offer 261hp and 389Nm of torque.
The SUV is offered with either 5-speed automatic
with Tiptronic manual function. This version of the
Pathfinder offers first-class amenities with standard
three-row seating.
6

www.automanweb.com

march 2014

utong claims to be the worlds largest Chinese bus

manufacturer with a sales volume of over 58,000
units in 2013. This bus brand has been selling luxury
coaches to companies that cater to the tourism and
service sectors in the Middle East for several years.
Now, as part of its expansion programme, Yutong is
partnering with Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan LLC in
the Sultanate in introducing the brand, its products
and after-sales services. We are delighted to tie
up with Chinas leading bus-maker to promote the
popular Yutong in Oman. We envisage a promising
market for this brand in the Sultanate, particularly in
the tourism and high-end corporate transportation
service sectors, said Virendra Agarwal CEO, Moosa
Abdul Rahman Hassan & Co LLC. The first product to
be introduced is the ZK6122H Euro 2/Euro 3 compliant
luxury buses. Yutong also specializes in school buses
and has played a pioneering role in China in helping
drafting standards for such buses.

rENaUlt iNtrOdUCEs tWizY

ts official now. In the past few weeks, the

Twizy, Renaults two-seater 100 per cent
electric-motor driven quadricycle has been
spotted in wearing UAE registration plates.
Renault Middle East decided to wait for an
appropriate moment to officially launch this
product and the timing of the Qatar Motor
Show seemed to be perfect for the occasion.
The Twizy has an urban driving range of
approximately 85km on a single charge. The
lithium-ion batteries can be full charged in
less than four hours using a normal domestic
household 220-240v AC supply. The battery
pack is mounted beneath the seats to lower
the centre of gravity. The
Twizy is now available for
pre-booking in the Middle
East countries, starting
with Qatar and UAE.

iNtErEstiNg rEVEals at Qatar MOtOr shOW

E the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed alSulaiti officially opened the fourth annual Qatar
Motor Show and as many as 42 different cars and
motorcycle brands were showcased at this years
event. Volkswagen, Porsche, Bentley, Ford, Renault,
Lamborghini, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Infiniti, Nissan,
McLaren, Toyota, Lexus, Chevrolet, Cadillac, BMW,
Mini, Maserati, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, and Bugatti
were among the participating brands. Here are the
key highlights.
Audi
The new Audi A8 range and nanuk quattro concept
were the key highlights for the brand.
Bentley
Bentley Motors unveiled the newest member of
its Continental GT line-up - the Continental GT V8 S.
The new model builds on the V8 platform to deliver
improved performance and a sleeker and sportier
look and feel, and will officially go on sale across the
region in April 2014.
BMW
Alfardan Automobiles presented the BMW i8,
described as the sports car of the future.
Available in both coupe and convertible forms, the

www.automanweb.com

march 2014

new Continental V8 S models feature an uprated

version of Bentleys twin-turbo, 4.0-litre engine that
now develops 521bhp and 680Nm of torque, together
with suspension modifications and a selection of new
exterior and interior features.
BugAtti
Bugatti presented an exclusive version of the
Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse designed in honour
of renowned Chinese star pianist Lang Lang. The
Lang Lang edition has an 8-litre W16 engine which
generates 1200PS and torque of 1,500Nm at 3,000
to 5,000rpm and can rocket from zero to 100km/h
in only 2.6secs. With a maximum recorded speed of
408.84 km/h with the top down, the Vitesse is the
worlds fastest production roadster.
generAl Motors
GM entertained the audience with the 2014 Chevrolet
Corvette Stingray and the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and
the 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan.
infiniti
Nissans premium brand had both the Q50 and its
Hybrid version on display.
lAMBorghini
Besides new showroom opening and private viewing

of the Gallardo-replacing Hurracan Lamborghini

showcased the Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster at the
show.
MAserAti
Alfardan Sports Motors officially launched Maseratis
new four-door sports executive sedan, the Ghibli.
With the Ghibli, Maserati enters the E-segment of
the sports premium market with stunning design,
performance and handling qualities.
Mercedes-Benz
Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles unveiled the
Mercedes-Benz Concept S-class Coupe and the new
CLA 45 AMG four-door coup.
Porsche
Key regional highlights was the introduction of the
all-new Macan SUV, the 918 Spyder and 911 Targa 4S
in particular. Also on show were the new Cayenne
Platinum Edition and a long wheelbase Executive
version of the Panamera Turbo S.
VolksWAgen
Volkswagens new Golf R was among the stars for the
brand along with the regular fare.

rEgiONal skill COMPEtitiON

OrgaNizEd bY kia MOtOrs

Mhd tO OffEr PrE aPPrOVEd Jlr Cars

ood news for customers in the region now who are in the market for premium pre-owned Jaguar Land Rover
motor cars. Jaguar Land Rover MENA has launched two dedicated pre-owned branded certified vehicle
programmes -- Jaguar Approved and Land Rover Approved, across its key dealer network in the region.
In Oman, Mohsin Haider Darwish LLC, the official retailer of the British brand launched the programme in the third
week of February 2014. Richard Gouverneur, Business Development Director for Jaguar Land Rover MENA, said:
Jaguar Land Rover has gone from strength to strength in this region with continued year on year growth in the
new car segment. The pre-owned car industry is a growing business with greater demand from consumers for
guaranteed quality and excellent customer service standards. With APPROVED, we worked with our global teams
and regional dealers to ensure that we have a certified, reliable customer focused programme that delivers a
guaranteed standard of product excellence and increased consumer confidence.
David Aziz, CEO Automotive, MHD LLC said: This new initiative from Jaguar Land Rover will provide a new level of
confidence to our customers. The rigorous checkup of the APPROVED Jaguar & Land Rover vehicles along with a
minimum 12 months warranty and road side assistance will certainly add value to the package. For convenience,
a vehicle search function is now integrated within landrover-me.com/approved/mhdmuscat or jaguar-me.com/
approved/mhdmuscat.

rENaUlt OMaN OrgaNizEs rallY

ia Motor Corporation conducted its fifth Regional Skill

Competition at the Al Majid Motors training facilities in
Dubai, UAE. Fifteen National Technician Skill Cup Winners from
nine countries in the Middle East and Africa region battled it
out for the title Best Kia Technician in the Region and the
chance to participate in the Kia World Skill Cup, scheduled to
take place in the second quarter of this year in Korea.
Simon Yim from Kia Motor Company Middle East and Kia Africa
Regional Headquarters announced the winners. Gold medal
went to UAE-based Al Majid Motors, whose representative
was awarded Best KIA technician in the region while silver
medals went to South Africa and Jordan and Bronze medals
to South Africa, Reliable International Automotive [Oman] and
the Al- Majid in UAE.

PEUgEOt rEgiONal MiddlE East CONVENtiON hEld iN OMaN

uropean Motors, the official distributor of Peugeot vehicles in Oman, played host to Omans first ever
Peugeot Middle East Convention. Hosted at Shangri Las Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa in January, the twoday convention was attended by Peugeot dealerships from across the GCC as well as Lebanon, Jordan and
Egypt, including representatives from European Motors and Peugeots Middle East & Africa Regional office.
Commenting on Peugeots success in the region in 2013, Phillipe Geze, the Director Peugeot - ME and Africa said,
Last year was an exceptional year for Peugeot in the region, with the brand experiencing a growth of 51 per cent
year-on-year. The driving force behind our success was our aggressive marketing strategies coupled with new
model launches such as the 301. Not only did these new models exceed their initial sales target, they continue to
outperform with every passing month.

hirty five owners of Renault Fluence sedans participated in

a day-long event organized by Renault Oman. The idea was
to set fuel efficiency records for the car. Participants had their
cars tanked up and sealed and were given a route from the
showroom to Al Nahda Resort to complete. The top performers
were felicitated at the venue.

MiNi fUN EVENt iN UaE

Over 120 MINI fans and owners from across the UAE set off
on an exciting adventure last month. A 40-car-strong city rally
was organised for MINI fans to enjoy driving models like the
Paceman and Countryman and also put them through their
paces at the Dubai Autodrome track.

march 2014

www.automanweb.com

fOrds EX-POrtfOliO Of EXPENsiVE hObbiEs

Jlr, VOlVO, astON MartiN WhErE arE thEY NOW?

Figures prove it once again.

What was once considered
as a portfolio of expensive
hobbies by Alan Mulally
at Ford before Blue Oval
offloaded Jaguar Land
Rover, Volvo and Aston
Martin to focus on the Ford
brand globally, must now be
causing heartburns to those
in the management circles
who are beginning to realize
now that the investments
to fix two globally known
and respected brands would
have worked out much
cheaper in the long run
than trying to resurrect a
domestic American brand
from the dead.

S
S

everal auto
makers have
leveraged
growing global
demand to return
to sizable profits
following the global
economic crisis.
Fords ex-brands
Jaguar Land Rover
has performed
exceptionally under
Indias Tata Motors
ownership, Volvo
has appeared
at times to be
stuck in reverse
amid a lacklustre
performance in
two of its primary
markets: the US and
Europe and Aston
Martin struggles.

VOlVO

Volvo Car Group, which is now owned by Chinas Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Company has reported that reported a 1.4per cent rise in sales last year, as enormous gains
in China over the second half of 2013 offset a continued decline in the US. The performance followed a 6 per cent sales decline in 2012, which led to financial losses. Three
years into its stint as a Chinese-owned company, the Swedish brand now appears to be inching closer to a sustainable future.
The Swedish car maker has launched a single-minded, ambitious and risky vision for its future large cars, which will be based on one chassis architecture, with just one
basic engine type instead of its existing four-, five- and six-cylinder units. Volvos Environmental Architecture (VEA) modular four- and three-cylinder diesel and petrol
engines and Scaleable Platform Architecture (SPA), effectively a single chassis capable of being lengthened or widened, will appear in soon in new models beginning with
the the XC90 replacement this year and will phase-wise be adopted in all large Volvos.

astON MartiN

JagUar laNd rOVEr

ust a few days ago, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) released performance figures which suggest that profits from the Tata Motors owned and managed carmaker has more than
doubled in the last three months of 2013. JLR made profits of 842m, up from 404m
for the same quarter in 2012, on revenues of 5.3bn. Sales during the third quarter rose
27 per cent year-on-year to 112,172 vehicles, driven by the popularity of the Jaguar XJ
and XF, and the Range Rover Sport. During 2013 as a whole, JLR sold a record 425,006
vehicles, with sales particularly strong in Brazil, China, India and the US.
Indias Tata Motors bought JLR in 2008 from Ford for $2.3bn and has invested heavily
in new models and research. Fords claim to fame with a luxury brand is now Lincoln
which it is struggling to make its only legitimate contender. Weve asked senior company
executives whether Ford has any sellers remorse over getting rid of Land Rover and
Jaguar in 2008 to Indian automaker Tata Motors. The biggest difference is between Ford
ownership and Tata Motors is that with Tata management, there was a clear cut plan
about the brand. Tata Motors is very focused on making both brands profitable and successful, and there is commitment. With Ford, things drifted year to year.
10

www.automanweb.com

march 2014

n October 2013, Aston Martin reported a $39.3mn pre-tax loss, an increase

from the previous years $33.9mn. Citing a nine-per cent drop in sales for
its range of sportscars (and a now discontinued city car) and a nearly 50per
cent drop since its 2007 peak, AM only managed to bring in $736.6mn.
Aston has a target of boosting annual sales to about 7,000 vehicles in 2016
from about 3,400 cars in 2012, with growth propelled by catering to growing demand in Asia, North and South America. The carmaker also plans to
appoint a new CEO in the next three months. Current CEO Ulrich Bez, who
has led the carmaker since 2000, will probably become a non-executive
chairman.
London-based investment firm Investindustrial purchased a 37.5per cent
stake last year, the carmaker laid out plans in January to spend $785mn
on expansion in the next four years to challenge rival luxury brands. Aston Martins other shareholders are Kuwaiti companies Investment Dar and
Adeem Investment Co., which bought the carmaker in 2007 from Ford Motor Co. Aston Martin is the only global luxury-auto producer that doesnt
belong to a larger manufacturing group.

brandwatch

big ChaNgEs iN tOYOta Oz OPEratiONs

news

is lUCkY sEVEN thE NUMbEr

POrsChE is lOOkiNg fOr?

With the type of volume aspirations that Porsche has

and the access to VAG technology, theres no reason why
Porsche cant replicate the success of say rival Maseratis
new Ghibli and become a credible alternative to fellow
Germans like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

ell, indications from Germany suggest that the

sports car maker is ready to expand its product
range beyond the recently introduced Macan compact
SUV to seven models. This information comes from
chairman of the executive board Matthias Mueller
directly.
Speaking at the Macan SUV launch in Germany, Mueller
confirmed that the brand was looking to move into even
more segments and the executive even further to suggest
that the optimal size of Porsches product portfolio would
be seven models.
Porsche currently offer six models [Cayman and Boxster
are considered one model] and theres place for a seventh
one in the line-up. If you include the super-sportscar, the
918, (our range) adds up to six. In our opinion, a seven
model series would be perfect. The typical lifecycle of a
vehicle is seven years and by way of calculations we would
have a major launch event every year, said Mueller.
In such a scenario, the hot favourite to join the Porsche
range would be a BMW 5 Series-rivaling large sedan to
sit beneath the Panamera, in much the same way as the
Macan sits below the Cayenne. The new car codenamed
by some as Pajun [short for Panamera Junior] could be
built on the updated MLB architecture sourced from the
A6 and tweaked like the Macan to offer pure Porsche
characteristics.

CadillaC gEariNg fOr fUll

POrtfOliO

It seems that GMs luxury brand Cadillac is taking a pragmatic approach when it comes to deciding the number
of models it wants to offer consumers. Cadillacs Senior
Vice President Bob Ferguson has revealed the company
is working on a handful of new models to create a full
showroom for our consumers and our dealers.
While Ferguson said the companys expanded line-up
would meet consumer demands, it would fall short of the
countless models that are now offered by German premium brands like BMW and Mercedes. Ferguson explained,
I think we can satisfy the markets that we are in by doing
an excellent job with what I would call a full portfolio but
not an excessive portfolio.
In a recent statement, Ed Welburn [GMs Vice President
of Global Design] said there are more Cadillacs under development than at any time in General Motors history.
Welburn, whos been at the helm of GM Design North
America since 2003 and is the first to hold the position of
VP of Global Design, has been instrumental in the styling
renaissance at GM.

ustralias reputation as a car producing country has taken a big hit after Ford and GMs announced
that they would stop building cars. That left Toyota as the lone player, but, as it happens, Toyota is
finding that with extremely tough operating conditions and a fragile supplier base, it would be difficult
to continue operating as a manufacturer. As a result, Toyota has officially has called it a day as far as
manufacturing cars in that country goes. Toyota is the last carmaker to confirm a withdrawal from
Australia following Ford and GMs announcement they would stop building cars by 2017 at the latest.
Besides winding up manufacturing, the measure will also affect Toyota designers at its Technical
Center Asia Pacific Australia (TTCAP-AU). The TTCAP-AU, which carries out all its Australian design and
evaluation operations employs 150 designers and modelers. Since this set-up will also be chopped, it
means that on-going work with future Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion models could also be affected.
The Camry and Aurion sold in Middle East comes from Australia and in future they will be sourced
from Toyotas other global set-ups.
President Akio Toyoda said: We believed that we should continue producing vehicles in Australia,
and Toyota and its workforce here made every effort. However, various negative factors such as an
extremely competitive market and a strong Australian dollar, together with forecasts of a reduction
in the total scale of vehicle production in Australia, have forced us to make this painful decision.
Toyota will continue selling cars and trucks in Australia and will gradually see transition to a national
sales and distribution company. The carmaker will enhance its sales, services and distribution efforts.
For Oz, the Camry and Aurion will be imported from Toyotas other manufacturing plants post 2017.

ECObOOst
fOr
EXPEditiON

s part of the downsizing drive, Ford has announced that it will be ditching the current V8 in its
largest, body-on-frame sport-utility vehicle, the Expedition line-up for 2015 during its mid-cycle
upgrades and shoehorn it with a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6. Ford says that by doing
this it brings the Expedition up to the expectations of a new decade of SUV shoppers who now
expect higher mileage from their vehicles. The Expedition been carried over mostly unchanged for
many model years and Ford wants to play catch up with rivals from redesigned full-size GM SUVs (the
Chevrolet Tahoe and Silverado, and the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL), which have been given quieter,
more stylish interiors, more features, and a fuel-saving engine line-up. This also means that for the
first time in SUVs at Ford, turbocharging makes an entry.

march 2014

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11

ts no secret that AMG offers some of its engines on an exclusive basis to some exotic car makers like Pagani.
And when you see under the bonnet of the rear-engined Pagani Huayra, the engine covers proudly sport the
AMG logo. But that will not happen with Aston Martin. It may be recalled that in 2013, Aston Martin inked a deal
with Mercedes AMG division for engines and other vehicle components.
The decision not to sport any kind of Powered by AMG badges in future Aston Martin models comes from
Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche himself. A subtle involvement with Aston Martin is better for us, Zetsche said.
Our customers will know about it without us making too much of the link. That is enough for us. While
Mercedes wont interfere with Aston Martins product plans, but the company is open to other collaborations,
such as platform development. Astons VH bonded and riveted alloy chassis is now a decade old and logically it
should be upgraded or replaced in due course. Aston is mum about its chassis programmes.
While it is true, that premium luxury brands like Rolls-Royce and Bentley are working on SUV projects, the
difference is that both brands have access to proven in-house technologies and have deep pockets [finance and
resources] as back up. Aston has neither those and conservative Aston purists or custodians of the brand we are
sure wont digest the borrowed idea and no matter how smart marketing and PR puts it, the SUV project based
on Mercedes architecture and AMG engines could eventually end up as a costly mistake for the brand.

iNdia-bUilt basiC Cars fail iN safEtY

s automakers try to make their models cheaper

and cheaper for emerging markets, safety takes
a back seat to the bottom line. Global NCAP, a charity
based in the United Kingdom, tested Indias five
most popular cars in basic testing: Volkswagen Polo,
Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, Ford Figo, Hyundai i10, and
Tata Nano. All cars were tested in base-model spec,
meaning none were equipped with airbags.
Not a single vehicle tested was able to score even
one star in the frontal impact test at 64km/h. In
the less stringent UN standard test a 40 per cent
offset frontal impact test at 56km/h only the Ford
Figo was given a pass, though narrowly, among nonairbag equipped models.
In response to the results, Volkswagen has agreed
to remove their non-airbag equipped Polo from the
Indian market. Global NCAP then tested the airbagequipped Polo and it was given a four-star rating.

PROPOSED ASTON MARTIN SUV TO RIDE ON

MERCEDES PLATFORM?

NO POWErEd bY
aMg tags fOr astON
MartiN

As luxury and supercar manufacturers join the

SUV/SAV bandwagon, Britains Aston Martin
which had showcased the Lagonda concept
at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show still thinks it
has a fighting chance, thanks to an offer from
Mercedes-Benz chief Dieter Zetsche. Zetsche has
recently revealed that a possible Aston Martin
SUV could fructify using the GL-Class platform.
While it widely believed that Aston Martin will
stick to building sports cars and its future models
will be powered by an AMG-sourced V8 engine
[as a result of last years signed collaboration
between Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benzs AMG
division], it seems that the British brand led by Dr
Ulrich Bez has to depend on outsourcing more
than banking on its own resources. Zetsche told
reports that its up to the British marque to decide
if they want to use the GL platform.

sUbarU tEasEs
PrOdUCtiON lEgaCY

India does manufacture vehicles for export that

perform much better than those sold locally, so its
not a matter of knowledge or expertise in building
these vehicles. Considering the increasing number
of road fatalities in India, it is surprising that the
Government of India has no clear cut vision about
automotive safety, let alone even basic guidelines.

ubaru has in recent years built devastatingly

beautiful concept cars, truly attracting the
automotive imaginations of every inner 12-year
old. Yet, as they bring their concept vehicles to
production, things seem to take a different, much
more conservative turn. Revealed at the 2013 LA
Auto Show next to the new production Subaru
WRX, the Legacy Concept was certainly a piece
of work that set our hearts aflutter. Now, three
months later, the production version is set to be
shown to the public at the Chicago Auto Show.
Subaru promises the new Legacy, due to go on sale
as a 2015 model, will offer a sleeker, more coupelike profile to create a sedan thats more sporty
and modern. We just hope the production version
looks as close to the concept as possible and
preferably not like another WRX bait-and-switch.

PEUgEOt dEsigNEr JOiNs fOrd

ords design department has seen a number of major changes over the last few months including the retirement of J
Mays and the resulting promotion of Moray Callum. The latest addition to the design team is Adam Bazydlo, who has
been appointed manager of Fords interior design strategy. He takes up this newly created position reporting directly to
global director of Interior Design Amko Leenarts. Bazydlo will be based in Dearborn and responsible for everything based
around the carmakers interiors strategy and works with the global interior design teams. This isnt the first time Bazydlo and
Leenarts have joined forces. The two first worked together at Peugeot, where Leenarts held the position of interior design
director until May 2012. Bazydlo, who first joined Peugeot in 2006, had been promoted to senior designer in 2011. Bazydlos
first major project at Peugeot was the 2011 508s interior from first sketch to production. He also led the team working in 2011
HX1 concepts interior. For the 2013 208, he was responsible for the full development process from sketch until production.
12

www.automanweb.com

march 2014

2014 aUtO EXPO, dElhi, iNdia

Indias 12th flagship automotive show Auto
Expo kicked off with global and domestic
car, 2-wheeler and commercial vehicle
manufacturers eager to showcase their best
production and concept creations. There were
subtle messages for global markets too.
Authors: Chandan B Mallik | Faisal Khan
Photography: Faisal Khan

14

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march 2014

he importance
of India as one
of the promising
emerging BRIC
[Brazil, Russia, India and
China] markets was in full
evidence as 70 new models
were revealed for the
domestic market and 15 for
the global markets.
Read on...

spotlight
news

Audi

Audi, presented an exhilarating line-up of luxury cars including the

Audi Sport quattro concept. The Audi A3 sedan was the key new
model in addition to Special Editions of SUVs ranging from the Q3,
Q5 to Q7. Audi also launched the RS7 for the India market. In 2013,
Audi achieved new sales records in India and moved 10,002 units.

chevrolet

Chevrolet is looking at the sub 4-metre compact SUV success story

in India which has given Renault and Ford a good reason to be
happy about with the Duster and Ecosport respectively. The new
Chevrolet Adra concept designed on GMs Gamma 2 platform, which
also underpins the Trax compact SUV. For the India market, the
production Adra will use a Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre Multijet common rail
diesel engine that powers a host of cars in Fiat and GM stable. For
petrol variants, GM could introduce its new three-cylinder 1.0-litre
Ecotec engine. The new Trailblazer and a facelifted Beat hatch also
made their respective entries. Its the same Beat that was unveiled
at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

chevrolet Adra concept

Chevrolets new Adra concept is the first car to be designed by

General Motors Technical Centre India (GMTC-I) in Bangalore
exclusively for the emerging Indian market. The compact SUV
concept uses the usual Chevrolet global design language while
taking into account the needs of younger Indian buyers, and will
compete in the market with the Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster.

datsun

Datsun finally launched the much awaited production version of Go

hatchback which had its world premiere in India on July 15, 2013.
The Go-is based on an old Micra platform and powered by a 1.2-litre
petrol engine that also does duty to the Nissan Micra. Datsuns first
new concept the Redi-GO concept had its world premiere.

dc design

Well-known India-based design house and low volume producer of

cars and concepts headed by Dilip Chhabria had two concepts on
display. The first one called the Eleron is a four-seater convertible
SUV, which is not rationally dimensioned, and secondly, an
extremely small car with a smaller name TIA dimensionally smaller
than the Tata Nano or Smart. DC Design has made its presence felt
among the Indian people due to its exquisite craftsmanship and
impeccable designing skills.

honda

Along with the Vision XS-1 concept, the car maker has also unveiled
compact MUV Honda Mobilio which is anticipated to be launched
in India by second half of 2014. The Honda Vision XS-1 concept is a
creative study model which embodies Hondas vision for the future
of manufacturing. Based on Hondas original M/M (man maximum,
machine minimum) concept, the Honda Vision XS-1 fuses together
two different values, a sporty exterior styling and practicality in the
compact body. Furthermore, based on the Honda design concept,

Exciting H Design, Hondas human-centered

design concept was embodied in this model.
Other than this, the company has also unveiled
next generation Honda Jazz and Honda Fit.

hyundai

Hyundai India launched an India-specific sedan

version of the i10 hatchback called Xcent. The
South Korean carmaker also showcased the
next generation luxury coupe concept HND9 Venace at the show. The coupe concept is
a representation of the Korean car makers
future of the current Fluidic Sculpture Design
language. Hyundai also brought in the i20 WRC
(World Rally Championship) car for display as
a part of a brand building exercise. Hyundai
wants to showcase its motorsports capabilities
that will soon be visible in the road going cars.

fiat

The Fiat Punto Avventure or crossover Punto

showcased will rival Volkswagens Cross Polo

and the upcoming Toyota Etios Liva Cross

hatchback turned CUVs. It will be the fourth
such model genre in the Indian market.
The Avventura is a global product based on
the Punto hatchback and boasts of visual
enhancements such as tail gate mounted
spare wheel for SUV-inspired looks with the
practicality of a hatchback. The Avventure
is similar to the regular Punto hatchback in
length at 3,987mm. While the tail mounted
spare wheel makes the Avventura longer than
4,000mm, it will still qualify for the excise
duty benefits that cars in this category enjoys
in India. A turbocharged Fiat Multijet diesel
motor is expected to power this car.

ford

Ford Indias luck with the Fiesta has been

sluggish at best and hence a Fiesta facelift was
top priority. Ford has shoe-horned a 1.0-litre
EcoBoost engine under the bonnet of the new
Fiesta that is also used in the EcoSport in India.

march 2014

www.automanweb.com

15

fare. The first one was the S-Cross which technically

is the hatchback version of the SX-4 without the
trappings of a regular hatchback. It is a compact
CUV. The SX4 S-Cross wont be launched in India right
now but Maruti Suzuki has made it clear that it surely
has intentions of venturing into new segments. The
second car was Ciaz concept sedan. Suzuki Motor
Corporation executive vice president T Suzuki said:
In 2004, we had the first global model launch of Swift
and these two are in line with that. The two cars we
are unveiling today are aimed to meet the growing
demand of sedans in India, China and elsewhere.
The concept Ciaz, is a classy urban A3-segment sedan
and has been approved for production..

nissan

Nissan Motor could soon be joining the likes of

Maruti-Suzuki, Hyundai, and Honda in the race to get
a share in the fast-growing compact sedan segment
in India. The market is suddenly changing with the
B+ hatchback segment growing 10 per cent and the
sedan too developing with the sub compact sedan
segment doing really well. This is a growing segment
in the Indian market and cannot be ignored. said
Toru Hasegawa, Corporate Vice President, Africa,
Middle East and India.

renault

Ford also sneaked in the less than 4-metre long global

B-segment Figo Concept sedan as a surprise entry.
Ford India President Nigel Harris said, Consumers
expect and demand great fuel efficiency and low
cost-of-ownership from the initial price throughout
the life of the vehicle. It is the companys vision for an
all-new global compact car which will offer advanced
technology and clever design.

isuzu Motors

Isuzu Motors showcased its India-manufactured

and BS-4 compliant sports utility vehicle MU-7
and Indias first multi-utility pick-up truck D-max
Space Cab along with the D-max Single Cab and rally
car version. The MU-7 inherits Isuzus diesel-engine
expertise and is endowed with superior fuel efficiency
and outstanding engine performance. Isuzu has a
contract manufacturing agreement with Hindustan
Motors (HML) under which HML is contract
assembling CKD kits of the SUV and pick-up truck at
its Thiruvallur, Chennai plant.

Jaguar land rover

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) essentially repeated its new

product and concepts which it showcased in several
international shows in 2013 at Delhi, including a fiveseater version of Jaguars sports crossover concept
C-X17, the new F-TYPE coupe sports car and Project 7,

a single-seater all-aluminium bodied roadster.

Mahindra

Mahindra is one of Indias most aggressive carmakers

making its strong presence felt not only in the UV
market but also with tractors and heavy vehicles.
This Indian carmaker also owns Ssanyong and for
domestic market, Mahindra presented its portfolio
and concept suggesting a new chapter in the brands
strength in the utility vehicles market. Mahindra is
concentrating on the new design language for the
first time rather than developing a new product
language. The automaker is expected to develop a
new MPV based on the Ssangyong X100 platform and
there will be an MPV on the W201 platform as well as a
rugged SUV on the U301 platform. Mahindra will also
launch two compact SUVs codenamed S101 and S102
which are currently in the development stage.
Meanwhile, Reva, is pure electric car company, also
owned by Mahindra has taken it portfolio one step
further by showcasing the Reva Halo which is an
electric sports car capable of producing 140hp of
power with 0-100 km/hr taking under 8sec. On a full
battery charge, the range of Reva Halo is 200km.

Maruti suzuki

Maruti Suzuki largest volume car player unveiled two

interesting concepts at the Expo besides the regular

Renault India launched the facelifted Koleos SUV

prior to the show and it was the Kwid Concept, that
turned out to be the star of the show. The concept
reflects Renaults commitment to new markets, like
India, as well as the companys ability to produce
appealing products in the compact car segment. The
Renault Kwid Concept was designed with inputs from
Renault Design India and is covered by the Explore
petal of Renaults lifecycle-based design strategy.
The vehicles exciting proportions and dimensions as
well as very short overhangs give the impression of a
bouncing vehicle, while its oversized wheels protrude
past the fenders and make the Kwid Concept look like
a buggy car.

tata Motors

Tata Motors is looking at global markets in addition

to domestic presence and hence its future portfolio
will reflect those aspirations. Tata Motors came
well prepared for the occasion with 18 stunning
vehicles and concepts. All these come under the
companys product strategy called Horizonext. While
the passenger vehicles were primarily based on the
elements of DesigNext, DriveNext and ConnectNext,
the commercial vehicles key pillars were defined as
DesigNext, PerformanceNext and FuelNext.
The new compact Zest and Bolt sedan and hatchback
cars showcased among the other displays respectively
are a result of collaborative design inputs from the
three Tata Motors design studios in Pune, Coventry
(UK) and Turin (Italy).

Volkswagen

Volkswagen presented an advanced version of

the near-production concept of the Taigun SUV.
Compared to the first conceptual design presented
in So Paulo, Brazil in October 2012 the new sport
utility vehicle features a new rear section with
outside-mounted spare wheel.

2-wheelers on overdrive in india

Bajaj

For Indian bikers, Pulsar 375, Pulsar 200 SS are all

things of the past after Bajaj Auto unveiled two new
hot bikes. Both concept bikes Pulsar CS400 and
Pulsar SS400 can be treated as distant cousins of
the KTM Duke 390 respectively. The CS400 was
presented as a naked street-fighter while the SS400
is a full faired machine. Powertrain details were not
released by Bajaj, but if they go into production, the
most like engine will be a 373.2cc single-cylinder unit.
Besides swanky styling, awesome detailing and some
Ducati influence [like the all digital console], the bikes
will come with ABS.

harley-davidson

Besides the regular entourage, the much awaited allnew 750cc for India. After unveiling the bike at the
India Bike Week earlier in January, Harley-Davidson
has officially launched the most awaited Street 750
cruiser in India at the 2014 Auto Expo. The Street
750 carries forward all essential values of a Harley on
its shoulders and is designed at attracting younger
customers to the fold. The Street 750 has the Harley
DNA embedded in its design, but has been tweaked to
be more fun and practical as opposed to the regular
Harleys. The bike was designed ground-up after H-D
conducted an extensive survey in 11 countries with
3,000 young potential customers. The result is such
that the bike has received some customer specific
changes. The handle bars are wider, extra two-inches
of more suspension travel have been provided for
comfort. The bike retains the masculine lines and has
a striking presence. The Street 750 uses a 749cc, fourvalve, V-Twin engine with liquid cooling (a smaller
version of the water-cooled engine co-designed with
Porsche used in the V-Rod) and is called Revolution X.
The engine is capable of producing 65 Nm of torque
at 4,000rpm and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The
bike uses a completely new platform and weighs
around 218 kgs. The cruiser features a 2-into-1 exhaust
and rides on 17in front and a 15in rear wheels with
tyres that have been specifically developed for this
bike.

hero Motocorp

Once a long standing partner of Honda in India for

over 25 years, renamed Hero MotoCorp is now 100
per cent Indian after the separation. The bike and
scooter maker unveiled a series of concept bikes
-- Hastur, a 620cc super premium street fighter
motorcycle, iON, hydrogen-fuel cell powered two
wheel vehicle, and SimplEcity, first light weight urban
electric motorcycle for India. Besides these, Hero also
showcased innovation in existing 100 cc range by
introducing youth focused variants -- Splendour Pro
Classic, Indias first 100cc bike with cafe racer styling,
and Passion TR, Indias first 100 cc on-off bike. And
prior to the show, Hero unveiled the RNT, a dieselpowered scooter concept.

honda

Honda launched its all-new CBR500R. In India, Honda

has been aggressive mode in the two-wheeler market
in India since it split up with Hero MotoCorp. The
Honda CBR500R is a fully faired sports tourer that

was first unveiled in November 2012. The bike gets

its styling cues from its elder siblings, the CBR600R
and CBR1000R. The riding position is rather upright
deemed fit for touring. The CBR500R will be offered
in the standard solid colours namely red, white and
black as well as with a Repsol edition. Powering
the Honda CBR500R is a 500cc, parallel-twin, liquidcooled engine capable of producing 47bhp of power
and 43Nm of torque. 0100 km/hr comes up in 5.7
seconds, while the top speed is 185km/hr even with
a hefty weight of 194 kgs. The stopping power on the
CBR500R comes from a 320 mm disc in the front and
a 240 mm disc at the rear. Honda will be offering ABS
as a standard feature in India.

suzuki

Suzuki offers a variety of two wheelers that cater

to every price point in India. By launching four
new products, Suzuki endeavours to be a part of
every Indians life. Apart from the regular stuff like
Hayabusas, the new Suzuki V Strom 1000 ABS was
among one of the key highlights. Bollywood actress
Parineeti Chopra officially launched the female centric
110cc autoscoot- the Suzuki Lets for the brand.

tVs

In the past, Chennai India-based Indian scooter

and motorcycle manufacturer had technical
collaboration with Suzuki. Now, it is on its own and
the manufacturer had something interesting to
present for the motorcycle aficionados. The company
unveiled the Draken concept bike. The stylish Draken
is a sports bike in the 250cc segment powered by a
4-valve, DOHC liquid-cooled engine. The 134kg bike
comes with performance free flow exhaust and rides
on a wheelbase of 1,340 mm with ground clearance
of 170mm.

yamaha

First shown at Tokyo in November 2013, this is the

second outing for the R25 Concept. The concept
looks much like Vales M1 MotoGP bike and there
are good chances that the production model will not
deviate much from the design study. Aimed at rivaling
the Honda CBR 250 and Kawasaki Ninja 300, the
production R25 will use a 250cc parallel fuel-injected
twin motor offering around 35PS. It will come mated
to a six speed manual transmission. Structurally, R25
will be built on a new frame that features tubular
elements instead of the R15-like steel spars.

POWEr
gaMEs

Smallest of the current North American motor

shows encouraged automakers to talk big

Chevrolet

With some help

from NissaN,
Chevrolet offiCially
uNveiled the 2015
City express.Based
oN the NissaN Nv200,
the City express has
a familiar desigN
But is distiNguished
By a NeW froNt
Bumper aNd a
revised grille. the
vaN uses a 2.0-litre
four-CyliNder
eNgiNe.

linColn

fords premium BraNd

liNColN is keeN to
preseNt its upmarket
image uNveiled the
2015 Navigator ahead
of the suvs offiCially
deBut at the ChiCago
auto shoW. liNColN
thiNks the NeW suv
is its Best shot at
CadillaCs popular
esCalade.

Subaru

suBarus legaCy isNt exaCtly a NiChe sedaN aNymore aNd With the
last-geNeratioN legaCy sedaN (aNd the outBaCk Crossover WagoN
With WhiCh it shares muCh of its ruNNiNg gear, suBaru realizes that
its time to play CatCh up With its midsize C-segmeNt CoNteNder.
suBaru is far BehiNd segmeNt leaders hoNda aCCord aNd toyota
Camry last year aNd this year it seems it Will go oN the offeNsive
With this model. the all-NeW legaCy, Besides sportiNg the NeW desigN
laNguage sees a slight Bump iN fuel eCoNomy aNd a CommitmeNt
to giviNg Buyers a Better produCt from the JapaNese BraNd.
iNterestiNgly, Compared to the legaCy CoNCept from the 2013 los
aNgeles auto shoW, the produCtioN versioN has its desigNed toNed
doWN CoNsideraBly.

18

www.automanweb.com

march 2014

spotlight
news

DoDge

ralph gilles, Chryslers srt BraNd

Chief seems to Be very proteCtive
aBout the srt viper. No matter What
happeNs iN the segmeNt, gilles Will
Not aBaNdoN viper fuNdameNtals
like maNual traNsmissioN or
CoNsider a loWer-priCed eNtry level
model aNd thiNgs like douBle ClutCh
set-up etC.

audis staNd

at the shoW

Srt

srt iNtroduCed the trio

of dodge Charger, dodge
ChalleNger aNd Chrysler
300 satiN vapor editioNs.
CosmetiCally eNhaNCed,
these speCial editioNs are
equipped With satiN BlaCk
aCCeNts, red BremBo
Brake Calipers aNd
20iN forged alumiNium
Wheels. CommoN to
all models uNder the
BoNNet is the 6.4-litre
hemi v8 that develops
470Bhp aNd 470 lB-ft of
torque.

march 2014

www.automanweb.com

19

toyota

folloWiNg a releNtless teaser

CampaigN, toyota offiCially
uNveiled the trd pro liNeup iN
ChiCago WhiCh Will Be availaBle
oN 4WdversioNs of the taComa,
tuNdra aNd 4ruNNer. the trd pro
paCkage kit adds a variety of offroad CompoNeNts developed By
toyota raCiNg developmeNt (trd).

volvo

the Biggest
NeWs Was
offiCial
iNtroduCtioN
of the s60 aNd
v60 polestar
variaNts
for the us
markets.

Kia

kia motors ameriCa hosted the

gloBal uNveiliNg of the 2015 soul
ev, WhiCh is sCheduled to go oN
sale iN the third quarter of 2014,
the soul ev Will Be kias first alleleCtriC, zero-emissioNs Car sold
iN the u.s. aNd expaNds the BraNds
liNe of eNviroNmeNtally CoNsCious
vehiCles. aN iN liNe With the theme
of eNviroNmeNt-frieNdliNess, kia
also iNtroduCed a hyBrid versioN
of the optima aloNg With a
refreshed optima.

forD
attraCtioN for piCk-up truCk lovers atteNdiNg
a maJor
ma
ChiCago auto shoW Was the all-NeW 2015 ford
the 2014 Chi
some iNterestiNg domestiC variaNts
f-150 aNd
a

20

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march 2014

volKSwagen

eNCouraged By a good ChampioNship

seasoN iN the World rally ChampioNship
With its polo r WrC volksWageN aNd
aNdretti rallyCross JoiNtly uNveiled
a raCe-speCCed grC Beetle iN full raCe
livery. the ChiCago eveNt also marked
the germaN BraNds first eNtry iNto
the World of gloBal rallyCross. this
raCe-speC all-Wheel drive Buggy gets a
supertuNed 560plus-hp eNgiNe Besides
some hardWare to help it exCel oN Both
gravel aNd tarmaC. While, drivers sCott
speed aNd taNNer faust Will Compete
iN the seasoNs gloBal rallyCross
ChampioNship iN a grC-speC polo. the grC
Beetle Will make its raCe deBut at the 2014
summer x games iN austiN, tx, With the
same duo of drivers at the Wheel.

niSSan

NissaN Brought to the ChiCago auto shoW

its us-speC variaNt of the 370z Nismo WhiCh
Comes With a feW miNor updates. the exterior
NoW has grey aCCeNts aNd red stripiNg, While
iNside theres aN alCaNtara-Wrapped steeriNg
While aNd red dialed taChometer from Nismo.
the Car Will Be offered With oNe of the
folloWiNg exterior paiNts: magNetiC BlaCk,
pearl White, solid red aNd guN metalliC. at its
heart is the improved 3.7-litr dohC v6 eNgiNe
produCiNg 350hp aNd 276 lB-ft of torque.

MitSubiShi

mitsuBishis us market plaNs souNd quite iNterestiNg

NoW. mmNa exeCutive viCe presideNt doN sWeariNgeN
said: We are Committed to huge iNvestmeNts iN Capital
as Well as huge iNvestmeNts iN r&d. the halo produCt
of that iNvestmeNt Could Be a NeW moNtero for the
2017 or 2018 model year. the proposed suv is a little
smaller thaN the CurreNt ford explorer suggestiNg
Crossover possiBilities. amoNg other NeWs is the us
market outlaNder Will get a faCelift Next year Before
a maJor restyle iN 2016 aNd a plug-iN versioN is also
plaNNed for market lauNCh.
march 2014

www.automanweb.com

21

2014

GeNeva auto SaloN

European car makers seem to be quite excited this
year and as always started sending out information and
teasers prior to the neutral-venue international show.

CUrtaiN raisEr
Geneva Motor Show has been acknowledged as a top-tier neutral international show when it comes to brands,
associates and content. In terms of vehicle debuts, whether theyre production cars, forward-thinking, quirky concepts
and outrageous tuner vehicles, it cant get better. Heres a snap shot.

tOYOta

The new Toyota Aygo will take

centre stage on the Toyota
stand. Geneva also marks the
European Premiere of Toyotas
hydrogen-powered FCV Concept, as well as the FV2, a future
mobility concept that explores
new interactions between
driver, car and environment.

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march 2014

spotlight

astON MartiN

The Aston Martin DB9 family will grow at Geneva with the arrival of the DB9 Carbon Black
and Carbon White special editions. Style and
visual drama are the special editions hallmarks
as they perfectly emphasise the timeless GTs
sporting nature. Also on show will be a variant
of the V8 Vantage. The N430 will be shown in
Coupe and Roadster form.

news

bENtlEY

Bentley has recently announces a suite of luxury options and specification updates to its Continental
family of luxury Grand Tourers, led by enhancements
to the styling, power, torque and performance of the
pinnacle Continental GT Speed. Bentley is also expect
to showcase the Flying Spur with a V8 4.0-liter twinturbo engine which the company announced a few
weeks ago.

aUdi

bMW

Track influenced small car derivatives are expected to

be among the key highlights. The World Rally Championship-winning Audi S1 of the 1980s has a new and fittingly thrilling namesake the 2014 Audi S1 takes the
proven framework of the A1 premium subcompact
hatchback as its basis, injects it with 231PS of TFSIderived thrust and shores up the result with quattro
all-wheel-drive, which appears for the first time in a
series production car in this segment. The new Audi
S1 and five-door S1 Sportback will be key exhibits
along with the brands first A3 cabriolet and new TT.

Besides focusing on the newly introduced I

subbrand, BMWs stand should be interesting
for the audience in the sense that it will mark
its foray in to front-wheel-drive models. Once
considered forbidden territory, the 2 Series Active Tourer should offer a glimpse of BMWs new
fling with FWD vehicles. Interestingly, following
an online leak of images of the 4 Series Gran
Coupe, BMW decided to release full details of
the car ahead of the show.

PEUgEOt

Keeping in line with Peugeots upmarket

push, the 108 is considerably more refined
than the 107 it replaces.

MClarEN

McLaren Automotive will

return to the International
Geneva Motor Show this
year with its fastest, most
engaging, best equipped
and most beautiful seriesproduction supercar yet the
650S which will be available
in both coup and Spider
formats.

hYUNdai

Hyundai officially took off the wraps off

the Intrado concept SUV, the first Hyundai
product to be developed under the direction of Peter Schreyer. The concept will
have its first public outing next week at
Geneva and also previews the Korean
automakers future styling direction.

bUgatti

Bugatti, which now offers high-end exclusivity,

will unveil a new Grand Sport Vitesse Legend
Edition in Switzerland.

march 2014

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23

laNd rOVEr

Land Rover has developed

black and silver packs for
the Defender in the XS
specification. Land Rover
will also introduce a pure
performance-focused
derivative from Range
Rover Evoque line-up for
2015 called Autobiography
Dynamic.

alfa rOMEO

laMbOrghiNi

New high-performance versions of the MiTo and Giulietta under the Quadrifoglio Verde badging will make their world debut. The Quadrifoglio Verde has
been a symbol of Italian motor racing since 1923.

kia

Besides the European debuts of the Soul EV, Optima Hybrid and GT4 Stinger
concept car, Kias focus will be more on technology applications, especially its
next-generation hybrid system which has been developed by the companys
European Research and Development Centre.

JEEP

Jeep will introduce the all-new Jeep Cherokee and possibly a

smaller concept SUV/CUV that is expected to replace the Patriot/
Compass in future.

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march 2014

Lamborghini will present its renewed Ad Personam

program at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show - the personalization program which allows clients to create
their own made-to-order Lamborghini. Currently
available for the Aventador range, it will soon be
extended to the all-new Gallardo replacement, the
Huracn, which will have its first public unveil.

CitrOEN

Citron began teasing a few weeks before the show some details of two significant models planned for European debut. As the brand moves forward, there
are first clear signs of the bold new positioning
of the Citron
range: the new Citron C4 Cactus and new Citron C1.
The C1 is essentially
Citrons version
of the Toyota
Aygo and
Peugeot 108,
both of which
are set to make
their respective
debuts in Geneva.

iNfiNiti

Infiniti is looking at Europe as one of its key

markets globally, and hence it is expected
to announce some premium offerings. The
biggest news expected is the details of the
engine that will power the Q50 Eau Rouge
concept in production guise. Infiniti has
hinted that engineers have perfectly captured the tone of Infiniti's take on premium
performance, and that it will be the most
powerful offering from the brand.

VaUXhall

The production version of latest edition of Vauxhalls city chic Adam range that was previewed as a concept at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show as Opel Adam Rocks will take centre
stage. Technically it is an urban mini-crossover featuring rugged, outdoor looks and electric
folding canvas roof. It will also be the first Vauxhall to get GMs newly developed1.0-litre
three-cylinder Ecotec petrol engine.

VOlksWagEN

Volkswagen will introduce a hefty expansion to its Polo

range, including the Polo BlueMotion, Blue GT and CrossPolo.
Theres also a SUV concept called T-ROC. The T-ROC offers
a glimpse at future Volkswagen SUVs: it is smaller than the
Tiguan, but larger than the Taigun SUV concept, which is in
the development phase. The two-door, four-seat T-ROC combines the agility of an all-wheel-drive SUV with the airiness of
a convertible.

VOlVO

Volvo Car Group will use the Geneva Motor Show

to reveal the third in a series of concept cars the
Concept Estate concept.

MasErati

Maserati has planned two global premieres. The first is the debut of the Quattroporte
Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition, developed from the concept car presented at the Frankfurt
Motor Show in September of 2013. The second premiere is a concept car that will give a nod to
the style of Maseratis of the next 100 years.

OPEl

Opel is expected to
showcase the Adam Rocks
production version.

hONda
JagUar

Jaguar will highlight the 2015 XF range and also unveil the XFR-S Sportbrake, the
brands first high-performance R-S branded sports estate car.

Honda will have a full hand to offer at Geneva. Vehicles to be

featured include the worldwide debut of the Civic Type R Concept
model, the European debut of the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)
Concept, and powertrain details of the new NSX and the 2014 Civic
World Touring Car Championship race car.

fiat

Fiat will present the all-new Panda Cross,

which is mechanically based on the Panda
4x4 crossover and endowed with even
more all-terrain capability thanks to a
host of new features.
march 2014

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25

rOlls-rOYCE
CEO tOrstEN
MllEr-tVs
Its no secret that 2013 was a good year for Britains luxury
automotive brands. Goodwood-based Rolls-Royce Motor Cars sold
3,630 units in 2013 representing an increase of 1.5 per cent. More
importantly, it also represents the companys fourth consecutive
record. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO Torsten Mller-tvs was in
Oman last month and Automan met him to understand more about
the brands aspirations and goals.

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You are expecting the Ghost/Wraith

to be the volume seller for the brand.
Can the current production set-up
at Goodwood accommodate future
demands?
We have taken several steps to ensure
sufficient capacity for the foreseeable
future. We have invested in the expansion
of Goodwood and are adding more highly
skilled people. There is also the possibility
to add further capacity if needed by some
restructuring, changing shift patterns and
so on. We are ready for increased demand
for new Wraith, we are prepared for that.
You seem not in favour of super high
growth or volumes?
Id like to see Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
grow steadily. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is
not a volume driven business. While, USA
and China are our two big markets [these
two markets account for around half of
all Rolls-Royce sales] after UK, Japan
and Middle East, new emerging markets
besides Russia and India are also opening
up. We think that if a market has a
potential of 20 cars per annum, we would
like Rolls-Royce Motor Cars to have an
official presence there. We have recently
opened outlets in Beirut [Lebanon], Lagos
[Nigeria]. These countries are in upswing
mode and we are seeing more and more
potential customers and for that reason we

a lot of carmakers have come under

scrutiny for emissions and efficiency.
Whats your take and how are you
addressing the issue?
We are offering cars with state-of-the-art
features and technologies. In terms of
environmental impact, we dont think we
have a major role as our volumes are quite
low when compared to others.
How long can you remain immune to
markets where legislation or taxation
dictates the nature of cars that can
be imported or sold?
We think that PHEVs are promising and
in moving forward the brand in countries
where legislation or taxation dictates
the profile of the motorcar. For me, the
direction of plug-in hybrids is probably
more the direction to go with Rolls-Royce
Motor Cars. An eight -cylinder engine with
independent electric motors on the wheels
could be a solution. Of course, it would
have to meet the hallmark Rolls-Royce
quality of quietness and waftability.
You have also experimented with
pure electric cars with concepts
like the eX102. What stops it from
becoming a reality?
Pure electric cars, though fun, have
very limited driving times, and would
be seriously taxed by the weight of and
energy requirements of a Phantom, Ghost
or Wraith. PHEVs, on the other hand, use
battery power and a regular gasolinepowered engine. There are practical
limitations in pure electric cars range
and charging infrastructure in particular.

face to face

are investing there.

As a high end brand we will never enter
into lower price segments. We are
maintaining that highly rare and exclusive
image of Rolls-Royce products.

So, in your view what could be the

best alternative?
One big advantage we have is that we
have access to technology from BMW
Group. For Rolls-Royce we think plugin hybrid is definitely the direction to
go in for. Most Rolls-Royce owners live
outside cities and a pure electric car
has limitations in range and charging
infrastructure. We need to find that way
you have range for commuting but also
the ability to pass legal requirements that
could force us in to driving as electric only
in city centres.

news

What are prospects for Rolls-Royce

Motor Cars in 2014?
Our major markets are looking good just
so long as we dont have a catastrophe on
the economic side. We think that growth
to a new record level of sales is possible
and I am very confident that we shall see
another very good year. A part of that
success will be the Wraith, our newest
model. After launch last year, our order
books are full and the Wraith is already
sold out until the end of June 2014.

Has the customer profile changed for

your cars?
A Rolls-Royce is seen as a high-end serious
investment, not so much a bling thing. It
is perceived by our customers as the most
comfortable way to drive. Many of our
customers are successful entrepreneurs
and professionals. We do see a lot of
interest from ladies [almost 10 per cent]
for our new models like the Gost. We
expect the Wraith to also attract similar
profile of customers.
If you did a SWot analysis today,
what would you see?
Strengths: excellent product line-up
and new models, good order books,
enthusiastic support from dealers,
increasing numbers of high net worth
individuals.
Weaknesses: legal implications or
unforeseen laws enforced by countries for
high end luxury cars.
opportunities: new markets where the
brand is unrepresented officially and the
ability to balance the brand in markets
globally.
threats: collapse of global economy.

An eight -cylinder engine with independent electric motors on the

wheels could be a solution. Of course, it would have to meet the
hallmark Rolls-Royce quality of quietness and waftability.
march 2014

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27

COVErstory |
2014 Audi A3

brEakiNg
thE barriEr
With the all-new A3 sedan, Audi not only has entered the market segment of compact
sedans with a benchmark product, but also lifted the barrier of brands entry level price
point. Automan checks out the new arrival in Oman
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

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ill now the entry level car from

Audi was A1 which was available
in both 3- and 5-door hatchback
and also as a limited production
Quattro model. As Audi expands
worldwide, new segments are being explored
and currently, the worlds largest market
is the class of compact sedans thanks
to the growing sedan markets like China.
While, creating a befitting candidate for the
segment, the A3 sedan, Audi seems to have
minutely considered other factors like pricing,
promotion and marketing. The carmaker has
addressed the pricing requirement by keeping
the cost of production low than that of the
A3 Sportback by assigning the production to
its Hungarian facility. At a future date the A3
sedan will also be built in China and Mexico.
As a product and as expected highly at first
glance, the car appears expressive in every
detail, part in thanks to the A3 Sportback.
The sedan versions design doesnt appear
as if a boot was grafted to the Sportback,
instead it appears like a proper design job
of integrating the classic three-box concept
and a coup in its well-proportioned profile.
Another proof that the A3 sedan was
redesigned is that it shares no body panels
with its Sportback sibling despite being built
on the same platform. This car sits atop the
best iteration of the VW Groups MQB frontdrive architecture.

The D shifTing
mAp is lAiD OuT
fOR mAximum fuel
efficiency, while
The Rev levels
ARe sOmewhAT
higheR in The
spORTy s mODe. in
cOOpeRATiOn wiTh
The AuDi DRive
selecT vehicle
DynAmics sysTem,
The s TROnic OffeRs
A fRee-wheeling
funcTiOn in iTs
efficiency mODe

In profile and styling, the A3 sedan will always

be compared with the bigger A4 and when
compared to the A4, the A3 sedan is 240mm
shorter. The A3 is every bit as elegant while also
retaining conservatism at a time when many
automakers are going overboard with varying
degrees of outrageous styling interpretations.
Sure, there are multiple creases and the
familiar tornado line running beneath the
waistline, which sharpens up the profile nicely
and like a sports sedan, the overhangs have
been kept short. Dimensionally, it is also wellproportioned with 2,640mm long wheelbase
and an overall length of 4,460mm. We liked
the cars simple lines, LED lights [front and
rear] in the 1.8 and its grille execution in
particular.
In its construction, Audi has tried to optimize
weight and materials given the price point.
With the 1.4-litre engine, the sedan has a
curb weight of just 1,250 kg. Audi uses many
hot-shaped steel parts in the passenger
compartment for low weight and maximum
strength, while the bonnet is made of
aluminium.
As a standard feature, Audi offers the A3
Sedan with Audi drive select (optional in
Attraction line) and a sports suspension
(dynamic suspension in Attraction line). The
S line sports suspension is available as an
option. Wheels measure 17 inches in diameter

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29

The D shifTing mAp is lAiD OuT fOR mAximum fuel efficiency,

while The Rev levels ARe sOmewhAT higheR in The spORTy
s mODe. in cOOpeRATiOn wiTh The AuDi DRive selecT vehicle
DynAmics sysTem, The s TROnic OffeRs A fRee-wheeling
funcTiOn in iTs efficiency mODe

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march 2014

(16 inches in Attraction line). Our 1.8-litre test

variant came with S line trim.
Interiors
Anyone familiar with Audis will acknowledge
that theres a premium feel in terms of layout,
trim, materials, touch points and features. In
the compact segment the A3 Sportback did
give a hint of what Audi is capable of and all
that continues with the sedan. The way the
cabin is designed and set-up, the A3 sedan
feels like it has more interior space, an airier
cabin, more comfort, and features particularly
appealing younger buyers. We like its
simple, uncluttered approach with the right
packaging in terms of feature pack [plus extra
factory options]. Adding even more class to
the A3s interior is a retractable seven-inch
touchscreen. Audi has even incorporated a
new touch-sensitive pad atop the standard
MMI rotary knob. Theres a premium feel,
especially on S-line trim models with badging
and some extra features. Comfort levels
are quite good and so it head and legroom.
Overall, the A3 sedans cabin lives up to
every expectation you might have and the
retractable multimedia screen is something to
behold, especially in an era when the fixed
screens are beginning to a bit outdated.

Powertrains
For the Oman market, besides the trim levels,
two powertrain options will be available. Entry
level models will get the 1.4-litre 120hp and
top end the 1.8-litre 180hp four-cylinder TSFI
engines. Common to both is the fact they
are turbocharged and use Audis patented
stratified fuel injection and both come with
six-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission.
Higher spec models feature Audis new
drive select function that allows drivers to
adjust throttle response, shift points, and the
electromechanical steering effort The chassis
settings in the entry level model are factory
tuned. The retractable monitor on the dash
displays the menu options for drive select
consists of four settings that include Auto,
Dynamic, Comfort, and Individual each
providing their own unique ride characteristics.
In our test car, the individual option seemed
to be disabled. Audis six-speed and will
seemingly offer better fuel economy thanks
to its standard Start/Stop feature.
Suspension set-up
The package is quite modern and comprises
of a MacPherson design with A-arms and
aluminum pivot bearings up frame sitting
on an aluminium subframe. In the four-link
rear suspension, which utilizes a steel cross

member, the springs and shock absorbers are

mounted separately for better isolation.
Driving impressions
We spent time with both the versions. In
terms of driving, both cars appear quite
similar in default mode where both exhibit
balanced, but firm ride which feels more
assured than say the equivalent BMW or
Mercedes-Benz. This car definitely benefits
hugely from the multi-link rear suspension
which Audi has added to the MQB chassis
besides near optimal front:rear axle weight
bias [ranges from 60per cent front and 40per
cent rear] for different engines). All engines
are tilted twelve degrees towards the rear,
while the front wheel suspensions are placed
far forward so the variances are minimised.
Audi has set up the A3 to act more like rear
drive than front drive in the base model.
However, the cars character can be altered
with the various available chassis settings.
Overall, we liked the cars performance in
most driving situations. Acceleration is spot
on, theres zero turbo lag and the engines
sweet spot is definitely mid- to upper range.
The dual-clutch transmission shifts the gears
without any noticeable break in propulsive
power and you have to keep an eye on the
tachometer to get a feel of whats happening

march 2014

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31

underneath.With fewer blind spots for the

driver, manouevring the car in tight spots
is enjoyable while braking is also very good
and theres no perceivable shift in weight or
direction.
The A3 sedan uses the same electromechanical
steering set-up as the Sportback, which means
it gives a light, well weighted feel. Theres very
little feedback from the road, however, the
key difference in driving character between
the two variants is the steering feedback to be
precise. In the 1.8-litre variant it feels heavy
and theres a tendency of torque steer. In
contrast, the lighter 1.4-litre is and very well
composed and exceptionally well-mannered.

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As Audi has made available many technology

applications available in the A3 like lane
departure warning and adaptive cruise
control and these can operate together,
individually or even be shut off by the driver.
While these are driver aids in terms of job
description, the way they behave together
makes us feel as if they are determined to
take over the driver. For instance, besides a
vibrating alert in case of lane departure [even
in normal lane changing manouevres], theres
a tendency to correct the stance without the
involvement of the driver. This means, theres
an element of override to which the driver has
no control and can be irritating at times. In
some respects, we feel the A3 has been over

engineered!

Verdict

In the Middle East, Mercedes-Benz broke

new ground when it introduced its compact
hatchback. Now, comes Audi with more
commitment in the compact segment with
both hatchback and sedan. With sound
engineering credentials it has made a
better car for the class. Audi has raised the
benchmark in several places where it matters
for customers looking to upgrade into a
premium brand at an affordable price point.
Audi seems to have got the equation right on
both those accounts. Prices in Oman begin
from OMR XXX.

WHeRe DoeS
tHe a3 SeDaN
StaND vIS-vIS DoMeStIC
CoMPetItIoN?

vs Mercedes-Benz Cla

Mercedes has kept the entry point quite high in terms of both pricing and
content in keeping with its sporty positioning. The CLA is available with
high-torque turbo engines rated at up to 211hp, sports suspension and
4MATIC all-wheel drive. The CLA has breathtakingly sporty proportions
and powerfully dynamic design idiom, with its interplay between concave
and convex surfaces give this four-door coup its unmistakable look.
With the Urban and AMG Line equipment lines, three design packages
and numerous other optional extras, the CLA can be personalised to suit
every taste and pocket.

vs BMW 3 Series

The mainstay volume seller from BMW is definitely a hard proposition to beat
considering its been around for six generations. The BMW 3-Series Sedan
is the original in the compact sports sedan segment and over the years has
come to symbolise the aesthetic appeal, dynamics and sporting capability of
the brand. It will be interesting to see whether Audis A3 sedan can make a
dent in the worlds best-selling premium vehicle market. What goes in favour
of the Audi is that the junior executive sedan makes a BMW 3 Series look
positively overpriced.

march 2014

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33

COVErstory |
2014 MINI Paceman

sEVENth
WONdEr
MINIs all-new 2014 Paceman looks a coupe version of the
bigger Countryman. Is it just that or more? Automan decides
Author: Chandan B Mallik |Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

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MW Group seems to be on an
overdrive with model proliferation
and the buck doesnt just stop
there. MINI, one of the other
brands it owns has also got the
irresistible itch to create a niche out of a niche.
The first such niche came in the MINI lineup when the brand created the Countryman.
In fact, the Countryman delivered a number
of firsts for the British brand. It was the first

proper four-door car, it was first to benefit

from all-wheel drive [branded as ALL4] as
standard across the line-up, and physically,
without any argument was the largest product
ever to adorn the MINI badge.
In such a background, the million dollar
question is: should we be surprised that
MINI has come up with a new spin-off based
on the Countrymans platform? The answer

is no. This is because, in our opinion, with

the success of the Countryman, such a move
was expected to happen sooner or later.
Before we move any further, a quick look
at where the Countryman stands and why
it was so important for the development of
the Paceman. First, the Countryman elevates
MINI into the growing crossover territory
in size and capabilities. The launch of the
Countryman in 2010, saw the brands hallmark

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35

The pAcemAn is The

Only membeR Of The
bRAnDs line-up TO be
iDenTifieD by A ReAR
nAmeplATe

driving fun literally conquering new ground not to forget off-road capabilities, thanks to
the new all-wheel drive system called ALL4.
To keep visual identities intact and differentiate
the Countryman and three-door Paceman
respectively, designers have untouched the
front end up to the A-pillar. While riding
on the same platform and identical up to
the A-pillar, the key differences are in the
greenhouse and the rear. Compared with the
Countryman, the Pacemans roof is lower and
hints at the baseball cap style of the smaller
Mini Coupe, besides larger the rear lamps
and boot design. The Paceman is 4,109mm
long and as the wheelbase is same in both

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cars, the major change begins from the

B-pillar onwards. It has been re-positioned
and structurally widened to accommodate the
Pacemans widened doors. However, when
you open the doors, then you realize they are
not as broad from inside! But, that doesnt
mean getting in or out of the car is a tedious
affair. The hip point in this car is actually
convenient.
It also seems that MINI designers have
gone overboard to give the Paceman some
individualistic street credentials. Well, they
come in the form of generous amounts of
plastic on the exterior, oversized Paceman
lettering and random chrome accents and

most of all, the large horizontal tail lamps [for

the first time in the brand]. In this car, the
lamps frame the MINI logo and extend to the
centre of the hatch.
The cabin of the car is familiar MINI with the
usual array of bells and whistles and quirky
ergonomics. For people unfamiliar with MINI
need to get used to features that come
borrowed from the Countryman crossover
like the 9in dia rim-styled speedometer in
the centre of a minimalistic dashboard which
also houses the digital fuel gauge and sat nav
screen and the pod-type analog tachometer
in front of steering wheel which also has a
digital speedo read out. Weve debated the

logic of this arrangement many a time and

conclude that this is MINIs specific idea of
promoting visual elements of sportiness!
Other familiar elements in the kitty include
retro-toggle switches and a stop start switch.
The car is strictly a four seater if you have the
extended central console version. The benefit
of this is that MINI offers a host of add-ons
and also runs LED mood lighting through the
flexible centre rail storage system that can be
adapted to a variety of needs with different
holders and bins. Meanwhile, the rear seats
also have reclining arrangements. But the
sporty new model, appropriately, gets new
sport seats. And, in a clear nod to consumer
feedback, the window switches have been
relocated from the base of the central console
onto the doors. The front seats bear a sporty
profile and are quite comfortable.
As with the other models in the MINI range,
this car is offered with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder
engine with various states of tune and
feeding. In the test car, the Cooper Paceman,
the engine offers 122hp and 118lbs-ft of
torque and was mated to a 6-speed automatic
gearbox which also has Tiptronic and sports
mode. The control electronics of the ALL4
system integrated directly in the DSC unit
enables power transmission to be altered
as required, responding within milliseconds.
Based on the data captured by the DSC
system, the distribution of drive power is also
selectively adjusted early on when taking
a sharp corner at speed, for example. The
Pacemans front suspension is a MacPherson
Strut layout with a multi-links at rear. Driver
aids include Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
as standard across the range, with Dynamic

Traction Control (DTC). Electronic Differential

Lock Control (EDLC) is available on the higher
output S model.

driVing impressions

The all-wheel drive Paceman is not lightweight

as it weighs around 1,478kg. Its powertrain
is programmed to let it do 0 to 96km/h sprint
in 6.7sec. Considering the new breed of
hatchbacks coming out from Europe these
days, the Pacemans figures are middleof-the-road. While, the car doesnt really
feel sluggish, but it also isnt enthusiastic
enough to be declared outright as a hot class
performer. Performance is linear and stopping
power is as expected. We have no issues with
the braking performance itself.

march 2014

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37

while RiDing On The sAme plATfORm AnD iDenTicAl up TO

The A-pillAR, The key DiffeRences ARe in The gReenhOuse
AnD The ReAR. cOmpAReD wiTh The cOunTRymAn, The
pAcemAns ROOf is lOweR AnD hinTs AT The bAsebAll
cAp sTyle Of The smAlleR mini cOupe, besiDes lARgeR
The ReAR lAmps AnD bOOT Design

Our cars six-speed automatic gearbox is a perfect

choice for the MINI purist. Shifts are quick and in
manual mode, it also adds to some fun and offers
decent performance to the driver inputs. However,
one does have to get used to the quirky paddle shifter
arrangement. On either side of the steering wheel
there are two of them, but you push forward to shift
up, pull back to shift down. So youre in manual mode,
driving along, you think you are going for an upshift,
and then you go down a gear! Its infuriating unless
youve mastered them!
On the handling side, the Paceman feels much bigger
and secure. Considering that it uses electric power
steering with Servotronic function, the steering

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Verdict

The Paceman, as the seventh model

in the MINI family complements the
elegant sportiness of its proportions
with a new rendering of the now
familiar interior elements of the brand

weight and response to drivers feedback is

exceptionally good. The car feels more like
a planted rear-wheel drive most of the time
than a front wheel drive. In normal mode,
the engine note combined with the automatic
transmission is ordinary, but in sports mode
low burble throttle blips are entertaining and
so is the dedicated mood lighting in the car.
The Pacemans ALL4 [all-wheel drive] is also
well suited for the car. We are aware that
the ALL4 set-up was developed specially for
MINIs and since its introduction in 2010, has
broken new ground and won over additional
target groups. The all-wheel-drive system
uses an electromagnetic centre differential to
distribute drive seamlessly between the front
and rear axles. In normal driving situations
ALL4 diverts up to 50 per cent of the engines
power to the rear wheels, rising to as much
as 100 per cent in extreme conditions, such

as on ice and snow-covered surfaces. The

control electronics of the MINI ALL4 system
are integrated directly into the DSC (Dynamic
Stability Control) management unit, enabling
drive to be channelled through the wheels
as required in a matter of milliseconds. This
ensures sharp sports car like handling. In our
view, a bigger engine should be considered for
the Paceman in future to help exploit its full
potential.
However, we also became aware with a couple
of operational niggles. Ergonomics have never
been Minis strong suit, and the Paceman is no
different. It has tons of small switches on the
center stack that you dont know what they
are without looking down. The controller for
the iDrive-esque interface is also tiny. There
was no navigation to speak of in this car, which
some people will find as a disappointment.

march 2014

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39

rOadtests |
Ford Ecosport

COMPaCt
all-rOUNdEr
Fords all-new EcoSport CUV is proving to be a great all-rounder in
markets where it has been introduced. Now, the car is available in
Oman. Automan checks out the car
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

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very much in line with the trendy cuvs, the ecosport is short and
high, with a flat front end and very short overhangs. it uses an
efficient turbocharged engine

n 2013, Automan presented the first

drive report of the Ecosport from
India where it was globally launched.
And then at the Dubai Motor Show it
became clear that Ford Middle East
was considering the model for the region and
following favourable feedback from visitors at
the show decided formally to the launch the
car.
The Ecosport comes at a time when several
things are happening in the market place.
The Oman market is beginning to open up
to smaller cars and this is evident with the
number of new models being introduced
by existing players as well as the arrival for
first time brands from Asia. Secondly, Ford
which has set out ambitious targets and
aspirations by 2020 is supported by its One
Ford business model. This business model
basically considers the global strengths of
Ford and consolidates the collective effort by
unifying standards and cuts out unwanted
stuff. As a result, most new products from
Ford are not territorial in nature. Irrespective
of where they are built, they are truly global

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products in terms of content and presentation.

Among the first wave of all-new products
from Ford is the Ecosport CUV. While the
EcoSport name has been used before [it
was used in a mini sport utility vehicle (SUV)
built in Brazil by Ford Brazil since 2003]. The
second generation concept model bearing
the same name was launched in 2012 and
the production version is also assembled in a
new facility in Chennai, India. The Middle East
variants are being imported from this facility.
Since the Ecosport is a crossover, it is
mechanically based on the Ford Fiesta B2E
platform/subcompact architecture but in no
way does it appear as a Fiesta on stilts. Despite
its size, the EcoSports chunky styling and bold
front end treatment are more soft-roader-ish
than a typical supermini. The most interesting
design cues at the front, where a corporate
flattened nose and large grille dominate the
styling. The futuristic trapezoidal grille will
also feature on future Ford SUVs and the
SUV/CUV treatment is further confirmed with
the angular headlamps and a short bonnet
that folds into the thick front A-pillars. That
product build quality has moved up at Ford
is evident with the finish of the EcoSports
sheetmetal. While the EcoSport may appear
like a tall-boy, its aerodynamically sculpted
lines ensure a coefficient drag of 0.365, which
is quite good for the class and more for the
quietness inside the cabin. At the rear, a large
rear window that wraps around to the sides
along with oblique tail-lamps and instead of a
lift gate arrangement [not possible since the
spare wheel is attached], it uses a side hinge
arrangement. The gate handle is smartly built
into the tail-lamp assembly.

Although, the cuv segment is slowly

growing, automakers in the region must
ensure that product pricing is equally
attractive for punters to consider
experience of a high-revving engine wailing
directly right behind your head

Since it is a new product, it gets a lot of

new technology and applications and some
common corporate stuff. Stand out features
include the latest Ford SYNC driver connect
system, a unique voice command system codeveloped with Microsoft. Advanced climate
control and a centrally mounted LCD screen
with SYNC controls are also included. The
main infotainment panel is familiar, as uses
the same old mobile phone-theme inspired
interface that Ford has been promoting since
2008. Rest of the interior is stylish, modern
and well-equipped for five adults. Stand out
features influenced by the Mustang are the
gear shifter and from the corporate stable

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43

influences from
fords fiesta is
evident in the cabin.
in particular, the
mobile phone inspired
central console and
instrumentation

is the location of the manual shifter toggle

switch on the left hand side of the gear knob.
The 333litres of cargo space is surprisingly
practical, extending to 1,238 litres with the
rear seat folded down. Safety features include
dual front airbags anti-lock brakes (ABS),
electronic stability program (ESP), Hill Assist
and rear parking sensors.
The EcoSport is offered in the region with
top-of-the range 1.5-litre four-cylinder SOHC
iVTEC engine offering 118hp at 6,600rpm
and torque of 148Nm at 4,800rpm. Power is
transferred to the front wheels via 5-speed
automatic transmission.

driVing impressions

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One of the benefits of having a tall-boy

approach is that not only it allows designers
to create generous head room but also
facilitates a high driving [command] position
for the driver. Besides good visibility, it also
becomes comfortable for the driver access
to the controls on the instrument panel. The
small SUVs comfort is also evident in the
ergonomically friendly seating with anatomical
cut-outs and side bolsters, which support the
body comfortably.
Assuming the garb of a typical user in Oman,
we decided to stretch the test beyond the
usual. The car is basically a two-wheel drive
and its on- and off-road performance is pretty
impressive due to the robust turbocharged

engine and the gear shifting is quite smooth.

Considering the tiny displacement of the
forced-fed engine under the bonnet, the car is
surprisingly agile and swift on the move. While
driving in typical city conditions, the automatic
gearbox upshifts a bit early, but maintains a
relatively low engine speed. This type of
mapping helps improve fuel economy. A tap
on the accelerator pedal is well responded.
One would normally expect turbo lag when
asked for a bit more power, but that doesnt
happen as power delivery is linear. However,
the engines lack of sporty oomph in the midrange comes through.
Under heavy loads where the engine is
expected to be taxed to the maximum, the

engine can get a bit noisy but this is when

the S drive mode comes in handy. The correct
thing to do in such a situation is to stick the
car in Sport mode where for starters gears will
be held for longer and the torque band gets
wider. In this mode, the CUV feels peppier
and more responsive to drive. The fun part
comes when you know that in S mode, the
transmission will also allow manual selection
gears. In terms of acceleration from standstill,
the Ecosport is no match for a Mustang, but it
will do the 0 to 100km/h sprint in respectable
13.5secs, which isnt too bad either.
On the handling side, the Ecosport lives up
to its promises. Unlike the Fiesta which has
been the toast of its class since 2008, the

MacPherson strut-front and twist-beam rear

suspension in the CUV had to be well tied
down to control the high-mounted body.
Although, the suspension set-up is calibrated
for a luxury ride and we know this is a tough
balancing job considering the cars smaller
diameter wheels as expected, theres a bit of
body roll in corners, but the damping system
is very fast to react and ensure theres no
excessive wallowing.
In general, driving the car is pleasurable,
thanks to nice steering weight and feedback,
which is almost as precise and responsive as
the Fiesta. Whats more, the tyres offer good
grip and the ride is surprisingly comfortable.
Off-road, the Ecosport takes full advantage of

its weight distribution and the light duty trails

we went around with the car offered virtually
no resistance or rude shocks, this despite
having no all-wheel drive systems.

Verdict

Like the new trend of compact CUVs, the

Ecosport has been conceived and executed
very well under the Ford One global strategy.
Punters will find the Ecosport as aspirational
compact utility vehicle and a befitting
alternative to a typical 2WD small car.
The EcoSport is roomy and practical, with
expectedly good on-road manners. A version
with a four-wheel-drive option [not available
yet] would have given the car more USP and
so does the pricing point.

march 2014

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45

rOadtests |
2013 Honda Jazz

Hondas smallest car in Oman is the

second-generation Jazz hatchback.
Automan spends some time with
this long serving hatchback that
has chequered history with the
brand. Despite tough competition
in the segment, the Jazz reminds
consumers of what the company
is all about in terms of efficiency,
clever engineering, great design and
minimalistic compromise
Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

onda introduced the current version of the Jazz

hatchback in the region almost seven years ago. Its
also a period where a lot of automakers have seen
fortunes fluctuating and the market has seen interesting
new trends from downsizing, hybridization to all-new
lightweight crossovers. Amidst all these, surprisingly, weve always
liked the current-model Honda Jazz. And we are aware that Honda
is now re-emerging its product portfolio by optimizing its line-up and

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discontinuing market specific slow-sellers and in bigger markets like

Europe and US, Honda is diving deeper into the high-efficiency pool
with the hybridization and plug-in hybrid models. The Middle East
remains a traditional market and with models like the Jazz, it is
still reigns among the closest traditional Honda car you can buy in
the segment. But what scores with us is that amidst a proliferation
of trendy hatchback-based crossovers, this is very much a vehicle for
those looking forward and heres why.

ExtEriors

Given its dimensions of 4,100mm in length, 1,694mm width

and height of 1,524mm on a wheelbase of 2499.36mm, the
compact car bears a cab forward stance as evident from the
steep A-pillars and wheels pushed to the corners as much
as possible. This arrangement helps create better cabin
space and also helps in handling as it optimizes the axle
weight ratios. The cars styling follows the wedge profile and
Honda conservatively evolved the design DNA from the first
edition and hence there are some similarities with the older
car. The current-generation Jazz had its styling revised for
2012 as part of the mid-cycle upgrades. While sheet metal is
conservative by todays standards, the character lines speak
a graceful language.
Seen from the front, the large headlamps are like exotic
eyes and theres a horizontal air intake below the bumper
that stretches at the bottom corners, appearing to sort of
balancing the grille profile. Interestingly, the cars liftgate is
like that of a CUV.
Structurally, the Jazz is quite safe as it uses Hondas ACE
(Advanced Compatibility Engineering) architecture which
was designed to enhance crash integrity. The car rides on
175/ 35 R15 wheel/tyre combo.

The Jazz shines brightly when it comes to

interior versatility in particular and also
delivers the efficiency and maneuverability
of a subcompact while handling cargo on par
with many small crossovers
Whats insidE
Honda offers several variants of the Jazz in different markets
worldwide and because of this aspect Honda is able to pool in some
of the sporty aspects for the car in our region. The cloth seats are
wonderful, upholstered in a smooth comfortable material thats
pleasing to the touch, and the bolstering is just right, with excellent
lateral support, similar to those found in sports cars. Then all this
is married to practical CUV elements like lots of cubbies and cup
holders and even stowage under the seats. Rear legroom is premium
and is more than what is offered in the Toyota Yaris, Mazda2 and
Ford Fiesta key rivals in the segment. Another reminder of the
crossover utility is the way Honda engineered the rear seats to fold
flat. In this car, theres a feel-good factor when it comes to touch
points. The soft materials are clearly high quality, while the hard
trim. The gauges are easy to read and include a big tachometer and
speedometer with cool blue needles. Notably, the A-pillar is thinner
than that of compatible cars and the triangular windows just behind
the A-pillar are quite big. Its a good feature for an urban-centric car.

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47

driving imprEssions
Forward visibility is excellent thanks to the MPV-like large windscreen and front quarter
windows. Surprisingly, the over shoulder view is also good thanks to the convex side
mirrors. However, rear three-quarter visibility is a bit obscured due to the small side
windows. The car;s four-cylinder engine is smooth and appears powerful enough which
is evident from the torque delivery and stress-free nature. For an engine that small
which produces around 117hp and is mapped to rev high where at 6,600rpm the
maximum output is offered along with 106lbs-ft of torque that comes at 4,800rpm.
We note that theres always adequate torque available and not only the car is lively on
plain roads, put is able to do uphill climbs with ease. And when the driver needs extra
torque, the downshifts using the steering wheel paddle-shifters do the job nicely. Very
few cars in this class now offer cogged automatic transmission with genuine paddle
shifting ability. In fact, Honda has also been able to dial-in a Sport mode for the car that
holds the transmission in gears longer when youre in Drive, and not using the paddles
for manual shifting. This Sport mode is meant for sports car-like driving on demand.
Although, its been a while now we remember the previous Jazz was criticised for having
too-light steering and too soft suspension. Hondas response was to address that with
some revised engineering and as a result theres a much better steering feel and the
suspension is more compliant. Brakes are good and stopping power is impressive.

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vErdict

The current Jazz has many

elements that are in its favour.
What we like most are the
practicality of the model and
Hondas decision to stick with
a cogged gearbox instead of
opting for CVT in the name of
efficiency. The weakest point for
the current Jazz is that despite
being brilliantly engineered, it
falls short on the competitions
current
enthusiasm
in
the
segment. The new generation of
compact hatchbacks coming on
to the market are bolder, have
more emotive exterior design, a
finely crafted intuitive interiors
and a host of technologies. Honda
has given strong indications that
the new third generation Jazz
will have all that and more. The
current Jazz is relatively expensive
among subcompacts that are now
available in the market, but it
justifies its premium as the best
drivers car among the rest.

nEW Jazz architEcturE Will also

support a nEW cuv

ost new crossovers CUVS like the Ford

Ecosport [Fiesta underpinnings], Toyota
Etios Cross [an Asian variant of the Yaris
hatchback] are re-designed with specific SUVtype features when it comes to user-friendly
practicality. Technically till the second and
current generation Jazz, Honda hadnt planned
a crossover CUV, but that will change when
the third generation arrives sometime this
year. A Jazz based urban CUV has been the
topic of choice among automotive enthusiasts
for a long time but now the whole idea has
been realized. The Vezel is the production
version of Honda Urban SUV Concept which
was first shown in 2013 Detroit Auto Show.
At the Tokyo Motor Show in 2013, Honda has
unveiled the Jazz based production version of
the Vezel.

Manufactured by Honda in Japan, domestic

sales began in December 2013. The Vezel
is available with two powertrains, as a
conventional gasoline-powered and as hybrid
electric vehicle. It shares Hondas Global
Compact architecture with
Jaaz/Fit, equipped
with
a
centrally

located fuel tank under the front seat. The

Vezel is also being prepared for sale in the US
and Europe. We hope this car arrives in the
region as the market opens up to CUVs.

march 2014

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49

PrEvieW |
Audi S3 Cabriolet

For the First time in its history,

Audi blows the top oFF its
hottest entry level model:
enter the 2014 s3 cAbrio

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FEB
2014
2014

udi is on overdrive when it comes to

creating interesting variants of well-settled
models. The Audi S3, which is now built on
the VAG corporate MQB platform will be available
for the first time in the history of the model as
a convertible version. The new S3 range has
benefited being built on proven platforms and
hence Audi finds it comfortable to introduce a new
niche to customers who wanted a four-wheel drive
compact and performance focused convertible.
From a visual standpoint alone, the Audi S3
Cabriolet cuts a sporty figure. It is 4,430mm long,
has a wheelbase of 2,600mm, and is 1,790mm wide
and 1,39mm tall. To give the car its standalone
profile, theres aluminium strips on the windscreen
frame and waistline, aluminium-effects on
exterior mirror housings and edged sill trims. The
taillamps come equipped with LEDs as standard.
The luggage compartment lid has a spoiler edge,
and the bumper has been also been redesigned.
An aluminium-look bar and four vertical ribs give
shape to the platinum-gray diffuser, which frames
the four tailpipes typical of Audi S models.
The cars fabric roof mechanism is made of
magnesium, aluminium and high strength steel
and can be raised or lowered in just 18secs at the
push of a button at speeds of up to 50km/h. The
Audi S3 Cabriolet weighs 1,620kg.
Signature features in the cabin which comes as
standard equipment, a sports leather steering
wheel and aluminum door with S3 logos.
Multifunctional leather sports steering wheel is
available with a flat bottom edge as option, also
with optional paddle shifters.
Just like the standard S3, the cabrio is outfitted
with a 2.0-litre TFSI engine developing 300hp,
between 5,500 rpm and 6,200 rpm, and 380Nm
of torque from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm. As expected
S-Tronic double clutch automatic transmission
and four-wheel drive comes as standard. The
powertrain is optimized to offer both efficiency and
performance. The quoted average consumption
is 7.1 litre per 100 km. The S3 Cabrio is capable of
accelerating from 0 to 100km/ h in 5.4secs. Top
speed is electronically limited to 250 km / h (155
mph), without any restriction on the retractable
ceiling fabric.

march
FEB 2014
2014

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51

PrEvieW |

Chevrolet Adra Concept

the AdrA concept suv wAs showcAsed For the First time At the delhi Auto
expo. it hAs been engineered speciFicAlly For the indiAn And emerging mArkets

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estheticically very similar to the Kia Soul,

this Chevrolet CUV concept borrows many
influences from of its Southeast Asian siblings,
but it adds sharper creases, especially down the
centre, and incorporates a rear shape and overall
tall wagon-ish profile. Featuring a large grille and
headlamps extending over the mudguards, it
has all the attributes of a traditional SUV such
as high ground clearance and a high seating
stance. Inside, a flat-bottomed steering wheel

and a central infotainment screen help create a

modern aesthetic. Holdens Global Design Centre in
Melbourne, Australia, also contributed with some
input, more importantly in its construction and
fabrication. The concept Adra is 4.2m long and if
it goes into production, there is a possibility that
it could be shortened to less than 4.0m enabling
it to take advantage of the Indian governments
tax favourable classification. While no powertrain
details have been released, it is believed that GM

has a befitting answer to Fords tiny Ecoboost

engine in the form of the new three-cylinder 1.0-litre
Ecotec engine. The first application of this engine
will be seen in Vauxhalls Adam Rocks hatchback
which will debut in Geneva this month. The new
three-cylinder produces 90 or 115hp depending on
the tune, while torque is 122 ft-lb from 1,800rpm to
4,700rpm in the Vauxhall. The Adra will be a direct
rival of Fords EcoSport CUV if it gets the green nod
for production.

march 2014

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53

PrEvieW |
Ferrari California T

FerrAri releAsed detAils oF

the new cAliForniA model,
cAlled cAliForniA t, prior to
the genevA unveil. the incoming
cAr signAls FerrAris return to
turbochArging

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errari hasnt made a turbo road car since it

stopped building the F40 back in 1992. But that
is about to change with the newest addition to the
line-up the California T, which will be officially
introduced at the Geneva Auto show this month. T
suggests turbo charging and Ferrari promises that
the California T will epitomise elegance, sportiness,
versatility and exclusivity in one single package.
Well, these characteristics are expected as they
have been among the distinguishing features of
every California model since the 1950s. Designed
by the Ferrari Styling Centre in collaboration with
Pininfarina, the California T maintains the overall
dimensions and proportions of the outgoing model
along with the key features like 2+2 concept, a

refined cabin and the retractable hard top (RHT)

which transforms the cars coup profile into a
sophisticated spider in 14secs.
The car is built on a redesigned and optimized
aluminium spaceframe with the same torsional
stiffness of the stock California. Weighing in at
1,625kg, the California T has the same dimensions
as the previous California. The front end of the
car features a new layout and borrows a number
of elements from the current models. The grille is
larger and has more pronounced horizontal fins.
The headlamps are positioned on top of the front
mudguard lines and the air intake on the bonnet
has been replaced by a central crease line and two
air openings.

The side view of the car showcases a different

surface treatment with a smoother, flowing effect.
A lot of the sheetmetal detailing is inspired by the
250 Testa Rossa, such as the famous pontoonmudguard styling, the front wing line stretching
back towards the compact, muscular rear and the
lower edge of the side vents sweeping up into the
rear mudguards. All these contribute in giving the
car a cleaner and more stretched profile. The rear
end sign-off is a full-width diffuser which integrates
the exhausts. Interestingly, the exhaust tips are
now side-by-side and not stacked.
The cars cabin has been kept simple and
uncluttered. It features a new dashboard defined
by horizontal lines. While, the main layout of

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55

instrumentation and styling elements are maintained with the exception of the new Turbo
Performance Engineer (TPE) which is positioned between the two centrally placed air vents.
The TPE display boasts a capacitive (touch-sensitive) surround to scroll through screens with
information on making the most of the new engines performance. Ferrari also introduces
a new infotainment system with a high-resolution 6.5in screen featuring both touch-screen
and conventional controls.
Powering the car is a direct-injection 3,855cc V8 forced-fed engine which comes from the
family that is also used in the new Maserati Quattroporte. But thats where the similarity
ends as both brands have very distinct delivery requirements. As a result, Maranellos
engineers have heavily adapted and modified the engine and mods include swapping
the cross-plane crank for Ferraris traditional flat-plane crank, three-piece cast exhaust
manifold and turbo housing and created an entirely Ferrari-specific power unit, designed
specifically to deliver top levels of performance, blistering pick-up and the most exhilarating
soundtrack any turbo has ever yielded. As in Formula 1 this season, a turbo is used to cut fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions and some of the derived technologies find application here.
The car uses very low inertia twin-scroll turbines to ensure ultra-sharp throttle response and
virtually zero turbo lag. The engine is mounted very low in the chassis in a mid-front position
and delivers 560hp at 7,500 rpm along with maximum torque of 755Nm. The California T is

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capable of doing the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in jaw dropping 3.6secs. Drivers can head out on to
a track in pure racing tradition with easy access to paddle shifters behind the flat-bottomed
steering wheel to operate the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
On the handling front, the California T should deliver true sports car characteristics, thanks
to reduced steering wheel activity and improved steering response to driver input, courtesy
of a new steering box and suspension set-up. New springs and latest-generation Magnaride
dampers (which respond 50 per cent faster), combined with body motion accelerometers,
reduce roll and pitch for more precise handling whilst still guaranteeing an incredibly
comfortable ride. The California T also has the latest evolution of the F1-Trac traction control
system for maximum acceleration out of corners, thereby underscoring the sportier side of
its personality.
Capable stopping duties are ensured by the CCM3 carbon-ceramic braking system. The
brakes are integrated with the latest in ESP which controls the high performance ABS for a
short 100 to 0 km/h braking distance of just 34m.

march 2014

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57

PrEvieW |
2015 Lexus RC F

how does lexus, better

known For premium
luxury cArs And suvs
deFine power, precision
And pAssion?
Its called the allnew 2015 lexus rc F
perFormAnce coupe And
is the lAtest From the
brAnd to sum up these
three elements

t the 2014 North American International

Auto Show in Detroit Lexus drooled
audiences after the carmaker revealed
its most powerful V8 engine in the all-new 2015
Lexus RC F performance coupe. Ive built RC F
to be enjoyed by all enthusiasts - no matter what
their level of expertise, said RC F chief engineer
Yukihiko Yaguchi. Theres a misconception that
racing cars are hard to drive. In fact, theyre easy
in the right hands because theyve been purposebuilt for the skill level of their drivers. Its the same
with RC F. Electronics can be modified instantly on
board to provide appropriate levels of performance
and protection. But even at its basic setting, its a
blast.
The RC F features its own version of the Lexus
signature spindle grille which dominates the front
of the vehicle from bonnet line to lower lip. The

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F gets a unique front bonnet with large airs vents

inspired from the LFA and the grille has a subtle
F-mesh pattern on the lower half. The car also
takes design cues from the Lexus LFA supercar,
especially in essential air cooling and aerodynamics.
Bespoke carbon-fibre package will include a clear
coated roof and active rear spoiler. The rear end
of the car is F specific also with deeply sculpted
corners sitting just above the quad tailpipes.
In its structural assembly, Lexus has combined
several manufacturing techniques including body
adhesives, laser-screw welding, laser brazing and
multi-spot welding.
Interestingly, both RC F and the standard RC were
co-developed and that explains those striking
mechanical and styling similarities between the
two. Instead of Lexus developing the standard
model first and then modifying it to meet

performance targets, the RC and the RC F were

developed by dedicated development teams.
The F performance model is mechanically based
on the RC coupe and employs a n all-new 5.0-litre
32-valve V8 engine which for the first time in a
Lexus performance car uses the Atkinson cycle at
cruising speeds for enhanced fuel economy and
then switches to the Otto cycle at higher rpm
to develop impressive performance levels. This
engine produces 450hp and 383lb-ft of torque and
is transferred through a newly calibrated eightspeed Sports Direct Shift (SPDS) transmission.
Several track oriented elements have been
incorporated in the package, like the Torque
Vectoring Differential (TVD) feature which takes
care of the amount of power the engine produces
efficiently to the ground and ensure top class
handling and performance and paddle shifters for

manual shifting. Three operating modes, Standard,

Slalom, or Track are offered. For road and track
handling, the suspension set-up includes front
and rear coil-springs, monotube gas-filled shock
absorbers and ball-jointed stabilizer bars. The F
also gets three new 19in forged aluminium wheels.
Inside, the F is expected to come with typical
Lexus refinement. And features showcased in
the F so far include a large, centrally mounted
tachometer and a speedometer placed to its right
and an information screen to the left. The entire
digital cluster changes depending on which drive
mode is selected: Eco, Normal, Sport, and Sport
Plus. Drivers get a bespoke, fat rimmed steering
wheel and F logos embossed on the front seats.
A choice of five shades of leather upholstery will
be offered.

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PrEvieW |
2014 Peugeot 108

AFter renewing its

offerIng In the B- and csegments, peugeot now
looks to energise its
presence in the premium
compAct city cAr
segment. the all-new
2014 peugeot 108 should
be breAth oF Fresh Air
For consumers

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n less than a year, French carmaker Peugeot

has achieved some remarkable milestones.
Despite difficulties, it has implemented a strategy
which is backed by a wave of great new product
depicting high quality, generous specifications
and innovations in surprisingly affordable price
brackets.
With the down-sizing trend gaining momentum
globally which also happens to be one of the
strongest selling points for the lion badged brand.
With the outgoing 107, Peugeot was able infuse
stylish appearance and affordable purchase price
and also connect with buyers with an efficient and
clever response to the needs of urban mobility.
The new 108 is 3.47m long and 1.62m wide with an
impressively tight turning circle of 4.8m. It weighs
from 840kg and has a chic and classy design, with
precise lines, technical headlamps and overhangs

which are reduced to the minimum for exceptional

dynamics. The luggage space is 196 litres but this
is reduced to 180 litres when a spare wheel is on
board. On the practical side of things, folding the
rear seats down will help create total luggage
volume of 750 litres. There are several storage
areas in the cabin, including a place in the door bins
for a one-litre beverage bottle and another in the
glovebox good for a 500ml bottle.
The big news is that as well as building three and
five-door versions of the 108, the carmaker will
also offer one version with a retractable fabric roof
which its call the 108 TOP! Customers will be offered
eight body colours, two of which are exclusive to
the model, and there are three fabric roof shades
for the 108 TOP! Cabrio. Two-tone schemes, interior
themes and a wide range of personalisation options
will also be available. The fabric roof will fold just

like the one on the Fiat 500C and can be opened to

any position and theres an integral wind deflector
also.
While the 108 is primarily a city car, t is also a key
part of Peugeots move upmarket. As part of this
drive, customers will get a comfortable premium
trimmed cabin with features like 7in touchscreen,
reverse camera, keyless entry and start, automaticair conditioning, heated electric mirrors and
automatic lighting. Innovative new Mirror Screen
technology which allows the driver to display and
use their smartphones home page will also be
available.Upon launch customers will be able to
choose from four power units, including 1.0-litre
VTi 68bhp and 1.2-litre PureTech VTi 82bhp threecylinder units. CO2 emissions are as low as 88g/
km. The 108 goes on sale on July 1 and prices are
expected to be released next month.

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61

PrEvieW |
Renault Kwid Concept

renAult unveiled
its kwid concept At
the delhi Auto show.
the fIve-seater
compAct cAr, which
is tArgeted At young
customers From
emerging mArkets,
wAs designed with
input From renAult
design indiA under
the explore
portion oF renAults
lIfecycle-Based
design philosophy.
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esigners from the carmakers global studios collaborated

in the design, which has been developed specifically
for Indian drivers. Axel Breun (Technocentre Design)
was the overall project manager, while Franois Grenier
(Technocentre Design, France) designed the interior based
on drawings by Mishu Batra (Renault Design India). Anton
Shamenkov (Technocentre Design, France) designed the
exterior based on original drawings by Jean Semeriva (Studio
Design Brazil). The colors and materials of the vehicle were
worked on by Neha Lad and developed by Chie Yanagisawa
(both of Technocentre Design).
Stylistically, the KWIDs proportional discrepancies and
bulbous design elements make it hard to take seriously.
Dihedral doors, oversized fenders, color-keyed wheels and

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63

a visor-like cabin treatment ensure the KWIDs place as one of the more interesting
concepts to be revealed in recent times.
Its interior is inspired by a birds nest, while the seats hang over a solid, white base.
Three passengers sit in the front, just behind the driver, who sits in a central position.
This arrangement means it can be driven in both left- and right-hand markets. Two
more seats are found in the back, and passengers benefit from air conditioning
operated via controls on the back of the drivers seat. The concepts dashboard
features a centrally-mounted, open-ended steering wheel and LED display screen.
The narrow vertically-mounted TFT touchscreen provides the vehicles primary dash
information, and also access to connected services.
On the propulsion side, the KWID Concept is designed to be converted to full electric
drive with ease. Conventional power comes in the form of a 1.2-litre turbocharged
engine, mated up to a dual clutch transmission. Although the concept looks allwheel-drive-capable, it is in fact only two-wheel drive.
The KWID concepts most notable feature is its Flying Companion, with potential
uses including scouting traffic and detecting road conditions. This takes off from
the rotating rear section of the roof and can be manually controlled via the tablet
integrated into the dashboard, or in automatic mode using a pre-programmed flying
sequence and GPS location. The proprietary quadcopter is hidden beneath a rear
pivoting roof section and is a world first feature that can be operated remotely from
inside the cockpit.
Customers in new markets are much younger, says Serge Mouangue, Brand
Manager and Innovative Cooperative Laboratory Manager for Renault. Their
expectations are different and customers are basically gamers. This concept car
meets those needs in a variety of ways, but mainly thanks to the Flying Companion
which makes driving both safe and fun. This is the very first time we can drive with
an eye in the sky.

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PrEvieW |
Toyota FT-1 concept

the new ft-1 concept Is the result of toyotas calty desIgn

studios mission to creAte the ultimAte sports cAr.
could it be the new suprA?

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xciting times are ahead for the sports car fan

base of Toyota. With the success of the FT/
GT86, Toyota top management has indicated that
it wants the line-up to have three models with the
86 taking middle order. This means both top and
bottom slots are under consideration. As of now,
the first indications of this intent
The California-based design team, which also
celebrates its 40th anniversary this year has
produced a car that is strikingly modern, yet which
makes reference to Toyotas rich sports car history.
The name says it all. FT-1 stands for Future Toyota,
and the number 1 represents the ultimate.
The FT-1 Concept is the ultimate expression of
a Toyota coupe design, building upon Toyotas
rich sports coupe heritage dating back to the
mid-1960s 2000GT, Celica, Supra, MR2 and most
recently Scion FR-S. In addition, the concept draws
inspiration from Caltys more recent sports car
concept work such as FT-HS (2007) and the Lexus
LF-LC (2012).
The exterior captures the look of racecar with
a curvilinear form, pronounced front wings and
sharply defined contrasts that express powerful
performance. The FT-1s optimum aerodynamic
qualities are communicated by its large air intakes,
exhaust ports and retractable rear wing.

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67

The front engine/rear-wheel drive configuration

allows the cockpit to set further towards the rear
of the car, within the wheelbase, helping improve
weight distribution and create classic sports car
proportions. The wraparound windscreen and side
glass arrangement are a clear nod to the design of the
original 2000GT.
The ergonomics of the cabin capitalise on the cars
low centre of gravity, helping the driver derive the
maximum reward from the driving experience. A deltashaped display zone helps make the driver feel at the
heart of the action, fully connected to the car. This
quality is reinforced by the Formula 1-style steering
wheel and a colour head-up display that projects key
information just above the wheel. The designers have
pushed the A-pillars as far back as possible, to increase
visibility when cornering.
While no powertrain details have been released, the
car does feature in Gran Turismo 6. Here it comes
with actual specs in the virtual world: a curb weight of
1,320kg and 485hp, which apparently gets bumped to
518 horsepower after an oil change!

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Interestingly, Toyotas general manager of the Racing

Hybrid Project and the man responsible for the Toyotas
Le Mans prototype race cars, Hisitake Murata believes
that a high performance hybrid sports car using
existing technology is possible. Our technologies are
shared with the whole of Toyota Motor Company, he
continues, before envisioning a future Toyota sports car.
If we made a conventional sports car we could apply
a super capacitor system or combine a super capacitor
system and hybrid battery to achieve a similar braking
performance, he says. The Japanese automaker has
recently shown a high-powered hybrid drivetrain in
the compact Yaris. Toyota is also working on another
sports car, co-developed through a partnership with
BMW that will slot below the Toyota 86/Scion FR-S.
This entry-level sports car is unlikely to be considered
appropriate for the Supra badge, however. Analysts
suggest that suggest if the FT-1 goes into production
it will take the top slot and in base guise may use a
2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, with potential for
an upgraded version offering a 2.5-litre turbocharged
V6 hybrid with up to 402hp.

BREAKING NEWS

Toyota has reportedly taken another step toward

in this direction [sports cars] by renewing the
Supra trademark in the US last month. Toyotas
original Supra trademark which was established in
1979 expired in 2006, four years after the last car
rolled off the assembly line.

proposed trio oF sports cArs From toyotA

FT-1

Toyota is testing waters of a possible Supra revival

with the FT-1 concept. First stage has been design.
Before taking his current position as chairman,
Takeshi Uchiyamada last year said that he wanted
Toyotas next sports car to be a spiritual successor
to the Supra.

ft86

Akio Toyoda has gone on record to say that

the Toyota sports car family should be three
sports car brothers, where the middle slot is
permanently reserved for the 86.

future unnAMed Model

Although Toyota has yet to officially commit to

using the nameplate for any new vehicles, the way
things are progressing at Toyota, it is now widely
believed that Toyota will develop the top two tier
model themselves and assign the co-developed
with BMW product as the model below the 86.

Traditionally Toyotas design decisions have been driven by

consensus among a large group of people. This approach
has been fundamental to the development of the fT-1, a
concept that captures Toyotas aim of creating cars that
connect more deeply with customers
march 2014

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PrEvieW |
Volkswagen Taigun SUV Concept

volkswAgen presented A Further

developed version oF the tAigun
suv concept At the Auto expo 2014 in
new delhi.

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Defining characteristics of the Taigun include its sompact

dimensions, spacious interior, an efficient high-tech engine and
exterior-mounted spare wheel

ompared to the first concept idea that was presented in So Paulo, Brazil, the new
Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) has a new rear design with an exterior-mounted spare
wheel. Trim parts added to the side sills, wheel arches and bumpers emphasise the
vehicles rugged character; LED spotlights on the roof rails, on the other hand, highlight its
contemporary silhouette.
In the spacious interior, meanwhile, the concept vehicle shows how Volkswagen is
presenting a sophisticated and multi-purpose compact SUV at affordable prices. Its styling,
surfaces and layout of instruments and controls - together with its orange and beige seat
upholstery and numerous matt anodised aluminium accents - give the interior fresh and
youthful contrasts.
The four-seat VW Taigun will be powered by a new 1.0-litre TSI engine with 81 kW /110 PS
; its combined fuel consumption is 4.7 l/100 km (110 g/km CO2). The efficient powerplant
extends the line-up of three-cylinder petrol engines, adding direct fuel injection plus turbo
technology. Volkswagen is writing a new chapter in its downsizing strategy here. Not only
is the three-cylinder engine very lightweight and fuel-efficient; its maximum torque of 175
Newton metres is also available at a low 1,500 rpm.
The Taigun is not the only compact SUV/CUV VW has to offer now. Reports are emerging
from Europe that the brand is looking at a possible in-between model smaller than the
current Tiguan, but bigger than the Taigun.

march 2014

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71

PrEvieW |
Lotus C-01 Motorcycle

the c-01 Is the fIrst motorcycle to Bear the lotus Brand name, But It
will be mAde by An independent germAn speciAlist. AFter two yeArs
oF intensive development, the First prototype is reAdy For Action

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n 2013, we carried a snippet in Automan about

this particular motorcycle project which had
a connection with Lotus. In fact, it is a project
conceived by German racing firm Kodewa and
tuner Holzer Group. The Lotus name is used under
a name licensing arrangement. Lotus Motorcycles
C-01has been designed by Daniel Simon, of exVolkswagen and Bugatti fame and is the man
often credited with creating the reborn Tron Light
Cycles. The latest update is that this Lotus branded
prototype motorcycle which looks straight out of a
sci-fi movie is engineered to go.
Styled as a modern sport cruiser morphed with
classic 60s cafer racers, the bikes unusually
organic shape seems to be really appropriate
for a motorcycle bearing any connection with
Colin Chapman and the companys famous add
lightness and innovative aerodynamic mantra .

Simple geometric shapes and lines are combined

in a rational, balanced way. And through an array
of graphic interpretation and a stance which avoids
using razor-sharp lines or aggressive shapes, our
choices from the options include the classic black
and gold, British racing green and even a variant
that resembles Martini livery combos.
Perhaps we shouldnt be surprised that the C-01
isnt just an embodiment of the Lotus ethos and
there are some interesting bits that have us looking
forward to the production version thats reportedly
due as early as two months.
The chassis is made up of composites and metal
steel and includes titanium and carbon fibre.
Following some inspiration from the early 60s
British caf racers, seat height has been kept to
around 28in. With its 65in wheelbase, the bike is a
full 10in longer than a real street-legal superbike,

and its front end is raked way out in front with

a 19-inch wheel. Power comes in courtesy of
a modified version of KTMs 1,195-cc 75 V-twin
engine [also used in KTM RC8R] good for 200hp
and power is transmitted through 6-speed jawtype shift transmission. While these dimensions
suggest a sports car-like slow slung stance, in
practicality those who are aware of track bike setups will agree that these dimensions wont allow
much racetrack handling prowess, unless its rider
is only planning on going in a straight line. With a
claimed dry weight of under 181kg, the C-01 should
be quick down the quarter mile. Keeping the bike
in contact with asphalt are 120/70ZR19 profile tyre
up front and 190/55ZR17 at rear. The C-01 projects
promoters are planning an exclusive production
run of just 100 units, in order to attract superbike
collectors and fans of the Lotus brand.
march 2014

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73

MOtOrsPorts |

haMiltON fastEst as f1 PrE-sEasON

tEsts WraP UP

ewis Hamilton underlined Mercedes status

as early season favourites after topping the
timesheet on the final day of Formula One testing
at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).
Hamilton registered a fastest lap of one minute
33.278 seconds in a final display of his cars coveted
pace ahead of the start of the 2014 FIA Formula One
World Championship in less than two weeks time.
The Briton came just two-hundredths of a second
from matching the overall best time of the Bahrain
tests. Felipe Massa, driving in his first year for

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Williams, set the benchmark at 1:33.258 during

Saturdays sessions.
Hamilton completed 70 laps for the day in his F1
W05 challenger.
The days running at BIC was extended until 6pm
local time, giving the drivers and teams a sneak
peek at what to expect when they return to the
Kingdom next month for the 2014 Formula One
Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on April 4-5-6.
The Bahrain race will be held at night for the very
first time, marking the circuits 10th anniversary.

But prior to Bahrain, the teams were focused on

gearing up for the first Grand Prix of the season in
Australia, and testing reached its climax.
Valtteri Bottas continued Massas good work in
their Williams F1 W05. He was second-fastest for
the day finishing 0.709 seconds off Hamiltons
pace.
I think with this amount of testing we are as
prepared for Melbourne as we can be, said Bottas,
who completed 108 laps. The team has done a
great job and thank you also to Mercedes-Benz.

We still need to work very hard in these next two

weeks but overall Im happy with how testing has
gone for us. I am looking forward to picking up
where we left off when we get to Melbourne.
Fernando Alonso remained consistent for Ferrari.
He finished 1.002 seconds behind Hamilton while
completing 74 laps today.
Nico Hulkenberg steered Force India to a best lap
2.299s gap from the front. He had 74 laps to his
name for the day.
The final day of testing went pretty well, said
Hulkenberg, who had set the pace on different

occasions for his team.

So its been two good days for me and Im feeling
pretty satisfied. You always want more time to
prepare, but I think were in good shape. The car
has come a long way since the first Jerez test and
we have made progress every day.
Jean-Eric Vergne continued to surprise for Toro
Rosso as he stayed within striking distance of the
leaders. Vergne cocked a best lap 2.423s behind
Hamiltons fastest.
Adrian Sutil of Sauber followed 3.189s back. He
shared duties for the day with teammate Esteban

Gutierrez, who was 4.025s adrift. In between them

was Max Chilton of Marussia with a 3.557s gap.
World champion Sebastian Vettels had a better
day than usual in the Red Bull RB10. Vettel was
4.190s from first place although he managed a solid
77 laps, which was his highest single-day total of
the Formula One pre-season tests.
Jenson Button followed for McLaren (+4.833s),
while Kamui Kobayashi of Caterham (+5.113s) and
Romain Grosjean of Lotus (+6.024s) rounded out
the final days timesheet.

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75

MOtOrsPorts |

first COrNEr at
sakhir NaMEd aftEr
sChUMaChEr
A

s part of its 10th anniversary celebrations,

organisers at the Bahrain International Circuit
have named the first corner in honour of seventime world champion Michael Schumacher.
Its a great honour for a racing driver who is still
amongst us. Michael Schumacher, who remains
in an induced coma following his skiing accident
in December, not only won the inaugural race in
2004, one of his record 91 victories, he still holds
the official lap record.
He also has strong connections with the BIC
outside of his participation in racing and was
directly involved in the early stages of the BICs

development, offering his own input into the

design of the track, including the layout of turn
one.
With the support of his family, it is a great privilege
to be able to honour arguably the greatest racing
driver in the history of F1 and someone who the
people of Bahrain hold close to their hearts,
said Zayed Al Zayani, Chairman of the Bahrain
International Circuit. From his first appearance
at the BIC in 2004, he immediately became an
inspiration for all those who love motorsport in
the Kingdom and it is therefore natural for us to
recognise him in this way.

fOta disbaNdEd
F

OTA, the once unified and powerful alliance of Formula One teams, has collapsed.
With top teams Red Bull and Ferrari already out of the picture, membership fees
were going unpaid and the exit of FOTA chiefs Martin Whitmarsh and Eric Boullier
effective drove the final nails in the coffin. UKs The Telegraph reported that there
were disputes about the groups purpose, years on from the volatile Max Mosley
era and breakaway series threats. Secretary general Oliver Weingarten confirmed
the news that FOTA was disbanded, saying the changing political and commercial
landscape had caused the decision. The teams will probably think they can exist
and fight their own corner but there will be something when they will realise they
will be stronger in numbers, he lamented in an interview with the Associated Press.

Designed for extra kilometres*

at no extra cost
* Comparison between a standard fuel and that same standard fuel containing our fuel economy formula.
Actual benefits may vary according to vehicle, driving conditions and driving style.

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The team at the BIC continues to offer Michael

and his family its best wishes, he added.
Michaels family would like to thank the Bahrain
International Circuit for this gesture, said Sabine
Kehm, speaking on behalf of the Schumacher
family, acknowledging Michaels achievements in
Formula One and interest in the BIC circuit design.
We take it as a recognition for his passion for
motorsport. I am convinced Michael will love the
idea and feel very honoured about having a BIC
corner named after him.

lOtUs f1 tEaM
aNd rENaUlt
sPOrt f1 CONfirM
PartNErshiP
Lotus F1 Team and Renault Sport F1 are delighted
to officially confirm the extension of their successful
chassis-engine partnership for 2014 and beyond.

enault will supply the team with its Energy F1-2014 Power Unit for the coming season. The Energy F1-2014 is a cutting edge power plant designed for the
radical new 2014 technical regulations, which unite a V6 turbocharged direct injection internal combustion engine with two motor generator units that
harvest energy dissipated in the exhaust gasses and brakes and deploy as both electrical and mechanical power. When combined the energy systems will be
more than 35% more energy efficient than the previous V8 generation thanks to technical and sporting regulations that prescribe a fuel flow limit of 100kg/h and
maximum quantity of 100kg permitted per race.
The extension continues the long and successful history of collaboration that first started in 1995 when Renault supplied its legendary V10 to Benetton, as the
team was then known. Success came quickly, with the partnership securing the Constructors world title in its first year. Renault F1 Team was created in 2002 as
Renault purchased the team, with Enstone the base for chassis operations and Viry-Chtillon the hub for engine activities. Under the Renault banner, the team reemerged as a dominant force, with Fernando Alonso taking back to back world titles in 2005 and 2006. Renaults decision to re-centre F1 activities around engine
supply led to a majority shareholding being sold to Genii Capital in 2009 before the Luxembourg-based group purchased 100% control at the end of 2010. Renault
has since remained involved as the teams engine partner, aiding the team to re-emerge as a front running team in recent seasons.

BREAKING NEWS

Russian telecoms company Yota Devices has completed its acquisition of a 10per cent stake in the Lotus F1 team from its majority shareholder, the private
equity firm Genii.

fOrCE iNdia sPONsOr arrEstEd iN iNdia

Amid team supremo Vijay Mallyas high-profile problems, it emerges that another key Force India
figure is also in major trouble.

eam boss Vijay Mallyas grounded Kingfisher airline has hogged all the headlines, but now the owner of Force
India title sponsor Sahara is also in hot water. The report said police have raided the house of Subrata Roy, after a
non-bailable warrant for his arrest was issued by the countrys apex court. The warrant was issued after Roy failed to
appear in court to answer a case about unpaid refunds to investors. At the time of going to press, Roy was in remand.

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77

MOtOrsPorts |

UaE dEsErt ChallENgE

ubai-based rider Sam Sunderland has quickly

set his sights on victory in the Abu Dhabi
Desert Challenge after his career received a major
boost when he joined the most successful bikes
team in international cross country rallying.
The 24th edition of the Desert Challenge, which
marks the opening round of the 2014 FIM Cross
Country Rallies World Championship from 3-10
April, will see Sunderland make his competitive
debut with the Red Bull KTM Factory Rally Team
after signing a three-and-a-half-year agreement.
The deal underlines the 24-year-olds status as
one of the sports brightest young talents, and he
will now look for immediate success in the UAEs
Western Region of Al Garbia, where his biggest
rival will be new KTM team-mate Marc Coma, the
four-times Dakar Rally winner and six-times FIM
world champion.
Its a fantastic opportunity to be joining the team
which has won the Dakar for the last 13 years, and
Im really excited to get the chance to work with

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Marc, said Sunderland. The team has a huge

amount of experience, and Im dreaming really. I
couldnt ask for anything better.
Sunderland links up with Coma and the rest of the
KTM team for two weeks of testing in Spain next
month before returning to the UAE for another
week of preparations for the Desert Challenge.
Its definitely an event that I consider I have a
possibility to win, he said. But for that to happen
everything needs to fall into place. There are so
many factors involved in winning a rally like the
Desert Challenge, where youre riding ten hours a
day for five days.
Taking place under the patronage of H.H.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Rulers
Representative in the Western Region, the Abu
Dhabi Desert Challenge is organised by the
Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE and is
also the third round of this years FIA World Cup for
Cross Country Rallies for cars.
The events high-profile line-up of strategic partners

and supporters includes the Diwan of the Rulers

Representative for the Western Region, Abu
Dhabi Motorsport Management, Nissan, ADNOC,
Abu Dhabi Aviation and Qasr Al Sarab Resort by
Anantara.
After the Desert Challenge Sunderland will contest
the second round of the FIM Cross Country Rallies
World Championship in Qatar before finalising the
rest of this years schedule in the build-up to the
Dakar Rally.
Another of his biggest rivals in the UAE is expected
to be Portugals Paulo Gonalves, who finished
runner up to Coma in last years event but edged
out the Spaniard in the race for the 2013 FIM world
title. The FIA World Cup series is already under
way, with the opening rally in Russia, won by
Saudi Arabias Yazeed Al Rajhi, to be followed by
the second round in Italy next month before the
sports top drivers assemble in the UAE.
Moto GP

faCtOrY MOtOgP tEaMs Of hONda, YaMaha

aNd dUCati WErE ON-traCk at PhilliP islaNd
as thEY aNd tWO MOtO2 sQUads ENgagEd
iN a tYrE-fOCUsEd tEst at thE aUstraliaN
CirCUit
F

ollowing last years Australian Grand Prix - when

the premier class race was divided into two
halves by pit-stops and the Moto2 event was
shortened, due to the abrasive new track surface
leading to severe tyre wear - it was decided to
organise this test at the island track which will host
the 16th round of the 2014 season.
Fresh from their announcement in Malaysia to
run under Open regulations for 2014, Ducati Team

will be fielding riders Andrea Dovizioso and Cal

Crutchlow, joined on-track by Yamaha Factory
Racings Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi - as
well as Repsol Honda Teams Dani Pedrosa.
It remains to be seen as to whether World Champion
Marc Marquez, who continues to recover from
a broken leg, will be replaced by an alternative
rider. All MotoGP class representatives will be
experimenting with Bridgestones new Phillip

Island-specific tyres.
In the Moto2 ranks, two leading teams have been
selected by Dunlop to work on behalf of the tyre
company, as Marc VDS Racing Team is represented
by Mika Kallio and Tito Rabat while Mapfre Aspar
Team Moto2s Nico Terol and Jordi Torres will also
be in action at the 4.4km (2.7mi) anti-clockwise
circuit.

march 2014

www.automanweb.com

79

ChiCaNEoPinion |

GivinG back
to the
marketplace

the global automotive industry is a behemoth that many people study; yet few are ever able to understand.
Based on the principles of mammon, grounded in capitalistic ideals and driven by the consumerism that
the industry in part feeds, this gargantuan edifice powers industry, economy and growth around the world,
employs millions and is a constant part of our current phase of human existence.
yet most of us can be blamed for losing sight of the woods because of the trees or in this case the cars and
other vehicles that we drive. Unless you are actually a part of the automotive industry, you can find it hard
to fathom the complexities of the process that delivers the shining metal chariot to the road. And most of
us dont care about the how we want the result. However governments and the industry as a whole have
forever been in a tango. incentivising the path for a group of companies to set up local manufacturing
facilities seems to be a new phenomenon, but it isnt. in most cases, car companies have their home bases
where their founders set up shop, be it detroit, Mulhouse, nagoya or Milan. you had an idea, you got some
backers and you started making your own automobile.
But now the huge mega corporations that are behind the automotive industry have grown to such an extent
that factors like access to growth markets, proximity to resources and cost (or the lack of it) of energy and
labour decide where they open new manufacturing facilities. take the case of the great rush to set up car
factories in China, india, eastern europe and south America. one constant that we have been hearing from
every brand is that the source of a global product is no longer significant, what with the standardisation of
production processes and supply chains.
Living in the GCC area gives you a unique perspective on the car industry. you see cars manufactured in
every part of the world, except from right here in the region. What with the lack of skilled local manpower,
a prosperous populace and low import tariff levels, there just isnt a business case that would get a car
manufacturer excited at starting a car factory in the region. or thats what we thought till now. Apparently
the management at Jaguar Land rover have found the economic criteria that matter announcing their
intention to manufacture the new discovery in saudi Arabia, backed by government investment.
thats no easy task they have set themselves. somehow i would have thought that a new engine plant
in the region would have made more sense considering proximity to aluminium smelters, cheap energy
and shipping routes. Building an assembly plant means higher costs for a long time over building the car
elsewhere and shipping them into a 5% import duty zone. And if you configure the plant for one model or
type of vehicle, you have to be sure that you can manage a lower cost per unit And have a large local market

Raj Warrior is editor of Automan and has been in the

thick of the Automotive journalism field from the past
15 years.

that needs that model. JLr have past experience of such plants of the defender for military use. Making
a retail oriented model like the discovery is a whole different ball game especially considering that the
average cost of labour in the local market is not that much lower than in the United Kingdom itself. one
can only speculate at the sheer size of the sweetheart deal that the saudi government must have put on the
table to get JLr on board. And once JLr come in, other manufacturers will also have to be enticed, for the

Want to comment or have your say?

Email at raj@alroya.net.
Identify yourself or your message will be trashed and
your id blocked

whole idea of getting local manufacturing going is to build an industry right there complete with logistics,
suppliers and services. Are we thus going to see the eastern saudi seaboard become the hub of all large
sUv manufacture at some date? or will other GCC governments rise to the challenge and incentivise other
companies to set up base around the region?
in the meantime, lets welcome the initiative. there is a solid need of employment opportunities for GCC
citizens and only so many vacancies in government sector, petroleum industry and service sectors. Perhaps
bringing large-scale manufacturing to the region is the best way to connect back with the buyers of this
marketplace.

80

www.automanweb.com

march 2014