Archive for category: General

In a city where it seems there is a cool car at every corner, perhaps it is only fitting that the police are getting in on the act. The newest addition to the fleet of Dubai’s police force has been confirmed as none other than the BMW i3 Electric super car.

The Dubai Police has form in terms of its taste for super cars of distinction – it already has a Porsche 918 Spyder and Bugatti Veyron in its ranks. Now, in keeping with the green initiatives which has seen electric charging stations pop up in the city, Dubai Police have announced a cleaner, but still desirable, model will be used to carry out duties.

The government got in on the act at a launch event for the vehicle, held in Dubai’s financial district. Suhail Al-Mazrouei, the United Arab Emirates energy minister, described how the acquisition was in line with efforts to ensure at least 10 per cent of all government vehicles are electric. The initiative itself is part of a wider scheme to slash CO2 emissions over a four year period by 15 per cent.

It has been suggested that high speed pursuits are one of the reasons why Dubai Police is under pressure to equip itself with high powered vehicles. Known as a forward thinking city, the steps taken by Dubai’s police to embrace sustainable technologies should certainly be applauded, and positions them as one of the world’s progressive thinking forces. A Car Free Day which was held in Dubai this year succeeded in persuading no less than 60,000 people to not use their vehicle, using other methods of transport including the metro system.

The pure battery version of the BMW i3 is capable of completing a distance of 200 km. It came away with the Best Urban Car prize during the most recent World Car of the Year awards. Using a DC charger it takes only 15 minutes to give the car full battery, which could be welcomed by a busy police force which needs its vehicles fuelled up and ready to go.

The Lexus LC Coupe has finally been launched in the UAE and not only is it beautiful but it is filled with cutting-edge technology that is typical of Lexus.

The LC Coupe was unveiled during a private event in Dubai and there is no doubt that we will see hoards of these beautiful machines flooding the streets with its drop dead gorgeous looks and performance power unit options.

The petrol engine edition churns out a massive 468 bhp from a growling, but sophisticated, V8 mounted up front through a 10-speed automatic gearbox. The high number of gears ensures that the power is always available and most importantly, always manageable. It provides the driver with a steady application of power so there are no nasty surprises when that right foot hits the floor. To further aid driveability the power is sent to the rear wheels through the same advanced rear differential that was fitted to the LFA supercar.

The eco-friendly hybrid version of the LC Coupe comes with a 295 bhp V6 coupled with a 59 bhp electric motor. While you can expect lower performance figures from the hybrid version of the LC Coupe, the benefits of the multistage hybrid system are more than enough to overcome these shortcomings.

When at highway cruising speeds (140 kph) the system stops the engine from driving the wheels and leaves that to the electric motor. The engine is then turned into a giant generator to charge the electric motor which results in far greater fuel efficiency.

As expected of any Lexus, the interior of the car is filled to the brim with luxurious touches and gadgets that make the driving experience as pleasant as possible. The seats are trimmed with leather and interior features include a Mark Levinson 13 speaker Sound System, a 10.3-inch TFT touchscreen for multimedia and GPS control, Bluetooth connectivity and Lexus’s System + which includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind spot mirrors and collision detection.

Prices range from 395,000 AED for the base “Touring” model and top out at 450,000 AED for the maxed out “Carbon Spec”.

Honda have been a little slow in releasing new cars in the UAE of late, but that all looks set to change with the latest set of car news from the Japanese company. After showing off the 2017 CR-V models last year, they have finally arrived in the UAE and are now available for those who up until now had been waiting patiently for them.

Unfortunately, there is a bit of a catch concerning the models that will be for sale in the UAE. For those who were expecting a 1.5-litre car complete with a turbocharged four-cylinder unit and 190 horsepower, we have some bad news, those models are not going to be available. Instead, UAE customers will be able to get their hands on the 2.4-litre version.

There is, however, plenty of good news about the 2017 CR-V models starting with the fact that CVT transmissions will come as standard across all the cars. Customers will also get the choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drivetrains.

Also on offer to residents of the UAE is the choice of nine different exterior finishes. This kind of choice isn’t available in other markets, although if Honda’s history is anything to go by, it’s highly likely that the white and silver finish will be the most popular option. If however, you’re after something more original, other finishes include everything from dark blue and red, to olive green. Stepping inside, there is a black and ivory fabric available and there’s also the option of having a leather trim added.

The 2017 CR-V models have been completely refreshed and Honda have clearly put the work in when it comes to ensuring the 2017 versions are more than just an update. There’s LED lights which will now come as standard for the headlights. Car buyers can also expect to have both 17 and 18-inch alloys as an option and there’s also a brand-new instrument panel. Previous models of the CR-V had drawn some criticism for the amount of rear legroom available, but for 2017, Honda have stated that it will have the ‘best rear legroom’ in its class.

Finally, for those who have their eye on the EX and Touring versions, there is some good connectivity news. Honda have fitted a 7-inch display which promises to have Android Auto compatibility as well as Apple CarPlay.

The Mitsubishi Pajero has been a mainstay in the UAE for decades now, but for most of that time it has been primarily a car for Expats; particularly teachers. In recent years however increasing numbers of GCC citizens having been discovering the charms of this remarkable little SUV for themselves. Initially sales were for second cars, but as the current financial crisis has deepened, many have turned to it as their main vehicle.

Five years ago an entry level Pajero would set you back 120,000AED but this price has plummeted to a mere 90,000AED now. While this price drop would in the past have discouraged many GCC citizens from buying a Pajero (many preferring to purchase the most expensive options available), the incredible abilities of the Pajero have earned the respect of true desert folk.

While the Mitsubishi Pajero is considered a huge car in Europe (where it is sold as the Shogun), in the UAE it is a mid-sized family car dwarfed by Land Cruisers and Patrols. Despite this it still has a dominating driving position that is a joy to all who drive it. Throw in fantastic toys, incredibly comfortable seats and plenty of leg room and you’ve got yourself a great car.

…but there are plenty of great cars out there, so why is this one slowly gathering a following from the locals?

The fact is that the respect is far from new. While many Emiratis have preferred to buy Nissan Patrols (partly due to the incredible speed possible with them once they have been tuned up), they have always been aware of what this little gem can do. On the road the Pajero is competent, a good car. Off road it is a beast and its small 3.5 or 3.8 litre engine produces performances that cars with twice that size would be proud of.

Years of rescuing untrained Westerners from the desert have allowed Emiratis to see what this wolf in sheep’s clothing can do and they have been quietly impressed. Quite some time ago it became clear that the only reason a Pajero would ever get stuck in the Empty Quarter would be due to poor driving technique, they noted this and approved of the car. Now, with finances being a little tighter, GCC citizens are flocking to this marvel for themselves, and who can blame them?

Sunday, May the 7th saw two Emirati’s winning new cars in the White Points Draw. Bilal Atiq, an employee of the Roads & Transport Authority and Sara Juma’a Othman, who works for Dubai Airports were both rewarded with brand-new Hyundai cars for their impeccable driving in the last year. The winners were announced at an event at the Al Habtoor Hotel in Dubai, which also sponsored the initiative.

The White Points system was launched in 2012; all drivers in Dubai with a valid licence and a car registered in the city are eligible to enter but they only remain in the draw as long as they are free of traffic violations. Each month a driver has two white points allocated to them, but a single violation sees them lose their points.

This year there were exactly 2,000 drivers who could have won the prizes, 1,344 men and 656 women. There were 500 Emiratis on the list, 315 from India, 150 British Citizens and 147 Egyptians, amongst others.

Dubai Police Assistant Commander-in-Chief of Operations Major General Al Merri said, “It is a great initiative and will help encourage motorists to follow traffic rules and reduce the number of accidents and deaths. It’s spreading positive energy among drivers.”

For Bilal Atiq, the prize is the first that he has ever won. He is an enthusiastic proponent of the scheme, saying, “Such initiatives will motivate the drivers in Dubai to follow traffic instructions as they can have the chance to win a car or other rewards.”

Sara Othman told Gulf News that she thought winning would improve her driving; she only passed her test 4 years ago but encourages others to stick to the rules when driving, saying, “You never know as one day you can be rewarded for your good driving.”

With more than 26,000 motorists eligible for the scheme, it is clear that it is the minority of Dubai motorists who are committing violations. Transgressions that will remove drivers from the pool include speeding, Salik and parking fines. It is to be hoped that seeing winners take home new cars will encourage more drivers to protect their white points for next year.