UAE cars will help drivers report accidents instantly from 2019 onwards

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We have commented in previous blog entries that Dubai is one of the most advanced cities in the world. This advancement is most evident on the city’s roads. Driverless cars and electric cars are increasingly commonplace, as are vehicles with ingenious computerised safety features.

Soon, however, a new automotive feature will start making journeys safer, not just for individual drivers, but for everyone on Dubai’s roads. The UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has recently announced that all cars imported into Dubai from 2019 will be fitted with an eCall system. But what is an eCall system, and how will it make Dubai’s roads safer?

Car Accident Dubai 1At present, reporting a road accident can be a time-consuming affair. Either one of the drivers involved or a witness has to call the emergency services and provide them with a wide range of details. While this process is going on, the road surrounding the accident-site remains open and uncontrolled. This means that an accident can continue to cause problems after it has occurred, simply by obstructing drivers who aren’t expecting to encounter anything. The new eCall system will almost eliminate this problem by drastically reducing the length of time it takes to inform the emergency services that an accident has occurred.

Car Accident DubaiThe eCall system couldn’t be simpler: if a driver is involved in an accident, all they have to do is push a button and the police will be notified that an accident has occurred at their location. They will be able to dispatch emergency services to help the motorists involved in the accident and take control of the surrounding road, in order to prevent further complications almost instantly. This instant sharing of information will be achieved thanks to cooperation between the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the police force.

Of course, 2019 is still over a year away, but if you want to get a car with the new eCall system when they become available, you should start thinking about raising the capital and clearing some space on your driveway now. We can help with both, as we buy any car that you want to sell. Why not sell one of your old vehicles to make way for a car with the brand new eCall system before 2019?

Dubai’s authorities want more electric vehicles on the road

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Compared to other global cities, Dubai has one of the highest concentrations of automobiles on the planet. In fact, there’s one car for every two people in the city. In some ways, this is a very positive thing: it signifies how affluent Dubai has become in recent years. However, it could also become a problem in the future. With so many vehicles on its roads, Dubai’s air quality may start to deteriorate. This is already a problem for other cities with high levels of automotive activity, such as Shanghai and London. In order to stop this issue before it becomes a serious problem, Dubai’s authorities want to start replacing polluting fuel-based cars with clean, eco-friendly electric cars and hybrid vehicles. But what measures are they taking to accomplish this? Two key measures are currently being undertaken:

1. Introducing additional hybrid vehicles into the RTA’s taxi fleet

Dubai Hybrid TaxiDubai’s Roads and Transport Authority is responsible for operating a fleet of taxis for the benefit of the city’s residents. The RTA’s taxis make up a significant percentage of the traffic on Dubai’s roads. In order to reduce their overall environmental impact, the RTA is currently introducing more electric and hybrid vehicles into its fleet. By the end of the year, the RTA will have increased the number of hybrid vehicles in its fleet by 17%, thereby reducing the amount of pollution that the fleet produces overall.

2. Incentivising residents to invest in electric cars

tesla-taxi-mainDubai’s authorities plan to reward residents who choose to invest in electric vehicles with a broad range of benefits. Most notably, motorists with electric cars will be able to recharge them for free until 2019 and take advantage of free parking. In short, having an electric vehicle could help drivers in Dubai save a substantial amount of money.

If you are interested in switching to an electric vehicle and helping preserve Dubai’s air quality, get in touch with us today. We’re happy to buy your current car so you can raise money for a new electric one. We buy any car, regardless of make or design and we always aim to give you a fair price.

Toyota Corolla 2018 launched in UAE

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The latest transport news in the UAE is sure to delight any drivers who like things fast and sporty! Toyota have announced that the 2018 Toyota Corolla Sport edition will be launched in the region by the Al-Futtaim motors dealership. This superb Sport edition of a car that is already popular in the UAE is sure to go down well with the area’s automotive crowd.

Sleek looks, sleek lines

The first thing that most people will notice about this 2018 Sport Edition is how amazing it looks. Toyota have done a great job of tweaking the original vibe of the Corolla so this one looks distinct but still with a recognisable shape. The main driver behind this is the all-new Sport body kit that really makes it stand out from the crowd. Other all-new exterior features such as a redesigned bumper and spoiler combination also play their part in helping this edition create its own identity. The sporty look is completed with a new lower grille and side skirts.

Toyota have re-imagined the interior too

Not content with giving the Corolla a fresh look on the outside, Toyota have gone to town on the interior of this model too. In particular, the six-speaker music system with the 7-inch audio display will be a feature welcomed by many drivers of this particular car. The interior itself is comfortable to drive in and gives a real feeling of luxury as you do.

Alloy wheels complete the look

If there is one thing that a sporty car like this needs then it is an outstanding set of alloy wheels. Boasting a set of two-tone 16-inch alloys, this car does not disappoint in that respect. Offering the perfect mix of style and driving control, they are a nice touch by the manufacturer.

Latest edition set to build on Toyota’s popularity in UAE

The original Corolla has become one of the biggest sellers in Dubai and surrounding areas since its launch in the UAE. This latest 2018 Sport Edition looks set to continue that trend and be a car that many will enjoy whizzing around in. With stunning looks and the usual top-class Corolla performance, you may see quite a few of these cars on the roads of the UAE before long!

More electric cars to join the Dubai police force

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It seems that the Dubai police force are becoming a regular feature when it comes to car news. Back in August, we told you about the police’s all new BMW i3 Electric super car, and now there’s a new car on the scene. Sticking with electric vehicles, the force have announced a brand new fleet that have been designed with airport security in mind. Due to the fact that the cars are so quiet, you may not notice them whilst you’re making your way through Dubai airport, but the all new patrol cars are highly capable and come with environmentally-friendly credentials.

Dubai Police BMW i3

Fully electric and made by Peugeot, the Dubai police have purchased them in order to help officers secure Dubai’s international airport. The plug-in cars are the latest addition to an increasingly impressive fleet of cars the Dubai police force has at their disposal. Not only do they have several Nissan Patrol four wheel drive vehicles, but there’s also a few supercars thrown into the mix, including an Aston Martin One-77, as well as a Bugatti Veyron and the highly impressive McLaren MP4-12C.

The police announced the acquisition of the cars in a tweet this week, although no information is available just yet on exactly how many of the electric cars you’re likely to see at the airport.

Tesla DubaiThe news follows on from the announcement of 50 Tesla electric vehicles forming part of the limo fleet at the airport. Whilst the police aren’t going to be driving Teslas anytime soon, the Peugeot iOns do provide plenty of performance for a small electric car.

Powered entirely by a 47kW electric motor, which in turn is fed by a 16kW/hr lithium-ion battery pack, the cars are capable of both fast and smooth acceleration, something which will no doubt be absolutely essential for the police force. The fast acceleration is made possible by the impressive 140lb-ft of torque.

So far, the iOn’s exposure to the public has been fairly limited, but they have attracted several good reviews from a variety of car magazines and websites. The ease of driving an iOn has been picked out in particular, with most putting the pleasant and straightforward driving experience down to the fact that the Peugeot iOn has no need for a gearbox.

So, next time you’re at the airport, keep an eye out for the Peugeot iOns – they could be signalling the start of a shift towards electric cars.

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2018 Honda Odyssey unveiled in UAE

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New cars are regularly unveiled in the UAE, but it’s usually supercars that are in the spotlight. When Honda launched one of their latest vehicles this week, however, they had different ideas. Unveiled at an event in Dubai, the all-new Honda Odyssey comes complete with plenty of neat innovations, and if you look closely enough, you may be able to spot a front-end that looks slightly like a sports car.

Honda Odessey 2018 DubaiAt the event, Honda were particularly keen to point out they had completely redesigned the exterior for the 2018 model. Owners of the Odyssey will have two new colour options to choose from should they want to, as well as three additional trim levels (touring, EX-L and LX). A quick look inside and you’ll notice that the interior has had a complete overhaul. With Honda focusing on function and practicality with the new Odyssey, they’ve included some second-row seats which slide forwards and backwards. They’ll even go sideways if you choose to remove the middle seat. Further back, the third row folds in two different ways.

If you’re one of the thousands of car buyers who love technology, then you won’t be disappointed with the Odyssey. There’s a brand-new 8-inch touchscreen complete with integrated Garmin navigation, as well as an entertainment system for the rear complete with plenty of child-friendly apps.

As far as the engine goes, a 10-speed automatic transmission comes as standard. That’s mated to a 3.5-litre VTEC V6 engine which has variable cylinder management. Also standard across every grade of the Odyssey are eight airbags. That even includes knee airbags. In addition to the airbags, owners can expect to find a tyre pressure monitor as well as ABS and ESP.

If you opt for the touring model, you’ll get the Honda sensing suite built in. The suite is Honda’s package of safety and driver-assist technologies which include features such as lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, as well as pedestrian detection, forward collision warning and plenty more including adaptive cruise control.

There has been little word as of yet on the price, but rumour has it that the Odyssey is likely to set you back AED 130,000.

Your Next Taxi In Dubai Might Be a Tesla

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Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has announced that 50 Tesla electric cars have been added to the state-owned Dubai Taxi Corporation’s fleet.

The move follows Tesla’s entry to the United Arab Emirates in February 2017. The company opened its first showroom in July 2017, a 17,000 square-foot store that will also act as a service garage for Tesla vehicles.

Tesla DubaiThe purchase ties in with the United Arab Emirates’s national plan to switch 10% of all car fleets managed by government agencies to electric vehicles. With around 3,854 vehicles at present, Tesla vehicles now represent around 1.3% of the Dubai Taxi Corporation’s fleet, although these 50 cars form part of a deal involving 200 vehicles overall. A further 75 vehicles will be added in 2018, and the final 75 in 2019.

The luxury cars were launched from Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport, in an event attended by numerous senior government officials and business leaders. To mark the launch, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the president of President of Dubai Civil Aviation, and Mattar Al Tayer, the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Road and Transport Authority, took a ride in one of the vehicles.

Tesla UAEThe vehicles in question will be the Tesla Model S and Model X. The Model S has achieved the highest possible safety rating for electric cars, and has the greatest range of any all-electric vehicle yet produced. The Model X is Tesla’s seven-seater sport-style SUV, featuring falcon-wing doors. These new cars can both accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.

As with all Tesla vehicles, the Model S and Model X are both fitted with the hardware required for full self-driving technology. This fits in with plans announced earlier this year to make 25% of all journeys in Dubai fully autonomous by 2030, including ambitious plans for self-piloted flying cars, and self-driving “robo cop” cars, equipped with with an onboard quadrotor drone which can be deployed to track suspects that the car cannot follow.

Dubai is also taking steps to build the infrastructure needed to support electric vehicles, including the construction of 13 new electric charging stations.

Limited edition Audi R8 RWS on the way

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There hasn’t been much in the way of car news from Audi of late – especially news surrounding their supercars. However, those who have been searching for even just the slightest trickle of news from the German manufacturer will no longer be disappointed.

All we’ve seen of the Audi R8 until now has been a video on the company’s official Instagram, and that video was fairly thin on the ground as far as details go. In fact, all we got to see was the R8 performing a couple of doughnuts. Whilst the video led many to believe the car would be rear-wheel drive, it has come to pass that the R8 RWS (rear wheel series) is finally being unleashed as a limited edition model.

Audi R8 RwsAvailable exclusively in rear-wheel drive, customers keen to get their hands on the Audi will have a choice over what model they want, with Audi making both the Coupe and Spyder configurations available. There has also been plenty of speculation in the air concerning the weight of the car. Would it come in weighing less than some of the all-wheel drive models? Well, we’re pleased to confirm that not only is the R8 RWS lighter, but it’s lighter by 50 kilos. Audi have managed to save significant weight thanks to removing a lot of the heavier objects, including the multi-clutch plate as well as the centre differential and the prop shaft. That gives the R8 RWS a total weight of 1590 kilos.

Under the bonnet, owners of the R8 RWS will find plenty of power courtesy of a 5.2 litre FSI petrol engine. With a rating of 532 horsepower, the car uses 540 Nm of torque to help drive those rear wheels. Altogether the Audi is able to go from 0-100 km/h in an impressive 3.7 seconds, although if you have the retractable roof equipped, you can expect it to be all of 0.1 seconds slower.

For those who are eagerly anticipating the R8 RWS, you will have to be quick. Audi have only made 999 units available in total, at a cost of AED 534,006. No news as of yet on when exactly we can expect the cars to be delivered, but that hasn’t stopped plenty getting excited at the prospect of a rear-wheel drive supercar.

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Who are safest and most at risk on UAE Roads?

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A new study of driving incidents suggests that the higher the value of your car, the less likely you are to be involved in an accident on the road in the United Arab Emirates.

Using data from insurance claims, the research formulated a correlation between the value of vehicles and the likelihood of being involved in an accident. It would appear that drivers with low-value vehicles are most accident prone, while UAE drivers of cars with the highest worth tend to avoid collisions and mishaps far more successfully. In fact, if you own a vehicle valued between Dh400,000 and Dh500,000, you could well be amongst the safest drivers on UAE roads, as those make up 6.5% of people involved in road traffic accidents.

Sheikh Zayed Road DUbaiAround 11% of car drivers who made a claim over the past year were those who owned vehicles with a value of Dh50,000 to Dh100,000. Perhaps inevitably, the research also found that younger drivers tend to have more accidents than more mature car owners in UAE. Those in the age group of 25 to 29 were the most common applicants for settlement of UAE car insurance claims. The same research looked at the nationalities of car owners who had least accidents and found that French, British and Australian drivers are amongst the safest on UAE roads.

Dubai TrafficEfforts to improve road safety for car owners have recently given drivers something to smile about, though. The Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road – also known as E 311 – is a major arterial road and therefore prone to problems. However, three giant smiley face signs recently appeared there. This is a new project from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, part of its campaign to “spread happiness among road users”. The smile signs also feature an appeal to drivers – in Arabic, English and Urdu – to “drive safe” and show consideration to other road users.

Of course, much of your ability to navigate UAE roads without accidents or breakdowns depends on buying the safest and most reliable models and having a well-maintained car. This also means only buying second-hand cars from reputable dealers.

Thinking of an upgrade for your car in the UAE? Contact www.simplycarbuyers.com for a quick sale

New rules in Dubai for drivers over 65

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If you are living in Dubai and you are an older driver, you should be aware of new legislation that came into force on 1 September this year. Older drivers are deemed to be more likely to be involved in accidents due to health problems, hence the introduction of the new law.

The new law that has been brought in applies to everyone once they reach the age of 65 if they wish to renew their driving licences and continue driving in Dubai, and it insists that medical screening is now required at RTA-approved clinics and hospitals.

Anyone who fails to undergo medical screening will not have their driving licence renewed, and this applies to both UAE nationals and expats.

Are you still fit to drive over 65?

We buy any car in 20 minutesDirector of Drivers Licensing at RTA’s Licensing Agency, Jamal Assada said that the introduction of the new initiative arose from the RTA’s desire to achieve the very highest road safety levels in line with ‘top-class international standards’.

The medical screening process will include various tests for all motorists aged 65 and over and is designed to highlight any conditions or diseases that could hinder a person’s driving ability to the extent that they could pose a danger to other road users.

The tests are likely to look at conditions that could affect a person’s ability to clearly see the road ahead or which could lead to lapses in concentration. People who have suffered from strokes or have shown signs of dementia will be subjected to more rigorous tests.

New renewal timescales

Sell Any CarIn addition to the new medical screening, it has been announced that the validity of a renewed driving licence for those over 65 will be for a term of just three years, rather than the current 10 years.

An online link will be provided with all the clinics and hospitals that have been approved by the RTA so that they can access the licensing system and judge the medical condition of licence renewal applicants prior to their attendance for screening.

Keep up to date with the latest transport news UAE on the Simply Car Buyers blog, or contact us for a quote on buying your old car.

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On its way to the middle east, it’s the Aston Martin Vanquish S

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When cars are made available exclusively to the Middle East, you can usually bet on them being something special, and the latest news from Aston Martin looks set to have luxury car buyers throughout the UAE on tenterhooks. Recently revealed in Frankfurt, it’s the all new limited edition and highly exclusive Aston Martin Vanquish S.

austin martin vanquish s uae 2Designed with high-end buyers in mind who want high levels of exclusivity with their purchases, the Vanquish S goes to extreme lengths to pay tribute to its inspirations. Those inspirations primarily come from the Middle East’s rich and historic pearl industry, and Aston Martin haven’t held back when it comes to the car’s bespoke design. Proudly wearing a platinum white paint, the Vanquish S screams sophistication and its body has been constructed entirely from lightweight carbon fibre.

Turning our attention to the interior, there are some leather covers which have been lightly tinted. The leather, which has been specially sourced from some of the best tanneries the UK and Ireland have to offer, completely covers the four seats of the vanquish, and if you look closely enough, you’ll notice that it’s been effortlessly complemented by bespoke Mother of Pearl inlays. Every piece of the material was hand picked by Aston Martin before it was cut, polished and shaped, giving the Vanquish S that special feeling that you can only get from a limited edition supercar. You can also find the same material on display at the front and rear ends, making the Aston Martin badges stand out.

austin martin vanquish s uaeDue to the fact the car is a limited edition, it’s not going to be causing a spike in Dubai car sales, but those in the UAE who want to get their hands on the Vanquish S will have to act extremely fast as Aston Martin is limiting production to fifteen models. Those fifteen cars aren’t just for the UAE either, they’re for the entirety of the middle east.

Under the bonnet, there has been little word on how much power the Vanquish is likely to pack. It’s highly unlikely, however, that Aston Martin will make any changes to their 6-litre V12 engine. With a highly impressive 568 horsepower rating, it can reach 100 km/h in under four seconds, and has a top speed of 295 km/h.