Archive for category: General

Nissan were rightfully pleased with the launch of the five door version of the Patrol Super Safari, which arrived in the UAE earlier in the year. Now the car manufacturing giant have unleashed the three door model, making it available right across the UAE as well as other GCC nations.

Performance

It should come as no surprise that the three door version has a shorter wheelbase as well as fewer doors and seats, but, thankfully, this hasn’t affected the performance. Marketed as an off-road vehicle, those on the lookout for new cars that are able to handle all the desert has to throw at them will be more than pleased with the Super Safari.

Look

Owners can request an identical paint scheme to the five door version. There are two colour schemes available, the most popular of which is white and grey. If you really want the Super Safari to fit in with the dunes, however, there’s also a gold and grey option.

Features

Whatever colour scheme you go for, you can expect it to be complemented with features such as a reverse camera and parking sensors. Additionally there are 17-inch alloy rims on board along with grey fenders and even Super Safari decals with a traditional design. If you like, you can have an electric front winch fitted, but it’s worth remembering that the front and rear tow hooks along with the rear locking differentials come as standard.

Nissan went big on comfort for the five door model and haven’t changed anything with the three door. There’s a whole raft of comfort options available, ranging from a cool box to more tech based features such as Bluetooth connectivity, media inputs and automatic climate control.

Safety

When it comes to safety, you can rest assured that Nissan have thought of everything. Owners of the three door 2017 Nissan Patrol Super Safari can expect to find dual front airbags, tyre pressure sensors and ABS as standard, Nissan have also included vehicle dynamic control.

For those who are keen to know about the power, you’ll be pleased to know that a 4.8 litre engine sits underneath the hood. Capable of 248 horsepower, it’s certain to deliver, even on some of toughest terrains.

For decades, fortunes in the UAE have been built on oil, but everyone knows that it will eventually run out – hence all the current initiatives in the Gulf to broaden its economic base.

But the stark reality hit home when the French government announced that it would ban diesel and petrol cars from its roads by 2040, and Norway followed up with an even more aggressive timescale.

Norway will ban the sales of new fossil-fuelled cars in the next decade, stopping short of the outright ban of the French. The goal is to have all cars running on ‘green energy’ by 2025 – and, as a quarter of vehicles in Norway are already electric and nearly all the electricity is supplied by hydro-electric plants, this could well be achievable. It is ironic to note that Norway is also a major oil producer, exporting more than any other country apart from Saudi Arabia.

So, does this mean demand for oil will start to slip away?

The initial answer it no, at least not yet. 2040 is a long way away and although cars are the most visible example of oil consumption with around 65% of oil being converted to gasoline or diesel, car drivers are not the only users of oil.

Neither France nor Norway have said that the measure will apply to commercial vehicles, which largely use diesel, as does a lot of shipping. More than 12% of oil is converted to jet fuel and demand for air travel seems to be increasing rather than slowing down.

Also, the current US administration has signalled an end to environmentally-friendly policies by abandoning the Paris climate accord. As the US imports more than half its oil, that market won’t be going away anytime soon.

In the UAE there are already signs of moves toward electric and hybrid vehicles, with Tesla dealerships opening and recharging points being install throughout the region. The change is inevitable, and moves throughout the UAE are maturing to cope with the eventual end of the oil market.

If you think the time is right to trade in and switch to an electric or hybrid vehicle, talk to Simply Car Buyers to find out how easy it is to sell your existing model.

Say hello to the SandRacer 500GT, a car that is the result of over two years’ worth of testing and mechanical improvements. From Zarooq Motors, who are based in the UAE, the first production model will be available with a price tag of AED 1.7 million.

The car, which has two seats and rear wheel drive, has gone big on luxury with the interior thanks to the luxury hand-stitched leather. Although it doesn’t have the appearance you’d normally associate with a supercar, the exterior of the SandRacer has been crafted entirely from carbon-fibre.

Those with decent memories will recall the initial design of the car was unveiled back in 2015 at the Abu Dhabi grand prix. The differences in appearance between the SandRacer and regular supercars show Zarooq Motors are clearly hoping to appeal to a broader range of car buyers. Zarooq believe there is a strong market for cars that have the power of a supercar, but are also practical. Zarooq executive Mohammed Al Qadi stated that most supercars aren’t designed with speed bumps in mind, before adding that the SandRacer 500GT has been designed to suit both ‘city commuting’ and ‘off-road’ terrain.

By appealing to fans of both supercars and luxury cars, Al Quadi believes the SandRacer is a highly versatile vehicle, suitable for both a ‘week-end track day’ and a ‘luxurious commute’ throughout the city. He even stated that the SandRacer is capable of tackling some of the ‘toughest dunes’ the Arabian Desert has to offer.

When it comes to the luxurious elements of the car, reports have stated that materials that have been used by both Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini were used in the design process for the SandRacer’s interior. New owners of the SandRacer can expect a digital dashboard and climate control as standard. Additionally, there’s CarPlay compatibility, and carbon fibre has been used in the seats and steering wheel. Performance wise, there’s a 6.2 litre V8 on board capable of 525hp and 660Nm, which has been designed to work seamlessly with the lightweight racing chassis.

If you’re interested in the SandRacer then you’re going to have to be quick, sales have already started. There are 35 first limited-edition cars in total, and those that have already been ordered are scheduled to be delivered by the end of the year.

In one of the most exciting pieces of transport news in UAE this year, we can reveal that Bentley’s latest run of vehicles have been crafted with the Emirates in mind.

The UAE has always had a soft spot for Bentley – the iconic motoring brand recently opened its largest showroom to date in the country – and now residents are set to be given exclusive access to a limited run of three vehicles, known as SZR by Mulliner.

Each of the vehicles have been designed by Bentley’s in-house luxury department and are based on the classic Bentley Continental GTC V8. The cars are finished in an eye-catching ghost-white paint job which contrasts with touches of orange flame on the hood and trims.

Luxury interior

No expense is spared inside each of the models, which feature a sumptuous tri-tone interior that perfectly and understatedly compliments the exterior.

Said interior is manufactured from an all-new trim, known as “sparkle carbon”, which is a combination of three fabrics – copper foil, carbon fibre and metal wire. These are combined and then meticulously polished, lacquered and cut down to size to provide a luxurious fascia, instrument panel and console.

As can be expected from Bentley, there’s no shortage of premium features for comfort and added enjoyment on the road. The cockpit features memory foam seats, ventilation, an intuitive multimedia system with touchscreen functionality for ease of use, and everything else in between.

The king of luxury cars: what’s under the hood?

As could be predicted, Bentley’s signature 4-litre twin turbo V8 petrol motor is the beating heart of each model, providing power to all four wheels. With a 520bhp rating, this UAE exclusive soft-top can reach speeds of 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds.

New cars in the UAE

When asked for comment, Stephen Reynolds, the regional director for Bentley in the UAE, said that the company wanted to do “something special” for its loyal customer base in the UAE, and that the custom Mulliner designs will cement the loyal relationship between Bentley and Emirates-based Al Habtoor Motors, which is regarded as one of Bentley’s most revered global partners.

There is a generation of car owners that simply don’t want to own the latest Mercedes, Audi or other big automotive brand. For those types who want something distinctive, the revival of the Borgward label by Chinese truck maker Foton might be of interest. Arriving in the UAE soon courtesy of a distribution deal with Union Motors, the historic German name could provide something a little different, certainly in the branding department.

Borgward was founded almost a century ago, and produced cars into the sixties with a focus on style and sporting excellence, along with a truck line, which is probably where the Chinese interest comes in. Famed for its Hansa and Isabella coupe models, the revived company was launched by a grandson of the founder and has an SUV model already for sale in China that will be the focus of sales in the UAE.

The Borgward range

The Borgward BX7 SUV crossover looks pretty much like most European SUV models, featuring all-wheel drive, hybrid power, driver safety assistance and seven luxury seats, but with the distinctive Borgward badge on the front. A base model features a 2.0-litre engine producing 221 horsepower. For variety, there’s the Touring Sports model and a smaller version, the BX5, starting off with a 4-cylinder turbo engine, could be on the market next year. Importantly, while lots of Chinese-built cars do not meet European and global safety standards, the Borgward range is designed to meet these, making it a more likely choice for the safety conscious.

Of more interest, and recently shown off at the Shanghai Auto Show, is an all-electric BXi7, featuring the company’s e-PROPULSION electric drive platform, offering a range of around 500 kilometres with the ability to reach 80% of charge capacity within half an hour at the growing number of fast-charging stations in the region.

With an international design team at the helm of Borgward’s studio, the company could soon be making inroads into sales of the traditional SUV players. It is partnering with a number of European component firms to produce innovations in seating design, audio integration and other areas that should help it stand out in the crowded market.