There was a time, not so long ago, that Kia wasn’t necessarily known for the quality of the cars it produced. The price was always right, but quality, luxury, and driver features were not guaranteed. Recently, however, the company has turned its image around. Kia is now producing some of the most well equipped and reliable cars in their respective class. The price is still great, now the rest of the car matches it.

Kia, however, has not been known up to this point for their large SUVs. That is about to change with the release of their Telluride model, which is currently scheduled for an April UAE release.

Capacity and comfort

The Telluride shows its US-design influences with its large capacity, comfortably seating eight passengers. Its engine is a 3.8-litre V6 which provides 291 HP and 355Nm torque. The eight-speed auto gearbox is designed for comfortable cruising and seamless shifts.

The Telluride has rear suspension which is self-levelling for improved road manners, while Smart, Eco and Comfort modes can be chosen by the driver to suit their individual taste. AWD Lock and Snow settings are also available for when the going gets a little tougher.

As it’s a large SUV, AWD should be no surprise. The Telluride uses its active monitoring systems to shift the engine’s power to the front and/or rear wheels depending on the driving mode selected. AWD Lock mode will ensure even power is sent to all the wheels, otherwise, the power will be split favouring the front or rear wheels according to the mode selection.

Top-class equipment

The Telluride sports Kia’s generous approach to available equipment. It’s expected to host the latest active safety systems such as Blind Spot Assist, Collision Avoidance, Lane Following, and Safe Exit Assistance to name just some of the options. With 7 airbags and chunky construction, it should provide a safe journey for all occupants.

Those governed by badge and brand will doubtless overlook it, but for anyone interested more in sheer quality and value for money, the Kia Telluride is sure to make an attractive choice of large SUV.

In positive car news for UAE drivers who need to renew their vehicle’s registration or their driving licence, a Customer Happiness Centre on Wheels may be coming your way.

The initiative has been instigated by the RTA (Road Transport Authority) and consists of a smart bus, which from January 1st to 10th was situated on Al Khawaneej’s last exit. In the bus, you will find a number of useful services such as vehicle reg, licence renewal, and parking cards.

Making life easier

The plan is for the bus to be in service for ten days out of every month, from 4-11pm, travelling throughout different regions in Dubai. Keep an eye on the RTA website and social media platforms to see when the bus is coming near you.

The idea behind the scheme is to make services related to vehicle ownership that little bit more convenient for communities and groups. For example, senior citizens, who may have found other renewal methods to be confusing or impractical.

The bus contains self-service machines to guide users through the process of renewing their driver’s licence or vehicle registration. There will be help and guidance available from employees on the bus, for anyone having difficulty or requiring help.

The Smart City initiative

The service forms a part of Dubai’s Smart City initiative, which seeks to take a proactive approach to making essential services more convenient for UAE residents.

The initiative is already in place, for example, there are Smart kiosks available in the Dubai Smart Police Station which offers its services around the clock. Dealing with people on the phone can be difficult and time-consuming, the transition to more Smart options for essential services both saves time and increases convenience.

The goal is to make it as easy and intuitive as possible to make sure drivers and their vehicles are kept properly licensed and registered. The systems have been designed to be as easy as possible to use, so should provide no barrier to users of any age.

Look out for the RTA bus in your local area, to renew your driver’s license or vehicle registration.

Car Collection Motorsport has claimed victory in the Hankook Dubai 24 Hours, taking the chequered flag after the 47 laps which represented the season opener in the 24H Series in 2019.

The Dubai showpiece ushered in another year in the testing motorsport series, which has won accreditation as an official FIA International Series. It is organised by Creventic, who also run the Touring Car Endurance Series.

But while the Car Collection Motorsport team led through every lap of the race, the team – which drove the new Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo – told the Sportscar365 platform that the victory was hard fought.

Driver Christopher Haase said: “I think maybe it looked easy, but we were pushing each lap on max attack. We had a bit of slight contact that I have seen on the car, but it was just a little bit of bodywork and that’s it. I have to say, Car Collection Motorsport did a great job, strategy-wise, which was for sure the main point. We had no troubles, which is always good in a 24-hour race!”

The Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo had already undergone a successful run out in the region late last year in the Gulf 12 Hours. The Dubai 24 Hours took place at the Dubai Autodrome, which is 25 minutes from downtown Dubai. Its combination of technical corners and high-speed straights has seen it named as one of the most challenging circuits in the world. The circuit is comprised of six different configurations, one of which enables three smaller circuits to be used concurrently.

VIPs at the event were treated to a spectacular setting from which to enjoy the race. From their private suites, they could take in the action from close quarters, with the cars passing just metres from them.

Over 70 teams took part in the event, in which the MS7 by WRT team finished second in their Audi R8 LMS, meaning that the German manufacturer was able to take both of the first spots on the podium. In third spot was the Scuderia Praha Ferrari team, which finished four laps behind the winner.

When it comes to a sporty looking car that gives plenty of power and awesome visuals, the 1.6 Turbo Renault Megane GT is hard to beat. With its eye-catching design and sleek lines, it has been a favourite of car lovers globally since being released. Big transport news in UAE for 2019 sees this superb car being available to buy in the region from Arabian Automobiles. This is the exclusive Renault dealer in the UAE and is found in Dubai, the Northern Emirates and Sharjah.

But what does this compact hot hatch have to make it worth a drive?

Genre-defining performance

Renault sells a few different hatchback models, but the Megane is perhaps the most popular of the lot. This latest model carries on that fine tradition and will surely sell well to motoring enthusiasts in the UAE. In simple terms, it is a real driver’s car that offers mouth-watering performance.

Boasting a brand new turbo-charged 1.6 litre petrol engine, 205hp is produced to allow it to get past 100kph in a little over 7 seconds. The top speed rests at around 230kph to deliver all the acceleration and driving thrills you desire.

Agile handling and a nippy feel

One of the real secrets that Renault uses here is the same as in their other well-respected hatchbacks: you do not need masses of power if the car is light! This 2019 Megane GT Turbo clocks in at only 1,329kg which gives a truly agile and responsive feel when behind the wheel. The wide base sees the wheels pushed out into the corners of the bodywork to help here as well. When you add in the option of four-wheel drive steering with this version of the Megane and a forgiving suspension, it is a truly beautiful car to drive.

Jaw-dropping design

Car buyers in the UAE will naturally wonder how this car looks as well as how it performs. After all, you need to look good when cruising around the region! Renault have done a great job here with 18-inch wheels giving it a sporty, feline look. The interior is spacious and comes with the option of Alcantara or fabric wrapping. The flowing curves of the bodywork also make it look much better than the last version of the Megane released in UAE.

If you love your cars then it may be worth going to your nearest Arabian Automobile Renault dealer to have a look. Be quick though – with limited numbers for sale, they may well go fast!

Today, Dubai car sales have rocketed, with the city being seen as one of the bonafide automobile capitals of the world. From the expos and film shoots, to the array of desirable motors which one can spot every day on the streets of the metropolis – cars are a part of the Dubai lifestyle, but it hasn’t always been that way.
You don’t have to go back that far when cars were virtually unheard of in this beautiful desert landscape – just to the 1960s, in fact.
According to the Khaleej Times, in 1966 there were only about 30 cars on the roads of Dubai, and they included Mercedes, Land Rovers and Bedford Trucks. Air conditioning was yet to be invented, and exhaust pipes had a very short life because of the salt in the air.
But when paved roads did start to appear, they engendered more enhancements. Chairman of the Arabian Construction Company, Ghassan Merhebi, told the news platform: “The roads made a lot of change. At last you could open shops, people could come to you, whenever somebody was driving you didn’t have dust all over you. Life quality improved with the paved roads. I got the first car after they were paved. I couldn’t have a Toyota Crown until the roads were paved.”
Al Wahda Road was one of the first streets to be built in Dubai, and it connected the city to Sharjah. This transport route has had a major upgrade in the last decade, which has eased traffic problems. Part of it now has a double decker section, and there are also underpasses and bridges to address congestion.
The other original Dubai byway was Al Seef Road. This also bears little resemblance to the four-lane structure which we see today. Back in the 1960s, Al Seef Road was a narrow, single lane affair, with cars having to circumnavigate the donkeys which also used it. Running along a strategically important route, Al Seef Road goes by the oldest building in Dubai – Al Fahidi Fort.
So next time you are cursing in a Dubai traffic jam, think of the city as a ‘late bloomer’ which is making up for lost time as far as automobiles go. And be glad you have air conditioning!