Renault certainly knows how to make a fast, fun, small car. The 5 Turbo, the Clio Williams, the Clio V6, the Clio Cup – the list is long of genuinely brilliant cars which have flown under the radar. With so much praise heaped on the Focus ST, Golf GTI, and Civic Type-R’s of the world, a Renault may seem like an avant-garde choice.

However, 2019 will see the revised Megane RS hitting the streets of the UAE. So, what can you expect?

Performance styling cues

The new Megane RS is in-keeping with the current design features of the Renault range – there are some definite Talisman and Koleos influences to be seen. Coming in a variety of bright and appealing colours, the new Megan RS’s visual appeal is designed by its large wheel arches, enlarged wheels, and central exhaust.

A particularly neat feature you may notice is the LED daytime running lights, which have been seamlessly designed as a part of the Renault Sport logo.

The interior is comfortable, yet this is a performance hatchback. As a result, there is Alcantara covering the sculpted sports seats, and the whole cabin benefits from a number of high-quality materials. It’s simply and intuitively laid out, as befits a driver-focused car.

The oily bits

The old 2.0 engine found in the outgoing Megan RS is no more. Renault has instead opted for a much more trim and lithe 1.8 turbocharged unit. The smaller size, however, doesn’t mean power is sacrificed. 275 horsepower is on tap, with 390 Nm torque.

5.8 seconds will have you at 100 km/h thanks to the 6-speed automatic transmission, which features a dual-clutch for seamless shifts at speed and smooth operation around town.

Handling is very much the goal of the Megane RS. The chassis has been stiffened and the suspension tuned to make the car as nimble as possible under your hands. This is aided by the introduction of four-wheel steering to further improve the handling.

Prices for the Megan RS in the UAE are looking to be around AED 137,500 – making it much better value than most of the competition.

The 2006 Audi R8 was revolutionary for the German company as it marked their first foray into supercar territory and put them into direct competition from Porsche, Ferrari, and sister-company Lamborghini. The car boasted a mix of distinctive yet restrained styling, the solidity of Audi’s famed Quattro four-wheel drive system and excellent driving dynamics, making it a huge success in its sector.

Since then, the R8 has gone through a generational shift and now Audi has released the new revamped version of their Porsche-fighter for 2019 onwards.

The boxy styling of the second generation of the R8 came under criticism, and Audi has seemingly corrected their course with this new model which features a more aggressive front fascia and redesigned headlights. Subtle changes include large air-intakes, new honeycomb grilles front and rear and flared side skirts. Audi has kept the interior vastly the same, seemingly taking the ‘if it isn’t broken, why fix it?’ approach.

As before, the 2019 R8 and R8 Spyder are set to be available in two different specifications, the standard car and the more powerful Plus variant. Both cars are still fitted with the same 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 and the same incredible sound. Changes to the engine’s control unit have bumped the standard spec car up to 562 horsepower, whilst the Plus receives a new valve train and a power increase from 603 to 611bhp. In addition to the powertrain, small tweaks have been made to the car’s suspension setup, steering, and tyres, to help the slightly older R8 compete with the likes of the McLaren 570S and Lamborghini Huracan.

Audi have also recently stated that they have no plans to fit the next-gen R8 with a smaller capacity turbocharged engine, such as the 2.9 litre V6 fitted in the RS4 or the 4 litre twin-turbo V8 that has made its way into many of the RS range as well as into the Bentley Continental and Bentayga. Head of the R8 project, Bjorn Frederich, gave confirmation that – for now, at least, – the supercar will stick with the glorious V10 as he views it to be ‘…the best engine for the car… We’ll stick to the V10.”

Whilst the cost for the 2019 facelifted R8 has yet to be announced, the 2018 model is currently on sale in the UAE and Middle East through Audi’s dealership network at a starting price of AED640,000 so expect a moderate increase for MY2019.

We all know that common sense dictates that when the weather is bad, or visibility is low, you should reduce your speed accordingly. Not everyone seems to share this view, however. This has led the Abu Dhabi Traffic Safety Committee to announce a reduction of the speed limit to 80 km/h on certain roads.

According to officials, the new speed limits will come into effect when visibility is under 200 metres.

The overhead gantries on Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (Dubai Road, Abu Dhabi), and Sheikh Khalifa Street (Al Saadiyat), will display the modified speed limits when necessary. Roads that don’t have the benefit of smart overhead signs will instead have to rely on the old standby of a fixed speed limit sign.

Taking care in poor weather

It’s imperative that when the weather takes a turn for the worse, your driving style adapts. Cars are allowed to return to the normal speed limits when visibility has come back. It’s important to note, however, that any radar or speed-scanning equipment along the road will adjust according to the prevailing weather conditions.

Fog and rain are dangerous, but human error is even more dangerous. According to the Abu Dhabi police, the overwhelming majority of accidents in these conditions are as a result of human error. That means being impatient – tailgating and speeding in bad weather – is a shortcut to a potentially fatal accident.

Don’t use the hazards

Extra visibility is good in bad weather, so the flashing of your hazards is a good thing. Right? Wrong! It can actually be an extreme distraction to other motorists to use your hazards for any other reason than they are intended for. That means when you’ve broken down or been involved in an accident. Those using their hazards unnecessarily will be subject to a potential 500 AED fine.

Similarly, killing too much speed can be dangerous. Going over the speed limit is bad, but so too is travelling considerably under it. The speed limit has been specifically calculated for optimum safety and traffic flow, so make sure you stick to it.

The electric revolution continues to grow, to the point that an auto-manufacturer that doesn’t have an electric vehicle in its lineup is now the exception, not the norm. The UAE has seen slightly slower initial development in electric vehicles than many European and American markets, but for 2019 the ball is very much rolling.

A larger number of electric vehicles are due to head for the UAE, and the all-new Chevrolet Bolt is one of them.

Chevrolet has partnered with the electronics giant LG to develop and build the Bolt. This meeting of the minds has led the Bolt to be an impressive vehicle that hosts a number of interesting features. For example, active aero shutters situated in the front grille that can open up to aid ventilation.

Full charge ahead

In the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt is a 60 kWh battery pack that’s capable of delivering up to 204 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque. Those are impressive figures for a relatively small car, which should mean the Bolt is a blast to drive. The batteries are found under the floor, to keep the centre of gravity low.

The dreaded “range anxiety” is usually what buyers cite as the main factor turning them off purchasing an electric car. With the Chevrolet Bolt offering up to 500km of driving on a single charge, however, it should be more than capable for most people’s everyday driving needs.

Clever cooling

Chevrolet is just one of a few manufacturers using a liquid cooling system on their electric vehicles. This allows the batteries to maintain peak operating temperature. Ultimately this allows for an extension in the useful battery life, as it prevents overheating.

Keeping the battery juiced up isn’t too inconvenient either. Using a D/C fast charger it can be charged in as little as two and a half hours. A standard A/C charger will take up to ten hours on a regular household plug.

The 2019 Chevrolet Bolt offers an attractive electric package which should offer some driving enjoyment as well as plant-saving street cred. Prices are estimated to start from around 162,000 AED.

For many new motorists looking to get hold of their own transportation in UAE, purchasing a brand-new vehicle can prove too expensive. While some Dubai car sales emporiums offer brand new economy cars, luxury cars are often out of the price range for younger, newly qualified drivers.

Thankfully, the pre-owned car market offers a cost-effective alternative. There’s never been a better time to sell any car in UAE, nor a better time to buy a pre-owned vehicle – with that in mind, we’ve devised a guide on what to consider when purchasing a used auto:

Don’t be afraid to number crunch

Car buyers in UAE should do a little bit of research to ascertain the current market value of their prospective vehicle, its potential value, and the amount of mileage on the clock. In addition to this, the buyer should check that the engine, VIN and chassis numbers tally correctly with the car’s documentation.

Check under the hood

If the engine is leaking fluids, or if there are signs of rust on the chassis, it’s wise to reconsider your potential purchase. Likewise, smoke can be a tell-tale sign that all is not as it seems. Blue smoke means that the engine is currently burning oil. Black smoke means that the engine is taking on far too much fuel – walk away if you spot any of these symptoms.

Check the interior

Is there any internal damage to the vehicle? Does the radio work correctly? Don’t be afraid to have a play around with all the switches and devices to make sure they work – check things like indicators, headlights and windscreen wipers. While many of these are minor fixes, if there’s an issue it can put you in a more powerful position to negotiate a better price.

Test drive

Ultimately, there’s no better way to check that a pre-owned car is the right choice than to get in the driver’s seat. Keep alert for any strange sounds coming from the vehicle and get a feel for how smooth the gear changes are. If you’re comfortable with the driving experience, you may feel like you’re in a position to negotiate a price. If not, there are plenty of other dealers selling cars in UAE. Don’t commit until you’re happy you’re getting a fair deal.