159 Automan November Issue 2014

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NOV 2014 Issue no 159
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe | 2015 Porsche Cayenne | 2014 McLaren 650S Coupe/Spider | 2014 Subaru Forester | 2014 BMW X4 | Paris Motor Show report | Motorsports
cover story
24-29 2015 Cadillac ats coupe

44-49 2015 Mclaren 650s coupe/spider
2015 Cadillac ATS

Coupe
44
Oman and regional news
Luxury line-up gets

strengthened with new
entry level variant
6-12 automan coty award ceremony, red

bull drift challenge, 2015 cadillac cts
coupe regional launch in uae, 2015 lexus
is 250 f sport arrives in uae, refreshed
hyundai santa fe on sale in region,
maserati quattroporte now with v6,
new suv tyre from michelin, new brand
ambassador for gmc in region
face to face
11 felix weller, cadillac regional

director for sales/marketing
NEXT ISSUE
2015 Ferrari 458
Speciale
COVERstory |
20
62
50
14-15 2015 land rover discovery sport in
paris
brandwatch
68
Star and car power together
French capital was abuzz with concept

and production cars
exclusive world premierereport
16-19 Jaguar Land Rover serious about

global expansion and US production,
first production Land Rover Discovery
Sport rolls out, Hyundai performance
push could mean new sports models,
Cadillac CEO announces new models, Red
letter day for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
@ NYSE, Mercedes-Benzs SUV renaming
plan detailed, Porsche CEO admits
mistakes with gen 1 Panamera design,
Toyota GT/FT 86 will get a successor,
Nismo Note launched for JDM, Indias
Mahindra to take stake in Peugeot
Scooters, Kia to produce 5-door GT.
Aston Martin losing money on cars,
Sergio Marchionne to retire in 2018,
Interbrand 2014 Best Global Brands study
results announced, Ferrari celebrates
60th year in North America with special
edition, Totals CEO Christophe de
Margerie dies in plane crash, luca de
montezmelo takes on critics
International news spotlight

20-43 2014 Paris Motor Show report
74
First drives
50-54 2015 porsche cayenne

56-61 2015 bmw x4
68-73 2014 subaru forester
previews
74-75 2015 suzuki vitara
MOTORSPORTS
76-79 F1 japan and russia race reports,

snippets, regional motorsports, moto GP
oz race report
Chicane
80 The role of marketing in pushing new

frontiers
editor-in-chief
Mohammad Al Taie
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2014
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Are we really entering a new age in motoring? An age where the car no longer needs an
internal combustion engine to define its identity? It looks like that if you consider whats
happened in the past month itself.
No, there hasnt been an announcement of a huge improvement in battery technology
or fuel cells for that matter. And getting a car to run off solar power is way in the future.
And while there has been an announcement that scientists have invented a method for
powering a car off salt water, it still remains part of science fiction as much as the warp
drive does.
It has just been the small, incremental stages of development that have given rise to the
feeling that we are reaching some sort of existential barrier. Tesla has added a D to its
S sedan range and now, from all the media hype, we have a car that does justice to the
sports sedan name. In the meantime, Tesla have been adding charging points in its key
markets so that potential owners are never too far from power. Is that in itself enough to
give us that tingling feeling? No. But consider this the very first of the anti-Tesla laws is
being passed in Michigan. Thats where Detroit is located and is home to the big three
automakers. So now the lawmakers, instead of promoting clean technologies are actually
trying to stop the march of progress. This despite all three big carmakers having tried for
years to mainstream electric propulsion.
What does this tell us? For starters, it looks like the electric motor drive is finally
commercialised at the top of the automotive spectrum. And people in the know feel that
it could hurt vested interests. We need to watch out for the next phases in this story as
they could have long-term implications.
Also, this month we gave out our COTY 2013 awards at a fancy new venue here in Muscat.
A gala evening saw most of the winners collect their awards and tell us how eagerly they
were looking out for the results on our ongoing COTY 2014 program. Next month we will
give you a look at the final contestants going into the assessment.
As usual, this month we also have some of the best cars on test as you can see on our
cover. Again, we continue to lead the introduction of these models in our market by a few
months at the very least. But then thats one of the reasons why our die-hard aficionados
love reading Automan.
Now, Automan is available in bookshops in

the United Arab Emirates too! Get your copy
or let us know which outlets you would like
to see us in
Oman & region

news
Automan Car of the Year awards

ceremony held in Muscat
t an exclusive ceremony held in oneof-a-kind location, Automan, held

its annual Car of the Year awards
night at the recently opened luxury lounge
On the Rocks last month. In an impressive
and well attended ceremony, the coveted
awards were conferred by Shk Hatim Al
Taie, Publisher and CEO of Al Roya Press &
Publishing to the winners.
Speaking on the occasion, Shk Hatim Al
Taie, publisher of the Automan dwelt
on how relevant the Car of the Year
programme had grown since its inception
in 2011. It is a true measure of the cars that
are most relevant to Oman and the wider
region, especially due to the nature of the
assessment. Only cars sold in the region
that have been tested by the team during
the year are judged and scored and winners
are chosen purely on merit. Shk Hatim
went on to add, this year has been one of
growth for Omans local car industry and
we expect this growth to be sustained due
to the infrastructure growth and increased
Omanisation.
Automans Car of the Year program was
instituted in 2011 and remains the only
programme where the team drive and
assess every car that competes in a yearlong assessment period. Only cars that are
sold in the region and are driven in that year
qualify and a winner is objectively selected
in each of 13 categories. In addition, two
extra categories cover the Best Debut in
that year and the Editors choice, which are
subjectively rated as well.
| www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Automan COTY award winners

Small Car
Mid Size Car
Large Car
Luxury Car
Premium Car
Performance Car
Small SUV
Mid Size SUV
Large SUV
Premium SUV
Performance SUV
Sports Car
Hot Hatch
Editors choice
Best debut
2014 Peugeot 301

2014 Mazda 6
2014 Toyota Avalon
2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class
2014 Cadillac CTS
2014 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
2014 Toyota RAV4
2014 Nissan Pathfinder
2014 Lexus 570
2014 Audi Q5
2014 Range Rover Sport
2014 Porsche Cayman
2014 VW GTI
2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith
2014 Jaguar F-Type
Nov 2014 | www.automan.me |
Al Balushi smokes
opposition in Red Bull
Car Park Drift
The Red Bull Car Park Drift Oman Qualifier
crowned Ali Al Balushi who battled for
first place as spectators watched the
series of exceptional drift shows at the
Oman Automobile Association. The Omani
King of Drift from the pro category will
represent the Sultanate in the regional
finals hosted in Dubai. Runner up Arif Al
Balushi will also head to the regional finals
leading up to the announcement of the new
Regional King of Drift.
Only 15 of the countrys best elite drivers
were selected to compete in the fifth season
of the Red Bull Car Park Drift. With their
specially modified cars, drivers managed
to take on the twists and turns of the track
with exceptional precision, while drawing
the admiration of cheering spectators.
Sooner after being announcing as the
winner, Ali Al Balushi said: I am very excited
to have won for the second year in a row. I
knew there was a lot of strong competition
but I felt that a lot of spectators were with
me because of last years win. Last year I
came third in the Regional Finals in Dubai
and I hope this year I have a chance at
coming first.
The competition took place on a track
designed by Lebanese Rally Champion and
Red Bull face Abdo Feghali. The technical
aspects of the competition were also
supervised Feghali. The panel of judges
evaluated the drivers performances based
of specific criteria. The final score was based
on five factors; 50 per cent allocated to
the art of drift while the remaining score is
equally divided between the engines roar
and tyres smoke, crowds reaction, the
appearance of the car, front clipping point
and rear clipping point.
Preparations are now underway in Dubai for
the Red Bull car park drift regional finals. In
addition to the Sultanate of Oman, Egypt,
Tunisia, Mauritius, Jordon, Lebanon, the
regional tour of the Red Bull Car Park Drift
2014 will visit Turkey and Kuwait before
reaching the final round for the battle of the
regional title. The Red Bull Car Park Drift was
held in partnership with Ford Middle East,
Nawras, Ministry of Tourism among others.
| www.automan.me | NOV 2014
After the qualifier, an evening Meet and

Greet was hosted by Ford in their Wattayah
Showroom with Abdo Feghali. Feghali judged
a car show with prizes being awarded for the
oldest Mustang and the best customised
Mustang along with a photography and
signing session.
10 Qs with felix weller
You left Audi, an established German

premium manufacturer with a very wide
range of products [Audi is much larger
the GMs luxury brand] and services to
join Cadillac. What made you do so?
Cadillac is one of the most iconic
automotive brands out there. There is a
clear strategy to grow the brand globally,
the current and future product line up is
the strongest the brand has ever had. Its
an exciting time for the brand, a unique
chance to be part of this path in the
region, and a great personal challenge.
As Cadillac is in the process of reinventing
itself, especially its identity, beginning
with the new logo, what will be its
positioning Luxury or premium?
Cadillacs focus is the premium market.
Our heritage combined with the bold
new design language, the integration
of technology and the dynamic driving
experience are putting us up there with
the best. The new logo is the herald of a
new and exciting chapter for Cadillac.
How will you take Cadillac forward in the
Middle East?
We have a clear growth strategy for the
region. Together with our partners in the
dealership, we are planning to double our
volume by 2020.
2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe

officially launched
The sixth new model in Cadillacs regional
line-up, the ATS Coupe has arrived. Felix
Weller, the newly-appointed regional sales
and marketing director for Cadillac in the
Middle East introduced the new arrival at
the formal media launch event last month
which was held at the Waldorf Astoria Ras
Al Khaimah resort. The rear wheel drive
coupe is an extension of the entry level
ATS family and will be offered in the region
with the top end 3.6-litre V6 engine mated
to 6-speed automatic transmission. The
product launch event also gave Weller the
opportunity to share Cadillacs vision for
future growth and reflect on the brands
performance for 2014. [Eds note: see first
drive report in this issue of Automan]
10 | www.automan.me | NOV 2014
Q: What are your key priorities and how

will you address them?
We have identified four key focus areas:
The further expansion of our product
line up we have exciting new
products coming up, four launches are
planned for the next two years
Working with our partners in the
network to ensure the best customer
experience in sales and service
Our ownership experience we
are looking at constantly improving
our offer to our valued customers,
for example through our Cadillac
Premium Care program with four
years warranty, free service and
roadside assistance
And of course, and most importantly,
our customers. We know their
expectations and we want to develop
the right communication channels
and interaction points. We will ensure
that our products and services fit their
lifestyles
What organizational changes have been
effected at your end?
We have already implemented the
separation of the Cadillac brand in General
Motors Middle East. My newly formed
team and I are focusing specifically on
the brand. This is in line with the reorganization that has happened in the US
and globally.
In your opinion, what are the key
differences you find working in a German
Felix Weller
Regional Sales and

Marketing Director for Cadillac
vs American set-up?
I can see that there is a stronger focus
on developing talent with General
Motors, with a lot of back up from top
management. German manufacturers
have a very good grip on processes
something that I have learned in my time
with them and that I could bring into
the game when we set up the Cadillac
strategy.
address overseas or specific market

requirements?
With the re-organization, we have a
direct communication channel to our top
management in Detroit and New York.
The Middle East is the third biggest export
market for Cadillac and we have already
started to cooperate closely with our
counterparts in the US to ensure that our
requirements are reflected.
In this part of the world, the

demand for top-tier premium
vehicles is growing fast. At
Cadillac, we, together with our
dealer partners, understand
what premium customers
want and need: our extensive
portfolio of products and
roster of after-sales services
are tailored-made to befit their
lifestyles. This ethos is what
will continue to guide the
brands overall direction for
the region
Can Cadillac become a true global player?

Absolutely. The brand has an enormous
heritage, and with the direction that
Johan De Nysschen and his team are
currently taking, I have no doubt that we
will succeed. I am sure you will hear more
about the global strategy for Cadillac in
the next weeks and months.
What product support are you getting

from Cadillac in the next few years?
We have four exciting products coming in
2015: the V series for ATS, ATS Coupe and
CTS are making their way into the region.
On top of that, our new top-of-the-range
CT6 will be presented next year we are
very excited to launching these vehicles.
On top of that, we are working on some
surprises for the Dubai Motor Show next
year.
Often, American car manufacturers
are accused of building cars for North
American markets and then exporting
them to other markets. How will Cadillac
Where do you think Cadillac, as a brand

will be positioned in the next five years in
the region?
2015 is going to be a big year for us. We
have a lot planned for the brand and this
will help us in paving the way for future
growth. I believe firmly that in five years
Cadillac will be considered as a first choice
for premium car customers in the region.
The launch of the all-new 2015 ATS Couple
marks the first of four new models to be
introduced in the region in the next two
years. In addition to helping Cadillac reach
new market segments, this impressive
line-up will further cement the brands
iconic reputation, dotted with bold
designs, sophisticated engineering and
advanced technology.
Cadillac, which already offers all customers
a comprehensive after sales program and
owner ship benefits, will continue to focus
and expand on premium service, caring
for its existing customers and introducing
new ones to its line-up of vehicles.
With pioneering product launches in the
pipeline and premium after-sales services,
Cadillac is expecting significant growth in
the Middle East in the coming years.
Nov 2014 | www.automan.me | 11
2015 Triumph motorcycles now in Oman
Improved Hyundai Santa Fe

on sale in region
UAE dealer introduces 2015

Lexus IS 250 F Sport
Al-Futtaim Motors, the exclusive
distributor of Lexus in the UAE, is among
the first to introduce the 2015 Lexus
IS 250 with F Sport features. The car is
aimed for motorists looking for high
performance and outstanding design. The
IS 250 F Sport comes in bespoke exterior
and interior colours and features special
alloy wheel design, unique mesh grille,
sporty spoilers, paddle shifters, as well as
F Sport - pedals, steering wheel, seats and
exclusive badging. In addition, the F Sport
comes with an innovative and exclusive
Lexus LFA inspired meter cluster. The
rear-wheel drive car is powered by high
output version of the 2.5-litre V6 petrol
engine which features technologies like
direct injection and Dual VVT-i (Variable
Valve Timing-intelligent) to both intake
and exhaust camshafts. It develops 207
hp at 6,400 rpm and 250 Nm of torque at
4,800 rpm, accelerating from 0-100 km/h
in 8.1secs and giving a maximum speed of
225 km/h when using a close-ratio 6-speed
automatic transmission with sequential
manual shifting mode. It incorporates
numerous technologies including faster
shift speeds, earlier torque converter
lock-up and downshift throttle blips
to support the range of driving modes
available through the Drive Mode Select
system. UAE price of the car begins at AED
190,000.
Hyundais Santa Fe crossover SUV has

been on sale since August 2012 and
following feedback from media and
consumers, the carmaker has addressed
most of the issues related to performance
and practicality. The cars handling and
responsiveness has been improved
with features like Flex Steer and the
introduction of a Sport Mode. Engaging
sports mode now provides a stiffer
suspension and more stable feeling
while driving. On the practical front, the
panoramic sunroof sees that the glass and
screen shut separately and are operational
for 30secs after the driver has turned the
ignition off. Meanwhile, the power tailgate
is programmed to open automatically if
the driver has full hands and is within a
metre distance of the rear of the vehicle.
No revisions have been made to the
powertain and the revisited Santa Fe is
now available in the region.
Alfardan Motors, the official importers

of Triumph Motorcycles in Oman has
some exciting news to share with
motorcycle aficionados in the Sultanate
for the coming year. The motorcycle
line-up for 2015 will be an extensive
model range that includes 27 individual
models encompassing Cruisers, Tourers,
Supersports, classics as well as adventure
motorcycles,
Commenting on the 2015 motorcycle

line-up, Muhanad Abualia, Manager of
Alfardan Motors said, For over 110 years
Triumph Motorcycles has produced
iconic bikes which perfectly blend
authentic design, character, charisma
and performance. With each passing year
these motorcycles evolve, raising the
industry benchmark in almost every two-
wheeled category the world over. I am

confident that with such a strong line-up
of models, Triumph will carry on this trend
in the Sultanate in 2015.
Forming the mainstay of the model lineup, Triumph cruisers offer surprising levels
of agility and performance in a bike that
can deliver an engaging ride every day;
doing so with that pure classic cruiser
style. In 2015 Triumph will be offering

nine cruiser ranging from the entry level
America to the ultimate Triumph Cruiser
the Rocket III Touring.
Meanwhile, the supersports motorcycles
are precision designed that feed every bit
of rider information directly to the rider,
responding to their every input and is
available in two flavours, the Daytona 675
or Daytona 675R. The Sprint GT SE and
Trophy SE Touring models have been built
to cross continents with a ride thats as
engaging as it is comfortable. Characterful
engine performance, sublime chassis

capabilities and supreme levels of rider
and pillion comfort combine to provide
bikes, perfectly suited to
all-day two-up touring.
Triumphs design approach to its roadsters
emphasize power, handling, dynamic feel
and exhaust note and hence have a look
thats muscular, hunched forward, mean
and aggressive profile: the Street Triple,
Street Triple R, Speed Triple and Speed
Triple R. With the exception of the Speed
Triple R, each of the roadsters have also
each received refreshed styling as well as

new colour options for 2015.
Completing the classic range including the
Bonneville, Bonneville T100, Bonneville
T100 Black, Thruxton and Scrambler. The
adventure side of riding is represented
by five available models: Tiger 800,
Tiger 800XC, Tiger Sport, Tiger Explorer
and Tiger Explorer XC. According to
the dealership, the 2015 model range is
now available for sale from the multibrand motorcycle showroom located in
Wattayah.
Maserati Quattroporte with V6 comes to Oman

Maserati has announces the arrival of a
new entry-level engine for its flagship
luxury sedan, the Quattroporte. The
3.0-litre twin turbocharged V6 engine
offers 330hp. The new variant will be
available as an addition to the
existing portfolio of the
530hp V8 Maserati
Quattroporte
GTS and the 410hp V6 Quattroporte S.

The Maserati Quattroporte is produced
in Grugliasco, Italy and comes with a
three-year service and maintenance
package as a standard. Prices start from
OMR 37,900.
Michelin introduces new

SUV tyre
For the regions lifestyle SUV users, tyre

maker Michelin has introduced its new
Latitude Sport 3 tyre. According to the
manufacturer, the new tyre offers SUV
drivers with both safety and exciting
drivability. Designed entirely for onroad use, the tyre delivers superior
performance in the areas of safety, total
mileage, comfort and noise. At Michelin,
we are dedicated to sustainably improving
mobility and developing innovative tyre
technology to meet the demand of a
dynamic automotive industry, said Hany
Abdulsamad, marketing manager for
Michelin in the UAE and Oman.
GMC has announced Dr. Mohammad Al

Redha, Director of the Health Data and
Information Analysis Department at the
Dubai Health Authority, as its new brand
ambassador for the Middle East.
Land Rover staged the public debut of the

2015 Discovery Sport on an 80m long specially
prepared barge in Paris. The barge traveled down
the Seine river and onlookers were treated to a
dynamic debut as the Discovery Sport tackled
steep inclines and a water pit. British supermodel
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley also made a cameo
appearance as did seven pairs of brightly coloured,
giant-sized Wellington boots which represent the
models seven-seat interior. As we have previously
reported, the Discovery Sport models will powered
by either a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder
petrol engine that develops 240bhp and 338Nm of
torque or a 2.2-litre SD4 turbo diesel engine that
produces 190PS.
Jaguar Land Rover is getting serious about

global expansion, and that means it cant
only build its vehicles in the UK anymore.
The British automaker is cutting the
ribbon at its new plant in China tomorrow,
marking the opening of its first factory
outside the UK. In 2016, it will open
another factory in Brazil. But the latest
information doing the rounds is that JLR is
looking into a US production facility too.
The report indicates that the company is
evaluating locations for a North American
factory, with options centering around
Southern right-to-work states like South
Carolina, where BMW operates its plant
in Spartanburg and a wide array of other
automotive operations are based as well.
The JLR plant would reportedly ramp up
to a capacity of 200,000 units per year.
In related news, while that new plant
JLR is inaugurating in Changshu, China,
is initially slated to produce the Range
Rover Evoque, it is also expected to start
building the new Discovery Sport as well.
First production Land Rover

Discovery Sport rolls out
Barely, a few weeks after making its motor

show debut at Paris last month, the first
Land Rover Discovery Sport has rolled
off the Halewood production line. Ian
Harnett, Jaguar Land Rovers Purchasing
Director said: A strong, competitive
supply chain, meeting our rigorous cost
and delivery metrics, is fundamental to the
sustainable growth of our business. With
many more new products in the pipeline,
gearing up to supply Jaguar Land Rover is
a solid business proposition.
The Kaikoura Stone HSE Luxury
specification car was officially handed over
to Stephen Attenborough, commercial
director at Virgin Galactic to support Land
Rovers long-term global partnership with
Richard Bransons pioneering commercial
spaceline.
brandwatch
Breaking news
news
Impressive world debut for

Land Rover Discovery Sport in France
Hyundais performance push could mean new sports models

Its now clear that Hyundai wants to
build more performance-focused cars.
The South Korea-based automaker has
already confirmed it is preparing to
introduce a hot-rodded variant of the
new i20 hatchback aimed squarely at
the Ford Fiesta ST. Now, reports are
emerging from reliable sources that the
brand is considering adding a new sports
car to its global portfolio of models.
The yet-unnamed car will slot beneath
the Genesis
Coupe but
Hyundai is clear that it will not be seen as a

direct successor to the Coupe/Tiburon that
was sold until 2008. Allan Rushforth, the
former senior vice president of Hyundais
European arm said: Cars like these, such as
the Audi TT, create a huge demand when
theyre new but then that dies off quickly.
Its about demographics, too.
Rushforth also hinted that Hyundais
upcoming sports car could borrow
a noticeable amount of design cues
from the PassoCorto concept that was
presented at the Geneva Motor Show
last March which was penned jointly by
Hyundai and the IED design school in
Turin. In terms of architecture, it was
a small, low-slung two-seater coupe
powered by a mid-mounted engine.
It may be recalled that at the Busan
motorshow earlier in the year, Hyundai
did showcase a mid-ship Veloster concept
[left].
Cadillac announces new models

Cadillac CEO Johan de Nysschen says
hes planning a blitz of new products
to expand the Cadillac portfolio by 2020.
Besides moving Cadillacs headquarters to
New York, and overhauling the companys
naming structure, Cadillac has aspirations
to become a global premium player.
In an interview with media, de Nysschen
says his company has just signed off on
a new flagship tipped to be called CT8
or CT9. It will compete with the long-
wheelbase versions of the Mercedes-Benz

S-Class and BMW 7 Series, and should
come to market by the end of this decade.
And in addition to offering several variants
of its forthcoming CT6 sedan, including a
plug-in hybrid, Cadillac will also introduce a
battery-electric vehicle and a successor to
the ELR. These models would contribute
to expanding the Cadillac product count
from five to 10 models over the next six
years.
Porsche admits mistakes with the

Panamera
At the sidelines during the Paris Motor Show last month Porsche
CEO Matthias Mller candidly admitted that some mistakes were
made during the Gen I Panameras development. The second
generation Panamera is due in 2016 and Matthias Mller has
promised that the first-gens glitches will be fixed appropriately.
Mller acknowledged there have been some mistakes with
the first generation, pointing out the exterior and interior design
could be better.
The second generation Panamera will have a faster roofline
and based on spy shots appearing on the net, the incoming car
will get a sleeker appearance without shaving off rear headroom
while the cars overall dimensions will be virtually the same.
Mller also hinted that designers had created a very unique
shape for the new Panamera that hasnt been done so far in
this segment but is sure a lot of people wont like the design of
the next generation. It seems that Mller prefers coming out
with a polarizing design rather than just playing it safe.
The Gen II Panamera will ride on the MSB platform and should
lose weight while power is expected to come from a new range
of in-house developed V6 and V8 engines compatible with both
rear- and all-wheel drive systems.
Montezemolo hits back at critics
Luca di Montezemolo has hit back at suggestions he was

ousted as Ferrari president because of the Italian teams
struggles.A lack of results? the 67-year-old, who was recently
replaced by Fiats Sergio Marchionne. Remember that since
1999 we won 14 titles in 15 years. Fortunately or unfortunately,
sport is not an exact science, and in formula one there are
cycles. Ours was very long.
In the last years we are the team that won the most. In 2008
and in 2010 and 2012 we lost the championship in the last race.
The most disappointing was the last one, but thats sport.
Renault had its cycle for two years, were coming out of Red
Bulls and into Mercedes. Now Ferrari opens a new cycle with
a lot of work and investment taking into account that todays
cars are hybrids, he said. Montezemolo said the most disappointing thing about his departure
was the manner in which it took place.
Ive always had a very strong relationship with the Agnelli family, he said, and I think I did
something important in 2004, when I agreed to be chairman of Fiat in extremely dramatic
circumstances. Perhaps a thank you in the least would have been expected.
I do not hide that I was not very pleased about how, but it is part of life and it is right that it is
the owner who can make decisions, Montezemolo added. He explained that his removal as
president was related to parent group Fiat-Chryslers debut on the New York stock exchange.
Everything happened a little fast in relation to the listing of Fiat-Chrysler on the American stock
exchange which happened last month.
Marchionne to retire in 2018?
The end is in sight for Fiat Chrysler boss Sergio

Marchionne, who confirmed in an interview with
journalists that once FCAs sweeping five-year plan
is completed, hed be stepping down from his post.
That would mean that Marchionne should finish up
after 2018 if all goes according to plan. Marchionne has
been at Fiat since June of 2004 and is one of the chief
architects behind the Italian companys acquisition of
Chrysler told reporters: Its as important to walk away
from the table as it is to sit down. As for who will
replace Marchionne, Fiat Chairman John Elkann pointed
out that it wont be him. Elkann said that potential
replacements for Marchionne could include Jeep boss
Mike Manley, Fiats Brazilian and European executives
Cledorvino Belini and Alfredo Altavilla.
Red letter day for FCA @ NYSE
Last month, it was a red letter day for

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and CEO Sergio
Marchionne, because the company
officially started trading on the New York
Stock Exchange under the ticker FCA. The
event also represents a milestone in the
resurrection of Chrysler and survival of Fiat
that seemed unlikely five years ago, when
Fiat and the US government bailed out the
American automaker.
Marchionne has grand plans for growing
Fiat Chrysler even though the company
faces several marketing obstacles like
the slowdown in European car sales and
a delay in the return of Alfa Romeo to
the US market until at least 2016. But
Marchionne has an ambitious agenda
for offsetting, if not overcoming, those
problems as well as other challenges.
Before Marchionne retires in 2018, he
plans to spend about $60bn adding more
than 30 models across the company in
the next four years. To critics who say
this is all a reach too far, Marchionne told
reporters: If you dream of peanuts, you
get monkeys.
Indias Mahindra to take

stake in Peugeot Scooters
Peugeots two-wheel division is Europes
second-largest scooter maker behind
Italys Piaggio, but the company
isnt a moneymaker. PSA PeugeotCitron already lost a lot of control
of its automotive business earlier this
year when Dongfeng and the French
government each bought 14 per cent
shares. Meanwhile, the scooter division
which is also one of the oldest in the world
[founded in 1898] is also facing a similar
situation. However, Indian motoring giant
Mahindra has offered to buy out 51per
cent of its share worth $35.5mn. The first
rumblings of the possible purchase came
just a few weeks ago and should all go
wheel, the deal could be completed in
three months.
Toyota GT86 will get a

successor
Toyota Motor Europe Executive Vice
President of Sales and Marketing
confirmed recently that the carmaker is
pretty serious about keeping the GT 86
pure and keeping a car like that in their
lineup. Karl Schlicht went on to say the
company wants to keep fun cars in their
portfolio as dropping them would hurt the
companys image in the long run. When
asked for more details, Schlicht confirmed
plans for a second-generation GT 86 were
on and that the current model has to go
through its usual lifecycle first.
Interbrand 2014 Best Global Brands

study results announced
Aston Martin still loses money on cars

Aston Martins current line-up may be
the best its ever had, but that doesnt
mean the British sports car maker is
making money.
Despite having the Vantage, DB9,
Vanquish and Rapide dream machines
and global sales up from 3,800 to 4,200
units in 2013, the company accounts
reveal that it lost $41mn in 2013, but
that pretax figure is actually a third
lower than in 2012 while revenue
was up by 12.6 per cent. The Kuwaitiowned British manufacturer blames
its losses on the still troubled global

economy, acknowledging that its seen
a small recovery in the ultra-high-end
segment of the market. To put it all in
perspective, $41 million in losses on
4,200 units works out to around $9,700
lost per vehicle sold.
Astons CFO, Hanno Kirner is hoping for
a big bounce back by 2016. Meanwhile,
Astons fortunes in the US remain
uncertain due to new federal sideimpact legislation and as a low volume
producer, Aston has filed for exemption.
Totals CEO Christophe de

Margerie dies in plane crash
In a freak accident, Christophe de
Margerie, the chief executive of French
oil company Total, has died in an air
crash in Moscow. Apparently, de
Margeries corporate jet was trying to
take off at Vnukovo airport and collided
with a snow plough on the runway
and then was engulfed in flames. All
four people on board were killed. de
Margerie, 63, had been chief executive
of Europes third largest oil company
since 2007. He was highly regarded
within the oil industry.
Nismo Note launched for JDM
Ferrari celebrates 60th year in North America with

special edition
To celebrate Ferraris 60th year in North
America, Maranello has returned to its
1950s and 60s tradition of producing
strictly limited edition, built-to-order
cars. The result is the F60America,
of which just 10 will be produced.
The new car combines our American
clients two great passions the V12
engine and open-top driving and is
being unveiledtomorrow evening at an
anniversary celebration gala dinner at
Beverly Hills City Hall. The decision to
produce such a strictly limited edition

pays homage to another great tradition.
Just 10 F60Americas will be built as was
the case, for example, with the 1967 275
GTS4 NART Spider, the open version of
the 275 GTB4 that the importer, Luigi
Chinetti, specifically requested from
Enzo Ferrari for his US clients. The
F60America is powered by Ferraris
award-winning mid-front-mounted V12
which enables the car to sprint from 0
to 100 km/h in just 3.1secs.
Following an announcement made late

July, Nissan has introduced in Japan the
Nismo and Nismo S versions of the Note
hatchback. These two cars come with a
more aggressive body finished in grey,
black silver or white with red accents.
They ride on 16in wheels (17in for Nismo S)
and both benefit from suspension tweaks,
a shark fin antenna, LED daytime running
lights. The S also has stiffer braces along
with aluminium pedals, sportier gauge
cluster, suede upholstery and bespoke
shift knob. The Note Nismo is powered by
a standard 1.2-litre engine mated to a CVT
whereas the Note Nismo S comes with
a 1.6-litre engine mated to a five-speed
manual gearbox. This engine offers 138bhp
at 6,400 rpm [29bhp more than the stock
engine]. Aside from the beefier motor, the
Note Nismo S also comes with a sportier
exhaust system, a high-flow intake
manifold and brake discs on all wheels.
The Best Global Brands study is

Interbrands annual report on the
worlds 100 most valuable brands.
Interbrands method looks at the
ongoing investment and management
of the brand as a business asset, taking
into account financial performance, the
role of brand in the purchase decision
process, and the strength of the brand.
Only 13 automotive brands cracked
the top 100. Toyota remained the most

valuable automotive brand worldwide
for the 11th straight year in Interbrands
new ranking of the 100 Best Global
Brands. But Audi, Volkswagen and Nissan
comprised a trio of top risers that are
pushing the envelope and mixing the
picture for car brands worldwide.
Here are the results rank-wise.
Mercedes-Benzs SUV
renaming plan detailed
Rank
Brand
Value
% movement
Status
Toyota
$42.4bn
up 20%
10
Mercedes-Benz
$34.3bn
up 8%
11
BMW
$34.2bn
up 7%
20
Honda
$21.7bn
up 17%
31
VW
$13.7bn
up 23%
Top Riser
39
Ford
$10.9bn
up 18%
40
Hyundai
$10.4bn
up 16%
45
Audi
$9.8bn
up 27%
Top Riser
56
Nissan
$7.6bn
up 23%
Top Riser
60
Porsche
$7.2bn
up 11%
Lately we have been hearing rumours

about Mercedes-Benzs decision
to rename their crossover and SUV
offerings. This is being done in order
to better reflect their size more clearly
to customers. All high-riding models
will use the GL designation followed
by a third letter which will represent
the position of the model. This has
already happened with the GLA
which is related to the A-Class and will
be followed by the GLK that will be
renamed GLC in relation to the C-Class.
Using the same formula, the M-Class is
set to become GLE as a connection to
the E-Class. Theres also going to be a
GLE Coupe (previously known as ML
Coupe) and lastly, the bigger GL will
be renamed GLS as a reference to the
S-Class.
Kia to produce 5-door GT
Kia Motors has ambitions to enter the

four-door coupe market in the near future
and the model they want to promote is
none other than a production version of
its GT Concept from the 2011 Frankfurt
Motor Show. Kia executives at that Paris
Motor Show strongly hinted that the GT
finally has been given the green light for
production and given the speed at which
things are done at Kia, the car could
arrive as early as in 2016 in key markets.
While, Kia would focus the GTs marketing
primarily in the US market, but a European
version with a diesel is also a possibility.
This means that Kia has set its sights on
the Audi A7 and Porsche Panamera. In
concept form, the rear wheel drive GT
sported a 389hp 3.3-litre turbocharged V6
engine mated to an eight-speed automatic
transmission.
Spotlight
news
Over thirty three mainstream global automotive brands kept audiences on their
feet with captivating presentations at this years Paris Mondial. In two press days,
worlds automakers revealed more than 100 cars, from the outrageously powerful
to exotic hybrids and some quirky city-cars in-between
Author and photography: Chandan B Mallik
As always, The
Mondial de
lAutomobile halls are
packed with lavish
stands hosting the
best new production
and concept cars.
The elaborately
planned press days
was designed to give
all the manufacturers
and participants
their moment in the
limelight. Here are the
key highlights from
the show.
Audi
Bugatti
Audi has been hinting at extending the TT family with

new bodystyles and kept true to its promise. The
four-ringed brand showcased their new TT Sportback
Concept, which is essentially a four-door TT. With
the TT Sportback Concept, Audi attempts to create
a niche with a time tested formula. It took the small
sports car and made it a bit longer, a bit wider, and
added two doors. This car is powered by a 400 hp
version of the familiar turbocharged, direct-injected
four-cylinder engine. It will not come as a surprise
that a production version closely resembling the TT
Sportback Concept will follow in the coming months.
Audi also officially unveiled the facelifted A6 line-up.
The sixth and final member of the Les Lgendes de Bugatti

collection -- the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Ettore Bugatti
special edition which was originally shown at the Pebble
Beach Concours dElegance had its European outing at
Paris. The Ettore Bugatti Edition is powered by a quadturbocharged 8.0-litre W16 engine that produces 1,200PS and
1,500Nm of torque. It is connected to a seven-speed dualclutch transmission which enables the car to accelerate from
0-100km/h in just 2.6secs and hit a top speed of up to 408.84
km/h with its roof down.
Bentley
Bentley officially unveiled the Mulsanne Speed variant at

the show and described it as the pinnacle flagship of the
brand. The Mulsanne Speed features a familiar design but is
distinguished by a dark tinted matrix grille and 21in forged alloy
wheels. The car also has rifled exhaust tailpipes and tinted
head- and tailllamps. Interior changes are more dramatic. The
cars the 6.75-litre V8 engine has been tuned to produce 530
bhp and 1,100 Nm of torque. It is connected to a recalibrated
eight-speed automatic transmission that has an S mode
gives that maintains the engine speed above 2,000 rpm so
the turbochargers are always ready to deliver instantaneous
performance. This setup enables the car to accelerate from
0-60 mph in 4.8 secs before hitting a top speed of 305km/h.
Aston Martin
While the no-show of the

Lagonda was expected, Aston
Martin did officially unveil the
V12 Vantage S Roadster. On sale
to order, the model is described
as the companys most potent,
quickest and fastest-accelerating
series production convertible
yet. The UK-based brands
Vanquish Coupe and Volante
were unveiled in new Carbon
Edition guise ahead of the show.
Citron
Homegrown brand Citroen used Paris to

its full advantage and revealed one of the
craziest ideas in motoring. The brands
most exciting cars exhibited at the show
without any doubt was the Divine DS
concept. Although it does not preview a
production model, it represents a vision
of the DS brand. This means that the
Divine DS concept may never be built
or sold as a production car, but a lot of
its intriguing design details could make
their way onto the road in future cars. We
wont be particularly surprised if elements
from this angular, edgy, near reptilian
look creep into production cars, especially
since DS plans to double its line-up from
three to six models in the coming years.
Citroen also unveiled the C1 Urban Ride
which is mechanically based on the new
C1. The Urban Ride concept follows in the
footsteps of the Opel / Vauxhall Adam
Rocks and features a rugged exterior with
plastic body cladding, silver skid plates and
a retractable cloth roof. Citroen also tried
to change peoples perceptions with the
C4 Cactus AIRFLOW 2L concept, that fuel
efficient cars can also be exciting.
BMW
BMW has introduced the first ever 2-Series
Cabriolet, its smallest open-top. Compared
to the defunct 1-Series Convertible, the
new model benefits from extra insulation
which has slashed interior noise by 5 dB
in the front and 7 dB at the back, thanks
to its multi-layer fabric roof. And after the
new X5 and its the turn of the new BMW
X6 coupe crossover to take its share of the
spotlight.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

The multibranded franchise was represented by several of its
Euro-centric brands Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia in particular.
Fiat enters the crossover action with the new 500X. The
Fiat Sedici replacement is amore retro version of the Jeep
Renegade and joins an ever-expanding Cinquecento lineup
alongside the 500, 500C and 500L models. From the US Jeep
stable, newsworthy items included the recently introduced
Renegade and a special Wrangler which is product of a joint
venture between Jeep, Mopar, and Centro Stile. The high riding
Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Stealth one-off wears a variety of
off-roading gadgets, such as strengthened Rubicon bumpers,
rock rails, a raised ride kit, 17in rims with 37in tyres and an LED
light bar. Jeep also announced a special Red Vapour edition of
its Grand Cherokee SRT.
Kia
After several rounds of teasers and preshow release of basic details, Kia finally
revealed the European version of its
revised crossover at Paris. It seems that
for the latest Sorento, Kia has borrowed
a few of the elements from the Cross
GT concept and adapts them for the
road. The new model grows by about
3.7in overall with roughly three inches
more wheelbase and is offered in both
5- and 7-seating configurations. The new
production model has the brands familiar
mesh grille up front and headlamps that
wrap around the body with large foglamps
below. It features a modified version of
the concepts swept-back stance that
thankfully removes the awkwardness from
the original design. Kia says that shaping
the latest crossover was truly a global
effort with input coming from Korea,
Germany and the US. Kia also showcased
a revised version of the Rio compact and
Venga small MPV. Kia is definitely showing
a big focus on styling and design in its
cars. Kia also unveiled its Optima T-Hybrid
concept, following an online reveal at the
end of September.
Jaguar
Its no secret that UKs Jaguar

has been on a roll this past year,
putting the terrific F-Type sports
car on the market and making
us shiver with delight at the
resurrected racing version of the
iconic E-Type. Now its making
good on its plans to expand
into more segments with the
XE, an all-new midsize sedan
set to compete with the BMW
3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes
C-Class. After the London debut
last month to selected guests
and VIPs, Paris was the cars first
official public debut.
In the line-up its the smallest
of Jaguars sedans, fitting into
the range below the XF and XJ.
Its also the first production
model to use Jaguars scalable
aluminium architecture thats
intended to reduce weight,
yet increase flexibility for both
engineers and designers. At
4,672mm long, 1,850mm wide
and 1,416mm tall, its dimensions
are incredibly close that that
of the latest C-Class. However,
although pitched into the
mainstream of the mid-size exec
segment, the XEs new platform
helps give cab-rearward
proportions closer to that of
niche models like BMWs 4
Series Gran Coupe.
Up front, the lamps follow
the theme of the latest XF,
with J-shaped DRLs, while the
creases that run from the lamps
to the upright grille appear
to create a more cohesive
relationship than on the larger
XJ. Although not exactly a retro
mobile, the XE references the
E-Type with the power bulge in
the hood and LED signature in
the tail-lamps.
The most aerodynamic Jag
ever produced, the XE packs
a supercharged 3.0-litre V6
engine that will send it from
0 to 60 mph in 4.9secs. In
the event of a collision with
a pedestrian, the uniquely
designed aluminium bonnet
automatically pops up a few
millimeters, creating a cushion
of air between the relatively
soft metal and the much harder
engine underneath. Also on
display were the F-Type Project
7 and performance versions of
the sedans.
Land Rover
The brand is now more focused and clear

with the three family sub names [Range
Rover, Discover and Land Rover] that
represent clear cut, yet non-overlapping
product lines. The latest addition to
the Land Rover family is the Discovery
Sport, which is a 7-seater crossover.
Designed from ground up on the firms
latest scalable platform, designers
have blended very well modernity and
traditional elements in this package. Also
on display were the Range Rover SVR
high performance SUV and probably the
last of the current Land Rover production
Defenders.
Maserati
Lexus
A Maserati Ghibli S Q4 by Ermenegildo

Zegna was presented as a bespoke
concept. This car stood out from the
rest of the current Ghibli range due to
its special colour finishes, materials and
trims. Maserati says that this exercise was
intended to showcase the brands first
milestone towards its renewed future
product line-up. The car is powered by the
high-performance 410 hp/550Nm V6 twinturbo engine, with Q4 four wheel drive,
ensuring 0-100 km/h acceleration in just
4.8secs. Meanwhile, other regular models
included the MC Stradale and once again
the Alferi concept.
Lexus has big ambitions for Europe as

far as numbers go. It wants to sell at
least 50,000 units by 2015, going up to
65,000 by 2016 and 100,000 in 2020.
As a result, a product offensive is also
expected. Meanwhile, the Mystery
Concept that Lexus has been teasing
was revealed as the new mid-sized
NX crossover. On debut, the new NX
will available with two powertrains: a
2.5-litre full hybrid drivetrain in the NX
300h and a newly developed 2.0-litre
petrol turbo engine mated with a new
6-speed automatic transmission in the
NX 200t. The NX will be offered with
Front and All-Wheel Drive systems.
Also on display were the new RC F and
RC 300h models.
Mercedes-Benz
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors presented perhaps

the most impressive facelift of a car in its
Outlander plug-in hybrid as the Concept
S PHEV. The concept adopts a fresh front
fascia with an X layout and chrome
accents, new and aggressive crease lines,
an Americanised front and rear end with
horizontal LED strip lamps sign off the
refreshed design. The second concept SUV
in red, the XR PHEV is said to give a hint
of the styling direction for the next ASX
crossover which is due for replacement
soon.
With most of its top end line-up already

introduced with the SLS AMG GT
and S-Class Coupe in particular in nnautomotive events recently, the venue
didnt stop Dieter Zetsche, chairman
of Daimler to introduce the MercedesAMG GT and the C 63 AMG. Meanwhile,
Mercedes has gone up one step by
introducing a range of styling accessories
for the C-Class sedan. And after last
months online reveal, Mercedes-Benz
also introduced the facelifted for 2015
B-Class. Mercedes-Benz is also showcased
the C63 AMG sports sedan and wagon
variants [standard and S] along with
the other members of this family. The
introduction of the GT was another
opportunity for Mercedes to remind
everyone that the collaboration with its
AMG performance arm on models like
the GT and its Formula One cars which
now represent a separate profitable sub
brand.
MINI
Two cars one a production and the other a one-off concept

were among the key highlights of this BMW Group-owned
British brand. The 2015 MINI five-door hatchback had its
premiere and is a car designed for regular MINI users who
need the extra two rear doors. The bigger hatchback comes
with a hardtop and will be offered in regular and Cooper
variants. The Superleggera concept was also presented as a
design study.
Mazda
2014 is a momentous year for Hiroshima,

Japan-based Mazda Motor Corporation. Just a
month after revealing the latest reincarnation
of one of the most beloved sports cars ever,
Mazda used the Paris Motor Show to tell us
the MX-will be powered by a sub 2.0-litre fourcylinder turbocharged engine. First revealed
last month at Mazdas new facility the Mazda
Space in Barcelona, the all-new MX-5 has
shed 100kg versus the outgoing model. The
model on display in Paris features SKYACTIV
Technology, including a SKYACTIV-G 1.5 petrol
engine and six-speed SKYACTIV-MT manual
gearbox in the roadsters classic front-midship engine, rear-wheel drive layout with near
perfect 50:50 front-rear weight distribution.
Its designers came up with a breathtakingly
sporty KODO Soul of Motion design for
the exterior, with a lower centre of gravity
and longer bonnet along with character
lines expressing vitality and motion. Inside,
the new model retains the close-fitting yet
comfortable fit inherent to all MX-5s over the
years. But Mazda has also added state-of-the
art technology like i-ACTIVSENSE active safety
technology and MZD Connect, the companys
in-car connectivity concept.
The new MX-5 celebrates 25 years after the
original MX-5 was unveiled at the 1989 Chicago
Auto Show.
Nissan
While the Paris Mondial tends to focus on

the luxury and supercar segments, its nice
to see a break. CEO of Nissan Carlos Ghosn
not only introduced the C-segment Pulsar
hatchback on the floor but also unveiled
the sportier Pulsar Nismo Concept too.
With the Pulsar, Nissan is back in Europes
highly competitive C-segment and the
Nismo version of the Pulsar in satin grey
with contrasting red lines is indicative
of the aspiration of the company which
is looking to develop its Nismo line-up
with the ambition of delivering bold new
performance models to a new generation
of drivers including the C-segment. The
Nismo transforms the five-door Pulsar
with its aerodynamic flourishes, sitting
lower to the ground, and equipped with a
new suspension to keep it going on track
day. However, no powertrain details were
released for the Nismo Pulsar at the show.
Infiniti
Infiniti, Nissans luxury brand which now

has a technical tie-up with Daimler did
make an impression at the show with
its ambitiously named Q80 Inspiration
concept. This concepts design is a future
take on where the brand aspires to be
[with or without Sebastian Vettel]. Also on
display were the Q50 variants and QX70
SUVs.
Lamborghini
Italian supercar brand Lamborghini has opened

a new chapter in the companys history with
the launch of the companys first plug-in hybrid:
the Asterion LPI 910-4. Asterion is the name of
the mythical character, which is part man, part
bull a perfect hybrid. CEO Stephen Winkleman
described the car as a technology demonstrator
and it is built around a carbon fibre monocoque
chassis and features the V10 from the recently
introduced Huracan. This is assisted by three
electric motors; two mounted in the front wheels
and a third mounted alongside the conventional
petrol engine. The combined output is around 900
bhp. When needed the Hyper Cruiser has a pure
electric range of 50 km. This plug-in hybrid electric
charging bull delivers a remarkable efficiency
of 75mpg. No production plans have been
announced.
Hyundai
At the Paris presentation Hyundai made
it clear that its latest i20 is up to the task
because its designed in Europe specifically
with European buyers in mind. The new
i20 takes a small step a bit more upmarket
with features like LED front and rear
lighting and a rearview camera. However,
the biggest change is the jump in interior
room, as the wheelbase is now two inches
longer than before. This gives the hatch
best-in-class legroom and cargo capacity
with the rear seats up, according to
Hyundai. Rounding out the improvements
is an available panoramic sunroof that the
company also believes is unique for the
segment. The wheelbase is two-inches
longer than before, and the growth
gives the hatch best-in-class legroom and
cargo capacity with the rear seats up,
according to Hyundai. Rounding out the
improvements is an available panoramic
sunroof that the company also believes is
unique for the segment. Also on display
was the i20 WRC in racing livery.
SsanYong
Among the Asian surprises at Paris, South Koreas SSanYong

attracted a lot of attention with its XIV-Air concept. Designed
to preview a production model that will be launched in South
Korea early next year, the XIV-Air has a distinctive targa
roof that allows drivers to enjoy the benefits of open top
motoring. The crossover has also been equipped with HID
headlights, plastic body cladding and aggressive bumpers.
While, SsangYong isnt exactly known for creating fun and
exciting vehicles but the XIV-Air concept seems that the brand
is heading in a new youthful direction.
Suzuki
Honda
While Honda is quietly migrating its

sedans to CVT in the name of efficiency,
it was a welcome gesture at Paris where
the Japanese brand revealed that the
new Civic Type R. Last year Honda
confirmed ambitions for the Civic Type R
to become the fastest front wheel drive
car around the infamous Nurburgring
circuit in Germany. This incoming Type
R will be powered by a direct injection
turbocharged 2.0-litre engine and will
deliver at least 280 PS. The Type R has
already been put through its paces by
Hondas WTCC driver Gabriele Tarquini.
Also on show were three concepts [thinly
veiled production models] including the
CR-V, Jazz and HR-V. The regular HR-V
introduced is the European version of
Hondas compact SUV, also known as the
Vezel in Japan. The HR-V is scheduled to
go on sale in Europe next summer and
promises to provide one of the roomiest
and adaptable interior cabins in this
segment. At the show, Honda somehow
gave the impression of consolidation of its
line-up and also introduced the facelifted
Civic hatchback and wagon variants for
Europe.
Smart
Daimlers other
brand Smart showed
what amounts to a
completely new model
range in Paris with
its new city car and
supermini offerings.
Also included were
the Electric Smart
ForTwo and ForFour,
which will hit markets
in 2016. Smart says
the electric version
of all-new city car will
get brand new battery
technology.
Suzuki took the wraps off the new conservatively looking

Vitara SUV, which essentially is the production version of the
iV-4 concept, revealed in Frankfurt last year. The incoming
Vitara marks the return of Suzuki to its compact SUV roots
after a 25 year hiatus in Europe. The car comes with a toned
down styling that features a massive chrome radiator grille and
integrated LED daytime running lights in the front bumper.
Toyota
Toyota created quite a

bit of noise at Paris after
executives confirmed
the possibility of the
production version of the
futuristic C-HR concept.
Yes, were serious
about building it. Sure,
the concept car is a bit
exaggerated, you can
understand that its a bit
stretched... bigger wheels,
but most of this were
serious about putting into
production, siad Karl
Schlicht, the vice president
of Toyotas European arm.
The production version of
the C-HR will approximately
be 165inc long, making it
smaller than a RAV4 but
a couple of inches longer
than a Nissan Juke. The
concepts silhouette
will carry over to the
production model relatively
unchanged but designers
will graft on an extra set of
doors on the soft-roader
for practical reasons. The
crossover will ride on a
brand new platform that
will underpin a host of
upcoming Toyota and
possibly Lexus products.
Most models will come
with turbocharged fourcylinder petrol engines,
while the range-topping
models will be offered
with the next generation
of Toyotas petrol-electric
hybrid drivetrain.
Toyota also believes that
hydrogen is key to the
future of motoring and
hence the FCV Concept.
The unimaginatively named
fuel cell sedan made its
European debut in Paris.
On the technical front
Toyota says that the FCV
can drive 300 miles on
a full tank of hydrogen,
refill in just a few minutes,
and the exhaust pumps
out nothing but water
vapour. Downside of
the application of this
technology is that it is still
expensive with hydrogen
fuel hard to find and it is
not cheaper than regular or
natural gas.
Opel
Porsche
Just a few weeks ago, Porsche gave

motoring journalists a taste of the all-new
second generation Cayenne in Barcelona,
Spain. At the technical presentation out
there, Porsche had promised some more
news for the incoming model. Well, the
beans were spilled in Paris. The new
Cayenne S E-Hybrid joins the Panamera S
E-Hybrid and the 918 Spyder in Porsches
growing hybrid line-up. Based on the
recently updated Cayenne, it stands out
from the rest, thanks to the combination
of its supercharged 3.0-litre V6, eightspeed automatic transmission, 95hhp
electric motor and lithium-ion battery
pack. Thats more power than the
previous Cayenne S Hybrid, and can also
be topped off directly from the mains. As
of now, Porsche tops the hybrid list with
ever increasing models.
That Opel, General Motors European

arm was back in the business was evident
from two things at Paris. One was the
absence of Chevrolet which suggested
that theres now a hands-off approach
for the German brand, the introduction
of the all-new Corsa and Adam models
besides the appointment as brand
ambassador, Germanys super model Claudia Schiffer. Not surprising that the
presentation of Opel at the Paris motor
show was something of a marketing and
branding coup for Opel Chief Executive
Karl Thomas Neumann and Tina Mueller,
his chief marketing officer. The new
Opel Adam Rocks as a three-door urban
pocket-crossover opens up a new market
niche. Opel designers have developed
new design elements, dcors and seating
trims all unique to Adam Rocks which,
together with the Swing Top canvas roof
fitted as standard, give it its very own
chic charm. The latest member of Opels
urban lifestyle family is also powered by
an all-new three cylinder 1.0 ECOTEC direct
injection turbo engine.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen offered a first glimpse of

what is to come with the first public
unveil of the XL Sport show car which
combines the lightweight XL1 chassis with
a 200hp V-twin motorcycle engine from
Ducati. Thanks to the great performance
characteristics of thehigh-revving
desmodromic engine and the slippery
exterior design, the four-wheel XL Sport is
capable of a top speed of 270 km/h. Unlike
the XL1 which has limited production,
the XL Sport is a one-off for now with no
official plans for series production. VW also
showcased hybrid models of the Passat
besides the Polo GTI with a new engine.
The 1.4-litre TSI engine has been replaced
by a new 1.8-liter TSI that produces 192PS
and 320Nm of torque when connected to
the new six-speed manual transmission.
Interestingly, models equipped with the
seven-speed DSG will only produce 192PS
and 250Nm of torque. Up for order now,
the first deliveries are slated for February
2015. Meanwhile,the latest addition to
the Volkswagen Golf MkVII model line-up,
the Golf Alltrack was also features. Its
basically a jacked-up version of the Golf
Estate with mild off-road styling tweaks.
Volvo
A revived Volvo under Geely ownership
presented the most important new Volvo
-- the second-generation XC90. The new
XC90 is a three-row crossover for 2015 and
for Europe it drops the first-gen models
top-end, turbocharged six-cylinder in
favour of a more efficient single twincharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.
And by pairing that with a plug-in-electric
powertrain, the king of the XC90 range,
the T8 TwinEngine, will offer 400hp.
Also appearing on 2015 XC90 will be an
entirely new, Apple CarPlay-compatible
infotainment system with a big, vertical
touchscreen display at its heart. Based
on the demos that weve seen, the new
system looks responsive, feature-laden
and quite contemporary. And as part of
its future business direction, Volvo will
continue to banks a lot of its reputation on
safety. The new XC90 shows the Swedish
automakers intentions to eliminate
crash-related deaths in its cars by 2020.
The SUV is semi-autonomous, and has
an industry-first auto brake function that
stops drivers from making risky left hand
turns.
Renault
Renaults stand was huge and the brand
officially introduced the new generation
Espace people-mover. The flagship
Europe-market model has undergone
a comprehensive transformation
compared to its predecessor and now it
combines the sweeping lines of a large
crossover with an elegant yet robust
stance. In France, the 2015 Espace will
be offered in three different trim levels
Life, Zen, Intense and Initiale Paris.
Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of the
Renault Group said that Renault has
reinvented the Espace. Renault has also
joined other automakers in the quest
to develop an ultra-frugal car and for
this years show they highlighted the
Eolab concept. Hiding underneath the
futuristic design is a hybrid powertrain
featuring a small three-cylinder 1.0-litre
engine which works with a clutchless
three-gear transmission that has a builtin electric motor.
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is on an overdrive

with its creativity. A couple of months ago
Rolls-Royce launched the Phantom Drophead
Coupe Waterspeed Collection and at Paris, the
brand introduced the Metropolitan Collection
which again has been developed through their
high-end bespoke customization program.
This latest iteration of the Phantom will be
built in a limited series of 20 units and all will
pay homage to the great metropolises of the
world through marquetry which refers to
inlaying small pieces of wood veneer to form
decorative motifs.
Venturi
French specialty marque Venturi
introduced its America electric buggy.
Although a small player, the Venturi
America is set to enter limited production
of only 25 units each priced at whopping
290,000. The two-seater is an evolution
of a concept revealed back in 2012 and
comes with an increased ride height
granting a generous 280mm ground
clearance. Power is provided by an
electric motor producing 400hp and
an instant torque of 354 lb-ft (480 Nm)
which is enough for a 0-100 km/h run in
4.5secs. The cars battery pack offers
enough juice to enable a maximum range
of 250km while a full recharge will take
three and a half hours.
The Venturi America is 4,125mm long,
2,060mm wide and 1,450mm tall, with
a 2,670mm wheelbase and 1,525kg
curb weight. It sits on 20in wheels
wrapped around in Michelin Latitude
Sport tyres and benefits from a carbon
Kevlar aluminium chassis covered with
composite carbon body panels.
Tesla
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, finally put an end to rumours
of what the much-anticipated Model D might be. The
super-fast P85D model will be a dual-motor four-wheel
drive version of the Model S sedan.
Ford
Fords stand reflected most of its European

model line-up along with the Euro-spec
Mustang. The Mustang will go on sale
across the continent in 2015 in fastback and
convertible variants. In Europe, the car will
be offered with two engines the 5.0-litre
V8 with 420bhp and 528Nm of torque and
the 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbo unit generating
305bhp and 406Nm of torque. Ford also
unveiled the Euro-spec Edge which closely
echoes the North American variant in
styling but will be offered in Europe with
2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine with
two different outputs. Ford also introduced
two multipurpose vehicles the facelifted
C-MAX and the production version of the
S-MAX [S- MAX concept was presented at
last years Geneva Motor Show]. The S-MAX
comes with a lot of design cues from the
new Mondeo.
Peugeot
Ferrari
Ferrari released the first details of the

458 Speciale A. The A is short for
Aperta or Open and refers to the Spider
configuration of this limited production,
high performance machine. Powered by
the same, 605 hp V8 engine as the Speciale
coupe introduced last year. The 458
Speciale A will have a limited production
run of 499 examples. On the executive
front at the Fiat press conference,
interestingly, Sergio Marchionne, said
that it was inappropriate to comment on
the acrimonious exit of Luca Montezmelo
since Ferrari had him as chairman until
October 13. On the issue of increasing
Ferrari production from 7,000 to 10,000
units promptly did comment saying that
he felt that Ferrari volumes were fine at
the moment. It may be recalled that a few
feeks ago, Sergio Marchionne, the 67-year
old chief executive of Fiat, took over the
top job at Ferrari just prior to a crucial Wall
Street listing for the Fiat Chrysler Group on
October 13.
Peugeots stand in Hall #1 was bright, busy

and entertaining. And this was expected
following an online reveal last month of
the Quartz concept SUV which is described
as Peugeots thoughts on a SUV for the
future. The Quartz is a hybrid that uses
a 4-cylinder 1.6-litre THP turbocharged
gasoline engine with 270hp and 330Nm
along with an 115hp electric motor
which charges the 400V battery during
deceleration. At the back of the vehicle
theres another 85 kW electric motor for
propulsion and battery charging. Among
production models was the facelifted 508
sedan which now looks much sharper
and stylish. Also revealed was the 308 GT
family which will be available as a sedan
or wagon body styles. Meanwhile, among
the stars at the stand was the updated
Exalt concept sedan. The original concept
was introduced at the Beijing Motor Show
in China and for its Paris outing, Peugeot
made some modifications for the Eurospec version which features a bare steel
exterior with a Shark Skin rear end as well
as different shades of grey on the rest of
the body to create a special look.
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luxury brand is once again among
the most talked brands after exAudi/Infiniti executive Johan de Nysschen
took control. Nysschens fast track agenda
includes reorganizing and nurturing the
brand with an exciting product line-up
helping it as part of the masterful strategy
to make this American brand the standard
of the world. Among the first steps taken
in this direction has been shifting the
brands HQ from Detroit to New York, a
new nomenclature system and revised
corporate logo.
The first new car to sport the new
logo on its grille is the 2015 ATS coupe
which was introduced in the region last
month. Technically, the two-door car
is mechanically based on the four-door
sedan, but it comes with its own styling,
profile, bells and whistles.
In building the car, Cadillacs philosophy
has been to give it its standalone
personality and profile. This means the
parts sharing, especially of what you see
has been kept to a minimum and not
surprisingly, the only common exterior
components are the bonnet, headlamps,

and sundry trim pieces on the front
valance. The underlying architecture of
the ATS uses a combination of several
metals, including high-strength steel,
aluminum, magnesium, and many others
that together help achieve rigidity and
lightness.
ATS coupes are wider and sleeker than
the sedans. They also come with wider
mudguards and elongated bodylines.
Exterior styling on the ATS can be
described as bold and distinctive as it
continues with the angular Cadillacs Art
and Science design language. New in this
car is the redesigned front grille, with a
multi-dimensional pattern thats a modern
take on Cadillacs signature egg carton
grille. The redesigned, laurel-less Cadillac
crest is quite prominent now and is settled
in the centre of the grille. And as before,
the headlamp cluster is vertically placed
and comes with LED daytime running
lamps and HID head beams. Vertical LED
foglamps underneath accentuate the
upright look of the front face. The front
end is not only aesthetic, but functional:
Inside the front grille are shutters that

automatically close at certain highway
speeds, which reduce aerodynamic drag
and help fuel economy.
We also note that cars mirror design is
also different. Meanwhile, there are some
dimensional changes too. The coupes
body now stretches 0.8in in length and is
also 1.4in wider, while the roofline is 1.1in
lower. And as befitting a coupe, the rear
windscreen slopes at a flatter and sleeker
angle. Interestingly, the ratio of the sheet
metal to glass is also optimized and the
coupes window sills are actually quite
lower. All these elements give the visual
appearance of a slim car.
The car at first glance, especially, from
the three-quarter view appears more
planted than the sedan, thanks to its 0.8in
wider tracks [front and rear]. On coupes,
the boot lid spoiler is instead created
from sheet metal and the brake light is
inlaid below. Like the sedan, dual chrome
exhaust pipes sit below the rear bumper.
Even as a proper coupe, despite best of
intentions from design and engineering,
there are some generic flaws like
notably rear seat access and limited rear

headroom. The floorpan is common to
both ATS bodystyles and hence rear
legroom is the same as the sedan and the
C-pillar is also wider. This results in quite a
bit of difference as regards to the available
headroom at rear which is 1.8in lesser than
that of the sedan. While Cadillac engineers
have offered a powered front seat base
for fore and aft movement, access to the
second row is obstructed by the C-pillar
bolted seatbelts. If one is unmindful, then
it can trip passengers up during the egress
process.
As expected, front occupants are
pampered with very comfortable and
supportive seats that are also mounted a
bit lower to facilitate headroom and also
help rear occupants with better sight.
In fact, the rear seats are much better
designed than that of BMWs X4 [also
tested in this issue of Automan]. Once
settled in, the cabin is cosy and somewhat
exudes an air of elegance with a mix
of materials, cut-and-sew leather trim
dashboard and door panels along with
genuine aluminium or carbon fibre or gloss
ATS coupes are

wider and sleeker
than the sedans.
They also come with
wider mudguards and
elongated bodylines.
On coupes, the decklid
spoiler is instead
created from sheet
metal and the brake
light is inlaid below.
Like the sedan, dual
chrome exhaust pipes
sit below the rear
bumper.
piano black finishes. Semi-aniline leather

is also offered that also brings fancy, fauxsuede seatbacks. Constant improvements
to Cadillacs CUE infotainment system
makes it better to operate, but it still has a
long way to go. Meanwhile, techno-geeks
will appreciate the cars head-up display
feature and the newly optional 4G LTE
wireless hotspot connectivity and wireless
charging for certain mobile devices.
Fit and finish inside the Cadillac ATS is
comparable German premium brands.
The chassis of the ATS is designed to
accept a variety of engines ranging from
a direct-injection 2.0-litre four-cylinder
turbo to the naturally aspirated 3.6-litre
direct injection V6. The Middle East
markets get the top-end V6 which belts
out 321hp at 6,800 rpm and a relatively
modest 276 lb-ft of torque at 4,800rpm.
Transmission used out here is six-speed
automatic with Tiptronic function.
Paddle shifters are located behind the
wheel and are not of the fixed type.
Instrumentation is a mix of analogue and
digital. The dashboard design is simple and
uncluttered.
Driver gets adjustable FE3 sport

suspension and the package includes
Magnetic Ride Control, a mechanical
limited-slip differential an 18in low-profile
performance tyres. The chassis set-up
buttons are placed at the base of the
central console. The cars suspension setup has been designed for greater flexibility
for both dynamic and regular road usage.
Cadillac claims nearly perfect 50:50 weight
balance and low centre of gravity for this
car and suspension hardware includes fivelink independent rear suspension featuring
lightweight, high-strength steel and
efficient straight link designs while multilink double-pivot MacPherson-strut front
suspension with direct-acting stabilizer bar
completes the front.
As with the safety package, the coupe
benefits from the hardware and software
from the sedan and this means it gets
the usually array of technologies and
Like other recent

Cadillac models, the
ATS was tuned at
some of the worlds
most famous racing
circuits, including
the Nordschleife
section of Germanys
Nurburgring.
some more advanced features. Cadillacs
control and alert strategy, which
employs up to two cameras, eight
ultrasonic sensors and six radar signals
to help prevent crashes is available for

this model. Cadillacs advanced crashavoidance systems, such as automatic
braking, lane departure warning, precharge and automatically applies braking
in response to potential hazards. New
safety features for 2015 include an
optional lane keep assist, which will
automatically help guide drivers back
into their lanes if they drift. An automatic
safety belt tightening feature will take up
any slack during fast stops.
Driving impressions
We recalled prior to the drive of this car
that a couple of years back the sedan
sibling was able to carve a befitting
presence in the segment which till then
was dominated primarily by the German
duo of BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz
C-Class. Key elements in the success
were its distinctive design, lightweight
construction and agile handling. As the

2015 ATS Coupe rides on the same 109.3in
wheelbase as the sedan and hence even
before settling in, we mentally listed
our expectations based on our previous
encounters with the ATS sedan.
On the move, The V6 is wonderfully
smooth and delivers predictable response
to throttle inputs. Despite being slightly
torque deficient than BMWs 435i
and the Audi S5, it makes up for that
through its optimized power-to-weight
ratio. At roughly 1,04kg the ATS coupe
benefits from a slight weight advantage
over its key rivals. Acceleration is quite
entertaining and in-between upshifts are
smooth in drive mode. Switch into Sport
plus and the powertrain shows its true
colours at about the 2,500rpm rev range
where gears shift quite fast.
On the handling perspective, we do
have some mixed feelings about the ZFsourced variable-effort electric steering.
The steering gear used in the ATS is belt
driven, which Cadillac claims makes for a
smoother feel, but we found it a little too
numb on demanding turns. Most drivers
might not notice this in daily driving as
the cars turn-in is good and we think
it is better than the BMW because in the

Beemer, the shift of weight from the rear
to the front is quite noticeable and in some
cases it also induces extra understeer [which
is not good for the rear rims!]
Meanwhile, the chassis copes well with
what is thrown at our drive up and
down on UAEs hot Jebel Jais mountain
road in Ras Al Khamaih is testimony to its
near flawless performance. The sportier
rear suspension of the coupe [compared
with sedan], allows for a firmer and more
confident feel around twists and turns. We
were also thrilled with the performance
of the Brembo brake set up. While the
pedal is firm, it conveys strong, linear,
communicative braking without upsetting
the cars balance and hence appears
well tuned for this kind of car. What we
particularly like about the handling of this
car is that its not that aggressive like its
V cousins and not timid either. One thing
we did note during the drive -- the sixspeed automatic comes across as rather
busy when pushed and rather too eager
to upshift into higher gears, even in sport
mode. And when using manual shifts via
the paddle shifters, the shifts still lack the
overt crispness that we remember from
previous experiences with the ATS sedan.

The balance of ride qualities is good for
the type of car it represents, however, our
wish list would have asked for a slightly
faster steering set-up and perhaps the
benefit of the wider ratios in the eight
speed ZF transmissions.
As a lifestyle car, the NVH management
is very impressive. A virtual quiet cabin is
testimony to the way the car is built and
materials used in isolation. Wind-noise at
highway speeds is negligible. Some tyre
noise can be heard, depending on road
surface driven.
Verdict
While the 2015 ATS Coupe is still no BMW
4-Series from a driving standpoint, we are
quite convinced that it is an appropriate
package that represents a return to
form for Cadillac as a brand. Its a tidy
lifestyle car with a genuine three-box
(engine-cabin-boot) configuration and a
slightly lower price point than the German
premium brand equivalents. Combined
with decent performance and comfort
creatures, this should help broaden its
appeal amongst the aspirational seekers
segment of the market.
2015 Porsche Cayenne
More is less
Ever since Porsche introduced the Cayenne
SUV in 2002, it has been appreciated as the
best all-around SUV worldwide. Now in its
second generation, how much does a midcycle refresh affect or influence this top
seller? Automan travelled all the way to
Barcelona in Spain to find out
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: author & supplied
or German sports car maker Porsche,

the Cayenne SUV is a significant
product in several ways. First, it
helped the brand to establish a foothold
in the SUV markets and its commercial
success has also paved the way for a
smaller SUV, introduced earlier this year
as the Macan. With the arrival of the
Macan, many observers felt that it would
cannibalise into the Cayenne territory.
On the contrary, the Cayenne has held on
to its ground and Porsche have kept the
interest in the bigger SUV by expanding
the line-up in the past few years. As a
result, at least five variants are now sold in
the Middle East and include the Turbo, S,
Diesel, S diesel and S E- Hybrid. The current
model is in its second generation and has
recently received its mid-cycle refresh.
With the refresh, Porsche has focused on
two significant areas: performance and
efficiency. These come in addition to some
cosmetic tweaks and detailing in jewelry.
For a change in our usual style of writing
where we look at the exterior, interior
following by engineering, we will reverse
the order for this report representing the
focus areas first.
The biggest news for the Cayenne upgrade
is that S variant drops the old V8 in favour
of the new bi-turbo 3.6-litre V6 engine
which was introduced in the smaller
Macan. Despite small in displacement
and having two cylinders less Porsche
claim that the V6 surpasses the V8 in all
departments lightweight construction,

output and efficiency in particular. As
a result, power output has increased
by 20hp to 420hp and the torque has
increased by 50Nm to 550Nm, whilst the
fuel consumption has fallen by 0.9 litres to
less than ten litres per 100km. Meanwhile,
the power output of the top-of-the-line
Turbo has also increased by 20 hp to 520
hp and the torque by 50Nm to 750Nm.
It accelerates three tenths of a second
more quickly than its predecessor and
reaches a top speed of 279 km/h and fuel
consumption has been reduced by 0.3
l/100 km. And its not the S E-Hybrid but
also the diesel powered models that set
standards in fuel consumption. The hybrid
drivetrain has already proved itself in the
Panamera and has now been adapted for
use in the Cayenne S E-Hybrid. Meanwhile,
the Cayenne Diesel now has more power
and torque coupled with a reduction
in fuel consumption. Thanks to a larger
turbocharger, the maximum power output
of the 3.0-litre V6 has increased by 17hp
to a total of 262hp, whilst the maximum
torque has increased by 30Nm to 580Nm.
The diesel will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h
0.3secs faster and has a top speed of 221
km/h with miserly fuel consumption of 6.8
to 6.6 per 100km. Meanwhile, the cars
eight-speed transmission with Tiptronic
S has also been optimised with coasting
function, which is a further developed
auto start/stop function Plus. For the
sprint from 0 to 100km/h the optional
Sport Chrono package offers PerformanceNov 2014 | www.automan.me | 51
Start for the first time in the Cayenne.

The suspension department also has
received some attention. It may sound
trivial, but new low friction bushing
system has bought in a great deal of
refinement in the way the parts travel and
react helping engineers to increase the
spread between comfort and sportiness
in every variant irrespective of the type
of suspension package it uses like the
conventional steel suspension in the
diesel or Porsche Active Suspension
Management [PASM] set up in higher
specification modelsMeanwhile, the
three PASM suspension programmes are
Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus which also
work in tandem with the Turbo. In the
PASM enabled models the ride height can
now be increased and the level control
system included with the air suspension
has been made more flexible. It now offers
a total of six different vehicle heights
depending on the driving situation. The
user-friendly load sill height adjustment
is a new feature for the Cayenne which
is activated by pressing a button in the
luggage compartment. In action it lowers
the loading level by 52mm when the
tailgate is open. The height of the load sill
is then approximately 690mm.
The familiar profile and silhouette of the
Cayenne to some may appear unchanged.
But it will take a Cayenne aficionado to

figure out the changes in a few moments
of observation. For the first time active
cooling air flaps are fitted behind the
central air inlet which is controlled by
engine management. They open and close
depending on the driving situation and the
cooling-air requirement. This regulates the
The Cayenne S Diesel

cleverly combines
the advantages of a
turbocharged diesel
V8 engine with the
emotional appeal of
a petrol engine. Its
torque delivery is
outstanding
air volume, influences the aerodynamics
and is part of the thermal management
so that the engine and gearbox warm up
quickly and reach an optimum working
temperature. The lower valance is

designed to accommodate these features
and in turn makes the front end look a bit
more aggressive.
A close look up front reveals that the
bonnet is wider now and has a soft
clamshell design. The central air inlet is
now somewhat smaller than before. The
changes at the rear of the car complement
the front. For instance, the rear lamps
are flatter and similar to the LED daytime
running lamps at the front the brake
lamps have a four-part design. Among the
design sign-offs are the new design of the
exhaust tailpipes for each derivative that
are integrated in the lower rear valence.
We think the floating four-point LED
daytime running lights clearly identify the
refreshed car.
Key change to the interior which can be
spotted immediately is the 918 inspired
multifunctional steering wheel with
paddle shifters and the softer second row
seats.Whats more, as with the front seats,
seat ventilation is now available for the
rear occupants if required. Elsewhere, the
cabin is familiar with its Panamera inspired
central console and split rear seating.
Interestingly, curb weight has marginally
increased when compared to the outgoing
model due to more standard equipment.
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Driving impressions
The Barcelona drive included an array
of driving situations highway sections
including winding mountain roads, country
roads, city roads and an off-road course
with hill climb, a dirt track and muddy
water trough thrown in. Porsches event
management specialists ensured that we
were exposed to every possible on or
off-road scenario and they also offered us
all the Cayenne variants for the job. We
began our drive with the new downsized
turbo charged 3.6-litre V6. The V6 turbo
Cayenne S might be slower on paper
but feels almost as quick as its bigger
and 100kg heavier brother. No great
surprises out here as the car is agile and
smooth as before and theres no sign
of it being underpowered or outclassed
by its previous set-up. In more than one
way the S is more of a charmer and even
entertaining to drive since theres less
weight over the front wheels which in
turn helps in a lighter steering feel and
more feedback, while the engine can
rev to its 6,700rpm redline point more
freely. Despite being 200Nm down on the
Turbo, the stock Cayennes peak torque is

developed lower in the rev range at just
1,350rpm. We found that when driven
gently, it propels the car down the road
rapidly even on light throttle applications.
The off-road course which was set-up in
a 600-hectare private property actually
helped us to get acquainted with the
enhanced capabilities of the car. Now,
we all know that the Cayennes have allwheel drive set-ups which have dedicated
software managing the show. Till now,
it was more the drivers skill than the kit
helping manoeuvre the car off-road. While,
the Cayenne is no Range Rover when it
comes to all-out off-road capabilities, the
refreshed AWD Cayenne now gets the
benefit of a driver enabled torque/traction
lock system. This system works similar
to the diff-locks of pure 4x4s and gives
the Cayenne an edge when it comes to
negotiating tricky situations like a slippery,
low-traction uphill climb or where a driver
wants to avoid wheel spin in soft ground.
This system works very well and we are
sure new owners in the Middle East will
find better use of the same. With a bundle
of new driver aids now, the refreshed

Cayenne is much more capable and refined
both on- and off road.
For the return journey, we took the Audiderived 4.2-litre V8 diesel engine variant
and were tremendously impressed with
the powertrain performance in terms of
quietness, willingness and smoothness in
particular. In fact, if Porsche didnt badge
the car, theres no way of knowing whats
underneath. The powertrain guys need
to be saluted for this stellar achievement.
Wed never expected a diesel to be so fast
and refined.
Verdict
The Cayenne gets refreshed with
innovation, performance and efficiency.
These three factors will see the Cayenne
once more lead the competitive pack. For
our region, the bottom line for the 2015
Cayenne S should do well career-wise.
While brand purists may miss a big, freebreathing V8 of the pre-refreshed line-up,
but once they experience the smaller
turbocharged V6, they will quickly know
where the winning equation is.
2014 BMW X4
Under
of
big
the
shadow brot
her
The new 2014 BMW X4 is based on the mechanical

blueprint of the BMW X3, but is tailored with specific
design and performance attributes in mind. Automan
checks out the smaller X6-styled sibling, the
xDrive35i variant in and around UAE
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Nabeel Ferzan
MW Group is flexing its muscles

when it comes to creating variants
and intermediate models using
common engineering. The latest creation
using this formula is the new compact
crossover which it calls the X4. The X4 was
initially announced in 2013 as a concept
car and was formally launched at the 2014
New York International Auto Show and is
manufactured at its US factory in South
Carolina. Key rivals include the Porsche
Macan and Audi Q5/SQ5.
The X4 is based on the same platform and
running gear as the X3 SUV, but BMW
has ensured that it gets its standalone
design and profile. So, how does BMW
differentiate between the X3 and X4?
Quite simple, really and the concept that
BMW has used in creating the profile of
this car isnt exactly new. One could say
comfortably when you see the vehicle
in flash that its indeed a revisited the
formula it used for the X6. This exercise
saw designers taking an existing SUV and
changing the roofline to create its range of
Sports Activity Coup inspired models.

On the styling front, even as a new
unibody entrant, it seems to be over
shadowed by the bigger X6. While, the
X4 may exhibit aggressive and polarising
looks, it actually does attract a lot of
attention wherever it goes. While the
X6 looks aggressive and imposing when
compared to the X5, the differences
As a car from BMW,

it has its mechanicals
sorted well for dual
purpose use. As a
vehicle with AWD, one
can empathise with
its limitations off-road,
but the car is good for
light off-road duties.
between the X4 and X3 seem to be more

restrained. The car rides high off the
ground, with a pronounced gap between
its chassis and 19in wheel/tyre package.
Overhangs on both ends are short while
sheetmetal cues suggest an extrovert
design blended with versatility. The X4
looks a little slab-sided, despite featuring
sculpted lines, it looks bigger than, say the
Macan [see box].
Meanwhile, for better physical
differentiation within the line-up, the X4 is
14mm longer and 36mm lower than its X3
sibling, but most of the bodywork below
the windows looks identical to the X3s,
aside from new tail-lamps. The roofline
drops steeply to the rear end which some
may argue that it is short of the intended
job. The X4, for many observers may
appear more like an SUV hatch than a 2+2
coup. The X4s proportions are slightly
awkward and this is evident mostly at the
rear due to the cars raised ride height. At
this stage of the review, we are not too
concerned with the styling which is a
like it, hate it affair.

For the interior, BMW have significantly
reduced development costs by borrowing
stuff mostly from the X3. This means
that the X4 has an almost identical cabin
to the X3, which in a way is good news
for the punters. The X3s uncluttered
layout was liked and most of BMW cabin
features including the improved iDrive
control system is available in the X4. On
the practical front, if one compares the X4
with the X3, then the latter is a winner. At
500-litres, the X4s boot is 50 litres smaller
than the X3s with all five seats in place.
With the split-folding rear bench stowed,
it is 200 litres smaller at just 1,400litres.
And then you have a sharply raked rear
window and high loading lip makes the
space less useful than conventionally
shaped SUVs too. It also seriously impedes
rear visibility.
The flip side is that BMW has also thrown
in a bit more kit as standard in the X4. Our
tester was equipped with the M Sport
trims that included an M steering wheel, M
BMW X4 vs Porsche Macan
These two rivals are pretty much

identical in terms of dimensions,
with the same roof heights and
similar length and wheelbase
measurements. In terms of
practicality in cargo space, the
Macan beats the X4 hands down.
These cars have identical 500-litre
boot capacities. The Macan has a
squarer floor and wider opening,
but the boot lip is slightly higher
off the ground than the X4s. Both
cars feature 40:20:40 split back
seats, but when folded, neither has
a completely flat floor. The Macans
1,500-litre maximum is 100 litres
ahead of the X4s.
sill plates and M embossed pedals. For the

exterior, the M kit incorporates the usual
BMW M Sport large fake air intakes in the
body kit or appearance package.
While most lifestyle cars are getting
loaded with gadgets and gizmos, we liked
the feature pack options offered which
included navigation, a colour head-up
display and the brands ConnectedDrive
services, which allow users to pair their
smartphones to access multiple apps and
information. While, some of the functional
buttons might take a bit of getting used
to, but the quality of the materials is
first class, with soft-touch plastics, soft
leather and classy metal trim throughout.
As with most BMWs, ergonomics and
comfort levels are top notch. However,
headroom as expected in the second row
is constricted due to the sloping roof line.
Our tester, the variant designated as
xDrive35i, came with a twin turbo 3.0-litre
in-line six cylinder producing 302hp hp
between 5,800-6,400rpm and torque of
400Nm between 1,200-5,000rpm. The X4
also benefits from a close ratio ZF eightspeed automatic transmission. The car
gets all-wheel drive.
As expected, BMW engineers have
deliberately tuned the suspension on the
X4 more aggressively than on the stock
X3 or X5 models. The X4 suspension also
features Performance Control, which
uses the electronic stability control
system to guide power to the outside rear
wheel when cornering helping reducing
understeer.
Active safety options include adaptive
cruise control, lane departure warning,
blind spot detection and pedestrian/
collision warning with automatic braking.
Driving impressions
Inside the car, occupants sit high and
front occupants enjoy command view.
The turbocharged V6 powertrain is quite
entertaining and the on-road ride quality
echoes mostly that of the X3, which itself
is attuned to high spec levels. Cabin is
well insulated with the occasional hum
from the engine and unavoidable road
noise from the asphalt. The only niggle
we had was related to some of the loose
The X4 was initially

announced in 2013 as
a concept car and was
formally launched at
the 2014 New York
International Auto
Show
weak spot out here which relates to the

shift in weight from rear to front. This
aspect is evident with the rear lifting and
the nose diving upon brisk acceleration
in sand and this also causes the X4 to
understeer quite more than you would
expect and the soft steering also aids in
this handling character. So, the driver has
no option but to quickly adapt his driving
style instead! As a precaution, we didnt go
extreme dune bashing in view of the low
profile sports tyres.
the dynamic side down a bit, sometimes

feeling under servoed when repeatedly
asked to slow almost 1,900kg of crossover.
Wed also like more communication
through the steering, which is accurate
and keenly weighted but lacks feel when
compared to say Audi Q5 or Porsche
Macan. However, when we went off-road,
we were pleasantly surprised to note that
despite being essentially a lifestyle vehicle,
it is capable of light off-road duties. On
gravel or rocky trails, theres no problem
of damaging the undercarriage as theres
plenty of ground clearance. But theres a
Verdict
We think the X4 fits a marketing niche
more than anything else for the brand. It
can boast of unique looks and even put
a smile on its drivers face. But like the
bigger X6, the X4 will need to earn its
stripes in a niche segment.
Its handling seems to be far higher up its
priority list than practicality, so if youre
after a lifestyle SUV, look to the X4,
otherwise the X3 instead. In our market,
the X4 will face some stiff competition
fromthe Audi Q5/SQ5 and recently
introduced Porsche Macan.
plastics in the cargo bay which kept

rattling. Otherwise, the X4 is fitted with
an excellent automatic gearbox and rearbiased all-wheel drive, which can send
up to 100 per cent of torque to either
axle in a matter of milliseconds should
the stability control demand it. The cars
torque delivery is exceptionally smooth
and befits the ZF transmission which up
or downshifts when needed quickly and
without hesitation.
We would say, the steering is light for
an almost two-tonne car and hence the
turn-in seems to feel sharper. Actually,
we would have preferred a slightly more
weighted feel on the steering befitting the
mass of the car. Why? We explain below.
The BMW X4s handling strength is noted
when it tackles a section of winding roads.
The Eco Pro and Comfort modes are best
left for highways, while the standard-fit
xDrive all-wheel drive system gives the
car generous traction capabilities and
it in return inspires huge confidence in
fast corners. Add into the mix a lower
centre of gravity and retuned suspension
and theres a genuinely entertaining and
engaging SUV. But, its the brakes that let
2014 McLaren 650S Spider/Coupe
S p l it
personalities
McLaren is moving forward steadily with its model expansion

and the latest road cars, the 2014 650S Coupe and Spider
can be considered as the most up-to-date models after the
12C was introduced three years ago. Automan was invited by
McLaren to check out these cars in UAE last month.
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: author and supplied
K-based McLarens entry into

the road car business has been
a result of one mans vision
supported by several decades worth of
track presence and engineering prowess.
Ron Dennis, McLaren Automotive
Chairman had announced his plans for
the ultimate line-up of technology-led
and customer-focused performance
cars for the 21st century and true to his
word had the organization behind him
when it came to deliver the first McLaren
MP4-12C production car on 17 January
2011. Since then, theres been no looking
back and over the past few years, the
establishments foundations have been
made stronger with standalone design,
engineering and production combined
with inspirational success in Formula 1.
The current McLaren line-up includes the
limited-production P1, the 12C and the new
650S variants. So, have the rules in the
sports car world been re-written?
McLarens first car, the MP4-12C featured
a revolutionary carbon fibre chassis
structure which it refers to as the Carbon
MonoCell. It was the first time a car in
this market segment which was based
around strong and lightweight racing
car engineering fundamentals and as
the first time any car has ever featured a
one-piece carbon fibre structure [besides
The 650S simply feels

crisper in its most
aggressive setting and
even more soothing
in its most relaxed
modes. Both come
with a far broader
dynamic repertoire
than the older 12C
the SLR see box]. As a result of this
uniqueness and engineering success, this
engineering feat now is the foundation
of the road and track cars which it builds
including the latest 650S Coupe and 650S
Spider. McLaren has plans to build around
1,400 650S models annually. In terms of
positioning, it sits above the 12C, in terms
of performance, refinement and price and
below the limited to 375 unit production
of the P1.
At first glance, beneath the composite
structure, hitherto unseen is a thick
carbon fibre tub which weighs just 80kg.

The front and rear subframes which are
made of lightweight alloys bonded, riveted
or welded complete the structure and
mounting points for suspension and other
hardware. Interestingly, the common
carbon fibre Mono Cell chassis required
no additional strengthening or reinforcing
even in open-top guise. This means, at
least in theory, on-road performance
should mirror each other as far as these
two variants are concerned.
From the exterior, while both the coupe
and Spider are unmistakenly McLaren in
profile, with styling elements borrowed
from the P1 and the nose treatment
is the most prominent feature as the
differentiating factor. The rear receives
minimalistic styling changes and
noticeable elements include a mildly
redesigned diffuser and a carbonfibre
treatment around the taillamps. Both 650S
variants look all but identical to a 12C from
the rear.
We chose for the ride and photography
the Tarocco Orange coloured car, which
is a new addition to the McLaren colour
collection, developed with technology
partner AkzoNobel. Meanwhile, the Spider
weighs 40kg more than the Coupe, due
to the extra mass coming on account of
the retractable hard top and its related
mechanical set-up. The two-piece

retractable hard top can be automatically
raised or lower in less than 17secs and can
also be activated while stationary or at any
speed up to 30km/h. Whats more, despite
sharing its key engineering fundamentals
with the 12C, over 25 per cent of the 650S
is brand new. As with the 12C Spider,
the 650S Spider uses a heated glass rear
window, operating independently of the
roof. With the roof down, the rear window
acts as a wind deflector, reducing cabin
buffeting. Roof up, the rear screen can be
lowered to allow more engine noise.
The interior of the car is where designers
have paid a lot of attention to materials
and kit given the space constraints related
to the tub arrangement. Using exotic
materials like Alcantara and a plethora
of modern conveniences including
infotainment and connectivity, this car
tries to appear as civilized as it can be. The
infotainment centre takes its cues from
the P1 and is much more intuitive to use
now. To keep the central consol as narrow
as possible, the GPS screen is mounted
in portrait, rather than the traditional
landscape aspect ratio. Build and trim
material exhibit improved perceived
quality and so do the touch points. As
a two passenger car, the passenger
gets a better deal in terms of space and
movement. Egress and ingress is via the

vertical as opposed swing out scissor door
arrangement.
Both variants get a slightly tweaked
version of the now proven 3.8-litre
twin turbo V8 engine mounted at the
rear. Output is 641bhp at 7,250rpm and
678Nm at 6,000rpm. Both cars use the
same seven-speed dual clutch automatic
transmission from the 12C.
McLaren says that some modifications
Although every
manufacturer of
super or sports cars
is quick to mention
the everyday
drivability of their
respective machines,
the McLaren can now
make most on this
claim
have been applied to both the software

and hardware of the suspension to
sharpen the handling while ensuring that
the car can be as smooth and complaint
with its normal road ride quality.
Carbonfibre ceramic brake discs become
standard fitments, as do Pirelli P-Zero
Corsa tyres.
Driving impressions
Arguably, the Jebel Jais mountain climb
in Ras Al Khaimah is the best route for
testing any cars dynamic and handling
capabilities and its popularity is growing
each day within the regional automotive
fraternity opting for the same. In the
same spirit, McLaren continues to reset
performance and refinement benchmarks
in its cars and we can confirm both Coupe
and spider have met every possible
variable thrown at them. Ingress and
egress is via the scissor doors and you
have to swing in as the seat is quite low
due to the low centre of gravity. The
drivers seat has very limited adjustable
choices and the cabin is snug. Both these
aspects, in our opinion could limit the
choice of who can and who cannot drive
this car. While we do appreciate the luxury
and modern conveniences provided in
this car, we still think that its the track/
performance element that will help sell
this car. At this juncture, its about the

performance and handling that we are
keen to explore.
Once settled inside, it is easy to
communicate with the cars. We started
the drive at dawn from Waldorf Astoria
resort and within the first few kilometers
of driving through the tight city roads,
its clear that it can serve both roles a
day to day car and as a track day machine
even in stock form. The benefits of mass
centralization are clear as the car feels
more neutral in its handling. By the time
we reached the base of Jebel Jais, the
Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres had warmed
up suitably and we decided to forget
about restricted speed limits and push the
car within the given parameters of safe
driving. Having driven the 12C before, this
cars set-up is the 650S is actually quite
interesting in the way it does everything
so much better than the 12C. It feels
sharper and refined, which is in contrast to
the 12Cs raw and rough handling on road.
Steering weight feels good and feedback
is instant like that of a go-kart, but since
this car has rear wheel drive, both variants
do have a tendency to understeer a tad bit
more than what you would really want.
Excitement happens when you dial into
the cars three different drive modes Normal, Sport or Track. In Normal the
650S has a genuinely calm quality to its
damping and ride in general, while in Sport
mode, it feels as if it has acknowledged
the extra bits it has to do and in Track
mode settings it feels as if its spirits have
been freed, but not a lot unlike a track car
in the way it reacts to the drivers inputs.
Out here, it is at its sharpest best and a
tap to the throttle not only rewards with
acceleration but also G-forces.
Turn by turn we took to both variants
Key McLaren road car projects
In 1992, McLaren released the F1,

a true modern motoring legend
and one of the highest-performing
supercars of all time. It was powered
by a 6.1-litre BMW V12 engine. The F1
set a then record for production cars
with a top speed of 390 km/h.
The companys next road car project

was the SLR in 2003. The SLR was
co-developed with Mercedes-Benz
[which owned 40 per cent of McLaren
at the time]. The Mercedes-Benz
SLR McLaren was powered by a
supercharged 5.4-litre V8 and the
fastest version, the 722 Edition, had a
reputed top speed of 337 km/h.
and did the full run several times. While

we realize that the overall dry weight of
the 650S Spider is 1,370kg [an increase
of only 40kg over the Coup], it is really
very difficult to quantify which is better
they actually feel identical! While, we
would have loved to experience an all out
straight line performance on track and do
0-100-km/h runs, for the tie being we will
go by the book and emphasise with the
improved 0-96km/h figures supplied by
the manufacturer which suggests that the
0-96km/h time has dropped from 3.2sec
to 3.0sec while the 0-160km/h time has
fallen from 6.2sec to 5.7sec. While, the
650S isnt capable of outclassing either
the F1 or the SLR in terms of top speed, it
is still a commendable achievement for a
UK-based sports car maker.
Braking power is also impressive in the
650S, thanks to new levels of performance
from the large brakes and the brake pedal
feel is normal even under light city duty
usage. This is interesting since sports
cars with carbon ceramic rotors behave
differently.
Verdict
On the engineering front, McLaren has
proven once again that it will not just
sit and use savvy marketing techniques
based on past laurels alone. That it will
continue to improve and innovate with
the times factoring in how the industry is
moving forward. And with these two new
specimens arriving on the market scene,
what helps the brand develop its niche
is the extraordinary packaging through
innovation. Both cars offer punters spoilt
choices as currently its hard to think of
anything that delivers better value than a
650S line-up. And theres something more
-- the opposition will be clearly watching!
2014 Subaru Forester
The Boxer
difference
The fourth generation 2014 Subaru Forester
was developed with the goal to maximize
its value as a true SUV. Has it? Automan
rediscovers its virtues in the Sultanate
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao
ubaru seems to have spent a lot

of time and effort in bringing its
models up to speed. The Forester
mid-sized SUV is an important model
in the line-up and the outgoing model
represented 27 per cent total sales with
170,000 sales globally in 2013. Building
on the strengths of the model series and
factoring in the packaging requirements of
the segment, the new model fast tracks in
to the markets with lot of confidence and
market expectations.
The new Forester is built on a new
unibody platform and dimensionally
differs from the outgoing model. It is
2mm taller, 15mm wider, 35mm longer
on a 25mm longer wheelbase when
compared with the outgoing model. The
cars styling is evolutionary and somewhat
conservative. In no way, one would say
it is polarizing like some other SUVs that
are in the market right now. However,
from Subarus perspective, the detailing
it has done makes it a much more bolder
styling statement than before. The A-pillar
has been moved forward for a sleeker
silhouette and improved aerodynamics
and forward visibility is improved
despite a slightly higher bonnet which
meets European pedestrian-protection

requirements. Meanwhile, the hawkeye
headlamps and a slightly taller hexagonal
grille define its slightly bolder face. To
optimize weight, the bonnet is made of
aluminium.
While most modern SUVs have short
overhangs these days, the Forester
remains old-school in this respect. From
the side when you view the vehicle, it
would seem to be front heavy. But its
not, due to this unique feature of a flat
four Boxer engine. This type of engine is
used by very few manufacturers [Porsche,
Subaru and Toyota in the co-developed /
FTGT86], and wherever used [SUVs/sedans
or even sports cars] it helps lower the
centre of gravity and can be positioned
anywhere on the front subframe to
optimize front to rear weight balance. As
a result, the Forester can exhibit genuine
dynamism in handling depending on the
type of suspension hardware it gets.
The ride height of the car is planned in
such a way that it gets good ground
clearance to go over ruts or off road
trails, but the nice part is the hip points,
stress free egress and ingress. The cabin
by todays standards would be best
described as busy but not fashionable

like lifestyle SUVs/SAVs. Theres still a
lot of plastic surfaces and spread out
instrumentation. When you switch on the
power, the instrument cluster lightens
up with a vast array of idiot lights these
days a multifunctional digital LCD display
takes care of the information needs.
Theres a small LCD display on the top
of the dashboard which offers a mix of
information in digital format and live
infographics which relate mostly to the
asymmetrical all-wheel drive system. The
dashboard definitely will appeal to drivers
who still like the old school of thought.
That comfort and convenience needs
may not be confused with design niggles.
The designers have genuinely improved
the quality and ambience inside the car
when compared to the outgoing model.
It is now more spacious and the use of
higher grade materials on the dashboard,
the centre console and doors makes it
move upmarket to some extent. Particular
attention has been given to the controls
and areas touched by the driver, such as
the steering wheel and gear shift, while
attempts have been made in optimising
the touch points and switchgear controls.
On the practical side, the front seats use

a new cushion spring array for comfort,
the hip point is 1.1in higher than before,
and the drivers seat has 1.3in more foreaft and 0.6in more height adjustment
travel. Materials are upgraded compared
to previous models with soft-touch
surfaces on the upper instrument panels
and armrests. The addition of a heightadjustable powered rear tailgate with
memory is also provided. We found the
covered console box small, but theres
a large open bin under the climate dials
that also contains a convenient 12V
accessory outlet. The steering wheel gets
an assortment of buttons for audio, cruise,
phone and multi-function display control.
The chassis of the car has been designed
with the flexible powertrain options in

both petrol and diesel. Omans market
needs will be served by a carryover DOHC
2.5-litre FB series horizontally-opposed
gour-cylinder engine which produces
170hp and 174 lb.-ft. of torque. This
engine is mated to an upgraded version
of Subarus Lineartronic CVT automatic
transmission which replaces the old
models 4-speed automatic without
losing the benefits of paddle shifters for
manually changing the ratios. And then
you have what Subaru calls Intelligent
Drive (SI-Drive), which allows drivers to
choose between different driving modes
to match road conditions. The all-wheel
drive system in all Subarus are unique
to the brand and the closest that is in
the market and sub branded very well is
Audis Quattro technology application.
Fundamentally, they do the job of
managing the traction on all wheels, but in
the case of Subaru it also factors in trailer
or towing assignments.
All 2014 Forester models come with
Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.
Subaru is a leader in all-wheel-drive
technology and this sets Forester apart
from front-wheel-drive competitors that
offer all-wheel drive as an option. Our

tester also came with a selectable low
shift mode that adds engine braking
on downhill grades. A new X-Mode
feature on the test vehicle according to
Subaru optimizes control of the engine,
transmission, Active AWD, brakes, VDC
and other systems to further improve
control on slippery surfaces and steep
inclines, while Hill Descent Control uses
the VDC system to maintain constant
speed and improve control on downhill
grades.
Like any other responsible Japanese
brand, the new Forester comes with
top class safety credentials. It has been
awarded the full five-star Euro NCAP crash
safety ratings and the package includes
upgraded Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC)
electronic stability control system, a new
Trailer Stability Control also improves
safety during towing. Greater use of ultrahigh tensile steel reinforces the vehicle,
making it exceptionally strong yet light.
All safety equipment is fitted as standard
to every model in the Forester range,
including twin front, side, curtain and knee
airbags, upholding Subarus commitment
to improving crash safety performance.
Driving impressions
As a utility-oriented SUV with a Boxer
engine arrangement is actually a rarity
in the business and Subaru makes the
best out of this. That the boxer engine
has been refined further in terms of
power delivery is evident in the first
few kilometres of driving on asphalt. In
fact, it makes pretty good use of its very
broad torque curve to provide a kind
of effortless, drama-free acceleration
from most any speed aided by a fine
transmission. Im not particularly kind to
continuously variable transmissions, but
the set-up in this SUV changes my view.
The cars transmission performance feels
very natural in most driving situations be
it on- or off-road. In most SUVs that we
have tested recently with CVT, they are
either tuned for on- or off-road and rarely
in sync for both types of terrains. For the
off-road section we took the via Wadi
Kabir highway towards Amerat and then
down to the rock strewn water filled wadi.
This car takes all these scenarios quite
well in its stride and no special efforts are
require on part of the driver. The Forester
is a very balanced performer with superb
temperament. And when compared to the
previous-generation model, this car feels
more agile thanks to a 50 per cent stiffer
structure, retuned front strut and doublewishbone rear suspensions and larger, 17inch tires and wheels. The upgraded rear
suspension uses pillow ball joint mounts
for its lateral links to smooth the ride.
We found the four-wheel independent
suspension delivers fairly agile handling
with good ride. The new electric power
assisted steering gives surprisingly good
feel and sensible feedback to the driver.
For both road and track, and we made
good use of the information provided by
its top-centre data screen.
Verdict
Despite technologically superior than
several of its rivals, the 2014 Subaru
Forester is a highly underrated SUV in our
region. We are totally sold on this SUVs
performance and handling capabilities.
Although, it will take time for it to woo
buyers on the basis of looks alone, the
new Forester has the ease of use and
practicality that appeals to customers
looking for this type of vehicle. Key
features that should help in the Foresters
USP are its standard all-wheel drive at a
lower than premium pricing than Toyotas
RAV4, Hondas CR-V or Mazdas CX-5 with
optional all-wheel drive.
2015 Suzuki Vitara
Ever since its market launch in 1988, the

Suzuki Vitara SUV has earned acclaim for
stylish, city-oriented designs, compact,
easy-to-manage dimensions, comfortable
on-road performance, and genuine offroad capability. The new model will arrive
with more lifestyle bias than hard core
abilities
The name may be old, but the idea is new and more than a quartercentury after the original models debut, Suzukis Vitara heritage is once
more rekindled for the modern day user
Suzuki says that from the initial

development stage, the incoming model
is designed with personalisation in mind.
Author: Chandan B Mallik
uzukis compact SUV, the Vitara/

Grand Vitara or Escudo, as it is
known in some markets needs no
re-introduction. The global model was
in production from late 80s to 2006 in
and with the global trend looking at
downsizing has prompted Suzuki to look
at a modern proposal. The new Vitara
was one of the concept highlights at last
months Paris Motor Show.
The all-new Vitara will come with smaller
dimensions and its simplistic design DNA
connects it with its predecessor as well
as the smaller model known as the Jimny.
With a length of 4,175mm on a wheel base
of 2,500mm, it will offer accommodation
for 4-5 adults as a two row model. The SUV
styling heritage is reflected in its reuse of
clamshell bonnet (a hallmark of the Vitara
series) and the slab slided sheetmetal
treatment.
For the interior, Suzuki says that from the
initial development stage, the incoming
model is designed with personalisation in
mind. Diverse exterior colours and a range
of design details enable owners to express

their individual personalities. Each customer
can choose from 15 body-colour possibilities
that include three brand-new colours and
several two-tone combinations. Other
mod cons include latest connectivity and
panaromic roof options.
In view of the efficiency drive the
unibody structured car is expected to be
lighter and will be powered by smaller
displacement four-cylinder engines instead
of the 2.7-litre V6. The engine choice will
The incoming
crossover will drop
its four-wheel-drive
system for a part-time
all-wheel-drive system
called Allgrip
include 1.6-litre diesel and petrol engines

with transmission options. A six-speed
automatic transmission is available for
the 1.6-litre petrol engine while the diesel
gets six-speed manual. Petrol versions
will get five-speed manual transmission.
The biggest change compared to the last
Vitara will be in the drive system which
now moves from two four-wheel-drive
options to a single all wheel drive system
with programmed preset terrain response
management which Suzuki calls ALLGRIP.
A limited-slip differential will also be part
of the specifications. Two-wheel drive
versions will get a five-speed manual
transmission and common to all variants
will be the large-diameter wheels and
the high ground clearance. Suspension
package will include MacPherson-struts up
front and torsion beam at the rear.
The new Vitara will first go into production
at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary in
early 2015 for European markets. It will
later be exported around the world as
Suzukis global compact SUV.
Motorsports F1
F1 race report # 1 Japan

Lewis Hamilton won, Nico Rosberg
came second helping the team score
their eighth 1-2 finish of the year.
t will be a race everyone in the Formula

1 business will not forget so easily.
Inclement weather conditions at Suzuka
welcomed the race which began behind the
Safety Car in wet conditions. Weather got
worse and the race was suspended at the
end of lap two. The race resumed at 15:25,
once again behind the Safety Car, which
then pitted at the end of lap 9. From this
point, the race ran uninterrupted on a wet
track in mixed weather conditions but was
brought to a premature end by a red flag
on lap 44 after a life-threatening accident
involving Team Marussias driver Jules
Bianchi at Turn 7. Reports in Germany claim
the G-force sensor located in the Formula
One drivers earplugs recorded an incredible
Sadly, Marussia driver Jules

Bianchi was involved in a near
fatal crash at the incident
filled 2014 Japanese
Grand Prix
92G impact during the crash. Sauber driver

Adrian Sutil had crashed two laps earlier.
According to a report issued by Formula 1s
governing body the FIA, Bianchi lost control
of his car, travelled across the run-off area
and hit the back of the tractor that was
being used to remove Sauber driver Adrian
Sutils car which had crashed two laps
earlier. The French driver is in hospital with
a severe head injury sustained when his car
slid off the track, drenched by rain brought
in by the approaching Typhoon Phanfone.
Meanwhile, Marussia has angrily responded
to allegations Bianchi and his team ignored
instructions to slow down before the
ill-fated crash. While, Hamilton won and
increased his lead in the championship,
ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Ricciardo, Vettel,
Button, Bottas, Massa, Hulkenberg Vergne,
and Perez, needless to say, all our thoughts
are with Jules, who, according to the FIA
was unconscious when removed from his
car and has been taken to hospital.
F1 race report # 2 Russia

Hamilton wins maiden Russian
Grand Prix
No matter how in intense the pain for
a seriously injured colleague, the pain
felt by Formula 1 after Jules Bianchis
horrific accident in Japan and the shock
is deep that followed was somewhat
evident at Fridays inaugural Russian GP
practices. On race day, the mood was
back to business and a repeat of stellar
performances as seen in Japan with Briton
Lewis Hamilton in blazing form. Hamilton
won the inaugural Russian GP and Nico
Rosberg finished in second, as Mercedes
clinched their first ever constructors
championship. Meanwhile, President
Vladimir Putin made his presence very well
known as he watched the nations first
Formula One grand prix on Sunday with
F1s top brass including Bernie Ecclestone.

The opening ceremony featured a display
by the Russian air force, an elaborate
dance routine and a Kuban Cossack
chorus. And after these formalities, it was
business as usual for the racers.
Hamilton became one of only four drivers
to win nine races in a season and his
victory was essentially assured as soon as
Rosberg made that mistake on turn one.
For the second time in a year Hamilton
has also won four races in succession
equaling the achievement of Michael
Schumacher in 2004. His 31st victory pulled
him level with Nigel Mansell as Britains
most successful F1 driver. He is going from
strength to stranglehold in this world

championship and if he does not win the
thing it will be a travesty.
Rosberg, though, provided the
outstanding drive here. He drove 52 laps
on the same set of medium tyres to take
second place,more than 13sec behind
Hamilton. Hamilton, starting from his
seventh pole of the season, defended his
advantage by cutting across Rosberg, but
the German drew level and then moved
slightly ahead of his great rival. But, as he
did so he locked up and flat-spotted his
tyres, forcing him to pit for fresh rubber
on only the second lap.
When he asked about strategy he was told
he would probably have to finish the race
without making another stop. He not only
finished it but made up 21 places, getting
annoyed on separate occasions near the
end, when he was expected to come in
for another change. It was an astonishing

performance in view of the fact that
some drivers had to make two stops and
others struggled to get to halfway without
coming in for a change.
Rosberg, who appears to have been
in decline during Hamiltons recent
onslaught, admitted his costly error. It
was just a mistake on my side, he said.
Hamilton has won five

more races than his
sole rival, his teammate Nico Rosberg,
but leads by only
17 points with that
ridiculous and possibly
championship-spoiling,
double-points seasonender in Abu Dhabi this
month
I just braked too late, that was it. It was
very unnecessary. It was my corner and I
am very disappointed with that. After that
my tyres were square so I couldnt see
where I was going and had to pit.
I thought that was the end of the day, so
partly Im happy to have managed to get
back all the way to second. In hindsight, I
could have pushed more during the race.
Its always easy to know more afterwards.
In the end my tyres were fine. It is a pity. I
just messed up. Very simple explanation I
braked too late and too hard.
It was also a good afternoon for Valtteri
Bottas, in his Williams, who took his
fifth podium position of the season to
go fourth in the title race behind Daniel
Ricciardo. Bottas said: The beginning
seemed to be very good and I was not far
off from Lewis and everything was going
to plan. The tyres were feeling good and
suddenly the rear tyres started to go,
started to lose pace and I was struggling
more and more and Lewis was getting far
away.
Jenson Button was fourth, one place
ahead of his team-mate Kevin Magnussen,
as McLaren continued their impressive
weekend in Russia, positively effulgent
by their recent modest standards. Button
was cautious about describing McLarens
result as a turning point. Some of it is the
circuit, but also I think we have improved
the set-up of the car and we have found
some other things that work for us, he
said.
MotoGP
Button for Le Mans with Porsche?

Jenson Button could move into Le Mans
sports cars next year if he loses his
McLaren seat, manager Richard Goddard
has admitted. With just three races left
to run in 2014, McLaren is still yet to
announce its next driver lineup, although
it is obvious talks with Fernando Alonso
are taking place. McLaren arent sure
what theyre doing and what their lineiup
will be, Goddard confirmed to UK media.
Jenson is an incredibly competitive racing
driver who wants to race. Hes too good to
sit at the back of the F1 grid, so he either
gets a competitive car in F1 or he goes to
get one elsewhere. The newspaper said
34-year-old Button, who has been with
McLaren since taking the number 1 to the
British team in 2010, has already had talks
with Porsche.
Fernandes exits GP2
Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes
has completed his exit from top openwheeler racing by selling his Caterhambranded GP2 team. According to reports,
Fernandes sold his Leafield-based F1
team to a mysterious group of SwissMiddle Eastern investors, led by Colin
Kolles, earlier this year. A statement
said Caterhams GP2 team has now been
sold to the GP3 outfit Status, owned
by Teddy Yip, whose namesake and
father was the Macau F3 chief and F1
team owner. However, Fernandes still
owns a Caterham-branded Moto2 team,
competing in the second tier of world
championship motorcycle racing.
Drivers demand better wet tyres

after Bianchi crash
Several top F1 drivers are calling on the
sports sole tyre supplier to improve its
wet-weather product. It may be recalled
that critically injured F1 driver Jules Bianchi
lost control of his Marussia in worsening
rain conditions at Suzuka when raining on
worn intermediate tyres.
Championship leader Lewis Hamilton said
drivers often prefer to run on that tyre
when it is wet, because the full wet Pirelli
is so much slower. It is no secret that
they are not the greatest wet tyres that I
have known, said the Mercedes driver.
The slick will always be improved, but I
guess not so much focus gets put on the
wet, he was quoted by media. You want
a tyre that clears the water and does not
force us to go to the intermediate when it
is so much quicker, and when it is probably
not safe enough to do so, Hamilton
added.
Reigning world champion Sebastian
Vettel admits the drivers concerns have
been passed on to Pirelli. Its definitely
something weve passed on already, not
just after Japan, he said, reportedly
having raised the issue in the pre-race
briefing last week in Russia. As soon
as youve got rid of most of the water
(with the full wet tyre), you try to put
the intermediate on, taking a lot of risk
into account, just because its the quicker
tyre, the Red Bull driver added.
Can Vettel cope with Ferrari
demands?
Michael Schumachers former manager,
Willi Weber doubts Sebastian Vettel
can emulate the F1 legends success at
rebuilding a beleaguered Ferrari team.
Weber, better known as the lucrative
Mr 20 per cent after brokering
Schumachers jaw-dropping Ferrari
contracts, is worried quadruple world
champion Vettels personality might not
be as suited to the task.
Ferrari is expected to confirm German
Vettels arrival as departing Fernando
Alonsos replacement in the days before
the US grand prix.
Omans Ahmad Al Harthy to

participate in ME Porsche GT3 Cup
Challenge S6
Porsche Centre Dubai, Al Nabooda
Automobiles LLC, Porsche Importer Dubai
& Northern Emirates, announced the driver
pairing at the team press conference last
month. Clemens Schmid has now been
paired with Omans Ahmad Al Harthy, who
one of the regions most experienced circuit
racing drivers for the 2014-15 season. The
duo look to complete a hat-trick of team
titles in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
Middle East for their sponsors.
Al Nabooda Racing secured a second
successive team title in the Porsche GT3 Cup
series last season, finishing with a 65-point
margin over the runners up, Saudi Falcons.
They won the team prize outright in seven
of 12 rounds, sharing top place on another
occasion and finishing runners up twice.
Al Harthy, who replaces Karim Al Azhari
in the Al Nabooda Racing team, will be
returning to the Porsche GT3 Cup series
in which he finished sixth overall in the
2011-12 season despite making only a limited
number of appearances. He scored his
maiden race win in the series that season
at Abu Dhabis Yas Marina Circuit. Al Harthy
made his racing debut in 2006 when he
entered the Thunder Arabia Middle East
series, becoming the first Omani driver to
compete in single-seaters and finishing the

season as vice-champion.
Schmid won seven of 12 rounds in the 2012-13
campaign as Al Nabooda Racing secured
the double of team and individual drivers
titles. His seven race wins last season put
the Dubai outfit in control of the team
championship again, while he was edged
into second place in the drivers standings by
a single point.
Were very pleased to welcome Ahmad
to the team and to pair him with Clemens
for the first time, said K Rajaram, CEO, Al
Nabooda Automobiles. We believe this is
a combination which can help us secure the
team championship for a third year.
Schmid and Al Harthy will take the wheel of
identical brand new 2015 Porsche GT3 Cup
Cars when the 12-round, one-make series
enters its sixth season, with the first two
rounds taking place at Bahrain International
Circuit on 14-15 November.
2014-15 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East race schedule

Round 1
Race 1- 14th Nov 2014
Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain
Race 2- 15th Nov 2014
Race 3- 5th Dec 2014

Round 2
Dubai Autodrome, UAE
Race 4- 6th Dec 2014
Round 3
Race 5 - 23th Jan 2015
Losail International Circuit, Qatar
Race 6 - 24th Jan 2015
Race 7- 13th Feb 2015

Round 4
Losail International Circuit, Qatar
Race 8- 14th Feb 2015
Round 5
Race 9 - 27th Feb 2015
Dubai Autodrome, UAE
Race10 - 28th Feb 2015
Round 6
Race 11 - 4th April 2015
Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain
Race 12 - 5th April 2015
Rossi dazzles Oz
The MotoGP race at the Tissot Australian
Grand Prix saw Valentino Rossi take his
second win of 2014, with Jorge Lorenzo
and Bradley Smith also on the podium.
Marc Marquez crashed out of an incident
packed race whilst leading and Dani
Pedrosa was forced to retire after being
clipped by Andrea Iannone
Marc Marquez, the 2014 MotoGP title
already tucked into his leathers, crashed
out of the Oz MotoGP on Sunday to hand
the race to Valentino Rossi. He was one of
four fallers in the race, one of them team
mate Dani Pedrosa their first double DNF
of the season.
Rossi, racing his 250th GP race, was
followed home by Jorge Lorenzo and
Bradley Smith, the latter taking the first
podium place of his career. Rossi rolled
back the years to win his sixth premierclass Australian MotoG on Oct 19 after
2014 champion Marc Marquezs cruise
to a pole-to-flag victory was ended by a
crash on lap 18. With a second successive
MotoGP title secured in Japan a week
earlier, 21-year-old Honda rider Marquez
looked destined to match Mick Doohans
record of 12 race wins in a single season
when he led by four seconds.
Ten laps from the end, though, his front
end was snapped away from under him
and he slithered along the asphalt and on
to the trackside grass.
Pushing the frontiers

Neil Armstrong was a really lucky man. In the midst of the space race between the United States and
the erstwhile USSR, hundreds of astronauts were in training for space missions. But it was to his good
fortune that he was commander of the Apollo XI, thereby giving him the opportunity to leap off the
ladder of the lander and leave his imprint quite literally in the story of mans progress. His one small
step was rightly a huge leap for mankind.
As a race, we tend to remember stuff like that Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on Everest, Piccard and
Walsh at the bottom of the ocean in the Trieste and Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier in the
Bell X1 come to mind immediately. Another one that was drummed in by one of the most effective
marketing campaigns of its time was the leap from the edge of space by Felix Baumgartner.
One can only imagine the challenges of sending up a man to jump from the then record height of
127,852 feet. It seems quite anticlimactic to then hear of the record being broken so soon. Over the
past week, Alan Eustace, a Google management team member, rose well above this height to free-fall
from 135,908 feet. And he didnt go up in a protective capsule with prominent branding, all he had was
a protective suit that kept him alive.
But how likely are we to remember him in the future? If you see the amount of media coverage you
know that his feat will be but just a passing blip on pages of sub-space travel. Fearless Felix and his
RedBull sponsored record will remain on the books as the defining moment when man leapt off from
a really high board.
And if you dont believe me ask yourself who was the astronaut on duty in the orbiting command
module of Apollo XI? Poor Michael Collins didnt stand a chance with his story being one of so near,
yet so far.
But why have I spent so long on this topic?
Raj Warrior is editor of Automan and has been in the thick
of the Automotive journalism field from the past 15 years.
Want to comment or have your say?

Email at raj@alroya.net.
Identify yourself or your message will be trashed and
your id blocked
Its because I have come to the conclusion that almost all future records and achievements will be
governed by how well they are marketed. Admittedly, many of these records are themselves the result
of costlier enterprises like being the first man on Mars. Unless a government, or indeed multiple
governments are funding this, how exactly is anyone ever going to cover the tab? Yes, the bogey of
sponsorship is there to stay. One can well imagine a future where a Starship Enterprise is cloaked
entirely in Pepsi branding and a future Captain Kirk needs to yell out divert all power from the rear
billboards to the deflector shields And you know the Klingons because of the large KFC on their
warbirds.
The subtle and not so subtle marketing aspects of modern business are hitting us on a daily basis.
From the umpteen brand managers who are upset with yours truly because your story doesnt match
our marketing message, to the new breed of content peddlers who send in proposals for free content
(also with offers to pay us) that is tailored for our platform, with relevant links included, there is no story
too small and no limits too low to which marketers wont reduce themselves.
In todays marketing driven world a venture like the Apollo XI would be tailored you would have a
politically correct mix of astronauts and you would also have celebrities endorsing the flight. What you
dont get anymore is the sheer thrill of exploration, of being a pioneer, of doing something well just
because it has to be done. Sit and calculate eyeballs, return on investment and measure of voice and
tell the pioneers, Its just not worth doing it.
Admittedly, having access to the money is important for any endeavour, whether run-of-the-mill or
challenging. In the good old days the sponsors were rich gentry who only wanted to do good. Or were
outright mercenary taking a cut of all new lands discovered, treasures looted or goods traded. After
all even the Americas wouldnt have been discovered without sponsorship.
So heres an idea for the next big record the first privately funded manned flight to the moon. And an
idea for paying back your sponsors spray paint a giant billboard on the surface of the moon. What
bets that RedBulls already considering the idea?

159 Automan November Issue 2014

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NOV 2014 Issue no 159

24-29 2015 Cadillac ats coupe

2015 Cadillac ATS

Oman and regional news

Luxury line-up gets

6-12 automan coty award ceremony, red

11 felix weller, cadillac regional

14-15 2015 land rover discovery sport in

Star and car power together

French capital was abuzz with concept

exclusive world premierereport

16-19 Jaguar Land Rover serious about

International news spotlight

50-54 2015 porsche cayenne

74-75 2015 suzuki vitara

76-79 F1 japan and russia race reports,

80 The role of marketing in pushing new

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2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe

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Regional Sales and

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In this part of the world, the

Can Cadillac become a true global player?

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2015 Triumph motorcycles now in Oman

Improved Hyundai Santa Fe

UAE dealer introduces 2015

Hyundais Santa Fe crossover SUV has

Alfardan Motors, the official importers

Commenting on the 2015 motorcycle

wheeled category the world over. I am

style. In 2015 Triumph will be offering

engine performance, sublime chassis

each received refreshed styling as well as

Maserati Quattroporte with V6 comes to Oman

GTS and the 410hp V6 Quattroporte S.

Michelin introduces new

For the regions lifestyle SUV users, tyre

GMC has announced Dr. Mohammad Al

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