161 Automan January Issue 2015

8/19/2019 161 Automan January Issue 2015

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30

COVERSTORY |

2015 Kia SorentoFirst drive of Gen III inHashemite Kingdom ofJordan

8New cars @ Oman Motor Show

Thin industry participation, interesting

cars

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COVER STORY

30-37 2015 KIA SORENTO

OMAN AND REGIONAL NEWS

6-14 KEY AUTOMOTIVE DEALERS LAUNCH NEW MODELS AT

OMAN MOTOR SHOW, NEW CARS IN OMAN: 2015 BMW X6,

2015 ISUZU MUV, GEN III 2015 KIA SORENTO, 2015 RENAULT

CAPTUR. IMPRESSIVE SALES START FOR ALL-NEW NISSAN

X-TRAIL, AL JENAIBI SHOWCASES ‘X’ POWER IN SULTANATE,

NISSAN SETS NEW WORLD TWIN CAR DRIFT RECORD

IN UAE, GOING STRONG: NISSAN AND MOTORSPORTS,

LAMBORGHINI HOLDS FIRST MIDDLE EAST ACCADEMIA IN

DUBAI, MERCEDES-BENZ EXTENSIVELY UPGRADES THE CLS

FOR 2015, ALL-NEW 2015 VOLVO V40 ARRIVES IN REGION,

LIMITED PRODUCTION BENTLEY MULSANNE MAJESTIC

SHOWCASED, NEW ME HQ FOR BENTLEY MOTORS,

MITSUBISHI PAJERO ADVENTURE HELD IN OMAN, SAFETY

CAMPAIGN IN OMAN, JUMA AL MAJID GROUP LAUNCH

REGION’S FIRST DIGITAL STUDIO FOR HYUNDAI

2014 AUTOMAN COTY

16-20 SHORLISTED CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED

BRANDWATCH

22-26 RUSSIAN ROUBLE COLLAPSE TROUBLES GLOBAL

AUTOMAKERS,AIRBAGS COULD HAVE EXPIRY DATE SOON,

BUSY YEAR FOR AMG AHEAD, NISSAN GT-R ANNIVERSARY

EDITION ANNOUNCED, SPYKER DECLARED BANKRUPT,

HYUNDAI’S NEW INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM TO APPEAR IN

MY 2016 MODELS, FIRST NEW SCRAMBLER FROM DUCATI

COMES OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE, LEXUS TRADEMARKS

NEW MODEL NAMES,FERRARI FXX K PRODUCTION SOLD

OUT, ASTON MARTIN’S NEW BOND CAR REVEALED, MG

TO SELL REBODIED KORANDO? FORD CONSIDERING

PERFORMANCE SUB BRAND? MCLAREN LAUNCHES NEW

MSO DEFINED CUSTOMIZATION PROGRAM, MASERATI

MARKS CENTENARY WITH 50,000TH UNIT AT GRUGLIASCO

PLANT, RENAULT-DONGFENG PROGRESSING WELL,JAGUAR

LAND ROVER REVEALS ITS ‘360 VIRTUAL URBAN

WINDSCREEN’, LAMBORGHINI AND PIRELLI CREATE SPECIAL

EDITION AVENTADOR LP 700-4

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

28-29 2015 DETROIT AUTO SHOW TEASER

SPECIAL 10 SUV PREVIEW FEATURE

56-57 AUDI Q7

58-59 BMW X6

60-61 HONDA HR-V

62-63 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT

64-65 LEXUS NX

66-67 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR

68-69 MAZDA CX-3

70-71 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE

72-73 RENAULT CAPTUR

74-75 VOLVO XC90

FIRST DRIVES

38-43 2015 INFINITI QX80

44-49 2015 SSYANGYONG KORANDO

50-55 2015 LINCOLN MKC

MOTORSPORTS

76-79 REGIONAL MOTORSPORTS, GULF 12 HR, 2014 MOTO

GP IN PICTURES

CHICANE

80 TO GEOLOCATE OR STAY HIDDEN?

NEXT ISSUE

2015BMW X6

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Our January issue always brings with it a look at what we expect to be in store for theautomotive industry and how it will effect us here. This year is no different in that we really

have a lot to speculate on.

For starters, what do you think will be the likely outcome of the imbroglio that Russia nds

itself in? They have already annexed Crimea from the Ukraine and are being blamed for all

the problems in Ukraine’s east. Sanctions are in place and the Rouble has almost halved

in value although the almost coincidental drop in the price of crude oil has also triggered

part of that dramatic fall.

What does that spell for the automotive industry in Russia other than a very troubled year

ahead? The huge untapped potential of this part of the BRICS economies may well be off

the commercial map for the year.

China, on the other hand is chugging along quite nicely although that shouldn’t be

mistaken as actually showing any growth. But then we are speaking about an economy

that has consistently shown at least a 10% growth through the past decade and is set to be

the world’s largest economy by all measures. So a slow down could just mean that growth

dips to 5% or 6% instead of the near double digits. But the world’s largest automotive

market doesn’t seem to be in any danger of losing that tag, especially with the drop in the

price of crude oil translating into more affordable motoring in consumer countries.

The United States itself remains largely healthy and seems to be sustaining its rebound

from the dark depths of the nancial collapse. Lower oil prices works in their favour

although some oil companies may get hit due to the greater expense of fracking against

normal oil drilling. As the US moves towards being a net supplier to the world, we also

have to factor in that it continues to be the magnet for global money. Car sales will grow,

unless something really bad happens to topple the apple cart.

Our home market is actually the one that’s the most difcult to read. Lower oil prices

affect the producer states in the short term, but almost all the investment in to the states

is of a medium term or long term nature. New roads, ports, airports, bridges, universities

and cities need a long lead-time and are usually nanced over decades. How this will be

affected by a short-term dip in revenues will vary state by state and will depend on their

reserves as well as future earning potential.

One should expect the local market to grow, even if the rate of growth takes a hit. That

would t in very nicely with the expectations of an automotive industry that hasn’t quite

forgotten the tribulations of ve years back.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFMohammad Al Taie

AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING

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Following its public debut at the OmanMotor Show, Renault’s new urban-centric crossover, the Captur was

formally launched at the brand’s Qurumshowroom. The Captur Concept was rstshown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Showand the production version made itsdebut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Showand started to be marketed in France

during April 2013 with other markets in2014. Mechanically, the Captur is basedon the fourth generation Clio [Renault/Nissan B platform] and incorporatesdesign themes/ lines from the CapturConcept. The production car also as partof Renault’s renovated design strategydeveloped by Laurens van den Acker and itis the second of six concept cars showingRenaults future design directions.

The owing lines highlight its distinctiveproportions, while its large wheels,generous ground clearance, widetracks and steeply raked, forward-setwindscreen form a unique blend ofMPV, SUV and hatchback, conceived and

made reality by Renault. Renault Capturlends itself perfectly to an extensivepersonalisation programme, too. Withits many permutations of two-tonebodywork, wheel colours, light and darkinterior trims, upholstery fabrics andgraphic motifs. The Captur is designedto accommodate various powertrainsranging from 890cc 3-cylinder to 1,496ccfour-cylinder. All variants get double clutch

6-speed automatic transmission. Themarkets of Oman will get a turbocharged1.2-litre four-cylinder engine producing120hp and 190Nm of torque. Two trimlevels will be oered and prices will startfrom OMR7,000-8,000.

Captur launched in UAEArabian Automobiles Renault, the agship companyof AW Rostamani Group and the exclusive dealerof Renault in Dubai and the Northern Emirates alsolaunched Renault’s rst urban crossover. “Arabian

Automobiles Renault is very excited about the Capturjoining our exciting product line-up,” said Ashish Goel,general manager at Arabian Automobiles Renault. InUAE, prices for the Captur start from AED 57,900 forthe most basic PE model, AED 62,900 for the SE mid-range model and AED 67,900 for the top of the rangeLE model.

Renault Capturofficially arrivesin Oman

Impressive sales start forall-new Nissan X-TrailAn X-Trail sold for every 48 minutes and in 40 days since it waslaunched dealerships across GCC recorded total sales of 441units within the rst 15 days, 1,226 units were sold within therst 40 days. In Qatar a total of 22.6% market share has beenrecorded for the All-New X-Trail, outselling its competitorsduring the rst full month of sales. The X-Trail also remained thesegment leader in the UAE amongst its competitors, attaininga total of 12 per cent market share, according to Nissan. SamirCherfan, managing director, Nissan Middle East said: “Withthe launch of the all-new X-Trail, our fundamental ambitionis to achieve superiority against our competitors, and theseoutstanding sales results are a clear testament to that. TheNissan X-Trail is currently the leader in its segment and we look

forward to maintaining this position.”

Bridgestone Middle East and Africa FZE, with the support ofRobert Bosch Middle East FZE, have launched its latest publicawareness initiative -- Bridgestone Safety Station campaign-- in Oman. The programme is designed to enhance road andvehicle safety awareness, encourages and educates drivers,reminding them to check their vehicles before hitting the roadand make sure that their cars and tyres are properly maintainedand ready for the journey. The Safety Station was located in theLeisure Court area of Muscat City Centre and ran for two days

in December.

Safety awareness campaignin Oman

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OTE Group and Isuzu Motors InternationalOperations base in Thailand launched theirIsuzu Mu-X, a new seven seater SUV for themarkets in the Sultanate. This tough-as-nailsfamily SUV is mechanically based on theD-Max pick-up which means it gets a truck-like ladder-frame chassis. Dimensionally,the MU-X stands at 4,825mm in length,

1,860mm in width [without mirrors]and 1,830mm in height on a 2,845mmwheelbase. These gures have allowedIsuzu to oer the cabin with three rowsof seats - the rear pair both split-folding- and what Isuzu calls an abundance ofstorage areas. Stylistically, the tall, aredand boxy MU-X resembles GM’s Colorado

[also co-developed in Thailand] twin, albeitwith a unique Isuzu nose design and colourpalette, as well as a straighter prole line.Only the bonnet and front door are sharedwith the D-Max. The SUV will be poweredby a single turbocharged diesel 2.5-litreengine. The proven ve-speed automaticAisin unit is mated to this engine which

produces 136PS at 3,400 rpm and 320Nm oftorque from 1,800 to 2,800 rpm. Sequentialshift function is also provided by thetransmission and Isuzu says that while itstransmissions have fewer ratios than mostrivals, it also sets them up to have widerratios, and allows them to ride the diesel’storque curve.

Isuzu’s first new SUV in Oman

BMW’s ocial retailer in the region AlJenaibi took the opportunity to get mediaand invitees familiar with the ‘X’ familyby oering them to drive various modelsranging from the entry level X1, X3, X4, X5and just introduced X6. The drive eventsaw participants take out the cars inconvoy towards Al Amerat, looping via thenew Yiti connector [which oered somestunning scenic spots] and nally headingback to the starting point at Grand HyattHotel. All drivers were able to drive the

various models during driver changestops. The ‘X’ – M-badged models werenot part of this drive routine.

Al Jenaibi Automobiles launched theredesigned for 2015 BMW X6 in Muscatlast month. Although it looks much thesame as last year’s model, the sheet metalis, in fact, new and this luxury crossoveris slightly longer, taller and wider. Itsupdated interior includes standardve-passenger seating, a much-neededincrease in room for rear passengers and

a wealth of the latest electronic features.The Oman market will be served withtwo powertrain choices – a turbocharged3.0-litre V6 producing 306hp and a bigger450hp V8.

Al Jenaibi showcases‘X’ power in

Sultanate

BMW X6arrives in Oman

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Key

automotive

dealerslaunch new

models at

Oman Motor

Show8 JAN 2015


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The recently concluded edition of Oman’smotor show saw some interesting unveilsby authorized dealerships besides slightlymore representation than earlier editions.Key reveals came from Lexus with theRC-F and RC models, while Ford managedto get their hands on the soon-to-arriveall-new Mustang. Ford’s premium luxurybrand Lincoln had both the all-new MKCcrossover and new full-size Navigator.Volkwagen’s stand was small, but it didhave some interesting cars like the Golf R.

Renault took the opportunity to introduceits newest addition – the Captur crossoverSUV besides some localized trimmededitions of current models. Nissan’s keyhighlight was the new X-Trail and alsolocalized trimmed editions of currentmodels. Inniti also had a sizable presence.Mitsubishi was also in full form with its fullline-up. On the after-care/accessories sideit was Sayarti and V-Kool that had a bigpresence along with some other suppliersof Tyres and o-road accessories. Premiumluxury and some mainstream brands wereconspicuous with their absence.

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Kia Motors launched its thirdgeneration Sorento SUV for the regionin Jordon last month. The incomingmodel arrives in the region’s marketsin 2015 with a new stylized design, achoice of two petrol engines, five- orseven-seat versions with two drivesystems and a host of upgraded andnew features. Marginally longer, wider

and lower than the outgoing edition,

the exterior styling of the global modelwas led by Kia’s Namyang design studioin Korea, with significant input fromthe brand’s Frankfurt, Germany andIrvine, California design studios. In ourmarkets, the new Sorento will competewith the likes Ford Edge/Explorer,GMC Terrain and Jeep Cherokee. [Seefirst drive report elsewhere in the

magazine]

Volvo Car Middle East & North Africa announced that the all-new V40 T5 sport 2015 is now available with Drive-E Engine.The all-new V40 takes the brand’s hatchback car to a newlevel, combining style, intelligence and safety technologies.The car’s prole is inspired by Volvo’s human-centric“Designed Around You” strategy. Volvo claims that this V40is one of the most intelligent and safest cars in the world.The V40 T5 Sport comes with ‘City Safety’ collision avoidancetechnology, Sensus connect, Adaptive Digital display,Dynamic Stability Traction control, Rear Parking Sensors,Cruise Control and Dual Zone Electronic Climate Control.Volvo says the car’s systems can also support optionalfeatures like Park Assist Pilot, Lane Keeping Aid, Pedestrian

Airbag, Enhanced Blind Spot Information System, CrossTrac Alert, Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection. Additionally,some of the driver convenience features including the RoadSign Information, Adaptive Cruise Control & Distance Alert,Active High Beam and Driver Alert Control are a few of themany features found in the car.The V40 has been introduced in the UAE and is oeredwith two dierent engines: T4 and T5. The T4 is a 1.6-litre4-cylinder turbocharged engine delivering 180hp while theT5 sport Drive-E engine is 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbochargeddelivering 245hp. The T5 is equipped with 8-speed automatictransmission and the 2015 T5 also comes standard withpaddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel. The V40T5 is tted with 17 inch alloy wheels.

Gen III 2015

Kia Sorento

launched in

region

All-new 2015 Volvo V40

arrives in region

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New ME HQ for Bentley Motors

Bentley Emirates has revealed the rst ofonly ve Bentley Mulsanne Majestic modelsexclusively reserved for the UAE. Thelimited edition Mulsanne was unveiled byBentley Motors Middle East and Al HabtoorMotors at the British Embassy in Dubai, toan audience of VIP clients and media. Theultra-exclusive Mulsanne Majestic takes

Bentley’s agship Mulsanne, the pinnaclein luxurious, handmade grand touring, tothe next level and is the ultimate statementin exclusivity for Bentley connoisseurs inthe Middle East. Only 15 models of theMulsanne Majestic have been hand crafted

by Bentley’s Mulliner division in Creweand all are reserved for customers in theMiddle East. Five models are dedicatedto customers in Saudi Arabia, ve in theUnited Arab Emirates and ve in Qatar.The UAE model comes in Quartz Whitepaintwork, while the interior is trimmedwith a Linen main and Beluga as the

secondary hide colour. It also featuresunique 21in Mulliner branded ve spokealloy wheels, specically designed for theMajestic. Alongside the wheels are special‘Majestic’ badges mounted on the frontwheel arches.

General Automotive Company (GAC), the ocial distributorsfor Mitsubishi in Oman has successfully completed threerounds of its locally-developed customer-oriented annualdesert adventure. Popularly known among Pajero owners asthe ‘Team Pajero Adventure’, each round consists of a day anda half or more worth of time involvement. From Mitsubshi’sshowroom, registered attendees drove into the heart ofOman’s breathtaking desert scenario for a weekend of funand genuine driving adventure in their Pajeros. Commentingon the Desert Adventure, Rajesh Sharma, the national

marketing manager of GAC said: “In addition to being a funtrip for the entire family to enjoy, these annual ‘Team Pajero’events provides a great opportunity to give owners a real-world driving experience in challenging o-road conditionsin a safe and secure environment. The trips were once againa great success in 2014, with every participant providing uswith positive feedback and expressing their intentions tojoin us once again next year.” Participants were supervisedand followed the Marshalls in convoy format towardsWahiba Sands. Once at the Al Raha Camp, the drivers areoered specialized desert driving training and safety tips andsubsequently encouraged to drive over dunes. After these o-road sessions, participants head towards the camp to witnessstunning sunset followed by dinner and entertainment.

Three rounds of

Pajero Adventureheld in Oman

Limited production Bentley Mulsanne Majestic

Bentley Motors has announced that the Middle East is now home to its newheadquarters for operations across the Middle East, Africa, India and Asia Pacic (MEAI& Asia Pac.). The announcement marks a signicant commitment to the region fromthe ultra-luxury automotive manufacturer and highlights the importance of the MiddleEast to the brand’s continuous success. Neil Wilford, Bentley Motors’ Regional Manager,

Middle East, Africa and India, said: “2014 is a pivotal year for Bentley Motors Middle East,Africa and India. While this region has played an integral part in our global business formany years, the move to centralise all operations for these key markets to Dubai, makesa big statement. Our team is set to grow signicantly before the New Year and willcontinue to expand in to the beginning of 2015. These developments highlight just howimportant this region is to our business and we look forward to spearheading the nextchapter of success from our new home within the region.”

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Till last month, the world recordfor twin car simultaneous drifting[according to Guinness WorldRecords] was 24km. That record

was broken by two silver stock Nissan370Zs at a modied parking lot behindDubai’s Global Village. The feat, supportedby Nissan Middle East saw a new GuinnessWorld Records title for the longest twinvehicle drift being achieved. The two Zcars piloted by ProDrift drivers -- world

champion James Deane and regionalchampion Ahmad Dahan – who driftedthe cars in tandem around the trackwithout stopping for 28.52km. One ofthe cars spun out midway during the rstattempt but the second attempt provedworthwhile as here it was when TheGuinness World Record was set.It was a betting start for launch ofthe “Nissan 370Z Drift Experience”programme.This localised programme will oer driversthe opportunity to learn and perfect theart of car drifting. “Nissan 370Z Drift

Experience” is a partnership betweenNissan Middle East and the ProdriftAcademy, which is carried out using Nissan370Zs alongside the Prodrift Academy’sprofessional drift instructors in a safe andcontrolled environment.Samir Cherfan, Managing Director,Nissan Middle East, said: “With today’s

NISSAN setsnew world twin

car drift recordin UAE

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For nearly 80 years, Nissan has been pushing the boundaries of

innovation within the Motorsports industry. Ever since its grassroots

the Datsun NL-75 won at the Japanese Tamagawa Speedway in 1936,

Nissan has developed some of the most recognized racing cars to have

ever graced the track. Nissan’s global recognition came later in 1964 when it showcased its first ‘Skyline GT’ in Germany, which then went

on to overtake a Porsche in one lap during the Japan Grand Prix. It

was at this point the industry and the world began to start recognizing

that Nissan’s innovation and technology was on par with the rest of

the western world. With the world now watching, Nissan subsequently

launched the legendary ‘Skyline GT-R’ in 1969, which was a pioneer in

racing automotive technology. In fact much of the DNA from the Skyline

GT-R has been carried on to the present day GT-R.It wasn’t long before

Nissan had developed its signature turbo charged engine in 1979 and

upon realizing that it was possible to boost sales through competitive

motorsports, launched NISMO for the first time in 1984. Since then

the company has broken records and developed some of the fastest

racing cars ever built. In the region, Nissan Middle East has shined in

motorsports through the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge with the Patrol

by sponsoring Emil Kneisser who achieved great results, the successful

yearly GT Academy initiative and now the latest addition of the Nissan

370Z Drift Experience.

accomplishment of setting a new GuinnessWorld Records title, we have proven againthe strength of our vehicles by addinganother Guinness World Records record toour list. The Nissan Z is a very popular carin the drifting scene and this new record isyet another proof on the ability of this carto make drifting look so easy.” “Nissanhas a strong focus on motorsports in theMiddle East. Since safety is our priorityat Nissan, we have partnered with the

Prodrift Academy to provide a legal andsafe platform for drifting fanatics in theregion.” Cherfan added.The drifting fever was evolved back in2009, when the rst regional driftingcompetition was launched. Over the years,this has signicantly grown to be oneof the most awaited events across theMiddle East, with attendance exceeding15,000 per country. Mohammad AlFalasi, managing director of the ProdriftAcademy commented: “Drifting has beena very popular sport among young peoplein the region and we are extremely proud

to be able to develop this sport furtheramong the fans in a safe and authorizedenvironment, thanks to Nissan MiddleEast. Our professional instructors arededicated to transforming young talentsinto world class performers with the helpof the iconic Nissan Z due to its controllingpower.”

Going strong: NISSAN and MOTORSPORTS

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18/8416 JAN 201516 JAN 2015

Pro: The Thailand made entry level sedanversion of the Mirage hatchback boastsunique design from the back doors rearwardsand is an accomplished basic city car.

Pro: Redesigned from ground up, the MG6is quite a contemporary car with manyinteresting features.

Pro: Redesigned for 2014, Mazda3 is also the rstto incorporate the full suite of Mazda’s Skyactiv

Technology, aimed at reducing mass and optimizing

powertrain eciency to maximize fuel economy.

Cons: In the past, the Mirage has had a verycomplicated marketing history.

Cons: The British brand with Chineseownership still has to catch up withmodern powertrain technologies.

Cons: no sports version oered.

Thirty six cars represented in 13 categories [excluding

Best Debut] are among the shortlisted candidatesfor the Car of the Year 2014 award. The final vote

and counting will determine the single winner in their

respective categories. The final results will be revealed

in Automan’s February 2015 issue.

The shortlisted nominees


19/8417JAN 2015 17JAN 2015

Pro: Ford has ensured that the US-builtFusion is a competitive family sedan thatcan make a bold statement with attractivedesign, features and handling.

Pro: The technical partnership with Daimlerespecially in the entry-level powertraindepartment has widened the scope andreach.

Pro: With evolved ‘Fluidic Sculpture’design, Hyundai has loaded the car willclass leading features and better handlingqualities.

Pro: Fully redesigned with styling in linewith the bigger models, the powertrainfocus is fuel economy and frugality. Henceit makes the grade a good urban car.

Pro: All the key features from the top-of-the-line S-Class have been replicated forthis model.

Pro: A perennial best-seller in the mid-sizesedan market, the Accord had everythingin its favour till now.

Pro: Hyundai have painstakenly upgradedthe car on the line of its bigger modelsin an attempt to push it into the luxurycategory.

Pro: Downsizing at its best withoutcompromise in performance or features.

Pro: Audi broke the entry-level price barrierwith this model with brilliant packaging.

Cons: Competition in the segment isextremely erce and MyFord Touch hasearned its share of criticism from users.

Cons: Styling isn’t the strongest point ofthis car.

Cons: Hyundai want to promote the car asmore than entry lux in the shortest possibletime.

Cons: The car doesn’t oer quite as manyhigh-tech features as competition.

Cons: It’s not the entry-level model at theprice point customers were previouslycomfortable with.

Cons: The Accord isn’t exactly a pillar of class-bustingstyle and we are not sure why Honda opted for CVTtransmission for ME markets where fuel eciency is nota key purchase criterion.

Cons: The value-for-money ‘luxury’ tagneeds to be relooked thoroughly.

Cons: It will create serious sibling rivalry –especially with the 12-cylinder variants.

Cons: Commercial success has potentialto cannibalise sales of other models in theGroup’s line-up.


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Pro: Downsizing to a V6 along with a newentry level price point boosts the brand’saordability quotient.

Pro: The magic of turbocharging and directinjection has also caught the fancy of thePrancing Horse after quarter of a century.

Pro: Perfect blend of technology,performance and design.

Pro: Cadillac’s top-of-the-line XTShas helped redene America’s luxuryautomaker’s image to quite an extent.

Pro: Jaguar’s return to the eld with thiscar is more than just paying homage to itsillustrious peers.

Pro: More of a marketing ploy, but abetting tribute in its anniversary year.

Pro: In the game of super variant’s, nothingcomes close to Modena’s track focuseddesigned car with dual character.

Pro: AMG proved that it could do wonderseven with a tiny 2.0-litre four-cylinder set-up.

Pro: Proven MQB platform with jawdropping performance from top variants.

Cons: A low volume producing companytransforming itself into a volume playercould jeopardize its exclusivity.

Cons: Could lead to downsized models infuture.

Cons: Long waiting list.

Cons: Impressive gains still short of Germanpremium brand rivals’ packages.

Cons: Entry level pricing still restrictive.

Cons: Joins the list of limited productioneditions.

Cons: Pricy proposition.

Cons: Success will encourage a few more‘me-toos’

Cons: Styling somewhat controversial butattempts to reconnect with rst generationicon.


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22/8420 JAN 201520 JAN 2015

Pro: GMC has put in a lot of hard workin order to keep up with the pace in thesegment with its focused approach.

Pro: Entry level sedan comes withcapabilities matching German andJapanese premium opposition.

Pro: Extensively rened luxury, featuresand capabilities.

Pro: Also revisited by GM and now movesa few levels higher in design, content andhandling.

Pro: New model signies new direction forthe brand.

Pro: Generation III facelift has come withthe right dose of kit and eciency andwide variant spread.

Pro: The sports car maker’s rst compactSUV comes with top class engineering.

Pro: AMG proved that it could do wonderseven with a tiny 2.0-litre four-cylinder set-up.

Pro: The sports car maker’s rst compactSUV comes with top class engineering.

Cons: Competition is tough and will keepthe segment on its toes.

Cons: Lack of variants oered.

Cons: Few competitive models in segmentalso with high benchmark standards.

Cons: Overpricing will jeopardize its sales.Premium SUV

Cons: Pricing point excess will ensure lowvolume sales.

Cons: Can hold on its own, but faces sticompetition from both outside and within.

Cons: Has potential to cannibalise sales.

Cons: Success will encourage a few more‘me-toos’.

Cons: Has potential to cannibalise sales.


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Russianroublecollapse

troubles

globalautomakersAs the Russian rouble collapsed onsanctions and tumbling oil prices in 2014,the fallout has had bizarre eects onthe global auto industry. While Russiansare buying up luxury goods includingexpensive cars, prots for sellers havetumbled as the currency has depreciatedso much that it has taken the sheen ofrom most of these transactions.

As a result, several carmakers aretemporarily withholding deliveries until

the currency situation stabilizes. Accordingto Bloomberg, General Motors stoppedsales on December 16 with no set dateto start again. Audi did the same thingbut with the intention to resume once ithas adjusted model pricing. Jaguar LandRover terminated business until December19 to see how things changed. Toyota isincreasing its pricing, as well, but keeping

business open at the same time.Some automakers have subtly been

reacting to the slumping Russian automarket all year. The moves have includedVolkswagen cutting production by 30,000units from its factory in Kaluga. Ford alsogot rid of 950 workers from two plantsdue to low demand. Some analysts haveeven speculated that the contractingindustry and possibility of lower importduties into the country could cause

companies to end their manufacturing inRussia completely.

Busy year for AMG ahead

MG to sell rebodiedKorando?

At the recent media event in

Barcelona, Spain, Mercedes-

Benz executives disclosed thebrand’s model rollout plans for

next year which will kick o

with the AMG Sport line-up.

The 2015 model rollout plan will

kick o with AMG Sport line-up

debut in January with the C450

and GLE450 Coupe, followed in

March by the market launch of

the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class,

CLA Shooting Brake, C-Class

Plug-in Hybrid and AMG GT.

The 4MATIC-equipped V-Class

will go on sale in April when

Mercedes-Benz will roll out

the Smart ForTwo Cabrioletand higher-powered versions

prepared by Brabus. June will

be an interesting month as this

is when Mercedes-Benz will

introduce the GLC [formerly

known as GLK] and the GLE

& GLE Coupe [the outgoing

ML]. Meanwhile, the facelifted

A-Class will be out in September

while the C-Class Coupe is

programmed for a November

launch.

Yes, this is true in the worldof automotive rebadging.Tentatively called GTS, thecompact soft-roader is beingdesigned to substantially

increase MG’s share of theChinese new car market. Asexpected, the GTS bears morethan a passing resemblance tothe CS concept that debutedat last year’s Shanghai MotorShow but its front end is closerto that of the Golf-sized MG5hatchback and its overhangsare longer. The concept haslost several inches of groundclearance, its LED headlampsand its oversized rims inits transition to a regular-production vehicle. MG’s top

brass has previously revealedthat the crossover will bepowered by a turbocharged2.0-litre four-cylinder petrolengine that will send 200hp

and 213 lb-ft. of torque to allfour wheels via either a manualor an automatic transmission.Entry-level models in somemarkets will get a 135hp1.5-litre four-cylinder. MG’srst crossover will land inshowrooms across Chinanext spring and it will likelybe added to automaker’slineup in England shortly after.England-bound models willbe assembled from completeknock-down (CKD) kits in MG’shistoric Longbridge factory.

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Six months ago, Ducatiannounced their all-newScrambler project andnow the brand’s BorgoPanigale plant is inthe news. This comes40 years after the lastDucati Scrambler rolledo the line back in the‘70s.For Ducati, the DucatiScrambler means thebirth of a new brand,a new approach to

the motorcyclingworld that looksbeyond performanceand technology toencompass freedomof expression, funand shared positivity.Claudio Domenicali, CEOof Ducati Motor Holding

said:“This rst bike is particularly meaningful to us.With its‘Land of Joy’ theme, the Ducati Scrambler brand will be bringinga breath of fresh air and fun to dealerships and will provide agreat product that combines modernity with heritage in a waynever before seen in the motorcycle industry, a fact that lls us

with enormous satisfaction and pride.”

The District Court of Midden-Nederland, at the request of

the administrator, converted the moratorium of payment,granted to Spyker N.V. and its wholly owned subsidiariesSpyker Automobielen B.V. and Spyker Events & Branding B.V.(collectively “Spyker” or the “Company”) on December 2nd,last, to bankruptcy. The cause for this conversion was that thecommitted bridge funding did unfortunately not reach thecompany in time. The administrator will continue his work butnow as receiver.Victor R. Muller, Founder and Chief Executive Ocer said:“None of the ambitions we had when we founded Spyker 15years ago, has vanished as a result of today’s events. In 2000we set out to establish a super sports car business from scratchwith a global distribution and we achieved that. Over the yearswe undertook some daring ventures that left their marks on the

company which in turn contributed to today’s demise.

GT-R Anniversary edition announcedNissan has announced details of itsLimited-Edition “45th Anniversary”Nissan GT-R will go on sale in earlyFebruary. The roll out will be held inconjunction with the release of the 2015

model year GT-R. Based on the 2015Nissan GT-R, which features ride qualitythat has been specially tuned to exhibita more mature, better rened feel thanits predecessors, the “45th Anniversary”will come with a special paint color,“Silica Brass” – the same trademark coloras the Skyline GT-R M-Spec (R34 Type),

which was touted as the “a GT-R thatsatises the mature driver” when it wasreleased in 2001. The Limited-Edition 45thAnniversary GT-R, available only in thePremium Edition trim level, will feature

an exclusive emblem on the lower partof the interior center cluster and anexclusive model plate number in theengine compartment.The GT-R’s legacy continues as theultimate “GT” (Grand Tourer), armedwith a comfortable ride, a high levelof renement and benchmark t

and nish; while its world-class highperformance embodies the “R” in itsname (Racing technology). Thus, its“multi performance” character allowsthe driver to enjoy the full depths of the

GT-R’s capabilities, whether navigatingcorners of a winding mountain road,simply cruising on the open highway oreven running errands on neighborhoodstreets. Nissan will be accepting ordersfrom the region for the Limited-Edition45th Anniversary model on a rst-come,rst-serve basis, starting in early January.

First new scrambler from Ducaticomes off theproduction line

Spyker declared bankrupt

Since its release in 2007, the Nissan GT-R has been recognized as the world’s foremost high performancesuper sports car, which embodies Nissan’s commitment to “innovation that excites” like no other. Automan’s take

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Aston Martin’snew Bond carrevealed

Ferrari FXX K production sold out

Lexus trademarksnew model names

Aston Martin and London-based EONProductions have teamed up to introducea new limited-edition sports car dubbedDB10. Roughly the same size as a V8Vantage DB10, the star car has been

designed specically to star in Spectre,the 24th lm in the iconic James Bondfranchise. Aston’s lm car gets anevolutionary design characterized byheadlamps that are sharper and thinner,a larger rendition of the automaker’strademarked radiator grille and a lowernose. A series of small holes drilledthrough the hood presumably help coolthe mill that lies underneath. Besidesappearing in the ick, Aston Martin CEOAndy Palmer has said that a limited run of10 cars will be produced. More informationabout the Aston Martin DB10 will be

published over the next few weeks itshould have its public unveil at the GenevaMotor Show next March.

When Ferrari took the wraps o itsnew FXX K track machine in Abu Dhabilast month, it conspicuously left outsome key details. However, the Ferrari

FXX K is all about big numbers, soit should come as no surprise thatMaranello’s latest hyper-car comeswith a price tag that stretches wellinto the seven-gure range is alreadysold out.Boasting a track-tuned aeropackage, massive wheels and brakes,and an updated hybrid drivetrain ratedat 1,035hp and a whopping $2.7mnprice tag for its range-topper. The onlynumber associated with the FXX K thatisn’t astronomically large is its plannedproduction run. Ferrari will produce just32 examples of the FXX K, ensuring the

car’s position as a genuinely exclusivehyper-car. In terms of performance,according to Ferrari marketing chief

Nicola Boari, the FXX K will lap thecompany’s Fiorano test track in 1mn14sec. That would make it ve secondsfaster than the LaFerrari, a solid second

ahead of the 599XX Evoluzione andtwo seconds faster than the originalFXX. However it seems to fall short ofthe eight- to nine-second gap thoseprevious XX derivatives opened up overthe road-going models on which theyin turn were based. So it seems, for thetime being at least, that the 1:11.9 laptime recorded by the 333 SP – an open-cockpit sports prototype from the late1990s – will remain for now the fastestcar this side of an F1 racer ever to lapthe circuit. The outright record standsat under 56secs and belongs to Michael

Schumacher in the ten-cylinder F2004he drove to his seventh and nal worldchampionship.

Toyota has trademarked two model names for the Lexus

brand and these are the “LC 500” and “LC 500h”. Industry

watchers presume these to be reserved for a agship

grand tourer. The LC takes its name from the LF-LCConcept, which was previously thought to augur a revival

of the SC, the stylish sports coupe introduced in 1992.

However, it appears that the luxury 2+2 will now launch a

new nameplate altogether. The LC is also the likely answer

to the much-speculated “successor” for the Lexus LFA.

While not a “second-generation” of the supercar per se, it

will occupy a halo position in the Lexus lineup. Instead of

a V10, the LC is expected to utilize a version of the Lexus

RC F’s 5.0-litre 467hp V8. The “500h” appears to conrm

a hybrid version as well. The exact powertrain for that

model is unknown, though it could be a version of the

5.0-litre V8 hybrid found in the LS 600h.

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Maserati marks

centenary with

50,000th unit

at Grugliasco

plant

Takata president resigns amidstairbag recalls

McLaren launches new

MSO Defined customization

program

Maserati is celebrated its centenaryin 2014, but if that wasn’t enough of amilestone, the Trident marque has reachedanother, completing its 50,000th unit at itsplant in Grugliasco.But for Maserati and the Grugliasco plant,it’s an awful lot as this particular plantwas acquired not long ago from the failedBertone coachbuilding. It just kickedo production barely two years ago inJanuary 2013 and handles assembly of theQuattroporte and Ghibli – Maserati’s topsellers, but hardly what you’d call “volume

models” by any means. The landmark50,000th vehicle was a Quattroporte S Q4in dark grey with a red and black interior,bound for the US market.

Non-Japanese Swiss Stefan Stocker whojoined Takata early in 2013 after a career atBosch as president assuming the role fromShigehisa Takada, the founder’s grandson

[who remained the company’s chairmanand CEO] is reportedly stepping downfrom the top job and returning controlof the company to Takada-san, whosefamily still holds controlling interest in thecompany.Meanwhile, Japanese carmakers aremulling the idea of introducing expirydates for airbags, the head of thecountry’s auto industrial body hasrevealed, after millions of cars aroundthe world were recalled due to the risktheir airbags could deploy with excessiveexplosive power, spraying potentially-fatal

shrapnel. “I think the debate may as well

occur eventually on whether (airbags)should be replaced after several years,”said Fumihiko Ike, chairman of JapanAutomobile Manufacturers Association,

at a press conference. “We have alreadystarted the talks unocially,” said Ike,who is also the chairman of Honda Motor.Millions of vehicles produced by some ofthe world’s biggest automakers, includingHonda, Toyota and General Motors, havealready been recalled due to the risktheir airbags could deploy with excessiveexplosive power, spraying potentially-fatalshrapnel.Amid worries that maker Takata stilldoes not know the root cause of theproblem, the nger of suspicion is pointingat a gradual deterioration, rather than a

manufacturing fault.

McLaren is quickly building up itsbusiness model with not just productioncars but also things beyond. This aspect

indicates that the brand is lookingat ideas for customers who want toset their Britain-built supercar apartfrom other. And this is where McLarenSpecial Operations [MSO] division oersa range of personalization optionscomes in. MSO has so far demonstratedits capabilities with a series ofcustomized demonstrators based onthe 12C, 650S and even the P1. Butto give its upper-crust clients a morefocused idea of the possibilities in store,Woking has now compartmentalized

MSO’s activities into ve areas.The rst is the new MSO Denedcatalogue which oers buyers of the650S and the new Asian-market 625C

a full assortment of enhancements,including upgraded aero bits, carbon-fiber components and interior trim

packages to make each supercar moreunique. There’s even an F1-inspiredinstrument cluster with shift lightsavailable.Those interested in ordering entirelyunique paint, leather and trim options(as 20 percent of 650S buyers and 95per cent of P1 customers have optedto date) will find what they need inthe MSO Bespoke program, whilelimited-run models will be handledby MSO Limited. MSO Heritage willhandle anything related to past

models like the McLaren F1 andMercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, whilethe McLaren P1 GTR will be handled byMSO Programmes.

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Lamborghini

and Pirelli

create special

edition

Jaguar Land Rover

reveals its ‘360

Virtual Urban

Windscreen’

Lamborghini has announced productionof an exclusive new special series, theAventador LP 700-4 Pirelli Edition, createdto celebrate the long and ongoing historyof collaboration with prestigious Italiantire manufacturer Pirelli. The partnershipbegan back in 1963, the year the Houseof the Raging Bull was established, andsince then all Lamborghini cars havebeen equipped with Pirelli tyres. The two

rms share not only their Italian originsbut also, and above all, a constant questfor technological innovation. The newAventador Pirelli Edition, available inCoupé and Roadster versions, will beproduced in a special series and is availableto order now from dealers, for deliveryearly summer 2015.The super sports carmaintains all its technical features like thecarbon ber monocoque, the V12 engine,pushrod suspensions and the permanentall-wheel drive. The special Pirelli seriesis enhanced by exclusive equipmentspecically designed by the Lamborghini

Centro Stile.The exterior sports a two-tone colourscheme in two options. The rst is matteblack for the roof, the pillars, the rearviewmirrors, the engine hood, and the front,rear, side and moving air intakes, incontrast with six glossy nishes for therest of the body (Giallo Spica, Rosso Mars,

Bianco Isis, Nero Aldebaran, Grigio Liqueo,and Grigio Ater). The second option isglossy black for the upper parts of the carand the air intakes, in contrast with fourmatte nishes for the rest of the exterior(Bianco Canopus, Nero Nemesis, GrigioAdamas, and Grigio Titans).Another distinctive element of the body isa thin red stripe that runs along the roofand the engine hood, the rearview mirrors,

and the outer proles of the air intakes,a stylistic feature designed to evoke theunmistakable Pirelli branding. The Pirellilogo, once again in red, is visible at thestart of the two roof lines and on thetyres. Standard equipment for the exterioralso includes the transparent engine hood,the engine compartment in carbon, glossyblack Dione 20/21in rims, P Zero tyre withred logo and red calipers (yellow only inthe case of the Rosso Mars exterior). Theinteriors of the Aventador Pirelli Editionare upholstered with black Alcantara withred contrast stitching. The red stripe on

the body is also repeated on the inside,running along the interior ceiling and theseats, which feature the Lamborghini andPirelli crests embroidered in red. Leatherinserts adorn the door panels and theseat sides. And nally, to underscore itsexclusiveness, each car will have a ‘’Pirellispecial series’’ plaque inside.

Jaguar Land Rover has launcheda research project to developtechnologies that will oer drivers

a 360o view out of their vehicle,uninterrupted by the pillars thatsupport the roof. A screen wouldbe embedded in the surface of eachpillar inside the car and would take alive video feed from cameras coveringthe angles outside the car usuallyobscured in the blind spots createdby the A, B and C-pillars. Pedestrians,cyclists and other vehicles would bevisible all around the car – and bycombining the transparent pillarswith an advanced high quality Heads-Up display, the movement of other

road users could be highlighted to thedriver with an on-screen halo movingacross the car’s virtual windscreen.When the driver indicates to changedirection, when they move their headto look over their shoulder duringan overtake manoeuvre, or as thevehicle approaches a junction, thesystem would automatically makethe left or right-hand side pillarstransparent.Dr Wolfgang Epple, Director ofResearch and Technology, JaguarLand Rover, said: “Our ultimate

aim is to reduce road accidentsand enhance the urban drivingexperience. The Jaguar Land Rover

research team is developing thistechnology to improve visibilityand to give the driver with the rightinformation at the right time. If wecan keep the driver’s eyes on theroad ahead and present informationin a non-distracting way, we can helpdrivers make better decisions in themost demanding and congesteddriving environments.” The fullpotential for the 360 Virtual UrbanWindscreen would be delivered byconnecting the virtual windscreento the Cloud. By connecting the

car to roadside infrastructure andbusinesses in the urban landscape,the Virtual Urban Windscreencould present information rangingfrom petrol station prices to thenumber of parking spaces available,so drivers won’t have to look forthis information themselves. Theconnected car could also enhancenavigation by advising the driverto turn left or right at more visiblelandmarks, such as pubs or shops,rather than just road signs or streetnames.

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2015 NORTH AMERICANINTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

Automakers have started trickling in bits and

pieces of information about their forthcoming

cars in various ways – from teasers to full blown

details. Here’s a sampler of what to expect

The production version of the highly anticipated Acura NSXsupercar, successor to the legendary original NSX, will makeits world debut and this model will reect the productiondesign and specications of the mid-engine Acura supercar

that is slated to launch in 2015. To celebrate the impendingdebut of NSX, Acura released a 30-second teaser video thatgives an early glimpse of the production car and the sound ofits three-motor, twin-turbocharged Sport Hybrid power unit.“The next-generation NSX will deliver a ‘new sports experience’true to its heritage and to the supercar concept that originallygave rise to the name NSX,” said Mike Accavitti, Acura divisionsenior vice president and general manager. “The NSX will serveas the ultimate expression of Acura performance that is fuelinga reenergised brand.” The NSX is being developed by a globalteam of engineers led by the company’s North American R&Doperations in Raymond, Ohio, with design led by the AcuraDesign Studio in Torrance, CA. The Acura NSX will be producedexclusively at the new Performance Manufacturing Center in

Marysville, Ohio, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Inniti’s agenda includes showcasing its premium sports coupeconcept that will be tagged as the Q60. The car’s teaserssuggest muscular crease lines [revealed in the silhouette ofthe Q60 Concept image] with pure, well-dened contours,making the concept’s intentions easy to understand at rstglance. Overall proportions and full-sized wheels placed outat the corners of Q60 Concept make an unmistakable designstatement and add to the exhilaration of the performancecoupe. This latest concept builds upon the design language seenon recent Inniti concept cars, foreshadowing the strong visualconsistency to be a key ingredient of products in the futureInniti line-up.

The North American International Auto Show is right around thecorner and a new report is indicating Volkswagen will use theevent to unveil a new crossover concept. According to sources,the concept will be a ve-passenger variant of the company’sseven-seat crossover that will be built in Chattanooga,Tennessee. Little else is known about the concept but sourceshave said it will likely spawn a production model in 2016 or 2017.

Lexus has formally announced plans to introducea new F model line-up and will debut them atthe North American International Auto Show.Although, the company kept details secret butthey did release two teaser images which showthe car will have an aggressive front fascia witha mesh spindle grille that is anked by large airintakes and LED headlamps. Also visible wasthe carbon bre trim and alloy wheels thatare backed up by a high-performance brakingsystem. Lexus didn’t have much to say about thecar itself but they described it as a “track-ready”model that will “broaden the Lexus brand’s high

performance showroom.

After three years of intensive development workHonda is set to reveal this next-generation supercar.It may be recalled that an Acura NSX conceptmodel made its debut at the 2012 North AmericanInternational Auto Show, where Honda Motorspresident & CEO Takanobu Ito announced thatdevelopment of a next-generation NSX would launchin three years, led by an American R&D team andproduced at a state-of-the-art new plant in Ohio. A

u t o m a n ’ s t a k e

ACURA

LEXUS

INFINITI

Volkswagen

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With the new Q7, Audi is setting standards in the premium SUV segment withinnovation. The incoming Q7 will be built on a new chassis and will lose 325kgas it has been dimensionally recongured. Breaking the trend, it is smaller thanbefore. At the same time, it promises to be the most spacious car in its segmentwith substantially more interior room for passengers and luggage. Its innovativeassistance and infotainment systems take the SUV to the front of the pack. Theecient engines consume 26 per cent less fuel on average.

Jaguar never had a viable candidatein the compact sedan segment andthe all-new XE is expected to makeits presence felt in the US. The XElaunches the British brand into directcompetition with aggressive sportsedans like the BMW 3-series andCadillac ATS. It’s a tough market, but

success is vital to Jag’s global growthplan. The XE is one of the rst testsof the Indian Tata Group’s ability todevelop a luxury car without formerJag owner Ford’s help.

Volvo’s mid-sized XC90 was one ofthe most popular European SUVs inthe US when it debuted. It’s almost 12years now and we all know that Volvo’sproduct development went into crawlmode when Ford sold the Swedish

brand to a Chinese company. Volvo isgetting back on its feet, and the all-newXC90 is key to winning back safety-conscious family buyers who are Volvo’score audience.

The Honda FCV Concept will make itsNorth American debut at the 2015 NorthAmerican International Auto Show onJan. 12. Continuing more than a decadeof Honda leadership in the area of fuelcell vehicle (FCV) technology, the HondaFCV Concept showcases the stylingevolution of Honda’s next fuel-cellvehicle, anticipated to launch in theU.S., following its introduction in Japan,which is scheduled to occur by March2016.As the next progression in Honda’s

dynamic FCV styling, the Honda FCVConcept features a low and wideaerodynamic body with clean character

lines. The interior strives to achieveharmony between man and machineby taking advantage of new powertrainpackaging eciencies delivering evengreater passenger space than theHonda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle,including seating for up to ve people.The Honda FCV Concept made itsworld debut in Japan on Nov. 17, 2014,followed by an announcement thatHonda will provide FirstElement Fuelwith $13.8 million in nancial assistanceto build additional hydrogen refueling

stations throughout the state ofCalifornia in an eort to support thewider introduction of fuel-cell vehicles.

Cadillac executives have reportedly

conrmed plans to introduce the 2016

CTS-V at the show weeks before the

actual reveal. The high-performance car

will have an aggressive front fascia with

a revised grille, bulging bonnet, a rear

diuser and a four-tailpipe exhaust system

- among other things. Cadillac has been

relatively tight-lipped about performance

specications but the CTS-V is expected to

use a detuned version of the Corvette Z06a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine that

pumps out 650bhp and 880Nm of torque.

CADILLACHONDA

TOYOTA

VOLVO

JAGUAR

AUDI

Trucks are big business in the US andToyota wasted no time in releasing therst teaser image of the 2016 Tacoma,ahead of its formal US debut. Theteaser image didn’t reveal much butdoes suggest vertical taillamps and abody-coloured rear bumper with plasticcladding. As expected, Toyota kept keydetails a closely guarded secret. Toyotaclaims the redesigned model will “once

again set the benchmark for midsizepickup performance.” The company alsosays the 2016 Tacoma will have “new,rugged tech” which will give it more o-road prowess than ever before.

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PRIMEDFOR ADVENTUREKia Motors presented its much evolved third generation 2015 Sorento SUV in

Jordan with a lot of promises. Automan attended the ride and drive event last

month and returned impressed

2015 Kia Sorento

Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: supplied and author

30 JAN 2015


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Kia Motors took of the covers oits long-awaited third-generationSorento SUV for the MiddleEast at the Kempinski Dead Sea

Resort in Jordan last month. The detailedpresentation revealed a dimensionallyrevisited and more ecient version ofthe brand’s popular family ve/sevenpassenger car. Kia Motors revealed thenew Sorento in South Korea in August 28,

2014, follwong which it had its Europeandebut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show andthe US debut of the car took place at the2014 Los Angeles Auto Show.The new Sorento will arrive in Middle Eastshowrooms in the rst quarter of thisyear [2015] and will be oered in ve- andseven-seat congurations with choice oftwo powertrain options. Unlike, the rstgeneration Sorento which had ladder-based chassis, the incoming Sorento willcontinue with the second generation’sunibody construction on a platform that’salso shared with the Carnival MPV.

The key focus in the new arrival isimprovement in perceived quality andoverall rened attitude. At rst glanceif one considers the two outgoinggenerations, then it is clear that the designas evolved somewhat conservatively.While, the overall prole remains similarto the outgoing car, besides some styling

tweaks, the matured look of the newSorento can mostly be attributed to itsincreased length (+95mm to 4,780 mm),reduced height (-15mm to 1,685mm) andextra width (+5mm to 1,890 mm). Thebulky appearance of the outgoing model isnow gone and since the Sorento is one ofKia’s top global models, the responsibilityof the car’s exterior styling was sharedby Kia’s Namyang design studio in Korea,

with inputs from the brand’s Frankfurt,Germany and Irvine, California designstudios.In prole, the new model retains theprevious Sorento’s design DNA whichensured that the car was good-looking,nicely detailed in a well-proportionedset-up. The best part of the eort in thenew car is that Kia’s design team didn’ttry to reinvent something radical or gooverboard on mimicking carlike shapes orworse, borrow themes from luxury yachtsetc. As a result, the score is familiar withthings like the pseudo clamshell bonnet

and the wide D-pillar. But, it is the newdetailing that adds to the key equation ofstance. Since the rooine is lowered, thewaistline appears higher and the swept-back rear treatment gives the car a moredramatic presence. Detailing regards tothe jewellery has been well attendedall around. The visual drama begins up

front with a revised grille, lamps andvalance. The face of the new Sorentonow incorporates wider horizontallyplaced wrap-around headlamps and largerredesigned fog-lamps. The most importantfeature is the more upright ‘tiger-nose’grille. The distinctive three-dimensionaldiamond pattern, as we know rstfeatured on the 2013 Kia Cross GT conceptand now is a signature detail.

Kia has introduced new laser weldingmanufacturing techniques which help theweld lines appear seamless. And this hasbrought in two key facts: rst build qualityperception has improved considerably,and secondly it has allowed designers tointroduce new creative design elements.The result is mostly seen in the rear of thecar which now features more prominent‘shoulders’ and a highly sculptedregistration plate surround and horizontalLED red tail lamps.In terms of accommodation, overallview, comfort and convenience features,

egress and ingress points – these havebeen carried over as they needed nomajor reworking. The cabin has beenrevisited with improvement in specictouch and feel points and that meansupgraded materials, t and nishes. While,in general, the build quality and materialsfeel richer, some of the practical aspects


35/8433JAN 2015

could have been improved. For example,the second-row folding mechanismdoesn’t operate with any particular

smoothness and variants available withpanoramic sunroof can impinge onheadroom [rooine is 15mm lower] fortaller second-row occupants. The thirdrow is strictly a kid zone, but for shortdrives, it can accommodate adults. Cargospace in seven seater models has beenincreased from 515 litres to 605 litres [660litres in 5-seater models]. An under oorstorage compartment and integrated nethave been added to the feature pack.The car’s instrument panel combinesboth analogue and digital set-ups. Thespeedometer is digital and also combines

the information centre. All data comes

in white back lit lettering and it can bedicult to focus on specic informationwhile driving. A suggestion would have

been to introduce colour separationor include a heads-up display which isgetting quite popular these days due to itspractical benets. Other mod cons includepush button stop and start and interestingthe CD player has been discontinued infavour of USB and auxiliary inputs. Powerpoints have also been provided and theusual array of storage places are there.Unlike a few manufacturers that havefocused on drastic weight savingmeasures by using lightweight materialsor downsizing powertrains, the Sorentohasn’t fallen into that trap. Instead

structural engineers have focused on

There are somechanges in way the

car’s core structurehas been reinforcedfor improved

torsional rigidy. TheCUV also appearssleeker and lower,thanks to some

dimensional changes


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electric motor driven power steeringis surprisingly spot on, not to light orheavy. It’s no secret that in the past,the steering numbness was historicallyassociated with Hyundai-Kia products.Well, the good news is that quite a bit ofengineering eort has gone in to rectifyingthis malady. The feedback to driver’sinputs is signicantly better and fast. Thecar’s turn-in qualities [2.87 turns lock-to-

lock] well thought of with the city userin mind. When it drives, it feels smaller,too, with around-town agility more like acompact SUV more than a mid-sized SUV.Even with full load of passengers, the drivingcharacter appears stress free and chassisvery well composed. Since the ride is setfor comfort, chassis rolling tendencies arevery quickly controlled and hardly felt byoccupants. While for some drivers 272hpat 6,400rp, may sound a tad on the lowerside, but it is the top class torque deliveryof 318Nm at 5,300rpm which ensuresthat this car isn’t a slouch either. One of

the advantages of having independentsubframes to mount suspension hardware isthat it spreads high chassis loads over a widearea of relatively thin sheet metal in the car’s

monocoque body shell, and in return isolatevibration and harshness from the rest of thebody. As a result, this car not only exhibitssilky ride qualities, but also top class cabininsulation from road/wind noise or roadimperfections.Although the Sorento is considered as acrossover, it actually has some o-roadingcapabilities. Several elements point to this-- [our top spec tester] was riding on 19in

wheels shod with 235/60 rubber. We alsonoted the ground clearance at 185mm andapproach angle of 16.9˚ and departure angleof 21˚. This aspect assured us that the car cango o-road without damaging its underbelly.Interesting aerodynamic tweaks [usuallyreserved for sports SAVs] include a widenedlower valance with embedded skid plate.Besides these, the availability of a smartlockable all wheel drive system wraps up thepackage.Although the car is devoid of driverselectable lo/high ranges as in 4x4s, driversdo get some control in the car’s handling

by locking the dierentials by activating‘4WD Lock’ mode. So, instead of lettingthe sensors getting confused with splittorque distribution, driver’s can ensure

evenly spread torque between front andrear wheels especially when driving overlow traction surfaces like sand or in somecases snow. The system ensures the drivercan dial in better traction and even morepredictable handling in such surfaces andalso around corners.That’s not all. The car’s Advanced TractionCornering Control (ATCC) further aidshandling by transferring torque to the

wheels with the most grip. If the systemdetects understeer, ATCC is activatedbefore the Electronic Stability Controlsystem, providing more torque to theouter rear wheel and braking the innerrear wheel under cornering.

Verdict

With the third generation Sorento, Kia hastaken the model to higher levels withoutlosing its core value proposition. The newSorento continues as a genuine contentrich and capable vehicle and it oers greatvalue for the investment. Punters looking

for a family crossover will nd the newSorento well within reach in terms ofnancial outlay, style, quality, and overallcapabilities.

Sorento History

The rst generation Kia Sorento was a traditional body-on-frameSUV. It was very capable o-road, with an automatic four-wheeldrive system featuring low range gearing. A sport package wasavailable for the LX base model which added a 5-speed manualtransmission, fog lamps, alloy wheels, step bars, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a roof rack and remote keyless entry.Depending on markets, Sorentos also came with dual frontairbags and dual side-curtain airbags in the front and rear. The4x4 system was a shift-on-the-y knob located usually on thelower panel to the left of the steering column. Three modeswere available: Two-Wheel Drive, Four-High, and Four-Low.The 2007 the SUV received powertrain upgrades. This was thetime when the transition from the 3.5-litre Sigma to the modern3.8-litre Lambda engine took place. This helped almost doublethe car’s towing ability and output boost.

Gen I [2002-2009]

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The second generation brought in a raft of changesincluding the transition from ladder chassis to crossoverarchitecture. The car was built in South Korea and USAand Kia’s new corporate grille, known as the ‘Tiger Nose’

adorned the model series for the rst time. A four-cylinderengine was introduced and was transversely placed. All-independent suspension was introduced. The change inbody construction as well as the loss of a low-ratio transfercase means it weighs 212kg less than Gen I. Signicantperformance and fuel economy gains were achieved.

Kia Motors revealed the new Sorento in South Korea in2014 followed by European and US debut in the same year.The incoming model shares a platform with the 2015 KiaCarnival/Sedona MPV, and will share the same basic interiordesign, seating ve or seven passengers, depending onconguration. In the US, the Sorento will continue to beproduced at the West Point, Georgia, assembly plant. BothV6 3.3-litre and 2.4-litre engines are carried over.

Gen III [2015- ]

Gen II [2009-2015]

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TAKINGINFINITE PATHS The QX80 sits in a zone between performance and lifestyle and

to mirror this Infiniti held a media event in the Sultanate that

took us from the heights of Jabal Akhdar to the sands and along

the coast

Author: Raj Warrior

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I

nniti’s QX80 is their full size SUV thatpretty much picks up the gauntlet aslaid down by the Y62 platform NissanPatrol and takes it ahead. However

for that you have to understand that theY62 platform itself was the culmination ofputting together the wishlist of buyers inthe GCC region for what they would liketo see in a SUV. So we got features likehydraulic body motion control and a full-featured four-wheel drive system with adegree of renement that already blurs theboundaries between Nissan and its luxuryInniti marque.Again, the nature of full-sized SUVs issuch that any complete refurbishment orredesign usually happens with a 7 to 10year cycle. It just doesn’t pay to change

too fast. But this year’s model does bringwith it a refreshing touch up job that takescare of some elements of the car’s stylingaround the front and rear ends. In fact therear has now been tweaked so that it looksmore horizontal while the front grille nowtakes us back to the original beaded look oftheFX50 when it was launched.Over the past year, Inniti has been on abit of a charge. For starters there was theentire nomenclature change that saw itscars becoming Q somethings while thecrossovers and SUVs became tagged QXs.Then their link up with Daimler in terms

of developing new platforms and engines

also took o with the replacement of theG series coming out as the Q50. Along withthe launch of this sedan, we also saw Innitilaunch production grade drive by wire, an

entirely new infotainment architectureand upgraded hybrid drive systems. Butall of these are slated for the completelychanged model line-up, not the QX80refresh.We had been informed about Inniti’splan to drive up to Jabal Akhdar. In fact,the author is guilty of actually inuencingthe regional Inniti team to have a look atOman and particularly the mountains of theEastern Hajar range as a destination. Andwe understood that there was to be wadiand desert drives as well.The programme set o from the parking

lot of Muscat International Airport. Flownin media and some local journalists teamedup two to a car and set o in a convoythat followed the highway down towardsNizwa. Deviating o at Birkat Al Mouz, wehit the police check post at the base of themountain before climbing steeply towardsthe peaks.Our destination for the evening was thebrand new Alila Jabal Akhdar hotel, whichhas been set up by Omran (a governmentcompany tasked with developing tourisminfrastructure) and Asia’s renowned hotelchain Alila. Built on the edge of the Saiq

plateau, the hotel oers a truly ve star and

out of this world experience and is on thebucket list of the author for a future visit.The next morning, after an early breakfastand a brieng session the drive back to the

base of the Jabal Akhdar range began. Thiswas the only time that we were actuallyasked to engage low range on the gearbox,as it is a mandatory requirement of thepolice. And we’ve read about too manyaccidents that came about as the result ofoverheated brakes on these slopes. So lowrange and some tight convoy driving laterand we were back on the highway only totake a diversion o to the north of Izki tofollow secondary roads and some ratherscenic though dry wadis till we hit wadiTayyin for a coee stop.After that there was a bit of wadi driving

that took us through pools of waterallowing for some rather dramatic splashshots. Driving in from the north we hitBidiyah only to cross the old Sur highwayand drive into the sands for our lunchstop at the Desert Sands resort. This wasthe only sand driving that we actually did,although it was daunting to the novice. Notyre deation, no low gear, just a crossoverfrom tarmac onto sand and staying at80kmph all the way to the resort.That actually brings to mind the outing weorganised for the local dealership a coupleof years ago on the Bowsher sands where

we did almost the same thing, no deation

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and rare use of the low range. Despite havinga tamer version of the Patrol’s acclaimed 4WDsystem and a softer response on the hydraulicbody motion control, the sand capabilitiesof the QX80 (then the QX56) were easy todemonstrate. The trick nally in the heavyQX is to ensure that constant momentumis maintained and that no hard brakingmanoeuvre is done on sand.After a sumptuous lunch at the resort, we weredriven down to the police and civil defencestation at Al kamil to rendezvous with policehelicopters for the ride back to the Muscatairport. As if to add icing to a rather luxuriousand dare we say lifestyle-oriented weekendthe choppers ew us over to the coast close toTiwi and then hugged the coast at almost wavetop height all the way into Muscat.

So what do we say about the event? It was just

An integrated LED

DRL and a newly

speckled grille,reminiscent of the

old FX one, make the

QX80 visibly different

for the new year

about the most memorable one we haveever been on and the surprise factor was

that it was so close to home. Add to thatthe fact the almost every visitor to Omanfound the surreal landscape and pristine

beauty so enchanting that they are makingplans to come back on a visit and then

throw in a level of hospitality by Inniti thatfar exceeds the already high levels at the

Alila Jabal Akhdar.As for the QX80 itself, this event is was

never intended to be a challenge. Thefacelift brings the QX80 into a new year

with some added attraction, a new colourand an extra choice of colours. But then

you already know if you are a customer forthis gentle giant well before you hit the

showrooms.

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2014 SsangYong Korando

K O R E A N

R O D E O T h e f i r s t

c a r t o b e r e l e a s e d

a s p a r t o f S o u t h K o

r e a n c a r m a n u f a c t u r

e r

S s a n g Y o n g ’ s r e v i s e

d l i n e - u p i s t h e f o u

r t h g e n e r a t i o n K o r

a n d o

c r o s s o v e r S U V. A u t

o m a n c h e c k s o u t t h

i s c a r i n t h e S u l t a n

a t e t o

a s c e r t a i n i t s p o t e n t i a l

i n h e l p i n g t h e b r a n d

t o r e k i n d l e i t s p r o s

p e c t s

A u t h or: C h a n d a n B M

a l l i k | P h o t o gr a p h s:

E l v i s J o h n F e r r a o

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If you take an average commerciallife cycle of 7 years for a car, then ina span of 40 years one could expect

5-6 generations of a model hittingthe markets. However, this didn’t happenwith South Korea’s fourth largest carmanufacturer Ssangyong which has beenin business of making SUVs and cars since1954 [it started operations as two separateentities and amalgamated them in 1963].In the interim period the company hadtechnical association with Mercedes, sawmany ups and downs and in January 2009,after recording a whopping $75.42mn loss,the company was put into receivership.Two years later, 2011, the company wastaken over by cash-rich India-basedMahindra group. Mahindra’s cash injectionand new direction has given a new lifelineto the ailing company.The Korando name for a compact SUV rstappeared 1983 and even holds the titleof “Korea’s longest-surviving brand” inGuinness Book of World Records.The rstgeneration Korando started productionin 1974 through a technical cooperationwith AMC (American Motor Company). In1983, the second generation of Korandowas developed based on the accumulatedknowledge and experience of importing

and producing Jeep models. Ssang Yong

introduced various versions and in 1996,Mercedes Benz’s diesel engine technologywas adopted and Korando went through a

full model change into its third generation.For the fourth generation all-new Korando[2nd for crossover], the idea was to builda brand new global model from groundup. It was to sport a trendy design, utilizeecient technologies, oer comfortableinteriors, capabilities and also be condentof taking on competition, both domesticand foreign head on.

So, the idea was taken further withengineering and design considerationtogether. As always, the starting point

was a sketch by Fabrizio Giugiaro,styling director of Italdesign-Giugiaro.Giugiaro’s signature is evident in theway the proportions have been assignedon the given platform in this car asGiugiaro’s believes strongly in this aspect.“Proportion is number one. Good taste.To invent is good, but you either havegood taste or you don’t,” said thedesigner when he presented the conceptKorando for the rst time in 2010 at theBusan International Motor Show andGeneva. In both locations, the concept gotenthusiastic approval from audiences andmedia and was quickly greenlighted forproduction.Ssangyong began production of thenew third generation Korando in late2010 in several of its production facilitiesaround the globe. Unlike the previoustwo iterations which used modied truckchassis, the new arrival adopts lighterunibody car based architecture. Keepingcompetition in mind, especially popularSouth Korean global models like the KiaSportage and Hyundai Tucson, it gets aslightly longer wheelbase which stands at

2,650mm. On the styling front, Giugiaro

The elegant and

most stylish SUV

from Ssangyongcomes as a result

of a collaborative

effort between the

manufacturer and

Europe-based design

house Giorgetto

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seems to have been inspired by thepopularity of “Gangnam style” and hasincorporated some of these design detailsin the 4,410mm long, 1,830mm wide and1,675mm tall car.For a ve seater crossover SUV, theprole is strong and it retains most of thedesign features as shown in the originalconcept with some minor revisions for itsmid-cycle update. The car’s face radiatesstrong character with angular headlampswhich complement the car’s six-pointmesh radiator grille. Bold elements include

large air intakes and chrome trim. Wheelarches are typical of a SUV. Overall,the car has decent stance even whenstationary. Sheet metal exhibits strongcharacter lines which also unseen to usthat aid in torsional rigidity of the unibodyconstruction.Attention to detail in the cabin is alsoworth noting. Middle East versions benetfrom the upgraded kit which starts witha sculptured soft-touch dashboard thatreplaces the hard plastic version from theprevious model and the centre console’s

new layout is modern and unclutterednow. Ssangyong says there is a new audiosystem and with updated air-vent styling.The hip points for egress and ingress aredesigned with convenience in mind andthe layout according to Ssangyong takesa lot of inspiration from the art of Zen.Despite it being positioned as a globalmodel, the interior does reect its Orientalconnection which blends moderation andsubtlety. The dashboard layout seemsto inspired by the outstretched wingsof a dancing crane, is amazingly elegantand the instrument panel, with two large

dials separated by a digital display, issimple and intelligible. With Korando’sinterior, designers have succeeded inmaximizing space, comfort and practicalityin a high quality, driver-centric cabin. Theadvantage of the car’s wheelbase meansthere’s plenty of space inside. Lots ofhead and keg room for three adults in theback, and the rear seats recline for addedcomfort. Reach and rake adjustment onthe steering wheel means it’s easy for thedriver to get comfortable at the wheel.Instrumentation is conventional gauges

and the six-speaker CD audio system hasMP3, USB and Bluetooth audio streamingwith remote controls on the steeringwheel. A quirk of the SsangYong design ina well-appointed cabin is that the indicatorand wiper stalks are angled very much ata 10 and 2 position behind the steeringwheel. For a car at the entry level of thepricing scale in its segment, the interior isa fairly cosseted place.In terms of practicality, there’s a lot tolook forward to at the rear, especiallycargo space. The Korando can claim

rightfully to have one of the biggest bootcompartments in the compact crossoverclass. At 486 litres, it has more than70 litres more boot space than say theNissan Qashqai. However, one detailSsangYong’s interior designer have missedrelates to not providing a sliding functionto the reclining rear seats. Life could havebeen a bit more convenient! It’s goodto see a vehicle where styling hasn’tcompromised the practicality – thanks towide rear doors that make getting in orout easy.The Korando for our markets is powered

by a normally-aspirated 2.0-litre in-linefour-cylinder petrol engine mated to asix-speed automatic transmission. In thisset-up it produces 149PS at 6,000rpm and197Nm of torque at 4,000rpm.As part of the feature pack, SsangYong hasequipped the Korando with a world-classlineup of electronic driver aids includingElectronic Stability Program (ESP), ActiveRollover Protection (ARP), hill-start assistand traction control. Suspension is theusual MacPherson strut front/independentrear and the set-up is biased for comfort.

Safety features include dual airbags andABS. Keeping the car connected to theroads are 225/60 tyres on 17in rims. Driving impressions

The occupants in the car get a good allaround view and on the move the newKorando is a comfortable to drive as itsfour cylinder engine oers decent linearacceleration and plenty of torque ondemand. In normal city driving, for a carat the lower end of the pricing scale in itssegment, the interior is a fairly cosseted

place with muted engine and very littleexternal road/wind noise lters into thecabin. However, when pushed hard, thecar can be noisy briey till the engine ndsits sweet spot. The transmission gearingappears to be well-spaced and despitethe proliferation of ‘so-called fuel ecientcontinuous variable transmissions [CVT],this set-up is equally ecient. Althoughwe didn’t calculate the mileage gures,SsangYong claims a combined averagefuel consumption of 7.9 litres per 100kilometres on the combined cycle and weare sure to be close to it. When it comes

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to handling this is not a sports car by anymeans, and it shouldn’t be driven likeone, either. The car’s suspension is setfor comfort and on asphalt it is good inabsorbing imperfections. However, thetrade-o is that in faster manoeuvres,especially cornering, there’s a rolltendency. One nice thing from the oldschool is the hydraulically assisted rackand pinion set-up. The feel, weight andfeedback from steering is really pleasingas it is direct. There’s no evidence of thatarticial feeling from those new electricsteering set-ups oered in the name ofeciency. The brakes are decent too intheir performance with 298mm ventilateddiscs on the front and 262mm solid discson the rear. We noted no fading on

repeated applications. We agree afterspending time with the car that thehandling abilities of this all-wheel drivecar is more than adequate for regular cityand light o-roading duties, thanks to its180mm ground clearance and AWD lockingfeature.

Verdict

New platform, new design, newengines and “Gangnam style” arethe key elements that dene the newKorando. The facelifted version is amarked improvement over the outgoingmodel, with more standard features andrenement across the board – from theexterior styling and cabin quality and feel,to the engine and chassis.

Fabrizio Giugiaro, styling director ofItaldesign-Giugiaro presented the Korando

concept for the rst time in 2010 at the

Busan International Motor Show and

Geneva

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THIS CROSSOVER SIGNALS A MAKEOVER

Lincoln has brought its small SUV contender to the market ata critical time for the positio

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