155

JULY 2014 Issue no 155

now, the regions Best Automotive Resource

Automan JULY 2014

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2015 Chevrolet/GMC full size SUVs | 2014 Porsche Boxster/Cayman GTS | Ducati Diavel | Land Rover Discovery Vision concept | Lincoln MKX | HONDA CITY | Motorsports

in this issue
22

CONTENT METER

COVERstory |
2014 Jeep
Cherokee

Cover story
22-27 2015 Jeep Cherokee
12-21 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe | 2015 Chevrolet

NEXT ISSUE

A new era for the iconic

model with revolutionary
styling

2015 FERRARI
CALIFORNIA T

Suburban | 2015 GMC Yukon | 2015 GMC Yukon

XL/ Denali |2014 Chevrolet Silverado

10
Oman | Regional news
6-7 2014 MINI Cooper launch in Oman, GM

full-size SUV regional launch and drive in

Dubai, Nissan-Playstation gamer to racer
winners, JLR training academy in UAE, new
appointment at Cadillac Middle East, KTM
Enduro range launched, Discover More by
Harley-Davidson, Range Rover Evoque in
ME film

20

Brandwatch
8-11 First details of Gen VIII all-new

Passat released, Subaru WRX STI record

performance at Isle of Man TT, Kia and
Hyundai FIFA 2014 vehicle handover, Kia Soul
award, Peter Schreyer awarded, Mitsubishi
ready to attack Pikes Peak with electric
car, Maserati Centenary celebrations
detailed, MINIs first four door car, Oz V8
welcomes Altima Supercars, Ford on track
with lightweight construction, Fond
farewell to Indias Hindustan Ambassador,
Ariel bespoke motorcycles planned with
help from Honda

12
2015 Chevrolet | GMC SUVs
New underpinnings with added features

34

46

40

66
s of
w
e
i
v
Pre
nd
ars a
c
t
o
h
bike

72

First drive
28-33 2014 HyundAI GENESIS
34-38 2014 Mazda 3
40-44 2014 Infiniti Q50
46-50 2014 Honda City
52-55 2014 TOYOTA YARIS HATCHBACK
Also driven
56-59 2014 Jaguar F-Type convertible
60-64 2014 Lincoln MKX
Previews
66-67 Ducati Diavel
68-71 Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept
72-75 PORSCHE BOXSTER | CAYMAN GTS

30

40

50

60

70

Motorsports
72-75 2014 Le Mans
76-77 F1 Monaco and Canada race report
80 Chicane

80

editor-in-chief
Mohammad Al Taie

AL ROYA PRESS & PUBLISHING

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HEAD OF Design
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2014
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Our mid-year issue has turned out to be a bumper one in more ways than
one. To begin with, we were overrun by stories through the first half of the
year, what with the number of new models being launched by brands in
anticipation of the summer lull period hitting us. As temperatures in Muscat
hit the high forties (and above if we believe our cars digital readout) we find
ourselves with some tests that happened over the past few months as well as
a whole crop of new tests over the past few weeks.
We were torn. Should we call this an SUV special? After all along with the
new Cherokee, we also have the whole family of K2XX SUVs and pickups
from GM. Or do we just call this our Ramadan special, what with the holy
month coming bang in the hottest time of the year? We compromised a little
by calling it our mega test issue, with a complete bakers dozen of vehicles
on offer.
Among all of these the Cherokee stands out for what it brings new to the
table. It cant technically be called an SUV any more, moving to a crossover
model, while getting marginally larger. With its transverse engine, frontwheel bias and a whole new set of road manners, the Cherokee is treading
a middle ground that is meant to appeal to thousands of new customers
around the world. In the bargain the Fiat end of the alliance also gets its
hands on a spanking new crossover platform that should Fiat gain some new
customers.
In terms of full-size you cant get any more full-size than GMs K2XX platform.
But again, both the Yukon and Tahoe bring the Cherokee sort of equation to
a genre of vehicle that seems almost Jurassic in todays world. Here too, the
road manners have improved, along with creature comfort and fuel efficiency.
It keeps the format relevant and trendy in the GCC at the very least.
As for the rest of the vehicles, we have a whole range from the new Mazda
3, the new Honda City, the new Toyota Yaris Hatchback and the two premium
sedans the Infiniti Q50 and the Hyundai Genesis.
Of course, along with all of these test drives, we also have a rich crop of
regular stories, including Brandwatch and motorsports. Page for page,
Automan continues to offer the best automotive content of any magazine in
the region. And we dont buy out content from any external source. Thats
what makes us such a great read any time of the year.

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

New MINI arrives in Oman

The Oman Society for Fine Art in Muscat
was the venue for the introduction
of the all-new 2014 MINI Cooper and
Cooper S. Four local budding artistes
were also invited to the event who
presented their respective renditions of

the car. The new car is marginally bigger

than the one it replaces and will be
available for the first time with a choice
of turbocharged three and four-cylinder
engines displacing 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre
respectively.

Nissan and Sony PlayStation are again

staging the acclaimed Nissan PlayStation
GT Academy Middle East challenge in
Dubai, whereby Gran Turismo gamers
get a once-in-a-lifetime shot at becoming
a real professional racer. The latest
event was held at the Dubai World Trade
Centre on June 20-21, where twenty eight
contestants put the pedal to the metal in
order to qualify for the next stage. The six
winners [below] will be taken to Britains
legendary Silverstone circuit and put
through a race drivers boot camp, honing
their skills on the tarmac to determine the
overall Middle East GT Academy winner.

news

Gamer to Racer
GM Middle East launches full-size 2015 Chevrolet and GMC SUVs

he trio of all-new 2015 GMC fullsize SUVs Yukon, Yukon XL

and flagship Yukon Denali were
introduced to the Middle East formally
last month in Dubai. The new arrivals
have been extensively re-engineered to
offer consumers greater capability and
refinement, more power, a new fold-flat
rear seats, and a quieter interior. The
Yukon and Yukon XL was engineered from
the ground up, building on a strong legacy
of capability to take them to the top of
the segment with exceptional refinement
and purposeful technology, says GMC
Brand Manager Nadim Ghrayeb. And

when it comes to the tasks people rely on

a full-size SUV for, they do it better than
ever and with more style. The 2015
GMC Yukon has a starting MSRP price in
the UAE of AED175,000.
Meanwhile, Chevrolet also officially
announced the arrival of the brands
full-size SUVs the fourth generation
2015 Tahoe and twelfth generation
Suburban for the region. Chevrolet
has a strong market presence and history
in the Middle East region with the Tahoe
and Suburban, said Maurice Williams,
President and Managing Director, GM
Middle East Operations. With new

features and enhancements at its core,

the all-new 2015 Tahoe and Suburban will
continue to play a key role in the brands
success while extending the legacy that
Chevrolet has built in the region. All
the new SUVs are built on the new GMT
K2XX platform and are powered by either
Ecotec3 5.3-litre V8 or 6.2-litre V8 engines
mated to 6-speed automatic transmission.
The 2015 Suburban will be offered in the
UAE ranging from AED 166,000 to 233,000
for two-wheel drive and AED 178,000 to
242,000 for four-wheel drivetrain.
Eds note: see first drive impressions
elsewhere in the magazine.

Discover More launched

by Harley-Davidson

Range Rover Evoque to debut in ME film

Emirati directors Ali F. Mostafas road
trip movie From A to B, will feature the
Range Rover Evoque as the 4th star.
Land Rover vehicles are no stranger to
the silver screen, having featured in many
iconic films including Skyfall, but From A

to B will be the first time a Land Rover

product stars in regional feature film.
Land Rover MENA began its relationship
with City of Life creator Mostafa in 2011,
when he was asked to become a regional
ambassador for the Range Rover Evoque.

JaguarLandRover MENA unveils Training Academy in Dubai

Based on the successful Jaguar Land
Rover Academy in the UK and following
the launch of a US$1.5mn engineering
test centre in May 2013 in UAE, Jaguar
Land Rover MENA, has unveiled its new
regional training Academy in Dubiotech,
Dubai. The faculty will offer technical and
non-technical training programmes to
dealers and regional office staff across
6

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JUly 2014

the MENA network. With approved 40

dealerships across 17 markets in MENA,
and a further 24 dealerships expected by
2017/18, the Academy will offer exacting
standards of training of its counterpart
in the UK. Currently, there are 1,800 plus
Jaguar Land Rover dealer employee in
the MENA region and this number is
expected to go up to 3,000 soon.

KTM introduces MY2015 enduro range

New appointment
Cadillac Middle East has appointed Felix
Weller as its new Vehicle Sales, Service
and Marketing Director. Weller comes
from Audi Middle East where he was Sales
Director for three years. Weller was also
responsible for establishing Audis Dealer
Development program focusing on quality
at the point of sale.

The range itself includes four-stroke machines in the 250 EXC-F, 350 EXC-F, 450 EXC,
500 EXC, along with the two-stroke machines 125 EXC, 200 EXC, 250 EXC and 300
EXC, some of which have received detail engine improvements. In addition to this,
with a design relative to the ISDE event in Argentina later in the year, the Six Days
range is also available with all-round upgrades and specialist PowerParts fitted to the
machines for the ultimate performance. For model year 2015 the EXC receives a range
of chassis developments including a new MAE digital speedometer, which offers more
readily visible information to the rider, new black Neken handlebars with improved
hand guards, and softer dual-compound grips. There are also new black colored rims
from Giant providing higher rigidity, that compliment the CNC machined hubs, as well
as the factory look being completed with a striking orange frame, usually only seen on
race team machines, and an exciting new graphic design.

Discover More is enlisting 50 specially

selected riders to take the Street Glide
across Europe, Middle East and North
Africa, which include social media fans,
celebrities, journalists and influential
touring riders. The bike now heads over
to Southern Europe and beyond before
arriving at European Bike Week, Austria
on the 6 September 2014. The first rider
to take Discover More to the roads was
renowned chef and riding enthusiast
Claude Abry, who combines his passion
for cooking and good food with his love of
motorcycle touring. The tour will see man
and machine complete a 20,000km tour
across Middle East beginning at Jordan
and Egypt enroute Europe. In Egypt, the
Discover More Bike was ridden by local
football celebrity Hazem Emam.

JUly 2014

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brandwatch

First details of Gen VIII all-new Passat released

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JUly 2014

be offered on the new Passat includes

the Active Info Display, which replaces
the instrument cluster with a fully
configurable interactive 12.3-inch TFT
display; a heads-up display; the latest
Modular Infotainment System, including
the Car-Net remote app; a furtherdeveloped 360-degree Area View
function; and the latest generation of
Park Assist. This newly developed Park
Assist includes the option for the car to
park itself forwards into perpendicular
spaces useful, for example at
supermarket car parks, where access to
the boot is important. It also includes a
world-first Trailer Assist, which provides
assistance when reversing a vehicle with
a trailer attached without the need
for any modification or adaptation of
the trailer. Other safety
technology includes Side
Assist with Rear Traffic
Alert; Traffic Jam Assist
which makes stop-and-go
driving more comfortable;
Emergency Assist, which
can potentially halt a
vehicle when the driver
is incapacitated; and the
latest Front Assist system
with City Emergency
Braking, which optionally
combines both radar and camera sensors
to add pedestrian detection. All new
Passats will feature LED tail lights, while
headlights will be halogen or LED. In
conjunction with Dynamic Light Assist,
one of the two LED headlight options
automatically adjusts the beam for
maximum illumination of the road
without dazzling other traffic.

Subaru WRX STI breaks its

own Isle of Man TT record

he Subaru WRX STI has once again

broken the four-wheeled lap record
around the famous Isle of Man TT
circuit, with British rally champion Mark
Higgins setting a new record of 19 minutes
26 seconds in a production version of the
newly launched high-performance saloon.
Higginss lap around the challenging 37.8mile TT Mountain course saw him post an
average speed of 116mph and a top speed
of over 160mph.
Manxman Higgins completed his timed
run under closed road conditions as part
of the TT schedule and beat his previous
record, set in 2011, when he set a time of 19
minutes 56.7 seconds. That was done at the
wheel of the previous-generation WRX STI,
breaking a record that had stood for 21 years.
As with the previous record-breaking
car, the WRX STI used for Higginss
run was a standard Subaru production
car [US specification], equipped with
a 300ps 2.5-litre horizontally-opposed
turbocharged Boxer engine.
The only modifications to the car involved
the springs and dampers, which were
adjusted to minimise any potential
damage when the car encountered the
courses many bumps and jumps at high
speed. The WRX STI was also equipped
with essential safety enhancements,
including a roll-cage, race harness and fire
suppression system and was fitted with
Dunlop Derezza tyres.
Mark said of his run: It was quite a lap we
did today and I am really happy to have
another record in the bank. The chassis
of the new car is so much better it really
allowed me to pick up time in each sector
in the more technical parts of the course.
There is nothing like the TT course in all
racing. Not just because of its length but
the elevation changes, constant surface
variations as you shift from town to
country roads and the fact we run from
30mph and then up to 160mph plus for
much of the race.
The outright lap record on the TT course
was set in 2013 by John McGuinness
on a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.
McGuinness posted a time of 17 minutes
11.6 seconds, equivalent to an average
speed of 131.7mph. The all-new Subaru
WRX STI is now on sale in Oman.

news

olkswagen has revealed the first

technical details of the all-new
Passat Saloon and Estate, ahead
of the cars unveiling in July and their
public premiere at the Paris Motor
Show in October. The eighth-generation
Passat will bring with it a range of new
technologies and features to ensure
that even after 41 years, it remains as
competitive as ever.
The car will benefit from the latest in
lightweight construction, thanks to the
use of advanced materials including
high-strength, hot-formed steel and
aluminium in certain areas the new
Passat will be up to 85 kg lighter than its
predecessor. This will also help it to claim
expected fuel-efficiency improvements
of up to 20 per cent.
Exterior dimensions will
change marginally and the
new car will be smaller
now. Interior space is
improved, with more legand head-room, as well as
increased luggage space.
A highlight of the Passats
new range of engines is a
high-performance, fourcylinder, 2.0-litre, bi-turbo
diesel delivering 240 PS
and an extraordinary 500
Nm from 1,750 rpm. This engine will be
available only with a new seven-speed
DSG gearbox and 4MOTION all-wheel
drive. A plug-in hybrid model will also
be offered, with potential to travel 31
miles on battery power alone, and with
a potential maximum range of around
600 miles. Other new technology to

Hyundai and Kia hand over

FIFA 2014 vehicles

Hyundai Motor Company, the official Partner of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil delivered over one thousand vehicles for the ground transportation of the worlds
biggest sporting event to be held at Arena de Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The
automotive manufacturer also unveiled the branding decorations of the 32 buses
that will transport the teams of the qualified nations.
Kia Motors also performed its handover ceremony at the same venue with its fleet
of official vehicles that will ensure the smooth and efficient transportation of teams,
officials, delegates and official VIP visitors from all over the world.

Hyundai and Kia, which

together rank fifth in global
car sales, are under pressure
from a firming local currency
which erodes its earnings,
and suffer from recurring
industrial disputes and high
labour costs at home.

Mitsubishi electric cars

ready for Pikes Peak mission
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation [MMC] will
enter two MiEV Evolution III all-electric
racecars in the 2014 edition of the worldfamous Pikes Peak International Hill
Climb [Pikes Peak, June 23 to June 29] in
Colorado, United States. MMC will use
two MiEV Evolution III all-electric racecars,
which combine the best of MMCs electric
vehicle and four-wheel drive control
technologies. MMC has competed twice
before in the Electric Division in 2012 and
2013, and now with the MiEV Evolution III,
hopes to take its first victory, this time in
the new Electric Modified Division.

Red dot award for Soul

he all-new Kia Soul has been awarded a prestigious red dot design award*,
following in the footsteps of its stylish first-generation predecessor. This is the
second major design award for the new Soul, following its success in the iF
design awards only few weeks ago. The new Kia Soul was created by the Kia design
team under the supervision of Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of
Kia Motors Corporation and Hyundai Motor Group.
Meanwhile, Schreyer has received the prestigious Lifetime Design Achievement
Award from EyesOn Design. Schreyer was recognized at the Detroit Institute of
Ophthalmologys Vision Honored award ceremony for his work overseeing the global
design strategy of Kia Motors. This latest award places him on a list of international
vehicle designers which includes design legends such as Sergio Pininfarina, Shiro
Nakamura, Walter deSilva and Giorgetto Giugiaro.
JUly 2014

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Ford on track with lightweight construction target

Maserati centenary celebrations detailed

The International Maserati Centennial
Gathering celebrating the companys 100
year anniversary is due to begin in Modena
on Thursday, 18 September, and end in
Turin on Saturday, 20 September 2014. The
three-day gathering will see a succession
of exhibitions, parades, a regularity race,
a track test, a visit to the two Maserati
factories and a concours delegance. Cars
and collectors from all over the world are
expected to be in attendance.
A hundred years have gone by since, in
December of 1914, Alfieri Maserati and his
brothers Ettore and Ernesto opened the
first car repair workshop in a basement
on Via de Pepoli, Bologna. Here, before
Italy entered the First World War and in
the months that immediately followed the
end of the conflict, they began to prepare
and modify cars for themselves the
three Maserati brothers were also capable
drivers and the gentleman drivers of
the period. These were the first steps of a
company that in time was to become an
international icon of Italian motoring.

The Maserati Centennial Gathering will

begin in Modena on Thursday, September
18, with the arrival of the historic and
contemporary models that will be taking
part in the event and will be displayed in
significant urban spaces. The program
for the afternoon involves a visit to the
Exhibition at the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari
dedicated to the Maserati Centennial
and then to the historic Viale Ciro
Menotti factory. Here, where Maserati
GranTurismos and GranCabrios and the
Alfa Romeo 4C roll off the production lines
every day, dinner will be served.
The next day, Friday, September 19, the
participants will make their way to Turin.
The first stop will be the San Martino del
Lago Circuit near Cremona, which will
host track sessions and pay homage to
Baconin Borzacchini and his Maserati V4
16 cylinder, in which the Italian driver
set the world record over the Flying 10
Kilometres on 28 September 1929. The
historic Maserati convoy will then parade
through the streets of Cremona before

racing on to Turin where they will line up in

the majestic Piazza Castello. A gala dinner
at the Reggia of Venaria palace is set for
the evening.
Scheduled for the morning of Saturday,
September 20, the third and final day of
the event, are a visit to the Avv. Giovanni
Agnelli Plant, where Maserati Ghiblis and
Quattroportes are built, and the final leg
of the regularity race, in the direction of
the Basilica of Superga. The Concours
dElegance in Piazza San Carlo taking place
in the afternoon will be the concluding
finale to the three day gathering.
As a prelude to the three day gathering,
there will be an opportunity on
Wednesday 17 September, for Maserati
collectors to have their photographs taken
with their car next to the famous Fountain
of Neptune in the historic centre of
Bologna, which was the inspiration for the
Maserati trident logo and to see the exact
location Via de Pepoli 1 where Maserati
was born, one hundred years ago.

Ford Motor Company recently unveiled its

Lightweight Concept vehicle, which uses
advanced materials to explore future
weight-reduction solutions that could
improve performance and fuel efficiency
while reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
The vehicle represents the latest phase
of Fords research into developing
sustainable technology solutions that
are affordable for consumers and can
be produced in large volumes across the
product lineup. This research has also
led to dramatic weight reductions of up
to 700 pounds in the all-new F-150. The
2015 F-150 sheds weight through the use
of high-strength steel and aluminum,
enabling it to tow more, haul more,
accelerate quicker and stop shorter all
with improved gas mileage.
Light-weighting is a key component in
Fords Blueprint for Sustainability, which
integrates sustainability into the business
plan for the long-term preservation and
enhancement of environmental, social

and financial capital. The introduction and

incorporation of lightweight materials
into vehicle construction helps meet the
goal of reducing weight to achieve better
fuel economy for consumers while also
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Fords research into improved efficiency
through weight reduction with advanced
materials including new metals, alloys
and composites began more than 25
years ago. This research produced the
breakthrough Aluminium Intensive
Vehicle programme in 1992 and allaluminium high-performance Ford GT in
2005.
Along with other fuel-efficiency
technologies, light-weighting is
fundamental to Fords efforts to stabilize
carbon dioxide concentrations in the
atmosphere at 450 parts per million
the level many scientists, businesses
and governmental agencies believe may
avoid the most serious effects of climate
change.

Altima name added to Oz V8 Supercars

Championship support series

MINIs first fourdoor entry

The British brand is now officially

represented with a four door model in the
small car segment for the first time in its
history. The new addition is called the MINI
Hardtop 4 door. The car will be offered
with turbocharged 1.5-litre 3-cylinder and
2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine. Both manual
and automatic transmissions will be
available.
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JUly 2014

Nissans involvement in Australian

motorsport continues to expand, with
the addition of two Nissan Altima
models to the Aussie Racing Cars
Super Series. In a project initiated by
Musselbrook Nissan dealer principal
Michael Rinkin, the Altima nameplate
joined the Aussie Racing Cars class
this season, with Rinkin and Craig
Thompson driving the two entries. The
Aussie Racing Cars Series is one of the
most popular support categories to the
V8 Supercars Championship.
The pint-sized cars use a 1,200cc
motorcycle engine in its small chassis.
With close to 40 cars in each race,
the category is renowned as one
of the closest and most exciting

in the country. The next round of the

Aussie Racing Cars Super Series will
be held at Queensland Raceway in
Ipswich, Queensland, with the category
also supporting the V8 Supercars
Championship at iconic circuit such as
Mount Panorama, Surfers Paradise and
Phillip Island.

Ariel bespoke motorcycles

could be revived soon
Bultaco, Horex, Indian, Sarola, and
Voxan are legendary motorcycle brands
that have had a chequered past and
but were discontinued and thanks to
renewed interest, these brands are now
being revived and are in various stages
of development. The revival list will soon
have another British brand added should
all go well and the brand we are referring
to is Ariel. The erstwhile British motorcycle
manufacturer was best known for its fourcylinder bikes, like the Ariel Square Four.
The modern Ariel Motor Company Ltd
is a low-volume performance motor
vehicle manufacturing company based
in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. The
company uses Honda-sourced hardware
to produce performance vehicles like the
Atom.
Honda hardware will be used to create a
two-wheeler performance cruiser concept.
A concept as planned for unveil at the
Goodwood Festival of Speed. Given the
brands design and engineering direction
in cars, one can expect an a minimalist
performance cruiser with a more bespoke
approach. Hondas high performance

Fond farewell to Hindustan Ambassador

The King of Indian Roads, the ubiquitous
Hindustan Motors built Ambassador
sedan, aka the Amby, which has
faithfully served as a family car, an official
government transport and lately taxis
since 1957 has finally been retired in its
fourth iteration. Based on UKs 1950
Morris Oxford III, the Indian version of
the car did carry some minor changes
to differentiate it from its English
counterpart. The early Ambassadors sold
in India were powered by a 1.5-litre fourcylinder Morris B-Series engine mated

to four-speed manual transmission with

column shift. Later models like the Mark
IV boasted Isuzu-derived diesels and fivespeed manual transmission and modified
rear differential. The cars cheap and
easy to repair attitude while coping with
some of Indias notorious pot-holed roads
contributed to its popularity besides its
ability to haul more occupants than its
official classification.
At last count, Hindustan Motors engaged
2,500 factory personnel to produce just
seven cars a day. Despite local opposition,

the company has decided to discontinue

the cars production owing to poor
sales and increasing losses. Besides
these, the carmaker couldnt meet
the new stringent Indian legislation
relating to emissions and fuel efficiency
in automobiles in that country with the
Amby. The last feather in the cap which
the Ambassador got in its long career
was the title of toughest taxi in the
world in Top Gear season 20, episode
two TV programme.
JUly 2014

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11

2015 Chevrolet Tahoe | 2015 Chevrolet

Suburban | 2015 GMC Yukon | 2015 GMC Yukon
XL/ Denali |2014 Chevrolet Silverado

It seems that industry watchers who had confidently predicted that body-on-frame
architecture for large passenger vehicles were heading for extinction underestimated the
will power of some carmakers. General Motors is among few automakers left which is still
confident about the future of full-size SUVs or pick-ups. In this special report, Automan
experienced five models 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, GMC Yukon/Denali XL and
Chevrolet Silverado pick-up which are all based on GMs latest chassis architecture in UAE
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: author and supplied

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JUly 2014

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It was only after a glance

downward on the drivers
information centre that
you notice a brightly
lit green V4 symbol
amongst the gauges

ost of us are aware that since

2007, global sales of mid and
large-sized SUV have dropped
significantly and a new trend created
with lighter and more lifestyle friendly
crossover SUV sales. Currently, the
number of mid-size sport utility vehicles
offered up by car manufacturers has
declined two-thirds and when you factor
in body-on-frame SUVs, the list becomes
even smaller.
While the new breed of AWD crossovers
nearly deliver everything the traditional
SUVs brought to the table -- performance,
handling and fuel economy comparable
to a mid-size or compact sedan, however,
one element that has helped in preventing
a total wipe out of body-on-frame SUVs vs
lifestyle-utilities or pick-ups is the ability of
some SUV makers to produce cars in this
segment with a host of genuine efficiencyoriented technologies and features.
At the same time, serious SUV makers
are also discovering innovative ways of
selling their products in order to stay
in the game, especially in SUV-savvy
markets like the Middle East. Players like
Nissan, Lexus/Toyota now offer unique
approaches in marketing such ideas.
Lexus has recently introduced a limited
production supercharged LX 570 for
Middle East and Nissan looks at bespoke
appointments in the VVIP Patrol as its USP.

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JUly 2014

Meanwhile, GMs approach for its bodyon-frame based line-up for 2014 onwards
began on new ground which begins with
engineering and ends with packaging.
Automan was invited to the joint regional
launch and drive of the all-new MY 2015
Chevrolet Tahoe/ Suburban, GMC Yukon/
Denali XL in Dubai, UAE last month. The
fifth vehicle, the new-for-2014 Silverado
pick-up truck, which was launched a
few months ago and also tested by this
magazine separately is also included in this
report as each of the models in this article
are mechanically very closely related to
each other.
The period of development of the new
SUV successors has been interesting as
post global economic downturn, sales
of full-size trucks and SUVs in the US
dropped almost a third through the first
nine months of 2008. This also served as
a strong indicator for the guys at GM to
plot the next move. In fact, there were
strong rumours that a concerned GM had
cancelled its GMT 900 successor GMT
K2XX truck programme in May 2008.
This meant that the replacements of the
Chevrolet and mechanically equivalent
GMC and Cadillac large SUV models were
also put on hold [at least temporarily].
On January 14, 2010, GM announced that
they were resuming development of
full-size trucks and SUVs and here are the
fruits of these efforts which are mostly
based on new GMT K2XX body-on-frame
architecture. The first roll out production
vehicles based on these platforms hit
markets in summer of 2013. The light-duty
2014 model year Chevrolet Silverado and
GMC Sierra full-size pick-ups were first
introduced followed by the SUVs.

to offer more functionality, greater

refinement, new safety features and an
increased range of advanced technologies
to appeal to its respective customer
groups.
The outgoing Tahoe was a decent package
by itself as it sort of benchmarked the
brands packaging in the segment. It
was also offered in LS, LT (with two LT
packages: 1LT and 2LT) and LTZ models
and depending on market both rearwheel-drive and four-wheel-drive options.
All Tahoe variants were powered by a
Vortec 5.3-litre V8 with variable valve
timing offering 320hp and 452Nm of
torque. Active Fuel Management was part
of the optimization in performance and
fuel efficiency. The V8 was mated to GMs
Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed transmission.
The new Tahoe and LWB Suburban and
GMC Yukon continue with V8s, but the
Vortec V8 has been replaced by lighter
alloy head EcoTec3 engines which have
been significantly re-engineered to
incorporate state-of-the-art efficiency
technologies like direct injection, cylinder
deactivation, continuously variable valve
timing and an advanced combustion
system besides bump in output and
torque. Improved engine mounts,
electronic throttle control, adaptive
exhaust systems, improved aerodynamics
and other technologies help the engines

operate in four-cylinder mode more often

with Active Fuel Management. While
promoting efficiency, the powertrains
are programmed to make the most of
power, torque and efficiency across a
broad range of operating conditions. The
six-speed automatic transmission has been
carried forward and includes TapShift
control, Tow/Haul mode and Auto Grade
Braking. This new engine made its debut
earlier this year in the all-new Sierra. While
engineering focus is on efficiency and
adaptability, we are aware that the sixspeed automatic transmission is tried-andtrue, but in real-time its two gears shy of
current market leaders.

2015 Chevrolet Suburban

By far, the longest running nameplate

in the industry, GM seems to have been
extra cautious with the new Chevrolet
Suburban. Now in its 80th year and 12th
generation, the new Suburban is the
latest iteration of a vehicle that started
its career as a cargo hauler and has been
transformed into a peoples career and
with cargo carrying and towing capability
to match.
The five-door, three-row Suburban is
20in longer than the Tahoe and sits on a
130in wheelbase. When you look at the
Suburban and Tahoe together from the
front, both appear very similar. In profile,

2015 Chevrolet Tahoe

The Tahoe along with its longer Sibling

Surburban are considered as the industrys
best-selling duo of full-size SUVs. The
outgoing Tahoe and Suburban were
among the first models to benefit the
GMT900 platform which debuted at the
2006 North American International Auto
Show. This success of this chassis also
formed the basis for the next generation
of GM full-size pick-ups and SUVs, and
replacements for the GMT800 vehicles.
Now, with the new platform, they are
back and have been meticulously detailed
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| www.automanweb.com | 15

and GMC SUVs is much less now and each

represents confidence and new levels
benchmarking. This is a significant move
considering theres Cadillac also sitting on
the top.
Both Chevy and GMC SUVs have their
sheet metal cut with softer curves and
clean lines. The quiet, calm surface
treatment tries to offset the bulky
appearance. As before, the one-piece
front end presents a friendly, welcoming
face but without forfeiting the cars
presence.
NVH has been a focus area for both brands
and some interesting design changes
have been incorporated. The inlay door
design is the greatest giveaway which
now shut in the recess of the pillars in
both body style versions. The added
bonus is that it also helps in effectively
managing/filtering unwanted noises from
outside. The second feature which in our
opinion is outstanding for the Middle East
user is that of the design of the A-pillar.
While several new SUV/crossovers have
raked their A-pillars considerably to help
streamline airflow, the flip side is that it
increases the glass area and also doesnt
protect the front occupants in particular.
What we observed later with various
drivers and passengers is that no matter
how close or far you are to the steering
wheel or dashboard, you are protected

although the Yukon is supposed to be a

few notches higher in terms of content
and execution, theres more evidence
of bin parts sharing than individualism.
The infotainment system, dashboard and
analogue instrumentation are shared
across all the models including the
Silverado.
The common 5.3-litre V8 engine rides in a
fully-boxed frame for added strength and
capabilities, and features enhancements
like hydraulic mounts for a smoother and
quieter ride. Steering is electric powerassisted and speed dependent, and is
coupled with Denali-standard Magnetic
Ride Control (MRC) adjustable shock
absorber set-up also found in the Cadillac
CTS-V and Corvette Stingray.
In the upmarket Denali range, especially
the XL variant is 20in longer and hence
weighs more. To compensate the powerto-weight ratio deficit [compared to
stock], GM has shoehorned a bigger
displacement 6.2-litre V8. And to give it
a similar class and ride, hydraulic engine
mounts [to minimise engine vibration]
have been employed to ensure smooth
operations.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado

the Suburban has not shed its boxy looks

and with its crisp new sheetmetal with
soft creases give an aura of sophistication.
However, the differences between the
two become quite apparent when both
vehicles are viewed three-quarters,
especially from the C-pillar onwards. Both
Suburban and Tahoe have their own sheet
metal and despite engineering similarities
with the latest Silverado 1500, not a body
panel has been shared with the pick-up
truck.
In its construction,
GM has employed
combination of steel
and lightweight
to help optimize
weight. Common to
both models are the
aluminium bonnets
and liftgates. The
Suburban is a
vehicle that can
haul from six- to
nine passengers,
depending on
configuration.
Available in base LS, LT and range-topping
LTZ versions, it is now standard with
second- and power-folding third-row
folding seats.
Unlike the Yukon Denali LWB version
which is longer by 20in and gets the
6.2-litre V8 as one of the key differentiator

under the bonnet, the Suburban is

powered by GMs 5.3-litre EcoTec3 V8
which is programmed to offer 355hp
at 5,600rpm and 383lb-ft of torque at
4,100rpm. Transmission is the corporate
6-speed automatic Hydramatic.

2015 GMC Yukon / Yukon Denali

All new Yukon models share a lot of
technology found in the new Sierra line
of trucks and are available in standard

The Silverado pick-up is an important

volume seller for GM in the US and hence
it was introduced in the markets a few
months before the SUVs which share
mechanicals and underpinnings. Chevrolet
has taken a conservative approach in the
redesign and compared to the SUVs, has
its standalone features the massive
chrome bumper for instance. In our
market, Silverados biggest rivals include
the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500. And
considering what Ford is planning to do
with the soon-to-arrive all-new F-150 [its
trendy design will be based on the Atlas
Concept], the
Silverado can enjoy
its advantage more
on engineering
prowess than
design. While it
connects with
its SUV siblings
mechanically, its
a model that can
be associated with
design simplicity in
the bowtie brand.
In its construction,
GM has paid
particular attention on stress points and
structural safety in the 2014 Silverado
1500. Hydroforming technology has been
used to improve strength and reduce mass
of the front of the frame. The features
a roll-formed steel pickup box, which is
lighter, stronger and more durable than

Thanks to usage of new Generation V/

EcoTec3 V8 engines with direct injection
and weight savings from the use of more
high-strength steel in construction, fuel
economy of GMT K2XX vehicles do increase
over the GMT 900 predecessors

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JUly 2014

wheelbase or LWB. Several grades are

offered and the SUV line-up is offered in
base SLE, mid-level SLT and top-of-the-line
Denali trim levels. Depending on how its
specified, it can haul up to nine passengers
in comfort.
In terms of creature comforts in the cabin,

traditional stamped steel boxes and the

cab structures are all new and incorporate
high strength steel in the A-pillars, B-pillars,
roof rails and rocker panels. Ultra-highstrength steel is used in areas of the rocker
panels and underbody in anticipation of
new shallow-offset crash tests. In all, about
two-thirds of the cab structure is made from
high-strength steels. Even the cargo bed
benefits from tougher steels. Sway control
is among technologies provided for series
towing users.

Whats in, Whats out

Design exterior

In the next decade, the auto industry will

see an explosion in its use of aluminium to
cut flab and increase fuel economy. GMs
has begun that in this new generation
of SUVs with sheetmetal components
like bonnet and tail gates constructed
in aluminium. Rivals like Ford have been
showcasing truck concepts with significant
switch to almost all aluminium body
construction.
To an untrained eye, the overall profile
of the incoming Chevy/GMC SUVs hasnt
changed that much. Still boxy, however,
the story is in the detailing, fit and
finish. The build quality has improved by
leaps and bounds in the Chevrolet. The
qualitative differentiator between Chevy
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generously from the elements.

The added plastic valance reduces
the ground clearance and also affects
the arrival angle when going off-road.
Compared to the front end detailing, the
SUV rear is mostly flat, almost vertical
tailgate resides between tall, narrow
taillamps. The headlamp detailing is
also quite good. Personally, I prefer the
Yukons looks to the Tahoes and find the
Denali trim bordering the bling line.
Meanwhile, the Silverados A-pillar rake
is more aggressive and hence its roofline
is a little lower than before. In creating
its profile, GM has used a conservative
approach and has given enough cues
to set it apart from its SUV siblings. The
standout chrome grille for instance is a key
signature style-cum-functional element
and so are the arrival angles. The ground
clearance is also higher in the pick-up.

Design interior

The change in qualitative aspect in the

GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe is quite
noticeable now. From a simple, elegant
dashboard that hinted of aspirations for
entry-luxury status has moved several
notches up with a smarter set-up. GM
has very cleverly used the parts bin
approach and at the same time been able
to differentiate between the models and
trim variants. For example the Silverado,

Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon share the

same instrument cluster. The analogue
portion of the instrument cluster is also
used in the top-of-the-line Denali model
but the rest of the cluster is digital. Some
more differentiation is noted between the
GMC Chevrolet siblings at the base of the
central console the Yukon dashboard
integrates with centre console while in
the Tahoe it is separate. Trim finishes
especially effects on the dashboard
plastics in the SUVs have been kept
different and it is quite a contrast to that
of the Silverado which reflects typical
pick up focus on form and function. The
Silverados instrument panel is more
upright and multiple storage options
are tailored specifically to the needs of
truck customers. Controls are functional,
logically placed and easy to operate. The
gear lever placement in on the column
in all the models and in typical American
fashion, the Tiptronic switch is actually
on the gear lever. In terms of space and
comfort the SUVs get well padded leather
seats which offer decent support via
power adjustments. Getting in and out of
the SUVs is easy, thanks to the retractable
runner board. However, the hip point is
on the higher side. Head and leg room
are decent but drivers of all heights can
find the going good, thanks to the power
height adjustable pedals.

On the infotainment front the packaging

is corporate. Depending on trim, theres
an 8in display and next-generation MyLink
connectivity for audio, Bluetooth and
navigation. A rear-seat DVD entertainment
system is available with dual fold-down
screens and six USB ports and six power
outlets are included in the feature pack.
The compartmentalized centre console is
large enough to store a laptop or iPad. In
the trim department, GM could have done
a bit better with the top specc models.
We were somewhat disappointed to find
Chevrolets traditional version of faux
wood trim throughout the cabin of the
Suburban, where as the brushed metal
effect in the GMCs of the same trim stood
out nicely.
In terms of cargo space in the SUV siblings,
the Suburban as expected tops the list.
Rear cargo space checks in with 39.3cft
behind the third row seat. Push the power
fold button and it almost doubles to
nearly 77cft behind the middle row. Fold
both rows, and the Suburban becomes
a covered 121cft hauler. However, its
around 16cft short of what the outgoing
model offered.
From a drivers perspective, the
fundamental approach used by GM is
different in the SUV and pick-up. In the
Silverado, which has huge A-pillars and
a tall dashboard, it gives the illusion of

relatively limited forward visibility.

Yet that doesnt mean we dont like this
new interior. All controls are grouped
around a big, vertical touchscreen that
operates GMs MyLink infotainment
system. Although it is simple enough to
operate, the infotainment system can
be frustratingly lag-prone. Luckily, most
information is accessible from the trucks
steering wheel controls and pertinent
audio and navigation data can be
displayed in the instrument cluster.
The Silverado, we note, also takes a big
leap forward in terms of perceived quality.
Materials are upgraded throughout, with
most surfaces swathed in pleasant softtouch vinyls. An upmarket French stitch
pattern is draped over the dashboards
various curves. On the tech front, the
Silverado offers up to five USB ports plus
optional heated and ventilated seats. We
like having both heating and ventilation,
but the latter emits an especially loud
whir audible even over the Bose speakers.
Rear doors on crew cabs are larger, for
easier entry and exit, and rear doors on
extended cab models are now hinged at
the front for easier access, especially in
tight spots.

Chassis and suspension

Common to all models is the migration to

a new chassis architecture which is known
as the GMT K2XX internally. This chassis
is the direct replacement of the GMT 900
series which was retired in 2013.
GM has been able to offer different
handling and performance capabilities by
using this flexible chassis. And for the first
time, Cadillacs programmable magnetic
ride shock absorbers set-up has migrated
into Chevy/GMC products. GMs decision
to continue with leaf springs for the solid
rear axle in the Silverado and work on
the dampers instead to ensure shorter
rebounds and narrow the performance
gap with the coil-sprung Ram may
seem as a costing
cutting measure.
However, some
of the aluminium
components in the
suspension have been
optimized to save
on weight across the
range.

family of four-cylinder engines which

GM sells in smaller cars. Interestingly,
GM hasnt introduced turbocharging in
these engines like Ford in its Ecoboost
set-ups. To make the engines lighter, the
blocks and cylinder heads of all three
Gen V EcoTec3 engines are now cast in
aluminium.
Between the four SUVs and one pick-up
in this report, two engines are shared
the Ecotec3 5.3-litre V8 and 6.2-litre

Driving impressions

Our driving programme for the four SUVs

in the agenda was divided brand wise over
two days. The first day we took the Chevys
and the GMCs a day after. The Silverado
1500 which we have added in this report
was done independently a few weeks
before the SUV programme. This meant
for the SUV drive [both brands] we had
three vehicles with the 5.3-litre V8 Ecotec
set-up and only one, the LWB GMC Yukon
Denali with the 6.2-litre V8.
On the move,
the first thing
in the 5.3-litre
V8 powered
cars we noted
were impressive
levels of interior
quietness. By
luxury SUV
standards, GMs
added emphasis
on NVH mitigation through the use of
wind-cheating designs and laminated
glass is commendable. Power and torque
delivery from the 5.3-litre V8 in the Tahoe
and Yukon seem to be adequate, but
wouldnt be classified as generous. Making
the most of things under normal driving
circumstances is the smooth-shifting sixspeed automatic, which is a little slow to
actually complete a gear change cycle. Not

Cost of ownership will be a key USP for

pushing sales of these vehicles according
to GM officials. GM claims the lowest in the
segments represented vis--vis key rivals

Powertrain

The outgoing editions of the Tahoe used

GMs small block Vortec Gen IV 5.3-litre
V8 engines. GMs Gen V small block V8
engines have been tailored now to reflect
the several mileage-boosting elements
such as variable valve timing, direct
injection and cylinder deactivation. The
Ecotec3 portfolio has three V8 engines
and the bigger two are for ME markets.
Ecotec3 is not to be confused with Ecotec
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JUly 2014

V8 normally-aspirated engines. And

depending on trim, 2WD or 4WD options
are offered with range selector and diff
locks. Compared to the outgoing models,
power from the smaller V8 is up by 35hp
from 320hp to 355hp and torque is up
from by 48lb-ft from 335lb-ft to 383lbft. Common to all models is the 6-speed
Hydramatic automatic transmission.

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| www.automanweb.com | 19

that it matters that much, the good thing

is that the gears hold longer and appear
to resist the whimsical urge to hunt for
cogs. The engine runs stress free in these
two models and even with the seamless
cylinder deactivation system at work there
are no telltale signs of stress whatsover.
However, in the Suburban, which is longer
and heavier, we do feel it could have done
with some more oomph from the engine.
While we wont say it was insufficient or
thoroughly underpowered, considering
the fact of its potential usage as long
distance family and cargo hauler in the
region, it should be OK when speed is
not your only consideration. However,
the clear winner in the three SUVs and
one pick-up as far as this engine goes
in particular is the Silverado. Obviously,

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JUly 2014

power-to-weight plays a big role and

so does the chassis/suspension set-up,
besides the driver aids for off-roading.
In the long wheel base SUVs, the Yukon
Denali XL is a better car to drive compared
to the Suburban. The Denali, on the move
is the more enthusiastic of the two with
good pulling power and acceleration
characteristics, where as the Suburban
feels like a lazy MPV in the way it actually
behaves. Though top-heavy by its nature,
the Suburban doesnt wallow too much
and body roll is quickly checked. The net
result is that despite its size, it tracking
feel is smaller than it actually is. With
its proven solid rear axle, GM feels it
still gives the best combination of ride,
handling and towing capacity in a vehicle
of this magnitude. The magnetic ride

suspension in the up specced models

do offer significant handling advantage
when it comes to comfort, cruising or city
driving. The advantage of the extra output
from the 6.2-litre V8 is quite obvious when
you drive the cars back to back.
With standard magnetic ride control, the
Yukon Denali is supremely composed
on the road, belying its massive 5,533lbs
weight by feeling almost light on its feet at
highway speeds. Steering is light at slow
speeds, yet servo firms up well as the pace
increases.
While most of the GM-organised driving
with the SUVs was on-road in and out
of Dubai, we had the benefit of testing
the Silverado in both driving situations
during our independent assessment of the
vehicle. Although it is a pick-up by design,

what impressed us about the Silverado is

that not only it is very easy to drive, part
in thanks to the light steering, on road,
but it is very capable on sand and dune
bashing too. The Silverado has definitive
advantage of its SUV cousins for now as
we expect at some point later when the
Z71 off-road package arrives, then the
SUVs and Silverado could challenge each
other on a level playing field. For now, the
SUVS [both Chevy and GMC] tested in this
article are more street focused despite
some having diff locks and lo-hi range
selectors.
One feature that we noted was about
the steering feel and feedback across the
models. The electric power steering system
is very precise by truck standards and nicely
weighted so as never to feel too heavy at
low speeds or too light mid-corner.

Verdict

Its actually quite rare to do two brands

and four SUV variants in one drive
programme. The message we get is
that GM has put in quite a bit of effort in
detailing the four SUVs while attempting
to bring in tiered levels of packaging and
comfort as far as luxury. We also think
that the positioning statement between
the Chevrolet and GMC brands is much
clearer despite some technology overlaps.
The Tahoe definitely moves up a few
notches in the entry lux segment and
it will be interesting to see how much
content the Cadillac SUVs will offer in
order to stay ahead of GMC in particular.
Meanwhile, the Silverado is a seriously
good truck. While several of its rivals
might boast more high-profile features,

but the Silverado rewards with a just-right

combination of attributes.
We mentioned earlier in the article that
different SUV makers are employing
different philosophies when it comes to
packaging large SUVs. In conclusion, GMs
approach has been logical and rational
by packaging the vehicles sensibly and
investing where it really matters. Adding
turbochargers or superchargers means
premiums have to be paid and it sends
pricing into astronomical levels!
Besides, the above, GMs key to marketing
these vehicles is the total package the
vehicles themselves, the trims, pricing
and cost of ownership over 100,000km.
We can assure you that, GM is pretty
aggressive about the last one.

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2015 Jeep Cherokee

Seeking

a wild side

It may sport a new exterior, but the Cherokee

remains a hard-core SUV at heart. We test out CJDs
latest offering at the launch in the UAE
Author : Raj Warrior
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JUly 2014

JUly 2014

| www.automanweb.com | 23

ow un-Cherokee like can the

Cherokee get? Admittedly, that
has been our first reaction from
the day we saw the early unveils of the
newest iteration of the Cherokee. Its
just that, with the sloping bonnet and
overlapped layout of the seven-slat grille,
there was something out of character
for a sub-brand that has made its name
with a editions that were decidedly snubnosed. And it isnt as if Jeep designers
had to take this path. This years unveil of
the Renegade concept has proven that
utilitarian can look sexy (or at the very
least highly desirable).
Admittedly the Cherokee is now more
a crossover than a full-blown SUV, but
then thats the last thing you want to try
to sell to traditional Cherokee loyalists.
You can still see many of the XJ platform
Cherokees running around in Muscat,
with most of them being driven by drivers
who wont stop to blink before they take
them over the dunes. Young, capable,

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JUly 2014

composed the type of driver choses the

closed cabin of the XJ over the Wrangler
largely because of the additional roles he
plays. That has been the story of the KK
platform too. Pardon us if we dont harp
too much about the in-between KJ, built
during the heydays of Daimlers so-called
partnership with the Chrysler group.
However, one takeaway is that the
Cherokee thrives because of what it
offers in addition to the bulletproof
dependability of the Wrangler. That is a
huge demand to fulfil and going crossover
is hardly the way to do it.
But there is something about this all-new
KL platform. It isnt all that different from
its predecessor it features unibody
construction and delivers a vehicle that
also comes in Trail-rated configuration. But
the difference is one of strategic nature.
In this case the base platform has been codeveloped by the Fiat-Chrysler partnership
to accommodate a series of vehicles.
Called the Compact US wide platform, it

4x4 Systems
The new Jeep Cherokee
provides a choice of three
innovative 4x4 systems:
Jeep Active Drive I features a single
power transfer unit (PTU) that is
fully automatic and delivers seamless
operation at any speed in both fourwheel and two-wheel drive mode.
The system does not require any
intervention or feedback from the
driver, delivers necessary corrections
during dynamic events and improves
driver control during both understeer
and oversteer conditions.
Jeep Active Drive II includes a twospeed PTU with low gears. In the 4-Low
mode, the system locks the front and
rear drive shafts to ensure more power
at low speeds and greater towing
capability. Low range provides a 2.92:1
gear reduction that enhances climbing
ability and offers outstanding crawl
ratios for severe off-road conditions.
The Jeep Active Drive Lock System
includes all the features of Jeep
Active Drive II and adds a locking
rear differential to provide increased
low-speed power when driving over
extreme off-road trails. This system is
standard only on the Trailhawk model.
All 4x4 systems of the Jeep Cherokee
feature the Jeep brands renowned
Selec-Terrain traction control system
with four modes (five for the Trailhawk
model, which adds the Rock mode to
Auto, Snow, Sport and Sand/Mud),
allowing the driver to choose the
on- and off-road setting best suited
for optimum performance on any
particular surface.
JUly 2014

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The two different versions of Jeeps SelecTerrain are shown above, with the lower
arrangement with the extra Rock mode
standard on the TrailHawk

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JUly 2014

is meant to underpin the Dart, the Alfa

Giulietta and even the new 200. But then
it does come with a transverse engine
layout at the front, which means that in
two-wheel drive mode, the Cherokee is
now a front-wheel drive vehicle.
Thats the reason, we would say, that
the vehicles platform is shaped as it is
at some time in the future we are sure
there will be an assortment of Fiat family
crossovers using this platform as well and
Fiats cant be boxy.
Either a four-cylinder 2.4-litre TigerShark
engine with 184bhp and 234Nm of torque
or a new version of the V6 PentaStar
powers the new Cherokee. The V6 now
has a smaller bore to give a 3.2-litre
nominal capacity. On this smaller capacity,
the engine still generates 271hp with a
better torque of 316Nm. But then the
4-clinder is largely going to be targeted
at the fleet market, while we are sure
that retail customers will look only at the
PentaStar.
The big new equation that the Cherokee
brings with it is a nine-speed ZF automatic
gearbox (labelled 948TE) and a choice of
4WD systems with low range, without
and even with a locking rear differential.
(See Box for details)
As can be expected from a current
generation Jeep, the interiors are
class leading and the feature pack
is exceptional. The size of the cabin
has grown by a few inches over the
generations. Now, the mid-size crossover
has more than enough room for its
complement of five seats, besides having
the volume to spare to throw in raked
windshields and tailgates. Legroom in
the second row is
generous by any

measure and the intelligent use of the

cabin has meant that the nicely padded
seats and generous panelling havent
eaten away into usable volume.
While the steering wheel is different in
layout and shape, the overall layout of the
dashboard is becoming familiar, especially
with the use of the brushed aluminium
surrounds around the display and the
centre air-conditioning vents. True to
form, the layout is rather vertical, despite
its aggressively scooped out footwells.
The top of the dashboard gets a covered
receptacle thats rather convenient to store
stuff like pens, coins and licence cards.
The instrument panel gets a hybrid
treatment with two large analogue dials
flanking LCD space in between. This
patch is used for a multitude of readouts,
including a rather prominent digital speed
readout.
While the steering wheel seems to have
changed in terms of basic layout, the
controls are all in familiar positions,
including the audio that is behind rather
than in front of the wheel.
While on the subject of audio CJDs
partnership with Beats Audio may see
a version come in future. Until then a
top quality Alpine system serves the
audiophile.
The Cherokee comes in various trim levels
beginning at the Sport, upwards through
the Latitude, Trailhawk and Limited
versions. Among all of these, the local
office is keen to project the Trailhawk
variant for its off-road prowess.
And you cant blame them at around
the RO 15,000 plus level, the Trailhawk
has the best of all worlds. It comes with
the low-range as well as the lockable rear
differential. It also gets the full
benefit of the
Selec-Terrain

The all-new Jeep Cherokee marks the return of

a classic Jeep nameplate. The 2014 Cherokee
is much different in concept and execution when
compared to older Jeep Cherokees which were
no-frills off-road vehicles. The incoming model
is a small crossover SUV, much more luxurious
and has a fair amount of all-terrain ability
system with five modes as opposed to the
four modes that the other versions offer
(the extra is a Rock Mode).
In terms of driver assist features, the car
gets active cruise control; with follow
function, brake application and both lane
departure warning and assist. The assist
function is rather aggressive, giving you
the feeling that someone is taking over the
steering as you wander from the lane. You
can turn it off yet somehow we were left
wanting a more noticeable warning and a
gentler assist. The steering on the whole
could do with a little more weighting. The
EPS is noticeable and ever present.
The Trailhawk is where the action is
centred. You can deflate the tyres and
take the vehicle anywhere its older
variants went. The ground clearance is
around 220mm including an extra inch
of factory fitted lift for the Trailhawk.
That would feel almost crossoverish
if it wasnt for the neat sub-30-degree

approach angle and 32-degree departure

angle. Somehow, the light-footed vehicle
manages a more than credible stint on the
dunes.
The combination of on-road manners and
off-road capability continue to run in the
Cherokees blood. The strong points of
the model in this generation are that it
can be many things to many people. The
styling may take some getting used to, but
there is no mistaking that the first Jeep
on the new platform is rather a potent
vehicle. And the price range that covers
almost 5,000 Rials from base to top grade
does give you a large enough buying
choice. We are pretty sure that you wont
be buying the FWD version for anything
but basic transport. Stick with the Limited
or Trailhawk and you will get more than
your moneys worth with the only
difference really being whether you want
the lockable rear differential and extra
inch of ground clearance or not.
JUly 2014

| www.automanweb.com | 27

2014 Hyundai Genesis

Genesis
of a new
premium
Hyundai has managed to push the luxury tag over the
years with its Centennial and Genesis badges. This
time around the Genesis comes with all the equipment
needed. Does it make its mark?
Author : Raj Warrior

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JUly 2014

JUly 2014

| www.automanweb.com | 29

ue in the ubiquitous background

musicians of Theres something
about Mary and lets pick up
the thread along the lines of theres
something about Hyundai. Weve been
keen observers of the growth of the
Korean conglomerate as it first declared
and then met the goal of becoming the
worlds fifth largest car company. Along
the way weve seen the way in which
everything changed in the company from
cheap runabouts to very contemporary
mainstream cars.
However that brought along with it much
shorter model lives now cars were being
renewed every four years instead of
seven and mid-life freshens could bring in
features like LED lighting and the like, stuff
kept for full model changes in the past.
On the other hand Hyundai has spent the
past three years in pushing its connection
with luxury. We love it. Its not as if the
Genesis and Centennial actually ever made

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JUly 2014

it over into true luxury territory. But it

certainly wasnt for lack of trying. We love
the brashness indicated by the insistence
to associate a value brand like Hyundai
with luxury. It reminds us of the selffulfilling declaration that the company had
made about its leadership position. Its
almost as brash as their declaration last
year that they wouldnt chase increased
volumes for some time instead looking
at rationalising their existing volume. Read
that they are looking at better profitability,
both by raising prices as well as producing
more higher value cars.
The Genesis revamp comes at a critical
time for the brand as it seeks to project
the premium touch. The first generation
BH platform based Genesis went through
some marketing initiatives including being
associated with Prada, in an iteration that
was all white Prada leather interiors and
shiny alloys with a custom paint job. This
years model change brought with it a

whole host of changes, beginning from a

changed platform this ones called the
DH as well as the full implementation of
the Fluidic 2.0 design language (post Peter
Schreyers elevation to oversee Hyundai
as well).
The car hasnt changed dramatically you
will still recognise it in the profile. The
fascia, on the other hand, is completely
different with the new six-sided grille
treatment, bold horizontal slats, signature
LED lighting and the winged Genesis motif
on top. The overall length of the car is
4990mm, width is 1890mm and height
is 1480mm. The car sits on a wheelbase
of 3010mm. Note how the wheelbase
is stretching out in the new edition, to
match the impressive profile of the car.
In addition to improving the legroom at
the rear, the front wheels have moved
slightly ahead to lower the front overhang,
making the car look almost German in its
side-view.

In addition, the interiors have changed

completely. Hyundais constant
implementation of the latest electronic
gadgetry has come to a crescendo in the
Genesis. But thats only after the brand
has taken care of the essentials. The car
is available with a similar sort of white
leather to that it showed in the Prada car.
In addition there is beige and light brown
leather as well. It is all very upmarket,
especially with the contrasted white
leather and black woodgrain treatment
available. Throw in a square analogue
clock on the dashboard you could almost
mistake it for any other luxury brand.
And the equation is taken further by all
sorts of visual associations from the
short-throw gearshift lever now favoured
by BMW, to the feature packed steering
wheel.
One very original design implementation is
the asymmetric dashboard. The drivers IP
binnacle is accentuated by its trapezoidal
shape and the cockpit feel remains despite

the rather horizontal layout of the dash.

Crisp, sharp and rather relevant, the IP
uses the best of both worlds analogue
and digital, without clutter. Anything
that could be moved over to the centre
of the dash has been. As it is the Genesis
gets a large hi-res 8-inch display even
at base specs. At the top of the line a
9.2 unit is available as is the signature
Lexicon sound system with either 14 or
17 speakers. However, this time around,
along with navigation and the usual rearview function, the centre console gets an
around view monitor function.
Other innovations in the Genesis include
a handy smart boot function that
automatically pops the boot for you if
you stand behind it for more than three
seconds with the key in your pocket. While
driving, you also get features like adaptive
cruise control, anticipative pre-braking and
lane departure warning and assist.
And this time around the heads-up display
is what sets the Genesis apart from almost

any contender. Its a full colour display

on a patch of polarised windshield. It can
be seen in the harshest of light, packs
in information like an almost 3D view of
your next turn off, complete with graphic
countdown to the turn.
In terms of powertrain, the Genesis comes
to the region with both the units that are
available in the Centennial as well. The
smaller V6 3.8-litre Lambda unit features
GDI and an upgraded performance
envelope with 315PS of power partnered
with 397Nm of torque. The larger engine
is the 5.0-litre Tau V8, again with GDI and a
significantly larger envelope of 413PS and
505 Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. Both of
these engines are coupled with the new
eight-speed automatic transmission that
provides overdrive ratios all the way from
the 5th to the 8th gear.
Performance is never an issue, whether
with the smaller V6 or larger V8. Most
of the time you feel the engine is just
above idling. Yes, the rear-wheel drive
nature of the car is perceptible on hard
acceleration, as it sits into the sprint.
You can even get the high torque
V8 to drift the sedan out just a

JUly 2014

| www.automanweb.com | 31

wee bit before the controls kick in and

dial everything back. But there is almost
no communication from the road. Just a
little bit of wind noise, some drumming
and an electric power steering that sits
somewhere in between soggy to almost
firm.
There is no issue with the ride quality. The
harmonics of the suspension arrangement
are brilliantly handled; with the chassis
actually informing you that it could take
a bit more than you and the steering
can throw at it. Shod with the 18 wheel
choice, with the larger V8, you have a car
that would almost put a Merc S500 to
shame, until you realise that Mercs got
itself an all-new S thats way better.

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JUly 2014

In its profile, the new

Genesis sedan retains
its long bonnet and short
rear end, while the grille
is bigger and wider.
There are some nice
premium European cues
with this cars design,
but importantly, the
new Genesis has its own
personality

During lunch at the media drive event,

we heard one comment used to describe
the USP of the new Genesis that it was
a value for money luxury car. In all
honesty, that comment could describe it
well. The issue that we have of course is
that we dont associate the two ends of
the spectrum that are visualised in that
comment. To us either the car is VFM
or it offers luxury. There is no middle
ground. With its current iteration, with all
the technology thrown into it and with
the feel of luxury that the Genesis now
exudes, the DH has moved the position
closer to luxury. Its the Hyundai badge
that still keeps it firmly rooted in the VFM
part of the market.

JUly 2014

| www.automanweb.com | 33

2014 Mazda 3

Stylish &
frugal

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Author: Chandan B M

t seems that car makers are

ramping up their C-segment
offerings with packaging elements
that a till few years ago would
appear in higher models only.
Now, even the so-called bread and
butter models are included and in more
than one way, this is good news for
punters who can now look forward to
cars with decent kit and performance
credentials. This segment also has a
good selection of cars -- Chevrolet
Cruze, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia
Cerato, Ford Focus and now Mazda also
enters the fray with its latest model.
Hiroshima-based Mazda is one of the
key leaders in the C-segment movement
and the latest car to come out is the
Mazda3, which is offered in sedan and
hatchback body styles. Mazdas focus in
the third generation compact has been
to preserve the models core strength
34 | www.automanweb.com |

JUly 2014

Elvis

-- everyday practicality, choice of body

styles, driving and handling while
evolving the packaging by improving
and promoting refinement.
Mechanically, the car is based on the
same new lightweight chassis that also
underpins the CX-5 and midsize Mazda
6 sedan. This chassis architecture
has allowed for body variants and
engineering flexibility. The new 3 sedan
sports a longer than before wheelbase
and uses the automakers now famous
Kodo soul of motion design language.
This application was first seen on the
CX-5 crossover followed by the 6 midsize sedan. The new arrival gets Mazdas
newest, more aggressive-looking grille
design and nice curves on its sheet
metal. Meanwhile, slightly altered
dimensions the car sports 2.4in longer
wheelbase, is also a bit wider and lower
which gives it its impressive stance.

Overall, the sedan is a very stylish car

to look at with its sweeping waist line
that gracefully runs along the side of
the car. The best part of the design
and proportion is that both body styles
complement each other very nicely.
But the same cannot be said for the
interiors of this car as Mazdas design
and packaging approach seems to
be somewhat confusing. Howver,
theres no reason to worry about build
quality, trims or materials used since
the percseived quality levels and touch
points are as before quite high. So, the
big question is: whats so confusing?
Confusing is the attempt to blend
two distinctive styles in one package.
The basic layout of the dashboard is
traditional and the top portion of the
dash in middle gets a tab styled TFT
display. The Audi A3 or Mercedes-Benz
A-Class seems to be its inspiration.
JUly 2014

| www.automanweb.com | 35

Mazdas lightweight Skyactiv architecture

also benefits new Mazda 3. The new
structure boasts a 30per cent improvement
in torsional rigidity. Meanwhile, the Skyactiv
2.0-litre engine also gets larger exhaust
manifold to help boost mid-range torque

Lower spec models get a smaller display

screen. Come to the instrument cluster
and then you realize that designers
wanted to give it a sporty feel. So you
have a metal-dial tachometer centrally
placed with a small window for a digital
speedometer read out flanked by winged
housings on either side. I would have
preferred it to be the other way round since
the 3 is a street car and not a sports car.
The feature pack in the Luxury trim model
is quite impressive. Mazda borrows
some ideas from upmarket models and
introduces a new Commander dialand-button control interface. The touch
screen interface allows users to use the
navigation system [the map provided by
Japan was outdated], audio system and
smartphone, but not the air-conditioning
controls or set-ups are not connected as
they are old fashioned analogue types.
Also incorporated in this trim is a headup display for driving information like
speed, lane departure etc. The cars 13in
dia steering wheel also has been kept
busy with steering-wheel-mounted paddle
shifters and a host of other functions. The
trim also adds cruise control, a 60:40-split
folding rear seat, Bluetooth phone and
audio connectivity and a CD player to the
base model offering.
In same vein of a sporty theme, the cars
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JUly 2014

seats are nicely designed and also come

with double cross stitching. Adjustments
are six-way power for the driver seat
with manual lumbar adjustment, but
surprisingly even in top trim the passenger
side is pure manual/mechanical. While
the front-seat area is spacious and
seats genuinely supportive with newly
contoured base and more back and lateral
support, at rear there is more knee room
and shoulder room than before, but it still
feels tighter than most other compact
entries despite the increase in wheelbase.
The rear seatbacks are almost 2 inches
higher now to for the benefit of rear
occupants.
On the practical side of things, things are
more or less in line with the segment. The
sedans 12.4c-ft boot is bit small for the
class and almost same as the Civic, while
more space is available in the Cruze and
Focus. One can live with it.
The test car came with bigger of the two
engines offered in this market. In fact,
Mazda claims that the entire structure of
the new car has been designed around
the SkyActiv four-cylinder engines. The
engine is carried over from the previous
generation but has been tweaked -- high
compression, carefully tuned exhaust
systems and software refinements are all
together designed provide power while

extracting maximum efficiency from every

drop of fuel. The test car sported a 2.0-litre
four-cylinder normally-aspirated mated to
a six-speed gearbox. In this set-up 155hp
and torque of 150 lb-ft at 4,000rpm helps
propel the car through its front wheels.
Unlike Honda or Toyota, theres no
provision for Eco drive mode. Its a one-inall sort of deal.
The cars suspension package
has also been attended to.
The package includes retuned
springs, shocks, and anti-roll
bars all designed to improve
straight-line stability. Mazda
says that work has been done
in the suspension department
to improved both cornering
performance and ride comfort.
Meanwhile, stopping distances
are claimed to be among the
best of all compact cars through
the four-wheel discs. Meanwhile,
as part of the efficiency drive,
an electric power steering replaces the
former electrohydraulic system.
On the safety front, the car enters the
market with top credentials. It has already
been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick+
model this year. Every Mazda 3 comes
equipped with antilock disc brakes,
stability and traction control, active front

head restraints, front side airbags and side

curtain airbags.
Driving impressions
Mazdas 3 sedan maybe a global model
and it goes without saying that there
are several benchmark rivals to contend
with when it comes to performance and

aspirated Mazda doesnt feel as lively as

the Peugeot. It is sluggish and the gear
shift changes are very slow compared to
many other cars in the segment. In fact, at
times it feels as if theres a CVT instead of
a cogged-set-up.
We think this car should have also been
offered with stronger power delivery
through better torque
management. The chassis
behaviour is acceptable in
day-to-day driving situations
with the suspension taking
care of absorbing the
imperfections and help giving
the car a decent ride. On the
way towards Amerat, while
the cars powertrain felt the
pressure and need to be
prodded by the driver, the
suspension seemed to cope
well in the tight corners.
However, the athletic handling
aspect of the outgoing car is
clearly missing. The previous
3s highway ride was smoother and those
who prefer softly sprung set ups like
Toyotas Corolla might be inclined to think
the current 3 is too firm for their liking.
I remember with the outgoing model,
Mazda invested heavily in engineering the
electrohydraulic power steering system

Although, the 2.0-litre engine is

carried over, Mazdas efficiency
Skyactive programme has ensured
that this engine is able to produce
155 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. And
as before, it drives the front wheels
through a six-speed automatic
gearbox
handling. Peugeot s C-segment model, the
new 508, sold in the region comes with
a turbo-charged 1.6-litre 156bhp engine,
so it is fair to use that as a reference
with the Mazdas 155hp output from its
2.0-litre normally aspirated engine. To
begin with, on the move, this normally-

JUly 2014

| www.automanweb.com | 37

for that last-generation

car, and nailed it. However,
we simply dont think the
new cars electric power
steering system is as good
and as expected, the assisted
steering is light and somewhat
numb and didnt feel as
confident on centre on the
highway. Despite efforts, and
a lot of ride harshness and
noise still filters into the cabin
compared to other cars in this
class.
Verdict
A redesign for MY2014 has
brought in a wave of fresh air
to the model series. Besides
refined styling, more features,
and higher fuel efficiency
that should, at least in theory
add this to more small-car
shopping lists. But, even

The infotainment controller

between the front seats is designed
to operate with simplicity and
logic. Its quite refreshing when
you compare it with ambitious and
complex systems like that of the
Ford Focus MyFord Touch system
for instance

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JUly 2014

in a comparatively smaller
market like Oman, theres no
shortage of quality players in
the compact class segment.
While, the 2014 Mazda 3
stands out from the smallcar crowd with its sport-carinfluenced proportions and
contemporary styling, it will
have to realize that good
looks and some contemporary
features alone will not be
enough to motivate punters
that easily. We think, Mazda
could look at improving the
torque delivery from this setup more than focus on fuel
efficiency especially in this
region where customers look
at on-road performance and
presence more than anything
else. Overall, the 3 is a decent
package.

For the 3, Mazda has also adopted the

automakers now famous Kodo soul of
motion design language. This application
was first seen on the CX-5 crossover
followed by the 6 mid-size sedan

2014 Infiniti Q50

Wired
to
chart
new
paths

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JUly 2014

While the all-new 2014

Infiniti Q50 comes as
the replacement for the
G sedans, it brings in a
whole new angle for the
brand. We drove the Q50
at its launch in Dubai
and see a distinct future
for the brand
Author: Raj Warrior

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| www.automanweb.com | 41

we expect only the rear-wheel drive to be

available for the foreseeable future.
Another way in which the Q50 makes
its difference felt is in its larger size and
distinctly meaner proportions. There is
more than a touch of the current Maserati
sedans in the styling of the front fenders
and greenhouse, although without an
actual attempt to copy anything. It seems
like the move towards introducing a
feline, flowing element in the cars profile
brings with it a feeling of dj vu. However
the Q50s strength lies in its rear-wheel
architecture that allows a wheelbase of
2850mm on an overall length of 4783mm,
with reasonably small front overhangs.
The crouching tiger effect is further
accentuated by the newest iteration
of the Infiniti grille, almost integrated
headlight assemblies and rather beefed up
haunches.
Beyond the new 7-speed automatic
gearbox, new modular architecture and
the choice of larger engines as standard,
the story of the Q50 is linked to three main
changes the first being the use of a new
drive-by-wire steering system, the second
being the new generation of interface and
command systems available for the driver
and the third being the driver aid systems.
Of course, by itself the provision of the
hybrid engine would warrant mention as

he entry-level premium segment

is among the most contested
because the buyer has lots
of alternatives ahead of them. They
could buy a premium brand and satisfy
themselves with either a small sedan or
SUV or indeed stay with a mainstream
brand and buy a full spec large sedan or
SUV. Its enough to confuse even the
hardened automotive journalist. The
clutter is increasingly being felt by brands
bringing in variants and creating overlap.
For instance, if you wanted you could
look at BMWs 1 or 3-series in different
kits, Mercs C or Audis A3. Each of these
has a model sitting just above with lower
trims that will get you if you have a few
thousand extra in your budget. And it is in
that established order of the hegemony
of German brands that a brand like Infiniti
has been attempting to grow initially
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JUly 2014

with its G and M sedans and now with its

Q range. The Q50 is both the logical and
hereditary successor of the G sedans, with
the nomenclature changing at the same
time as the model underwent its shift.
Like Cadillac before it Infiniti has had
to bring the battle to the German ber
sedans. As the mainstream American
luxury brands try to go global, they are
faced with the challenge of making their
cars acceptable to the well-heeled driver
from Moscow to Muscat. Its no longer
enough to pile on the leather and wood
veneer, the car has to have the features,
handling and performance that matches
Germanys best otherwise it remains an
also-ran. And this new mindset also helps
the brand in the home market as more
American drivers are exposed to the
Teutonic overreach of BMW, Mercedes,
Audi and Porsche.

the fourth significant change. Moving in the

reverse order lets look at each of these.
By now, we are quite familiar with the
use of the inline motor assist that Nissan
favours. It has come to the region in the
Pathfinder and the Infiniti JX (now the
QX60). But the reason it is so different
here is that while you may enjoy the full
electric mode for its quietness and utility
in stop and go traffic, you really want the
motor there for the extra torque it throws
in at ramp up. It isnt surprising that
the hybrid comes only in S spec (albeit
that the S is blue rather than red on the
badge). While the 3.5 V6 may take some
time to spool up to optimum torque levels
of 258 lb.ft, the electric motor adds its 214
lb.ft from the word go. The acceleration
is incredibly noticeable at the top of your
spine. Our guess is that most people who
are ready to pay for the extra weight,
complexity and greenness of the hybrid
will be doing some very non-green driving
with the combined 360hp on tap and the 5
second 0-100kmph sprint.
In terms of driver aid systems, the Q50
sets the new benchmark for the segment.
Not only does it feature the usual around
view monitor, active cruise control and
brake assist systems; now the car comes
with active lane keeping that identifies the
lane even from one set of markings and

The advantage the Q50 had was that while

Infiniti still makes their cars in Japan, sells
it in the US and now around the world, this
time they have two strong differences
their product development team is based
in Europe and they have a strong tie-in
with the F1 team Infiniti Redbull.
The Q50 has also used this opportunity to
make a clean break with its positioning as
a sort of value sedan at the entry point to
the segment. The G with its G25 variant
had a fantastic price point, although this
wasnt really translated into a huge sales
opportunity. This time around the Q50
gets two engines at launch the 3.7-litre
V6 VQ37VHR stalwart of the Infiniti lineup and a hybrid solution that features
the older 3.5-litre V6 VQ35 engine as the
gasoline powerplant mated with a 67hp
electric motor. While the car is available
in an AWD setup in the US, in the region
JUly 2014

| www.automanweb.com | 43

steers gently to keep you centred in the

lane. Additionally there is the obligatory
lane departure warning, active cruise
control with follow and brake function.
For close quarters manoeuvring the rear
view monitor comes in handy as well.
Then we come to the interface. The entire
dashboard, centre console and driver
facing controls have changed. While the
IP remains analogue in layout, the centre
console has changed dramatically. Now
the interface is made of two stacked
touchscreen displays, the top one of
which serves as multimedia and general
readout, while the bottom is largely the
input device. The screen is smaller and
sits surrounded by hardware buttons for
climate control, just in case you dont want
to use the on-screen controls. In addition
to the touch screen nature of the screens,
the knurled controller on the centre
console helps meet the needs of European
drivers who are more comfortable in
tactile controls at high speeds.
Lastly, the drive-by-wire system. It
generated a huge discussion over dinner
with the systems engineers who had
visited from the Japan facility. Not
only does going by-wire mean that
two electric motors on the front axle
control the wheels movement, but an
electric motor had to be added back to
the steering assembly in order to dial
in feedback for the driver to prevent
a feeling of PlayStation controller
driving. Of course the
mechanical
linkage

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JUly 2014

still remains between the steering wheel

and the front axle, but it gets detached
as soon as power comes through to the
assembly. It is a fail-safe method in that if
electric power goes away for any reason
the coupling falls back in place and there
is a mechanical control over the front
wheels.
By going electric, the engineers have
gained the advantage of being able to play
around not just with steering effort, but
also with ratios. It is possible to tune the
steering to feel sporty or relaxed, to give
variable movement depending on speed
and technically it is possible to steer from
anywhere in the cabin (except for the
mechanical bits).
As of now the Q50 gets a few modes
the driver can select and which decide
the amount of steering compensation
as well as the ride quality. This has been
deliberately limited so that there is a
safe envelope of use. Our suggestion
that Infiniti throw in two dials to adjust
steering effort and ratio was met with
polite smiles.
On the road, you can imagine the pleasure
of driving either of the S variants. In the
red variety you get the paddle shifters
and aluminium feel of a sports sedan. In
the hybrid you get the additional
torque. And you also
get regenerative
braking

courtesy of the electric motor. In some

ways the car can be unnerving as it
follows the lanes of a curving road, slightly
turning the steering to follow. If that lulls
you, beware! As the turns get tighter
the steering gives up and hands back to
you. Also the predictive braking thats
connected to the forward cameras is also
spooky. It starts to brake before youre
ready. And the regenerative braking just
slows the car down so much sooner than
you would expect.
However, handling is never an issue. The
drive by wire steering is way better tuned
than we would have expected. It offers a
point and shoot ability without sacrificing
feedback. Even the artificial feedback
is properly weighted and the variable
component of the steering angle tracks in
nicely. You can floor the accelerator and
put in doughnuts with the same ease as
which you can thread in and out of moving
traffic.
And all this while the basics are taken care
of the high output V6 engine coupled
with the 7-speed gearbox is a charm. It
would have been standout in a lesser car.
In the Q50, the excellence of everything
else around this means that the drivetrain
tends to play
second
fiddle.

2014 Honda City

City slick
Life in the light car segment can be vicious these days and
Honda thinks it can do well with its all-new fifth generation
2014 City sedan. Automan spends some time with the car in the
Sultanate and evaluates its prospects
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

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JUly 2014

ondas all-new Thailand-built

City arrives in Oman with a very
clear cut agenda at a time when
most rival models with the exception of
the new Mazda3, are at least a year old.
Honda Middle East thinks theres potential
for growth with its new-generation B/C
segment City and believes the package
is a strong enough proposition to draw
people back to its dealerships and boost
the companys overall sales. Globally, the
City is in its sixth generation and from the
Middle East perspective it is considered
as the fifth generation since the Gen 1
[global] wasnt available.
The incoming subcompact sedan built on
Hondas Global Small Car platform, which
is also shared with the Jazz hatchback and
soon-to-arrive Vezel crossover. This means
it is based on the new third generation
architecture which also benefits from a
longer wheelbase and supports improved
ergonomics, courtesy of Hondas current
Man Maximum and Machine Minimum
philosophy.
While, previous editions of the City

have had various styling agendas, the

fourth generation [ME Gen II] which
was introduced in 2002 was the odd
one out with its love-it hate it styling
and proportions. These aspects were
subsequently improved in the successor/s
and if one considers three generations
of Citys [in reverse order from the latest
iteration], then it becomes clear how the
design has steadily evolved and matured
along with some dimensional changes and
heres the evidence: the Citys length has
increased from 4,390mm [Gen IV] to 4,415
[Gen V] and now to 4,440mm and so has
the wheel base from 2,450mm to 2,550mm
and 2,600mm respectively. The width of
the car has marginally been increased by
5mm and the height is also 5mm higher
than the outgoing model. The new arrival
is offered in three trims DX, LX and EX in
Oman.
Honda designers have ensured thats
theres continuity between the outgoing
and incoming model despite modest
dimensional changes and hence the overall
profile of the car remains unchanged.

But what has significantly changed is the

detailing especially sheet metal which
now benefits from Hondas corporate
design approach. In fact, Gen VI City is
Hondas second model to sport the new
Exciting H Design first seen on the third
generation Honda Jazz which launched
in September 2013 worldwide [this model
hasnt arrived in the region yet].
As a result of this application, the bold
front-end styling is unmistakably Honda
and the evolutionary design features the
brands new signature broad U-shaped
chrome grille bar. This is Hondas latest
design language called solid wing face.
Meanwhile, the side sheet metal of the
car has been transformed from plain
Jane to a more curvy entity with very
prominent character line running through
from behind the front wheel arches to
the horizontal L-shaped tail lamps at the
rear where they are connected by a thin
chrome strip as a sign-off. Overall, the new
Citys profile is much closer to the new
Civic, the model above in the line-up.
The cabin of the car has received lavish
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| www.automanweb.com | 47

Hondas Display Audio system now

includes a tablet-esque 7in touchscreen
with vehicle information, customisable
wallpaper, MP4 movie player and
Bluetooth connectivity

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JUly 2014

attention and the centerpiece is the

dashboard. For the size of the car, it is
quite large and to some it may seem out of
proportion, when say compared to other
cars in the class. The instrument cluster
has three large analogue/digital dials and
while these dials are not as large as those
found in say, the MINI, but they seem
oversized for this car. But the flipside is
that the gauges are easy to follow and
the LED-fed bezel treatment is quite
innovative. But the pice de rsistance of
this dashboard design is the brands new
touchscreen display audio infotainment
system which features smartphone-style
applications and also houses the climate
controls. While, the dashboard design is
said to mirror that of the new Jazz and
compared to the new Mazda3, is a class
apart, it is short of the Civics glamorous
dual deck design. We liked the three-spoke
sports steering wheel for its tactility and
multi-functionality for audio and cruise
control functions and also placement of of
the paddle shifters on the wheel.
Honda has kept its promise as regards to
optimizing interior space management.
The shoulder, leg, and knee rooms have
also been extended by 40mm, 60mm and
70mm respectively. Seat designs are more
on the traditional side of things and no
quirky elements noted. While bolstering is
on the softer side, lumber support isnt so
good considering this is an urban-centric

car. Depending on trim, the feature list is

quite impressive keyless entry, stop-start
button, eco mode button, cruise control
but no lane departure warning or adaptive
cruise control function. Separate inputs
for aux, USB and HDMI besides power
outlets. Funnily, the ubiquitous cigarette
lighter socket was missing! In terms of
practicality, while many see this car as a
booted Jazz, actually as a sedan its boot
space is quite generous at 510-litres. A
good driving position is possible as the car
has a height and reach-adjustable steering
wheel.
Under the sheet metal is a mix of Hondas
updated engine and continuation of
CVT transmission application. However,
the incoming car benefits from Hondas
new Earth Dreams set-up which means it
gets a carryover but improvised 1.5-litre
normally aspirated i-VTEC four cylinder
engine producing 118hp at 6,600rpm and
145Nm of torque at 4,600rpm transversely
mounted in front of the front axle mated
to an improved CVT with pseudo seven-

speeds and manual selection. Surprisingly,

when you look at the engine bay, there lot
of space between the engine and firewall.
Suspension design has also been looked
into. It uses a new geometry McPherson
set-up front with a beefed up by 2-3mm
front anti-roll bar. Rear suspension is
torsion beam. Honda is pretty cautious
about safety and in constructing this
car, has used its tried and tested ACE
[Advanced Compatibility Engineering]
philosophy which involves optimizing
the body with various types of steel
in its structure. The Honda City range
does gets disc brakes on all four wheels,
though, with ventilated rotors up front
for confident stopping power and a nice
linear feel to the brake pedal. Like the
Jazz, Honda has also moved the fuel
tank back to the conventional position
under the rear seat which saves weight.
Cumulatively, weight savings upto 75kg
has been achieved over the previous
automatic variant.
Driving impressions
Open the front door and three blue
rings in the instrument cluster light up.
While, the Piano black centre console is
supposed to be an upmarket feature, its
also a fingerprint magnet. After firing the
engine to life via the start button on the
dash, two things immediately struck us
with this car. First, the ease with which
it moves and the stress-free nature of
the powertrain set-up. This front wheel
drive car weighs around 1,0291,165kg

[curb weight depending on trim] and is

lighter than the new Mazda3 which has a
curb weight between 1,3001,315kg. The
Mazda3 with 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G I4 petrol
engine produces 118hp which is identical
to the Honda. That the Honda here has a
definite advantage in performance due to
better power-to-weight ratio is very clear
in the first few minutes. While the Mazda
despite having a cogged gearbox felt
so sluggish [this was not expected] and
more like an ancient CVT, the Hondas CVT
performed flawlessly and enthusiastically.
In fact, when you put the shifter into S
mode, very much like a cogged car, you
get 500-600rpm worth of extra torque
and the feel of transmission holding
longer. Engage the paddle shifter and
in-between the pseudo-CVT shifts, the
engine revs also go up or down, very
similar to a cogged transmission and you
get a genuine downshift feel. In fact, after
Nissan, we think Honda has been able to
fully exploit CVT systems and we could not
detect the infamous rubber band effect
in this set-up. The Citys stiff ACE-designed
body also provides great insulation from
engine, road and tyre noise. As a typical
free-revving i-VTEC engine from Honda,
the growl is raspy and can be heard in the
cabin at higher speeds.
The electric steering feel and feedback
is quite good and similar to that of the
bigger Civic. While, we do note that the
car has pleasant manners in typical driving
situations and hence there are no major
concerns, but, trying to extract a Civic

JUly 2014

| www.automanweb.com | 49

Type-R performance is strictly a no-no. The

reason for this is that first the suspension
isnt designed for it and the car is front
heavy. While, the soft suspension absorbs
road imperfections before they reach
the cabin, the flip side is that the car can
exhibit body roll tendencies on a sharp
turn in and throwing the car unrealistically
hard into corners does result in the tyres
fighting for grip.One has to be very careful
if trying to take a fast corner because
of mass shifting from rear to an already
front heavy car means that the car can
oversteer suddenly or move out of line
momentarily.
Verdict
For a city mover, this B/C segment Honda
definitely moves up in most
departments over its

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JUly 2014

predecessors and also should be seen

overtaking some established names also
on the way. While it wont be considered
as an outright class winner, it does
indicate Hondas willingness to move
the model into entry lux. However, given
the past experience with the CVT set-up
[Honda is not alone in this], only time
will tell on the durability of the newly
designed CVT gearbox, one of the greatest
problems which many owners faced with
their second generation City models.
But considering the super stylish design,
responsive powertrain, class-leading
features and ample cabin space, the new
City makes a good option when shopping
for a compact sedan. What Mazda hoped
to do and has not been able to achieve
with the new 3

can be exploited by Honda before the

next wave of mid-cycle facelifted models
arrive on the market.

Good thing that

Honda has made
improvements across
the board to the new
model compared
with the outgoing
version, including to
the suspension, NVH
(noise, vibration and
harshness) levels and
connectivity

2014 Toyota Yaris

n this region, the Yaris hatchback and

sedan are entry level models from
Toyota. From an image perspective,
over the years and over two generations,
the Yaris has proved its bulletproof
credentials in reliability, engineering
and low cost of ownership. However,
the profile of sub subcompacts has
changed, post global economic
crisis. Consumers are now looking
at premium features, content in
addition to trendy designs. And
no automaker which has a volume
segment following can ignore these
aspects. As a result, competition
in this traditional bread and butter
segment has also become intense.
Given the current trend, even with
successive global models like the
Yaris, Toyotas product policy has been

conservative. And when compared to how

rivals have ramped up their respective
offerings, the outgoing Yaris really came
across as a rather generic subcompact

Toyotas president Akio Toyoda is aware

of the shortcomings and has pushed
the automaker to create new cars with
trendy designs without jeopardizing their
mass-market appeal. Models like
the Camry or Prius are among the
first beneficiaries and now smaller
models like the Corolla and Yaris
also gain from this direction. And
in line with Toyoda Sans vision,
the new look Yaris sedan was
introduced last year and followed
by the refreshed hatchback variant
as MY2014 a few months later.
Now, the big question is: will the
new Yaris be able to repeat its
historical success on the basis of
new design and feature pack?
The engineering basis is considered bullet-

Toyotas emphasis on the

next version of models in its
line-up is to enhanced interior
packaging and materials
and offer more emotional
exterior looks
hatchback. Well, thats the story of the
Yaris when it once topped the value pack
race.

Refreshed for 2014, Toyotas smallest third generation

hatchback star from the Yaris family has arrived in the
Sultanate. Automan has the first details
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Raj Warrior

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proof by Toyota standards, which means

the incoming hatchback is built on the
outgoing models platform. Unlike before
the car is sourced from Thailand and not
Japan. The key investment in this car is in
the sheetmetal department, which now
exhibits is a bit different in execution to
the sedan in its detailing. For a Yaris, by
far, the design is much sharper and relies a
lot on angular surface treatment. Up front,
theres a sharper, triangular nose and
grille design with exoskeleton like frame
along with a large lower intake
and a deeper front bumper.
Interestingly, the front grille
and valance of the hatchback
have been designed differently
to the sedan. The rear,
especially the way the C-pillar
is designed seems to be an
evolution from the xA hatch,
a young and trendy hatchback
model that Toyota and its
US-centric Scion brand use to
sell years ago. We are happy
to note that fit, finish, panel
gaps are very much conforms
to the top Toyota standards
of build quality that we are accustomed
to. Dimensionally, only a very trained eye
would be able to spot minor changes
and for the uninitiated the car stands at
4,114mm [l], 1,700mm [w] and 1475mm
[h]. Compared to the outgoing hatch, the
new car is 215mm shorter, 5mm higher and
45mm wider. Wheelbase is increased by
40mm to 2,550mm now.
In terms of the interior, there seems to be
an attempt to uplift the cabin from a very
basic design to contemporary drawing

in design cues from the RAV4, Camry etc.

The result of this is a bit mixed since the
design and feature application which are
supposed to complement each other seem
to be competing with each other instead
in some places. The dashboard design is
clearly inspired by that of the sedan with
its floating central console and threegauge cluster. The upper section of the
instrument panel has a new grain effect
that offers more tactile quality and loses
its glossy appearance to generate a nice

mic was placed discretely and in the new

car on the steering column. This cutand-paste approach offsets some of the
gains made in the design department.
The seats are typical Toyota fare and use
dual tone approach and double stitching.
The electric steering wheel offers rake
adjustment only and hence finding a
perfect seating vis--vis command view is
somewhat restricted due to the limited
steering arrangement. Accommodation
space for occupants seems to be
improved, thanks to the revised
dimensions.
For the powertrain set-up, its all
carried over and this means Toyotas
ubiquitous 1NZ-FE series 107hp/103 lbsft torque 1.5-litre four-cylinder comes
mated to a four-speed automatic
transmission. This set-up is definitely
going to stand out, considering how
the competitors in this class have
ramped up things. For example Ford
Fiesta, Peugeot 208 and Mazda2
get turbocharged engines mated
to six-speed gearboxes. And then,
the grapevine suggests that even
in basic trim, the incoming Fiesta
will come with dual clutch transmission.
And the Korean duo of Hyundai/Kia has
significantly upped their game with their
similar sized offerings. Question that
naturally arises: how will the Yaris match
its rivals on that account?
Toyota thinks that its stylish basic point
A to point B city car will be a comfortable
car for its occupants with decent kit
and economical on fuel as it has been
programmed likewise. Despite compact
dimensions, the cabin offers decent

space for four adults and a

fifth can be squeezed in. In its
construction, the cars central
and rear body rigidity have
also been increased and a redesigned tunnel helps brace to
add rigidity to the vehicle floor.
A re-designed wheelhouse area
and a reinforced rear bumper
attachment are factored in to
reduce body roll deformation.
The rear suspension has been
redesigned to accommodate
a new, stiffer torsion beam
with softer coil springs and a
new, long, polyurethane-bound
stopper. Softer springs also feature in the
front suspension and the introduction
of rebound springs within the shock
absorbers increases front anti-roll
stiffness, which improves handling and
reduces body roll when cornering.
Driving impressions
While in design and features Toyota has
gained several notches, the same cant
be felt from the carryover powertrain
in this front-wheel-drive car. It feels
very similar to the outgoing model. The
engine is noisy and the gearbox feel is
lazy and the electric steering is mostly
numb in its feedback. Somehow, we just
couldnt get over this penny-pinching
feel in the performance department.

Although theres nothing remarkable

about the Yaris driving experience, the
cars moderate steering effort and softly
sprung suspension make it easy to drive
around town. On the move, theres a
noticeable step down in performance, as
the Yaris feels sluggish during overtaking
manoeuvres this is more noticeable
in Eco mode where performance is
deliberately restricted. However, the car
is also steady around turns and as before
quite practical in congested urban driving/
parking situations.
Verdict
Toyota seems to have achieved a part
of its mission with the new Yaris for our
markets. It wanted the Yaris successor to
look smart and trendy and also give it a

decent interior and feature pack. In Oman,

the car will be offered in a single trim and
the suggested pricing strongly indicates
that it is competing with models from
several European brands. While the retail
side of the business will be banking on the
Yaris heritage and pure value pack. But in
view of the intensity of the segment even
in the Sultanate, at some point Toyota will
have to realise that it has to up its Yaris
game significantly if it wants to retain the
numbers or lead the class.
Given the overall package and image of
Toyota, the third generation new 2014
Yaris is certainly worth consideration,
especially when you factor in Toyotas
historically strong reliability and service
packages.

As basic transportation
goes, theres not a lot to
complain about with the Toyota
Yaris. The current Yaris model
is present on the market since
2011and has been known for
its reliability and low cost of
ownership

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JUly 2014

satin effect. The centre console has been

raised by 23mm to give it that floating
effect. While, the instrument panel design
is nice for the car, it is difficult to read the
gauges in daylight as the curved acrylic
protector reflects light. Meanwhile, mod
cons include stop-start and keyless entry,
but the keyless operation is restricted to
the driver side only. While connectivity
with features like Bluetooth is offered,
the microphone placement seems to be
an afterthought. In the earlier cars, the

JUly 2014

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2014 Jaguar F-Type

Wind in the
air experience
Abu Dhabis Yas
Marina track played host
to a track day experience with
both V6 and V8 variants of the all-new
2014 Jaguar F-Type convertible. Automan
returned genuinely impressed

nder Indias Tata Motors, Jaguar

is doing exceptionally well in
both profits and new model
introductions. Launched in 2013, Jaguars
new F-Type convertible has surpassed all
the parameters and is now regarded as
a top iconic model even by the harshest
of critic. Such a change in perception
towards the British brand would have
been unthinkable a few years ago,
especially during the times under Ford
ownership.
A few months after the global unveil
of the model in Europe and other
key markets, the Middle East office
representing the brand organized a track
day-cum-technical exposure/experience
with some of its sedans and the F-Type
convertible. The day long exercise with all
the models were carried out at the Abu
Dhabi-based Yas Marina Circuit under the
supervision of Jaguars trainers/technical
team who were specially flown in from UK.
In the pit lane, the F-Types were lined up
and even motionless appeared every bit
as exciting as youd expect a pure Jaguar
sports car to look. With the thoroughly
modern, beautifully detailed lines and

taut proportions and alluring beauty,

they do ensure they have the desirability
to live up to one of the most famous
sports car bloodlines in the business. The
F-Type range for the region starts with a
pair of 3.0-litre supercharged V6 models
the 335bhp standard car and this 375bhp
S and is topped by the flagship 5.0-litre
fire-breathing supercharged 488bhp V8 S.
We were offered the opportunity to drive
both V6 and V8 versions on and off track.
The track drive was supervised with an
instructor in the lead car and us following
the pace car and instructions via 2-way
walkie-talkies. However, in similarly
organized events, we have noted that it
becomes difficult to extract the extreme
performance credentials out of the cars
if the other drivers in the convoy/group
are slower. Luckily, we had a fast paced
group of experienced drivers and our
instructors were confident enough to go
that extra mile with us.
The cars used in the exercises were all
100 per cent stock street cars. The first
car I took on the track was the 5.0-litre
supercharged V8. A big roar from the
quad-tipped exhausts announced our

exit from the pits as we used the easy

and quick paddle shifters to change up
the gears. On track, the full potential
of thundering V8 power [543hp] is
easily unleashed on this F1 track within
moments. A few fast paced laps on
track and the V8 powered beast reveals
its hidden agenda and lets you play
with it hard. The V8 F-Type is a car that
likes to be pushed without moaning.
Acceleration from the V8 is astonishingly
quick and the cars high-performance
tyres, as they warmed up kept up with
the demands of supplying outstanding
grip and handling. The cars gearbox
shifting is a masterpiece -- quick and
ever so smooth and the accompanying
downshift blips were music to our ears.
While we were lapping the car on the
track and getting faster in the corners,
its near flawless performance and
handling qualities can be attributed
to the way the car is constructed also
besides the enthusiastic powertrain.
The all-aluminium F-Types body offers
outstanding torsional rigidity and
resistance to flex. Engineers also firmed
up the continuously adjusting Adaptive

Words: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: supplied

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Dynamics dampers and added stiffer

springs for better handling. Then theres
the latest in sports car technology called
torque vectoring by braking, which grips
the inside discs in a turn and works with
the second-generation electronic active
differential [0-100 per cent lock-up in
0.2secs] to get through corners quicker.
The second car we drove was the
3.0-litre supercharged 335hp V6. It felt
like a different car on track. Not only
it felt slow, its handling also appeared
tamer. We think, its the way the chassis
is set-up between the variants and the
weight distribution. The V8s adaptive
damping tuning is set up to work in
tandem with the models revised spring
rates. Specifically, its springs are 4.3 per
cent stiffer in front and 3.7 per cent in the
rear and then you can go a step further
in personalizing the settings through the
My Dynamics setup on the screen in the
centre of the dashboard.

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JUly 2014

The F-Type has

already got our
thumbs up after we
had put it through
our comprehensive
road test last year
in Spain and were
mighty impressed with
how Jaguar has put
together one heck of a
sports car

And thats not all. The F-Type has a

near perfect 51:49 weight distribution
front:rear on the V8 and to achieve the
same weighty items like the battery and
washer fluid reservoir were relocated to
the boot. Its a stiff car with 10 per cent
quicker steering than any other Jaguar
on offer. And this, we think is the key
difference between the V6/V8 variants.
Generally speaking for both cars, turn-in
was smooth and quick, and while we [as
appropriately advised] left the traction
and stability control on for our drive on
the big track but did manage to feel a little
slip exiting corners especially in the V8.
I personally loved the hydraulic steering
which in my view is up there with the 911
in terms of driver engagement.
Thanks to the generosity of our hosts,
we were able to drive the cars top up and
top down. Irrespective, the cars bucket

type seats hug you

so you stay in place
when you corner hard.
For a sports car, the
seats are immensely
comfortable with
terrific bolstering.
You can sit for hours
in these, yet not sniff
a hint of fatigue. Of
course, the big part of
the F-Type convertible
experience is open top
motoring, all it takes
is 12secs and voila, you
can get your authentic
wind in your hair
experience.
The most enjoyable
on-track activity with
the cars was definitely
hauling down the long
straight on the back
end. This is because
here we could go all
the way up to sixth
gear before reaching
the braking point
markers on the track.
Since, all ceramic
discs on the F-Types
are dyno tested
and bedded before
they are released to
customers, we were
rest assured about
their performance
capabilities.
After the track

As you get
acquainted with
the Yas Marina
track lap after lap,
it turns out to be
a fun mix of slow
corners, fast ones
and a straight
long enough to
blast the car
full throttle.
Compared with
the V6, its music
of the V8 playing
in my ears and the
circuit whizzing
by in a fraction
of a moment.
If I said I had a
blast with the
cars that would
certainly be an
understatement

experience, we drove
on periferal roads and
here the two-stage
stability control is rarely
troubled, despite the
punchy power delivery
of the supercharged V6,
one is encouraged to
power out of corners
with little drama. The
dual nature of the car is
at its finest out here.
Verdict
If Jaguars quest for a
successor to the iconic
E-type ended with the
launch of the F-Type,
theres no reason not
to believe so. The
F-Type, one could say
is that fine line thats
beginning to narrow
the line between sports
cars and supercars. It is
truly a world-class 21stcentury sports car that
more than lives up to its
illustrious predecessors
with its jaw dropping
looks, modern cabin are
matched by wonderfully
engaging handling and
a smooth powertrains.
The F-Type makes you
feel special every time
you get behind the
wheel, the hallmark of
every great Jaguar.
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2014 Lincoln MKX

In the lap
of luxury

Industry exclusive technologies, an engaging design

and world-class craftsmanship ensures the Canadabuilt 2014 Lincoln MKX midsize luxury crossover
remains at the top of its game. Automan checks out
the car in the Sultanate
Author: Chandan B Mallik | Photography: Elvis John Ferrao

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incoln
as a
brand
is in the
process of
reinventing
itself as a
premium
offering from
Ford. Although
the line-up is limited
to a few models
compared to some
other brands, what
will keep its head above
water is the desire to
produce good motor cars,
irrespective of the segment
in which it operates. However,
theres a word of caution.
These days, a Volkswagen
is praised for being Audi-like,
but a Lincoln is usually decried
for being too similar to a Ford.
While, co-development and sharing
engineering is common practice
these days, giving individualistic
character to a rebadged product
will be the challenge that Lincoln
will have to undertake. That things
are moving forward in this direction
have been evident at recent motor
shows. At the Beijing motor show
in April, Lincoln wowed the
audience with its MKX Concept
where it has attempted to
present luxurious quality to a
crossovers typical two-box
proportions. And with new
or refreshed products, the
differentiation between

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Ford and Lincoln is beginning to show up

much clearer.
While we are a couple of years away from
an all-new MKX, as of the now the current
MKX crossover SUV is closely related to
the Ford Edge. The MKX is Lincolns fiveseat crossover vehicle and very much like
the Edge, it was redesigned for the 2011
model year, and it continues unchanged
confidently.
In profile, the MKX echoing the Edge is
understandable, but its detailing speaks
of the brands design culture. So, theres
lots of chrome, signature twin-wing
grille which is balanced out by a tall front
end and large glass areas. Sheet metal
wouldnt be described as being too
aggressive. Meanwhile, the fit and finish
of sheet metal has definitely shows signs
of improvement. The MKX is designed to
indulge five adults in comfort and it hits
that mark well with its packaging. The cars
cabin has real wood, metal and leather
trim blend together nicely. Gentle details
in the cabin include double stitching
on the doors and softer armrests with
upgraded materials. The cupholders come
with ambient lighting, are found beneath
the independent sliding leather-covered
console lids, which also feature decorative
stitching. A power tilt/telescoping steering
column are among driver-friendly features,
however, in extreme months in the region,
the wood trim on the steering wheel can
get uncomfortably hot and ditto for the
chrome gearshifter knob. Meanwhile,
the cars large panaromic moon roof
lends an air of space inside the wellappointed cabin. However, unlike bespoke
specialists, the wood used may be the
same, but they are not mirrored. Seats
are leather bound and quite comfortable.
Multiple power adjustments allow for ideal
seating. The view is commanding and you
sit almost as high as in a Land Cruiser. Hip
points are good and so are leg, shoulder
and headroom.
For those among us who love in-car
technology and gadgetry, theres
plenty of that to play with. While the

number of user functions has increased

dramatically over the years, Lincoln has
attempted to minimize the clutter in the
cabin, particularly of what goes on the
dashboard and central console in terms
of functional requirements. In this car,
its a collective noun called MyLincoln
Touch. Similar to what is offered by Fords
Microsoft Sync, in this car Lincoln SYNC
replaces traditional vehicle buttons, knobs
and gauges with clear, crisp LCD screens
and five-way buttons like those found on
cell phones and MP3 players. The screens
can be personalized to display information
relevant to each individual driver using
a simple button click, voice command or
touch screen tap. The idea of keeping both
analogue and digital systems working
together is a sensible gesture.
There is one area in which the MKX beats
out smaller models like the Audi Q5 and
BMW X3. Behind the seats there are 32.3
cubic feet of available cargo space and
when you flip down the second row and
capacity expands to 69 cubic feet, which
is again a definite advantage over the
German duo.
Under the expanse of sheet metal this may
come as a surprise to many in the business
of crossover cars the MKX is one of the
beneficiary models to get a performance
V6 from a Mustang shoehorned into its
engine bay. The 3.7-litre Duratec V6 engine
employs advanced technology and clever
control strategies like Twin Independent
Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) to
increase horsepower and torque without
compromising fuel economy. This set-up
pumps out 305hp at 6,500rpm and 280lbsft of torque at 4,000rpm. Transmission
used is six-speed automatic with manual
Tiptronic shifting via paddle shifters on
steering wheel. For a change, paddleshifters in this car are welcome behind the
steering as opposed to having them on the
gear-shifter as toggle switches as found in
several Ford products.
The springs, shocks and stabilizer bars
also have been retuned to give the Lincoln
MKX a flatter response through turns.

Meanwhile, safety scores have moderated

a bit, but the MKX is still one of the safest
vehicles in the class you can buy. The
NHTSA gives it four stars overall and the
IIHS calls it a Top Safety Pick. Stability
control and curtain airbags are standard,
as are blind-spot monitors, and rearview
camera.
Interestingly, the MKX also offers several
new brake-related features usually found
in SUVs like Hill Start Assist, which reduces
rollback on hills and Trailer Sway Control,
which provides greater towing stability
when equipped with the available trailer
tow package
Driving Impressions
After driving several mediocre cars in the
past few weeks, it was a delight to get
behind the wheel of the MKX. Although,
the MKX was introduced in 2011, in its
current format, one thing is immediately
communicated is the fact that, despite
being several years on the market, there is
nothing that suggests that it has become
outdated or failed to catch up with the
competition or the newer cars.
In normal D mode, the cars V6 is silky
smooth and offers sharp acceleration.
While one doesnt expect a Mustang-like
straight line drag experience, theres
enough torque available to keep the driver
engaged for fun. In S mode, the gears
hold longer but there are no changes
to the chassis or steering wheel feel or
feedback. While, the car cruises very well,
the six-speed transmission may appear
to some as reluctant to downshift unless
you nearly floor the throttle pedal this
arrangement we believe was done with
fuel efficiency in mind and the cars
powertrain set-up therefore politely
suggests the driver to optimize the way
the car is driven. However, that didnt
dampen our enthusiasm to push engine
revs into the 5,000rpm band and push the
car for more.
In SelectShift mode, we note that the
transmission doesnt second-guess the
driver, giving him or her control over gear

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The interior of the Lincoln MKX

reflects an even greater emphasis
on what defines Lincoln DNA: luxury,
craftsmanship, genuine materials
and sharper execution

selection and performance feel. Upshifts,

for instance, are not commanded at
redline, and downshifts are allowed at
the lowest gear possible as defined by the
engine speed instead.
For the size and weight of the car, the
steering effort is decently weighted and
feedback to the drivers input is good.
Electric power steering continues Fords
track record for decent feedback and feel.
While, the set-up of the all-wheel-drive car
is more lifestyle than a rugged 4x4, the
capabilities off-road are also well catered
to as we experienced when we went on a
trail. Acoustic damping is very impressive
in this car. Both on and off-road, the ride
quality is comfortable with no shakes
or body rattles. The MKX is very quiet
on the move and body roll is minimal,
part in thanks to the 20in wheels which
contributes to some added firmness.
While leading the wide-ranging
innovations like the all-new MyLincoln
Touch driver connect technology is
designed to make life a bit easier through
functions like voice recognition and
command, the extremely busy command
switches on the steering wheel can
be complicated to operate. Instead of
such complexity, we would prefer the
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warning and hill assist to be key elements

in the future specification/package.
For new users, the learning curve to
master all the elements in MyLincoln can
be steep, but with little practice can be
simple and enjoyable. The system can be
slow to respond and the touchscreens
small black icons on a black background
make it difficult to use on the move. The
touch-sensitive volume control you slide
your finger across is pretty much unusable
[its really funny].

The interactive panel on the

MKX demonstrates all the
advantages of this touchsensitive technology in a
beautiful, engaging package.
Activated features display
amber light. When turned
off, signature Lincoln White
lighting is displayed
multifunctional aspects to be further
features simplified and features like
adaptive cruise control, lane departure

Verdict
The 2014 Lincoln MKX in our view is a
highly capable car with the right mix
of luxury, technology and engineering.
Although it got off to a shaky start when
it first debuted, the Lincoln MKX which
was thoroughly underrated has proved
that it is now a pretty respectable choice
in the luxury crossover SUV segment. The
dramatic and fresh appeal of the Lincoln
MKX comes across from its features
and technologies bundle. In many ways,
we think it has been underrated in the
segment it operates. It has great potential
in the luxury segment which is dominated
by European or Japanese models.

ensure solid contact with asphalt

The 2015 Diavel sports an LED headlamp
to match its twin vertical LED strips at
the rear. The front LED-fired indicators
also use clear-lens units and are now a
solid strip design, mounted vertically on
the leading edge of the Diavels restyled
radiator covers.
In addition to enlarged intake ducts,
which are made of brushed aluminium
and anodized black, the new Diavel
has thoroughly revised split-level
instrumentation. On top, mounted to the
bar risers, is an LCD display that conveys
speed, rpm and the like. Below that, on
the tank itself, is a new TFT (Thin Film
Transistor) display that now includes a
fuel gauge and a sidestand warning light,
as well as the usual gear selection and
riding mode readouts. When the bike
is stationary, this TFT panel allows the
rider to choose among the Diavels three
modes, which remain the same for 2015:
Sport (162 hp, full-on throttle response,
minimal traction-control intervention),
Touring (162 hp, smoother power delivery,
more TC intervention) and Urban (100 hp,
easier power delivery, more active TC).
The new Diavel is dressed in stylish Dark
Stealth livery, a black trellis frame and
black wheels. The Diavel Carbon offers

2014 Ducati Diavel

the choice of traditional Ducati Red over

Matte Carbon with red frame or the
stunning new Star White over Matte
Carbon with white frame, both with black,
forged wheels by Marchesini, turned and
milled to expose the natural aluminium.
Both models will start to arrive in Ducati
stores around the world from April 2014
onwards.

The new Diavel

remains in a
class of its own,
unique, innovative
and bold and
a benchmark
that continues
to attract
motorcyclists
around the world

Techtalk

The 1,198cc Testastretta

engine, still has 11 degrees
of valve overlap and revised
intake and exhaust ports

It was at the 84th Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland,

where Ducati took the wraps off the second-generation and new for
2015 Diavel sport cruiser model
Author: Chandan B Mallik

ucatis latest presentation of the

second generation Diavel sports
bike represents the companys
confidence in its ambitious business plan.
Ducati had promised one completely new
model [Monster 1200] and three familyextension models: the 899 Panigale, the
1199 Superleggera and now the new
Diavel.
The incoming Diavel follows the
companys Performance Redefined
philosophy and hence loaded with many
significant engineering upgrades. The job

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begins at the heart the engine, to be

precise. For connoisseurs of technology,
theres the latest generation Testastretta
dual spark engine which gets a new
exhaust system helping it to generate an
output of 162hp. The 1,198cc Testastretta
engine, still has 11 degrees of valve
overlap, but revised intake and exhaust
ports, together with what Ducati calls a
radical adjustment of the cam timing,
has enabled the Bologna company to
improve the torque curve at low rpm while
remaining strong through a wider range.

Through revised mapping, peak output

comes at 9,250rpm versus the outgoing
9,500rpm.
At 205kg, while built to have a
commanding presence, through
lightweight construction, the new Diavel
takes the rider/motorcycle relationship
to another level in absolute comfort. The
bike promises to be agile in typical Ducati
style and handling will be aided with
features like ABS, Ducati Traction Control
and Ducati Riding Modes. A specially
engineered fat 240 section rear tyre will
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LAND ROVER
DISCOVERY VISION CONCEPT

More than just a design showpiece, the Land Discovery Vision

Concept pragmatically looks at a new family of production
Discovery/LR4 models
Author: Chandan B Mallik

t the recently concluded in New

York Auto Show, Land Rover
revealed its Discovery Vision
Concept SUV. Actually, the concept was
revealed to a select audience on the USS
Intrepid docked at Manhattan as part of
a global unveil a day before the official
public outing at the official venue. Even
before the noise, smoke effects and cool
blue lighting subsided, Land Rover officials
announced that it would be re-launching
its bedrock Discovery/LR4 SUV as a family
of vehicles in 2015.
So, this is it, the clearest and tangible
vision of Land Rovers future family of
Discovery/LR4 vehicles. This concept car
not only previews dynamic new design
language and an array of innovative

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versatility and capability features, but also

showcases several interesting pioneering
technologies from Jaguar Land Rovers
advanced research division.
The concept has a familiar silhouette
but the detailing is by far is majestic. The
wraparound headlamps are powered
by lasers, fog lamps are infrared,
doors operated by an electric gesturerecognition system, a gesture-controlled
tailgate and infotainment is operated by
touchscreens on the steering wheel.
Land Rover engineering is also said to be
working on a panoramic suite of smart
glass technology layered with sensors
to give a 360-degree driving experience
and a remote-control feature that allows
you to manoeuvre a driverless car at short

distances.
The concept cars interior appeared
spacious and versatile with a whole
array of innovative features clearly
aimed at multi-lifestyle versatility as
seen in the highly reconfigurable seating
arrangement. By folding the seats flat
or sliding them forward or back, via
the touchscreen menu, the vehicle can
be converted from its standard sevenseat layout to a six-seat, five-seat or
even a four-seat limousine mode.
Detachable, carry-away stroller-style
luggage is seamlessly integrated into the
vehicle doors, while accessories cleverly
integrated into the seatbacks offer high
levels of convenience to the passengers
seated behind.
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With the Discovery

poised to transition
from a single model
to a new family of
vehicles which will
redefine the leisure
SUV category, the
Discovery Vision
Concept offers an
exciting preview
of Land Rovers
vision for the range,
and the modern,
premium design
language of future
models

In terms of versatility, theres evidence of

evolution of the Discoverys tailgate which
now incorporates a powered, single-piece
design. It works in conjunction with a
deployable rear sill step and a folding
bench seat in the loading area. It even
creates a flexible event platform with
social seating for active lifestyles and on
its own, the sill step can also be fitted with
a bike/ski rack.
The theme of versatility continues with
the materials used in the interior. The
cabin is finished in two innovative types
of washable and water- and oil-repellent
Foglizzo premium leather that can be
cleaned in seconds. And then you also
have real wood veneer on the floors
and instrument panel with bespoke
accessories lined in Harris Tweed help to
get that homely feel.
So, its not just all show and no-go?
According to the presentation, advanced
technologies are under development
which will take SUV capability to the next
level. This aspect points at a vision of
next-generation Terrain Response system
with more man-machine interface. Among
them, the innovative Transparent Bonnet
head-up display system stands out. This
camera based system will offer the driver

an
unimpeded view of the ground
immediately ahead, greatly enhancing
ability and confidence. Cameras fitted
below the grille are paired with the HeadUp Display integrated into the windscreen.
While traversing challenging terrain,
the imagery can be projected onto the
windscreen, so that it appears as if the
vehicles bonnet is, in effect, transparent.
Meanwhile, the infrared front fog-lamps
also act as scanners and continuously scan
the terrain being traversed and feedback

is
rendered as a contour map
on the high-definition instrument cluster
display. This mapping can be paired with
the All-Terrain Coach guidance system
to chart out a path and assist the driver
in navigating it. Lasers are also used by
the next-generation Wade Aid sensory
system to measure the depth of water
even before the car enters it, and inform
the driver of the feasibility of the intended
wading manoeuvre. All-Terrain Progress
Control enables semi-autonomous offroad driving at a steady speed across
varying terrain.

The Discovery
Vision Concept was
unveiled alongside
a scale model of
the Virgin Galactic
spacecraft at a
spectacular event
aboard the USS
Intrepid - a sea,
air and space
experience centre a day ahead of the
opening of the New
York Auto Show
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2014 Porsche Boxster GTS

Cayman attuned to deliver ample torque
with high power output at higher revs.
This character has been deliberated
programmed so that the cars deliver
the spirited GTS promise -- high level
of spontaneity, cultivated high-revving
responsiveness up to the limit of 7,800
rpm and a harmonious power curve over
the entire engine speed range.
As a result the flat six-cylinder engine
upgrades are based on the 3.4-litre engine
from the Boxster S and Cayman S which
deliver 15hp more power, thanks to
optimised management of the combustion
process by variable control of the intake
camshaft (VarioCam Plus) mainly besides
other measures. This means that the
Boxster GTS now has an output of 330hp
while the Cayman GTS delivers 340hp.
Nominal torque has also been increased by

ten Newton metres and is available in the

range from 4,500 rpm to 5,800 rpm for the
Boxster GTS and from 4,750 rpm to 5,800
rpm for the Cayman GTS. This boost in
performance drives the weight-to-power
ratio of the Cayman GTS below the four
kg/hp (3.95 kg/hp) barrier; the Boxster GTS
is also close to this barrier with 4.08 kg/hp.
As expected, both mid-engine sports
cars are equipped with the Sport
Chrono package as standard. And when
used in conjunction with the optional
Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) and
active Sport Plus button, the Boxster GTS
sprints from a standstill to 100 km/h in
4.7secs, and the Cayman GTS is one-tenth
of a second faster.
The GTS Boxster is the first roadster to
top the 280 km/h mark, reaching a speed
of 281 km/h. The sports coup is even

faster at 285 km/h. Both engines confront

to the Euro 6 standard, and by this
measuring method they attain a combined
fuel consumption value of 8.2 l/100 km
with PDK (9.0 l/100 km with manual
transmission).
Complementing the hardware upgrades,
the GTS models get a bit of tweaking in
the cosmetic department, which Porsche
thinks is quite necessary to differentiate
between the stock and GTS editions. The
most prominent formal difference is the
entirely new front-end with modified
spoiler lip.The new nose is responsible
for the 30 mm longer body. Highlights of
their individual and distinctive appearance
include a unique front end with smoked
bi-xenon headlights - with the Porsche
Dynamic Light System (PDLS) as standard
- a modified rear body apron, and exterior

With the launch of these new GTS variants models, Porsche

is emphasising its tradition of building lively sports cars for
both the race track and everyday use
Summer is here and so are Porsches new 2014 Boxster GTS and
Cayman GTS sportscars which are designed to thrill drivers on road
and on track
Author: Chandan B Mallik

orsche is pretty good when it comes

to creating variants. For spirited
drivers, the sports car maker is
extending the GTS principle to mid-engine
sports cars like the Boxster and Cayman
with the idea of giving these two GTSbadged models a befitting chance to
represent top class performance in their
respective segments on road and on
track. The GTS initials originate from the

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904 Carrera GTS, a race car dating back to

1963 that could also be registered for use
on public roads. In the 1980s and 1990s,
the 924 GTS and 928 GTS cultivated this
principle. It was reintroduced in 2007 in
the form of the Cayenne GTS and was
later implemented in the 911 series and the
Panamera as well.
The GTS-badging essentially focuses on
performance enhancements and both

current models of Cayman and Boxster are

suitable for this transformation thanks
to the flexibility to allow power boosting
the engines and an excellent chassis
management via Porsches trademarked
PASM [Porsche Active Suspension
Management] system.
In the new GTS models, Porsche takes
two of its most powerful engines that
are used in a production Boxster or

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2014 Porsche Cayman GTS

badges in silky gloss. Other elements

signing off the GTS package include the
235/35 front tyres and 265/35 rear tyres
on 20in Carrera S design wheels. And the
standard sports exhaust delivers further
emotional appeal.
In terms of cabin accoutrements, its
familiar Porsche territory. Both cars are
offered with sports seats and leather
interior as standard. Like in the other
GTS models from Porsche, they are
accentuated by Alcantara elements.
Catching up with the bespoke options,
Porsche offers two GTS packages with
the contrasting colours Carmine Red and
Rhodium Silver. All decorative seams
and embroidery right up to the Porsche
logo and the seams of the floor mats are
implemented in the selected colour. Even
the edges of the safety belts display this
contrasting colour. The trim strips come
with a carbon look. Essentially, all interior
colours are available with all-leather
upholstery. The characteristic GTS exterior
colour Carmine Red is being offered for
the first time on a Boxster/Cayman model.
In the handling department, Porsche
has given some extra kit for track day

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JUly 2014

enthusiasts opting for the Sport Chrono

package which comes with dynamic
transmission mounts. The job of these
mounts is to alter the chassis stiffness
and damping according to the specific
driving situation. With a hard setting of
the mounts, for example, rear body roll is
minimised when steering into a bend and
in a quick series of corners.
When the Sport Plus button is
activated, the standard PASM chassis
becomes stiffer and the sport exhaust
system is dethrottled. An automatic
throttle blip function is implemented
when downshifting with the manual
transmission. It matches engine revs to
the lower gear even better during fast
shifting, so that the driver can optimally
use engine power or engine braking.
If the sports car has the optional PDK, the
driver can also use the Launch Control
function for the best possible drive-off
acceleration. This shortens the sprint from
zero to 100 km/h by 0.2 s compared to
normal mode. The Sport Plus button also
activates the PDK race course shifting
strategy. Last but not the least is another
standard GTS component, the sport

exhaust system which as expected has

been optimally tuned for the GTS.
All GTS-badged Boxster and Caymans also
benefit from Porsche Torque Vectoring
system which is offered as an option.
PTV actually is the next step helping to
enhance the capabilities of the PASM
suspension. PTV is intelligent interaction
of the rear differential lock with selective
braking interventions at individual wheels,
which is a supplemental function of the
Porsche Stability Management (PSM)
system. Essentially, PTV improves the
vehicles steering response, steering
precision and agility by targeted brake
interventions at the rear wheel located
at the inside of a curve. The braking
torque is activated as soon as the steering
wheel is turned. The results: Increased
performance in bends as soon as a turn
is initiated. When the vehicle accelerates
out of the bend, the rear differential lock
significantly improves traction potential.
The mechanical rear differential lock
included in PTV has, as in the previous
model, an asymmetrical locking action
of 22 per cent in traction and 27 per cent
under power.

The GTS lineage

Since the legendary 904 Carrera GTS of the 1960s, the letters
GTS have stood for Gran Turismo Sport and a promise of
outstanding levels of Porsche performance. With the new
model, Porsche is extending the GTS principle to the Boxster.
Like the Cayenne GTS and Panamera GTS already, this is a car
that stands for superior driving dynamics in its segment. The
combination of letters originates from the 904 Carrera GTS, a
race car dating back to 1963 that could also be registered for use
on public roads. In the 1980s and 1990s, the 924 GTS and 928
GTS cultivated this principle. It was reborn in 2007 in the form
of the Cayenne GTS, and was subsequently applied to the Type
997 911 and the Panamera.

At Porsche, GTS
stands for Gran
Turismo Sport
and has promised
outstanding Porsche
performance ever
since the legendary
904 Carrera GTS
dating back to 1963

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The Canadian Grand Prix was by far the

best Formula 1 race of the year, with five
drivers dueling for podium positions in the
closing laps at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in
Montreal

Motorsports | F1

Although Rosberg won and Hamilton generated more headlines, special mention must be
reserved for Jules Bianchi. The Marussia driver helped secure his teams first F1 points
Monaco race report

Nico Rosberg led the field from

start to finish, comfortably
dispatching of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton at the
Monaco Grand Prix. Daniel
Ricciardo came very close
to passing the Englishman
late in the Red Bull car, but
once again, it was Mercedes
who took spots one and two.
Fernando Alonso was nearly
invisible for much of the race,
finishing fourth, while Nico
Hulkenberg and his Force India
held off the rest of the pack for
fifth.
Jules Bianchi finished ninth
due to a five-second penalty,
giving Team Marussia their
very first points in Formula 1
history. Rosberg had a perfect
start, keeping team-mate
Hamilton at bay going into the

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first corner. Kimi Raikkonen

left the grid the fastest of any
driver, moving up to fourth
past Ricciardo. Jenson Button
bumped into Sergio Perez who
went into the wall at Mirabeu,
ending his race before it ever
truly began.
World champion Sebastian
Vettel ran into mechanical
problems early, dropping
down the field over the course
of three laps before his car
got stuck in first gear. The
German has suffered through
a frustrating campaign so far,
and an exit after eight laps
here in Monaco wont help his
case. The two Mercedes cars
immediately started separating
from the rest of the pack, with
Rosberg and Hamilton the only
two drivers consistently hitting
the 1 minute, 19.00 seconds

mark per lap. Rosberg seemed

to be the stronger of the two,
as Hamilton complained about
the state of his rear-tyres
over the radio on multiple
occasions. Raikkonen ran into
mechanical issues, dropping
him all the way to 13th place
as Ricciardo moved the closest
to the Mercedes duo. Felipe
Massa meanwhile moved up all
the way to fifth, a remarkable
feat considering his starting
position in the middle of the
grid.
The drivers at the back
continued to take risks in
their attempts to overtake,
something we dont often
see on the narrow streets of
Monaco. Raikkonen nearly
collided with Japans Kamui
Kobayashi on one such
occasion, the Finn desperate

to make up space on the top

five. Alonso and Hulkenberg
easily held on for spots four
and five, respectively, with
both drivers stuck in no-mans
land for much of the race.
Rosbergs lead on Hamilton
started to decrease as the
Englishman seemed to be
getting the better of his teammate following their pit stops,
and Hamiltons better use of
fuel consumption looked like
it could play a large part in pit
strategy as the race drew to a
close.
But with 13 laps still to go,
he suddenly started losing
ground fast. The pit crew
figured something was wrong
with the car, before Hamilton
confirmed over the teams
radio he had dirt in his left eye
and could no longer see from

it. Ricciardo set the fastest lap

of the race until that point with
10 still to go, and thanks to
Hamiltons struggles, the Red
Bull driver suddenly had a chance
to finally break the hegemony of
the Mercedes cars.
Rosberg meanwhile seemed to
be cruising to the win, leading
Hamilton by six seconds with
just 10 laps to go. . Hamilton
kept locking up the tyres, and
the Australian moved ever
closer. Button moved into
sixth with a pretty move on
team-mate Kevin Magnussen
with three laps to go, while
Ricciardo and Hamilton got
ready to lap the pair on the
main straight.
Raikkonen was forced into
the pit late due to a bump
following an ill-advised move
on Magnussen, effectively
ending his chances of cashing
in on his great start. Ricciardo
opened his assault on Hamilton
but was hindered by traffic on
multiple occasions, his Red
Bull looking faster than one
of the Mercedes cars for the
first time all season. Hamilton
would hold on to his second
place, however, as Mercedes
once again took the double.

Canada race report

n one of the most

engrossing, dramatic
and topsy-turvy races for
years, Daniel Ricciardo was
the unexpected winner of the
Canadian GP and Lewis Hamilton
the big loser as Nico Rosberg
extended his championship lead
over his Mercedes team-mate.
It was the first Formula One
victory for Daniel Ricciardo at
Montreal.
While Hamilton was forced to
retire from the race due to brake
failure, Rosberg rode his luck escaping a penalty for cutting
a chicane as he held on to the
lead of the grand prix from a
fired-up Hamilton - to move over
20 points clear at the top of the
summit.
But this, in an utterly
unexpected outcome that
nobody could have predicted,
was Ricciardos day - and
F1s as the sport served up
two hours of riveting and
controversial drama that ended
in a heartstopping bang when
Williams Felipe Massa, chasing
down Sergio Perez for fourth
place, crashed heavily into the
Force India. Both drivers were
later released from hospital
after a check-up, but Perez has

been served with a grid penalty

for next weeks Austrian GP.
The immediate upshot on
the track was Jenson Button
being promoted to fourth
place behind Sebastian Vettel
after a late charge through the
field and, more significantly,
Ricciardo, the surprise package
of the year, crossing the line for
his first grand prix win behind
the Safety Car - a conclusion
utterly at odds with the chaotic
bedlam that had just occurred.
First there was the RosbergHamilton battle for the lead of
the race after the Englishman
recovered from being forced
onto the grass at the first corner
and the Germans fortunate
escape from official rebuke after
cutting the chicane.
Then there was the anarchy of
a mid-race loss of power for
both Mercedes which suddenly
brought half-a-dozen cars into
play for victory as both Silver
Arrows went into sharp reverse.
Hamiltons retirement was next
on the breathless agenda, his
Mercedes developing a chronic
rear-brake failure, leaving
Rosberg, still suffering a loss of
power in his W05, buffered from
the Red Bulls of Ricciardo and
Vettel by the struggling Perez.
There were just three laps still
on the clock when Ricciardo
finally found a way through,
crawling around the Force India
and its worn-out tyres at the
first corner, and the youngster displaying the sort of Aussie grit
that his Red Bull predecessor
might recognise - immediately

set about prising the lead of the

race out of Rosbergs grasp,
passing the German into the
final chicane to the delight of
the Montreal crowd. Has there
ever been a more popular race
winner than Ricciardo? It may be
weeks before he stops smiling
again.
Im still a bit in shock, this is
ridiculous, he grinned on the
podium. I was struggling to
pass Perez, but we got a run out
of the last chicane and made a
nice move into Turn One and set
my sights on Nico. Then with a
couple of laps to go I just found
myself in the right spot to use
DRS. Its an amazing feeling
right now, I feel really grateful
for this.
Finally, at the seventh time of
asking, Mercedes have been
beaten in 2014. Not, however,
that Rosberg will necessarily
view the day as a defeat after
claiming an extra 18 points
over the luckless Hamilton.
Twice this season the
Englishman has been forced
to retire due to a technical
malfunction - a misfortune that
Rosberg has yet to experience
in 2014.
It certainly didnt work out for
Hamilton as the 2008 World
Champion forlornly parked up
his W05 just moments after
emerging from his second
and final pit-stop ahead of
Rosberg. All of a sudden,
his World Championship
deficit has assumed ominous
proportions.

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24 Hours of Le Mans

Audis R18 e-tron quattros proved victors when it

came to reliability vs speed in the 82nd running of Le
Mans 24 Hours

arcel Fssler, Andr

Lotterer and Benot
Trluyer along with
and Lucas di Grassi, Marc Gen
and Tom Kristensen drivers
of Audi R18 e-tron quattros
held on to their nerves,
overcame mechanical issues
and drove their assigned cars
to one-two Audi victory and
also to its 13th title at the
24 Hours of Le Mans which
concluded on June 15.
It was the trios third victory
in the worlds most famous
endurance race. Their Audi
No. 2 finished three laps
ahead of Audi No. 1 driven by
Lucas di Grassi, Marc Gene
and defending champion Tom
Kristensen.
Sebastien Buemi, Anthony
Davidson and Nicolas Lapierre
took third place at the wheel
of Toyota No. 8, five laps off
the pace. Pole-sitter Kazuki
Nakajimas Toyota No. 7
retired in the 15th hour while
leading because of an electrical
problem.
Major misfortune was suffered
by the squad of the third Audi
R18 e-tron quattro with Filipe
Albuquerque, Marco Bonanomi
and Oliver Jarvis. Following a
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JUly 2014

strong early phase, car number

3 during a safety car period in
pouring rain, was hit in the rear
at high speed by a GT Ferrari
on the Hunaudires straight.
The powertrain of the R18
was so heavily damaged in the
incident that Marco Bonanomi
was forced to retire after just
an hour and a half.
In its return to Le Mans after
a 16-year absence in the top
category, Porsche fell out
of contention in the 22nd
hour. Audi did not impress in
qualifying with slower times
than Toyota and Porsche, but it
proved more reliable in a race
defined by the teams ability to
solve mechanical problems.
Lotterers Audi No. 2 took the
lead in the 22nd hour when
Timo Bernhards Porsche No.
20 got stuck in the pits until
the end of the race because
of a drivetrain problem. The
Porsche No. 20 finished 38th.
In the penultimate hour, Neel
Janis Porsche No. 14 went
back to the garage while in
fifth place to fix a gearbox
issue. It managed to get back
on the track in the last minutes
to wind up 37th. Despite this
disappointing performance,
Porsche still remains the most

successful manufacturer at Le
Mans with 16 titles. Porsche
and Audi swapped the lead in
the second half of the race.
Treluyers Audi No. 2 took the
lead from Nakajima in the 15th
hour. Genes Audi No. 1 then
hit the front in the 17th hour
when the Audi No. 2 headed
back to the garage to change
a turbocharger. Kristensens
Audi No. 1 was also hit by a
turbocharger problem in the
21st hour and surrendered the
top spot to Bernhards Porsche
No. 20 in the 21st hour.
Toyota was in contention in the
first half of the race, swapping
the lead with Porsche from
the third to the fifth hour until
an unscheduled pit stop by
Brendon Hartleys Porsche No.
20 allowed Stephane Sarrazins
Toyota No. 7 to pull away. In
the second hour, a sudden
downpour caused the crash
of two contenders. Nicolas
Lapierres Toyota No. 8 and
Marco Bonanomis Audi No. 3
were fighting for third place
when a slippery track led the
Toyota to lose traction and
bounce off a barrier before
clipping the Audi, which got
also hit by Sam Birds Ferrari
No. 81.

Aston Martin Racing won GTE Am at Le Mans

to take its third class win in the 24 Hours
since the team was formed in 2004

The accident brought the

safety car out for about 40
minutes. Lapierre was able to
drive his car back to the garage
to have it repaired while
Bonanomi was forced to retire.
The Toyota No. 8 dealt with
balance issues for the rest of
the race.
For Audi, the win marked the
13th victory in the 24 Heures,
the eighth one with TDI Power
and the third one with a hybrid
race car. The team of Reinhold
Joest celebrated its 15th
success in the worlds most
important endurance race.
Marcel Fssler, Andr Lotterer
and Benot Trluyer, after 2011
and 2012, achieved their third
Le Mans triumph.

ith 15 competitive GT
cars in the fray, the
all-Danish crewed
car No. 95 AMR V8 Vantage
GTE raced to victory in the GTE
Am class at the 2014 24 Hours
of Le Mans. Kristian Poulsen
took the chequered flag on
behalf of the all-Danish crew
line-up that included David
Heinemeier Hansson and
Nicki Thim. In a tough battle,
car No. 95 AMR V8 Vantage
GTE finished two laps ahead
nearest rivals, the car No.88
Proton Competition Porsche
911 RSR, driven by Klaus
Bachler at the finish. Third was
the car No.61 AF Corse Ferrari
458 Italia with Luis PerezCompanc at the wheel.
As well as the Pro Am class
for professional and amateur
drivers, AMR had fielded two
cars in the GTE Pro class for full
factory teams. After one-third
distance and following some
epic battles with the Corvettes
and Ferraris, the 97 Vantage
GTE of Darren Turner, Stefan
Mucke and Bruno Senna led
GTE Pro while the top two

spots were both held by AMR,

GTE Pro as the eight-hour mark
the car No.98 car of Paul dalla
came whilst Giancarlo Fisichella
Lana ahead of the eventual
had moved up to second in the
winning car No. 95, driven by
car No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 458
Thim.
Italia.
Early on in the race, the
Turner had taken over from
Corvette showed their pace
former F1 driver Bruno Senna
but the plan chosen by Aston
whose three-hour stint had
Martin was to stay close but
put the Vantage into second.
out of trouble and to use a
At half-distance and after 161
triple stint strategy to jump
trouble-free laps, the car No.97
them in
Vantage
the pits.
Victory marked an emotional was nearly
There
return to Le Mans for AMR 12 90secs
were few
ahead of
months after the three drivers car No.74
scary
compatriot and colleague, Allan Corvette
moments
too, when Simonsen, was killed. Team boss and car
in the 18th David Richards had said earlier No.51
hour of
in the week that Simonsen was Ferrari but
the race,
for much
with the team.
a power
of the
steering
preceding
pipe came loose in car No.97.
hours or so, there had been
As the clock nearly reached
nothing between all three.
11.00pm, Turner was less
The GTE Pro class fight was
than half a second behind the
intense between AMR and
leading Chevrolet Corvette
Ferrari after the car No.74
C7.R of fellow Briton Richard
Corvette spent time in the pits
Westbrook on lap 71 before
with an oil leak. The car No.51
passing him on the Mulsanne
AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia
Straight. He was still leading
driven by Toni Vilander had

retaken the class lead from

the car No.97 Vantage after
Stefan Mucke had pitted for a
regular stop. Mucke set about
reclaiming top spot and passed
the Ferrari, now with Giancarlo
Fisichella at the wheel, on the
Mulsanne Straight, while third
place was taken by the car
No.92 911 RSR of Porsche Team
Manthey.
However, the car No.97 car
dropped to fourth following
a series of events. Taking
advantage of a slow zone
yellow flag, it pitted early,
rejoining a minute behind
the car No.51 Ferrari but then
lost another minute behind
a safety car. Mucke and
then Senna both scrapped
to keep the Aston in the
lead but eventually a power
steering problem brought
their challenge to an end and
they dropped to fourth before
eventually finishing sixth in
class. The lead in the GTE
Am class was much healthier
though with the car No.95
Vantage holding a three-lap
advantage over the car No.88
Porsche.
JUly 2014

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A changing
Paradigm

If theres one thing that Elon Musk has given us other than Paypal, Space-X and
Tesla Motors, its this ability to look way outside the box. If you look at his latest idea
its even crazier. He intends to put bunches of us in capsules that are shot around
vacuum tubes. Well, across the continental USA at least. Thats high-speed transport
in a completely different way. But wait a minute, Ive heard of such ideas before, with
the difference being that they were in the pages of science fiction novels.
The Paradigm has shifted.
Today, much of what we accepted as ordinary and expected in the writings of Arthur
C Clarke or Isaac Asimov have become reality. Space-X itself is an example of this.
Private funding of space vehicles is almost as atrocious as the concept of a space
tourist. But then we will face a day in the next few decades where we will line up at
Dubai spaceport for a flight to a private hotel at an altitude of a few hundred miles.
Another indication of this new reality is Googles latest offering (that curiously
enough looks like a computer mouse). The new driverless car may just seem like
an emasculated smart, what with the complete absence of steering wheel or driving
controls of any sort. And what do you think will be the scenario in the future when
driverless cars get commercialised? Dont worry; we arent going to give up what is
accepted as the norm today. It will take some time for that paradigm to change. Not
because a horde of Google bugs on the road doesnt make sense. It makes almost
as much sense as driverless metro trains does.
The difference is actually one of ownership and the joy of driving. How much joy do
you get in your purchase and ownership of a washing machine. Admittedly, you no
longer have do menial labour, but then you hardly keep it in your living room to show
all your visitors. Thats just about the joy you are going to get from being transported
around in a bug.

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

But that does not mean that change wont happen. What will happen at first is
that Google is going to help invent all the laws that govern the use of driverless
vehicles on public roads. Something will go wrong sometimes. And Google has
surely factored in the millions that it will need to pay to the users who may end
up as the pioneering sardines in a squished can. But a few years later we will be
calling a Google rendered driverless car with the same ease with which we currently
call taxis. The taxi business is already under a challenge in many western cities
as Internet companies and privateering car owners muscle in with apps like Uber.
Tomorrow we will just tell Google that we want to go to the office and a bug will be
waiting outside your door.
Does it sound far-fetched? It still does, but its only a matter of time before the
change happens. Private ownership will still be a matter of pride; because thats
the way the majority of us are wired. We love the concept of being judged by our
possessions if that wasnt the case you wouldnt have luxury brands in the first
case. Now hang on a minute what if the regular consumer brands also jumped into
this scenario? Do we have regular cars that are autonomous when we are too bored
to drive?
However, at the core of this impending change is the fact that the future hasnt been
written yet. Are we just going to become a race of docile commuters? Will the scene
change so much that we commute in all three dimensions? Or will we be sitting at
home and putting in our hours at the office by means of telepresence? The shift
could be in any direction we arent going to be able to predict it. The idea is to
continue to enjoy our drives (yes, of all kinds) before a few pioneering entrepreneurs
change the ambience permanently.

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