Open-air motoring coming soon on the Lamborghini Aventador!

At the Geneva Motor Show, fans of the raging bull were expecting to witness the touch down of the Lamborghini Aventador convertible. The open-air version of the Lamborghini Aventador was not showcased at the Geneva Motor Show but don't let that fool you into the thinking there isn't going to be one!
Sources with knowledge on the matter have told Italian publication Quattroroute that a Targa-style detachable roof is being designed that is a two-piece construction. The removable top was designed because Lamborghini was interested in preserving the engine cover design, thereby reducing development time and the delay in reaching the market.
The two-piece roof panel will be made using lightweight carbon fiber material. The question that remains to be answered is whether Lamborghini will provide on-board storage for this piece of bodywork. If Lamborghini fails to do so, the Aventador convertible isn't what the editorial of AutoMiddleEast.com call 'rain proof.'
The Quattroroute report adds that there are no changes under the car's engine cowl meaning the same V12 engine that produces 700+ bhp will drive the four wheels through a seven speed automatic gearbox.
The convertible model could make its world premiere at either the Frankfurt Motor Show or the Paris Auto Salon in the second half of 2012.

The most annoying car features ever : Alfa Romeo 75

Alfa Romeo - Car: Alfa Romeo 75. Feature: Electric window switches. The roof wouldn't seem an obvious place to site electric window switches. You'd think the door would prove a better location, what with it being next to the window and everything, but when designing the 75, Alfa decided that window switches go on the roof. People then decide that instead of winding your window down, you are in fact giving them the finger, and they get angry and chase you. Don't ask me how I know. Thanks Alfa. CREATED BY: MSN UK Cars

The most annoying car design features ever : Toyota

Toyota - "That engine ruins the car." As annoying features go, the Toyota GT86's engine is a doozy. Gutless through most of its range and about as tuneless as the rejected cuts from a One Direction album, it does its best to spoil what is otherwise a winning formula. Most annoying automotive features aren't anything like as obvious as the Toyota's punch-drunk boxer engine. Instead they sneak up on you surreptitiously before whipping you into an impotent rage at the sheer idiocy of the person who signed them off. They crop up everywhere, from the cheapest cars to the most expensive. Usually on the most expensive, come to think of it, and here we take a trawl through 20 of the most annoying. I won't have got them all, so join the conversation and tell us your stories of when design ineptitude happens. CREATED BY: MSN UK Cars 

Cars that think they're 4x4s ( 1 )

VW - Life was simple back in 2003. You could either buy a hatchback or an off-roader. Not both together. Simple. Then someone at Rover had some kind of brain-burp, and came up with the Streetwise. This was essentially a very ordinary Rover 25 made to look like a 4x4. The groan-worthy name may have been embarrassing and the car didn't actually have four-wheel-drive, but history has endorsed Rover's decision. Other brands quickly latched on to the marketing opportunity. After all, how much does it cost to slap some plastic body cladding and taller suspension on a car? Not a lot, we'd wager. If truth be told, the Streetwise wasn't actually the first faux-4x4. There were at least two before it, and one of those came some 26 years previously, as you can discover in our feature. So here's our round-up of the Streetwise legacy: the urban, on-road, soft-roader. CREATED BY: MSN UK Cars

Rover Streetwise

 Rover - Rover kicked off the whole modern urban on-roader craze with the decidedly dodgy Streetwise. Launched in 2003, its life was terminated early when MG Rover imploded in 2005. But the Streetwise has since enjoyed a second life in China, badged as the MG 3SW. It's even had some success in the Chinese Rally Championship! CREATED BY: MSN UK Cars 

MG3 Xross

 MG - We're not sure exactly how you pronounce it, but the Xross is the car that will finally replace the MG3 SW/Streetwise (it's due to reach the market in 2012). Based on the all-new MG3, it also has an increased ride height, standard roof bars and plastic body side cladding. CREATED BY: MSN UK Cars 

Matra Rancho

 Matra - Forget the Rover Streetwise, the Matra Rancho was the world's first-ever 4x4 wannabe. This chunkily-styled front-wheel drive estate was way ahead of its time when it debuted in 1977. Trouble was, it was way behind in every other area: poorly built, unreliable and dynamically outdated. Some 56,700 Ranchos were built between 1977 and 1984. CREATED BY: MSN UK Cars 

2012 Renault Duster | First Drive

Renault claims to have grown phenomenally in the UAE over the last couple of years. In numbers, the company claims over 40 per cent growth.  However, they are not content with their current growth path and remain bullish in capturing even more market share and they are hoping to turn the entry level SUV market on its head with their latest offering, the Duster.

At the media briefing, Renault made it very clear that they aren’t just targeting the entry level SUV customer but also those who are looking to buy an affordable sedan. They are betting on space and practicality offered by the Duster that sedans can’t match.
The Duster is based heavily on the Logan platform, which is one of Renault’s highest selling budget sedans built especially for developing countries. Those who are familiar with the Logan will instantly notice a lot of shared components in the interior. The instrumentation cluster and bits of the dashboard come from the same parts bin and that is a key factor in enabling Renault to price the Duster so competitively.

At the launch we drove the entry level PE variant that is priced at AED 48,500. At that price, Renault just can’t go wrong with this car. Even though it’s not rich on features and everything is bare basic, it still offers a good amount of space and the drive isn’t all that bad. It could do with a bit more insulation to keep engine and road noise at bay and personally; I would rather see Renault offering an adjustable steering column rather than a Bluetooth enabled stereo. The seating position was a bit awkward and I did have to struggle to find the right driving position.
The steering and the brake assist also felt a bit unusual. The assist fluctuated from being maximum to completely missing. The steering and the brakes went from being very light to extremely heavy within seconds. This hints at how Renault has managed to keep the price down and for an owner this means a rather uncomfortable driving experience.

However, the amount of space for the front row and the second row passengers is adequate and the seating position is a bit more upright when compared to the second row of a sedan. Plastic quality is nothing to write home about and the PE variant doesn’t match up to the quality which some similarly priced sedans have on offer.
The Renault Duster is available with a 4×2 and a 4×4 drivetrain. Both share the same 2-litre petrol engine that produces 135bhp at 5,500rpm and 195Nm of torque at 3,750rpm. The 4×2 variant gets a 4-speed automatic gearbox whereas the 4×4 gets a 6-speed manual. The 4×4 variant, priced at AED 64,500 is available on order and comes as a SE trim only.
Those looking to buy a 4×4 variant need to know this; it’s not a car that you can go around conquering dunes in. The engine really doesn’t feel capable of hauling this car in demanding situations. The torque is a bit low for a car claiming to be an SUV and it’s best to attempt some loose gravel roads if you must take it off road.

The basic PE version gets fabric seats, front power windows and a drivers side airbag. 16-inch pressed steel wheels and a Bluetooth enabled stereo is also part of standard equipment. The next level is the SE variant that gets 17-inch alloy wheels, dual front airbags, ABS, all-round power windows, electrically operated mirrors, tilt-adjustable steering column and roof rails. The top of the line SE+ variant gets a full leather interior and curtain airbags along with everything offered in the SE variant.
The Duster’s pricing is set to blow the competition out of the water and being the newest car in the market, it also has a certain novelty to it. Affordability and interior space is this car’s USP over similarly priced SUVs and sedans. The Renault Duster is very good proposition for someone who is on a budget and if you are planning to buy an entry level car in the near future, I really recommend you go give the Duster a try before making up your mind. However, the base PE trim isn’t an ideal family car. You are better off buying the SE or the SE+ variant.

We will be driving the top of the line SE+ variant soon and that promises to be a whole different car in terms of quality and features. Stay tuned for more.
Specifications:
Price:
PE: AED 48,500
SE: AED 56,500
SE+: AED 62,000
SE 4×4:  AED 64,500
Engine:
Type: 2-litre 4-cylinder
Max. power: 135bhp @ 5500rpm
Max. torque: 195Nm @ 3750rpm
Transmission
4-speed automatic (4×2)
6-speed manual (4×4)

2012 Renault Duster

The Duster is based heavily on the Logan platform that is one of Renault’s highest selling sedans built especially for the developing countries. Those who are familiar with the Logan will instantly notice a lot of shared components in the interior. The entire instrumentation cluster and bits of the dashboard come from the same parts bin and that is a key factor in enabling Renault to price the Duster so competitively.

The Duster is available with a 4×2 and a 4×4 drivetrain. Both share the same 2-litre petrol engine that produces 135bhp at 5,500rpm and 195Nm of torque at 3,750rpm. The 4×2 variant gets a 4-speed automatic gearbox whereas the 4×4 gets a 6-speed manual. The 4×4 variant, priced at AED 64,500 is available on order and comes as a SE trim only.
Those looking to buy a 4×4 variant need to know this; it’s not a car that you can go around conquering dunes in. The engine really doesn’t feel capable of hauling this car in demanding situations. The torque is a bit low for a car claiming to be an SUV and it’s best to attempt some loose gravel roads you must take it off road.
The basic PE version gets fabric seats, front power windows and a drivers side airbag. 16-inch pressed steel wheels and a Bluetooth enabled stereo is also part of standard equipment. The next level is the SE variant that gets 17-inch alloy wheels, dual front airbags, ABS, all-round power windows, electrically operated mirrors, tilt-adjustable steering wheel and roof rails. The top of the line SE+ variant gets a full leather interior and curtain airbags along with everything offered in the SE variant.
Specifications:
Price:
PE: AED 48,500
SE: AED 56,500
SE+: AED 62,000
SE 4×4: AED 64,500
Engine:
Type: 2-litre 4-cylinder
Max. power: 135bhp @ 5500rpm
Max. torque: 195Nm @ 3750rpm
Transmission
4-speed automatic (4×2)
6-speed manual (4×4)

BMW 320i launched in the Middle East

The BMW 320i is now available in the Middle East. This unveiling follows the launch of the all-new three series which happened a few months ago at the Dubai Autodrome.

Commenting on the BMW 320i’s arrival, Dr. Joerg Breuer, Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East said: 'The BMW 3 Series has been riding the wave of success ever since its launch 37 years ago – in fact, every third BMW sold in 2011 was a 3 Series. It is therefore a very important model for BMW Group, and by adding an additional engine variant, we expect to achieve even greater success.'
This new car is first BMW model to be available with three different lines: Modern, Sport and Luxury.
The new BMW 320i includes iDrive along with an 8.8' or 6.5' screen. There is also an automatic sliding and tilting glass sunroof in addition to BMW EfficientDynamics technology that includes the new Driving Experience Control switch with four driving programmes allowing the driver to choose between sporty, ultra sporty, comfortable and extremely economical driving ECO PRO mode. This feature helps drivers maximize fuel economy by analysing their driving style, thereby enabling them to increase the distance they can travel on each tank of fuel.
The new BMW 320i is now available at BMW Group importers’ showrooms in UAE starting from AED 155,000.

Volkswagen announces Golf GTI Cabriolet

After selling over 1.8 million Golf GTI cars since its debut 36 years ago, Volkswagen is now launching the first open-top version of the icon: the Golf GTI Cabriolet with 207bhp. The convertible, which sports such standard features as an electric soft-top, air conditioning, electric windows, an audio system and a roll-over protection system, will begin arriving at dealers in mid-June; the open-top GTI is offered at prices from 31,350 (AED 147,000) euros in Germany.

Hyundai i30 attacked by baboons at park

Hyundai - Hyundai has put its new i30 to a unique wear-and-tear test - by parking it in the baboon enclosure at Britain's Knowsley Safari Park for a whole day. CREATED BY: MSN UK Cars

 Hyundai - Unsurprisingly, the test was the first of its kind to be staged by a UK car brand, which Hyundai put on to demonstrate the new i30's strong build quality, easy-wipe plastics and new high-quality steel bodywork. CREATED BY: MSN UK Cars

2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS | Speed in a hatch

Chevy have managed to squeeze in 138 horses into a 5-door hatch and they call it the 2013 Sonic RS. It will make it’s public debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show and will go on sale in late 2012. The RS comes painted in either Victory Red, Summit White, Cyber Gray Metallic or Black Granite Metallic. Expect zippy performance from the Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine that puts 200Nm to the front wheels. It’s matched with a 6-speed manual transmission or 6-speed automatic. Chevrolet Sonic RS exterior features include a new front and rear fascia with new fog lamp design, RS-specific grille, a rear spoiler, rocker moldings, unique mirror cap finish, retuned sport exhaust with chrome tips, 17” 5-spoke wheel design, stiffer and lower suspension and dampers and ofcourse a plethora of RS badges.

Honda CR-V 2012

the new Honda CR-V its predecessor. The overall length has reduced by 25mm and the height has gone down by 35mm. The new version is also 36kgs lighter and the wheelbase is identical at 2,620mm. Honda claims over 60 per cent of parts have been designed ground up for the new CRV. Changes have been made to the chassis, suspension and the drivetrain to improve performance, rigidity and reduce fuel consumption.
The engine is the same 2.4-litre i-VTEC that has been around for ages albeit with a few improvements and a slightly increased power and torque output. Honda claims a 5.4 per cent reduction in internal friction and a more efficient alternator. Maximum power is 188bhp at 7,000rpm compared to 180bhp at 6,800 rpm of the older version. Maximum torque is 221Nm at 4,400rpm, which is mere 3Nm more than it’s predecessor. Transmission is a reworked version of the existing 5-speed automatic and a six speed would have helped in increasing the overall mileage.
The new CR-V is equipped with standard safety features such as dual-stage airbags for the front passengers while top of the line EX variant gets side and curtain airbags. Hill start assist, traction control, ABS and EBD also come standard on all models. Camera assisted reverse is available in the EX and the EX Leather variants.

Specifications

Price:
LX: AED 104,999
EX: AED 115,99
EX Leather: AED 125,999
Engine: 2.4-litre inline-4 i-VTEC
Max. power: 188bhp @ 7200rpm
Max torque: 221Nm @ 4200rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Related posts

•  Hyundai unveils the 2012 i30 in the Middle East

•  Jaguar XJL 2012 | First Drive

 

BMW X3 xDrive35i 2012

The outgoing BMW X3 had a rather long shelf life that started in 2003 and went on all the way till 2010. That's a rather long time for any single platform to remain on sale. The current version was introduced in 2010 and received minor upgrades for 2012. It follows the original design brief and is not a big departure from the introductory model in terms of appearance. It has redesigned headlights and a larger kidney grille with the fog lamps placed right below the headlights. However, the rear looks nothing like the older version with its completely new taillights and fender. The C pillar is now more angular than

Ronaldo’s amazing car collection pictures:

Cristiano Ronaldo's imminent departure to Spain for Real Madrid in a record £80m transfer from Manchester United has meant the football superstar is having a clearout at his mansion in Alderley Edge, Manchester.
And among the possessions up for sale are three of his beloved cars.

Add caption

The three right-hand drive cars are on Auto Trader: a Bentley GT Speed, Porsche 911 Carrera 2S Tiptronic and a Mercedes C220 CDI runabout.

They are being sold through Manchester-based intermediary Vehicle Consulting. Other cars sold by Ronaldo were snapped up instantly, including his Porsche Cayenne Turbo, which was tuned by Techart and cost £75k when new. It sold for £35,000.

With his new contract at Real Madrid, we're sure he'll have no trouble re-stocking his garage in Spain.

Jaguar XJL 2012 | First Drive

The folks at Jaguar are rather busy these days. Aiming at creating new brand identity, a new brand positioning and a new brand campaign, Jaguar is upbeat at reviving itself and with the all-new F-type scheduled for launch in 2013 and the Coventry based company is also freshening up its current range. Things couldn't get any better for the iconic British brand who at the moment seem to be on the rise since its takeover by the Indian auto giant, Tata Motors.
With a bid to popularise this brand transformation program, Jaguar’s marketing team has come up with a global campaign designed to capitalise on the emotional pull of Jaguar cars and challenges it’s consumers to answer: 'How alive are you?'
To reflect the ethos of the campaign, Jaguar recently hosted a two-day event in Dubai aimed at challenging attendees on how alive they felt throughout the experience - particularly while driving the XJL. Some lucky participants were also given the opportunity to sky dive from 13,000 feet over Dubai.

Land Rover planning a sporty and fast variant of Evoque

Land Rover's design director Gerry McGovern was talkative at the Beijing Auto Show. As the Evoque Sport has to look sporty, we can expect Land Rover to adorn it with a body kit and lower the car. Diesel powered Evoques are quite popular too, and the performance diesel could be given the 2. co. The configuration of the Range Rover Evoque Sport variant is not clear though Auto Express is expecting a progression of the 240bhp 2. 

BMW 7 Series facelift confirmed for launch in July

BMW has apparently finished developing the mid-life facelift for the 7 Series and will be ready to land in dealer showrooms across the US in July. 

The 2013 7 Series will be cosmetically refreshed and changes to the body are concentrated heavily around the front fascia.  These are some of the inferences we can make examining the spyshots posted on the internet.  It will be equipped with a redesigned bumper, LED headlights, reworked kidney grilles, new alloy wheels and upgraded interior trim. 

Hyundai unveils the 2012 i30 in the Middle East

Hyundai claims a real-world range of up to 1400 km between fill-ups. Related posts:.  Following Hyundai’s ‘Modern Premium’ philosophy, the company claims the i30 offers consumers a stylish and refined compact-size car with enhanced quality, performance and efficiency compared to the previous model. Related posts:.

Paying Rally tributes, Skoda introduces Fabia Monte Carlo

. The Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo is distinguished from the regular variant by a piano-black body trim extending over the wheel arches and the full length of the body.  The special edition was made to celebrate 100 years of the Monte Carlo rally and 111 years of Skoda in the sport of rallying.  A black roof, black side mirror enclosures, black radiator grille, tinted headlights and black 16-inch alloy wheels complete the list of inclusions. The Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo is distinguished from the regular variant by a piano-black body trim extending over the wheel arches and the full length of the body. The representatives of Skoda UAE, Ali Sons, have unveiled the Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo for the Middle East. .  The global debut of this model was held at the Geneva Motor Show last year and since then it has slowly made its way into international markets. The Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo is distinguished from the regular variant by a piano-black body trim extending over the wheel arches and the full length of the body.

The new 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S | First Drive

t's taken a long time coming but it’s finally here. The all-new Porsche 911 Carrera S stood patiently in front of me at the Porsche Middle East office, inviting me to get in and come close to breaking every speed limit in the UAE. It’s just impossible to conceive rational thoughts when you know you are going to spend the next few hours behind the wheel of an all-new 911 that is significantly different and better than the one it replaces. It's been the talk of the motoring town since the day it debuted in August last year and in fact, I wasn’t going to test this car at all, it was going to test me.

The new 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S might look somewhat identical to the one it replaces but looks can be deceiving and in this case, very deceiving. In its highly successful 48-year history, this is only the third all-new platform for the 911. The exterior has been completely re-designed with only 4 per cent of parts being shared with its predecessor. Sometimes, you might wonder if the 911 designers have any work to do at all but as a matter of fact, theirs is the most challenging job in the entire company. Designing a car that never departs from its original concept while accommodating all the modern aerodynamic and technical requirements is a very challenging job. The all-new Porsche 911 Carrera S stays true to the distinctive Porsche design language

Even though it looks similar in size to the outgoing version, its longer by a significant margin. Wheelbase has grown by 100 millimetres and so has front track. The height has been reduced as well and Porsche claims to have reached an ideal height-to-width ratio with the new 911 without altering the overall width that gives this car a solid road presence. The overall geometry has been changed to provide better handling with the front wheels pushed farther out and the rear wheels moving closer towards the engine. Porsche claims this improves stability and handling. The overall weight has also gone down significantly thanks to extensive use of aluminium in the body shell.
Porsche as also completely redesigned the interior. References have been taken from their iconic Carrera GT and those who already own a Panamera or a Cayenne will find similarities in the way the dashboard and the sloping centre tunnel has been laid out. Those who have driven the previous generation 911 will instantly identify the very well defined instrumentation cluster with five dials arranged neatly with the centrally located rev counter. A new addition is the multi-function screen in the second dial from the right. In addition displaying data from the on-board computer, this screen also displays navigation information.

Getting in and out of a Porsche 911 has never been easy, especially if you are tall and set on a heavier side like me. But once you manage your way in, you will be greeted by a sea of high quality materials. Everything has a bespoke finish to it and all the controls are very intuitive. Within just a couple of hours of driving this car my mind memorised the placement of each button and dial and I toggled with the audio, navigation and the sport settings infinitely without having to take my eyes off the road.
I was incapable of judging the handling and the performance while being confined to public roads and that saddened me a bit. The new electro-mechanical steering, which Porsche favoured over the older hydraulic setup has been getting negative votes from the experts because of its lack of feedback and lightness but Porsche claims this step was taken to improve efficiency. The lightness of the steering isn’t as light as I was expecting and it doesn't feel like its been set in marshmallows while feedback was good during whatever little spirited driving I could manage during my time with it. Fuel efficiency also seems to be outstanding for a sports car and if driven with a light right foot, the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S will easily go over 550 kilometres before needing a refill, which is really impressive for a sportscar.

The 2012 Porsche Carrera S has a 3.8-litre flat-six engine producing 400bhp at 7400rpm and 440Nm of torque at 5600rpm. A seven speed manual gearbox comes standard along with an optional 7-speed automatic PDK transmission. The car on test had the automatic box transferring power to the rear wheels. Porsche claims a 0-100kmph time of 4.1 seconds and like most high performance cars, the 911 Carrera S has a Nurburgring time too which is 7min 40sec. That's the same as the outgoing monster the 991 GT3 which is a race car for the road. However, steering mounted shift paddles aren’t similar to the conventional paddles found on most cars. The 911 has these two chunky aluminium buttons on the steering wheel which require some time getting use to.
The sport and the sport plus buttons certainly make a world of a difference in the way this car behaves. Fiddle with the sport plus button and the car instantly transforms into something angry and devilish. The engine lets out a roar as the gearbox instantly braces up for performance while dropping a few cogs. The 911 Carrera S also comes with a button to louden the exhaust note and that by far is the best button ever installed on a car. I wonder how Sharjah police will react to that though?

The Porsche 911 is and always will be one of the most iconic cars of the 21^st century and I'm glad I could spend quality time driving it's latest iteration. I’ve always been a sucker for cars representing brand value and heritage and the 911 is as good as they come. Only a few cars have had such a long and illustrious history. Porsche engineers have a done a fantastic job at reinventing the 911 without sacrificing any of its qualities but rather building on them. It’s comfortable enough to serve as a daily driver and provides buckets of performance and thrill at a drop of a hat. It’s one of those cars which you get out of and go,
I want one of that