Ahmed Alamri, UAE national drift champion

AutoMiddleEast.com met up with UAE national drift champion Ahmed Alamri and spoke to him about the new Toyota Emirates Drifting team, the Toyota 86 and his future as the best drifter in the Middle East.

Q. Congratulations on the formation of Toyota Emirates Drifting Team. Can you tell us more about the Toyota 86 you are working on?
A. Thank you so much! I’m really excited about the new team and I’m really looking forward to driving the 86 on professional circuits. The 86 is a great car and since the moment I drove the car at the launch I have been itching to give it a go on a pro-drift circuit. The car we are working on will have a lot of aftermarket parts that we are ordering from America and Japan. We are going in for engine modifications and other performance accessories that will enhance the performance of the Toyota 86. We are also building our own custom part here in the UAE which is a totally unique part and I believe that will give us the edge over the competition.

Q. How does it feel to be a part of a factory sponsored team and how supportive has Toyota been so far?
A. I’m delighted to be associated with one of the finest automotive companies in the world and ever since the start the technical team from Emirates Drifting team has been in close contact with the technical team at Toyota regarding the aftermarket and performance parts for our car. Toyota has also been very supportive regarding our ideas and we have complete access to their technical facilities.

Q. Can you give us more details on the technical modifications done to your car?
A. Toyota Emirates Drifting Team is making a winning drifting machine, there is no doubt about that! We have ordered a lot of parts to tune the engine and the suspension to boost the cars performance. We are also making a custom suspension part here in the UAE. Even though we are using a lot of aftermarket parts the core components are essentially Toyota. The transmission is a Toyota box with some aftermarket touches. We have ordered a lot of aftermarket strengthening parts for the engine because we are looking at a final output of around 500 – 550bhp at the rear wheels.

Q. How do expect to fare against other factory sponsored teams in the Middle East?
A. I started my drifting career with Toyota and now I have an amazing car with the best wheelbase. We don’t only have a good platform to start with but we also have a tremendous scope to alter the car for drifting thanks to the immense popularity of this car around the world. I can guarantee that Toyota Emirates drifting team will try their best to be on every podium. I’m not so concerned about other factory teams because we have a solid platform and I believe we are much better in terms of technical competence.

Q. Are there any plans for a class specific drifting competitions for the Toyota 86?
A. This is exactly what we are hoping for. In the next two years we are planning to start a drifting series for Toyota 86 owners. We will organise drift competitions and supervise the events to ensure a safe and enjoyable conditions for all participants. We are very keen on increasing the popularity of the sport in the Middle East and we are also accessible for any queries or questions that anyone might have regarding drifting in the UAE. Our followers can ask us questions via our Facebook page and we promise to reply within 24-48 hours. We will also be posting updates on our progress on our Facebook page for those who want to see the modifications in detail.

Q. Do you have a favorite drifter or is there someone you idolise?
A. I do follow a lot of international drifters but I don’t idolise anyone. I'm my own inspiration.

2012 Ford Mondeo

The Mondeo is a European-built mid-size sedan, which has gained a reputation for being a good value family car. A much-improved fourth generation Mondeo was introduced in the region in 2008 to better compete with archrivals like the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry.
The 2012 Ford Mondeo is available in two trim versions; Trend and Titanium. Buyers can choose from two engines; a base 145bhp, 2.0-litre engine available with a five-speed manual gearbox or a 161bhp, 2.3-litre unit mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Sadly the front-wheel drive Mondeo is not available with a V6 engine like many of its competitors. Performance is brisk however and the Mondeo is known for its dynamic handling and refined ride.
Ford’s kinetic design theme adds some flair to the exterior, which manages to please most. The interior is contemporary and well laid out but the base versions lack essential conveniences and equipment. The top end Titanium trim however comes loaded with 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, leather wrapped steering, sunroof, power windows, cruise control, keyless entry, faux wood ascents, ambient lighting and B pillar air conditioning ducts. Ford has not compromised on safety and all three versions come with dual front airbags, front-seat side airbags, curtain airbags, driver side knee airbags and ABS with EBD.
Options include leather seats, ventilated front seats, sport suspension, front and rear parking sensors, stability control, adaptive cruise control, keyless start button and Xenon adaptive headlights.
Specifications
Price: AED 75,000 – AED 100,000
Engines
2-litre inline-4
Max power: 146bhp
Max torque: 185Nm
2.3-litre inline-4
Max power: 161bhp
Max torque: 209Nm
Transmission
6-speed automatic

2012 Nissan Xterra

2012 Nissan Xterra

The Nissan Xterra is a rugged SUV with proper off-road credentials and it looks the part. Big wheel arches, a front scuff plate and a high ground clearance, combined with chunky plastic bumpers and big tyres say that this machine is not afraid of a bit of sand or dirt. A step is built into the rear to allow easy access to the roof rack, which has moveable crossbars for flexible storage options.
The boot features ten clip and hook points in the floor, walls and ceiling, allowing for all manner of gear to be stowed safely. Inside, there’s no fancy soft-touch materials here; rather a raft of wipe-clean plastic surfaces. Available features do make some concessions to luxury and include a six CD changer, Bluetooth phone connectivity and satellite navigation.
If you know your off-roading, then you’ll understand the relevance of a 33-degree approach angle and 29-degree angle of departure. If you don’t, then just rest assured that it means the Xterra can go up and down pretty steep slopes.
Three versions of the Xterra are available for 2010: X, S and SE grades. All three get their power from a 4.0-litre V6 engine, producing 270bhp and attached to a five-speed automatic gearbox or a 6-speed manual that is available as an option on the X and the S variants. The four-wheel drive system can be switched between two and four-wheel power while on the move at speeds of up to 100kph. There’s also a low-ratio option for off-roading. A system called Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) helps to maintain traction on slippery surfaces.
Safety features include front, side and curtain airbags as well as ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and VDC (electronic stability control).
Specifications
Price: AED 100,000 – AED 120,000
Engine
4-litre V6
Max power: 270bhp at 5600rpm
Max torque: 386Nm at 4000rpm
Transmission
5-speed automatic
6-speed manual

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan

 

The Phaeton is a large, limousine-like sedan from Volkswagen and represents a bold idea that didn’t really work – commercially at least. It was conceived by Ferdinand Piech as a worthy competitor to the best seller in the luxury saloon segment, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

VW hoped that the car would challenge the luxury barges produced by the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but the Volkswagen name just didn’t hold the prestige that buyers of such cars wanted. The Volkswagen Phaeton shares its underpinnings with a heavyweight like the Bentley Continental GT and has some of the very best technology found in any car as of today.Volkswagen went on to file over 150 patents in the process of building the Phaeton. But because of its people carrier badge, the Phaeton didn’t sell in volumes that VW expected.
The car was given a facelift in 2011, with LED running lights, a few other minor exterior tweaks and a revamped interior. VW says that the already high quality interior is now even more luxurious. Features include four-zone air conditioning, powered boot lid, air suspension and a 150-function infotainment system.

 

Options include a rear seat DVD and TV system, satellite navigation and even a 17.5-litre fridge. Power seats, allow wheels and a sun roof are all-standard. The car comes with five seats as standard, although the Phaeton can be ordered with four seats for more space in the back.
Performance comes from a choice of three engines, all of which are mated to a four-wheel drive system. A 3.2-litre V6 makes 241bhp while the 4.2-litre V8 puts out 335bhp and bother are mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. The most powerful option is a massive 6.0-litre W12 unit (think of two V6s fused together) that pushes out 450bhp through a five-speed gearbox and this engine is ‘on order’ only.
The Phaeton is available in a regular and a long-wheelbase and the GCC only gets the long-wheelbase version.
Specifications
Price: AED 225,000 – AED 420,000
Engine
3.2-litre V6
Max power: 241bhp
Max torque: 315Nm
4.2-litre V8
Max power: 334bhp
Max torque: 430Nm
6-litre W12
Max power: 450bhp
Max torque: 560Nm
Transmission
5-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive

Ferrari 458 Italia v McLaren MP4-12C

Ferrari - The newest of the new - the current rivalry between the McLaren MP4-12C and the Ferrari 48 Italia has all the makings of a classic: an established player of unquestioned pedigree, facing off against a fine young upstart.

Ferrari

McLaren - Extra frisson is added by Ferrari and McLaren's Formula One opposition, of course, but the real twist comes when the 12C found itself losing out in almost every twin test - despite having more power. This isn't over yet.

Mitsubishi Evo v Subaru WXR STi

Mitsubishi - Another classic battle born from competition - Subaru and Mitsubishi have been going toe-to-toe on rally stages for years now. This has been great news for us petrolheads, since the rival road cars are amongst the most thrilling around.

Mitsubishi Evo

 Subaru - The days of rally dominance may be over, as rally legislations now favour smaller hatchbacks, but you can still pick your favourite on the road. The Evo is generally edgier, the Subaru more supple, both are explosive - your choice.

Subaru WXR STi

Lamborghini Countach v Ferrari Testarossa

Lamborghini - Moving away from racetrack and rally stages and onto the bedroom wall - is there a more classic 80s motoring rivalry than this? The Ferrari Testarossa and the Lamborghini Countach - both paragons of outrageous (and outmoded) style.

Lamborghini Countach

 Ferrari - The Countach is actually a child of the 70s, with the Testarossa arriving an entire decade later on - but both are mid-engined, both have 12 cylinders and both continue to turn heads today

Ferrari Testarossa

BMW M3 (E30) v Mercedes 190 Cosworth

BMW - The E30 generation BMW M3 is regarded as one of the all-time classic M cars, with beautifully focused rear-wheel-drive handling and a soulful four-cylinder engine producing up to 241hp in road-going Sport Evolution form.

BMW M3 (E30)

 Mercedes-Benz - The Mercedes 190 2.3 16v Cosworth is less well-known and less powerful (235hp at its Evo II max) but the M3's archrival on track. Both were homologation models for German touring car racing, and either would find a spot in our dream garage.

Mercedes 190 Cosworth

Jaguar XKR-S v Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The similarity in appearance between some Jaguar and Aston Martin sports car models is a long-standing joke, but until very recently Aston kept its distance through prestige and premium. Now though, there's the Jaguar XKR-S. 

Jaguar XKR-S

 Aston Martin - Jaguar's 550hp track-honed beastie will give a 911 GT3 a hard time, but arguably it lacks the visual grace of its closest price rival in the Aston range - the V8 Vantage. However, it whups it for power. New handling packs for the Aston upgrade the driving experience. 

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Ford Mondeo v Vauxhall Insignia

Ford - Slowing the pace just a little, it's time to revisit that classic rivalry of the rep mobiles - Ford verses Vauxhall. At one time it was all about the Sierra and the Cavalier, nowadays it's the Mondeo and the Insignia. 

Ford Mondeo

Vauxhall - Both are - genuinely - very good cars, with excellent overall quality, stacks of space inside and an engaging driving experience. We'd be quite happy pedalling either. Sadly these days everyone wants an Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series instead. 

Vauxhall Insignia

Volkswagen Golf GTI v Peugeot 205 GTI

Volkswagen - The Volkswagen Golf GTI is the granddaddy of all hot hatchbacks, but when the mk2 version came along in 1983 it was clear rival carmakers wanted a piece of the action - not least Peugeot with its GTI version of the 205. 

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Peugeot - Both are considered outright classics now, and if you can find an unmolested example of either going for a reasonable price you should snap it up. 

Peugeot 205 GTI

MINI v Audi A1

MINI - And finally, these two may be cute, but they're certainly serious rivals. It took a long time for a major premium rival to come along and challenge the MINI, but Audi's A1 has taken up the fight with aplomb. 

MINI

Audi - It's not that we're saying the Fiat 500 and Citroën DS3 are also-rans, but really only Audi has the clout to do this battle justice. Pick the MINI if you prefer the best driving fun, the A1 if you hanker after a more serious image. 

Audi A1

2012 Hyundai Centennial

The Hyundai Centennial is the flagship car for the Korean carmaker and it successfully competes with the best sedans in the world. The Centennial is the third rear-wheel-drive product in Hyundai’s lineup and uses high-tensile steel in critical areas throughout the unibody that provides it with significantly higher dynamic torsional rigidity and a lower body structure weight.

Hyundai Centennial

The Centennial is loaded with features such as adaptive air-suspension, front and rear facing cameras, massaging drivers seat, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and much more. The Hyundai Centennial offers a Lexicon-branded state-of-the-art audio system featuring LOGIC 7technology. The Lexicon surround sound audio system includes a 13-channel digital amplifier and 17 speakers producing 608 watts of power in 7.1 discrete surround sound audio.
It is powered by a 4.6-litre V8 engine that produces 370bhp of maximum power and 440Nm of maximum torque. This is powerhouse is coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission that sends powers to the rear wheels.
Standard safety features on the Hyundai Centennial are Electronic Stability Control (ESC), nine airbags, electronic active front head restraints, lane departure warning system and smart cruise control. The Hyundai Centennial even has a Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system that optimally manages ESC, the electronic parking brake, smart cruise control and the seatbelt tensioning system for optimal safety.
The Hyundai Centennial has a total of nine airbags that include advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, roof-mounted side curtain airbags for both front and rear outboard seat occupants and a driver’s knee airbag.
Specifications
Price
11A GLS: AED 254,700
12A GLS: AED 263,000
Engine
4.6-litre V8
Max power: 370bhp at 6500rpm
Max torque: 440Nm at 3500rpm
Transmission
8-speed automatic

Mercedes E63 AMG v BMW M5

Mercedes-Benz and BMW - We've just driven the refreshed Mercedes E63 AMG - which now comes with two turbochargers and an AMG Performance package that can take the fight right to the forthcoming BMW M5. Which got us to thinking - what other great rivalries are there in the automotive world? Limiting the selection to specific models we've come up with 10 tussles that any fight promoter would be happy to bill.

Mercedes E63 AMG and BMW M5

2012 Toyota Camry | Longterm test | Part 4

Going over my past long term reviews of the 2012 Toyota Camry SE that we received two months ago, I realised that I have been praising the car left right and centre. To be honest, I have been really impressed by the car so far and finding faults with it has been next to impossible. Everything works perfectly and the fact that this is my last week with the Camry has brought about this feeling of gloom that is growing every minute.

2012 Toyota Camry

Last week I completed 4,000 kilometres in the Camry and that called for a little celebration. With all the money I managed to save thanks to the Camry’s frugal engine, I invited some friends for dinner and the next few hours saw the Camry packed with four young guys, each resembling a rugby player to say the least. This is when I realised that the Camry should have been a bit more powerful. As I have mentioned in my earlier reviews, the only thing I think the Camry lacks is power. Overtaking becomes a challenge when you have all five seats occupied and have some luggage in the boot. The engine lets out a loud whine but the car struggles a bit to increase speed. I think I’m expecting a bit too much out of this economical family car but that’s a feeling I’ve got more than once.

2012 Toyota Camry

The Camry has also crossed the 10,000 kilometres mark and that means it needs to go in for a routine service. I have felt the smoothness of the engine and the transmission fade away a bit and the wheel alignment also seems to be a bit off as the car has this slight tendency to drift towards the right. Fuel consumption too has gone up a bit but I’m confident it will return to its normal state once the car gets a service.
Facts and figures
Date acquired: 08/05/2012
Total mileage: 10,058 kilometers
Mileage since last update: 2048 kilometers
Fuel consumed: 176 litres
Average fuel consumption: 11.63

2012 Hyundai Sonata

The 2012 Hyundai Sonata represents the Korean carmaker’s modern approach to the traditional midsize sedan segment. The exterior of the Hyundai Sonata is long, light and low and carries the fluidic sculpture design language that is now adopted by almost every Hyundai car. Hyundai claims the Sonata to be more spacious than the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu.

Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata gets a Theta II GDI 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection. The Sonata is the first midsize sedan to direct injection as standard equipment in a naturally aspirated powertrain. This engine produces 179bhp of maximum power and 228Nm of maximum torque and is mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control.

Developed over a four-year period, this new six-speed automatic is significantly lighter than the five-speed it replaces. It is also is 1.6 inches shorter and considerably simpler, having 62 fewer parts, which is a key to increased durability, lighter weight and lower cost.

A fully adjustable steering column, power windows and paddle gear shifters are part of standard equipment across the Sonata range. Also standard are front fog lamps, keyless entry and cruise control.

Hyundai offers the Sonata in four different trim levels and the 12 GL, 12A GL, 13 GL come with a single airbag and the first two variants don't get ABS. The top of the line 14A GLS variant comes with six airbags, ABS and EBD. It also gets a reversing camera and parking sensors along with navigation.

Specifications

Price:

12 GL: AED 59,000
12A GL: AED 60,900
13 GL: AED 68,900
14A GLS: AED 86,900

Engine

2.4-litre inline-4
Max power: 179bhp at 6000rpm
Max torque: 228Nm at 4000rpm

Transmission

6-speed automatic with paddle shifters

2012 Honda Accord Coupe

The 2012 Accord Coupe's exterior expresses a more upscale and powerful presence with a new style chrome grille, front bumper and rear combination lamps and a new wheel design. Building on the sedan's design character, the Accord Coupe's unique muscular stance is enhanced with a bolder front grille design, new front bumper shape, sharp rear combination lamps and a new wheel design.
Interior refinements on all models include new seat fabrics (on models with fabric seats) and new instrument panel design. The interior styling on all models provides luxury, world-class ergonomics and intuitive vehicle controls. Available as an option on Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe are new technology features like Navigation System, i-Dual Zone Automatic Air-conditioner, Bluetooth telephone connectivity (HFT) and rear view camera. The Navigation System has extensive coverage of all major roads in GCC and its large 8-inch screen and jog dial for navigation controls is easy to use.
The Accord Coupe 2.4 EX is equipped with 191bhp 2.4-liter, i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine. The higher end Accord Coupe 3.5 EX is equipped with 271bhp 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC i-VTEC V6 engine. Both the variants get a 5-speed automatic transmission as standard and the 3.5 EX gets steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.
VSA, ABS, front airbags, front active head-rests and Advanced Compatibility EngineeringTM body are standard safety features available the Accord Coupe along with curtain airbags and side
Specifications:
Price:
2.4 EX: AED 105,000
3.5 EX: AED116,000
Engine:
2.4-litre, 4-cylinder, DOHC i-VTEC
Power: 191bhp @ 7000rpm
Torque: 222Nm @ 4400rpm 3.5L,
V6, SOHC i-VTEC
Power: 271hp @ 6200rpm
Torque: 339Nm @ 5000rpm
Transmission
5-speed automatic