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.