2012 Mazda CX-7

Rather than think of the Mazda CX-7 as an SUV, Mazda would rather you consider it to be the ultimate hatchback.The Mazda CX-7 has been around for a few years now and is proving to be a popular choice for those looking for something a little different. It’s been designed to drive like a hot hatch on stilts – this is a car for the family man who doesn’t want to give up any driving thrills. It’s much more of a sporting proposition than the bigger Mazda CX-9.
This is most evident from the drivers seat. Everything is angled towards the driver – with even the gear selector moving high up on the centre console to be within a short reach of the driver. The steering wheel and instrument cluster are lifted straight from Mazda’s RX-8 sportscar (unfortunately not offered in this part of the world).
There’s just the one engine on offer – a 234bhp turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder. It drives all four wheels through an extremely quick-to-react six-speed automatic gearbox, which has been tuned to hold onto the gears longer if it senses the driver is tackling a particularly complex stretch of road.
Seating is provided for five people and though headroom is a little compromised in the back due to the coupe-like raked roofline, it should prove to be big enough for most. The cabin is finished in high-quality materials with deeply sculptured seats for all those lucky enough to be on board.
All variants get six-airbags, ABS and traction control.
Specifications
Price: AED 95,000 – AED 125,000
Engine
2.3-litre inline-4 turbocharged
Max power: 234bhp
Max torque: 350Nm
Transmission
6-speed automatic

2012 Jaguar XF

When Jaguar first introduced the XF sedan in 2008 it effectively kick-started a new generation of cars for the big cat. Cars sold by Jaguar before the XF were unashamedly retro with many styling cues taken from early classics, however dwindling sales forced Jaguar into rethinking this strategy and the XF was the first new Jaguars.
It’s a four-door executive sedan aimed squarely at the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6. A number of engines are offered on the 2012 model ranging from the entry-level 238bhp 3.0-litre V6 that provides relaxed and refined motoring, through to a 510bhp supercharged 5.0-litre V8 with 510bhp and a tendency to smoke its rear tyres. For those who are torn between the two, there is also a non-supercharged version of the 5.0-litre V8 available with a more manageable 385bhp.
All XFs come with a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic gearbox, which sends power to the rear wheels. Four trim levels are offered – though even those choosing the base model aren’t going to feel short-changed – it’s call Luxury after all. Rich wood veneers and leather seats – complete with electronic adjustment controls – are standard fit. The top level Portfolio models are fitted with a world-class premium sound system and a suede headlining.
And whilst the Jaguar XF looks pretty good from the outside, it’s on the inside that Jaguar firmly shows its hand. Instead of a dour business-like interior as favoured by the XF’s German competition, the Jaguar has a much more contemporary feel. At night, the whole cabin is bathed in ice cool blue lighting, as well as the rising gear selector, the air vents swivel open when the engine starts – it just feels rather special for all those onboard.
Specifications
Price:
V6: AED 165,000 – AED 250,000
V8: AED 300,000 – AED 320,000
V8 Supercharged: AED 430,000
Engines
3-litre V6
Max power: 238bhp
Max torque: 293Nm
5-litre V8
Max power:385bhp
Max torque: 515Nm
5-litre V8 supercharged
Max power: 510bhp
Max torque: 625Nm

2012 GMC Acadia

For a long time the GMC Acadia sat as one of the very few eight-seat SUVs available in the Middle East market. It was introduced in 2007 and has proved to be a popular choice amongst growing families who prefer its more rounded styling compared to the boxy choices on offer by the other American nameplates.
The latest model, as introduced in 2009, received an improved engine over the early cars – the 2012 GMC Acadia gets a 3.6-litre V6 engine that makes a maximum of 288bhp and 366Nm of torque.

With a wide track and long wheelbase, the GMC Acadia is a rather competent car to drive for long distances on the highway. As with many crossover SUVs of its type, the Acadia is not really made for serious off-road work – it will feel very much out of its depth on anything other than the most straightforward of gravel tracks.

As standard, the GMC Acadia comes with three rows of seats with a total capacity for eight people – and, unlike many of its rivals, even with all eight seats occupied there’s still a reasonable amount of luggage room on offer behind the third row. On the top level SLT-2 trim the centre row of seats is removed. In its place are two swivelling captain’s chairs so those on board can live out their Captain James T Kirk/Jean-Luc Picard/Kathryn Janeway fantasies as you drive them to school in the morning.
For peace of mind, all Acadia models are fitted as standard with front driver and passenger, side and full-length curtain airbags to protect all those on board in case of an accident.
Specifications
Price: AED 150,000 – AED 200,000
Engine
3.6-litre V6
Max power: 288bhp
Max torque: 366Nm
Transmission
6-speed automatic

2012 Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento was launched in 2002 and the first generation had a body on ladder frame construction that made this a very capable SUV. The second Kia Sorento generation that was launched in 2009 lost some of that rugged characteristic and is now more road biased with its monocoque structure and the loss of its low ratio gearbox.

So with a new look and a new chassis, Kia also gave the Sorento a new interior to complete the set. And whilst certain elements might look a bit natty and up to date, the general fit and finish and quality of materials used is a little lacking. Still, at least there’s a decent amount of kit to keep your mind off it – the standard CD/MP3 player is pretty punchy and the leather interior helps lift the overall ambience a little even if it is finished in a drab grey colour.
The Kia Sorento was erstwhile available with a 3.3-litre V6 engine with an output of 241bhp but in 2011 the company opted for a smaller 2.4-litre engine as the one on Optima. This 2.4-litre motor makes 174bhp of maximum power and is quite a step down from the earlier V6. Transmission is taken care of by a new 6-speed automatic.
All variants come factory fitted with ABS, all-four disc brakes and two front airbags. There is no option of having additional airbags in the top-end variant. 17-inch alloy wheels are also standard across the range.
Specifications
Price: AED 75,000 – AED 85,000
Engine
2.4-litre inline-4
Max power: 174bhp at 6000rpm
Max torque: 225Nm at 3750rpm
Transmission
6-speed automatic

2013 Kia Cerato teaser images released, looks good

The 2013 Kia Cerato will come as sedan, hatch and a 2-door coupe.
Kia has released teaser images of its best selling compact car, the Cerato. The 2013 Kia Cerato will be longer, wider and lower than the current car. The new car will be sold under a new name – K3 in the Korean market. Also known as Forte in some coutries, the Cerato is global best seller for the Korean car maker. More than 445000 units were sold around the world in 2011.
Kia cars have become much sharper and sexy in recent years. From the pictures, it is clear that the 2013 Cerato will keep that pace going. In addition to the sedan version, the new Cerato will also come as five door hatchback and two-door coupe.
Expect to see the 2013 Kia Cerato in showrooms close to first quarter of 2013.

 

2012 Chevrolet Corvette

The Corvette is an iconic American sports car that offers supercar styling and entertaining performance at a bargain price. In fact the Corvette has been known to compete neck and neck in terms of performance with exotic European sports cars costing up to four times its price. The two-seater rear wheel drive Corvette is available either in coupe or convertible body style. For the performance oriented the more powerful Corvette Z06 and the super car status Corvette ZR1 are also available.

Chevrolet Corvette

Even the standard Corvette packs a punch with a powerful 430bhp, 6.2-litre V8 engine mated to a six-speed, short throw manual gearbox, with launch control. A six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is optional.
While the Corvette has faced criticism in the past for its handling, the 2010 model features a host of improvements aimed to make the Corvette a nimble yet surefooted performer. A magnetic ride control suspension is available as an option and is claimed to improve ride with its multiple settings.
The Z06 boasts a 7.0-litre V8 engine with 505bhp, a six-speed manual gearbox and a performance-enhancing equipment package. The range topping ZR1 houses a mighty supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine with 677bhp of power at its disposal. It also comes with lots of kit included in the ZR1 performance package such as magnetic ride control, larger Brembo brakes and sport tyres.
Standard equipment on the Chevrolet Corvette includes xenon headlamps, sound system, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry with push-button starter, leather seats, power driver’s seat, cruise control, and 18-inch front and 19-inch rear alloy wheels. Safety kit includes traction control, ABS, dual front airbags and side airbags. A variety of options are also available for buyers to enhance the Corvette’s performance and comfort.
Specifications
Price: AED 230,000 – AED 510,000
Engines
6.2-litre V8
Max power: 430bhp
Max torque: 574Nm
7-litre V8
Max power: 505bhp
Max torque: 637Nm
6.2-litre supercharged
Max power: 638bhp
Max torque: 819Nm
Transmission
6-speed manual
6-speed automatic

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.