Tag Archives: Adventure

Redesigned and Reengineered – All-New 2017 CR-V

09 Wednesday Aug 2017

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Driving the last two models of the Honda CRV for a couple of years in Sharjah helped create a lot of memories for me and my family but it has been a while since we checked the new SUV models by Honda.

Hence driving the completely redesigned and reengineered 2017 CR-V with bold new styling, a more premium interior and numerous new features and technologies certainly brought back some beautiful memories and made us wish we still had our old models to trade in for the new one.

The key difference we noted was the improvement in steering precision, the increased ride comfort and body control. The interior is completely redesigned, spacious and the cockpit is studded with innovative features.

The rear seat legroom impressed my very fastidious teenager used to critiquing the rear interior experience in cars in general. With the new Easy Fold Down and 60/40 split rear seat design, the CR-V interior is incredibly versatile with room for five people and substantial space for shopping, camping or golfing storage.

The CR-V offers the latest in vehicle connectivity and audio performance with a new generation of advanced technologies. The DX and LX grades have a 5-inch Color Screen Audio and the EX and Touring grades have a 7-inch touch screen Display Audio interface with Android operating systemTM that now features a physical volume knob as well as an available Navigation system.

The 7-inch touch screen Display Audio is compatible with Apple CarPlayTM and AndroidAutoTM platforms, giving customers seamless integration of key smartphone features and functions, including smartphone powered GPS navigation and voice controlled search capabilities.

The dashboard is laid out in clearly with advanced driving technology and other essential information directly in the line of sight, such as average fuel consumption, AWD torque identification, turn-by-turn navigation and Driver Attention Monitor. The Driver Attention Monitor is designed to detect driver fatigue and alert the driver when exhibiting diminished attention to the road with a series of visual and audio alerts.

Other features include the Honda LANEWATCHTM using a camera located in the passenger door mirror to display a clear image of the lanes and any vehicles that are on the lane on the 7-inch Display Audio screen. The Multi Angle Rearview Camera with dynamic guidelines ensures you park safely and quickly.

The convenience factor extends to having an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Brake Hold function, front USB ports, rear USB charging ports and front passenger seat with 4-way power adjustment and driver’s seat with 8-way power adjustment and 4-way power lumbar support.

The New CR-V comes in four grades namely, DX and LX in 2 Wheel Drive (2WD) and EX and Touring in All Wheel Drive (AWD). The 2.4-liter engine generates 184-horsepower @ 6400rpm and a torque of 244NM @ 3900rpm.

The bold exterior styling is another plus point for the new model. The 2017 CR-V has a crisper and sharper front-end design and aggressively styled headlights. Wide, muscular fenders with athletic wheel arches, longer wheelbase and short rear overhang give the 2017 CR-V a more sophisticated and athletic presence.

For safety, the all-new 2017 CR-V targets the highest available collision safety ratings, including an NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) plus it utilizes Electronic Brake Booster (EBB), which also monitors the vehicle speed.

With the All New Honda CR-V, Honda has certainly come a long way from the models I used in the past for my school runs and this time, it ticks all the usual boxes with additional new technology and attractive styling to complete the ideal SUV purchase most buyers are looking for today.

 

Performance and Prestige – Rebirth of the Acura NSX

03 Thursday Aug 2017

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The long-awaited second-generation Acura NSX, acclaimed for its reliability as well as its performance capabilities is back in the market. The new hybrid-electric sports car, powered by a mid-mounted twin-turbo V-6 engine and three electric motors, produces “north of 550 hp,” according to Acura. 

The next generation NSX is made of aluminum and carbon fiber and is lightweight, equipped with a twin-clutch, 9-speed transmission and permanent all-wheel drive. It showcases the production styling, design and specifications of Acura’s mid-engine sports hybrid supercar.

Specifically created to bring a “new sports experience” to the supercar segment, the NSX challenges conventional beliefs about supercars, much as the first generation did a quarter century ago. The approach is realized through an all-new power unit, a twin-turbo charged 75-degree DOHC V6 engine with a 9-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) and three-electric motor Sport Hybrid system, integrated with an ultra-rigid and lightweight multi-material body with world’s-first material applications and manufacturing processes.

Developed under the concept of a “human-centered supercar,” a car that puts the driver first in every aspect of its design, the next-generation NSX will leverage its state-of-the-art hybrid supercar power unit, body and chassis to deliver exceptionally intuitive and immediate response to driver inputs.

As the pinnacle representation of Acura performance and prestige, the NSX was introduced at the auto show under the theme of “Precision Crafted Performance.” The theme was the original tagline for the Acura brand, a guiding force behind the development of the original NSX and a critical component of its launch.

The development of next-generation NSX, driven by precision crafted performance, has resulted in a clean-sheet design, which involved nearly three years of intensive development effort by a global design and engineering team led by engineers at the company’s development center in Raymond, Ohio.

The NSX body features classic low and wide proportions married to modern and alluring surfacing, an aggressive front design, and tail lights that pays homage to the original NSX. The signature side intake and floating C-pillar collects air to feed the mid-mounted engine and directs airflow over the rear deck to increase down force.

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Every element of the exterior body design has been carefully fashioned for total airflow management for both stability-enhancing down force and vehicle systems cooling. The NSX has undergone extensive testing at the company’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel in Raymond, Ohio, leading to a number of significant changes from concept to final body design, including modified hood vents, new front fender vents, modified side air intakes, and an optimized deck spoiler.

The NSX’s instrument cluster features a dynamic TFT display that responds to changes in the driver-selectable Integrated Dynamics System with pertinent graphics and information. The center console holds the Power button that readies the sport hybrid powertrain, nested in the center of the new Integrated Dynamics System dial control.

In keeping with the foundational philosophy of the original NSX, the next-generation NSX is designed to provide a new sports car experience that maximizes the capabilities of the driver, delivering exceptionally intuitive and confidence-inspiring response “at the will of the driver.”

The Acura engineers leveraged the company’s expertise both with high-performance engine and hybrid electric-drive technologies, as well as its two decades of experience with industry-leading dynamic torque-vectoring technologies, including Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), to create the most sophisticated, technologically advanced and intelligent powertrain in the supercar universe.

The innovative techniques certainly deliver next-generation craftsmanship and world-class quality in the realm of specialized, supercar vehicle production.

 

Aerodynamic Performance – Aventador S

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With the hills of Tuscany as the backdrop and in the company of fellow supercar motoring enthusiasts from around the globe over a few days, I recently tested the new Lamborghini Aventador S which has a new aerodynamic design, redeveloped suspension, increased power and new driving dynamics.

The ‘S’ is the suffix of previous enhanced Lamborghini models and defines a new benchmark for the V12 Lamborghini and indicates the new Aventador generation, redesigned to achieve maximum aerodynamic efficiency while accenting the Aventador’s complex, muscular dynamism.

According to Automobili Lamborghini Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali, the Aventador S has a visionary design, cutting-edge technology with driving dynamics that elevates the concept of super sports cars to a new level.

A more aggressive nose and longer front splitter redirect airflow for better aerodynamic efficiency, improved engine cooling and increased cooling to the radiators. Two air ducts in the side of the front bumper reduce aerodynamic interference from the front tires and optimize wake flow to the rear radiator.

The rear of the Aventador S is dominated by a black diffuser, available on request in carbon fiber, characterized by a number of vertical fins that amplify the airflow effects, reduce drag through pressure recovery and generate downforce. Three single exhaust outlets exit through the rear bumper.

During the drive, we learnt how the rear wing, movable in three positions depending on speed and drive select mode, optimizes the car’s improved overall balance, working with vortex generators created in the front and rear of the chassis’ underside that maximize air flow as well as assist in brake cooling.

With the Aventador S design, the front downforce has been improved by more than 130% over the previous Aventador coupé. When the wing is in its optimum position the overall efficiency at high downforce is improved by over 50%, and in low drag by more than 400% compared to the previous model.

The Aventador S is redeveloped around a ‘total control concept’ to provide a superior drive, ride and performance; every aspect of the car’s suspension and electronic control systems has been advanced, with the goal of particularly enhanced control and driving emotion.

Also interesting is the smart Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Attiva (LDVA) control unit that manage these systems in the car. LDVA is the new brain of the car, which receives real time and precise information on body motion via input from all sensors of the car and defines the best set-up of all active systems that guarantee the best vehicle dynamics in each situation.

The Aventador S is more agile with a reduced turning radius, ensuring higher performance in curves and making it easy to maneuver in town and at low speeds. On the tracks, I tried all four different driving modes: STRADA, SPORT, CORSA and the new EGO mode, which influence the behavior of the traction (engine, gearbox, 4WD), steering (LRS, LDS, Servotronic) and suspension (LMS).

STRADA stands for maximum comfort and daily use. SPORT provides a sporty, rear-wheel drive feel and CORSA is suitable for maximum track performance.

EGO is the new driving mode option. This provides several additional and individual set-up profiles, customizable by the driver’s preferred criteria for traction, steering and suspension within the STRADA, SPORT and CORSA settings.

In STRADA, the progressive damping is smoothed for better comfort and stability on rough roads. Torque is split 40/60 to the front and rear as standard: safe and stable with maximum adhesion, the car is easily driven and controlled.

In SPORT mode, the stabilizing effect of the Lamborghini Rear-wheel Steering allows up to 90% torque to the rear wheels for maximum sportiness and driving fun on curving roads. Driving precision and driver feedback is improved, while maintaining safety and without compromising on comfort.

While I drove mainly in SPORT mode, I tried the CORSA as well experiencing less intrusive dynamic and traction control intervention while maintaining driving precision and traction. In this mode, high levels of damping force maximize driver feeling and feedback from driver inputs including steering, braking and throttle.

Counter-phase steering is enhanced in high-performance situations and torque is balanced to both axles, with a maximum 20/80 split to front and rear for more neutral behavior and to maximize track-oriented performance.

The Lamborghini Aventador’s naturally aspirated twelve cylinder, 6.5 liter engine outputs an additional 40 hp over its predecessor, to a maximum 740 hp, with a 690 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h is reached in 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 350 km/h. Transmission is provided by Lamborghini’s lightweight Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) 7-speed shifting system, providing robotized gear shifts in up to 50 milliseconds.

The Aventador S comes with new, specially developed set of Pirelli P Zero tires. Designed to optimize steering, traction, lane changes and braking efficiency, the tires are specifically designed to respond to the dynamic behavior induced by the Lamborghini Rear-wheel Steering, ensuring handling consistency and driver feedback.

With improved force generation from both front and rear tires, the Pirelli P Zero tires provide a higher lateral acceleration and reduce understeer characteristics. Carbon ceramic brakes are standard equipment for the Aventador S.

The training at the Mugello Circuit with the Aventador S enthralled the most seasoned supercar drivers and owners and the thrills on the tracks proved once again the brand’s superior road power that exudes only from a Lamborghini.

Volvo Buses puts safety as top priority for drivers this summer

18 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by in All About Wheels - Automotive (Cars, All About Wheels - Automotive (Cars, Car Clubs, SUV's, RV's etc), Car Clubs, Lifestyle features, SUV's

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Image 1 Volvo Buses B8 model

  • Bus passenger safety set to improve with roll-out of driver safety training
  • Safety courses seek to reduce fleet CO2 emissions and boost vehicle uptime with 8% improved fuel efficiency
  • Initiative forms part of manufacturer’s vision to achieve zero accidents with Volvo Group Products

Swedish manufacturer of buses and coaches, Volvo Buses, together with its partners from the transport industry, public transport authorities and private bus operators, are embarking on an initiative to significantly improve driver skills. Volvo is helping authorities and operators to initiate a series of safety training courses for drivers and their trainers with the vision to reduce road accidents, improve fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact for businesses across the Middle East and Africa.

Volvo Buses is working closely with operators and authorities across Egypt, UAE, Tunisia and Morocco, helping them to launch a series of refresher driver training programs in local languages for drivers in the region. The company aims to develop local capabilities both in terms of local expertise and creating the course content to deliver training programs in each market.

The course covers topics about the importance of good behaviour, product knowledge, safety on the road and efficient driving skills. It also provides hands-on know-how about how to use the bus features correctly, daily checks, preventive maintenance, safety, fuel efficient driving operations and do’s & don’ts. These practical Refresher Driver training courses will ultimately help drivers improve their behaviour and contribute to achieving Volvo’s goal of zero accidents with Volvo Group products.

By training drivers to take a more cautious approach on the roads, it is expected not only that safety and passenger comfort will be improved but so too will fuel efficiency and emissions. After a recent training course conducted for a Volvo Bus customer in Tunisia, drivers increased their fuel efficiency by 8%, thereby lowering costs for the operator and also contributing to improving local air quality and lowering carbon dioxide emissions.

With rising temperatures in the Middle East region and the potential physical effects that fasting and the hot weather brings, bus drivers need to be vigilant of the passengers within their own vehicles and mindful of pedestrians on the streets. Added to this, bus drivers are also responsible for checking key elements of the vehicle before a journey, ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers on-board as well as monitoring other road users. Hence, bus drivers play a crucial role in maintaining safety, and Volvo, having recognised their importance, has embarked on initiating programs for training drivers.

Commenting on this initiative of driver training, Steve Hedouin, Vice President, MEAC (Middle East-Africa-CIS) Volvo Bus Corporation, said: “The human factor plays a decisive role in nine out of ten road accidents. It is therefore paramount that drivers know the risks on the roads. We, at Volvo Buses, intend to partner with key stakeholders and focus on our drivers to improve their driving and behavioural skills, and help them make the right decisions, with the right attitude, to prevent accidents from occurring. Our driver safety courses can also impact businesses financially as skilled drivers improve fuel efficiency and vehicle uptime.”

Steve Hedouin continued, “Every day, millions of people across the region rely on our buses, and our job is to bring them safely to their destination. Safety always comes first at Volvo Buses, it is a core value and part of our soul, so our vision is clear: zero accidents with Volvo Group products. In 1927, Volvo’s founders stated that ’Safety is and must be the basic principle in all design work’. Today, almost 90 years later, we’re still leading the way with a range of pioneering safety innovations that are making their way throughout the vehicle industry”.

Since its inception in 1927, Volvo has introduced a series of inventive safety features within their products. One definitive prevention aid in the safety of bus, truck and car drivers is the seat belt. In ‎‎1958, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin invented the three-point safety belt, which is used ‎globally in trucks, cars and buses today. Volvo’s visionary three-point safety belt has saved millions of lives all over the world. ‎

Now with nine decades as a standard bearer on safety issues, Volvo Buses has looked to achieve safety improvements in multiple ways. The Volvo B8 range, the latest model launched globally by Volvo Buses, is equipped with features such as Electronic Braking Systems, Electronic Stability program, and I-Coaching. I-Coaching monitors driving patterns and provides drivers with instant feedback on vital parameters, including over-speeding and harsh braking, which in turn prevents accidents from occurring. Thus, it encourages safer driving practices, improves fuel-efficiency and, subsequently, benefits the environment – all key areas that Volvo constantly strives to promote.

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Performance, luxury and efficiency: The new Porsche Panamera

09 Friday Jun 2017

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As a Porsche owner, I always felt a pull towards the Panamera and have referred the car to many of my local Emirati friends who currently enjoy the model. Many have asked why I have not made the switch from the Cayenne Turbo to the Panamera but I get to drive the new luxury saloon so much with friends with the new Porsche Panamera, that I now consider myself a passive owner.

Redeveloped from the ground up, my current favourite of course is the Panamera 4S, a sports car and luxury saloon in one. Its engines and transmission were re-engineered, the chassis perfected, the display and operating concept interpreted for the future with multitouch controls, and its design embodies core brand values.

I first drove the Panamera on a racetrack in Abu Dhabi and the best description is that it combines the performance of a high-performance ambitious sports car with the comfort of a luxury saloon. It is essentially developed for sports car drivers who appreciate four doors and four seats. And for saloon drivers who prefer sporty handling.

The second generation Panamera is the performance icon of the luxury class with technical highlights such as rear axle steering, electromechanical roll stabilisation and a three-chamber air suspension.

Digitalisation of the automobile is changing mobility more intensively and faster than ever. The advanced cockpit offers state-of-the-art connectivity and interactive displays combining intuitive operation of smartphones with the practical aspects of controlling an automobile.

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The Panamera is equipped with many standard and optional assistance systems, which make life while driving more convenient and safer. The key new systems include Night Vision Assist.

A hi-fi system with ten loudspeakers and 150 watts of music power delivers optimal sound 
as standard aboard the Panamera 4S models. Two additional USB charging ports ensure that smartphones and tablets in the Panamera are always optimally supplied with electricity.

A Porsche has always impressed with more than just power; its efficiency is equally important. All Panamera models have new engines, permanent all-wheel drive and a new eight-speed Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK) on board.

The V8 petrol engines of the Panamera exhibit exceptional agility right up into high rev and power regions. At the same time, the eight-cylinder engines already produce their maximum torque at very low revs. This type of sports car dynamic is largely attributable to the central turbo layout, which is a feature of twin-turbo charging that has been implemented in all models.

The second generation Panamera is the first model from Porsche to feature a dual-clutch transmission with eight instead of seven speeds. The eight-speed transmission generally enables an even better gear ratio spread and with top comfort and agility, a further reduction in fuel consumption, because the seventh and eighth gears are designed as engine speed-reducing overdrive gears. All Panamera models reach their top speed in sixth gear.

The new Porsche Panamera is one of the safest cars in the world. Along with a crash-optimised body, it is the alliance of additional passive safety systems that assures maximum protection of vehicle occupants. The Porsche Side Impact Protection System offers lateral protection.

Encountering two Panamera cars that are configured identicallyis low as the Panamera, Porsche offers personalisation with a very large range of combinations of twelve body colours, ten interior colour and leather schemes, a wide variety of wheels and optional equipment.

The second generation of the Gran Turismo is available in three all-wheel drive versions: Panamera 4S, Panamera Turbo and Panamera 4S Diesel.

 

Urban Style: The young and assertive Audi Q2

09 Friday Jun 2017

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The new all rounder Audi Q2 is perfect for both city drives and off-road adventure as we find out during an action packed junket in the outskirts of Manama city in Bahrain. We fall in love with the model’s vibrant colours, angular styling, the state of the art technology and the mystery the car projects as it surprises us with its energy and confidence at every turn. 

The first part of the car that impressed me was the large luggage compartment which has ample space for shopping, gym and sports accessories and of course shoes. The compact SUV’s low roofline and high window line gives the sporty car a coupe-like look with striking wedge-shaped headlights.

Inside, the all-round visibility is impressive technologies from the full-size class. The driver can use the optional touchpad to scroll through a clearly structured menu, while passengers can surf and stream with smart-phones, tablets and other mobile devices via a Wi-Fi hotspot. The MMI screen is positioned high on the instrument panel as standard.

The driver assistance systems for the Q2 come from the full-size class. Safety is addressed with the standard emergency braking assistant and the car can autonomously maintain a distance to the vehicle ahead, monitor the blind spot and assist in lane keeping. Audi pre sense front uses radar to recognize hazardous situations that can occur with crossing pedestrians or other vehicles in front of the car. The system warns the driver and initiates hard braking if necessary, down to a standstill at low speeds.

The driver gets additional support from the latest-generation park assist.
It can manoeuvre the compact SUV into parallel and perpendicular parking spaces. Cross traffic assist rear comes into play when the driver wants to reverse out of a perpendicular parking spot. It monitors the traffic behind the car with its radar sensors.

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Audi offers a selection of three engines for the Q2: three TFSI whose power outputs range from 116 hp to 190 hp. The engine program follows the principle of rightsizing. This is about striking the perfect balance between vehicle class, engine displacement, power output, torque and efficiency behaviour in everyday conditions. Engine displacements for the new Audi Q2 are 1.0, 1.4 and 2.0 liters.

The top gasoline engine enables the four-cylinder to realize the fuel economy benefits of a downsizing engine in part-load operation, while offering the benefits of an engine with large displacement at higher loads. This results in excellent efficiency and power behavior over the entire engine speed range.

The 2.0 TFSI come standard with quattro permanent all-wheel drive. The hydraulic multi-plate clutch with its electronic control transfers torque nearly entirely to the front wheels in normal driving, but it can redirect torque in a 50:50 ratio to the rear axle.

This is how the quattro drive unites driving pleasure and driving safety, taking them to a new level. Wheel-selective torque control, an intelligent sub-function of the Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC), rounds out the quattro range of functions. The optional Audi drive select handling system lets the driver select between five modes: auto, comfort, dynamic, efficiency and individual. It influences a variety of vehicle systems, including the steering and gear shift characteristics as well as the optional suspension with adaptive damper control.

Customers also have many ways to express their personal style in the elaborately crafted interior. Colors like yellow, orange and red may be selected for inlays, sections of the seats and contrasting stitching. Inlays are also available in white plastic or brushed aluminum.

Seat upholstery choices range from high-end fabrics to fine Nappa leather. At night, the optional LED lighting package makes the interior especially attractive. In the top version, LED light guides illuminate the sculpted inlays at the front of the instrument panel and the center console with homogeneous light.