We all love cars! but is a million dirham car as good as a run of the mill 75,000 dhs car?
Well I was cruising in the
Bentley Bintayga, wow, and there is a lot to be said about this SUV and we did at the start of this week's CarTalk on
DubaiEye.
We spoke about all things cars with Motoring Middle East and as usual not a stone was left unturned.
The MotoringME Crew!
The show notes.
-fpace
What are you driving?
‘The all-new PEUGEOT 3008 CUV makes Middle East debut’
The European Car of the year 2017 launched in Dubai
-Getting a Passat Sport in a week's time after a romp in the Bentley!
-Nissan Kicks! Saw one, thought it was a Juke… nope
FNR-X Looks and sounds crazy cool!
Chevrolet's sporty FNR-X crossover, a funky plug-in hybrid concept developed in China, is loaded with new technologies that will appear in production vehicles, possibly worldwide.
The all-purpose crossover came out of General Motors' Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in China and draws its FNR name from the Chevy tag line "Find New Roads."
The low-slung silhouette exudes a sporty aura, with a narrow greenhouse, steeply raked rear window and sharp fender creases.
Chevrolet says the vehicle's rear-hinged doors can be controlled remotely to make entry and exit easier.
Under the hood is a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, and an adaptive suspension adjusts ground clearance on demand to smooth the ride.
Chevrolet designed the FNR-X with the China market in mind, but the company may take the concept overseas as well to test international reaction, Alan Batey, head of Global Chevrolet, said on the sidelines of the Shanghai auto show here in April.
If produced, the FNR-X could hit a sweet spot in Chinese and global markets. Worldwide demand for compact crossovers is hot, while in China, increasingly stringent emissions regulations are forcing carmakers to roll out more plug-in hybrids and other electrified vehicles.
"There are parts of this vehicle that will absolutely find their way into our production vehicles," Batey said.
The FNR-X features next-generation fuel economy, safety and connectivity technologies.
To reduce drag and improve aerodynamics, the vehicle gets active grille shutters and switchable wheel blades that automatically adjust during high-speed driving, Chevrolet said.
Front and rear spoilers also adjust to speed to smooth airflow.
Speech-activated commands, an augmented reality head-up display and an infotainment system tailored to individual preferences round out the in-cabin tech options. On the exterior, an array of optical and acoustic sensors provides highly autonomous driving ability.
Another Skoda! Replacing Yeti
http://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/new-offering-compact-suv-segment-skoda-karoq/
The ŠKODA KAROQ is a completely new compact SUV. The emotive and dynamic design with numerous crystalline elements characterises ŠKODA’s new SUV design language. As a true ŠKODA, the ŠKODA KAROQ offers exceptional space in the interior and boot, new driver-assistance systems, Full LED headlights and – for the first time in a ŠKODA – a digital instrument panel. Five engine variants are available from 85 kW (115 hp) to 140 kW (190 hp), of which four are new. Features such as the rear-seat VarioFlex system and virtual pedal for the hands-free opening of the boot are additional smart ideas for the brand’s new compact SUV.
It is clear from the exterior shape, modified lines and larger dimensions that this is a completely new vehicle. The ŠKODA KAROQ is a sports utility vehicle with character: The emotive and dynamic design with numerous crystalline elements characterises ŠKODA’s new SUV design language.
The compact SUV measures 4,382 mm in length, is 1,841 mm wide, and 1,605 mm high. The long wheelbase of 2,638 millimetres (all-wheel version: 2,630 mm) gives the ŠKODA KAROQ a comfortable stance on the road. The increase in size benefits the passengers. The legroom is 68 millimetres.
The ŠKODA brand stands for an exceptional package. This also applies to the new KAROQ. The luggage compartment has a capacity of 521 litres with the back seats in place. With the rear seats folded down, the volume increases to 1,630 litres. In combination with the optional VarioFlex rear seat, the boot space is variable and can hold between 479 and 588 litres. The seats can also be completely removed – and the SUV becomes a van with a maximum loading capacity of 1,810 litres.
KIA building a factory in India!
Can Hyundai out prius a prius? Ioniq
The Ioniq and its sister, the Kia Niro crossover, are just volleys one and two in a seven-vehicle broadside over the next year intended to bust the Prius’s lock on the average person’s mental image of a hybrid. Hyundai’s plan is to fight hard on pricing. The base $23,035 Ioniq Blue comes in $2535 under the base Prius Two, though you’ll have to compare the respective features lists closely to see which car has the stuff that matters to you. Would you rather have heated mirrors (Prius) or dual-zone climate control (Ioniq)? As you go up the Ioniq’s trim levels, from Blue to SEL to Limited, the Hyundai’s price advantage narrows but remains.
Hyundai plans to employ the same basic component set to yield not only the hybrid Ioniq, which in its most stripped-down Blue trim lays claim to a 58-mpg EPA average, but a plug-in hybrid and a full EV as well. It is also Hyundai’s first platform designed with autonomy in mind, the car said to be ready to add all-seeing, all-knowing hardware to its portfolio of optional driver’s aids when the tech becomes available.
There is opportunity here. If Toyota can be faulted for something besides refusing to make anything more than modest improvements to the Prius’s handling, it’s for not expanding the Prius sub-brand into body styles such as crossovers, which are the preferred choice of today’s buyers. Not everyone willing to pay extra for electrification wants a potato, and Hyundai doesn’t plan on making that same mistake.
