InFocus | Abu Dhabi Motor Show
What to watch out for
An impressive array of cars is waiting to woo UAE motorists. Which one will catch your eye?
- By Liam Nelson, Gulf News Report
- Published: 23:30 December 16, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
An impressive array of cars is waiting to woo UAE motorists. Which one will catch your eye?
As the world's major car manufacturers, some of them limping through the current economic downturn, descend upon Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi Motor Show they are no doubt gladdened by the region's fast-growing automotive market place.
Touting not only the cars of the future, a handful of which are certain to appear on the UAE roadways soon, this automotive industry trade show will be the largest in the Middle East this year, and has positioned itself as one of the region's must-see automotive events.
While the typically futuristic and ultimately unobtainable offering of concept cars will dazzle the senses, there are quite a few exciting prospects that UAE motorists may be driving within six months.
Of these new models, some are at present merely the promise of an unveiling, as is the case with Toyota's mighty 2009 Sequoia, a full-size SUV expected to compete with the Ford Expedition.
The 2009 Sequoia has prompted plenty of internet speculation, including a number of curious spy-shots in which the updated model is almost entirely disguised with black adhesive tape. It will be a relief for any UAE Toyota enthusiasts to know the mysterious new Sequoia will be on hand for preview, and will be launched for the first time in the UAE in early 2009.
Hyundai goes high-end
Hyundai's new Genesis luxury model is expected to generate significant discussion at the motor show, if for no other reason than that it represents a new direction for the South Korean car manufacturer, which has made its reputation on affordability.
According to Hyundai, "The Genesis has been designed with the VIP in mind; all its premium features combine to make what is quite possibly the most comfortable corporate vehicle available in the UAE."
The Genesis's luxury aspirations have been set into automotive form with the sort of high-end features that car enthusiasts have come to expect from manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes and Lexus.
It has a premium surround-sound audio system, sports-tuned electronic air suspension, a plush leather interior and is available V6 or V8.
Luxury car buyers seem willing to pay extra not only for performance and features, but also for the less tangible prestige that comes from owning a BMW, Mercedes, or Lexus. The real question is whether they will adopt a notably feature-rich car like the Genesis without the name recognition inherent to the brands it seeks to emulate. It would seem Hyundai has considered this question as well, as the Genesis bares only a handful of modified Hyundai 'flying H' logos, and reads only 'Genesis' below the taillights and on the doorsills, the name Hyundai conspicuously absent.
For a retro feel
Old is new again with Dodge's 2009 Challenger SRT8, a 6.1-litre HEMI V8 powered muscle car throwback that's sure to turn heads. While nostalgia may not be the cardinal virtue of the high-performance automobile scene, there's no denying this retro street racer harkens back to the original line of Challengers, now 35 years absent from the market.
"The 2009 Dodge Challenger is a serious high-performance car — as much a car for driving enthusiasts as the original classic Challenger of the past," said Trent Barcroft, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Chrysler International — Regional Centre Middle East. "We're staying true to the core principles of an exciting, affordable performance road car you can live with every day."
Drawing on the popularity, and to some degree the styling of the Dodge Charger, the Challenger will appeal to Dodge fans looking for a bit more power in their daily drive. In fact both the Charger and Challenger are shaped by the work of designer Carl Cameron, who designed the original Challenger and Charger exteriors almost four decades ago, and whose bold lines and masculine styling seem to feature in much of Dodge's current line.
Traversing new ground
While the UAE still lags behind the US and Europe in the availability of petrol-electric hybrids, another kind of crossover will be appearing soon, one that focuses on an entirely different area of efficiency. The Chevrolet Traverse, which will be on showroom floors next month, offers a sedan-like driving experience combined with the passenger capacity and cargo-load capabilities associated with full-size SUVs.
Targeted squarely at the family car market, the Traverse features six standard air bags: two dual-stage frontal air bags, two seat-mounted pelvic-thorax side-impact air bags in the first row and two head curtain side-impact air bags that cover all three seating rows, providing an admirable safety programme that will appeal to any prospective buyer.
From Toyota's towering Sequoia, itself a symbol of that carmaker's evolution, to Hyundai's Gatsbyesque Genesis, and the retro Dodge Challenger, the Abu Dhabi Motor Show will once again reveal the way in which car manufacturers the world over have built the cars of tomorrow out of the successes and failures of years gone by.
With more than 60 exhibitors presenting their wares in Abu Dhabi's sparkling National Exhibit Centre there's sure to be something of interest for even the most casual automotive enthusiast.
