An unparalleled window display even for Harrods

SECTOR SCAN 1 - ROLLS

SECTOR SCAN 2 - JAGUAR

This Jaguar sure has aged well

After being tucked away in a garage for 30 years and more a 1961 Jaguar E-Type fetched £109,020 – more than three times its highest pre-sale estimate – at a Bonhams auction late last month. The early ‘flat floor’ 3.8-litre model dating from the first few weeks of production is one of the earliest surviving right-hand drive E-Type roadsters and had never been restored. It had covered only 65,000 miles funtil the time it was confined a garage and forgotten… until now. “We had eight telephone bidders on this car but it ended up going to the man in the room who offered the first bid of £40,000,” said Tim Schofield, head of the Bonhams Motor Car Department.

SECTOR SCAN 3 - FORD

Ford sows bumper volumes from Q1

It has been a volume game for Ford in the first quarter. Sales were up 14 per cent to ensure the carmaker had its best ever returns at its Middle East operations. The gains were markedly even better on the SUV and truck line-up, with Q1 sales up 30 per cent from a year ago. There were steady volume improvements fro its luxury marquee, Lincoln, as well. “It is more and more evident that our new generation models are gaining wider ground in the region today,” said Thierry Sabbagh, Ford Middle East’s director of sales.

SECTOR SCAN 4 - INFINITI

Infiniti sets up academy for regional sales teams

Infiniti is putting on its teaching cap. It has set up the Infiniti Training Academy to offer a structured learning process for Infiniti sales teams in the region. There will be a transfer of relevant product knowledge including tools, brand messages and philosophy to all Infiniti staff. The Academy will have a certification programme that will act as a guide for sales personnel. “The Infiniti Training Academy will not only benefit our key stakeholders, retail partners and networks, but most importantly our customers as well,” said Juergen Schmitz, regional general manager for the luxury marquee.

SECTOR SCAN 5 - PATROL

Patrol hits the highs in the Middle East

One of the most enduring SUVs in the region, the Nissan Patrol had its best outing in history with more than 14,000 units sold in 2012. This comes from a 66 per cent increase, far in excess of the overall SUV segment’s growth of 24 per cent. The latest tally gives the Patrol a market share of 22 per cent in the Gulf. The Patrol, the current generation was introduced in 2010, is available in two specification grades – SE and LE. “Patrol, known in this region as the ‘Hero of All Terrains’, continues to gain market share,” said Samir Cherfan, regional director for sales and marketing at Nissan.