Luxury car manufacturers showcase dazzling models at this year’s Dubai International Motor Show.

 With the Middle East predicted to witness unprecedented growth within the luxury car segment over the next five years, luxury car manufacturers are set to showcase their most dazzling models at this year’s Dubai International Motor Show.

The world’s premium marques join a full list of international exhibitors preparing to unveil their latest models, concept cars and technological innovations during the five day event running from 10–14 November 2011 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

According to IHS Automotive,  figures released by the leading luxury car manufacturers indicate that sales of luxury cars in the Middle East are expected to increase by 20% this year - the highest level ever and more than double the 9.7 percent growth that the Middle East luxury segment experienced last year.  It is also predicted that, if the pattern continues, the Middle East luxury car segment will double over the period 2010-2015 positioning the region as a global leader within this lucrative market.

“We are delighted that so many key names within the luxury car market choose the Dubai International Motor Show as their preferred event to exhibit and launch new models to the region and globally” said Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President of Dubai World Trade Centre, the organiser of The Dubai International Motor Show “The fact that the show is a must attend event for leading premium brands is testament to its success at reaching their target customers within the luxury segment”

To mark the 100th year anniversary of the Spirit of Ecstasy  -the iconic Flying Lady mascot - Rolls Royce Motor Cars is demonstrating the importance of the Middle East by showcasing two highly bespoke phantom models, as well as a yet to be revealed exclusive showpiece  that promises to dazzle crowds.

James Crichton, Regional Director at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Middle East and Africa, comments “This has been a tremendously successful year for Rolls-Royce with sales achieving almost 65% market share of the ultra-luxury (over $250,000) car segment until the end of August. We have defined the growth in this segment and the continuous demand for our highly Bespoke Phantom and Ghost models is testament to the increasing demand in the market for ultra-luxury goods. The Middle East region continues to be an important driver in the global growth of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and last year contributed to over 15% of our global sales. With the Middle East being one of our core markets, the participation in the Dubai Motor Show is unquestioned and we look forward to celebrating the 100 year anniversary of The Spirit of Ecstasy at the event.”

Ultra-luxury car manufacturer, Bentley, has also enjoyed ongoing success this year, having witnessed a 31% increase in Bentley’s global sales on the same period last year, with overall sales expected to grow around 40% with the imminent arrival of the new Continental GTC.  This year’s show is set to be a seminal event for Bentley, with a number of models scheduled for regional debuts in the manufacturer’s strongest performing market in the region. 

Chris Buxton, Regional Director, Bentley Middle East, Africa and India said “The Dubai Motor Show grows in size and importance each year. At this year’s show, Bentley will show the new Continental GTC for the first time in the region, alongside the new Continental GT. We will also have our flagship, the Bentley Mulsanne on the stand, which is the epitome of British luxury motoring together with a very special Series 51 Continental Flying Spur”.

With the top end BMW 7 Series, X6, X5 and 5 Series consistently amongst its bestsellers, sales for BMW this year continue to grow.  The UAE remains the biggest market in the region for the leading luxury car manufacturer, making the Dubai International Motor Show an important showcase for its premium models.

"Together with our local importer, AGMC, we will display 16 BMW and MINI models at this year's Dubai International Motor Show.  It's a fantastic, well organised show attended by thousands of people so it presents a great platform for us to showcase some of our latest models and technology features.  We are looking forward to our participation and the excitement of the motor show which will add further interest to the popularity and excellent sales of our brands," said Joerg Breuer, Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East.

The Middle East maintains its position as the most successful market for Mercedes-Benz’s ultra-luxury Maybach marque, with its extensive bespoke service attracting the discerning customers in the region looking for luxury at the highest level.   

"As the leading automotive exhibition in the Middle East, the Dubai International Motor Show 2011 provides the ideal opportunity for Mercedes-Benz to showcase it latest products. As we celebrate 125 years since the invention of the automobile, this year's show is the most important for us to date. With over 50 years experience in delivering our promise of ‘The Best or Nothing’ in the region, the Dubai International Motor Show 2011 marks a major milestone for Mercedes-Benz, and we plan to make a splash with some exciting new models," said Frank Bernthaler, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East and Levant.

Exhibitors joining Bentley, Rolls Royce, Mercedes-Benz and BMW this year include Audi, Aston Martin, Bugatti, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.

The Dubai International Motor Show will be held from 10–14 November 2011 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show is open from 5pm–10pm on Thursday 10 November, 3pm–10pm on Friday 11 November and 11am–10pm on 12, 13, 14 November. Ticket prices are AED 50. For more information visit http://www.dubaimotorshow.com/  

Hot Rod Fuller Smashes Two Personal Bests in the Yas Marina Circuit

In the third and fourth qualifying rounds of the Uni-Select Auto Plus NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pennsylvania over the weekend, Hot Rod Fuller, in the Yas Marina Circuit Top Fuel Dragster ran the fastest time of his career to date.  Rod came in under the esteemed 3.8 second Elapsed Time (ET) mark, with an ET of 3.785 seconds. 

Rod also broke his highest speed record, for the second time this season.  Set just weeks ago in Minnesota, Fuller reached a speed of 325mph, beating his previous best by nearly 3mph.   

These efforts positioned the Yas Marina Circuit Top Fuel Drag Team in a respectable fifth place leading into the eliminations, only to smoke the tyres and be knocked out in the first round.

“We made our career quickest and fastest pass, which says a lot for this team. I’m so proud of all of the Yas Marina Circuit guys, especially with how well we’ve done these last couple of races. We struggled on race day, but we really moved up and we’re running with the top guys after only 8 races all season. You know, that’s nothing to hang our heads about,” commented Hot Rod Fuller.

“Getting above the 320mph barrier again, just goes to show that we have the speed; we just need to get everything to line up now.  It’s frustrating that we haven’t won, but we know we have a car that can win,” he continued.

The team has only two races left in the ten race season, with Rod having previously performed well at both tracks.   The next race will take place in Phoenix, Arizona from 14-16 October, followed by the final meet in Las Vegas at the end of October. 

Aston Martin awarded UK’s coolest brand fifth time in six years

Gaydon, Warwickshire, 28 September 2011. Aston Martin has been awarded the prize of the UK’s coolest brand, winning this prestigious accolade for an unprecedented fifth time in six years.

Once again, Aston Martin has topped a poll which comprises an array of leading international contemporary design-driven brands, including Apple and Bang & Olufsen, as well as other leading automotive brands. Aston Martin was also voted the top automotive brand surpassing a host of other luxury and specialist manufacturers to complete a double success.

Stephen Cheliotis, Chief Executive, The Centre for Brand Analysis and Chairman of the CoolBrands Council commented: “Smooth, sexy and sophisticated; British built, high quality and hand finished, let’s be honest, young or old, male or female, opinion former or British public, who wouldn’t aspire to own what is truly the coolest car on the road. Number one in five of the last six years, this British icon is truly the coolest of the cool.”

Since it was established in 2001, the CoolBrands initiative has been canvassing the opinions of experts and consumers to identify the coolest brand in the UK, based on factors including style, innovation, authenticity, originality and desirability.

This year’s council of 36 influencers includes music artist Jessie J, DJ and Bestival founder Rob da Bank and actress and fashion designer, Sadie Frost. After 10,000 brands are initially identified, a shortlist of 1,500 brands is established and the panel and consumers then vote to produce a top 500 of the most highly rated brands.

The past decade has seen Aston Martin transformed from a small-scale manufacturer of specialist sports cars to one of the world’s best-known luxury brands, boasting its strongest ever line-up. From the breathtaking One-77 supercar and the elegant yet brutal V12 Zagato to the Tailor-Fit luxury city car, the Cygnet, from the powerful Vantage range and new Virage to the exquisite DB9, DBS and Rapide, every Aston Martin expresses the core values of Power, Beauty and Soul. The Aston Martin range was expanded further at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, where the company unveiled the striking new DBS Carbon Series. 

Aston Martin is globally represented with a network of 136 dealers in 42 countries, most recently opening new dealerships in Istanbul, Turkey, Las Vegas, USA and Mumbai, India. The company also has ambitious growth plans for up to four new dealer sites in China over the next 12 months, doubling the existing network.

Aston Martin remains at the forefront of contemporary manufacturing, a cultural force that embodies design and engineering excellence, and a brand with a truly special heritage. Renowned around the world, Aston Martin enters the next decade with the promise of radical innovation and change, without losing the core qualities that make this strong, independent British brand so widely revered.

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW SET FOR SELLOUT SUCCESS

November stands to be the busiest month on wheels this year, with the Dubai International Motor Show, the region’s biggest and most influential automotive event, forecasting one of the biggest shows in its 22 year history, and a number of crowd-pulling newcomers choosing the show for their Middle East debuts.

Running from 10 – 14 November 2011 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, this year’s Dubai International Motor Show will include first time participation by some of the world’s most exciting and powerful motoring marques, including McLaren, Lotus, MG and De Macros. They join a world class list of international automotive manufacturers preparing to unveil their latest models, concept cars and technological innovations during the four day show.

Sales of high-end cars in Gulf countries are expected to grow by 20 percent this year, more than double the 9.7 percent forecast for the segment globally, according to data from international market research company IHS Automotive. Double digit growth for Middle East markets in the first half of 2011 has also been reported by the world’s leading motoring manufacturers, highlighting the importance of the region for the industry. 

“The Dubai International Motor Show has earned a place in the automotive world as the definitive platform for showcasing the latest and most exciting models and marques, and this year’s event is looking to reach new levels.  There is no doubt that the Middle East is one of the highest growth markets for the world’s premium automotive manufacturers, and the show attracts the biggest regional audience of motoring enthusiasts. It’s an unbeatable combination,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre, the organiser of the biennial show. 

The growing list of top exhibitors confirmed this year include Audi, Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.

Luxury automotive manufacturers such as Jaguar Land Rover will showcase their strongest and most comprehensive line-up of vehicles in the company’s history, choosing the Dubai International Motor Show to debut the complete 12MY range of Jaguar, Land Rover and Range Rover nameplates and offer a sneak preview of the XKR-S, Jaguar’s fastest production vehicle to date.  The company will also introduce its much anticipated Range Rover Evoque, the smallest, lightest and most fuel efficient Range Rover ever. 

Robin Colgan, Managing Director Jaguar Land Rover MENA said: “Jaguar Land Rover has had a long-standing and successful presence in the Middle East & North Africa region, and our brands are now available in over 19 markets. With our regional HQ based in Dubai, we see events such as the Dubai International Motor Show as absolutely crucial to our success in the region, offering a fantastic platform to showcase our vehicles to new and existing customers both in the region and internationally.” 

Germany’s luxury car manufacturer Audi promises to make a powerful statement at this year’s show.  Jeff Mannering, Managing Director, Audi Middle East said:  “Audi has lots to present this year! We are aiming for 25 percent growth in 2011 and new products as well as exposure to and interaction with Audi enthusiasts are an important part of that. Visitors of the Dubai Motor Show will have the chance to get up close and personal with our latest models including the Audi A1, A7 and A6. We will also show several new models, but we will keep those a secret for now.”  

Syed Ahmed, General Manager, Marketing at Nissan Middle East has also confirmed an unprecedented line-up for Japanese car giant Nissan, with at least two new model launches expected on the stand this year:  “Nissan’s distinctiveness and fast developing reputation for innovation will be further manifested by some thrilling displays of sports cars and SUV models plus some surprises for visitors to the show.”  

This year’s show includes a dedicated tuning section with the world’s major players including Brabus, Depp-At, Hamann, Fab Design, Gemballa, TechArt and Vorsteiner expecting strong sales from a region that embraces customisation and bespoke enhancement of luxury models.  Leading manufacturers of motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, including Victory and Polaris who are also Gold Sponsors at this year’s show, are also set to showcase the latest models available in the Middle East.

Dubai International Motor Show will be held from 10–14 November 2011 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show is open from 5pm–10pm on Thursday 10 November, 3pm–10pm on Friday 11 November and 11am–10pm on 12, 13, 14 November. Ticket prices are AED 50. For more information visit www.dubaimotorshow.com

UAE man buys world's most expensive car - Bugatti

 The custom-made Bugatti cost a cool Dh9 million
A UAE resident has bought a custom-made Bugatti L’Or Blanc – the world’s most expensive car in the world – for an estimated $2.4 million (Dh9 million).

According to a Bloomberg report, Bugatti – which makes the world’s fastest cars – has tied up with German porcelain maker KPM in order to fit in a porcelain caviar tray in the custom-made car. There is little known about the owner of the car except that he owns around 200 exotic cars.

"Installing porcelain in the world's fastest convertible car seems like a pretty odd idea... but Bugatti has made a name for itself by not shying away from extravagant ideas," said Stefan Brungs, Bugatti's sales chief.

The streamlined vehicle, which has a white exterior with royal blue lines, has also been fitted with porcelain wheel badges, fuel caps and oil caps.

The car was introduced recently in Berlin, Germany.

The most expensive car title was earlier held by Bugatti 300 Veyron 16.4s with an estimated price of $1.74 million.