Sixteen thousand, five hundred and thirteen. That’s the number of steps I took during the opening day of the 13th Dubai International Motor Show, which runs until tomorrow at the World Trade Centre. And as tired as my feet are, that shoe leather has been well spent, because in many respects, this has been the highlight of my motoring year. If you haven’t yet paid it a visit, I sincerely hope you do so before the show is over, not least because it’ll be another two years until the next one.
Officially opened on Tuesday by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, the show occupies more than 85,000 square metres of floor space, and is the largest to date. If you’re thinking that all we get here is regional unveilings, while Geneva, Frankfurt and a few others get all the world-first unveilings, think again. Dubai’s show features no fewer than 18 global reveals, as well as 139 regional firsts and 16 concepts that may, or may not, enter production (usually not, but we live in hope when it comes to a few of them).
This event has fought hard to become one of the world’s most important, and it’s obvious when you look around and see that car companies have sent their top brass here that finally Dubai’s biennial motor show is deserving of the “International” moniker.
So what can you expect to see there for yourself? Hopefully the following snippets will be sufficient to whet your appetite.
Click here to see a gallery of some of the cars on display at the Dubai International Motor Show
W Motors
The self-proclaimed "first Arabian brand of high-performance luxury sports cars", W Motors, is showing its newest creation, the strangely named Fenyr SuperSport, which is its successor to the Lykan HyperSport – the car that starred in the recent Furious 7 extravaganza and was recently used by Abu Dhabi Police. The Fenyr will be limited to 25 units per year and powered by a special RUF engine producing, says W, more than 1,000hp. More visually satisfying than the Lykan and said to be a more focused driving machine, it's also believed to be significantly less expensive – thanks in part, no doubt, to its lack of diamonds in the headlamps. It's heartening to note, meanwhile, that the company intends to move production from Italy to the UAE in the near future.
McLaren
The P1 hypercar is one of the planet’s rarest and most special automobiles, and McLaren’s stand is hosting one, so you can see its magnificence with your own eyes. The stand’s real star, however, happens to be the new 570S, looking gorgeous in its maker’s famous orange paint, and McLaren is also using the show to highlight a special-edition, Dh1.5 million 650S Spider called the Al Sahara, which is exclusive to this region. Its white paint contains 24-carat gold particles.
Rolls-Royce
The new Dawn is being shown here, and it’s worth seeking out this seriously desirable automobile. Rolls-Royce is also highlighting its bespoke personalisation capabilities with two one-off models: a Phantom Coupé called “Tiger”, which was apparently three years in the making, and the Ghost “Golf Edition”, specially commissioned with tartan fabric trim and persimmon wood, which is used to make some of the world’s finest golf clubs.
Bentley
Making its regional debut is a car that will doubtless sell here like there’s no tomorrow: the Bentayga SUV. It’s one of the most eagerly anticipated new models of recent years, opening a new marketplace sector – that of the ultra-luxury, go-anywhere machine. You can make up your own minds whether or not it’s a looker, but Bentley knows how important this car is, and it occupies centre stage.
Infiniti
In an effort to widen the brand's international appeal, the new Q30 crossover was designed and is built in the United Kingdom. It's startlingly attractive, too, with fascinating design details that prove utility vehicles and crossovers needn't look like square boxes on wheels. Taisuke Nakamura, one of Infiniti's lead designers, took some time out to explain to The National that this new look is supposed to portray "turbulence" in motion. You can't help but applaud Infiniti for daring to be different and to adapt its range to include smaller models more suitable for markets other than this region and the United States. Could this be the model to break Infiniti into new territories? It looks increasingly likely, and if the stunning Q80 concept is any indication of the brand's future direction, it could really start giving the German manufacturers sleepless nights.
Lamborghini and Ferrari
Ferrari’s stand makes the most noise, literally, and the Prancing Horse and Lamborghini occupy adjoining display areas. Both are showcasing new, open-topped variants of their most sporting cars – Ferrari’s 488 and Lambo’s Huracán – but the really big news for the stampeding bull is the soon-to-be-opened new showroom and service facility that’s taking shape along Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Lamborghini won’t confirm its status as the world’s largest, but the brand will finally have some proper exposure in Dubai, rather than being buried in a Deira backwater.
Nissan
There’s a new Patrol called the Desert Edition on display, which is noteworthy for two reasons: it’s only available to customers in this region and it was extensively developed by none other than Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the famed Middle East motorsports personality and founder of the world-famous Desert Challenge. He has made sure its standard equipment levels are sufficient to cope with some serious dune bashing, and its suspension has been carefully tuned to suit our unique terrain.
Samir Cherfan, head of Nissan Middle East, took us to one side to explain a new smartphone app developed with Etisalat, which will allow owners to stay connected with their cars and automatically raise the alarm in the event of an accident – peace of mind guaranteed, so long as there’s a signal where it happens. Outside the exhibition halls, though, Nissan’s special activation, called Agent 23, is a must. Visitors can act out scenes in front of a special blue screen with the help of a director, and appear in their very own Hollywood-style movie trailer – it’s fun, so do pay it a visit.
Toyota
Also present outside the halls is Toyota, with an “off-road” experience. Its importer here, Al Futtaim, is rounding off its 60-year anniversary celebrations with an announcement that’s set to shake up the region’s motoring industry: the eco-friendly Prius is going on sale. We’ve driven it, and will cover that story in a future issue, but it’s a much more “normal”-looking machine compared with its predecessors, and offers those with an eye on green issues with an alternative to gas-guzzling office commutes. Toyota is working closely with government agencies here and around the world to overcome resistance to new technologies and change the habits of motorists – in this region, that can’t happen soon enough. Also on display is the hydrogen-fuel-cell Mirai, which offers a fascinating glimpse into a possible future for mobility. To keep the party faithful happy, the new Land Cruiser puts in an appearance, too.
Cadillac
“The most significant global product to debut outside the US in the brand’s history” is how Cadillac is describing the unveiling of its XT5 crossover, and it’s proof of how important this event is now on the world stage. Cadillac’s range is uniformly excellent these days, and the new V-cars are here, too. For tyre-shredding fun, look no further.
Ford
You need to look twice for it to start sinking in that there’s a blue oval badge on the nose of the new GT supercar – it’s an absolutely stunning piece of work, and should shake the Italians to the core when it starts hitting the road and track in anger. Even if you see nothing else in the hall it’s displayed in, it will be worth the visit.
Lincoln
Purposely distanced from its parent company Ford, in a totally different hall, Lincoln is trying to increase awareness of its offerings in the region to build on a reputation for excellence that stretches back decades. The Continental concept, which upset Bentley earlier this year, is here, and it’s a fine-looking machine, with a name that’s as legendary as it gets in this industry. But Lincoln is also taking a leaf out of Infiniti’s book, and reinventing the dealership experience with a new, purpose-built showroom that the company promises will set new standards in the region.
Aston Martin
One of the 10 DB10s made for the new James Bond film, Spectre, is well worth checking out, as is the jaw-dropping Vulcan track car – both offering a glimpse at Aston Martin's future design language. Also putting in an appearance is the Lagonda, which was designed specifically with Middle East customers in mind, as well as a smattering of current models in fancy trim levels. They're all gorgeous, and perfect selfie fodder if you can get close enough.
Jaguar Land Rover
More Spectre metal here, with the stunning C-X75 supercar and a beaten-up Range Rover and Defender from the film. Also on display is the new F-Pace crossover, which appeared here two years ago as little more than a rolling (only just) concept, and the gargantuan Range Rover SVR Autobiography, which its maker is hoping will pip Bentley's Bentayga to the post as the world's ultimate SUV. The gloves are off.
Mercedes-Benz
Gargantuan is a fitting descriptor for two of the most crowd-pleasing models on Merc’s display: the new Maybach S600 Pullman and the bad boy G500 4×4², which isn’t the most expensive G-Class available, but is certainly the biggest and most imposing – it’s bright yellow, so you won’t be able to miss it, even from the opposite end of the exhibition hall. G-Class’s managing director, Gunnar Güthenke, says production of this local favourite range will continue at least for another six or seven years without any major changes, laying to rest rumours of its imminent demise.
Maserati
It might be nearly two years since the Alfieri concept stole the Geneva show, but it’s lost none of its visual effect and is justifiably centre stage for Maserati. Please, Maserati, build it exactly as it is – it’s one of the most beautiful and best-resolved car designs of the 21st century. The company’s collaboration with the gentleman’s luxury clothing label Ermenegildo Zegna is also being showcased.
The Brits
Alvis has a long and rich heritage in its home country, the UK. The reborn company is hoping that Gulf customers will be bowled over by the “continuation” cars it’s now building, with classically beautiful looks and modern engineering under the skins – it’s something completely different, which, in this day and age, must be applauded. Also flying the Union Jack are Lotus, Noble and Morgan, all being imported by a division of Al Futtaim in Dubai and all offering old-school driver thrills for discerning owners with deep pockets.
Classics and Chinese
Worth checking out, for a laugh if nothing else, is the collection of cars on offer from China’s less scrupulous manufacturers. That gigantic Hummer? Those cars that look suspiciously like old Toyota and Nissan models? Carbon copies, one and all.
Partly responsible for my significant step count is Hall 1, which is a fair stomp away from the two main exhibition halls, but is a must for anyone with even a passing interest in iconic motor cars from past eras. Classic, ground-shaking cars such as the Lamborghini Countach and Espada, Porsche’s mental 930 and pivotal 959, Lancia’s breathtaking Stratos and Aston Martin’s unspeakably beautiful DB4 GT are all here, sharing floor space with dozens of other classics that helped shape the motoring landscape of today. As relief from some of the monotony of new car design here in such abundance, it doesn’t get better than this, and it means there’s something for everyone. Enjoy.
motoring@thenational.ae
The Dubai International Motor Show runs until Saturday November 14 at the World Trade Centre, Dubai, from 11am to 11pm today and 11am to 10pm tomorrow. Tickets cost Dh65 on the door; free for children under 12. For more information, visit www.dubaimotorshow.com.
