The Fenyr SuperSport, the second hypercar by W Motors, will be launched at the Dubai International Motor Show in November. Courtesy W Motors
The Fenyr SuperSport, the second hypercar by W Motors, will be launched at the Dubai International Motor Show in November. Courtesy W Motors
The Fenyr SuperSport, the second hypercar by W Motors, will be launched at the Dubai International Motor Show in November. Courtesy W Motors
The Fenyr SuperSport, the second hypercar by W Motors, will be launched at the Dubai International Motor Show in November. Courtesy W Motors

A new hypercar, supercar and Dubai flagship for UAE's W Motors


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In the rarefied world of hypercars, only a few names exist, let alone clamber to the top of an already-towering tree. But since the Lykan HyperSport's arrival in 2015, developed from a concept first displayed at the Dubai International Motor Show two years earlier, Dubai-based carmaker W Motors has been racing towards the summit. With futuristic Batmobile looks, diamond-encrusted headlights and a holographic infotainment display, not to mention a US$3 million (Dh11m) price tag and a guest appearance in the Fast & Furious movie franchise, it continues to capture car fans' imaginations across the world.

Now, W Motors is ready to do it all over again. Attendees at the most-recent Dubai motor show in 2015 will have likely spied the vehicle in question, in concept form. In November, it will return to the UAE's biennial premier display of automotive eye candy, this time in its full production guise, before being delivered to customers from January onwards. Readers: we give you the Fenyr SuperSport.

Given that it is named after a mythical vicious wolf, you might not be surprised to learn that the Fenyr is quite the monster. Its 4.0-litre flat-six-cylinder engine is the least-impressive-sounding stat. How about 0 to 100kph in 2.6 seconds; a top speed exceeding 415kph; 820hp and 1,200Nm of torque in car weighing a lithe 1,200 kilograms? Yep, that will probably do it.

"We're very excited to have this car, which is the second model out of W Motors, ready finally," says company chairman/chief executive Ralph Debbas. "It's a crazy car. The car is focused on performance. It's a similar engine as the Lykan, but has been boosted for performance.

"Every element of it has been made in carbon fibre, so we reduced the weight a lot. We're integrating new materials as well, such as graphene – the first hypercar in the world to have graphene. It has more space than the Lykan – more headroom, more legroom; [it's] much more comfortable sitting inside. Everywhere you touch, you see naked carbon and Alcantara, unlike the Lykan, which was very luxurious, with leather stitching.

"It's a Lykan on steroids; a hard-core car for people who really love to drive performance vehicles. It has a 14-inch screen with internet connectivity, so you have the technology side, but at the same time, you're in a spaceship that is going to give you massive performance."

What it does share with the Lykan, however, is W Motors' trademark angular design lines, which variously evoke hyper-complex origami and a machine that looks like it might transform into a particularly narked fire-spewing robot at any moment.

The Fenyr SuperSport hits 0 to 100kph in 2.6 seconds, with a top speed exceeding 415kph. Courtesy W Motors
The Fenyr SuperSport hits 0 to 100kph in 2.6 seconds, with a top speed exceeding 415kph. Courtesy W Motors

A remarkable car, then, but it's also just the tip of W Motors' ambitions. A new flagship showroom boutique opens in City Walk 2 later this year, replete with a Michelin-star-standard restaurant, a cafe and an art gallery; a new as-yet-unnamed supercar model will be revealed next year ahead of a 2019 release; there are big moves afoot from the company's sister brand, Iconiq Motors, which specialises in electric vehicles. And while W Motors' production is currently based in Turin, Italy, it plans to bring the process to a new factory in Jebel Ali before the end of the decade.

"Next year, we'll be teasing something new as well with a new supercar, which is more let's say not entry-level, but a different segment," Debbas confirms. "It's going to be a $500,000-range vehicle, so a competitor of the Lamborghini Aventador SV or, in terms of Ferraris, F12 special edition. We don't have the final specs yet, but we're targeting 600hp on a V8 or V10. About 3.2 seconds [0-to-100kph time]; 600hp. It's going to be a monocoque chassis as well, compared to the Fenyr and Lykan, which are tubular aluminium. It is more of a daily driver."

Whereas the Fenyr will have a super-exclusive initial run of 25 cars, potentially rising to a total of 100 in the next five years, the new supercar will be what Debbas calls a "series production".

"We're going to make more than 100 vehicles per year," he says. "We'll always have our limited-edition cars – the hypercars. But even the Fenyr is much more affordable compared to the Lykan. It starts at $1.4m [going up] up to $1.8m, depending on the custom kits. We see a big demand in that segment.

"The hypercar market has been growing for the past four to five years. The example is Bugatti with the Chiron – the starting price was €2.4m [Dh10.5m] and they're all sold out. Our target niche clients are not effected by [any financial] crisis. There are always going to be clients who want to have these collectable cars, but our car is more accessible when it comes to price range compared to Koenigsegg, Pagani and Bugatti. And we already had some orders on the Fenyr before we launched it, which shows there is a demand for this kind of vehicle."

The Iconiq Seven is the first model to emerge from W Motors’ electric-vehicle project. Courtesy W Motors
The Iconiq Seven is the first model to emerge from W Motors’ electric-vehicle project. Courtesy W Motors

While petroleum-guzzling speed has been W Motors' calling card to date, their electric-vehicle arm is operating on a far greater scale.

"As W Motors, we'll never go into electric cars, but that's why we created our sister company, Iconiq Motors, which is purely EV," Debbas explains. "We're making about 16,000 units per year. It's a new concept of MPV with the styling DNA of supercars, like you have on the Fenyr and the Lykan.

"The first one, the Iconiq Seven, was launched in 2015 as a concept car and, earlier this year, as a prototype at the Shanghai auto show. Mass production starts in a year and a half. We also have the Iconiq Six, which is a smaller MPV; then we have an SUV, and an autonomous L5 [three-wheeled-vehicle], which we're doing a self-driving vehicle. The car is going to be launched next April at the Beijing auto show. Then it's going to be displayed in our showroom at City Walk, too, so people can come see this fantastic, crazy-looking autonomous electric vehicle, which is going to be produced here locally by 2020 for Expo 2020."

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Perhaps surprisingly, W Motors' sales haven't been particularly dominated by buyers from our car-obsessed region, with the majority of its cars heading to customers in the United States and China/East Asia. That is something that Debbas envisages changing soon, however.

"We don't sell many in the Middle East," he admits. "But especially now we're homegrowing it, with the flagship store, we're giving it a lot of attention as a 'local' brand. So I'm pretty sure the Fenyr will have a big, big market here.

That profile won't be harmed by the company's ongoing showcasing in the Fast & Furious franchise. You might remember the Lykan HyperSport spectacularly vaulting between buildings at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Towers in Furious 7, a link-up that is set to be reprised in the new Fast & Furious Live stage show, which will begin a global tour in London in January. And the Fenyr could yet join the Lykan on the silver screen.

"We're in talks with Universal for something else which is quite special for the Fenyr," Debbas smiles. "Is it a movie? Maybe."

THE SPECS

Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre

Transmission: Seven-speed auto

Power: 165hp

Torque: 241Nm

Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000

On sale: now

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures

October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

MATCH INFO

Uefa Nations League

League A, Group 4
Spain v England, 10.45pm (UAE)

2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWomen%E2%80%99s%20race%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Tigist%20Ketema%20(ETH)%202hrs%2016min%207sec%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Ruti%20Aga%20(ETH)%202%3A18%3A09%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Dera%20Dida%20(ETH)%202%3A19%3A29%0D%3Cbr%3EMen's%20race%3A%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Addisu%20Gobena%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A01%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lemi%20Dumicha%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A20%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20DejeneMegersa%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A42%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

RESULT

Copa del Rey, semi-final second leg

Real Madrid 0
Barcelona 3 (Suarez (50', 73' pen), Varane (69' OG)

The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright

SPECS
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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile

Started: 2016

Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel 

Based: Ramallah, Palestine

Sector: Technology, Security

# of staff: 13

Investment: $745,000

Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The stats

Ship name: MSC Bellissima

Ship class: Meraviglia Class

Delivery date: February 27, 2019

Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT

Passenger capacity: 5,686

Crew members: 1,536

Number of cabins: 2,217

Length: 315.3 metres

Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800

Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Five famous companies founded by teens

There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:

  1. Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate. 
  2. Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc. 
  3. Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway. 
  4. Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
  5. Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.