In researching this feature, I tried to get the exact figure of active car manufacturers in the pre-war years; the Great War of course. In this context the usual “pre-war” connotation of World War II suggesting an automobile’s era, is much too late. In any case, I didn’t do a very good job of ascertaining an accurate figure. What I did find is the exact opposite: a lot of defunct brands. And it really is a lot.
Let’s put it this way: in 1914 alone, 115 car marques shut their doors. Granted, some of them had only just opened their doors the day before the Europeans started entrenching, but this number, 115 automobile manufacturers, is for US makes alone. Goodness knows how many European brands died as industry shifted to accommodate armies, and let’s not forget that America was, true to tradition, a bit late to help out in the Allied effort.
Among all these lost jobs however, unfulfilled dreams and forgotten cars, all this despair and death, was a beacon of light. A birth. Maserati.
The famous Italian race team and boutique car marque is 100 years old in 2014, although “boutique” hardly constitutes a massive 16,000 sales last year. By 2015 this will jump to 50,000, mostly thanks to the new Ghibli, but so far the charge has been led by the flagship sixth-generation Quattroporte saloon – a far cry from the second generation Quattroporte, of which Maserati produced 13 between 1976 and 1978.
Things clearly weren’t always rosy for this “other” Modenese car maker. It had almost as many hits as it had misses, more financial woes than I can count and a sad end to the brand’s racing exploits. Yet Maserati is still here today, which as we’ve seen is way more than can be said of hundreds of other dreamers in those pioneering days of four-wheeled transport.
The story begins in the late 19th century with an Italian railway worker named Rodolfo Maserati, a father of seven sons. Passion for engine design and engineering coursed through the household, but it was the most famous of the sons, Alfieri, who banded the rest of his brothers and helped make their family name illustrious around the world. Through all of Maserati’s (the company) hardships, one thing remained the same: a brotherly bond with Ferrari. Il Commendatore Enzo was always a Modenese neighbour and rival, a totalitarian with a disregard for his staff, customers and drivers. Infamously, if a Ferrari won a race, it was down to the car. If it lost, it was the driver.
But Maserati was always filled with company lifers, staff who grew up with the maker and remained there into retirement. There is a warmth to Maserati, a commoner’s quality, that underdog factor – despite the fact that Maserati was a racing giant in the pre-war (the proper pre-war) years and afterwards in the newly established Formula One class.
Rodolfo, an engine driver, must have been a huge inspiration to his sons who dreamt of attaining the speeds of Italy’s “iron steam horses”, without the steam of course, and off the rail tracks. Eldest son Carlo, for example, was winning races at 17 on a bicycle powered by an internal combustion engine of his own design. Immediately he was hired full-time by Fiat (then F.I.A.T., or Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) as a test driver, which didn’t stop him from designing more engines in his spare time. While in Turin in 1900 he stuck one of his engines in a wooden car chassis, which could be loosely considered as the first Maserati ever.
Moving to Isotta Fraschini, at the time one of the most prestigious car makes in the world, Carlo brought along his brother Alfieri, the 16-year-old youngster impressing not only with his testing and racing skills but also two other obvious family traits: engineering and design. Sadly, Carlo died young and the family name came to rest on Alfieri, who opened a service centre for Milanese Isotta Fraschini cars in Bologna. He was joined in the new business by his brothers. The Great War then called up some of the older brothers to Italy’s many fronts but in July 1914 came a milestone, in the form of a sign declaring, “Officine Alfieri Maserati SA”.
The brothers never saw any fighting; the army instead rightly recognising their talents and steered them towards aircraft engines. When peacetime came around, Alfieri commissioned his brother and artist Mario, the only one of the siblings without any engineering expertise, to design a logo fitting of the young company, and so was born the legendary Trident, inspired by the statue of Neptune in Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore.
Today the company considers a 1920 model to be the first real Maserati, but in fact it was an Isotta Fraschini chassis with a Hispano Suiza engine and a SCAT transmission, a real hack job made all the more difficult with the use of different still axles and wheels. But the hybrid won races, and after stints in oil changes, airplanes and spark plugs, motorsport became the company’s calling.
This success led to racing consultancy for Diatto. However, by 1925 the company couldn’t afford to keep racing. So with the help of a wealthy Marquis, friend and fan, Alfieri could afford to acquire 30 Diatto chassis and begin a production line of his own. And so, the Tipo 26, named for its year of manufacture and the first real, true Maserati – Trident and all. It was a 1,500cc racing thoroughbred, winning its class on its debut. This was to be a familiar sequence of events for the company well into the 1950s – build a car, win a race. And maybe sell something.
By 1929 Maseratis were breaking speed records with 16-cylinder engines. The following year brought the brothers their first international race victories, and a head-to-head with a certain Enzo for the first time. Then, Alfieri died.
Bindo Maserati took over and the company survived its first difficult financial situation, thanks in part to a new model dubbed Tipo V5. And just like that, total world domination, as legendary driver Tazio Nuvolari scuffled with Enzo, left Ferrari and joined Maserati to pilot the 8CM race car and win prestigious, top-tier Grands Prix all over Europe. A rivalry was born.
However, throughout the 1930s Maserati had bigger worries; bigger even than the Prancing Horses rolling through its Modenese neighbour’s gates. The Third Reich put huge backing behind Mercedes and Auto Union (better known today as Audi) to demonstrate Germany’s engineering might on the track, so the Maserati brothers were forced to fight back and get as much ammunition as possible, in the form of financial clout. The brothers sold the company to Italian entrepreneur Adolfo Orsi, and the first “financial era” began; the Orsi era.
Orsi didn’t stick his nose into any technical issues because innovation and engineering were the brothers’ forte. Everything worked well, but little did the Maseratis know what other eras awaited them. In fact they worked so well that the ageing 8C won the legendary Indianapolis 500 in 1939, Maserati becoming the only Italian maker to ever achieve such a feat. Twice.
Another world war put a stop to serial production but, when racing resumed, none other than the great Juan-Manuel Fangio was drawn to the Trident alongside other team drivers like Louis Chiron and Prince Bira. Maseratis kept on winning races and championships, and irritating Enzo Ferrari.
During the 1960s, Maserati’s efforts shifted hugely from racing to prestigious road car manufacture, which attracted such clientele as the Shah of Iran. And even though the company moved away from the racetrack, there was still enough time and effort available to create such bolides as the iconic Birdcage, a racer that decimated competition in the hands of privateers all over Europe and the United States.
Still, focus was definitely on road-going machines, and the 1963 Mistral began a tradition of Maserati Grand Tourers and sports cars named after winds. It was famed Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro’s Maserati Ghibli that really put the Trident on the sports car map though, duelling it out with new Lamborghinis and Ferrari’s majestic Daytona. The Ghibli outsold both of them with production quadrupling over the initial plans for 100 examples, and many say to this day the Ghibli was the better, if less appreciated car. Orsi, however, couldn’t keep up and invited a new partner on board: Citroen. It wasn’t to be Maserati’s finest hour.
By the 1970s the company was totally different, incorporating Citroen’s hydraulics in its cars and churning out that ill-conceived, front-wheel drive, second-generation Quattroporte. All 13 of them. But Citroen was ambitious, greenlighting several new model lines such as the Merak and Bora, the latter becoming the first ever mass-produced mid-engined Maserati. The French intentions were good, but nobody could predict the 1973 oil crisis, nor that Citroën would go bankrupt the following year. The Italian government stepped in, and after a bit of a mess Maserati carried on in the hands of Argentinian former racing driver Alejandro De Tomaso.
Maserati’s third major era was upon it and the company was forced to completely abandon its storied Grand Tourers and mid-engined sports cars in favour of cheaper (and as it would turn out, infamously unreliable and badly built) front-engined saloons.
The lowest point came when the new managing director, De Tomaso, invited his friend Lee Iacocca, who headed Chrysler, to come and have a play. Chrysler ended up purchasing part of the company, which resulted in an embarrassing abomination of a car called the Chrysler TC.
Italy could stand it no more and, in 1993, Fiat came back into the Maserati story and fully acquired the company. As much as the Italian conglomerate mercilessly butchered Lancia (and continues to murder it slowly), Fiat actually ended up being the best thing that may have ever happened to Maserati.
Two decades into ownership and Maserati is still enjoying its fruitful renaissance with previously unimaginable sales figures, and Chrysler somehow ended up back in the fold since Fiat recently bought that company, too. No more Chrysler TCs, please, but we’ll take all the glorious Quattroportes, Gran Turismos and Ghiblis we can get. Rodolfo did good.
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
Other hobbies: football
Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
Company%C2%A0profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E299hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E420Nm%20at%202%2C750rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12.4L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh157%2C395%20(XLS)%3B%20Dh199%2C395%20(Limited)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Sly%20Cooper%20and%20the%20Thievius%20Raccoonus
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
- Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs
- Thursday 20 January: v England
- Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad:
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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