Covers come off Aston Martin's DBS Superleggera Volante


Simon Wilgress-Pipe
  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai's glitterati (or those with motoring inclinations at least) arrived for the unveiling of the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante this week, a car the company cites as the fastest convertible it's ever made.

Cameras flashed as the brightly hued vehicle made its entrance, with canapes and mocktails abandoned on whatever surface was convenient by those keen to get a closer look through the swathes of dry ice.

The marque's engineers had a simple brief when it came to creating this latest arrival - retain the coupe version's 'powerful dynamics, aggressive poise and astonishing performance' in the open-top newbie.

Vigour is unlikely to be an issue – the new Volante is powered by Aston Martin's own 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, which will give a top speed of 340 kilometres per hour. And, amid all the roaring that kicks in when you put the vehicle into its most dynamic setting, drivers will be able to reach 100kph from a standing start in just 3.6 seconds.

This new version is, the company says, as aerodynamically sound as its hard-top sibling, exploiting high-speed surface airflow to maximum effect.

The manufacturers claim it will fit four people, but, as is often the case in cars of this sort, most of the passengers would have to be jockeys, and small ones at that, if everyone were to travel in any comfort.

Luxury of this sort doesn't come cheap though, so if you fancy one you'll have to part with Dh1.3 million.

Deliveries of the in the Middle East are set to begin from November 2019.

UNpaid bills:

Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019

USA – $1.055 billion

Brazil – $143 million

Argentina – $52 million

Mexico – $36 million

Iran – $27 million

Israel – $18 million

Venezuela – $17 million

Korea – $10 million

Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019

USA – $2.38 billion

Brazil – $287 million

Spain – $110 million

France – $103 million

Ukraine – $100 million

 

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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
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
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

Name: Younis Al Balooshi

Nationality: Emirati

Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn

Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design

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MATCH INFO

Southampton 0
Manchester City 1
(Sterling 16')

Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)

The UAE squad for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games

The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.

Women’s team: Mouza Al Shamsi, Wadeema Al Yafei, Reem Al Hashmi, Mahra Al Hanaei, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Hessa Thani, Salwa Al Ali.

Kibsons%20Cares
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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RESULTS
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COPA DEL REY

Semi-final, first leg

Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')

Second leg, February 27

Kill%20
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