The Dar Daffodil boasted a 746cc, two-cylinder engine, 30hp and a Variomatic gearbox with a pulley system.
The Dar Daffodil boasted a 746cc, two-cylinder engine, 30hp and a Variomatic gearbox with a pulley system.

Top 5: Cars named for flowers, with questionable eco-credentials



Daf Daffodil

This Dutch curiosity boasted a 746cc, two-cylinder engine, 30hp and a Variomatic gearbox with a pulley system that allowed it to go just as fast in reverse as it could in the forward gears. However, "fast" for the Daffodil was a sluggish 29 seconds to hit 80kph. It came in saloon and panel van body types. Manufactured between 1961 and 1963, the export version of this car was sold as the Daffodil, but in the Dutch and German markets, it was sold under the not-quit-as-florally-named Daf 30.

Clan Clover

The British Clan company began life in 1971 with the fibreglass Clan Crusader, which was created by a group of Lotus engineers; production ceased in 1973. After being bought largely by a Cypriot truck manufacturer the company stalled again when Turkey invaded Cyprus, but in 1982 the firm was again revived, this time by a Northern Irish Clan fan. In 1985, the Clover was produced with an Alfa Romeo 1,500cc flat-four engine. Only 20 Clovers were made before the company ceased trading, in June 1987.

Nissan Laurel

In 1968, long before Nissan was making the Leaf, it was producing another car with a plant-based name in the form of the Nissan Laurel. It was a large, swooping saloon car, aimed at being a notch or two above the Bluebird in terms of luxury. Eight generations of the Laurel were produced, until it finally went out of production in 2002. In 1972, the Laurel deviated briefly from its sensible four-door version and a chunky, aggressive coupe influenced by the Ford Torino and Mercury Cougar was made.

Mitsubishi Rosa

The sturdy, practical Mitsubishi Rosa mini-bus is a common sight on the roads of the UAE, usually as a means of transporting workers. It comes in a variety of sizes, from a 16-seater to a 32-seater. The base-model Rosa doesn't have too many bells and whistles, but the extras might plush it up somewhat - these include curtains, a microphone (but only if you get the AM/FM radio-cassette player), the always-classy passenger ashtrays and, alarmingly, optional seat belts.

Triumph Mayflower

Although it was named in honour of the ship that sailed to the US rather than the plant, the Mayflower was a small, two-door saloon of which 35,000 were made in Britain between 1949 and 1953. Its styling, with a boxy rear end and a long bonnet, proved controversial, and Top Gear's James May described it as the ugliest car of all time. Sales figures were disappointing, and after the Mayflower went out of production Triumph didn't produce another small saloon until the Herald, in 1959.

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.”

TRAP

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue

Director: M Night Shyamalan

Rating: 3/5

SPECS
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

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If you go…

Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.

Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days. 

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


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