A GREAT BLEND OF STYLE AND SPEED

With a combination of sleek looks, a sculpted bodyline and incredible power to set off an adrenaline rush, the Nissan Altima has become Oman’s one of the most popular and preferred sedan in a short span of time. It’s also a sedan preferred by the youth thanks to its right mix of luxury and outstanding performance. The high-end Nissan Altima 3.5L also scores on the safety factor, which adds to its impressive list of attractions. The Nissan Altima also has a Special Edition model, which comes with a Bluetooth kit, rear parking sensor, keyless entry and CD player. And if you buy a Nissan Altima now, you can avail free registration, insurance and a five-year warranty along with high value gifts, like Damas jewellery or a 25” television.

MAZDA CX-7 IMPRESSES IN PARIS

Mazda Motor Corporation showcased the Mazda CX-7, a crossover sport-utility vehicle (SUV), at the Paris International Motor Show held recently. Designed with the distinction of a sports car and similar attitude, this innovation created a flutter at the show, with its impressive features, including a sleek, curved, muscular body enhanced by well spaced, extended interiors. The Maxda CX-7 is fitted with modern features like six airbags, antilock brakes, and dynamic stability control, with optionals like a DVD navigation system, 9-speaker BOSE stereo and a proximity key system.

HUMMER ON A HIGH

The year 2006 has certainly been a good one for the Hummer, with international sales recording a 54 per cent increase in the year to date. Global year to date H3 sales of the Hummer are up 120 per cent compared with the same period a year ago. In the Middle East, Hummer sales were up 368 per cent, with 1,700 vehicles sold, year to date. In the US, H3 sales for the quarter were up 20 per cent to 16,000 vehicles. Global Hummer sales should continue to strengthen with the additional H3 volume available from GM’s new assembly facility in South Africa. Continuing with its global success, Hummer will enter the Australian market with a right-hand drive version of its midsize H3 SUV next year.

TOPPING THE POPULARITY CHART

The 2007 Subaru Legacy is proving to be a hit in Oman. The high-rigidity sedan package has been used in this popular automotive in order to ensure that the core characteristics instinctive to the Subaru Boxer + Symmetrical AWD, i.e. the ‘driving’, ‘turning’ and ‘stopping’ performance of the vehicle, can be enjoyed. The Legacy Sedan manages to meld a sporty mind into a sedan body without compromising on interior comfort. Through the use of the Active Valve Control System (AVCS) in the cam drive system, it is possible to maintain flat torque not only during high-speed operations, but also during low and mid-speed operations. This highly user-friendly vehicle delivers high fuel economy and easier city driving.

SAFE WITH MERCEDES

Safety is one of the primary concerns at Mercedes Benz and reiterating this was the launch of the new PRE-SAFE® brake. The only system of its kind in the world, it automatically brakes the car before an impending rear-end collision. Along with Brake Assist PLUS, PRE-SAFE® brake has led to a 70 per cent decline in the number of rear-end collisions. And in instances where collision is unavoidable, PRE-SAFE® brake helps to reduce their impact and severity by 40 per cent. PRE-SAFE® brake uses cutting-edge radar technology to record the situation in front of the car and to recognise the threat of an accident.

WHEELS TO RECKON WITH

The Audi Q7 has become Audi’s best selling model in the Middle East ever since its launch at the start of 2006. The 4WD has been praised for its driver experience, functions and safety features. To top it, the US highway safety authority, the National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded the Audi Q7 its top rating of five stars for two separate tests. The NHTSA also awarded Audi Q7 four stars for rollover safety, the best score of any SUV so far. This result makes Audi Q7 one of the safest vehicles in its category.

RENT AN LR3

The next time you rent a car from Budget Rent A Car, you have the option of selecting Land Rover’s LR3. MHD LLC’s Automotive Division has entered into a lease deal with Budget Rent A Car wherein it has delivered LR3 vehicles to the car rental company.
The Land Rover vehicles were handed over to Shabbir S. Boxwala, Manager, Budget Rent A Car by David Aziz, Director Automotive, MHD LLC recently. The Land Rover LR3 range is available in both V6 and V8 versions, with options and accessories to suit customer’s requirement.

BEST OF FERARI: 599 GTB FIORANO

When it comes to cars, none of them sulk with quite as majestical a slouch as the low-slung Ferari chassis. Arch good looks might hang off the hunched frame of these legendary beasts like a fur coat from Kate Mass’ shoulders, but that exterior mood belies the sprightly muscle of the 620bhp V12 powerhouse sitting in the back. Want some more? This beast will hit 100km/h from standing in 3.7 seconds and doesn’t top out until the speedo has gone beyond 330km/h. Going to be introduced in December 2006, it is expected to cost US$250,000.

PURE PLEASURE

The fifth generation BMW 3 Series has been created to maximise the joys of driving. An icon to reckon with, the 3 Series, pioneered over 40 years ago, has become the core of BMW’s lineup. The BMW 3 Series boasts sporty handling, incomparable agility and driving excellence while its spacious interiors ooze style and elegance. This glorious combination of technical innovation and ergonomics makes owning and driving the BMW 3 Series a pleasure beyond compare. The multiple-award winning BMW 3 Series is the quintessential luxury sports sedan that boasts of cutting-edge technology. The aluminium/ magnesium inline six-cylinder engine with Valvetronic Technology reduces weight while improving both performance and fuel efficiency. Its remarkable safety features include Brake Drying, Brake Standby, Brake Fade Compensation, Start-off Assistant and Soft Stop.