Small is beautiful
The Spark, a member of Chevrolet’s comprehensive small car range, features a catchy contemporary look. The contours of its exteriors, with short overhangs and rising shoulder lines, convey a striking persona. The front of the Spark is dominated by striking round headlights with a large lens effect. The roomy interior offers adequate storage locations and with striking design elements, the Spark boasts of remarkable fuel economy and affordability. With the state-of-the-art transmission, the Spark is ideal for both commuting in congested city traffic and along open highways. The Spark is the smallest Chevrolet to arrive in the region and with intelligent packaging and long wheelbase, it can have a good market, specially given its spacious and versatile interiors

Oman dealers bag GM Chairman’s Challenge Award
Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan & Co and Oman Trading Establishment have bagged General Motors’ prestigious Chairman’s Challenge Award for 2007. This award is given to GM dealers in the Middle East in recognition of their commendable performance in sales, customer service and training. The companies achieved the Chairman’s Challenge objectives by 130 per cent and 122 per cent, respectively. GM sales in Oman in 2007 increased to 3,221 units, up 39 per cent on year. The winners will receive their awards in March in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The dealers will join other winners from Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the UAE.
 

Land Rover LR3 voted Best 4x4
The Land Rover LR3 has been voted the best 4x4 by Planet 4x4 magazine. The LR3 excelled on practicality, packaging, off-road ability and all-round dynamics. “With a clean sweep of class awards this year, Land Rover is getting it right at just about every level. One tester after another was wowed by the Range Rover’s class, the Range Rover Sport’s style and the LR3’s practicality,” said Alan Kidd, editor of Planet 4x4 magazine. “But what I think Land Rover can be particularly proud of is that this result comes in a competition where scores for off-roading meant almost nothing – while value for money counted towards almost a quarter of the total marks. It is easy to write this off as a series of victories for such premium vehicles... but in reality, it shows that with the Land Rover, you really do get what you pay for. The Land Rover LR3 is available from RO15,950 onwards in Oman.
 

New Mazda 6: Bold & Exquisite
The Mazda 6, launched in Oman last month, has had a good response from customers. Reputed for its unique and attractive styling, and advanced driving quality, this second generation model takes these characteristics one step further through better environmental and safety performance. Developed in line with Mazda’s zoom-zoom evolution concept, the all-new Mazda 6’s design theme is “bold and exquisite.” With superior aerodynamics, it features enhanced high-speed stability and ride quality. This is the ultimate long-distance touring car, equipped with MZR 2.5 litre engine as against a 2.3 litre in the earlier version. “It is the company’s endeavour to build on the class-leading strengths of the original top-selling sedan, sport hatch and wagon range. The all-new Mazda 6 delivers improved fuel economy, better performance, cleaner exhaust emissions, a quieter cabin, sharper dynamics and better occupant protection. It’s features only offer improved high-speed stability,” says S Kasthurirangan, CEO, Towell Auto Centre, which through its network of eight service outlets and 10 parts outlets supports customer service and provides after-sales service for all models of the Mazda across the Sultanate.

IVECO comes to Oman
IVECO, the commercial heavy vehicle brand, has launched its impressive line-up of models. The European brand is repositioning itself in the Oman market as a high-end, highly dependable product, with excellent off-road ability. “The launch of IVECO in Oman demonstrates our commitment to Oman, which is a combination of a reliable high-value product and the best in class after-sales service from Suhail Bahwan,” said K S Kumar Managing Director, Al Jenaibi International Automobiles LLC, a division of the Suhail Bahwan Group, which are sole distributors of the brand in the Sultanate. This year alone, the company hopes to sell around 200 units – a market share of 8 per cent – reaching 250 units next year and gaining a market share of 10 per cent, he added. “However, our long-term target is at least 25 per cent market share,” Kumar said. The line-up of IVECO models includes the Trakker, Stralis and Eurocargo in the medium and heavy segment, and the Daily in the light segment.

Stylish Honda Coupe comes to Oman
The new Accord Honda coupe projects a sophisticated image with all the convenience of a sedan. With a cozy interior and enough legroom, the aggressive “hawk eye” headlight design adds to the coupe’s forceful exterior and segregates it from the sedan model, whilst the rear taillight design is completely coupe. Its responsive handling is enhanced by the new “gear shift management control” system on meandering lanes, where maximum performance and throttle control are required. The features include sporty 17” alloy wheels, fully-powered windows, with electrically adjustable and retractable door mirrors, front passenger and side airbags, anti-lock braking system with traction control, electric glass tilt/slide sunroof and a six-speaker audio system with a six-disc changer and MP3/WMA compatibility. A choice of accessories, including a full sports body kit, 18” alloy wheels, rear spoilers and front fog lights, can give the coupe a personal look. The new Accord coupe is on display in all OMASCO Honda showrooms in Muscat, Sohar, Barka, Nizwa, Salalah and Sur.

Santa Fe – Top Safety Pick Winner
Hyundai Santa Fe blends car-like comfort and rough terrain capability into one. It has off-road capability with driving power of a large passenger car. It enjoys improved power and fuel efficiency from CVVT. The new automatic transmission features a super-flat torque converter with optimised blades, improving performance.
The frontal style has a smooth, aesthetic appeal. The functional, deep opening, rear hatch neatly rounds off the flowing style. The luggage space has been widened to offer more cargo room. Its new electronic “torque on demand” system uses sensors to monitor road and driving conditions, allowing it to automatically engage the 4WD system whenever it is needed. The Hyundai Santa Fe has received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award. The award was given to Hyundai in the midsize SUV segment for its ability to protect people in front, side and rear crashes. OTE Group is the exclusive dealer of Hyundai’s range of vehicles in Oman.

Hyundai Accent hits the road
The new generation Hyundai Accent comes packed with features for durability, innovation, practicality, safety technology and value. Hyundai Accent has spacious interiors; the seats are done ergonomically and particular attention is paid to the locations of the controls, their ease of use and the clarity of the instruments. “Accent GLE is made for customers who want fuel-efficient compact cars,” said a senior Hyundai official, adding that the sedan Accent GLE has been selected to be an official vehicle by the Indian government.

Sonata wins Greener Choice 2008 Honours
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has enlisted Hyundai Sonata on its “Greener Choices 2008” list that features gasoline-powered cars with automatic transmissions. The Sonata will be listed in the ACEEE´s Green Book Online, an annual consumers´ guide to environment-friendly cars. The list is based on car manufacturers’ test results for fuel economy and emissions as reported to the US Environmental Protection Agency. In the last two years, Sonata has established itself as a world-class sedan, with ideal space and luxury, good performance and durability. The Sonata engine has a very broad power band, coupled with high fuel efficiency and low emissions, safety being its most important feature. Sonata comes equipped with airbags to minimise injury; with the entire chassis designed to absorb shock in the event of a crash.

15 million Volvo cars sold across the world
Volvo is again in the spotlight. The rolling out of the convertible Volvo C70 from its factory in Uddevalla saw the sale of Volvo reach 15 million. The best-selling Volvo model remains the classic 200 Series. Starting from 1974, about 2,862,573 cars have been manufactured over two decades. But, the best known of all Volvo models is probably the P1800 sports coupe of the 60s. Volvo is appreciated for solid engineering and functionality.
Today, the Volvo brand is equally renowned for the attractive designs that reflect Scandinavian traditions. Volvo’s safety inventions include the three-way catalytic converter with Lambdasond, introduced in 1976. Ten years ago, the British motoring magazine, AutoExpress, carried out a survey to find out the best car to live with from an owner’s point of view. It found the Volvo C70 as the best sports car and the Volvo S80 the best luxury car in stiff competition against considerably more expensive cars. More details on the Volvo range of cars can be obtained from the Mohsin Haider Darwish showrooms in Azaiba, Sur, Sohar and Salalah.

Oman Oil re-launches ‘Emtiyaz’
In line with its recent restructuring efforts, Oman Oil Marketing Company has re-launched its customer service centre ‘Emtiyaz’, handling customers’ needs through a professionally trained team. Speaking at the launch, Madiha Al Bakri, head of Emtiyaz at Oman Oil pointed out “Emityaz is dedicated to exceeding the expectations of customers and realising its vision of being a premier provider of customer service. Through listening to customers and acting on what is important to them, this vision will be reality.” She added, “Our customers’ views and opinions are of vital importance to us in order to better serve them and continuously raise the benchmark of quality care.”
One of the leading fuel and lubricants marketing companies in the Sultanate, Oman Oil aims to further diversify its product and service offerings to provide customer satisfaction with the re-introduction of Emtiyaz. ‘Emtiyaz’ customer service centre is located in Oman Oil’s main office at Al Qurum. Service offering includes Ejaba fuel cards, basma rewards, lubes, bulk fuel orders, and filling station customers.
 

Nitrogen tyre inflation now at TCP outlets
Bridgestone’s nitrogen-filled passenger and SUV tyres are gaining in popularity, offering as they do better quality and greater safety. These tyres are available at select Towell “Tyre Care Plus” (TCP) outlets, offering customers specialised assistance and service for nitrogen inflation. The state-of-the-art equipment at major TCP outlets ensures high safety standards and quality service. “The nitrogen filling facility is currently available at select TCP outlets in Muscat. The TCP also provides a wide range of specialised services with experts to handle all types of vehicles,” said a spokesperson from Bridgestone.
 

Cadillac BLS – Strong and stylish
Cadillac BLS, the luxury sedan blends Cadillac comfort with European driving. With a stylish design, acoustic comfort and dynamic driving performance, Cadillac offers a lucrative package. The vehicle has elegant interior with side faces that exudes strength. What makes the appearance more striking is the vertical lines at the front and rear. The latest LED technology is used in the centre high-mounted brake light, prominently positioned on the trunk lid. The BLS also features headlamps and fog lamps integrated into the bumper. Its other features are high-quality audio units from Bose, a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone system, with a hands-free kit and remote controls on the steering wheel. The BLS comes with a turbo-charged gasoline engine of 2.0L four-cylinder version. All Cadillac models come with a free service and maintenance package for four years or 100,000 km, in addition to round-the-clock roadside assistance. The OTE Group is the exclusive dealer for Cadillac in Oman.

Escalade redefines luxury SUV
Cadillac Escalade enjoys a pride of place among large luxury SUVs and has two body styles – Escalade and the extended length Escalade. The 2008 Escalades feature integrated powertrain, chassis, safety and interior systems that drive the most powerful, efficient luxury SUVs in the segment, led by a 6.2L all-aluminium V-8 engine with variable valve timing technology, delivering 441 horsepower and 565 Nm of torque. The Escalade and Escalade ESV are available in AWD and 2WD configurations. Escalade has a sleek, athletic form with improved aerodynamics with details in elements such as fascias, styled mirrors. The interiors feature a distinct layout. The cabin, in ebony and cashmere, is spacious. The features are definitely advanced. Also new for 2008 are exciting colours of Stealth Grey and Infrared – the latter at extra cost. This all-aluminium engine uses variable valve timing (VVT) to optimise camshaft timing to improve low-rpm torque and high-rpm horsepower. The introduction of such timing through the unique, dual-equal cam phaser is the industry’s first application of VVT on a mass-produced V8 overhead-valve engine. OTE Group is the dealer for Cadillac in Oman.

Captiva in contemporary sporty design
The 2008 Chevrolet Captiva is one of the best value-for-money vehicles in the fast growing compact SUV segment, offering a versatile, modern, sporty design. The company breaks new ground with the Captiva, because the five-door vehicle is the first compact SUV from Chevrolet not only for the Middle East but also the global market. The Captiva has a choice of two engines – 2.4 L and 3.2 L – delivering 136 gross hp and 230 gross hp, respectively. It offers a seven-seater arrangement, tailored to meet the requirements of large Middle East families. Customers can choose between front-wheel and all-wheel drive. With a load capacity of 930 litres and roomy interiors, Captiva is good for any transportation task. The generous 1,035 mm tyres in the front and 940 mm at the rear make Chevrolet the best in its class. Its LS model has a range of standard equipment. The LT is available in a combination all-wheel drive. The LTZ has automatic level control and is fitted with ESP technology that offers a high level of protection. When on a steep incline, Captiva’s descent control system can be activated to automatically slow down the vehicle without the driver needing to press the brake pedal.

BankMuscat introduces Sayyarati car loans
BankMuscat recently launched Sayyarati Car Loans. The procedure has been made simple and applications are processed within 24 hours. Post-dated cheques are no longer needed , and the monthly instalments have been kept low, with the interest rate being charged on a reducing balance. Customers can avail up to 80 per cent finance of the invoice value of the car. The maximum loan tenure offered extends up to six years. The customers also have the option to avail of car insurance through the Bancassurance channel of BankMuscat at low premiums. If they choose to avail of this facility, they have the option to add the insurance premium amount to the loan amount and pay in instalments. Customers, both Omani nationals and expatriates, can visit any car dealership or BankMuscat branch to avail this facility.

GMC Terrain – A versatile SUV
GMC Terrain, is a versatile compact SUV that offers practicality and comfort of a lifestyle sedan. An expression of GMC’s professional grade engineering, the GMC Terrain comes in two variants – an efficient 4 cylinder 2.4 litre DOHC engine, with 141 hp, and the powerful 3.2 litre DOHC, V6 engine with 223 hp. Its power complements with its all wheel dDrive and advanced control features like electronic stability programme (ESP) and traction control system (TCS). The latest offering is on display at the GMC showroom at Al Ghobrah.

Concept Kizashi 3 – future direction of Suzuki
Concept Kizashi 3, the sleek and athletic model from Suzuki Motor Corporation made its debut at the New York International Auto Show in March. The Concept Kizashi series has been designed and developed to reflect an athlete in motion, while displaying the performance, strength and style of a flagship vehicle. Suzuki is now entering the D-segment or midsize segment, symbolising its future design direction. The Concept Kizashi 3 represents a future Suzuki sport sedan offering. The global unveiling of the new concept was followed by the North American debut of the Concept Kizashi and Concept Kizashi 2. Moosa Abdul Rahman Hassan & Co. is the exclusive dealer of Suzuki vehicles in
the Sultanate.

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