UAE: Mini celebrates small victory in show of firsts |
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The new Mini has been voted Best Small Car of the Year at the Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé was named Convertible of the Year and BMWBMW
took the coveted overall prize for Best Design and Technology in the awards.
And thousands of visitors have been queuing up at the show to get the first ever glimpse of the Maybach S62 Landaulet, which had its world premier on Tuesday, as well as a series of other regional launches from niche and major manufacturers.
Among the many yet-to-bereleased models unveiled for the first time in the Middle East are the C63 AMG by Mercedes-Benz, the highly exclusive Reventon by Lamborghini and the BMWBMW Concept X6.
More than 650 car companies have come to Dubai to display their newest models in the expansive 50,000 square metre exhibition area.
Those that attracted the most attention were first-time additions such as the 'Cars of the Stars' walkway, Dubai's first solar-powered car and the exciting West Coast Customs remodel of a car live at the motor show.
Also on display was the Shelby Ultimate Aero, one of the 10 fastest production cars in the world.
The Chinese made Haima also made its world premier at the show.The brand is being launched for the first time outside China and is being distributed in the UAE by international partner Global Automotive Partners.
According to Ulli Urban, chairman, Global Automotive Partners, the company chose Dubai as the first venue to show the brand outside China as the dynamic and pioneering spirit of Dubai matches the brand's vision of innovation and progress.
Haima is currently among the top three sedan manufacturers in China - the company sold 80,218 vehicles in 2006 and is expecting to dou ble sales in 2007.
Meanwhile, plans are in the works to establish a production facility in Dubai Investment ParkDubai Investment Park, with output expected to potentially reach millions of low budget $3,000 (Dh11,000) smart cars, named Tiger Kubs, for export primarily to the Indian Subcontinent and Africa.
Massoud Khodjasteh, managing director of Praktiko GT, the company behind the new venture, said his low-budget cars would create hundreds of new jobs and is set to open up a completely new sector here in the UAE.
"This is no mean feat as we are going up against automotive giants, such as Suzuki, TATA, Maruti and Bajaj, to efficiently produce a car aimed at budgets of around 100,000 rupees (Dh9,341), with 100 kilometres to the gallon and a speed of 100 kilometres per hour," said Khodjasteh.
© Emirates Today 2007
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