Observer & Busness 27 Mar 2012 - Oman Daily Observer

Lexus GX — a 7-passenger luxury SUV
MUSCAT — Being tough
and well-mannered at the
same time isn't easy for an
SUV. But the Lexus GX
is one sport-utility that is,
in fact, talented in both
areas. Whether providing
a smooth, quiet highway
ride on a long road trip or
skilfully negotiating a rugged
trail, the GX performs
its duties without breaking
a sweat. That's because
this Lexus has a proven
on- and off-road DNA.
The 2012 Lexus GX is a seven-passenger luxury SUV offered in base and Premium
trim levels.
Standard features on the base GX include 18-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors,
rain-sensing wipers, running boards, a sunroof, leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped
power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, eight-way power-adjustable heated/ventilated
front seats (with power lumbar), driver memory settings, power-folding third-row
seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and an auto-dimming rear view mirror.
Also standard are a back-up camera and a nine-speaker audio system with a six-CD
changer, Bluetooth audio and phone, satellite radio, iPod connectivity and an auxiliary
audio jack.
The GX Premium adds adaptive variable suspension (with rear adjustable height
control), auto-dimming side view mirrors, adaptive xenon headlights, upgraded leather
upholstery, a heated wood-trimmed steering wheel, heated second-row seats and rear
air-conditioning. Most of these features are available as options on the base model.
Other options include front and rear parking sensors, wide front and side view cameras,
power-folding exterior mirrors, DVD-based navigation system, a rear-seat entertainment
system with twin screens and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound
audio system. The Premium trim is also eligible for adaptive cruise control and the
Crawl Control off-road system.
The 2012 Lexus GX460 is powered by a 4.6-litre V8 producing 306 horsepower
and 329 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission — the only available
gearbox — routes power to all four wheels via a dual-range transfer case. Properly
equipped, the GX460 can tow up to 6,500 pounds.
The Lexus GX460 comes standard with antilock brakes, traction and stability control,
hill descent control, hill start assist, front- and rear-seat side airbags, driver and front
passenger knee airbags and roll-sensing side curtain airbags spanning all three rows. A
collision mitigation system is included with the optional adaptive cruise control.
The interior of the GX460 is upscale and assembled with precision. The lengthy
features list translates into a somewhat busy-looking control panel, but these controls
are easy to use thanks to intuitive placement. The gauges are easily read, as is the optional
navigation system.
The 60/40-split-folding rear seats and power-folding third-row seats help add convenience
for most everyday affairs. Cargo space with both rear rows lowered measures
a useful 92 cubic feet. Rather than having a typical liftgate, the GX460 comes with a
swinging rear cargo door hinged on the passenger side.
The Premium trim's adaptive variable suspension and rear adjustable height control
enhance versatility and convenience by allowing the driver to select a stiffer or softer
suspension tuning for various conditions. These features also adjust the rear height by
more than an inch for added off-road ground clearance and for easier cargo loading.
Lexus vehicles are brought to you in Oman by the Saud Bahwan Group. In Oman,
every Lexus vehicle comes with special benefits and privileges such as 6 years unlimited
extended mileage protection — Aman Bahwan and Lexus Prestige Club Card that
offers 24 hours on-road assistance from AAA.
22 OMAN TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012
Bank Sohar plans to upgrade data protection technology
By Hasan Kamoonpuri
MUSCAT — Bank Sohar has
announced that it is going in
for unified and intelligence
solutions for online replication
of data centre and disaster recover
site as part of its plans to
upgrade technology to improve
efficiency and data protection.
Bank Sohar has chosen
EMC® VNX unified storage
from EMC technologies along
with EMC Data Domain® Deduplication
storage, which is
the next generation back-up
and recovery IT solution to
achieve higher levels of efficiency
and data protection, it
was said in a press conference
here yesterday. The bank is
currently in the initial stage of
deploying EMC infrastructure
at its Data Centre (DC), Head
Office and Disaster Recovery
(DR) sites, along with EMC
RecoverPoint to provide pointin-time
recovery and online
continuous replication between
the DC and DR sites. This new
Storage Area Network (SAN)
of EMC VNX will enable Bank
Sohar to achieve higher levels
of performance and efficiency
and also meet its RecoverPoint
Objectives (RPO) requirements
as part of IT DR strategy and
business continuity management.
Bank Sohar will manage
the infrastructure optimally,
reduce operational costs and
increase business agility.
“In line with His Majesty
the Sultan’s vision of harnessing
IT for all-round development
of Oman, the bank’s
strategy is to successfully inte-
BUSINESS ALERT
Khimji’s Home Furniture promotion
KHIMJI’S Home Furniture is
back with its “Great Exchange
Offer” offering customers the
opportunity to exchange their
old home furniture with the
newest arrivals from around
the world. Its stylish showroom
at Al Khuwair has an extensive
display of home furniture and
children’s furniture.
Praveen Kapoor, Business
Head — Home Furniture Division,
Infrastructure Group of
Khimji Ramdas said, “Changing
out the furniture in our
homes can be quite a daunting
task. Most furniture stores that
deliver your new furniture usually
do not remove your old
furniture and exchange it at the
best reasonable market price.
They will leave that up to YOU
the homeowner. We realised
this deterrent faced by customers
and brought in this useful
replacement scheme. Our customers
have been giving us an overwhelming thumbs-up for this limited period offer.
Regular insight into our customers’ preferences and behaviours has enabled us stay
ahead of the curve and become their dependable partner in Oman reaching out with
new and innovative offers.”
Bank Sohar branch managers meet
AS part of its strategy to gear up emerging challenges, Bank Sohar recently organised
a meeting of all branch managers of the entire bank’s network at Millennium Resort
in Al Mussanah.
Commenting on the significance of the annual branch managers’ meeting, Khalfan
Rashid al Tal’ey, DGM — Retail Banking — Bank Sohar said, “The branch managers’
meeting is an ideal platform for not only exchange of information but also an
opportunity to chalk out a strategic plan for our business.’’ ‘‘At Bank Sohar we hold
grate IT across the value chain
as a key enabler of operational
excellence and innovation, creating
opportunities and achieving
the business objectives.
IT continues to be our key to
efficient banking and services
as an effective differentiator.
IT has made it possible to improve
efficiency both in terms
of uptime and the quality of
offerings to the customers,” Dr
Mohamed Abdulaziz Kalmoor,
these meetings on a regular basis as they indirectly provide a link between the senior
management and the staff in the entire branch network,’’ Al Tal’ey said.
‘‘The bank, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, is very much focused
on its business growth and these get-togethers help us to strengthen our team to meet
the challenges ahead,” Salim Khamis al Maskery, AGM Branches said.
Zawawi to launch four new trucks
ZAWAWI Mercedes-Benz
will use its inaugural attendance
at the Oil and
Gas West Asia 2012 Exhibition
and Conference
(OGWA) next month to
introduce four tough new
vehicle ranges, with the
goal of capitalising on
market share built by the
multi-award winning Actros
truck range in Oman.
The exclusive distributor
for Mercedes-Benz in the
Sultanate, Zawawi Trading
Co (ZTC) will display a range of new and existing commercial vehicles at the
exhibition, offering excellent transport logistic solutions to a significant oil and gas
industry customer base.
Included in the line-up are the Mercedes-Benz Vito and Sprinter vans, the evergreen
Actros, through to the introduction of the Daimler Trucks North America range, including
Freightliner and the ‘behemoth of the US oil industry’ — Western Star.
Commenting on ZTC’s commercial vehicle aspirations, Craig Hardie, CEO — Automotive
said: “With the introduction of Freightliner and Western Star brands, we are
looking forward to a very interesting 2012. ZTC has built a solid reputation over many
years with the well-established success of the Actros range of vehicles which we plan
to capitalise on.”
Mazda powers Muscat Icon 2012
KNOWN for always lending
their support to many
a fun and vivacious event
in the Sultanate, Towell
Auto Centre’s Mazda
brand had signed up as
sponsor for the recently
held ‘Muscat Icon 2012’.
Launched in 2006,
Muscat Icon is a talent
hunt contest that showcases
the talent of talented
singers above the age of
15, who compete in categories
ranging from Hindi,
Arabic and Ghazals.
Annurag Chawla, Head of Marketing and Communications, Towell Auto Centre,
points out, “The Muscat Icon 2012 is a one-of-its-kind community event, where talented
singers from different walks of life come together. Events of this nature are the
best way to communicate what our brand is made up of. We have always been strong
community supporters, and the sponsorship of this event exemplifies our commitment
to support fun activities and characterises the values reflected in our brand claim —
Zoom Zoom.”
BankMuscat’s Manafea e-magazine
offers shopping extravaganza
By A Staff Reporter
CEO, Bank Sohar said.
The bank leverages IT to
make the customer’s experience
more convenient, effective and
efficient through services such
as “Anytime, Anywhere Banking”
through a range of delivery
channels, such as branches,
ATMs, e-Banking and SMS,
and across payment and settlement
systems.
“The SAN project comprises
SAN storage at the DC and
MUSCAT — The 2nd edition of Manafea emagazine
offering a virtual world of shopping
extravagance has been launched by the Cards
and e-Banking department of BankMuscat.
The special issue celebrates the Mother’s Day,
highlighting the Zeinah suite of products for
women.
The e-magazine brings together hundreds
of merchants in every category — restaurants,
clinics, jewellery, electronics etc, offering special
deals and attractive discount to BankMuscat
cardholders.
Tariq Atiq, Asst GM — Cards and e-
Banking, said: “Targeted at over 1.4 million
BankMuscat cardholders, Manafea is unprecedented
in its scope, reinforcing the benefits of
convenience and security electronic payments
provide for cardholders in Oman. The e-magazine
is aimed at raising awareness and promoting
the e-Payment culture in Oman by making
payments by cards both a habit and preference.
The underlying message of Manafea is that
payment by cards is both convenient and secure.”
Conceived as a family e-magazine, the excitement
of browsing Manafea centres on attractive
promotional campaigns by merchants
and brands providing special value offers and
discounts, available for BankMuscat cardholders
only. Customers are eligible to avail these
offers using BankMuscat debit/credit cards.
Manafea will be released every 2 months
consisting of advertisements and advertorials
highlighting offers from leading merchants
exclusive for BankMuscat cardholders only;
DR sites, facilitating increased
storage capacity; scalability
and reliable data consistency
at DC and DR; Disk to Disk
(D2D) back-up solution, which
will facilitate availability of
back-up copies in the data centre
resulting in shorter back-up
and recovery windows for DC
to DR back-up replication,”
Mujahid Said al Zadjali, AGM
and Head of IT, Bank Sohar
said.
information on BankMuscat cards and bank
related news and general awareness on e-payments
and credit cards.
Tariq Atiq added: “Manafea will be used as
a means of educating BankMuscat cardholders
about the benefits of electronic payments, new
electronic payment methods, card fraud reduction
mechanisms etc.
This is a long-term investment being done
by the bank to increase awareness about cards
and gradually convert cardholders from using
cash to using an electronic payment method as
a matter of choice and habit. The e-magazine is
yet another example of the bank’s commitment
to delivering rewards for loyal customers.”