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Issue 7<br />

a <strong>legend</strong><br />

<strong>returns</strong><br />

n A UniqUe ColleCtion<br />

n imAginAtion fACtory<br />

n trAnsCending borders of time & spACe<br />

July '06 - October '06<br />

gt-r poster<br />

inside


IFC


MR. CARLOS GHOSN<br />

PRESIDENT & CEO, NISSAN MOTOR CO. LTD.<br />

Another month brings along another SHIFT_, whether<br />

it’s in our lives, our business, or our dreams and ambitions.<br />

SHIFT_ is constantly moving and never resting, and this is<br />

what <strong>Nissan</strong> is all about.<br />

In the past we have highlighted many of <strong>Nissan</strong>’s<br />

plans and achievements, worldwide and certainly in the<br />

region, where with the help of our dealers we have grown<br />

exponentially and continue to do so.<br />

Regionally, we have had several product launches<br />

and reveals, whether it’s the always-youthful TIIDA, the<br />

bigger and better Pathfinder or the pride of <strong>Nissan</strong> Egypt,<br />

the locally produced <strong>Nissan</strong> Sunny and Pickup. We are<br />

committed to growing our business even further, and<br />

we have shown that through our regional plans and our<br />

commitments to each and every market throughout the<br />

region.<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> is on an expansion plan, we have committed<br />

ourselves to several new markets which are sure to make<br />

an impact on <strong>Nissan</strong>’s global expansion plans, and we<br />

believe that the regional markets are some of the strongest<br />

in the world with a passion for all things <strong>Nissan</strong>.<br />

With the addition of the new Pathfinder to our SUV<br />

lineup, we have strengthened the largest SUV lineup in<br />

the region several fold – the new Pathfinder offers more<br />

seating, more power, bolder design and a more dynamic<br />

driving experience – dare we say this is the most complete<br />

Pathfinder yet.<br />

Our promise to each and every <strong>Nissan</strong> customer in<br />

the region is our enduring commitment, and hope that the<br />

coming years will bring along fruitful growth and unfazed<br />

dedication.<br />

EDITORIAL<br />

“In the car industry, superior design is critical. Product<br />

design defines the first impression the customer has<br />

about our products. With one look the customer makes<br />

their decision about their appeal. Of course, an attractive<br />

design is not enough to make a product a success, but<br />

it is necessary. It’s all about the customer’s ownership<br />

experience.”<br />

MR. TORu HASEGAwA<br />

MANAGING DIRECTOR, NISSAN MIDDLE EAST FZE<br />

2006 1


Issue 7<br />

Editorial Team<br />

Monal Zeidan<br />

Adel Feidi<br />

Sussan Fernandes<br />

Pankaj Dev<br />

Neville Jal Darukhanawalla<br />

Hania Tabet (TBWA/RAAD)<br />

Mirna Al-Qassim (TBWA/RAAD)<br />

Design & Production<br />

AdCom Advertising & Publishing<br />

Editorial Office<br />

P.O. Box 61111, Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE<br />

e-mail: shift_mag@nissan-me.ae<br />

Website: www.nissan-me.com<br />

Published for<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East FZE<br />

by Devshri Global Inv. Inc.<br />

Suite #215, 933 N. Kenmore Street,<br />

Arlington, VA 22201, USA<br />

Advertising<br />

AdCom Advertising & Publishing<br />

P.O. Box 34556, Dubai, UAE<br />

Tel.: +971-4-3522337<br />

Fax: +971-4-3595983<br />

E-mail: pankaj@adcomonline.com<br />

Copyright<br />

Law prohibits reproduction in whole or part of<br />

any matter, without prior written permission<br />

of the publisher.<br />

Copyright SHIFT_2005<br />

Legal Disclaimer<br />

Views and opinions expressed in this<br />

magazine are not necessarily those of <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

Middle East FZE and the publisher. We shall<br />

not be held liable in any manner.<br />

CONTENTS<br />

CONTENTS<br />

FEaTurE<br />

NISSAN COLLECTION!<br />

INTErVIEW<br />

HIGH PERfORmER<br />

SHEIkH AHmED ALHAmRANI<br />

MOTOr SHOWS<br />

CaSaBlaNCa & EgYPT<br />

NISSAN WOWS THE CROWDS<br />

HErITagE<br />

A UNIqUE COLLECTION<br />

MOTOr SPOrTS<br />

NISSAN SWEEPS TOP<br />

PLACINGS IN TAL EL SAAD<br />

1EDITOrIal<br />

2 4<br />

NEWS<br />

9<br />

10<br />

14<br />

16<br />

21<br />

22<br />

24<br />

26<br />

28 30<br />

COVEr STOrY<br />

GT-R<br />

A LEGEND RETURNS<br />

NISSaN TraVElOguE<br />

TRANSCENDING BORDERS<br />

Of TImE & SPACE<br />

TECHNOlOgY<br />

ALL CHANGE<br />

DESIgN FEaTurE<br />

ImAGINATION fACTORY<br />

ME & MY NISSaN<br />

BHAvNA vISHNU &<br />

TIIDA SEDAN


Bridgestone AD<br />

2006 3


aBu DHaBI<br />

DuBaI<br />

PaTHFINDEr<br />

lauNCH<br />

KuWaIT<br />

4<br />

BaHraIN<br />

OMaN<br />

SauDI araBIa<br />

The all-new <strong>Nissan</strong> Pathfinder was launched with much gusto throughout<br />

the GCC region. Now in its third generation, the Pathfinder is a powerful,<br />

authentic family adventure-enhancing sport utility vehicle, featuring a larger<br />

interior, three-row seating, a new 4.0-liter V6 and an all-new rugged platform.<br />

The 2006 Pathfinder combines rugged body-on-frame construction with the<br />

superior ride and handling characteristics of 4-wheel independent doublewishbone<br />

suspension to offer the best balance of off-road capabilities and<br />

on-road utility. Power comes from a 4.0-litre V6 developing 291 horsepower<br />

and 41.7 kg-m of torque mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission.<br />

Here are some pictures from launches around the region.<br />

qaTar


NISSAN ORGANIZES<br />

ROAD SAFETY EVENT FOR<br />

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS<br />

The biggest road safety campaign in the GCC launched by <strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East –<br />

aimed specifically at university students – has been picked up by Arabian Automobiles<br />

for their market in Dubai and Northern Emirates.<br />

More than 400 students from the American University in Sharjah (AUS) attended<br />

the inaugural training session last week when top rally driver Mohammed Ben Sulayem<br />

gave advice on safety and urged road-users to abide by the regulations and save<br />

lives.<br />

On average, five students from the AUS are killed every year in traffic accidents.<br />

“The UAE has the most advanced infrastructure in the region and very strict traffic<br />

regulations, yet it is a pity to see careless drivers on the roads subjecting many innocent<br />

lives to danger. There are specific places where speed enthusiast may practice their<br />

interests and that is not on highways or public areas,” said Ben Sulayem.<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong>’s University Safety Campaign provided more than 300 test drives – on-road<br />

and off-road – for AUS students who also took part in a series of safety competitions<br />

such as changing the spare wheel of a <strong>Nissan</strong> X-Trail, fixing a child seat in the back of<br />

a <strong>Nissan</strong> Tiida, and identifying the engine parts of a <strong>Nissan</strong> Altima.<br />

Abhijeet Pandit, marketing manager of Arabian Automobiles Company, <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

dealers in Dubai and Northern Emirates, said: “Arabian Automobiles and <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

Middle East invested more than half a million dirhams in the event where students<br />

received priceless fun and education on safety driving and a wide range of prizes<br />

and giveaways, including free check-up vouchers and <strong>Nissan</strong> emergency kits for AUS<br />

students and faculty members owning a <strong>Nissan</strong> vehicle.<br />

”AAC is acutely conscious of its corporate responsibilities and believes that<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Altima 3.5 SE<br />

Fastest in Class!<br />

The <strong>Nissan</strong> Altima 3.5 SE has been declared the most powerful frontwheel<br />

drive Japanese sedan in the Middle East market by car enthusiasts in<br />

the region.<br />

The 3.5-litre Altima, mated to a manual transmission, is the most powerful<br />

front-wheel drive Japanese sedan, boasting an unprecedented 257bhp at<br />

6,000rpm and 37kg of torque at 4,800rpm.<br />

Of all Japanese competitors in the region, the <strong>Nissan</strong> Altima offers a 3.5litre<br />

V6 engine, based on the 12-time Ward’s Best Engines award-winning<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> VQ engine, which also features in the <strong>Nissan</strong> Maxima, Murano and the<br />

crowd favorite 350Z.<br />

“<strong>Nissan</strong> has a strong heritage of delivering high performance and high<br />

response engines for its vehicles” commented Monal Zeidan, Senior Manager,<br />

Marketing and Corporate Communications Departments at <strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East.<br />

“It’s easy to see why our products are so popular – we offer quality products,<br />

chalked full of features, and as always safety and performance oriented”<br />

continued Zeidan.<br />

The sporty look 3.5-litre <strong>Nissan</strong> Altima with 6-speed manual transmission<br />

comes equipped with <strong>Nissan</strong>’s Traction Control System (TCS) for better road<br />

handling on slippery surfaces, Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) for<br />

increased braking potential and advanced suspension for better handling<br />

and stability on corners. ABS and power-assisted 4-wheel disc brakes come<br />

standard, as well dual-stage supplemental airbags with seat belt pre-tensioners<br />

and zone-body construction for maximum passenger safety.<br />

NEwS<br />

increasing safety awareness in young people is the best way to inculcate the right<br />

motoring values and combat the dreadful toll exacted by road accidents.<br />

“Through our cars and their own built-in safety features, AAC is making every effort<br />

to promote safe driving and reduce the unacceptable number of serious accidents that<br />

take place on our roads and highways.” .<br />

Other big partners joined hands with Arabian Automobiles and <strong>Nissan</strong> to add<br />

to the success of the university event and sponsored prizes that included two anydestination<br />

tickets from Air Arabia and Motorola safe-driving Bluetooth pieces.<br />

Emirates Diving Association gave environment friendly bags, Nestle distributed<br />

chocolates, Nescafe hot drinks and Baskin Robins ice-cream while Virgin played their<br />

latest hits.<br />

Monal Zeidan, Senior Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications<br />

Departments at <strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East said: “<strong>Nissan</strong>’s University Safety Campaign will<br />

reach out to students, staff, and faculty members at tertiary education institutions<br />

across the GCC, aiming specifically at the 18-25 age group who are among the highest<br />

risk of being involved in road accidents.”<br />

B E S T - S E L L I N G<br />

Carlos Ghosn Book<br />

N O W I N A R A B I C<br />

Carlos Ghosn’s award-winning SHIFT_ book is now available in an Arabic edition<br />

worldwide. Ghosn, President and CEO of <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Co., Ltd., took over the<br />

reigns at <strong>Nissan</strong> in 1999, and turned the company from near bankruptcy to the most<br />

profitable auto manufacturer in the world. The book, written by Ghosn in collaboration<br />

with Philippe Riès and published in Arabic by the Arab Scientific Publishers publishing<br />

house, details Ghosn’s history since taking over the nearly bankrupt <strong>Nissan</strong> and<br />

achieving one of the most remarkable turnarounds in automotive and corporate<br />

history.<br />

“The SHIFT that took<br />

place at <strong>Nissan</strong> is considered<br />

a world-class business case<br />

study and offers much food for<br />

thought,” noted Monal Zeidan,<br />

Senior Manager, Marketing and<br />

Corporate Communications<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East FZE.<br />

SHIFT_ recounts the 18<br />

months that turned <strong>Nissan</strong> back<br />

on course and made it the most<br />

profitable automotive company<br />

in the world, accomplishing<br />

the seemingly impossible and<br />

transforming it into the giant<br />

automotive manufacturer it is<br />

today.<br />

The book is available in both<br />

English and Arabic hardcover<br />

versions at all major retailers.<br />

2006 5


NISSAN MURANO IS NO.1<br />

CROSSOVER VEHICLE IN THE REGION<br />

The <strong>Nissan</strong> Murano has enjoyed great success since its debut in the region in<br />

2005 – its sleek, stylish and sophisticated design, along with a powerful V6 engine<br />

made the Murano an instant best-seller regionally. And with just over a year since its<br />

introduction, the Murano has clinched the No. 1 Crossover title in the region.<br />

Receiving many awards worldwide, and most recently the prestigious Saudi<br />

Auto “4X4 of the Year 2006” award in the GCC, the Murano has been a favorite for<br />

people from all walks of life.<br />

“The Murano cross-over has had spectacular sales in the region surpassing<br />

FIRST ARABIC<br />

DOCUMENTARY ON<br />

CARLOS GHOSN<br />

6<br />

LBC Satellite TV Channel has produced the first Arabic<br />

documentary on the life and career of <strong>Nissan</strong> President & CEO,<br />

Carlos Ghosn. The documentary produced in conjunction with<br />

NMEF Corporate Communications Dept. took over a year to film and<br />

outlines the key milestones in Mr. Ghosn’s private and business life<br />

including his historic revival of <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Co. Ltd., leadership of<br />

Renault and his landmark visits to the Middle East. The documentary<br />

was broadcast on LBC on June 3 2006.<br />

its business plan by 60 percent in just over a year since its launch,” said Tariq<br />

Danish, SUV Brand Manager at <strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East. “Its popularity lies in its design,<br />

a ‘sculpture in motion’, and a powerful, smooth engine, making the Murano a unique<br />

vehicle” explained Danish.<br />

The 2006 <strong>Nissan</strong> Murano features the award winning <strong>Nissan</strong> VQ 6 cylinder<br />

engine, a 12-time awardee on “Ward’s 10 Best Engines” list, Xtronic CVT<br />

transmission, all-mode 4X4 for off-road capability, digital Bose audio system with<br />

in-dash 6-CD changer and 225 watts speaker output. Chic, spacious and relaxed<br />

seating offer unprecedented comfort for driver and passengers. A host of safety<br />

features including ABS and dual stage supplemental front airbags with seat belt<br />

sensors, front and rear disk brakes and zone body construction help protect the<br />

occupants of the car in case of collision.<br />

Saudi Youth to Benefit from<br />

Al Hamrani Academy<br />

Under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed Al Hamrani, vice president of Al Hamrani<br />

United Company and with the collaboration of the center for training and counseling,<br />

the Al Hamrani Academy for training and development has been launched with the aim<br />

of training the Saudi youth for work in various automotive sectors such as sales and<br />

after service.<br />

The training program consists of 500 training hours that the students receive in<br />

twelve months, including five months of theoretical class work and seven months of<br />

practical training, all provided through trained and certified technicians. The training uses<br />

highly rated equipment and materials to help the trainees in their education and to help<br />

them in their jobs in the automotive sector.<br />

The program aims to further develop the general knowledge of the Saudi youth<br />

as well as training them in English, computer use, sales, management, general vehicle<br />

knowledge and introducing them to <strong>Nissan</strong>’s worldwide program to help prepare them<br />

for the working world.<br />

The Academy is located next to the largest AUC showroom in Jeddah which will<br />

aid the trainees by providing work experience directly at the showroom and therefore<br />

familiarizing themselves with the working environment that they will be part of once they<br />

complete their training program.


NISSAN EGYPT<br />

PRESENTS THE<br />

LOCALLY PRODUCED<br />

NISSAN SUNNY<br />

Less than a year since <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Egypt announced its new era in the<br />

Egyptian market, the Japanese company proved it is fulfilling its commitment<br />

by offering the first batch of <strong>Nissan</strong> Sunny 1600cc to the Egyptian market in<br />

three different categories – EX Saloon - in both manual & automatic transmission<br />

options - and Super Saloon with automatic transmission.<br />

In April of last year, <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Egypt had announced its plans to<br />

assemble the first sedan in its plant in 6th of October Industrial City. The Japanese<br />

automotive giant had registered its new era in Egypt last year through the Pick-<br />

Up, which is the first vehicle to be produced and sold under the management<br />

of <strong>Nissan</strong> in Egypt.<br />

“We have announced last year our plans for assembling the <strong>Nissan</strong> Sunny<br />

in Egypt, and we are glad to announce that we have fulfilled our commitment to<br />

the Egyptian market by offering the 2006 model year Sunny, produced locally<br />

according to <strong>Nissan</strong>’s global quality standard in two categories ‘Super Saloon’<br />

and ‘EX Saloon’ models,” commented Yasuaki Hashimoto, Vice President of<br />

Marketing and Sales for <strong>Nissan</strong> in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and<br />

the Caribbean.<br />

“We hope that the locally produced Sunny is another new era for <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

Motor Egypt to help assuring its position in the local market and helps us offer<br />

more great models from <strong>Nissan</strong> to the Egyptian customers” added Hashimoto.<br />

Hashimoto also assured that this big step helps <strong>Nissan</strong>’s performance<br />

globally under the new three-year “<strong>Nissan</strong> Value-Up” plan. <strong>Nissan</strong> hopes its sales<br />

will grow through this plan to reach an additional 4.2 million units, in addition to<br />

maintaining the highest profit margin between global automakers and to maintain<br />

the return on investment capital estimated at 20%.<br />

Mitsuji Sato, Managing Director of <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Egypt, assured that offering<br />

the locally produced Sunny represents one of <strong>Nissan</strong>’s new era stages in Egypt,<br />

where the company committed itself to offer additional high quality <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

products through the current year.<br />

Further, Moustafa Hussein, Marketing and Sales Manager at <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor<br />

Egypt, assured the public that <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Egypt is currently heading an effort<br />

to extend its local distributors’ network of local sales companies through its<br />

ambitious plan to offer the best sales and after sales services that the consumer<br />

expects from a brand like <strong>Nissan</strong>, which has proved its presence the world over.<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> had announced on 28 June 2004 that it will be handling the direct<br />

management of its operations in Egypt by investing US$60 million to purchase,<br />

renovate and expand its plant, in addition to reviving the sales, marketing and<br />

distribution activities in Egypt.<br />

Throughout the first year, <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Egypt was able to achieve a lot of<br />

its ambitions by investing in its plant located in 6th of October Industrial City to<br />

reach a total production capacity of 17,000 units annually. Also, the number of<br />

employees has increased from 245 since the beginning of operations in April, up<br />

to 350 workers currently, which ensures <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Egypt’s effectiveness in<br />

developing automotive production activities in Egypt.<br />

State Of The Art <strong>Nissan</strong> Showroom<br />

Opens in Jeddah<br />

Alhamrani United Co., National Sales Company for <strong>Nissan</strong> in the Kingdom,<br />

saw the inauguration of the newest addition to its showrooms in Jeddah in the<br />

presence of Toru Hasegawa, Managing Director, <strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East, and top<br />

executives of Alhamrani United Company.<br />

Located in the heart of Jeddah, the newest <strong>Nissan</strong> showroom is easily<br />

accessible to visitors to choose from <strong>Nissan</strong>’s complete line-up vehicles. The<br />

showroom covers 2000 square meters and includes a trade-in workshop to<br />

service customers’ vehicles quickly and efficiently.<br />

“The new showroom strengthens our dedication to the Saudi market”,<br />

commented Toru Hasegawa, Managing Director at <strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East. “We are<br />

committed to offering highest quality of sales and after sales services to all of<br />

our customers in the Middle East through our extended network of professional<br />

dealers”.<br />

Sheikh Ahmed Alhamrani, vice president - National Marketing, Import &<br />

Distribution at Alhamrani United Company explained the significance of this<br />

showroom: “As the National Sales Company and partner to one of the leading<br />

automotive companies in the world, Alhamrani United Co. is dedicated to its<br />

growing customer base in the Kingdom. With our showroom expansion, we are<br />

now able to reach more people than ever before and offer them an upgraded<br />

service at their reach.”<br />

Express Service Centre Launched in Bahrain<br />

Y.K. Almoayyed, the national sales company for <strong>Nissan</strong> in Bahrain, was selected for<br />

a pilot program as part of Project SX, which was rolled-out in May of last year.<br />

The word ‘Express’ designates the objective behind this project, as the facility is<br />

dedicated to conduct periodic car maintenance jobs faster, hence saving customers’<br />

time.<br />

The official inauguration was conducted by Mr. Y. Okuda and Ms. Mona Almoayyed,<br />

in presence of GCC Parts & Service Managers, NML & NMEF members and press<br />

representative, marking the success of the pilot program.<br />

The ‘Express Service’ centre includes a customer lounge, washing bays with pits, a<br />

sophisticated under-chassis spray wash system, a full lineup of genuine spare parts and<br />

seven days a week assistance for unprecedented customer service.<br />

“This new service centre is an example of <strong>Nissan</strong>’s commitment towards its<br />

customers across the GCC,” commented Toru Hasegawa, Managing Director at <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

Middle East. “The program has been successfully implemented in Bahrain and we<br />

currently have plans to implement this program further in other GCC markets during<br />

2006 in order to raise the bar in serving our customers across the region.”<br />

The Bahrain Express Service centre is located at the Y.K. Almoayyed’s Salamabad<br />

showroom.<br />

2006 7


Petromin Selects <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

for latest TV Commercial<br />

In the latest edition of Petromin’s TV commercial, a line-up of <strong>Nissan</strong> SUV<br />

vehicles were featured to highlight the performance of their products in the<br />

most demanding weather conditions in high performing vehicles.<br />

“<strong>Nissan</strong> has a long heritage in the Middle East, especially when it comes to<br />

8<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Fleet<br />

Customers Trained<br />

In Better Service<br />

Keeping with its promise for better service to the public, <strong>Nissan</strong> recently<br />

conducted a training program for its fleet customers to better serve and<br />

educate the public about <strong>Nissan</strong> products.<br />

With an aim to create a positive impact and to ensure that the fleet<br />

customer technicians are well versed with <strong>Nissan</strong>’s high service standards,<br />

NMEF successfully conducted service training at its training centre exclusively<br />

for fleet owners and workshop managers by holding an incentive trip to Dubai<br />

earlier this year.<br />

“The <strong>Nissan</strong> Tiida has become an instant best-seller in the GCC market in<br />

a very short period, offering luxury options for much less money” commented<br />

Ibrahim Abou Samra, Manager, Sales and Market Management at <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

Middle East. “By offering this kind of training to our fleet customers’ technicians,<br />

we are passing on the advantages to our third party customers as well by<br />

providing the best in service and maintenance,” he concluded.<br />

In keeping with its promise to provide the best service to its customers,<br />

the fleet exercise sessions conducted by NMEF revolved around intensive<br />

service training on the new hatchback and sedan <strong>Nissan</strong> Tiida models, usage<br />

of electronic service, manual and wiring diagram, function and diagnostic tool<br />

and usage skill.<br />

performance, both on and off-road, and their reputable design and build<br />

quality” commented Monal Zeidan, Senior Manager, Marketing and Corporate<br />

Communications Departments at <strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East. “Some of our most<br />

popular SUV vehicles were used in the oil company’s TV commercial due to<br />

their solid reputation in the local markets and overall performance under<br />

real-world driving conditions,” continued Zeidan. “In highlighting their quality<br />

products, Petromin decided to use high performance vehicles, and <strong>Nissan</strong> fits<br />

the bill perfectly with the largest SUV line-up in the Middle East.”<br />

The Petromin commercial featured some of the most popular <strong>Nissan</strong> vehicles<br />

including the <strong>Nissan</strong> Patrol, Armada and Murano crossover.<br />

NAS-GOM Awards<br />

The Tiida Launch saw an unprecedented level of integration between <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

Middle East and its GCC NSCs which comprehensively defined the product and<br />

brought the <strong>Nissan</strong> brand to life through every execution at every consumer contact<br />

point.<br />

To this end, a number of awards were presented to the importers. Seen here in<br />

the picture are representatives of <strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East & seven NSCs from the GCC<br />

with their honours: Alhamrani United Company, Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al-Babtain<br />

Company, Arabian Automobiles Co., Al Masaood Automobiles, Saleh Alhamad<br />

Almana Co., Suhail Bahwan Automobiles LLC and Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons BSC(C).<br />

Dubai TV<br />

Honours<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong><br />

“Carz”, the entertaining automotive show on Dubai TV has acknowledged the<br />

support it has received from <strong>Nissan</strong> in presenting a certificate of honour to<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East.<br />

“Carz” has been an unqualified success in the last one year and the programme<br />

has gone on from strength to strength with <strong>Nissan</strong> being an important partner<br />

in supporting it.


NISSaN<br />

COllECTION!<br />

FEATuRE<br />

In keeping with its promise to provide the best to its customers and huge enthusiast base in the GCC,<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East in collaboration with its National Sales Companies in the region are offering showroom<br />

visitors the opportunity to get their hands on limited edition <strong>Nissan</strong> branded lifestyle items.<br />

Named the “<strong>Nissan</strong> Collection” these limited edition items include officially branded shirts, jackets,<br />

a multi-purpose bag, special sporty keychain, mug, high intensity clip-on LED light, optical mouse,<br />

memory stick, <strong>Nissan</strong> survival kit pouch, and a die cast miniature model of the <strong>legend</strong>ary 350Z.<br />

“All of our <strong>Nissan</strong> Collection branded items are a celebration of the <strong>Nissan</strong> brand and are only<br />

available through our National Sales Companies showrooms” said Monal Zeidan, Senior<br />

Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications Departments, <strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East. “These<br />

items would make a great gift for any <strong>Nissan</strong> enthusiast. The fact that they are limited edition<br />

items makes them even more desirable.”<br />

The items will be available directly at <strong>Nissan</strong> showrooms throughout the region.<br />

2006 9


10<br />

GT-R<br />

A LEGEND RETURNS<br />

The GT-R <strong>legend</strong> has, in recent times, been hotted up again when the latest version was shown<br />

at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show. So what was the mythology behind the cars bearing the GT-R<br />

moniker? It is part tincture, part car and whole lots of culture, that’s what it is.


COVER STORY<br />

Borne out of a sober line of big saloons, it<br />

turned into an adrenalin bruiser thanks to<br />

a package of high-tech gadgetry which<br />

turned it into an unlikely but absolutely credible rival<br />

for 911s and Ferraris. This turned it into a serial<br />

race winner, a <strong>legend</strong> at Nurburgring and above all,<br />

a blazingly outstanding road drive. On the culture<br />

front, it’s totally Japanese origin and heritage<br />

endowed it with a cult status that has reached<br />

astronomical heights. After all, only the Japanese<br />

can get weirdly obsessive about something that<br />

the rest of the world wants, but can’t get.<br />

But now the time are a changing. The new GT-<br />

R is breaking out and unlike its older generation<br />

siblings it is not saloon derived, but gets it own<br />

unique sports-car bodyshell. And unlike previous<br />

generations, this car is going global!<br />

Unveiled at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show in 2005, the<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> GT-R Proto Concept gives an impression of<br />

what the new GT-R will look like when it finally goes<br />

on sale globally in 2007.<br />

So, here it is: meet the upcoming <strong>Nissan</strong> GT-R!<br />

Ever since its incarnation way back in 1969, the<br />

GT-R (well, it had the Skyline nameplate before<br />

its initials) has not followed any well-trodden path<br />

but has made its own way and with the new GT-R<br />

this ideology remains the same. Shiro Nakamura,<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong>’s design chief insists there is no way a<br />

GT-R should follow the pack. “There’s no need<br />

for it to be a sleek-looking car. The strength of a<br />

GT-R is its presence. It has a substantial volume<br />

and is totally different from the sleek, low slung<br />

supercars. It has top-end performance and<br />

retains a 2+2 configuration so as to appeal to a<br />

wider spectrum of buyers. We had total freedom<br />

in design but refrained from going low and sleek.<br />

In fact, it shares nothing – zero – with any Skyline<br />

saloon this time.”<br />

2006 11


12<br />

The design language of the GT-R<br />

is expressed by a distinctive bodystyle<br />

that communicates pure<br />

performance and functionality.


This could be the most obvious clue that the GT-R<br />

will not carry the Skyline name.<br />

The GT-R is pretty much boxy with visual aesthetics<br />

resembling a bodybuilder with muscles in the right<br />

places. Hey, there are many points of view on its<br />

looks, but tell me, what part does logic really apply<br />

on planet supercar? Culture, heritage, mystique<br />

matter more and this aspect was not lost on<br />

Nakamura and his design team. In 1969, when the<br />

GT-R mystique began, it was based on a four-door<br />

Skyline saloon – very upright and boxy. Then the<br />

second GT-R was a two-door coupe and when the<br />

famous R32 (the first 4WD version) came about, it<br />

still was saloon based. The design team obviously<br />

did not want the loose the GT-R DNA and the new<br />

car builds on the annals of history. The boxiness of<br />

the new GT-R retains that characteristic of being<br />

Japanese and indeed confronts European and<br />

American sports cars.<br />

Driving pleasure means that a car responds<br />

faithfully to the driver’s wishes and performs<br />

precisely as expected. Successive generations of<br />

the GT-R have consistently pursued this vision of<br />

ultimate driving pleasure. Whether on the road or<br />

the racetrack, the GT-R has always represented<br />

ultimate performance combined with handling<br />

qualities that stay faithful to the driver’s wishes,<br />

in all conditions. As a result, the GT-R has built<br />

a reputation that extends far beyond just its loyal<br />

owner base.<br />

The design of the GT-R expresses pure GT-R<br />

heritage, coming from the first model PGC10<br />

(1969) through R34 (1999), in a new and expressive<br />

form.<br />

The design language of the GT-R is expressed by<br />

a distinctive body-style that communicates pure<br />

performance and functionality. The form of the GT-<br />

R instantly expresses its purpose and potential,<br />

but in a way that is unique to this iconic car.<br />

At the front end, the single centre air intake is<br />

designed to optimise airflow and to strongly link<br />

the identity of the GT-R from R34 to GT-R Concept<br />

(2001). Front fenders are uniquely designed<br />

through intensive analysis of the airflow around<br />

the tyres and the air vent behind the front fender<br />

also optimises aerodynamics. The front end is<br />

expected to change on the production version,<br />

getting more realistic as carbon fibre can’t really be<br />

used on a mass produced vehicle the way it has<br />

been used on the show car. The sides of the body<br />

are sculptured towards the rear fender, expressing<br />

the power and dynamic tension of the car. Again,<br />

I must emphasis here that this is not a show car in<br />

the true sense of the word as most of the design<br />

has been freezed and most what you see here is<br />

what you will get, come next year.<br />

The overall shape of the body combines solid<br />

and smooth surfaces to achieve the look of a<br />

well-trained athlete. The unique C-pillar crease is<br />

designed for optimum aerodynamics, reflecting the<br />

racing DNA of the GT-R.<br />

The rear of the GT-R PROTO is strong and well<br />

defined. The signature four ring-shaped tail lamps<br />

provide an immediate visual link to previous GT-R<br />

models. Four large-bore exhaust pipes complete<br />

the purposeful look, which could only be that of<br />

a pure GT-R.<br />

Though no clues to what engine will be employed<br />

have been given, the twin bulges under the hood<br />

would imply a V engine and the smart money is<br />

on a compact, lightweight V6. No power outputs<br />

have been given but expect much more power<br />

than the 280 bhp plus twin-turbo straight six of the<br />

old R34. The 350Z’s V6 makes that kind of power<br />

and would be a logical donor to the GT-R. Imagine<br />

adding twin turbos to this and one could be<br />

looking at around 400-450 horses. Or then maybe<br />

more! The GT-R will ride on massive 20-inch rims<br />

and utilise the fancy ATTESA-ETS all-wheel-drive<br />

system of previous Skyline GT-Rs<br />

Going by the pictures seen on these pages, the<br />

designers are absolutely on the ball and going by<br />

the strides <strong>Nissan</strong> has made in the engineering<br />

department, the new GT-R looks to hold<br />

dynamically as well what it promises aesthetically.<br />

Neville Jal Darukhanawalla<br />

2006 13


14<br />

High Performer<br />

Sheikh Ahmed Alhamrani<br />

Chief Operating Officer (COO), Alhamrani United Co.<br />

Committed to climb to great heights and with a strong belief to achieve the ultimate,<br />

Sheikh Ahmed A. Alhamrani is a man with both vision and mission.<br />

Hardworking and persevering, combined with a flair for consistency in performance,<br />

Sheikh Ahmed is a role model that most would like to emulate. Apart from attending to<br />

his other businesses as well, this energetic and indefatigable COO of Alhamrani United<br />

Company (AUC) looks into the day to day operations of the company and takes his<br />

valuable time out to look into the functioning of the marketing department as well.<br />

His immense knowledge of the automobile business in Saudi Arabia, combined<br />

with his sharp business acumen, led <strong>Nissan</strong> to achieve its 180 Plan in Saudi Arabia<br />

last year.<br />

Under Sheikh Ahmed’s leadership, AUC has the second largest network in the<br />

Kingdom operating three major automotive business activities and to-date sales of<br />

over one million <strong>Nissan</strong>.<br />

As the Saudi market becomes more sophisticated, the vision culminated in the<br />

opening of new self-owned branches in important and strategic locations which is<br />

a major step in AUC’s dealership expansion process with a total of 15 branches, as<br />

envisaged by Sheikh Ahmed. Further to keep customers satisfied at all times, AUC<br />

has increased manpower by implementing the Saudization program in every sector<br />

of its organization, thereby establishing salesmen & technical training programs in<br />

various fields to improve efficient customer service as well as up-grade the quality of<br />

employees.<br />

Sheikh Ahmed also focuses on public relations campaigns in which social issues<br />

such as road safety and the protection of the environment play an increasingly<br />

important role. The core of this operation is a highly trained and motivated workforce<br />

of over 1000 employees on whose skills and dedication the company is continuing<br />

success and ultimately attaining the goals.<br />

SHIFT_ spoke to Sheikh Ahmed to find out more about AUC and the Saudi market.


Customer satisfaction is<br />

a key factor to success in<br />

this very competitive world<br />

of today. Obviously, we pay<br />

immense attention to it and<br />

in fact, created a whole<br />

new division to be able to<br />

achieve our planned goals<br />

in customer satisfaction.<br />

SHIFT_: The Saudi Arabian market is one of the<br />

largest markets for <strong>Nissan</strong> in the Middle East and<br />

Alhamrani United Co. (AUC) was a large contributor in<br />

achieving the NISSAN 180 plan. What programmes did<br />

AUC have in place to collaborate in this achievement?<br />

Sh. Ahmed: AUC prepared an intensive<br />

plan called Thunderbolt to cope with the sudden<br />

demand of the 180 plan. With all the new models<br />

launches, Thunderbolt centred around the<br />

following:<br />

a) Increase our presence in the market through<br />

the distribution channel. More “Branches” to be set<br />

up enabling to service the <strong>Nissan</strong> brand name and<br />

satisfy our customers.<br />

b) Focussed management approach on sales<br />

by sales type.<br />

c) Enhance the finance company performance,<br />

because majority of our sales are on instalment/<br />

hire purchase. Our top management issued the<br />

“Zero Tolerance” policy and we had to achieve,<br />

which we did.<br />

SHIFT_: What is your business outlook for the<br />

coming year ?<br />

Sh. Ahmed: The business outlook in Saudi<br />

Arabia in particular is very promising and the<br />

region in general is growing. The oil prices are very<br />

foreseeable and the general economy of Saudi<br />

Arabia is strong. The Government is to execute the<br />

best budget in many years to improve the standard<br />

of living in Saudi Arabia, so I am very optimistic for<br />

the future.<br />

SHIFT_: What role does Customer Satisfaction (CS)<br />

play in your total business outlook?<br />

Sh. Ahmed: Customer satisfaction is a key<br />

factor to success in this very competitive world<br />

of today. Obviously, we pay immense attention<br />

to it and in fact, created a whole new division to<br />

be able to achieve our planned goals in customer<br />

satisfaction. What is relevant today may become<br />

redundant tomorrow, so there is a constant<br />

learning curve and training that is being imparted<br />

to our entire staff – be it front line sales personnel<br />

to service and aftersales staff. We are extremely<br />

proud of our manpower and believe that regular<br />

updates on innovative management techniques will<br />

INTERVIEw<br />

Short Takes<br />

only further improve our progress in total customer<br />

satisfaction.<br />

SHIFT_: Aftersales has a growing influence on<br />

buying intentions. What are your current efforts to<br />

improve quality service and to exceed customer<br />

expectations?<br />

Sh. Ahmed: Our focus has always been<br />

on the whole aftersales experience – right from<br />

the parts availability to the demands of the fleet<br />

industry to increasing the manpower and manhours<br />

to opening new workshops. We believe all<br />

these efforts and investment will surely play a key<br />

role in the brand image in the future and will result<br />

in satisfying more customers and consequently<br />

more sales. As our brand equity increases we will<br />

constantly innovate to bring ever increasing quality<br />

to our customers.<br />

SHIFT_: The Saudi market is a highly competitive<br />

automotive market. What are AUC’s plans for staying<br />

ahead of the competition?<br />

Sh. Ahmed: Saudi Arabia is a highly<br />

competitive market. Thanks to our widespread<br />

experience in this environment we are constantly<br />

evolving with modern business plans to further<br />

increase our customer base. We have a big<br />

database of <strong>Nissan</strong> owners and others who are<br />

potential <strong>Nissan</strong> customers, so the focus is now<br />

on further improving our coverage to be a strong<br />

second largest network. In addition to increasing<br />

our manpower – we are hiring experienced new<br />

personnel who are experts in their fields – we<br />

now have some truly modern facilities as well as<br />

an attractive product line up that is young, vibrant<br />

and refreshing to our customers. We are becoming<br />

more aggressive and competitive in the market<br />

place and thanks to the exciting <strong>Nissan</strong> model<br />

range we have an advantage on others. So within<br />

this combination, the secret lies in our confidence<br />

in staying ahead of the issue.<br />

SHIFT_: What are your top two <strong>Nissan</strong> / Infiniti best<br />

sellers in the Saudi market ?<br />

Sh. Ahmed: On the <strong>Nissan</strong> side, the Pick-up<br />

and Altima breeze out of our showrooms very fast,<br />

while the FX35 and QX56 are the jewels in Infiniti’s<br />

crown.<br />

Philosophy of Life: Live simple, and enjoy it with all kinds, of people around you<br />

and try to make difference in their lives.<br />

Hobby/Sports: I love all types of sports and participated in many of them, but<br />

lately due to pressures of business I obviously have less time. But I do enjoy<br />

the following and take part in some sporting activity whenever time permits:<br />

1) Football<br />

2) Skiing<br />

3) Fishing<br />

4) Swimming<br />

5) Basketball<br />

6) Reading<br />

Favourite Holiday Destination: France.<br />

Favourite Car: I have two favourites - <strong>Nissan</strong> Maxima and Infiniti Q45<br />

Favourite Book: Apart from Quran, the latest book I am reading.<br />

Favourite Advice: Treat people like you would like to be treated. Also time is<br />

money, so use your time well.<br />

Favourite Food: Home made food.<br />

SHIFT_: What after sales services does AUC offer in<br />

its showrooms that distinguish it from its competitors,<br />

and how successful have these services been?<br />

Sh. Ahmed: We have many services that add<br />

value to the vehicle as well as to the customer. We<br />

have a full fledged accessory section as people in<br />

Saudi Arabia like to customise their cars further.<br />

Plus we also provide leasing service contracts,<br />

insurance and invite our customers to interact<br />

closely with our service managers and personnel<br />

to build up long lasting bonds. This, I feel, is very<br />

important as we want our customers to feel and be<br />

part of the AUC family.<br />

SHIFT_: What are biggest challenges <strong>Nissan</strong> is<br />

facing in the Saudi market?<br />

Sh. Ahmed: The biggest challenge facing<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> in KSA comes mainly from the two giant<br />

manufacturers who are fighting heavily for market<br />

share - Toyota and General Motors. The latter is<br />

offering products made in Korea with very attractive<br />

prices, whilst the former has traditionally been a<br />

forerunner in sales.<br />

We are having to innovate and push<br />

aggressively in the market to further increase our<br />

presence and this is on the upswing thanks to the<br />

new model portfolio that <strong>Nissan</strong> has developed in<br />

the last few years. This is a great challenge to AUC<br />

and we are fully geared to rise to it.<br />

SHIFT_: How closely do you work with <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

Jeddah Office?<br />

Sh. Ahmed: We work very closely with<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Jeddah office on a daily basis. We<br />

always considered them part of AUC and always<br />

appreciate their efforts in supporting us.<br />

SHIFT_: Recently <strong>Nissan</strong> has opened the Olaya<br />

showroom in Riyadh. What has been the public’s reaction<br />

to this flagship facility?<br />

Sh. Ahmed: The people in Riyadh realize<br />

and appreciate the Olaya showroom as a unique<br />

and wonderful showroom. With sales from that<br />

showroom increasing, it proves the ideal investment<br />

to be a very worthy one. It also shows our<br />

commitment to the brand as also our customers in<br />

providing facilities that are world class.<br />

2006 15


TRANSCENDING<br />

BORDERS<br />

OF TIME & SPACE<br />

A trip to the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan, a country abounding in archaeological riches, culture and history is<br />

a fascinating experience by itself. And to explore the country in a <strong>Nissan</strong> Altima 3.5 is even more invigorating.<br />

Jordan is one country where you can visit<br />

10,000 year old villages where humankind<br />

first began experimenting with village life. Or<br />

drive down to the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley<br />

and bask in the sun at the lowest spot on earth. The<br />

adventurous can climb through Crusader and Arab<br />

castles from the eleventh and twelfth centuries.<br />

That’s not all, One can go back further in time to<br />

the Greco-Roman world of Jerash and Cities of the<br />

Decapolis, where the splendours of Rome’s frontier<br />

provinces live on in the magnificent Roman cities<br />

of modern Jordan. Theatres, colonnaded streets,<br />

baths, temples, and much more awaits visitors in<br />

Roman Jordan. You can trek through the desert<br />

and make contact with the Bedouins, the seminomadic<br />

tent-dwellers who live with their immense<br />

herds of goat, sheep and camel throughout the<br />

and regions of the Middle East. Wow!<br />

Modern Jordan as we are to witness in the<br />

next couple of days was founded by King Abdullah<br />

I in the wake of World War I and ruled by his<br />

grandson, King Hussein, as constitutional monarch<br />

for forty-six years. The reign of His Majesty marked<br />

remarkable measure of peace, stability and<br />

16<br />

economic growth. After King Hussein’s death<br />

on 11th February 1999, his son, King Abdullah II<br />

was sworn in as the new Monarch. Jordan today<br />

is on the road to urbanisation and modernity with<br />

special care taken to preserve intact the history<br />

and culture of the land.<br />

DURATION: 3 Days<br />

TOTAL ROUTE DISTANCE: 867.5 km<br />

DETAILED ITINERARY<br />

Day 1: Amman – Dead Sea – Aqaba<br />

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 350 km<br />

TIME OF DEPARTURE: Amman Airport (11.00 am)<br />

TIME OF ARRIVAL: Dead Sea (1.30 pm)<br />

TIME OF ARRIVAL: Aqaba (6.45 pm)<br />

Special Instructions: Make sure your travel<br />

documents (passports) are handy as the stretch<br />

between Dead Sea and Aqaba requires many<br />

stoppages for routine inspection of documents by<br />

police and army.<br />

Accommodation: Intercontinental Hotel (Aqaba)<br />

Getting There –<br />

Hit The Road: Our flight from Dubai landed at<br />

Amman International Airport at around 9.15 in the<br />

morning. Immigration and customs took some<br />

time and after a quick coffee at the airport lounge,<br />

we jump into a jet black Altima 3.5 and are on our<br />

way to the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley.<br />

We take the road through Madaba, skirting<br />

Amman. This is not the Dead Sea Highway as we<br />

take an inland route passing through many small<br />

villages before we reach a breathtakingly scenic<br />

spot overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Dead<br />

Sea. Ringed by volcanic mountains, this area is<br />

also witness to the Jordan International Rally which<br />

starts the next day.<br />

It is truly an awesome sight with rings of<br />

mountains on one side and the Dead Sea dividing<br />

Jordan from Palestine. From here we can cast<br />

our eye over a large area and our associates from<br />

Bustami & Saheb Trading Co. Ltd. – the <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

dealer in Jordan - point out to me some famous<br />

sites in the area. Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethlehem,<br />

the Baptism Site and more are all within easy<br />

distance from where we are. It is quite unnerving to<br />

be in a place where there is so much history.<br />

A number of Dead Sea resorts have come


up in recent times as the Jordanian government<br />

strives to establish a strong tourist destination here<br />

and it is in one of these that the Jordan Rally is<br />

headquartered as most of the stages are in the<br />

vicinity. We stop at the Marriot Hotel to break for<br />

lunch. By the way we are now some nearly 385<br />

metres below sea level! And it is a very relaxing<br />

place to be at after the morning’s drive. The drive<br />

itself was in many ways surreal and interesting,<br />

what with the black volcanic mountains nestling<br />

amongst a spread of brown, rocky hills. The drive<br />

also showed a lot of character of the Jordan<br />

countryside and our two able associates from<br />

Bustami - Majd Bustami and Ratib Abdo – have<br />

been extremely gracious in getting us up to date<br />

with their beautiful country. The Dead Sea is an<br />

amazing place with Palestine right across the<br />

border. After lunch we head for Aqaba, Jordan’s<br />

only port city.<br />

Some facts about the Dead Sea<br />

The Jordan Rift Valley is a dramatic, beautiful<br />

landscape, which at the Dead Sea, is over 400<br />

metres (1,312 ft.) below sea level. The lowest point<br />

NISSAN TRAVELOGUE<br />

on the face of the earth, this vast, stretch of water<br />

receives a number of incoming rivers, including<br />

the River Jordan. Once the waters reach the Dead<br />

Sea they are land-locked and have nowhere to go,<br />

so they evaporate, leaving behind a dense, rich,<br />

cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry,<br />

agriculture and medicine with some of its finest<br />

products.<br />

The Dead Sea has an historical and spiritual<br />

legacy of its own. Flanked by mountains to the<br />

east and the rolling hills of Jerusalem to the west,<br />

there is an almost other-worldly beauty to it and<br />

it is believed to be the site of five biblical cities:<br />

Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zebouin and Zoar<br />

(Bela). Located at the lowest point of earth (421<br />

metres), its eastern shore is sparsely populated<br />

and serenely quiet. With much of the landscape<br />

virtually unchanged since ancient times, this is a<br />

favourite spot for a holiday drive. It’s a nice place to<br />

relax in the gently lapping brine-rich waters which<br />

guarantees that you cannot sink! People come<br />

here to indulge in a soothing massage or try the<br />

well known healing powers of minerals from the<br />

sea’s muddy floor. From here you can look across<br />

the sea to the western banks and up the Moab hills<br />

directly behind.<br />

The leading attraction at the Dead Sea is the<br />

warm, soothing, super salty water itself – some<br />

ten times saltier than sea water, and rich in<br />

chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium,<br />

bromine and several others. The unusually warm,<br />

incredibly buoyant and mineral-rich waters have<br />

attracted visitors since ancient times, including<br />

King Herod the Great and the beautiful Egyptian<br />

Queen, Cleopatra, all of whom have luxuriated in<br />

the Dead Sea’s rich, black, stimulating mud and<br />

floated effortlessly on their backs while soaking up<br />

the water’s healthy minerals along with the gently<br />

diffused rays of the Jordanian sun.<br />

The Dead Sea is 80 kilometres (50 miles)<br />

long and approximately 14 kilometres (9 miles)<br />

wide. The northern and larger part is very deep,<br />

reaching at one point a depth of 430m (1320 feet).<br />

The southern bay is, on the contrary, very shallow,<br />

averaging hardly a depth of 4m (13 feet).<br />

Unfortunately, the water level of the Dead Sea<br />

is dropping by about a 30cm (1 foot) per year. It<br />

is being diverted by Jordan and its neighbour for<br />

2006 17


industry, agriculture and household use. Scientists<br />

predict that the sea may dry up by the year 2050.<br />

Because of its extremely high content of salt and<br />

other minerals, the Dead Sea is devoid of plant and<br />

animal life.<br />

On The Road Again<br />

We are back on the road and the Altima is<br />

eating up the miles as we head towards Aqaba.<br />

Being a sensitive area, with the borders with<br />

Palestine just behind us, there are a lot of check<br />

posts. This compels us to stop at regular intervals<br />

to have our documents checked and our car<br />

searched as well. Nonetheless, we make good<br />

time.<br />

Coming from the mountains, the topography<br />

changes on this stretch and now we are in the<br />

plains with the desert on our left and the Dead<br />

Sea on the other side. With a full complement of<br />

four and luggage, the Altima 3.5 buzzes about<br />

merrily and there is a lot of cheerful banter going<br />

on amongst us.<br />

The international airport is the first sign that we<br />

are nearing Aqaba and we enter the city to find it<br />

bustling with life. Aqaba is in a very strategic place<br />

as just a thirty minute drive from the town centre<br />

can take one to the international borders of Egypt’s<br />

Sinai and Saudi Arabia.<br />

Aqaba’s long history dates back to pre-biblical<br />

times, when it was known as Ayla. According to<br />

the Bible’s Old Testament, King Solomon built a<br />

navel base at Ezion Geber, just 3 kilometres from<br />

where the modern town of Aqaba stands today.<br />

From 106 AD, the Romans, who ruled the<br />

region from their base in Sypria, also used Ayla<br />

as their trading sea port, until it came under the<br />

control of the Byzantine Empire in the early 4th<br />

century. The Byzantines appointed Christian Arabs<br />

18<br />

from south Arabia to rule the port city on their<br />

behalf.<br />

When the Mameluk Sultans of Egypt took<br />

control of the region, they renamed the city Aqaba<br />

and, in the 14th century, built the town’s famous<br />

Mameluk fort. The Mameluks were followed by the<br />

Ottomans, who ruled Aqaba for 4 centuries.<br />

Aqaba was taken from the Ottomans, in 1917,<br />

by Arab forces together with the famous T.E.<br />

Lawrence.<br />

With its wealth of other attractions, Jordan’s<br />

splendid Red Sea resort is often overlooked<br />

by modern-day visitors. But apart from being a<br />

delightful place for discerning holidaymakers, this<br />

is actually a great base from which to explore<br />

various places of interest in southern Jordan, as<br />

we found out.<br />

Aqaba is a fun place. But perhaps Aqaba’s<br />

greatest asset is the Red Sea itself. Here you can<br />

experience some of the best snorkelling and diving<br />

in the world. The temperate climate and gentle<br />

water currents have created a perfect environment<br />

for the growth of corals and a teeming plethora of<br />

marine life.<br />

Day 2: Aqaba – Wadi Rum - Petra<br />

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 225 km<br />

TIME OF DEPARTURE: Aqaba (11.30 am)<br />

TIME OF ARRIVAL: Wadi Rum (1.00 pm)<br />

TIME OF ARRIVAL: Petra (3.45 pm)<br />

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Resort (Petra)<br />

Getting There –<br />

Hit The Road: The day begins at 9.00. With<br />

a hearty and leisurely breakfast, we are back in<br />

the Altima and looking for unleaded petrol. It is<br />

a frustrating exercise as we go from one petrol<br />

station to the other without luck. Time is passing<br />

and at last we strike it lucky. With a full tank, its<br />

now time to head towards Petra, but on the way<br />

we have a destination with Wadi Rum.<br />

We are now travelling on the famous King’s<br />

Highway heading towards Petra. The Kings’<br />

Highway has been in continuous use as an<br />

international trade and transit route for the past<br />

5000 years, when it was first mentioned in the<br />

Bible as the way travelled by four kings from the<br />

north who came to do battle with five kings who<br />

ruled in south-western Jordan.<br />

Wadi Rum<br />

Wadi Rum is yet another of those ethereal,


timeless places, virtually untouched by humanity<br />

and its destructive forces. Here, it is the weather<br />

and winds that have carved the imposing, towering<br />

skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E.<br />

Lawrence as “vast and echoing”.<br />

Also known as ‘The Valley of the Moon’, this<br />

is the place where Prince Faisal Bin Hussein and<br />

T.E. Lawrence based their headquarters during the<br />

Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in World War 1,<br />

and their exploits are intrinsically woven into the<br />

history of this amazing area.<br />

A maze of monolithic rockscapes rise up from<br />

the desert floor to heights of 1,750 metres creating<br />

a natural challenge for serious hikers and rock<br />

climbers. Visitors here can enjoy the tranquillity of<br />

the boundless empty spaces, explore the canyons<br />

and water holes to discover 4000 year old rock<br />

drawings and the many other spectacular treasures<br />

this vast wilderness holds in store.<br />

There are various excursions available - for<br />

example, a trip to Burdah Rock Bridge, the highest<br />

in Wadi Rum, via the Seven Pillars of Wisdom and<br />

many other interesting sights.<br />

The Bedouin people that inhabit the area still<br />

maintain their semi-nomadic lifestyle. They are<br />

hospitable and offer a friendly welcome to visitors,<br />

often inviting them to sit and enjoy a coffee or even<br />

a meal.<br />

On the Road Again<br />

We head out of Wadi Rum and on to Petra.<br />

The road is smooth with some rough patches and<br />

we make decent time. The Altima is in its elements<br />

and before we know it, the sights and wonders of<br />

the mountains housing Petra are in view. A long<br />

winding road through the Petra village takes us to<br />

our destination – the Crowne Plaza Resort. Here<br />

we are met up other members of the Bustami<br />

Group. In fact, Mr. Emad Bustami, the managing<br />

director of the company is there himself to greet<br />

us. A quick wash and change of clothes and we<br />

are ready to explore the hidden wonders of Petra.<br />

Petra<br />

Popularly known as the rose-red city, Petra is<br />

the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab<br />

(originally believed to be from Yemen) people who<br />

settled in south Jordan more than 2,000 years<br />

ago. From a remote staging post, they dominated<br />

the trade routes of ancient Arabia, levying tolls and<br />

sheltering caravans laden with Indian spices and<br />

silks, African ivory and animal hides.<br />

Petra is a totally overwhelming experience. It<br />

is a journey back in time and seems endless: the<br />

trek is more than three kilometres long and we<br />

decided to take horse-drawn carriages through<br />

the siq (canyon) to reach the majestic ‘Khazna’<br />

or Treasury. It is truly a wondrous sight to see<br />

this absolutely magnificent piece of prehistoric<br />

architecture carved out of the mountain. The<br />

final sequence of the film “Indiana Jones and the<br />

Last Crusade”, was filmed in front and inside this<br />

towering facade.<br />

The late afternoon sun brought out the warm<br />

tones to the multicoloured stones and weathered<br />

architectural edifices. Located deep within a narrow<br />

desert gorge, Petra’s most striking features are the<br />

towering temple facades carved into cliff faces<br />

and dramatic tombs. To enter the city we passed<br />

through the main gate called Bab As-Siq. This led<br />

to a 1.2 km long chasm that ripped through the<br />

mountain in a prehistoric quake. Weaving your way<br />

through the Siq and flanked by 80m cliff walls you<br />

pass inscriptions of ancient scripts and rock-cut<br />

chambers carved in sandstone. The first sight of the<br />

Khazna is enough to make any body dumbfounded<br />

for a few moments. Six enormous Corinthian pillars<br />

support a Roman pediment; above that, a ledge<br />

balances six more pillars as well as six immense<br />

niches with statues of Nabataean goddesses and,<br />

in the middle, a round kiosk topped by a bull-sized<br />

urn! And local <strong>legend</strong> has it that the urn on top of<br />

the monument held the Pharaoh’s treasure, hence<br />

the name. Interestingly, the architecture exhibits a<br />

fusion of Assyrian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman<br />

styles - affirming that above all, Petra had indeed<br />

been a cosmopolitan city in its hey day. And the<br />

unfinished structures suggest that work began<br />

from top to bottom, and not the other way round<br />

under normal circumstances.<br />

The Nabataean Kingdom endured for<br />

centuries, and Petra became widely admired<br />

for its refined culture, massive architecture and<br />

ingenious complex of dams and water channels.<br />

Ultimately, however, the Romans annexed the<br />

Kingdom and naturally, there’s clear cut evidence<br />

of archaeological influences in the different<br />

2006 19


structures including the near intact<br />

Treasury, the vaults and tombs,<br />

amphitheatres, sacrificial altars,<br />

temples and residential areas.<br />

Interestingly, all the<br />

structures, some finished and<br />

some incomplete, have a story to<br />

tell. Historians and archaeologists<br />

estimate the origins of this place being<br />

habitated as early as 100 BC with continuity till<br />

the 15th century at least. By the 16th century,<br />

Petra was completely lost to the West, and so it<br />

remained for almost 300 years. Then in 1812, a<br />

Swiss traveller named Johann Ludwig Burckhardt<br />

persuaded his guide to take him to the site of the<br />

rumoured lost city.<br />

Various walks and climbs reveal literally<br />

hundreds of rock cut tombs and temple facades,<br />

funerary halls and rock relief. The 3,000-seat<br />

amphitheatre is from 1st century AD, and there’s<br />

a Palace Tomb in the Roman style. Also from the<br />

1st century is a gigantic Ad-Deir (monastery). A<br />

modest shrine commemorating the death of Aaron,<br />

brother of Moses, was built in the 13th century by<br />

20<br />

the Mamluke Sultan, high atop Mount Aaron in the<br />

Sharah range.<br />

Day 3: Petra - Amman<br />

DISTANCE TO TRAVEL: 225 km<br />

TIME OF DEPARTURE: Petra (10.00 am)<br />

TIME OF ARRIVAL: Amman (12.00 noon)<br />

Accommodation: Intercontinental Hotel (Amman)<br />

Getting There –<br />

Hit The Road: Its Friday and there is a sense of<br />

urgency as we leave Petra on the way to Amman,<br />

the Jordanian capital. Being a holy day, there is not<br />

much traffic on the road and we make it to Amman<br />

in time for the afternoon prayers – the Altima<br />

making judicious use of its large displacement and<br />

copious interior to get us to Amman in a refreshed<br />

frame of mind.<br />

Amman is the capital of modern day Jordan<br />

and houses almost half of the country’s population.<br />

It is a pleasant city and a vibrant place with its<br />

own history, culture and monuments. Built around<br />

several hills and no more than five hours drive from<br />

anywhere, it is a convenient base for your tour.<br />

However one should some spend time in Amman<br />

and experience the sounds, smells and sites of<br />

one of the oldest cities in the world.<br />

High above the city, at the ancient Citadel,<br />

study the traces of Amman’s many lives: the regal<br />

columns of a Roman temple in silhouette against<br />

the sky, the elegant capitals of a Byzantine church,<br />

endlessly inventive carvings in the Umayyad<br />

Palace, fascinating displays in the Archaeological<br />

Museum and digs and ruins everywhere you step.<br />

At the foot of the Citadel, take a seat in the Roman<br />

Theatre, a deep-sided bowl carved into the hill and<br />

still used for cultural events.<br />

Till Next Time Then…<br />

It’s time to catch the flight back to Dubai. It<br />

has been a fascinating lesson in history and culture<br />

with Jordan presenting a large canvas of the<br />

modern and traditional, ancient and contemporary.<br />

We truly enjoyed it.<br />

Till next time then…wonder where our<br />

wanderlust will take us next?<br />

Neville Jal Darukhanawalla


Casablanca<br />

Motor Show 2006<br />

The fifth edition of the Casablanca<br />

Motor Show took place from the 12th<br />

to the 21st of May 2006. Close to a<br />

hundred exhibitors took part of this event,<br />

and nearly thirty new vehicles were revealed<br />

to the 127 000 visitors.<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> attracted the public eye by presenting<br />

the convertible 350Z and the Micra C+C.<br />

Also on display were the X-Trail and<br />

Pathfinder - recently elected 4x4 of the year,<br />

Murano SUV, Micra and the new entrant in<br />

the Moroccan market – Tiida - both in the<br />

hatchback and sedan versions.<br />

The vehicles were showcased in a<br />

Japanese-style enclosure that garnered<br />

the award for the best stand of the motor<br />

show from the organisers. But this was not<br />

the only accolade won as the show was an<br />

unqualified success for the company and its<br />

dealer as 115 vehicles were ordered at the<br />

show.<br />

While being in Morocco, Shigeyuki Kawato<br />

(Marketing and Sales Manager - GOM<br />

- <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Co) and Toru Hasegawa<br />

(Managing Director – <strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East)<br />

visited the motor show and gave a big<br />

thumbs up to the <strong>Nissan</strong> stand for its quality<br />

and its ability to promote <strong>Nissan</strong>’s image and<br />

products in Morocco.<br />

MOTOR SHOWS - CASABLANCA & EGYPT<br />

NISSAN WOWS THE CROWDS<br />

Automech Akhbar AL Yom Motor Show 2006<br />

Only three months after launching the locally manufactured <strong>Nissan</strong> Sunny in three different spec<br />

levels in the Egyptian market, <strong>Nissan</strong> continued fulfilling its commitment to the Egyptian market<br />

by launching the trendy Tiida during its second consecutive participation in the Automech<br />

Motorshow 2006.<br />

Launching <strong>Nissan</strong> TIIDA in both models, sedan and hatchback, reflects the Japanese company’s push<br />

to establish a dominant position in the automotive industry, especially in the Egyptian market. The<br />

company has further committed to launch vehicles in different segments to reach a wide spectrum of<br />

consumers.<br />

The Tiida complements the locally manufactured pick-up and the Sunny and strengthens the company’s<br />

ambitious strategy of gaining a stronghold on the market in Egypt. <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Egypt has also<br />

succeeded in launching its latest modified pick-up, which proves the company’s ability to provide new<br />

offerings every year to its already existing models in the Egyptian market. To continue the plan, <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

Motor Egypt recently launched the ‘Urvan’ mini bus to further increase its model line-up to cater to<br />

everyone’s needs.<br />

Launched and manufactured in Egypt in February 2005, the reveal of the new <strong>Nissan</strong> Sunny stirred the<br />

Japanese company to the peak of its success. With its three spec levels - EX Saloon (Manual), EX Saloon<br />

(Automatic) and Super Saloon (Automatic), the Sunny has found immense success in the market and<br />

exceeded sales expectations at <strong>Nissan</strong> distributors’ network in all governorates.<br />

“The launch of TIIDA in Egypt is an integral part of our strategy in which to provide new <strong>Nissan</strong> models<br />

to the Egyptian automotive industry. By the end of 2006, we will be launching the X-TRAIL, a SUV also<br />

manufactured in Egypt with global <strong>Nissan</strong> quality,” said Mitsuji Sato, Chaiman & Managing Director,<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Egypt.<br />

From his side, Engineer Mustafa Hussein, General Manager, Sales and Marketing, <strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Egypt<br />

confirmed the full support and capability of the distributors that are committed to achieve <strong>Nissan</strong>’s overall<br />

strategy from providing state-of-the-art sales showrooms, unparalleled after-sales service and genuine<br />

spare parts at competitive prices.<br />

The role that <strong>Nissan</strong> is playing in Egypt exceeds increasing market share through sales and profits. It has<br />

succeeded in accomplishing great achievements during the first year and is extending a lot of support to<br />

the automotive industry in Egypt through the wide mix of products scheduled for launch.<br />

2006 21


NISSAN is about to deliver a big change<br />

for drivers. Over the next two years it is<br />

planning a fourfold increase in models<br />

fitted with continuously variable transmission, or<br />

CVT.<br />

By the end of 2007, <strong>Nissan</strong> is planning to have<br />

increased sales of models with CVT from around<br />

250,000 now to a million units.<br />

That increase means <strong>Nissan</strong> will almost singlehandedly<br />

have raised worldwide sales of models<br />

with CVT from the current level of seven per cent to<br />

almost a quarter of global registrations.<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> intends to lead by example with a<br />

system which not only maximises refinement,<br />

but improves driving performance and makes a<br />

measurable difference to fuel economy compared<br />

to conventional automatic transmission systems.<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong>’s CVT expansion plan focuses on the<br />

Japan and US markets, where the proportion of<br />

CVT-fitted vehicles is expected to rise to 50% and<br />

40% respectively.<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> first introduced CVT to its passenger<br />

vehicle range in 1992 with the application of the N<br />

CVT to the March (Micra) compact vehicle.<br />

Since then, the company has been at the<br />

forefront of global CVT innovation. In 1997, <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

introduced HYPER CVT to the Primera and<br />

Bluebird models, the world’s first CVT capable of<br />

being paired with 2.0-litre class engines.<br />

In 2002, <strong>Nissan</strong> introduced its third generation<br />

CVT to the Murano crossover SUV in the US,<br />

followed by the Teana luxury sedan in Japan in<br />

2003.<br />

This was the world’s first 3.5-litre frontwheel<br />

drive adaptable X-TRONIC CVT, offering a<br />

breakthrough in smoothness, responsiveness and<br />

fuel efficiency.<br />

In December 2004, <strong>Nissan</strong> introduced a new<br />

generation of X-TRONIC CVT units for medium<br />

class models, starting with the <strong>Nissan</strong> Lafesta<br />

minivan. Improvements include the tuning of the<br />

hydraulic and electronic controls to boost the<br />

CVT shift response, and the development of a<br />

wider gear ratio range, contributing significantly<br />

to acceleration and fuel efficiency under ordinary<br />

driving conditions.<br />

Combined with <strong>Nissan</strong>’s new MR20 4-cylinder<br />

petrol engine and other improvements on the<br />

vehicle, average fuel efficiency has improved by<br />

37 per cent compared with an existing same-size<br />

vehicle.<br />

22<br />

ALL CHANGE<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> is taking a world lead in the manufacture of CVTs – here<br />

we explain why, and how CVT works<br />

This is a vitally important element in<br />

environmental awareness and responsibility, as the<br />

UK motor industry’s Foresight Vehicle programme<br />

has identified. It concluded in a report that “Vehicle<br />

and engine manufacturers must meet consumer<br />

demand for improved vehicle performance and<br />

drivability whilst achieving the challenge of reducing<br />

fuel consumption and emissions.<br />

“Transmission improvements, e.g. automated<br />

manual gearboxes, continuously variable<br />

transmissions etc, will also enhance performance<br />

characteristics, particularly when coupled to<br />

advanced control strategies.”<br />

For <strong>Nissan</strong> this is a win-win situation with its<br />

engines and transmissions working in harmony not<br />

only for owners but also for the environment.<br />

The wide application of CVT, which significantly<br />

improves fuel efficiency, will help to reduce CO2<br />

emissions, one of the major causes of global<br />

warming.<br />

Complex: At the heart of the X-TRONIC CVT is a very strong steel belt connecting two pulleys which have<br />

V-shaped grooves in which the belt sits.


Smooth: JATCO has taken on board the principal of CVT and it’s probably best illustrated in the latest X-TRONIC CVT as fitted to the Murano.<br />

Transmission of Choice<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> is currently the only manufacturer<br />

in the world offer a full CVT line-up for<br />

all, medium and large class passenger<br />

vehicles. <strong>Nissan</strong>’s CVT units are built by Shizuokabased<br />

JATCO Ltd., a consolidated subsidiary of<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Co., Ltd. To best understand how<br />

CVT has become the transmission of choice for<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong>, we must first look at the alternatives. The<br />

manual gearbox is probably the most familiar to<br />

drivers in Europe. With synchromesh to integrate<br />

gears, changing from one gear to other is very<br />

smooth and the clutch is light and responsive. But,<br />

as traffic has dramatically increased, particularly<br />

in urban areas, drivers can find themselves declutching,<br />

selecting and reselecting gears several<br />

times a minute as they crawl in queues. Some<br />

vehicle manufacturers have developed a manual<br />

transmission that is as normal but without a clutch<br />

pedal. These use a conventional clutch assembly<br />

and gearbox. Each time a gear is selected, an<br />

electronically controlled motor, instead of your foot,<br />

activates the clutch.<br />

This then disengages the clutch, the gear is<br />

shifted and the clutch engaged once more.<br />

Fully automatic gearboxes, which dominate in<br />

TECHNOLOGY<br />

America, rely on hydraulic fluid pressure to shift the<br />

gears up and down.<br />

Some 40 years ago, DAF developed the<br />

somewhat complicated first generation of<br />

Continuously Variable Transmission. The principal<br />

behind this type of transmission is one of being<br />

an automatic but with no real gear selection<br />

capabilities.<br />

It relied on centrifugal forces throwing out bobweights<br />

within a pulley assembly and the whole lot<br />

was driven by drive-belts.<br />

It enabled the car to virtually free-wheel at<br />

higher speeds, therefore saving fuel.<br />

JATCO has taken on board the principal of<br />

CVT and extensively simplified and refined it. It’s<br />

probably best illustrated in the latest X-TRONIC<br />

CVT as fitted to the Murano, which itself posed an<br />

engineering challenge with its high power 3.5-litre<br />

engine.<br />

At the heart of the X-TRONIC CVT is a very<br />

strong steel belt connecting two pulleys which<br />

have V-shaped grooves in which the belt sits. One<br />

pulley is driven by engine output and the other<br />

transmits torque to the wheels.<br />

On signals from a number of sensors linked to<br />

the throttle and brakes, hydraulic pumps increase<br />

or reduce the space between the two pulleys and<br />

effectively alter their working diameter and the<br />

distance the belt has to travel, but always ensures<br />

it is at its optimum.<br />

The <strong>Nissan</strong> CVT systems mean there are no<br />

annoying continuous changes up or down the<br />

transmission when climbing or descending hills as<br />

the gearbox searches for power or braking force.<br />

While the engine runs efficiently, the transmission<br />

works seamlessly and absorbs less power itself.<br />

For Murano, the system has been refined to<br />

its highest degree. The normal and power modes<br />

have been supplemented with a start-up mode<br />

to give stronger acceleration from rest before the<br />

normal or power modes slip into play.<br />

This overcomes the familiar jerk from moving<br />

off or under kickdown demand. Finally, <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

realised some drivers wanted the ability to select<br />

their own gears and the X-TRONIC CVT has six set<br />

change points accessed by moving the gearlever<br />

forwards or backwards as desired.<br />

Courtesy: N-COM<br />

2006 23


The Zama manufacturing plant in Japan, which once built compact cars like the<br />

Sunny and was closed in the early 1990s, now has a new life.<br />

It is home to a <strong>Nissan</strong> ‘Super Dealer’ where potential customers can drive all the<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> models – and is home to an unique collection of Datsun and <strong>Nissan</strong> cars.<br />

These date from the Datsun Phaetons of the 1930s and include cars like the Skyline<br />

Sports Coupe of 1962.<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong>’s racing heritage is well represented with rally cars like the African Safari Rally<br />

cars, Le Mans racing cars and Japan GT racers.<br />

In 1982, with the 30th Safari Rally, a Violet achieved a historical first by winning four<br />

championships in a row and a first for driver Shekhar Mehta and co-driver Mike Doughty.<br />

It also includes one of the rarest of all <strong>Nissan</strong> models, the road going version of the<br />

1998 R390 GT1 Le Mans car. Of the machines entered in the GT class of the Le Mans<br />

24-hour race, at least one must be based on a vehicle that can be driven on public roads<br />

so this car was created in order to obtain homologation for the R390 GT1 as a ‘GT’ car.<br />

It was never marketed but was rumoured to be worth 100 million yen (€710,000) if it had<br />

been put up for sale.<br />

4 Centre stage: The unique road-going version of the R390 GT1 Le Mans car with a line-up of<br />

1930s cars on the left and other race cars on the right<br />

Courtesy: N-COM<br />

24<br />

A Unique


HERITAGE<br />

Collection<br />

5 Rally winners: The<br />

Safari Rally car of Mehta<br />

and Doughty are among the<br />

Zama collection of<br />

rally cars<br />

6 Classic: The skyline<br />

sports coupe of 1962<br />

2006 25


I M A G I N AT I O N<br />

FACTORY<br />

Designers from all over the world’s most<br />

advanced centres simulate one another<br />

to produce the best designs to respond<br />

to a variety of wishes within a fusion of cultures<br />

and customs, each with its own values. <strong>Nissan</strong>’s<br />

international network closely connects all this to<br />

create consistently advanced form.<br />

“For any automaker, attractive design is a<br />

necessary condition for the success of a product.<br />

It is not sufficient, but it is necessary. Why?<br />

Because the design is the first thing our customers<br />

see. If they do not like it, they won’t go any further.<br />

It is important for the design to be compelling,<br />

to make customers think at first glance, “Let me<br />

26<br />

IMAGINAT<br />

know more”. When they test our product, they<br />

then discover whether the technologies, benefits<br />

and features align with the design. The design<br />

provokes their interest, and when they test our<br />

products, they should not be disappointed, but<br />

fulfilled. For example, the design of the Z looks<br />

like a tiger. When you drive it, you feel the tiger!<br />

The experience fulfils the image.<br />

We have to remember that when customers<br />

buy cars, their decisions are often based on<br />

rational, irrational and emotional factors. Creative,<br />

appealing design can stir a strong emotional<br />

reaction, enhance pride of ownership and foster<br />

lasting loyalty to the <strong>Nissan</strong> brand.”<br />

The above statement is by Carlos Ghosn,<br />

President and Chief Executive Officer of <strong>Nissan</strong><br />

Motor Co. and is so true in its being. How many<br />

times our choice of a new car is determined by<br />

the way it looks.? Mostly, it seems. Once the<br />

appearance appeals, then the next step is to<br />

open the doors and sit in it to feel it. It is a chain<br />

of emotional stirrings that a good design – on the<br />

outside and inside – must evoke for the customer<br />

to begin a bond with the product.<br />

And this is where all the hard work of all the<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Design centres the world over comes<br />

into play. In recent years, <strong>Nissan</strong> has proved<br />

that it is possible to rise gallantly from the depths<br />

of despair to become the most profitable car<br />

company and one of the most important factors<br />

in this transformation has been the fantastic work<br />

done by the design department.<br />

Lessons have been learnt from the mistakes<br />

of the past to put things in perspective and today,<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> products are acknowledged to be in sync<br />

with the times and in some cases, much ahead<br />

of the competition. There is a sense of being<br />

adventurous, modern and curvaceous that draws<br />

customers to <strong>Nissan</strong> products. And this has all<br />

got to do with design!<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Design began way back in 1954 with a<br />

team of just seven. Today, there are design centres<br />

spread across the globe employing hundreds to<br />

bring cutting edge design catering to customers<br />

from different spectrums: time, geography, market<br />

segment, economic conditions. It is only by<br />

understanding the complexity of this multi-faceted<br />

situation that <strong>Nissan</strong> designers have led the<br />

revival of the company and this continues. After<br />

all, the global growth of <strong>Nissan</strong> has to continue to<br />

be led by the unique design of the products.<br />

Designers at <strong>Nissan</strong> Design start with values<br />

of the “3 C’s” - Clear, Creative, Consistent – and<br />

with these 3 C’s design takes shape. Further<br />

accentuating the passion of the brand are six<br />

words to <strong>Nissan</strong> Design which in each adds more<br />

emphasises to the passion of the brand.


DESIGN FEATURE<br />

ION FACTORY<br />

Symbolic – iconic and memorable<br />

Advanced – Progressive, fresh and new<br />

Broad Planes – Dynamic tension, solid and<br />

sturdy<br />

Simplicity – Pure, natural and clean<br />

Finessed – Refined nuances<br />

Humancentric – Attuned and sensitive.<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Design is an integral component of the<br />

company and its role is of the utmost importance<br />

as the company looks ahead with vigour and zest<br />

to bring more joy to <strong>Nissan</strong> customers.<br />

Neville Jal Darukhanawalla<br />

2006 27


<strong>Nissan</strong> Sweeps Top<br />

Placings in Tal El Saad<br />

Whilst there are plenty of motorsports activities taking place in the UAE, there are some events that are<br />

completely dominated by the local populace, most of whom place their trust in one brand – <strong>Nissan</strong>.<br />

28


Now, one would say that this is taking things<br />

a bit too far as how come one make of<br />

vehicle be so enduring to the competitors<br />

and by the way, what is this form of motorsport<br />

that makes for a frenzied dash in a <strong>Nissan</strong> to<br />

participate in?<br />

Well, it is hill climbing, only here in the Arabian<br />

peninsula the connotations change to dune<br />

climbing and the most famous of them all are<br />

the Tal Moreeb in Liwa, Abu Dhabi and the Tal<br />

El Saad in Al Ain – both in the UAE. There is one<br />

big dune in Saudi Arabia which is also huge, but<br />

it is the aforementioned dunes that all exponents<br />

of this very technical and exciting sport want to<br />

conquer. Think of dune climbing as a different<br />

form of drag racing wherein instead of racing on a<br />

flat track, one speeds up a dune having an angle<br />

of 38 degrees (checked by GPS). Total length of<br />

the track depends on basically how big the dune<br />

is, but Tal El Saad (our point of focus here in this<br />

article) is about 200 metres long with 65 metres left<br />

as braking distance. Even then 135 metres going<br />

vertically is nothing to scoff at as the competitors<br />

found out at the Red Bull Reach the Top event that<br />

took place in earlier in April this year.<br />

Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh<br />

Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, this event saw a<br />

score of mainly Emiratis taking part. with the most<br />

MOTOR SPORTS<br />

popular wheels of choice being the effervescent<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Patrol.<br />

Around 15,000 UAE and foreign spectators<br />

came to applaud the 21 winners of the quad and<br />

4WDs categories. Sheikh Ali Sultan Al Khatiri,<br />

Mr. Abdallah Al Qobaissi, vice-president of the<br />

organizing committee, and Mr. Mohammed Bin<br />

Barrak Al Zahiri from Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority<br />

distributed the prizes. He cherry on the cake for<br />

the winner in the car category was a pristine white<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Patrol, courtesy of Al Massoud Automobiles,<br />

the <strong>Nissan</strong> dealer in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.<br />

That the racing was fast and furious was an<br />

understatement as the competitors place a lot<br />

of emphasis on doing well as it reflects on their<br />

standing in the local tuners’ market. Racers and<br />

indeed winners are accorded cult status and much<br />

was expected of last year’s winner Hamdan Al<br />

Mazroui but sadly, the Tal El Saad is a great leveler<br />

of man and machine and he failed in his quest to<br />

take top honours.<br />

Fastest man on the night was UAE’s Bader<br />

Ibrahim Ahli from the Formula team. He darted up<br />

Tell El Saad in his 8-cylinder Patrol in a scorching<br />

time of 8.426 seconds. He was followed in second<br />

position by Ibrahim Abbas Al Balouchi with 9.006<br />

seconds, with Abdallah Al Hamli taking third with a<br />

time of 9.032 seconds.<br />

In the 6-cylinder category, Hamed Mohammed<br />

Jassem Al Mouni ranked first with 12.066 seconds,<br />

followed by second placed Thani Khalifa Al Muhairi<br />

(12.734 seconds) and Waleed Salah Ibrahim with<br />

12.394 seconds rounding off the podium.<br />

As for the standard car category, Jassim<br />

Mohammed Al Ali took the top spot after scoring a<br />

good time of 9.721 seconds. He was followed by<br />

Saeed Al Mazroui in second position with 10.483<br />

seconds, while Saeed Bou Samarah finished third<br />

in a time of 10.903 seconds.<br />

Surprisingly enough, Bader Ahli did not<br />

only win the title of 2006 UAE 4WD Champion<br />

of the Red Bull Reach the Top competition held<br />

in Tal El Saad, Al Ain, but he was also awarded<br />

the championship shield of all car classes, after<br />

the points he had previously scored in the car<br />

championships held in Tal Moreeb, Liwa and Tal<br />

Awafi, Ras Al Khaimah were added up with the<br />

points of this championship.<br />

Ahli expressed his joy of winning the title and<br />

said: “I am extremely happy, especially that I am<br />

crowned twice tonight: the first time because I<br />

scored the best time in Tal El Saad and the second<br />

time because I scored the highest number of<br />

points at the end of the season that started in Liwa<br />

and Awafi then ended in Tal El Saad”.<br />

“After my first trial, I realized that the drivers<br />

were unable to beat it, so I decided to wait before<br />

making the second one. I was in fact waiting for<br />

Al Mazroui in particular because I knew he was a<br />

strong competitor. However, I was lucky and he<br />

was not”, he explained.<br />

47 cars raced yesterday: 13 in the 6-cylinder<br />

standard category, 14 in the 6-cylinder full category<br />

and 20 in the 8-cylinder category. This number<br />

was more than sufficient to offer the spectators<br />

the expected excitement and enthusiasm. The<br />

wait grew longer and longer and reached its peak<br />

when the car of Saudi driver Ahmad Al Chaqawi<br />

rolled over after crossing the finish line. However,<br />

he came out of the accident unharmed and waved<br />

to put the audience’s mind at ease.<br />

All in all, it was a good evening of racing and it<br />

is but a tribute to the strength of the <strong>Nissan</strong> Patrol<br />

as it proved to not just be the fastest vehicle up<br />

Tal El Saad but the most preferred among the<br />

competitors.<br />

2006 29


Meet Bhavna Vishnu. Young, trendy, with an eye for the<br />

good things in life, this Indian lady has recently relocated<br />

to Dubai from Oman where she has lived ‘practically<br />

all my life’, as she puts it. The fast and hectic pace of<br />

Dubai compared to the peaceful, easy-going life of Oman,<br />

initially, was very stark for this advertising professional<br />

who has been her chosen field right from the start of<br />

her career. Presently working with a leading publishing<br />

company in Dubai, she says that the advertising industry<br />

is very challenging and it stimulates her senses.<br />

Coming from the laid-back life in Oman, Bhavna did find<br />

the pace a bit too fast for her liking in the beginning, but<br />

the wonder therapy that Dubai offers in the form of an<br />

abundance of shopping malls did make life a lot more fun<br />

and adjusting a lot more easier. Easy to talk to, Bhavna<br />

If you were a car, what would you be?<br />

A Black Limousine<br />

What’s your favourite stretch of road?<br />

Sheikh Zayed Road, with its huge towers on either side.<br />

What’s your proudest achievement whilst driving?<br />

Not hitting anyone or anything…..YET! (Thank God)<br />

What are the trends in your field of work?<br />

Very competitive and challenging. Keeps one always on their toes.<br />

What made you buy a <strong>Nissan</strong> Tiida Sedan?<br />

It’s an ideal family car which is spacious, has a good interior and is<br />

comfortable as well as economical.<br />

Describe your Tiida?<br />

Smart, Strong and Spacious.<br />

What kind of mileage is on the odometer?<br />

I have recently bought it and have so far done 2152 absolutely relaxed<br />

kilometres.<br />

If you were to switch careers, what would you do?<br />

Veterinarian. I love animals.<br />

What’s in your car stereo right now?<br />

Hindi-English combo CD.<br />

What would you do with the last tankful of fuel in your car?<br />

Save it for a rainy day, of course!<br />

What was the last book you read?<br />

The Da Vinci Code<br />

Describe yourself in one word?<br />

Contented!<br />

What’s the maddest thing you have done in your Tiida?<br />

Not washed it for an entire month.<br />

30<br />

ME & MY NISSAN<br />

BhAvnA viShnU<br />

TiidA SedAn<br />

is a friendly and fun loving person who likes exploring<br />

beautiful scenic beaches and to talk nine-to-the-dozen –<br />

a requisite that undoubtedly is of great value in her job.<br />

Happily married to Deepak since the last year and a half<br />

back, Bhavna epitomises the modern Indian woman who<br />

likes to cherish and enjoy each moment of her life.<br />

After owning a number of cars earlier, Bhavna professes<br />

that she has indeed found true joy in her latest acquisition<br />

– a <strong>Nissan</strong> Tiida sedan. So enthralled is she with the Tiida,<br />

that her new-found passion is to go for long drives in the<br />

setting sun … with her hubby, of course. She says: “I enjoy<br />

exploring the Emirates in my Tiida sedan, as each journey<br />

turns into an comfortable and relaxing experience.”<br />

SHIFT_ spoke to Bhavna to find out whether Dubai has<br />

really changed her.<br />

How sensitive are you to other people’s judgement?<br />

I follow the principal of ‘selective hearing’ – Absorb what is constructive<br />

and discard the rest.<br />

Your views on the traffic situation?<br />

Views!!! This place is not enough to pen that down.<br />

What’s the fastest you’ve driven on the public highway?<br />

I am not a speed crazy person and the fastest I have done is 140 kph.<br />

Your favourite cuisine?<br />

Indo-Chinese.<br />

Your favourite phrase?<br />

Thank God.<br />

Your favourite destination?<br />

Home.<br />

Home is where the heart is…what does your heart yearn for?<br />

A long fully paid-for holiday, to beat this heat, to the destination of my<br />

choice.


<strong>Nissan</strong> Middle East FZE<br />

Jebel Ali Freezone<br />

P.O. Box 61111<br />

United Arab Emirates<br />

Tel No.: +971 4 881 7500<br />

Fax No.: +971 4 881 7497<br />

Website: www.nissan-me.com<br />

Saudi Arabia<br />

Alhamrani United Company<br />

Madinah Road<br />

P.O. Box 701 Jeddah 21421<br />

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia<br />

Tel No.: +966 2 6696690<br />

TLX: 601556 AFAF SJ<br />

Fax No.: +966 2 6673658<br />

E-Mail: info@nissan.com.sa<br />

Website: www.nissan.com.sa<br />

Kuwait<br />

Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al-Babtain Company<br />

4th Ring Road, Al-Rai<br />

P.O. Box 2198, SAFAT 13022, Kuwait<br />

Tel No.: +965 4737977<br />

Freephone: 804888<br />

Fax No.: +965 4723677<br />

Email: General Enquiries: nissan@babtain.com.kw<br />

Website: www.nissankuwait.com<br />

Abu Dhabi & Al Ain<br />

Al Masaood Automobiles<br />

P.O. Box 322<br />

Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates<br />

Tel No.: +971 2 6811118<br />

Fax No.: +971 2 6776689<br />

E-Mail: almasood@masaood .com<br />

Website: www.masaood.com<br />

Dubai & Northern Emirates<br />

Arabian Automobiles Co.<br />

P.O. Box 2128<br />

Dubai - United Arab Emirates<br />

Tel No.: +971 2 2952222/2699770<br />

Fax No.: +971 2 2952828<br />

E-Mail: aaco@al-rostamani.co.ae<br />

Website: www.arabianautomobiles.com<br />

Oman<br />

Suhail Bahwan Automobiles LLC<br />

P.O. Box 156, Muscat, Postal Code 112,<br />

Sultanate of Oman<br />

Tel No.: +968 24560111<br />

Fax No.: +968 24560101<br />

E-mail: nissan@suhailbahwangroup.com<br />

Website: www.suhailbahwangroup.com<br />

Qatar<br />

Saleh Alhamad Almana Co.<br />

P.O. Box 91, Doha, Qatar<br />

Tel No.: +974 4441334<br />

Fax No.: +974 4441337<br />

E-Mail: marketing@shalmana.com<br />

Website: www.shalmana.com<br />

Name: ........................................................................................................................................................<br />

Company:....................................................................................................................................................<br />

Position: .....................................................................................................................................................<br />

PO Box: ......................................................................................................................................................<br />

City: .......................................... Country: .......................................... Zip Code: .........................................<br />

Tel: ............................................................................. Fax: ........................................................................<br />

E-mail: .......................................................................................................................................................<br />

Bahrain<br />

Y. K. Almoayyed & Sons BSC(C)<br />

Tel No.: +973 17 211211<br />

Fax No.: +973 17 731206<br />

E-Mail: almoayyed@almoayyed.com<br />

Website: www.almoayyed.com<br />

<strong>Lebanon</strong><br />

Rasamny Younis Motor Company S.A.L. (RYMCO)<br />

BLVRD, Chiah, P.O. Box 2737<br />

Beirut - <strong>Lebanon</strong><br />

Tel No.: +9611 273 333<br />

Fax No.: +9611 274188<br />

E-mail: rymco@dm.net.lb<br />

Website: www.rymco.com.lb<br />

Jordan<br />

Bustami & Saheb Trading Co.<br />

Amman - Wadi Saqra<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Bldg., P.O. Box 81821<br />

Amman 11121 Jordan<br />

Tel No.: +9626 553 2456<br />

E-Mail: bstc@nissan.com.jo<br />

Egypt<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Motor Egypt.<br />

6 October City<br />

3rd Industrial Zone<br />

Area 6,7, Egypt<br />

Tel No.: + 2 02 8340920<br />

Fax No.: +2 02 8340930<br />

Mobile +2 010 60 74 788<br />

Syria<br />

Rakha Co.<br />

Shallah & Hboubati<br />

P.O. Box: 33661<br />

Harasta, Damascus, Syria<br />

Tel No.: +963 11 532 99 35 (Lines, 6-7-8-9)<br />

Fax No.: +963 11 532 99 40<br />

Yemen<br />

The Tehama Trading company<br />

P.O.Box 4422 Shamsan street<br />

Hodeidah, Republic of Yemen<br />

Tel No.: +967 3 200 151<br />

Algeria<br />

<strong>Nissan</strong> Algerie S.A.R.L.<br />

6 Boulevard Colonel Amirouche<br />

Alger - Algerie<br />

Tel No.: +213 21 63 56 55<br />

Fax No.: +213 21 63 58 42<br />

Morocco<br />

Siab, 166 Boulevard<br />

Moulay Ismail<br />

Casablanca - Morocco<br />

Tel No.: +212 22 24 44 23<br />

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Bank Draft payable to<br />

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following address:<br />

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Dubai, U.A.E.<br />

Tel No.: +971 4 352 2337<br />

Fax No.: +971 4 359 5983<br />

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