Volvo XC40 wins Women’s World Car of the Year 2018 www.autosport-me.com Dec.2018 -No.24 Félix da Costa wins F-E season opener Carlos Ghosn Audi e-tron GT The Legend Naomi Osaka + Nissan GT-R McLaren Senna GTR Mercedes-AMG A 35 Al Khayyat wins Qatar Drift Never stop improving. The new C-Class Coupé shows that power and beauty can play together in harmony. An overall new sporty look underlines the agility of the new DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL, which provides three set-ups for one suspension. To find out more, visit our website: www.mercedes-benz.com.lb Tel: 1536 CONTENTS Dec. issue 2018 Carlos Ghosn The Legend McLaren Senna GTR .. Volvo XC40 wins Women’s 75 examples each priced at World Car of the Year 2018 In fact I do not know where Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: £1.1 all sold award to start .. is the plot that is Hani Joudi chasing giant giant Carlos Ghosn, the man of the diffi- G.M Omar Joudi cult tasks that saved Nissan Japan from bankruptcy .. P.R Manager: The brightest star in the Reem Harfoush world of global automakers suddenly fall in the hands of Marketing Mehdi Sharifi his Japanese assistants Emotional, agile and digital Total Marketing Middle East who did not understand Editor: with the A 35 4MATIC Mer- (TMME) announces AW what this man did They are Abd Kodmani cedes-AMG is presenting a Rostamani Trading Co. at all levels, especially his Sam Harfoush completely new entry-level Japanese deputy Hiroto Moh. Farawati Saikwa, who accused him Design: of knowing that Ghosn Jessy Ch. would abandon him and re- move him from His position Distributer .. This is a worry and a wor- Emirates Co rying concern .. And for- Dubai-UAE gotten the status of this Printing man, the Lebanese origin, Chemaly&Chemaly which put him in a difficult Lebanon-Beirut António Félix da Costa Al Tayer Motors and Pre- position not to envy it .. And celebrates win in first mier Motors present the here began his war on Rep: 2019 MKC, with a signature Dubai:+97150 250 774 race of the 2018/19 ABB Ghosn and began to ran- Lebanon: +9613 875 332 grille and styling. sack his files and the use of Qatar:+974 33 70 81 74 Auto News Mfavih who did not spare Jordan:+962 7 95 61 91 77 any effort in the search in 8 Volvo XC40 wins Women’s World Car of the Year 2018 award the drawer and files that e-mail: 10 BMW Group automotive industry’s top employer condemn their giant Ghosn [email protected] 13 www.autosport-me.com Audi will invest nearly $16 billion in e-mobility, self-driving cars When the court approved 14 Aston Martin Lagonda celebrates opening of flagship dealership his release, Saikura went quickly to search for new 16 BMW Group increases worldwide sales in November AutoSport monthly mag. charges and was previously published in 1980 18 Total Marketing Middle East (TMME) announces AW Rostamani equipped with them. I do not 19 INFINITI has Record November on Strength of QX50 know what the end of this 20 W Motors hosts first ‘Cars & Legends’ event dirty game is. We are all waiting for the fair trial of the New Car giant who fell from Nissan. It will not fall from our eyes Our Publications: 4 McLaren Senna GTR ..Cover Story nor from its unique position 26 Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC in us .. 30 Range Rover Evoque .. coupe-styled SUV The question now is Auto sport Arabic Mag. 32 Lamborghini SC18 whether Nissan will con- tinue with Saikura with ex- Auto sport English Mag. 36 The new Porsche 911 cellence without the giant Motor Sport Ghosn.. 52 Motor sport Mag. Al Khayyat wins the 3rd round Qatar Drift 2018 60 New Aston Mratin takes first podium in Gulf 12 h H.J Dec.2018 - Autosport 3 Cover Stort McLaren Senna GTR .. 1,000 kg of downforce and GT3 race suspension confirmed for track-only McLaren Senna GTR as dynamic testing begins � McLaren Senna GTR moves closer to production with confir- mation of technical specification � 1,000kg of downforce; 825PS and 800Nm from twin-turbo- charged, 4.0-litre V8 engine � Suspension derived from McLaren GT3 race programme and Pirelli slick race tyres confirm GTR’s track-only status � Dynamic prototypes begin running this month as devel- opment programme accelerates � Production capped at 75 examples, each priced at £1.1 mil- lion plus taxes and all sold 4 Autosport - Dec. 2018 75 examples each priced at £1.1 million plus taxes and all sold.. Dec.2018 - Autosport 5 Cover Stort The McLaren Senna GTR, a track-only hypercar that de- McLaren tested demand for the track-only, left-hand-drive buted in concept form at the Geneva International Motor only car on its introduction at Geneva, saying that up to 75 Show in March 2018 and sold-out in the same month, be- would be produced. Many more expressions of interest gins dynamic testing this month with highlights of its techni- were received, but the company has confirmed that only 75 cal specification newly confirmed – not least that it will will be available, all of which are already allocated. Deliv- generate 1000kg of downforce and have race-bred suspen- eries are expected to begin from September 2019 when sion developed from the system used in McLaren’s GT3 production of the road-legal McLaren Senna is complete. programme. The development prototypes that begin testing this month will initially use modified Senna road car bodywork. The The Senna GTR is an even more extreme version of the final Senna GTR shape – shown in simple form in a new road-legal McLaren Senna currently being built at the design sketch – will be based around a chassis with wider McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey, UK. track front and rear and centre-lock wheels. The carbon fibre body has new, wider fenders, a larger front splitter and mises McLaren’s approach to weight reduction, a philoso- rear diffuser and repositioned active rear wing; these last phy which is taken even further with the new GTR. A two elements combining to improve aero-efficiency by ‘cou- pared-back interior sees all airbags removed, as well as pling’ the wing to the airflow from the diffuser, enabling the infotainment central screen and folding driver display greater – and more accessible – downforce at lower found in the road car, while a new, race-style steering speeds. Optimised aerodynamic performance in yaw im- wheel with integrated gearshift controls replaces the road- proves cornering stability, while reduction in pitch sensitivity legal component. Air-conditioning is an exception to the leads to even greater braking stability. rule of absolute minimalism – remaining standard-fit – and The lightweight but incredibly strong carbon fibre McLaren a radar-assisted, rear collision avoidance system is also Monocage at the heart of each McLaren Senna GTR epito- standard. 6 Autosport - Dec. 2018 A final vehicle weight is still to be declared, but the GTR sible in a homologated race car – which is a major enabler will weigh less than the road-going Senna. In combination in generating the 1,000kg of downforce. The car has con- with the 825PS output of the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 ventional double wishbone suspension, with the geometry, engine – an increase of 25PS over the road-legal Senna – springs, dampers and anti-roll bars having been developed this will see the power-to-weight ratio comfortably exceed from the system engineered for McLaren’s GT3 customer that of the road car. Together with torque of up to 800Nm, racing programme. Pirelli slick race tyres maximise dy- the result will be astonishing levels of response and per- namic performance and the braking system – introduced in formance. the Senna road car and also race-derived – is projected to The Senna GTR retains the active aerodynamics of the deliver 20% greater maximum deceleration, with resulting road-legal car – an advantage that would not be permis- forces in excess of 3g. Dec.2018 - Autosport 7 News In two anonymous rounds of votes, the XC40 prevailed against five competing models. The world's only automobile award dedicated for women reflects the growing impor- tance of women as an inde- pendent customer group as well as their purchasing power. Automakers are considering criteria important to women when buying a car, shown in the WWCOTY decision making process. The award is measured by safety, price-performance, appear- ance, storage space, child- friendliness, comfort and environmental footprint, as well as color options and desir- Volvo XC40 wins ability. Women’s World Car of “Holding the title of "Family Car of the Year 2018", it comes as no surprise that the XC40 took first place in the 2018 Women’s World Car of the Year. the Year 2018 award Winning this award highlights Volvo Cars’ dedication to pro- viding a first-class product to women and their families,” •International jury selects Volvo said Hakan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars. “This award also endorses the XC40 as a game changer in XC40 the Supreme Winner from two the industry boosting the right combination of design, com- rounds of voting with fort and safety that appeals to both men and women around the world.” safety, child friendliness and char- “With women driving the transformation of the automotive isma in focus market in the region, addressing the aspirations of the new female customer segment is an indispensable part of our vision.” Samuelsson added. Safety and driver assistance features on the XC40 include Volvo Cars’ Pilot Assist system, City Safety, Run-off Road protection and mitigation, Cross Traffic alert with brake sup- port and the 360° Camera that helps drivers maneuver their car into tight parking spaces.