Passat CC Review: Comfortable Curves.

Given the exceptional steering, evocative design and a dash of luxury, that’s what the letters CC should stand for!

Bearing the fore-tag of one of the most practical yet comfortable sedans in the market, the Passat CC is the most impressive input from Volkswagen to liven up a value-conscious market that is driven by a ubiquitous and sudden penchant for sporting luxury.

Honestly, the name Passat is a misnomer for a car designed to flaunt its sporting prowess rather than practical comfort (which by the way it has in plenty and explains the name Comfort Coupe). Hence you will often see it referred to by even its maker as merely the CC.

The Drive

The CC is one of those cars that, in the first mile itself, demand to be driven a hundred more. Even before it could complete its first 6-speed cycle, I knew I had to take it out on a long route. I chose the winding roads to Fujairah, with the mountains rising on both sides like welcoming wallpaper and the road offering enough challenges for a gratifying drive.

The CC has exceptional drive manners. Its light, effortless and precise steering control, with almost zero overplay, makes cornering so well measured and graceful. The steering is one of the best, especially on the highway; it’s like an unhampered flow of rich cream that leaves you satisfied at the delicious maneuver you just completed. Interchange speed limits too may be tested confidently with its effortless precision, rarely found in cars that cost less than 175K. Further, the CC comes with bending lights that compliment the steering at night.

If you are driving the 2.0 L version like me, be aware that this isn’t a car that gives you a feel of its power on a 300 m dash between signals. Once you are on the motorway, the power responds fluently to your call. On city roads, the CC rakes up an impressive torque range in bursts, with an effortless streak up to the 5500rpm range - which simply means excellent passing acceleration whenever you are out to impress. But the acceleration pedal hits the ground too soon, and power plateaus just when you get used to the generous mid range torque (mind you, it’s the 2.0 L CC I’m talking about). That said, never during the laid-back and comfortable journey did grains on the road disrupt the driving pleasure!

The Design

Three nights after I drove the CC up the Fujairah hills, butterflies fluttered in my dreams, like they did in my stomach during the drive. Not surprising, given the psychedelic effect those large butterfly eyes at the rear have. Those lights of the CC make it stand out from any other model on the road, though not very Volkswagen like. The classic VW arch has been pulled and flattened a bit to suit its sporty disposition and sometimes brings the Mercedes CL class to mind from the distance. But thanks to it, the sunroof cannot be drawn back, only lifted.

Cabin and Controls

The insides are elegant, premium and yet minimalistic and matter-of-fact in styling. With a bit of wood to complement the flagship Volkswagen flair, the CC offers pure leather as well as elegant fabric finishes to its comfortable, sporty seats.

Strangely, there is ‘nothing to hold on to’ when the car takes on sharp bends. Grip handles are conspicuously absent in this car. Agreed, passengers don’t get to know road imperfections, and the car doesn’t stray an inch from the intended path but it’s basic courtesy to have grip handles even for a car with minimal body roll.

And so…

The Passat CC, or simply CC, is perfect for those who wish to have power up their sleeves but wouldn’t want to flaunt it at every light they take off from!

For the full story and features of Passat CC, read http://drivemeonline.com/passat-cc-review-comfortable-curves/

Dodge Charger Review: A storm blowing like a breeze!

If someone wants to move over to an SUV yet not leave behind the comforts of a sedan, I wonder why would anyone think of the neuter gender of a Crossover? The Dodge Charger is a big one, and it’s as menacing as a car can get.

If I took it for a beast all this while, something to make the list of the meanest and largest predators that trod the earth, you can’t blame me. On 20” wheels, with a long way between the bow and the stern, the Charger is more like a battleship on wheels.

Once you enter its reinforced cage, you realize the beast has undergone a course in impeccable etiquette and refinement, with road manners that almost tempts you to call the formidable presence “elegant”. Presence is what the Charger is all about. A menacing intimidating one as it storms down the highway, the Charger is surprisingly silent – like the bulwark that Hugh Jackman is as he minds his ranch beyond the Billabong. The power is felt rather than heard – despite the 5.7 L V8 engine that works up a 370 bhp storm like a breeze!

While its muscular bigness is its trademark appeal, the Charger counterbalances its bulk through a plethora of technologically assisted features to help you dodge any challenges that may crop up. Blindspot Monitoring System, Parking Assist with a Rear Cross Path feature to help you reverse out of parallel parking spots and an extra-wide rear camera make the Charger smooth for its driver and safe for everyone else!

The driver-friendly features in the cabin obliges to keep you comfortable in its rather lofty seats, with convenient adjustment space (automatic in the top of the line) for the steering, the seats and why, even the pedals. At the touch of a button at your seat-side, the brake pedal lifts itself up to suit your leg space. The Alcantara leather seats offer ample cushioning for your lumbar area but there is only a heating facility – and no cooling – of the seats.

The menacing front grille is a legend. The design lines on the sides, starting like surfboard strokes from the A pillar all the way to the rear cabin lends a fast car touch.

Despite being a classic brand with a niche following, what’s amazing is the American spirit of keeping the prices low enough to translate a muscle car into a value proposition!

For the full story and features, read http://drivemeonline.com/dodge-charger-a-storm-blowing-like-a-breeze/

Audi A1: One for fun

Audi calls it “the next big Audi”. It is an utterly impressive 2-door hatch created using the same platform that gives rise to the more mundane, and half-as-pricey, Ibiza and Polo.

Driving tip: Take it easy with the A1. Use a light foot – after all it’s a cute and delightful car. It will respond by unleashing pulse-quickening power, though after a brief moment of thought, but if you tend to split open the throttle with a heavy foot, you might be disappointed by the painstakingly delivered drone – reminding you it’s a 1.4 L engine after all.

The Drive
The Audi A1 drives smooth and solid. Though the initial upturn velocity isn’t as seamlessly gained like an A4 or the other siblings, the A1 squeezes out the essence of an Audi Drive to fill a small cup of absolute pleasure. The passing acceleration will not disappoint you if you have a point to prove, while the dynamic suspension and the cross-axle lock that counter steers in corners add up to the precise handling.
The Design
The front façade and the headlamps with their LED signature are unmistakably Audi but the rear lights belong to the Volkswagen family rather than the Audi kin. Interiors are designed to bring alive the (aero) nautical experience, with the Air-conditioning vents that resemble a propeller and the console that reminds you of a cruiser’s hull.

The A1 squeezes out the essence of an Audi Drive to fill a small cup of absolute pleasure. Specs: 1.4 TFSI Petrol, Transmission: 7-speed S-tronic, Output: 122 bhp @ 5000 rpm, Torque: 200 Nm @ 1500-4000, Top speed: 203 km, 0-100 kmph: 8.9 sec

Cabin and controls
Inside an A1, detailing is painstakingly attended to – as expected of a car that you are expected to talk to, laugh with and cry on. The dials look bold and sporty reminiscent of a chronograph dial. Driver’s info pops up conveniently on the screen in front without having to resort to the centre console monitor. I found the deep red and black that marks the lit up dials sporty and intriguing, especially when only the red needles show up in the dark. The stowaway MMI screen is an interesting twist on the road, allowing simple yet elaborate navigation through the controls. The Bose music system is, probably, the most remarkable thing inside the A1 cabin.
Family Drive
The individual is at the centre of the A1 design. Right from the console controls facing the driver with an almost imperceptible tilt, to the stingy legroom or the total absence of any sort of storage or lighting at the rear, everything underlines this inclination. But I should be fair in adding that the A1 doesn’t keep the family out, and comes with even a baby seat provision. However, the ride at the back of an A1 isn’t half as comfortable as in the front. There isn’t much storage room in the cabin, with the door storage too shallow for anything much. But the boot is larger than you would expect in a Supermini and can fit in a couple of airport bags or a stroller!
Audi 1 Vs Mini Cooper
If you overlook the fact that they vie for the same pie, flaunts similar muscle, and sometimes speak for the category’s design in unison, all rational comparisons of the A1 to the Mini is a figment of marketing fancy or that of a very confused Audi or Mini fan. While Mini, even in its most modern avatar, maintains the makings of a classic as defined by Mini itself, the Audi A1 is a much more contemporary subcompact… Read the whole story on  http://drivemeonline.com/2011/11/04/audi-a1-one-for-fun-2/

Jaguar XF: The double-stitch luxury of classic and contemporary

As you press the start button, the knurled aluminium dash panel dramatically flips over at several spots, followed by a cool blast of air-conditioning. The Jaguar Drive Selector knob rises – like the periscopic elevation of a nuclear sub. The steering moves over to take its predetermined position. In the theatre of Jaguar, it’s the curtain raiser to the XF experience!

The Jaguar XF 3.0 spits out 238 bhp @ 6800 rpm with a 293 Nm torque @ 4100 rpm, with 80% of its torque available before you reach 2000 rotations. The 0 – 100 achieved in 8.3 sec is a telling figure of priority while the 237 kmph top speed still speaks for its capability. The 5.0 L supercharged can do 100 in 4.9 sec.

The Jag XF is designed to do anything at the flick of a finger or the mere touch of it. From shifting gears to engaging the parking brakes to switching on the cabin lights.

The Jaguar XF pronounces its verdict on luxury – reiterating that it lives in the detail of exquisite craftsmanship. There is nothing like handcrafted double-stitch leather laid-out like the ordained icon of bespoke luxury on the dash and the window sill, complemented by wood veneer trims.

The new design is an ingenious work of art, retaining the claw marks on the bonnet, the bestial muscularity of the flanks and even the pillars that are reminiscent of the agile limbs of the big cat. As night falls and the car makes a sharp turn, the cornering lights spring out next to its Bi-Xenon lighthouse, like a pleasant surprise from the dark!

The S mode holds the lower gears for longer allowing a quick sprint halfway up the rpm meter, taking your pulse rate along with it.  You would expect the thirst to increase dramatically with the switch to the S mode – but thankfully, it doesn’t.

The winding road up the mountain was perfectly traced by the XF’s unflinching road adherence and precise steering controls. Yet, what’s overwhelming is the ease with which it is achieved.

You can’t take the classic out of a Jaguar. The burbling rage of the British race car is a voice that echoes down the chronological corridors of the sixties onwards. Whether you wrap it with stunning curves and sporty lines, or equip it with absolutely mind-blowing technological titbits, it’ll still remain what it has always been – a true classic.

Read the full story on http://drivemeonline.com/2011/10/10/jaguar-xf-the-double-stitch-luxury-of-classic-and-contemporary/

Peugeot RCZ Review: The double-bubble Peugeot can bank on!

In the Pug of War with the Audi TT, the stunning Peugeot RCZ pulls sporty minds towards design aesthetics.

What does it take to make the drivers of the Audi TT to turn their heads? That was perhaps the very brief that Autodesk designers received at the Peugeot headquarters. It seems what they came up with has urged not only Ingolstadt but the entire world to sit up and take a second look! With the unique, even a bit weird double-bubble design, the RCZ from Peugeot reiterates the superiority of style over everything else in French Automobile Grammar.

RCZ: The power to pull the Peugeot brand-wagon

When offered the test drive, my preference to experience the manual drive first, as against the more popular automatic transmission, was just as obvious as the additional 44 bhp power available in the 200 bhp manual version.  The latter’s torque as high as 275 Nm makes the manual drive as powerful as you want a mid-range sports car to be. Despite fielding a 1.6 L engine – thanks to Peugeot’s environment-friendly agenda – you don’t have to wait for the torque to kick in. This makes the manual transmission smooth and pleasurable, and the purposeful gearshift adds to the sporty feeling of the drive.

RCZ runs up to 100 kmph swiftly enough (7.1 sec) but takes much longer to cruise past the 200 mark. But then, it’s an uncannily similar comparison here with the Audi TT 2.0 TFSI, that leaves 100 behind in less than 7 sec but crosses the 200 mark at (yawn!) 29.5 sec, in fact half a second behind the RCZ!

Active driving dynamics and N-Cap safety rating

Peugeot RCZ features a dashing spoiler across its boot that comes awake with a crunch that sounds more like a sharp and sudden revving of the turbo-booster – a signal to other drivers regarding the powerhouse that is passing by. Christened the Active Rear Spoiler, it is deployed automatically according to the vehicle speed or by the touch of a button in the central console, and is designed to optimize the flow of air and improve the down-force.

Besides the high visibility quotient of the rear windscreen, Parking Sensors with a blip make it a friendly cockpit to drive in. On the flipside are the cruise control and speed limiter stalks that are well concealed behind the steering spokes – looks great by being invisible is it at the cost of practicality?

Peugeot RCZ Automatic Transmission

Well, if you would rather barter a vial of adrenaline for the ease of everyday urban commute, the automatic transmission still doesn’t deprive you of the RCZ essence. There is a lot of style and character to the car that help keep the balance, as the absence of one-fourth of its pulling power tends to tip the scales in the wrong direction.

Above everything else, what marks the RCZ is its refreshing ability to inspire awe…

Read the whole story at http://drivemeonline.com/2011/09/13/peugeot-rcz-review-the-double-bubble-peugeot-can-bank-on/2

Ford Escape: The first taste of adventure

With its boxy design that has survived several summers, the Escape is Ford’s closest contender to the fabled 4 x 4 archetype. On and off the road, if confidence and the power to take on a challenge are the attributes expected of a purely functional 4 x 4, Ford Escape is designed to give you just that. It saves you a few precious minutes by finding an alternative escape route from a haplessly waiting lineup of traffic or by extending a Friday jaunt further by an adventurous mile.

Escape offers a long-distance ride quality that doesn’t feign to be luxurious yet stays mindful of passenger comfort even on undulating terrain. Actually, how the 4 x 4 scores brownie points is by paying attention to your philosophical rudiments, if you are a sedan-to-SUV convert. This sturdy box on wheels adheres to even the smallest commandments of your credo with a wet storage boot, space for your soiled Timberland boots and strong railings on top for bikes or backpacks. For a quick pick up and drop of cargo, the boot-lid glass can be raised and lowered independently. The 2011 model even comes equipped with a Blind Spot reading bifocal mirror – while the concept is tremendously useful when upgrading your drive from a sedan, it needs a bit of getting used to particularly during night driving.

On the transmission path from sedan to SUV, this Ford affords a quick escape into the realm of fun and adventure. Read the whole story at http://drivemeonline.com/2011/08/16/ford-escape-the-first-taste-of-adventure

Mazda 6 Ultra: Mazda’s best kept secret

Mazda’s lineup of sedans for most, stop with the Mazda 6. Their most eligible contender for the pride of place in the mid-size/executive sedan segment seem to be stuck in a blind-spot in spite of doing pretty well for itself in the showrooms. And that makes the Mazda 6 Ultra the hidden gem in the Mazda line-up.

An experience beyond Mazda 6

The Ultra is a car that makes up for every shortcoming of the Mazda 6 in the family car segment. With more space, more power and more material comfort, the Ultra is designed for those who appreciate the exuberant designs that get Mazda to stand out in the crowded and fellow-Japanese dominated world of practical and cautious car purchase. For those who look beyond the somewhat compact design of a Mazda 6 and don’t mind shelling out a few thousands more for the extra frills, Mazda 6 Ultra offers sufficient solace.

The Mazda 6 Ultra bundles an offering that truly makes it worthy of the flagship position in the Mazda lineup. The central console, for instance, is something that will instantly charm those who have crossed over the realm of ostentatious frills. Purely functional and minimalist, the convenient settings present themselves as an elegant black button panel framed by a silver lining (brushed aluminium to be precise) that differentiates the Ultra luxury from the Mazda 6. What doesn’t compliment the setting though, is the shell finish where you mostly find wooden trims in other cars of the same stature.

The Mazda 6 has it all. Great design that sets the Mazda standards. A reasonably  powerful and fuel-efficient engine that ensures a satisfying drive, and frills that translate to everyday convenience.

Upside: Impressive design. Comfortable interiors. Bose 12-speaker Music System

Flipside: Mind your head when you get in.

Read the full story on http://drivemeonline.com/2011/08/02/mazda-6-ultra-mazda%E2%80%99s-best-kept-secret/

Skoda Octavia RS: Pleasure drives to Sporty capers

How much is 200bhp? Never try to quantify the figure by driving the new Octavia RS. For, the engineers at Skoda have spent many lives tuning and fine-tuning the seemingly slight four-cylinder engine of the Octavia to generate an overwhelming dose of power from their latest 2 L turbo baby. Step on it first for a deceptively gentle thrust – soon to be thrown off guard as you push your luck a wee bit harder to unleash the 280 Nm of turbo-torque that has you roaring at 100 km/h in 7.3 sec.

Despite the meticulously timed gearshifts from the DSG transmission (Direct Shift Gearbox), the Octavia RS gives the pleasure of driving a manual car. What I liked about the RS is the way it grips the road. On its 18” alloys, it doesn’t get swept away by a sharp cornering feat or an accidental wheel spin. Sport enthusiasts who expect a hard drive aligned with smooth handling will not be disappointed. At this point, if your thoughts turn to a Golf GTI, think about this – you can lean back more in an Octavia RS with nearly ten grand left in your pocket!

Sporty in every sense, it offers a playful interlude of carefree juvenile pleasure in the humdrum of mature family life...

Read more on www.drivemeonline.com

Extended Warranty now comes as Standard!

While various automobile brands have been trying to play one-up by offering a longer Warranty and Service than their competitors, the government has just leveled the playground for all. NOW, ALL CARS SOLD IN THE UAE WILL COME WITH A MANDATORY 5-YEAR WARRANTY! This will make a car-buyer in the UAE one of the world’s most reassured automobile customers.

In the last couple of years, various car brands have been competing with each other to allure customers by throwing in an extra year of warranty or introducing free service as part of the contract. For upcoming brands, it was a handy tool to gain the confidence of cautious players and for premium brands, a reassuring gesture to deal with the perception of being expensive to maintain. While Hyundai led the trend in the former category with a 7-year warranty of sorts, Audi is one of the prominent brands that benefited in the second category. The premium icon’s 5-year service contract helped in converting hundreds of hesitant Audi fans.

Well, October 1, when the rule is supposed to come into force, is still almost 3 months away. In the meanwhile, Ramadan offers will still rely heavily on limited period warranty and service deals. The fact is that the automobile dealership in the UAE has just lost a potent differentiator for promotions post October. As for car owners, now why should anyone buy your old car from you, if buying it from a dealer can give them never-before peace-of-mind?

Read more on http://www.drivemeonline.com/ and share your views on www.facebook.com/Car.Reviews

Lexus ES 350: Don’t drive... Cruise!

If you ever wanted to buy a yacht but were worried of getting seasick, go for a Lexus ES 350 instead... 

It is true that the ES 350 can take you from zero to 100 in 7 seconds flat. It’s also true that at 268bhp, the 3.5 L V6 is powerful enough to leave behind most other luxury sedans, and even some of the sporty kind, on the six-lane. The super-sensitive steering can weave some impressive manoeuvres while changing lanes or overtaking. But chances are, you won’t remember any of those details en route, when you finally step out of your ES. The only thing that would stay in mind is the impeccable cruise to your destination. 

It is perfect silence... with a downside!

The first thing you notice in a live and running ES 350, rather what you won’t notice, is the sound of the engine. It takes a bit getting used to not looking at the rpm meter to determine if the engine is running idle. The silent cabin is perhaps the most remarkable of the many remarkable features that adorn an ES. It cuts out the road noise, absorbs the bumps and glitches and makes an average road seem like polished glass. The only thing that could give you an occasional jolt of reality is the light jerk of higher gearshifts. 

You need to step on it hard – listening hard, too – to actually appreciate the engine sound above the relatively silent air-conditioner. Now, quite unlike the inspiring burble of a BMW, one can’t say the Lexus engine does spill out music to your ears. From somewhere deep in the underbelly rises a softly contained tenor, hesitant to develop into a full-blown symphony. So it’s much better off doing what it does best - ­remain reticent and be applauded for its magnificent silence. But again, the downside of having too silent an engine is that, on a midsummer afternoon when it’s 38º C outside, you are constantly exposed to the monotonous blowing of the fan, like the desert wind itself. However, the dual-control Air-conditioning is effective enough in the scorching summer sun -­ so what’s new? It’s a Toyota after all.

 

Lexus lives in the details

The show begins even as you approach the car with the key tucked away in your pocket or handbag. The SMART keyless entry rides smooth into the keyless start as well. The idle luxury also makes itself evident in its responsive cabin ergonomics, right from the steering wheel that presents itself in your favourite position to the simple-to-navigate console buttons and sliding mid-console storage. The side-view mirror even saves the driver from straining his neck, by keeping track of the blind spot in the dotted margin of the mirror.
Whoever said that the ES was nothing but a glorified Camry never heard of the aphorism “God is in the details”. Claiming almost double the price of a Camry, the Lexus ES 350 justifies every fil of it. Its pampering attention to detail extends from the glossy wooden trims and appetisingly delicate (temperature-controlled) leather to the “everyday frills” like the navigation, the blue tooth, rear parking assist with camera, rear sun screens and an impressive sound system - just like its owner, the sound system of the Lexus is clear and composed too. Lexus bestows a lot of care on its passengers even when it comes to a stop, with guiding lights in the foot-wells as well as the side wings.

If you could bestow a mid-size luxury sedan with a “limousine” tag, this would be it! On the contrary, if you prefer the sporty kind, or have zero-tolerance for a tendency towards over-steering, Lexus was never intended to be your chosen one. Its laid-back character is so deeply ingrained that even when you decide to summon the power it hides, your Lexus ES would take a moment or two, to shrug off its gentleman’s cloak!

If you ever wanted to buy a yacht but were worried of getting seasick, go for a Lexus ES 350 instead. It costs much less and would afford you a luxury cruise along a more comfortable terrain!

MG 750 – Grandeur is back

“It doesn’t just make you feel good. MG 750 makes your every dirham feel distinguished.”

My childhood neighbour used to be visited by an Uncle who chugged along in a Morris Minor – thinking of which gives those wonderful years the innocent charm of “once upon a time”. The real charm of “once upon a time” is that it just doesn’t belong to once upon a time – it is forever. Which is what goes to the great advantage of MG Rover 75, as it makes a comeback as MG 750. 

For a car that once belonged to BMW, (a fact that its charming six-cylinder burble still reminds you of!), won accolades including the “most beautiful car” and the “Middle East Car of the Year” in 1999-2000, and was among the preferred ministerial cars of the British Government for a good part of its career, the Rover’s exit in 2005 doesn’t go down very easily. But what matters is that it’s back - as SAIC Motor Corporation’s prized trophy from its English campaign. And by the way, MG still stands for Morris Garages (just in case you thought it was “Mind-blowing Grandeur”).

MG750 is a true classic - the feline contours of a distinctive British heritage; the dashboard clock that is straight out of a 007 car chase of the sixties; the minimalist sophistication of wood-finish and leather; the refinement that satisfies the eyes and doesn’t disappoint ensuing expectations. The car in its new avatar has retained all of it except for the price tag. Now, let me not jump the gun and spoil the fun. I’ll save that for last.

The car is a retro fanatic’s dream come true, from the classic grill mesh to the double-barrelled snoot at the rear. It is powerful enough to convert the champions of China’s new economy into total retro buffs. The car does everything the good old way – regal, luxurious and elegantly stunning. From the cool sensation of the veneer and leather steering that grows on you with every turn to the soothing instrument panel that reminds you of classic pencil drawings, with their clean whites and oval dials – like a 19th century horologist’s inspiration drawings.

Once the key turns the ignition, the first thing that impresses you, and overwhelms you in the long run, is the evocative dignity of the unmistakably European growl of the V6. I haven’t heard anything like that in a long time on the roads – ever since BMW gave up its rights on Rover. It’s not the arrogant roar of an engine that will take you from 0 – infinity in yellow to green signal time. On the contrary, it is the stately guttural roll of a car that will take you steadily on snaking suburban roads just as well as six-lane highways that demand lane-manoeuvring with relaxed confidence. The MG 750 allows you to get carried away in a fluent ride – shock-free and silent, at cruising speeds. In case you wish to engage the extra power by switching to “S” mode, you will notice that the 2.5 L V6 isn’t necessarily the most powerful of its kind but is undoubtedly among the most refined.

Comfortably fitting into the Executive sedan category, the spacious cabin offers first-class comfort with plenty of legroom. The backseat and the headrests are designed in such a way as to please taller passengers. The armrest in between doubles up as an executive stowaway when the MG 750 credibly gets converted into an everyday limousine! Just a piece of advice for parents of toddlers, avoid buying restrictive child seats with ISO FIX provisions only – coz MG 750 hasn’t provided for those.

The elegant leather seats instantly make you feel comfortable but if you are one of those who would like to lean against the soft response of plush skin, you could be a tad disappointed on a long -haul. On a sweltering summer day, like the one I chose for the road run, the fact that it takes the blower at full-throttle to cool the car can be irksome, but once settled to a steady temp, the air-conditioning silently adds to the ride quality. Some of the trims have compromised in material quality, like the storage buttons or the AC vent grill, but there’s not enough evidence anywhere to justify the price at which this royal driving experience from the British heritage is now offered. (We are almost at the end of the suspense thread!)  

During my road runs, I ferried many a pleased passenger aboard the MG750. As we steered comfortably along daunting curves and menacing curbs, we played “guess the price” in its spacious cabin. The bids never dropped below a 100 K. And then, I would spill the beans with a warning not to trip over them in utter surprise. For, AED 76000 is a great price for any car that gives you classic luxury wrapped around evolved technological features like Dynamic Stability Control, ABS, EBD and you name it. It’s doubtful if there is another sedan out there that defines Value like this one. It doesn’t just make you feel good. MG 750 makes your every dirham feel distinguished.

  

Take cover - get out of that car!

I was driving down Sheikh Zayed Road on the extreme right lane when right in front of me, like a barricade on the highway, was something – a car with its flashing lights barely noticeable in the blindingly bright afternoon sun. Two seconds later, I was parked in the middle of the highway, close enough from the stationery vehicle to realize that in fact it had similarly screeched to a stop inches away from another car. Looked like it was a breakdown situation ahead. But there was no warning sign or anything that suggested an emergency.


Traffic kept zipping past us at 100 km per hour, or more, and it was almost a minute before either of us could swerve back into the flow. The other car remained where it had come to an abrupt stop after some unexpected trouble cropped up. Unfortunately, it happened along a short strip where the space beyond the hard shoulder was too narrow for the stranded vehicle to seek refuge!


The lady driver was still in her seat, speaking on her mobile – seeking help perhaps. Behind her, cars kept coming along, at 30 metres per second, swerving in the nick of time to slip into the second lane traffic, or screeching to a stop. Oblivious, she held on to her seat and her mobile. Hope she soon had the sense to step out of the dubious safety of her car onto the hard shoulder strip  – scorching hot, yet unthreatened by hurtling cars!

The legacy of staying different

It was with trepid anticipation amply fed by legend and rarity on the road, that I approached the Subaru Legacy. The car offered me a choice of 2 celebrated engines. But then if you are choosing a Subaru for its legendary drive, you might as well drive the 2.5 GT, which generously returns 265 PS at 5600 rpm and a broad-spectrum torque of 350 Nm between 2400 and 5200 rpm.

Just to feel the power shoot up eventually, I started off with the “I” mode on the three-spoke SI knob. It was pretty tame which made me glad that I didn’t settle for the 167 PS version of the car.

While what I expected was a totally sporty sedan, what I got was a sporty family sedan, equipped with most trims to please the sport enthusiast donning the cap of a family man. Besides the safety that surrounds the passengers, what was destined to surprise even the family man was the legroom at the back and the headroom too, which was good enough for an NBA player – class-leading among Japanese sedans and almost as spacious as its larger American rivals that still ride high on the proposition ‘big is beautiful’!

Handling was expected to be super-sharp thanks to the balance of power provided by the horizontally opposed Boxer engine and the legendary all-wheel drive that is the trademark of Subaru. It sure hugs the road when you step on it and I was literally taken aback by the G-force as I turned the knob to SI mode. A quick and steady burst of torque took me as far as I wanted to go on the highway before I was in competitive mode with the parallel traffic. As promised, lane changing and curves were razor-sharp, the all-wheel drive neutralizing the bit of over-steering or under steering on reasonably curvy roads.

Yet, it was when I descended sharply onto the highway from above the sweeping interchange, challenging the logical speed limit banking on the legacy of Subaru’s AWD, that I grudgingly remembered a similar maneuver carried out in the cockpit of an A4. Where it matters most, the Quattro technology seems to have an edge, after all, with the banking thrust displacing the passenger by fewer degrees in Audi’s comfortably secure cabin. While extraordinary curvatures at 50 miles wouldn’t be something you attempt every day, one thing that would leave you wishing for better refinement would be the Subaru speaker system, which seems to assume that a taste for turbo-charged baritones isn’t often complemented by an ear for music. Talking about refinement, the paneling trims reminded me of bicycle reflectors or tacky holograms done up in green and grey.

Back on the positive front, the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT has a menacing ventilator gaping on top of its bonnet, doubling up as a cooling device for the engine. It’s sure to please those with a sporty bend of mind just as the SI and SI# modes would. The leather seats provide ample comfort though not in the same veins as a luxurious sport car would and the brushed steel finish and the driving mode selector do their bits to make the cockpit impressive enough. One should keep in mind that at AED 123,000, there is a good piece of automobile technology and driving pleasure, not to mention the long legacy of sporting enthusiasm, that come with this family-friendly sedan. That alone is still bound to make you stand out in the crowd, for being different. 

Audi A4 Plus One!

Audi A4 S-line

Audi seems to be giving up much of its “understated elegance” to a dashing, sporty appearance. With 180 bhp to play with, its 2 T engine generates enough torque to gain quick acceleration at rpm as low as 2000. Yet, I would say it parts with its power steadily rather than swiftly. Banking is admirable, sweeping curves are snug and smooth at 70 plus speeds. Even though there is a slight “hurtling-down” feel at high-speed dashes, one really feels safe inside the new Audi A4: My baby slept without a sigh!

A5

The changeover from the A4 to A5 took just two minutes – so the adrenaline could pick me up from where it left me. The signature Quattro all-wheel drive made sure the extra 30 horses (211 bhp from the 2 T powerhouse) left the A4 experience half a mile behind in a minute. On the busy highway, mid-drive thrusts proved powerful enough to make a hundred-metre breach in traffic seem like an airport runway. With a relatively silent engine, you end up being a distinguished glimpse rather than a dominating menace on the road. The flipside: backseat comfort still belongs to the A4!