Car Market

Reifnitz/Ingolstadt, May 13, 2013 – Audi turns the Wörthersee 2013 into the “Home of quattro”. At the large gathering in Reifnitz (Kärnten), the premium brand unveiled the Audi TT ultra quattro concept – which combines minimal weight and maximum sportiness. A wide range of high-performance cars also gave fans another taste of sportiness. In addition to the legendary Sport quattro S1, the very latest RS models and thoroughbred race cars were also on show. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro, which was the first hybrid car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year, was also be part of the action at the lakeside.

The Audi TT ultra quattro concept showcar combines a lean 1,111 kilograms total weight with a 2.0 TFSI engine, whose 310 hp and 400 Nm effortlessly propel the coupé. From a standstill the TT ultra quattro concept is catapulted in 4.2 seconds to 100 km/h. Its power-to-weight ratio of 3.6 kg/hp is on a par with thoroughbred super sports cars. And it is also worthwhile looking at the detail, not least because the concept car pays homage to automotive lightweight construction.

Revenues up by 18.7% and sales increase by 1.519 million units compared to the previous fiscal year

Dubai – UAE, May 09, 2013: – Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today reported its consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013.

Annual highlights for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013

• Net revenues of 22 trillion yen, an increase of 18.7%
• Operating income of 1.32 trillion yen, an increase of 965.2 billion yen
• Consolidated vehicle sales totaled 8.871 million units, an increase of 1.519 million units
• Income before income taxes[1] was 1.40 trillion yen; net income[2] increased from 283.5 billion yen to 962.1 billion yen

Commenting on the results, TMC President Akio Toyoda said: "In the fiscal year ended March, we experienced increased sales of our vehicles mainly in North America and Asia, and, coupled with the results of company-wide profit improvement activities, we booked operating income of 1.32 trillion yen. We have faced many challenges since 2009 but have learned valuable lessons, including the need for Toyota to maintain sustainable growth.  We believe that the driver for sustainable growth is ultimately ever-better cars, and we are launching cars developed with this mindset.  We are also making progress in reforming our manufacturing technologies and vehicle development processes under the Toyota New Global Architecture and I am convinced that the positive cycle defined for our business in the Toyota Global Vision is now gradually but steadily taking shape."

• Trucks and SUVs led the surge in sales with a total of 30 per cent increase
• Strong performance also reflected globally for the same period with US$1.6b net income

Doha, May 1, 2013 –Ford and Lincoln products reported 14 per cent growth in sales during the first quarter of 2013, registering the highest ever Q1 sales for the Middle East region. The strong boost comes as a result of the continued demand and growing popularity ofthe latest Ford and Lincoln models coupled with the marked improvements in quality and innovations across the range.

• Highly efficient new 2.0-liter EcoBoost® engine helps 248-Km/hour Ford Focus ST achieve class-leading 7.35 L/100km  highway, 10.23 L/100km city and 9.05 L/100km combined with 252 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque
• Exclusively equipped with a six-speed manual transmission

DUBAI, UAE, April 28, 2013 – The Focus ST is Ford’s first truly global performance car, building on the heritage of previous Focus ST models and giving drivers around the world the opportunity to share the exhilarating performance, unrivaled handling, addictive sound and sporty design that Ford's ST badge represents. Shortly after arriving in the Middle East, the stunning Focus ST is becoming popular with strong demand for more units to be available.

Ingolstadt, April 4, 2013 – Newcomer to Audi Sport customer racing: Team MS RACING is switching to Audi and will be fielding two new R8 LMS ultra cars in the 2013 ADAC GT Masters. On Tuesday, quattro GmbH handed over the 100th race car from Heilbronn-Biberach, a facility of the Neckarsulm location, to the squad.

For the customer sport project that has only been in existence since 2009, this vehicle handover marks a symbolic milestone as quattro GmbH delivered the 100th race car based on the Audi R8 to a customer only four years after the program was launched. The Audi R8 LMS ultra meanwhile embodies the third evolution of the GT3 model. For the United States, the line-up also includes a GRAND-AM version that won the GT class at the Daytona 24 Hours in January.

Fascinating design – Sporty, unique and luxurious
•    Turbocharged, direct injection, 2 litre four cylinder engine, 211 hp, 350 Nm, 0-100 in 6.6 sec
•    Trailblazing equipment and economy
•    Innovative safety and comfort

Dubai, UAE: With the new A 250 Sport, Mercedes-Benz has entered an entirely new segment in the Middle East by setting a fresh benchmark in the luxury compact segment with a powerful, sporty and luxuriously designed and appointed hot hatch that will excite and enthral the region’s aspirational go-getting next-big-things.

Markedly emotive AMG bodystyling design combines with agile handling and a powerful four cylinder, two litre turbocharged engine that produces a roaring 211 hp and 350 Nm of torque, thundering a market that demands success to 100km/h in just 6.6 seconds. GCC standard specifications come fully loaded compared to the international market, including a very sporty interior design with red stitching, designo red seat belts, red framed SLS AMG style air vents, comfortable sport seats, aggressive exterior look with diamond grille, red brake callipers, 18” five spoke AMG light-alloy wheels in high sheen black finish and headlamps with red marker rings.

At the same time the new model underlines that for Mercedes-Benz, safety is not a question of price – the standard specification includes, amongst other things, the radar-based COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST system. Smiles will broaden when learning that ownership of a car sporting the unmistakable status of the sparkling three pointed star starts at just USD$37,000 GCC wide.

21 March 2013 – DUBAI, UAE

Honda Motor Co. (Middle East Office) announced the introduction of 2013 Honda Crosstour. Available across all Honda showrooms in GCC, the Crosstour receives extensive updates.

The Honda Crosstour has more purposeful exterior styling, significant upgrades to the interior design and materials, and a more powerful, fuel-efficient Earth Dreams™ V-6 engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shift control. The rugged new styling, teamed with class-leading fuel-efficiency make the 2013 Honda Crosstour the smartest choice in a premium mid-size crossover.

Standard equipment on all Crosstour models includes a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, ODMD touch screen panel, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink™, USB/iPod® connection, 18” alloy wheels, sunroof, fog lights, one-touch turn signals,  and a premium audio system to name a few. The Crosstour offers two grades (EX, Touring) available with V-6 powertrains and Real Time™ 4WD. Rich new exterior colors for 2013 include Kona Coffee Metallic and Mountain Air Metallic.

•    Hyundai models win three out of five popular classes in Which? Car Survey
•    Tucson and i10 enjoy huge sales growth across Middle East in 2012

Two Hyundai models currently enjoying strong success across the Middle East have been recognised for providing the highest levels of customer satisfaction in the UK’s respected Which? Car survey. The Tucson and i10 were joined by the ix20, which is only available in Europe, in taking top honours in three of the five popular car classes, with each car judged on its overall ownership, including quality, efficiency, servicing, specification and safety.

Tom Lee, regional head of Hyundai Middle East commented: “Hyundai offers one of the most complete ranges of cars on the market, and customers across the Middle East have been buying Hyundai cars in ever-increasing numbers over recent years. Such awards provide further proof that customers across the world recognise the class-leading quality that our models offer in a highly competitive marketplace, while highlighting the success of our new ‘Modern Premium’ brand direction.”