A view of Nissan's Hyper Tourer concept car. Photo: Nissan
A view of Nissan's Hyper Tourer concept car. Photo: Nissan
A view of Nissan's Hyper Tourer concept car. Photo: Nissan
A view of Nissan's Hyper Tourer concept car. Photo: Nissan

New cars of the month: Nissan, Ford, Infiniti, Kia and Hyundai


Simon Wilgress-Pipe
  • English
  • Arabic

There was no let-up with car releases during October, with a number of SUVs and a whole host of concept vehicles being unveiled.

The Lotus Eletre made its debut earlier this month and we also got an early look at the Lamborghini Revuelto.

Here's a look back at the motoring highlights from the past month.

A Ford fit for adventure

The new Ford Everest is geared towards those who like life in the great outdoors. Photo: Ford
The new Ford Everest is geared towards those who like life in the great outdoors. Photo: Ford

The Ford Everest has made its Middle East debut and, as its name suggests, it's been marketed to the outdoor-pursuits brigade.

It has been “engineered to excite”, according to Ford. The company says the vehicle has been created using more customer input than ever before, with the objective to make the car tough on the outside and calm on the inside without compromising its off-road capability.

You get a choice of powertrains, including a 2.3-litre petrol turbo and 2-litre diesel turbo.

Prices start at Dh157,395.

Nissan’s Hyper concept cars

Nissan went into concept car overload in October, with five futuristic vehicles being revealed.

These included the Hyper Force, Hyper Punk, Hyper Tourer, Hyper Adventure and Hyper Urban.

The names alone suggest each has been designed for a clearly defined customer base.

Each vehicle is an all-electric affair, with the Force posited as a flat-out supercar and the Punk as a neat crossover with an emphasis on style.

Meanwhile, the Tourer sits as a luxury people mover, the Adventure an outdoor all-terrain vehicle, and the Urban a city runabout.

Nissan has not given any indication of a release date, so there is no confirmation that the vehicles will go into production any time soon.

However, there has been a trend among manufacturers in recent years to bring their concept designs into production, so there is a viable chance that at least one or two will go into production.

At the moment, they’ll be available online as part of the Fortnite gaming world.

Infiniti pool

Infiniti announced the launch of four new models in a comprehensive range refresh.

As part of the brand’s goal to electrify the majority of its range by 2030, the covers came off a sleek fastback sedan concept, the Vision Qe, and teased a new SUV which it would only describe as “advanced”.

The manufacturer also let us have a look at its new QX Monograph, confirmed that its new-generation QX80 SUV will arrive next year and announced a new QX65 crossover coupe is set for release.

Infiniti says each of the models will embody the brand’s evolved design language, centred around the Japanese concept of artistry in motion.

Seltos SUV charges in after three electric releases

The Kia Seltos makes its Middle East debut in Jordan. Photo: Kia
The Kia Seltos makes its Middle East debut in Jordan. Photo: Kia

Earlier this month, Kia introduced its electric trio the EV5 concept, EV9 and EV6.

The manufacturer is back to more traditional territory now with the announcement of the arrival of its latest Seltos SUV in the Middle East after an event in Jordan.

The five-seater has been largely redesigned, resulting in a bigger and more powerful unit than ever before, driven as it is by a 1.6-litre petrol engine.

Prices start at Dh76,000.

Unaccompanied Sonata

The new Kia Sonata mid-size sedan. Photo: Kia
The new Kia Sonata mid-size sedan. Photo: Kia

The Hyundai Sonata is one of the brand’s most popular vehicles in the Middle East.

In a bid to keep its appeal fresh, the 2024 model has been upgraded with an improved powertrain – a 2.5-litre petrol affair – and a series of sporty design cues.

Hyundai says the new vehicle highlights the manufacturer’s design philosophy of “sensuous sportiness”.

Prices start at Dh87,500.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
Scores

Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool
Arsenal 1-0 Huddersfield Town
Burnley 1-0 Brighton
Manchester United 4-1 Fulham
West Ham 3-2 Crystal Palace

Saturday fixtures:
Chelsea v Manchester City, 9.30pm (UAE)
Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur, 11.45pm (UAE)

The Bio

Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”

Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”

Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”

Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”

'Joker'

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix

Rating: Five out of five stars

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Directed by: Craig Gillespie

Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry

4/5

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Updated: October 30, 2023, 10:48 AM`