There was a time when driving a sports car successfully required a skilful driver. With only mechanical connections between the person in the driver's seat and the road surface, one false move could be disastrous. But when the driver got it right, there was a thrill in knowing that the car took that last bend so quickly because of his skill.
Of course with the march of time the sports car has developed into something a lot more sophisticated. In fact, much of the time this price-premium segment has been at the forefront of the market-wide advance in dynamics and safety systems.
Electronic Traction Control (ETC) has been around since 1971, and Electronic Stability Programs (ESP) arrived around 20 years later. The systems are now so commonplace that they are standard even in the most humble of mini hatchbacks, and the result is that cars are easier to drive than ever before. But in the past few years these once revolutionary systems have been overshadowed by much more sophisticated additions. And no manufacturer is leading the way in this department more than Porsche.
In fact, the latest 911 - indeed, all of Porsche's cars - are so usable and accessible that even a learner driver would be comfortable behind the wheel. Part of this is down to the changes in car design and the engineering of a modern chassis, which make the car much more mechanically stable than ever before. But the biggest advancements come in what Porsche terms its chassis controls system: PSM, PTV Plus, PDCC, PASM and PADM.
Porsche Stability Management (PSM) is simply another acronym for electronic stability control: constantly monitoring levels of slip across all four wheels via the anti-lock braking sensors and modulating the torque output as a result. Like many systems it now offers a two-stage interaction, and with the car in Sport mode the degree of slip is more than with the system fully engaged. The result allows a slight wag of the tail in powered corners, with the system cutting in when the talent behind the wheel runs out.
Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) acts much like a limited slip differential, apportioning torque across the rear axle and applying the brakes to selected wheels. With the power pushed to the outside wheel, the effect is a tighter line though the bend and a greater resistance to understeer. It works in conjunction with the firm's mechanical limited slip differential to ensure greater stability and grip through in turns.
The optional Power Steering Plus, a speed-sensitive set-up that increases its weighting at higher velocities and decreases in resistance while manoeuvring, makes for a far sharper and more responsive sports car.
Porsche's Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) uses hydraulics to resist roll and optimise the camber angles across the axles, ensuring that the tyres remain in the optimum position and maintain the largest contact patch with the tarmac. Combined with the firm's Active Suspension Management (PASM), which constantly monitors the reactions of the dampers and adjusts the response, it makes for a car that can outgrip what you believe is possible.
But Porsche, being renowned for innovation, has another rather more surprising trick up its sleeve. Porsche Active Drivetrain Mounting (PADM) uses electrically adjustable engine mounts that increase or decrease their stiffness to control the engine's movement of mass in heavy cornering or braking, reducing any unwanted chassis behaviour.
So while many may lament the move away from simpler vehicles, it's hard not to be impressed with the technology found underneath the latest contenders. Not only that, but they make the car faster - which for a sports car can only be a very good thing indeed.
Other promotions
- Deliveroo will team up with Pineapple Express to offer customers near JLT a special treat: free banana caramel dessert with all orders on January 26
- Jones the Grocer will have their limited edition Australia Day menu available until the end of the month (January 31)
- Australian Vet in Abu Dhabi (with locations in Khalifa City A and Reem Island) will have a 15 per cent off all store items (excluding medications)
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Australia squads
ODI: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.
T20: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth.
HWJN
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Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)
Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013