Maserati staged the Middle East reveal of arguably its most ambitious car to date, the mid-engined MC20, in Dubai on January 20, with more than 300 VIPs, guests and media able to view the car up close at The Lodge, a warehouse-style space tucked away in Al Quoz.
The MC20 signals a new beginning for the Trident brand, which has thus far focused primarily on grand touring coupes/cabrios, rapid sedans and the SUV segment following the 2016 launch of the Levante. However, the MC20 has altogether bolder intentions, as reflected by its lofty Dh950,000 price tag, which includes a three-year warranty and servicing package.
Powerful design
The MC20 is a clean-sheet design replete with state-of-the-art technology, most notably the all-new 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, dubbed "Nettuno" (Italian for Neptune), which cranks out towering outputs of 630hp and 730Nm, putting it within striking distance of the Ferrari F8 Tributo and the Lamborghini Huracan Evo.
The low-slung Maser is built around a stiff yet lightweight carbonfibre monocoque tub that's integral to the car's sub-1,500-kilogram kerb weight. Among the MC20's other tech highlights is an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox that's derived from the transmission used by the Ferrari Portofino. Its maker claims a zero to 100 kilometres per hour split of under 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 325kph, which puts it well in the hunt against its Italian supercar contemporaries.
The MC20’s styling doesn’t smack you in the face the way a Lamborghini Huracan’s does, but that’s in keeping with the Maserati brand’s more low-key persona. The newcomer isn’t festooned with wings and scoopsm as the company says it has optimised the MC20’s aerodynamic and cooling efficiency by focusing on the car’s lower sections.
Maserati claims much of the car's downforce is produced beneath it via vortex generators at the front, as well as a curved underside designed to generate more downforce on the front axle. Over the rear axle is a diffuser with channels of varying shapes and depths to keep the car's rear planted. The end result is a car that’s defined by clean, classical lines, rather than an overtly aggressive profile. However, the butterfly doors, which open upwards and outwards, are one crowd-pulling element that separates it from its competitors. Another neat design element is the clear polycarbonate engine cover, which features cooling vents arranged in a pattern to symbolise Maserati’s hallowed trident logo.
The debutant has clear visual links to the V12-powered MC12, of which Maserati built and sold a mere 50 road-going units from 2004 to 2005, purely with the intention of homologating a racecar for the FIA GT1 class. Maserati also plans to use the MC20 as the basis for a GT racecar but, unlike the MC12, it was conceived from the outset as a series production offering, rather than a low-volume competition car.
Personalisation perks
The MC20 will be offered with a host of personalisation options, which ties in with Maserati’s new Fuoriserie programme that offers clients the opportunity of a unique experience in the new “car tailoring” shop, at the brand’s Modena headquarters. So, you basically get to specify the MC20 in the same manner as you would when ordering a bespoke suit.
The service offers customers thousands of possible combinations of colours, trim and materials, but three collections are available as a starting-point – Corse, Unica and Futura. The first is performance-focused, while the second and third are inspired by the world of fashion and future trends respectively.
The MC20's interior is somewhat minimalistic, befitting its no-nonsense job description, but the extensive use of Alcantara, leather and carbon fibre endows the cabin with a suitably premium ambience. Among the few knobs and switches in the car is a rotary selector on the centre console that enables the driver to select between drive modes, such as GT, Sport Corsa and Wet.
“We are proud to launch the MC20 and Fuoriserie Programme in the UAE, as part of the roadshow in the Middle East and Africa. With the MC20, we inaugurate a new era in the only way we know – with audacity, energy and always focusing on our goal to deliver one of the most exclusive experiences to our clients,” said Domenico La Marte, general manager, Maserati MEA.
Although order books for Maserati's latest model are now open, deliveries won't commence until the fourth quarter of this year.
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Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
THE SPECS
Aston Martin Rapide AMR
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
Transmission: Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic
Power: 595bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh999,563
Director: Jon Favreau
Starring: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, John Oliver
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
Company%20Profile
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Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
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THREE
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The%20specs
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
