It's taken a while but Audi's A7 has finally grown on me. Until very recently, I viewed this huge, four-door fastback coupé as nothing more than a curiosity - a case of unnecessary niche filling gone mad. Perhaps it's because I see loads of them out here, but that sleek shape has burrowed its way under my skin and I now view it as a properly desirable automobile. And now we have what, for the time being at least, is the ultimate expression of Audi's sleek rocket ship: the S7.
If evidence were needed that engine technology is advancing at a furious pace, you only need look here. Audi has ditched its naturally aspirated 5.2L V10 in favour of a 4.0L twin-turbo V8, which at first might seem like a backward step. But when you consider that this is basically the same lump that is currently seeing active service in Bentley's Continental GT V8 (easily better than its W12 brethren), the prognosis is good. Being able to squeeze more power and performance from smaller engines is good news for everyone, with one caveat: the nature of the car in question needs to remain as it once was.
BMW has been down this road with its latest M5 (also previously a non-turbo V10), yet that car has definitely lost some of its appeal, at least when it comes to the engine note, which used to set the hairs on the back of my neck on end. By comparison the new one, despite its on-paper statistics, feels rather sanitised and, although better looking than its forbear, has become less desirable. Could Audi have made the same mistake with its S model line up?
The S7 is a treat to the eyes, especially this one with its Estoril Blue, crystal effect paintwork. The 20-inch S design wheels look superb and the S sits 10mm lower than the normal A7, all of which combine to give this car real presence on the road.
Its natural rivals are BMW's beautiful new 6 Series Gran Coupé, Mercedes-Benz's not so beautiful CLS and Porsche's frankly monstrous Panamera - German autobahn-stormers, one and all. The Bimmer is the only one of that trio to rival the S7's visual loveliness, but it's really boring to drive. If the S7 can thrill from behind the wheel then it could very well clinch the title of best in class.
Early signs are good, for the S7's cabin positively oozes class and sophistication. Everything about it, the look and feel of the materials used, the driving position, the intuitive instrumentation, the safety features that help rather than hinder - is a masterclass in quality construction. With a push of the starter button, the V8 rumbles into life with an almost malevolent, deep base tone that cannot be misinterpreted as anything other than a serious performer.
On the road, the S7 manages to move its portly 1945kg frame with alacrity and Audi claims it'll hit 100kph from rest in 4.7 seconds, which means it's as quick as a Porsche 911. It feels it, too. There's not even a hint of lag from the turbochargers, with immediate throttle response no matter what rev range you happen to be in, and the immense 550Nm maximum torque surges in from as low as 1,400rpm. The net result is absolutely effortless performance, all the while with an engine note that always satisfies yet never really intrudes.
Only at low speed, full-lock manoeuvres, does the all-wheel drive start to annoy. The front wheels, scrabbling for grip, send high-pitched vibrations through the steering wheel, which feels nasty, but once you've straightened up and on the move, it's all good. When cornering, the S7 simply hunkers down and gets on with it, no matter what the speed, and the levels of grip are stupendous, with the air suspension keeping things nice and flat.
All of which is deeply impressive, but the S7 has an ace up its sleeve, and it's one that has me scratching my head in disbelief. And that is down to its magnificent engine, but not because it provides supercar baiting performance. What leaves the biggest impression is that this engine operates plenty of the time on only four cylinders, switching between being a V4 and a V8 with no perceptible difference in sound or urgency. It makes the change in just 300 milliseconds, once the computers have worked out the torque requirements of your right foot, and the payoff is a significant reduction in emissions, fewer stops at the petrol station and absolutely no feeling that you've been shortchanged because there isn't a V10 under the bonnet.
And then there is the price. While you could easily spend twice what the S7 costs on a Panamera Turbo, or a CLS55 AMG, neither would give you twice the enjoyment of this Audi. I struggle with the notion of calling any car that costs Dh335,000 "cheap" but the S7 looks, feels, sounds and goes like it's way more expensive than it is and yes, I would be prepared to spend my own money on one. The S7 really is that good.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh335,000 / Dh352,400
Engine 4.0L, twin-turbo V8
Gearbox Seven-speed automatic
Power 420hp @ 5,500 rpm
Torque 550Nm @ 1,400 rpm
Fuel economy, combined:
9.6L/100km
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Fireball
Moscow claimed it hit the largest military fuel storage facility in Ukraine, triggering a huge fireball at the site.
A plume of black smoke rose from a fuel storage facility in the village of Kalynivka outside Kyiv on Friday after Russia said it had destroyed the military site with Kalibr cruise missiles.
"On the evening of March 24, Kalibr high-precision sea-based cruise missiles attacked a fuel base in the village of Kalynivka near Kyiv," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine confirmed the strike, saying the village some 40 kilometres south-west of Kyiv was targeted.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Brackets denote aggregate score
Tuesday:
Roma (1) v Shakhtar Donetsk (2), 11.45pm
Manchester United (0) v Sevilla (0), 11.45pm
Wednesday:
Besiktas (0) v Bayern Munich (5), 9pm
Barcelona (1) v Chelsea (1), 11.45pm
New Zealand squad
Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner
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.”
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
Final round
25 under - Antoine Rozner (FRA)
23 - Francesco Laporta (ITA), Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG)
21 - Grant Forrest (SCO)
20 - Ross Fisher (ENG)
19 - Steven Brown (ENG), Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Niklas Lemke (SWE), Marc Warren (SCO), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
