The Hummer H1 has been good in the hands of the United States military, but this old-school light tactical truck can't hold a flare to France's take on the terrain buster, the Renault Sherpa 2.
And unlike the Hummer, the Sherpa is available for the civilian market - in the Gulf at least - though not in large numbers. Renault is cagey about the cost of the vehicle and the number it expects to sell here, but it has a definite idea of its market.
While it would be a romantic notion to imagine a fleet of Sherpas taking to Liwa and the Empty Quarter for hunting trips, most units will be acquired for the far more down-to-earth purposes of the oil and gas industry. The Sherpa's speed, agility and derring-do make it a vital fast-response vehicle for oilfield emergencies and repairs.
With just four cylinders within its 4.8L diesel power plant and a maximum output of just 215hp, the Sherpa's strength is in its torque. Almost 815Nm, in fact, with peak output between 1,200 and 1,700rpm giving it seemingly unparalleled ability over dunes. Unusually for a dedicated off-roader, the Sherpa uses six automatic forward gears allied to a separate, full-time, four-wheel-drive transfer box with a torque-dividing differential between front and rear drive axles.
Because this was a vehicle originally built for the military - the Sherpa currently takes part in a number of United Nations operations around the world, and we're told several armies, including the French, are looking at it as a serious tool - it was designed to protect its occupants, and accordingly it can be built with armour protection up to Stanag Level 1 to ward off shell fire, grenades and mine blasts.
Of course, this will add some considerable extra weight to the unladen chassis, but what is remarkable about the Sherpa is its ability to maintain the same performance figures up to a maximum burden of nine tonnes.
What is doubly remarkable is that these figures include 140kph as its top speed. Given the terrain it can tackle, the speeds possible and the adventurous French driver at the wheel, the Sherpa's performance can be electrifying.
Looking like an overly endowed H1 from the outside and running on 34-inch tyres, it boasts a track of almost two metres, a wheelbase of over 4.5m and one of the biggest Renault badges known to man.
Inside, four sports seats with full racing buckles provide the comfort amid all the utility: webbing, map lights, lockdown storage and little else. The driver is ensconced behind what looks like a bus console, with an oversize steering wheel, a swathe of knobs and switches and a radio player.
Grab handles are available, but only in the form of the roll-bar skeleton frame. If you can't reach up, you had better prepare for the sort of ride you would get at a rodeo.
With an approach angle of 58° and a departure angle only eight degrees shallower, the Sherpa really can go anywhere?and at pace.
After deflating the tyres hydraulically from the cab, it might take the best part of a minute to get to a decent speed, but given its capability there is little need to hammer the brakes. Dunes of 45° are child's play, and it feels like the only components in the Sherpa to get a real workout are the seat straps, which immediately show their value.
During our ride, we also saw the car's value in a practical setting. A 15-tonne, six-wheel drive Kerax support truck had come to a stop atop a dune. Dwarfed by the beached truck's mass, the Sherpa still arrived to help and, within seconds, the big brother was shifted by the tactical truck's massive torque, and roared off.
Unfortunately, the Sherpa left the manoeuvre slightly injured, its tyre inflator malfunctioning and pumping out all the air. Given the size of the rubbers, the smell of burning tyre can become overwhelming; as can be the prospect of unbolting 20 or so nuts and replacing something that weighs more than a man.
But in spite of this glitch, the Sherpa is well-tested, a fleet of six having completed the Cape to Cape adventure last year, travelling from North Cape in Norway to Cape Town in South Africa for a four-month rally to show the model's capability. The UAE public, meanwhile, will be able to witness it in action at this week's Desert Challenge, where it will take part in active testing.
And hopefully, we will one day see the beast tearing over the dunes in a recreational capacity. However, at a price that is no doubt as punishing as the environment it can cover, the Sherpa will be a prized sight, and one will be remembered as much for its imposing proportions as for its remarkable ability.
motoring@thenational.ae
Pakistan T20 series squad
Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shahzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammed Hafeez, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammed Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Amir Yamin, Mohammed Amir (subject to fitness clearance), Rumman Raees, Usman Shinwari, Umar Amin
Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
