The more things change, the more they stay the same. This is certainly true of the updated Jeep Wrangler, which is facing a new challenge from the all-new Ford Bronco.
With the Bronco following Jeep’s playbook of offering three and five-door alternatives with the flexibility of removeable panels, such as doors, roof and windscreen, Jeep has responded with a model that slides in at about Dh30,000 less for the base versions.
While supply from Ford is hampering delivery, eager customers of the outdoor-lifestyle type are being enticed back by Jeep with Wrangler receiving a mild makeover to take on the new competitor.
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For 2022, the Jeep Wrangler has been tweaked with the long wheelbase, five-door Sahara model getting a more luxurious feel over previous versions. This it does by offering a new tan leather interior and an update to its entertainment and safety features.
While a plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4Xe is on the way, for now the Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 remains the staple engine in the family, delivering 285hp at 6,400rpm and 353Nm of torque at a surprisingly revvy 4,800rpm. Despite riding on 35-inch tyres strapped to 17-inch rims, Jeep says it will still crack 6.8 seconds to reach 100 kilometres per hour.
Performance and economy of the ageing V6 have both been improved due mostly to a new eight-speed automatic transmission, which is now standard equipment. This means the option of a manual box for the enthusiasts, sadly, no longer exists.
Electrically assisted steering has replaced the hydraulic unit, and was instantly noticeable around town during The National’s test drive. It lacks a bit of feel compared with the older steering, but it helped the bigger wheels and compensated its assistance better as the speeds climbed.
While handling has never been a Wrangler forte, the new Sahara has improved to the point where it’s now comparable to its rivals. Still, after our earlier test of the Bronco, the new Ford is an overall better composed package, despite the Wrangler being smoother than the previous generation over rough surfaces.
The Sahara is available only in the long-wheelbase body, sitting below the Rubicon. However, it brings a new feature to the Wrangler family, with a full-time, all-wheel-drive transfer case giving it an auto all-wheel-drive mode, in addition to the Wrangler’s regular rear-wheel drive with high and low-range 4WD settings.
It’s mostly to help with on-road traction to provide better stability in daily driving because as soon as you get off-road, not much beats the old-style low and high-range transfer case to get the job done.
It all points to the Sahara’s intention to be the most town-friendly of the Wrangler models, aimed at those who like to venture off-road only occasionally. Yet, with 255mm of ground clearance combined with 42 degrees of approach angle, a 36-degree departure angle and a breakover angle of 21 degrees, it still has all the vital stats to prove this is still a proper, go-anywhere buggy.
Its steel ladder frame chassis has been strengthened, while it has lost weight elsewhere through the use of lightweight aluminium for the doors, roof and tailgate skin over a magnesium frame.
Even though the body is lighter, the interior has gained a few pounds by way of more luxuries and no shortage of leather throughout, mixing a nice blend of classic and modern Jeep character.
Inside, there’s a technology package that includes a larger, seven-inch touchscreen, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay running through the Stellantis Uconnect platform. The touchscreen also powers a nine-speaker stereo system along with ambient interior lighting, cruise control and in-dash navigation.
Below the screen is a bank of chunky switches for the windows, climate control air-conditioning and other ancillaries that can be operated even while wearing gloves if you’ve been operating a winch or like the brisk, cool air sans doors and roof when the cooler months come along.
Safety features include four airbags, ABS, stability control and brake assist, while optional safety items consist of a blind spot monitor and rear cross path detection.
The jury is still out as to whether this upgrade is enough to see off the challenge of the new Bronco when it lands in volume but, regardless, it has breathed new life into a UAE favourite that continues to stand the test of time and keeps winning over new owners.
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Brown/Black belt finals
3pm: 49kg female: Mayssa Bastos (BRA) v Thamires Aquino (BRA)
3.07pm: 56kg male: Hiago George (BRA) v Carlos Alberto da Silva (BRA)
3.14pm: 55kg female: Amal Amjahid (BEL) v Bianca Basilio (BRA)
3.21pm: 62kg male: Gabriel de Sousa (BRA) v Joao Miyao (BRA)
3.28pm: 62kg female: Beatriz Mesquita (BRA) v Ffion Davies (GBR)
3.35pm: 69kg male: Isaac Doederlein (BRA) v Paulo Miyao (BRA)
3.42pm: 70kg female: Thamara Silva (BRA) v Alessandra Moss (AUS)
3.49pm: 77kg male: Oliver Lovell (GBR) v Tommy Langarkar (NOR)
3.56pm: 85kg male: Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE) v Rudson Mateus Teles (BRA)
4.03pm: 90kg female: Claire-France Thevenon (FRA) v Gabreili Passanha (BRA)
4.10pm: 94kg male: Adam Wardzinski (POL) v Kaynan Duarte (BRA)
4.17pm: 110kg male: Yahia Mansoor Al Hammadi (UAE) v Joao Rocha (BRA
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)
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Sassuolo v Bologna (11.45pm)
Saturday
Brescia v Torino (6pm)
Inter Milan v Verona (9pm)
Napoli v Genoa (11.45pm)
Sunday
Cagliari v Verona (3.30pm)
Udinese v SPAL (6pm)
Sampdoria v Atalanta (6pm)
Lazio v Lecce (6pm)
Parma v Roma (9pm)
Juventus v Milan (11.45pm)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
F1 drivers' standings
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 281
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 222
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 177
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 138
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 93
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 86
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 56
Match info
Uefa Nations League A Group 4
England 2 (Lingard 78', Kane 85')
Croatia 1 (Kramaric 57')
Man of the match: Harry Kane (England)
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
Jumanji: The Next Level
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Nick Jonas
Two out of five stars
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
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15 years, 235 days old
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15 years, 271 days old
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16 years, 30 days old
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More on animal trafficking
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
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
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