The Toyota Hilux 2012 was revealed for the first time in Saudi Arabia at a launch event held on Jeddah's Corniche on Thursday, attended by invited guests and senior management officials from Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) including Director of Integrated Communication Adel Ezzat, MD Sales & Dealership Operation Raad Alsaady, Director Commercial Vehicles Mohammed Ali Vaid and Senior GM Product Planning Essam Nawar. A Hilux 2012 caravan will next tour the Kingdom making a pit stop in 16 cities to give the public the chance to test drive and experience the new vehicle. The caravan will visit Makkah, Abha, Khamis Mushayit, Riyadh, Alkhobar and Buraidah and other places before ending the tour in Hail. "Since its introduction in 1968, the Hilux has been the trendsetter among the one-ton pickups and has been continuously updated over the years with new auto industry technologies and in keeping with people's evolving needs," said Alsaady. "Long considered a work-use vehicle, the Hilux is nowadays used more and more as a multi-purpose car. In recognition of this trend, Toyota has introduced a new design that balances comfort with performance to redefine the style of the world's best selling pickup. In addition to further improving the renowned quality, durability and reliabilty of the Hilux, the redesigned interior features a new upper dashboard design in which a horizontal centre instrument cluster reinforces the breadth and roominess of the cabin. It incorporates Toyota Touch, a 6.1", full color, touch screen multimedia unit."
 

Jarir Bookstore has launched the new BlackBerry Torch 9810 smartphone, featuring the next generation BlackBerry 7 operating system. Building on the design of the BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone, the BlackBerry Torch 9810 is faster and more fluid with new, high performance hardware features and the BlackBerry 7 OS delivering an enhanced multimedia experience. With its large 3.2", high resolution touch display and a distinctive BlackBerry keyboard that easily slides out to allow faster typing, the BlackBerry Torch 9810 "truly delivers" the best of both worlds. "Following the success of the BlackBerry Torch in the Kingdom, we are pleased to be bringing the next generation of this smartphone to our customers, the BlackBerry Torch 9810," said a company spokesperson. "This smartphone offers users the distinctive BlackBerry keyboard, while combining it with a touch screen experience that delivers a fast and immersive experience thanks to the new BlackBerry 7 OS." BlackBerry 7 provides users with a fast, fluid and intuitive experience, featuring a next generation BlackBerry Browser, voice-activated searches, the ability to manage personal content separately from corporate content, as well as additional personal and productivity apps out of the box. The next generation BlackBerry Browser combines the dramatically improved performance of the advanced WebKit browser engine together with the powerful hardware enhancements found in the new BlackBerry Torch 9810.
 

H&M, an international design-driven clothing retailer, opens its 21st store in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 29. The store will be located at Kingdom Center in Riyadh. Over 1,300 square meters guarantee that all H&M lovers will get a chance to fully enjoy Kingdom Center's fashion paradise. The new H&M store will carry a wide range of fashion for ladies, men, and kids. With its fashion concept H&M offers a spectrum of styles with an aim for everyone to find its own individual style and satisfy distinct and specific tastes - from evening wear, business and sports attire to casual wear. "H&M looks forward to bringing style conscious shoppers in the Kingdom the inspiration to make their own personal fashion statement," says Ann-Sofie Johansson, head of design. "We hope that we can offer our customers added value through fashion and quality at the best price." Elegance is the word that sums up this autumn's women's collection with simplicity, modernity and heaps of fashion style while the kids collection is full of playful and timeless pieces, which parents as well as their kids will love. H&M currently has 56 stores in the Middle East - 20 in Saudi Arabia, 13 in the UAE, 7 each in Kuwait and Lebanon, 3 each in Bahrain and Egypt, 2 in Qatar, 1 each in Oman and Morocco, and 1 soon in Jordan.
 

Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, reinforced its commitment to the “green cause” through extending its support as silver sponsors to the Saudi Green Buildings Forum, an initiative that encourages the adoption of sustainable practices for buildings in Saudi Arabia. Organized by MEED business intelligence, the inaugural edition of the forum will run from Oct. 16 to 17. Christophe Campagne, country president, Schneider Electric, Saudi Arabia, will address the forum at a session titled “Integrated solutions for green buildings.” Schneider Electric's participation follows the launch of its latest offering, EcoStruxure, which unites its wide-spectrum expertise in power, data centers, processes and machines, building control, as well as physical security to deploy intelligent energy management solutions. Jawad Ali, VP building business, Schneider Electric, said: "Initiatives such as the Saudi Green Building Forum are becoming increasingly important in the region. It is also encouraging to see traditional oil- and gas-based economies at the forefront of energy-efficiency driven programs. As the global leader in energy management, Schneider Electric understands the need to support and nurture the changing attitude toward sustainable development through events such as this forum." The forum will highlight the pivotal role of engaging the wider community for achieving an environmentally sustainable future.
 

Alshaya Home has introduced Becara's exclusive Spanish home furnishings to the Kingdom. The new Becara collection includes exceptional pieces for the home, which is available only at Alshaya Home, on Tahlia Street in Jeddah, and in Alkhobar on the Alkhobar-Dammam Highway. A major brand in Europe's interior decor industry for over 44 years, Becara designs, produces and distributes furniture, ornaments, linens, antiques and gifts. The materials used in Becara's collections are "only of the highest standards of quality and integrity," and the designs, while contemporary, are of a class and distinction that is the trademark of the brand. The name Becara itself signifies the leader in contemporary and eclectic decor, while simultaneously suggesting refined, stylish and comfortable spaces. Apart from the exclusive Becara range, Alshaya Home gives discerning Saudi customers exclusive access to many other brands in the home furnishings sector, including And So To Bed, Duravit, Estel, Hansgrohe, Imola, Keuco and Nobilia.