The all-new Hyundai Azera received Best Car of the Year 2011 award in large-sized sedan cars category from Sport Auto magazine, a major motor magazine in the Arab world. At a ceremony held in Jeddah on Monday, Byung-Tae Shin, Hyundai’s Dubai-based head of Middle East regional headquarters, accepted the award from Gerard Saunal, publisher and editor-in-chief of Sport Auto magazine. Shin said: “Azera has achieved many awards and recognitions worldwide in view of its unprecedented, technology-rich features that places it on top of its category. The all-new Azera is a result of three-and-a-half years and $420 million of research, development and testing in order to create a credible challenger in the luxury car segment with sufficient appeal in styling and significantly improved performance, ride comfort, road handling as well as with cutting-edge safety and convenience features. Saunal said: “Sport Auto magazine presents Car of the Year award in all car categories based on certain criteria including design, performance, fuel economy, low level of emission, eco-friendliness, safety features and customers general acceptance. This year, Hyundai Azera got the highest ratings in the large-sized sedan category over many models that have been nominated to win this award and thus earned the Best Car of the Year 2011 award. Hazm Jamjoom, MD, Mohammed Yousuf Naghi Motors (MYNM) said: “This recognition is very important to us because it reflects a professional point of view in automotive industry.”
Police recently honored Khalid Salah Al-Tayeb, GM lubricants, Saudi Petroleum Supply Company (APSCO), in recognition of his efforts in the development of security quality at the Jeddah Governorate. Jeddah Police Chief Major General Saeed Abdullah Al-Qahtani honored Al-Tayeb, who is also a member of the Quality Security Committee, for promoting cooperation with various security bodies, especially during the recent meeting of Quality Security Council, which was held at the Jeddah Governorate premises in the presence of Al-Qahtani. The police chief had a word of praise for the efforts of the council and its members for their role in enhancing cooperation in security matters. Al-Tayeb expressed his thanks and appreciation to the officials of Ministry of Interior for honoring him and stressed that promoting cooperation with the police was his duty as a citizen of the country, as well as to follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Interior that citizen is the first policeman. Al-Qahtani presented an honorary certificate to Al-Tayeb for his contribution to security services across Jeddah city.
Qatar Airways has once again been voted Best Airline in the Middle East and Africa by readers of Asia’s travel trade magazine, TTG Asia. For the sixth year running, the Doha-based carrier retained the title at the TTG Asia Travel Awards ceremony held in Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok. Readers of the magazine based their voting on the strength of the airline’s customer service, its route network, services and its marketing and advertising programs. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker said the latest award was a reflection of the airline’s continued investment in delivering the best to its customers. “We are constantly working to expand our route network to offer our customers optimal connections to destinations all over the world, whether traveling for leisure or business,” Al-Baker said. He added: “We operate in one of the most competitive and dynamic markets, so we always work to ensure our customers have the best experience flying with us and one that they will always remember.” Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer Marwan Koleilat, who accepted the award on behalf of the airline, said: “Winning this award is further testament to Qatar Airways’ success and growing popularity.” So far this year, Qatar Airways has added 12 destinations to its international map.
Gulf Air took delivery of its first A330-200 aircraft retrofitted with Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s (Panasonic) Global Communications Suite. The comprehensive communications and entertainment solution, ‘Sky Hub’, offers passengers onboard full broadband. The Panasonic’s Global Communications Suite is being installed across Gulf Air’s entire fleet of aircraft progressively. Unveiling the "Sky Hub" onboard the aircraft today to the media and senior Bahrain civil aviation officials, Gulf Air CEO Samer Majali said: “It is another important milestone in our customer service journey as we unveil our latest in-flight entertainment system, "Sky Hub" on our fleet. We are bringing to you, for the first time in the world, fully integrated broadband connectivity offering high-speed Internet with high-speed Wi-Fi and data services, voice over the Internet (VOIP), streaming videos and the world’s first in-flight live TV satellite stream across continents.” Paul Margis, CEO, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, said: ‘We are very excited and honored to have helped Gulf Air become the first carrier in the world to offer a truly amazing passenger entertainment experience with broadband connectivity for high speed Internet access, mobile voice and data services, and a live television service that includes some of the world’s most popular news programming and live sporting events.” Using Panasonic’s Global Communications Suite, Gulf Air will offer two-way broadband connectivity.
Chevrolet will introduce the all-new 2013 TrailBlazer midsize SUV in global markets, beginning in Thailand, in early 2012. Built on a new global midsize platform developed by GM do Brasil, the TrailBlazer will combine the hauling and towing capability of an SUV with the ride comfort and efficiency of a crossover. The new TrailBlazer will be unveiled at Dubai International Motor Show, Nov. 10-14. Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet is celebrating its centennial as a global automotive brand. Last year, about 4.25 million Chevrolets were sold in more than 120 countries or one every 7.4 seconds. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. Chevrolet has a strong heritage in the Middle East — stretching back more than eight decades — where it has established itself as one of the most trusted automotive brands in the region. The Chevrolet portfolio includes passenger cars, crossovers SUVs and pickups, from the Camaro and Corvette performance cars, to award-winning passenger cars including the Spark, Sonic, Cruze and Malibu, to crossovers like the Captiva and Traverse, to the Colorado and Silverado pickups. Chevrolet offers fuel-saving engines, hybrids and the Volt extended-range electric vehicle, which provides up to 64 km of electric, gasoline-free driving and a total driving range of 570 km.
iZone, described as Saudi Arabia’s largest Apple premium reseller chain and the high-end consumer durable and IT arm of Alireza Holding Co., has expanded its footprint in the city. With the opening of its newest store, at Mall of Arabia, iZone now has a total of 9 stores with their largest store to date set to launch in Riyadh in September. The new store will enable shoppers in Jeddah to experience the complete range of Apple products, Apple accessories and software and easy access to genuine and latest Apple products and news. iZone already has it presence in the city with its stores at Red Sea Mall, Tahlia (next to Mobily), Prince Sultan Street (Al-Khadi center), Andalus Mall and Batterjee Street (across Gold’s Gym). Announcing the launch of the new iZone, Najib Dagher, COO, Alireza Holding Co, said: “iZone by Alireza Holding Co. is now established as an Apple destination store in Saudi Arabia with its unique offering in consumer experience and range of products. The positive response received from Apple lovers in Jeddah has encouraged us to expand our presence in the city and we are delighted to bring another store to the city and extend the Apple experience to our consumers. Our customers in Jeddah will continue to have access to the latest iconic products from Apple in a world-class ambience with excellent end-to-end customer support. Customer service will remain our top priority always.” Alireza Holding Co. is wholly owned by the Alireza family.
Saudi Infrastructure Forum & Exhibition 2011 will be held at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events, Jeddah from Dec. 11-14, with the support of the Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Transport, and a host of agencies including Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon), Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Saudi Industrial Development Fund, General Authority of Civil Aviation, Saudi Railway Organization, Jeddah Municipality, Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, Saudi Port Organization and Saudi Council of Engineers. The event will showcase major investment opportunities and infrastructure projects, and highlight how Saudi Arabia supports foreign investment and maintains a trusted stability within the global market, said Zahoor Siddique, VP, Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions, which is organizing the event. “With the fastest growing and already largest economy in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia is an investment destination with a population soon to be in excess of 30 million. Saudi Arabia has unrivaled natural resources and is investing these resources in the industries and infrastructure of tomorrow,” he added. “It is an exceptionally exciting time for new and established contractors across Saudi Arabia, and we aim to showcase the wealth of opportunities on offer,” said Peter Newton, VP Middle East, the CWC Group. Its sponsors and exhibitors include Future Pipe, China Railway Construction Corporation, Parsons, Al-Khodari, CRA International, Al-Muhaidib, Yousef Bin Ahmed Kanoo, Shairco, ACWA Pipe, Schulz Group, Saudi Pipe Systems and Bravo.
The fifth generation of the world’s most successful high-performance saloon, the BMW M5, has been launched for the first time in the Middle East at Riyadh’s EXCS Motor Show. The new BMW M5 combines compelling track performance with the comprehensive practicality of a luxurious business saloon. Displayed by Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors (MYNM), the exclusive importer of BMW Group vehicles in the Kingdom, the new car is an exceptionally dynamic high-performance sports vehicle with four doors and five seats, a further development of the concept originally initiated in 1984 with the first generation BMW M5. It features the world premiere of a newly developed BMW M high-performance, high-revving, 4.4-liter V8 engine with an M Twin Power Turbo package. With twin-turbo technology, direct petrol injection and fully variable valve control, the V8 engine produces 560 hp from 6000-7000rpm and a maximum of 680 Nm of torque from 1500rpm. The result is a lag-free power delivery giving typical M car thrust whilst delivering a significantly improved balance between performance and fuel consumption. The car is capable of accelerating to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h, but can be raised to 305 km/h with the M Driver’s Package. Thanks to use of extensive efficient dynamics technology, including auto start-stop and brake energy regeneration, fuel consumption is cut by more than 30 percent when compared to the previous model. Anees Jamjoom, MD, MYNM-BMW, said: “We have secured an exclusive debut for our customers in Saudi Arabia with the regional launch of the eagerly-anticipated BMW M5.”
