NEw SARS-likE viRUS EMERGES iN MidEASt - Kuwait Times

DUBAI: Audi presents its new S models - the Audi
S6, S7 and S8 are the high performance versions
of Audi’s top selling Middle East saloons. The new
S models are powered by a new engine - a fourliter,
twin-turbo V8, which combines ample power
with low fuel consumption in keeping with the
times. Prices start from USD 81,376, USD 91,177
and USD 127,940 for the Audi S6, S7 and S8
respectively including 5 years service and 3 years
warranty.
The S6 and S7 use the 420 hp version of the
new 4.0 TFSI. The twin-turbo V8 provides a constant
550 Nm of torque from 1,400 to 5,200 rpm. It
accelerates the S6 and S7 from 0 to 100 km/h in
4.6 seconds and 4.7 seconds respectively. The Audi
S8 is the new head of the Audi S model family. Its
new 4.0 TFSI generates no less than 520 hp and
delivers a constant 650 Nm of torque between
1,700 and 5,500 rpm. The result is outstanding
performance: The sprint from zero to 100 km/h
takes just 4.2 seconds. With all three models, the
electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h is
just a formality.
The 4.0 TFSI brings Audi’s downsizing strategy
to the high-performance class. The new S6 for
example offers even sportier performance compared
to the engine in the previous model while
reducing fuel consumption by as much as 25 percent.
Average fuel consumption in the S6 and S7 is
just 9.6 liters per 100 km. The S8 averages just 10.1
liters per 100 km, much less than its competitors
and a decrease of nearly 23 percent to the previous
model despite a 70 hp increase in output.
Behind the top values for the new Audi S
Models are the combined technologies of the
Audi modular efficiency platform, including the
recuperation and start-stop systems. The newly
developed “cylinder on demand” technology plays
a particularly large role. Under part load, it deactivates
four of the eight cylinders for an efficiency
gain that is particularly pronounced at moderate
highway speeds. A package of acoustic measures
including the Active Noise Cancellation system
suppresses possible intrusive noise and vibrations.
Much of this groundbreaking efficiency can be
attributed to the vehicles’ lightweight body. The
DUBAI: Less than one year since its
launch, flydubai Cargo has grown its
freight network to cover points across
the world from Hong Kong to
Bangladesh and the UK. The low-cost
carrier can now transport goods to
points in Europe, the US, Australasia
and the Far East in addition to destinations
in the GCC, Middle East, North
Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Asia and
Central & Eastern Europe.
Over the past ten months, flydubai
Cargo has forged a number of interline
agreements with airlines including
Emirates and British Airways and
Estonia Air as well as Coyne Airways
and Jet Airways.
This has helped the division extend
its reach beyond flydubai’s passenger
network. Goods transported include
general cargo, perishable items, textiles,
electronics, courier, mail, and
pharmaceuticals.
flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said:
“We set up our cargo division with the
aim of making the transport of goods
simple, accessible and affordable.
Through these interline agreements
we have opened new routes and thus
new avenues for trade. We are now able
to deliver goods from Sudan to Sydney
and also provide Nepal’s handicraft
industry with access to consumers in
the US, Europe and Australia.”
flydubai Cargo’s network, combined
with its affordable rates and tie up with
Calogi, a web based Global Distribution
System for the air cargo supply chain,
has encouraged businesses across the
hybrid aluminum construction of the S6 and S7
weighs roughly 15 percent less than a comparable
all-steel body. The ASF (Audi Space Frame) is made
almost entirely of aluminum, saving around 100
kilograms compared to a conventional steel construction.
The Audi ultra-lightweight construction
allows weight to be reduced in other areas as well,
such as the chassis.
The new Audi S6, S7 and S8 shine with craftsman-like
fit and finish, generous standard equipment
and a range of high-end equipment options.
Subtle yet eye-catching details on the exterior and
interior signal the top position in the model series.
New to the S family is the parking system with
360 degree camera. Four small cameras record
images of the sedan’s immediate surroundings
and a computer splices them together. The driver
can call up a variety of views on the MMI monitor,
including a virtual top-down view. The system
enhances safety while maneuvering and in narrow
driveways. Special views allow the driver to see
cross-traffic.
Long version
Audi is expanding its engine lineup with a
new, high-performance gasoline engine. The 4.0
TFSI, which is used in slightly different configurations
in the S6, S7 and S8, develops between 420
hp and 520 hp, and as much as 650 Nm of
torque. The new V8 is a high-tech engine featuring
numerous innovative solutions.
The youngest member of the large Audi family
of V engines, the 4.0 TFSI shares all of their
typical characteristics. It has the classic cylinder
angle of 90 degrees, the chain drive for the four
camshafts and ancillary units is on the back to
save space, and the cylinder case is a cast aluminum-silicon
alloy. This eight-cylinder unit is
very light in weight, and its highly compact construction
has resulted in its length being
reduced to 497 mm.
Fuel is provided via Audi’s FSI direct injection
system. Switchable flaps in the intake ports
induce a rolling type of movement in the incoming
air for improved combustion. Like almost
every Audi engine, the new 4.0 TFSI also follows
world to transport their goods with the
Dubai carrier.
Manufacturers in Serbia, for example,
which was previously underserved
by direct air and cargo links, export specialist
sporting and spare parts to
Australia via Dubai, while ship spares
are transported from Amsterdam in The
Netherlands the GCC and Indian
Subcontinent.
Next month, flydubai Cargo will
become the first cargo operator to offer
direct links between Dubai and
Bucharest, Romania, as well as Dubai
and Skopje, Macedonia. Flights will
start on 1 October 2012 and 18 October
2012 respectively.
flydubai Cargo’s on-time record,
meanwhile, has prompted exports from
the Indian Subcontinent and CIS in the
form of perishable goods such as meat,
fruits, vegetables and flowers. There has
also been demand in Europe for live
tropical fish from Port Sudan.
With Dubai International Airport
being a logistics hub, goods travelling
on flydubai flights can be connected in
as little as one hour of arrival in Dubai.
It takes from eight hours to move shipments
carried by interline partners.
“The wide range of products being
transported by flydubai Cargo shows
the demand for a timely, affordable and
reliable service. Less than a year into
operations, we have grown our network
as well as our customer base and aim to
continue serving a global audience as
our range and operations expand,”
added Al Ghaith.
26 BUSINESS
the principle of downsizing, where forced induction
replaces displacement. One turbocharger
per cylinder bank compresses the intake air. This
is known as twinscroll technology, where the
exhaust flows to the turbine wheel at high
speed through two separate ports and enables
torque to be developed extremely early, just
above idle.
The two turbochargers and the intercooler
are located in the inside V of the cylinder banks
rather than in the usual location outside next to
the crankcase. Audi has structured the cylinder
heads in an innovative way. The exhaust side is
on the inside, the intake side on the outside. This
layout provides for compact dimensions and
short gas paths with minimal flow losses, and
the 4.0 TFSI reacts immediately to the gas pedal
as a result. Sophisticated insulation of the hot
components, in particular the exhaust manifold,
stabilizes the thermal conditions in the inside V.
A further innovation is Audi’s cylinder management.
In low to intermediate load and rev
ranges, it deactivates two cylinders in each bank
of the V8, reducing fuel consumption significantly.
Thanks to a comprehensive package of innovative
measures, the engine remains smooth
and quiet during these phases. Shutting down
the cylinders is virtually imperceptible. This
cylinder management function is provided by
the latest version of the Audi valvelift system by
closing the intake and exhaust valves of the
affected cylinders.
The 4.0 TFSI employs all the technologies
from Audi’s modular efficiency platform. These
range from measures to reduce friction, the
start-stop system and the recuperation system
to innovative thermal management that deactivates
the water pump during the warmup phase
to quickly bring the oil up to temperature. The
new regulated oil pump varies the oil pressure in
two stages, and the oil jet cooling for the piston
heads is characteristic-controlled.
The new 4.0 TFSI provides for powerful performance
in all of the large S models while at the
same time demonstrating its high efficiency
potential.
The Audi S6
Athletic character, quiet understatement and
richly appointed - Audi is remaking the S6. The
Audi S6 sports cars for everyday use, offering
uncompromising practicality. Its new engine, a
four-liter, twin-turbo V8, combines ample power
with low fuel consumption in keeping with the
times.
Drive
The S6 uses the 420 hp version of the new 4.0
TFSI. The twin-turbo V8 provides a constant 550
Nm of torque from 1,400 to 5,200 rpm. It accelerates
the S6 from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds.
The electronically governed top speed of 250
km/h is just a formality. The 4.0 TFSI brings Audi’s
downsizing strategy to the high-performance
class. Compared to the engine in the previous
model, the free-breathing, 5.2-liter V10, it offers
even sportier performance while reducing fuel
consumption by as much as 25 percent. Average
fuel consumption is just 9.6 liters per 100 km,
well below that of the competition.
A number of technologies contribute to this
top result, including the recuperation and startstop
systems as well as the new “cylinder on
demand” cylinder management system. When
the V8 deactivates four cylinders under part
load, the Active Noise Cancellation system (ANC)
is activated. Four microphones integrated into
the headlining record the noise in the cabin,
which is then analyzed by a computer. If the
computer detects intrusive sound elements, it
broadcasts an antiphase sound through the
speakers of the sound system. This sound combines
with the intrusive sound and largely cancels
it out.
Independent of this, active, electronically
controlled engine bearings use targeted counterpulses
to attenuate low-frequency vibrations.
A sound actuator, flaps in the exhaust system,
the engine shroud and a newly developed twomass
flywheel with a centrifugal force pendulum
in the seven-speed S tronic also contribute to
the sonorous sound and smoothness of the
engine.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2012
New Audi S models arrive in Middle East
flydubai Cargo goes global
KUWAIT: Advancing its market leadership
and expanding its services, Bumper
to Bumper (BTB) launched in May 2012
its Vehicle Fitness Test services in cooperation
with the Ministry of Interior (MoI)
at its Rai branch. In an effort to further
improve its customer services & added
convenience, Bumper-to-Bumper by
Yusuf A Alghanim is offering from
September 1 to November 30, 2012 a
three-month free road side assistance
with every Vehicle Fitness Test performed.
Vehicle Fitness Test services are made
in cooperation with the Ministry of
Interior (MOI) and include insurance
issuance, physical vehicle testing, fines
payments and issuance of vehicle registration
booklet. With this newlylaunched
offer, car owners can perform
all official & legal requirements at the
Bumper-to-Bumper facility in Al-Rai.
Bumper to Bumper is committed to provide
its customers with a unique experience
while servicing their vehicles by
providing value-added propositions,
technical expertise, the latest equipment
and convenient facilities and amenities.
It is worth mentioning that in 1980,
Bumper-to-Bumper opened its first
When it comes to power transmission, the S6
further extends Audi’s Vorsprung durch Technik.
The engine power flows through a fast-shifting,
seven-speed S tronic transmission. The quattro
permanent all-wheel drive system uses the selflocking
center differential and torque vectoring.
If desired, Audi complements quattro with the
optional sport differential, which actively distributes
the power between the rear wheels.
Chassis
The new S model comes standard with the
adaptive air suspension sport. The tautly tuned
air suspension with variable damping lowers the
body by 10 millimeters. It provides for highly
precise handling without compromising comfort.
The powerful disc brakes, internally ventilated
front and rear, have matt black calipers with
S6 logos. Audi offers carbon fiber-ceramic discs
as an option. The S6 comes standard with cast
aluminum wheels in a unique five parallel-spoke
design. The 8.5 J x 19 wheels are shod with
255/40-series tires. Seven different 19- or 20-inch
wheels, four of them from quattro GmbH, are
available as options. The 20-inch titanium-look
wheels with a five-arm rotor design impart a
particularly exclusive appearance.
The Audi drive select driving dynamics system
comes standard in the new
S6. Among others, it modifies the characteristic
of the gas pedal, the shift points of the S tronic,
the servo boost of the electromechanical
steering and the characteristic of the adaptive
air suspension. The driver can adjust the operation
of these systems in five stages. The optional
sport differential and the dynamic steering,
which varies its ratio as a function of speed, can
also be integrated into the system.
Body and design
The car bodies play a large part in the
dynamics of the Audi S6. It is unusually lightweight
because they are roughly 20 percent aluminum.
The Audi S6 has a curb weight of just
1,895 kilograms and is thereby much lighter
than its direct rivals.
AUB announces results of weekly draw
KUWAIT: AUB has announced the results of the weekly
draws of its Al-Hassad Islamic savings scheme. The lucky
customers winning the grand weekly prize worth KD
25,000 each at the draws held on September 12, 2012:
Vasudev Daryani, Aisha Husni Al-Husni, and Venkata
Jonnadula.
The following Al-Hassad Islamic customers won cash
prizes of KD 1,000 each: Fahad Mohamad Fahad, Sidig
Abdalla Sidig, Esam Makin Salim, Faisal Abdulrahman,
Juzar Hatim Godhrawala, Ahmed Ebrahim Rezq, Mohd
Asghar Mogal, Mohd Sayed Abbas, Waleed Fahad, Ahad
Al-Hamad, Hussain Ashkanani, Bashar Mohammed
Harhash, Ghazy Masoud Safak, Ahmad Dalil Shaman,
Sultan Naser Sultan, Mohamed Khamis Al Kuwari, Radhi
Ali Abdulla, Abdulla Ali Abdulla, Sandra Kathleen
Buchanan, Salman Saleh Salman, Kamel Merza Mohsen,
Fahad Habib Mahmood, Mahmood A Aziz Mohammed,
Mohammed Yousif Hassan and Ebtisam Abedali.
With the new Al-Hassad Islamic 2011 scheme, customers
have a lot more to look forward to. With 28 weekly
prizes totaling KD 100,000 each week and “Salary for
Life” prizes every month, the chances to win bigger prizes
more often couldn’t get any better.
The most attractive feature of the new scheme is the
chance to win bigger prizes, more frequently with 3
grand prizes of KD 25,000 each, week on week plus 25
other weekly prizes of KD 1,000. Chances to win big
prizes on a weekly basis, offer instant rewards to both
existing as well as new Investors in Investment Saving
Account (Al-Hassad Islamic). With the introduction of a
“Salary for Life” prize of KD 250,000 every month, the
grand prize is also now more frequent and customers do
not need to wait for a quarter or more to qualify for the
grand prize.
The “Salary for Life” has been a core feature for the Al-
Hassad Islamic scheme with prizes paid out to date
exceeding KD 10 million. The monthly “Salary for Life”
prize has enabled winners to afford better homes, ensure
better education for their children and enjoy an
improved quality of life, with the assurance that the
rewards will continue to come month after month for
250 months. Al-Hassad Islamic is the only scheme to offer
high value weekly and monthly prizes that are significantly
higher than the total outlay of other prize schemes
in Kuwait. In addition to the attractive prize pool, customers
with high balances can opt for other unique features
such as Investment savings plan, cheque facility
linked to their investment savings account and state of
the art e-banking and 24x7 contact center support.
The new Al-Hassad Islamic 2011 is geared to meeting
the needs of salaried individuals. Customers can benefit
from not only the biggest and most attractive prize pool
but can also enjoy state of the art banking benefits and
access to AUB’s unique products’ range for Islamic
finances ,credit cards and investment products. All Al-
Hassad draws are conducted under the scrutiny of officials
from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and
independent auditing firm, Ernst& Young. For more information
on the Al-Hassad Islamic investment savings
account, its prize structure and eligibility criteria, customers
may visit any AUB Kuwait.
Vehicle fitness
tests in Kuwait
branch in Kuwait. Today, it is recognized
as one of the top leaders in quality car
service due to its investment in professional
and qualified technicians and the
latest equipment to ensure customers
with the best service, peace of mind and
unparalleled experience. Today, Bumperto-Bumper
is strategically located in six
different areas: Shuwaikh, Sharq, Al-Rai,
Jahra, Shuwaikh Express Lube and
Fahaheel.
Apart from its quick service and body
shop service, Bumper-to-Bumper also
provides additional services like diesel
services, tire garage, car wash, detailing
and accessories.
This state of the art facility also
includes a coffee shop, lounge equipped
with a complimentary wi-fi connection
and play area for the children in addition
to a gaming corner. Within its large
space, the accessories corner provides a
wider range of services that include window
tinting, rim sales and other services
and products at competitive prices.
Bumper-to-Bumper prides itself of
always meeting its promise to provide
the best high quality services for all car
makes so that every customer enjoys the
best vehicle service and experience.