2016 Qatar Motor Show – Full Coverage
We were at the 2016 Qatar Motor Show – here’s our look at all the new metal
By Imthishan Giado
Volkswagen Tiguan
With its sights firmly set on the likes of the RAV4 and CR-V, the Tiguan is shaping up to be a key introduction for VW this year. Nearly 50kg lighter thanks to the new MQB platform, new Tiguan is longer, wider and lower than before. The regional office promises it’ll cost roughly the same, too.
Unlike the blandly anonymous previous Tiguan, this year’s car has sharper crisper and more aggressive lines that look more handsome in the flesh than the photos suggest. Under the hood is a range of turbocharged engines, from a 150bhp 1.4-litre TSI all the way up to a GTI-esque 220bhp 2.0-litre, all mated to the usual six and seven DSGs and sure-footed 4MOTION all-wheel drive. No diesels – naturally.
On the inside, first for the Tiguan include a 12.3” infotainment system with the expected Apple Carplay/Android Auto systems, a heads-up display (a segment first) and fully digital instruments.
Compared to staid Japanese rivals, this is a high-tech contender – we’re looking forward to driving it later this year.
Volkswagen GTI Clubsport
Fresh from its appearance at the Dubai Motor Show, the GTI Clubsport made its debut at QMS. What makes a GTI a Clubsport? A more aggressive bodykit, 261bhp (286bhp on overboost) through the front wheels and a considerably sharper chassis. It’ll be available in the GCC later this year – DSG only, sadly.
Audi RS Q3
Would sir like 310bhp in their sensible crossover? Sir would, especially if it comes in the tandoori-spicy Audi RS Q3. 2.5-litres of turbocharged five cylinder fling this deceptively meek crossover to 100kph in just 4.8 seconds.
Audi S8 Plus
You wouldn’t normally associate Audi with Germanic excess. With the S8 Plus, they’ve yielded to their inner AMG; this brute of a saloon boasts 605bhp and 481lb of torque. That’s enough to propel this tank of a car to 100kph in just over three and a half seconds. Utter, utter madness.
Jeep Wrangler
At the Jeep stand, the evergreen offroad brand showed off this Wrangler ‘Rebel’ built with tons of new Mopar-blessed parts. The Rebel is a 3″lifted Unlimited under which 35″ wheels reside on beadlocks rims, with 10th Anniversary Rubicon bumpers front and rear.
Texas A&M Concept Car
Billed as “Qatar’s First Ever Concept Car”, this dubious-styled concept was built by a student team at Texas A&M University. Presumably a project and not a functional car, it’s a mid engined coupe with purportedly a V6 engine and a carbon fibre body.
The styling looks to be the result of a cage match between an origami expert on amphetamines and a drunken samurai. In all fairness, it is a student effort so we can’t be too harsh. We eagerly await their next hopefully even more unhinged vehicle. If this is how it looks – imagine how it drives!
Mitsubishi Montero Sport
Mitsubishi has been selling the Pajero for approximately 6000 years so it’s past time for them to come up with a new one. Meet the Montero Sport: as before, it’s a midsize proper SUV built on the bones of the L200 pickup in Thailand.
The exterior is seriously aggressive with swoops, slashes and manga-style excess dripping from every panel.
Not so the interior which is sober, restrained and considering this is a pickup underneath, quite tasteful with clear, legible instrumentation. Under the hood is a 3.0-litre V6 delivering power to all four wheels via an eight speed automatic transmission. Don’t be fooled by the Terrain Response-style knob on the tunnel – it actually selects between 2WD, 4H and 4L.
Expect to see this at your local Mitsubishi dealer soon, and then for the next hundred years henceforth.
BMW M2
Fresh from its public debut at the Detroit Motor Show, Qatar saw the regional unveiling of the pint-sized track terror BMW M2. Effectively a shrunken M4, it’s got the same 3.0-litre turbo six with 365bhp and 343lb ft of torque driving the rear wheels through a seven speed dual clutch or the (rarely ordered) six speed manual.
Why this over an M235i, you might be wondering? The M2 sports pumped up steroid-mad bodywork that nails the aero component for track use and most importantly, a clever-clever active diff. There’s M logos on every conceivable body panel, super comfy sports buckets on the side, and a price tag that’s sure to take your breath away when it finally reaches UAE shores.
