A concept is the first step in a larger vision

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A concept is the first step in a larger vision
The Mazda pavilion during the Dubai International Motor Show at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dubai - Several cars at Dubai International Motor Show have brought together logic and emotion for the first time

by

Rohma Sadaqat

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Published: Fri 17 Nov 2017, 8:22 PM

Last updated: Fri 17 Nov 2017, 10:25 PM

It's easy to be awed by the sight of a concept car at any major car exhibition, but what visitors need to understand is that a concept car is normally just the first step in a company's vision for the future, experts at Dubai International Motor Show 2017 said.
Looking around at the various stands at the exhibition, visitors were treated to the sight of several concept cars from manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti and Mini.
The undisputed crowd-puller at the Mercedes stand was the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE, a two-seater supersports car which brings the very latest and most efficient, fully-fledged Formula 1 hybrid technology from the racetrack to the road. Marked as the world's first high-performance hybrid, the car is said to produce over 1,000hp, reach top speeds beyond 350kmh, and was created to represent the highlight of AMG's 50th anniversary.
Speaking to Khaleej Times about the idea of concept cars, Shehab Gargash, CEO and managing director of Gargash Group, said: "I think that as far as design is concerned, the sky is the limit, and we are seeing this from various manufacturers. They will tend to translate, through their designs, a certain philosophy. So the Mercedes philosophy will be different from another company's philosophy. What Mercedes has done very nicely is mix passion with levelheadedness in their design."
"These are cars that have brought together logic and emotion for the first time," he noted.
Also on display at the stand was the Mercedes-AMG GT Concept hybrid, which made its regional debut at the show. The vehicle's handcrafted engine has an additional powerful electric motor, giving the driver the option between purely electric, combustion engine or hybrid. Gargash noted the importance of the electric vehicles (EV) segment for manufacturers, especially in the Middle East. "Tesla has been a very refreshing addition to the market, because it is trailblazing and cutting into a new segment - which is the electric segment," he pointed out.
"Tesla makes it easy for you to prove where the direction of the brand is going. For Mercedes, the success of Tesla in the global and regional markets provides a reassurance that customers are ready for electric vehicles. Mercedes has a whole family of electric cars that it will be introducing in the next few years. Coming into the market, those products will have already had Tesla pave the way for them."
Another head turner at the event was the Mini John Cooper Works GP Concept, first unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show, and which is going to act as a building block for Mini's new racing cars.
Infiniti also received its share of the spotlight at the event, with its Project Black S, which was previously unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Based on its flagship Q60 coupe, the Black S version highlights the partnership between Infiniti and Renault Sport Formula One. In 2016, Infiniti made the move to become technical partners with Renault Sport Formula One, and worked together to co-develop the Energy Recovery System, one of the most sophisticated technologies in motorsport.
 
Fully-autonomous driving still far away
Meanwhile, many of us have dreams about getting in our car and having it take us to work, without even once touching the steering wheel, but that dream is still a few years away, says Damien Scopel, senior product manager at Audi Middle East.
Speaking at a live talk session at Dubai International Motor Show 2017, Scopel explained that there are five different levels of autonomous cars.
"Most of the cars on the road today are already on level one, which is driver assistance," he said. "Some are level two, which is partial automation. Level three involves conditional automation, while level four involves a high degree of automation. Level five ultimately targets full automation and a completely hands-free experience."
"If there is an emergency, you still have to intervene by taking the wheel, so drivers still have to pay attention to the road. For level three cars, you need to have a legal framework. In the case of an accident, who is responsible? The next target for manufacturers is level four automation, which will allow the car to take full control on certain stretches of road such as long highways," he clarified.
"However, level four autonomous driving is still many many years away," he added.
Level five, which is the dream of every passenger, won't even involve the driver, Scopel said. The human factor is completely eliminated, so there is no danger from a driver that might be sick, tired, or in a bad mood.
"Autonomous cars offer enhanced safety, more comfort, eco-friendly driving, and an efficient use of transportation infrastructure," he listed. "The challenge for the future of autonomous driving is not in the technology, but in preparing cars to adhere to the legal frameworks in different parts of the world."
 
Buyers want frictionless experience
People interested in buying a car today will pay more for a frictionless experience, and they expect new technologies, that make their lives easier, to be increasingly present in their car offerings, says Christopher Gale, digitalisation manager at Audi Middle East.
Speaking at a live talk session at Dubai International Motor Show 2017, Gale noted that technology tends to shift customer behaviours. "A phone isn't a phone anymore; today, for many people, it is everything," he said. "It is a wallet, a camera, a computer, and a phone. Digitalisation goes across all demographics and means something different for anybody. As of January 2017, there are 3.773 billion active Internet users. We spend on average five years and four months on our phones and computers in our life time. And this figure is only growing."
"Everyone consumes digital data. The first thing that we do in the morning is look at our phone, and it is also the last thing that we see before we sleep," Gale pointed out.
In an increasingly digital and connected world, car manufacturers have to ask questions about what are new technologies, how are customers using them, and how they can integrate them into their cars.
 Connectivity is important, Gale said, but digitalisation is not limited to touch screens and displays.
"It goes beyond that, into safety even. Manufacturers are looking at taking the danger out of checking your phone, and providing the same forms of communication technology as safely as possible. Voice activated technologies have been around for ages, but are only recently being integrated into the automotive industry," he said.
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com


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