One day to go for the biggest car show Dubai has ever seen: look forward to 157 new launches among 600 cars on show. Feast on eighty exotic classics from the 1950s to the ‘80s at the first ever Motoring Nostalgia Museum, and experience the thrill of motoring at its extremes.
The size says it all!
The show space has grown 30% since the last time. 600 vehicles will be displayed over 85,000 square metres. The size of stands too has gone up. For instance, the Cadillac stand is a whopping 70% larger! 173 first timers – 18 global launches, 139 regional debuts and 16 concept cars will make this edition of the Dubai International Motor Show the biggest and the most interesting ever! While the global launches and concepts have added one each to last edition’s figures, the regional launches have almost doubled!
This should give you a picture of how big this year’s show is – the demand has caused DIMS to spill over from the Sheikh Saeed Halls to the Zabeel Halls for the first time. “The Dubai World Trade Centre’s 15 halls are at full capacity,” points out its Senior Vice President of Exhibitions & Events Management, Trixie LohMirmand. 100,000 visitors from 37 countries are expected to witness this grand show across the five days.
Global and regional launches
• 18 global launches from Aston Martin to W motors
• Cadillac, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, W Motors and Toyota are showcasing their latest at the Dubai Motor Show, for the world to see.
• Cadillac’s new XT5 crossover, designed to pick it up where the SRX left off, makes its first ever outing at the Dubai International Motor Show. This is the first time a global launch is happening outside the USA. Cadillac’s prestige sedan CT6 will also make a regional debut.
• The recently launched Toyota Land Cruiser SUV will seek popular vote at the show.
• Jaguar will show the production version of its first off-roader, the F-PACE in the region for the first time after the concept made its world debut in Dubai in 2013.
• The likes of Aston Martin, Audi, Fiat, GMC, Land Rover and Volkswagen will be premiering multiple regional launches.
More things to see and do
Al-Futtaim Motors’ will celebrate six decades since inception with a unique heritage area and a 1000 sq. m. space that allows a glimpse of next 60 years of motoring in the region, through the eyes of Toyota. Ford, Hyundai, Nissan and SAIC will set up engaging and entertaining activities and demonstrations, of which they haven’t given us more info.
The DIMS 2015 welcomes new exhibitors from Australia, Lebanon, the Netherlands and the Russian Federation. Besides the latest cars, the show will also preview motorcycles, light commercial vehicles, the tuning and aftermarket sectors as well as the all-new Motoring Nostalgia Museum.
This time, visitors will be able to take guided tours from resident experts, enjoy street food cuisine and retro music as well as a chance to take part in onsite competitions, forums and watch master craftsmen at work.
Motoring Nostalgia Museum
UAE has no dearth of casual enthusiasts and serious collectors. A ride down nostalgia street in evergreen classics can be enjoyed during the show. Some of them are the 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing, Aston Martin DB5 Coupé or the legendary 1961 E-Type Jaguar and the Lamborghini Countach – the poster car of the early seventies!
Coming together in the Nostalgia Museum will be 80 classics, courtesy of rally legend and the President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, Dr. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Tomini Classics, the Sharjah Museum and the Al Ain Classics collections, and several others from the Dubai Grand Parade.
Number plates auction
The 89th Dubai Distinctive Plates Public Auction by the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) will be hosted by the Dubai International Motor Show, once again. A selection of 110 plate numbers await proud owners on the Saturday, 14th of November from 4:00pm in the Al Multaqua Ballroom of the World Trade Centre. Public registration open from November 8th.
Thrills galore inside and outside
In the exhibition halls of Dubai World Trade Centre and lining the space outside, several activities and contests have been arranged at the Dubai Motor Show. Choose your adventure.
JLR Experience @ Arena Plaza
Even as I‘ve been preparing a story on my experience at the Jaguar Land Rover HQ at Solihull, a JLR Experience Zone has been set up in Arena Plaza at the Motor Show – for the first time in the Middle East.
The unique all-terrain ability of Land Rover vehicles can be experienced through state-of-the-art, mobile man-made tracks and obstacles. You don’t need a license to drive, as you will be taking the journey to the limits and back from the passenger seat.
Break the land speed record with Jaguar
Ever wondered what a ‘1000-miles per hour’ feels like? Now is your chance to experience it, virtually. We aren’t shooting off to space but still very much on land. Jaguar is bringing a high-tech simulator that lets you do it with the Bloodhound SSC, the people whose mission is to break the world land speed record above 1,000mph (1600kmh). You can also take up a virtual challenge to be the fastest driver on the planet!
5000 sq. m. Land Cruiser Off-road track
The Land Cruiser has set up an arena where you can experience the skills of the LC that makes it one of the favourite off-roaders in this region!
The Q Division!
Take a peek into the gizmo room of the Dubai Motor Show. While we don’t have flying or swimming cars (they belonged to the 007 movies of the eighties anyway!), this year will see a greater focus on the Tuning and Aftermarket industries. The car customisation demand itself has gone up by 15 per cent in the past year.
If you ever wished to see for yourself how the car-to-super car transformation happened, Dubai-based GForce Performance will be staging this live at daily tuning sessions. This will include body styling, performance enhancement, wheels, tyres and suspension modifications. Al-Futtaim Motors will showcase the racing and performance sides of Toyota with the debut of Toyota Racing Development (TRD).
The blah blah and the vroom vroom!
New for 2015 is the series of Ignition Live Talks, where industry experts will discuss the current trends and topics in their particular areas of expertise.
The 2015 Dubai International Motor Show is supported by Show partners AC Delco, Alienware, Autopro, Cooper Tires, ENOC, Mazda, RTA and Swiss Tourism.
Opening timings:
Tuesday, November 10 – 6pm to 10pm
Wednesday, November 11 – 11am to 10pm
Weekend (Thursday the 12th and Friday the 13th) – 11am to 11pm
November 14 – 11am to 10pm
Ticket prices and booking
AED 65 for single-day entry. Children under 12 enter free. Under 16 must always be accompanied by an adult.
SAVE 15% by booking online at www.dubaimotorshow.com
Read the Dubai Motor Festival full schedule
