The recent months saw the introduction of a few interesting saloons in the market, with an evolving sense of artistic maturity display from all quarters. Here are five – four saloons and one coupe to be exact.
Midsize sedan: Renault Talisman
Just as Koleos made waves in the Crossover segment, Renault did again in the saloon segment. The all-new 2017 Renault Talisman is not just a replacement for the Safrane, but a different car built for contemporary specifications. For instance, it has a tablet touch screen – the advanced R-Link 2, 8.7 inch connected tablet which is the largest in its segment – overseeing matters from the dashboard and the driving experience is fully customisable for up to 6 profiles.
The version worth owning makes 190 Brake Horsepower (bhp) and its 1.6L turbo-charged engine is nothing to shy away from. A fact that becomes obvious once a test drive is taken, especially engaging the sport mode. The Renault Multi-Sense system has fully adaptable road handling and offers five different driving modes, dashboard display and lighting environment. The tablet connects the R-Link infotainment system and a Bose surround system spread across 13 high-performance speakers.
Worthy of taking over from Safrane, the Talisman offers impressive legroom and a large boot with astonishingly consistent fuel economy figures, coming fully equipped for rapid energy recovery during braking. Besides rear parking sensors, an electric parking brake and hands-free trunk opening by foot movement sensing, safety standards are kept high with side pelvis and chest level airbags for the front seat, as well as rear curtain airbags.
Price: AED 67,900 onwards
Midsize sedan: Lincoln MKZ 2017
If it brings a Jaguar to mind, it is only as it shares a refined styling and presence. There are more than just a few distinguished features that the new 2017 Lincoln MKZ flaunts. An all-new one-piece Lincoln signature grille, a push-button gear shift, an imaginative ‘floating’ centre console, inside or out, intelligent function and beautiful form mark this brand new Lincoln.
The pack-leading engine is the Lincoln-exclusive 3.0-litre GTDI V6 engine, twin turbo charged to produce 365 hp and 570 Nm of torque when mated to the intelligent all-wheel-drive system. Lincoln has introduced an Active Noise Control system designed for a quieter cabin.
Available convenience and safety features: Adaptive LED headlamps, fully retractable panoramic glass roof that spreads the largest open-air roof among sedans, Autohold that maintains the car at standstill, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality that can automatically slow the car to a complete stop, concert-quality Revel audio with specially designed doors for optimal positioning of the speakers, enhanced park assist for parallel or perpendicular parking.
Driver-assist technologies in the 2017 Lincoln MKZ: Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection uses camera and radar technology to monitor how close the car is to other vehicles and pedestrians. It can alert the driver with visible and audible warnings and, can prepare the brakes for maximum effect. The lane-keeping system can alert the driver with a steering wheel vibration in case of drifting. Finally, BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert that warns of vehicles approaching from either side while backing up.
Full-size sedan: Hyundai Azera 2017
The new Azera is the sixth generation for the model, also called the Grandeur in Korea, since its launch in 1986 as the Hyundai brand’s original premium car. Each generation has offered high levels of comfort and space, and progressively more sophisticated gadgetry, choosing its inspirations carefully.
The All-new Azera is all set to make an impression, starting with its flowing design lines and the largest version yet of Hyundai’s latest signature design element, the Cascading Grille. It has already won a prestigious Red Dot award for ‘high design quality’.
Advanced technologies include wireless charging for mobile devices, power trunk, a memory seat, panoramic sunroof, premium Nappa leather seats, and a seven-inch display that houses the Around View Monitor. The new Azera features Android Auto and Apple Car Play as standard in global markets.
Hyundai’s premium sedan is equipped with a host of new safety features such as Hyundai Smart Sense, a comprehensive Advanced Driver Assistance System tuned for driver safety, which includes Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Detection, Driver Attention Alert, Advanced Smart Cruise Control and Around View Monitor.
The All-new Hyundai Azera will be specifically equipped for this region with a 3.5 liter V6 producing 240HP. The New-generation Hyundai Azera will have its Middle East launch this month.
Compact sedan: All New MG 360
The MG 360 is the newest model from one of the legendary automotive marques, featuring a contemporary design, a range of intelligent features and flexible interior space.
The MG 360 proudly sports the brand’s new ‘silk modelling’ design language, accentuated by the sleek side lines, a ribbed bonnet and LED DRL lamps at both ends. When compared with leading models in its segment, the MG 360 has numbers going for it. The 2660mm wheelbase is longer than most competitors. 482 litres of boot space, 40/60 foldable rear seats and up to 23 different storage spaces sound like a very practical cabin.
Guided well by its new Chinese owners, the new MG surprises offers great value for money with a long list of leading technologies. Customers can specify a cutting-edge Intelligent Telematics System, an InkaLink Vehicle System that is Android Mobile compatible, an 8” touchscreen and Bluetooth hands-free telephone. Safety features such as ABS, EBD, ESP, EBA, overspeed warning and a tyre pressure monitoring system are all available, as are a digital speedometer, electric power steering, parking sensors, a rear parking camera and cruise control.
The new model has been built with a USD (Ultimate Stiffness Design) reinforced body structure with 70% high strength steel. Driven by a fuel-efficient 1.5L DVCT engine, the brochure claims that the MG360 can do 100 km on just 6.3L. Yet, 109 hp and 135 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm are decent output to push the car.
Sport Coupe: Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400
Infiniti’s commitment to performance oriented-models can be seen in its latest Sports Coupe, just as it earlier did in the Q50 Red Sport. The top of the line 3.0T Q60 is equipped with the exhilarating performance of a twin-turbocharged 400 Horsepower V6 engine and the unmatched responsiveness of the world’s first digitally adaptive handling system. The 2.0T Q60 variant offers a four-cylinder gasoline engine that is turbocharged to generate 208 hp. The Sports Coupe comes with Intelligent Cruise Control that automatically adjusts speed in response to traffic, and Direct Adaptive Steering that fine-tunes steering performance up to 1,000 adjustments a second, well matched with the Dynamic Digital Suspension.
INFINITI’s full suite of driver assistance and safety technologies include Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrians Detection that reduces the chance of collisions by warning of approaching vehicles or large stationary objects and applying the brakes, while Adaptive Lighting Systems keeps the driver informed by allowing them to not just see ahead, but all around the vehicle.
