Another month, another car show. This time, it's beautiful Geneva, Switzerland that plays host.
Of course, there is the usual lineup of high-horsepower gas-guzzlers and record-breaking supercars, as you would expect at any car show. And, at one time, those are what drew people in; but that might be changing.
Because in Geneva, as has been the case at other car shows over the past year or so, electric cars of some sort have started to become the star attractions. And judging from the lot that are appearing on the floor at this car show, it looks like manufacturers are starting to see the light about the reality in marketing and selling these products to the public: it's not that electric cars don't have to be different from normal cars; it's that electric cars can't be any different from what we drive today. At least, not in looks and performance.
The thing is, if you're going to make a major dent in the market with alternative-fuel vehicles, you need to make them as practical and convenient as normal petrol-powered cars. People's attitudes towards cars and transportation will eventually have to change, but that's going to take a long time; perhaps a generation or two. In the meantime, they won't accept paying a premium for a car that has less range, room or power than the petrol-powered car they drive now.
Take the 918 Hybrid that Porsche debuted in Geneva. As you'll read on mo4, this stunningly beautiful car - easily the best-looking one in the car maker's portfolio - is a petrol-electric hybrid that performs like a supercar yet gets microcar-like fuel economy. Right now, there are well-heeled enthusiasts absolutely salivating at the thought of plunking down their cash for it, and that's something that every manufacturer wants.
The thing that pure electric cars can't do - at least, at the moment - is alleviate consumers' fears; the fears of being left stranded on the side of a motorway on their way to work because their battery ran out of power. Or, the fear that the big, expensive battery in their car will have to be replaced in five years. Whether legitimate or not, these fears are keeping consumers from considering electric cars as a viable mode of transportation - and keeping them from opening their wallets.
And that's where these plug-in hybrids or extended-range electric cars come in.
Lotus debuted its Evora 414E Hybrid, a car that is, in my opinion, the type of hybrid that makes most sense for consumers. The majority of drivers wouldn't go beyond its 50km battery-only range during the course of a day, but if you did and began to run out of electricity, a small petrol engine would kick in to charge the battery that powers the two electric motors. There would be no fear of being stranded; and, it being a plug-in, but you could conceivably go an entire year on a single tank of petrol. It's the same idea as the upcoming Chevrolet Volt saloon, which will fit four people comfortably at a reasonable price. And what this system does is allows people to consider this as a primary vehicle instead of just a second car for the city.
There will be a time when most commuters will buy and drive cars that don't use petroleum to power them. There will be a time when electricity, hydrogen and who knows what else will power everything on our roads.
But that time won't be for a while; at least 20 years. In the meantime, we can significantly decrease our reliance on petrol (and, of course, diesel) and our overall emissions without ditching fossil fuels altogether. And, without losing the convenience and love affair we now enjoy with the car.
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
Company%20Profile
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The biog
Name: Salvador Toriano Jr
Age: 59
From: Laguna, The Philippines
Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips
Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.
Jawan
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
if you go
The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
The trip
The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles.
IPL 2018 FINAL
Sunrisers Hyderabad 178-6 (20 ovs)
Chennai Super Kings 181-2 (18.3 ovs)
Chennai win by eight wickets
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Match info
What: Fifa Club World Cup play-off
Who: Al Ain v Team Wellington
Where: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
When: Wednesday, kick off 7.30pm
World%20Food%20Day%20
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
57%20Seconds
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