Cars
Nissan Launches the Sunny 2020 at Dubai International Motor Show 2019

Surrounded by car enthusiasts and top industry leaders, Nissan Middle East launched the all-new Nissan Sunny 2020 today at Dubai International Motor Show 2019. Combining a new dramatic and expressive exterior with a fresh new interior, the all-new Sunny embraces class-above features and quality and will be on sale starting March 2020.
The Sunny is one of Nissan’s top selling vehicles in the region. Since it was officially introduced by Nissan in the region in 1994, over 474,500 units have been sold in the GCC alone. It is by far the segment leader in the region witnessing a 34% sales in financial year 2018.
Nissan has given its acclaimed sedan a boost up in terms of offering a new level of refinement with a dramatic design. The new generation car builds on this solid foundation and reinforces Nissan’s presence in the increasingly popular B-Sedan segment that is loaded with technology and safety features not usually found in the segment.

Technology is a top priority in the Sunny, featuring Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology that helps provide front, side and rear safety monitoring and intervention technologies.
Thierry Sabbagh, Managing Director of Nissan Middle East, said, “Nissan Sunny is one of our flagship vehicles and we are thrilled to announce the debut of the all-new Nissan Sunny 2020 at the Dubai International Motor Show. Given the rising customer demands, we have heavily invested in the new model which will now appeal to a broader audience including the youth. The sleek design with added technology and safety features will make the all-new Nissan Sunny a popular choice in the B-sedan segment.”

Design is also a key strategic advantage for the Sunny, Nissan has reimagined the entry-level sedan with a design that leaves a lasting first impression and that owners can be proud to be seen in. The new design features lower, wider and longer exterior dimensions while retaining Sunny’s roomy interior space. It is the latest in the makeover of Nissan’s complete sedan lineup following the flagship Maxima and new Altima.
Key styling elements of Nissan’s distinctive “Emotional Geometry” design language include the new Sunny’s V-motion grille, boomerang-shaped headlamps and tail lamps, kick-up C-pillars and floating roof. A recent survey conducted by Nissan shows that the sedans segment retains a strong appeal – especially for younger buyers, globally. Among drivers who don’t own a sedan, 75% would consider buying one now or in the future. For millennials, the number rises to eight in 10. In the UAE, 80% would consider a sedan as their next car purchase.

“At Nissan, we are always looking for new ways to connect and engage with our customers. Given that sedans remain a popular choice for Gen X, Millennials and multicultural customers, we are excited to be introducing a completely redesigned subcompact car. One that we strongly believe is poised to redefine this segment completely,” Sabbagh added.
The all-new Sunny comes in three trim-levels, models – S (MT or Xtronic), SV (Xtronic) and the sporty SL (Xtronic). With the all-new Sunny, Nissan has reimagined the entry-level sedan with a design that leaves a lasting first impression and that owners can be proud to be seen in. The new design features lower, wider and longer exterior dimensions while retaining Sunny’s roomy interior space. It is the latest in the makeover of Nissan’s complete sedan lineup following the flagship Maxima and new Altima.

Under Nissan’s “Emotional Geometry” design language, Sunny adapts key elements – such as the V-motion grille, boomerang-shaped headlamps and tail lamps, kick-up C-pillars and floating roof. The result is an entry-level car that the designers describe as an energetic, provocative and engaging modern compact sedan.
“The wheels are pushed out, there’s an imposing grille presence, everything about it says lower, wider, longer,” said Giovanny Arroba, program design director, Nissan Global Design Center, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. The exterior dimensions are 3 mm longer and 45 mm wider (than the previous generation Sunny) – along with a 44 mm lower height. Contributing to the new Sunny’s dramatic stanch are reduced gaps between the fenders and tires.
The new dimensions also help provide easy ingress and egress through all four doors. In addition, the new body offers a wider, more user-friendly trunk opening and 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Halogen headlamps with auto on/off feature are standard, with the Sunny SV and SL featuring LED low and high beam headlights, LED signature lamps and fog lights. Other available exterior features include heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals and body-color exterior door handles and camera on SL grade.
Color is another carefully considered element of the new Sunny’s appeal. Six exterior colors help accent the sleek body design: Electric Blue Metallic, Brilliant Silver Metallic, Gun Metallic, Super Black, Scarlet Ember Tintcoat (available in two variants), Aspen White TriCoat.
The all-new Sunny’s interior also represents a reimagining of the previous generation design with signature elements found in Maxima and Altima – including the “Gliding Wing” instrument panel that expands the feel of the space through use of a light and sleek “wingspan.” The effect of the design’s spatial symmetry is an enhanced sense of togetherness. The horizontal architecture, open spaces and use of harmonious materials and colors add a fresh, up-level quality to the entire cabin.
Like the previous generation Sunny, the 2020 edition features roomy 5-passenger interior with a comfortable rear seat with ample rear legroom and knee room. Its large interior volume of 88.9 cubic feet is matched with 14.3 cubic feet of trunk volume (split rear seat).
Other equipment, standard on SL grade and optional on SV, include a 7.0-inch color display with touch screen capability (resistive type), Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System and Streaming audio via Bluetooth, 12-volt power outlet, three USB ports (two charge only), interface for iPod and other compatible devices, Siri Eyes Free and AM/FM audio system with 6 speakers.
The all-new Sunny also comes complete with a long list of standard convenience features, including front and rear power windows with driver’s one-touch auto up/down, speed-sensing auto door locks front map lights, front door map pockets with bottle holder, dual front and rear cupholders, and remote keyless entry with fobs. The Sunny SL grade adds Nissan’s Intelligent Key System with Push Button Ignition, Around View Monitor and, Cruise Control. Three interior colors are offered: Charcoal (S grade), Graphite Premium Cloth and Grey Premium Cloth (SV & SL grade).
The all-new Sunny not only takes its dynamic styling, quality benchmarking and attention to detail from its Maxima and Altima sedan stable mates, it also offers confident driving and no-compromise performance. Standard on all three Sunny grade levels is a next generation 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engine rated at 118 horsepower and a 149 Nm of torque – increases of 12 percent and seven percent respectively.
The new “Gen3” 16-valve DOHC HR16DE engine features a 10.4:1 compression ratio, spray-coated bore cylinder block, high thermal conductivity piston rings and sodium-filled exhaust valves. The advanced engine design, with its emphasis on enhanced fuel economy and emissions, also includes dual injector system that burns cleaner and uses less fuel than a conventional injector design, along with Twin CVTC (Continuously Variable valve Timing Control) on both intake and exhaust cycles.
The Sunny S is available with a choice of a 5-speed manual transmission or an enhanced Xtronic transmission – which is standard on Sunny SV and SL grades. The new, compact Xtronic transmission with sub-planetary gear features revised D-step Logic Control for improved shift feel and responsiveness (versus the previous generation design). The Xtronic’s gear range is 20 percent wider than conventional continuously variable transmissions, helping improve both acceleration performance and fuel economy.
Along with its improved power and torque, the new Xtronic design is lighter and more fuel-efficient. Fuel economy for Xtronic-equipped models is rated at 19.3 km/L combined highway and city. With the 5-speed manual transmission, fuel economy rated at 17.1 km/L combined.
The new Sunny’s enhanced ride and handling is provided by an independent strut front suspension with 21.0 mm stabilizer bar and twin tube shock absorbers, along with a torsion beam rear axle with twin tube shock absorbers. The rear suspension changes include polyurethane bump stops and a more rigid beam design. Roll angle has been reduced by 15 percent and crosswind stability has been improved due to improved yaw rated, tire size increase and a 20 mm expansion of the front chin spoiler (versus the previous generation Sunny).
Body rigidity has also been enhanced (versus the previous generation) through a combination of structural modifications, increased thickness of select parts, and additional structural pieces. In addition, the electric power steering system features a high-rigidity shaft, up 30 percent from the previous design – providing a more responsive feel.
Braking is provided by standard power-assisted front disc/rear drum brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). All grade levels include standard Hill Start Assist.

Cars
The 2025 INFINITI QX55 Arrives in the Middle East

INFINITI has announced the arrival of the 2025 QX55, a stylish and comfortable crossover coupe that makes a statement with its iconic sloped roofline and confident presence. The latest iteration of the QX55 emphasises daring design, a meticulously crafted interior, and user-friendly technology, promising an elevated driving experience.
The 2025 model year offers buyers a streamlined selection of three well-appointed grades, each providing the added confidence of standard INFINITI Intelligent All-Wheel Drive. Prioritising driver and passenger safety, every QX55 comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard active safety technologies. This includes Intelligent Cruise Control, Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning and Intervention, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, High Beam Assist, and Cross Traffic Alert.
The entry-level QX55 LUXE offers a compelling package, powered by a potent and efficient 2.0-liter Variable Compression Turbo (VC-Turbo) engine producing 268 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Exterior highlights include 20-inch dark-painted aluminum-alloy wheels. Inside, drivers will appreciate a leather-wrapped steering wheel, the ProACTIVE Package, heated front seats, a convenient wireless phone charging pad, and the intuitive INFINITI InTouch infotainment system featuring both Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay integration.
Stepping up to the QX55 ESSENTIAL grade adds practical enhancements designed for everyday convenience. These include the Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection for enhanced visibility, integrated navigation, climate-controlled front seats for optimal comfort, and rain-sensing front wipers. The top-of-the-line QX55 SENSORY builds upon the already well-equipped ESSENTIAL grade with a focus on premium materials and advanced features.
The interior is adorned with black natural maple open-pore wood trim and luxurious semi-aniline leather-appointed seating, complemented by heated rear seats. Audiophiles will appreciate the rich and immersive sound delivered by a 16-speaker Bose Performance Series premium audio system, complete with metallic speaker grilles for the tweeters. The SENSORY grade also boasts an elite 3-zone full auto air-conditioning system with front and rear ventilation shut function, auto recirculation with ionizer, and fine particle anti-allergen deodorising filters, along with a convenient head-up display and a motion-activated liftgate.
Cars
The BMW Group Shows Off New Innovations of Future Vehicle Generations at Auto Shanghai 2025

On the road to Neue Klasse, the BMW Group will be showcasing the outstanding innovations of future vehicle generations at Auto Shanghai 2025. “Innovative strength, a pioneering spirit and sheer driving pleasure – these characteristics are deeply rooted in BMW’s DNA,” says Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “In the Neue Klasse, they can be experienced by our customers on a whole new level: the user interface is even more intuitive, the design even more progressive and the driving experience even more precise and dynamic. By the end of this year, we will be putting the mobility of the future on the road”.
The smart display and operating concept BMW Panoramic iDrive and the lightning-fast Heart of Joy central computer take centre stage at the auto show.
- The BMW Group presents the BMW Panoramic iDrive in a version specially developed for the Chinese market.
- The Heart of Joy centrally calculates all driving dynamics functions and raises the hallmark BMW driving pleasure to a new level with ten times faster information processing. BMW presents the Heart of Joy in the specially developed high-performance test vehicle BMW Vision Driving Experience, which shines in a spectacular, luminescent paint finish.
By the end of the year, the iX3 will be the first Neue Klasse model to roll off the production line at the new plant in Debrecen (Hungary). The BMW Vision Driving Experience is presented to the public for the first time in Shanghai: It is a high-performance test vehicle with no connection to series production, which BMW has designed as a rolling laboratory for optimising the Heart of Joy drive and driving dynamics control system.
“The BMW Vision Driving Experience is equipped with the “Heart of Joy” – one of four super brains specifically developed for our software-defined Neue Klasse models,” says Jochen Goller, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Customers, Brands and Sales. “The Heart of Joy takes every aspect of sheer driving pleasure to the next level. Starting with the launch of the first Neue Klasse model, the “Heart of Joy” will beat in every all-electric BMW model”.
The four super brains combine the computing power for the most important customer functions: infotainment, automated driving, basic functions and driving dynamics. In this new, zonal electronics architecture, the Heart of Joy is responsible for drive, braking, charging, recuperation and partial steering functions. In conjunction with the BMW Dynamic Performance Control software, the system, which was developed entirely in-house, calculates all driving dynamics functions. It processes information ten times faster than previous systems and achieves latencies in the millisecond range. There will be control units with comparable functions for combustion engines and hybrids.
As the “world’s fastest test rig”, the BMW Vision Driving Experience takes the Heart of Joy and BMW Dynamic Performance Control to their absolute limits. With a maximum torque of 18,000 Newton metres and active aerodynamics, it generates 1.2 tonnes of downforce and lateral forces of up to 3G – a dimension on par with Formula 1 and far beyond the requirements of conventional vehicles in road traffic. The logic behind this: If the hardware and software can tame the brute forces of this test rig, they can easily cope with the demands of everyday use.
In Shanghai, the BMW Vision Driving Experience shines in an innovative, fluorescent paint finish. The paint’s special light-sensitive pigments recharge in daylight, with even the smallest amount of ambient light sufficient. In the dark, the colour varies from a whitish yellow to an expressive neon yellow, depending on the state of charge. In addition, the rear of the car has been fitted with a “magic film” which, when stimulated by UV light, creates an expressive gradient from yellow to orange to pink from the rear to the front of the car. These special looks underline the uniqueness and innovative power of the car. Like the vision vehicle, they are not intended for series production.
The Auto Shanghai at the National Exhibition and Convention Center has become the largest auto show in the world. More than one million visitors are expected from April 23 to May 2, 2025. Across almost 5,000 square meters, the BMW Group presents the latest products of the BMW and MINI brands. An oversized installation of the complete BMW Panoramic iDrive display and control system is the focus of the exhibition space. The road to Neue Klasse leads guests along a “road” across the exhibition. On display will be a BMW 1500, the historical model of the Neue Klasse from the 1960s, as well as the visionary vehicles BMW Vision Neue Klasse and BMW Vision Neue Klasse X. The BMW Group will showcase a total of 42 vehicles at its largest exhibition booth in the world.
BMW M celebrates more than 25 years of cooperation with the Nürburgring with the exclusive special edition BMW M4 Edition Nürburgring. This special edition vehicle, which is only available in China, is limited to just 53 units to mark the 53rd anniversary of BMW M. Specific design elements make reference to the world’s most famous racetrack. The BMW Individual Frozen Deep Green metallic paint finish is a nod to the “Green Hell”.
The red Nürburgring Nordschleife logo is embroidered on the headrests and the frameless radiator grille is also framed in this striking red. The uniform “nürburgring 1/53” lettering in the door sills symbolises that the vehicle is part of an exclusive special edition. The edition based on the BMW M4 Competition with M xDrive has the familiar in-line six-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology and generates 390 kW/530 hp. This not only enables acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (60 mph) in 3.5 seconds or 3.2 seconds according to the “1-foot rollout” method, but also highly dynamic driving on the racetrack – tried and tested on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, of course.
Cars
EXEED by Al Ghurair Launches Electric and Hybrid Model Range

EXEED by Al Ghurair celebrated the unveiling of its electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid models in the UAE, with an exclusive launch event at Skydive Dubai on 9 April 2025. The premium automotive brand is reshaping the region’s sustainable mobility landscape, combining innovative technologies and performance to offer superior driving experiences.
EXEED is redefining the future of mobility with the launch of its fully electric models: the EXLANTIX ET SUV and the ELANTIX ES – EXEED’s first sedan. Equipped with the Super Hybrid Range Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV) technology, both models deliver an exceptional driving range of over 1,000 km. At the heart of this line-up is the Qualcomm-powered technology. Prioritising safety, the models have received a 5-star C-NCAP & CIASI rating, 88% high-strength steel, and advanced airbags, alongside cutting-edge driver assistance technologies for effortless control.
Designed for those who demand versatility and endurance, the EXLANTIX ET SUV offers both pure electric and range-extended powertrain options, featuring EXEED’s pioneering Golden Range Extender Technology to eliminate charging anxiety. A high-performance adaptive air suspension system ensures a premium, smooth ride, rivalling luxury SUVs. With a drag coefficient of 0.266Cd and a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.9 seconds, the ET seamlessly blends efficiency with power, while offering passengers exuding comfort in zero gravity seats. Furthermore, it offers Arabic voice command, and an intelligent cockpit that puts drivers in control with minimal effort.
The ELANTIX ES is a bold expression of avant-garde design, blending aerodynamics with artistry for a striking yet efficient silhouette. With a 0.205Cd drag coefficient, it enhances energy efficiency while ensuring a smooth, whisper-quiet ride. Engineered for precision handling and optimised weight distribution, the ES delivers an exhilarating 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 3.7 seconds. Its sleek aesthetics coupled with dynamic performance, offers an unmatched fusion of innovation, elegance, and driving excitement. Inside the sporty frameless door design encompasses a D-shaped steering wheel ready to give drivers a racing feeling of handling and grip.
EXEED has also introduced the RX Plug-in Hybrid SUV that balances power and efficiency. Powered by the Super Hybrid REEV System, it delivers a total range of over 1,300 km and maintains real-world fuel efficiency as low as 1.2L/100 km of a full charge. The model is equipped with a Three-Speed Super Hybrid Transmission generating 445KW of power through 11 gear combinations, ensuring a responsive yet smooth ride. The safety is reinforced by a high-performance CATL battery, enhanced with EXEED’s M3P material system, which delivers real-time diagnostics and can cut power within just 2 milliseconds in the event of a collision. Also, designed for extreme conditions, it operates reliably across a wide temperature range of -35°C to 60°C – ideal for the UAE’s harsh climate.
With its Smart Hybrid REEV technology system, advanced safety measures, and long-range capabilities, the RX PHEV stands as a strong addition to EXEED’s new energy line-up. EXEED also opened its flagship showroom on 9 April 2025, located on Corniche Street in Abu Dhabi. This state-of-the-art facility will offer customers an immersive introduction to the brand’s electric future, with futuristic art installations, interactive digital advisors and EXLANTIX merchandise and products.
“This launch is about more than just new models, it’s about EXEED defining the future of electric mobility in the region. With our industry-leading new technology, full EV and hybrid range of vehicles, and the introduction of the UAE’s first dedicated EXEED EV showroom, we are taking a major step forward in delivering intelligent, high-performance electric vehicles. The future of driving is here, and EXEED is at the forefront of this transformation,” said Oscar Rivoli, Chief Executive Officer of Motors, an Al Ghurair Mobility business.
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