Gents I attended the Qatar Motor Show a few days ago and I came away hugely impressed. This was held in 2 halls at the Qatar National Convention Center from 6 Feb till 10 Feb and was amazingly free to the public.
The show had a number of interesting vehicles from a variety of brands that even are quite unique here in the Middle East.
I have taken over 100 pics of a variety of stunning cars and bikes and the most important models and highlights I will share over split threads.
This is the first one and will show the Audi, BMW and Mercedes models on display.
1) Audi:
TTS:
I was surprised how much more pretty this car looks like in real life than in pictures. Its styling is an evolution of the previous model, but the front lights look so much more sharper and more impressive than the previous model and the car is a really good looker all round. The most impressive thing about this car is when you open the doors and sit inside. The interior is fantastic with its stylish and simple looks combined with some innovative design, technology and excellent material and build quality. The dynamic instrument TFT display is hugely impressive with excellent graphics and very nice menu structure. The air vents and AC controls work so smoothly and the novel looking rotating AC controls with built in temperature gauge looks so nice.
I was also assisted by the lovely half asian/half British lady in the bottom pic.
S3:
This is a car I could see myself driving as it is a really nice looking compact sports saloon with a great interior. I was surprised about the amount space in the back seat, in fact this car felt as spacious as some of the bigger premium compact saloons (BMW 3 series class). The driving position and sports seats were really great and the interior definitely the best in its class.
Q7 (New):
I was really surprised to see this new model at the show (its nose can be seen in the above pic with the S3). Its styling looked vastly different to what I was expecting, it appears alot different to the pics published and certainly a big change from the previous model. It somehow looks lower than the previous model and more squarer shape (not so round and curvy like previous model). The front grill from headon looks quite aggressive but from the side the front somehow reminds me of the VW Touareg. The interior is typical Audi in design, a bit like the A6 but it has the Passat air vent design (across the whole dash) which in my opinion brings the quality look a little lower than normal as the vents are plasticky. The infotainment system though is outstanding, the pop up center screen looks so neat (better looking than either BMW I-drive screen or Mercedes Tablet look screen) and the dynamic instrument display (like the TTS display) is fantastic with a variety of interesting menus and great graphics.
2) BMW:
M3 and M4 Convertible:
Both of these cars were my favourite on the BMW stand. I really like the M3 as it combines jaw dropping good looks (with bulging wheel arches and huge intakes and gills) and 4dr saloon practicality. This particular car also had a really gorgeous interior with leather wrapping center console and top dash.
The M4 shown was absolutely stunning with a wonderful colour and interior combo. This car for me was much better looking than the i8 also shown.
i8:
This car really made me confused in whether I like its styling or don't like it. From the front it has conventional BMW styling elements in its grill and headlight design, but as you move towards the rear the design totally goes unconventional in such a way that is really controversial and in my opinion not very good looking. It has too many complex curves and shapes in its design to call it attractive. Maybe to a person that loves strange and futuristic styling then this car will appeal to them but it doesn't appeal to me at all. The interior is okay but nothing special, also futuristic but not smart or luxuries looking or even sporty looking.
X5M and X6M (New models):
Lovely butch looking SUV's with nice looks, really wonderful interiors and nice burbly exhaust notes. The new X6 looks better than I expected but the only thing I did'nt quite like was the huge part of body above the rear wheel arch which makes the rear wheels look smaller than they really are. Somehow I preferred the looks of the X5M.
M6 GC:
Another stunning looking car from BMW, in my opinion one of the best looking of all models. This gorgeous orange coloured version with matching interior made the BMW stand one of the best at the show.
M235i Convertible:
Nice classy looking small convertible, it also looked good, even perhaps better than the coupe.
3) Mercedes Benz:
S-Class Maybach S600:
Really supreme and noble looking this car, to my eyes it actually looks more handsome than the standard LWB S600 model which was also shown at the show. The extended rear section with extra chrome window surround looks really classy and the car is a worthy addition to the Mercedes range and not a RR competitor, its in a market to itself.
S500 Coupe:
This is one of the most beautiful looking coupes currently in production. Every time you walk around and look at the car from the stunning front to the elegant and stylish rear end you can't help but do it all over again cause it is so attractive. This is the best looking car in the Mercedes line up, to my eyes at least from what I saw at the show a better looker than the AMG GT. And then to top it off it has one of the best looking interiors on any production car. So rich and luxuries inside that you always feel like you want to relax and fall asleep in there.
GLA45 AMG:
At first when I saw this car I thought it was the A45 AMG as it has similar styling around the front and the car doesn't appear to be very tall like other small SUV's/crossovers. It looks like a pukka rally car with this version having the full stripes. I really liked this car, it is certainly a different addition to this class.
C-class C250:
Although I have seen the C-class before in South Africa I thought I would have a look again at this car and sit inside the interior. As a whole package in my opinion it is one of the best in this class (3-series another model that I do like alot). It has good looks and as I mentioned in my other thread on the Jag XE, I think this car has by far the best interior in its class. So classy and rich feeling inside, with great seats, nice controls, unrivaled build quality and materials. It makes you feel like you are driving a much more expensive car when you sit inside, always you have such a nice feeling when sitting inside. It has the interior that is a rival for cars in the next class above, like E-Class, 5-series and A6.
AMG GT S:
Really classical good looking sports car with curves all in the right places. It is a design that you want to rub your hand over to feel how the wheelarches bulge and front end points and then moving all the way to the curvy sexy rear end. Combine this with a really nice sporty and well built interior and you can't help but drool over this car. The car at the show was perhaps not in the best colour to show off its curves, a dull matt silver colour with blackened alloys and mirrors. But wow what an awesome car.
The show had a number of interesting vehicles from a variety of brands that even are quite unique here in the Middle East.
I have taken over 100 pics of a variety of stunning cars and bikes and the most important models and highlights I will share over split threads.
This is the first one and will show the Audi, BMW and Mercedes models on display.
1) Audi:
TTS:
I was surprised how much more pretty this car looks like in real life than in pictures. Its styling is an evolution of the previous model, but the front lights look so much more sharper and more impressive than the previous model and the car is a really good looker all round. The most impressive thing about this car is when you open the doors and sit inside. The interior is fantastic with its stylish and simple looks combined with some innovative design, technology and excellent material and build quality. The dynamic instrument TFT display is hugely impressive with excellent graphics and very nice menu structure. The air vents and AC controls work so smoothly and the novel looking rotating AC controls with built in temperature gauge looks so nice.
I was also assisted by the lovely half asian/half British lady in the bottom pic.
S3:
This is a car I could see myself driving as it is a really nice looking compact sports saloon with a great interior. I was surprised about the amount space in the back seat, in fact this car felt as spacious as some of the bigger premium compact saloons (BMW 3 series class). The driving position and sports seats were really great and the interior definitely the best in its class.
Q7 (New):
I was really surprised to see this new model at the show (its nose can be seen in the above pic with the S3). Its styling looked vastly different to what I was expecting, it appears alot different to the pics published and certainly a big change from the previous model. It somehow looks lower than the previous model and more squarer shape (not so round and curvy like previous model). The front grill from headon looks quite aggressive but from the side the front somehow reminds me of the VW Touareg. The interior is typical Audi in design, a bit like the A6 but it has the Passat air vent design (across the whole dash) which in my opinion brings the quality look a little lower than normal as the vents are plasticky. The infotainment system though is outstanding, the pop up center screen looks so neat (better looking than either BMW I-drive screen or Mercedes Tablet look screen) and the dynamic instrument display (like the TTS display) is fantastic with a variety of interesting menus and great graphics.
2) BMW:
M3 and M4 Convertible:
Both of these cars were my favourite on the BMW stand. I really like the M3 as it combines jaw dropping good looks (with bulging wheel arches and huge intakes and gills) and 4dr saloon practicality. This particular car also had a really gorgeous interior with leather wrapping center console and top dash.
The M4 shown was absolutely stunning with a wonderful colour and interior combo. This car for me was much better looking than the i8 also shown.
i8:
This car really made me confused in whether I like its styling or don't like it. From the front it has conventional BMW styling elements in its grill and headlight design, but as you move towards the rear the design totally goes unconventional in such a way that is really controversial and in my opinion not very good looking. It has too many complex curves and shapes in its design to call it attractive. Maybe to a person that loves strange and futuristic styling then this car will appeal to them but it doesn't appeal to me at all. The interior is okay but nothing special, also futuristic but not smart or luxuries looking or even sporty looking.
X5M and X6M (New models):
Lovely butch looking SUV's with nice looks, really wonderful interiors and nice burbly exhaust notes. The new X6 looks better than I expected but the only thing I did'nt quite like was the huge part of body above the rear wheel arch which makes the rear wheels look smaller than they really are. Somehow I preferred the looks of the X5M.
M6 GC:
Another stunning looking car from BMW, in my opinion one of the best looking of all models. This gorgeous orange coloured version with matching interior made the BMW stand one of the best at the show.
M235i Convertible:
Nice classy looking small convertible, it also looked good, even perhaps better than the coupe.
3) Mercedes Benz:
S-Class Maybach S600:
Really supreme and noble looking this car, to my eyes it actually looks more handsome than the standard LWB S600 model which was also shown at the show. The extended rear section with extra chrome window surround looks really classy and the car is a worthy addition to the Mercedes range and not a RR competitor, its in a market to itself.
S500 Coupe:
This is one of the most beautiful looking coupes currently in production. Every time you walk around and look at the car from the stunning front to the elegant and stylish rear end you can't help but do it all over again cause it is so attractive. This is the best looking car in the Mercedes line up, to my eyes at least from what I saw at the show a better looker than the AMG GT. And then to top it off it has one of the best looking interiors on any production car. So rich and luxuries inside that you always feel like you want to relax and fall asleep in there.
GLA45 AMG:
At first when I saw this car I thought it was the A45 AMG as it has similar styling around the front and the car doesn't appear to be very tall like other small SUV's/crossovers. It looks like a pukka rally car with this version having the full stripes. I really liked this car, it is certainly a different addition to this class.
C-class C250:
Although I have seen the C-class before in South Africa I thought I would have a look again at this car and sit inside the interior. As a whole package in my opinion it is one of the best in this class (3-series another model that I do like alot). It has good looks and as I mentioned in my other thread on the Jag XE, I think this car has by far the best interior in its class. So classy and rich feeling inside, with great seats, nice controls, unrivaled build quality and materials. It makes you feel like you are driving a much more expensive car when you sit inside, always you have such a nice feeling when sitting inside. It has the interior that is a rival for cars in the next class above, like E-Class, 5-series and A6.
AMG GT S:
Really classical good looking sports car with curves all in the right places. It is a design that you want to rub your hand over to feel how the wheelarches bulge and front end points and then moving all the way to the curvy sexy rear end. Combine this with a really nice sporty and well built interior and you can't help but drool over this car. The car at the show was perhaps not in the best colour to show off its curves, a dull matt silver colour with blackened alloys and mirrors. But wow what an awesome car.
