DC display's cars worth over USD 2.25m at Middle East InternationalMotor Show

What would Allah drive?

Apparently a "saloon car" (what-ever the hell that is).
http://www.dubaimotorshow.com/about/vprofile.html

No DC (or C) link I can find at that site. Apparently even the LX
show cars aren't worthy enough for this crowd (but the Jeep and
Durango is). Maybe the new 300 will be there. It weighs as much as a
saloon, and even looks like one. Better they spend their money on
this stuff than, well, something else...

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From: http://www.ameinfo.com/news/Detailed/31948.html

DaimlerChrysler Middle East to display cars worth over USD 2.25m at
Middle East International Motor Show

Display vehicles worth over US$ 2.25 million, three Middle East
premiers and a guest appearance by top Mercedes-Benz AMG race driver
and former Formula 1 pilot Jean Alesi are the highlights of the
DaimlerChrysler Middle East stands at the 7th Middle East
international Motor Show in Dubai from December 11 – 15.

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DaimlerChrysler will virtually double its presence with separate Hall
2 stands for its Mercedes-Benz/Maybach and Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge
brands.

'DaimlerChrysler Middle East is delighted to be participating at the
7th Middle East International Motor Show particularly this year with
our stunning SLR, AMG models and new Dodge Durango,' said Nicholas
Speeks, President and CEO, DaimlerChrysler Middle East. 'The region is
an extremely important market for us and we invest wisely in
presenting our products at this very important event. '

The DaimlerChrysler show-stopper will be the Middle East premiere of
the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren supercar.

'The 21st-century SLR bridges past and the future, bringing
cutting-edge motorsport technology to the road, just as the
inspirational SLR Coupé did in 1955,' said Steffen Baumann, Sales and
Marketing Director, Mercedes-Benz Car Group, Dubai. 'It's an
interpretation of stylistic elements lifted from the original 1950s
SLR and design details taken from the 2003 Formula 1 Silver Arrows.'

The two-seater, with its striking swing-wing doors and styling
elements borrowed from the Formula 1 Silver Arrows joins a select club
of supercars capable of a top speed of over 330km/h. Underneath the
bonnet is a newly developed V8 supercharged engine delivering 626 hp
and capable of accelerating the supercar from 0 to 100 km/h in just
3.8 seconds.

The body of the new SLR, like those of the Mercedes-McLaren Formula 1
race cars, is made from carbon fibre composites.

The SLR is the world's first series-produced car to have a front crash
structure manufactured entirely from carbon fibre. Adaptive airbags,
newly developed kneebags and sidebags, belt tensioners,
high-performance ceramic brake discs and an automatically adaptive
airbrake in the boot lid round off the range of safety equipment on
board the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, setting new standards in this
vehicle class.

In addition Mercedes-Benz, in conjunction with its UAE general
distributors Gargash Enterprises and Emirates Motor Company, will be
showing a range of AMG high-performance vehicles including the new CL
65 AMG from Mercedes-AMG GmbH, which also makes its Middle East debut
at the show.

The CL 65 AMG is the most powerful model the brand has produced since
it was established over 35 years ago. The exclusive Gran Turismo is
powered by a newly designed 6-litre V12 engine with biturbo which has
an output of 612 hp and develops its maximum torque of 1000 Nm between
2000 and 4000 rpm. The vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4
seconds and reaches the 200 km/h mark in 13.3 seconds while a
standing-start kilometre takes just 22 seconds.

Just over a year after its world premiere in New York, the Maybach 57
and 62 ultra luxury saloons make their debut at the Middle East Motor
Show. Launched just last year, Maybach has become the leading luxury
brand in the Middle East with over 100 vehicles sold in the region.

Equipped with 21st-century automotive technology, built in a
state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and designed with an extremely
attentive eye for detail, this luxury car is a reflection of
DaimlerChrysler's expertise as the world's oldest and most innovative
car maker.

This distinguished background has allowed Maybach to raise the bar to
the very summit of the Middle East's passenger car market. The model
designations are a reference to the majestic lengths of these unique
vehicles: the flagship Maybach 62 stretches out for 6.17 metres,
whilst the Maybach 57 extends to 5.73 m.

Ground-breaking innovations at present only available in Mercedes cars
have been further developed and are fitted as standard in the Maybach
Saloons. These include the Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC™)
electrohydraulic braking system, AIRMATIC DC (Dual Control)
electronically controlled air suspension, LINGUATRONIC
voice-controlled operation, the COMAND APS control and display system.

These are joined by more examples of peerless vehicle engineering
which have been developed specially for the Maybach and also reinforce
the luxury car brand's claim to a high-end position in the automotive
market.

There is the 'Type 12' engine, for example, which develops higher
output – 550 hp – and greater torque than any other series-produced
saloon engine, plus a 600-watt sound system providing Dolby surround
sound at every seat, a highly efficient four-zone automatic climate
control system based on two separate air conditioning systems and –
exclusively in the Maybach 62 – innovative seats for the rear which
boast an enviably comfortable reclining position.

'Maybach is a unique product in the super luxury segment that combines
the latest technology with the uttmost refinement,' said Baumann. 'We
will sell and deliver well over 100 cars this year making us one of
the main sales areas worldwide and a clear leader in this super luxury
segment in the Middle East.'

Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge, in conjunction with Trading Enterprises, a
member of the Al Futtaim Group, has a 644 sq m. stand – over 100 sq.
m. larger than in 2001 - displaying the complete range of sedans and
off-road vehicles.

Making its Middle East premiere is the exciting new Dodge Durango
which will arrive in the region's showrooms in the first quarter of
2004. The all-new 2004 Dodge Durango breaks free from the
sport-utility pack with best-in-class power and a broad-shouldered
presence that could only come from Dodge.

'Dodge Durango occupies a unique position in the compact sport-utility
segment, offering standard V-8 power and full-size SUV roominess,'
said Bruce D. Ohms, Sales and Marketing Director, Chrysler, Jeep and
Dodge Middle East. 'Durango meets a wide variety of SUV buyers' needs
while remaining true to the bold attitude of the Dodge brand.'

With more style, more cargo room and more capability, the 2004 Dodge
Durango offers the perfect combination of interior space, all-new
safety features and a best-in-class towing capability of 8900 lbs.

Powered by the new 5.7-litre HEMI Magnum V-8 with 345 horsepower at
5600 rpm and 375 lb.-ft. at 4400 rpm, delivers a 40 per cent
improvement in horsepower and a 12 per cent improvement in torque
versus its predecessor.