New Speed Regulations in Lebanon?

Posted on January 27, 2015 by JP Zakher

Just before the new year, some news was released regarding a new traffic and driving law that was suppose to be implemented by Jan 2015. According to it each driver was going to be provided, on his driving license, with around 12 points that gets deducted depending on the violation committed, quite similar to the French driving license system. Fixed radars (on the side of the road) and mobile radars (in police cars) were going to be installed in order to catch the racers on our streets. They were going to be charged a minimum of around 120$ and a maximum in the thousands in addition to the seizure of the vehicle and the imprisonment of the driver. We barely have road signs on the streets and authorities are thinking of increasing the fines! Apparently these laws are going to be implemented by April but I haven’t seen any actions taken by the Police to make sure the citizens are aware of these new rules. If you guys have any update on the matter, feel free to share it in the comment section below.

In the meantime, Touch, in collaboration with Yasa, has released a new awareness, “Text if You Can” campaign that has been running for a couple of weeks now and that is based on the fact that you can’t be fully focused doing two things at the same time. The idea was to invite Lebanese celebrities and do sort of experiment asking them to do what they do best and try to text at the same time. The concept is fresh and fun. Let’s hope this new way of tackling the issue is going to be effective among the Lebanese society! You can find all the videos of the campaign by clicking right here. Stay safe people!

Honda | The OtheR Side, a Double Sided StoRy

Posted on November 22, 2014 by JP Zakher

I can guaranty that this commercial will blow your mind, so be prepared! Honda, with the collaboration of Wieden + Kennedy London have created an incredible and unique way of promoting the new Civic and it’s sportier version, the Civic Type R. For this, they came up with a “double-sided story” on YouTube. While watching the video above, you can press and hold the “R” button on your keyboard to switch between both very interesting lives of a middle aged dad. Both videos are synced beautifully, scene by scene, second by second. This perfectly interactive advertisement/short film is directed by Daniel Wolfe. The commercial clearly portrays the two very distinct sides that the Civic can have in a very new and interesting way, pure magic!

Regarding the new Civic Type R, it has quite an aggressive look, with that massive rear spoiler and four exhaust tail pipes. Don’t know if you guys liked it but it is not my type of design. I saw it live at the Paris Motorshow, and I felt that it was too “out there”, like it was just out of Pimp My Ride or something. Engine wise, no official figures or specs have been disclosed by Honda so far but it looks like it is going to be equipped with a 2.0-litre i-VTEC turbocharged engine. It is actually the first time a Type R has a turbocharger under the hood. For now it will only be released with a 6 speed manual gearbox that is going to be handling around 280hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Honda is looking to built another even wilder version of this Type R as Seat did with their extreme Leon Cupra and Renault with their Magane 265 RS cup. They are actually chasing after the front-wheel-drive lap record at the Nurburgring race track with their new born. Well, best of lucks!

BMW M Initiation

Posted on September 1, 2014 by JP Zakher

BMW seems really into advertising the drifting capabilities of their brand new models lately and we love it!! After the video of the M4 drifting on a Aircraft carrier, (which was completely edited), and the video of a couple of M235i drifting around a roundabout (actual footage) the M family is back and with all its ancestors this time. This M4 initiation brought together 52 privately owned M models ranging from classics to recent ones, all here to welcome the new born. I would really be curious to see the reaction of the private owners as the M4 drifts a few centimeters away from their cars! I have to point out that with these new commercials BMW is doing a really good job bringing awareness about their new models with every commercial getting no less than millions of views. They are also stressing on the potential of their new models and what they can accomplish in terms of maneuverability and feel.

Regarding the M4 I have already written a full review on it back when it was still a concept. (which you can access by clicking here). I would like to add to it the fact that I have had a ride in a M4 lately. To start with, I find this car gorgeous. The design lines and aerodynamic details look really good and yet are not too extreme making this car classy to drive to work and sexy to drive on the track. The interior has been refined with some red and blue stitches and other carbon fiber finishes. The central infotainment system is clear and useful with a properly sized screen. Regarding the ride, the car feels super comfortable on our bumpy roads even though sitting on those massive 19 inch rims. The exhaust sound ain’t as bad as people are saying it is but I do understand that the E92 V8 must sound better and less “digital”. What particularly astonished me was how fast the gear shifts of that dual clutch 7 speed automatic gearbox are specially in sport settings! I have tried the new generation PDK and 7 speed dual clutch of Ferrari and believe me it can easily compete. About that turbo-charged engine, with its turbo for each 3 cylinders, with one that starts spooling at low rpms and another one at higher rpms, turbo lag has practically disappeared! I guess this is the new trend that most of the manufactures will be fitting in their upcoming models. Let’s see what the competitors will be announcing at the Paris motor-show in a couple of weeks!

The Epic Driftmob | BMW M235i

Posted on August 7, 2014 by JP Zakher

You adrenaline junkies are gonna love this! Five cherry red M235i coupes performing a choreographed high-speed drifting sequence on a closed traffic rotary in Capetown! What more to ask! First question that comes to mind: “Is that a fake, montage, Hollywood style type of commercial?” The answer is no, that roundabout was actually closed for a period of almost 3 days in order for the director and crew to capture the shots. In the cars are actual precision, professional drifting champions like Rhys Millen and Samuel Hübinette. The cars available were only these five M235i. There were no replacement cars “just in case” so the drivers had to be very careful. Oh and almost 33,000$ worth of tires was spend in the making. The commercial is just brilliant, perfectly targeting a typical M235i buyer that would be looking for a classy, sporty, German and fun coupe. You can check the behind the scenes video taken by Drive by clicking right here.

Now, about the M235i. It is the new born of BMW hiding under the hood a turbocharged N55 inline-six, making 320 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque burning the 0-100km/h in just 4.8 sec. A quick-shifting eight-speed automatic (not dual-clutch) with wheel-mounted paddles and a launch-control program is standard. Being a beamer, the power is sent directly to the back wheels. With that, the car manages a 52:48 weight distribution. The interior is regular, typical BMW with a nice big display screen in the middle. The steering wheel has been beautifully designed. So glad that the hand brake is still here and hasn’t been replaced by those hideous parking buttons that are invading most modern cars. All in all, that M235i must really be a joy to drive and drift. I loved the inside and outside design even though I have some problems with the back and those two small exhaust tips. If you are looking forward to getting one, go crazy go for a red or a blue! It is a fun car after all!

Smart Electric Drive Drag Race

Posted on August 6, 2014 by JP Zakher

One of the best city cars is proving its power once again by drag racing against some Fords, Audis and Porsches! You would be surprise but that Electric Smart was able to beat them all. The advertisement is clever considering it’s hard to find any open roads in today’s congested city streets. The Smart Fortwo takes on a big advantage in the first five metres, thanks to all of its torque being available immediately upon acceleration. I personally really like that machine. It is more solid that most production cars, can fit in unbelievably small parking spots, you can get it with the roof off and it is rear wheel drive! Really the best combo for a city car.

Most Amazing Engine Ignition Sounds in The World

Posted on May 5, 2014 by JP Zakher

Make sure you have your headphones on and that the video is playing in HD because things are about to get LOUD. This is a short video that includes the sounds, of 34 amazing vehicles roaring to life! From the ’69 Jaguar E-Type’s quiet Inline-6 to the the rumble of the Aventador’s 6.5L V12 and the punch of the Saleen S7’s twin turbos, you don’t often have the pleasure of hearing these fire up! Each one of these cars is enough to get any petrolhead drooling so prepare to be amazed. Enough said, enjoy and feel free to let me know which ignition start you liked best.

Volkswagen Design Vision GTI Concept

Posted on November 28, 2013 by JP Zakher

Hasn’t it always been your dream to leave a 911 Porsche in the dust while riding the hottest and one of the first hatches ever created, the Golf GTI? Introducing the Design Vision GTI Concept, the 503hp and 413 lb-ft of torque Golf GTI, the supercar killer. The three-door monster was developed to wow the crowds of the Wörthersee tuning festival in Austria last spring and has now been revealed at the 2013 LA MotorShow. With this one of a kind edition, Volkswagen is giving us a spectacular glance into the future of the GTI and showing us the flexibility and performance potential of the “MQB” chassis it shares with the stock MK7. All of these ponies were able to fit into the hatch by adding 2 cylinders and a turbo. In fact the Design Vision incorporates a twin-turbocharged VR6 TSI engine combined with a DSG dual-clutch gearbox driving all four wheels. In other words the ingredients for a bonkers version of the all mighty GTI that burns the 0-100km/h in just 3.9 sec.

And isn’t it just a beauty sitting on those 20 inch wheels?! Ok the plastic body might be a bit too wide and the interior too rough, but hey it is still a concept and it needs to incorporate and be able to handle those 500 horses. I really hope that VW is able to produce a more subtle, but as crazy version, of this Design Vision concept. Watch the video attached to take a glance at the burps and other amazing sounds emitted by that amazing engine.

The Jaguar F-Type R

Posted on November 20, 2013 by JP Zakher

The long awaited hard top version of the already wonderful F-Type roadster has been finally revealed and it looks stunning. The Coupe is the latest member of Jaguar’s R performance line, that includes the XFR-S and XKR-S. It features the same 5.0-liter, 550-hp and 680Nm of torque supercharged V8. This beauty will burn the 0-100km/h in just 4.0 seconds. The new breed is equipped with hidden rear wing that rises at speeds above 100km/h and stiffer adaptive dynamics suspension that manages the car’s body movements and adjust accordingly. It also has an electronic active differential and a torque vectoring system that further aid the F-Type R’s handling abilities, by controlling the amount of torque sent to each wheel while allowing the inner wheels to brake independently to reduce under-steer.

This F-type R is one, if not the best, looking supercar that has been released this year. It is the perfect balance of pure elegance, power and eye popping beauty. The roar that comes out of those 4 tail pipes is just plain earporn! Amazing package that thing, great job Jaguar!

VW GTI MK7 Banner Bahn

Posted on October 15, 2013 by JP Zakher

Volkswagen Netherlands is launching the new GTI in the best of ways, combining the best of both worlds, online and offline. The campaign connected the paid banner media space of the top four websites in Netherlands with the real world by challenging the users to catch a Volkswagen Golf GTI. Users had to click on the GTI that will be passing and drifting through the banner space at very high speed. The car is actually driven by a real driver in the real world on 4 asphalt painted versions of the websites. The first user to click on the car wins it! YEP a simple click and you’ll find a GTI MK7 in your garage the next morning. Well it is a bit too late by now the campaign was running on September the 13th but it is still an awesome idea that is definitely worth sharing. Feel free to check the promotion video and the making of attached here below.

N.B: For the full review of the GTI MK7 you can always check my previous article by clicking right here 🙂

Honda: Hands

Posted on July 9, 2013 by JP Zakher

For its 65th anniversary, Honda released this fabulous commercial showcasing all there achievement from the 24th of September 1948 till today. A bolt reaching the hands of that Honda engineer (I guess) is transformed from motorcycles to cars, to people movers, supercars, boats and even four-wheel farm bikes and jets. It is a very clever way of showing, in a 1:56 minutes video, all the industries that those Honda engineers were able to tackle so far. The ad is done by Wieden + Kennedy London the company responsible for the 2003 Honda “Cog” commercial that has been named the best car commercials of all time by AutoExpress. This all-new spot called Hands is even more entertaining and might aswell dethrone the old one. The two commercials are linked below. Enjoy!