World’s Greatest Drag Race 4

Posted on November 30, 2014 by JP Zakher

The world greatest drag race is back! Yes a couple of supercars couldn’t make it to the Start line due to some restrictions, but still we have a pretty cool line up this year! Contestants include this time an Alfa Romeo 4C, BMW i8, BMW M4, the crazy track oriented Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, Ford Fiesta ST, Jaguar F-Type R Coupe, Nissan GT-R Nismo, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Subaru WRX STI, and Volkswagen Golf GTI! Yeah I know a bit weird for a GTI and a Ford Fiesta to be among those big boys but Motortrend included them as they were trying to pick up the best drivers car of 2014. You are free to check the full episode of how they proceeded by clicking here. I really wasn’t expecting the outcome of this drag race to be honest. Check it out and let me know what you think 🙂

In case you haven’t seen the World’s Greatest Drag Race of the previous years no worries, TheAdsGarage best driver’s car category is here for you!

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!

Abdo Feghali vs Mohammed Al Attar | Red Bull Failaka Showdown!

Posted on October 14, 2014 by JP Zakher

Our Lebanese drifter and rally icon, the one and only Abdo Feghali aka Dado has been featured in the brand new RedBull Failaka Showdown video doing what he does best! This time his drifting action has been filmed and directed by professionals as he races against the free runner Mohammed Al Attar in the Kuwaiti island of Failaka. The video of the Two Red Bull Athletes going head-to-head is perfectly directed, filmed and executed. Believe me, no random videos go on the RedBull Youtube channel with its 3,791,030 subscribers! But the main question remains: Will the trainers outrun the tires?

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.

Test Drive | California T

Posted on August 5, 2014 by JP Zakher

With the California T not only has Ferrari facelifted its most selling Ferrari of all times with more than 10,000 units sold but also has introduced the new generation of turbo engines, a first since the F40 back in 1987. That freshly engineered engine is a 3.9 liters twin turbocharged V8 releasing 553 hp and 557 lb-ft of torque. A whooping 70hp and 50% increase in torque compared to the previous model. (Keep in mind that the 458 Italia has 570hp and 398 lb-ft of torque). Turbo engines are always associated with turbo lag. Well, not this time. Ferrari has worked really hard on this new engine so it behaves as much like a normally aspirated unit as possible, both in its power and torque delivery and the way it sounds. In fact, turbos have been programmed so that a first turbo starts spooling at low revs and another kicks in at higher rpm. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via the Ferrari Dual Clutch 7 speed transmission. Look wise, the car looks much sportier compared to the previous model with that aggressive front end, aerodynamic air vents flowing from behind the front wheel and that rear diffuser. The exhaust finally went from stacked to sideways.

So what was it like to drive? To start with, sitting in it you do feel in a proper Ferrari with its massive paddleshifters, its refined leather, its steering wheel and its manettino switch. I really liked their new infotainment system, very interactive. Note that it will be updated very soon to “Car Play” by Apple that will allow you to completely synchronize you’re iPhone with the car. Driving wise, the car is very dynamic. There is practically no body roll. Suspension was firm in turns and comfortable on bumpy roads. Brakes have been massively improved, and beautifully calibrated so that the car doesn’t go sideways nor has the front that moves down even though it contains a massive V8 engine. Despite it being a turbo engine, you do not feel any turbo lag at all. Over all it was a wonderful experience specially based on the fact that I had a professional Ferrari test driver next to me advising me on how to extract the maximum fun and feel out of that test drive! Scuderia Lebanon thank you very much for this one of a kind opportunity you have given me. Looking forward to trying out other Italian beauties!

Test Drive | Mercedes CLA 200

Posted on June 18, 2014 by JP Zakher

I want to start by highlighting how sexy that thing is. Even though it is the cheapest Mercedes Sedan you can buy, for me it looks much better than its bigger cousins. That front hood, that smashed rear with those beautiful rear stop lights, those two exhaust tips and all of that put together with a zest of aggressiveness, Mercedes created a category of their own, the “compact sedan”.

Being heavily based on the A200, it features the same interior, the same front-wheel-drive system, same seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and same 1.6 liters turbocharged 4 cylinder engine developing 156hp and 250nm of torque. Performance was pretty similar to the A class. You really have to push it in order to squeeze power out of it. But when you do, performance isn’t bad at all. Handling was fine, specially on those 18 inches wheels. Cruising around town, the CLA was very comfortable and its size wasn’t a hassle even on our small narrow streets. The active dynamic steering, front and back sensors and rear view camera made that thing a joy to park. You would be surprised but its boot is really big with a capacity of 470 liters (versus 341L for A-Class). In standard form, the CLA 200 comes with bi-xenon headlamps, a panoramic roof, leather seats, front and rear sensors, a rear view camera, cruise control and Bluetooth phone/audio connectivity. All of that for a total price of $58,500 in Lebanon.

All in all, loved the package, aesthetically speaking the car looks fine from the inside (except for that floating screen) and so damn hot from the outside. I think it is fairly priced for what it is worth and compared to prices of other sedans in Lebanon. In case you’re more of a performance junky you might want to consider the CLA250 with its 208hp. Other than that, the CLA200 would be just fine. Special thanks obviously goes to Mercedes Lebanon for putting that beautiful German creature in my hands for a weekend.

Lamborghini Huracan Official Video

Posted on March 4, 2014 by JP Zakher

A typical apocalyptic commercial for the official launch of the Huracan. You might think that Lamborghini has dropped the tradition of naming its car models after reputed bulls but you would be wrong. According to Lamborghini, Huracán was a bull that fought in Alicante in 1879. With its triple meaning of storm, Mayan god, and raging bull, this might be the coolest car name ever.

Considered the entry-level Lamborghini, what the California is to Ferrari, it is the replacement of the company’s best-selling model ever, the Gallardo. A worth successor? Powered by a 5.2-liter direct-injected V10 delivering 610 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque that bull would fly the 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds (0.2 faster than the 458). The chassis, the result of the combined work of Audi and Lambo weighs 10 per cent less than the Gallardo, but is 50 per cent stiffer thanks to the use of carbon fiber and aluminum. Transmitting the immense power to the new freshly engineered all wheel drive system is a 7 speed dual clutch gear box. A clever feature allows you to hold the left hand paddle as you’re braking hard, entering a corner, automatically the lowest gear possible will be selected in order to provide you with maximum acceleration out of it. All those elements can react differently to the click of a button, the ANIMA (translates as ‘soul’ in Italian) on the bottom of the steering wheel which is much like Ferrari’s Manettino dial.

Being a mix of Aventador and Gallardo, that beast look angry! And it sounds very angry too, judging by that apocalyptic launching ad which reminds me of the Aventador launching commercial released a couple of years ago. The world is coming to an end, the earth’s 5 elements are going crazy and your Lambo is your only key of survival! So, a worth successor? I would say definitely yes even though I think a couple of more ponies could have fitted under the hood. When Ferrari is extracting 570hp out of its V8, 610hp is a bit short for a V10. Yep I would still get a 458 over that massive bull. Oh oh and I forgot to mention, there is a Huracan coming to Lebanon in a couple of month and I met its owner 😉 So stay tuned to TheAdsGarage instagram account to have a first glimpse at it!

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.