A new draft law on traffic regulations is set to be implemented by the Ministry of Interior in the forthcoming months, which will see increases in the penalties for dangerous stunt driving in the UAE.

The new ruling states that those found guilty of reckless driving, or drivers who endanger the lives of others, will face a fine of Dh2000 along with 23 black points on their licence. In addition to this, the vehicle used to commit the crime will be impounded for 2 months.

Even before the implementation of the new law, there have already been large numbers of luxury cars impounded under current regulations during recent crackdowns – with 368 vehicles having been seized for reckless driving in the first quarter of 2017 alone.

Safe driving campaign

The majority of motorists who partake in dangerous driving practices are known to race on roads in built-up areas, particularly during evening times.

As part of a campaign to improve road safety by deterring stunt drivers, car buyers are being urged not to speed, to drive carefully and to avoid modifying engines to make loud noises or to be unnecessarily powerful.

The new reckless driving laws will also apply to buggy drivers, who will risk even heavier punishments if found to be on the wrong side of the law. Fines for Dh3000 and impound orders for three months are the standard punishments, and those found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will have their licence suspended for twelve months.

Making roads safer

In addition to laws aimed at cracking down on speeding and racing, the following rules have also been drafted:

• • Drivers without a child safety seat for a child under the age of 4 will face a Dh400 fine, plus four black points.
  • Drivers without a licence plate will face a Dh3000 fine and three black points, with the vehicle impounded for three months.
  • Drivers who stop in the middle of the road and block traffic will face a Dh1000 fine.
  • Drivers who drop litter will face a Dh1000 fine and six black points.

For all the latest transport news in UAE and the top car trends, keep following us at www.simplycarbuyers.com/blog.

Carmaker Ford celebrated a triple win at the 2017 Middle East Car of the Year awards (Mecoty) as its Edge, Ranger and Figo models all picked up prizes at the ceremony in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

A 15-strong panel of judges made up of expert car journalists from the region named Ford’s Edge the Compact SUV of the year. The Ford Ranger won Best Midsize Truck and the Ford Figo was named Best Hatchback.

Now in its fourth year, the Middle East Car of the Year awards is regarded as the most important set of awards in the UAE’s automotive industry.

The Ford Edge has been a bestseller in the Middle East since its launch and has already bagged a number of other awards, including Lebanon’s Automobile Car of the Year, Oman’s Automan Car of the Year, EVO Middle East’s Car of the Year and Wheels Magazine’s Crossover of the Year award.

 

 

Judges praised the Ford Ranger for its rugged design and comfort, citing its DuratorqTDCi diesel engines as fuelling its excellent performance capabilities.

The Ford Figo is another popular car with drivers in the Middle East, enjoying a significant five-fold rise in sales in Saudi Arabia in 2016 thanks to its excellent safety record and use of smart technology.

“At Ford, we strive to build vehicles that offer a blend of all-round performance and everyday usability,” said Thierry Sabbagh, managing director, Ford Middle East.

“Seeing that the region’s industry experts at Middle East Car of the Year Awards have named three different Ford models as best-in-class in 2017 is testament to the great vehicles we are producing year on year.”

The Middle East Car of the Year awards took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Other winners on the night included the “elegant, intelligent and luxurious” Volvo S90, which was voted Best Midsize Premium Sedan in the Middle East, the Audi RSQ3, named Best Company Premium SUV and the Audi RS7, named Best Midsize Premium Performance Sedan.

The judging panel included Mohamad Sheta, managing editor of AutoArabia.org and Mostafa Fakhri, managing editor and producer at Automobile Magazine Lebanon.
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The test drive is one of the most important parts of buying a new car. Here are five tips to help you get the most out of your next test drive:

1. Don’t rush

Make sure you leave enough time to do a proper test drive – it often takes longer than you anticipate. If you have to rush back to work or another engagement, you will not get the full benefit a test drive has to offer.

2. Avoid distractions

Lots of things can distract you when taking a test drive but two of the most common are children and your phone. It is usually best to leave the children with a babysitter so you don’t have to worry about looking after them or keeping them entertained. Also, if you are the type of person who is always busy on your phone, consider putting it on silent.

3. Check everything

A test drive is not just about being behind the wheel of the car – it is also about whether you can live with it. This means you should try out child car seats, see if your golf clubs fit, or anything else you will use the car for.

4. Vary the route

Try to go on a route during your test drive that takes you to a variety of different roads. This includes roads where you can get the speed up, slower roads, and in traffic. Cars respond differently in all these situations so it is good to get as much experience of the car you are thinking of buying as possible.

5. Don’t just drive

When you test drive a car, a lot of your focus will be on the road. You should, therefore, spend time being a passenger. Ideally, this would mean bringing someone with you and letting them drive for part of the journey so you can concentrate fully on what it is like being in the car.

If you are buying a used car, the test drive will help you learn more about the quality and whether there are potential issues. For new cars, the test drive is all about finding out whether you will enjoy using the car, making sure it is practical, and ensuring you are comfortable driving it. If you’re thinking about selling a car in UAE ready for a new purchase, get started at Simply Car Buyers today.

It’s nearly that time of year. Whether you are looking to buy a new vehicle or sell your car in Dubai, Ramadan can be a good time to do it, thanks to the number of special deals on offer from the leading dealerships. Many include tempting finance options and slashed prices on a number of vehicles, while some have an element of mystery! So for your benefit, here are the pick of the promotions from Ramadan 2017.

Toyota

The Toyota dealer Al-Futtaim have a ‘Buy Now, Pay in Ramadan 2018’ offer which allows buyers to treat themselves with a new Toyota and pay in installments from Ramadan 2018, meaning it is free for a year. There are a number of select models which the promotion applies to, including the RAV4, Corolla, Land Cruiser, Prado and Camry. In addition, Al-Futtaim have launched a Ramadan Camry Platinum offer on models which feature a leather interior – they will make the 20 per cent down payment.

Honda

There are also plenty of special deals for those in the market for a Honda – up to AED 18,000 can be saved through a 100,000 service contract including a five year unlimited mileage warranty. The deal comes with an Al-Futtaim Gift Card worth between AED 200 and AED 2,000.

Lexus

Lexus will reveal their Ramadan offers to visitors at their showroom, so have asked drivers to come and discover the deals for themselves!

Kia

Kia are getting into the spirit of giving with deals including a 2017 Cerato 1.7L for AED 49,900 and a 2017 Sorento 2.4L reduced to AED 79,900.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi’s Habtoor Motors are inviting drivers to pick their Ramadan deal, lining up a massive list of new finance options and reductions. They include zero per cent interest, with free service, insurance and warranty; free llumar tinting and scotchgard. The Outlander is available from AED 78,900, while the Lancer is available from AED 38,900.

Infiniti

Infiniti Dubai are offering instant rewards of up to AED 100,000, including making a 100 per cent down payment, five years extended warranty, courtesy car when servicing, one year complimentary insurance and five years complimentary service.

GMC

GMC are set to offer savings of up to AED 35,000 as part of their ‘Legacy of Giving’. The Terrain, Acadia, Sierra and Tukon are all included in the promotion. Just fill in a form and a dealer will be in touch.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen Dubai are getting in on the act with a buy now, pay in Ramadan 2018 offer of their own. Their Ramadan campaign offers cash savings of up to AED 45,000, one year free vehicle insurance, three years free service, six years free warranty and unlimited KMs.

Chevrolet

Chevrolet’s Al Ghandi Auto present savings of up to AED 50,000, and like Lexus, ask you to drop into their showroom or fill in an inquiry form to discover the special deals on offer.

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If you need to avail these awesome offers this Ramadan, and a little short on cash, you can always sell your car to SimplyCarBuyers.com and get quick payment in Just 25 Minutes.

You can feel free to value your old car online on our website today.

We wish you a fantastic Ramadan in 2017!

 

BMW Group is set to add to its already impressive lineup of luxury cars after it announced it’s planning 40 new models before the close of 2018.

Harald Kruger, CEO of BMW, confirmed the news at the company’s yearly press briefing in Germany, stating: “We intend to launch more than 40 new and revised models of our three premium brands on the market during 2017 and 2018. The new product offensive began successfully with the launch of the new BMW 5 Series in February, further raising the bar in the business sedan segment.”

The new car models will feature across BMW, Mini and Rolls Royce ranges, with a particular focus being placed on SUVs and the growing electrification sector.

Among the models will be a new BMW X2 SUV, which is due to launch at the end of this year. The manufacturer also has plans for a brand new version of its popular X3. Additionally, a flagship X7 will also be released by 2020 to partner the 7 Series luxury saloon.

The expansion into SUV models by BMW Group comes after it was revealed that a third of BMW models sold around the world in 2016 were SUVs. This is perhaps why the group is entering Rolls Royce into the segment with its Cullinan model, along with an all-new version of the Phantom.

Electrification will also receive a boost with Mr Kruger confirming that BMW will undertake a wider roll out of its strategy, with the technology being incorporated into its wider product portfolio.

Among the new car models will be all-electric versions of the Mini hatch and BMW X3 SUV, while BMW will also bring the iNEXT to market by 2021, which is expected to go toe-to-toe with Tesla in the intense battle for electric car sales. A small teaser of the iNEXT revealed that there will be technology allowing for levels of autonomy never seen before on a production road car.

At the press conference, Mr Kruger also revealed impressive sales figures for the BMW Group, having sold over 2.3 million vehicles last year, which was a healthy 5.3 per cent increase on 2015.

With launch dates uncertain at the moment, it’ll be worth keeping an eye on the BMW Group car showrooms of UAE in the coming 12 months, especially if you’re planning on selling your car in Dubai in the next year or so.