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Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management and Flash Entertainment combine to launch Ethara entertainment entity

The Middle East gains a new events, entertainment, and venue management powerhouse as Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management (ADMM) and Flash Entertainment (Flash) officially integrate their activities and operations to form Ethara. A completely new entity, Ethara means ‘thrill’ in Arabic. It gets launched in Abu Dhabi to tap into unique opportunities in the live events space whilst maintaining its growth delivery that positioned the Middle East as a leader on the global entertainment stage. Ethara will be led by Saif Al Noaimi, formerly the CEO of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management and a Board Member of Flash Entertainment. ADMM and Flash jointly boast a strong resume of delivering over 700 major events to over 16 million fans in the 15 years since their inception. Events such as the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix, FIFA Club World Cup, NBA Abu Dhabi Games, UFC, national celebrations and festivals are among its most high-profile jobs carried out. Ethara will welcome the teams from both organisations whilst retaining its impressive portfolio of assets, including Etihad Park, Yas Marina F1 race circuit, Etihad Arena, and its headquarters in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. “Ethara is a people-first event, and entertainment powerhouse that promotes and delivers best-in-class experiences.” said Al Noaimi.

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Oakley blends sport and culture with its new BXTR design

Popular eyewear brand Oakley has launched a new 2023 Lifestyle campaign with two products, BXTR and HSTN, headlining the movement. Both eyewear styles are said to be “born from the minds of Oakley designers and friends of the brand”. While the HSTN is an evolution of the original sunglasses first introduced by Oakley in 2021, the BXTR features a shield design and a modernized trigger stem inspired by Oakley’s original Razor Blade sunglasses, blended with the latest style to elevate individuality. The 2023 Oakley lifestyle campaign sees brand ambassadors such as Kylian Mbappé, Damian Lillard, and Alexia Putellas talk about how people come together to illustrate that there’s always “More Than Meets The Eye” via a series of films. And joining the bandwagon are Oakley's latest athlete recruits – rising American soccer star Trinity Rodman and 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero. One can view the Lifestyle campaign films on Oakley's Youtube channel or Oakley's website. 

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Tork Motors Opens New Dealership In Thane

Earlier this month, Tork Motors opened an outlet in Kolkata – the first in West Bengal. Now, there’s another one that’s open for business. The new dealership is at Marigold Building, opposite Nitin Company, Panchpakhadi area in Thane. The 3S (sales, service and spare parts) outlet is second in Maharashtra, following the first company-owned and operated facility at Law College in Pune. 

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The EQS SUV Debuts In The Middle East

The Mercedes-EQ EQS SUV, which made its world premiere last year, has made its regional debut in the Middle East. More specifically, it made a public appearance at the Mobility Live 2023 event in Abu Dhabi. Not only is it one of the most refined and luxurious electric vehicles in the world, but also one of the most potent. It has a claimed range of up to 617km (WLTP), while the two electric motors jointly produce 536hp. And courtesy of a robust electrical architecture, the SUV can add a 200-250km range in just 15 minutes of charging.

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Opel Expands Classic Virtual Tours With New Segments

It was in 1862 when Opel was founded in Rüsselsheim, Hesse, Germany. Simple math reveals that the brand has existed for over 160 years. And the majority of them were about producing automobiles. For those who want to know more about that aspect, Opel has a ‘Click for Classic’ virtual tours section. In the latest update, three new categories have been added: Concepts & Studies, The Golden Sixties and Touring Cars. As the tags suggest, the first category focuses on all the cool creations that inspired several production vehicles for the brand. The following segment centres on interesting developments, such as the Diplomat V8 Coupe and why the Opel Rekord P2 Coupe was jokingly nicknamed the “Racing Boot”. Similarly, viewers can relive racing icons like the Opel Rekord C “Black Widow” and Kadett GSi 16V DTM under the Touring Cars section.

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Nissan introduces the all-new 2023 Altima in the Middle East region

With a 30-year legacy in the bank, the Nissan Altima is a revered nameplate in Nissan’s global product portfolio. The Japanese carmaker now introduces an all-new 2023 iteration of the Altima premium sedan in the UAE region. The new Nissan Altima gets equipped with a range of stand-out features comprising an updated V-motion front grille, 19-inch alloy wheels, 12.3-inch HD display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Intelligent climate control. The new Altima is available in four trim levels – S, SV, SL and the unique Sport edition, which boasts a unique SR emblem and an exclusive light bluish-grey exterior. Two 4-cylinder engine configurations are on offer, a 2.0-litre turbo and a 2.5-litre Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) mill. Nissan claims the 2023 Altima is ideal for those seeking the best all-rounder vehicle. Prospective buyers can check out the 2023 Nissan Altima by visiting the nearest Arabian Automobiles showroom in Dubai, Sharjah, and the Northern Emirates.

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INFINITI assists as talent transportation partner for BRED Abu Dhabi neo-culture festival

The final week of April 2023 witnessed Abu Dhabi host the BRED Abu Dhabi presented by Hypebeast neo-culture festival. The event, which celebrated neo-culture through music, fashion, sports, and art, had Japanese luxury carmaker INFINITI provide luxury vehicles, including the QX60 and QX80, to transport talent to and from the event venue. “INFINITI recognizes and embraces art in all forms, and when given the opportunity to support artistic expression in the region, it’s one that we wouldn’t miss. As a transportation partner, we were able to provide attendees with a serene luxury experience, rolling out the red carpet, so to speak, for the regional and international talent performing at the festival,” said Zaher Ayat, General Manager of Marketing, PR & CX, INFINITI Middle East. With this collaboration, INFINITI further bolstered its commitment to supporting cultural events and initiatives that promote creativity, innovation, and diversity while nurturing local talent.

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Lamborghini Abu Dhabi & Dubai becomes first global dealer to join Lamborghini’s The Real Race eSports Programme

Attention students and avid gamers of the UAE! Automobili Lamborghini is out to scout the best student racing ‘drivers’ in the UAE under its The Real Race eSports programme. This initiative will see the supercar brand tour schools and universities nationwide to identify talented virtual racers. The tournament kicks off in May, with Lamborghini Abu Dhabi & Dubai becoming the first dealer to announce its participation. The best of the lot will be taken to Nürburgring, Germany, to compete in the international finals in July. Aspiring student racers can showcase their skills in Lamborghini’s Abu Dhabi and Dubai showrooms by recording their best lap performances. The top three performing semi-finalists will make their way to the finals in Germany to compete against the best racers worldwide to win the competition and become an official Lamborghini eSports driver. 2751 participants participated in the 2022 edition, and the numbers are expected to grow higher this year. To know more about the Real Race programme, enthusiasts can call 800 Ultimate or visit the https://www.lamborghini.com/en-en/motorsport/esports link.

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Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company opens pre-bookings for the BYD ATTO 3 in the UAE

March 2023 saw the inception of Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company, an EV-dedicated subsidiary by the Al-Futtaim group, which also bagged the UAE’s first-ever e-mobility-focused dealership title upon launch. The firm welcomed its first NEV (New Energy Vehicle) partner – BYD, at launch, and now, it is opening pre-bookings for the BYD ATTO 3 in the UAE. With a deposit of AED2,000, customers can reserve an ATTO 3 EV crossover for themselves before the official launch. Prospective buyers can visit www.byduae.ae to book their very own BYD ATTO 3. Priced at AED 149,900, the BYD ATTO 3 boasts a healthy range of up to 420kms on a single charge, a power output of 201hp, and a 0-100kph acceleration time of 7.3secs. It comes equipped with features such as a panoramic sunroof, a 6-way powered driver seat, a 12.8” electric rotary multimedia screen, a Dirac audio system with 8 speakers, and Apple Carplay integration. 

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A Juicy Update On 2023 Gulf Historic Dubai GP Revival

For those unaware, the Gulf Historic Dubai GP Revival is a racing event that sees legendary cars from the motorsport history books compete. Several icons have already been confirmed for this year’s edition, including Williams FW07C and Tyrell 08. However, the new update confirms the entry for five more icons – Fittipaldi F8, March 821, Nissan NPT-90, Toyota 86C and Chrysler Viper GTS-R. Each one has a different tale. For instance, the F8 was named after and driven for the first time by the two-time Formula One World Champion – Emerson Fittipaldi. Similarly, the NPT-80 won the IMSA GP Championship two years in a row (1990 and 1991).