Doha- Alfardan Automobiles, the exclusive importer of the BMW Group in Qatar, will ensure that players, officials and organisers of this year’s Commercialbank Qatar Masters 2010 enjoy sheer driving pleasure throughout the tournament with a luxury fleet of more than 55 prominent chauffeur-driven BMW 7 Series at their disposal.

It is the fourth consecutive year that BMW has been named ‘Official Car’ of the prestigious annual Golf tournament, and reiterates Alfardan Automobiles’ commitment to the support of international sporting events in Qatar.

“We are proud to be a long-standing sponsor of this internationally-recognised tournament that has become a highlight on the European PGA calendar,” said Naim Majdalani, General Manager of Alfardan Automobiles. “We look forward to ensuring that The Commercialbank Qatar Masters is another feather in Qatar’s cap as the region’s leading host of high-profile sports events.”

“Under the leadership of His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar has become a global player in business and an established host and organiser of international sporting events with its superior venues and excellent organisation. We are confident that this year will once again match up to the high standards we have come to expect at this premium event.”

Operating in one of the fastest-growing markets for BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce automobiles, Alfardan Automobiles continues its expansion in Qatar. Investments in new state-of-the-art showrooms and the launch of new models, including BMW’s new X5M and X6M and BMW Z4, will continue to keep Alfardan Automobiles at the forefront of the performance luxury car sector in Qatar.

The Commercialbank Qatar Masters 2010 will take place from January 28th - 31st in Doha, with the participation of the world’s top golfers ensuring that the international spotlight will remain on Qatar.

28.01.2010

Adding to its range of driver assistance technologies that bring unmatched driver engagement, handling and safety features to the luxury performance segment, BMW Group Middle East has launched the industry’s first Arabic-language iDrive control system. The system will be available as a standard feature for most BMW models fitted with navigation, and will be available to customers in the Middle East region from early May.

The BMW iDrive control system has an up to 10.2 inch Control Display with standardised menu guidance that grants easy access to the radio/CD, telecommunication functions and satellite navigation and others. The interface for the satellite navigation system comprising maps, menus, directions, data entry and voice guidance. All these functions are provided in Arabic with a male Arabic voice, and with an option to switch to English and other languages.

The BMW onboard navigation system is extremely easy to operate and guides you quickly and directly to your destination. Your current location is established automatically by the navigator with the help of the Global Positioning System (GPS), down to an accuracy of 10 metres. Using this information, the system calculates the best route to your destination, and guides you step by step to your goal. Instructions are given visually as easy-to-follow arrows, and/or as clear verbal instructions over the sound system.

Hamid Haqparwar, Manager Product & Price for BMW Group Middle East, says: “We are very excited to bring this new feature to our Arabic customers in the Middle East. This project has been a few years in the making and we have invested a considerable amount into research and development, which proves our ongoing commitment to servicing our Arabic-language customers with an added driver-assist benefit.“
For more information on model availability and pricing, please contact the local BMW importer.

24.02.2010

Doha- As sport enthusiasts prepare to rev up their engines for Commercialbank MotoGP 2010, BMW announces it has been named the official car for the event this year.

Alfardan Automobiles, the exclusive importer of BMW and MINI in Qatar, remains the prime sponsor of the tournament, and will be providing a luxury fleet of chauffeur-driven BMW cars for VIP guests, media, medical services and the race-direction team.

“The Commercialbank MotoGP 2010 is one of the most hotly anticipated sporting events in the region, and we are proud to be a primary sponsor and support the event again. Participating for the seventh year in a row shows our commitment to sporting events in the region, and also how much we value our relationship with the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation,” said Mr. Naim Majdalani, General Manager of Alfardan Automobiles.

Alfardan Automobiles will be holding a raffle for event-goers to win a 2010 model BMW 323 Sedan. In addition to this, the importer will be setting up a special Alfardan Automobiles lounge in the VIP village and will arrange paddock tours for their VIP customers; and provide a wide range of entertainment for families in the public area including face-painting for kids.

“Alfardan Automobiles aims to sustain its leadership in supporting such events, as demonstrated in our recent sponsorships of the Sony-Ericsson Tennis Open, Exxon-Mobil Open, Qatar Masters Golf Tournament and now MotoGP. We are dedicated to supporting these events in Qatar as we believe in the development of sports in the country and further establishing Doha as a major international sporting destination.” concluded Mr. Majdalani.

07.04.2010

Doha – Alfardan Automobiles, the exclusive importer of BMW cars in Qatar, has shown its support for Qatari cultural development by providing a fleet of BMW models as the official cars for the Plácido Domingo performance, which took place at The Pearl-Qatar on the 13 May.

Plácido Domingo is a world-renowned, multifaceted Spanish tenor and conductor recognized as one of the finest and most influential singing artists in the history of modern opera. This is his second visit to the Middle East as a performer – irrevocably putting Qatar on the map as a centre for culture and the arts.

Mohamed Kandeel, General Manager at Alfardan Automobiles, said: “The concert was an unforgettable experience for anyone who was fortunate enough to attend. We were honoured to provide BMW vehicles to Plácido Domingo and his team to use during their visit to Qatar - the BMW brand is synonymous with luxury and exclusivity and these are values that also attach themselves to Mr Domingo’s career and performances.”

16.05.2010

Doha- BMW is setting a new benchmark in the compact Sports Activity Vehicle segment with the launch of the newest member of its X model range, the all-new BMW X1. The youngest model to join the hugely successful X Sports Activity Vehicle portfolio comes with all of the features typical of the BMW X range, but at the same time offers a new interpretation of BMW's Sheer Driving Pleasure.

The driving characteristics of the BMW X1 offer the perfect combination of supreme agility and versatile sportiness with an appearance of a Sports Activity Vehicle and the agility of a BMW 1 Series. Available in Qatar with two engine variants and measuring 4.45 metres in length, this five-door stands out from every angle as a BMW X model.

The BMW X1 xDrive25i has 218hp, reaching 100Km/h in 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 223 Km/h. Also available is the sporting and economic sDrive 18i, a 2.0 litre four cylinder engine with 150hp. Accelerating this agile performer from 0-100 km/h takes just 10.4 seconds and provides a top speed of 200 km/h.

The interior of the BMW X1 is characterised by clear functionality and modern style. The elevated seating position, a generous feeling of space, the wide range of storage options and the variable interior offer ideal conditions for enjoying the BMW X1 both in an urban environment and beyond.

The BMW X1 features an extremely stable body structure designed for maximum occupant safety. It achieved the highest score of five stars in the Euro NCAP crash test. NCAP (New Car Assement Programme) is regarded as one of the most important and demanding tests required for new vehicles worldwide.
The test scenario covers accident types such as the head-on collision, side crash and side impact against a steel post.

Modern drive-train technology gives the BMW X1 superior performance and efficiency all in one. The driver benefits from a powerful, economical and low-emission engine, BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive technology, as well as a range of BMW EfficientDynamics technologies to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. The suspension technology featured in the BMW X1 offers high-precision power steering, high performance brakes and Dynamic Stability Control including Dynamic Traction Control.

The BMW X1 comes with the latest generation of BMW iDrive functions, including the 6.5inch Business or 8.8inch Professional navigation systems. The iDrive system has been updated to provide easy access to all telecommunication, audio and entertainment functions.

“Our BMW X5 and X6 models do exceptionally well in Qatar so we are delighted to enrich our X model offering with the launch of the X1. It will be the entry level X model variant positioned below the X3 so we expect this model to attract a younger audience to our X model line-up," said Mr. Mohamed Kandeel, General Manager at Alfardan Automobiles, the exclusive BMW and MINI importer in Qatar.

The new BMW X1 is now available in Qatar at Alfardan Automobiles.

30.05.2010

Doha - Each summer many of motorists will suffer a car breakdown in the sweltering temperatures across Qatar. Even though it’s an unfortunate thing to happen, there is still the unpleasant experience of having to find help, call the police or a tow truck to assist, all while battling the extreme heat. To help prevent a dreaded summer breakdown this year we have asked the experts at Alfardan Automobiles, the exclusive importer for BMW Group brands, in Qatar, to provide some easy to follow tips for safe summer driving:

Servicing
The high temperatures put excessive strain on mechanical components like cooling systems, batteries and tyre pressure; so it follows that the older your car, the more susceptible it is to such problems.

“While we always recommend regular servicing and maintenance of your vehicle, getting it checked over the summer period is particularly important. It’s imperative to make sure everything is in working condition; it could save you a pretty penny in the long run and will also provide you with piece of mind. We would also advise drivers in the State of Qatar to take your car to one of the branches of our Aftersales facilities to ensure you are getting qualified servicing and that the parts that are used on your car are genuine,” said Mohamed Kandeel, General Manager at Alfardan Automobiles.

Long journeys
If you have not had time to book your car in for a service this summer, here are a few self-check tips you can do at home to at least make sure it is ready for a long, hot trip. Before you pull out of the driveway check that your vehicle has:
• Enough engine coolant
• Oil and water filters are at the correct levels
• An air conditioning grill that has been filtered and works efficiently
• A full tank of fuel. Never leave it untill you reach your reserve!
• The correct tyre pressures for summer months
• A tread depth of at least 1.6mm, the recommended depth

Your local garage should be able to assist you with all the above points. Another tip to bear in mind is that even though you may be cool at the wheel your engine may not - so keep an eye on your temperature gauge. Overheating can potentially lead to engine failure.

Insurance and Road Side Assistance
If you are planning road trips across the region this summer, make sure that you have adequate motor insurance to cover you on the road or if you are involved in a collision. Also check with your insurance company what your road side assistance entitles you to. BMW at Alfardan Automobiles has many packages for customers that include free road side assistance and warranties to ensure peace of mind motoring, high levels of quality, reliability and of course sheer driving pleasure.

“It goes without saying that when you are travelling on long journeys, ensure you have enough fuel but also remember to bring sufficient water with you in case of an emergency. We wish all of our customers the best this summer but would also like to point out that speeding is the number one cause of crashes on our roads so please slow down,” concluded Kandeel.

07.06.2010