Think of the quintessential American sports car and chances are you'll come up with either the Ford Mustang or the Chevrolet Corvette. Unapologetically powerful and politically incorrect, they are the very embodiment of the American dream for most young men in that part of the world. But would it be the same if they were built in Europe? Wouldn't they lose their essential American identity?
Does it really matter where a car is built in the 21st century? After all, the days when vehicles were hand crafted from sheet metal are long gone and now it's a case of piecing together components supplied, in the main, by other companies. So, in theory at least, Corvettes and Mustangs could be built in Paris, Oslo or Kuwait and nobody would spot the difference. It's a fact that a number of companies have their cars built, not only in other countries, but in factories that are not their own. Mercedes, Chrysler, Porsche - they all outsource some of their production, and now Aston Martin has joined the list by having its new four-door sports car, the Rapide, built by a facility in Austria known as Magna Steyr.
An Aston not built in Britain isn't an Aston, surely? There is only one way to find out and that's by seeing for ourselves exactly what the set-up is and whether it has an effect on its very Britishness. Aston Martin, like many manufacturers, enjoyed rapid, massive growth before the grip of global recession turned everything on its head. Its old factory at Newport Pagnell, where cars were lovingly created by hand from raw materials, has given way to a hi-tech plant at Gaydon in Warwickshire, and this enabled production of DB9, DBS, V8 and V12 Vantage models. But there's only so much capacity there and building the Rapide was simply impossible given the restrictions regarding space and painting facilities. So the company needed to outsource and, thanks to its cast iron reputation for quality, Magna Steyr was chosen to build what could turn out to be the most important model ever to wear an Aston Martin badge.
As it stands, Magna Steyr already builds Chrysler 300Cs, Mercedes G-Wagens, and the bodies for the new SLS supercar. Porsche was supposed to have their Boxsters and Caymans built there starting in 2012, but it pulled out of the deal after Volkswagen became the major shareholder. Arriving at the factory gates in the pretty city of Graz, everything looks a bit grey, bleak and, well, industrial. It's a nondescript, utilitarian series of buildings without the merest hint of glamour. That's until we catch site of the Aston Martin area. What we have here is modern sophistication. A previously scruffy part of Magna's facility has been covered in very clever cladding material that lifts it to give an instantly familiar look and feel to anyone that's ever visited the Aston factory in the UK. Carefully tended areas of grass and beautifully laid out landscaping make it stand out from the rest. How very Aston Martin.
This is important as it's where customers will come to spec their Rapides and they'll feel right at home here. "Right from the outset we viewed this as simply an extension of our UK facility," says Nick Miller, who is overseeing the entire operation. "It might be a thousand miles from home but it was vital for everything to tie in with our strong corporate image." Leaving behind the polished terrazzo tiled floor and walls of the beautiful showroom where there's a Rapide on display, it's straight through to the factory and, instantly, there's a strong sense of déjà vu. I've toured the UK factory and this is, at first glance, simply a carbon copy of the production line there.
It's been a massive investment, this, but it's one shared between Aston and Magna Steyr. Although it's no secret that none of this would have been possible without the deep pockets of the Investment Dar, Aston's Kuwaiti shareholders. The relationship with Magna Steyr is already paying dividends with both companies sharing their very particular ways of doing things, resulting in advancements to the build process that would otherwise have gone undiscovered.
Aston Martin's cars are perfect marriages between tradition and technology. While craftsmen and women hand stitch the sumptuous leather that forms its interior, space age aerospace techniques are used to bond together the car's structure. There's a hushed tone to the place with staff in Aston uniforms lovingly piecing together each section in a harmonious 45-minute production cycle. Approximately 2,000 Rapides will roll out of here each year and customers are queuing up - hardly surprising when you catch sight of one. It is, without doubt, the most beautiful four-door car on the planet and a test drive in an almost production ready example on the mountainous roads surrounding Graz confirms it's a sports car in the truest, purest sense.
One question nags away in my head as I leave, however: Why, if the company has nothing to be ashamed of, will every Rapide bear a final inspection plate in front of the engine with the inscription "Hand Built by Aston Martin" instead of "Hand Built in Austria"? Every other model tells you it's "Hand Built in England". With this little detail, Aston Martin will inadvertently propagate the myth that it really does matter where a car is pieced together, and that's a real shame. motoring@thenational.ae
Racecard
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
9.30pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Bangladesh tour of Pakistan
January 24 – First T20, Lahore
January 25 – Second T20, Lahore
January 27 – Third T20, Lahore
February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi
April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi
April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE
There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
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8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
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