There's no doubt that Geneva 2013 provided plenty of optimism for cashed-up folk who enjoy driving. Heck, even Rolls-Royce got in on the act with its two-door Wraith.
However, stepping away from the fantasies of LaFerrari and the absurd Lamborghini Veneno, of more significance to the well-heeled Middle Eastern customer was sitting on the Bentley stand.
In contrast to last year's Geneva show, when the EXP 9 F concept SUV made headlines around the world and was touted as the next big thing for the Middle East, the Flying Spur was subdued but more meaningful.
While talk of the SUV was virtually non-existent amid speculation it's not the certainty we were initially led to believe, the all-new Flying Spur was possibly the most noteworthy car in Geneva for this region.
Bentley saloons are big news in the Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia, so while the Mulsanne caters for the extreme high end, the Flying Spur remains the cornerstone of Bentley's range here.
With that, one of the key interior features in the 2014 Flying Spur was developed largely with the Middle East in mind. Rear seat passengers can now download a smartphone app or eject the phone-like device from the centre console cradle to alter the climate control settings, seat cooling functions, sat nav and multimedia systems.
It is a system that was developed by Bentley, rather than borrowed from another arm of the VW empire, and is partly the result of discussions with local customers, particularly women in Saudi Arabia who can now control the systems on their own without having to ask the chauffeur.
The new Flying Spur also has its own Wi-Fi connectivity allowing portable devices, laptops and tablet computers to connect to the internet, and includes 64GB of internal storage capacity. Two LCD screens are installed in the backs of the front seat while top-loading multimedia players sit in pockets beneath.
A V8 Flying Spur will follow later but, in the meantime, the 6.0L, W12 cylinder engine is standard. Developing 616hp, it's the most powerful four-door model in the range.
With 800Nm of torque on tap, coupled to an eight-speed ZF transmission and despite weighing in at 2,475kg, the Spur has a 14 per cent better power-to-weight ratio over the old model, allowing it to reach 100 kph in 4.3 seconds, on its way to a terminal speed of 322 kph.
Unlike the previous Flying Spur, which looked like a four-door version of the Continental GT, this 2013 model distinguishes itself from the Coupé with fresh lines that take in a beefy 'Coke-bottle' hip similar to the Mulsanne, and a more distinctive tail. Meanwhile, the interior has also come in for a makeover to differentiate it from the Conti, and rear seat passengers get even more legroom, making it one of the most spacious on the market.
With the changing dynamics of the global industry, Bentley has to look at China, the Middle East and the United States for most of its sales, so the four-door range is crucial. In China, Bentley's dealer network has grown five-fold since 2011, at the same time as Middle Eastern sales have hit record highs. Its traditional heartland of the UK now represents just 10 per cent of its volume.
When it reaches the showrooms here in the summer, prices are expected to stay the same as the outgoing model and, for the foreseeable future, this remains a more palatable proposition than the controversial SUV.
If you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Chicago from Dh5,215 return including taxes.
The hotels
Recommended hotels include the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, located in an iconic skyscraper complete with a 1929 Olympic-size swimming pool from US$299 (Dh1,100) per night including taxes, and the Omni Chicago Hotel, an excellent value downtown address with elegant art deco furnishings and an excellent in-house restaurant. Rooms from US$239 (Dh877) per night including taxes.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
On the menu
First course
▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water
▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle
Second course
▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo
▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa
Third course
▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro
▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis
Dessert
▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate
▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEdited%20by%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Idries%20Trevathan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20240%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hirmer%20Publishers%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Bournemouth 0
Manchester United 2
Smalling (28'), Lukaku (70')
