Al Nabooda Automobiles, the official dealer for Audi in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, celebrates the inauguration of the Audi terminal Dubai. With 57 Audi vehicles on display, it is described as the largest Audi showroom in terms of new cars on display in the world. Set to open its doors to customers on Dec. 3, the new facility spans more than 15,000 sqm across six levels.
Khalifa Juma Al Nabooda, chairman of Al Nabooda Automobiles, Luca de Meo,
member of the board for sales and marketing of AUDI AG, and CEO of Al Nabooda Automobiles K. Rajaram started the celebrations by pressing the symbolic Audi ignition button. In his speech, Rajaram reflected on the road ahead. “In terms of sales, the UAE is the most important market for Audi in the Middle East. The Audi terminal represents an AED 118 million investment by Al Nabooda Automobiles into the future of the Audi brand and delighting our customers in Dubai and the Northern Emirates,” he said.
In a visual spectacle dignitaries and customers watched the story of Al Nabooda
Automobiles, its growth in Dubai over the last four decades and its partnership with Audi. Specially flown in for the event were the Audi R18 e-tron quattro #1 race car — the first hybrid vehicle to win the 24 hours of Le Mans — the Audi R8 e-tron concept car and the 1936 Auto Union Type C classic car. As a special preview Audi also exhibited the new R8 V10 plus, which will be launched in the region at the end of 2013, as well as the Audi RS 4 Avant and the Q5 PI, which will arrive in the first and second quarter of 2013 respectively. A further highlight of the evening was the appearance of global superstar Jennifer Lopez.
The Audi terminal showroom is the first multi-floor car showroom in Dubai using an extensive array of lifts to move display vehicles to the second and third floors. Audi customers will enjoy valet parking service, an escalator and a panoramic lift, as well as state-of-the-art multimedia technology, including a power wall dedicated to almost life-size virtual vehicle customization.
A total of 1.2 million man hours and a 320 strong team working double-shift allowed the completion of the build three months ahead of time. The project sets the benchmark for the expansion of Al Nabooda Automobiles as a whole. The Audi terminal Dubai is the first phase of an AED 900 million investment program that includes the opening of new Audi facilities in Fujairah and Sharjah in 2013. A new state-of-the-art Audi Service Center for Dubai with 60 work bays is planned to open within the next two years.
Al Nabooda Automobiles opens “world’s largest” Audi car showroom
Al Nabooda Automobiles opens “world’s largest” Audi car showroom
‘The Wrecking Crew’ — Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista head enjoyable romp
RIYADH: Angel Manuel Soto directs this odd-couple action-comedy with a confidence and flair that — along with the chemistry between its central performers and its better-than-you’d-ever-expect script — just about raises it above the slop swarming the streamers.
Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista play estranged half-brothers Jonny and James Halle. Both have the same father — a not-much-liked private detective called Walter who’s just been killed in a hit-and-run in Hawaii (where they were raised and where James, a Navy SEAL, still lives). Neither brother is particularly upset to hear the news of Walter’s death, but when Yakuza henchmen attack Jonny in his Oklahoma home (where he’s a maverick, heavy-drinking cop) demanding a package sent by Walter (a package he hasn’t yet received), he decides to return to Hawaii for the first time in years to attend the funeral and investigate further.
Jonny’s reunion with James is less than cordial, but he does meet James’ wife Leila and their kids for the first time. Leila is a child-psychologist — not afraid to call the brothers out on their emotional shortcomings, nor to try and help them fix their fractured fraternity.
The brothers’ investigation uncovers a plan to build a casino on Hawaiian home lands (an area held in trust for Native Hawaiians). The developer is the extremely wealthy Marcus Robichaux (played with gleeful pantomime-villain campness by Claes Bang), who — it turns out — had hired Walter to investigate his wife, who had hired Walter to investigate her husband.
Now our heroes know who they have to bring down, they’re into far more comfortable territory (both for the characters and, you suspect, the actors). Yep. Forget the dialogue, it’s action time.
Cue multiple scenes of high-octane mayhem expertly helmed by Soto in what’s essentially a slightly updated (emotional healing!) throwback to the dumb-but-fun action blockbusters of the Eighties and Nineties. The nostalgia isn’t hidden, either. The soundtrack starts with Guns N’ Roses and ends with Phil Collins. And there’s a shoutout to Jean-Claude Van Damme in between.
There’s a plot here too, but, honestly, who cares? Momoa and Bautista get to flex their considerable muscles, show off their ink, and make a few wisecracks. No one’s watching this for a clever twist, right? Watch it hoping for a couple hours of entertaining excitement and you’ll be well satisfied.
