First Saudi-made car launched

nbr · 15th June 2010, 15:41

Saudi Arabian engineers have launched the country’s first car named after the desert deer, a speedy animal known for its elegance in the desert’s harsh environment.

Ghazal 1 was showcased on Monday by ruler King Abdullah, Saudi newspapers reported on Tuesday.

A price for the SUV was not disclosed. Some blogs report that the car will be priced at around $100,000.

Made by engineers at King Saud University, the car “shows that we have capable people who can transform ideas into products of high economic value,” Khaled al-Anqari, the country’s higher education minister, was quoted as saying in daily Arab News.

“What is achieved today is a clear proof of the ability of Saudi youth to make innovations and inventions … If they are provided with adequate facilities and given opportunities.”

Saudi men and women between 20 and 24 years are grappling with unemployment rates of 43 percent, the country’s statistics department said in April. Unemployment among Saudis rose to 10.5 percent in 2009 from 10 percent in 2008.

Ghazal 1, designed to match the hot climate of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, is 4.8 meters long with a width of about 1.9 meters.

Students at the university took two years to develop the car, newspapers said, adding that the country plans to produce 20,000 vehicles a year.

extreme_torque · 15th June 2010, 15:44

Oh my god! Looks horrid! yuck! why o why!

akshay4587 · 15th June 2010, 15:48

Who on earth designed this thing

i was expecting it to be made of gold with diamond studded registration plates

shamanth · 15th June 2010, 15:48

Looks like a car of 1960s. I don't think it will sell even in Saudi.

A350XWB · 15th June 2010, 15:56

Looks like a Toyota FJ Cruiser with a Mahindra signature grille.
(Toyota FJ Cruiser - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

clevermax · 15th June 2010, 15:56

That looks as if it is blind!

IMO, a better headlamp design will improve its looks to a big margin.

BTW, here's how it looks from back!

First Saudi-made car launched-gazalback.jpg

CARDEEP · 15th June 2010, 15:58

They seem to be inspired from Scorpio.

These Arabs have a taste for anything that is big & gulps fuel, when the whole world is reeling under Fuel crisis. Definitely a showcase of Arab engineering backwardness, not trying the Fuel Cell Technology.

I bet, if they had tried to make a battery powered car, they would have supplied a diesel generator to charge those batteries, that too as a car accessory.

mnhegde · 15th June 2010, 16:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevermax

That looks as if it is blind!

IMO, a better headlamp design will improve its looks to a big margin.

+1. Not only the car, the designer might be blind too

. The grille, a straight lift from bimmers (IMHO). Aren't the Designers capable of designing one decent looking car (First one??)?? The car is straight from 60's. They plan to sell 20,000 of these??

nirmaljusdoit · 15th June 2010, 16:37

Looks like the Sumo Grande from certain angles.

Are they planning to mass produce this !??

How are they planning to sell it considering the other competition already present ?

FlyingSpur · 15th June 2010, 16:44

For all you know, this thing might turn out to be a killer desert-bashing tool. Just giving them the benefit of the doubt. That it looks ugly, is undisputed.

ex670c · 15th June 2010, 17:24

BMW X5 meets TLC FJ Cruiser meets VW Touareg

prince_pervez · 15th June 2010, 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by nbr

Ghazal 1 was showcased on Monday by ruler King Abdullah, Saudi newspapers reported on Tuesday.

Whaaaaaaat!! This thread should be merged with the weird and whacky pics thread. Looks like a lod job on some famous SUV. Ah, well, couldn't expect more from him anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CARDEEP

These Arabs have a taste for anything that is big & gulps fuel, when the whole world is reeling under Fuel crisis. Definitely a showcase of Arab engineering backwardness, not trying the Fuel Cell Technology.

Hey they are offering jobs, tax free.

mail4ajo · 15th June 2010, 18:42

Looks like a Toyota mini SUV commonly seen in the US. Not able to recollect the name. The doors open in a crazy manner, like a half door.

toiingg · 15th June 2010, 23:38

Seems like the wipers are too small. Arm doesn't even reach the drivers side properly.

GTO · 16th June 2010, 21:46

Not trying to run them down, but its way too easy to build an SUV (just ask the incompetent GM of the nineties) than a thoroughly modern, well-packaged, hatchback / sedan.

Consider Tata : The Indica was an infinitely larger achievement than the Safari, Sumo or Estate. With an SUV, all you need is metal, a truck chassis and an engine. For a monocoque hatchback or sedan, you need brilliance in packaging, weight saving, technology, efficiency....and all this with a tight budget!

15th June 2010, 15:41	#1
nbr BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: MANGALORE/BALEHONNUR/DUBAI Posts: 438 Thanked: 47 Times View My Garage	First Saudi-made car launched Saudi Arabian engineers have launched the country’s first car named after the desert deer, a speedy animal known for its elegance in the desert’s harsh environment. Ghazal 1 was showcased on Monday by ruler King Abdullah, Saudi newspapers reported on Tuesday. A price for the SUV was not disclosed. Some blogs report that the car will be priced at around $100,000. Made by engineers at King Saud University, the car “shows that we have capable people who can transform ideas into products of high economic value,” Khaled al-Anqari, the country’s higher education minister, was quoted as saying in daily Arab News. “What is achieved today is a clear proof of the ability of Saudi youth to make innovations and inventions … If they are provided with adequate facilities and given opportunities.” Saudi men and women between 20 and 24 years are grappling with unemployment rates of 43 percent, the country’s statistics department said in April. Unemployment among Saudis rose to 10.5 percent in 2009 from 10 percent in 2008. Ghazal 1, designed to match the hot climate of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, is 4.8 meters long with a width of about 1.9 meters. Students at the university took two years to develop the car, newspapers said, adding that the country plans to produce 20,000 vehicles a year. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

15th June 2010, 15:44	#2
extreme_torque Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,377 Thanked: 5,105 Times	Oh my god! Looks horrid! yuck! why o why!
	() Thanks

15th June 2010, 15:48	#3
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	Who on earth designed this thing i was expecting it to be made of gold with diamond studded registration plates
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15th June 2010, 15:48	#4
shamanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,003 Thanked: 634 Times View My Garage	Looks like a car of 1960s. I don't think it will sell even in Saudi.
	() Thanks

15th June 2010, 15:56	#5
A350XWB BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: KA51/KL03 Posts: 923 Thanked: 861 Times	Looks like a Toyota FJ Cruiser with a Mahindra signature grille. (Toyota FJ Cruiser - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
	() Thanks

15th June 2010, 15:56	#6
clevermax Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tvm/Amsterdam Posts: 2,086 Thanked: 2,640 Times View My Garage	That looks as if it is blind! IMO, a better headlamp design will improve its looks to a big margin. BTW, here's how it looks from back! Last edited by clevermax : 15th June 2010 at 16:01.
	() Thanks

15th June 2010, 15:58	#7
CARDEEP Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NCR Posts: 3,248 Thanked: 2,522 Times	They seem to be inspired from Scorpio. These Arabs have a taste for anything that is big & gulps fuel, when the whole world is reeling under Fuel crisis. Definitely a showcase of Arab engineering backwardness, not trying the Fuel Cell Technology. I bet, if they had tried to make a battery powered car, they would have supplied a diesel generator to charge those batteries, that too as a car accessory.
	() Thanks

15th June 2010, 16:37	#9
nirmaljusdoit BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 834 Thanked: 674 Times	Looks like the Sumo Grande from certain angles. Are they planning to mass produce this !?? How are they planning to sell it considering the other competition already present ?
	() Thanks

15th June 2010, 16:44	#10
FlyingSpur Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,934 Thanked: 1,422 Times View My Garage	For all you know, this thing might turn out to be a killer desert-bashing tool. Just giving them the benefit of the doubt. That it looks ugly, is undisputed.
	() Thanks

15th June 2010, 17:24	#11
ex670c Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,470 Thanked: 1,939 Times View My Garage	BMW X5 meets TLC FJ Cruiser meets VW Touareg
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15th June 2010, 18:42	#13
mail4ajo Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 1,957 Thanked: 331 Times View My Garage	Looks like a Toyota mini SUV commonly seen in the US. Not able to recollect the name. The doors open in a crazy manner, like a half door.
	() Thanks

15th June 2010, 23:38	#14
toiingg BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 639 Thanked: 266 Times	Seems like the wipers are too small. Arm doesn't even reach the drivers side properly.
	() Thanks

16th June 2010, 21:46	#15
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,545 Thanked: 300,752 Times View My Garage	Not trying to run them down, but its way too easy to build an SUV (just ask the incompetent GM of the nineties) than a thoroughly modern, well-packaged, hatchback / sedan. Consider Tata : The Indica was an infinitely larger achievement than the Safari, Sumo or Estate. With an SUV, all you need is metal, a truck chassis and an engine. For a monocoque hatchback or sedan, you need brilliance in packaging, weight saving, technology, efficiency....and all this with a tight budget!
	() Thanks