World Exclusive: UAE-made Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ prototype

We get exclusive and unique access to the all-new UAE-made sports car in its first prototype iteration

By Shahzad Sheikh

Here’s a genuine world exclusive, Motoring Middle East is the only media to have gained unique behind-the-scenes access to prototype number one of the very first UAE-made sports car, the Shaali N360 – which was previously announced as the ‘Dubai Roadster’.

Click below to watch our video on the Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’

This is complete and all-new concept, conceived and created by Emiratis Rashid Al Shaali and Mostafa Aldah, and we MUST stress that we you see in these pictures and in the video above is a the first prototype of the car, far from the finished product.

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In fact we were fortunate enough to gain access to Shaali Motorsport’s first actual running test of the N360 fitted with its fibre glass body panels for the first time at Yas Marina Circuit last weekend.

World Exclusive: UAE-made Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ prototype

Rashid Al Shaali is a former racing driver who daily-drives a KTM X-Bow, whilst Mostafa Aldah has a background in automotive engineering and they have combined forces to produce what will be the UAE’s first home-grown sports and track car.

World Exclusive: UAE-made Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ prototype

Aimed primarily at the track-day enthusiasts, but designed to be road-legal, the N360 is constructed from a chromoly steel chassis, with an aluminium passenger tub. The panels are produced here from a design penned by a French car designer and licensed to Shaali Motorsports.

World Exclusive: UAE-made Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ prototype

This prototype has a completely bare interior with race seats and harnesses, but the production car will have full interior trim and dashboard with a windscreen so you won’t need helmets for road driving.

World Exclusive: UAE-made Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ prototype

This mid-engined racer is obviously rear-wheel drive, with inboard Ohlin race suspension, Brembo brakes and a six-speed sequential gearbox (with a clutch for moving off) from Hewland Engineering in the UK which specialises in race transmissions.

World Exclusive: UAE-made Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ prototype

It’s mated to a compact 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo engine produced by Hartley Enterprises in the US for Shaali based on its ‘Bolt 4’ unit. It features the head from a Suzuki Hayabusa engine, but the rest is custom made, and is tuned to produce an extraordinary 360bhp. It’s a screamer too, redlined at 10,500rpm. No performance testing has been done yet, but Shaali Motorsports is aiming for a 240kph top speed and a 0-100kph time of under 4 seconds.

World Exclusive: UAE-made Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ prototype

In the flesh the car has an amazingly long, low and wide stance, with spectacular swoopy lines and a substantial presence. There’s a very low centre of gravity and they’re still working on set-ups, reducing weight and refinement as well as driveability, although the drivetrain itself is already proving to be robust and reliable. Keep in mind they’ll be doing a lot more testing because of our harsh climate as well as the sand and humidity.

World Exclusive: UAE-made Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ prototype

Shaali Motorsports hope to reveal their production plans later this year with the possibility of putting the N360 on sale in 2017.

World Exclusive: UAE-made Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ prototype

The Shaali N360 represents an exciting, truly innovative and totally unique endeavour and could be the first in a handful of new start-ups hoping to establish a car industry right here in the UAE. We will follow the development of this car closely, so stay tuned for further updates right here on Motoring Middle East!

World Exclusive: UAE-made Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ prototype

Let us know what you think of the Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ in the comments below

 

4 responses to “World Exclusive: UAE-made Shaali N360 ‘Dubai Roadster’ prototype”

  1. Adi says:

    Did they just straight up put the C7 Vette’s headlights on this car?

  2. Arno Heil says:

    consider this concept car a long time and love it’s incredible and tasteful design. But honestly how realistic is a production and when would be a realistic date of delivery?

    Arno

  3. Arno Heil says:

    …and, do you ever think about a full electric drive – at least as an option?. I’m driving a Tesla Model S and in the meanwhile I’m totally convinced from electric drive! Would be a very interesting configuration. Please think about seriously! It’ll be the future, for sure…

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