So I was hanging with my buddy as he was trying to catch a taxi. He being a brown person, expectedly around 10 empty taxis passed by without slowing down because, as everyone knows, most of these racist drivers only stop for white people and tourists, in anticipation of a big tip. I became pissed off after 45 minutes, and knocked on a speeding Toyota Camry taxi with my hand. The taxi hit the brakes, turned around, and a big beefy Pathan driver got ready to fight with me. Read more… »

Volvo has developed a system where the car will brake by itself if it realises that the driver will not stop in time to avoid hitting the car in front. Interesting system, but it is scary to think what tailgaters will use something like this for. Read more… »

The highlight of my day today was watching a tiny woman in a Toyota Prado ram into the side of some guy’s Chevy Optra for no apparent reason, reinforcing the unfortunate stereotype that most women are poor drivers, as much as I hate to mention this. Maybe she couldn’t see over the steering wheel. Of course this region has its share of men with poor driving skills too. And oh yeah, and I picked up a 2008 Toyota Corolla. A 1.6-litre version no less. It’s been a while since I drove a car this slow. But I’d like to thank Toyota’s PR-lady-of-the-year Marwa for keeping us at the top of the test-drive list. A lot of people are anxiously waiting for our review of this car. Read more… »

The 2009 Nissan Murano has been officially unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The profile is much the same as the current Murano, but the rear benefits from new LED tail-lights and there is an optional panoramic roof, along with a power upgrade for the standard V6. Read more… »

Yep, I suddenly remembered the trio of 4WDs that Nissan unveiled here, and figured I should try out some of them. So I just picked up this Xterra (having waited for an hour for it at the showroom after some potential “customer” stole the test car for longer than he was supposed to have it). It is a very basic truck that does exactly what it advertises — off-road prowess with none of the fluff. Read more… »

I am currently being bombarded by press releases from carmakers touting their Something-Of-The-Year awards handed to them at a glittering ceremony by CAR Middle East magazine. And I am trashing them as soon as I receive them. Read more… »

This is the 2009 Lincoln MKS, Ford’s attempt at rejuvenating the dying Lincoln brand, unveiled at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show currently running this November. It is a full-size luxury car based on the Ford Five Hundred platform, which itself is a derivation of the Volvo S80 platform. In other words, it is a front-wheel-drive barge competing in a world of rear-driven powerhouses. Read more… »

A world-record speed of 330.6 kph was set on the high-speed test track in Nardo, Italy with a Maybach 57 powered by a 720 hp Brabus-tuned SV12 S Biturbo engine, making it the world’s fastest ultra-luxury large sedan. The Brabus engineers and test drivers bested their own record set in 2005 when a Maybach 57 powered by a Brabus SV 12 Biturbo engine with 631 hp was clocked at 314 kph. Read more… »

A Dubai-based engine manufacturer today announced plans to be the UAE’s first mass producer of automobiles. Except that there isn’t really a market for its cars in this country. Read more… »

Our PR person, simple-minded Diego, is not much of a car guy. But he brought my attention to a car he became interested in during the Dubai Motorshow, lost among all the supercars that few can afford. It was the Chinese-built BYD F3, which looks insulting similar to the Toyota Corolla at front, and the Honda City at the rear. The interior is completely lifted from the last-generation Corolla, with upgrades such as (fake?) wood and (fake?) leather. All for Dhs 29,900. Read more… »

At the Dubai Motor Show, General Motors showcased their production 2-Mode full hybrid version of their full-size Chevrolet Tahoe. To clarify, a hybrid vehicle runs on petrol, but uses the movement of the vehicle to store electrical energy for use to run the vehicle when the additional power of petrol isn’t necessary, thereby saving fuel. Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) and GM have agreed to use 5 of these special Tahoes, as well as 5 Chevy Malibu hybrids in a trial run. Some 40 taxis drivers and 15 technicians will also be trained to handle these vehicles. All this supposedly fulfills Sheikh Mohammed’s directives to use cleaner public transportation methods. While we approve the use of the upcoming Malibu midsize sedan, the Tahoe is total misstep. Read more… »

Infiniti revealed three new models for the GCC market. Making their debut only a day before the Dubai Motor Show, the new cars are the G37 Coupe, the EX35 compact crossover and the M35 midsize luxury sedan. Read more… »

The 2007 Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai played host to its very own “world premiere” by General Motors. The new vehicle is the 2008 GMC Terrain for the Middle East market. Of course, this new compact 4WD is already on sale in Europe as the Opel Antara. Read more… »

General Motors had the largest number of new car launches at the Dubai Motorshow, with a new model for almost all its divisions. So is the crowd in the picture gathering to get a glimpse of the new Cadillac CTS or the Chevy CSV CR8? Nope, these cheap losers are running to get free GM trolley bags. Read more… »

The 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser was launched in the UAE today. Engine choices include a 4.7-litre V8, a 4.0-litre V6 and a 4.5-litre turbodiesel V8. The 5.7-litre V8 found in the US-spec model will not be offered in the GCC. Read more… »

We were invited to the launch of four new Ford models yesterday. These included the Ford Mondeo and the Lincoln MKZ, with a relaunch of the Mercury Milan. Also launched were the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego twins, but these cars were not displayed at the dinner event. Read more… »

The current front-wheel-drive Hyundai Coupe tries hard to look like a Ferrari, but gets outrun by most hot hatches. This 2009 coupe, aims to change that. It will probably feature a new name, but the big news is the new rear-wheel-drive chassis, the option of a turbo-4 or a bigger V6, and looks that kill. Read more… »

I bring you the first leaked photos of the 2009 Nissan Murano, which will most probably debut at the Los Angelese Auto show later this year. Read more… »

Volvo has created a new entity in India to sell their top-spec cars in the country. Volvo Car India is opening its sales programme with the Volvo S80 luxury sedan and the Volvo XC90 Sports Utility Vehicle. Both models will be offered with three different engine alternatives: the 4.4 litre petrol V8, the 3.2 litre petrol in-line six-cylinder and the 2.4 litre turbocharged diesel in-line five-cylinder, the D5. Read more… »

I was invited to share and pilot a 2008 Honda Accord with another journo on a press drive from Dubai to Fujeirah and back. Considering we didn’t have enough time with the cars other than straightforward driving, I’ll save a full review for when I get one in front of my building. What I can talk about are my first impressions of the 2008 Honda Accord, in both 2.4 and 3.5 trims. Read more… »