The car known as the Chevrolet CSV CR8 in the GCC is actually an Australian model by GM-owned Holden called the HSV Clubsport R8. The Ozzies now get a wagon version of the monster car, called the HSV Clubsport R8 Tourer. Read more… »

We spent the entire morning today at the Dubai Autodrome, driving around in the most unusual vehicle, at a German manufacturer’s launch event. But we will talk about that drive later, because we came home to have a new unrelated test-drive car delivered to our doorstep. And that new tester is the CSV CR8, which belongs at the track, but just to clarify, it’s not the car we drove at the track. As tired as I am, I took the CR8 for a 2-minute spin before typing out this note. And I am already sold on it. It is the most pleasurable driver’s car I’ve had the opportunity of piloting in the past year. Notice that I skipped over the Corvette ZO6, the Continental GT and even over the new Mini. It is that much easy fun. Read more… »

The 2008 New York Auto Show this week is playing host to a number of hot new cars, all for the American market. None of these cars are due for a GCC release anytime soon, but it is always nice to have hope. Read more… »

Holden, the Australian arm of General Motors, showed off this “Coupe 60″ concept version of its Commodore at the 2008 Melbourne Auto Show. As we all know, the Commodore sedan is sold in the Middle East as the Lumina. If this two-door car goes into production, it’ll be a direct replacement for the now-cancelled Lumina Coupe. Read more… »

Holden, the Australian division of General Motors that gave us the Chevy Lumina SS and CSV CR8, have cooked up a new car based on the same underpinnings. To be shown at the Melbourne Auto Show today, the tentatively-named HSV Commodore W427 is a new super-expensive offering with the 505 hp Corvette Z06 engine. Read more… »

Ford has redesigned their Australian-only Falcon, calling it the FG series. While it looks great, it really looks like more of a minor update on an outdated car. But with rear-wheel-drive and insanely powerful engine, who cares. Read more… »

We just received a list of 2008 models from General Motors Middle East, and hidden in this list is a “CSV CR8″ with “400+ horsepower” and what not. This is confirmation that Chevrolet will finally release the Australian HSV Commodore supersedans in the Middle East with Chevy badging, but dropping the Lumina name. There are even photos of the Chevy-badged car in the GCC. Read more… »

The Middle East is forced to feel content with the 360 hp Chevy-badged Lumina SS, but its Australian maker is really having some fun with it for the domestic market. The 400 hp HSV versions of the Commodore (aka Lumina) sedan were released a year ago in Australia, but this is the first time they have unveiled the HSV version of this Holden Ute pickup derivative, named the HSV Maloo R8. Read more… »

Anyone living in the Middle East has access to a pretty good set of satellite channels collectively known as MBC. But it seems that they’ve been unhealthily obssessed with MTV’s Pimp My Ride, so much so that they made an Arabic version and constantly bombard audiences with very annoying TV ads featuring modded cars. It seems Toyota has caught the bug too, and decided to release this heavily pimped Aurion for the Australian home market. That’s right. The Aurion is Australian. Read more… »

The latest Australian region to receive the new Holden VE Commodore police cruisers is Victoria. The Aussies call them SMART cars, which stands for Special Mobile Anti- Road Toll, and they’re meant to form a highly visible presence that promotes safe driving. Of course, the Commodore SS is sold in the Middle East as the Chevrolet Lumina SS. Read more… »