Mercedes-Benz has revealed further details about their updated G-Wagen. Joining the mildly-updated 388 hp G 500 is the all-new 544 hp G63 AMG replacing the G55 AMG, as well as a limited-production 612 hp G65 AMG. The debut is set for the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, a sign that China is the hottest car market in the world right now.
| The Good: – Rather good engine – Cabin space and features – Very comfortable ride |
The Bad: – Largely conservative styling – Handling errs on side of caution – Limited feedback from controls |
When you’re asking people for their opinions on a car they do not own, you have to keep in mind that there are three kinds of people you are likely to encounter. First, there would be the car enthusiasts, who prefer cars with a sporting edge to them, and actually own cars with a sporting edge, such as a Dodge Charger or a Honda S2000. Second are the kind of people who you’d find on the street, who spend more time on sports and news websites than on car websites, and they drive regular cars such as a Toyota Prado or a Honda Civic.
This one’s from last year, but it is an astounding feat nonetheless. Tanner Foust breaks the world record for distance jump in a four-wheeled vehicle at the Indianapolis 500 in 2011. The landing is even more interesting than the jump.
Those familiar with cars of the 1990s will remember the Honda Integra fondly. Available as a 2-door coupe or a 4-door sedan, it was a sporting alternative to the Civic and the Accord, offered from the mid-1980s all the way into the early 2000s, before disappearing off showroom floors in the UAE. But now it’s back in the GCC — as a motor-scooter!
The redesigned 2012 Honda CR-V was launched to the GCC media today at an event in the UAE. Essentially an all-new model, some of the specs remain familiar, but there are some major changes.
| The Good: – Fun handling – Fun engine – Fun gadgetry |
The Bad: – Price not fun – Practicality not fun – Firm ride not fun |
Lexus is very proud of their new GS 350. Once the aging forgotten model of the range that was overshadowed by the ES 350 and the IS 300 at the showroom, The GS 350 is now the amalgamation of all the new tech that Lexus has cooked up for the near-future. The pricier LX 570 seems outdated in comparison.
Google has built a completely-autonomous Toyota Prius that apparently can drive itself around town without the need for a driver. The routes are pre-programmed, and the car has completed over 300,000 km of testing. Using cameras and a scanning laser to do the driving, you just tell it your destination and it plots a route for you, taking into consideration speed limits and traffic patterns. Once they even used Steve, a man who is 95% blind, as part of that testing. However, the car is too expensive to put into production at this point.
We got a call the other day from BMW, offering us an X3 for a test-drive. While we weren’t particularly looking forward to checking out a compact crossover, we agreed to take a look anyway. It is a BMW after all.