This drive was a long time coming. The “Xtreme” package for the Toyota Land Cruiser has been around since late 2008, with any of the LC trims and engines. Modified by an Icelandic firm called Arctic Trucks at their Dubai-based workshop with a full UAE dealer warranty, the Xtreme makes a Land Cruiser look hopped up on steroids, and is now available for the “new” 5.7-litre V8 model that debuted in the GCC recently.
General Motors has been releasing stupid “teaser” photos online of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu in a bid to get multiple stories out of insipid bloggers. However, the first full photo of the redesigned Malibu has been leaked, although it is very likely GM “leaked” it themselves for publicity.
Honda has just launched the facelifted 2012 Jazz in the GCC. There aren’t many changes other than of the cosmetic variety.
This is the final hurrah for our 2011 Infiniti QX56 long-termer, which has already gone back to Nissan Middle East. The QX has some special features and details that can only be discovered in person. So what better way to highlight them than a walkaround video. Be sure to check out the cooler box that opens both from the front and the back, the numerous storage compartments, the abundance of clear buttons, the generous overhead a/c vents and the ease of access to the third-row seat.
We saw images of the facelifted 2010 Toyota Aurion when it debuted in Australia more than a year ago. Then we heard rumblings from readers that a body-kitted model was now available in the Dubai showroom, under the guise of a “Touring” trim. Toyota’s UAE dealer hasn’t advertised the “new” Aurion at all, so we’d never seen this mysterious kit although we did assume it could be the same as the Australian-spec one. But today, we were at the showroom and caught the damn thing.
This is the concept version of the 2012-2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. If you recall, the A-Class is the German carmaker’s smallest model that flopped in the GCC a decade ago, but continued to thrive in the European market. It looks like the A-Class is ditching its dorky height and gaining some length soon.
With familiarity comes fondness. When we first asked BMW for a long-term tester, we requested the new 5-Series. When we found out we’ll be given the 5-Series Gran Turismo instead, we weren’t thrilled but we were ready to take any BMW we got. While we still haven’t seen head or tail of the 5-Series sedan, we now believe the 5-Series GT is actually the better luxury car, considering it is more expensive. And that means it gets every option that we saw in the last 7-Series we tested.
It is confounding that Infiniti and Lexus are the only Japanese brands that are attempting to take on the German luxury marques. Who wouldn’t want a reliable luxury car? However, while Lexus is content with outdated models, Infiniti has been going from strength to strength, launching various all-new models in the past few years, with a bias towards capable performance, unique styling and original technology. We will now take a look at the technology found in our Infiniti QX56, and how well they actually work in real life.
This is the 2012 Nissan Tiida, as seen in Chinese-spec trim. It looks much better than the current model, and now has a longer wheelbase than the Honda Civic, putting it firmly in the compact category, larger than the current sub-compact.
This is the near-production version of the 2012 BMW M5. Debuting as a supposed concept, the new M5 is of course based on the all-new 5-Series, with a body kit and different wheels making it look a little more than just a sport package.