Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury

First drive: 2011 Porsche Cayenne, Panamera, Cayman, Boxster & 911 at Yas Marina

First drive: 2011 Porsche Cayenne, Panamera, Cayman, Boxster & 911 at Yas Marina


The last Porsche World Roadshow for the UAE was held two years ago at the Dubai Autodrome. It was a superb event for highlighting the entire Porsche line-up in one go. Seemingly open only to existing Porsche customers and us media types, it was a well-organised event that got us some wheel-time with the 2009 models. We haven’t driven any 911s or Cayennes in the past two years since then, simply because Porsche refuses to give us test cars for more than a few hours, but they did invite us to the 2011 edition of the Porsche World Roadshow,

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Video of the week: Lexus CT 200h public launch

Video of the week: Lexus CT 200h public launch


Al-Futtaim Motors, the UAE distributor for Lexus, launched the GCC’s first compact premium hybrid, the Lexus CT 200h, at The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai on March 3. At this unique public event, the new Lexus was revealed on a stage display, using the latest in light and 3D technology which “reflects Lexus’ own cutting edge approach to advanced automotive engineering.”

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Skoda Fabia 2011 relaunched in the UAE

Skoda Fabia 2011 relaunched in the UAE


The latest-generation Skoda Fabia was already available in the UAE before the local Skoda franchise switched hands from Autostar to Ali & Sons Motors late last year. With a new showroom in Dubai, the Skoda Fabia has been relaunched for 2011.

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Exclusive Video: Honda Civic Type-R in Dubai

Exclusive Video: Honda Civic Type-R in Dubai


This exclusive original video has been a long time coming. We drove the 2010 Honda Civic Type-R a year ago when it was first launched in the UAE. We made this little video, largely due to the efforts of Faisal Khatib, with support from me and Marouf Hussain. Think of it as our very own tribute to Japanese engineering.

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BMW 6-Series 2012 coupe finally revealed

BMW 6-Series 2012 coupe finally revealed


For some reason, BMW released the new 2012 BMW 6-Series Convertible first, complete with a media launch event in South Africa to which we were not invited, and is already on sale in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries. Now BMW has revealed details about the Coupe version.

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Video of the week: Japan earthquake tsunami

Video of the week: Japan earthquake tsunami


As news still trickles in about the earthquake in Tokyo that measured a massive 8.9 on the Richter scale, Japan’s largest earthquake ever has also created a tsunami that flooded cities, washed away cars and caused surrounding countries as far as New Zealand, Hawaii and the Philipines to issue alerts.

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Chrysler 300 and others reborn as Lancia models

Chrysler 300 and others reborn as Lancia models


It would be surprising if anyone remembers Lancia in the UAE. The semi-premium division of Fiat, nestled between Fiat And Alfa Romeo, Lancia is still alive in Europe, even though the brand stopped selling cars here once Fiat temporarily left the GCC market in the earlier part of this decade. There was a time when Lancias were uniquely-designed cars whose quirkiness was a trademark. But now that Fiat has bought out a part of Chrysler, the new Lancia range is looking all too familiar.

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Middle East Motor Tuning Show in Sharjah returning for 2011

Middle East Motor Tuning Show in Sharjah returning for 2011


The launch edition of the Middle East Motor Tuning Show, held alongside the 2010 Sharjah Auto Show in October last year was considered a big success. We are media partners for the event, so it is our duty to tell you that the exhibition will be returning for 2011, to be held from May 12th to the 14th at the Sharjah Expo Centre.

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