Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury

Recalls are boring news. They’re in fact so boring that we only cover them once in a while now. The number of recalls per month has actually reduced since the last time we did a rundown, by about 35%. Of course, the general media still chooses to sensationalise some recalls more than others, especially anything to do with Toyota. In the past two months, there have been recalls by Lexus, Land Rover, General Motors, Ford, Honda, Suzuki, Chrysler, Saab and even Mazda, the last of which is a hilarious one.

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The MG brand has officially been launched in the UAE, at an event in Dubai. MG, or Morris Garages, was originally a sporty British brand under Rover before changing hands to become a part of SAIC, China’s largest carmaker. Chinese-built models at launch include the MG 550 and the MG 750, with the MG3, MG 350 and MG6 models set to join later.

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For a taste of what we don’t get here, for one reason or another, here is the 2011 Kia Sportage SX Turbo that just debuted in the United States.

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For those not in the know, a hybrid is a car with a petrol engine that also has an electric motor attached that provides additional power when needed and recharges its battery as the car moves, all while saving petrol, saving the environment and saving the whales. The theory goes that petrol is cheap in the GCC, so no one cares about hybrid cars. While that is definitely true, we live in the UAE, which boasts the highest petrol prices in the region and is proudly increasing prices further to match international market rates eventually. Suddenly, a hybrid doesn’t seem like a bad idea after all.

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Toyota has already confirmed that the FT-86 sports car, the spiritual successor to the 1980s “AE86” Corolla, is set for production. This is the third concept to show off the car, a bit different than before and closer to the actual version that will hit showrooms in late 2012 as a 2013 model.

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At the risk of sounding like an iPod on loop mode, we’ll say again that the 2011 Infiniti QX56 is a big car. That also made our latest economy test more interesting. Is it possible to drive one of the largest 4x4s on the planet without hurting the planet, or more importantly, your wallet?

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Here is a quick rundown of all the cars displayed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, possibly the biggest auto show in Europe. New models include the Lamborghini Aventador, Jaguar XKR-S, Hyundai i40, Ferrari FF and Pagani Huayra. The sizeable number of concepts include the Infiniti Etherea, EDAG Light Car Sharing Concept, Rinspeed Bamboo, Mazda Minagi, Alfa Romeo 4C and the latest iteration of the Toyota FT-86 Concept.

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Al-Futtaim Motors, the Lexus dealers in the UAE, is launching the 2012 Lexus CT 200h hybrid publicly with a free 3D show at The Walk in Jumeirah Beach Residence for Dubai residents. It takes place on March 3, from 7pm onwards and is open to all.

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The 2012 Hyundai Accent isn’t a car anyone was anxiously waiting for. That isn’t to say no one anticipates sub-compact cars with sweaty palms. The launch of the next-generation Toyota Yaris is going to be a big event in the lives of many in the UAE. Nothing else comes close to the Yaris in popularity. The Accent has always been sidelined. However, we just drove the all-new 2012 Hyundai Accent from Dubai to Fujairah and back, and it’s a car that can give Toyota some sleepless nights.

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