Mashfique Hussain Chowdhury

The 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe is probably the most eye-catching car built by the General’s luxury arm since the tail-finned chrome barges of the 1960s. The fact that we snagged the V-series version of the coupe simply adds flame to the proverbial fire. The story is that we skipped the Lebanon launch event for the CTS Coupe in September, so we were promised an early look at the car when it became available for tests here. We suspect that, after losing two CTS-V sedans to retarded journalists, GM is a bit wary of handing over their expensive hypercar to amateurs now,

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Chinese automotive brand Great Wall Motors launched a new model in Dubai this week. Till date, the only Great Wall models available in the UAE were pickup trucks, and this would be the local dealer’s first foray into the car market, with the release of the Great Wall Florid sub-compact car. Ironically, it seems like the launch event only involved the traditional media, with possibly no actual automotive publications invited.

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This one took a bit of scrounging, but we finally managed to bag a Lexus IS-F for a brief two-day test, thanks to our supporters within the UAE dealer. There is a long list of press people waiting to test this car, so we were almost ready to dismiss it. But after driving it, we’d say this is the first Lexus we’ve ever desired. You know, like, really desired.

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This is a sketch released by Honda of the 2012 Civic “concept” that will debut at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show in January. From the looks of it, this may be the coupe version that is available only in the United States.

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Lincoln, Ford’s oft-forgotten luxury division, displayed their latest models at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Motor Show at the Ford stand itself. While the focus is on the MKX this year, Lincoln also quietly launched the 2011 MKT crossover in the GCC, essentially a completely-redone version of the Ford Flex.

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BMW had a track event at the Dubai Autodrome racetrack last week. Dubbing it “X Meets M Roadshow”, it was an attempt by BMW to legitimise the X5 M and the X6 M as true sporting vehicles worthy of the M badge, while also having the M3 as well as regular X5 and X6 models at hand for comparison. Interestingly, it was even open to the public, and all you had to do was sign up on BMW’s regional website for a slot. The only problem was BMW’s local outfit chose to advertise this event on everywhere except the Middle East’s most popular car website,

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Last week we picked up a 2011 Lexus RX 350 for a couple of days to see what updates the crossover has received for the new model year, as well as to have a comfortable ride to travel to the Abu Dhabi Motor Show, an hour-and-a-half drive from the centre of Dubai. On the day we returned the Lexus, we also received a 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe for only a day. There won’t be any of our quirky comparison tests, but there will be ‘first drive’ stories soon on both these cars.

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Ford Racing, the racing performance arm of the American carmaker, has revealed two race-ready versions of the 2011 Ford Mustang. Seemingly catering to two different crowds, the first release if the Mustang Boss 302S for the racetrack, and the second is the Mustang Cobra Jet for the drag strip. Neither of these cars will be found at your local dealer.

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Long rumoured and then long anticipated, the M version of the 1-Series has finally debuted. Since it was impossible to call it an M1, that name already taken by a BMW supercar in the 1970s, the 2012 addition to the range will be known as the BMW 1-Series M Coupe.

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Memorise the rear end of this white Nissan X-Trail. It has looked the same since 2002, and it is popular all over the UAE as a family hauler. But now the ubiquitous white X-Trail has found a new life as a mobile speed camera car in Dubai.

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