The American-built VW Passat got a minor facelift last year, having been on the market since 2012. We thought it’d have a bigger impact on the midsize sedan scene, given that it easily has the most cabin space in this segment, but key features were missing that may have caused it to become an also-ran. Several of those issues have now been addressed.
Two new rental car services have been launched in the UAE that offer a by-the-minute payment option if you don’t need a rental car for the whole day.
Porsche has a history of creating cars that cause a negative reaction, even if only temporarily. Aging enthusiasts will remember the 914 from the 70s. Millennials will remember the first Cayenne. And more recently, there was the Panamera, the German carmaker’s first ever sedan which was actually a stretched hatchback. But while derided when launched, all three went on to become bestsellers, much more so than the iconic 911. For 2017, there is a new Panamera hitting the streets, but no one can say any more that the styling is found wanting.
Honda has been busy trying new things lately, and while we may never see the fruits of their labour when it comes to the NSX or the Type-R, we are now getting a base version of the latest Honda Civic with a 1.6-litre engine. Spec it up for a few bucks though, and it’s hard to tell it apart from the 2.0-litre version.
Quite possibly the most anticipated debut at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show, the all-new 2018 Toyota Camry has been revealed, just two years after a major update of the current model.
The current Ford F-150 still retains its crown as the most advanced truck around, but the carmaker felt it needed an update for 2018. Along with the rather fetching facelift, there are a few mechanical upgrades as well.
Honda has a self-balancing concept for motorcycles that was revealed at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this month.
Our manual Toyota FJ Cruiser has been chugging along trouble-free. There’s absolutely nothing to report except the cost of the latest service as well as someone puking in it.
| The Good: – Spacious well-appointed cabin – Good ride and safe handling – Fair power and fuel economy |
The Bad: – A bit on the pricey side – Rear seat doesn’t split-fold – Distracting multimedia setup |
Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies brought attention to the global campaign for breast cancer awareness with a Guiness World Record for the “world’s largest tyre-mark image” of a breast-cancer logo. It was done using two Al Jazirah Ford Racing Team Ford Mustangs driven by Abdulhadi Al-Qahtani and Muath Al-Essa.