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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lexus is doing something completely out of character in this region by going ahead and launching the first hybrid hatchback in the UAE, at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Motor Show. The CT 200h, originally designed for the European market, will become the cheapest hybrid car to be sold in the UAE, undercutting various manufacturers who have only been bringing in ridiculously-priced high-end models here.
Toyota’s UAE dealer launched the 2011 Scion tC at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Motor Show, only, it will be known as the Toyota Zelas in the GCC, and will come standard with an aggressive body kit.
Renault chose to hold the GCC unveiling of the all-new 2011 Renault Safrane at the 2010 Riyadh Motor Show. As we had been speculating for ages, the new model is a simple rebadge of the car that debuted earlier this year in Europe as the Renault Latitude and in Korea as the Nissan-Samsung SM5.
No one cares about Opel in the UAE, or even knows whether their cars are still on sale or not. It would seem Opel really is alive and well, and had been offering the Opel Antara small crossover for the past couple of years in their line-up. The model has received a facelift for 2011.
General Motors Middle East has announced that they will be revealed three new 4×4 models at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Motor Show, namely the 2011 GMC Acadia Denali trim package, the all-new 2011 GMC Terrain, and the facelifted 2011 Chevrolet Captiva.