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.
After spinning off from the sensible 3-Series sedan, the BMW 4-Series range of coupes has been around for a few years now. The whole 4-Series family, which includes the Coupe, Cabriolet, Gran Coupe and the M4, has been given a small refresh for 2017 but you need a BMW-fanboy eye to spot the changes.
Let us look back at the last month of 2016 to know what went wrong with the automobile industry in December. A few automobile manufacturers announced recalls on several models to rectify problems.
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.
Volvo is riding high on accolades for the Volvo XC90, and they implemented the same DNA used to create their successful SUV on to their all-new luxury sedan offering, the Volvo S90, which we got a chance to drive in Oman.
If you think that the Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG Cabriolet is not opulent enough, worry not. Mercedes-Benz has revealed a more luxurious and more exclusive Maybach version of the S-Class Cabriolet. The Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show, although unlike the Mercedes-Maybach sedan, this one doesn’t benefit from a long-wheelbase or four doors (which would’ve been cool and unique). Pretty much just a trim package, the exclusive Maybach offering will grace the garages of only 300 customers around the world.
Ferrari is commemorating its 50th anniversary in Japan with a bespoke limited edition car based on the 488 GTB Spider — the Ferrari J50. The name of the new car comes from the fact that Ferrari has completed 50 years of operation in Japan. Only a limited run of 10 cars will be made and all of them will offer customers the choice to spec them as they want it.
The BMW 6-Series is offered in Coupe, Cabriolet and 4-door GranCoupe body styles all of which have been accepted well in the market. As the last revision for the 6-Series range was done in 2012, it was due for an update. BMW has now officially released the 2018 6-Series, although it’s hard to see the changes.
Following teasers in the form of sketches, Volkswagen has unofficially unveiled the seven-seat model of their Tiguan crossover via a so-called leak. Shown here in China-spec, the new model is named the Tiguan Allspace or Tiguan L, depending on the market.
At the end of every year we do a rundown of how we’re doing and what were the highlights of the past year. Admittedly, 2016 has been tough on many people, with the downturn in the economy leading to job losses and a 30% decrease in car sales. This was reflected in our traffic statistics, which has always been a window into the local car market. However, we still managed to eke out a 5% increase in revenue, and still remain the most profitable automotive portal in the region (despite increased costs in “fees” and unfavourable rules) thanks to our genuine readers,