Gone are those days when your car battery gives up on you in some no man’s land at a very wrong time, leaving you stranded for good, thanks to Dial-A-Battery, a new mobile assistance service offering complete automobile battery solutions on the move 24/7.
The V6-powered 2011 Volkswagen Touareg we drove some time ago was an impressive SUV. With upscale gadgets, a quiet ride and a luxurious interior, it was quite possibly the best road-going 4×4 in its class. But then we drove the recently-revealed V8-powered version, a model that VW took their time to release, and that too in only a few markets, as they pondered whether there was still a market for V8 models in a world where the latest fad is to go green. Considering we kept this rather-excellent SUV for the better part of a month, we decided to see if a V8 trucklet hurts or helps Volkswagen’s “green”
Hyundai recently launched the latest facelifted version of their Genesis luxury sedan in the UAE. Extending the range further is the Genesis Prada GP500 edition, which made its GCC debut at the 2011 Dubai Motor Show.
While our VW Passat CC long-termer has gone in for some bodywork after a hit-and-run incident, we picked up a 2012 Volkswagen Touareg to test-drive in the meantime. And it’s not just any Touareg, but the new 4.2-litre V8 version that debuted a few months ago, and that too in pricey “Exclusive” trim.
Ford hosted yet another driving event for the public, this time at the Dubai Festival City over the weekend. This latest “Ford Factor” event featured the Explorer, the Edge, the Taurus, the Figo, the F-150 and the all-new Focus.
Volkswagen Middle East showed off three new models at the 2011 Dubai Motor Show, destined for showrooms in the UAE and other GCC countries. The first one is the facelifted 2012 VW Tiguan, which has already been on sale for the past month. The second is the VW Scirocco R joining the VW Golf R, finally making its local debut after two years since its European intro. And the third is the VW Amarok, the Argentinian-built pickup that seemingly targets both the poseur-class and the working-class crowds.
The “British” brand with a Chinese base, MG launched three new models at the 2011 Dubai Motor Show. On display alongside huge British flags were the MG 350, the MG 3 and the MG 6, joining the MG 550 and the MG 750 that debuted earlier this year in the UAE. If the naming convention confuses you, we haven’t figured it out either.
Peugeot has finally launched the 508 sedan in the GCC, debuting it at the 2011 Dubai Motor Show. Available for more than a year in Europe, the 508 is intended to be a replacement for both the 407 and the 607.
The 2012 Lexus ES 350 is now available in the UAE, and looks the same as before. The best way to spot it is by the dealer-installed LED driving lights up front.
The 2011 Dubai Motor Show, held from the 10th to the 14th of November, remains the biggest auto show in the region, with multiple GCC launches and large stands showcasing cars that will hit the market soon as 2012 models. Among the notable debuts were the new Toyota Camry, Nissan Sunny, Kia Rio, Hyundai Veloster, Mazda CX-5, Volkswagen Scirocco R, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, Ford Focus, BMW M5 and many more. Photos by Faisal Khatib.