GCC

Ford chose Dubai’s GITEX 2008 tech-trade show as the venue to launch their 2009 Ford Flex crossover, equipped with their much-hyped Sync entertainment system.

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Porsche held multiple events over the weekend to launch the refreshed 2009 911 range in various GCC countries. Attending the Dubai press event, I saw the new version, and had a hard time picking out differences from the older version. However, most of the changes were under the skin.

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Our buddies at AutoMiddleEast report that the 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse will hit the streets of Dubai soon. In fact, their editor has gone on a press trip to Japan for a drive on a track, as Mitsubishi secretly starts promoting the Eclipse as well as the Lancer Ralliart before their imminent GCC launch.

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In what amounts to the lamest attempt at cost-cutting, Seat has just unveiled a “new” sedan model at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, called the Exeo. It would’ve been interesting, except for the fact that it is just an older-generation Audi A4 sedan with new front and rear designs. Seat was a source of unique designs relative to VW’s boring overpriced cars, but now it seems to be transitioning into a dumping ground for the VW Group’s unwanted designs.

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Toyota’s Dubai-based dealers have already started slapping on photos of the 2009 Toyota Fortuner in vague magazine ads. Toyota doesn’t advertise with us, but they didn’t send us any details about the new model either, so I had to figure out what’s new with this cheap truck.

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There are no more surprises left in Renault’s product portfolio for next year. The French company’s GCC plans include the introduction of the Safrane, the Logan, the Symbol and the Megane, along with the mysterious new Megane Coupe. That Megane Coupe has now been exposed, and it isn’t even a coupe.

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Lotus, the company that pimps out their engineering expertise to the highest bidder, has done it again. They’ve handed over their Lotus Europa to Chrysler, and the result is the Dodge EV, a sports car that looks exactly like its Lotus counterpart, but comes with a hybrid-electric engine. Alongside the Dodge EV, Chrysler has also introduced near-production hybrid versions of the Jeep Wrangler and the Chrysler Grand Voyager.

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So I went to yet another corporate Iftar party, this time hosted by Renault, and while my PR guy was stuffing himself as usual, I noticed in their presentation that the Renault Symbol was going to be launched in Dubai and the GCC sometime next year, along with the Logan. The Symbol would replace the outdated Clio Classic sedan.

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General Motors has announced that the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse will hit Middle East showrooms this December. The Traverse, already on sale in the United States, is a reskinned version of the existing GMC Acadia crossover SUV.

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We’ve pretty much revealed the 2009 Honda City completely already, but we might as well report on the official launch of the new model in Thailand, for sale in neighbouring countries such as India, Malaysia and China.

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