The newly-branded Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has announced a full-blown five-year plan for its extensive brand portfolio that includes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Maserati and Ferrari. Some of the reshuffling sounds smart, a few baffling, and one a retraction of a previous decision regarding SRT.
The last time we drove a Toyota FJ Cruiser, it was 2007 and the recession hadn’t hit yet. Fast-forward to 2014, and that recession has become a footnote in history, but the FJ Cruiser is still around, not looking any different than when it first started out. Now, depending on which rumours you believe, the FJ is on its last legs, and the UAE dealer has created some special models to keep interest alive. One of those models is the FJ Street, a pre-pimped offroader that’s intentionally more about style than about offroading.
Volkswagen recently took the wraps off the 2015 Jetta. The facelifted model was first revealed to the public eye at the 2014 New York Auto Show.
This GTS here is the V8 version of the Maserati Quattroporte. And they’ve tacked on a turbocharger as well. When we drove the Quattroporte S before, with a turbo V6, we felt it was all the car you’d ever need, even in terms of power. And we were right. Because this here GTS, it is absolutely mental!
Lexus has apparently just launched a supercharged version of the LX 570 exclusively for the Middle East market, making its debut in Kuwait.
Land Rover revealed the Discovery Vision concept at the 2014 New York Auto Show. The Concept gives us a glimpse of the new design philosophy to be followed for future Land Rover models.
As I was flying back from the Jaguar F-Type Coupe media drive in Spain, I sat next to a random passenger who happened to be an Australian mining engineer. He told me an equally random story. He asked me why the width of a Space Shuttle’s high-tech booster rockets are what they are. Apparently it’s because the rockets had to be transported via train tunnels, thereby limiting them to that size. What decided the width of the train tunnels? The width of the train tracks. What decided the width of the train tracks? The makers of the train wheels and axles.
Luxgen, Taiwan’s own automotive brand, has finally arrived in the UAE. Better known for building Toyota Corollas in Taiwan on a contract basis, we last encountered Luxgen here in 2010 when we had a chat with the CEO about their Middle East plans. The brand already set up dealerships in Oman and Saudi Arabia in the past few years.
As we’ve said before, the Honda S2000 is supremely reliable when it comes to mechanicals. But keep it in top cosmetic condition is a never-ending battle due to all sorts of random cost-cutting measures by Honda.
Mopar is a name that’s well-known in the States, but not elsewhere. It started out as the brand for the Chrysler Group’s parts and accessories division. Now they are pushing hard in the the Middle East market as they aim to improve service standards and customer care, as well as offer easier access to aftermarket accessories. After the formation of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Mopar logos will now be incorporated on aftersales parts for Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia, SRT and RAM brands. We recently had a chance to sit down with Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO for Mopar brand Service,