Our long-term 2011 Infiniti QX56 is getting easier to manage every day. It takes a while to get comfortable with a vehicle this size. It is, of course, made easier by a myriad of cameras and sensors making sure you don’t hit anything. We took the truck to Hatta this weekend, not for off-roading, but to use it as it was intended — as an all-terrain luxury picnic bus.
Dodge has revealed the 2011 Durango Heat in the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. It is based on the Durango R/T. The R/T gets a V8 engine and the Heat is powered by a V6. Both pretty much look the same.
If you were in the market for a compact European yuppy-mobile, you might want to wait until the 2012 Kia Rio hits the road by winter. Because it is, as with recent Kia products, a stunner, at least in hatchback form anyway.
The 2011 Gulf Bike Week is underway at the Dubai Festival City. Set to run from February 10th to the 12th, it is running alongside a big pop concert. Featured are exhibition halls displaying hundreds of motorcycles from various manufacturers, a bike stunt show, and a gathering spot for local bikers to display their personal motorcycles. Harley-Davidson also used the opportunity to announce that they’ve opened a Middle East office in the UAE. We’ve already done a round of the show and scoped out the most interesting bikes that you might like to see.
Dodge showed off the new 2012 Charger SRT8 at the Chicago Auto Show. Under the hood, the new 6.4-liter HEMI V8 offers more horsepower and torque than the old 6.1-litre HEMI V8. It will also have improved fuel efficiency.
The 2012 Hyundai Genesis debuted at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show with minor exterior design changes, new direct-injection technology for its Lambda V6 engine, new 8-speed automatic transmissions and better chassis tuning. A modern 5.0-litre direct-injection V8 engine is now available with the new 5.0 R-Spec model, which includes unique 19-inch machined-finish alloy wheels, and sport-tuned transmission, suspension and steering calibrations.
The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 debuted at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. It will be the most powerful Camaro developed by Chevrolet. It will have a more developed chassis with improved suspension and brakes for better handling. And of course, the engine will churn out a lot more power with the help of a supercharger.
Cadillac is offering a Black Diamond Edition of the high-performance CTS-V that comes with a host of performance options and exclusive tri-coat paint, called ‘Black Diamond’.
Hertz UAE has opened its first car rental branch in Al Ain to meet demand as the UAE’s garden city grows as a tourism and commercial centre.
Nissan Middle East is now offering a new version of the GT-R in the GCC. It is being termed as the 2012 Nissan GT-R VVIP edition, which is basically another name for the Japanese-market ‘Egoist’ trim level. It is a customisable version of the updated 2011-2012 GT-R, with more power and more luxurious cabin upholstery.