News

The highlight of my day today was watching a tiny woman in a Toyota Prado ram into the side of some guy’s Chevy Optra for no apparent reason, reinforcing the unfortunate stereotype that most women are poor drivers, as much as I hate to mention this. Maybe she couldn’t see over the steering wheel. Of course this region has its share of men with poor driving skills too. And oh yeah, and I picked up a 2008 Toyota Corolla. A 1.6-litre version no less. It’s been a while since I drove a car this slow. But I’d like to thank Toyota’s PR-lady-of-the-year Marwa for keeping us at the top of the test-drive list.

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The 2009 Nissan Murano has been officially unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The profile is much the same as the current Murano, but the rear benefits from new LED tail-lights and there is an optional panoramic roof, along with a power upgrade for the standard V6.

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Yep, I suddenly remembered the trio of 4WDs that Nissan unveiled here, and figured I should try out some of them. So I just picked up this Xterra (having waited for an hour for it at the showroom after some potential “customer” stole the test car for longer than he was supposed to have it). It is a very basic truck that does exactly what it advertises — off-road prowess with none of the fluff.

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I am currently being bombarded by press releases from carmakers touting their Something-Of-The-Year awards handed to them at a glittering ceremony by CAR Middle East magazine. And I am trashing them as soon as I receive them.

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This is the 2009 Lincoln MKS, Ford’s attempt at rejuvenating the dying Lincoln brand, unveiled at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show currently running this November. It is a full-size luxury car based on the Ford Five Hundred platform, which itself is a derivation of the Volvo S80 platform. In other words, it is a front-wheel-drive barge competing in a world of rear-driven powerhouses.

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A world-record speed of 330.6 kph was set on the high-speed test track in Nardo, Italy with a Maybach 57 powered by a 720 hp Brabus-tuned SV12 S Biturbo engine, making it the world’s fastest ultra-luxury large sedan. The Brabus engineers and test drivers bested their own record set in 2005 when a Maybach 57 powered by a Brabus SV 12 Biturbo engine with 631 hp was clocked at 314 kph.

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A Dubai-based engine manufacturer today announced plans to be the UAE’s first mass producer of automobiles. Except that there isn’t really a market for its cars in this country.

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Our PR person, simple-minded Diego, is not much of a car guy. But he brought my attention to a car he became interested in during the Dubai Motorshow, lost among all the supercars that few can afford. It was the Chinese-built BYD F3, which looks insulting similar to the Toyota Corolla at front, and the Honda City at the rear. The interior is completely lifted from the last-generation Corolla, with upgrades such as (fake?) wood and (fake?) leather. All for Dhs 29,900.

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At the Dubai Motor Show, General Motors showcased their production 2-Mode full hybrid version of their full-size Chevrolet Tahoe. To clarify, a hybrid vehicle runs on petrol, but uses the movement of the vehicle to store electrical energy for use to run the vehicle when the additional power of petrol isn’t necessary, thereby saving fuel. Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) and GM have agreed to use 5 of these special Tahoes, as well as 5 Chevy Malibu hybrids in a trial run. Some 40 taxis drivers and 15 technicians will also be trained to handle these vehicles.

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Infiniti revealed three new models for the GCC market. Making their debut only a day before the Dubai Motor Show, the new cars are the G37 Coupe, the EX35 compact crossover and the M35 midsize luxury sedan.

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