Forget the 0-100 sprints and the lap times. When it comes down to a muscle car like the 2011 Ford Mustang GT, it needs to be practical to sell. Otherwise, if cars sold solely on its performance credentials, Ford would just build a two-seater with no boot, and no leather, and no radio.
The 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe is probably the most eye-catching car built by the General’s luxury arm since the tail-finned chrome barges of the 1960s. The fact that we snagged the V-series version of the coupe simply adds flame to the proverbial fire. The story is that we skipped the Lebanon launch event for the CTS Coupe in September, so we were promised an early look at the car when it became available for tests here. We suspect that, after losing two CTS-V sedans to retarded journalists, GM is a bit wary of handing over their expensive hypercar to amateurs now,
Back in 2008, Ford has released their full-size Five Hundred in the GCC, and it was a nicer alternative to the classic Crown Victoria. While it had potential, the dull exterior and interior were a let down. However, for 2010, Ford redressed the Volvo-based platform, and renamed it the Taurus. So what is the new Taurus? Just a redesigned Five Hundred? I purchased a 2010 Taurus SEL in Riyadh this summer, so let’s find out.
BMW had a track event at the Dubai Autodrome racetrack last week. Dubbing it “X Meets M Roadshow”, it was an attempt by BMW to legitimise the X5 M and the X6 M as true sporting vehicles worthy of the M badge, while also having the M3 as well as regular X5 and X6 models at hand for comparison. Interestingly, it was even open to the public, and all you had to do was sign up on BMW’s regional website for a slot. The only problem was BMW’s local outfit chose to advertise this event on everywhere except the Middle East’s most popular car website,
When the Skoda dealer rep dropped off the 2011 Superb 3.6 at our doorstep and gave me a briefing, he chose to swiftly mention one little feature, called Park Assist, which we thought was just a parking sensor system. Later we were digging through the instruction manual to figure out where the USB port was (there isn’t one), and we found the section that told us how to operate the automatic parallel parking feature!
So we were offered a brand new 2011 Lexus LX 570 for a weekend, or what we like to call the “Lexus Land Cruiser.” Since we didn’t get invited to the actual Toyota Land Cruiser 5.7 launch event, we figured we’d take the LX anyway, since it is essentially the same thing, and we’d indirectly reacquint ourselves with the Land Cruiser. But since we had already reviewed the 2008 LX before, we used this truck for a fuel economy test instead.
Apparently Porsche has been offering a factory customisation service for their cars for the last 25 years which few know about. The company claims it has a team of around 100 workers whose sole job is to work on this Porsche Exclusive programme.
Chrysler held a two-day media event for the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the UAE. And by “all-new”, we really do mean all-new. Now based on a Mercedes-Benz M-Class platform, that’s where the similarities end between the former siblings, as the Jeep is a completely unique vehicle.
Fuel prices have gone up as much as 27% this year, so Hertz UAE says they have examined typical driving habits and compiled a series of tips which not only will help save on fuel costs, up to Dhs 600 per year, and incidentally cut pollution too, but also indirectly promote better driving habits and road safety standards in the UAE. Some of these tips we’ve mentioned before, some are common sense, but some are actually new.
It is rather amazing how some car manufacturers are actually going backwards in design and creating dullards like the “all-new” VW Passat, the Audi A6 and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. And then there are some manufacturers whose newest models pretty much look as if they belong at an auto show as a concept car. Like the Infiniti M, the Hyundai Sonata, the Kia Optima, and now the 2011 Volvo S60.