The 2011 Infiniti QX56 is no more with us, having gone back to Nissan Middle East earlier this month. It was a good ride, initially overwhelming us with its size, but then proving to be very manouevrable in all but the tightest of cases.
Lexus has unveiled the all new LF-Gh hybrid concept at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. According to Lexus, this concept is designed to be a high-performance luxury grand touring sedan while also being able to deliver supreme driving experience, and being as efficient and as “green” in its emission levels as possible.
We weren’t aware that there were any changes planned for the Honda Jazz anytime soon. So when Honda’s Middle East office offered us a test-drive of the 2012 Jazz, we were wondering what had changed. Turns out it is just a facelift.
The first affordable hybrid has landed in the UAE. The Lexus CT 200h is the first hybrid in the GCC that actually fulfills the purpose that hybrids were created for — to save fuel. The rest of the hybrids in the market are overpriced oversized vehicles that do nothing but inflate egos of those who want to appear to be “doing something” for the environment.
Rumours persist that Toyota wants to bring back its iconic sports car, the Supra. Not to be mistaken with company’s upcoming model, FT-86, the plan was initially to release both side by side, although now it looks like it will possibly happen further down the line.
This phase of the year does not seem to be so good for the island nation of Japan, which recently had gone through one of the worst earthquakes ever in March, and an even worse aftermath with multiple aftershocks and nuclear radiation dangers. The nation that rests on the “ring of fire” in the Pacific is home to a large number of well-known automakers, among them Toyota, Nissan and Honda. The quake which struck the nation has also jolted the automakers as well, causing severe damage to their production rate, losing the potential production of over 500,000 cars since then.
This drive was a long time coming. The “Xtreme” package for the Toyota Land Cruiser has been around since late 2008, with any of the LC trims and engines. Modified by an Icelandic firm called Arctic Trucks at their Dubai-based workshop with a full UAE dealer warranty, the Xtreme makes a Land Cruiser look hopped up on steroids, and is now available for the “new” 5.7-litre V8 model that debuted in the GCC recently.
Honda has just launched the facelifted 2012 Jazz in the GCC. There aren’t many changes other than of the cosmetic variety.
This is the final hurrah for our 2011 Infiniti QX56 long-termer, which has already gone back to Nissan Middle East. The QX has some special features and details that can only be discovered in person. So what better way to highlight them than a walkaround video. Be sure to check out the cooler box that opens both from the front and the back, the numerous storage compartments, the abundance of clear buttons, the generous overhead a/c vents and the ease of access to the third-row seat.
We saw images of the facelifted 2010 Toyota Aurion when it debuted in Australia more than a year ago. Then we heard rumblings from readers that a body-kitted model was now available in the Dubai showroom, under the guise of a “Touring” trim. Toyota’s UAE dealer hasn’t advertised the “new” Aurion at all, so we’d never seen this mysterious kit although we did assume it could be the same as the Australian-spec one. But today, we were at the showroom and caught the damn thing.