Here is one controversial story that has been largely buried by the automotive press. According to an article at ThisIsMoney.co.uk, the UK’s most reliable new car is the European-spec Honda Accord, while the stylish Audi A5 is most likely to break down, according to the 2009 Which? car survey.
Porsche has debuted the 2010 version of the Porsche 911 Turbo, and it would seem that all the updates are under the skin rather than on the outside. The new 911 Turbo apparently boasts improvements in fuel efficiency, lower weight, more power, and enhanced driving dynamics.
Volkswagen Middle East has launched the “new” sixth generation of the VW Golf GTI in the UAE and other GCC markets. The 2009 GTI is largely the same as the old model, with the mildest of power increases and the addition of more technology to make it handle better.
So far, Lotus cars have officially only gone on sale in Saudi Arabia, while customers in the UAE and the rest of the GCC have to stare in jealousy. Lotus also sells cars in the United States, where they are now offering new a factory-engineered and warranted supercharger kit for naturally-aspirated Elise and Exige models.
Before anyone gets too excited, this is not a full-blown comparison test. Getting the Nissan GT-R for a test drive was a good excuse as any to assemble a few other sports cars and a photographer. We’ve had our 2000 BMW M Roadster for more than a year, the 2009 Nissan GT-R tester was with us for only a few days, and our friend’s 2009 Ferrari F430 Spider was still being broken in so we couldn’t push it. But we did get a feel for three different approaches to speed.
Run by Tym Switzer, American tuning firm Switzer Performance has introduced their 800 hp P800 package for Porsche’s track-focused GT2 last June, but apparently a number of customers asked if they could get the same power upgrade from the all-wheel-drive 911 Turbo model. So they went ahead and created one.
The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, staid and boring in stock form, doesn’t exactly look any better after extensive modifications. The new RS-Kit by Carlsson attempts to give the GL a “sporty” look, but ends up looking more like a thug.
The modified Porsche Cayenne Turbo Balrog is the work of “car stylist” Jeremie Paret, former editor at a French “luxury tuning” magazine, who last year decided to start a new business called Balrog’s Garage. The Cayenne Balrog is his first offering.
The limited-edition Ferrari Enzo has been out of production for a while now, and while its numbers are depleting due to regular accidents, other owners may want yet more power to push their luck. That’s where Edo Competition comes in.
RUF claims to be an independent car manufacturer, and is also registered as such in Germany. In reality, they are an exclusive Porsche tuner, and their latest 911-based offering is the RUF Rt 12 S.