We were quite eager to test drive the new Volkswagen Golf R. After all, it did leave quite an impression when we first drove the first generation Golf R back in 2011, after the demise of the R32. It almost felt as special as the Nissan GT-R with its all-wheel-drive handling capabilities, and being a practical everyday car at the same time. So how does the latest generation of the most powerful Golf ever feel?
We got a first hand experience on the 1000 Miglia Experience UAE Jubilee Edition which was first announced at the UAE Jubilee Launch back in December, 2021 by Octanium Group. We caught up with the rally on their second-leg of the journey from the InterContinental Fujairah Resort towards Jabel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah and ending the race at 25Hour Hotel, Dubai.
The 1000 Miglia UAE Prologue was a 2 day, 700KM rally race across the emirates. We were paired as a navigator to a seasoned 1000 Miglia driver, Mr. Wilfried Porth who used to be a Member of the Board of Management at Daimler AG and our classic ride for the journey was a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL.
If you lived in the United States over the past two decades, chances are you would’ve heard of OnStar. Pioneered by General Motors, the in-vehicle tech offers a wide range of safety and security services to owners of GM vehicles, and it is now available in the Middle East.
The Jeep Gladiator made its debut back in 2020, after continuous rumours floated around for years of a Wrangler pickup. When it did come out, the design didn’t disappoint – having that distinct front-end of a Jeep Wrangler we have been accustomed to and appreciated over the decades, with the utilitarian body of a four-door pickup. However, the extended length and extra weight over a Wrangler had people understandably raise the question in our region – how well does it do in our desert terrain? We decided to answer that question by taking the Gladiator’s latest trim – the Sand Runner to do some proper dune-bashing in one of the region’s popular offroad camps in Tilal Swaihan,
Given all the historically significant nameplates in VW’s stable, the Teramont is a relatively new addition to the Volkswagen family, and their largest SUV model. Known as Atlas in the United States where it is built and manufactured, this vehicle originally debuted in 2018. Unmistakably sharing DNA with the Volkswagen family, both in terms of style and mechanicals, seems odd that it took so long for VW to jump into this segment.
Porsche has been offering the GTS badge across their models for a while now. The badge is aimed at people looking for the “sweet spot” – have a daily driver that also offers enough performance to enjoy those spirited drives. Porsche recently introduced their latest iteration of the 911 Carrera GTS, which sits nicely between the 911 Carrera S and the 911 Turbo in terms of price and power.
Cars like the Lotus Exige have become rare. Actually they are pretty much extinct, as the Exige ceased production in 2021, as did the Elise and Evora, to be replaced by the more-modern new Emira. We got a chance to drive the Exige 410 Anniversary Edition. The Exige has been around since 2000, but still as exciting to drive, if not more so.
If you spotted an odd-plated “Jeep” roaming around the UAE, it is none other than two brothers who shipped their Mahindra Thar from India to the Middle East. They are beginning a roadtrip from Kerala which will take close to a year, covering around 50 countries by road.
The McLaren GT is the British brand’s most luxurious model in its extensive SUV-free lineup. While most McLarens are usually supercars with loud exhausts and small boots, this one is supposed to be — as the name suggests — their luxury grand touring model.
Ineos set out to build a no-nonsense vehicle for hardcore off-road enthusiasts that mainstream carmakers claim isn’t feasible any more. The result is the Ineos Grenadier, which caught an unexpected amount of attention when it was revealed. We were recently invited by the British company to experience a ride in the Grenadier prototype, right here in the UAE.