The current generation of the Nissan Murano has been out for a year now in the GCC, and is a rather rare sight on Dubai roads, partly due to an massive increase in price and partly because that increase came in the middle of the worst recession ever. However, the newly-premium Murano had actually debuted two years ago in Europe, so their version has received a facelift for 2011.
The Hyundai Genesis Coupe debuted for 2010 with much fanfare, being directly compared to the Infiniti G37 Coupe by the foreign media. It was launched in the UAE in only a single V6 trim level, priced almost half as much as the tiny Nissan 370Z. We never drove it, but we did feel it up at the Dubai showroom. The interior was a let-down in terms of materials, but it looks like Hyundai has addressed that for the 2011 model year.
BMW Group Middle East has completed the first six months of 2010 with a 13% sales growth over the same period in 2009. Across 14 Middle East markets, the world’s most successful premium automotive manufacturer delivered 8,096 BMW and MINI vehicles to customers, signaling the underlying strength of both brands in the region.
Law enforcers have been busy in the UAE for the past couple of weeks. The hottest news of the week are discounts for traffic fines in Abu Dhabi. Ajman has its own set of problems, with impersonators robbing people. And then there is the annual dilemma of where to leave your car during the holidays.
It looks like Oman is the first country in the GCC to receive the all-new 2011 Kia Sportage. Apparently launched by the middle of June, the new Sportage offers similar equipment packages to the Hyundai Tucson, on which it is based.
One of our readers, Nabeal Malik, spotted this 2011-2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS prototype filling up at a petrol station in Dubai. The next-generation CLS-Class has been spotted in Dubai before, undergoing hot-weather testing, but this time, it has distinctly less camouflage than before, as the final body styling has already been finalised.
Alongside the stunningly popular Honda Accord Crosstour, Honda also revealed a pair of motorcycles at a UAE press event in Dubai. One would be the VT1300CX and the other is the VFR1200F. Both are niche products for Honda, considering they are better known for their superbikes.
Fiat launched the compact 2010 Bravo hatchback in the UAE, marking its return to the GCC with its second model, after a gap of nearly a decade. Joining the Fiat 500, the Bravo was locally revealed at a press event held in Abu Dhabi.
Honda Middle East launched the new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour in the GCC, debuting during a press event at the Atlantis hotel in Dubai. The American-built Accord Crosstour will be available in only one V6 trim level in the UAE, and “combines the sophisticated refinement of a premium sedan with versatile characteristics of an SUV to create an entirely distinct concept within the crossover segment.” Indeed.
We took our first ever 2010 long-term car on a trip from Dubai to Ras-Al-Khaimah, partly as an excuse to test the highway behaviour of the Chevrolet Malibu LTZ on a long drive, and partly to meet our resident desert-safari-driving friend, who happens to live in that rocky city.