GCC

Recalls are boring news. They’re in fact so boring that we only cover them once in a while now. The number of recalls per month has actually reduced since the last time we did a rundown, by about 35%. Of course, the general media still chooses to sensationalise some recalls more than others, especially anything to do with Toyota. In the past two months, there have been recalls by Lexus, Land Rover, General Motors, Ford, Honda, Suzuki, Chrysler, Saab and even Mazda, the last of which is a hilarious one.

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For a taste of what we don’t get here, for one reason or another, here is the 2011 Kia Sportage SX Turbo that just debuted in the United States.

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For those not in the know, a hybrid is a car with a petrol engine that also has an electric motor attached that provides additional power when needed and recharges its battery as the car moves, all while saving petrol, saving the environment and saving the whales. The theory goes that petrol is cheap in the GCC, so no one cares about hybrid cars. While that is definitely true, we live in the UAE, which boasts the highest petrol prices in the region and is proudly increasing prices further to match international market rates eventually. Suddenly, a hybrid doesn’t seem like a bad idea after all.

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Toyota has already confirmed that the FT-86 sports car, the spiritual successor to the 1980s “AE86” Corolla, is set for production. This is the third concept to show off the car, a bit different than before and closer to the actual version that will hit showrooms in late 2012 as a 2013 model.

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The 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. Apparently named after a courageous bull, the light weight and new engine of the all-wheel drive Aventador will be more powerful and fuel-efficient than the Murcielago, the model its replacing.

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The 2012 Hyundai Accent isn’t a car anyone was anxiously waiting for. That isn’t to say no one anticipates sub-compact cars with sweaty palms. The launch of the next-generation Toyota Yaris is going to be a big event in the lives of many in the UAE. Nothing else comes close to the Yaris in popularity. The Accent has always been sidelined. However, we just drove the all-new 2012 Hyundai Accent from Dubai to Fujairah and back, and it’s a car that can give Toyota some sleepless nights.

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Peugeot has revealed the new 308. The 2012 Peugeot 308 gets a minor face-lift and some engine changes, improving fuel efficiency. A full debut will take place at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

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Harley-Davidson recently opened their Middle East headquarters in Dubai, and alongside their new regional presence in the GCC, they’ve launched a new motorcycle model, called the Blackline, based on the Harley-Davidson Softail model.

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The longest-serving and most-outdated Mercedes-Benz model series, the G-Wagen, continues to enjoy strong sales around the world, including the Middle East. While its off-road capabilities have little to do with the Gelandewagen’s success, the company is still celebrating its GCC popularity with a special edition exclusively designed for the Middle East, dubbing it the G-Class Arabia 100 Limited Edition.

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Volkswagen as released new images of the upcoming facelifted 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. The model hasn’t received any new exterior changes since its debut way back in 2007, and this redesign can be treated as a mid-cycle refresh.

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