The entire existing Mini range has been facelifted for the 2011 model year, including the Convertible and the Clubman. Available from September in Europe, the changes relevant to the GCC are cosmetic only, as the petrol engines are carried over unchanged.
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.
Among the clutter of tuner cars at the SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas last year, Chevrolet showed off a V6-powered Camaro with a body kit and a painfully green paintjob. Dubbed the Synergy Special Edition, that car will now be offered as a limited-edition trim level, with some coming to the GCC soon.
The American-market Honda Accord has received a facelift for 2011, which amounts to little more than a nose-job and a bit of fiddling with the tail lamps. Engine choices and transmissions remain the same, although a few bits of equipment have been added.
Few companies offer media drives of their all-new models in the UAE itself before they become available to consumers. And we don’t get invited to most of them because they are afraid of us. However, Fiat is making a comeback in the region, and they did invite us to their 2010 Bravo unveiling in Abu Dhabi, complete with a fleet of European-spec test cars for the event.
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.
Our Chevrolet Malibu long-termer has gone back to the General for use in some photo shoot, so they’ve provided us with a temporary replacement car, simply as a courtesy. The car happens to be the graphite 2010 Chevrolet Cruze that we tested a few months ago, so there isn’t much left to say about it, other than how much fun it is to throw around a good-handling compact car. Incidentally, Chevrolet Arabia is giving away a Cruze every day during the FIFA World Cup.
Volkswagen has announced the world debut of its all-new 2011 VW Jetta, apparently as a unique design just for sale in North America, and complete with 1990s styling. The words “German engineering” are being thrown around a lot by marketing types, almost as if trying to hard to hide the fact that it will be built in Mexico. Reports suggest the new model underwent strict cost-cutting measures to make it more competitive price-wise.