Fiat is apparently making a return to the GCC market, as evidenced at the 2009 Dubai Motor Show with the display of the Fiat 500. The new 500 has been trundling around in Europe for a couple of years now. Event photos by Faisal Khatib.
Taiwanese carmaker Yulong, building cars since the 1950s for their own region, has started their international expansion, starting with the Luxgen line of vehicles in the GCC. Their first product here is the Luxgen7 MPV.
Honda is skipping the 2009 Dubai Motor Show, but that did not stop their UAE office from previewing new models for next year, at a press event in Dubai yesterday. The 2010 Honda Civic 5-door hatchback, Honda Civic Type-R hatchback and the Honda Accord Crosstour were displayed. Also launched were a range of original Mugen accessories.
Peugeot introduced three all-new models at a pre-launch event for the UAE, held on the occasion of the 2009 Dubai Motor Show. The Peugeot 308 CC convertible, the Peugeot 2008 crossover and the Peugeot RCZ coupe will go on sale in the GCC by the end of the first quarter of 2010.
Honda will not be taking part in the 2009 Dubai Motor Show. However, they have chosen instead to showcase their upcoming GCC-spec models for next year at a press event next week. The new models consist of the marque’s funkiest models, in what looks like an attempt to inject some excitement into an otherwise boring UAE line-up of family cars.
The all-new Bentley Mulsanne debuted in the UAE at an event held in Dubai. While we likely looked at a pre-production example, it offered us a view of the complete car as well as what goes into making a customised customer car.
Renault’s truck division introduced their new Kerax truck models at an event in Dubai. They also took the opportunity to introduce the Sherpa military 4×4 in civilian guise for the first time in the GCC. Also at hand were two of the 12 vehicles that went on a “cape to cape” expedition from Norway to South Africa to prove the durability of the trucks.
The 2010 Nissan Qashqai range has received a minor facelift, although mechanical changed are limited. The British market is the first to receive the new models, although the UAE should get them in the coming months.
The sub-compact Mazda 2, a long-running staple of the Mazda line in Europe and Japan, has been launched for the first time in the United States as a 2011 model at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. There have also been vague rumblings that the Mazda 2 is set to go worldwide, and might eventually come to the GCC.
The redesigned 2011 Hyundai Sonata has finally had its first reveal outside Korea, at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. After years of producing boring clones of existing Japanese models, the new Sonata is so far “out there” that it makes even premium brands look cheap in comparison, even if it ultimately looks bulkier than its intended “four-door coupe” styling target.