The all-new version of the Kia Cerato compact sedan, also known as Forte in some countries and as the K3 in Korea, has been revealed. It took long enough for Kia to get their own version of their parent company’s ground-breaking new Hyundai Elantra.
Suzuki dealears in Oman and Saudi Arabia quietly announced the launch of the 2013 Suzuki Swift DZire sedan, or D’Zire, as they like to call it.
Remember that story that was circulating some time ago, about the driver of a current-generation Toyota Land Cruiser in Saudi Arabia who set his cruise control, and then the car supposedly kept accelerating by itself, setting off a series of events that ended up in the police escorting him at high speeds and eventually shooting out his rear window to shut down the car by triggering the immobiliser? Remember how stupidly fake it all sounded? That’s because it was fake.
Hyundai, one of the world’s fastest-growing automakers, has announced its best ever first-half year sales for the Middle East region. The company registered an increase of 13% in total sales compared to the first six months of 2011, selling 161,554 vehicles. But the sales numbers for each country are more interesting.
A refreshed Japanese-market Suzuki Escudo has been introduced as a 2013 model, although it looks like a facelift that was done just for the sake of having a facelift.
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the 2013 SLS AMG GT in Affalterbach, in an event which marks the end of shelf-life of its original SLS AMG ‘Coupe’ of 2010 and the ‘Roadster’ version from 2011. Henceforth, all SLS AMG models will be of the new GT variety.
Aston Martin has decided to revive the Vanquish nameplate after a surprise showing at the Villa d’Este show in Europe.
Volkswagen Middle East has launched the brand new Passat in the GCC region, now positioned to compete with the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry.
The Ford Expedition is ancient in car years. Dating back to a 2003 design that was mildly updated for 2007, the 2013 Ford Expedition still uses a 310 hp 5.4-litre V8, thankfully mated to a 6-speed automatic and a proper four-wheel-drive system. After years of barely being seen on Middle East roads, we’re told the Expedition is experiencing a revival of sorts in the GCC, even as it nears the end of its life-cycle.
Hyundai’s new generation station-wagon, the i40, which is extensively based on the Sonata sedan, has been officially announced in the Middle East, although we can confirm that it has been sitting at the Hyundai showroom in Dubai for the last few months already.