The Honda CR-X of the 1980s was a Civic-based hatchback-liftback-coupe combo that catapulted Honda’s status among compact sports cars, even if it was rather humble on the spec sheet. Honda has already announced the revival of the car as the CR-Z hybrid, with a concept version already shown at recent auto shows. The brochure for the production version has been leaked.
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.
Celebrating the start of a certain event called the “FIFA Club World Cup UAE presented by TOYOTA,” the sponsoring Japanese manufacturer has dressed up seven Toyota Yaris hatchbacks in the competing clubs’ colours.
Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah looks to take top honours at the Dubai International Rally and secures his sixth Middle East Rally Championship title.
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.
The European-designed Ford Fiesta, available in the UAE for the past year, is the first Euro model to make it to U.S. shores in a long time, and was unveiled at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. Interestingly, the Americans will get a hatchback as well as a sedan version, both of which share only 60% of parts with the European version.
The all-new 2011 Audi A8 has been officially unveiled in the United States. Looking exactly like a stretched version of the A4, the A8 does not hold any surprises.