The latest 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan is probably the ugliest iteration of the German firm’s legendary bestseller. Indeed, no one expected the new-generation model’s Estate wagon version to look any better either. And they were right.
The Middle East’s largest exhibition for auto aftermarket opens from May 31 – June 2 of 2009, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. 966 exhibitors from 46 countries will showcase their products in eight halls.
It has always been obvious that Volkswagen’s designers have no creativity whatsoever, coming up with boring cars and hoping the marketing department can trick naive people into thinking they are cool. Take, for example, their latest “special edition” VW Eos. They named it the Eos White Night, except that the only change involves a white car with a cheesy black-painted roof that makes its folding hard-top look like a cloth roof.
While we never got to drive it for stupid reasons, the 2009 BMW M3 Coupé continues its development. It is going to be offered in special versions under the “M3 Edition Models” banner, offering a choice of four customised cars.
Back before World War II, BMW had identified a certain niche of people who had a yearning for a specific kind of car. “These are people who, once they see an aerodynamic car body with a long and sleek engine compartment, as well as a speedometer extending all the way to 150 kph, feel that strong yearning for wide open roads simply perfect for driving fast, for Alpine passes just begging to be conquered, and for competitors so easy to overtake.” Those were words spoken by BMW when they launched their first roadster in 1934.
It was one of those rare times when I actually looked forward to those long usually-boring press driving events. General Motors Middle East imported ten new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro models to Dubai for the UAE and GCC press launch, and we were among the second bunch of people to drive them, after the “big” magazine people had their fill the day before, but as I saw later, the cars still generated lots of interest on the roads.
Despite advances in safety among compact cars, research is continuing to prove that passengers in a 4×4 are more likely to survive than those in a small compact car in a high-speed crash. But it seems there is legislation coming that would make SUVs “softer” in a bid to reduce the damage done when retards take out innocent people with their tinted 4x4s while talking on the phone with one foot on the dash. Of course, if you drive a small car, you can practice defensive driving instead, to save your money and your life.
BMW’s Dubai dealerships are now offering the all-new GCC-spec 2009 BMW Z4. The new model comes with three engine choices and a standard folding hard-top convertible roof, while also moving up a class in the roadster market.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. In this case, it is for the benefit of car enthusiasts. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, a car that originally retailed for more than Dhs 180,000 in the UAE, has gone through two discounts to come down to Dhs 150,000 now. And now the dealer is offering the choice of a further Dhs 5,000 discount or, interestingly enough, a 330 hp engine power upgrade.
While the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X is only available in a limited number of variants here in the UAE and other GCC countries, the UK market is the only one to get as many as three different versions. Beyond the standard FQ-300 and the upgraded FQ-330, the new Evo X flagship model in Britain is the FQ-400, complete with a factory-tuned 403 hp turbocharged engine.