We often show our distaste for 4WDs that are not really equipped to go offroad. But when BMW released selective footage of their prototype X5 bashing dunes using its fancy-pants XDrive all-wheel-drive system, we figured we’d give it a go too. But to be cautious, we stayed near pavement if anything should happen.
Well, this is interesting. I spotted the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class driving around this random neighbourhood in Dubai, and snapped a photo of this camouflaged car.
Toyota has released the upmarket version of its Blade hatchback in Japan. The Blade is the hatchback version of the new-generation Corolla that is not even available here yet. On sale as of yesterday, the Blade Master and Blade Master G come with the Aurion’s 3.5-litre V6 as standard equipment.
We picked up a 2008 Nissan Murano for only a two-day test, and apparently we are the first ones to drive this new press vehicle. Now admittedly nothing has changed over the 2007 or even earlier models (that we can see), but props to Nissan for not stuffing us at the bottom of any waiting list. And we still have our pimpin’ BMW X5, which we get to keep for four whole days.
I always had many unkind words for the previous the BMW X5. It is driven by overspeeding yuppies, cannot go off-road and did not have a reason to exist. But for some reason, I was anticipating the delivery of the new X5 at my parking lot. There is something to be said about about a big 4WD that can outrun most “normal” cars on the road. And I just had to see the gadgetry that was advertised in the press releases.
In a hilarious turn of events, a 2003 Hummer H2 was beaten by a 1921 Ford Model T Speedster at a road-going hill-climb event in America.
Peugeot has been dead to us lately. Late last year, their Dubai reps postponed our date with a 407 Coupe four times in two months before eventually not responding any more. Not a good way to build a brand by ignoring the Middle East’s largest automotive portal (that’s right, we are the biggest now). Also not good is peddling outdated products such as the 206 and the 307 here. Europe already has a 207 and a 308, and they’ve come up with this concept for the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show this year. Essentially, it will replace the slow 307 CC,
I have updated the Future Preview section to reflect new information on tons of 2008, 2009 and 2010 cars. Spy shots, computer renderings and what not.
The Suzuki SX4 is a bit of a non-starter in the compact market around here, but to spruce up it’s image, Suzuki has developed a WRC rally version of the car.
Project Gotham Racing 4 will be the XBox 360’s flagship driving game. I’ve never played it (or even played anything on the Xbox), but it seems the new game will have a cool intro video sequence, filming for which is in progress in the United States. I couldn’t care less for the slow-mo Arab Run, but the sight of so many cool machines street racing is just amazing.