For the last few months, Europe has been playing with the new version of the Nissan X-Trail, as well as a new style-crossover called the Nissan Qashqai. While the Middle East gets the Pathfinder/Murano duo in the midsize 4WD class, the compact 4WD class is only held up by the pathetic old X-Trail. It will be interesting to see which new compact 4WD chooses to bring to this region. X-Trail or Qashqai? Or maybe both?
Here’s a real-life car chase video from America. The guy killed some people and was running from the cops. He didn’t make it. It is a nice demonstration of what happens if you speed in a tall 4WD.
German tuners Startech has unveiled appearance packages for the Dodge Caliber and the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. The kits include body add-ons, larger alloy wheels, exhaust systems and other minor bits.
Dubai is apparently only the fourth city till now to get powerful Honda Goldwing bikes that are fitted to tow a car.
We were recently invited to the regional launch of the 2008 Ford Escape, which has been completely redesigned inside and out. The new Escape comes standard with a 3.0-litre V6 Duratec engine making 200 hp at 6000 rpm and 261 Nm of torque at 4850 rpm, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. It features one of the most advanced safety packages in the small SUV segment, including standard side curtain air bags and AdvanceTrac® with RSC®.
In addition, Ford is quietly switching from advertising outdated GROSS power ratings to more accurate NET power ratings, which was already in use in America since the 1970s and which we have been advocating since we started this website.
Ferrari and the Ferrari Owners Club GB joined forces at Silverstone on Saturday 9 June, 2007, to set a new Guinness World Record for the ‘Largest Parade of Ferrari Cars’, with a parade of 385 Ferrari cars, more than triple the previous record. With road and race cars from every decade of the Prancing Horse’s heritage, Ferrari owners from the UK and all over the world joined together to create a spectacle to celebrate Ferrari’s 60th Anniversary and the Ferrari Owners Club GB’s 40th Anniversary.
German automaker Volkswagen is celebrating its 70th anniversary, and we were sent a brief history of the company that Hitler once controlled. It was once a “people’s car” company, and remains so in Europe, but not exactly around here. Shown above is their latest Golf prototype, packing a 650 hp W12.
Everyone rags on woman drivers. Here’s a video of a completely avoidable mishap in Europe.
As the world knows by now, Oman and Iran has suffered greatly from the onslaught of Cyclone Gonu. Lives were lost and homes were destroyed. It never did reach our base in Dubai, though it probably could’ve washed away the nonsense littering our beaches, also known as The Palm Islands, with a little more force. Anyway, knowing that Oman and Iran have suffered worse disasters than this before, we are sure they will get back on their feet in no time at all.
A few weeks ago, Saab revealed some shots of simply the front end of their 9-3 sedan. The new front end has been applied to the convertible model too, but it seems that changes are actually very few. So 2008 models get the new front and colourless tail-lights, with no other noticeable changes.