First Drive

The new fourth-generation 2023 Nissan X-Trail has been completely refreshed and was recently launched in the UAE and the rest of the GCC. The new model has a bolder design and features lots of new technology and safety features. Starting at just AED 99,900, it is positioned as an urban crossover in a very competitive compact segment. Like its predecessor, the fourth-generation trims come with a 7-seater option as well. It follows Nissan’s new design language, which we have seen already on the new Pathfinder that was released last year.  

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Scorching performance and taut dynamics are givens in any car rolled out by BMW’s M Division, but the M2 arguably nails the sweet spot better than any other model. Fast, compact and agile, it recaptures the feisty spirit of past Bavarian icons such as the BMW 2002 Turbo and the much-loved E30 M3.

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Entering the UAE market of competitive premium sedans dominated mainly by German manufacturers, the Chinese-built Hongqi Ousado hopes to make its mark in the world of automotive luxury. Saudi-based ALTAWKILAT officially launched Hongqi vehicles in the UAE as its exclusive distributor for the region.

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Once upon a time, an SUV’s intended purpose was to haul loads and go off-road, while coupes leant towards sporty looks, low-roofed proportions and – in some cases – rapid acceleration and taut handling dynamics.

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There’s been an inexorable softening of the all-terrainer genre over the past couple of decades, as most contenders in the category have chased cushy ride quality and car-like handling at the expense of mud-mauling, boulder-conquering heroics.

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After a mid-life revamp, the GTS version of the Porsche Macan finds itself as the flagship of the German carmaker’s sub-compact crossover line, as the Macan Turbo disappears from the current range. Not that it matters though, as the new GTS is just as powerful as the “old” Turbo.

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The Urus has been a runaway success for Lamborghini (it currently accounts for more than 60 per cent of the brand’s sales), but the rapid all-terrainer has now been around for four-and-a-half years, so the time was ripe to rejuvenate it with a mid-life revamp.

Cue the new Lamborghini Urus S, which will slot in as the base model of the range in the first quarter of 2023, sitting below the recently unveiled Performante. The Urus S sports the same 666hp/850Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 as the latter, although it doesn’t ditch air suspension in favour of steel springs,

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Cadillac has been shaking up their performance line-up. It’s all about the badges at the back of the car. After The ATS was rebranded as the CT4, the Cadillac CT4-V was downgraded to an entry-level sports sedan, placing it among the BMW M Sport, Audi S-whatever and second-tier Mercedes-AMG “43” or “45” models. That’s because GM had plans to introduce the Blackwing version within the V-Series line-up. The CT4-V Blackwing takes the battle to the BMW M and top-tier Mercedes-AMG models, and it literally has a black wing to boot.

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BMW has revamped its X7 SUV, and the key change among its raft of updates is a radical new four-eyed face that brings the jumbo-sized crossover in line with its ultra-luxo siblings (the recently revealed 7 Series/i7 and XM performance SUV). The 2023 BMW X7 is also the first from the German premium brand to be offered with optional XXL 23-inch rims.

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Ferrari recently rolled out its blisteringly fast 296 GTB hybrid V6-powered supercar and – predictably enough – in its wheel-tracks comes the 296 GTS, which uses the same core ingredients as its sibling but adds alfresco (open-air) cruising capability to the mix.

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