I’ve hardly driven our Nissan Altima 3.5 SE tester at this point, but right now it isn’t what I’d call “class-leading,” considering how noisy the tractor-like V6 engine sounds. Combine that with a CVT tranny, and the whole setup just feels a bit “off” in a car with sporting pretensions.
The 2008 Geneva Auto Show is nearing, but Volvo jumped the gun and revealed their all-new XC60 compact 4WD softroader. Quite possibly based on some Ford platform, the 2009 XC60 is admittedly aiming for a small niche market among Volvo fanboys, if there is such a thing.
Ford has redesigned their Australian-only Falcon, calling it the FG series. While it looks great, it really looks like more of a minor update on an outdated car. But with rear-wheel-drive and insanely powerful engine, who cares.
When we last asked for a VW for a test drive, the PR guy mumbled something about the magazines getting priority. It pissed me off enough to ignore them for the next few months. We figured we’d ask them again anyway, and this time they replied with their misguided policies in writing:
While we appreciate your continued interest in test driving Volkswagen vehicles, our test driving policy stipulates that priority is granted to publications in the first degree due to the demand and availability of
the vehicles for such activities. We hope that you can understand our reservations and look forward to continuing on updating you with information from Volkswagen.
The Abu Dhabi numberplate auction held on February 16 has set a new world record for selling the most expensive numberplate ever auctioned. Organised by Emirates Auction in association with Abu Dhabi police, the Code 5 plate numbered “1” fetched Dhs 52.2 million. That’s about US$14.4 million for a numberplate. The plate is expected to adorn a luxury car that only costs a fraction of that amount.
Ford will be pulling the wraps off its first crossover 4WD in Europe next month in Geneva. Based on a previous concept, the Kuga is what the GCC would’ve got here if that niche wasn’t filled in by the Escape.
Based on the Lotus Elise, the Rinspeed sQuba concept, to be shown at the Geneva Auto Show soon, is an all-electric vehicle with three motors, one to drive the car on land and two to power a pair of screw-drives for underwater movement. These are aided by two Seabob jet-drives that “breathe” through rotating louvers mounted on the car’s fenders and appear to give the car its manoeuvrability underwater.
The fiesty Ford Fiesta has been on sale in the GCC for a few years now. But it is so rare on the streets that few people around here even know that it exists. However, it is somewhat popular in Europe, and the 2009 all-new model is about to debut at the Geneva Auto Show soon.
At The Supercar Show in Abu Dhabi, we got to check out the Antas GT Berlinetta in person. The specific car on display cost about 1 million Euros, which comes to around a whopping Dhs 5.4 million. Built by an Italian company called F&M, named after founders Walter Faralli & Luca Mazzanti, the Antas was easily the main attraction of the show. And while all the “cheap” Lamborghinis and Porsches were locked up with “Do Not Touch” stickers all over them, we got a chance to sit inside the Antas, invited by none other than founder Luca Mazzanti.
The production-ready Toyota iQ will be shown for the first time at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show soon. Based on an earlier concept, details are still sketchy about this European-market car.