So I went to yet another corporate Iftar party, this time hosted by Renault, and while my PR guy was stuffing himself as usual, I noticed in their presentation that the Renault Symbol was going to be launched in Dubai and the GCC sometime next year, along with the Logan. The Symbol would replace the outdated Clio Classic sedan.
I occasionally find “complimentary” local car magazines lying around in coffee shops, since most of these rags are given away free rather than sold or recycled. I was reading one of the “leading” ones (aren’t they all “leading?”), and saw an awful review that copy-pasted stuff from press releases. Do you really need to know whether the “knuckles” in the suspension system are made of steel or aluminium? Do you even care enough to know that a car has knuckles? I sure don’t. I turn the page and there is a review for another car, with no engine or gearbox details mentioned whatsoever.
Here is an extended TV ad for VW’s American-market Routan minivan. While has-been actress Brooke Shields is somewhat funny, the bigger joke is that the ad seriously keeps emphasising the “German engineering” of the Routan. Anyone with half brain will realise that the Routan is simply a rebadged facelifted version of the all-American Chrysler Grand Voyager. VW continues to feed off people’s ignorance, selling unremarkable “upscale” Passats, overpriced “reliable” Golfs, Mexican-built “European” Jettas, and now this. Thankfully, the Routan isn’t destined for GCC markets.
The Audi Q7 V12 TDI is going to be launched in Europe soon, and Audi chose to release photos of the new vehicle which were obviously taken in the UAE. Of course, even Audi isn’t dumb enough to release a TDI truck in Dubai at a time when diesel costs twice as much as petrol.
General Motors has announced that the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse will hit Middle East showrooms this December. The Traverse, already on sale in the United States, is a reskinned version of the existing GMC Acadia crossover SUV.
We’ve pretty much revealed the 2009 Honda City completely already, but we might as well report on the official launch of the new model in Thailand, for sale in neighbouring countries such as India, Malaysia and China.
Mercedes-Benz will be showing off this concept model at the 2008 Paris Auto Show. Called the ConceptFASCINATION or whatever, it offers a clear preview of the upcoming 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
While most of us here in the GCC support Obama as the next president of the United States (including me, since we share the same middle name), I found this little tidbit about the other “white old guy” running for president. Senator John McCain’s 54-year-old wife, Cindy McCain, has been trained in the art of drifting. While she describes herself as a below-average drifter, she is still a hell of a lot better than me.
BMW will be showing a crossover version of the Mini at the 2008 Paris Auto Show. Although only a concept for now, it hints at the design direction for future Minis, while gauging consumer reaction to a possible new variant to the Mini line.
Chevrolet’s last attempt at a minivan, called the Uplander, was a total disaster. Their new attempt will be shown off as a concept at October’s Paris Auto Show.