Mexican-built corporate twins, the Ford Fusion and the Mercury Milan, have barely been on sale in the GCC for a year, but they’ve been available in the American market since at least 2006. Therefore, the cars are due for a major facelift in 2010, and these are the first photos of the production-ready models.
The all-new 2009-2010 Nissan 370Z is due to debut at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show in a few weeks, but trust the internet to ruin whatever surprise there might have been.
Photos of the unmasked Aston Martin One-77 have been leaked. It looks like the new flagship is trying a bit too hard to look modern, considering how flawless current Aston models are.
Suddenly on sale now in Dubai and the UAE is the refreshed 2009 Kia Optima, with a facelifted exterior, and “a new engine that provides more power and better fuel economy.” The 2009 Optima midsizer is also supposedly larger than its predecessors, but we have doubts about that, along with questions over the engine specs.
Lamborghini tells us that they are using the Gallardo LP560-4 for a one-make Super Trofeo race series. Each race will feature 30 of the special race-prepped cars.
Unknown carmaker Carbon Motors is planning to break into the cop car market with a purpose-built police vehicle created new from the ground up. They already have a prototype ready, but there are few other details.
The Italian police were already using two Lamborghini Gallardo patrol cars, donated to them by Lamborghini themselves. Those cars are now “old” models, so to renew their free-rolling-advertisement, the carmaker has now handed over a new Gallardo LP560-4 to the local Polizia.
I hear from AutoMiddleEast that the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GLK was launched at a public event in Dubai. Ironically, while I never heard about this event, I have been invited to a GCC press drive event in Oman, to show off the compact new GLK’s capabilities.
The Toyota Prius has become a fashion icon around the world for those who want to appear environmentally-conscious. It was the world’s first mass-produced four-door hybrid, powered by a petrol engine mated to an electric engine that recharged itself through regenerative braking technology. The current generation of the Prius is most recognisable, and Toyota has chosen to keep its existing shape for the 2010 model, while updating some styling, tech and interior details.
I have a 2006 BMW Z4 Roadster 2.5i, purchased in April 2008 from the BMW agent with 37,000 km. The previous owner was an Emirati woman, and from what I can tell, it was looked after extremely well as the car was in superb condition when I bought it. After driving many cars in the Dhs 100000-150000 price range over a few months, I strolled into the used car dealership by chance one afternoon, had a test drive, and then walked out Dhs 1000 poorer after putting down my deposit.