For a company hell-bent on protecting its brand image, even going as far as blocking us from reviewing their cars, it is ironic that they create their own problems. Volkswagen of America has announced a “voluntary” recall involving 13,500 vehicles equipped with its notorious DSG automanual transmission. Models affected by the recall include the Golf GTI, the Eos and the Mexican-built Jetta, built between September 2008 and August 2009.
Well-known Porsche tuners 9ff has introduced their version of the Porsche Panamera hunchback sedan, which is yet to go on sale in the GCC even in stock form. The 9ff version is still in the design stage.
We were not invited, but apparently the 2010 Mazda 3 was launched at a Dubai showroom in the UAE, with simultaneous debuts for the Oman and Saudi Arabian markets. While they proudly claim to be the newest compact car in the GCC, it is also the most disappointing new car released this year.
We are currently cruising in a 2009 Volvo XC60, and it is a vehicle that packs in a whole new set of safety technologies that border on invasive. However, given Volvo’s past, that was to be expected. For the Swedish company is responsible for the invention of the 3-point seat-belt, and is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Delivering even more engine power, lower weight and shorter transmission ratios, as well as upgraded body and suspension components than all previous GT3 versions, the new 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS is the latest street edition of the GT3 race car. It will be introduced at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show this September.
Seat, the VW-owned Spanish manufacturer, will use the Frankfurt Motor Show in September to unveil the new Seat León Cupra R, the most powerful model in the company’s history, outclassing even Audi and VW models.
While none of the lap timings set at the German Nurburgring racetrack are officially sanctioned, small-time carmaker Gumpert claims that their new Gumpert Apollo Sport has set a new lap record for a road-legal production car at the track, timed and reported by German magazine Sport-Auto.
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, has become the fourth largest auto manufacturer in the world. Based on figures from the Automotive News Data Centre, the Korean carmaker has overtaken Ford, which saw its sales fall by more than 30% in 2009.
A wild horse collided with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution rally car, causing the animal to be catapulted 9 metres into the air, during the Argentine Rally in South America. Driver Federico Villagra slammed his rally car straight into the horse, which was seriously injured and had to be put down. Two other horses narrowly avoided striking the car. The crash did not injure the driver, but the incident cost him 30 seconds during the race.
Two years after showing off the 308 RCZ concept car at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, Peugeot will present the production Peugeot RCZ coupé at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Also debuting alongside the RCZ are the RCZ hybrid concept, the 3008 hybrid concept, the all-new 5008 minivan, and low-emission versions of existing models, namely the 207 ’99g’, 107 ‘106g’, 308 ‘120g’, 407 ‘129g’ and 3008 ‘130g.’