The local dealer for Nissan organised an event for safari tour companies in the UAE to thoroughly test the all-new 2010 Nissan Patrol in the local deserts. Dubbed regionally as the ‘Hero of all Terrain’, the 2010 Patrol just recently went on sale on April 1st at showrooms across the UAE, and Nissan seems keen to make tour operators replace their Toyota Land Cruisers with Nissan Patrols.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Ferrari theme park and largest attraction of its kind, has announced that it will open its doors to the public on October 28, 2010, three weeks ahead of the second Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The long anticipated opening date was announced in a ceremony held on 6th May 2010 at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, attended by representatives from Ferrari, Aldar Properties PJSC and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.
First-quarter revenues, sales volume and earnings of the BMW Group all improved sharply compared to the previous year. Group revenues grew by 8.1% to euro 12,443 million (first quarter 2009: euro 11,509 million). The profit before tax increased to euro 508 million (first quarter 2009: loss of euro 198 million), while the profit after tax improved to euro 324 million (first quarter 2009: loss of euro 152 million). The profit before financial result (EBIT) was euro 449 million (first quarter 2009: loss of euro 55 million). The total number of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles sold increased by 13.8% to 315,614 units (first quarter 2009: 277,264 units).
Cadillac announced today a 28% increase in total regional sales in Q1 2010. This impressive growth is due to high demand for the all-new SRX luxury crossover vehicle which was successfully launched in the region in January this year, and the continued popularity of both the Escalade full-size utility vehicle and the CTS entry level luxury sedan.
Volvo Cars’ crash-test laboratory in Torslanda turns 10 this year – and the almost 3,000 full-scale tests that have been carried out during the high-tech facility’s first decade have helped give Volvo owners even safer cars.
Al Tayer Motors, the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury importer in the United Arab Emirates, together with Premier Motors – its subsidiary in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, was recently honoured by Ford Middle East for achieving the highest Customer Satisfaction Index rating among all Ford dealers in the Middle East for 2009.
Porsche Centre Dubai, Al Nabooda Automobiles LLC, held a special Porsche Service Clinic from the 29th of April till the 1st of May 2010 at its Service Centre in Al Quoz. The three day event was specifically designed for Porsche customers with cars at the age of three years and above. Clients enjoyed diagnostic vehicle checks, complimentary oil and oil filter changes as well as preferred rates on extended warranties and other premier Porsche products including accessories.
BMW Financial Services has announced a partnership with AQSAT, the financial company of Mohamed Yousuf Naghi, to provide a Shariah-compliant financial package to BMW Group customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Toyota Sequoia caused a riot among faithful followers of the Japanese brand when they released this behemoth in two-wheel-drive “city SUV” trim last year. The big guy had been on sale for years before that in the United States, being built there too. But once the recession hit, America’s new-found focus on “green” cars meant that excess supplies of the truck started being sent here. And now it is finally being offered in offroad-capable 4×4 form.
After going on sale in some GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing was officially unveiled in Kuwait recently.