Dubai

In what amounts to a restriction of personal freedom for people of limited income, UAE’s Sharjah traffic agencies have enacted a ban on issuing driving licences for people in jobs that fall in 100 categories. According to Gulf News, the ban will affect nurses, cooks, carpenters, housemaids, watchmen, tailors, cafeteria waiters, unskilled labourers, gardeners and bakers, among others. The paper confirmed that only Sharjah is implementing the rule.

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The latest generation of the Mini convertible will finally be released at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The new-for-2009 model will of course be based on the second-generation Mini Cooper that was launched in 2007.

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Lexus unveiled the all-new 2010 RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. The RX supposedly pioneered the car-based luxury SUV segment when it launched in 1998 for he American market. The new model continues that old formula almost exactly.

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A couple of weeks ago, Ford Middle East invited us to a two-night all-expenses-paid stay at the Fujairah Rotana resort for the Ford “Ride & Drive” event. The event was designed to give the press some wheel-time with new models such as Ford’s Flex, Fusion and Focus as well as the Mercury Mariner.

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Having spotted a fresh-looking Toyota Innova on the roads, I realised that the 2009 model has received a facelift and quietly released in Dubai. Not that anyone cares, but it remains a spacious family alternative to cramped 4WDs.

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An outfit called Scuderia 250, touted to be the Middle East’s first exclusive supercar club, will be launched in December this year, with operations beginning early next year. It is not a club in the traditional sense, but more like you pay a huge membership fee, and then gain access to a fleet of exotic cars for brief periods of time, for personal use.

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The all-new Mazda 3 has been revealed at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. So far, it looks like it will be called a 2010 model in America, although European markets will call it a 2009. The sedan was shown at the L.A. show, while photos of the hatchback have just been released. A UAE release should happen by early next year.

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Tired of replacing gearboxes due to overuse of the “launch control” feature, Nissan has decided to remove the feature from 2010 models of the Nissan GT-R, according to rumours.

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Arabian Automobiles, the exclusive dealer for Nissan in Dubai and the Northern Emirates introduced the facelifted 2009 Nissan Xterra 4WD at the 2008 Sharjah International Auto Show. While the five-seater Nissan Xterra was designed as a tough outdoor tool, it has actually gained a few comfort features alongside new offroad gadgets.

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