Volkswagen is unveiling the 2010 version of their Polo sub-compact hatchback at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. It is a complete makeover, although the exterior and interior will be very familiar to any VW owner. The most prominent feature is the undistinguished new corporate face.
The American Chevrolet Volt has already been revealed, not quite ready, but confirming its final form when it does hit production in 2010. Now Opel, GM’s European arm, has revealed its own version of the Volt, calling it the Opel Ampera. While the play on the name is amusing, what is more interesting is the Ampera, just like the Volt, claims an electric-only range of 60 km, with a total range of 500 km aided by a small petrol engine.
Mercedes-Benz has revealed that they are working on a new supercar called the SLS AMG. Announced at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, the German manufacturer has confirmed that the car will feature gullwing doors similar to the classic 1950s 300SL, which eventually evolved into today’s SL-Class.
After ages spent on the waiting list, we finally got our hands on a BMW X6. The version home-delivered to us also happened to be the xDrive50i version, powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, if we remember correctly. BMW’s new naming convention is too confusing. Either way, we managed to park it right next to some random X5, so the differences between the two models became all the more clearer. And thus began our test of the loved/hated X6, both on-road and off-road.
The last time we drove a Peugeot 407, it was 2005, and it was our second ever official test car. It was a 2.0-litre version, and while we didn’t do performance tests back then, it didn’t take a rocket-scientist to figure out that it was a slow car. Fast-forward to 2009, and the 407 has received a tiny facelift, and this time we got a 2.2-litre version. It really is a better car.
So we got a brand-spanking-new 2009 Chevrolet Traverse from the General. We were told that we were at the top of the list for this one, although seeing many of these on the streets beforehand suggests otherwise. Either way, I knew it was going to be a good-looking vehicle. It really looks like a premium-branded vehicle, appearing much more classy than bulldogs like the Audi Q7 and the Mercedes-Benz GL, none of which will ever realistically touch a grain of sand. It looked good enough for my PR guy to start leaving drool-stains on the bonnet.
The world is flooded with tiny companies building numerous forgettable exotic cars. But a European outfit called Tramontana is one company that has come up with something truly original. Their creation is called, simply, the Tramontana R Edition.
Set to debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, the Bentley Continental Supersports is being touted as the fastest and most powerful Bentley ever created. Based on the Continental GT, this extreme Bentley gets more power, loses some weight and seats only two. Set to go on sale by late 2009, the Supersports can also run on the E85 petrol-ethanol fuel available in America, thereby touting some dubious green credentials.
The 2009 Ford Fiesta has just hit the GCC market, and to celebrate, Ford dealers in Dubai are offering 24 special-edition models, with each one sporting a unique paint-job.
Apparently we are among the first people to test-drive the Hummer H3T in the UAE. I drove it all over Dubai on the first morning, which involved embarrassing parallel parking incidents. Anyway, I had decided to do a proper off-road test on another day, and handed over the truck to my PR guy. He promptly returned it to me the next day, with a broken alloy wheel, a sandy interior, and a number of disabled electronics. Never let amateurs go camping with your 4X4.