When Ford gave the Bronco a new life, Jeep revealed a new V8 Wrangler in a frantic effort to regain some of the stolen limelight. But alongside the V8 Wrangler, they also teased a genuinely interesting version of the Wrangler. That was the icon’s first plug-in-hybrid version, which just debuted as the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4Xe.
The Jeep Wagoneer is a completely unknown entity in the Middle East, but to baby boomers in the United States, it is a name as well-known as the Wrangler. It was a classic 5-door SUV that debuted in 1962 and somehow carried on largely unchanged till 1991! It was replaced by the modern-at-the-time 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and while the current Grand Cherokee itself is stagnating with minor updates for the past decade, there is an all-new Wagoneer range of models on the way, as previewed by the full-size Jeep Grand Wagoneer concept that debuted today.
Mercedes-Benz is calling their S-Class the “world’s best car,” which is quite the self-awarded title. Though the tag is a debatable one, there is no second opinion on the fact that the S-Class has been a leader in the full-size luxury sedan segment since forever (and we owned one!). And now, Mercedes-Benz improves their so-called “best car” even further, introducing the new W223 generation. Just like every S-Class before it, the new 2021 S-Class is a massive leap ahead of the outgoing one.
Bentley is in the process of updating its range to flaunt a new design language. Their Continental GT and Flying Spur models have already received the treatment and the recently-revealed mid-cycle facelift of the Bentayga brought the behemoth closer to the rest of the range. The Speed version has just been announced.
The 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 recently made its way to our local shores as one of the most anticipated cars of the year, received with mixed reactions before its limelight was stolen by far more retro Ford Bronco and maybe the upcoming Jeep Wrangler V8. We had a go at it on UAE sand to see if the modernised new model does justice to the nameplate.
If ever there were roads least suited to a hypercar, here they are. The ribbon of tarmac that stretches ahead is littered with an assortment of lumps and bumps, with some sections of bitumen having crumbled away altogether. The snaking route is also so narrow in parts that there’s just enough space for two cars to pass in opposing directions without rubbing shoulders.
The Ford Bronco caused quite a stir when it debuted about a month ago, far more than anything that rivals from Jeep and Land Rover could cook up. However, with the top engine option limited to a 310 hp 2.7-litre turbo V6, it seemed like Ford left something on the table for a future higher-performance model such as a Ford Bronco Raptor. That plan was invariably “confirmed” after a long-time Ford engineer mentioned he (or she?) is working on a “2023 Bronco Raptor” on their LinkedIn job profile.
Toyota’s workhorse pickup is now available in a “consumer” trim, as the the 2021 Toyota Hilux Adventure is now available in dealerships across the GCC. The Adventure version is fittingly on display at the Dubai Festival City mall right now, signifying that for the first time in the UAE, a variant of the Hilux can be bought by any expat individual rather than just by companies and nationals.
The Ford F-150 Raptor carved a new niche for itself when it came out first, slotting itself in as a performance pickup. Since then, the Raptor has been enjoying a sort of monopoly with no mainstream manufacturer daring to lighten its halo. But after years of teasing and dawdling around, FCA has finally debuted their version of a fast offroading truck, the 702 hp Hellcat V8-powered 2021 Ram 1500 TRX.
Indian utility vehicle manufacturer Mahindra was never a big player in the Middle Eastern market, although a few models are starting to trickle down to showrooms here. Their far more comprehensive U.S. operation recently they took a legal jab from FCA for “copying” the design of the Wrangler for their Roxor off-roader, even though the latter wasn’t meant for road use nor was it a Wrangler rival. While the U.S. factory had to shut down, back at home in the lucrative Indian market, Mahindra hit back with an uppercut. Here is the 2020 Mahindra Thar.