Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Justin Bieber drives Lambo to six speeding tickets in Dubai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/justin-bieber-drives-lambo-to-six-speeding-tickets-in-dubai/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/justin-bieber-drives-lambo-to-six-speeding-tickets-in-dubai/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/justin-bieber-drives-lambo-to-six-speeding-tickets-in-dubai/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Huffington Post and Gulf News are reporting that pop star (and by all accounts, terrible driver) Justin Bieber has racked up a number of speeding fines while driving past speed cameras at excessive velocities in Dubai. Piloting his Lamborghini Aventador on Dubai's Shaikh Zayed Road this past Sunday, Bieber racked up a reported six moving violations, according to the Dubai Police. Police apparently tried to make the singer stop, to no avail (it seems as though there's an interesting story not being told in there, somewhere).

Bieber was driving to and from a couple of concerts in Dubai on Saturday and Sunday, at least one of which he was reportedly late to. Fans should be heartened to hear that he was trying his best to make the show on time, we guess.

Interestingly, the Dubai police force has upped the firepower of its own motor pool recently. We know that the crew has an Aventador of its own, as well as an Aston Martin that should probably be good for giving chase in exotic infractions like this one. Keep your head on a swivel, Bieb.

Justin Bieber drives Lambo to six speeding tickets in Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 May 2013 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dubaidubai policejustin bieberlamborghini aventadorspeed camerasspeedingWed, 08 May 2013 17:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20562383/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/08/justin-bieber-drives-lambo-to-six-speeding-tickets-in-dubai/20562383/article-detail.xml 20562383 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/dubai-bieber-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/dubai-bieber-628.jpg <![CDATA[Dubai police add Ferrari FF to keep Lambo company]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/dubai-police-add-ferrari-ff-to-keep-lambo-company/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/dubai-police-add-ferrari-ff-to-keep-lambo-company/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/dubai-police-add-ferrari-ff-to-keep-lambo-company/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Dubai Police Department Ferrari FF

Supercars are a sulky lot by nature. Leave them to their own devices and they'll quickly grow despondent. That's why so many owners have more than one exotic in the stable. The Dubai Police seem to have caught on to that fact, having just added a Ferrari FF to help keep the force's new Lamborghini Aventador company. The duo will patrol the city's more affluent regions to promote the area's image as a mecca for money.

Mission: accomplished.

Of course, the Dubai PD certainly isn't the first law enforcement agency to adopt flashy cruisers, and car gods willing, it won't be the last. There was the Nissan GT-R gussied up for police duty, as well as the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 and the Mitsubishi Evo X, but we have to say the DPD certainly has the most lust-worthy stable at the moment.

Dubai police add Ferrari FF to keep Lambo company originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dubaidubai policedubai police departmentdubai police ferrari ffferrariferrari ffThu, 18 Apr 2013 16:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20543470/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/18/dubai-police-add-ferrari-ff-to-keep-lambo-company/20543470/article-detail.xml 20543470 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/dubai-pd-ferrari-ff-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/dubai-pd-ferrari-ff-628.jpg <![CDATA[Dubai police welcome Lamborghini Aventador cop car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/dubai-police-add-lamborghini-aventador-to-cop-car-fleet/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/dubai-police-add-lamborghini-aventador-to-cop-car-fleet/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/11/dubai-police-add-lamborghini-aventador-to-cop-car-fleet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



There is a long history of law enforcement adding supercars to their police cruiser fleets. The latest comes from a likely place, Dubai, where one-upping the rest of the world in conspicuous consumption has become a national point of pride.

The Dubai police force announced yesterday that they've added a Lamborghini Aventador to their fleet, the Italian supercar capping a broader upgrade to their selection of cruisers that also reportedly includes new examples of the Chevy Camaro.

The 700-horsepower Aventador has a starting price in the US of nearly $400,000 and can reach speeds up to 217 miles per hour. Reports, however, say that the Dubai police force won't be using the car's 0-60 performance of 3.9 seconds to catch any crooks, but rather that the supercar will be used in tourist areas to impress foreign travelers.

The announcement of the car's arrival was made via the police force's Twitter account with a tweet that read "Latest #Dubai_Police patrols, now at your service," and was accompanied by an image of the new law-enforcement-liveried Aventador driving outside the Dubai Mall, which happens to be the world's biggest shopping center.

Dubai certainly isn't the first to add a supercar to its cruiser fleet, nor is it even the first to choose a Lamborghini. The most famous Lamborghini cop car is perhaps the Gallardo LP560-4 used by the Italian State Police. The blue-and-white bringer of justice was even immortalized with its own official Lego set.

Dubai police welcome Lamborghini Aventador cop car originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dubaidubai policelamborghinilamborghini aventadorlamborghini police carThu, 11 Apr 2013 11:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20537550/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/11/dubai-police-add-lamborghini-aventador-to-cop-car-fleet/20537550/article-detail.xml 20537550 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/dubai-police-lamborghini-aventador_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/dubai-police-lamborghini-aventador.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Aston Martin helicopter a Vanquish onto Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/watch-aston-martin-helicopter-a-vanquish-onto-dubais-burj-al-ar/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/watch-aston-martin-helicopter-a-vanquish-onto-dubais-burj-al-ar/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/watch-aston-martin-helicopter-a-vanquish-onto-dubais-burj-al-ar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Aston Martin was founded on January 15, 1913, and to celebrate 100 years, the British automaker has many events planned... but it's going to be hard to top the festivities that took place in Dubai. Like everything else in this city, Aston Martin went over the top to show off the Vanquish to a select group of dignitaries on the helipad of the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel. In addition, the Vanquish, Rapide, V8 Vantage and DB9 will all be offered with a Centenary Edition model with production limited to just 100 units.

Getting a car on a helipad might not sound that difficult, but this hotel's pad is 1,000 feet above the ground. Aston Martin used a helicopter to transport the Vanquish to this height, which made for quite an impressive video. Scroll down to watch the video and check out the official press release for the event that includes an interesting timeline of Aston Martin's history.

Continue reading Watch Aston Martin helicopter a Vanquish onto Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel

Watch Aston Martin helicopter a Vanquish onto Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 aston martin vanquish centenary editionaston martinburj al arabcentenary editiondubaivanquishvideovideosFri, 18 Jan 2013 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20433261/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/18/watch-aston-martin-helicopter-a-vanquish-onto-dubais-burj-al-ar/20433261/article-detail.xml 20433261 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/aston-martin-vanquish2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/aston-martin-vanquish2.jpg <![CDATA[Highly modified Nissan Patrol impounded after 200-mph 'Hollywood-style' chase in Dubai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/jet-fuel-powered-nissan-patrol-impounded-after-hollywood-style/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/jet-fuel-powered-nissan-patrol-impounded-after-hollywood-style/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/jet-fuel-powered-nissan-patrol-impounded-after-hollywood-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Nissan Patrol

Police in Dubai have been cracking down on illegal racing by seizing modified vehicles, but they probably didn't expect to find themselves in pursuit of a full-size SUV supposedly capable of speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. The driver had altered his Nissan Patrol to allow it to run on "jet fuel", according to the report, and he put it all to the test when he tried running from the cops.

The report says that the unnamed driver had spent around $68,000 (U.S dollars) to equip his Nissan Patrol, closely related to the Infiniti QX here in the United States, with the new fuel tank (we'd assume it's really aviation fuel for piston engines) along with plenty of engine and body upgrades, but it isn't clear what exact modifications were made to allow this full-size SUV to run on the high-test fuel or be capable of hitting speeds comparable to a supercar. Regardless, the modifications couldn't stand up to whatever stopping devices police in Duabi use to end pursuits (referred to as speedbreakers), and after a "Hollywood-style" high-speed police chase that ended in a residential neighborhood, the suspect was apprehended.

The pilot was charged with reckless driving, unlawful car modifications, expired registration and resisting police, and he told police that his vehicle was modified at a local garage and that some of his friends had spent upwards of $80,000 USD for similar upgrades. We've all seen the crazy videos coming out of the Middle East of reckless drivers on public roads, and Dubai Police had apparently been cracking down on these drivers especially hard during the month of Ramadan. In that time (July 19 through August 18), police had seized more than 120 vehicles and are said to be investigating an additional 1,700.

Highly modified Nissan Patrol impounded after 200-mph 'Hollywood-style' chase in Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dubaimiddle eastmodified nissan patrolnissannissan patrolpatrolFri, 31 Aug 2012 08:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20310152/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/31/jet-fuel-powered-nissan-patrol-impounded-after-hollywood-style/20310152/article-detail.xml 20310152 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2010-nissan-patrol_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2010-nissan-patrol.jpg <![CDATA[W Motors unveils Arab world's first homegrown supercar]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/22/w-motors-unveils-arab-worlds-first-homegrown-hypercar/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/22/w-motors-unveils-arab-worlds-first-homegrown-hypercar/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/22/w-motors-unveils-arab-worlds-first-homegrown-hypercar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

W Motors Hyper-sport

In the wealthier parts of the Middle East, supercars are king. Along the streets of Dubai, machines ranging from the blisteringly fast to the extremely rare are as ubiquitous as yellow taxis in Manhattan.

It would seem what's missing, then, is a homegrown hypercar. For a market that gobbles up such a large amount high-performance machines, there are no supercars that originate from the Middle East...until now.

At an event in Beirut, Lebanon, W Motors announced that it will produce two models, the Hyper-Sport and the Super-sport, which will become the first ever supercars produced in the region. W Motors calls them the "most exclusive, luxurious and technologically advanced hyper-cars in the world" and claims that they'll be "introducing never seen before technologies inside and out."

You know, like diamond-crusted LED taillamps. And an allegedly fully-functional holographic display. W Motors says that the Hyper-sport will be limited to only five units and that its vehicles will be produced with the help of Austrian manufacturer Magna Steyr and German carbuilder RUF.

The Hyper-sport will be officially unveiled in Dubai this December.

Continue reading W Motors unveils Arab world's first homegrown supercar

W Motors unveils Arab world's first homegrown supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Jul 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dubaihypersportmiddle eastsupercarw motorsw motors hypersportSun, 22 Jul 2012 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20283047/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/22/w-motors-unveils-arab-worlds-first-homegrown-hypercar/20283047/article-detail.xml 20283047 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/whypersport_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/whypersport.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan Patrol rides in with Rolls-Royce getup]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/25/nissan-patrol-rides-in-with-rolls-royce-getup/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/25/nissan-patrol-rides-in-with-rolls-royce-getup/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/25/nissan-patrol-rides-in-with-rolls-royce-getup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Rolls-Royce Nissan Patrol

We hardly have words for the machine you see above. On the one hand, we adore the Nissan Patrol with every last ounce of our little black hearts, and there are only a few itches a good Rolls-Royce can't effectively scratch. So, you'd be forgiven for thinking the progeny of those two players would be automotive nirvana for us. As is so often the case, reality differs heavily from concept. Some enterprising soul in Dubai has apparently stitched the two machines together with questionable results. The finished product doesn't really look like some half-baked creation, though it isn't what we would call stylish, either.

Strangely enough, the upright Rolls-Royce grille and wedge hood fit well with the sharp edges of the Patrol's greenhouse, and the creator has thoughtfully fitted a set of Land Rover taillamps to the rump as well. Either way, if you like what you see, you can snap up this machine and call it yours. The Rolls-Patrol is currently up for sale for the low cost of just $15,800 at current conversion rates. You can bet that's a far cry less than the original owner had to pay to have this thing built. Head over to Dubizzle.com for a look at the sales ad.

Nissan Patrol rides in with Rolls-Royce getup originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dubainissan patrolrolls-patrolrolls-roycerolls-royce nissan patrolMon, 25 Jun 2012 13:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20265270/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/25/nissan-patrol-rides-in-with-rolls-royce-getup/20265270/article-detail.xml 20265270 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/01-rolls-patrol-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/01-rolls-patrol-628.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan Juke-R to get limited production run [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/nissan-juke-r-to-get-limited-production-run-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/nissan-juke-r-to-get-limited-production-run-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/03/nissan-juke-r-to-get-limited-production-run-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Nissan Juke-R

It's a rare thing, but every now and then, our automotive wishes come true. Nissan has announced that it will produce the heinous Juke-R in very limited numbers after a warm reception in Dubai. The company has already received three orders so far, and Nissan says it will begin taking additional orders in the next four weeks.

Each model will be built to order using model year 2012 drivetrain components, meaning there's a modest bump in power - 545 horsepower versus the original Juke-R's 480. As you may recall, the first Juke-R used bits cannibalized from a 2010 GT-R. How much will the machine cost? Nissan isn't saying, but we'd be willing to bet the Juke-R will carry an MSRP a bit higher than the GT-R.

With 545 horsepower crammed into the quirky lines of the Juke, the machine is unlike anything else on the road. Nissan has also worked up a quick video to commemorate the production announcement. The clip focuses on the showdown between the Juke-R and several supercars in Dubai. Scroll down to check it out alongside the full press release.

Continue reading Nissan Juke-R to get limited production run [w/video]

Nissan Juke-R to get limited production run [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 May 2012 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dubaijukejuke-rjuke-r productionnissanproductionThu, 03 May 2012 11:13:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20229955/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/03/nissan-juke-r-to-get-limited-production-run-w-video/20229955/article-detail.xml 20229955 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/01-nissan-juke-r-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/01-nissan-juke-r-628.jpg <![CDATA["Abandoned" $1M Ferrari Enzo not up for sale after all?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/abandoned-1m-ferrari-enzo-not-up-for-sale-after-all/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/abandoned-1m-ferrari-enzo-not-up-for-sale-after-all/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/abandoned-1m-ferrari-enzo-not-up-for-sale-after-all/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Remember that Ferrari Enzo that is still sitting in a Dubai police impound lot for "reasons that have never been clear"? It was meant to be auctioned this week, but it wasn't, and the Dubai authorities added some information to the Enzo's backstory that boils down one word: Interpol.

Unpaid traffic fines are thought to have lead to a British businessman abandoning the seven-figure Ferrari almost two years ago. After numerous reports of the Enzo being headed to auction - which lead to numerous calls from big spenders trying to buy it outright, Dubai police said the Prancing Horse is on the notice list at the International Criminal Police Organization. Vehicles flagged by Interpol are said to usually be the subject of theft investigations, and according to Emirates 24|7, the police commander says the Enzo and nine other flashy rides were "seized as they were part of thefts."

That means that the next time you see pictures of the mummified Ferrari, you'll know why it's still there and not up for auction. And seeing how long international criminal cases can take to resolve, you'll know why it's probably going to be there for a while.

"Abandoned" $1M Ferrari Enzo not up for sale after all? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abandoned enzoauctiondubaienzoferrariferrari enzoferrari enzo auctioninterpolpolice auctionsFri, 27 Apr 2012 09:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20225527/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/27/abandoned-1m-ferrari-enzo-not-up-for-sale-after-all/20225527/article-detail.xml 20225527 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/dubaienzointerpol_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/dubaienzointerpol.jpg <![CDATA[Abandoned Ferrari Enzo to be auctioned in Dubai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/abandoned-ferrari-enzo-to-be-auctioned-in-dubai/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/abandoned-ferrari-enzo-to-be-auctioned-in-dubai/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/abandoned-ferrari-enzo-to-be-auctioned-in-dubai/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Ferrari Enzo abandoned in Dubai

Based on the cars that usually feature in the videos we get from Dubai, we can't really call the tale of this Ferrari Enzo that outrageous. Pictures of the dusty stallion have been zooming around the Internet while the real thing sat in a police impound lot for reasons that have never been clear - rumors ranged from it being hot goods in transit to China, to a casualty of the authorities for having been caught doing insane speeds on the Emirates Road.

According to a story in the Daily Mail, the truth is a bit more prosaic: the owner was a British businessman who couldn't pay traffic fines and who knows what else almost two years ago, so he abandoned the limited-edition thoroughbred to its fate. The police are going to send it to auction with 128 other vehicles, 23 of which are other luxury vehicles that were each burdened with fines anywhere from $26,761 to $27,225.

Most of the auction fodder was owned by companies; only 18 were individually owned. The auction is expected to be the biggest Dubai has ever held, but folks who bid on the Enzo should read the terms carefully: we can't see anyone abandoning million-dollar car for a $27,000 fine, so there's likely another payout lurking somewhere in order to take ownership. In addition to the cleaning bill.

Abandoned Ferrari Enzo to be auctioned in Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abandoned enzoauctiondubaienzoferrariferrari dubaiferrari enzoferrari enzo auctionpolice auctionsTue, 24 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20222639/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/24/abandoned-ferrari-enzo-to-be-auctioned-in-dubai/20222639/article-detail.xml 20222639 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/dubaienzoauction_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/dubaienzoauction.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan releases official footage of Juke-R supercar street race in Dubai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/nissan-releases-official-footage-of-juke-r-supercar-street-race/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/nissan-releases-official-footage-of-juke-r-supercar-street-race/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/nissan-releases-official-footage-of-juke-r-supercar-street-race/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Juke-R vs Supercar Challenge

When is a Nissan Juke not a Nissan Juke? When it's the 480-horsepower, Godzilla-powered Juke-R, that's when. Then it's a supercar-beater. And to prove the point, Nissan UK took its one-off super-crossover down to Dubai for a little street racing action.

So what did Nissan pit its Juke-R against? No, not other crossovers, but a pack of the leanest, meanest supercars on the market: the Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. We first saw video footage shot from the sidelines a couple of weeks ago, but since the publicity stunt proved so popular, Nissan responded by releasing an official, high-quality version, complete with in-car footage and plenty of tire squealing. Follow the jump to check it out.

Continue reading Nissan releases official footage of Juke-R supercar street race in Dubai

Nissan releases official footage of Juke-R supercar street race in Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>458 italiadubaiferrari 458 italiagallardojukejuke-rjuke-r vs supercar challengelamborghinilamborghini gallardomercedes-benzmercedes-benz sls amgnissannissan jukenissan juke-rsls amgstreet racevideoTue, 31 Jan 2012 12:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20160833/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/31/nissan-releases-official-footage-of-juke-r-supercar-street-race/20160833/article-detail.xml 20160833 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/juke-rvsupercars_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/juke-rvsupercars.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan Juke-R takes on Gallardo, 458 Italia and SLS AMG in Dubai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/nissan-juke-r-takes-on-gallardo-458-italia-and-sls-amg-in-dubai/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/nissan-juke-r-takes-on-gallardo-458-italia-and-sls-amg-in-dubai/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/20/nissan-juke-r-takes-on-gallardo-458-italia-and-sls-amg-in-dubai/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



The Nissan Juke-R found some adventurous extracurriculars to take part in while in Dubai to pace the Dunlop 24-Hour race. Nissan said it would be making a film of the Juke-R taking on other street-legal supercars in the Dubai International Marina, but that race is meant to include a Mercedes/McLaren SLR-engined Mercedes-Benz SLK.

This appears to be something different, with the Juke-R going up against a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, a Mercedes SLS AMG, and a Ferrari 458 Italia. Lucas Ordonez, the first GTAcademy winner from 2008 is reportedly behind the wheel of the Juke-R. We don't know the driving level of his competition, but we do know this: Nissan's little beastie is really, really quick. Check out the (admittedly grainy) video after the jump to have your horizons expanded.

Continue reading Nissan Juke-R takes on Gallardo, 458 Italia and SLS AMG in Dubai

Nissan Juke-R takes on Gallardo, 458 Italia and SLS AMG in Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 nissan juke458 italiadubaigallardo lp560-4jukejuke-rlucas ordoneznissan jukesls amgvideoyoutubeFri, 20 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20152958/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/20/nissan-juke-r-takes-on-gallardo-458-italia-and-sls-amg-in-dubai/20152958/article-detail.xml 20152958 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/jukersupercarracedubai_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/jukersupercarracedubai.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan's all-gamer driving team earns podium finish at 24 Hours of Dubai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/15/nissans-all-gamer-driving-team-earns-podium-finish-at-24-hours/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/15/nissans-all-gamer-driving-team-earns-podium-finish-at-24-hours/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/15/nissans-all-gamer-driving-team-earns-podium-finish-at-24-hours/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

GT Academy at the 24 Hours of Dubai

Psychology researchers at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in Illinois have discovered a funny thing about podium finishers. Often, the happiest person on stage is the one with the bronze medal around his or her neck. Despite having missed first place by two spots, competitors on the lowest rung of the podium tend to find themselves deep in the throes of counterfactual thinking. They aren't focused on how close they were to winning an event; instead, the third-place competitors are thinking about just how close they came to missing the podium entirely.

That may help explain why Lucas Ordonez, Jordan Tresson, Bryan Heitkotter and Jann Mardenborough are so thrilled at the moment. The four drivers helped bring RJN Motorsport a third-place finish at the recent 24 Hours of Dubai. That's no small feat for any professional race team, which makes the win even more unbelievable. The four drivers aren't pros in the normal sense. Each driver started his career behind a controller as part of the Nissan Playstation GT Academy.

Heikotter and Mardenborough had less than a year to transform themselves from gamers to racers. The two won the most recent GT Academy competitions in the U.S. and Europe, respectively.

Nissan's all-gamer driving team earns podium finish at 24 Hours of Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>24 hours of dubaibryan heikotterdubaiendurance racinggaminggt academyjann mardenboroughjordan tressonlucas ordonezmotorsportsnissanplaystationracingSun, 15 Jan 2012 17:35:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20149084/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/15/nissans-all-gamer-driving-team-earns-podium-finish-at-24-hours/20149084/article-detail.xml 20149084 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/gt-adademy-24-hours-of-dubai-628-1326636899_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/gt-adademy-24-hours-of-dubai-628-1326636899.jpg <![CDATA[Shelby Supercars Tuatara racks up $13M worth of sales at Dubai Motor Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/06/shelby-supercars-tuatara-racks-up-13m-worth-of-sales-at-dubai-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/06/shelby-supercars-tuatara-racks-up-13m-worth-of-sales-at-dubai-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/06/shelby-supercars-tuatara-racks-up-13m-worth-of-sales-at-dubai-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Shelby Supercars Tuatara

Shelby Supercars hasn't had any trouble finding buyers for the company's Tuatara. According to Gulf News, the exotic drew a whopping 10 buyers at the Dubai International Motor Show. Global recession? What global recession? Each Tuatara comes with a sticker price of $1.3 million, and even Shelby Supercars didn't expect to find the sort of following that it did at the show. The brand largely decided to attend the event to raise awareness about its efforts in high-performance engineering, with founder Jerod Shelby saying his goal was merely to find a distributor for the region.

The Tautara wasn't the only hit at the Dubai International Motor Show, however. The Lamborghini Aventador drew in 14 new buyers, and Canada's De Macros GT1 enjoyed a fair bit of attention as well.

We can hardly blame Tuatara buyers for their enthusiasm. The coupe looks brilliant, and SSC promises the car will deliver 1,350 horsepower from its 6.6-liter V8. That much power should enable the Jason Castriota design to reach 200 mph in just 16 seconds and power on to a top speed of 275 mph.

Shelby Supercars Tuatara racks up $13M worth of sales at Dubai Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dubaidubai international motor showjason castriotajerod shelbyshelby supercarsshelby supercars tuatarasscssc tuataratuataraTue, 06 Dec 2011 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20121687/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/06/shelby-supercars-tuatara-racks-up-13m-worth-of-sales-at-dubai-m/20121687/article-detail.xml 20121687 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/ssc-tuatara-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/ssc-tuatara-628.jpg <![CDATA[New Chevrolet TrailBlazer revealed in Dubai [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/10/new-chevrolet-trailblazer-revealed-in-dubai-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/10/new-chevrolet-trailblazer-revealed-in-dubai-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/10/new-chevrolet-trailblazer-revealed-in-dubai-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2013 Chevrolet Trailblazer

General Motors has unveiled its next-generation Chevrolet TrailBlazer at the Dubai International Motor Show. The model is set to go on sale around the world, though Thailand will have the first crack at the vehicle in early 2012.

The 2013 TrailBlazer features seating for seven, and, since the SUV is based off of the new global Chevrolet Colorado, it gets its power from a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine. GM stresses that the vehicle on display in the Middle East is a show vehicle, but we're guessing that the final product will look pretty similar to what you see above.

The next-generation TrailBlazer will feature second-row seats with a 60/40 split, and both the second and third rows fold flat to reveal a sizable cargo area. With most SUVs abandoning their rugged roots for the softer ways of the crossover world, the new Trailblazer sound pretty good to us. Right now, there's no word on when the vehicle will show up in the U.S. or if it will come packing the same turbo-diesel engine when it arrives. Hit the jump for the full press release as well as a quick video.

Continue reading New Chevrolet TrailBlazer revealed in Dubai [w/video]

New Chevrolet TrailBlazer revealed in Dubai [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 chevrolet trailblazerchevroletchevrolet trailblazerdieseldubaidubai international motor showduramaxthailandtrailblazerThu, 10 Nov 2011 09:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20103295/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/10/new-chevrolet-trailblazer-revealed-in-dubai-w-video/20103295/article-detail.xml 20103295 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/01-2013-chevrolet-trailblaz-1320936131_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/01-2013-chevrolet-trailblaz-1320936131.jpg <![CDATA[BlackBerry outage coincides with reduced number of traffic accidents]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/blackberry-outage-coincides-with-reduced-number-of-traffic-accid/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/blackberry-outage-coincides-with-reduced-number-of-traffic-accid/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/blackberry-outage-coincides-with-reduced-number-of-traffic-accid/#commentsFiled under: , ,

angry driver

When BlackBerry servers crashed between Tuesday and Thursday last week, owners of the popular business phones were left without a tool they've come to rely on. At the same time, the server crash could have made roads in the Middle East that much safer.

The National reports that traffic accidents in Dubai dropped 20 percent compared to historical averages during the blackout. In Abu Dhabi, accidents dropped by 40 percent, and there were zero fatalities. If you're thinking that this isn't a significant enough sample to show that smart phones and distracted driving are inexorably linked, consider this: There is an accident in Dubai every three minutes.

Dubai police chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim pointed out to The National that the accidents resulting from distracted driving "range between minor and moderate ones, but at times they are deadly." Officer Al Harethi took it a step farther, adding "the roads became much safer when BlackBerry stopped working."

While the loss of BlackBerry service was no doubt a major inconvenience, these real-life statistics once again show that smart phones and driving just don't mix.

BlackBerry outage coincides with reduced number of traffic accidents originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abu dhabiblackberrydistracted drivingdubaismart phoneTue, 18 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20083827/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/18/blackberry-outage-coincides-with-reduced-number-of-traffic-accid/20083827/article-detail.xml 20083827 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/angry-driver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/angry-driver.jpg <![CDATA[BMW Z4 GT3 undergoes first round of customer tests]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/10/bmw-z4-gt3-undergoes-first-round-of-customer-tests/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/10/bmw-z4-gt3-undergoes-first-round-of-customer-tests/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/10/bmw-z4-gt3-undergoes-first-round-of-customer-tests/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2011 BMW Z4 GT3
2011 BMW Z4 GT3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 BMW Z4 GT3 proved it can win races back in January when it took the overall victory at the Dubai 24 Hours. Never one to rest on its laurels, BMW took the car from the winners circle in Dubai and put it right back on a test track. After a good beating throughout March, BMW made aerodynamic and electronic tweaks to get the racer into absolute state-of-the-art shape for customer entries in 2011 GT3 competition.

The BMW Z4 GT3 resembles its production cousin in name and basic shape only. Most of its body panels have been significantly altered to keep the car slipping through the air and bolted to the road.

Under the hood, the production Z's six-cylinder heart has been ripped out and replaced with the same 4.4-liter V8 that sees duty in the M3. The V8 feeds power to the ground through a six-speed paddle-shifted sequential manual. Stuffing all that engineering know-how into the Z4 GT3 isn't cheap, either; the car retails at just north of $450,000. Full press release after the jump.


Gallery: 2011 BMW Z4 GT3

2011 BMW Z4 GT32011 BMW Z4 GT32011 BMW Z4 GT32011 BMW Z4 GT3

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW Z4 GT3 undergoes first round of customer tests

BMW Z4 GT3 undergoes first round of customer tests originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 bmw z4 gt3bmwbmw+z4+gt3bmwz4gt3dubaim3z4z4 gt3Sun, 10 Apr 2011 12:22:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19908097/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/10/bmw-z4-gt3-undergoes-first-round-of-customer-tests/19908097/article-detail.xml 19908097 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/bmw-z4-gt3-1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/bmw-z4-gt3-1.jpg <![CDATA[Report: 127-car pileup in Abu Dhabi kills one, injures 61]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/04/report-127-car-pile-up-in-abu-dhabi-kills-one-injures-61/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/04/report-127-car-pile-up-in-abu-dhabi-kills-one-injures-61/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/04/report-127-car-pile-up-in-abu-dhabi-kills-one-injures-61/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Abu Dhabi highway crash

An enormous pileup on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi highway left one man dead and 61 people injured early Saturday morning. According to police and witnesses, the pileup happened around 8am between Sahama and Ghantoot and was caused by a combination of speeding and heavy fog.

Police were reportedly on the scene with 100 units from the Abu Dhabi police department, backed up by the army, civil defense force and ambulances, all within five minutes of the crash. Despite the size of the accident, the sheer volume of police and emergency personnel on hand meant the accident was cleared and traffic flow restored in just two hours. Their job was made even more difficult by the fog, which reduced visibility to less than 150 feet and precluded the use of helicopters to evacuate people from the accident scene, which stretched for more than a mile.

[Source: Gulf News | Image: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News]

Report: 127-car pileup in Abu Dhabi kills one, injures 61 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abu dhabicrashdubaidubai-abu dhabi highwayhighwaypile-upMon, 04 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19901330/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/04/04/report-127-car-pile-up-in-abu-dhabi-kills-one-injures-61/19901330/article-detail.xml 19901330 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/abudhabi-crash_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/abudhabi-crash.jpg <![CDATA[Bond back in a Bentley for <i>Carte Blanche</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/11/bond-back-in-a-bentley-for-carte-blanche/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/11/bond-back-in-a-bentley-for-carte-blanche/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/11/bond-back-in-a-bentley-for-carte-blanche/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Jeffery Deaver & the Bentley Continental GT in Dubai
Jeffery Deaver & the Bentley Continental GT in Dubai - Click above for high-res image gallery

What do Pierce Brosnan, Roger Moore, Sean Connery and Daniel Craig all have in common? Well aside from the fact that they all played James Bond on the big screen, they're all rather good-looking chaps. This bespectacled balding fellow with the cell phone holder on his belt, on the other hand, wouldn't quite appear to be the movie star type. But then he doesn't have to be, because he's not playing Bond. He's writing the books.

Jeffery Deaver, the man you see here, is Iam Flemming's successor, and the author of the latest Bond novel Carte Blanche. And while 007 drives Aston Martins in the latest movies, in the new series of books - as in Flemming's originals - he's behind the wheel of a Bentley.

Carte Blanche is set in Dubai, where Deaver recently stopped by to promote the new book and check out his protagonist's new ride, the Bentley Continental GT. The latest of his 28 books - which included The Bone Collector that was adapted for the screen starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie - is set to launch on May 26, 2011. That's when we'll have the opportunity to let our imaginations fill in the images of 007 zipping around the Emirates in the new Bentley, but if you want a little visual preview, you can flip through the pages of the high-resolution image gallery below, follow the jump for the full press release or head over to www.007carteblanche.co.uk.


Gallery: Jeffery Deaver & the Bentley Continental GT in Dubai


[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Bond back in a Bentley for Carte Blanche

Bond back in a Bentley for Carte Blanche originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>007bentleybentley continental gtbondcarte blanchedubaiemiratesjames bondjeffery deaveruaeFri, 11 Feb 2011 07:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19836633/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/02/11/bond-back-in-a-bentley-for-carte-blanche/19836633/article-detail.xml 19836633 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/web630-deaver-bentley_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/web630-deaver-bentley.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan Patrol recalled overseas but kissing-cousin Infiniti QX56 not affected <i>[*UPDATED]</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/nissan-patrol-recalled-overseas-but-kissing-cousin-infiniti-qx56/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/nissan-patrol-recalled-overseas-but-kissing-cousin-infiniti-qx56/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/27/nissan-patrol-recalled-overseas-but-kissing-cousin-infiniti-qx56/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

2010 Nissan Patrol - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan has issued a recall for more than a thousand Nissan Patrol models in the Middle East, citing electrical problems that could affect the engine's fuel supply leading to engine stalls. According to Monal Zeidan, the general manager of marketing and communications for Nissan Middle East, there are problems with an integrated circuit inside the vehicle's electronic control module (ECM). Zeidan goes on to say that if the ECM fails the fuel injectors could stop working and the engine may stop. Owners of the 1,250 affected vehicles in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are being asked to visit their dealerships to have a revised ECM installed.

While the all-new 2011 Infiniti QX56 is heavily based on the Nissan Patrol, our sources at Infiniti say the two models run different ECMs. That's a bit of good news for owners of Infiniti's latest flagship SUV, as it means they won't need to worry about the recall.

*UPDATE: Nissan has issued a clarifying statement that notes while U.S. Infiniti QX56 models are unaffected by this action, Middle Eastern market QX56 are indeed being recalled alongside their Patrol cousins.


Gallery: 2010 Nissan Patrol


[Source: TheNational]

Nissan Patrol recalled overseas but kissing-cousin Infiniti QX56 not affected [*UPDATED] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Nissan Patrol2010NissanPatrol2011 infiniti qx562011InfinitiQx56Abu DhabiAbuDhabiDubaiECMECUElectronic Control ModuleElectronicControlModuleFuel InjectorsFuelInjectorsinfiniti qx56 2011 medio orienteInfinitiQx562011MedioOrienteNissanNissan PatrolNissanPatrolPatrolQX-56qx56QX56 reviewQx56ReviewTue, 27 Jul 2010 17:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19570366/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/27/nissan-patrol-recalled-overseas-but-kissing-cousin-infiniti-qx56/19570366/article-detail.xml 19570366 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/patrol630lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/patrol630lead.jpg -1 2