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[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[Ferrari World Abu Dhabi gears up for grand opening in 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/ferrari-world-abu-dhabi-gears-up-for-grand-opening-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/ferrari-world-abu-dhabi-gears-up-for-grand-opening-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/02/ferrari-world-abu-dhabi-gears-up-for-grand-opening-in-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Ferrari World Abu Dhabi - Click above for high-res image gallery

Television coverage of Formula One grands prix typically end with an aerial shot of the podium and the fans beneath it, a panorama usually dominated by the tifosi passing a giant Scuderia Ferrari flag over the crowd. That view may have been largely absent with the void of Ferrari victories this season, but if you were watching the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this past weekend you might have noticed something even bigger: the site of Ferrari World, the new theme park being constructed adjacent to the marina circuit on Yas Island.

The park can easily be picked out from the air, housed in a giant red roof that sports a 200-foot-tall Ferrari logo, the largest ever made. With doors set to open in the new year, details are now being released while work is underway on the attractions that will be included in the 200,000 square meters (over two million square feet) of indoor space dedicated to the park.

Among the 20+ rides that will be housed in the largest indoor park on earth will be the world's fastest roller coaster, a g-force drop tower breaching the 150-foot-high red steel roof to extend over 200 feet into the sky, racing simulators, karting and a flume ride through a giant Ferrari engine. Of course there will be plenty of hospitality and shopping to go along with the rides, more of which you can read about in the press release after the jump.


Gallery: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi


[Source: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi]

Continue reading Ferrari World Abu Dhabi gears up for grand opening in 2010

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi gears up for grand opening in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abu dhabiAbuDhabiemiratesferrariferrari worldferrari world abu dhabiFerrariWorldFerrariWorldAbuDhabiuaeunited arab emiratesUnitedArabEmiratesyas islandYasIslandMon, 02 Nov 2009 17:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19218687/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/11/02/ferrari-world-abu-dhabi-gears-up-for-grand-opening-in-2010/19218687/article-detail.xml 19218687 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/ferrworldad_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/ferrworldad.jpg <![CDATA[SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Formula 1 season wraps up with a bang at inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/01/spoiler-alert-2009-formula-1-season-wraps-up-with-a-bang-at-ina/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/01/spoiler-alert-2009-formula-1-season-wraps-up-with-a-bang-at-ina/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/01/spoiler-alert-2009-formula-1-season-wraps-up-with-a-bang-at-ina/#commentsFiled under: ,


2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

Les jeux sont faits. The line signifies the last call for bets at a casino, and is all too familiar to racing fans visiting Monte Carlo for the annual Monaco Grand Prix. But these days the Mediterranean principality isn't the only place that features state-of-the-art Formula One race cars speeding past casinos. Nor is it the only exotic locale anymore that stages an F1 grand prix around a marina, for that matter. Over the past couple of years, Valencia and Singapore became two of the newest circuits that incorporate trackside docking for mega-yachts alongside wheel-to-wheel action, and this year Abu Dhabi joined the fold with the much-hyped Yas Marina Circuit. But by the time the F1 circus sailed in to the Gulf emirate for the last round of the 2009 Formula One World Championship, the titles were already settled and the champions already crowned.

With the major plays already made, some might have dismissed the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as insignificant. Indeed, if Bernie Ecclestone had his way with his proposed olympic-style medal system, the race might have been canceled altogether. But if you ask us, removing the title chase from racing boils motorsport competition down to its essence, all eyes focused purely on the checkered flag instead of scoring points in the larger context of the championship. And if anything, the action on Yas Island only proved the point. Follow the jump to read how it unfolded.


Gallery: 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Continue reading SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Formula 1 season wraps up with a bang at inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

SPOILER ALERT: 2009 Formula 1 season wraps up with a bang at inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 abu dhabi grand prix2009 formula one world championship2009AbuDhabiGrandPrix2009FormulaOneWorldChampionshipabu dhabiAbu Dhabi GPabu dhabi grand prixAbuDhabiAbuDhabiGpAbuDhabiGrandPrixbrawn gpBrawnGpbuttonemiratesf1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnegrand prixGrandPrixgulfjenson buttonJensonButtonmark webberMarkWebberpersian gulfPersianGulfred bullred bull racingRedBullRedBullRacingsebastian vettelSebastianVetteluaeunited arab emiratesUnitedArabEmiratesvettelwebberyas islandyas island circuityas island marina circuityas marinayas marina circuitYasIslandYasIslandCircuitYasIslandMarinaCircuitYasMarinaYasMarinaCircuitSun, 01 Nov 2009 14:47:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19217981/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/11/01/spoiler-alert-2009-formula-1-season-wraps-up-with-a-bang-at-ina/19217981/article-detail.xml 19217981 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/92594346_10_webopt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/92594346_10_webopt.jpg <![CDATA[VIDEO: <i>Top Gear</i> crew spotted in UAE with quartet of top-shelf supercars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/video-i-top-gear-i-crew-spotted-in-uae-with-quartet-of-top-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/video-i-top-gear-i-crew-spotted-in-uae-with-quartet-of-top-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/video-i-top-gear-i-crew-spotted-in-uae-with-quartet-of-top-s/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above to watch video after the jump

The last time Top Gear went to the United Arab Emirates, they took three Veyrons for a spin and sent the Stig into the mountains behind the wheel of a Koenigsegg. And that was the magazine. So you can bet that if the television show were to head there as well, it'd be for an equally exciting romp. And here you have it: Video footage of Richard Hammond and Sheikh al-Stig at UAE's Alain Airport with a quartet of the most desirable top-of-the-line supercars on the market. In plain view on the closed-off air strip are a Mercedes SLR McLaren 722, the new Lamborghini Murcielago SV LP670-4, a Bugatti Veyron for good measure (probably the same all-red example that took part in the triple formation) and an original McLaren F1 to put them all in their place. The comparison promises to be epic, but you can check out the video footage after the jump in the meantime.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Continue reading VIDEO: Top Gear crew spotted in UAE with quartet of top-shelf supercars

VIDEO: Top Gear crew spotted in UAE with quartet of top-shelf supercars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 May 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emirateemiratesmclarentop geartop gear bugattitop gear emiratestop gear lamborghinitop gear lamborghini bugatti mclarentop gear lamborghini murcielago svtop gear mclarentop gear mclaren f1top gear slrtop gear uaetop gear veyronTopGearTopGearBugattiTopGearEmiratesTopGearLamborghiniTopGearLamborghiniBugattiMclarenTopGearLamborghiniMurcielagoSvTopGearMclarenTopGearMclarenF1TopGearSlrTopGearUaeTopGearVeyronuaeunited arab emiratesUnitedArabEmiratesvideo top gear supercars uaeVideoTopGearSupercarsUaeWed, 13 May 2009 19:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1543775/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/05/13/video-i-top-gear-i-crew-spotted-in-uae-with-quartet-of-top-s/1543775/article-detail.xml 1543775 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/tg-uae-supercar-vidcap_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/05/tg-uae-supercar-vidcap.jpg <![CDATA[The Golden Arches: Gilded McMerc spotted in - you guessed it - Dubai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/the-golden-arches-gilded-mcmerc-spotted-in-you-guessed-it-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/the-golden-arches-gilded-mcmerc-spotted-in-you-guessed-it-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/the-golden-arches-gilded-mcmerc-spotted-in-you-guessed-it-d/#commentsFiled under: ,



Redefining the term "enough is enough", the owner of this car is said to have had his SLR gold-chromed. The strangest part is that, according to reports, this is actually the same Mercedes SLR McLaren that was previously spied in Dubai with a silver-chrome treatment. We're not sure about the accuracy of this model considering it has a different rear spoiler, different wheels (which have also been gold-chromed) and darker taillight frame like those on later versions of the Anglo-Saxon supercar, not to mention a different license plate... although the car also reportedly belongs to the owner of a UAE license plate registry, so anything's possible.

The sad reality is that someone, whether it's the same guy or not, looked at a chromed McMerc and thought, Yeah, but what if it were plated in gold? Sure makes the gold-plated Veyron and Phantom DHC sent to the same region seem like the epitome of good taste.

[Source: GTSpirit.com]

The Golden Arches: Gilded McMerc spotted in - you guessed it - Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromechrome slrChromeSlrdubaiemiratesgoldgold slrgold-platedGoldSlrgulfmclarenmclaren slrMclarenSlrmercedesmercedes slrmercedes slr mclarenmercedes-benzmercedes-benz slrmercedes-benz slr mclarenMercedes-benzSlrMercedes-benzSlrMclarenMercedesSlrMercedesSlrMclarenuaeunited arab emiratesUnitedArabEmiratesThu, 16 Apr 2009 08:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1514953/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/16/the-golden-arches-gilded-mcmerc-spotted-in-you-guessed-it-d/1514953/article-detail.xml 1514953 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/gold-slr_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/gold-slr.jpg <![CDATA[Gulf Partner: Renault's Persian-market, Maxima-based Safrane]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/28/gulf-partner-renaults-persian-market-maxima-based-safrane/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/28/gulf-partner-renaults-persian-market-maxima-based-safrane/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/28/gulf-partner-renaults-persian-market-maxima-based-safrane/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above to view the Renault Safrane in high resolution

The Persian Gulf is fast becoming a demanding market for luxury automobiles. So demanding, in fact, that some automakers have begun creating special models just for consumption there. Just days ago we brought you news that Rolls-Royce, having already shipped a golden Drophead Coupe for one special customer, was launching a limited edition Phantom saloon called the Peony edition.

This, however, is not a special Rolls-Royce. We won't list all the ways in which it isn't a Roller, but will save your time and ours by listing instead what it shares in common. It's a luxury sedan, and it's made specially to be engulfed by the Gulf market. That's about it. The Safrane nameplate was previously used for Renault's lackluster flagship sedan, replaced by the reviled Vel Satis in 2000. So what is this exactly that has revived the name? A rebadged Samsung SM5, essentially. That vehicle is produced in an 80.1% Renault-owned joint venture in South Korea. If you're noticing some similarities with our own Nissan Maxima, you've got a keen eye, as it shares its platform with the last-gen Maxima as well as the Nissan Teana (itself available only in the Asian market).

Unless you live in Dubai, you probably won't be seeing one of these any time soon, but you can check it out in the gallery below.

Gallery: Renault Safrane


[Source: Renault via CarScoop]

Gulf Partner: Renault's Persian-market, Maxima-based Safrane originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dubaiemiratesgulfnissan maximanissan teanaNissanMaximaNissanTeanapersian gulfPersianGulfrenaultrenault nissanrenault nissan alliancerenault safranerenault samsungRenaultNissanRenaultNissanAllianceRenaultSafraneRenaultSamsungsamsung motorssamsung sm5SamsungMotorsSamsungSm5uaeThu, 28 Aug 2008 08:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1295069/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/08/28/gulf-partner-renaults-persian-market-maxima-based-safrane/1295069/article-detail.xml 1295069 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/08/renault-safrane-web_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/08/renault-safrane-web.jpg <![CDATA[Rolls-Royce creates special Peony edition Phantom for UAE]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/24/rolls-royce-creates-special-peony-edition-phantom-for-uae/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/24/rolls-royce-creates-special-peony-edition-phantom-for-uae/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/24/rolls-royce-creates-special-peony-edition-phantom-for-uae/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click to view the RR Phantom Peony edition in hi-res

Wealthy customers in the United Arab Emirates seem to have a penchant for special editions of the most expensive luxury saloons. As if it wasn't enough to get the Maybach Landaulet revealed right there on their home turn, one Arabian customer recently ordered a custom gilded Rolls-Royce Drophead. Now Rolls-Royce has followed up with a special edition of its Phantom limousine targeted specifically for the UAE.

Called the Peony edition, the bespoke Phantom borrows its name from the indigenous Asian flower that symbolizes royality in ancient Oriental culture. The car features a special two-tone pearl blue exterior and Seashell interior, emblazoned with the peony floral motif. It even comes with a complementary bottle of perfume specially crafted by Emirate fragrance specialist HIND. The special edition was created by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Program, which does the bulk of its business with Middle Eastern customers. No word on how many will be built or how much it costs, but if there was ever a case of "if you have to ask, you can't afford it", this is it.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom Peony Edition


[Source: Motor Authority]

Rolls-Royce creates special Peony edition Phantom for UAE originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abu dhabiAbuDhabidubaiemiratespeonypeony editionPeonyEditionphantomphantom peonyPhantomPeonyrolls roycerolls-roycerolls-royce peony editionrolls-royce phantomRolls-roycePeonyEditionRolls-roycePhantomRollsRoyceuaeunited arab emiratesUnitedArabEmiratesSun, 24 Aug 2008 19:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1293433/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/08/24/rolls-royce-creates-special-peony-edition-phantom-for-uae/1293433/article-detail.xml 1293433 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/08/peonyphantom-wb_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/08/peonyphantom-wb.jpg <![CDATA[Update: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix announcement may come Feb1]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/25/update-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-announcement-may-come-feb1/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/25/update-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-announcement-may-come-feb1/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/25/update-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-announcement-may-come-feb1/#commentsFiled under:

Looks like the oil-rich sheiks of Abu Dhabi are getting more serious about the prospect of hosting a Formula One grand prix than we thought. Last week we reported that they're adding an FIA-regulation race track to the Yas Island project that will also host the Ferrari World theme park, and with big question marks rounding off the one main restriction, they could be planning on hosting a grand prix very soon.

Word is there will be an event on February 1st where an official announcement may be made. If it happens, expect some teams and cars to be in attendance, along with the sport's most irresistible force, McLaren's newest driver, the inimitable Fernando Alonso.

[Source: Grandprix.com]

Continue reading Update: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix announcement may come Feb1

Update: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix announcement may come Feb1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1abudhabiemiratesfformulagrandgulfislandoneprixstateuaeyasThu, 25 Jan 2007 07:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/740628/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/01/25/update-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-announcement-may-come-feb1/740628/article-detail.xml 740628 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/01/uae-carbon_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/01/uae-carbon.jpg -1 2