middle east


Bugatti honors Dubai with three special editions Veyrons

As with any other business, in the automotive sphere, it's mission critical to recognize on which side your bread is buttered – particularly in lean times like these. Bugatti may be losing money on each Veyron it builds, but that doesn't mean that company strategists don't know how to earn a crust. Need proof? This month's Dubai Motor Show finds the supercar builder unveiling a trio of special edition models in one of its most important markets. The Middle East triumvirate will consist of the Veyron Nocturne, which features ... Read more →

Rolls-Royce launches limited-edition Phantom Bespoke Collection in the Persian Gulf Noah Joseph

While Rolls-Royce prepares to roll out the new downsized Ghost model, in the Middle East demand still soars for the full-size Phantom. But with every sheikh and his cousins driving – or more ...

Spy Shots: Next Toyota Landcruiser Prado/Lexus GX caught in the Middle East? Jonathon Ramsey

A tipster in the Middle East has sent pics of what looks to be the area's next Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (known as the Lexus GX stateside). If it is the next version of the SUV, Toyota has gone ...

Chevrolet Camaro launches in the Middle East, stops to pose for photos Chris Paukert

Despite being unusually thrifty for a muscle car, we can't help but think that Chevrolet's new Camaro is secretly happy at the prospect of being released into the Middle East, land of wide-open ...

Shaken, Not Stirred: Aston parent company reportedly defaults on $100M Islamic bond Jonathon Ramsey

Investment Dar, the Kuwaiti firm that owns part of Aston Martin, has reportedly defaulted on payment for a $100 million Islamic bond that was due on April 27. In the process, Bloomberg says it has ...

22-year-old sheik spending $10M a year to become the Yankees of drag racing? 7 months ago on Autoblog

There are a number of parallels with an all-American tale of racing fan turned team owner: Man loves drag racing since boyhood, comes from a region crazy for the sport, started off in racing's little league, and races to win even in the big leagues. Yet the differences are enough to inform us that ...

Qatar pondering taking stake in Porsche? 7 months ago on Autoblog

The worst secret in the universe is that there's a lot of money in the Middle East and the Gulf states are looking all over the world for places to put it. Abu Dhabi's Aabar investment spent €1.95 billion on a 9.1% stake in Daimler (around $2.5B USD), and now the state of Qatar is eying what ...

Swiss-tuned McLaren SLR Red Gold Dream ends up in... yes, Dubai 7 months ago on Autoblog

We know to expect the unexpected when it comes to aftermarket work in certain Middle Eastern enclaves. But this... this is, well, this is something that even Tim Burton would have to dismiss as just too outrageous. Part of what makes this car even more interesting is that it was the product of ...

SPOILER ALERT: Spraying the Bubbly at the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix 7 months ago on Autoblog

If you hadn't watched a single grand prix yet this season, hadn't read any F1-related news or even glanced at a headline, and hadn't spoken to a single racing fan for the past couple of months, you'd likely be shocked to find out how this season has unfolded so far, with the back-markers going ...

VIDEO: Piquet Jr. does donuts in his Renault F1 car... at Ski Dubai 8 months ago on Autoblog

Nelson Piquet Jr., Renault's other driver, recently took a Renault R28 F1 car out for a spin in the snows of Ski Dubai. We're not sure if it's the same chassis that Ben Sulayem crashed at another event in Dubai, but if it is the Renault mechanics earned their money. One thing is certain, ...

Saudi government bans "lewd" personalized license plates including: "SEX," "ASS," and... "USA"?! 8 months ago on Autoblog

Saudi Arabia recently instated a new type of license plate that is expected to be fitted to 49 million cars in the kingdom. As opposed to the old Arabic-only plates, the new plates feature Arabic and Latin letters and numbers. Drivers can even request that the three letters on the lower right form ...

The Midas Touch: gold-plated Bugatti Veyron delivered to Middle East 8 months ago on Autoblog

Bare carbon fiber, chrome, French racing blue...Bugatti's done just about everything to the Veyron but plate it in gold. Oops, look like we spoke to soon, as our favorite Orwelian supercar has proven once again that all Veyrons are special, but some are more special than others. Like the ...

GM updates Arabian-market Chevrolet Caprice 8 months ago on Autoblog

The Chevrolet Caprice may be long gone from the North American market, but in the Middle East the nameplate soldiers forth. Based on the Holden Statesman, the Arabian-market Caprice receives a host of updates for the new model year, including a 6L80E six-speed automatic with Active Select ...

Arabian Update: Mercedes W140 S-Class gets W221 transplant 8 months ago on Autoblog

Say you have a Mercedes-Benz W140 S-Class from two generations ago, but you really want is a Mercedes W221, the current generation car. Well, what else is an individualistic plutocrat to do other than give a willing tuner an unknown (and seemingly substantial) quantity of cash to make a few ...

Daimler opens office in Baghdad, Iraq 10 months ago on Autoblog

As a small step that could be considered a healthy vote of confidence in Iraq's return to stability, Mercedes has established a corporate representative office in Baghdad. Daimler set up shop in Erbil, Iraq last February, opening a training center that would get mechanics ready for coming Mercedes ...

Gold(finger's) Mercedes C63 spotted in... where else? Dubai 11 months ago on Autoblog

This United Arab Emirates-registered gold-mirror-finish Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG was caught at the Bling on Wheels Show, otherwise known as the valet area at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. While we have nothing untoward to say about someone who decks out his/her ride in any manner desired, we ...

First Corvette ZR1 lands in Middle East for Royal Bahraini Family 11 months ago on Autoblog

The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is the baddest in the two-seater's 56 year history. The ZR1's stat sheet includes jaw-dropping numbers like 638 supercharged horsepower, a 7:26 'Ring time, and straight line performance that bests supercars from Germany and Italy. So of course, the wealthiest of ...

Because the Chevy Aveo5 doesn't suck enough as is... 1 year ago on Autoblog

var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/This_won_t_help_GM_s_case_for_a_bailout'; Water's wet, fire burns, and the Chevy Aveo5 sucks. Drivers in the Middle East who voluntarily subject themselves to this tragedy now have a way to ensure that onlookers stop, point and laugh at their expense, ...

Ferrari Enzo in taxi livery found where else? The Middle East... 1 year ago on Autoblog

This little gem in Muscat, Oman represents what you do when you have bodacious sums of money and time. Now we're all for having a little fun, but we're talking about an Enzo, which, while not the prettiest of Ferraris, still doesn't deserve to endure the eighth-level of Maaco paint-shop Hell. ...

Kuwait orders 150 Dodge Charger police cars 1 year ago on Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the Kuwaiti cop-issue Chargers Choosing them for their portrayed image of "strength and power," officials in Kuwait have ordered 150 Dodge Chargers to be modified as police vehicles. As the Charger is the leading volume vehicle for Chrysler LLC in the Middle ...

VIDEO: How to do a U-Turn, Dubai style 1 year ago on Autoblog

Click above to view video after the jump Just in time for the Olympics, we have this entrant from Dubai who apparently didn't make the team for the U-turn competition was left at home to practice his talent in the streets. In diving across four lanes of traffic from a dedicated right turn lane, he ...

Toyota to start exporting U.S.-built SUVs and minivans 1 year ago on Autoblog

What's built in the States, stays in the States. At least that is how it used to be with one of the world's largest automaker. (The one exception is the Toyota Avalon sedan -- exported to the Middle East last year.) Toyota has now announced that it will ramp up U.S. vehicle production in Indiana ...

Holden recalls 86,000 Zetas equipped with V6 1 year ago on Autoblog

GM's Australian subsidiary Holden has recalled 86,000 rear-wheel-drive Zeta cars with the V6 engine to correct a potential fuel leak that could lead to fires. The CNN Money article says that the recall doesn't impact the Pontiac G8, GM's North American Zeta variant, because that car's underhood ...

Cadillac SLS sneaks closer to US market, sorta 2 years ago on Autoblog

Click image for 2 new SLS photos Back when Cadillac dropped the long-wheelbase SLS on the Beijing motor show, we were all incredulous. How could Cadillac deny us the 4-inch longer STS variant (with an improved interior, too)when other stretched luxury sedans garner sales here. Now, the car will be ...

Only in Dubai: Corvette fire fighter 2 years ago on Autoblog

var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/offbeat_news/Chevy_Corvette_on_fire_fighting_duty_in_Dubai'; Dubai is fast gaining a reputation as the "Vegas of the Middle East" because of its impressive rate of development and sometimes crazy amounts of money thrown at government projects. This time, the ...

Chevrolet Caprice Wins Luxury Award In Middle East 3 years ago on Autoblog

The Chevrolet Caprice, designed and manufactured by GM Holden in Australia, has been named Best Luxury Car at the 2006 Autocar Middle East Awards. The all-new rear wheel drive Caprice, part of GM Holden's A$1 billion (US$780 million) development of the new Commodore range, emerged as a clear winner ...

Bob Lutz on Rover, Toyota, the Chinese market, and the world's best sports car... 3 years ago on Autoblog

The UK's Channel 4 had the opportunity to sit down with Bob Lutz - General Motors' head of product development, for those living in seclusion - and started the interview by comparing him to Jeremy Clarkson. WTF, you say? It's the dominating physical presence and bountiful opinions of both ...






Autoblog Podcast #157: Mike Levine trucks along with us.

Mike Levine from PickupTrucks.com joins Chris, Sam, and Dan this week and gets a chance to talk about cars, too! 

 
 

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