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 East, the choice doesn't come as much of a surprise. Delivery of the cop cars, however, isn't expected to take place for another couple months. In the meantime, the lot of them are heading to Canfield Equipment Service in Michigan where they'll be fitted for their new Kuwaiti roles in traffic, security, and emergency response. (Here's hoping none of our readers get a chance to check them out from the back seat once they're in service).

[Source: Chrysler]

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 gets points for elements of surprise, style, distance, grace, and follow through. We give him and his Ferrari F430 a 9.3. Follow the jump to see the video. And can anyone tell us, do they even have traffic police in Dubai? Thanks for the tip, J.D.!

Correction: We've been told from a number of readers that the location of the video above is in fact not Dubai, but Saudi Arabia.

[Source: Live Leak]

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 and begin exporting vehicles to other booming markets around the world. The first to leave our shores will be the Toyota Sequoia, as it heads to buyers in the Middle East later this year. The Toyota Sienna minivan will follow, as it will be shipped to China and other markets as early as 2010. This news should be welcomed by workers and suppliers at the automaker's plants as Toyota recently slowed production at several facilities. This new trend of shifting production towards exporting vehicles may help keep them running at capacity, and keep everyone on their jobs.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

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 layout is different. We should also mention that the G8 is not even on sale yet, so there are none in customer hands to recall.

VE and WM Commodores in Australia and New Zealand, Chevrolet Lumina and Caprice models in the Middle East, as well as the Chevrolet Omega in Brazil are all affected. When a clip chafes on the fuel line, it can apparently cause a leak with nasty results if the gasoline ignites. The risk is low, says GM's John Lindsay, but they're calling the cars back, nearly all of the Zetas with V6 engines sold since the car's redesign, and fixing them free of charge just to be on the safe side.

[Source: CNN]

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 edging a little closer to us. It's still not coming here, but it will be exported to the Middle East beginning in 2008. Cadillac sales in China have increased over 100 percent since the SLS went on sale. The Middle East is another region where the larger rear compartment appeals to business customers who have their driving taken care of for them. Tiptoeing westward is a good first step. We still want it. You can read Cadillac's full press release after the jump.

[Source: Cadillac]

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 city's Civil Defence department has acquired a Corvette to help fight fires by being able to attend to them more quickly than ordinary vehicles. Brigadier Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director of Dubai Civil Defence goes on to explain that due to the Corvette's speed, the car can get vital rescue equipment to the scene of the fire, and in the case of people being trapped in cars, can help remove them.

The article doesn't go into much detail about the "special equipment" the 'Wette is fitted with, but it does mention a portable fire extinguisher, hydraulic equipment and first aid kits.

One of the primary reasons behind its development is that the distance between fire stations and accident scenes are larger than normal, so it makes sense to have a fast first response vehicle. It took a team of four people two months to develop.

It's also the latest GM product to be adapted for civil use by the Dubai authorities. Previously they've used a Hummer H2 and a fleet of Chevy Tahoes.

Thanks to Cataen for the tip!

[Source: Gulf News]

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 from the two other finalists in the Luxury Car class, the Volvo S80 V8 All-wheel drive and the Lexus ES350.

Three days of analysis and testing were undertaken by Autocar's expert judging team, who declared the Caprice unbeatable value given its size, standard package and six-litre, 270kW / 362hp V8 engine which delivers a "brutal" 530Nm / 391ft-lbs of torque. Standard equipment includes Electronic Stability Program (ESP), DVD player with twin rear LCD screens, 18" alloy wheels, Bose premium 10 speaker sound system, xenon headlamps and tri-zone electronic climate control. The build quality, ride and overall refinement of the Caprice were all regarded as being superior to the previous model. In Australia, the six speed automatic, 6.0L V8 Caprice retails for A$69,990 (US$54,620).

Follow the jump for the conclusion and an additional photo...

[Source: GM]

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 men that causes the interviewer to draw a line between the two (we're guessing that the views of each on the Buick Lucerne would still serve as a useful means to distinguish them).

Being a Brit-centric outfit, one of the first questions asked by Channel 4 is that of Rover's future. Despite Lutz's prior ownership of several MGs, he doesn't seem interested in dragging his current employer into a bail-out of the failed British automaker. But the big guy does seem to have some sympathy for Rover's plight, stating that he "sheds a tear" for the brand and says that it was the British car for "non-poseurs".

GM's product - that which is built in both the US and in Europe - matches up to Toyota in a variety of attributes that are properly lumped together under the heading of "build quality", according to Lutz. Bob says that nothing in Toyota's line-up "excites me as a car guy", and claims that the same is true for Lexus as well.

Check out the rest of our play-by-play after the jump...