Autoblog

Watch some crazy uphill sand drag action in the UAE

Zach Bowman — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Performance, SUV, Videos, Specialty, Middle East, Off-Road, Racing

At this point, we've all seen videos depicting the insanity of Middle Eastern sand dune climbs. The clips that make their way to the Western world often include some sort of terrifying nose-over-tail tumble from the top, but this latest clip gives us a glimpse at exactly what sort of machine is required to run up a massive pile of sand at high speeds. Expect turbos. Lots and lots of massive turbos. This particular competition features three classes: V6 Manual, V6 Automatic and V8, and as you'd expect with any high-horsepower event, there's as much mechanical failure as actual success.

The video below features an extensive pit walk with plenty of lingering shots inside some of the most ludicrous engine bays we've ever laid eyes upon. The actual racing gets going around the five-minute mark, and we can't help bet feel there's more than a passing resemblance between this sport and a good old-fashioned tractor pull. Check it out below.

Continue reading Watch some crazy uphill sand drag action in the UAE

Watch some crazy uphill sand drag action in the UAE originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iran invests heavily in natural gas cars

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials, Middle East

A report in the Financial Times says that in Iran in 2006 there were 1,500 dual-fuel cars - those that can run on gasoline and on natural gas. In only seven years that number has climbed to 2.95 million. To serve them, where there were once just 60 refilling stations there are now 2,500. The switch to the alternative fuel has well publicized causes, namely the oil and financial sanctions enacted against Iran due to its nuclear research programs.

The sanctions have driven down government revenue - a recent report says government income is down by 45 percent in the last nine months due to reduced oil exports, which the Iranian government immediately refuted - as well as the value of the local currency, the rial, making it more expensive to purchase gasoline. The FT article quoted one Iranian saying that whereas 20 liters of fuel cost him $10.80, filling his tank twice a day with natural gas only cost a total of $6.50.

The move to natural gas isn't exactly new, with a program put in place a decade ago to bolster its use. Five years ago the program was given an additional $3 billion to accelerate the transition, the same year that another round of sanctions was approved by the United Nations. The move away from petrol use helps keep consumption down, staving off a full-blown gasoline emergency - Iran has huge oil and natural gas reserves, but it needs to keep gasoline demand in line with its domestic processing capacity since the sanctions also cover the importation of petrol.

With Iran seemingly committed to enduring the current sanctions and the potential of more, the FT piece figures natural gas will continue to play an important role in Iran's economy. That might be expected even if sanctions were to go away: Iran's fuel shift means that the country of 80 million now has more natural-gas-powered cars than any other country in the world, topping natural gas powerhouse Brazil and population powerhouse India.

Iran invests heavily in natural gas cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep Wrangler gets the wide-track treatment

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Jeep, Specialty, Middle East

When we read the tip about a Gulf-state diplomat in Rabat, Morocco who had supposedly "merged two Jeep Wranglers," we figured the two off-roaders were somehow linked front-to-back. Oh no. As you can see in the image above, taken from video of that vehicle actually traveling down the road and needing more than one lane to do it, the two Jeeps were put together side-by-side.

The seriously widebody truck is said to have six wheels, one at each corner and two in the middle. That's about all anyone seems to know about it at the moment, and that's probably enough - in these situations you know better than to ask why, just watch the video below.

Continue reading Jeep Wrangler gets the wide-track treatment

Jeep Wrangler gets the wide-track treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jaguar Land Rover may build factory in Saudi Arabia

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Jaguar, Land Rover

The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing markets for Land Rover, so it makes sense that the automaker is looking to set up shop in the region. According to Automotive News, Jaguar Land Rover is in talks with the people of Saudi Arabia to build a factory in the country at an expected initial cost of $1.2 billion. Still in the early stage of talks, the proposed facility could start up by 2017 using locally sourced materials such as steel and aluminum.

Such an arrangement could be beneficial for both entities as Saudi Arabia looks to diversify its oil-reliant economy and Land Rover could get local production capacity of around 50,000 units. The report also says that the agreement talks about the possibility for Jaguar models to be built at the same plant further down the road.

This won't be the first vehicle produced in Saudi Arabia - that honor goes to the KSU Gazal-1 - but it will be the first from a major global automaker.

Jaguar Land Rover may build factory in Saudi Arabia originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Highly modified Nissan Patrol impounded after 200-mph 'Hollywood-style' chase in Dubai

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Etc., Nissan, Specialty, Middle East

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.

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Rising fuel prices got you down? Blame Twitter

George Kennedy — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Technology, Middle East

The power of social media has revealed itself today in the form of fluctuation in fuel prices based on a false tweet.

According to The Wall Street Journal, a Twitter account claiming to be Russian Interior Minister Vladamir Kolokoltsv tweeted that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad had been injured or killed. That tweet which occurred at 9:59 AM EST, was followed by two more tweets alleging the confirmation of al-Assad's death.

In the hour following that tweet, light, sweet crude prices rose from $90.82 to $91.99, and the jump took place in between 10:15 and 10:45. According to the Reuters report, the Russian ministry denies firing off the tweets and denies any connection to the account.

Price Futures Group analyst Phil Flynn pointed out "a well-placed story can move the market, and that looks like what happened." Though Syria itself is not a major oil producer, it is feared that Iran would react to the news because of their connection to and support of Assad

In the wake of sanctions imposed due to their continued participation in a nuclear weapons program, Iran has threatened to close off the Straight of Hormuz, a major throughway for ships carrying crude oil to the rest of the world.

Because of the hypersensitivity of the international tensions in the Middle East, and those trading in oils who follow the area closely, the rumor of Assad's demised spread like wildfire. The combination of Mideast unrest, and the spread of information through texts and tweets means it's unlikely this is the last time something like this will happen.

Rising fuel prices got you down? Blame Twitter originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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W Motors unveils Arab world's first homegrown supercar

George Kennedy — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Middle East

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.

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Saudi man sentenced to beheading by sword for joyriding deaths

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Middle East

A Saudi man in his thirties, identified by the name Mutannish in reports, has been sentenced to death for causing two onlookers to die during a driving demonstration of Hagwalah - one of the wild displays of drifting we're used to seeing from that part of the world. During the show, two were killed when a person in the audience was hit and fell onto another. The driver then sped off, failing to provide any assistance. His sentence was likely influenced by the fact that he went into hiding and that he was wanted for the same crime, the death of an onlooker, at previous event.

The specific charge wasn't disclosed, but a report says the Kingdom treats such incidents as criminally negligent homicide. In the U.S., depending on the state, a driver in the same situation could be charged with anything from vehicular manslaughter to first-degree vehicular homicide, the primary charge aggravated by fleeing the scene. As one might expect, our sentencing doesn't come anywhere close to the death penalty, though: a maximum of thirty years in prison for vehicular homicide is the penalty in Minnesota but only in cases of DUI, whereas in Alabama the same charge only merits a maximum of five years in prison. In Florida, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene is a first-degree felony with a maximum 30-year prison term, before the additional charges and the previous offense are factored in.

The sentence will be carried out by sword, but the Gazette didn't indicate when the defendant will receive it. Nor did it give any indication as to whether the verdict can be appealed, as in the case of another Saudi man first sentenced to death for a similar crime. The other man's death sentence was 'reduced' to 3,000 lashes, 20 years in prison and a lifetime driving ban.

Saudi man sentenced to beheading by sword for joyriding deaths originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley to show SUV concept unaltered in Beijing

Zach Bowman — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, China, Bentley, Beijing Motor Show, Luxury

Automotive News reports Bentley is staying the course with the company's EXP 9 F SUV Concept. The ultra-luxury automaker plans to bring the vehicle to the Beijing Motor Show exactly as it appeared at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, despite the fact that the concept didn't exactly debut to resounding acclaim. Critics described the design as awkward and unbecoming of nameplate like Bentley, but the automaker says it wants to vet the design in as many markets as possible before finalizing the exterior. Here's hoping the crowds in China are as repulsed as those in Switzerland.

The EXP 9 F has already been green-lit for production, and while we have no qualm with the thought of a high-riding luxury brute with a twin-turbo 12-cylinder engine under the hood, we'd like to see something a little less muddled outside. Bentley says an SUV will give the company a leg up in markets like the Middle East and China, where luxury SUVs remain king. Through the first two months of this year, the company's sales are up 66 percent in China, putting the country ahead of the United States as the largest market for Bentley products.

Bentley to show SUV concept unaltered in Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iraq could become next major car market

Chris Tutor — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Volkswagen, Middle East

While China is still the big dog when it comes to growth markets for automakers, Iraq looks to be heating up. As the country slowly stabilizes, the country's 30 million citizens find themselves with a growing income and a need for more reliable transportation.

But, according to Automotive News, the biggest factor in the resurgence of Iraqi car-buying is a decrease in violence by insurgents. Last year only (?!) about 1,500 Iraqis were killed by roadside bombs, snipers or other violence. That's compared to more than 34,000 in 2006. As you might imagine, safer streets lead to much greater satisfaction derived from Sunday drives.

Ready to cash in on the auto-buying-boom are Volkswagen, Ford and GM. All three see huge potential in a country still driving thousands of VW Passats procured via an oil trade with Brazil in the 1980s.

Apparently, one popular car in Iraq is the Dodge Charger - nicknamed "Obama" by Iraqis. Then again, the LA Times said last year that the Chrysler 300 was known as "the Obama," so maybe the term goes for any large American sedan.

Iraq could become next major car market originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Demonstrations in Bahrain cause Grand Prix cancellation

Noah Joseph — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Government/Legal, Middle East

Politics and racing don't go together. Whether it's former FIA president Max Mosley's fascist sympathies or the dispute over Cyprus being played out on the podium of the Turkish Grand Prix, there's just no place for it in motorsports. But with political unrest spreading across the Arab world, it looks like revolution has gotten in the way of racing once again.

On the back of successful regime change in both Tunisia and Egypt, protestors have been taking to the streets across the Middle East in an effort to overthrow corrupt regimes in their respective countries. Little of this has anything to do with racing, except in Bahrain. The Gulf state is home to the Sakhir circuit that hosts, among other events, the Bahrain Grand Prix that was originally set to kick off the Formula One season in just a few weeks. Now, however, track organizers have confirmed that Bahrain Grand Prix will not be held. "We felt it was important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest," said Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa.

Organizers have already had to call off the GP2 Asia Series race that was supposed to take place there this weekend, and are being forced to do the same with the F1 pre-season test that was due to follow. This cancellation means that the 2011 Formula 1 season will now start on March 27 in Australia.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Hassan Ammar/AP]

Demonstrations in Bahrain cause Grand Prix cancellation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche announces Panamera 4S Exclusive Middle East Edition in Qatar

Noah Joseph — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Porsche, Misc. Auto Shows, Middle East, Luxury

It may be a tough sell to automotive executives to roll out a special edition to cater specifically to one market. Unless of course that one market has copious amounts of money to spend, and little in the way of demands in return for it beyond an added dose of exclusivity.

Rolls-Royce has done it time and time again with special editions exclusive to the Middle East. Porsche has until now resisted, opting to cash in on its name instead by expanding outside its traditional area of sportscars into the SUV and sedan markets. But the temptation has evidently proven too much as Zuffenhausen has reportedly announced a special edition Panamera at the Qatar Motor Show.

The Panamera 4S Exclusive Middle East Edition packs the same 4.8-liter V8 engine and PDK dual-clutch gearbox as the standard 4S and comes equipped with the Sport Chrono Plus package as standard. What sets it apart is the Carrera White exterior tint, red leather interior and special black alloys. That, and a little plaque on the door sill. Only 66 examples will be made exclusively for the Middle East (read: Persian Gulf) - you can bet they'll fetch a hefty premium, and that they'll sell out almost as soon as the order books are opened.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Porsche Panamera 4S

[Source: AMEinfo.com]

Porsche announces Panamera 4S Exclusive Middle East Edition in Qatar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Abu Dhabi using color-coded road surfaces to convey speed limits

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Middle East

Abu Dhabi has updated the speed limits for certain roads in and around the city and to make sure everyone knows about the new limits, as well as to warn drivers that they've entered one of these changed sections, officials have come up with a unique solution - painting the speed limit on the road.

On select sections of road, bright red asphalt will serve as a warning that the speed limit has changed. The thinking: A driver might miss a sign on the side of the road but they (hopefully) won't miss the entire road.

[Source: Gulf News]

Report: Abu Dhabi using color-coded road surfaces to convey speed limits originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Most in Iraq drive without licenses as gov't. works to institute new permits

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Middle East

Judging by what we've seen on the web, driving through Iraq is a few notches tougher than dealing with Southern California during rush hour. It appears to be the old "Anything Goes" method when moving from Point A to Point B. Iraqi authorities are looking to change that by introducing a licensing system that aims to instruct drivers on correct procedures while hoping to also cut down the madness seen on the roads around the nation.

According to an AFP report, the number of cars on the Iraq's streets has doubled since Saddam Hussein's regime collapsed. Prior to the 2003 US.. invasion, there were 1.25 million registered vehicles, and now an additional 1.5 million have been imported into the country. With that many new vehicles hitting the road, authorities are working to implement a system to ensure that motorists understand how to legally operate their own vehicle.

Since the program was launched on October 21, some 8,000 drivers licenses have been issued. As the officials get more familiar with the procedures and computer systems, that pace is expected to pick up. The ultimate goal is that in just two years time every driver on the road will be one carrying a legal license to do so.

[Source: AFP via Yahoo! | Image: AFP/Getty]

Report: Most in Iraq drive without licenses as gov't. works to institute new permits originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chevy goes free-hand for its latest billboard spot

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chevrolet, GM, Middle East

Chevrolet creates a cost-effective billboard advertisement - Click above to watch video after the jump

An affordable car should get an ad campaign to match. Following that logic, Chevrolet's Middle Eastern advertising team put together a spot to highlight the low price of the all-new Cruze. Rather than slapping some highly-stylized photography work or clean studio images onto the side of a billboard, Chevy had an artist set to work on the blank canvas with a blue marker. For over eight hours.

Click past the jump to watch it come to life.

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Chevy goes free-hand for its latest billboard spot

Video: Chevy goes free-hand for its latest billboard spot originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear's Middle East tour reportedly shot for Christmas Special

Noah Joseph — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Middle East

Top Gear in Israel - Click above for high-res image gallery

Were you wondering what the Top Gear crew were doing in Israel when they were spotted there last month? Well wonder no more.

Reports from the British Isles are now stating that the tour across the Middle East was actually shot for a Christmas Special in which Clarkson, Hammond and May retrace the steps of the Three Wise Men who, according to Christian lore, visited the Virgin Mary and the Baby Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem. Only while the trio of yore did it on camel-back, two millennia later, the team of British auto journos - who may have picked up as many followers today as the Nazarene messiah did in his - rode in across Turkey and Syria in three old roadsters.

Looks like it's going to be a Merry Christmas after all, Charlie Brown.

Gallery: Top Gear in Israel

[Source: Telegraph]

Top Gear's Middle East tour reportedly shot for Christmas Special originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear trio spotted filming special in Israel

Noah Joseph — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Middle East

Top Gear arrives in Israel - Click above for high-res image gallery

The fellas over at Top Gear have been to just about every nook and cranny in Great Britain and criss-crossed continental Europe in all manner of train, plane and automobile. They've driven to the North Pole, scaled an active volcano, crossed the Sahara and traversed South America. They've driven through Vietnam, Dubai, Japan, the southern United States... nearly everywhere we can think of, really. Except Israel. But now they can cross the Holy Land off their collective bucket list as reports and photos come in from the tiny Eastern Mediterranean country showing Clarkson, Hammond and May taking in the desert sun.

Apparently filming a new episode in their epic series of cross-country adventures, the Top Gear crew was spotted crossing westward over the border between Jordan and Israel in a dingy trio of roadsters: Richard in a Fiat Barchetta, James in a BMW Z3 and Jeremy in a Mazda MX-5, complete with retrofitted hookah. (Just for tobacco, of course.) The cars appear to be accompanied by a convoy of support vehicles for the production and camera crews, and undoubtedly had to jump through a lot of hoops to get there as the border is typically open only for foot traffic.

We'll be ordering up some fallafels and tuning in to Arutz Shtayim just as soon as we know when the episode will air to see how James, Richard and Yirmiyahu manage to get themselves out from in between the Dome of the Rock and a hard place. In the meantime, check out the spy shots (courtesy of forum member Dark-Shadow) in the gallery below and the (translated) report from our friends over at Walla! Cars for a closer look at how the blokes are single-handedly re-instituting the British Mandate. Ashrecha for the tip, Nat!

Gallery: Top Gear in Israel

[Sources: Walla! Cars, Rotter.net]

Top Gear trio spotted filming special in Israel originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Abu Dhabi police to use televised shaming as tool to deter motorist scofflaws [w/video]

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Technology, Videos, Middle East

Traffic Violations aired as public shaming tool - Click above to watch video after the jump

Police in Abu Dhabi take traffic violations very seriously, and they're reportedly adding a new tool to their arsenal - public shaming. After the evening news bulletin, videos will be shown of various traffic offenses along with the fines and penalties they incur. They have already lined up 30 such video violations and plan to run the series for a month.

The goal of these spots is to increase the awareness of what happens when you commit a driving infraction. This also highlights the idea that the Abu Dhabi police force need not be on-hand to witness the crime. Traffic cameras catch the action and they monitor many city streets around the clock.

You just know that U.S. television producers will "borrow" this idea and turn it into a reality show. Obey our traffic laws by hopping the jump to view the video. Thanks for the tip, Ajay!

[Source: Gulf News]

Continue reading Abu Dhabi police to use televised shaming as tool to deter motorist scofflaws [w/video]

Abu Dhabi police to use televised shaming as tool to deter motorist scofflaws [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brabus Vanish: When a Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series just ain't enough

Noah Joseph — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:19:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Middle East

Brabus Vanish - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series doesn't leave much room for improvement. It hardly even leaves you with enough time, in fact, to say its name in full before it's already up to highway speeds from a standstill. It runs the 0-62 mph sprint in 3.8 seconds, passes 124 in 11 flat and tops out just under 200 miles per hour. Short of the SLR McLaren and the newer SLS AMG, the Black Series is the fastest roadcar Mercedes has ever made. But one customer in Dubai wasn't satisfied. So neither was Brabus.

The quintessential Benz tuner fitted the client's matte Black with bigger turbos, a new gearbox, bigger brakes and a new exhaust. The result is a 130-horsepower boost from the stock 670hp twin-turbo V12 for a total of 800. Brabus calls it the Vanish, which is probably just about right. For our part, we'll give kudos where kudos are due to the owner who went with a decidedly more understated look than the typical Dubai'd out gold-chrome Benzes we've come, however lamentably, to expect.

Gallery: Brabus Vanish

[Source: TopSpeed via eMercedes-Benz]

Brabus Vanish: When a Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series just ain't enough originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hennessey signs DiMora to sell Venom GT overseas

Noah Joseph — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:38:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, India, Middle East, MISC

Hennessey Venom GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

You might say the American automotive industry is divided into two groups: The Big Three, and the rest. That latter category might include up-and-comers like Tesla, niche manufacturers like SSC, as well as super-modifiers like Hennessey and wannabes like DiMora. Those last two are hoping to break out obscurity with high-end offerings of their own, and have teamed up along the way to make it happen.

After decades of tuning Vipers and 'Vettes, Hennessey recently debuted the new Venom GT, a of Lotus on 'roids with a supercharged Corvette LS9 V8 mounted amidship. It can be ordered, starting at around $600,00, with 725, 1,000 or even 1,200 horsepower. Sounds exactly right for the Middle East, doesn't it?

To that effect, Hennessey has signed DiMora - the effort behind the vaporware Natalia SLS super-sedan - to sell the Venom GT in the Middle East and in India, two burgeoning markets for rich toys like this one.

Gallery: Hennessey Venom GT

[Source: Inside Line]

Hennessey signs DiMora to sell Venom GT overseas originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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