Autoblog

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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Why are Saudi youths mounting cars on brick plinths?

John Neff — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Middle East, Design/Style

We're not going to pretend that everything American kids do with their cars makes sense. Ghost riding, tray sliding and soaping sayings like "Sexy Seniors 2012 XOXOXO!!!" on car windows comes to mind. To be young and a car owner (or car borrower, in the case of most kids) often means doing strange and stupid stuff with your ride, and this rite of passage appears to cross all cultures.

These images of Saudi youths mounting their cars on brick plinths appeared online this morning without much context to explain why they're doing it or even how. The wire images only come with a caption that reads...

Saudi youths lift their sport utility vehicle (SUV) with stones and bricks in the tourist area of al-Habla 50km south of the city of Abha in the southern part of the kingdom on July 12, 2012. Young Saudi males gather in al-Habla for a summer camp to escape the blazing Gulf summer heat and spend time mounting their cars on display.

They're at summer camp, so perhaps a badge for car mounting is at stake, or maybe this is the best way to prevent the sweltering Arabian sun from melting their tires. Toyota models of every vintage and description appear to be the favorites, but there are also Mitsubishi and Mazda models getting the stonework treatment. Regardless of the reason, the sight brings us back to our own youth when driving a car was license enough to do something silly with it. Check out more of this bizarre pastime in our high-res gallery.

Why are Saudi youths mounting cars on brick plinths? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 19:00:00 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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Middle East drifting daredevils go beyond the bounds of sanity... in family sedans

Zach Bowman — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Safety, Videos, Honda, Middle East

As a genre, automotive journalists have seen (and done) some pretty stupid things done in some pretty stupid cars. Collectively, we've been airborne in more vehicles than are worth counting, roasted enough tires to make Al Gore weep, and generally made asses of ourselves on closed-course manufacturer track days. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Surprisingly, all of that stupidity has been eclipsed by the efforts of a few determined motorists in the Middle East. If the comments on YouTube are to be believed, the drivers and passengers in the slew of workaday family sedans in the video after the jump are participating in something called hajwalah, wherein drivers throw their vehicles into an extended slide before eventually correcting and continuing along their way. We've seen videos like this before out of the Middle East, and we're thankful this one didn't end in a crackup and bloodshed the way some others do.

Crazy drivers can be found the world over, and normally, most aren't worth talking about. A few things are notable about this particular video, however. For one, the guys behind the wheel are kicking their vehicles around in what looks like full traffic in front of dump trucks and beside school busses. For another, none of them appear to be wearing seat belts. Finally, there's a smattering of small arms fire from open car windows at the same time.

We're nearly without the words to convey just how stupid this kind of driving is, but even we have to say, we didn't know that humble family-toting iron like the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry could be pushed to such absurd slip angles - at least with such repeatability. Hit the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading Middle East drifting daredevils go beyond the bounds of sanity... in family sedans

Middle East drifting daredevils go beyond the bounds of sanity... in family sedans originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why yes, a garbage truck can drive on two wheels

Chris Shunk — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor, Middle East

Here in the U.S., garbage trucks are mainly for picking up, crushing and dumping trash. The same garbage trucks roles no doubt apply in Saudi Arabia, except when the trash hauler doubles as a crowd-pleasing stunt car.

Beyond the jump is video of a thankfully trash-less garbage truck that has a knack for driving on two wheels. That's always fun, and the enjoyment lasts for over two minutes, thanks to some very impressive Dukes of Hazzard meets Roc skills. Halfway in, a Jeep Cherokee joins in the two-wheeled fun.

It's cool and all... but we'll stick with Big Foot and his Monster Jam friends for our after-hours crazy truck coverage. Hit the jump to watch the video.

Continue reading Why yes, a garbage truck can drive on two wheels

Why yes, a garbage truck can drive on two wheels originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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14 female U.S. senators call on Saudi Arabia to lift female driving ban

Noah Joseph — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Middle East

The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia is a tenuous one. For better or worse, it usually involves the American government siding with the Saudi royal family - arguably at the expense of the people over which the latter rule. But this time, the roles have changed, with U.S. lawmakers taking up a cause championed by social activists on the street (quite literally) against the nation's historically conservative government and social mores.

The issue, as you may have been following recently, comes down to the right of Saudi women to drive in the Arabian kingdom. The fairer sex is banned from driving under the Wahhabi Islamic laws instituted in Saudi Arabia, prompting some women to call for change, risking imprisonment (or worse) for defying the edicts of the ruling family.

According to Bloomberg, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been gently pushing the Saudi government to lift the ban, and has now been joined by a group of fourteen female American senators in supporting Saudi Women for Driving and their cause. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) is leading the charge from her position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, calling for women's rights to be honored in a U.S. ally that has proven nothing if not resistant to change.

14 female U.S. senators call on Saudi Arabia to lift female driving ban originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. drifts his way through the Al Reem Circuit

Drew Phillips — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ford, Specialty, Racing

If you like Ken Block's series of Gymkhana videos, then you'll definitely want to check out Vaughn Gittin Jr's latest flick featuring his Formula Drift Mustang. Gittin was recently visiting Saudi Arabia to perform a drifting demo at an event at the Al Reem Circuit, and he decided to stick around for an extra few days to get footage of him drifting on track. The result? Awesome.

Apparently, the track officials pretty much gave Gittin free reign of the entire complex, from the pit lane to the parking lots to the front straight, so the video shows him getting his Mustang sideways in a variety of locations. There's plenty of tire smoke, wonderful sounds from the naturally aspirated 5.4L V8, and even a few smashed rear fenders. Check the video out for yourself after the jump.

Continue reading Vaughn Gittin Jr. drifts his way through the Al Reem Circuit

Vaughn Gittin Jr. drifts his way through the Al Reem Circuit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five Saudi women in custody for breaking driving ban

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Middle East

The Saudi authorities have stepped in to temper the momentum of Saudi Women for Driving. It is against religious law for women to drive in the Arabian country, a fact of life that Saudi women have now decided to fight. The campaign began earlier this year, headed by Manal al-Sharif, with a video she produced and her taking to the streets behind the wheel of a car, then with a plea to Subaru to stop selling cars in The Kingdom. In early June, 40 Saudi women drove en masse, in an escalation of their efforts, and since then scores more have driven through the capital and other cities.

The authorities didn't respond to those provocations, but they have to this latest one: five women were arrested while driving in the coastal city of Jiddah. There's been no update on their situation, with another rights activist only able to wonder, "We aren't sure what it means at this point and whether this is the start of a harder line by the government against the campaign."

Five Saudi women in custody for breaking driving ban originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saudi Women For Driving urges Subaru to stop selling cars where women can't drive

Zach Bowman — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:29:00 EST

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

Women fight for the right to drive in Saudi Arabia - Click above to watch video after the jump

In their ongoing quest to secure the ability to legally drive, a group of Saudi women are beseeching Subaru to stop selling vehicles in countries that prohibit female drivers from taking to the road. According to Change.org, more than 1,000 people an hour are signing a petition that hopes to convince the Japanese automaker to do just that. Saudi Women for Driving has already sent an open letter to the decision makers at Fuji Heavy Industries urging them to stop business in Saudi Arabia until women are allowed behind the wheel.

Why Subaru? While the movement is also urging other automakers to do the same, its leaders decided to focus on Subaru because of the brand's tendency to market heavily toward women.

Saudi Women for Driving officially got under way when Manal al Sharif posted videos of herself driving in the country as a protest against unjust laws. After her videos were removed by shadowy government agencies, she was arrested for her transgressions and announcements on Twitter lead followers to believe that she had abandoned her efforts. But with campaigns like the one urging Subaru to abandon business in the market underway, the topic doesn't look to be going away anytime soon. Hit the jump for the full press blast as well as al Sharif's original video.

Continue reading Saudi Women For Driving urges Subaru to stop selling cars where women can't drive

Saudi Women For Driving urges Subaru to stop selling cars where women can't drive originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saudi prince worried over increasing fuel economy standards and technology

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:56:00 EST

This may sound surprising, but Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal has gone on record saying he wants the price of oil to decrease. Why's that you ask? It's all about the long-term game, says the Saudi Royal Family's stock market and real estate magnate. In a recent interview with "CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS," Al Waleed admits:

We don't want the West to go and find alternatives, because, clearly, the higher the price of oil goes, the more they have incentives to go and find alternatives.

Talal goes on to say that he thinks the price of oil should be closer to $70 to $80 a barrel instead of the current $100/barrel rate. With such high oil and gasoline prices, Talal fears that new technologies are being pushed ever harder to squeeze more and more miles out of each gallon of gas. Further, Talal worries that U.S. efforts to increase its Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to 35.5 mpg by 2016 and anywhere from 47 to 62 mpg by 2025 (along with automakers' burgeoning EV strategies) could eventually lead to reduced or eliminated dependence on Saudi oil.

Saudi prince worried over increasing fuel economy standards and technology originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saudi woman's "right to drive" protest video circulates online despite gov't. efforts

Zach Bowman — Tue, 24 May 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Videos, Middle East

Manal al-Sharif's campaign for women's right to drive - Click above to watch video after the jump

The Arab Spring has brought a wave of change and reform to the Middle East, but that tide has seemingly stopped at Saudi Arabia. According to The New York Times, the Saudi government has effectively squelched a movement championed by Manal al-Sharif. The woman wasn't campaigning for the overthrow of the government or the death of the country's leaders. Instead, she was simply demonstrating for women's right to drive in her country. Sharif posted videos of herself driving on YouTube and started Facebook and Twitter accounts that prompted other Saudi women to do the same.

That's when the Saudi government stepped in. Sharif was arrested for her transgressions and her videos were removed from YouTube. Later, a Facebook page she had set up to instruct other women about how to get involved was deleted and a duplicate of her Twitter account began posting messages indicating that she had stopped her efforts.

But this is the internet, and nothing is gone forever. Copies of Sharif's original message have reappeared on YouTube and an Al Jazeera report on her campaign is still available. You can check out the full report at The New York Times and watch the videos after the break.

Continue reading Saudi woman's "right to drive" protest video circulates online despite gov't. efforts

Saudi woman's "right to drive" protest video circulates online despite gov't. efforts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Yes, you can change a tire on a moving car

Jeff Glucker — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 10:36:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Middle East

Changing tires while moving - Click above to watch video after the jump

Can you change a tire quickly? It doesn't matter, because your skills fail to impress this crew of ~~suicidal~~ Saudi stunt drivers. No need for a jackstand when you have three friends, a long stretch of road and the ability to pilot a vehicle like one of the Duke boys.

While this stunt takes a lot of skill, and cojones far outweighing the curb weight of the vehicle involved, we checked the stupidity meter and it exploded in our hands. Click past the jump to see the most thrilling tire change you may ever witness.

[Source: Youtube via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: Yes, you can change a tire on a moving car

Video: Yes, you can change a tire on a moving car originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Feb 2011 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah knows how to make an entrance

Zach Bowman — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Celebrities

King Abudallah returns home - Click above to watch video after the jump

It's kind of a big deal when Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz returns home from overseas. Following a massive welcome ceremony at the airport that includes hundreds of men performing a traditional sword dance, the monarch is treated to a vehicle procession that makes the American president's motorcade look like a couple of VW Buses caravanning to Bonnaroo. In addition to a fleet of armored German hardware, King Abdullah is accompanied by a number of assault SUVs just in case anything should go awry.

In the video after the jump, you'll see that the Saudi ruler's route is lined with both flag-waving supporters and members of the country's armed forces. AThe king returned to Saudi Arabia amidst growing unrest in Africa and the Middle East that has seen more than one ruling party ousted amidst calls for democracy. Hit the jump to see the video for yourself.

[Source: Gadling]

Continue reading Video: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah knows how to make an entrance

Video: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah knows how to make an entrance originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wikileaks: U.S. believes Saudi Arabia is running out of oil

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:24:00 EST

Peak oil, according to Wikipedia, is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline. Opinions vary on when the world will actually reach a peak oil scenario, but a new report detailed by Julian Assange's infamous Wikileaks website indicates the United States believes it's staring us right in the face - as early as 2012.

Maybe that's what the Mayan calendar is on about?

It may not exactly be the end of the world as we know it, but if the report is accurate, it could mean death to a number of popular vehicular segments; namely the gas-guzzling sport utility vehicle, heavy-duty pickup truck and possible even the mainstream performance car. Electric and hybrid Mustang and Camaro models might not look so bad in the very near future, eh?

This revalatory report centers around a meeting between Sadad al-Husseini, a geologist and former head of exploration at Aramco (the state-owned national oil company of Saudi Arabia), and U.S. officials. Husseini, an expert on the subject, suggested that Saudi Arabia doesn't have as much oil left as the country wants us to believe and that it is unlikely to continue producing its current rate of 12.5 million barrels per day.

None of this is to say that the world has run out of oil - far from it, in fact - but it does mean that Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the Middle East and the country that's thought by experts to hold about one-fifth of the world's proven total petroleum reserves, won't be able to provide enough oil to keep the world operating as it does today.

If nothing else, this report gives us reason to believe that oil prices won't stay nearly as low as they currently are, and that large-scale price increases could happen sooner rather than later. Thanks for the tip, Glenton!

[Source: Yahoo News | Image: Marwan Naamani/AFP/Getty]

Wikileaks: U.S. believes Saudi Arabia is running out of oil originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xenatec Maybach Cruiserio coupe enters production with Saudi investment

Noah Joseph — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Maybach, Middle East, Luxury

Xenatec Maybach Cruiserio coupe - Click above for image gallery

Want to get your hands on a Maybach coupe? You've got two options. First would be to commission a replica of the Exelero concept car on the chassis of a Dodge Viper. That'll set you back €550,000, or about $730k at today's conversion rates. Your other choice is to have Xenatec convert a Maybach 57 S limo into a coupe for €675,000 ($894k).

We brought you initial news of the project back in May, followed by details in October. For a quick refresher, the German coachbuilder brought in Fredrik Burchhardt, designer of the original Exelero, to pen the modified shape for the coupe. The result keeps most of the saloon's mechanicals in place - including the 600+ horsepower twin-turbo V12 - only with modified bodywork, cabin and (of course) two longer doors instead of four.

Seen until now only in sketches, the Xenatec Maybach coupe has been (awkwardly) dubbed the Cruiserio, and it has just made its debut at Daimler headquarters in Stuttgart. The project is now being underwritten by a €70 million ($93M) investment from AutoKingdom of Saudi Arabia. Over the course of three years, Xenatec and AutoKingdom ambitiously anticipate building 100 examples, and say they've already got enough orders to keep them busy for the next year or so. Can't wait that long? The first example is up for sale out of Riyadh, with a price tag of just under a cool million.

Gallery: Xenatec Maybach Cruiserio

Gallery: Maybach 57 S Coupe by Xenatec

[Source: JamesList via World Car Fans]

Xenatec Maybach Cruiserio coupe enters production with Saudi investment originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Saudi university to start $500 million carmaking enterprise

Noah Joseph — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Middle East

King Saud University Gazal-1 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Few took them seriously when the students of King Saud University unveiled their first design in Geneva last March. But the Saudi institute of higher education is reportedly putting their plans to begin producing their own line of automobiles into high gear.

According to Reuters, the project is being undertaken by the university's investment arm, Wadi al-Riyadh Technology, with technical and financial support from an as-yet undisclosed South Korean firm. Could Hyundai/Kia be behind the effort? Hard to say, but whoever it is, they're tipped to be putting up 30 percent of the cash, in addition to the technical know-how. The university is set to put in as much as 15 percent of the capital needed, while the rest is reportedly being offered to outside investments. Altogether, the project is budgeted at $500 million.

The outfit's first vehicle will reportedly be "an economic car suitable for local use," as opposed to the Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen-based SUV concept pictured above. Spokespeople say they hope to offer the vehicle in other countries in the region, including the Gulf emirates and North African countries.

The development is peculiar for a number of reasons, namely that (a) Saudi Arabia, though the largest economy in the Arab world, is not known as an automobile producing or exporting country, and (b) most cars are not built by universities. Still, if any country has the oil money to pull it off, it's surely Saudi Arabia.

Gallery: Geneva 2010: King Saud University Gazal-1

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Saudi university to start $500 million carmaking enterprise originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Saudi prince claims to own 1% of GM

Zach Bowman — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:57:00 EST

Filed under: GM, Earnings/Financials, Middle East

The dust is beginning to settle around the General Motors IPO, and we're finally getting a sense of exactly who is holding onto big slices of the company. The New York Times is reporting that Saudi Prince Walid bin Talal has managed to snag a full one percent of the automaker with a massive $500 million investment. The prince has a long history of backing various American companies through Kingdom Holdings, including Citigroup. Talal says that in the case of The General, he has faith that the company's new management can pull off respectable growth and profits.

The prince calls King Abduallah uncle, and while he isn't likely to ever ascend to the country's throne, odds are he wouldn't want to even if he had the chance. Last we heard, the guy was worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 billion thanks to his successful investments.

[Source: The New York Times | Image: Rabih Moghrabi/AFP/Getty]

Report: Saudi prince claims to own 1% of GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2010: King Saud University Gazal-1 is one whopper of a student project

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:20:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Middle East, Design/Style, Off-Road

We went to the wrong school -- Click above for a high-res image gallery

Imagine this: you're sitting there in your engineering class and the professor walks in and says, "You're getting a little project this semester. I'd like you to design an SUV. But not just any SUV, one that takes into account the environment and population of the Arabian Gulf. 20% of your grade is riding on it."

That's right, King Saud University (KSU) students in Saudi Arabia were asked to create a new SUV called the Gazal-1. If you're wondering, Gazal means "gazelle" in Arabic. Why you would name a hulking, International Truck-looking off-roader after a lithe, speedy and athletic mammal is anyone's guess. Still, you must admit, for a bunch of college kids, they did a fine job.

The big green truck here at the Geneva Motor Show is actually just a model, a styling exercise if you will. However, the Gazal-1 is more than just an engineering project. A business plan has been part of the Gazal-1 since the get-go. Are we saying that the KSU kids' truck will one day make it to production? Mostly likely no. However, KSU's reason for such an ambitious project is to "Promote the culture of automotive industry, to train young engineers who can participate in research and development." Those are some educational goals we can get behind.

Now comes the fun part. The KSU students didn't start with a totally blank slate. In fact, they were given an existing SUV to start with. They were then told to keep the original vehicle's wheelbase, track, mechanical bits and interior hard points. Obviously, the entire body was redesigned. So redesigned in fact that when asked what SUV underpins the Gazal-1, five out of five members of the Autoblog Geneva crew got it wrong. Make the jump to see if you're smarter than us. Warning: Don't make the jump until you've guessed what truck!

Gallery: Geneva 2010: King Saud University Gazal-1

Continue reading Geneva 2010: King Saud University Gazal-1 is one whopper of a student project

Geneva 2010: King Saud University Gazal-1 is one whopper of a student project originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saudi government bans "lewd" personalized license plates including: "SEX," "ASS," and... "USA"?!

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Lifestyle

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 certain 3-letter English words, like "nut." But according to the BBC, authorities have published a list words that definitely cannot be placed there, and heading the list of words like "SEX" and "ASS" is this one: "USA."

Even here in America, states regularly restrict certain letter combinations on license plates. Tags like "SEXVAN" and "KSMYBT" have been given the kibosh (even though "PRNOSTR" made it through). A New York police officer who wanted a "GETOSAMA" plate was even denied. It hasn't been explained why "USA" is on the list of Saudi Arabia's banned words, but such plates and 90,000 others like it are being recalled and replaced with something more acceptable.

[Source: BBC | Photo: Saudi Jeans]

Saudi government bans "lewd" personalized license plates including: "SEX," "ASS," and... "USA"?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saudi Arabia threatens Nissan boycott over Israeli ad

Noah Joseph — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Nissan

Click above to watch the video

Saudis may be known for a lot of things, but let's face it - comedy is not one of them. Israelis on the other hand... have you seen The Zohan? In any event, it's not surprising that people in Saudi Arabia are outraged at something from Israel, but this time it has nothing to do with military actions or residential construction, and to be fair, while talk of boycotts is filling the air once again, they're not actually blaming Israel itself for anything. Instead, Nissan is the boycott target.

The spate was started by a commercial Israeli TV that depicts Arabian oil sheikhs getting medieval on a Nissan Tiida. The implication is that the car's fuel efficiency is harming the sheikhs' business interests. The Saudi regime, along with other oil-producing Gulf states, is threatening to boycott Nissan - which itself is collaborating on the development of the Project Better Place electric car system in Israel - if the automaker doesn't apologize.

Follow the jump to watch the commercial - which, strangely, we could only find in Arabic with Russian subtitles - and leave your thoughts in the comments section below (just please keep it tasteful).

[Source: Haaretz]

Continue reading Saudi Arabia threatens Nissan boycott over Israeli ad

Saudi Arabia threatens Nissan boycott over Israeli ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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