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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Watch Toyota celebrate UAE launch of GT 86

Zach Bowman — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Toyota, Middle East

Toyota has officially launched the company's GT 86 sportscar in the United Arab Emirates. The Japanese automaker rolled out the rear-drive hero with a fancy new video shot in the hills around Fujairah. With plenty of drifting, tire smoke and slow motion, the clip serves as a proper introduction to the lightweight coupe. Judging by the quick video, there are a few market-specific changes to the UAE Toyota GT 86, including the availability of one very massive rear wing. The piece has more than a passing resemblance to the exaggerated aero work found on the lusty Subaru WRX STI sedan.

Will the Toyota GT 86 find favor in the UAE? We certainly think it's got a shot. If there's a more car-obsessed culture on this planet than the one found in the U.S., it lies in the well-funded Middle East. You can check out the launch video for yourself by scrolling below, or head over to the Toyota UAE Facebook page for a little more information.

Continue reading Watch Toyota celebrate UAE launch of GT 86

Watch Toyota celebrate UAE launch of GT 86 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 May 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch the McLaren MP4-12C hit the dunes of Abu Dhabi

Noah Joseph — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Middle East, MISC

The Middle East is an enormously vital market for McLaren, and not just because its oil barons have the cash to buy as many MP4-12C supercars as they and every member of their family could possibly want. While the team has only won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix once and has yet to do the same at the Bahrain Grand Prix - the only two in the region (discounting Turkey), the company is part owned by Saudi businessman Mansour Ojjeh, and another part by the royal family of Bahrain.

Little wonder, then, that the upstart McLaren Automotive is setting up no fewer than six dealerships in the Middle East, the first of which has just opened its doors. To mark the occasion, McLaren took its new MP4-12C to the dunes of Abu Dhabi and around the Yas Island Marina Circuit and brought a camera crew - armed with a RED video camera and Canon's new 1DX - along for the ride. The resulting high-resolution images and footage are worth a glance, so check 'em out in the gallery below, the video below that and the press release below them both.

Continue reading Watch the McLaren MP4-12C hit the dunes of Abu Dhabi

Watch the McLaren MP4-12C hit the dunes of Abu Dhabi originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 May 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sets up final dash for second place [spoilers]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Middle East

The ongoing revolutions in the Middle East may have put the kibosh on the Bahrain Grand Prix this year, but the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was campaigned as planned against the setting Arabian sun. Follow the jump to read how the penultimate race of the 2011 Formula 1 World Championship went down at Yas Island.

Continue reading Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sets up final dash for second place [spoilers]

Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sets up final dash for second place [spoilers] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sand hill climb accident is the longest, most deliberate crash ever

Zach Bowman — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos, Middle East, Racing

If you've ever found yourself in a vehicle accident, chances are it felt like all of the crashing and banging lasted forever. The human mind has a nasty habit of prolonging the unpleasant even when actual events take just a few seconds. That's not the case with the crash in the video after the jump. A driver at the Tal Mireb sand hill climb in the United Arab Emirates lost control of his racer while near the top of the course and wound up slowly and painfully rolling his way back down the dunes one flip at a time.

Despite the racer's roll cage succumbing frighteningly to multiple, repeated impacts, the driver apparently managed to walk away from the disaster with nothing more than a bruised ego and a bashed hill climb vehicle. That's what we call very, very lucky. Hit the jump to check out the protracted and cringeworthy crash for yourself.

Continue reading Sand hill climb accident is the longest, most deliberate crash ever

Sand hill climb accident is the longest, most deliberate crash ever originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford SVT Raptor with... six doors?! Only in the UAE

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:19:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Truck, Etc., Videos, Ford, Middle East

The United Arab Emirates is a land that continually breathes new life into the phrase "More money than sense." The new prime example of this is a custom-built Ford SVT Raptor that believes the prime number of doors is six. Said to hail from the UAE, it's quite clear that anything goes in the Land Of The Burning ~~Dollar Sign~~ Sun.

We're not going to completely hate on this thing, of course, as the idea of a six-door Raptor puts visions of a seriously great camping trip in mind. Still, we're not even sure if this thing is actually real or if someone with solid skills spent too much time playing around on their computer. Judge for yourself by clicking past the jump and watching the video.

Continue reading Ford SVT Raptor with... six doors?! Only in the UAE

Ford SVT Raptor with... six doors?! Only in the UAE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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High oil prices see sheikhs on supercar-buying binge

Zach Bowman — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Middle East, Luxury

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport L'Or Blanc - Click above for high-res image gallery

Bloomberg is reporting that the sale of high-end and exotic cars in countries like the United Arab Emirates may swell by as much as 20 percent this year. The reason? Civilized countries just can't seem to kick their thirst for gasoline, and as a result, the price of a barrel of crude oil continues to hover at around $100 per barrel. All that cash is flowing straight into the bank accounts of aristocrats like Sheikh Hamad, who happens to own over 200 vehicles housed in a pyramid-shaped garage. Among his collection are a 16-foot-tall Dodge Power Wagon and what Bloomberg calls a "see-through disco car."

The exotic car take rate in the Gulf states is more than double the industry average, thanks in part to the fact that buyers in those areas are more comfortable with displays of wealth than their American or European counterparts. Fiat, for example, says that thanks to demand in the U.A.E., the company may run low on Maserati models. Buyers in the country face a three-month waiting list for the Porsche Cayenne while fetching a 911 takes somewhere in the neighborhood of seven months.

High oil prices see sheikhs on supercar-buying binge originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:29:00 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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Followup: Dubai authorities arrest YouTube hoons

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Videos, Middle East

A memorable day on a Dubai highway - Click above to watch video after the jump

Well, wouldn't 'cha know that it actually wasn't just another day in Dubai traffic. You may recall the video that we posted last Friday that showed a couple of hooning drivers doing wicked crazy burnouts, drifts and donuts all over public highways in Dubai... not to mention plenty of driving on two wheels. If not, now would be a good time to click past the break to see the video for yourself.

As it turns out, the two men - both UAE nationals in their 20s - driving the vehicles in question down Sheikh Zayed Road have been tracked down and arrested. As has happened in the past, police were able to identify the vehicles after seeing their license plates in full view from the videos uploaded to YouTube.

Let this be a lesson. A lesson of what, exactly, is up to you to discern. We'll go with a few: Don't hoon so obviously on highly trafficked public roads. Don't endanger the lives or livelihoods of your fellow citizens. And finally, don't upload videos of your illegal actions to YouTube unless you are willing to pay the consequences.

Oh, and speaking of consequences... these two drivers are reportedly facing up to three years in prison if convicted.

[Source: ArabianBusiness.com]

Continue reading Followup: Dubai authorities arrest YouTube hoons

Followup: Dubai authorities arrest YouTube hoons originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari World Abu Dhabi gears up for grand opening in 2010

Noah Joseph — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Toys/Games, Middle East

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.

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

Noah Joseph — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:47:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Middle East

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.

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UAE attempts to make seatbelts more fashionable in order to encourage use

Dan Roth — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Design/Style

Seatbelts have been spun as fashion items before, but not like this. In an effort to counteract the low take-rate of seatbelts in the United Arab Emirates, the Salama Road Safety Public Awareness Initiative will be launching soon. The initiative will adorn the potential life savers with haute couture logos like Gucci, as well as the logos of sports teams, flags, and so on as a way to make buckling up suddenly hip to young motorists.

Abu Dhabi's Health Authority (HAAD) cites figures that it can entice more than the current 11% of Emiratis to click the buckle if it appeals to the citizens senses of pride or style. Peer pressure to avoid belts was also cited by respondents to the HAAD's as a reason for not belting. The idea may not work, but it's worth a shot to flip the script on the fashion conscious and turn seatbelts from lame to haute couture.

[Source:Arabian Business via Luxist; Source Image: Zumiez]

UAE attempts to make seatbelts more fashionable in order to encourage use originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Noah Joseph — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Supercars

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.

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The Golden Arches: Gilded McMerc spotted in - you guessed it - Dubai

Noah Joseph — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Mercedes-Benz

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.

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Super-rare Supercar: Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang for sale in Abu Dhabi

Noah Joseph — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Bugatti, Specialty, Middle East

Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang edition - Click above for a hi-res gallery

When Bugatti rolled out the limited-edition Pur Sang edition of its Veyron at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, European customers snapped up all five before any American buyers could get their checkbooks out. As a result, Bugatti had to make the Sang Noir the following year and offer U.S. customers first crack at the limited run of fifteen. But for those who really wanted the original polished-aluminum and bare-carbon-fiber edition that kicked off the raft of special-edition Veyrons that followed, they may get that chance as one appears to have popped up for sale.

A premium car dealership in Abu Dhabi has posted an example of the Pur Sang for sale on its website. In all likelihood, this is the same example that was spotted on video a year ago and which showed up for the Top Gear photo shoot in good company a few months later. No word on price, or even confirmation that this is, indeed, a Pur Sang, but the website does allow you to place the order immediately. And if that doesn't tickle your fancy, they've got a Mansory Vincero up for grabs, too. Follow the link to check it out.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang for sale in Abu Dhabi

[Source: Prestige Cars via CarScoop]

Super-rare Supercar: Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang for sale in Abu Dhabi originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tattooed, chopped HUMMER H2 convertible spotted in - yep - Abu Dhabi

Noah Joseph — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:44:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Convertible, SUV, Etc., Hummer, Middle East

"Hello, Abu Dhabi? Yeah, this is Taste. I'm outta here." Well, you can't really blame Taste now can you? There's only so much abuse a sense can take, and the motorists of Abu Dhabi - the same gulf emirate that ordered up the gold-plated Rolls-Royce - have taken things one step too far. Several, actually.

Your eyes do not deceive you, and this is not available for rent to drive your kids to their homecoming. This custom HUMMER H2 convertible was spotted at the Emirates Palace Hotel, a location whose overdeveloped sense of opulence is rivaled only by the horrid monstrosity parked in front.

A topless HUMMER? Okay, the original H1 was available without a roof, but not with a seven-seat, red leather interior, a matching tribal pattern paint job, blistered wheel arches housing chrome wheels and what appears to be a hood scoop packed with a row of driving lights. You know, just in case someone could have missed this tooling around the streets of Abu Dhabi at night.

Gallery: HUMMER H2 Convertible

[Source: gtspirit.com via World Car Fans]

Continue reading Tattooed, chopped HUMMER H2 convertible spotted in - yep - Abu Dhabi

Tattooed, chopped HUMMER H2 convertible spotted in - yep - Abu Dhabi originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gold(finger's) Mercedes C63 spotted in... where else? Dubai

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Specialty

Click above for a high-res gallery of the gold C63

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 are always intrigued when someone looks to have spent the worth of a car - on top of the price of the car itself - on "beautification."

There is some debate as to whether this is a real paint job or a wrap, but parking your gold-wrapped C63 next to a genuinely chrome SLR would be shamefully ludicrous. A C63 AMG goes for about 300,000 AED (about $82,000 USD). Unless gold paint bubbles out of the ground as well, a liquid gold paint job has to cost a good portion of that. And all for a C63? Really? We won't ask whether it looks good... we'll just guide you to the gallery of high-res images below. Hat tip to AB reader Chad.

Gallery: Mercedes C63 in Dubai Gold

[Source: MB World]

Gold(finger's) Mercedes C63 spotted in... where else? Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls-Royce creates special Peony edition Phantom for UAE

Noah Joseph — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Rolls-Royce, Specialty

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.

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Goodness Gracious: Top Gear magazine asks for a Veyron, gets three instead

Noah Joseph — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Bugatti

After the numerous reports we've brought you about the wealth of Bugatti Veyrons to be found in the United Arab Emirates, it should hardly come as any big surprise that when Top Gear magazine turned up in the capital Abu Dhabi, it had no trouble finding one for a photo shoot. In fact it didn't find just one, but three examples of the million-dollar supercar, with reclusive owners willing to hand over the keys to the British magazine.

Nor were these any run-of-the-mill Veyrons, either. Any true gearhead would know that the Veyron typically comes in two-tone paintjobs, but a few have left the factory in Molsheim with monotone tints, like the all-red example we reported on previously. That one, or one just like it, was one of the vehicles which the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority tracked down for TG, along with an all-white example and the extremely exclusive Pur Sang bare-aluminum-and-carbon edition spotted in the emirate previously. It's not every day that you see three Veyrons in the same place - let alone together with The Stig and, reportedly, a Koenigsegg CCX as well - but if it were to happen anywhere, the UAE seems to be the place. Thanks to all who tipped in!

[Source: PassatWorld]

Goodness Gracious: Top Gear magazine asks for a Veyron, gets three instead originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 May 2008 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Your oil dollars at work - $9.8 million license plate auction in the UAE

Dan Roth — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Etc., Lifestyle

While fuel prices continue to ratchet up and put a squeeze on all aspects of the world economy, times are flush within the borders of major oil producing nations. So flush, in fact, that several Emiratis found a total of 9.8 million dollars to indulge in low-number license plates at a recent auction. The fascination with distinctive tags is a world-wide phenomenon, but $926,000 for a plate that says "50G" is uniquely asinine. If that's what our last few fillups helped purchase, we're going to bike more.

[Source: Yahoo]

Your oil dollars at work - $9.8 million license plate auction in the UAE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 May 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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