Porsche Middle East and Africa is showcasing its latest series during the Middle East International Show that was opened today is Dubai. The all new 9100 GT2 and Cane GTS are among the new cars along with some other models such as Boxster, Camen S, 911 Turbo, Carrera S, and Cayenne Turbo.

The GT2 is the fastest Porsche road car yet produced. Sixty-five 911 GT2s were allocated to this region and all have already been sold. Porsche said that those wanting to order the caar now are likely to have to wait a year before taking delivery. It will $176,000, and be available from February.

Video report: Porsche mulls Cayenne rally release

Renault is working on its image in the Middle East over the coming year, in the run up to some major car launches it has planned for 2008.

Although present in the region, its brand is not as popular as others in the market, and the company wants to improve its visibility and raise its profile. It will release 10 new cars over the coming two years, it said.

At the car Show is unveiled new Megans and Clios, both badged as Formula 1, and in the yellow used by the team. The Renault Clio F1 Team R27 is aimed at those that want performance, fashion and driving pleasure, the company said. Released in the first half of 2008, it comes with a two litre, 200bhp engine. The Megan F1 Team R26 is a two litre, 230bhp turbo, starting from around Dhs85,000. Both will sport an F1 plaque on their body.

Also coming out next year is its concept SUV, the Koleos is a 2.5litre Nissan engined car which includes a panoramic glass sunroof. Nicolas Guiochet, the general manager market at Renault, said the prototype was 90 per cent of the final version. It will be made in Korean and ship in the GCC countries in November next year.

The LED lighting on the concept version will not appear in the final version, because of the cost, said Guiochet. ‘We want to make citizen SUVs, not hardcore SUVs. So it’s about having fun onboard.’

Other Renault’s due out next year are the Logan and Logan MCV, which target the cheap end of the market.

The Conquistador is Mansory’s customised Rolls Royce Phantom. Changes include LED daytime lights, new side skirts with aluminium flanks and wing mirrors with integrated flasher lights.

The company customises a range of sports and super cars. Others on display included a Bentley Continental GTC. Le Mansory Convertible is a limited edition widebody customisation. Again, it includes LED daylights, integrated into the spoiler, plus has air intakes and side skirts.

There was no word on price, but then as they say, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.

Bugatti’s Veyron 16.4 is yet another supercar at the show. With 1,001bhp, it has a top speed of 407km/h and can go 0-100km/h in just 2.5 seconds.

It recently launched an individualisation programme which, has been extended into the Middle East. The Veyron 16.4 is hand assembled by a team in France and the company says only 300 units will be built.

If money really is no object, and you feel the need for super speed, then this may just be the car for you.

The Shelby-built Ultimate Aero recently found its way into the Guiness Book of Records, after its 412km/h record breaking road run. The company said if the drive had been on a specially made track, rather than an ordinary (and closed at the time) road in the US, then it could have added another 10km/h.

The car has 1,183bhp and goes from zero to 100km/h in 2.78 seconds. It will cost $644,000.

On show for the first time in the Middle East, just five will be built in this design, and the company owner has nabbed one of those for himself. Another 45 will be built in varying colours, but none in the white and black design that recently entered the record books.

GM had a number of new cars on show today at its stand - among them two hybrids and a new Chevrolet Camaro (left).

No dates were given as to when any of them will hit the Middle East, although all will go into production.

The Tahoe Hybrid (middle) will begin production next year, the Camaro next year and the Volt has a 2010 date penciled against it.

The Volt, said GM, will drive 60km on a full charge, at which point a three litre engine will kick in to recharge the battery. This will extend the range to 1,000km and use 4.7 litres of fuel per 100km.

Read more on these cars and a full report on GM’s future plans 

It isn’t only fast cars that are going to be in the spotlight at this week’s Middle East International Motor Show but fast drivers too! Two time Formula One world champion Mika Hakkinen will be putting in an appearance at the show on Wednesday, November 14.

The flying Finn, who stepped out of F1 back in 2001, will on the Mercedes-Benz stand to unveil a limited edition racing version of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Only 21 cars will be built and they will be designed specifically for the race track and not the road.

The SLR 722 GT, developed by the UK’s RML Group, certainly packs a punch with a meaty supercharged AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine lurking under its bonnet, capable of generating a peak output of 680 PS and a top speed of 315 kilometres per hour.

Such a specification will surely have even a top racer like Hakkinen drooling at the prospect of taking it for a spin.

If you want to see what speed and power on wheels looks like then you’d better get along to the upcoming Middle East International Motor Show. The event is to display some of the quickest vehicles around including the fastest production car on the planet - the Ultimate Aero Twin Turbo from Shelby Supercars.

This sleek speedster was clocked at a jaw-dropping 413 kilometres per hour - try hitting those speeds along Sheikh Zayed Road and, knowing what Dubai’s traffic is like, there are some out there who would.

The Bugatti Veyron 16/4, the former record holder with a top speed of 407 kilometres per hour, will also be in attendance as will one of the most popular sports cars in the world, the Pagani Zonda.

Partially designed by F1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio, the Italian made Zonda first hit the streets in 1999 and only 25  are produced every year.

Sadly, Fangio never got a chance to drive the car he helped to shape as he died in 1995.

Chinese products have long dominated the international markets with their competitively price, low durability products. Proving that Chinese products are more than just “cheap” knock offs, a new line of luxury automobile brands will soon be the streets of

Haima, one of the three leading domestic sedan brands in China, will be showcasing their cars at this year’s Motor Show in Dubai.

Global Automotive Partners, the international distribution partner for Haima, will be unveiling three models, all of which have been developed in technical co-operation with Japanese manufacturer, Mazda. Models on display include a sedan that incorporates a sports balanced tuning chassis.

And in order to avoid the problem of missing spare parts and a lack of maintenance services, which can be a problem for newer brands, the company is developing an after sales customer service centre.

“Part of that long term vision is our commitment to provide first-rate customer service and after sales care, including spare parts and full service options. In order to achieve this, we have already begun to establish a strong dealership network, starting in the UAE, which will be developed across the MENA region,” said Ulli Urban, Chairman of Global Automotive Partners.

Luxury high performance sports cars such as those manufactured by the likes of Porsche and Lamborghini are sure to turn a fair few heads when the 9th Middle East International Motor Show revs up later this week but, of course, the event is about a whole host of models and brands across varying budgets.

Mercury, the Ford Motor Company’s mid-range luxury brand, is certainly hoping to generate a strong response at the event with the introduction of its Montego sedan and the compact Mariner SUV. The brand saw the roll-out of its mid-size Milan this year and Hussein Murad, Ford Middle East’s Sales and Marketing Director, is hoping the availability of five models from the Mercury brand will attract more customers to the firm’s showrooms throughout the region.

Mercury enjoyed its strongest popularity in the late 1970s and early 1990s, offering drivers  a ‘distinguished but not ostentatious’ choice of vehicle. But these days sales are steady if not spectacular and the brand has shifted 100,000 units in the Middle East over the past decade.

It remains to be seen whether the Middle East, and the Gulf in particular, has much appetite these days for a car that is more sensible and sober than sexy.