US automotive producer General Motors will launch its first hybrid model of the Chevrolet Tahoe, at the year’s Dubai Car Show. It is a 2-Mode full hybrid propulsion system in the full-size SUV.

The new design of the Tahoe includes features such as cylinder deactivation and electric motors powering the SUV, which is also very environmentally friendly.

And you don’t have to worry about fuel payments, because the Tahoe Hybrid is not a gas-guzzler, so won’t put a hole in your budget. The General Motors 2-Mode full hybrid system can be applied to both petrol and diesel engines. GM believes that the launching of this model will mark ‘a new era’ in terms of fuel conservation and lower carbon dioxide emissions.

‘General Motors believes energy diversity and advanced systems that reduce environmental impact is the key to removing the vehicle from the environmental debate,’ said Terry Johnsson, President, General Motors Middle East Operations.

American luxury automobile manufacturer Lincoln is showcasing its all-new sedan, MKZ, in this year’s Dubai International Motor Show.

Like many of the automakers this year, Lincoln is targeting a younger crowd with the MKZ, which it describes as ‘as an entry-level model for those who want to experience owning and driving a Lincoln’, said Hussein Murad, Sales and Marketing director of Ford Middle East.

In 2008 the company is providing customers with more exiting options to choose from that include the MKX crossover, the Navigator L extended wheelbase full-size SUV, as well as the all-new MKZ, which join the classic Town Car full-size sedan and the full-size SUV Navigator.

The MKZ is a five-passenger luxury sports sedan which boasts a new exterior design and is powered by a Duratec 35 V-6 engine paired with a premium 6-speed transmission.

‘With five product offerings, the Lincoln line up is richer than ever, and promises to further expand with additional products such as the all-new Lincoln MKS full-size sedan which we will offer in the course of 2008,’ Murad said.

In the run up to the Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai, Porsche teased fans of the brand saying it was thinking of bringing out a higher spec version of its popular Cayenne SUV.

The Cayenne S Transsyberia would be a limited edition release, based on the version that recently completed the gruelling Transsyberia rally. It even rolled out the Cayenne drivers from the rally, all of whom finished in the top 20.

Deesch Papke, managing director of Porsche Middle East, said no decision had been made yet as to whether or not to roll out the car, but that the company would learn from its experiences during the rally.

Also featuring at the Motor Show will be the GT2, its newest sports car, which will hit Middle East streets next February.

Costing around $176,000 the GT2 is aimed at performance enthusiasts. It is, the company claims, the fastest, most powerful road sports car that it has ever built.

Porsche has made a number of modifications for the GT2 to aid with performance and to save on weight. This includes the use of ceramic brakes, bucket seats and a titanium exhaust. The Middle East had an allocation of 65, and all have been sold ahead of its release. It means anyone wanting the GT2 here, will have to wait around a year, or hope to buy one secondhand.

Already achieving success in the US and Europe, French car giant Chevrolet is set to launch its first Camaro concept model in the Middle East at the biennial Dubai-based motor show this November.

In addition to basic Chevy features, the GT Camaro is hand-made and has an all-new front engine that’s geared towards attracting a younger age group. “Youthful buyers want a car that makes a statement in its design as much as its performance,” said David enticich Marketing Director for General Motors in the Middle East.

Movie goers in the Middle East will have had an early glimpse of the Camaro - it was one of the main characters in the recent Sci-Fi blockbuster Transformers.