2005
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Al Jazirah, monster Ford centre
Al Jazirah Vehicles Agencies, a Ford and Lincoln dealer in Saudi Arabia, has invested $26m in a new dealership in Jeddah, which at it says houses the world's largest Ford showroom. The facility also has an onsite warehouse for Ford and Lincoln spare parts.
Speedsters race out the door
Organisers of the 8th Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai say that dozens of high-performance cars have been sold in the first three days of the event. The order book includes four Lamborghinis, four Bugattis and four Porsches. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4, with a top speed of 407km/h, has the highest price tag at $1.18m.
Chevrolet showroom in AD open
Bin Hamoodah has opened its new Chevrolet showroom on the corniche in Abu Dhabi, offering a range of vehicles from the Corvette Z06, the fastest, most powerful production Corvette ever built, to the TrailBlazer, Aveo, Optra, Epica and the newly released Spark. Chevrolet accounted for 65% of GM sales across the region in 2005.
Saab releases 9-3 SportCombi
Saab has moved into the premium midsize wagon segment for the first time with the Middle East launch of the five-door Saab 9-3 SportCombi. The high-performance Aero SportCombi model features a turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 engine that delivers 250 bhp. A six-speed manual gearbox comes standard, with a six-speed Sentronic automatic also available.
Car loans at motor show
Emirates Bank is showcasing its car loans at the 8th Middle East Motor Show 2005. Its meDRIVE product provides on-the-spot finance, consultancy and approval. A special rate as low as 3.5% pa is available for the duration of the show for any new vehicles.
Armoured Jag on show
Jaguar's armoured XJ Long Wheelbase made its world debut at the 8th Middle East Motor Show 2005. Armoured to European standard EN1063 levels BR5 & BR6, it features protection from firearms, blast attack, robbery, kidnap and car jacking. Modifications include bullet-resistant laminated glazing, underbody protection, steel-armouring and run flat tyres.
Robot visits Honda in Dubai
The Honda stand at the Dubai motor show is being helped by Asimo, a humanoid robot built by Honda engineers, who is in town to entertain visitors. Honda is also displaying the new Civic, the VTEC City, facelifted Accord, MRV, CRV, Odyssey and S2000 roadster.
GM eyes ME markets
GM has its sights set on a bigger share of the Middle East car market with plans to launch 13 new models from its Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Hummer, Saab and Opel brands, reported Gulf News. GM currently holds an overall 13% market share in the Middle East, with a 18% share in both Saudi and Kuwait, and 8% in the UAE.
Nissan rolls out new Pathfinder
Nissan has unveiled the new Pathfinder in Dubai, which features three-row seating for the first time, improved performance via a new 4.0-litre 291 bhp version of the VQ-series V6 engine, and a fully-boxed all-steel frame based on the full-size Armada. Nissan claims the largest SUV range available in the Middle East, with the Armada, Patrol, X-Trail and Murano.
Ford hangs onto Jaguar
Ford Motor's premium brand Jaguar is not for sale, the head of its European business told Reuters. It had been rumoured that French carmaker Renault was interested in buying the iconic but loss-making brand from Ford.
Rolls-Royce rolls into Dubai
The Rolls-Royce luxury convertible 100EX experimental car is making its Middle East debut at the Dubai motor show. The open-top, two-door 100EX was created in 2004 to celebrate the centenary of the luxury car manufacturer. Based on a lightweight aluminium space frame, it is the company's first experimental car since the 1950's. RR is planning a new convertible model for 2007.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Aston Martin today officially launched its new model, the V8 Vantage, in the Middle East and forecast that the next 12 months will be a record year for sales of all its models in the region. The advanced quad-cam 32-valve V8 engine is individually hand assembled. Aston Martin anticipates that more than 150 cars will be sold across the region in 2006, an increase of 30%.
Audi unveils sporty SUV
At the 8th Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai Audi has unveiled its first 4x4, the Q7. With state of the art technology, such as Audi Side Assist, Audi Advanced Parking System with rearview camera, Adaptive Cruise Control, and 4-corner Adaptive Air Suspension, the Q7 excels on the road with the driving performance and dynamism of a sports car.
Dubai auto show opens
Today is the first day of the huge 8th Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai. The world's fastest car, the $1.5m Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is on display. It can accelerate from 0-100 kph in an amazing 2.5 seconds thanks to a formula one transmission.
ML 63 AMG from Mercedes-Benz
The top-of-the-line 4x4, the Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG was launched yesterday at the 8th Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai. This genuine off-roader also has superlative sports performance on the road, and can accelerate from 0-100 kph in five seconds.
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