2007
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Ford hydrogen cars in five years
Ford could be making cars running on internal combustion hydrogen technology within five years, according to a senior official quoted by AP. That's if fuel storage limitations can be solved, public fear of hydrogen allayed, filling stations set up, and gas prices stay high, John Lapetz said. Lapetz is the project manager for Ford's shuttle bus prototype, which is powered by a 6.8-litre internal combustion hydrogen engine.
Chery in UAE expansion
UAE distributor for Chery, Knowledge Automobiles & Trucks, will open more showrooms following strong interest in the Chinese cars in the country. KAT, which has a Chery showroom and service centre in Sharjah, plans to set up two showrooms in Dubai before the end of 2007; one each in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Ajman in 2008; and in Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain the following year.
Saudi M-B dealer on top
Saudi Mercedes-Benz dealer Juffali Automotive Company sold 3,685 cars in 2006, ranking it the top selling Mercedes dealership in the Middle East, Arab News reported. JAC GM Safi Kobaisi said the Saudi market is the largest in the region for Mercedes-Benz, which has been in the kingdom for more than 50 years.
Abu Dhabi Motors wins Schnitzer
Abu Dhabi Motors has signed a deal to sell BMW and Mini cars in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain by Germany's AC Schnitzer. Schnitzer specially tunes and fits out cars with accessories from a range of more than 2,000 products.
Honda recall in UAE
Honda is recalling more than 4,000 cars in the UAE to fix a potential problem with fuel pump relays. A Honda official says the recall was a preventative measure and not all of the returned vehicles would need repairing, Emirates Today reported. Not all Honda models are affected.
'Be Smart Drive Safe' Dubai
The Dubai Autodrome has teamed with the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Police, HSBC and Audi to promote safe driving this summer. The twelve-week, two-part 'Be Smart Drive Safe' campaign will impress upon drivers the need to follow simple road rules - such as staying alert, keeping a safe distance from other cars and wearing a seat belt - to prevent accidents and injury. University students will be targeted in the second phase, with HSBC Racing Academy drivers providing tuition on safe driving technique.
Salik SMS recharge talks
UAE motorists should be able to recharge their Salik road toll cards through their mobile phones later this summer, Gulf News reported. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority is in talks with telecom operators to set up a system allowing payments to be deducted from credit cards, according to a Du official.
Deadline for LR, Jaguar sale
Ford has issued a 19 July 2007 deadline for companies to submit indicative offers for UK car brands Jaguar and Land Rover, the Sunday Times reports. Ford has hired three banks to advise on options - HSBC, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley - but is yet to announce publicly the brands are for sale. The companies are expected to be sold as a single unit, but analysts say that an actual sale is some time off.
C63 AMG in ME Q1 2008
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the new C63 AMG which is expected to reach Middle East showrooms in Q1 2008. The C-Class flagship is powered by a 6.3-litre V8 engine which can turn out 457 bhp, just a touch behind the 470 bhp of the AMG C-Class currently competing in the DTM race series, according to DaimlerChrysler Middle East. The C63 AMG sprints to 100km/h from a standing start in 4.5 seconds.
Crash alert system for cars
The European Car-2-Car consortium is developing technology that warns drivers of an imminent collision, the BBC reported. The system, which includes GM's Vehicle-to-Vehicle project, combines three technologies - a GPS antenna, a wireless data system and a computer that interprets information it receives. The development programme is backed by General Motors, Audi, BMW, Fiat, Honda, Renault and a range of in-car hardware manufacturers and several universities, the report said.
Mazda2 unveiled in Japan
Mazda has unveiled the remodeled Demio, called Mazda2 outside Japan, Reuters reported. The Japanese car maker expects to sell at least 130,000 units a year of the mini-vehicle globally, excluding those to be built at a joint venture plant in China. The third-generation Mazda2, co-developed with Ford, will hit international showrooms in the coming months but will not be sold in North America, an official said.
Honda tops reliability study
Honda has come out on top in this year's Which? Car reliability study, Reuters reported. The Japanese car maker's Jazz supermini headed the overall table with a rating of 96% by owners. Honda also either won or shared top spot in other categories, including the large car group with its Accord.
AGMC promotes premium used cars
AGMC, the UAE dealer for BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce, has opened BMW Premium Selection showrooms in Dubai and Sharjah. AGMC targets the premium used car market through its Premium Select programme. All vehicles undergo a 75-point technical check before being offered for sale.
Iran Khodro bi-fuel cars
Car maker Iran Khodro will make more cars with duel petrol-CNG systems from 23 July 2007, the Iran daily reported. The move is in line with the government's policy of reducing fuel consumption. The Industries Ministry is obliged to convert 30% of cars to bi-fuel under the government's Fourth Development Plan 2005-2010.
Dubai RTA floods motorists' phones
The Dubai Roads & Transport Authority sent hundreds of road toll payment alerts to motorists' phones in a glitch described as a "programme modification", Gulf News reports. One woman reported receiving 175 identical messages in just a few hours. Dubai's controversial road toll scheme has been criticised for diverting congestion to other areas.
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