It seems to be ‘factory recall’ season, at least of which is simply fall-out from the Toyota floor-mat fiasco that has spun out of control. Alongside further worldwide recalls by Toyota, Peugeot is doing a precautionary recall for their Toyota-rebadged models. Meanwhile, Hyundai and Honda are having recalls of their own, both related to safety issues.
This urban comparo is about as meaningless as it gets, but for the sake of argument, we’ll give it a go anyway. We’ve had a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 since late 2007, and this is the first time that we’ve managed to drive another Jeep vehicle since then. Our Grand Cherokee was the epitome of American 4x4s back in its day, with capable off-road and on-road performance, packed with leather, full-time 4WD and a V8. The Wrangler has always been a simplistic offroader, but the latest generation claims to be the most refined and practical Wrangler ever, with options such as four doors and Bluetooth,
If you haven’t heard, Toyota now holds the record for the largest single recall ever. Involving nothing more than replacing overlong accelerator pedals that are prone to get stuck when a floor-mat slips under it, the recall was extended to an additional 2.3 million vehicles in the United States, up from the 3.8 million that were already recalled. Word is now that the recall will extend to 2 million cars in Europe, while Toyota offices around the world are in talks with various countries to make the recall global.
After announcing the imminent closure of their deadbeat Saab division, General Motors has now sold the long-running Swedish brand to Spyker, the niche exotic manufacturer from the Netherlands whose Russian investor connections had the General stalling all this time over concerns of technology transfer.
The real dream of any car enthusiast is to have a home with a garage. This 87-year-old man from Belgium manages to have just that, even if his car is just an old Fiat Panda.
The inaugural Concours d’Elegance took place at the Marina Crescent last week and showcased 50 rare vintage cars, included several automotive brands which no longer exist. The event marked 100 years since Kuwait imported its first car to the country.
If you thought that the attractive Mazda 6 had escaped the curse of the Joker, then think again, as the 2011 Mazda 6 has debuted in Japan with a smiley frontal facelift.
Hyundai, represented by Juma Al Majid Est. in the UAE, today launches its highly-anticipated ‘Value Season’, an annual ‘limited-time only’ promotion designed to attract new customers and build loyalty within its UAE consumer base by offering added value and an array of valuable prizes.
One of our readers reports that the 2010 Lexus GX460 is now on sale at showrooms in Dubai, and likely in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere too. In fact, the model is so fresh that the floor salespeople are confused about what it is and giving hilarious answers to customer queries, such as how it is bigger than the 2010 Toyota Prado.
Hatchbacks are only popular in Europe. Anywhere else, sedans always outsell any other body style, and China is no different. That’s why Peugeot has launched a new sedan model specifically for the Chinese market, called the 408. Interestingly, it is not a replacement for the 407, but rather a sedan version of the 308. The real replacement of the 407, slated for next year, will be called the 508.