• Toyota has claimed the record for the world’s fastest sport utility vehicle (SUV) as a modified Land Cruiser hit speeds of 370 km/h in California. The turbocharged vehicle rocketed along a 4-km California runway to beat the previous record of 340 km/h. While Toyota may have claimed the overall title, the custom-built, 2,000-horsepower Cruiser had two turbochargers added to its regular 381hp, 5.7L-V8 engine to increase its power output fivefold. Alongside several other engine modifications, the SUV had wider tires and reduced suspension to boost its top speed. The record attempt was made at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. In addition to being one of the few places in the US where supersonic flight is allowed, it features a 2.5-mile paved runway.
• Andreas Gollwitzer has recently joined as the new head of MINI Middle East, overseeing the business across the region. With a career at BMW Group that spans 16 years, Andreas has gained a wealth of experience in a number of business development, planning and retail positions. His most recent role saw him spend six years in Beijing where he worked within the business development team at BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd. He looked after the full range of BMW Group brands, with a focus on strategy and implementing digital programs and projects. Prior to that, he spent 10 years at BMW AG in Munich.
• The redesigned Hyundai Sonata has officially arrived in the Middle East with a dramatic new exterior design, an impressive list of standard safety features, and new engine and transmission options, once again setting the standard in the mid-size sedan segment. Created at Hyundai’s California design studio, the 2018 Sonata builds on the model’s strong legacy, while a distinctive new exterior styling transforms Sonata’s visual signature. The dramatic new appearance is highlighted by Hyundai’s bold new “cascading grille” in front, and an all-new rear with more prominent branding and relocation of the license plate from the trunk lid to the bumper.
• Since pioneering the segment with the Murano back in 2003 before following up with the X-Trail, Qashqai and Juke, Nissan has dominated the global market in crossover vehicles. That dominance has been underscored in the Middle East with Nissan capturing almost 60 percent of small urban crossover sales in the region. The Juke and newly launched Kicks models are vying for the top spot in different markets. Sales figures for the year to date show that Nissan has captured 59.7 percent of the B-segment (small car) urban crossover market with the Juke accounting for 44.2 percent of that share, and the recently introduced Kicks taking already taking a healthy 15.5 percent (figures exclude Saudi Arabia). The Kicks has proved an instant hit in the Gulf markets. Aimed squarely at urban driving environments, it combines a robust exterior and elevated driving position with compact dimensions for agile performance and maneuverability.
Toyota claims speed record with a Land Cruiser
Toyota claims speed record with a Land Cruiser
