The Corvette, one of the most iconic American sports cars and the jewel in Chevrolet’s crown, has long stuck to a dependable formula – small block V8 upfront, a cloth roof in the middle and huge tyres at the rear to tame those wild Kentucky horses. But recently, GM has been spotted testing a prototype that most definitely has its engine mounted in the middle of the car.

Rumours of a Corvette with a midship powerplant have been going around the automotive press for several years, but now it seems those rumours are becoming reality. Camouflaged cars have been spotted on the roads near Corvette’s home of Bowling Green, Kentucky, as well as at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany, an unforgiving testing ground for many new performance cars. The proportions of these mysterious prototypes coupled with the placement of large air intakes behind the doors has led to speculation that GM has turbocharged the mid-mounted V8 engine, which would be another radical departure from tradition for Corvette.

There has also been speculation from journalists that the prototype supercar may potentially be a flagship Cadillac model instead of a Corvette, but this remains to be seen. As prototypes are currently being tested on public roads, it is likely that the full production car will be unveiled in the next 2 to 3 years.

The likelihood that this mid-engine beast will be sold in the UAE and in the Middle East is very high, thanks to GM’s established network of Chevrolet and Cadillac dealerships in the region and solid sales figures.

Corvette’s latest flagship model, the colossally powerful 2019 ZR1, was unveiled in Dubai earlier in 2018, indicating that the American marque is trying to increase their brand recognition and stake in the UAE’s hugely lucrative performance car market. With Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche all holding significant stakes in the Middle Eastern supercar market, GM’s decision to make their next supercar more technologically exciting could be a way to compete with the desirability of the European brand.

If you can’t wait for the mid-engine Corvette to be released, then the 750 horsepower Corvette ZR1 is on sale in the UAE now from a starting price of around AED$620,000.

German auto-giant Audi has announced its first fully-electric production vehicle, named the e-tron. For those familiar with the brand, the ‘e-tron’ moniker will ring bells as Audi has used the name before – most notably for a concept car that was an electrified version of their hugely successful R8 supercar and also on their Le Mans-winning R18 Hybrid race-car. Now, the technicians at Ingolstadt have set their gaze on EVs for the road and the e-tron SUV is the result.

From the outside, you’d be hard-pressed to distinguish the e-tron from any of the rest of Audi’s range of SUVs and crossovers which range from the boxy city-oriented Q1 to the muscular beast that is the Q8. With styling cues that blend in seamlessly with Audi’s current design language, the e-tron appears to sit squarely in the middle of the SUV size spectrum and promises to be able to seat five passengers in luxurious quality. Unlike the Tesla Model X with its futuristic appearance and ‘falcon’ doors, the e-tron appears to be aiming to be inconspicuous and understated.

The all-electric power train of the e-tron is what makes it a first for the brand, and a potential Tesla-fighter. With a combined power output in the region of 350 horsepower driving all four wheels, a 250-mile battery range and a high-wattage fast charging system, the e-tron appears to deliver in terms of performance and usability. Audi engineers have also made use of regenerative braking to recoup kinetic energy that is normally wasted. Whether these technical developments can help Audi take the fight to the Model X, Jaguar’s I-Pace, or the recently announce Mercedes-Benz ECQ, is yet to be seen.

Initially set to be released first in VAG’s domestic European market, the e-tron is set to be available on sale in the UAE and Middle Eastern marketplace from mid-2019. With Audi’s already-established dealer network in the region coupled with both a demand for luxury SUVs in the Middle East and a global demand for electric cars, the e-tron is likely to see a strong level of success despite prices starting in Europe from around AED 339,000.

In 2001, Hyundai launched the Santa Fe, an SUV which has for the length of its life catered to a very specific section of buyers who are looking for something very specific from their vehicle. If you want something rugged, reliable, and affordable without too many extra bells and whistles, the Santa Fe was for you.

After the previous generation failed to capture the imagination of the Middle East, resulting in a decreased market share, Hyundai is hoping to attract new buyers to the Santa Fe’s latest incarnation.

A modern re-design

The latest generation Santa Fe is first and foremost a very attractive vehicle. The Santa Fe has never been known historically for its looks, in fact it’s been lucky that most buyers have bought it for its usability and reliability because you’d never even begin to consider one for its beauty.

Hyundai seems to have remedied this with the new Santa Fe, giving it a new sleek and handsome style as part of the design language that is appearing throughout its model range. Don’t be fooled into thinking the new Santa Fe is now all about looking good, however.

Functionality remains excellent with comfortable seating and excellent all round visibility, making the Santa Fe perfect for anyone who regularly takes long trips. Safety features are also present thanks to the SmartSense package, containing useful options like Blind Spot Assist and Collision Warning.

The engines

The Santa Fe will be available throughout the Middle East with a choice of two different engines. First is a 2.4 litre four cylinder unit that has 172 horsepower, which is mated to a six speed automatic gearbox and a choice of front or all-wheel drive.

The second is a 3.5 litre V6 which has a much more impressive 280 horsepower and benefits from a quicker shifting 8 speed gearbox and all-wheel drive as standard. This makes the new Hyundai Santa Fe more than capable of blasting comfortably along the Middle East’s long, open highways.

One thing is certain, the 2019 Santa Fe has style to spare.

A recent survey has revealed that Dubai has one of the highest vehicle densities in the world. There are more cars on the streets of Dubai than in many of the planet’s largest cities. There are currently 1.4 million vehicles in the UAE’s most famous city. What’s more, the number of cars in the Emirate has risen dramatically in recent years. At the end of 2006, there were just 740,000 cars in Dubai, meaning that the number has doubled over the past eight years.

The number of vehicles has grown by an average of 8.2% every year since 2006, which is one of the fastest rates of growth in the world. According to Nasser Abu Shehab (the Roads and Transport Authority’s Director of Strategic Transport Planning), the number of vehicles in Dubai could “reach around 2.22 million in the year 2020” if cars continue to enter the city at the current rate.

In our previous blog entry, we mentioned that Dubai has a vehicle density of 540 cars per 1,000 people. This means that, relative to the size of its population, Dubai has more cars than London (which has 213 vehicles per 1,000 people) or even New York (which has 305 vehicles per 1,000 people).

But what does all this mean for ordinary Dubai motorists? On the plus side, Dubai is one of the most motor-friendly cities on Earth. Thanks to the sheer number of vehicles that the Emirate has to accommodate, there are plenty of places to refuel and park. However, the large number of vehicles also means that traffic jams and busy roads are a part of daily life. That’s why we believe it’s important to have a comfortable vehicle that can help negate the stress of driving on crowded roads and getting stuck in traffic.

If your current vehicle isn’t quite right for driving in Dubai, we can help. Here at Simply Car Buyers, we specialise in buying old cars so that sellers can afford to purchase new ones. You can sell any car to us via our website. Why not find out how much you could get for your current vehicle today? You can put the money towards a car that’s perfectly suited to the hectic streets of Dubai.

If you spend any amount of time in the UAE, you will soon see a Lexus pass by. The LS and LC models from this car brand are especially popular for the comfort and style they offer. With this in mind, the latest transport news in the UAE is sure to delight all who live here. Lexus have recently launched the brand new 2019 ES model to build on their already strong sales in the region.

Power and style in one package

If you already drive a Lexus or have ridden in one, you will love the new 2019 ES. It keeps the same Sedan look but with extra technology and elegance to make it sufficiently different. One major point to mention is that Lexus has two different versions of the new car – the ES 300h and the ES 350-F.

What is exciting for motorists in the UAE is that the ES 300h boasts a hybrid engine under the hood that shows Lexus are making a real commitment to sustainable motoring for the future. For any drivers in the region who wish to do the same, the choice of the new ES in a hybrid engine is a real plus.

Any UAE drivers who want a slightly sportier feel and look may instead go for the stylishly full-on 350-F model. This model has a retuned suspension set-up and a more flamboyant feel to make it great fun to drive too. One thing is for sure – whichever version of the new ES you go for, you will love getting behind the wheel in it.

Lexus refinement as standard

One of the things that has made Lexus such a popular manufacturer in the UAE is the way they combine subtle elegance with class and refinement. This has not changed with the latest addition to its line-up. As well as the stunning curves both versions boast, there are up to ten exterior colours to choose from. If you go for the 350-F, there are an extra two in the form of White Nova and Heat Blue.

Both versions of the ES have plenty of room inside and a longer wheelbase for extra comfort. The engine in each is quieter than previous Lexus models thanks to the latest technology used in its design. With prices ranging up to AED 250,000 they are not cheap but then you do get a seriously good car for your money.