In May, the UAE government announced a new automotive plan that aims to see at least 10% of federal vehicles replaced with electric cars. The goals of the fleet upgrade scheme are to reduce the government’s own greenhouse gas emissions and to encourage others to adopt green vehicles. That’s both locally, and the government hopes that other GCC nations will follow suit.

This news comes as car makers increase the green options available in the UAE. Telsa will open its first UAE store this summer and is encouraged by the news, offering the Model S sedan for AED275,000 as it continues to push electric and self-driving cars across the region. For those looking for a more affordable option, Renault will launch its Zoe40 model later in the year in the UAE, offering a single-charge range of between 300km and 400km for around AED125,000.

With many more electric models hitting the world’s showrooms in 2017 and 2018, more will soon be available in the UAE to provide greater choice as local businesses and car makers improve the number of public charging stations available. Tesla is already building nine new stations, with many already installed in neighbouring emirates. Most car park operators are installing, or plan to install, charging points.

Charging points offer around 100 miles of travel per hour of charging, but most owners can happily manage a day’s driving on a single overnight charge. Another key benefit of electric cars is the vastly reduced maintenance costs as there are no complex engines to service and fewer moving parts that can age or fail. Figures show that an electric car costs about a third as much to maintain as a petrol car. That and the general move to more environmentally friendly transport are great reasons to consider an EV as your next model.

If you are planning to upgrade to an electric vehicle, with BMW and Jaguar bringing new EV models to the market soon, you can sell your old car to us directly. The process takes less than half an hour and you can see what you can get for your model here at Simply Car Buyers

Nissan have released the all-new Pathfinder, and it’s had a bit of a makeover. Originally a failed experiment by Mazda, the Pathfinder was only produced in Burma for ‘official use’. Without even bothering to make any Pathfinders in their home of Japan, Mazda eventually decided to ditch the Pathfinder and pretend that it never happened. That all changed however in the mid-1980s when Nissan decided to get in on the act with their very own Pathfinder. Such was Mazda’s embarrassment concerning the original Pathfinder, that they didn’t even object to Nissan stealing the name wholesale.

The stolen name had no impact on the success of Nissan’s Pathfinder and the SUV is currently in its fourth generation. The most recent update is the mid-life update, which is scheduled to arrive in the UAE this month. Those who are looking to purchase luxury cars are probably not going to be interested in the Pathfinder, but the SUV definitely has a mid-range audience thanks to its reliability. Nissan have announced that prices will start at AED 119,000, which will get car buyers the basic spec, two wheel drive Pathfinder. For those willing to stretch their budget, the top-spec, all-wheel drive version is available for AED 169,000.

The makeover is pretty comprehensive, there are new taillights and rear bumpers, and there’s also a redesigned bonnet and front bumper. The grille has also been revised and Nissan have even updated smaller details such as the fog lights and the mirrors which now have integrated indicators. They’ve paid attention to some practical details too, a simple wave of the foot whilst it’s under the bumper will make the bonnet lift up and inside the SUV buyers will find that the Nissan comes with an 8-inch touchscreen display as standard.

Under the bonnet there’s a 3.5-litre V6 which has been fine tuned to boost the horsepower by 7 per cent, and Nissan have also stated drivers can expect to experience more torque than previous versions. The all-wheel drive system which is available on the higher-spec models has selectable modes such as 4WD lock mode, and there’s hill-start assist available too.

Ford, home of some of the world’s most iconic muscle cars, have a hard earned reputation for reliable power. It’s because of Ford’s reliability however that some car buyers were left disappointed with the Ford F-150. While the F-150 still supplied drivers with a decent amount of muscle under the bonnet, some complained that the driving experience felt a little bit too pedestrian. Those niggles and complaints have seemingly been taken on board if the 2017 Shelby F-150 is anything to go by. Not only is there plenty more horsepower, but the Shelby is a lot angrier too.

A quick glance underneath the bonnet reveals an absolutely huge 5-litre V8 engine, which will pump out a huge amount of power to all four wheels. The 5-litre V8 is only the beginning however, Shelby have gone all out and packed in a supercharger along with all-new fuel injectors. It doesn’t end there either, owners of the Shelby can also expect to take advantage of what Shelby is describing as a ‘high performance’ air intake and a billet throttle. All of those extras ensure the Shelby is no slouch with its eye-watering 760 horsepower. When you consider the Ford F-150 truck has 375 horsepower under the bonnet, the Shelby has a significant power advantage.

Unfortunately, car news from Shelby have been a little thin on the ground when it comes to the top speeds and the sprint times. It’s safe to assume however that in a drag race between the Shelby and the Ford F-150, the Shelby would leave Ford well behind. Whether or not the Shelby’s power will be enough to appeal to buyers in the UAE however remains to be seen. Although those who are keen will have to be incredibly quick, the pickup truck has been limited to only 150 units worldwide, making them one of the most exclusive trucks on Earth.

On the outside it appears that the Mustang Super Snake has been a source of inspiration for the Shelby, there’s a unique hood with its own air scoops on board, along with all-new bumpers, and the bigger grill will mean the Shelby is able to suck in more air. Those who want others to know about the Shelby’s power won’t be disappointed either thanks to the output being displayed on the badge. Its potential speed is supported by dual stripes and there’s some impressive looking 22-inch alloys. The interior also has a dusting of luxury thanks to the bespoke plaque and floor mats, there’s even a snake emblem on the armrest and special embroidery. So if it’s a combination of luxury, power and practicality you’re after, the Shelby could be the 2017 truck for you.

Rolls-Royce have revealed seven new cars as a tribute to Sheikh Zayed, the late UAE President. The seven cars, which reflects the amount of Emirates within the UAE, have been commissioned by Abu Dhabi Motors with the idea that the collection will demonstrate varying attributes that represent the country. Created in England, the luxury cars took a year to make and will have car buyers in the UAE eagerly awaiting the ‘Wisdom Collection’ which is set to include a couple of Phantom Coupés and Wraiths, a Ghost, a Phantom VII and a Dawn.

The Phantom VII, which takes its inspiration from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, will have the biggest and most complex embroidery ever seen in a Rolls-Royce car. The highly luxurious design took over 800 hours to create and features just under 400,000 stitches.

The collection also has two Phantom Coupés; the first one, which is simply called The Phantom Coupé, has been inspired by Qasr Al-Hosn Fort, while the other coupé, named the Phantom Drophead, has its design based on the Desert Rose. Qasr Al-Hosn Fort has a rich history and is one of the oldest stone buildings that you can find in Abu-Dhabi. Rolls-Royce has taken the time to recognise the history in their Phantom Coupé design, with pastel shades and highly intricate architectural details which reflect the geometric nature of the fort. Meanwhile, the other Coupé has a much more delicate design, aimed at accurately and tastefully representing the tranquillity that the Desert Rose has.

The Wraiths in the collection will also represent unique aspects of the UAE, the Falconry Wraith aims to get across the essence of falconry the UAE has with strength, power and authority all making its way into the car’s design. The other Wraith was commissioned to pay homage to the Sheikh Zayed Bridge, evident in the car’s flowing form and Royal Blue exterior. The Dawn in the collection has been designed by Rolls-Royce as a way of reflecting the UAE’s pearling tradition, with Rolls-Royce Motors saying that both the interior and exterior of the car mimic the marriage between pearls and the sea.

Finally we come to The Ghost, a car crafted by Rolls-Royce to represent the ancient trade routes in the UAE. The car exquisitely manages to combine a sandstone and white design with a motif in gold to give The Ghost a richly historical feel within a modern setting.

In face of the rising interest in modified cars, the UAE’s Minister of State, Dr Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, announced at the beginning of June the government’s intention to introduce rules to ensure that customised cars are safe for drivers and passengers.

This came just after the hottest transport news in UAE: that actor Tyrese Gibson, star of the “Fast and Furious” series of films, had opened the first overseas branch of his Voltron business in Sharjah. The Texas-based company produces custom versions of Jeep Wranglers and has signed an agreement with Sharjah Asset Management, the Government of Sharjah’s investment body, to open in Sharjah and offer vehicles in almost 300 showrooms.

The popularity of customisation for car buyers was highlighted by claims that 17 of Gibson’s Volton models were sold in the first three days after the announcement was made. Huge investment has been attracted to the modified car market with new race circuits in the UAE and car shows and meetings are increasing in number every year.

This rapid growth has raised concerns and Dr Fahad, who is also chairman of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Meteorology, said that the authority has been working together with the relevant federal and local strategic bodies to devise a set of standards that will ensure modified vehicles do not compromise safety.

Once the new system is in place, car workshops and service centres will only be allowed to make modifications to cars if they conform to particular technical specifications. The new rules will not apply to caravans, trailers, tractors or motorcycles, although separate plans are in the pipeline to restrict the size of delivery motorcycles’ storage boxes after a spate of accidents and traffic violations.

Has the craze for car customising caught your interest? Are you looking for a new car you can personalise to your own design and are thinking of selling your car in UAE easily, for the best price?

Whether your current car has been modified or not, the prime place to sell it is Simply Car Buyers.