What Saudi Women Drivers Want: Muscle Cars

Showrooms in the kingdom stocked cars they thought Saudi women would be drawn to, such as brightly colored mini-SUVs. Instead, they’re opting for models that are loud and fast.

Saudi Arabia's first female professional drivers have taken to the road following last month's lifting of the kingdom's driving ban for women. The WSJ caught a ride with one such driver to find out what her male and female passengers think of the changes. Photo: Iman Al-Dabbagh for The Wall Street Journal
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JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia—They rumble. They roar. And when a heel stamps on the gas pedal, they overtake.

Weeks after the government lifted its longstanding female-driving ban, Saudi women are embracing not only driving, but driving fast, and loudly.

“They don’t expect to see me in this car,” said Samia Weheba, 23 years old, as she zipped past...