The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Toyota to restart production in China

    Toyota Motor Corporation said it will restart production at China plants that were shut after explosions in the city of Tianjin.

    Workers at two lines in the Tianjin Economic Technological Development Area were expected to return last Thursday and start preparation to begin production on Friday, Toyota said in an e-mailed statement.

    Employees at the Xiqing line also were to begin operations.

    Production has been shut at Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Corporation, the Japanese carmaker’s local affiliate, since the August 12 blasts at a chemical storage site in the northern Chinese port city. The explosions killed at least 123 people and injured 67 Toyota workers who live in the area. About 4,700 Toyota and Lexus vehicles were also damaged.

    The automaker said decisions about working overtime or extra shifts to recover lost production will be made as it continues to assess the state of its facilities. Toyota said it can’t estimate lost output at this stage.

    Toyota said it doesn’t expect sales to be “significantly affected” as they have “certain amount of inventory.”

  • Hyundai unveils Grand Santa Fe

    Hyundai unveils Grand Santa Fe

    The newly introduced Hyundai Grand Santa Fe might as well be the most attractive crossover yet given the enormous progress the South Korean automaker has infused in terms of design, build quality and engineering.

    Emerging from a total makeover, the new Grand Santa Fe according to Hyundai Motor Company replaces its predecessor – Vera Cruz, but essentially remains the same Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), except that it fulfils the criteria for a typical 6-seater SUV commonly referred to as ‘Captain’s Chair.’

    The Grand Santa Fe is 225mm longer than the regular Santa Fe, incorporating an extended 100mm wheelbase with higher and wider dimensions, which incidentally gives the Grand Santa Fe a deserving place in the entire large crossover/SUV market.

    The Grand Santa Fe indeed feels more at home in the city owing to its sophisticated style and dynamic attitude – thanks to Hyundai engineering design characteristics.

    Hyundai Grand Santa Fe SUV would no doubt appeal to very many drivers that appreciate details and novelty like the three split-folding seats in the second row and fully-folding seats in the third row yet with a total of 634litres of boot space behind the second row of seats.

    The six-seater Hyundai Grand Santa Fe is indeed ideal for the large family. It comes equipped with ample knee and leg room with enough room for three adults in the rear and one kid in the third row.

    The seats themselves are more shapely and supportive than in the previous Santa Fe, with very good bolstering on the bottom cushion that’s not overly firm.

    Couple with these is storage for small items in the glove-box and console, as well as for drinks in the door pockets and dual cup holders with plenty of configurations in case one is transporting cargo.

    The Santa Fe’s rear seats also fold down as a trio or individually, and flatly, to free up more space while the front passenger seat folds flat too, for carrying very long objects.

    Hyundai’s Grand however offer loads of striking features such as rear packing assist, auto light control cooling glove box, integrated memory seat, cruise control, full auto air-conditioning and rear air conditioning.

    In addition are full leather upholstery, a premium six speakers virtual surround sound system, driver/passenger side and curtain air bags, smart key with button start and sun roof/ roof rack with motor driven power steer and anti lock brake system.

    For easier boot access, the rear loading height has been lowered by 18mm with an optional power tailgate feature and a remote-folding function for the second-row seats.

    All seats including the power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support are supportive and comfortable. The full-length panoramic sunroof adds to the sense of roominess in the cabin. Meanwhile, the rear privacy glass and blinds makes it less claustrophobic for second and third-row passengers.

    The exterior poses some notable differences too. At the front, there is a new four-bar radiator grille, premium-style fog lamps and a wide skid plate. The sides pose wider rear quarter glass, different 19-inch alloys and enhanced wing mirrors while the rear features a new dual muffler, restyled rear combination lamps and new rear bumper skid plate.

    Powered by a 3.3-litre V6 engine which produces 270 hp and 318 Nm of torque, the Grand Santa Fe has one of the smoothest engines on the market with a six-speed automatic transmission.

    As for safety, the Grand Santa Fe offers Electronic Stability Control (ESC), driver/passenger side and curtain airbags for maximum defense against injury. Depowered driver and passenger airbags minimize injuries from frontal impact while side curtain airbags ensure that your passengers are protected from side impact.

  • Volkswagen to spend $343m on South African factory revamp

    German carmaker Volkswagen plans to spend 4.5 billion rand ($343 million) to upgrade its factory in South Africa and improve its supplier base, it has said.

    Most of the money would be used to revamp its factory in Uitenhage in Eastern Cape province to produce new models, Thomas Schaefer, head of Volkswagen’s South African unit, said.

    VW has been pushing for greater scale under Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn’s eight-year reign, propelled by adding brands and factories and roaring sales in China.

    VW is the second-biggest auto maker by sales in South Africa after Toyota. Its vehicles are sold domestically as well as exported to the rest of Africa.

    Other manufacturers in the country include Ford Motor Corporation, BMW and General Motors.

     

  • High blood pressure and driving

    High blood pressure and driving

    High Blood Pressure or Hypertension is a very chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure is elevated.

    This is a situation where the systolic blood pressure (when the heart beats) is equal to or greater than 140mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure (when the heart rests) is equal to or greater than 90mmHg. Essentially, blood pressure is created by the force of blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels or arteries as it is pumped by the heart. Therefore, the higher the pressure, the harder the heart has to pump to enhance the movement of blood from the heart to the brain and other parts of the body in the vessels.

    Globally, high blood pressure is responsible for 9.4million deaths every year with 1.5billion people being afflicted by high blood pressure. It has been rated as the biggest single risk factor for death worldwide, causing heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes.

    According to the World Health Organisation, up to 50 per cent of the adults in many African countries are facing the challenges of high blood pressure or hypertension and the rate is still on the increase particularly with the high rate of poverty in the countries.

    Reports have shown that many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. Most of the time, there are no symptoms but if it goes untreated for a prolonged period of time, it could damage the arteries and some vital organs in the body. This is one of the reasons why high blood pressure is called a silent killer or a ticking time bomb.

    The symptoms of high blood pressure include headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, chestpain, palpitation of the heart, fainting, nose bleeding and tremor.

    A pathetic news about high blood pressure is that it can quietly damage the body of its victim for years before the manifestation of the symptoms thereby causing damage to the arteries, brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, and several organs.

    Be that as it may, the good news however is that high blood pressure can be prevented, managed or even cured.

    My main focus in this article is on the possible effects of high blood pressure on driving. Driving is a very complex task which involves the simultaneously use of several organs of the body in a continuously changing environment to ensure effective and safe vehicle control.

    Normal blood pressure levels (less than or equal to 120/80) are good for the efficient functioning of the vital organs of the body which includes the heart, kidneys and brain. Normal blood pressure is also good for the overall health and wellbeing of drivers and other people.

    If the resting blood pressure of a driver is consistently 180mmHg systolic or more and/or 100mmHg diastolic or more, then he or she should not drive a car, bus or large truck.

    The medical standards for driving buses and large trucks are much higher than for those driving cars and motorcycles. This is because bus and trucks are larger and heavier. They are also more often driven on long distance balance, expedient for every organ required for effective and safe driving to be in good working condition for the required co-ordination of the complex task of driving.

    Some accident reports revealed situations where drivers lost control of their vehicles after suffering from the fallouts of high blood pressure such as heart attack, stroke and black out or fainting.

    Research has shown that high blood pressure can affect driving in the following areas;

    1. Impaired judgment in terms of wrong risk assessment, hazard perception and faulty emergency decision – making.
    2. Poor co-ordination, steering, braking and maneuvering (including poor interpretation of information).
    3. Show reaction time needed to respond to driving situations.
    4. Incoherent tracking – inability to stay in the lane and maintain the safe following distance, lateral spacing and clearance from other obstacles.
    5. Prostrated high blood pressure may increase the risk of Glaucoma and blindness.
    6. Poor attention for information gathering with the eyes, nose and ears.
    7. Poor perception for glare resistance, dark and light adaptation as well as poor visual acuity.

    High blood pressure over-the-counter and prescribed could also cause some negative reactions that can work against safe driving. These include drowsiness, nausea, blurred vision, inability to think clearly, poor co-ordination and judgment.

    Drivers who have high blood pressure and are on medication or drugs must endeavour to know the side effects of the drugs they use.

    It should also be noted that low blood pressure (the opposite of high blood pressure)can result to weakness of the body, joint pains, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, blackout or fainting. This is also dangerous to driving which requires concentration, effective co-ordination and control. It must therefore be avoided just like high blood pressure.

    The healthier a driver is, the better he or she will be to drive effectively and safety.

    It is required that Drivers should do a routine checkup because they do a stressful job and/or if they have a family history or hypertension. A stitch in time saves nine.

     

  • Group launches online auto parts

    A new online store for auto spare parts, Izzy Parts, has been unveiled.

    The store, according to its owners, will offer vehicle owners quality and affordable auto spare parts.

    With a domain www.IzzyParts.com, the online auto parts marketplace allows consumers to access high quality products from several original parts manufacturers around the globe.

    Speaking during the unveiling at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, Izzy Parts Head of Media and Communications Collins Udeme, said with the launch of the online spare parts platform, it is expected that the challenges previously faced by vehicle owners in procuring genuine spare parts in the country will be eliminated completely.

    He said the concept of creating an online auto marketplace is in line with the company’s desire to bridge the gap between manufacturers of genuine automobile spare parts and the end users.

    Udeme, who said Izzy Parts entered the market to improve the after-sales services through sales of genuine auto spare parts sourced from reputable auto firms in United States (US), added that the firm has built a catalogue of over 550,000 auto parts and accessory items from a variety of the industry’s top brands; offering high-quality products at a favourably discounted rate.

    “Currently, the Izzy Parts retail platform is developed, tested, operational and available for market introduction. When we start proper, payments will be made online while delivery from our warehouse to the buyer would not take more than two to three weeks. Our delivery is going to be manned by well trained personnel. We are also looking at a partnership with Fedex,” the media head said.

    “Overall, it is Izzy Parts’ goal to create a sustainable business model that creates growing profits each and every year; becoming the leading auto parts platform throughout Nigeria and its surroundings countries,” he added.

    To meet this goal, Izzy Parts seeks to build a successful auto parts pipeline by implementing solid logistics between two company warehouses (one located in Houston US, and one located in Nigeria, Africa); which will be built by December 2018.

    According to Udeme, Izzy Parts will, during its operations, transact business morally, ethically and professionally; holding each of its representatives to a high standard of operational excellence and treating each customer with courtesy, respect and unmatched customer service.

    He reiterated the firm’s commitment to become the leading distributor of auto parts throughout Africa by providing a consistently positive customer experience, guaranteed quality products, sound logistics and quick out-the-door delivery.

     

  • 5,800 Jaguar, Land Rover cars hit in China blasts

    Carmaker Tata Motors Ltd said last  Friday that  ‘many’ of the 5,800 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles it had at Tianjin port in China were likely to have been damaged in the recent chemical explosion that killed more than a hundred people.

    The company said it has yet to determine the exact extent of the damage, joining other global carmakers such as Volkswagen AG, Hyundai Motor Co, Toyota Motor Corp, Daimler DIAGn.DE and BMW AG that are still counting up their losses. The Jaguar Land Rover cars had recently been shipped to China and were stored at various locations in Tianjin port, Tata Motors said in a statement to the Indian stock exchange.

    Tata bought the British luxury carmaker JLR in 2008.

    “Whilst we believe many of these vehicles may have been damaged, we are presently unable to quantify the numbers of units affected,” a JLR spokesman said in the statement, explaining that access was still restricted to areas near the site of the explosion. The number of cars damaged at China’s largest auto import hub could climb to above 10,000 when accounting for all vehicles in the area. This will affect deliveries at a time when China’s auto market has been shrinking due to slowing economic growth and the recent stock market slump.

    Shares in Tata Motors extended losses to more than four percent after the statement, and ended nearly three percent lower in a weak Mumbai market.

  • Stallion wins Nissan Global Award

    A multinational conglomerate, Stallion Group, has won the 2015 Nissan Global National Sales Company Award for its outstanding achievement in Nigeria.

    The award recognises Nissan’s growth in the Nigerian market, whilst reinforcing its growing industrial footprint.

    Stallion is Nissan’s exclusive manufacturer and distributor in Nigeria which established Nigeria’s first automotive assembly facility in partnership with Nissan in April 2014.

    Since the launch of Nigeria assembled Nissan vehicles, four models are being assembled in the country, creating significant employment, with the local human resources undergoing extensive training from global automotive experts from Nissan’s international auto plants. The thriving partnership with Stallion has resulted in Nissan meeting the needs of Nigerian customers through expanding product range and country wide retail network.

    The new Victoria Island showroom was the 11th Nissan outlet in the country – a demonstration of Nissan’s long term commitment to increase brand visibility in Africa’s most populous country.

    The chairman of Stallion Group, Sunil Vaswani, said: “Together with Nissan we are seeking to complement Nigeria’s ambitions to become the region’s automotive hub. We are providing a comprehensive range of passenger, commercial, and recreational vehicles, and are currently engaged in a dynamic programme of new model introductions. Stallion is investing into developing an integrated value chain for its brands in the country, thereby acting as a catalyst for Nigeria’s automotive ecosystem.”

    Nissan South Africa Managing Director and President Mike Whitfield said: “We have worked side by side with the Stallion Group to achieve increase in our share of the key Nigerian market. Within Nissan, we have a strong desire to make a full and lasting contribution to rebuilding automotive industrialisation in Nigeria and to play an important role in the growth of the manufacturing sector.”

  • Volkswagen America recalls 420,000 vehicles

    Volkswagen of America will recall about 420,000 vehicles in the United States (US) due to a potential problem with air bags.

    The recall affects various VW models, including the Golf, Jetta and Passat, with model years between 2010 and 2014, the company said.

    The company said it notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will be issuing a voluntary safety recall affecting the steering wheel clock spring on approximately 420,000 Volkswagen vehicles in the U.S.

    On certain vehicles, the steering wheel clock spring could become contaminated with long hair or long fibers, which may cause a displacement of the internal guide loops. When the guide loops are dragged out of position, they may apply tension to the internal flat cable and cause it to tear.

    Should the cable tear, the electrical connection to the driver’s front airbag may be lost, causing the airbag monitoring indicator light to illuminate. In a crash that warrants a driver front airbag deployment, the airbag will not deploy, leading to a risk of driver injury.

    No accidents or injuries related to this issue have been reported, the company said.

  • Corruption and road safety in Nigeria

    According to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Corruption means “impairment of integrity, virtue or moral principle”. It also means “departure from what is correct”.

    From the above–mentioned definition of Corruption, it then means that the violation of any road traffic rule is an act Corruption. Therefore,

    • Obtaining Driver Licence without going to Driving School for training is Corruption.
    • Getting involved in Driving School certificate and Driver Licence racketeering is Corruption.
    • Bribing Government Officials to cut corners in Driver Licence and vehicle particulars processing is Corruption.
    • Paying or accepting money (bribe) to avoid the VIO’s pre – licence test is Corruption.
    • Employers refusing to re–train their Drivers on regular basis as the law demands is Corruption.
    • Damaging road or road furnitures without repairing it is Corruption.
    • Wrong parking of vehicles, causing obstruction or hindering free flow of traffic is Corruption.
    • Disobeying Traffic Wardenor Traffic Officer is Corruption.
    • Over-speeding is Corruption
    • Speeding at a bend is Corruption.
    • Wrong and dangerous overtaking is Corruption.
    • Driving off-lane is Corruption.
    • Driving without using seat belt is Corruption.
    • Drunk driving is Corruption.
    • Driving under the influence of Drugs is Corruption.
    • Violation of Traffic regulation is Corruption
    • Using mobile phone or engaging in any form of distraction while driving is Corruption.
    • Vehicle overloading (passengers or load) is Corruption.
    • Drowsy driving is Corruption.
    • Dangerous driving is Corruption.
    • Driving with underage children sitting at the front is Corruption.
    • Violation of Traffic light is Corruption.
    • Speeding on a wet or rough road is Corruption.
    • Driving un–roadworthy vehicle is Corruption.
    • Road rage and Aggressive driving is Corruption.
    • Illegal driving against the traffic is Corruption.
    • Using the siren when the law does not permit you is Corruption.

     

    • Driving without using the seat belt as required by the law is corruption.

    In a nutshell, the violation of any road traffic sign, marking, signal, rules and regulations is an act of Corruption. The above-mentioned facts are strongly supported by the Dictionary and Religious definitions.

    From the aforementioned, who is not Corrupt in Nigeria? Only very few I think! Hence the urgent need for a total mental overhauling and re–orientation for the restoration of the right moral values irrespective of the individual position or status.

    Nigeria must not continue like this. There must be a change at all levels and in all ramifications to be able to actualize the five pillars of the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety.Each and every Nigerian must fight and defeat the corruption inside us. Then,there shall be no more corruption in Nigeria for the Government to fight.

    God will help us.

  • Mercedes-Benz GLA shows class

    Mercedes-Benz GLA shows class

    Mercedes-Benz rounds off the extensive Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) portfolio with the introduction of the new GLA, which is now available in the Nigerian auto market, courtesy of Weststar Associates Limited, the authorised general distributor of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Nigeria, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

    The GLA-Class is the fourth of a total of five new compact models from Mercedes-Benz. It is progressive in design, serene in day-to-day motoring and has good off road capability, thereby interpreting the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment in convincing style.

    Lovers of the distinguished brand will appreciate the rear seat backrests that can, not only be folded down completely, but are adjustable for angles if required. Due to the low loading sill and the wide tailgate, which open and close automatically as an option, making the interior flexible and variable, the large luggage compartment (421 – 1235 litres) is well laid-out and can be loaded without difficulty.

    The low greenhouse, raised vehicle body and large wheel arches give the GLA great appeal. The prominent and self-assured upright front end with a central star lends a muscular and superior impression to the GLA. Powerdomes structure the bonnet as sporty features, and the twin-louvre grille accentuates the vehicle’s width. An impressive front aspect is ensured by the headlamps and LED daytime running lamps. This iconic Mercedes-Benz design feature has been developed further using tri-functional fibre-optics, and gives the vehicle its characteristic light signature. The front bumper features diamond-pattern grilles in front of the cooling air intakes. A simulated underguard at the front and contrasting dark-grey cladding all-round emphasise the SUV characteristics of the GLA. This cladding extends around the bottom edge of the vehicle like a frame and provides protection against stone impact.

    A number of measures have also been taken to reduce wind noise in the GLA. These include a multi-level door sealing concept, additional sealing of the joint between the tailgate and the roof and side seals on the tailgate. Particularly, rigid window frames prevent the airflow from pulling on the doors at higher speeds, and reduce vibrations. External noise has also been minimised by the low A-pillar step mentioned above and by exterior mirrors connected to the body by a stem.

    The interior has a particularly high feel of quality that is achieved by the contours, and the choice and combinations of high-grade materials. The dashboard consists of an upper and lower section, allowing surface structures that are different in look and feel. Matt and glossy 3D geometries (graining) create an attractive light effect. The three-dimensional trim section of innovative membrane, aluminium, modern touch to the interior. The matt satin finish of the wood trim further underscores the modern character and makes the surfaces particularly pleasant to the touch.

    The large, free-standing display has a high-gloss display facing in piano-black and a flush-fitting surround in silver-shadow. This gives the display a particularly high-quality look. A 3-spoke steering wheel with 12 function keys and a galvanised chrome clasp feature as standard. On request a sporty instrument cluster version with two tubes is available.

    The wide choice of seat upholsteries in material (e.g. leather, fabric, fabric/leather) and colour combinations allows plenty of scope for individualisation. Sports seats with integrated head restraints are available as an optional extra.

    Its robust body structure and the variable interior concept guarantee plenty of recreational enjoyment. Rough terrain, loose ground, unsurfaced gradients – all of these are no problem for the GLA.

    The GLA is optionally available with the new generation of 4MATIC all-wheel drive, featuring fully variable torque distribution. This all-wheel drive system excels with high traction reserves and outstanding agility, combined with superlative driving safety and energy efficiency. The components of the new 4MATIC include the power take-off to the rear axle, which is integrated into the 7G-DCT automated dual clutch transmission, and the rear-axle gear unit with integrated, hydraulically actuated multi-disc clutch. Additional benefits of this design are a lower system weight than is available from the competition and high efficiency.

    Models with 4MATIC are equipped with Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) and an off-road transmission mode as standard. DSR is activated by a control button in the centre console, and assists the driver on demanding downhill stretches by maintaining a slow, manually selected vehicle speed within the physical limits when negotiating downhill gradients. This is done with the help of the engine and transmission control systems, and by specific braking intervention.

    With the GLA, yet another model series is set to become the leader in its segment with respect to aerodynamic efficiency. It has a Cd value of 0.29 with outstanding fuel consumption from around 60 km/h to 0.66 m2.

    The GLA 180 features a four cyclinder engine with a 1.6 litre engine delivering 80kW and 260Nm of torque and is equipped with 7G-DCT. The GLA 45 AMG still holds the pole position in relations to driving dynamics: it accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 250km/h. We sum up this approach in one word: blue efficiency, which means with the GLA, one is only burning fuel when necessary. In addition, every GLA is fitted standard with ECO start/stop function- it temporarily shuts down the engine when the vehicle is stationary.

    The latest multimedia generation deployed in the GLA also boasts new functions and additional applications, which are optional. In combination with Audio 20 CD (standard) and Comand Online (optional extra) which has also been extended, the head unit can also be switched to an off-road display. The steering angle, the selected off-road transmission mode and a compass are displayed there. The roll angle in degrees, the gradient in percent and activation of Downhill Speed Regulation DSR are also indicated.

    Numerous driving assistance systems offer support in the GLA and reduce the driver’s workload. Standard-fit features for the SUV include Attention Assist drowsiness detection and radar-based Collision Prevention Assist with adaptive Brake Assist, which now helps to avoid collisions from a speed as low as 7 km/h.

    As an SUV, the new GLA combines the key design values of Progression and Tradition, and is the SUV of the future. It is an all-rounder with hallmark Mercedes-Benz SUV genes, but more youthful, sculptural and full of subtle drama.