The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Jaguar Land appoints new Marketing Director

    Jaguar Land appoints new Marketing Director

    Lisa Mallett has been appointed Marketing and Communications Director for Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and Sub Sahara Africa (JLR SA and SSA).

    A part of the JLR team since 2012, when she started as the Product and Pricing Manager for SA and SSA, Mallett steps into the vacancy left by Peter Biven who returned to the United Kingdom last year.

    With a degree in Information Management, Marketing Management, and extensive experience in the local motor industry, Mallett has helped JLR change its image during a crucial time in its history.

    “It’s a really exciting time to be part of the Jaguar Land Rover team here in South Africa,” said Mallett. “We’ve already started this year on a high note, successfully claiming the South African land speed record for production cars with the F-TYPE R, as well as CAR Magazine honouring us as Company of the Year, and recognising Range Rover Sport as the best car in its category. And that’s just the start – we have many more exciting things on the cards for both brands.”

    Mallett’s automotive marketing and product planning experience in the South African motor industry dated back to 2006, when she joined Toyota South Africa. There, she moved through the ranks ultimately being appointed as senior manager Marketing and Communications for the company’s luxury brand Lexus.

    “Lisa has already proven her value to the team over the last few months. In addition to her previous responsibilities, she also acted as interim Marketing and Communications Director,” said Richard Gouverneur, Managing Director Jaguar Land Rover SA and SSA.

    “Her experience in the South African motor industry, and superb insight when it comes to product planning, will both come into play in the next few months as we launch some of the best products we’ve ever made,” he said.

  • Kia wins Red Dot design awards

    The Kia Motors design team has swept the board yet again in the yearly Red Dot Awards, picking up two ‘Red Dots’ for the outstanding product design of the Kia Soul EV and all-new Kia Sorento SUV.

    The Red Dot Awards programme is one of the most highly-respected international design competitions in the world, and celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

    This year, the jury – made up of design experts from a range of industries – awarded a ‘Winner’ and ‘Honourable Mention’ distinction to the Kia Soul EV and Kia Sorento, respectively, in recognition of their exceptional design details.

    Ever since receiving its first award at this internationally-recognized design competition in 2009, Kia’s design-oriented products have been successful every single year. In total, 13 Kia models have now won a Red Dot Award, in addition to many other design prizes.

    These aren’t the first awards for the recently-launched Kia Soul and flagship new-generation Sorento, both of which have been awarded coveted iF Design Awards in 2014 and 2015. The Kia Soul – the sister model to the EV electric version – also received a Red Dot Award last yera.

    “Our international design teams have every reason to be proud of the honours we have won at the 2015 Red Dot Awards, which show just how successful they have been in mastering the different design challenges of these two models”, said Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of the Kia Motors Corporation and the Hyundai Motor Company.

    “The third generation of the Kia Sorento has a subtly altered character and has made a great leap forward in quality. The new model combines a classic SUV spirit with a premium look that is particularly noticeable in the interior.

    “The cabin of the Kia Soul EV also features exceptional material and design quality. When designing this car, the aim was to grasp the specific challenges of an electric car as a fresh opportunity, and our design team has achieved this brilliantly,” Schreyer said.

  • Mass licensing of non-drivers

    Mass licensing of non-drivers

    It is disheartening and shameful to note that Nigeria is second to the last of 193 countries with high rates of road traffic crashes and fatalities globally.

    It is, however, more disheartening and worrisome that the Federal and state governments with their agencies are not taking the right steps to stem the dangerous tide.

    Rather, they are worsening the situation as we regularly see different forms of accidents, deaths and injuries on Nigeria roads.

    In February, this year, I wrote a serialised article in this column on how the  Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs), MVAA and driving schools are increasing the rate of accidents and deaths in Nigeria.

    One week after publishing the articles, the FRSC took some steps to blocK some of the loopholes but relaxed the actions this month which is a fearful danger sign.

    It is a truism that multitudes of Nigerian men and women as well as students obtained the old driver licence mainly for identification for banking and allied transactions, not for driving.

    Whenever it was time for any of such categories of people to learn driving, most of them paid little or no attention to going to driving school for proper training because they believed they already have the driver licence. After going through the haphazard training sessions with their friends or relations, the VIO are no more in a position to test their competence for licence processing because they are licence holders already(through the back door).

    When the Graduated Driver Licensing system was introduced by the FRSC with the involvement of the VIO and State licensing Authorities (Joint Tax Board), the safety conscious Nigerians were happy that only the adequately trained and tested Nigerians will be qualified to own the driver licence. It’s however sad that the new process became more bastardised than the former Licence processing system.

    Nigerians with their collaborators in FRSC, VIO and MVAA started obtaining fake old driver licence to process the new driver licence without practical driving tests administered by the VIO. The candidates were only concerned about the FRSC direct capturing to authenticate their new driver licence (a case of using fake old driver licence to obtain genuine new driver licence).

     

    I took time to interview a few of such people who confessed to me that they did not know how to drive. Some of them are half-baked Drivers while some of them paid between N15,000.00 to N20,000.00 to obtain the Driver Licence as against the official rate of N6,350.00.

    About 3 years ago, we were celebrating that Nigerian Driver Licence is being accorded recognition in some European Countries. But today, reports have shown that there are hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who don’t know how to drive, yet they are proud owners of the genuine new Driver Licence. Are these half-baked Drivers and untrained holders of Nigerian Driver Licence worthy to be good Ambassadors of Nigeria on the roads of other Nations? If the global recognition is withdrawn, can we blame such Countries?

    Even though the last set of old Driver Licence produced by FRSC expired since last year (2014), they are still being used to renew and obtain the new Driver Licence thereby boosting the mass production of fake old Driver Licence for the purpose of processing and obtaining the new Driver Licence whether or not you know how to drive.

    Why do some Nigerians and their collaborators (FRSC, VIO, MVAA and the Board of Internal Revenue) derive pleasure in sacrificing lives on Nigeria roads for filthy lucre or selfish interest?

    If the Federal Government, the 36 State Governments, Federal Capital Territory, Federal Road Safety Commission, Vehicle Inspection Officers, Motor Vehicle Administration Agencies, Board of Internal Revenue, Driving Schools and other Stakeholders in the processing and production of Driver Licence are truly sincere in promoting safety on Nigeria roads, the following suggestions must be supported, publicized and enforced in all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.

    1.          The use of old Driver Licence (genuine and fake) to process Driver Licence must be stopped henceforth.

    2.          Anyone that knows how to drive (whether he holds the fake or genuine old Driver Licence) must go to Driving School for refresher course and be certificated to process fresh Driver Licence within a period of not more than 4 weeks with all the Candidates and training information captured into the database of FRSC as it obtains for Basic Learners or Freshers.

    3.          The period for the processing and production of the Temporary Driver Licence should not exceed one week for any Licence Applicant. In addition, only Driving schools should have the right to issue Learner’s permit because they trained the Candidates and they alone can say whether the Candidate is competent to drive on the road or not.

    4.          The VIO must take every step possible with the support of their State Governments to conduct appropriate Tests for the Driver Licence Applicants before recommending them to FRSC for Capturing.

    5.          The State MVAA, Board of Internal Revenue or Licensing Authority must desist from placing official or personal income generation above the safety of irreparable lives and valuable properties wasting away on the roads every day.

    6.          The FRSC must structure their website properly to ensure that it blocks every possible loophole which hitherto has promoted Driver Licence racketeering in Nigeria.

    7.          FRSC must carry all the Stakeholders along in the use of their new internet system as well as ensure early take off and fraud – free or trouble – free operations.

    8.          All Driving schools must refuse to compromise with the Government Agencies because whatsoever a man or woman sows, he or she shall reap. The law of Karma is still active today.

    9.          Government Officials, Officials of Government Agencies and other highly placed people must always exhibit Leadership qualities by patronizing and directing their wards to patronize Driving schools and follow the due process for the safety of lives and properties in the country.

    10.        Driving schools must not compromise their training standards for any reason whatsoever.

    11.        The Federal Ministry of Transport must ensure the right steps are taken to move Nigeria to the International Standard of administering well Structured Theory and Practical Tests before any Applicant can proceed to the next level of Licence processing.

    12.        Every Nigerian Driver that survives an accident must be prosecuted and the Federal and State Government should be responsible for the treatment of the innocent road traffic accidents peradventure this will push them to support and encourage proper training of would – be Drivers in Nigeria through the Driving schools as well as the re-training of Driver Licence Holders before renewal is done.

    State Governments and FCT,, why are you compromising?

    FRSC, why are you still compromising?

    MVAA in Lagos State, why are you still compromising?

    Board of Internal Revenue in other States, why are you  still compromising?

    Vehicle Inspection Officers in other States, why are you still compromising?

    Driving schools in Nigeria, why are you still compromising?

    Is life not more precious than money?

    Let us all begin to do things right so that we can be getting the right results in Nigeria.

    A holistic or multi-dimensional approach is what is required to effectively tackle the challenges and achieve the desired reduction in the rate of road traffic crashes and fatalities in Nigeria.

     

  • Mercedes to launch first pickup by 2020

    Mercedes to launch first pickup by 2020

    Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz unit has planned to launch its first pickup truck by 2020, targeting sales in the European, Latin American, Australian and South African markets.

    However, no decision has been made whether it will be launched  in the United States (US), a Daimler spokeswoman said.

    The pickup will have about one metric ton of payload capacity and will be built by Mercedes’ commercial-van division

    “The Mercedes-Benz pickup will contribute nicely to our global growth targets,” Daimler Chief Executive Officer, Dieter Zetsche said in a statement last week.

    “We will enter this segment with our distinctive brand identity and all of the vehicle attributes that are typical of the brand with regard to safety, comfort, powertrains, and value,” he said.

    Mercedes said more and more pickups are being used for private purposes. It also said commercial and private users are increasingly asking for vehicles that have car-like specifications.

    “A similar example was the successful introduction of the M class around 20 years ago. As the first sport utility vehicle (SUV) from a premium manufacturer, the M class completely redefined the segment,” Zetsche said.

    The automaker’s plan to enter the pickup segment underscores a push by German premium automakers that have built their reputations on refined sedans to enter segments traditionally dominated by mass-market competitors as they compete for volume.

    After SUVs became popular, the addition of a pickup would open a new front in the battle among Germany’s premium brands for the number one spot in luxury car sales.

    Mercedes, the world’s third-largest premium automaker, plans to overtake Audi and market leader BMW, in sales by the end of the decade. The race for the lead has prompted Audi to roll out the A1 sub-compact hatchback and BMW to add the 2-series Active Tourer and 2-series Gran Tourer compact minivans.

    Volkswagen launched a similar pickup strategy to Daimler’s several years ago with the Amarok. Its commercial van business developed and built the midsize pickup in Argentina for Latin America and Europe, while avoiding the U.S. market and its punitive “chicken tax.” The tax imposes a 25 per cent duty on goods such as light trucks imported into the U.S. in retaliation for tariffs on U.S. chickens once imposed by several European nations.

    Pickup trucks have gained popularity in recent months as gasoline prices eased, with sales of such models accounting for 90 per cent of global pretax margins at General Motors and Ford, according to analysts.

    Last year, three of the four top-selling cars in the U S were full-sized pickup trucks, the Ford F-150, the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500. The segment has been moving upmarket with Ford’s F-150 model fetching prices of up to $50,000.

  • Hyundai receives innovation award for Intrado

    Hyundai Motor has received the Jury Prize at the JEC Innovation Awards 2015 for its innovative carbon-fibre frame design showcased on the Intrado concept car. The prize was presented during the JEC Europe 2015 conference in Paris this month.

    The JEC Innovation Awards recognise technical excellence, market potential and originality, rewarding the most innovative composite solutions worldwide. The organisation selected the lightweight and futuristic frame of Intrado, which complements the concept’s advanced fuel-cell powertrain and design, representing the progressive spirit of Hyundai Motor.

    At the core of Intrado’s pioneering frame are carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) sections, which are based on carbon-fibre tubes. This approach allows for more effective and flexible use of the carbon material, avoiding off cuts and long energy-consuming preparation processes. The unique process is a major forward step when compared to conventional steel and other CFRP chassis architectures.

    The minimalistic, self-supporting skeleton-like frame structure is highly stable and extremely light weight, saving 70 per cent weight compared to a conventional chassis and around 30 per cent on the overall vehicle weight, without compromising safety attributes.

    One essential element of the frame’s overall rigidity is the floating centre console beam. This beam provides Intrado with its unique strength as well as connecting the seating and powertrain to the carbon frame. It serves as a mounting point for essential controls and adds to the vehicle’s protective structure. Additionally, it supports the frame’s integration with the fuel cell powertrain components.

    The Intrado frame is a result of global collaboration and knowledge-exchange not only within Hyundai Motor but also with two of the world’s pre-eminent carbon fibre producers – Lotte Chemical and Hyosung Corporation. The frame was manufactured by Axon Automotive.

  • Horror and lessons on Oyo–Ogbomoso road

    Horror and lessons on Oyo–Ogbomoso road

    That the Federal Government and the National Council on Transport should design a policy, which will empower members of the public to take road accident victims to hospitals for treatment without being rejected by the public and private hospitals;

    10. That the Government should formulate policies or enact a law though the National  Assembly  compelling all Government and Private hospitals to immediately commence the treatment of road accident Victims whether or not money is deposited. Government should bank roll the bill of the  innocent road accident victims of passenger vehicles, peradventure, this will encourage Federal, State and Local Governments to become more committed to the reduction of road accidents through the construction of good roads, timely maintenance of bad roads, installation of appropriate traffic signs, compulsion of public and private sector Organisations to regularly re-train their Drivers in the Driving Schools(theory and practical training), discouragement of the prevailing sharp practices in the processing and obtention of Driver Licence, compelling all Basic Learners to undergo intensive theory and practical training in training schools no matter who they are, Institutionalisation of  well- structured Theory and Practical Tests for Learners before being given Driver Licence as it obtains in several Countries and the promotion of unbiased enforcement of traffic rules and regulation with uncompromised reasonable penalties;

    11. Governments and their Construction Companies must reduce the numbers and degree of sharp bends on every road constructed and that:

    12. Governments and their Construction Companies must avoid deep valleys on roads. Piling system or pillars can be used instead. The accidents on Oyo-Ogbomoso, Oka-Okene, Owo-Ikare, Abuja- Jos and Abuja-Makurdi roads are just few examples to buttress the above-mentioned points.

    Human lives are precious and irreparable and their safety must be given topmost priority by the Government and everyone.

     

  • Over 10,000 Drivers’ Licences ready for collection

    Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mrs Susan Ajenge has said over 10,000 Drivers’ Licences are ready for collection.
    Ajenge said this at an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
    According to her, some new applicants are reluctant to pick their licences because the temporary ones remain valid until the permanent licences are produced.
    Mrs Ajenge said: “A good number of applicants are usually interested in processing their driver’s licence up to the point of collection of the Temporary Driver’s Licence, but are reluctant to come and pick up the permanent ones.
    “Our officers make phone calls to people to come and pick their licences while we also tell them to come back if they don’t get our call in three months after data capturing.
    “More than 10,000 licences are now waiting for collection in FCT between FRSC headquarters in Zone 7 and VIO headquarters, Mabushi.”
    NAN reports that FRSC and VIO designated offices in all states issue permanent licences to applicants after collecting the temporary ones.

  • China Automotive Systems profit increases

    China Automotive Systems’ net sales for last year were high by 56.47 per cent to 11.82m US dollar compared with 7.56m in 2013.

    The company’s operating income for the period was up 21.01 per cent to 44.43m US dollar from 36.72m. The income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies last year increased 20.50 per cent to 46.08m US dollar from $38.24m in 2013.

    Its net income for the period rose from  19.75 per cent to 39.59m from 33.07m.

  • Unveiling new Acura TLX

    Unveiling new Acura TLX

    The Acura TLX is lighter than the TL, which it replaces and one can feel the weight difference when driving. There is an enjoyable combination of everyday comfort and sporty back-roads prowess that meets desires for a luxury sport sedan. The steering does not have a lot of feel, but the TLX still goes around turns with an unexpected level of nimbleness. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO writes with agency addition

    If the TLX name sounds vaguely familiar, that’s because it is. Acura has removed the compact TSX and the mid-size TL sedans from its lineup and combined them into an all-new vehicle, the 2015 Acura TLX. Size-wise, the TLX is longer than the TSX, but shorter than the TL and, as such, is better suited to appeal to entry-level luxury sedan shoppers.

    Thankfully, the TLX has inherited many of the attributes from its forebears. Acura gives a choice of two updated engines — either the TSX’s four-cylinder or the TL’s V6 — and both offer enhanced fuel economy, thanks in part to new eight- and nine-speed automatic transmissions. As was the case with the TL, all-wheel drive is available with the V6 and it again utilised to provide both enhanced traction in inclement weather and sportier handling.

    The TLX also gives you a nice mix of luxury and sport. The roomy and impressively quiet cabin is a comfortable place to spend your commuting hours, and it comes with plenty of high-tech equipment as standard. Away from the highway, the TLX is enjoyable to drive. It feels nimble around turns, and all TLXs come with shift paddles to give you direct control of those new transmissions.

    Of course, combine two cars and there is bound to be a little collateral damage. The four-cylinder engine, while certainly capable enough, can’t match the stronger punch provided by turbo-charged four-cylinders found in many competing models. The TL also features Acura’s latest dual-screen electronics interface, but we’ve found its functionality leaves a little to be desired. And while the TLX is impressively well rounded, it can come off as a little bland compared to the more lavish or customisable design of some rivals.

    This might be the case should one check out the all-stars of the segment, the 2015 BMW 3 Series and 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The 3 Series continues to offer an excellent mix of sporting performance and luxury, while the redesigned C-Class sets new levels for interior opulence. Other great picks to think about include the 2015 Audi A4, 2015 Lexus IS and 2015 Volvo S60. Yet, if you do some research you’ll no doubt discover that these cars often end up costing thousands more when comparably equipped to the TLX. So, if one factor in that value along with its sporty driving demeanour and everyday comfort, the 2015 Acura TLX is definitely an entry-level luxury sedan to check out.

     

    Body Styles

    The TLX is a midsize luxury sedan offered in three main trim levels: base, Technology and Advance. Technology and Advance are essentially options packages that are available on both front- and all-wheel-drive TLX models.

    For standard equipment, the base TLX gets 17-inch alloy wheels, all-wheel steering, LED headlights and brake lights, a sunroof, heated side mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, vinyl (leatherette) upholstery, heated front seats, an eight-way power driver seat (with power lumbar), a four-way power front passenger seat (eight-way on V6), 60/40-split-folding rear seatbacks, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Also standard are Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a rear-view camera, Siri Eyes Free functionality, two display screens (an upper 8-inch display and a lower 7-inch touchscreen) and a seven-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, smartphone app integration (Aha and Pandora), an auxiliary audio input jack and an iPod/USB audio interface.

    Upgrade to the Technology package and you get leather upholstery, driver memory settings, lane departure warning, a blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, voice commands, a navigation system and an Acura/ELS 10-speaker sound system. Available only with the V6 engine, the Advance package adds 18-inch wheels, front and rear parking sensors, remote ignition, LED foglights, auto-dimming side mirrors, ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and automatic braking for forward collision mitigation.

     

    Powertrains

    The 2015 Acura TLX gives you a choice of two engines: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V6. The 2.4-liter engine generates 206 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque. It’s offered only with front-wheel drive and is paired with a specialized eight-speed automated manual transmission. (It’s an automated dual-clutch manual, much like’s VW’s DSG or Porsche’s PDK, but Acura has also fitted a conventional automatic’s torque converter to it for claimed smoother operation at slow speeds.)

    During Edmunds testing, a TLX 2.4 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, which is on the slow side for this segment. EPA estimated fuel economy with the 2.4-liter engine is 28 mpg combined (24 city/35 highway), which is very good for this class of car.

    As for the 3.5-liter V6, it’s rated at 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 is offered with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

     

    Safety

    Standard safety features on the TLX include antilock disc brakes, stability control and traction control, a rear-view camera, front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, a driver knee airbag and active front head restraints.

    During testing of both a TLX 2.4 and TLX 3.5, we recorded identical stopping distances from 60 mph of 129 feet, which is about 7 feet longer than average for this segment.

    Optional safety equipment includes front and rear parking sensors, a blind-spot warning system, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning and automatic braking for frontal collision mitigation.

     

    Interior Design and Special Features

    The TLX’s interior is a step up compared to the TSX and TL. The front seats in the TLX have thick yet soft padding and decent lateral support to provide high levels of comfort. The rear seat is quite plush, too, with a comfortable seatback angle. Rear-seat headroom will be a bit tight for tall adults, though legroom is generous for this segment. Acura says it employed extensive noise-cancelling measures in the TLX. The latter seem to have worked, as very little wind and road noise makes its way into the cabin, which makes for easy conversation.

    The interior’s overall look is clean and similar to Acura’s flagship RLX sedan and MDX crossover. The gauges are easy to read and the stacked display screen combo is used to show and control most of the car’s functions. The learning curve for this interface is pretty painless but some of the touch screen controls are tedious to use and the overall graphic resolution is underwhelming. And while overall interior quality is certainly nice, a few of the trim pieces aren’t quite as rich-looking or -feeling as what one finds in an A4 or C-Class, for instance.

     

  • Ford car parts go fashionable

    Car seat covers used in new Ford cars have received a glamorous new lease of life after being recycled for a unique fashion collection.

    Emerging designers from Europe and Asia transformed the covers and other materials and waste from Ford vehicle production – into dresses, jackets and skirts for The Redress Forum: Ford Design Challenge, an event organised with Hong Kong sustainable fashion charity Redress to highlight sustainable design in fashion and automotive.

    “Sustainability is a key element of Ford design and it is tremendously exciting to see material from our cars given a new lease of life on the catwalk,” said Emily Lai, manager, Colour and Materials Design, Ford Asia Pacific.

    “Designers have the power to affect environmental waste through their designs and design process, and can minimise impact through the creative use of materials and other innovations. All the creations we have seen are innovative and thought-provoking, and we applaud each participant for rising to the challenge,” Lai said.

    Taking part were the 10 finalists of the Ford-sponsored 2014/15 EcoChic Design Award and Amandah Anderson, from Sweden, used felt and cloth from Fusion and Edge seats to create the winning ensemble in just three hours.

    Since 2001, a dedicated team of Ford engineers has worked to incorporate sustainable materials into Ford vehicles, while upholding the company’s strict quality and performance standards. The company uses recycled plastic bottles, shredded cotton, kenaf, wheat straw, soy beans and castor oil to help reduce consumer and industrial waste, decrease depletion of natural resources and lower energy consumption.

    The new Fusion and Edge use a mixture of 50 per cent kenaf and 50 per cent plastic in interior door panels, reducing individual component weight by more than 30 per cent.

    Ford also is working with Heinz to investigate the use of tomato fibres in developing sustainable, composite materials for use in vehicle manufacturing. The company is a founding member of the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance, an advocacy group created with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and other global partners, promoting the responsible development of plant-based plastics.

    Sustainable materials are only one piece of Ford’s comprehensive approach to sustainability. Since 2000, Ford has decreased its total water use in vehicle production globally from 64 million cubic metres to 24 million cubic metres.