The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Discovery Sport makes debut for Land Rover family

    Discovery Sport makes debut for Land Rover family

    The all-new Discovery Sport is a new entry point into the Land Rover brand. It offers configurable 5+2 seating, versatile luggage compartment and equipped with Terrain Response for true Land Rover off-road capabilities

    For a quarter-century, the Land Rover Discovery has represented the spirit of epic adventure. It has taken the brave across the globe, as well as up, down, and along roads less travelled.  As a result, some say that there is not a lot left to be discovered… but there is still room to expand the definition of discovery – which is why there is a new arrival in the Discovery family.

    Land Rover will bring the prestigious Discovery nameplate to a wider audience, with the introduction of the all-new Discovery Sport. Newcomers to the Land Rover brand will be able to get their hands on a vehicle that has all the qualities of the tried-and-tested original, but in a more compact package and at a more affordable price point. Land Rover’s plan is to have a Discovery family – just as there is a Range Rover family – of versatile, sophisticated and confidently capable all-terrain vehicles.

    For Discovery Sport, Land Rover makes one elegantly simple claim: it is the most versatile compact SUV, ever.

    Its premium interior is generous in terms of load space and seating flexibility. In a first for the brand, the Discovery Sport features a sliding second row of seats, allowing the balance of luggage to passenger space to be tailored for the occasion. That is not where its flexibility ends though: it is also available with 5+2 seating, offering even more configurability.

    The Land Rover DNA is also evident in its compact footprint and short overhangs, meaning no compromise on agility and responsiveness. It’s commanding driving position also provides a panoramic view both near and far, giving drivers the confidence to go above and beyond.

  • How FRSC,VIO, MVAA and driving schools increase the rate of accidents

    How FRSC,VIO, MVAA and driving schools increase the rate of accidents

    STEP 1 – That every experienced driver that wants to renew the old driver licence or obtain a new one afresh should go to the driving school as a fresher for thorough assessment in both theory and practical with more focus on the knowledge of the information in the Highway Code (Traffic Signs, Road Markings, Signals and Defensive Driving rules among others) for need assessment.

    STEP 2 – That the driving schools should register the candidates and upload their information into the data base of the Federal Road Safety Commission as it obtains for basic learners.

    STEP 3 – That step 2 should be complemented with the submission of the data and reports of the candidates to the FRSC Unit Commands responsible for the supervision or monitoring of the driving schools in their domains in case there is a challenge in uploading the information of the registered candidates through the website of FRSC.

    STEP 4 – Learner Permits will be issued to the candidates (three months duration as it currently obtains).

    STEP 5 – The candidates will be exposed to the relevant theory and practical training sessions depending on the result of the need assessment carried out by the driving schools in stage 1. The Assessment result will also determine the duration and charges by the driving schools.

    STEP 6 – After the refresher training sessions, the candidates should be allowed to drive for three months till the expiration of the Learner’s permits, after which they can then commence the processing of their Driver Licence (as it obtains for learners) if he or she did not commits traffic offences and at – fault accidents. Appropriate theory and practical tests must be administered and passed by the candidates.

    STEP 7 – Any candidate whose registration information is not in the Database of FRSC through website uploading and/or FRSC unit commands must be denied driver licence (at the Licence production stage).

    There should be adequate print and electronic media public enlightenment programmes by the stakeholders to inform Nigerians that their driver licence will not be produced if they don’t follow all the steps from registration stage to the end (and a prove that they obtain the necessary training in Driving Schools)

    CAUTION

    If the above steps are not fully adopted and enforced, the secret production of fake driver licence will continue to thrive for presentation to compromising driving schools that will be issuing such candidates with certificates and Learner’s permits to go for direct processing of driver licence.

    b. Mechanics, unregistered driving schools and other Individuals who are not driving school owners will continue to train candidates who will dubiously be approaching driving schools for their certificates, claiming that they already know how to drive. But with the above steps fully taken, they would prefer to patronise the certified driving schools rather than going through the process twice and at double costs. This will also be an opportunity to properly groom the drivers with the requisite knowledge and skills for safe driving.

  • Here comes the new Honda CR-V

    Here comes the new Honda CR-V

    The 2015 CR-V has received a refreshed exterior styling and richer feature content, including a front console armrest, rear climate vents, a seven-inch touch screen linked to the Lane Watch blind spot monitoring system.  It possesses a high-end touring trim level with additional safety technologies, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO with agency addition

    The Honda CR-V is like a carton of Tropicana orange juice. Sure, there are enticing beverage alternatives — maybe there is even an impartial, but a whole lot of people still go with this tried-and-true juice. The CR-V appeals because it is a product you can count on year after year.

    As it happens, the CR-V has been refreshed for 2015, offering more mpg, fresh features and even a few styling tweaks. The juice, in other words, is smoother and sweeter than ever.

    The 2015 CR-V switches to the Accord’s direct-injected four-cylinder engine and Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

    The headline this year is the CR-V’s revised 2.4-litre engine that is paired with a CVT (essentially, the engine/transmission combo you get in the Accord). The result is a little more torque and a lot more fuel efficiency. With an EPA-estimated 29 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, the CR-V is three mpg better than last year’s model and among the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid crossovers on the market. On the outside, Honda has added LED running lights and new front and rear fascias, while the interior benefits from extended touch screen availability, mildly improved materials and a more traditional centre console design. There is also a top-of-the-line Touring trim, which comes with extra luxuries and advanced safety systems.

    Still, this Honda’s appeal lies largely in what was already there. The CR-V practically invented the genre with its high driving position and carlike handling, and the current model adds a particularly spacious backseat and cargo hold to the mix, the latter enhanced by a nifty spring-loaded mechanism that folds each rear seat at the pull of a lever. Low ownership costs and high resale value further bolster the CR-V’s.

    Of course, Honda isn’t the only company fielding a highly popular small crossover. The 2015 Toyota RAV4 is also excellent at meeting the needs of crossover shoppers. If you want something with a little more personality, we recommend the athletic-handling 2015 Ford Escape or 2015 Mazda CX-5. The Escape also offers an engine upgrade if you want more power, as do the 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, the 2015 Jeep Cherokee and the 2015 Subaru Forester. But for a great many households, this Honda, which earns a top spot in the 2015 SUV Buying Guide, will hold more overall appeal than the alternatives.

    Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

    The 2015 Honda CR-V is a five-passenger crossover SUV offered in LX, EX, EX-L and Touring trim levels.

     

    Performance

     

    Every 2015 Honda CR-V comes with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine rated at 185 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. A CVT is the only available transmission. Buyers can choose between front- and all-wheel drive on all trims.

    The EPA’s estimated fuel economy on 2015 CR-Vs with front-wheel drive is 29 mpg combined (27 city/34 highway), a superb showing for this segment. The all-wheel-drive CR-V, at 28 mpg combined (26 city/33 highway), is right behind. In an Edmunds acceleration test, an all-wheel-drive 2015 CR-V accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds, which is a bit quicker than average.

     

    Safety

     

    The 2015 Honda CR-V comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and a rear view camera. The Lane Watch blind spot monitoring system (featuring a camera of its own that displays passenger-side blind spot activity on the 7-inch touchscreen) is standard on all but the LX. The touring boasts a lane departure warning system and a forward collision warning and mitigation system that is able to distinguish between vehicles and pedestrians (and warn the driver accordingly) as well as apply automatic braking intervention to reduce the severity of a collision.

     

    Special Features

     

    Overall, the 2015 CR-V continues to possess one of the most practical cabins in the segment. There is an abundance of space for rear passengers, and those seats recline and have child safety seat LATCH anchor points in all three seating positions. Space up front is good, too, especially with the added adjustability that comes with the available power driver seat, providing superior visibility and a sense of openness.

    There have been changes, though. The front cabin’s centre console has adopted a more traditional design, ditching last year’s seat-mounted, van-style armrests and the long, deep bin that could swallow a purse. There is now a console-mounted, armrest-covered bin with just enough space for a few items inside, along with two accompanying cup holders, a small card-sized cubby and a longer one with a grippy surface for holding smartphones. In other words, it is better for small items, less so for big ones.

    Honda has also added soft-touch dashboard inserts with simulated stitching to give the CR-V a more premium vibe, but these are less successful. The current-generation CR-V has utilised subpar plastics in various cabin locations from the get-go, and most of them have stuck around for 2015.

    Aside from that touch screen, notable tech features include a rear-view camera, Bluetooth (phone and audio), a text-message reader with a digitised voice and Pandora compatibility. Those are all standard on the base LX, by the way; they will run you extra on many competitors, if they are offered at all. On the other hand, certain popular features are restricted to the highest trims, including a power liftgate.

    Power or no, that liftgate reveals one of the most user-friendly cargo areas in the compact SUV segment. The 2015 CR-V can carry 35.2 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats. That area benefits from a low load floor and a boxy shape overall, making it easier to carry large items. Lowering the spring-loaded, auto-folding rear seatbacks with a tug of the trunk-mounted levers reveals 70.9 cubic feet of maximum space, which is one of the top figures in the segment.

  • Coscharis begins year with display at Oriental Hotels

    Coscharis Motors Limited, the franchise holder for MG ‘Morris Garages’ cars in Nigeria, started the year with display of MG 6, MG 550, and MG 5, at Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The display which started early January attracted both prospect and customers who were offered opportunity for test drive, to have a first-hand experience of the luxury and capability of the vehicle.

    Apart from test drive offer, all MG cars come with three years warranty, with adequate after sales back-up, genuine spare parts, finance and leasing, to create more value for the customers.

    Furthermore, the display is part of the brand’s awareness campaign to position MG as retail cars that are highly economical as well as fleet vehicles.

    Among the models in Coscharis dealership are MG 750, which is the flagship, MG 6, MG 550, MG 5, and MG 3.

    Particularly the MG cars’ new looks with strong lines, curved edges, and sporty features that reflect a fresh and renewed character have expanded the brand’s market share and repositioned the brand as one of the fastest growing brand in United Kingdom.

    MG has a British heritage of over 90 years since 1924, and Coscharis Motors acquired the MG franchise three years ago and has since then enjoyed a reasonable patronage.

  • Peugeot leads Europe in Co2 emissions

    Peugeot leads Europe in Co2 emissions

    PSA Peugeot Citroën has recaptured its first place in emissions reduction at the end 2014 in Europe, with an average of 110.3 grams of CO2 per kilometre* (source: AAA DATA), compared with an average of 123.7 grams for the European market.

    Since 2008, the group has gradually lowered its vehicle emissions by about 30 grams.

    The new record illustrates PSA Peugeot Citroën’s commitment to finding practical solutions to environmental problems. More than 50 per cent of its R&D budget is devoted to developing technologies aimed at improving the fuel and environmental performance of its vehicles.

    PSA Peugeot Citroën’s top ranking is primarily the result of its engine downsizing strategy and the introduction of new PureTech 3-cylinder petrol engines, as well as the introduction of new-generation, fuel-efficient BlueHDi diesel engines.

    In 2014, nearly 30 per cent of vehicles sold by the group emitted less than 100 grams of CO2.

    Paired with these highly efficient petrol and diesel engines, many group models are low-carbon leaders in their category. Due to the fact that they represent a significant proportion of European sales, they contribute to an overall reduction in emissions.

    This petrol version also set a new fuel economy record of 2.85 litres per 100 kilometres, covering 1,810 kilometres on a51-litre tank of fuel.

    The recent Peugeot 308 and Citroën C4 Picasso models (built on the new EMP2 platform) and the Citroën C4 Cactus (launched in 2014) weigh significantly less than their predecessors, by 140 kilograms and 200 kilograms, respectively, which is a key factor in reducing emissions.

    “The outstanding reduction in CO2 emissions is the fruit of PSA Peugeot Citroën’s advanced petrol and diesel engine technologies but also of its ongoing research to make lighter, more aerodynamic cars,” said Gilles Le Borgne, Executive Vice President, Research and Development, PSA Peugeot Citroën.

    “The group continues to invest heavily in research and innovation, particularly in the field of plug-in hybrid technologies and new-generation electric vehicles,” he added.

  • How FRSC,VIO, MVAA and driving schools increase the rate of accidents

    How FRSC,VIO, MVAA and driving schools increase the rate of accidents

    The fear of the judgment of God is the main reason why I decided to write this article in the interest of the innocent Nigerians that are daily becoming victims of road accidents.

    When the Graduated Driver Licence Scheme was introduced in Nigeria, those of us that know the benefits for road safety were very glad. Alas! The stakeholder in its implementation in Nigeria, FRSC, VIO, MVAA and some driving schools have soiled their hands in a disgraceful conspiracy which has made implementation of the scheme a failure in Nigeria thereby contributing more to road crashes and fatalities as it is clearly evident in the road traffic offences, crashes and fatalities in the country.

    Before delving more on what obtains in Nigeria today, I would like to mention how the result-oriented Graduated Driver Licensing system operates successfully in the United States of America (USA).

    Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programmes are designed to offer Drivers the priviledge of structured learning for the promotion of basic knowledge and skills in driving over an extended period of time.

    The three stages in the GDL are:

    1. Learner’s Permit Stage:  At this stage, Trainee Drivers are to hold a Learner’s permit for a period ranging from six months to one year. During this period, the trainee driver must enroll in an approved or certified driving school and undergo comprehensive theory and practical training sessions. The trainee driver may drive only when accompanied by an adult – licensed driver (supervised driving) he or she must not carry other passengers and must not drive late at night. Before the candidate can proceed to the next stage, he must have driven for not less than 50hours and without committing any traffic offence or at – fault accidents. When certified okay, he or she will them proceed to the Intermediate stage (after passing the standard theory and practical tests).

    2. Intermediate Stage – This is also known as the probationary or provisional licence stage. Though the Driver at this stage are allowed to drive unsupervised, they are however restricted from driving late at night and they are mandated to take a second during training classes in an approved or certified driving school during this stage. Once they  have been certified competent without committing any traffic offence and at – fault accidents, they will then proceed to the full Licence stage.

    3. Full Licence Stage – “After meeting the requirements of the Learner’s and Intermediate stages, with satisfactory evidences of their attendance of approved or certified driving schools for the acquisition of requisite driving knowledge and skills, he can then proceed to process and obtain full licence.

    The above licensing process may look tedious or long but no period is too long. So far, it prevents the loss of irreparable lives and valuable properties. It is better to be late than to be the late. Life has no duplicate. This Graduated Driver Licence programme is being successfully implemented in America with commendable reduction in the rate of road crashes and fatalities.

     

     

     

    The Nigerian Graduated Driver Licence Scheme was tailored after the America system but its implementation in Nigeria has been so bastardised that rather than leading to a reduction in the rate of road crashes and fatalities, it is on the increase.

    As at the time I am writing this article, there are thousands of Nigerians holding the new Driver licence without knowing how to drive, not to talk of knowing the traffic signs among others.

    Some officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Vehicle Inspection Departments, Motor Vehicle Licensing Authority, Driving Schools and Hospitals are conspiring together to racketeer the Driver Licence issuance through the backdoor and even front door bastardisation of the process thereby making an international mockery of the Nigerian Graduated Driver Licence programme.

    Majority of the Drivers holding or processing the new Driver Licence in Nigeria did not go to any Driving School to acquire driving knowledge and skills. After paying their way through, they only go for FRSC data Capturing.

    Sadly, no party among the Stakeholder is ignorant of this dastardly act but little or nothing is being done to halt it herby putting more and more innocent Nigerians at risk on the road. Many of the FRSC, VIO and MVAA Officials and their collaborators have become sudden multi – millionaires while the obedient Driving Schools are hungry and yawning without Drivers to train.

    Hospitals are also guilty of issuing certificates of fitness for Driver Licence candidates they did not even see nor test. When shall we stop putting personal gain above public interest in Nigeria?

    I believe that very soon, when Nigerian Governments and Government Agencies responsible for the issuance of Driver Licence are being taken to court for the settlement of Compensation to the innocent victims of road accidents, they will know that the safety of lives and properties should not be sacrificed on the altar of filthy lucre.

    One of the ways this negative conspiracy in Driver Licence processing can be stopped is by stopping the use of fake old Driver Licence to process new Driver Licence and let all the Candidates go through Driving Schools as Learners but the perpetrators of the evil are consistently resisting every move to stop such renewal because of the illicit money they are making from it. Hence the continued illegal production of fake Driver Licence in Nigeria.

    For the GDL system to work and accomplish its objectives in Nigeria, all renewals with the old Driver Licence must be stopped and whether or not you know how to drive, once you don’t have the new Driver Licence, you must be subjected to the steps highlighted below no matter your position or status in the country.

    STEP 1 – That every experienced Driver that wants to renew the old Driver Licence or obtain a new one afresh should go to the Driving School as a Fresher for thorough Assessment in both Theory and Practical with more focus on the Knowledge of the information in the Highway Code (Traffic Signs, Road Markings, Signals and Defensive Driving rules among others) for need Assessment.

    STEP 2 – That the Driving Schools should register the Candidates and Upload their information into the Data base of the Federal Road Safety Commission as it obtains for BASIC LEARNERS.

    STEP 3 – That step 2 should be complemented with the submission of the Data and Reports of the Candidates to the FRSC Unit Commands responsible for the supervision or monitoring of the Driving Schools in their Domains in case there is a challenge in uploading the information of the registered Candidates through the website of FRSC.

    STEP 4 – Learner Permits will be issued to the Candidates (3months Duration as it currently obtains).

    STEP 5 – The Candidates will be exposed to the relevant theory and practical training sessions depending on the result of the need assessment carried out by the Driving Schools in stage 1. The Assessment result will also determine the duration and charges by the Driving Schools.

    STEP 6 – After the refresher training sessions, the Candidates should be allowed to drive for 3months till the expiration of the Learner’s permits, after which they can then commence the processing of their Driver Licence (as it obtains for Learners) if he or she did not commits traffic offences and at – fault accidents. Appropriate Theory and Practical Tests must be administered and passed by the Candidates.

    STEP 7 – Any Candidate whose registration information is not in the Database of FRSC through website uploading and/or FRSC unit commands must be denied Driver Licence (at the Licence production stage).

    There should be adequate print and electronic media public enlightenment programmes by the stakeholders to inform Nigerians that their Driver Licence will not be produced if they don’t follow all the steps from registration stage to the end (and a prove that they obtained the necessary training in Driving Schools)

    CAUTION

    If the above steps are not fully adopted and enforced, the secret production of fake Driver Licence will continue to thrive for presentation to compromising Driving Schools that will be issuing such Candidates with certificates and Learner’s permits to go for direct processing of Driver Licence.

    b. Mechanics, unregistered Driving Schools and other Individuals who are not Driving School owners will continue to train Candidates who will dubiously be approaching Driving Schools for their certificates, claiming that they already knows how to drive. But with the above steps fully taken, they would prefer to patronize the Certified Driving Schools rather than going through the process twice and at double costs. This will also be an opportunity to properly groom the Drivers with the requisite knowledge and skills for safe Driving.

    c. Driving Schools that issued their certificates to Candidates without the information of the Candidates submitted to FRSC website and/or supervising Unit commands (Spanning the 3months duration) should be sanctioned.

    d. All Driving Schools should submit the list of candidates they presented for Licence processing on monthly basis to the Association of Driving Instructors of Nigeria (ADIN) as a form of checks and balances.

    e. There should be a monthly interactive session of the FRSC with the National Executive Officers of the Association of Driving Instructors of Nigeria (ADIN) to deliberate on the level of compliance by the FRSC and the Driving Schools FRSC Licence production Department should give the Officers of the Association (ADIN) the priviledge of seeing the list of Candidates presented for Licence production every month and compare with the list submitted by its Members to know the level of compliance and effectiveness.

    This if done will also put a stop to the cloning and unauthorized use of Driving School certificates by FRSC, VIO and MVAA for Driver Licence racketeering.

    f. Possession or use of the old Licence should be declared illegal and any Candidate holding the old Driver Licence and the fake new Licence should be arrested and prosecuted. There must be open air announcements to enlighten Nigerians on this.

    g. It is a truism that safety of irreparable lives and valuable properties must not be compromised. It therefore behooves the Authorities of the Federal Road Safety Commission and other Stakeholders, not to give room to favouritism in the implementation of the above-mentioned steps, no matter the status or position of the Candidates either in the Government or private sector.

    h. The Federal Road Safety Commission should embark on secret monitoring of Driving Schools and FRSC capturing centres/Licence production Department to ensure full compliance with the steps suggested above.

    i. Call a stakeholders meeting comprising of Representatives of FRSC, State VIO, MVAA and Association of Driving Schools (ADIN) and notify them of the new policy and procedures to enhance confidence and compliance.

    The above are just our suggestions to your goodselves for consideration based on our experience and findings in the past few years.

    We are very confident that if strictly implemented, they will put an end to the sharp practices hitherto perpetrated by Driving Schools (Certified and Uncertified), FRSC, MVAA and VIO. This will also go a very long way in further boosting the accomplishment of the objectives of the Graduated Driver Licensing Scheme as well as the reduction of road traffic crashes and fatalities in Nigeria.

    Any Government official, Driving School, Organisation or Individual that is still opposed to the adoption and implementation of the steps suggested above is either a direct or indirect beneficiary of the Driver Licence racketeering conspiracy or ignorant of the workability of the Graduated Driver Licensing Scheme.

    It is time for the Federal Government, State Governments, National Assembly, State Assemblies and the Judiciary to rise up to their responsibilities as touching Road Safety in Nigeria to reduce the rate of Crashes and Fatalities in Nigeria. Let us all put a stop to lip service while innocent lives and valuable properties are wasting away on Nigeria roads everyday.

  • ŠKODA Octavia picks up another title

    ŠKODA Octavia picks up another title

    The third generation ŠKODA Octavia has won the best imported car in the compact class in the readers’ choice ‘Best Cars 2015’

    The award was organised by the German car magazine ‘Auto Motor and Sport’ (AMS). Since its market launch in early 2013, the ŠKODA bestseller has won 44 national and international car awards so far.

    The ŠKODA Octavia has also been a great hit on the international markets, with more than 500,000 of the third generation Octavia already having been delivered to customers around the world. In 2014, sales of the model increased 8.1 per cent to 388,800. In Western Europe, sales grew by an incredible 22.5 per cent in 2014. Last year, the ŠKODA Octavia was the best-selling new car in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland.

    “The Octavia is very special to us at ŠKODA. We have put our heart and soul into developing this car. Wining this award further proves that we have got a lot of things right,” explains ŠKODA CEO Prof Winfried Vahland.

    The third generation Octavia truly is the largest, safest, lightest, most practical, comfortable and environmentally friendly Octavia of all time.

    The whole model series is also more versatile than ever. There are currently eight versions in the range: the Octavia hatchback, Octavia hatchback 4×4, Octavia Combi (estate), Octavia Combi (estate) 4×4, Octavia RS, Octavia G-TEC, Octavia Scout and the especially environmentally friendly Octavia GreenLine. The top of the European line also includes the exclusive Octavia L&K version.

  • Kia Sorento wins award

    Kia Sorento, the brand’s flagship SUV, has received the prestigious ‘iF Design Award’ for the first time.

    The jury of the globally-recognised design awards programme honoured the third generation of the Sorento, which goes on sale globally in 2015, with an award in the ‘Product’ category.

    Also awarding the car for the overall quality of its design, the jury rated the car on criteria such as finish, degree of innovation, environmental impact and safety.

    The all-new Kia Sorento is the seventh Kia model to secure an iF Design Award. In every year since 2010, at least one of the coveted awards has been scooped by Kia Motors, with previous winners from the brand including the Kia Venga, Sportage, Optima, Picanto, pro_cee’d and Soul.

    “I am very proud of this award for the Kia Sorento because it is recognition of the great advance in quality we have succeeded in achieving in this model,” said Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Kia Motors Corporation and Hyundai Motor Company.

    “The Kia Sorento unites the classic poise of an SUV with a premium look and feel that is particularly tangible in the cabin. It offers the very highest design quality and excellent value for money. This is largely the achievement of our international design teams – which is also why I am so delighted with this award,” Schreyer stated.

    The new Kia Sorento was developed by the Kia design team in Namyang, Korean, assisted by the Kia Design Centres in Frankfurt, Germany and Irvine, California.

    It is a stylish and practical SUV with exceptional versatility and practicality. The smoother, swept-back profile and deeply sculpted surfaces give the Kia Sorento a lithe, elegant appearance. The spacious interior follows the horizontal lines of the overall design concept and delivers a luxurious look and feel with top-quality materials throughout the cabin.

    The new Kia Sorento, which is available with five or seven seats, has a longer wheelbase and provides more passenger room than its predecessor. The luggage area is larger, and thanks to the sliding, 60:40-split seat row it is even more versatile, holding up to 1,732 litres.

    The Kia Sorento has a powerful and efficient 200 ps (147 kW) 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, while four-wheel drive versions are fitted with Kia’s new Dynamax™ All-Wheel-Drive system with torque vectoring.

    High-tech specifications and a range of premium features, including the 360-degree Around View Monitor and smart parking system make it easy to manoeuvre and park. Buyers can also choose from the latest safety assistance systems, from lane departure warning to rear cross traffic alert and traffic sign recognition, through to adaptive cruise control.

    Since it was launched in 1953, the annual iF Design Award has become one of the world’s most important prizes for excellence in design. The award has its origins in the ‘Formgerechte Industrieerzeugnisse’ (Good Industrial Design) product shows initiated by the Hannover Messe, and is now one of the world’s largest design competitions.

    The iF Design Award is presented in five disciplines. In 2015, companies from 53 countries participated in the iF design awards programme, submitting 4,783 designs. The new Kia Sorento was honoured in the ‘Automobiles / Vehicles / Bikes’ category.

    The official presentation of  the awards will take place on February 27 in Munich, Germany during the Munich Creative Business Week.

  • New Ford F-150 gets best rating

    New Ford F-150 gets best rating

    With  the  capacity to cover more miles per gallon,positive impact on the environment and other features, 2015 Ford F-150  has taken the lead among other vehichles.  Automotive Science Group (ASG) has taken a comprehensive approach to calculating a vehicle’s impact on the environment as well as the complete cost of ownership and impact on social justice issues. On all three counts, the 2015 Ford F-150 beat out the competition in the pickup truck class.

    ASG took into account the full life of vehicles from sourcing parts during production to projected use and disposal. In regular cab, crew cab, and extended cab, the F-150 XL Supercab with 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine topped other light-duty pickups for “environmental performance.”

    Despite its advantage in city and highway economy, Ram’s EcoDiesel (23 combined miles per gallon) was determined by ASG to have a bigger impact on the environment than the aluminium F-150 (22 combined miles per gallon). Since Ram’s diesel model releases a higher amount of particle emissions per mile than the 2015 F-150, the life-cycle edge goes to Ford’s pickup.

    Widening the angle to include “economic performance” and overall “social performance,” Ford’s F-150 also was the winner in both cases. In annual fuelling costs, there is no comparison between Ram and Ford: F-150 would save owners $2,750 over the EcoDiesel model over the course of five years. Chevy Silverado (20 combined miles per gallon, $750 more in fuelling costs compared to F-150) is much closer to the Ford model with gasoline currently cheaper than diesel fuel.

    When the 1500 EcoDiesel won Green Truck of the Year, Ram Chief Executive Officer Ron Hegbloom reiterated that fuel economy in the top priority of truck buyers, but the shift in gas prices has made the F-150 far more affordable while providing nearly the same efficiency. In terms of particulate emissions, there is an even better case to be made for the Ford EcoBoost model that comes in at a lower sticker price.

    Life-cycle emissions tests are becoming more common when comparing green vehicles against gasoline alternatives, and the conversation should include the source of electricity when electric vehicles are concerned. While it may not carry as much weight in the pickup class, Ford F-150 is leader of the pack.

  • ŠKODA records 1.04 million sales

    ŠKODA records 1.04 million sales

    For the first time in its 119-year company history, ŠKODA sold more than 1 million vehicles in a calendar year. It set a new sales record in 2014.

    ŠKODA’s worldwide delivered an increase of 12.7 per cent (1,037,200) vehicles compared to 2013 – 920,800 deliveries). The global market share improved to 1.4 per cent as against 1.3 per cent in 2013. In December alone, global ŠKODA sales increased by 16.9 per cent to 81,900 units. This was the best December ever in the company’s history. In 2015, the car maker intends to grow further with new models.

    “ŠKODA made good ground in a challenging 2014 environment and has successfully continued to grow,” ŠKODA Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Winfried Vahland said.

    “By setting a new sales record and delivering more than 1 million vehicles for the first time, the brand has established itself in the ‘Champions League’ of international high-volume manufacturers. The impact of the biggest model campaign in our company history is getting stronger and stronger. Since 2010, we have redesigned almost the entire model portfolio and expanded into new segments. With our new models, we are increasingly winning over new customer groups. And we won’t take our foot off the accelerator in the coming years,” Vahland stated.

    The comprehensive model campaign which was started four years ago was once again the priority for the Czech manufacturer.

    “The acceptance of our models and of the brand is higher than ever before. We were able to increase our market share in almost every region,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing.

    Back in March, the pioneering study ‘ŠKODA VisionC’ was the first rocket of last year’s ŠKODA product fireworks. The Octavia G-TEC, Octavia Scout, three special Monte Carlo editions for the Citigo as well as Yeti and Rapid Spaceback followed over the course of 2014. The new ŠKODA Fabia provided the year’s grand finale in November.