Category: Motoring

On Wednesday, the Cayenne and Cayenne GTS will be premiered at the Los Angeles Auto Show in the United States. The Cayenne is to-date Porsche’s most successful range, with the four-door sports cars, making a major contribution to the company’s profitable growth, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

The Cayenne and Cayenne GTS will be celebrating their world premiere on Wednesday at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. Both models are available for order.

Through its name alone, the new Cayenne GTS announces its outstanding sporting characteristics. With the letters GTS going back to the famous 904 Carrera GTS of 1963, in 2007; the Cayenne GTS became the first Porsche of the modern era to revive the acronym. Since then, at Porsche the GTS title has signified the brand’s special sporty models. Alongside the new GTS and completing the Cayenne portfolio at the lower end of the range, is the new entry-level 3.6-litre, V6 petrol engine Cayenne.

The Cayenne is to-date Porsche’s most successful range, with the four-door sports cars in general making a major contribution to the company’s profitable growth. As a result, it has played a fundamental role in ensuring future investment in the broad spectrum of highly dynamic models offered across the entire portfolio.

Whether two or four doors, Porsche drivers like their cars to be sporty; a 3.6-litre V6 bi-turbo engine is the performance-oriented enhancement of the new power unit presented in the Cayenne S. Its consumption is lower and it delivers improved levels of performance. Compared to the previous model with a V8 naturally aspirated engine, power output rises by 20 hp to 440 hp and torque by 85 Nm to 600 Nm, while fuel consumption goes down by up to 0.9 l/100 km. The Cayenne GTS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, or 5.1 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono package. That is 0.5 and 0.6 seconds respectively less than the previous model. Top speed is 262 km/h. As standard it has a sports exhaust system, which provides the undeniable GTS sound.

Thanks to its suspension the Cayenne GTS captivates drivers with its unmistakable lateral dynamics. The Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) damping system has a sporty set-up; alongside standard air suspension the vehicle sits 20 millimetres lower. Additional standard features include the brakes from the Cayenne Turbo with 390-millimetre discs on the front axle (358 millimetres at the back), inclusive of brake callipers painted red in typical turbo fashion.

Several design attributes also externally showcase the sportiness of Porsche’s new Cayenne GTS. As standard it has the turbo nose section with large air intakes and the Sport Design package including; more contoured side sills, wheel arch extensions, roof spoiler and lower rear of the vehicle, all painted in the car body colour.

All around the car, the colour black provides some striking contrasts: all lettering is black, as are the 20-inch wheels in the RS Spyder design, the exhaust tailpipes, the bi-xenon headlights’ inner apertures and the fittings of the darkened LED rear lights. The striking GTS lettering is also a new external feature that can be found on the front doors.

The sporting characteristics are also apparent in the cars’ interior. Eight-way electrically adjustable GTS sports seats in leather/Alcantara upholstery, with GTS lettering on the headrests are fitted as standard. Alcantara is the predominant upholstery material featured inside the car. The interior GTS package is optionally available in carmine red or rhodium silver with rev counter face, decorative stitching, headrest lettering and safety belts in contrasting colour.

The new Cayenne base model features a 3.6-litre V6 naturally aspirated engine, which delivers 300 hp, taking the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds – 7.6 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono package. This results in a 0.2 seconds improvement from the previous. At 230 km/h, top speed matches the level of the previous model. Like all new Cayenne models it benefits from the general efficiency measures, such as coasting, Auto Stop/Start function and thermal management, as a result of which fuel consumption drops in comparison to the previous model by 0.7 l/100 km to 9.2 l/100 km. That equates to CO2 emissions of 215 g/km, thus 21 g/km lower than before.

Compared to the previous model the new Cayenne also offers more comprehensive standard features, including a new eight-speed Tiptronic S with Auto Stop/Start and coasting functions, bi-xenon main headlights with four-point LED daytime driving lights, the multi-function sports steering wheel with paddle switches and the automatic boot lid.

The recently unveiled made-in-Nigeria Hyundai Grand was last weekend put to the test in Lagos by motoring correspondents, who test drove the car from Victoria Island through the busy roads of Apongbon in Lagos Island to Western Avenue, Ikeja, Opebi and Third Mainland Bridge.

The guarded road test is coming three weeks after Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited, a division of Stallion Group – makers of the vehicle, took the wraps off the compact family sedan at a media event in Lagos and thereafter sought to determine the suitability and compatibility of the car for Nigerian roads.

Hyundai Motors Nigeria presented two likeable variants of the Hyundai Grand with 5-Speed manual and 4-Speed automatic transmission-powered by 1.25 Kappa Dual VTVT engine respectively for the test drive.

Speaking to reporters before the test drive, Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited Head, Sales and Marketing, Mr Jatin Nadkarni, said: “It is our pleasure to put to the test the first made-in-Nigeria family sedan and we are convinced you and the entire patrons of this car will discover how pleasant the Hyundai Grand drives.”

He hailed the influence of the National Automotive Industrial Development Plan on the manufacturing sector of the economy, saying the policy is capable of transforming Nigeria from an import dependent nation to a well-heeled manufacturing entity.

A new level of art and innovation, the Hyundai Grand proves that a comfortable and spacious car doesn’t have to be cumbersome.

Hyundai Grand from all angles responds to every expectation with alluring cabin colour, textures and shape that lend it a sport appeal that could easily make any large car envious.

The Grand also shows a sharp styling with a whole new level of innovation that attest to the luminously crafted exterior which leaves an everlasting impression on all those who catch a glimpse of it.

Hyundai Grand’s clear headlight clusters for instance, not only look good, they improve night vision and on-road visibility with extra safety just as the chrome-coated radiator grille positioned to perfection guarantees strong presence.

In terms of protection, the Hyundai Grand does not compromise on safety especially when viewed against the structural safety that utilises anti corrosive steel, ring structure application to enhance rigidity and body robustness.

Powered by dual CVVT Kappa 1.25litre all-aluminum engine that emits quiet and smooth operation, the Grand will delight drivers looking for exceptionally low weight cars that maximize fuel consumption.

The Grand would also delight corporate customers looking for remarkably low weight cars with appreciable fuel consumption especially for field marketers and young couples looking for something refreshingly outstanding.

With a starting price of N1.990m, Nadkarni said the Grand may yet be one of the most affordable cars with extraordinary features in its class.

Weststar Associates Limited, the authorised general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria has introduced the new Mercedes-Benz Vario into the market, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

The Mercedes-Benz Vario arrives once again into the Nigerian commercial vehicles market, but in a different variation – thanks to the authorised general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, Weststar Associates Limited.

The Vario is a commercial van which offers a very extensive scope for individuality  as well as the use of special-purpose bodies. Now available, at Weststar, is the Mercedes-Benz 814DA 4×4 Tow-Truck.

This Vario Tow-Truck is powered by an OM 904 LA 4-cylinder Euro 3 diesel engine at 177 hp. It comes with several equipment like the Anti-lock braking system (ABS), Rear under-ride protection EEC, an under frame reinforced stabilizer rear axle, CD radio, a single-pole battery main switch, a 24 V/starter 24 V Electric equipment, Co-driver’s Cab S23 double seat and a wide angle exterior mirror on the front passenger side. Other features include a 90—litre main tank, Halogen fog lamps, a left and right revolving yellow flasher on the cab roof, Cruise control for manual transmission, a Linear speed limiter of 90km per hour and a spare lifting device under the end of the frame.

It comes standard with a skid lift/hydraulic ejector, a hydraulic lifting arm with hydraulic extension and is fully tiltable on load operation. The sub-frame is made of very fine-grained steel, resulting in a very flat lifting arm. A 3.6 ton winch is mounted on the arm, and works with a 2-speed manual freewheel.

The Vario Tow-truck has a lot to offer in terms of accessories i.e. side markers with LED technology, a tool box with illumination, and Flyer with two LED work lights mounted on it, to name a few.

More to offer is the impressive hydraulic system which has overload valves, sandwich hydraulic valves, a hydraulic 2-circuit system which includes a dual-circuit pump, and integrated hydraulic filter and tank. There is also a separate relay and fuse box for additional power supply and fuse, plus a 12 + 24 V Jump-starting facility and cable.

The Vario stands out as not only boasting easy handling, and an extremely comfortable workplace, but also the advantages of a Van and the strengths of a light duty truck, which ultimately gives it a special position in the Van segment.

Weststar has fully equipped workshops and highly skilled technicians to help maintain Mercedes-Benz vehicles and ensure their longevity in service.