The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Coscharis offers rebate for Jaguar Land Rover service

    Jaguar Land Rover in partnership with Coscharis Motors Plc has begun a complimentary genuine parts voucher to the value of N70,000 and 15 per cent rebate on labour to all customers whose vehicles are four years or older and have not visited the dealership in the past 15 months.

    According to the Executive Director, Aftersales, Coscharis Motors, Cosmas Maduka Jnr., “this offer is to further delight our customers and an expression of our commitment to ensuring that our customers generally enjoy opportunity for our Jaguar LandRover brands through ease ownership”.

    This special offer runs till March 31 or the first 90 customers to visit any of the dealership outlets, whichever comes first. Maduka Jnr said the objective is to provide the company’s valued customers with additional aftersales incentives to keep the premiumness of their vehicles intact after purchase over the years.

    According to the Jaguar Land Rover Marketing Manager for Coscharis, Cletus Aregbeshola, the goal is to fashion a support service for all owners who cannot benefit from the five-Year service offer given the relative age of their Jaguar Land Rover vehicles.

  • Increasing rate of lane indiscipline

    Driving is a very complex task which must not be taken with loose hands to avoid the undesirable consequences of crashes, injuries and deaths.

    There are different types of roads, single carriage and dual carriage. Road lanes also vary from single to multiple lanes sometimes up to 10 or more lanes. For safe driving, a driver is expected to drive in – between the lane. That is, he or she must position the vehicle in  the middle of his or her lane. This is to ensure adequate or safe lateral spacing between two or more vehicles in motion. This safe lateral space is to be maintained with all road users to enhance safety on the road.

    It is, however, disheartening that a lot of drivers and riders don’t even know the meaning and need for lateral spacing not to talk of obeying the rule. Many drivers just share the road with other users without minding where there is a lane management rule to follow. Many even think the white or yellow lines on the roads are mere decorations. It should be known to drivers and riders in particular that the white and yellow lines on the road demarcates the lanes to avoid confusion in lane use while driving or riding.

    I have seen drivers setting the tyres of their vehicles on the lane line while some even shared from the right and left lanes thereby putting the demarcating line under their vehicles. This is poor and dangerous lane use while driving. To avoid being found guilty of lane indiscipline, you must position your vehicle in the middle of your lane.

    There are some cases where lanes are not demarcated with lines. In such cases, drivers are expected to use their cognitive skills to measure where their lane starts and ends thereby paving way for the right or safe positioning of their vehicles. Overtaking and lane weaving is more dangerous on roads not demarcated with markings.

    Just as it is unsafe for drivers and riders not to obey the lane management rules, it is also a dangerous shortcoming on the part of the government not demarcate lanes with the right markings. There are so many roads in Nigeria not marked into lanes. Some markings have faded off. All newly constructed roads as well as the old roads must be clearly marked into lanes. The markings must be regularly maintained to ensure that all the lanes are distinctively displayed for the safety of road users.

    In summary, I use this platform to advise the governments and construction companies to clearly mark all roads both new and old. The right paints that is durable and shows clearly on the roads should be used. The Federal Road Safety Commission should regularly monitor all the roads in Nigeria and advise the appropriate government, Federal, or State or Local to ensure the roads are appropriately marked and maintained. The drivers and riders must be safety – conscious and obey the lane management rules at all times. No sacrifice is too much to make for the safety of irreparable lives and valuable properties.

     

  • Weststar introduces A-Class Sedan

    Mercedes-Benz has continued to expand its compact car portfolio with the introduction of the A-Class Sedan, following suit with the likes of the A-Class, CLA & GLA. Mercedes-Benz’s compact car segment is already fast growing with the acquisition of new customer groups from different regions around the world.

    This has aided Weststar’s resolve to attract different customer groups in Nigeria, who look to enjoy the best driving experience regardless of their automobile preferences.

    Due to an increase in demand, the A-Class is for the first time also offered as a sedan. This follows up the successful launch of the A-Class last year that pushed boundaries in major markets. The A-Class Sedan comes with a modern and superior sporty design, an unrivalled experience with MBUX, Intelligent Drive functions from the S-Class, a completely redefined interior design and optional equipment and appointments like Keyless-Go with Hands-Free Access.

    The exterior of the Sedan exudes a modern and a superior sporty design. The front end takes a very progressive look with the low, elongated bonnet, the slimline headlamps with chrome element, the torch-like daytime driving lights – plus the single-louvre diamond radiator grille with optional chrome pins, and the central star. The side mirrors sit on the beltline, while the 16 to 19-inch wheels and the pronounced wheel arches give the A-Class Sedan a sporty stance on the road.

    On the rear end, there are two-part tail lamps that emphasise width, the rear reflectors have been relocated to the modular two-part rear bumper and depending on the selected equipment, the rear bumper is available with a black diffuser or with chrome trim strip and chrome tailpipe tips.

    The interior of the Sedan comes in a modern and avant-garde look emphasising a revolution from within. The dashboard gets a completely new and avant-garde design, with a cowl above the cockpit and the wing-shaped main body of the dashboard extending from one front door to the other with no visual discontinuity.

    Weststar Associates Limited Managing Director Mr. Mirko Plath, described the growing compact car family as a step in the right direction from Mercedes-Benz.

    He said the A-Class Sedan would serve more customer groups and that owning a Mercedes-Benz would be more attractive for the younger generation with the emotive and technological appeal of the MBUX, the modern design of the A-Class Sedan, the latest driving assistance systems and a very competitive entry price.

    The compact car family of Mercedes-Benz has continued its growth in the Nigerian market with the A-Class Sedan set for its arrival.

    This follows the successful introduction of the new A-Class last year.

    Weststar Associates Limited, authorised General Distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria will introduce the A-Class Sedan by May, 2019.

     

  • Mitsubishi announces lineup for Geneva Show

    Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will be exhibiting new models at the 89th Geneva International Motor Show, from March 5toMarch17, under the company’s global tagline: Drive your Ambition.

    The Mitsubishi Engelberg Tourer and the 2020 Mitsubishi ASX compact Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) will make their global debuts at the show. The new Mitsubishi L200 one-tonne pick-up will have its first showing in Europe.

    In addition, MMC will demonstrate a new service called “Dendo Drive House (DDH)” which offers ways to reduce climate change and support higher demand for energy.

    This energy ecosystem allows owners to generate, store and share energy automatically between the car and the house. The package, called Dendo as it translates to “electric” in Japanese, is a system composed of solar panels, a bi-directional charger using Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) technology, a home storage battery and Mitsubishi PHEV.

    The MMC show lineup will include the Mitsubishi Engelberg Tourer, the 2020 Mitsubishi ASX compact SUV and the Europe-market 2020 Mitsubishi L200 one-tonne pick-up truck.

    Under the ‘Engineered Beyond Tough’ philosophy that has created successive generations of Mitsubishi pick-up trucks, the new L200 has been developed to an Ultimate Sport Utility Truck concept.

    It features a powerful design incorporating a new generation of MMC’s Dynamic Shield front styling; a 4WD system that delivers improved all-terrain performance and the use of advanced active safety technologies. The Mitsubishi L200’s renowned durability and reliability for business use are complemented by improvements in comfort and ride for private customers.

    The L200 uses a newly-developed 2.2L turbodiesel engine fitted to 6-speed automatic or manual transmissions to deliver powerful and smooth acceleration and quieter performance. The engine employs the AdBlue aqueous urea-SCR system to remove emissions from the exhaust gas and is Euro 6d-Temp compliant.

     

     

  • Kia partners Lagos, Access Bank on City Marathon

    Kia Motors Nigeria has signed a five-year sponsorship deal with the Access Bank and Lagos State Government on the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

    The partnership is to create a platform to inspire and engage athletes and sports lovers through the marathon.

    Over the years, Kia has partnered with organisers of global sporting events, and the sponsorship of the marathon is geared towards expanding the scale of the brand’s sports sponsorship in Nigeria.

    The event’s consultant, Bukola Olapade said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Kia on the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. As the leading automobile brand in the country, Kia’s sponsorship has provided another opportunity for us to elevate the guest experience for the hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators who travel far and wide to participate in the prestigious marathon.”

    The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is one of the most renowned marathons in Africa with over 400 professional athletes across the globe running in the race. In recent years, it has become the best-known marathon in Nigeria and one of the fastest growing in the world.

    Kia’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Jacky Hathiramani, described it as honour to be a proud sponsor of one of the events.

    “Our commitment is to make  it the best in the world and Nigeria’s greatest export will continue to wax stronger. As part of our determination to put this marathon at the vanguard of sporting events in Africa, we now extend our partnership from the previous three years to a five-year sponsorship as we look forward with anticipation to the next four years of competition and believe that the next edition will be the best event ever.”

  • The growing road monster

    There is a fierce monster rapidly causing accidents, injuries and deaths on Nigeria roads on daily basis. The monster is in virtually every vehicle plying the roads. The monsters were imported from the developed countries but now destroying lives in Nigeria much more than in those countries.

    The monster I am referring to in this article is mobile phone. Yes I mean MOBILE PHONES! It is very small in size but can wipe off human lives in hundreds within the twinkling of an eye.

    In the past few months, I have personally embarked on a survey of 10 states in Nigeria with a focus on the use of mobile phones by men and women while driving on the major and minor roads, both in the cities and rural communities. The findings revealed a very terrifying trend. Hence my reference to mobile phone as a growing monster in this article.

    Driving is the most complex and the most demanding task. It is the task that requires the highest level of concentration because an error on the part of the driver could result to loss of many lives, creating widows, orphans and many other devastating consequences on families, businesses, communities and the nation as a whole.

    Distraction is any act that takes the attention of a driver away from the path of travel (the direction you are facing) for more than one second. The use of mobile phone for making or receiving calls, reading or sending messages, chatting or searching surely takes the attention of drivers away from the path of travel for more than one second. The use of mobile phone while driving, negatively affect the coordination of your visual, cognitive and physical organs needed for effective and safe vehicle control. The devastating effects of the use of mobile phones while driving has been likened to the effects of alcohol and other psychoactive drugs on driving. It hinders concentration and coordination. If you must use the mobile phone, safely park off the road to use your phone and return safely to the road to continue your driving without causing problem to yourself and other road users.

    So many avoidable accidents were attributed to the use of mobile phones. Some drivers have resulted to the use of earpiece or hands -free devices. I make bold to say here that “a decorated monkey is a monkey”. The use of hands-free will still infringe with the brain of the driver. The brain is the organ of the body responsible for interpreting the information gathered with the eyes, ears and nose while driving, for the safe actions to be taken by the hands and legs. The nature of the message you receive with the hands – free can also affect your driving or safety. For example, if you receive an emergency call that you are one of the people just retrenched from your high – paid job while cruising on 100km per hour, it is only the miracle of God that help you handle the vehicle safely at that moment. The youth corper using an ear piece crushed by a train while crossing a rail line is still fresh in our memory.

    The use of mobile phone can cause accidents, injuries, and  deaths to the driver, passengers and other road users. It can also cause the driver to suffer litigation ( manslaughter or murder), fines and or imprisonment. A terrible monster indeed!

    Consequent upon the high rate of accidents being caused by the use of mobile phone while driving, I hereby implore the officers of Federal Road Safety Commission, Nigeria Police, State Traffic Agencies and other well – Nigerians to rise up and wage a relentless war against the use of mobile phone in any form while driving. The law against the use of mobile phone while driving is in place but the enforcement has to be more thorough without fear or favour. Walking – talking, particularly when crossing the road must be avoided by all pedestrians. Never pick or look at your mobile phone while you are already crossing the road.  Cultivate the habit of stopping at safe locations to use your mobile phone. As it is a dangerous monster to driving, it is also same to walking on the road as well as working in the kitchen at home. There is no call that is too important or urgent to kill or die for.  Use your mobile phone wisely and safely so that it will not turn to a destructive monster in your hands.

  • Hyundai introduces world’s first multi-collision airbag system

    Hyundai Motor Group has announced the development and future commercialisation of the world’s first multi-collision airbag system that significantly improves airbag performance in multi-collision accidents. Multi-collision accidents are those in which the primary impact is followed by collisions with secondary objects, such as trees, electrical posts or other vehicles, which occurs in three out of every 10 accidents.

    Current airbag systems do not offer secondary protection when the initial impact is insufficient to cause them to deploy. However, the multi-collision airbag system allows airbags to deploy effectively upon a secondary impact by calibrating the status of the vehicle and the occupants.

    Hyundai’s new technology detects occupant position in the cabin following an initial collision. When occupants are forced into unusual positions, the effectiveness of existing safety technology may be compromised. Multi-collision airbag systems are designed to deploy even faster when initial safety systems may not be effective, providing additional safety when drivers and passengers are most vulnerable. By recalibrating the collision intensity required for deployment, the airbag system responds more promptly during the secondary impact, thereby improving the safety of multi-collision vehicle occupants.

    Head of Chassis Technology Center at Hyundai Motor Group Taesoo Chi, said “by improving airbag performance in multi-collision scenarios, we expect to significantly improve the safety of our drivers and passengers. We will continue our research on more diverse crash situations as part of our commitment to producing even safer vehicles that protect occupants and prevent injuries.”

    Hyundai Motor Group will implement the system in new Hyundai vehicles in the future.

  • Mercedes-Benz delivers 180,000 vehicles in January

    Mercedes-Benz has delivered 180,539 vehicles to its customers all over the world in January. The second-best start to a year for sales was influenced by important model changes in the high-volume Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and compact-car segments. In particular, the model change of the B-Class, CLA and GLE, each with a double-digit sales decrease, had a negative impact on total unit sales worldwide despite the ongoing high demand for the cars with the star.

    The company expects the model changes to affect deliveries in the first quarter. With a high degree of probability, the full year will be affected also by exogenous challenges and geo-political risks.

    At the same time, Mercedes-Benz Cars assumes that the model offensive will lead to sales growth in the second half of the year. The company with the three-pointed star therefore expects to slightly increase its worldwide unit sales overall, and to achieve another record in 2019.

    Last month, Mercedes-Benz defended its market leadership in the premium segment in markets including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Czech Republic, South Korea, the United States, Canada and Brazil.

    “With more than 180,000 vehicles delivered, Mercedes-Benz has started the year 2019 with the second-best January ever. Last month was below the strong figure for the previous year; this was in line with our expectations, however, due to important model changes. With the B-Class, the CLA and the GLE, we look forward in the coming months to the new generations of models very popular with our customers and expect the model offensive in our high-volume segments to provide significant sales impetus,” said Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales.

    Seeger added: “2019 will be a challenging year for the entire industry. But we expect to inspire our customers with new models – especially in the second half of the year – and therefore aim to achieve a slight increase in unit sales and a new record in the full year.”

  • Uber launches Greenlight Hub in Abuja

    Uber has opened its Greenlight Hub in Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja.

    The Uber Greenlight Hub will  open five days a week, and serve as a resource centre where existing and potential driver-partners can receive support for app-related inquiries.

    Its Greenlight Operations Manager for West Africa, O’Yoma Ukueku said Driver-partners remain a critical part of Uber operations in West Africa.

    The hub, he said, provides a functional, modern and technologically enabled support centre for the drivers.

    According to Ukueku, Uber’s team of dedicated, well-trained and professional experts will ensure that their concerns and inquiries are addressed and resolved.

    The launch of the Uber Greenlight Hub also served as a driver-partner appreciation event, where driver-partners were feted. Notable driver-partners who had distinguished themselves by providing excellent and professional service were also rewarded with a variety of gifts including generators, refrigerators, plasma televisions and microwaves.

    According to Uber General Manager West Africa Lola Kassim, “Driver-partner support is something that we take seriously at Uber, and that is why we have opened this location at the Jabi Lake Mall. The Hub serves a dual purpose of providing a world-class support centre for Uber driver-partners and also provides us with an avenue to celebrate and appreciate those who have ensured that Uber remains top of mind. We remain committed to creating economic and business opportunities for those signed up to drive on the Uber app, and we’re here to help ensure they reach their goals.”

    For Samson Yusuf, who received a prize as the driver-partner with the most number of trips in Abuja, winning the prize and being recognised by Uber means a lot.

    “I started off as a driver to a fleet partner, but as a result of commitment, consistency and the constant support of the experts at Uber, today I’m a proud owner of my own cars, all operational on Uber. It is something that a lot of people can achieve through hard work and being focused,” Yusuf said.

  • Stallion showcases Nissan Kicks SUV

    The new Nissan Kicks combines distinctive styling, nimble performance with Nissan Intelligent Mobility that guarantees seamless connectivity and advanced driver assistance features

    The Africa-based Kicks models comes with standard six airbags, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration; 17-inch Alloy wheels, integrated roof rails and a follow-me-home headlight module on all models.

    The Kicks rides on Nissan’s new V-Platform a lightweight but sturdy platform with perfect balance between ride and handling.

    First unveiled as a concept in 2014, and showcased across Brazil during summer 2016 to promote the Summer Olympics, of which Nissan was a lead sponsor, the Kicks boasts of being a design collaboration between Nissan’s design studios in California, United States, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Atsugi, Japan.

    Stallion NMN, the Nissan Sales Company that unveiled the Kicks, Nissan’s next generation B-segment crossover SUV, promised to assemble at least 500 units yearly to ensure the vehicle is accessible and affordably priced.

    Its Managing Director,Parvir Singh, who dropped this hint in Lagos, at the media preview of the car, said: “We are looking at assembling the Nissan Kicks very soon to further bring down the cost.”

    The Kicks is, undoubtedly, everything Nissan has leaned as the crossover pioneer and it has spared nothing in making the vehicle one of the most attractive crossover yet – incorporating Nissan’s design cues and tagline –“Innovation that excites.”

    An astonishing sport utility vehicle (SUV), Nissan Kicks comes equipped with the new Nissan V-motion platform recently integrated in the entire Nissan range of passenger vehicles.

    Also coming to Africa as one of the most reputable new vehicles in the planet world, the Kicks is undoubtedly big on attitude and self-expression, and will replace the Juke at the small end of Nissan’s SUV line-up, the dealership assured.

    Designed to standout , the Kicks styling showcases the best of Nissan’s design elements including a large V-motion grille, clear wrap-around headlights and integrated boomerang LED daytime running lights on appropriate models.

    The striking front-end is complimented by blacked-out side pillars for a modern floating roof look, large wheels and a steeply sloping windscreen to give it a striking on-road presence. At the rear, the Kicks is fitted with an integrated spoiler.

    Stallion NMN Head Sales and Marketing Amit Sharma said: “While the striking front end has won it many compliments, it is Kicks’ profile view that has wowed judges at its many awards.

    “The designers took their time to black-out all three pillars to create the impression of a floating roof, which slopes towards the rear and meets a rising shoulder line at the C-pillar.”

    Despite its compact dimensions, the Kicks offer astonishing amounts of interior space – thanks in part to the brand-new Nissan architecture, which includes a longer-than-usual 2,620mm wheelbase.

    The Kicks luggage space measures 383 litres with the seats upright, which is almost as large as cars in a larger vehicle class just as the cabin has a range of storage spaces, including a lidded glove-box, deep door pockets, drink holders and cubby holes in the centre console.

    It has also been equipped with sturdier suspension assemblies, which do not transfer as much vibration into the cabin thus making the car as comfortable and fuss-free as possible, the sales and marketing helmsman affirmed.

    A great deal of attention to detail has gone into the three-spoke-flat-bottom steering wheel with a matt chrome finish for a quality appearance, which has a new ergonomically designed grip section allowing the driver’s grasp to be naturally tight. The central spokes house controls for the audio and phone systems and driver information displays.

    Behind the shaped steering wheel, the driver has quick access to driving information – thanks to the integrated drive computer between the speedometer and tachometer.

    Nissan Kicks come with an optional seven-inch touchscreen, which includes audio streaming and phone connectivity via Bluetooth and reverse camera.