The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Motorcycles without mirrors

    Mirrors in a Trailer, Truck, Bus, Car, Tricycle, Motorcycle or Bicycle are like a second eye to the Driver or Rider. It, therefore, implies that any Driver or Rider, whose vehicle has no requisite mirrors cannot see well thereby constituting a safety risk on the road.

    After a tour of several places in Lagos, Abuja, Sokoto, Katsina, Benin and Bauchi States, I noticed a very dangerous trend, most of the Motorcycles had no side Mirrors, a very few had  mirror on only one side while a very tiny percentage had mirror on both sides. Out of the very little percentage that had 2 or 1 mirror, majority of the Riders did not set the mirrors for use.

    Considering the fact that Motorcycles are increasingly being used for commercial transportation in many parts of Nigeria, there is a need for the Governments and the Associations for the Riders to be up and doing in the following areas to ensure Standards of the motorcycles and Safety of the Riders and Passengers:

    • Quality Riders Education – Most of the Riders learnt how to ride just within 2 days and on the 3rd day, they are already on the road carrying passengers. Inadequate Riders education is the major contributory factor to the incessant accidents involving Motorcycle Riders. They need to be well exposed to Motorcycle Dynamics, Defensive Riding Techniques, Traffic Signs and Traffic Regulations and the basic Rules for Safe Riding among others. Standard Driving Schools should be involved in the comprehensive Learner Training and Re – training of experienced Riders in all the 36 States and FCT. Prevention educations still stands out as the surest antidote to road traffic crashes globally.
    • Testing and Licensing of Motorcycle Riders by the appropriate Government Authority is very crucial and must not be compromised to further ensure safety on Nigeria roads
    • Regular Monitoring of Motorcycle Riders on the roads by appointed Officers of the Riders Association to ensure that the Motorcycles are roadworthy and fitted with well – set side mirrors, turn indicators and other lights. The Officers should not focus on the sales of Tickets alone but more importantly on the Riders and the Standard or road worthiness of their Motorcycles and Tricycles. With this result – oriented monitoring, Riders who are working under the influence of any psychoactive drugs can also be detected and handled appropriately
    • The appropriate Government Traffic Law Enforcement Agencies must turn their searchlights in the direction of the Motorcycle and Tricycle Riders to ensure their compliance to the relevant Road Traffic Regulations so as to promote sanity on the roads and further reduce the rate of accidents, injuries and deaths involving the Motorcycle and Tricycle Riders on Nigeria Roads.
    • Government Traffic Law Enforcement Officers, Police and Taskforce must also stop the habit of breaking the side mirrors of Motorcycles and Tricycle as a way of punishing them for not complying with traffic regulations or for failing to pay the usual contributions. By breaking their side mirrors, more safety risks are being created by these Officers knowingly or unknowingly.

    Enough of sit – down look. Since there seems to be no alternative to the use of Motorcycles and Tricycles in all the parts of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal, state and local governments and their relevant agencies as well as the association of riders must rise up to the occasion and take proactive measures towards ensuring the safety of irreparable lives on the roads.

  • Coscharis, Ford announce sponsorship for Titan TV show

    Coscharis Motors and Ford Motor Company have announced their continued sponsorship of entrepreneurial reality TV show, The Next Titan, for the third consecutive season.

    The winner of Season 5 will receive a brand new Ford Focus to help them run their business more efficiently.

    Coscharis Motors is the sole distributor of new Ford vehicles in Nigeria. Coscharis Motors and Ford sponsored The Next Titan in 2016 and 2017.

    “Coscharis Motors is pleased to support the reality show once again,” said Abiona Babarinde, General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications.

    Ford Motor Company Director of Marketing, Sales and Service for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, Conrad Groenewald said: “At Ford we firmly believe in the importance of mobility and freedom of movement in driving human progress. We hold firm to the vision of our founder Henry Ford, who strived to put the world on wheels so everyone could enjoy the benefits of mobility. That is why we have continued this partnership, which will help deserving contestants realise their dream.”

    The Next Titan, now in its fifth season, is a platform for young entrepreneurs to demonstrate their talent in business . The primary purpose of the programme is to challenge the public’s perception of entrepreneurship, awaken the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit, inspire contestants and viewers to strive for success in business, and become masters of their own destinies.

    Sixteen participants, between the ages of 21 and 40, will battle one another for 10 weeks in various business tasks, such as strategy, sales, marketing, and promotions.

     

  • Weststar showcases Mercedes-Benz Actros, Arocs

    Mercedes-Benz last Tuesday introduced Actros and Arocs trucks to the Nigerian market, courtesy of Weststar Associates Limited, authorised general distributor for Mercedes-Benz brands in Nigeria.

    The Actros and Arocs, the auto giant said, symbolised efficiency, reliability and robustness.

    The trucks’ introduction, Mercedes-Benz said, is a step in the right direction to boost businesses in the haulage and construction industries.

    Weststar Associates Limited Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mirko Plath, said for businesses to be more competitive, especially in the heavy duty transport and construction segments, they need trucks that would give them a clear advantage over their competitors and bolster their productivity.

    Represented by its Chief Financial Officer, Mrs. Mary Ojulari, Plath said this is what these new trucks are about.

    Mercedes-Benz Trucks Head of Sales and Customer Service, Mr. Torsten Bauerheim said Nigeria, Africa is of high importance to the company.

    More than 120 years after Gottlieb Daimler invented the first truck and now, he said it is time to enter a new dimension of heavy-duty trucks in the local market.

    Bauerheim said: “We are very proud to present our newly developed product range to you. The new trucks are not only beautiful with completely new, functional and aerodynamic cabins, the biggest change comes from inside. Each piece is equipped with the new six-cylinder in-line engine in Euro III with an incredible torque and as new standard, our third generation automated transmission the Mercedes-Benz PowerShift 3.

    “In short, the Mercedes-Benz Powershift 3 offers more comfort, faster shifting, efficient power transmission, better handling and above all less operational errors. Thus cutting down the wear and tear and reducing maintenance costs.

    “Knowing your environment, the extreme climate, the rough roads and heavy loads, and knowing your tough applications and the driver qualification –all together made us invest a lot in research and development to bring you – our valued customers and dear friends of Mercedes-Benz trucks – economic benefits for your company, for your business and for your transport tasks.”

    He continued: “Our trucks stand for famous robustness and versatility, high residual values, low downtimes, high spare parts availability and user-friendliness are what makes Mercedes-Benz Trucks worldwide, Africa-wide and in Nigeria known and valued.”

  • Abuja Motor Fair begins

    The Abuja International Motor Fair last Friday commenced at the Eagle Square, in the nation’s capital.

    According to the Organising Committee Chairman, Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, the 19th edition, is targeted at boosting investments in the sector.

    “Despite the myriads of challenges confronting the sector as well as the Nigerian economy in general, the automobile industry is assuming its rightful place as key sector that drives socio-economic development,” he said.

    Agwu, who is also the BKG Exhibitions Limited Managing Director, said this year’s edition has been packaged to address the current challenges in the sector so as to use it to drive the nation’s economic diversification policy.

    He said: “We are packaging a show that will showcase all the existing and potential investment opportunities that abound in the automotive industry, which we believe are very attractive to existing and prospective investors.

    “The quality and quantity of showcased automobiles are undoubtedly the primary yardstick of measuring the success of any auto exhibition. This means that auto enterprises showcasing at any exhibition must ensure visibility, wholeness and completeness, not leaving anything to chance.

    “With our reach, high powered delegations from the government as well, lots of corporate heads and organisations across the nation have been invited to grace the event.”

  • Coscharis, Ford announce sponsorship for Titan TV show

    Coscharis Motors and Ford Motor Company have announced their continued sponsorship of entrepreneurial reality TV show, The Next Titan, for the third consecutive season.

    The winner of Season 5 will receive a brand new Ford Focus to help them run their business more efficiently.

    Coscharis Motors is the sole distributor of new Ford vehicles in Nigeria. Coscharis Motors and Ford sponsored The Next Titan in 2016 and 2017.

    “Coscharis Motors is pleased to support the reality show once again,” said Abiona Babarinde, General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications.

    Ford Motor Company Director of Marketing, Sales and Service for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, Conrad Groenewald said: “At Ford we firmly believe in the importance of mobility and freedom of movement in driving human progress. We hold firm to the vision of our founder Henry Ford, who strived to put the world on wheels so everyone could enjoy the benefits of mobility. That is why we have continued this partnership, which will help deserving contestants realise their dream.”

    The Next Titan, now in its fifth season, is a platform for young entrepreneurs to demonstrate their talent in business . The primary purpose of the programme is to challenge the public’s perception of entrepreneurship, awaken the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit, inspire contestants and viewers to strive for success in business, and become masters of their own destinies.

    Sixteen participants, between the ages of 21 and 40, will battle one another for 10 weeks in various business tasks, such as strategy, sales, marketing, and promotions.

     

  • Abuja Motor Fair begins next week

    The Abuja International Motor Fair will hold at the Eagle Square, Abuja from October 21  to 27.

    According to the Organising Committee Chairman, Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, the 19th edition event, is targeted at boosting investments in the sector.

    “Despite the myriads of challenges confronting the sector as well as the Nigerian economy in general, the automobile industry is assuming its rightful place as key sector that drives socio-economic development,” he said.

    Agwu, who is also the BKG Exhibitions Limited Managing Director, said this year’s edition has been packaged to address the current challenges in the sector so as to use it to drive the nation’s economic diversification policy.

    He said: “We are packaging a show that will showcase all the existing and potential investment opportunities that abound in the automotive industry, which we believe are very attractive to existing and prospective investors.

    “The quality and quantity of showcased automobiles are undoubtedly the primary yardstick of measuring the success of any auto exhibition. This means that auto enterprises showcasing at any exhibition must ensure visibility, wholeness and completeness, not leaving anything to chance.

    “With our reach, high powered delegations from the government as well, lots of corporate heads and organisations across the nation have been invited to grace the event.”

  • Kia unveils ProCeed, others in Paris

    Kia Motors last week unveiled the new Kia ProCeed at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. The shooting brake made its debut alongside the new high-performance Ceed GT and ProCeed GT, as well as the Ceed GT Line. The Kia e-Niro electric crossover also premiered European at the show.

    According to Kia Motors Europe Chief Operating Officer, Emilio Herrera, the new cars underlined the level of ambition and design passion that defined Kia’s cars.

    The ProCeed, Herrara said, offers buyers stunning and emotional design, the Ceed GT provides maximum driver engagement, and the e-Niro helps to break down the barriers to electric car ownership, making it easy, fun and reliable.

    All four models unveiled by Kia in Paris will be sold with the company’s unique seven-year, 150,000 km warranty as standard. Kia’s warranty also covers the lithium-ion polymer battery pack in the e-Niro.

    The ProCeed merged stunning coupé-inspired lines with tourer versatility. Shown publicly for the first time in Paris, the new Kia ProCeed merged stunning design with the space and versatility of a tourer in a five-door shooting brake body. The ProCeed will go on sale exclusively to European drivers at the beginning of next year.

    Carrying the name over from the second-generation Kia pro_cee’d three-door coupé, the new ProCeed has been designed, developed and engineered in Europe. A product of Kia’s European design, product development and R&D teams in Frankfurt, Germany, the ProCeed will be manufactured at the brand’s Žilina production facility in Slovakia. It will be built alongside the Kia Ceed and Ceed Sportswagon, first introduced earlier this year.

    The Ceed GT majors on performance and accomplished ride and handling. It is more accomplished and fun-to-drive than ever.

    The original cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT were launched in 2013, as the first ever performance hatchbacks from a Korean brand. The new Ceed GT picked up where its predecessors left off, with an assured, engaging drive and a powerful 1.6-litre T-GDi (turbo-charged gasoline direct injection) engine, as well as a comprehensive range of comfort, safety and convenience technologies.

    The Ceed GT’s sporty exterior design differentiates it visually from other models in the Ceed range. Where the design of the conventional Ceed is characterised by taut creases and curvaceous sheet metal, the GT variant presents a more athletic proposition, with new front and rear bumpers, sills and a series of red highlights around the exterior.

    The GT variant was built around the same ergonomic cabin architecture as other models in the Ceed line-up. Surfaces are finished in high-quality soft-touch materials and metallic trim, while the dashboard angled towards the driver, making it easier to use on the move. At the centre of the dashboard is Kia’s ‘floating’ touchscreen infotainment system – 7.0- or 8.0-inches wide – with audio and heating and ventilation controls situated below.

    For the first time in a performance hatchback from Kia, the new Ceed GT will be available with an optional seven-speed double-clutch transmission, in addition to the standard six-speed manual gearbox.

    Kia e-Niro combines driving enjoyment, eye-catching design, crossover utility and a zero-emissions powertrain – to create one of the most capable electric vehicles on-sale worldwide. It has been designed to break down barriers to electric car ownership, offering long-distance driving range, more intelligent packaging, and greater practicality than many other electric vehicles.

    The e-Niro is the first fully electric crossover utility vehicle produced by Kia, providing a zero-emissions driving range of up to 485 kilometres (301 miles) on a single charge of its 64 kWh long-range battery pack. The long-range battery is also capable of travelling up to 615 kilometres (382 miles) in the city – further than many gasoline vehicles. The e-Niro is also available with a 39.2 kWh battery, which offers a driving range of up to 312 kilometres (193 miles) on a single charge.

    Inside the Kia e-Niro, the cabin combines a modern design with generous space and technologies that complement its zero-emissions powertrain. Buyers will also benefit from a range of dedicated electric vehicle in-car technologies to maximise range and efficiency, as well as new safety features, and differentiated exterior and interior design.

     

  • Nissan introduces Versa Note

    Nissan is forging paths and spending on the sedan and subcompact categories.The company’s optimism in those segments comes at an interesting time.

    The diminutive 2019 Nissan Versa Note wears clothes that differ greatly from its sedan brother, a trait for which it should be thankful.

    The five-door car will be offered in a trio of trims – S, SV, and quasi-sporty SR. All models are powered by a 1.6-litre inline-four making 109 horsepower and lashed to a Nissan calling card, the Xtronic CVT. In this iteration of the gearless wonder, the company claims it packs some gee-whiz wizardry in the form of D-Step Logic Control. Not a new dance move to be tried on the floor of the Mad Trapper Lounge in Inuvik, D-Step attempts to give the continuously variable transmission a personality mimicking that of an actual gearbox rather than holding a constantly high-rpm while being flogged up to cruising speed.

    Starting at $15,650 before the inevitable $895 destination and handling fee, the base S and its 15-inch steel wheels furnishes its driver with Bluetooth connectivity and a backup monitor but is bereft of gear like power windows and cruise control. The SV adds these features in its $16,550 price.

    Those who want the jazzy SR rear spoiler but do not want to fork out the $18,360 for that trim can spec one at the dealer on any Note for $320. The lone option on any model is a Special Edition package on the SV, a bundle which includes 15-inch aluminium alloys, fog lights, push-button start, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto for a not-unreasonable $735.

    Active aero tricks like a grille shutter help the Versa Note to slip just below a 0.3cD. This, and the CVT, allow the Note to nearly hit 40mpg on the EPA highway cycle. With a 10.8 gallon fuel tank, cruising range should outstrip the length of time most people will want to ride in a subcompact hatchback of any sort, not just a Note.

    Sales of the Note are not broken out of the overall Versa numbers (one can speculate this is the reason why the hatchback is called the Versa Note in this market but simply the Note elsewhere in the world) but, year-to-date, just over 54,000 of the subcompact units have been shuffled off showroom floors. This is down about 25 percent compared to this time last year, when 71,000 Versas went to new homes. It could be that fleets made up a larger number of those sales in 2017 versus this year’s results.

    The Note does, however, land in Nissan’s top five models in terms of total sales to this point in 2018, beating the Murano and 13 other nameplates which it shares lot space.

  • Dangerous promotion of cannabis

    There is no doubt that cannabis, marijuana or hemp is a psychoactive substance.

    One of the potent chemicals in marijuana is tetra-hydro – cannabinol ( THC). This chemical settles more in the fatty parts of the body. The brain being the most fatty part of the body receives the largest chunk, thereby impairing its functions.

    The side effects of cannabis or marijuana include anger, aggression, aches, depression, dizziness or drowsiness, tremors, challenges in brain and body coordination, inability to concentrate, sleep disturbance, hunger, thirst or dehydration, giddiness (unsteady or staggering), respiratory problems(fast heart beat ), low blood pressure, memory loss, anxiety and hallucinations.

    The use or abuse of psychoactive drugs progresses in the following stages: experimental, tolerance and dependence.

    Many drivers in Nigeria use  marijuana. This psychoactive substance is cultivated in various parts of the country. It is available for sale at motor parks, bus stops, among others. Some drivers have nicknamed it as “Fresh fish”. It is sometimes soaked in dry gin with herbal roots or leaves.

    The use of marijuana has caused a lot of road accidents, injuries and deaths. It has caused mental problems for many and has destroyed lives. More worrisome is the promotion of marijuana, and the push for the legalisation of its use in some countries. One of the presidential aspirants, as part of his campaign, has promised to legalise the cultivation of marijuana.

    In one African country, private use of marijuana has been legalised. This dangerous trend is gradually spreading in both the developed and less developed countries globally. If the legalisation continues, the pillar of Safer Road Users in the United Nations (UN) Decade of action for road safety will be difficult to accomplish, particularly in Africa.

    My worry is that whether it is the regular or medical marijuana, a decorated monkey is a monkey. Marijuana in whatever form will continue to threaten safe driving when used by drivers. I hereby call on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), driving schools, employers of drivers and other stakeholders in transport and road safety sectors to beef up their monitoring, enforcement, training and education programmes on the use of marijuana and other psychoactive drugs for drivers.

    It is not enough to tell drivers to avoid marijuana or other psychoactive drugs. It is expedient to educate them on the immediate and long-term effects of the drugs. They should know why those who are already deep-neck in them went into it, offer them treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration to avoid a relapse  and become risks on the roads.

  • Kewalram Chanrai to unveil Jeep, Fiat, Dodge, others

    Kewalram Chanrai Group (KCG) is reintroducing two of the world’s iconic names – Fiat and Jeep – into the sedan, Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and pick-up market.

    Ahead of a take-over announcement and re-launch, KCG is lining up the latest models of the brands’ offerings, in addition to investing hugely in sales and after-sales facilities, to ensure that customers have pleasant ownership experience.

    Its Group Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Victor Ebuarjolo, said the Kewalram Chanrai Group, had been planning to ensure that the vehicles have sure-footed penetration into the market when they are launched.

    The Group is also preparing vintage spots in its network for Jeep’s sister brand, Dodge, as well as Alfa Romeo and Maserati, froms Fiat segment.

    Predictably, Tipo, the wave-making 1.6-litre C-segment sedan marking its first 30 years of functionality, simplicity and personality, is the car leading Fiat’s come-back.

    Boosting Tipo’s confidence is not just its six airbags and six-speed automatic transmission, but also that it is the car with the highest growth rate in Europe, and the choice of over 180,000 motorists in the Middle East and Africa region.

    Tipo will be accompanied by its pick-up sibling, Fiat Fullback  –  one of the first pick-ups in the world with an all-aluminium engine, which translates to lightweight and efficiency. The 2.4-litre pick-up will be available in 4×4, 4×2, single cabin and double cabin variants. It has up to 3100Kg towing capacity.

    The coming of Fullback will certainly give the current market leaders, like Hilux, L200, Isuzu D-Max, Ranger, and NP 300 something to worry about. This is because having been enhanced technologically; the Fullback pick-up has a good price-value reputation and boasts the smallest turning circle in the class at just under N12 million.

    Excitement also awaits lovers of the iconic Jeep brand, as it has been confirmed that the latest models of the luxury SUV brand, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (3.6 V6) and SRT (6.4 v8); the ALL new 3.6 V6 Wrangler Sahara trim levels: and 2.4 liter Compass Limited, are rearing to dare the competitors.

    Ebuarjolo is upbeat about the success of the brands is poised to unleash on the market, saying that Fiat’s Tipo has got more than what it takes to impress the Nigerian market with its beautiful design, safety features and roominess.