The Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has been named Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer in the prestigious Fleet World Awards.
The award recognises the strides made by the company’s fleet and business department, which represents Fiat, Fiat Professional, Alfa Romeo and Jeep.
Judges were impressed not only by the strength and breadth of the vehicle line-up but also by the changes made in the last year to improve the fleet offering.
The FIAT brand is being expected the country.
Publisher, Fleet World, Steve Moody, said: ”With the ability to cross-sell between its different brands, FCA Group has a unique and compelling offer for fleets. Newcomers such as the Fiat Tipo, Alfa Romeo’s Giulia and Stelvio, and commercial vehicles including the Talento van and Fullback pickup mean it is becoming a complementary line-up suitable for the most diverse fleet needs. It’s also well supported, with a central fleet and business organisation and a growing network of specialist dealers.”
Receiving the award at a ceremony at the RAC Club in Pall Mall, Fleet and Remarketing Director, FCA, Francis Bleasdale, said, “We’re honoured to have won this category in these prestigious fleet awards and delighted that our work to improve the bespoke service we offer to business customers has been recognised. In addition to building on our renowned low running costs and excellent service, we are continuing to expand the Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Jeep model ranges including specially developed, business-focused editions that will thrill both head and heart.”
For the Nigerian market, the Fiat Tipo and Fullback are a part of the new products to be launched in the year.
Weststar Associates Ltd, Authorized General Distributor of Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram in Nigeria will be re-introducing the Fiat brand to the Nigerian market with the much anticipated product launch in the second quarter of the year.
Its Chief Executive Officer/ Managing Director Mirko Plath said: “2017 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for FCA – we’ve just been named the Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer at The Fleet World Honours 2017! This award demonstrates our commitment and dedication to delivering a multi-brand fleet solution with up-to-the-minute after-sales service to our customers, bolstered by a range of exciting new model launches in 2017.”
Category: Motoring
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Fiat gets ‘The Most Improved Fleet Manufacturer’award
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Hyundai Santa Fe, Santa Fe Sport honoured
The new Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport are recipients for the 2017 Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy Award in their respective categories.
Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport received the award for the midsize crossover/Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) class, competing with 16 other models. For 50 years, Consumer Guide Automotive has been one of the most respected, unbiased new- and used-car review companies in the United States.
The Best Buy Award trophy was presented by Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show.
The editors of Consumer Guide Automotive thoroughly evaluated more than 150 vehicles based on the latest automotive trends and vehicle attributes to select the very best model in every consumer segment. These attributes include price, features, performance, accommodations, fuel economy, reliability and resale value. The editors also test drove the vehicles through various driving conditions.
“Both Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport deliver a quiet, comfortable, refined cabin, and the all-around versatility that crossover buyers need,” said Tom Appel, publisher, Consumer Guide Automotive. “This happens at prices that are just a little lower than you might expect.” -
Auto fair to hold in April
The organisers of the yearly Lagos International Motor Fair and Autoparts Expo Nigeria have announced April as the date for the event.
According to the Managing Director BKG Exhibitions Limited, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, who is also the Chairman of the Organising Committee, the event will hold at the Federal Palace Hotel, Ahmadu, Victoria Island, Lagos.
This year’s theme: One Expo; Continental Spread, Agwu said was informed by the determination to champion the development and thriving of autoparts.
He called on the Federal Government to focus more on spare parts manufacturing in place of assembling. Spare parts, he said, is an area where the real technology transfer takes place.
Agwu said: “This will give rise to establishing of more Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and increase employment. The sector is very important. It generates much revenue and creates enormous employment. No serious government toys with it. Auto sector was one of the key sectors that received bailout from the American government during the last global economic meltdown and it helped to revamp the economy. It is a sector that drives the economy; if it is badly affected, other sectors suffer.”
According to him, the challenges of hosting this event are enormous, but “we are determined to succeed.” -
Weststar releases four Mercedes-Benz vehicles
Weststar Associates Limited, the authorised general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria has rolled out four new vehicles.
The E-Class, the GLC, the GLE and the V-Class were unveiled at Weststar’s Lekki office in Lagos.
According to its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mirko Plath, the E-Class is the most intelligent business saloon.
Mercedes-Benz, he said, is taking a big step into the future with the Tenth-generation business saloon E-Class.
The car also marks the world premiere of numerous technical innovations. They enable comfortable, safe driving on a new level plus a new dimension in driver assistance – among other things. Complete with infotainment and control systems offering an all new experience. Likewise exemplary: a newly developed diesel engine coupled with lightweight design and record-breaking aerodynamics figures set the standards for efficiency in this segment, while new, optionally available multi-chamber air suspension ensures outstanding ride comfort and driving dynamics. The sum total of its innovations, including the Active Lane-change Assistant which allows the driver to steer into the selected lane as if by magic, make the E-Class the most intelligent saloon in the business class.
The GLC is an even more refined version of the GLK, which is its predecessor. It is typically a C-class on stilts as this luxury competent crossover features the interior of its sedan sibling. The GLC is a great choice for singles and families as it is as sporty as a coupe. This Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) version of the C-class epitomises core properties of distinctive versatility, tailored solutions and superior handling characteristics. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo 9GTRONIC engine that boosts 241hp with 273 net torque. The GLC is 12-19 per cent more fuel-efficient as it is also equipped with the auto stop, start eco function thus yielding 28mpg.
Its exterior styling is dynamic and muscular, conveying both a sense of all weather and any road purpose as well as the latest sporty, refined and contemporary design from Mercedes-Benz. The GLC has a strong presence with its twin louvre grills and striking headlamp designs.
As for the GLE, Mercedes-Benz has thoroughly revised its best-seller in the SUV segment. Formerly known as the M-Class, the GLE has been redesigned with impressive new elements. Some of its highlights include a considerably more appealing front fascia that comes with new headlights, bumpers and grilles while the rear features redesigned LED stripes for an improved look. Depending on the trim levels, the SUV can have two different engine grilles and three different bumpers with one each reserved for its AMG versions. Across the available engine range, fuel consumption and CO_2 emissions are reduced by 17 percent on average compared with the predecessor model series.
The powerful GLE 500 4MATIC with direct-injection twin-turbo V8 engine produces an output of 320 kW (435 hp) and a peak torque of 700 Newton meters, and combines appealing performance with the high level of refinement of these engines.
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class is a real eye-catcher perfected down to the very last detail. Whether you are on tour with your whole family or going on a business trip with a load full of passengers, the V-Class is trusted to take you to your destination in grand style. It was first called the V-Class before being rebranded as the Viano when the second-generation model arrived in 2004. In 2014, the third-generation model was introduced and with it, Mercedes went back to the van’s roots by bringing back the V-Class name.
The new V-class comes with a 2.1-liter four-cylinder engine 136 horsepower and 244 pound-feet of torque for the V 200 CDI, 163 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque for the V 220 CDI, and 190 horsepower, and 325 pound-feet of torque for the range-topping V 250 BlueTEC. The V 200 and V 220 each come with an ECO Gear six-speed manual transmission while the V 250 BlueTEC comes with a 7G-TRONIC PLUS transmission as standard. The wide gear ratio range and finely graduated gears reduce the leaps in revs when changing gear- leading to comfortable gear gear-changing and better fuel economy.
From the exterior, the newly styled front bumper features a very different take on the air intakes. The side sills are also more pronounced, which is an improvement from the almost non-existent ones on the standard V-Class. Even the rear bumper gets a new styling. The addition of a new lip spoiler and a new set of 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels complete the exterior AMG makeover of the V-Class.
The V-Class offers a uniquely varied interior concept while giving you an impressive driving experience. The dashboard is one of the most elegant dashboards seen in a van. The top half of the dashboard can be dressed in faux leather with accent stitching. The ambient lighting separating the two dash sections creates a relaxing ambience that draws away from the busy centre console. The most prominent feature of the console is the freestanding display screen. This can be controlled by a touchpad that recognises various finger movements like scrolling, swiping and zooming.
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Mmm of driving
Monitor your Vehicle. Every safety-conscious driver must carry out a pre-drive inspection of the vehicle which is the first level of vehicle monitoring. Before starting the engine of the vehicle in the morning, driver must check the level of water in the radiator, oil in the engine, brake oil, fuel, lights and indicators, vehicle particulars, windscreen and windows, wheel nuts, tyre condition (including the extra), mirrors, wipers, brake system, horn, fire extinguishers, vehicle tools, first aid materials, the loads, etc.
Monitor the dashboard oftentimes for the displayed messages and your speedometer as precautionary measures for safety. While in motion, it is very vital to regularly monitor all the mirrors by brief glances.
- M: Monitor the road. Every safety-conscious driver must monitor the road and avoid every form of distraction while driving. Drivers must focus deep attention on the road for traffic signs, road markings, bumps or humps, potholes, bends, traffic lights, junctions, etc.
The faster a driver discovers a potential hazard(distance and time management) goes a long way to determine how fast he or she avoids accidents while driving.
- M: Monitor the other road users. Every safety-conscious driver must frequently monitor the activities of other road users to be able to relate with them safely on the road. These other road users include pedestrians (including school children and the physical challenged), bicyclists, motorcyclists, tricyclists, truck pushers, animals and drivers of other types of vehicles. Failure to correctly anticipate the actions or inactions of other road users has a lot to do with the degree of accident avoidance on the road.
Weapon of rating: The 2015 rating of Nigeria as the three country with the worst cases of road traffic crashes and fatalities among 193 countries was a tonic to both the government and non-governmental organisations towards the reduction of the rate of accidents in Nigeria.
Similarly, I suggest that the Federal Road Safety Commission and/or other government agencies, such as the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) should start the rating of road traffic crashes and fatalities state by state (and also organisation by organisation) to serve as a challenge to the state governments and organisations to improve on driver education, road Infrastructures, and Enforcement, all geared towards a drastic reduction in the rate of road traffic accidents and fatalities in Nigeria as a whole.
The recent International Conference of the Association of Driving Instructors of Nigeria (ADIN) was an avenue to give awards to deserving state governments for their vital roles in road infrastructure, traffic accident reporting, traffic management and road safety administration, among other awards.
Relevant government agencies and organisations should take a cue from this initiative by ADIN to further promote safety on Nigeria’s roads.
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Made-in-Nigeria Hyundai Xcent rolled out
Stallion Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited has rolled out made-in-Nigeria B-segment Hyundai Grand Xcent family sedans to cater for growing demand for functional cars and cushion imminent scarcity due to last year ban on importation of used vehicles through the land borders.
The 1.25-Litre Kappa Dual VTVT capacity saloon car is an indigenous assembled Hyundai vehicle, designed to mitigate eventual surge in demand for family sedans.
Stallion Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited Head of Sales and Marketing Jatin Nadkarni who disclosed this in Lagos said: “We are particularly delighted to churn out substantial units of B-segment Xcent saloon cars to cater for the growing need of an important market segment in the wake of dearth of such vehicles because of the prohibition of used car imports through the land borders.”
He described the Grand Xcent as a sturdy functional saloon car with the capability of a C-segment sedan, mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission with an entirely new level of art suitable for every day commuting.
He added that the vehicle is reasonably priced to attract individual and fleet buyers,
The Hyundai Grand Xcent is designed to accommodate five passengers. It responds to every expectation with alluring cabin colour, attractive curves and sport appeal.
The 1.25cc engine is amazingly responsive and gets off to a fantastic start without sacrificing the brilliant aerodynamic appeal that makes the car the best entry level sedan yet, he added.
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Ford GT unveiled with digital instrument
The new Ford GT has been unveiled. It has all-digital instrument in the car’s dashboard that presents information to the driver, based on five special driving modes.
The innovative 10-inch wide digital instrument display is far advanced from the original Ford GT, when the cockpit was hardwired with a fixed set of analogue gauges, buttons and knobs across the dashboard that had to address almost every situation.
Ford Performance Chief Engineer Jamal Hameedi, said: “Driver focus and attention are key with such high performance. We’ve designed the GT with a sleek digital instrument display that changes depending on driving mode in ways that are important and usable to the driver.”
Ford engineers and designers created the state-of-the-art 10-inch wide digital gauge cluster to be customisable, elegant, and able to tailor information to each drive mode.
The Ford GT program presented a unique opportunity to re-imagine the instrument cluster, further expanding what a connected car can be and previewing the future of Ford vehicles.
Its layout is designed around which data is most important, when to present it, and how to show information in a way that’s most expedient for a driver to process.
The design is executed on a high-resolution display that matches the sleek, purpose-driven cabin. Data is conveyed in crisp, high-contrast graphics.
To test the initial design, Le Mans winner Scott Maxwell of Multimatic® was invited to the Ford GT simulation lab to offer feedback. Maxwell suggested changing the tachometer to provide an expanded view of the EcoBoost® V6 redline approach for greater peripheral visibility. The race car driver also recommended tweaks to the prioritisation of performance information.
As advanced design work transitioned to putting prototypes on the road, Ford Performance reached out to suppliers at the cutting edge of data display.
Ford designers and engineers worked closely with Pektron (for electronic design, development, implementation and manufacture) and Conjure (for graphical design) to create forward-looking renderings that are painstakingly animated, include highlighted font, colour and responsiveness, and avoid driver distraction and eye strain.
The five drive models are easily accessed through steering wheel-mounted controls, to help keep eyes and attention on the road and hands on the wheel.
Each mode presents information differently – prioritising what is crucial for each environment and tailoring the display to the given context.
“We spent an enormous amount of time getting this just right. The result is simple, but achieving simple perfectly can be a challenge,” Nick Terzes, Ford GT engineering supervisor.
GT isn’t the only Ford vehicle that will receive full digital instrument display technology. This innovation is coming to other future Ford vehicles – another example that Ford continues raising the performance bar while, ultimately, improving vehicles for all of our customers. -
Mercedes-Benz introduces E-Class
Eststar Associates Limited, the sole general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, has introduced a cutting-edge luxury sports sedan, the new E-class.
This is proof that Mercedes-Benz is committed to transforming not just automobiles, but the idea of mobility itself. The E-class is one of the most technologically sophisticated automobiles in the world with major steps taken towards an accident-free and autonomous driving future.
The exterior exudes an elegant aura with its sweeping new front and rear design. Such noticeable elements include the new radiator grille, the sliding tinted glass sunroof, striking new LED headlamps, optional 17-19 inch 5-spoke wheels, muscular rear shoulders and glistening LED tail lamps which offer a remarkable sporty stance in the E300. The E-class is also 1.7 inches longer with a longer wheel base of 2.6 inches and more boot space of 34.8 litres when compared to its predecessor.
All variants of the E-class are equipped with the eco start-stop function. The new E200 comes with a 2litre 4-cylinder petrol engine at 135kW (184hp) with a torque of 300 newton meters while the E-300 is powered by a 4-cylinder petrol engine rated at 180 kW (245 hp) with a torque of 370 newton meters and the E 400 4MATIC, has a six-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 245 kW (333 hp) with a torque of 480 newton meters.
A nine-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels on standard models, while 4Matic models feature all-wheel drive.
On the inside, the E-class can be likened to a haven of luxury and craftsmanship as it adopts a similar interior design as the flagship S-Class with a bold horizontal layout stretching from door to door.
From the amazing 64-color range of ambience lighting, new steering-wheel touch control buttons, console scroll button and touch pad, standard ash wood trim that spans across the dashboard to the door panels, 12.3 inch screens that house the COMAND® online platform as well as the instrumental cluster and a wide variety of seating packages. These include fully electric seats with memory function, climatised seats for the driver/passenger for reversed ventilation, active multi-contour seats with massage function, seat comfort package with electro-pneumatic 4-way lumbar support.
Standard safety features for the E-Class include antilock brakes, stability and traction control, a driver drowsiness monitor, front-seat side airbags, front pelvic airbags, side curtain airbags, a driver knee airbag, and the Pre-Safe system that locks down seat belts, adjusts the front passenger seat and closes windows when a collision is imminent. A Pre-Safe Sound system is also included and reduces hearing damage by emitting a specific noise before a collision that triggers a muscle reflex in the inner ear to reduce hearing damage. An optional Pre-Safe Impulse Side system detects impending side impacts and inflates a chamber in the front outboard seat bolsters to move the occupant farther from the door. The Pre-Safe Plus option protects passengers in a similar fashion as the standard Pre-Safe system but is activated by impeding rear collisions. It also applies the brakes to prevent secondary collisions.
Other safety options include a rearview or surround-view camera, rear-seat side airbags, forward collision warning and mitigation, active or passive blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and automated parking systems.
The bigger engines homologated for the Nigerian market, such as the E300 and E400 will be available in autumn. -
Massilia Motors becomes Mitsubishi sole distributor
Massilia Motors Limited has announced its position as the sole distributor of Mitsubishi Motors in Nigeria.
The company is a joint venture (JV) of CFAO and Kewalram Chanrai Group.
Massilia Motors will provide customers with Mitsubishi Motors passenger cars, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), pick-ups, spare parts and after-sales services across the country.
The head office on Ijora Causeway, Ijora, Lagos is a major after-sales hub with a fully equipped workshop and qualified technicians.
The company’s vision is to become the nation’s leading automotive distributor with delivery of world-class customer service.
In addition, Massilia Motors is set to ensure effective talent management that will result in motivated and customer-oriented employees.
The modern flagship showroom on Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos and the new Mitsubishi Motors website are steps taken to show the company’s commitment to revitalise the brand’s image in Nigeria.
Speaking at a briefing, its Managing Director Mr Thomas Pelletier said: “The Massilia advantage is that we do not only sell cars, we consider our customers as stakeholders and provide solutions tailored to their needs. From counsel on the best product for each use to establishing a maintenance plan, we follow the customer through the product life cycle to ensure good value and a longer life span.’’
A range of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles is available with compact cars, sports utility vehicles and pick-up trucks with renowned models, such as the Pajero and L200.
The Japanese car manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors is known for the reliability and ruggedness of its products. With Massilia Motors Ltd, the brand aims to exceed customers’ expectations thanks to skilled technicians trained. -
Mercedes Benz unveils Refuse Collector-Compactor
Weststar Associates, authorised distributors of Mercedes-Benz in the country, has announced the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz Atego 1718 Chassis with Usimeca Refuse Collector-Compactor into the market.
Produced in South America, the truck has a capacity of 12 cubic metres and the chassis has a wheel base of 4760mm. It possesses a Euro 3 engine version with six-speed manual transmission and an output of 180Hp.
Its special safety features are the front and rear axle drum brakes with Anti-Lock Braking system (ABS) and auto brake adjustment which yield a longer brake service life.
The truck, according to Weststar, is suited for the roads as it is equipped with reinforced parabolic steel spring Suspension System, an adjustable steering column and maintenance free batteries for easy operation.
Inside it, the 17.1-ton Variant Chassis with Daycab provides a seating capacity for two passengers with exterior seating for up to four runners to climb in and out to load bins.
Other features include fabric seating, air-conditioning (for maximum driver comfort), radio pre-wiring, rotating safety beacons and exterior LED work lights. This 4 x 2 truck rides on 22.5 inch tires and possesses steel bumpers to help protect the headlights from hazardous objects.
“As promised earlier on in the year, this is in line with the commercial strategy for the proposed launch of new products better suited for the Nigerian market. The Atego 1718 Chassis with Usimeca Refuse Collector-Compactor body offers an impressive total cost of ownership, ease of operation and excellent value for money. It is designed for easy integration into the Nigerian operating environment and backed up by our well-established Mercedes-Benz Aftersales and Parts Network,” Weststar Associates Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Mirko Plath said.