The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Mazda recalls 190,000 SUVs over loss of steering

    Mazda is calling back more than 190,000 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) to replace potentially defective parts.

    The carmaker plans to recall 190,102 model year 2007 to 2012 Mazda CX-7 vehicles after finding they may contain an issue that causes a loss of steering control.

    According to a notice posted with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, water may enter the vehicles’ front suspension ball joint fittings.

    If the water entering the vehicle joint contains salt — such as from driving over snowy, treated roads — the ball joint may corrode and separate from the lower control arm, resulting in a loss of steering control.

    Mazda said it will notify owners and dealers for replace of both the front lower control arms when parts are available.

    As a priority, Mazda will first address all affected 2007-2008 vehicles as well as 2009-2011 vehicles currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia. West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

    All remaining vehicle will be recalled when parts are available.

  • Kia to premiere new Rio in Paris

    Kia to premiere new Rio in Paris

    The all-new, fourth-generation Kia Rio will make its world premiere on September 29 in Paris, at the 2016 Mondial de l’Automobile.

    The Rio’s progressive new exterior and interior design was led by Kia’s design centres in Germany and California, in close collaboration with the company’s main design centre in Namyang, Korea.

    Straight lines and smooth surfacing give the car a distinctive new character, while a longer front overhang and bonnet, longer wheelbase, and upright C-pillar give the car an even more confident and balanced appearance than its predecessor.

    The all-new Rio will offer buyers class-leading practicality and safety technology, the latest connectivity features, and more assured and engaging ride and handling characteristics.

    The Kia Rio is the Korean manufacturer’s global best-selling model, with more than 473,000 sold around the world last year.

    The next generation will enter production towards the end of 2016 for Europe, with production timings for other regions to be announced closer to launch.

  • Tesla plans pick-up, compact SUV

    Tesla plans pick-up, compact SUV

    Tesla’s Founder and Managing Director Elon Musk, has said the American company is planning to build a pick-up and a compact SUV.

    Writing on the firm’s website, Musk also ruled out building a cheaper vehicle than the forthcoming BMW 3-series-rivalling Model 3.

    Dubbed ‘Master Plan, Part Deux’, the post follows on from the first ‘master plan’ published a decade ago, which included proposals for the Model S, X and 3.

    According to Musk, introducing a pick-up and compact SUV “will address most of the consumer market”, though information is scant at this time.

    Musk also revealed an intention to enter into the public transport market and “shrink the size of buses and transition the role of [the] bus driver to that of a fleet manager”, by creating driverless vehicles that can be summoned by smartphone – and buttons on stops – which match the speed of other vehicles.

    The bus – which will be able to carry more passengers than a conventional model thanks to the deletion of a centre aisle and putting seats where entryways are currently located – is in the early stages of development and will be unveiled next year.

    PayPal’s founder also revealed that in the future Tesla owners’ vehicles will be able to be used by others, by adding the car to a shared fleet and “have it generate income for you while you’re at work” once self-driving cars are approved.

    He expects that worldwide approval for autonomous vehicles to be granted after the firm’s fleet of autopilot cars exceed six billion miles, with the fleet of vehicles currently covering around three million miles a day.

    Musk said that sharing vehicles would “significantly offset and at times potentially exceed” the monthly loan or lease cost.

    “This dramatically lowers the true cost of ownership to the point where almost anyone could own a Tesla. Since most cars are only in use by their owner for five per cent to 10 per cent of the day, the fundamental economic utility of a true self-driving car is likely to be several times that of a car which is not,” he wrote.

  • A message to vehicle owners

    s the National President of the Association of Driving Instructors of Nigeria (a coalition of Driving School Proprietors and driving Instructors), I have been receiving reports from all the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory that a very high percentage of Nigerians who want to obtain the National Driver Licence are not interested in being trained (Theory and Practical) in the Driving School.

    They believe that driving is not as complex as driving schools and the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) are trying to paint it. One of such people told me that there was no reason a driving school should train him more than one week (practical).

    He said he does not need any theory despite that he does not even know 20 percent of the traffic signs and road markings. His excuse was that he had no time to spare for such training. I was forced to tell him that though he had no time to acquire the requisite training for safe driving, he attitude could cause cause a crash due to a driving error. This touched him and he released himself for the compulsory 26-session training. Today, he is thankful for it. About Five months later, he sent me N1,500 MTN recharge card. He said my bluntness pushed him to learn a defensive driving technique which saved him, his wife and three children from an imminent road crash about 2pm that day.

    Although some errant and corrupt officers of FRSC, VIO, MVAA and state Board of Internal Revenue with their allies in some driving schools are encouraging the issuance of driver licences to candidates who have not been trained in driving schools, the driver licence applicants or vehicle owners should remind themselves that it is their own lives, family members and those of other innocent road users that they are putting at risk through their compromise.

    Anyone who refuses to be educated remains an illiterate till he changes his mind and gets trained to avoid the consequences.

    Driving is a complex activity and its mastery develops overtime with consistent and comprehensive training and re-training in vehicle technology, vehicle control, vehicle dynamics, defensive driving, Super-defensive driving techniques, vehicle maintenance and road worthiness, traffic signs and road markings, and the rules for safe driving, among others.

    The basic training in driving schools and subsequent self-education with a strong determination to obey the traffic rules and regulations will guarantee safe driving anytime, anywhere and in any situation.

    Prevention is always better and cheaper than cure.

  • Road accounts for 90% of transport needs, says FRSC chief

    Road accounts for 90% of transport needs, says FRSC chief

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said road transport accounts for 90 per cent of national transport needs.

    Its Corps Marshal Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said there were about 12 million registered vehicles plying 204,000km of the roads in the country.

    According to him, passengers and vehicles travelled data collated from major terminals in the country.

    More road users, he noted, used the motor parks last year.

    Quoting the 2010 Draft National Policy on Transport, Oyeyemi said  road network increased.

    He said there were 6,500 km in 1960, 10,000 km in 1970, 29,000 km in 1980 and 204,000 km in recent years.

    Local government roads, he said, account for the large chunk of roads in the country.

    He listed the length of total road network by government ownership as include  34,120km for Federal roads, 34,300km – state roads and about 135,580km for local government roads.

    The federal roads, he said, are mostly inter-state roads with high traffic density.

    He expressed dissatisfaction that of the 204,000 km of roads in the country, about 65 per cent are still in bad condition.

    He reiterated the need for repairs and reconstruction of roads, adding that the construction of new ones would go a long in ameliorating the suffering of the road users.

    In addressing the road safety challenge, Oyeyemi said successive governments devised measures to address the road safety problem over time.

    These are not limited to the Nigerian Army Road Safety Week, after the Civil War in 1972, establishment of National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) – 1974, establishment of Oyo State Road Safety Corps-1977, and establishment of other state road safety institutions in the late ‘70s, such as Anambra State establishment of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on February 18, 1988, state traffic management Agencies—like Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Ogun State Traffic Compliance And Enforcement Corps (TRACE), among others.

    With all these measures, the FRSC boss said there had been reduction  in road crashes.

    Oyeyemi noted that the gap could be further reduced through concerted efforts of stakeholders.

  • Tesla plans pick-up, compact SUV

    Tesla plans pick-up, compact SUV

    Tesla’s Founder and Managing Director Elon Musk, has said the American company is planning to build a pick-up and a compact SUV.

    Writing on the firm’s website, Musk also ruled out building a cheaper vehicle than the forthcoming BMW 3-series-rivalling Model 3.

    Dubbed ‘Master Plan, Part Deux’, the post follows on from the first ‘master plan’ published a decade ago, which included proposals for the Model S, X and 3.

    According to Musk, introducing a pick-up and compact SUV “will address most of the consumer market”, though information is scant at this time.

    Musk also revealed an intention to enter into the public transport market and “shrink the size of buses and transition the role of [the] bus driver to that of a fleet manager”, by creating driverless vehicles that can be summoned by smartphone – and buttons on stops – which match the speed of other vehicles.

    The bus – which will be able to carry more passengers than a conventional model thanks to the deletion of a centre aisle and putting seats where entryways are currently located – is in the early stages of development and will be unveiled next year.

    PayPal’s founder also revealed that in the future Tesla owners’ vehicles will be able to be used by others, by adding the car to a shared fleet and “have it generate income for you while you’re at work” once self-driving cars are approved.

    He expects that worldwide approval for autonomous vehicles to be granted after the firm’s fleet of autopilot cars exceed six billion miles, with the fleet of vehicles currently covering around three million miles a day.

    Musk said that sharing vehicles would “significantly offset and at times potentially exceed” the monthly loan or lease cost.

    “This dramatically lowers the true cost of ownership to the point where almost anyone could own a Tesla. Since most cars are only in use by their owner for five per cent to 10 per cent of the day, the fundamental economic utility of a true self-driving car is likely to be several times that of a car which is not,” he wrote.

  • Coscharis Motors unveils special offers for Jaguar buyers

    Coscharis Motors unveils special offers for Jaguar buyers

    Coscharis Motors has announced special offers for buyers of Jaguar products.

    Its President, Dr Cosmas Maduka said the firm is  offering special prices, free insurance and a two-year service plan for Jaguar products for one month to guests at the launch.

    Maduka spoke at the unveiling of the Jaguar’s first Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) – the F-PACE – at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The F-PACE is a performance SUV designed to offer the agility, responsiveness and refinement that Jaguars are renowned for, together with unrivalled dynamics and versatility.

    Developed using Jaguar’s Lightweight aluminium architecture, the F-PACE combines purity of line, surface and proportion with F-TYPE-inspired features, such as the powerful rear haunches, fender vents and distinctive tail light graphics.

    The bold front grille and the muscular bonnet hint at the performance potential of its supercharged V6 petrol engines. Elements, such as slender full-LED headlights, forged 22-inch wheels and short front overhang carry the design vision of the C-X17 concept through to production.

    The All-New F-PACE sits five occupants in comfort.The interior is a blend of premium materials and finishes, exquisite detailing, luxuries, such as heated, electrically reclining rear seats, and cutting-edge technologies including the InControl Touch Pro infotainment system and 12.3-inch HD virtual instrument cluster.

    Coscharis Motors General Manager, Sales Ufuoma Umukoro,  quoting Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar, said: “By remaining absolutely true to our design principles the F-PACE is immediately recognisable as a Jaguar. It offers all of the interior space you would expect – and more – but because of our disciplined approach to surfaces, proportions, and purity of line, we have designed what I consider to be the most balanced, most attractive vehicle in its class.”

    The lightweight aluminium architecture gave the design and engineering teams the ideal starting point. It was created from the outset as a modular structure, so the wheels can be positioned  where they are needed to deliver the proportions, dynamics, and practicality essential for a performance SUV.

    The wheelbase and track are not shared with any other Jaguar. At 4,731mm long and with a 2,874mm wheelbase, the F-PACE offers the sleek profile and short front overhang characteristic of Jaguar design together with an exceptionally spacious interior.

    Rear knee-room is class-leading and the luggage compartment has up to 650 litres* of storage space.

    The light, stiff body structure comprises 80 per cent aluminium, and is the only aluminium-intensive monocoque in the segment. Additional weight savings come from the composite tailgate and magnesium for parts such as the cross-car beam.

    With the 280kW supercharged V6 petrol engine from the F-TYPE under its sculpted aluminium bonnet, the SUV can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds before reaching an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h.

  • Porsche recalls 1,200 vehicles

    Over 1,200 imported Porsche refitted vehicles were recalled in China last week over defective brake pedals.

    According to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine’s website, the vehicles affected were manufactured between July 2013 and last February.

    The snap spring of the brake pedals in the affected vehicles could loosen during driving that could cause serious safety risks, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported.

    Porsche is the most popular of the high-end sports car brands in China as it offers two body styles that most competitors don’t provide. The recall affects 1,236 Porsche vehicles in a country that has roughly four million households considered wealthy enough to afford a European luxury car.

    The Dalian-based car import and export company, which initiated the recalls, has reportedly asked dealers to check all affected vehicles and replace the defective parts free of charge, the statement said.

  • Road accounts for 90% of transport needs, says FRSC chief

    Road accounts for 90% of transport needs, says FRSC chief

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said road transport accounts for 90 per cent of national transport needs.

    Its Corps Marshal Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said there were about 12 million registered vehicles plying 204,000km of the roads in the country.

    According to him, passengers and vehicles travelled data collated from major terminals in the country.

    More road users, he noted, used the motor parks last year.

    Quoting the 2010 Draft National Policy on Transport, Oyeyemi said  road network increased.

    He said there were 6,500 km in 1960, 10,000 km in 1970, 29,000 km in 1980 and 204,000 km in recent years.

    Local government roads, he said, account for the large chunk of roads in the country.

    He listed the length of total road network by government ownership as include  34,120km for Federal roads, 34,300km – state roads and about 135,580km for local government roads.

    The federal roads, he said, are mostly inter-state roads with high traffic density.

    He expressed dissatisfaction that of the 204,000 km of roads in the country, about 65 per cent are still in bad condition.

    He reiterated the need for repairs and reconstruction of roads, adding that the construction of new ones would go a long in ameliorating the suffering of the road users.

    In addressing the road safety challenge, Oyeyemi said successive governments devised measures to address the road safety problem over time.

    These are not limited to the Nigerian Army Road Safety Week, after the Civil War in 1972, establishment of National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) – 1974, establishment of Oyo State Road Safety Corps-1977, and establishment of other state road safety institutions in the late ‘70s, such as Anambra State establishment of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on February 18, 1988, state traffic management Agencies—like Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Ogun State Traffic Compliance And Enforcement Corps (TRACE), among others.

    With all these measures, the FRSC boss said there had been reduction  in road crashes.

    Oyeyemi noted that the gap could be further reduced through concerted efforts of stakeholders.

  • Hyundai’s first electric car on sale

    Hyundai’s first electric car on sale

    Hyundai’s first electric vehicle, the Ioniq, will hit showrooms soon. The car can travel 206 km in the city on a single charge and up to 173 km on highways.

    Hyundai delivered the first Ionic EV to a local customer on July 5 and held a test-drive event last week.

    The Ioniq costs W40-43 million, but the price tag drops to between W20 million to W25 million thanks to government subsidies for green cars (US$1=W1,134).

    A full charge costs W8,700 and takes four hours and 25 minutes, while a rapid charge takes only 23 minutes.

    Hyundai said it will introduce mobile recharging stations across the country in the second half of this year. EV mechanics will be stationed at Hyundai’s 23 directly run after-service centers and 80 affiliated garages.