The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Toyota

  • Nissan Sentra comes with new styling

    Nissan Sentra comes with new styling

    There is something unusual about the new Nissan Sentra that distinguishes the mid-class sedan from the Toyota Corolla that has for sometime charted the way in this segment.

    Its Asian makers said: “The contemporary Nissan Sentra has undergone tremendous transformation with exceptional upscale features that are evidently glaring and trendy to give the car an edge over competitions.”

    The new design, it added, is the most revolutionary in Nissan Sentra’s 30-year history.

    “This model represents the most innovative, highest quality, highest value sedan lineup in Nissan history, and with the complete redesign, it is closer in look and feel to ‘D’ Segment vehicles than a typical compact sedan,” the Japanese automaker affirmed.

    But what makes the new Sentra tick? Designed to order with approximately 15.2-foot-long, the Sentra now has ample rear-seat legroom, measuring 37.4 inches, which is more than the back-seat legroom of a typical compact car.

    The new Sentra is also five percent lighter than its predecessor but slightly larger in overall dimensions with more interior room and aerodynamic looks.

    Amazingly, the car tops 68km per-gallon fuel economy rating for combined city/highway travel, and it is easy to see why the Sentra is a noteworthy new model.

    “If you think that 68km per gallon is unattainable figure, then have a try in the new Sentra and discover how frugal the car is with fuel even when driven in normal fashion and the travel included a highway in the mountains and foothill roads,” Mr Stallion NMN Head of Sales and Marketing Amit Sharma said.

    The entire Sentra variants come with 130-horsepower, four cylinder engines that produces a maximum 128 foot-pounds of torque at 3,600 rpm.

    A peep in the cabin says much more with upscale feeling,inside and out, such as the light-emitting diodes accent headlights, tail lamps and chrome-look door handles which are standard on all models.

    And unlike the previous model, the dashboard has also been modified with soft-touch feel and a pleasant appearance, just as the centre armrest between front seats is cushioned.

    While leather-trimmed seats are available, the premium gray-coloured, cloth-covered seats provided good support especially on hot afternoons.

    The optional navigation package, which added voice recognition control, hands-free text messaging, a rearview monitor and colorful, 5.8-inch display and touch screen, could attract a little more but it is amazingly priced when compared with competitors in this segment.

    Nissan did not compromise on the front-seat legroom to add space to the back seat. Front-seat passengers get a full 42.5 inches of legroom, and the front seat tracks are long to accommodate many sizes of passengers.

    Coupled with this is the 15.1-cubic-foot trunk which is generously sized and is 18 percent bigger than the Corolla’s trunk. All this comes from a 2.3-inch longer car than its predecessor.

    Although the Sentra is a bit shorter in height than the previous model, at 58.9 inches, it is taller than most compact sedans.

    While the Sentra has intriguingly grown larger, it is some 150 pounds lighter with improved aerodynamics that helps account for fuel economy.

    Nissan says the new Sentra  epitomises Nissan’s new tagline, innovation that excites.

    Available in 1.8-Litre engine, double overhead cam four-cylinder that develops 10 less horsepower than its predecessor’s 2.0 litre unit, the new Sentra is astonishingly solid with decent throttle response which delivers 96kW of power and 174Nm of torque in both the manual transmission and CVT (continuous variable transmission.)

    The Sentra’s agility in traffic is also a soothing relief as Nissan engineers have found the right combination to deliver adequate power and better-than-expected, real-world fuel economy.

    The new Sentra comes with “eco” button that conserves fuel when activated, thus reducing unnecessary anxiety on gas mileage. Its suspensions are built to soften road bumps for a comfortable ride and access mountain curves with poise.

    Perhaps one of the most quiet in its class, the Sentra doesn’t have the kind of sound deadening and noise isolation that is found in most upscale cars, so the interior acoustics insulate sounds and disturbing noise from nearby trucks and engine that ordinarily, could permeate the passenger compartment.

    Nissan Sentra’s four out of five stars in overall crash testing and side crash test recently earned the car a plush credit in safety, which is reassuring when talking safety.

     

  • Toyota recalls more than six million vehicles

    Toyota recalls more than six million vehicles

    Toyota Motor Corporation has issued a massive recall of 6.4 million vehicles worldwide for a range of glitches, from faulty airbags and seat rails to defective windshield wipers.

    The action covers five separate recalls, affecting about 2.3 million vehicles in North America and 810,000 in Europe.

    Toyota said it is unaware of any crashes, injuries or deaths caused by the problems, which span more than a dozen nameplates.

    The largest of the five recalls, which covers spiral cables in airbags, ranks No. 4 in Toyota’s recall roster.

    Toyota’s largest single-part recall came in 2012 when it fixed 7.4 million fire-prone window switches. The No. 2 recall covered 7.1 million floor mat entrapment recalls from 2009-2012, and the third-largest was the 2010 remedy of 4.45 million sticky gas pedals to address unintended acceleration.

    The latest recalls, according to Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons, were announced simultaneously, even though they are unrelated, because that is how the timing of the investigations unfolded.

    The move came amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of automakers in the United States following General Motors Company’s recall of 2.6 million small cars for faulty ignition switches. The defect has been linked to 13 fatalities. Internal documents show that some GM engineers knew of a defect at least 10 years ago, but the company failed to issue a recall.

    U.S. dealers this week are beginning to perform the recall work while GM, regulators, prosecutors and Congress all are investigating why it took GM so long to issue the recall.

     

    Toyota penalty

     

    Toyota’s recalls today took place after the company agreed last month to a pay a penalty of $1.2 billion to the U.S. government for misleading consumers and concealing facts about unintended acceleration in its vehicles.

    The rash of acceleration problems, traced to sticky gas pedals and unsecured or incompatible floor mats, triggered more than 9 million recalls – for various parts and design flaws.

    The recalls total 6.86 million vehicles. But because some vehicles are involved in more than one recall, only 6.4 million vehicles are being remedied.

    The 3.5-million vehicle spiral cable recall, the largest of the fixes, addresses a cable that can become damaged when the steering wheel turns. This may trigger a warning lamp and deactivate the air bag causing it not to deploy in a crash.

    Outside Japan, the spiral cable recall involves certain RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Yaris, Yaris Sedan, Highlander, Tacoma, Reiz, Hilux, Fortuner, Innova, Land Cruiser Prado and Camry nameplates. It also affects the Pontiac Vibe.

    About 1.7 million of the vehicles are in North America; about 130,000 are in Europe. Toyota did not break it down by model.

    Also on the fix-it list are driver’s side seat rails that may not lock in the adjusted position.

     

    Overseas recalls

     

    In some cases, the seat may move forward during an accident.

    Outside Japan, the recall covers certain Scion xD, Urban Cruiser, Yaris and Yaris Sedan nameplates. About 670,000 vehicles are in North America; another 90,000 are in Europe.

    The third recall remedies steering column brackets that can become unstable when the steering wheel is repeatedly turned with full force. In some cases, the bracket may fail to hold the steering column in place.

    It affects certain Ist, Ractis and Yaris models. About 590,000 of them are in Europe. North America is unaffected. The last two recalls affect only models in Japan and Hong Kong.

     

  • Toyota recalls 6m cars with steering defect

    Toyota recalls 6m cars with steering defect

    Toyota Motor Corporation is recalling 6.39 million vehicles worldwide over a defect of its steering, spiral cable and other components, the carmaker said on Wednesday.

    The carmaker said in a statement that it announced five recalls involving 27 models, including Corolla, Yaris and Tacoma, the Pontiac Vibe and the Subaru Trezia, for 6.76 vehicles.

    According to Toyota, since a few models are involved in more than one recall, the total number of vehicles affected by the five recalls is 6.39 million units.

    Toyota said that of the 6.76 million, about 3.5 million vehicles were being recalled to replace the spiral cable assembly attached to the driver’s side airbag module.

    The carmaker was also recalling 2.32 million cars to look into seat rails of three-door models and 760,000 units due to a possible steering defect.

    About 160,000 Toyota Ractis vehicles in Japan are being recalled to replace the windshield wiper motors.

    In Hong Kong and Japan, Toyota is recalling 20,000 cars to replace engine starter relays and the engine starter motor.

    It said that the carmaker has received two reports of relay fires for this problem.

    It, however, said the carmaker was not aware of any crashes, injuries or fatalities caused by these conditions.

    Of the 6.76 million vehicles, 2.3 million units are recalled in North America, 1.39 million in Japan, 810,000 in Europe and 310,500 in Australia.

    It is the second largest recall for Toyota after the carmaker recalled 7.43 million vehicles in October 2012.

  • Toyota to sell Indonesian-made cars in Philippines

    Toyota Motor will export a compact car made by Daihatsu Motor, Indonesia in the Philippines from this month.

    In a staement, the company said the car was the first to be certified as a low-cost green car by the Indonesian government and is eligible for a tax break. A combined 41,500 units were sold last year.

    In the Philippines,Toyota will sell the 1-liter car as the Wigo, with the steering wheel set on the left. The car will sport the Toyota emblem, as opposed to the special emblem adorning the Indonesian model.

    Toyota will begin shipping the car to the Philippines and plans to start sales there at month end. The Wigo will be priced slightly higher than the roughly 1.1 million rupiah ($8,986) sticker price in Indonesia.

  • Toyota to sell Indonesian-made cars in Philippines

    Toyota to sell Indonesian-made cars in Philippines

    Toyota Motor will export a compact car made by Daihatsu Motor, Indonesia in the Philippines from this month.

    In a staement, the company said the car was the first to be certified as a low-cost green car by the Indonesian government and is eligible for a tax break. A combined 41,500 units were sold last year.

    In the Philippines, Toyota will sell the 1-liter car as the Wigo, with the steering wheel set on the left. The car will sport the Toyota emblem, as opposed to the special emblem adorning the Indonesian model.

    Toyota will begin shipping the car to the Philippines and plans to start sales there at month end. The Wigo will be priced slightly higher than the roughly 1.1 million rupiah ($8,986) sticker price in Indonesia.

     

  • Toyota recalls more than 261,000 vehicles for braking problem

    Toyota recalls more than 261,000 vehicles for braking problem

    Toyota Motor Corp is recalling 261,114 Lexus and Toyota brand vehicles in the United States because various safety systems, including stability control and anti-lock brakes, could become inoperative.

    It is recalling vehicles from model years 2012 and 2013 because an electrical component in the brake actuator, which adjusts fluid pressure in each wheel cylinder, may experience increased resistance, according to documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

    That could lead to reduced vehicle control and an increased risk of a crash as various safety systems, including traction control, become inoperative.

    Toyota officials could not immediately be reached to comment.

    The vehicles affected in the recall include 54,010 of the Lexus RX350 crossover vehicles and 100,052 of the Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks, both from model years 2012 and 2013, as well as 107,052 of the

    Toyota RAV4 SUVs from model year 2012, according to the NHTSA documents.

  • Kunle Afolayan’s unfinished movie bags international award

    Kunle Afolayan’s unfinished movie bags international award

    The much-publicized film-in-the-making, October 1, a psychological thriller by young filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has won the International Movie Trailer’s Festival (IMTF)’s award in the Best Fiction Trailer category.

    In a letter sent to Afolayan yesterday, the California, USA-based organisers of the award stated:  “We’re pleased to tell you that “October 1” won the 2013 IMTF award for the best fiction trailer. Your award is $250.”

    An excited Afolayan, who spoke to The Nation, stated that the best is yet to be seen of him, as 2014 holds more surprises for his fans.

    Although the movie is in its post-production stage, the filmmaker had cried out for financial help when it appeared that the expected sponsorship for the $2million-budget movie was not forthcoming.

    With the involvement of the Lagos State government, Toyota Nigeria Ltd. and Deola Sageo in the historical movie, Afolayan hit location last September with less than 50 percent funds, hoping that more help will come as the cameras roll.

    With the IMTF prize, the award-winning director of Irapada, The Figurine and Phone Swap has been positioned for the international film circuits.

    October 1 stars Nigerian and British actors, including Sadiq Daba of the Cocktail at Dawn fame and David Bailey of the Pirates of the Carribbean fame. Already, it is being programmed for the 2014 edition of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) in Germany next February. The trailer award, therefore, offers brighter chances for the filmmaker to put in for other competitions.

    According to the awarders, the prolific film director cum actor will be emailed ‘’ a digital garland that you can use on your website or other online media. You should receive it by the end of January.”

    The award categories, according to Murray Suid, co-founder of IMTF, were determined by a seven-member jury, except for the People’s Choice Award segment.

    Suid said, “The judges voted independently and did not see the other judges’ ballots.”

    “What a way to wrap year 2013.  I’m happy about this award. It’s not about the money, but the recognition of the hard work, the efforts of the cast and crew of October 1.  It is a pointer to the fact that the film has great potentials to go places when it is eventually released. I can’t wait to see the complete film in 2014,” said Afolayan.

    October 1 pictures September 1960, with Nigeria on the verge of Independence from British colonial rule. It tells the story of a northern Nigerian Police detective, Dan Waziri, who is urgently dispatched by the colonial government to the trading post town of Akote in the Western Region of Nigeria, to solve a series of female murders that have struck horror in the hearts and minds of the local community.

    On getting to Akote, more murders are committed, and with local tension high and volatile, Waziri has a race on his hands to solve the case before even more local women are killed.  However, matters take a turn for the worse when Waziri discovers that his prime suspect is none other than the highly influential, university-educated son of the King of Akote, Prince Aderopo.

    Intelligent, good-looking, charismatic, witty and daring, the prince proves to be a most complicated adversary for Waziri.  Set against the backdrop of the national celebratory mood of the impending independence, Waziri and Prince Aderopo indulge in a game of cat and mouse, as they try to outwit each other, thereby leading to the climatic end in which the life of a popular local female teacher and village belle, Tawa, is held in the balance.  Waziri has to race against the clock to capture the prince, save Tawa and solve the crime before the British flag is lowered and the Nigerian flag is raised on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day.

  • Toyota holds skills contest

    Toyota holds skills contest

    Toyota (Nigeria) Limited (TNL) has held the Toyota National Skills Contest (Intermediate Test). Five technicians qualified for the final rounds of the Test three, which will hold in November this year.

    According to company, the contest is in alignment with Toyota Motor Corporation’s Customer Service philosophy and it is aimed at enabling dealer technicians to continuously acquire new skills and deliver next level expertise in the area of after sales service to Toyota customers in the country.

    TNL Managing Director Mr Chandrasheker Thampy said the contest is to expose dealer technicians to world class technical know-how.

    This, he said, would avail their customers with excellent after sales experience in the business. The overall winner of the final rounds of the contest would proceed on an all expense paid trip to Toyota Motor Corporation, in Japan to compete on the global stage to widen their knowledge and understanding of Toyota service philosophy.

    At the end of the contest, Mr KayodeAdeoye and Mr Julius Odiboh, both of R. T. Briscoe; Mr OkeYusuf and Miss Faith Macwenboth of Elizade Nigeria Limited and Mr Simeon Jimoh of Mandilas qualified.

  • Toyota holds skills contest

    Toyota holds skills contest

    Toyota (Nigeria) Limited (TNL) has held the Toyota National Skills Contest (Intermediate Test). Five technicians qualified for the final rounds of the Test three, which will hold in November this year.

    According to company, the contest is in alignment with Toyota Motor Corporation’s Customer Service philosophy and it is aimed at enabling dealer technicians to continuously acquire new skills and deliver next level expertise in the area of after sales service to Toyota customers in the country.

    TNL Managing Director Mr Chandrasheker Thampy said the contest is to expose dealer technicians to world class technical know-how.

    This, he said, would avail their customers with excellent after sales experience in the business. The overall winner of the final rounds of the contest would proceed on an all expense paid trip to Toyota Motor Corporation, in Japan to compete on the global stage to widen their knowledge and understanding of Toyota service philosophy.

    At the end of the contest, Mr KayodeAdeoye and Mr Julius Odiboh, both of R. T. Briscoe; Mr OkeYusuf and Miss Faith Macwenboth of Elizade Nigeria Limited and Mr Simeon Jimoh of Mandilas qualified.

  • Toyota unleashes RAV4

    Basking in the euphoria of its success last year, Toyota (Nigeria) Limited (TNL) has unveiled the new generation RAV 4 for auto lovers.

    Guests at the Zinnia Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island last Friday had a feel of the new mid size Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

    The SUV has been upgraded with trendier exterior, spacious interior and is bigger than the former ones.

    Speaking shortly before the unveiling, TNL Chairman, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, described the new SUV as another trail blazer.

    “Indeed, it is a remarkable package of safety, comfort and performance in equal proportion. As a matter of fact, the all new RAV 4 will not only fulfil your mid size SUV expectations, it will avail you value for your hard earned money,” Ade.Ojo said.

    He said the car is another masterpiece from the stable of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in Japan to the Nigerian market.

    Chief Ade.Ojo reminded the gathering how TNL expanded their model portfolio by introducing the Fortuner Fabric seat option into the market.

    “We did not stop there we closely followed this up in the second quarter of last year with the unveiling of the new Avenza to meet the demand of the multipurpose vehicle segment. In realisation of the customer fervor that greeted this series of introductions, we took a step further by making the leader seat variant of the Fortuner available complementing it with Hilux automatic transmission which instantly became the icing on the cake in the pick up segment.”

    “Our ultimate goal in this direction, he said, includes increasing the option available to our customers in the SUV segment and generally stimulating healthy competition in the market place.”

    He stated that introduction of series of state-of-the-art models at regular intervals is a key part of TNL corporate philosophy.

    “This tradition of excellence is informed by our resolve as a responsive and proactive organisation to meet our customers’ cravings for products and services that match current trends both in the global and local markets,” he said.

    Describing the RAV4 as a key Toyota model which evolved from the rich heritage of Toyota unmatchable superior quality engineering, Chief Ade.Ojo said the rich history of the car imbues it with a treasure house of attributes peculiar only to its siblings.

    While lamenting the lull in the business climate, he restated Toyota’s determination to continually raise the quality of after sales service delivery to customers to sustain high confidence level value of their brand.