Jaguar Land Rover Heritage renamed Jaguar Land Rover Classic

Jaguar Land Rover recently announced the renaming of its Heritage business to Jaguar Land Rover Classic. The re-branded division will continue to provide cars, services, parts and experiences for Classic Jaguar and Land Rovers and their owners. Jaguar Land Rover Classic can now accommodate full restorations of classic vehicles at its UK sites, as well as providing a repair and maintenance service for customers. Jaguar Classic will continue to use the historic Browns Lane facility, where the six continuation Lightweight E-types were built and a newly developed Land Rover Classic workshop at Solihull for the restoration of Land Rovers. Fully factory restored Jaguars and Land Rovers are now also available for purchase.

Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “Renaming the rapidly growing global business to Jaguar Land Rover Classic best reflects the division’s overall capabilities in providing the best cars, services, parts and experiences for our customers. We aim to build an even more successful future by celebrating and nurturing Jaguar and Land Rover’s past.”

Jaguar Land Rover Classic Parts supplies genuine parts for models whose range has been out of production for over a decade. The parts catalogue has over 30,000 individual and guaranteed parts, available to order from Jaguar Land Rover’s global retail network. Specialist technical advisors have extensive product knowledge and selected parts are available to order on the day for collection at local retailers.

In addition to cars, services and parts, the Classic business also offers customers the opportunity to experience a selection of Jaguar and Land Rover’s most iconic models with Classic Drives. This is complemented by the second season of the Jaguar Classic Challenge race series for pre-1966 Jaguar models, which commences on 2 May 2016 at Donington Race Circuit in the UK.

Tosan Aduayi, a motoring journalist since 1994, is the founder and publisher of Trendy Africa Magazine and has reported on Motoring with trademark columns (Roadrunner, Carliners). He is also the founder of Flowtran global.

Ford Motors makes list of World most Ethical companies

Ford Motor Company is the only automaker named a 2016 World’s Most Ethical Company® by Ethisphere Institute today – a distinction that comes as ethics in business increasingly affects customers and their purchase decisions. “This honor celebrates our employees who are committed to doing the right things and making the right choices,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. “Ethics and corporate citizenship are the foundation of what drives us to make people’s lives better.” This marks the seventh consecutive year Ethisphere Institute has named Ford a World’s Most Ethical Company.

Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, honors companies with top ratings in five categories – ethics and compliance, corporate citizenship and responsibilities, culture of ethics, governance and leadership and reputation. For decades, Ford has recognized the importance of strong corporate citizenship and how that ties to success and building the company’s reputation. More than half of respondents to the 2016 Harris Poll Reputation Quotient said they learn more about a company before deciding to do business with them. More than one-third decided not to do business with a company if they perceive the business has a negative reputation.

“Ford understands that trust is the cornerstone of everything it does, and their commitment to being an active part of a global community helps explain why they are the only automaker Ethisphere has recognized every year since 2010,” said Timothy Erblich, Ethisphere’s Chief Executive Officer. “Being honored for the seventh time is no small achievement. Congratulations to everyone at Ford for being recognized.”

COSCHARIS BMW offers Exclusive Valentine getaway and service perks

Coscharis BMW has a reputation for customer loyalty and in view of this is offering juicy perks during the valentine season commencing from February 5 to March 1, 2016 to fetes all BMW customers and prospects who buy within this period to a 2 nights stay at the Prestigious EPE Resort in Lagos.

According to the General Manager, Marketing, Coscharis Motors, Abiona Babarinde; “we are offering every buyer of BMW 6 Series from Coscharis Motors a two Night stay for two at the prestigious EPE Resort from February 5 to March 1, 2016”.

“Customers will also enjoy a 1 year free service, free insurance and free registration for BMW car purchases made within the love month period and while stock lasts”, said the Coscharis BMW National Sales Manager, Joe Omokhapue. 

Coscharis Motors has the sole franchise for BMW brands in Nigeria and consequently, boasts first class showrooms and well-equipped after-sales facilities nationwide for all BMW models. 

Coscharis Jaguar offers Valentine Promo

Coscharis Jaguar has commenced the celebration of love with its customers through the 'Get Love Struck' promo for all Jaguar buyers from February 5 to February 29, 2016 nationwide. The Valentine promo is intended to show its love commitment to customers and prospects.

According to the Group Managing Director, Coscharis Motors, Josiah Samuel, “our love token includes Free Insurance, Free One Year Service Plan, Free Registration and free weekend demo. We are further celebrating this love with accommodation for two in the King Room at the Federal Palace Hotel; Buffet breakfast for two, access to Federal Palace Hotel’s exclusive Pool Club and 2 x $50 Federal Palace Casino non-redeemable gaming vouchers”.

These fabulous offers are opened to all buyers of any of our Jaguar variants within the month of love commencing from February 5, 2016. Similarly, we are willing to convert these fantastic offers to discounts on the cars.

Customers will still benefit the 5 year Warranty or 150,000km whichever comes first. This is in the continuing quest to offer buyers peace of mind and confidence that they are driving a high-quality product. With this extended warranty we further enhance the ownership experience that comes with our premium products.

 “Our customers desire the very best love gift that epitomizes style, luxury, prestige, performance and peace of mind; we want to assure them that they can enjoy all these from our Jaguar variants,” said Abiona Babarinde, General Manager Marketing at Coscharis Motors. 

New Ford Figo is swift, comfy and safe

The all-new Ford Figo is an exciting new compact car characterized by a striking, elegant design that sets it apart from competitors. The eye-catching styling is derived from Ford’s Kinetic 2.0 design language, as seen on the likes of the new Ford Fusion and Focus. The sophisticated and stylish exterior of the all-new Figo is matched by a modern interior that delivers an extraordinary experience for a compact car. All-new Figo is available with three responsive, reliable and economical engines, including 1.2 and 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engines, as well as a 1.5 diesel.

Intelligent and careful space management creates a surprisingly roomy cabin emphasizing quality, comfort and convenience.  High levels of craftsmanship are evident throughout the cabin, with colours and materials carefully selected by Ford designers to create a refined and premium environment. In the front, class-leading legroom gives the front passenger space to stretch out, while enabling even taller drivers to achieve the ideal driving position. Rear-seat passengers will appreciate the all-new Figo’s exceptional roominess that allows three adults to sit side-by-side with plenty of head and shoulder room.

Technologically endowed, the Ford Figo also boasts of an Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS), which provides lighter steering effort at low speeds – for parking and in-city manoeuvring – and heavier, more precise feel at high speeds for greater stability and confidence on highways.

Body trims include; Ambiente, Trend and Titanium which all vary from levels of extras such as Power front and rear windows with one-touch function for the driver and child locks for the rear windows, drive-away locking function and comprehensive dashboard instrumentation that includes a rev counter and gearshift indicator, a 60/40 split rear seat, chromed headlamp bezels, electronic climate control and SYNC® with Bluetooth and Voice Activation.

For added safety, a total of six airbags are fitted, comprising driver and front passenger, as well as side and curtain airbags. ESP with Hill Launch Assist is exclusive to the Titanium PowerShift models. The driver’s seat benefits from four-way adjustment for improved comfort. Remote-operated central locking is standard, linked to the MyKey functionality.

Tosan Aduayi, a motoring journalist since 1994, is the founder and publisher of Trendy Africa Magazine and has reported on Motoring with trademark columns (Roadrunner, Carliners). He is also the founder of Flowtran global.

The Last of the Land Rover Defender

Land Rover celebrated 68 years of history as the last of the current Defenders was produced at its famous Solihull production facility. To mark the occasion Land Rover invited more than 700 current and former Solihull employees involved in the production of Series Land Rover and Defender vehicles to see and drive some of the most important vehicles from its history, including the first pre-production ‘Huey’ Series I as well as the last vehicle off the production line, a Defender 90 Heritage Soft Top.

The Defender Celebration in Solihull saw more than 25 unique vehicles from Land Rover’s history come together in a procession around the Solihull plant, featuring the final current Defender vehicle off the line. More than two million Series Land Rovers and Defenders have been built in Solihull, UK since 1948. 

What began as simply a line drawing in the sand has gone on to become one of the world’s most iconic 4x4s, earning the accolade of being the most versatile vehicle on the planet, capable of taking owners to the places other vehicles couldn’t reach. In 2015, a unique milestone Defender – the ‘Defender 2 000 000’ sold for a record £400 000 (more than R9-million) – a far cry from the original £450 the first Land Rover sold for at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show.

“Today we celebrate what generations of men and women have done since the outline for the Land Rover was originally drawn in the sand,” said Dr Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover”.

Tosan Aduayi is the founder of Trendy Africa Magazine and has been an Auto columnist since 1994

New Ford Explorer packed with irresistible thrills and Innovation

Aesthetically, the facial make-over is subtle but more aggressive and upscale for the 2016 Ford Explorer which is now available in left-hand drive for Sub-Saharan Africa, bringing more smart technologies, improved performance and efficiency, as well as greater all-round capabilities. 

Introduced in 1990 as a 1991 model in the US, Explorer featured generous interior space customers were looking for, and was engineered specifically for people seeking adventure for their families and a way to express their individuality. For a quarter century, Explorer has reigned as one of America’s best-selling SUVs.

The New 2016 Explorer Interior changes help enhances quietness in the cabin. There are new door seals, and an enhanced sound package which includes engine sub frame mounts specially tuned to reduce vibration. 

Technological enhancements on the on the Explorer also include; Front and rear cameras with washers, Enhanced active park assist with perpendicular park assist, park-out assist and semi-automatic parallel parking, Smart-charging USB ports located in the front and rear of the vehicle,  Hands-free liftgate with foot control and Active Grille Shutters to reduce drag speeds.

Other features include; Intelligent four-wheel drive which continuously monitors wheel speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle to determine vehicle conditions and driver intent. The system then determines the optimal amount of front and rear torque for the given conditions to prevent slip from even occurring, which helps keep the vehicle sure-footed on virtually any terrain. 

All the power is produced by advanced engines including the all-new powerful yet efficient 2.3 EcoBoost and 3.5 EcoBoost V6* engines, and proven 3.5 Ti-VCT V6.

“The Ford Explorer helped define how the world thinks about SUVs,” said Rob Johnston, Regional Manager Sales and Marketing, Ford Customer Services Division for Sub-Saharan Africa. “It is the centrepiece of Ford’s global utility vehicle line-up because it delivers an ideal combination of form and function.” 

Ford Explorer is built in North America at Chicago Assembly Plant, as well as in Venezuela and Russia, and is sold in markets across the globe.

Tosan Aduayi, a motoring journalist since 1994, is the founder and publisher of Trendy Africa Magazine and has reported on Motoring with trademark columns (Roadrunner, Carliners). He is also the founder of Flowtran global.