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Jaguar reveals it’s electric i-Pace concept vehicle

Following the successful launch of the i-Pace suv, Jaguar has just revealed its concept electric version of the i-pace. The vehicle features a bespoke electric architecture, matched with dramatic design. The result is a no-compromise smart, five seat sports car and a performance SUV in one. “The I-PACE Concept represents the next generation of electric vehicle design. It’s a dramatic, future-facing cab-forward design with a beautiful interior – the product of authentic Jaguar DNA, electric technology and contemporary craftsmanship,” said Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar.

“Our virtual reality reveal today has pushed technology boundaries as well, and captures the hi-tech essence of the concept car. We only have one concept car and it is in LA for the reveal. For the first time, VR has allowed us share it across the globe in the most immersive way possible.”

“For the first time in history, a global automotive brand has used fully immersive VR to launch their latest car,” said Ross Wheeler, Head of Automotive at Imagination. “This launch takes the individual far beyond any new car experience they would have witnessed before, allowing people across the world to connect in real time, be fully immersed within the vehicle and share live together their experience of Jaguar’s first ever electric vehicle.”

This unique and world-first ‘social VR’ reveal is believed to be the largest live and connected VR event of its type to date. Throughout the day more than 300 guests were transported into a specially created life-like virtual space, into which, two of the car’s creators, Ian Callum and Ian Hoban were projected.

From VR hubs in Los Angeles and London, groups of 66 guests including A-list stars Michelle Rodriguez, Miranda Kerr and James Corden, used HTC Vive Business Edition headsets, powered by Dell Precision workstations, to put themselves inside the concept car and interact live with other participants. Guests ‘sat’ on the concept’s virtual seats, had a 3600 view of Venice Beach as the concept was built piece by piece around them, and saw the I-PACE Concept race towards them across a virtual desert.

"This is an uncompromised electric vehicle designed from a clean sheet of paper: we’ve developed a new architecture and selected only the best technology available,” said Dr Wolfgang Ziebart, Engineering Director, Jaguar Land Rover. “The I-PACE Concept fully exploits the potential EVs can offer in space utilisation, driving pleasure and performance."

The state-of-the-art electric motors and 90kWh lithium-ion battery pack were designed in-house by Jaguar Land Rover to give the best possible performance and range for most daily journeys. Wherever you are in the world you can simply plug your car into a wall socket overnight, and have more than enough range to complete the average daily commute of around 50km.

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.

Introducing the all-New 2017 BMW 5 series

The 7th generation iconic BMW 5 series has been unveiled with Improved Performance and Dynamics. Over 7.6 million BMW 5 Series have been sold worldwide since 1972 and since 1975 over 1 million units in the U.S. alone. The 2017 BMW 5 Series has been entirely newly developed allowing for a significant weight loss of up to 137 lbs with the use of magnesium, aluminum and high-strength steel.

Thanks to the available state of the art chassis systems including Integral Active Steering now combined with xDrive (BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive system), Driver and Parking Assistance Systems and Adaptive Mode including Dynamic Damper Control, the all-new BMW 5 Series once more defines the athletic and executive design of a true sport sedan.

Featuring a new user interface (iDrive 6.0), Gesture Control, the latest generation of Head-Up Display, Remote 3D View and an improved Voice Control with natural voice input, the 2017 BMW 5 Series marks a new era of personalized connectivity. The BMW 5 Series is the most innovative BMW 5 Series to date, combining unique driving dynamics using Remote Control Parking and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems clearing the way towards semi-automated driving.

The all-new BMW 5 Series will be available at U.S. dealers in February 2017. Pricing will be announced closer to market launch.

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.

BUGATTI CHIRON WINS IN THE CATEGORY “EXTERIOR PREMIUM BRAND - LUXURY“

The world’s most powerful, fastest; most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car has the best design in the world. In its "Automotive Brand Contest", the German Design Council honours outstanding product and communication design in the automotive industry every year. 

At this year’s awards ceremony, the Bugatti Chiron was selected by the jury as the winner in the category “Exterior Premium Brand - Luxury.” This March, the Chiron celebrated its world debut in Geneva. The awards ceremony was held on the occasion of the Paris Motor Show.

The Automotive Brand Contest is held annually by the German Design Council. As the only impartial design competition for automobile brands, it has rapidly established itself as one of the world’s most important competitions in the industry. The German Design Council is one of the world’s leading competence centres for communications and know-how transfer in the design field. 

The association currently has more than 230 members. The German Design Council was established in 1953 at the initiative of the German Bundestag to strengthen the design competence of German industry.

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.

Coscharis Motors and Chisco Transport partner to offer customer loyalty reward

Coscharis Motors Limited and Chisco Transport Limited have teamed up to enhance customer  experience by rewarding travelers on the Chisco platform as announced at a joint media briefing held recently in Lagos. The Rides & Rewards Quarterly Promo comes with a Brand new Morris Garages (MG) 3 series car as star prize give away and several consolation prizes worth millions of Naira. The promo is structured to run every quarter to reward frequent travellers and it is exclusive to online bookings strictly for those that patronise Chisco transport vehicles.

While addressing the media partners at the briefing, Mr. Abiona Babarinde, General Manager Marketing & Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group said Coscharis is proud to identify with Chisco for trailing the blaze on the digitalization of the road transport industry in Nigeria. Abiona noted, “Coscharis is a value driven organization and as such, we find a brand fit in any organization which takes the offering of value added goods and services to its customers seriously. This is what Chisco transport Ltd has demonstrated by creating this digital platform for its customers to initialize and conclude their road transport bookings online, thus our decision to partner with them to further delight their customers.”

 

L-R: Director, Assets Management, Chisco Group, Mr. Obinna Anyaegbu; General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Coscharis Group, Mr. Abiona Babarinde; and Executive Director, Agabah.com, Mr. Ikenna Onuorah, during the presentation of MG car by Coscharis Motors at the launch of Chisco 'Rides and Rewards' quarterly promo in Lagos recently.

He went on, “We are equally proud that Chisco has chosen one of our great brands we represent in Nigeria, the MG3 as the star prize for their loyalty reward promo. The MG which is the acronym for Morris Garages, is a British brand which has been around since 1924 and Coscharis Motors is the exclusive franchise owner in Nigeria. The MG3 is regarded as a supermini car and like the rest of its siblings in the MG range, it is respected around the world for its sleek designs, world class performance and ICT savvy. There is no doubt that the eventual winner of this promo will go home with an automobile machine to be proud of.”

On his part, the Director, Assets Management, Chisco Group, Mr. Obinna Anyaegbu said, “As a brand we are spurred to tow this direction, knowing that digitisation is cutting across all layers of our society to the extent that virtually every action we take today has a digital approach to it.

“As one of the industry giants, our strategic focus is to develop and drive an integrated transportation system that is digitally holistic in design and functionalities to promote contactless ticketing, improve operational efficiency, and create better experiences for our customers.” He added, “Our choice of partners - Coscharis Motors, Zenith Bank, Interswitch, TECNO Mobile- is inspired by their techie savvy and compatibility at pioneering the next-generation vehicles, transport systems solutions, and smart mobility services that comes with the future today.”

2017 Mercedes Benz G550 4x4

New for the 2017 model year, the Mercedes-Benz G550 4x4 will join Mercedes-Benz family of SUVs in the United States. The 4x4 is the most capable G-Class ever, boasting innovative portal axles, three locking differentials, a ground clearance of more than 17" and a 4.0L Biturbo V8. The G550 4x4 will be available in US dealerships beginning in early 2017.

Since development of the G-Class began in 1972, the military--turned-passenger- vehicle has been hand-built in Graz, Austria. The name Gelaendewagen translates literally to "off road vehicle." Since 1979, more than 250,000 vehicles have been delivered to customers around the globe.

In the United States, the G550 4x4 joins the already-robust G-Class lineup, which features the 416 hp G550, the 563 hp AMG G63, and the 621 hp AMG G65, notably featuring a 6.0-liter V12 Biturbo engine producing a massive 738 lb-ft of torque.

Following in the footsteps of the AMG G63 6x6 (not available in the US market), the G550 4x4 utilizes the series-model G-Class platform as the starting point for an advanced off-road machine featuring advanced portal axles and aggressive body styling.

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.

ASTON MARTIN UNVEILS VANQUISH ZAGATO CONCEPT AT VILLA D’ESTE

Aston Martin and Italian design-house Zagato have unveiled their latest creation, the Vanquish Zagato Concept at the prestigious Concorso d'Eleganza Villa, Lake Como Italy. The Vanquish Zagato Concept is the fifth car to emerge from a collaboration that stretches back over five decades, pairing Aston Martin's acclaimed sporting, dynamic and material qualities with Zagato's signature design language. 

From the iconic DB4 GT Zagato of 1960 through to the V12 Vantage Zagato of 2011, every collaboration has accentuated key aspects of Aston Martin's design journey and brought them together with Zagato's own race-inspired design language. The result is a group of four sports cars that represent some of Aston Martin's most avant-garde expressions.

The Vanquish Zagato Concept’s glasshouse wraps around the bodywork like a visor, enhancing its aggressive stance. A new evolution of the classic side strake runs from wheel arch to door just like the new DB11 and a detail originally showcased on the celebratory CC-100. 

A sharp crease on the rear wheel arch transforms into the rear flanks, where it meets the cascading roofline. Inside, the Vanquish Zagato Concept embodies the fine tradition of Aston Martin craftsmanship, replete with many singular touches. Herringbone carbon fibre is paired with shadow and anodized bronze and aniline leather to give the facia, vents and rotary dials a rich material quality.

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.