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.
The Ford Transit, one of the best-selling vans in
the world, has been in constant production since 1965 and is now available in
SA in several new and exciting configurations with added features. If you are
looking for space, The Ford Transit Van has 15.1 cubic meters of cargo space in
the back. That’s 15,100 litres or the space to pack in 629 grocery shopping
bags. The Ford Transit Custom Sport, which
is available with all the same driving technology found in a luxury sedan. From
Ford’s hands-free SYNC®2 entertainment centre, lane-keeping alert, parking
sensors, cruise control, rear-view camera, and electronic stability control,
the Ford Transit Custom Sport could be the new ride for your family.
Listed below are 10 unique custom Ford Vans
1. The Limo
Stretch limousines are out of date. So Chicago-based
Windy City Limousines converted their Ford Transit into a plush ride equipped
to carry 13 passengers in luxury and style – with a wooden floor, black leather
couch-style seating and two flat-screen televisions.
2. The
Snowboarder
This shred-ready Ford Transit is modified with a
custom boot dryer, snowboard rack, tuning bench and portable DJ booth to make
snowboarding even more fun for its riders. “It’s an absolute dream of a
creative hub that we can do anything out of,” says So-Gnar CEO Pat Milbery.
3. The
Artist
The first Ford Transit buyer in the United States,
ZL Feng, is an art professor and skilled artist who uses his van to transport
his art to museums, galleries, art shows and art buyers’ homes.
4. The
Coffee Shop
What better way to bring the people coffee than with
a stylish mobile coffee shop. The Grateful Grail mobile coffee shop cruises
around Baltimore, visiting local music festivals and events. Brothers and
Grateful Grail owners Brian and David Seward customized the van themselves.
5. The
Surfer Dude
Champion surfer Izzy
Paskowitz and his Surfers Healing team use a Ford Transit to transport
surfboards, beach gear and life jackets as they introduce kids with autism to
surfing.
6.The
Caterer
Catering and vans go hand in hand. The jumbo Ford
Transit van, used by Park Place Caterers in Ford HQ’s back yard, is customized
with a liftgate and inverter to power a refrigerator and hotbox – delivering
deliciousness to the local community.
7. The
Animal Rescuer
Shultz’s Guest House uses its Ford Transit to
transport orphaned dogs – sometimes from several states away – to a private
farm in Dedham, USA, where they are safe from being euthanized until permanent
homes are found for them.
8.The Food
Truck
Everyone’s favourite kind of van. The Spread’s Ford
Transit is a mobile deli – serving breakfast and lunch sandwiches, wraps and
fresh-baked bagels.
9. The Pet
Stylist
Wag ’n Tails Mobile Conversions in Granger, USA,
converts Ford Transit vans into fully self-contained mobile pet grooming
studios, complete with full-size tubs, hydro-massage shampoo systems, grooming
tables, blow dryers, vacuums and fridges.
10. The
Mobility Van
Eighty-six-year-old Forrest Baker explores the
Pacific Northwest with the help of his specially modified Ford Transit, which
includes a lift for his off-road wheelchair, high-visibility lights and bull
guard. “Without a doubt, this is the finest purpose-built vehicle I have ever
had the pleasure of owning,” Baker wrote to his Ford dealership where he has been
a loyal customer for more than 45 years.
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, a foremost automobile dealer
and representatives of Ford Motor Corporation in Nigeria, recently introduced the 2016 edition of three Ford brands namely; Ford Explorer, Ford Figo, and the Ford Ranger, into the Nigerian market.
Coscharis Motors also unveiled it's Ford Protect
package (in replacement to the ESP - Extended Service Plan) on all Ford
variants purchased in any of Coscharis Motors offices within Nigeria. The
package offers free service for 4 years or 120,000 kilometres whichever comes
first, to its existing and prospective customers on all variants of the Ford
brand purchased from any Coscharis Motors showrooms nation-wide. Customers will also enjoy; Free oil change, Free tyre rotation, Free brake pads, Free wiper blades, Free belts and hoses and Free shocks.
L - R: Fabian Anuforo, Fleet Sales Manager,
Ford, Coscharis Motors; Abiona Babarinde, General Manager, Marketing and
Corporate Services, Coscharis Group; Vasant Rele, General Manager, After sales,
Ford, Coscharis Motors during the media parley to officially unveil the 2016
new models of Fird vehicles and Ford Protect Campaign at Coscharis Ford
Showroom in Lagos recently.
The General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Services, Mr. Abiona Babarinde explained that the Ford Protect scheme is in line with the vision Henry Ford had over 100 years ago, which seeks to
make automobiles available and affordable to all mankind. Another reason for the offer is our desire to
take over our customers’ worries about vehicle maintenance and free their minds
so that they can focus more on the accomplishment of their primary objectives
in business and leisure.
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 T-Prime Concept GTE, officially unveiled at Auto
China 2016 in Beijing on Monday, is a premium off-roader with a hybrid
powertrain and, according to Volkswagen, a car that not only gives a first
clear idea of the company's next flagship, but of the direction in which the
entire industry is moving.
Demand for SUVs and crossovers has never been
greater and this demand is something that consumers in all markets around the
world have in common. The crossover has usurped the compact hatchback as
Europe's favorite car, SUVs are outperforming everything except for pickups in
the US, and, according to VW's stats, the appetite for full-size
comfort-focused SUVs is expected to grow some 18% over the next six years in
China.
Unlike a number of recent VW SUV concepts, this one
looks almost production ready and a worthy visual successor to the Touareg,
right down to its impressive plug-in hybrid powertrain.
It's capable of outputting a combined 375hp, of
running for 50km on battery power alone and of hitting 100km/h in 6 seconds.
However, it also offers a potential NEDC cycle fuel economy of 87mpg.
The interior is also a very digital affair, with
touch screens, voice commands and gestures; "this type of human-machine
interface could become the norm in the top segment. Progress is immediately
apparent here, because the real automobile is melding with the virtual world
that is so real today," said Dr. Frank Welsch, VW's head of Technical
Development.
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.
For more than 20 years, the Ranger has proven to be
one of Ford’s most popular pickups across the globe, providing thousands of
customers with Built Ford Tough capabilities. Having gone through a
comprehensive global development programme, the Ranger is built in Africa,
designed from the ground up with African conditions and consumers in mind.
The Ranger – one of the toughest, smartest and most
capable pick-ups in the market - is packed with driver assist features aimed at
providing customers with improved utility, comfort and convenience. Here are
ten examples of driver assist features that see the Ranger delivering smart
solutions to Ford customers, features that ensure that driving through the
streets of Lagos is a breeze. Here are the various features available in the
different models clearly explained:
SYNC®2 connectivity system. The voice-activated SYNC®2 system helps
drivers stay connected and in control. It features a full colour
multifunctional display for easy menu navigation.
The Trailer
Sway Control. This feature is part of
the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) system and uses information from its
sensors – such as yaw, acceleration and steering angle. If swaying is detected
without appropriate driver input, the Ranger is designed to react accordingly
to correct the instability.
Adaptive Load Control. Smart technology that assists you confidently
to keep loads under control by providing vehicle stability.
Hill Descent Control. Brakes are automatically applied, as needed,
to slow the vehicle to a set speed without the driver needing to touch the
pedal. Speed can be adjusted through the accelerator and the Cruise Control
buttons on the steering wheel. The feature works in both forward and reverse.
Hill Launch Control.
Hill launch control helps the driver pull away on steep climbs.
Front and Rear Park Assist. This feature uses sensors to detect obstacles
and provide audible warnings when the vehicle approaches obstructions at low
speeds, such as when parking. A rear-view camera gives a clear view behind the
vehicle, giving greater confidence when parking and hitching up a trailer.
Individual tyre pressure monitoring system.
Individual monitors show air pressure readings for each tyre and alerts the
driver when an individual tyre is low.
Rollover Mitigation.
This feature closely monitors the vehicle's speed, lateral acceleration,
yaw motion and steering angle, and will identify potentially dangerous driving
conditions that would lead to the vehicle rolling over. Rollover mitigation intervenes by controlling
the vehicle’s speed and restoring stability.
Cruise Control.
This feature automatically controls the speed of the Ranger and ensures
it keeps a steady speed as set by the driver.
Emergency Brake Assist. The provision of additional pressure to the
brake system to increase braking force when you apply the brakes quickly in an
emergency situation.
With all these driver assist features, there can be
no doubt that Ford’s tough Ranger is equipped and ready for Nigerian roads–
offering style, comfort and the best driving possible.
Bentley unveils today the revised Continental GT Speed,
raising the bar even further in terms of exclusivity and performance making it
the fastest production Bentley ever, with a top speed of 206 mph (331 km/h). A
Black Edition model joins the speed family. Performance is improved bringing
even greater acceleration performance. As a result, the 0-60 mph sprint time
has dropped to just 3.9 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.1 secs). The Black Edition
also features contrast colours to the front splitter, side skirts and rear
diffuser in four different shades: Hallmark, Beluga, St James’ Red and a new
shade, Cyber Yellow. Customers can also choose to colour-match the door mirrors
as a final exterior accent.
It takes 110 hours to handcraft each and every Continental
GT at the Bentley factory in Crewe, Cheshire. The upgraded W12 engine applied
to all Continental GT Speed models is entirely assembled by 30 dedicated
Bentley colleagues over 12½ hours. Meanwhile, the sumptuous and technically
complex unique interiors are handcrafted by the experts in Bentley’s Leather
and Trim workshop. Each hide is carefully checked by hand and eye before being
stitched, shaped and finished entirely by hand, rivalling the quality of the
finest furniture and precise tolerances of jewelry and watch craftsmanship.
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.
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.
