Jaguar has just released a video teaser of their latest concept, the C-X16, which will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 13th September.
Friday, 19 August 2011
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Rock Auto (Nigeria)
Rock Auto
Rock Auto(West Africa) Nigeria's answer to practical mobility. Rock Auto is the name of the vehicle and Mr Sunday Okpere is its creator.
Thirty five year-old Okpere has been fine tuning the "Rock Auto" persistently for the past four months to ensure its engine runs smoothly and the body looks curvy and flashy like any of the latest imported models on sale in Nigeria.
Okpere said his interest in building vehicles started when he was a child, making toy cars from discarded tins and wires for his friends at school.
Decades later, he decided to unveil his first moving vehicle.
The Rock Auto runs on a Peugeot engine. Okpere says he could not raise funds to build his own engine. The rest of the car is made up of discarded material and scrap metal collected from dumpsites.
Okpere says the Rock Auto is just the beginning.
"There are a lot of things in my brain, because what I am thinking of now is how to build a car for the masses, that will be cheaper for cheaper transport, that is the basic thing," he said.
The Rock auto may not be flashy but it attracts several admirers from his neighborhood of Yaba in the sprawling commercial city of Lagos.
It comes with a set of motorcycle headlights and side indicators, the dash board is bare except for a speedometer and fuel gauge. The 'sound system' is optional -- a transistor radio hung from the roof, and can be taken off and carried wherever one goes to avoid break ins.
It can comfortably carry four passengers.
Okpere declined to reveal how much money he had spent on his innovation and how much he would be willing to sell it for. It has a top speed of 100km/h
Ref
http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//RTV/2011/06/22/RTV1779411/
Mobius Motors (Kenya)
Mobius Motors
(East Africa) Kenya is home to a new automotive company called Mobius Motors. The answer to Africa's lack of transport for rural Africa. A unique venture that designs, manufactures and sells functional and affordable vehicles for the developing world.
This a great example of African automotive design at work on the continent. So far Mobius Motors has developed a working prototype namely Mobius One and is currently working on completing their second vehicle Mobius Two. Do watch this space for they are on a mission to take the made in Africa badge to the next level; Full Production.
Find out more about the founder and the company at large on their website.
http://www.mobiusmotors.com/
http://www.mobiusmotors.com/company/founder.html
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Audi urban concept
After spy shots were leaked on the net, Audi has finally revealed the Audi urban concept car.
The car is an innovative urban concept car with 1+1 seats with cockpit made from carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP), which integrates the undercarriage of both seats and free-standing wheels with protective plates featuring feature ‘blinking’ strips of LED lights (bling, bling). It features elaborate suspension design and compact electric drive system for sporty performance.
According to Audi the car "combines elements of a racing car, a roadster, a fun car and an urban car into one radical new concept".
The driver can adjust the steering wheel and pedals for his or her own driving position. Entry to the car is through the tailgate, while the roof is designed to be manoeuvrable and slides to the rear to open. The Audi urban concept rides on 21-inch wheels.
Two e-tron electric motors provide the propulsion – providing the ultra-light Audi urban concept with the ability to accelerate powerfully. A lithium-ion battery supplies the energy.
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Review of TMS Coventry
Recently had my old Volvo S40 serviced and MOTd at TMS Coventry, the authorised dealer for Volvo in Coventry. Had been thinking of writing a review about their service for while but had kept putting it off.
TMS Coventry is a family owned and run business. I had avoided it because of preconceived notions that as an "authorised dealer and service provider" they would be costlier than the friendly neighbourhood garages. However, I was forced to go to them when I once had a problem with the security system/ central locking and a few garages I visited was not able to fix the problem. I drove down to their garage with my emergency lights blinking all the way from Radford. I was genuinely shocked when the final cost came out to be much less than what I had expected.
However, the next time I visited because of a misfiring engine really put me off. I was happy with the replacement of the ignition coil and fixing the problem. What I was not OK with was the fact that they charged me £19.80 for changing 3 bulbs and included and extra £34.40 labour charge. And they had not even thought of calling me up to check with me.
In contrast my favourite garage in Stoney Stanton, had once changed one of my bulbs and had only charged me £3.
Anyway, I had to go back to them again when I had electrical problems with the car. Ultimately found out that the fault had been caused by some coins (my son's handiwork) in the car radio/ CD player which had caused a short-circuit. However, this time I was quite impressed by their professional service. They sent me an SMS to confirm my booking and also called me up after the work was done.
The total cost for the service and MOT came to £200.83 including £50 for the MOT. This was reasonable considering that I had to pay £185 last year at my local garage. They had to replace a few things including bulbs to rear indicator light. However, this time there were no labour charges for replacing the bulbs.
Here is their address and contact info:
TMS Coventry
510 London Road
Coventry
West Midlands
CV3 4EU
Phone: 08446 626226
Fax: 02476 639362
TMS Coventry is a family owned and run business. I had avoided it because of preconceived notions that as an "authorised dealer and service provider" they would be costlier than the friendly neighbourhood garages. However, I was forced to go to them when I once had a problem with the security system/ central locking and a few garages I visited was not able to fix the problem. I drove down to their garage with my emergency lights blinking all the way from Radford. I was genuinely shocked when the final cost came out to be much less than what I had expected.
However, the next time I visited because of a misfiring engine really put me off. I was happy with the replacement of the ignition coil and fixing the problem. What I was not OK with was the fact that they charged me £19.80 for changing 3 bulbs and included and extra £34.40 labour charge. And they had not even thought of calling me up to check with me.
In contrast my favourite garage in Stoney Stanton, had once changed one of my bulbs and had only charged me £3.
Anyway, I had to go back to them again when I had electrical problems with the car. Ultimately found out that the fault had been caused by some coins (my son's handiwork) in the car radio/ CD player which had caused a short-circuit. However, this time I was quite impressed by their professional service. They sent me an SMS to confirm my booking and also called me up after the work was done.
The total cost for the service and MOT came to £200.83 including £50 for the MOT. This was reasonable considering that I had to pay £185 last year at my local garage. They had to replace a few things including bulbs to rear indicator light. However, this time there were no labour charges for replacing the bulbs.
Here is their address and contact info:
TMS Coventry
510 London Road
Coventry
West Midlands
CV3 4EU
Phone: 08446 626226
Fax: 02476 639362
Friday, 22 July 2011
Getting the best deal on your car insurance
Do you know how to get the best deal on your car insurance?
If you drive, you need insurance. That’s a simple fact of life that all motorists have to budget for every year. Thanks to Internet online comparison sites, it’s never been easier to compare car insurance quotes online and get the best deal. But do you know what to look for when you’re scanning through pages of suppliers and tempting new deals?
It’s not just about the price
While the temptation may be to go for the cheapest quote, before you click ‘OK’, have a good look at the fine print. That cheap quote may have hidden extras attached to it, like a hefty excess or additional charges for breakdown recovery. Does it include windscreen cover and insurance for your possessions? Before you sit down to compare car insurance quotes, decide what you want from your insurer, how much cover you actually need and how much excess you’re prepared to pay.
Sticking with the devil you know…
The easiest option may be to stay with your current insurance provider. After all, it’s just a simple matter of renewing your policy, and you’re bound to get a better deal after a year’s no claims, right? Well, not necessarily. While your current insurance provider may offer you a perfectly good policy, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get the same deal at a cheaper price if you shop around. And don’t be afraid to haggle with your current insurer. They don’t want to lose your business, so you’ll be surprised just how open they are to a little bit of gentle persuasion, especially if you’ve found the same deal for less by comparing car insurance prices online.
Won’t swapping affect my no claims bonus?
Many motorists are concerned that if they swap insurance providers, they’ll lose the benefit of their no claims bonus. However, some insurance companies will give you a discount on the cost of your policy if you have a history of careful driving. Check that they’ll add any no claims bonus you have to a new policy and avoid ‘starting all over again’.
By using online websites to compare car insurance, you can keep the cost of motoring down in what are increasingly expensive times
If you drive, you need insurance. That’s a simple fact of life that all motorists have to budget for every year. Thanks to Internet online comparison sites, it’s never been easier to compare car insurance quotes online and get the best deal. But do you know what to look for when you’re scanning through pages of suppliers and tempting new deals?
It’s not just about the price
While the temptation may be to go for the cheapest quote, before you click ‘OK’, have a good look at the fine print. That cheap quote may have hidden extras attached to it, like a hefty excess or additional charges for breakdown recovery. Does it include windscreen cover and insurance for your possessions? Before you sit down to compare car insurance quotes, decide what you want from your insurer, how much cover you actually need and how much excess you’re prepared to pay.
Sticking with the devil you know…
The easiest option may be to stay with your current insurance provider. After all, it’s just a simple matter of renewing your policy, and you’re bound to get a better deal after a year’s no claims, right? Well, not necessarily. While your current insurance provider may offer you a perfectly good policy, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get the same deal at a cheaper price if you shop around. And don’t be afraid to haggle with your current insurer. They don’t want to lose your business, so you’ll be surprised just how open they are to a little bit of gentle persuasion, especially if you’ve found the same deal for less by comparing car insurance prices online.
Won’t swapping affect my no claims bonus?
Many motorists are concerned that if they swap insurance providers, they’ll lose the benefit of their no claims bonus. However, some insurance companies will give you a discount on the cost of your policy if you have a history of careful driving. Check that they’ll add any no claims bonus you have to a new policy and avoid ‘starting all over again’.
By using online websites to compare car insurance, you can keep the cost of motoring down in what are increasingly expensive times
Used Cars to Avoid
Moneywatch.com has come up with an interesting list of used cars to avoid. Some suggestion in the same range are also given.