The good old days: This Volkswagen Beetle car costs N3,984 in 1982

Nigeria was once a nation of order and plans. In 1982, this Beetle car was sold for N3,984!!! As in a whole car. A check at this car now costs a fortune. The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most recognized nameplates in the car world. In different generations, it's been the best-selling car on the planet; today, it's a sporty two-door derived from VW's global small-car platform. 

Review of Rolls Royce 103ex: The Future of Luxury Mobility

Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 is the future vision project of this world’s leading luxury brand about the future of luxury mobility. With code name 103EX, Rolls-Royce wants to boldly point to a brighter future for their customers high demands, complete and authentic personalization that blends technology, design, and showcase Rolls-Royce craftsmanship.

Spectacular indeed, this concept car presents a luxurious and aesthetically dynamic vision of mobility, it offers you personal, effortless, and autonomous Rolls-Royce experience wrapped in a grand design that offers grand sanctuary for its occupants. Special chassis is also designed, hand-built from most advanced materials and powered by a zero emissions powertrain. The use of advanced manufacturing technologies allow customers to involve themselves in the design of the shape, size, and even silhouette of their personal Rolls Royce. So each car would be unique, a personal vision of each customer

Step inside the car, enter the Grand Sanctuary unbowed, you are exposed to luxurious and elegant design. Cocooned in futuristic yet handcrafted lounge atmosphere, the coach door and clamshell canopy smoothly glide to close you in uninterrupted silence and comfort. As you can expect, the environment of this car is crafted from most precious and contemporary materials. Simple, light, and effortless elegance. The cabin is surrounded by most modern handcrafted fine-line Macassar wood paneling, from the coach door and around behind that generous OLED screen and up next to the second passenger to the side of the sofa. This design creates continuous, sculptural surface when the screen is extinguished.

You will also find an elegant sofa waiting for you, futuristic interpretation of modern furniture design. Covered in most opulent fabrics, creating an impression of floating thanks to the creative use of lighting and modern materials. At 5.9m long and 1.6m high, Rolls-Royce 103EX mirrors the dimensions of Phantom Extended Wheelbase with Spirit of Ecstasy grows in stature, looking back to the regal Phantoms of the 1920s.

#ROBOCAR: The world's first driverless electric race car

Roborace unveiled world's first driverless electric race car dubbed ‘Robocar’ at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The stunning vehicle weighs 975 kilograms and measures 4.8 metres long by two metres wide. It has four motors, each with 300kW and a 540kW battery to allow the car to reach dizzy speeds of over 200 mph (320km/h).

Two of the Robocars will go head to head in a race later this year, setting up the potential for a race series dedicated to driverless cars.

The futuristic car is the brainchild of Mr Daniel Simon, Roborace Chief Design Officer, an automotive futurist who creates vehicles for Hollywood sci-fi blockbusters, including Tron Legacy and Oblivian, reports the Daily Mail.

'This is a huge moment for Roborace as we share the Robocar with the world and take another big step in advancing driverless electric technology.” Said Denis Sverdlov, Roborace CEO

Traffic law: Lagos to crush over 4000 impounded commercial motorcycles

The Lagos State Government on Monday said it has concluded plans to commence the crushing and recycling of over 4000 impounded commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada, in line with the provisions of the State Traffic Law 2012.

Disclosing this to journalists at the Olusosun refuse dump site in Ojota, the State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the recent clampdown on Okada across the State was a fall out of the Government's resolve to address the security concerns posed by their operations, saying that criminals are in the habit of using Okada to perpetrate crime and get away.

The Lagos Traffic Law 2012 prohibits the operations of Okada and Tricycles also known as Keke Marwa from operating in certain routes and areas across the State.

He said the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode had directed that the Police and other security agencies concerned redouble efforts to ensure the Law is complied with, assuring that the clampdown will be sustained vigorously on a daily basis.



He said: “It would not be one off. So far, we have impounded about 500 motorcycles since we started our renewed efforts and we now have a total of about 4, 000 bikes ready to be crushed. The law made provisions on how those motorcycles should be handled and the law also made provision on how to handle those that have flouted the law itself.”

According to Owoseni, the decision to crush and recycle the impounded motorcycles was in accordance with the provision of the Law.

Owoseni said aside impounding the motorcycles and tricycles, the enforcement would also clampdown on the operators and residents who patronise them, adding that mobile courts would be instituted to try arrested offenders.

“The operators of the commercial motorcycles and those patronizing them, with time, you will get to see the Mobile Court going around to try some of those that have been arrested. What we are saying here is that we want people in Lagos to know that there is a law and the law is made for a purpose and if all of us obey the law and conform, the better for us.”

Besides, Owoseni said that due to the constant challenges of enforcing the law, the State Government was already considering an outright ban on okada operations in some areas of the State starting with the Lekki and Victoria Island axis.
He frowned at the flagrant way Okada and tricycle operators flout the Traffic Law especially by not obeying traffic light, saying that in most cases it leads to avoidable accident and death of innocent citizens.

“The Okada riders, no doubt, have been a sort of menace. They go into the road and flout the laws with impunity. When they get to where you have the traffic lights, they behave as if it is not meant for them and combine with that is the way the criminal elements put the motorcycles to either snatch money or use them as a getaway in some areas and the same law says that citizens should not patronize commercial motorcycles on prohibited routes.

“Not only that, the law says that by 8pm, they should not be on the road and so the message we are passing is that this is not going to be a one-off thing, we will continue and sustain it. We just like to appeal to people to stop patronizing Okada plying restricted routes,” Owoseni said.

Corroborating him, Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Olanrewaju Elegushi said the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode recently warned all commercial motorcycles to steer clear of restricted routes as the clampdown on defaulters would be total.

“We have an enforcement unit led by the Commissioner of Police, the Task Force on Environmental and Other Special Offences, the Divisional Police Officers and the Area Commanders. They have started enforcement and we came to see how far they have gone,” Elegushi said.

48 Years of Range Rover: The Evolution of the World’s Most Luxurious SUV

When talking luxurious, refined, well-engineered, and pioneering designs, there is probably one SUV that springs to mind … Range Rover.

Since its inception in 1969 (as a prototype), the brand has evolved into one of the world's most elegant and sophisticated SUVs, with any number of who’s who celebrities driving one, and it has since cracked more than one million units sold (1.7 million to date, to be exact).

Forty-eight years on and it’s hard to sum up the brand’s heritage in a simple two-minute space, but it was long enough for Range Rover to celebrate this motoring icon through a specially commissioned animation — created to mark key dates in history for the legendary SUV.

You can see that today’s incarnations retain many of the original design hallmarks established way back when in 1970. These include its ‘floating’ roof design, distinctive clamshell bonnet, continuous belt line, and practical split tailgate.

Timeline:

1969 Range Rover Prototype (Velar)

1970 Range Rover Classic (two-door)

1973 Range Rover Classic (Suffix C)

1981 Range Rover Classic (four-door)

1994 Second-generation Range Rover (P38a)

2001 Third-generation Range Rover

2012 Fourth-generation Range Rover

2014 Fourth-generation Range Rover Long Wheelbase

2015 Range Rover SVAutobiography

2016 Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic

Watch the video here

See The New Luxury Mercedes-Benz Concept X-Class Pickup

Mercedes-Benz offers a premium class pickup with its latest concept, Mercedes-Benz Concept X-CLASS pickup. This concept vehicle offers the best combination of two worlds with new two design variants. It’s a nice truck for an adventurer, it has all strengths of classic pickup such as strong, functional, tough, off-road capability yet it also possesses the luxury of Mercedes Benz’s DNA. X-Class would set new standards in a growing segment, mid-size pickups.

This premium pickup is designed for a modern urban lifestyle, it features ladder-type frame, high torque 6-cylinder engine, and permanent all-wheel drive. Mercedes-Benz also brings safety, comfort, agility, and expressive design. This pickup is equipped with specially constructed suspension with wide axles, a 5-link rear axel with coil springs, and precisely calibrated damper set-up to ensure a high ride comfort, both on the road and off the road. The pickup comes with precise steering, agile cornering, it’ll absorb bumps nicely, making it perfect fit for an urban environment.

Customers who know C-Class and V-class would fit the same interior components are used in the X-Class. It features finished high-quality materials and infotainment system to ergonomic seating comfort. Mercedes-Benz X-Class pickup would define a new level of comfort and value in the segment of mid-size pickups.

Quick Steps To Apply For Your Number Plate

This post is for those who just bought a new car or those who wants to re-validate their plate numbers irrespective of your locations and your state of residence, you can do your plate numbers within a click and get it done in minutes. According to Federal Road Safety Commission, these steps will help you...

1. Applicant completes online registration (MVA01) form at www.nvisng.org, prints completed form and attach all relevant vehicle documents and proceeds to SBIR/MLA (State Board of Internal Revenue/Motor Licensing Authority) office.
2. Pays for vehicle number plate at SBIR/MLA and is assigned a number plate.
3. Applicant takes his/her vehicle to VIO for physical inspection and is issued a Road worthiness certificate, if VIO is satisfied with the condition of the vehicle.
4. Applicant then goes to Road safety for the verification of documents provided. The verified document are:

• Driver’s License
• Insurance Policy Number
• Means of Identification
• Proof of Address (e.g. Utility Bill)

5 Applicant goes back to SBIR/MLA, where his/her Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC) number will be printed. Then the Proof of Ownership Certificate, his/her Vehicle Number Plate and Vehicle Identification Tag (VIT), is released to him.

Good luck!!!

See The BMW Opulence Concept Car by Swaroop Roy

BMW is a brand that guarantees you driving pleasure. Swaroop Roy made an attempt to design a concept car as a proposal for BMW, Opulence. It’s an autonomous luxury car that defines a new standard in autonomous driving technology.

The concept is to create a new product in the existing produce line-up as BMW O (BMW Opulence an autonomous luxury machine). This will be lined between 6-series and 7-series sharing the platform with 7-series. BMW Opulence is highly sophisticates and stylish product defining the future of luxury. Unfortunately there’s not much details about this project just yet, hopefully we can see an update soon.

Tips for Lagos drivers

Lagos is often acclaimed as the most exciting city in Nigeria in which to drive. Who would argue? For those of you who think that driving in London or NY is stressful, herewith, for newcomers and visitors, are a few basic rules of the road for driving in Las Gidi:

First of all, know the battalion to which you belong. There is an unending and vicious road war in Lagos. In the first battalion, are motorcyclists popularly called Okada. They have a pact with suicide avoid them at all costs.

In the second battalion are commercial bus drivers. Their buses are known by various names including - Danfo, Molue (literally means "I go beat you, Bolekaja (means "Come down, make we fight), Kabu-kabu, etc. As these names imply, they are not the smartest species on the face of the planet. Avoid them. What a bitter experience? I don want to cry again. I almost did that day!

In the third battalion are the "guys of the siren": escort riders, Bullion vans, trailers, etc. They have immunity against death. Besides, they get a medal for every scratch, and a certificate of bravery for every bash. No need to tell you to stay clear of them. The Men in black even with empty bullion, I don have empty threat! Be guided.

In the fourth battalion are private guys like me. All we have at our disposal are big talk and empty threats - we have no rights. Sometimes we employ what is called "Ogboju"(bravado) to get by. Due to frustration of being home late or at work. We are a pound in the flesh in getting our ways in traffic too. What a mess!! No gentlemen again in Lagos?

Further rules:

1. When in doubt, accelerate.
2. Never drive behind a person whose head doesn't reach the top of the steering wheel.
3. Danfo drivers believe they are immortal. Don't yield to the temptation to teach them otherwise
4. Taxicabs sho uld always have the right of way, unless you are bent on suicide.
5. Get used to "Okada" riders saying things like: "Commot that scrap for road", "Mr. I go drive myself". It is normal, and we just ignore them. These days okadas are heavy duty machine too 'cos they carry multiple passengers. Husband and wife. I believe They don t complaint of overload as long as the woman is in the middle.
6. Never, ever, stop for a pedestrian unless he flings himself under the wheels of your car.
7. The first parking space you see will be the last parking space you see. Grab it. Survival of the fittest u may say!
8. Learn to swerve abruptly. In Lagos, potholes (and sometimes car-holes) are put in key locations to test drivers' reflexes and keep them on their toes. I got one man fishing in one of the potholes, that tells u how deep it is.
9. There is no such thing as "one-way" in Lagos. Expect traffic from any direction at all times.
10. Never get in the way of a car that needs extensive bodywork.
11. There is no such thing as a short cut during rush-hour traffic in Lagos. Everybody might be inclined to take that 'short-cut'.
12. It is traditional in Lagos to honk your horn at cars that don't move the instant their bumpers are not touching the next car.
13. When asking for directions, always ask at least 3 people. Lagosians claim to know every inch of the city - even areas they've never been.
14. Use extreme caution when pulling into breakdown lanes. Breakdown lanes are not for breaking down, but for speeding, especially during rush hour.
15. Never use directional signals, since they only confound and distract other Lagos drivers, who are not used to them.
16. Similarly, never attempt to give hand signals. Lagos drivers, unused to such courtesies, will think you are making obscene gestures to them. This could be very bad for you in Lagos.
17. Hazard lights (popularly called "double pointer" is not, (as commonly supposed) used to indicate a hazard. It is a warning to you that he is a bonafide Lagos driver, he's headed 'straight' and as such, will not stop under any circumstance. Take him extremely seriously especially if he backs it up with a continuous blast from his "horn".
18. At any given time T, do not stand on the zebra crossing expecting traffic to yield to you, else you will have to explain to the on coming traffic that you look like a zebra.
19. Speed limits are arbitrary figures posted only to make you feel guilty.
20. Remember that the goal of every driver is to get there first by whatever means necessary.
21. In Lagos every spot is potential bus stop. FRSC and LASTMA knows that too. I dey in their constitution.
21. Above all, keep moving. Even with a flat tire.

Good luck-you'll need it!

Trailer coilded with a fully loaded Gas Tanker in Lagos

A fully loaded gas tanker collided with a trailer yesterday evening and the LASEMA Response Unit Squad was able to recover both vehicles and tow them off the road. See more pictures below...
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