An Eye Witness Report of Lagos-Ibadan Railway, Fagba Axis - Photos

An eye witness has sent in some images at the Fagba-Iju area of Lagos state. The images show CCECC preparing the ground for the laying of the railway tracks. Remember that the Lagos-Ibadan railway is meant to cover 3 states which are Lagos, Ogun and Oyo. While a test run has started from Iju to Abeokuta axis, Lagos and Ibadan axis are yet to be completed.

Just 2 weeks ago, the Nigerian Railway Commission received some new coaches from China, these coaches will be used to run the Lagos-Ibadan Railway and the Kaduna-Abuja axis while they await new delivery.

These are some images we are able to get from our source.

FRSC Recovers N1.78m Inside Accident Victim's Car In Kogi

The Federal Road Safety Corps Command in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Tuesday, handed N1, 786,500 to the wife of an accident victim.

Sector Commander of the corps in the state, Mr Emmanuel Abe, who handed the money to the woman, Mrs Charity Anthony, in Lokoja, said that it was recovered from the vehicle the victim was driving.

According to him, the victim was driving a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number Abuja KWL 386 YH when he was involved in an accident at Gegu community on Abuja-Lokoja highway at 2.30 p.m. on Monday.

He said that his men received a distress call and quickly moved to the scene only to meet the only male victim unconscious.

Abe said that the victim, Mr Anthony Ike, was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, while a further search on his vehicle led to the discovery of the money.

5 Best Kept Secrets Your Mechanic Doesn’t Want You to Know

If you’re like AIT presenter, Lara Owoeye Wise, you know what it’s like to be cheated by your car mechanic. While there are some great cars out there, we all deal with mechanical issues from time to time. It’s just part of the life of the car. These helpful tips will let you in on some of the best-kept secrets your mechanic doesn’t want you to know.

Easy Repairs
Some repairs are much easier to do than you think. Remember, your mechanic works off the price of parts and service fees. The “harder” apart is to replace, the more time it will take to do so, and the more money the auto body shop will earn in service fees. Ask around before blindly accepting your mechanic's words as truth.

Cheaper Parts Elsewhere
Not only are there some fixes that are simpler than expected, but you can usually find parts cheaper at a local parts store than through your mechanic. Get the name of the part and how much they want you to pay for it, and then buy one on your own and take it back to the auto repair shop. Your mechanic might just wise up and realize you’re not as easy to dupe as others.

Fix This Now, or You’re in for Trouble!
When a mechanic tells you that your car only has about half an inch of brake pads remaining and they must be replaced immediately, just smile and take your business elsewhere. Mechanics play on your lack of knowledge to get you to replace parts, such as brake pads, or perform regular maintenance, such as oil changes, more often than necessary. In most cases, you don’t need to replace your brake pads until there’s less than a quarter inch remaining, and you don’t always need an oil change at the 3000-mile mark. Check with your dealer to find out more information on basic maintenance requirements.

Old or New?
When you have to purchase new parts for your car, be sure to ask your mechanic to see the old parts before they toss them. Question the condition of the part and make sure the answer is adequate. The same applies to new tire purchases. The tires you’re buying should not be outdated or used, and the tires you’re removing should be outdated and worn beyond safe use.

Get a Second Opinion
It’s always important to get an estimate from your mechanic before any work is officially done. If you question any of your mechanic’s charges, and you don’t get adequate answers, look around for a second opinion. Check fees at other auto repair shops, price out the parts on your own, and ask your friends for references before letting a mechanic you don’t wholly trust work on your car.

While there are mechanics who will cheat you for as much money as you’re willing to give them, there are also plenty of honest mechanics who do solid work and charge fair rates. All it takes is a little time and research to find them.

Written for AutoReportNG by:

Jacqueline Noble

2020 Mercedes SL-Class Grand Edition Debuts - Photos

In the 65 years since Mercedes introduced the first roadgoing SL, there have been just six generations of the flagship two-seater. For 2020, Mercedes will send off that sixth R231 model with a special color scheme and call it the Grand Edition.

Dressed in a lighter black metallic over a black and brownish interior with poplar wood trim, the Grand Edition introduces yet more designo options to the SL's extensive custom order sheet. (The official names for the diamond-quilted leather and tan piping are Tundra Brown Pearl and Golden Olive Pearl, respectively.) The headrests receive SL Grand Edition embroidering, while the two-tone steering wheel is a mix of perforated black and smooth Tundra Brown leather (the latter still looks gray to us, at least in these photos). Outside, Mercedes adds yellow Grand Edition type to the double-lined fender embellishments and borrows some of the AMG SL63's matte silver trim for the chin spoiler, although SL historians will note the Grand's chrome rocker panels and outside air intakes are unique to this model. A polished set of staggered 10-spoke 19- and 20-inch wheels riding on a 0.4-inch-lower sports suspension complete the Grand effect.

The Mercedes-Benz SL Grand Edition is a special-edition version of the company’s familiar and fairly old SL roadster. Based on the sixth-generation SL, upgraded most recently for the 2017 model year, the Grand Edition is probably the last hurrah for the dated roadster, which should be replaced by 2021. Described as an "especially exclusive" Mercedes-Benz, the Grand Edition is indeed a more bespoke version of the SL, but upgrades are limited to special color and trim on the outside and a new leather upholstery inside the cabin. The Grand Edition also rides on a sportier suspension, but it features the same engines as the standard model. Let’s find out more about it in the review below.

2020 Mercedes-Benz SL Grand Edition

• Year:2020 Make: Mercedes 
• Model:S L-Class 
• Price: Luxury 
• Car Segment: Luxury Cars 
• Purpose: Sports Cars 
• Body Style: Convertible

WHAT MAKES THE 2019 MERCEDES SL GRAND EDITION SPECIAL?

- Exclusive Graphite Grey Exterior
- High-Gloss Chrome Trim
- Matte Silver Inserts
- "Grand Edition" Badges
- AMG Wheels
- Designo Upholstery
- Diamond Quilting
- Sports Steering Wheel
- Standard Engines
- Sportier Suspension

This Is The 2019 Peugeot 508 Sport Engineered Concept

The second-generation Peugeot 508 has impressed quite a few with its stylish looks and premium feel. Since it hit the market, the price tag of this mid-size sedan reflects the extra effort, but given how PSA intends to chase Volkswagen's European customer base with a more upscale Peugeot lineup, that makes sense.

The standard 508 plug-in hybrid goes on sale this year, but since Peugeot is committed to electrifying its entire model range by 2023, the 508 Sport Engineered Concept could very well become its first performance hybrid to make it into production later on. What's sure for now is that Peugeot's down-to-earth show car comes with a 3D-printed aero package, electric four-wheel drive, and a 0-62 mph time of 4.3 seconds.

The enhanced performance comes courtesy of the hybrid system, which has a 110-horsepower electric motor under the 222-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo engine, as well as a 200-horsepower motor on the rear axle. Between the two is a 11.8kWh battery pack, good for 31 pure electric miles. Top speed is limited at 155 mph.

In the name of sleekness, the concept has a redesigned front bumper with integrated valance panels, which direct air towards the radiator and the rear diffuser. Peugeot also added flaps to the subframes, and winglets to the quarter panels. In true concept car fashion, the mirrors are carbon fiber.

To make sure nothing would clash with the ‘Selenium Grey’ exterior paint (and the neon green details), Peugeot's Lion badge got an anodized finish. Inside, the French used a new seat design, wrapped in a combination of stitched leather and Alcantara. The remaining surfaces (including the A-pillars and the headliner) are also covered in either the synthetic fabric, or carbon fiber, with an asymmetrical steering wheel acting as the centerpiece.

Ferrari Confirms Hybrid Supersports Car For 2019

Ferrari will unveil a mid-engine supercar this year that is expected to have a hybrid drivetrain,

CEO Louis Camilleri confirmed the car’s 2019 debut on an earnings call on Jan. 31 but gave no further details.

A source familiar with the project said the car will have a V-8 gasoline engine coupled with an electric motor.

It will sit at the top of Ferrari’s sports cars range and will offer more hp than the 488 Pista,  Michael Leiters, Ferrari’s chief technology officer, said at the company’s capital markets day last September.

Giving the car a hybrid drivetrain will help boost its performance while making it fuel efficient and so lowering CO2 emissions.

The car will not be unveiled at the Geneva auto show next month but it will make its debut later this year at a specific event, the source said.

First deliveries are scheduled for early 2020, Camilleri told analysts on Jan. 31. He said the car will not be a limited-edition model but will have a "regular lifecycle,”

Its profit margin will be much higher than the 12-cylinder 812 Superfast, Camilleri said. His comments on its profitability came because financial analysts say Ferrari needs to improve its product mix and have expressed concern that V-8 cars are less profitable than V-12 models.

The midengine V-8 car will be Ferrari’s second-generation hybrid. Previously the company developed a kinetic energy recovery system called KERS for Formula One racing that was also used on a road car in the V-12 LaFerrari in 2013.

Camilleri confirmed to analysts that 60 percent of Ferrari’s product portfolio will have hybrid variants by 2022.

He confirmed that Ferrari will launch a full-electric car after 2022. Camilleri said the first reaction to Ferrari’s upcoming Purosangue SUV, announced last September, have been very positive. "It is a segment that's clearly is growing, he said.  "A lot of our customers would love to have a Purosangue to use on a daily basis."

While Govt Bans Drone In Nigeria , Rwanda Becomes The First Country To Save Lives With Drones

While the world is busy making drones a tool for a faster means of transportation and making lives better, drones in Nigeria are banned for security reasons.

An ingenious drone delivery service known as “Uber for blood” has slashed the delivery time of life-saving medicine to remote regions of Rwanda from four hours to an .

The drone flies to the clinic at up to 60mph. When it is within a minute of the destination, the doctor receives a text. The drone then drops the package, attached to a parachute, into a special zone near the clinic before returning to base.

A partnership between Zipline, a Silicon Valley robotics company, and the country’s health ministry has delivered more than 5,500 units of blood over the past year, often in life-saving situations. Never before have patients in the country received blood so quickly and efficiently.

While commercial drone delivery in wealthier countries is still at the testing stage, hampered by busy skies and strict regulations on airspace, Zipline is delivering blood to 12 regional hospitals from a base in the east of Rwanda. Each hospital serves about half a million people.

The use of drones is helping to reduce maternal deaths – a quarter of which are the result of blood loss during childbirth – and high incidences of malaria-induced anaemia, which is common in children.

Drone delivery also means hospitals can store less blood, which means less waste as blood spoils quickly.

“Some of the biggest, most powerful technology companies in the world are still trying to figure out how to do this. But east Africa is showing them all the way,” he said. “The work in Rwanda has shown the world what’s possible when you make a national commitment to expand healthcare access with drones and help save lives.”

How It Works

Doctors place orders on-demand through a simple app for any medicine they need, when they need it.

Medical products are stored centrally at Zipline's distribution centers and are flown quickly to any destination. This maintains cold-chain and product integrity while eliminating waste.

The Specs/Mode 

Zipline packages the order then launches it into flight. Racing along at over 100 km/h, vital products arrive faster than any other mode of transport.

Our drones fly without a pilot and are battery-powered, reducing the cost and emissions of moving medicine.

Closer Than You Think

Our drones fly over remote mountains, rivers, and washed-out roads. They require no local infrastructure to serve communities.

Within 30 minutes, medical supplies are delivered from the sky by parachute. Recipients don't interact with the drone itself.

Airline Seat Concept for Airbus Adjusts to Give Optimal Comfort for Passengers

LAYER Design wants to revolutionize airline seat. Move Airline Seat concept has been designed for Airbus that utilizes smart textiles with smart functionality to improve passenger experience of Economy Class from short to mid haul flying. Each seat will have a digitally-knitted cover that combines smart textile with multiple sensors that allow passengers to monitor and control various factors such as seat temperature, tension, pressure, and movement. Those factors can be controlled through the Move app, which is also designed by LAYER.

The Move app analyses data from those sensors and automatically adjusts to passenger optimal ergonomic comfort. LAYER Design explains that Move airline seat can also be configured by both airline and passenger to fit a variety of user needs. The seat is lightweight with adaptable structure, it helps to reduce the onboard weight of an aircraft, thus saving significant of fuel and a greener approach to fly.