SE Automotive (NIGERIA)

We have a staunch dedication to design quality, with design being defined as fitness for purpose. Today, a car that is fit for its purpose must achieve and surpass the competition on 3 specific quality targets:

• Aesthetic Value
• Mechanical durability
• Functional relevance

These are the cornerstones of the SE Automotive brand. In order to build this brand, SE Automotive must follow a process of product and process development. This involves beginning with a low volume product, which inevitably means a high price and exclusivity.

Segun Akin-Olugbade's company webpage.

http://www.secars.com.ng

Segun Akin-Olugbade (CEO/Director of Development) is the brain behind SE Automotive, and responsible for a large part of the set up strategy of the organisation. He is also responsible for the design of the SE Dau, the company’s first car, and the quarter scale SE Dau Prototype. Segun has experience in automotive design and engineering from Perei Engineering (UK) Limited, where he worked as a Concept Development Engineer. He also engaged in a number of live, industry design projects at Coventry University, and Loughborough University in the UK, where he obtained a BA in Automotive Design, and a BEng in Automotive Engineering respectively.

Segun’s vision is for an industrialized Nigeria, supported in large part by a sustainable automotive industry. In addition to creating a formidable automotive business, Segun is also looking to pioneer skills growth in advanced automotive design and engineering development, by introducing state of the art methods of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Manufacture (CAM). In addition to putting Nigeria on the automotive development map, this will give engineers a broader range of skills, which they can use to create opportunities for themselves by innovating in their respective environments.

Source (http://www.changemakers.com)

Read more »

Tanzania Automotive technology center (TANZANIA)

Tanzania Automotive Technology Centre (TATC). Established with an idea of creating a Centre of excellence in Tanzania to advance technology innovations, with the ultimate aim of attaining self reliance in technology relevant to the economic and social well-being of our country.

TATC was established in 1985 by a presidential decree, as a Research and Development Government Institution under the Ministry of Defence and National Service. The Centre is wholly owned by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Establishment Purpose

To create a Centre of Excellence in Tanzania to advance technological innovations, with the ultimate aim of attaining self reliance in technology relevant to the economic and social well being of the country.

Building of TATC

TATC was built through heavy Government investment , leading to;

• Technology acquisition through ‘technology transfer initiatives’ between Timoney Technology Ltd of the republic of Ireland and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania.

• Construction of the TATC technology infrastructure from a green field

Principal Functions of TATC

To adapt existing engineering technology to alleviate some of the existing problems in transport, agricultural machinery and industry (implementation or pursuit of this function results into adapted or reverse engineered technologies)

To design and develop for production, vehicles, plant and machinery suited to the needs of Tanzania. (implementation or pursuit of this function results into TATC developed technologies).

To conduct research in materials for use in field of mechanical engineering (Material research, metal plastics, rubber, composites.)

To provide consultancy services in the fields of electro-mechanical engineering (industrial consultancy services)

To act as a high technology training Centre.

To conduct quality assurance of land equipment and machinery purchased by the Government.

To undertake any special engineering tasks as directed by the Government

 Source (TATC)  http://www.tatcnyumbu.org

Read more »

Mobius 2 (KENYA)

  

Mobius Two omits many non-essential features while maintaining essential functionality. It has already been driven over 2,500 Kilometres around Kenya on varied terrain and proved its rugged capability.

Mobius Two is designed for driving on rough African roads. The body has a 35cm ground clearance, rugged integrated skid plate and large tyres. This is combined with the power to weight ratio of a 4x4 for optimum off-road performance.

Mobius Two is versatile. The body and suspension are capable of transporting large or heavy loads long distances. The rear fold-up seats can be configured for a total of six or eight persons; they are removable, leaving a flat cargo space comparable to a pickup truck. Mobius has a rated rear load of 500kg.

Lasting structural rigidity is ensured by the tubular steel chasis, which incorporates design elements of high perfomance and racing vehicles. Aluminium honeycomb crumple zone bumpers absorb impact forces in the event of a collision.

Mobius uses proven components and is constructed so that parts can be easily serviced by mechanics. Repairs to the steel frame can be carried out using a simple welding procedure.

Source Mobius motors http://mobiusmotors.com

Read more »

Nigerian woven car body design (NIGERIA)

The cane-made car above is a display of creativity and ingenuity at its peak, as the Peugeot pick-up was woven with cane from the roof, to the bonnet, bumpers, and down to the rims of the tyres!

A middle aged man, tall who introduced himself as Mr Obaniyi Adeoye Ojo who is responsibille for the re-designing of the Peugeot pick-up      said he just wanted to do  something unique and promote Nigerian culture the more.

Very unique I must say!

Source: http://www.ghanacrunch.com/2012/photo-nigerian-man-makes-car-with-woven-cane/#ixzz2IvwJUqZb

Read more »

Team Nigeria in motorsports debut (NIGERIA)

 

Could motorsports become a major industry in football-obsessed Nigeria? It will be if one Nigerian businessman has his way. 

 London-based entrepreneur Ribi Adeshokan has entered his country into the lavish and highly-competitive world of car racing and has ambitious plans to drive African motorsport and build a multi-million dollar racing industry on the continent.

Called Nigeria Racing Eagle (NRE), the team says it hopes to compete at major motor racing events over the next few months, including the FIA GT3 series and sports car endurance races.

"My philosophy is whatever I want to do, I go for the best," Adeshokan, team principal and owner of NRE said Monday, moments after unveiling a green and silver Audi R8 LMS as the team's car at the Africa Village, a London Olympics exhibition site designed to highlight the continent's cultural, artistic and sport assets.

Adeshokan says his team will proudly "fly the flag of Africa," being the first Nigerian racing team to represent the continent at world motorsports.

Source (CNN) 

Image gallery on the link below

http://vivacitypr.blogspot.com/2012/04/team-nigeria-unveil-their-brand-new.html

Read more »

Nigerian undergraduates win world motorsport competition (NIGERIA)

Nigerian undergraduates (christened The NUTA_BOLTS Team) who are currently studying for a various Engineering degrees at the Anambra State University were Nigeria’s sole representative at the annual event whose 2012 series took place in Silverstone Circuit, Northampton, UK. Six other African universities (five from Egypt and one from South Africa) also participated in the competition the competition that drew contestants from 222 universities around the globe.

The Formula Student is an educational motorsport competition, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), in partnership with various well-known companies in the industry. It promotes careers and excellence in engineering, by challenging university students from across the globe to design, build, develop, market and compete as a team with a small single sitter racing car. It provides the students with a real-life exercise in design and manufacture and the business elements of automotive engineering. It teaches them all about team work, working under pressure and to tight timescales. It demands total commitment, lots of late nights, and many frustrations and challenges along the way, but the net result is the development of highly talented young engineers.

The competition starts at the beginning of the university year when teams start to design their cars. They are to assume that a manufacturing firm has commissioned them to produce a prototype car for the non-professional autocross or sprint racer sales market with the intention of selling one thousand units.  To encourage innovation, there are very few restrictions on the overall vehicle design. Successful teams are those who produce a car that is not only fast and reliable, but also low in cost and easy to maintain. The car’s marketability is also enhanced by other factors such as aesthetics, driver comfort and the use of common parts.
The competition offers team the opportunity to undertake real-life challenges and logistics, and develop the skills they will need when they go on work in industry.
For the NUTA_BOLTS boys whose design was judged the 7th Overall Best, fame didn’t just come. They have been working laboriously since 2008 forging seemingly trivial but ingenious designs. The first design they embarked on then was that of a unique Nut and Bolt which gave them the name (The Nuta_Bolts). They went further designing many other components like the key-holder-opener using the conventional lathe machine, they also modeled the speed cone of a lathe machine and later designed a miniature camera. They were on plans to designing and producing a multiple Grinding Machine when the IMechE team visited their school.

Twenty one in number, the team, whom Professor Bamiro (former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan) suggests would make good technopreneurs is armed with strong willed and motivated students from the fields of Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Civil Engineering and Chemical Engineering organizing themselves as a modern company.

The team according to team Leader, Onyenanu Ifeanyichukwu “has already kicked off preparation module to build the car and race it in Silverstone by July, 2013.”
As contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the 21st COREN Assembly where the NUTA_BOLTS team presented a lecture, the government has been “requested to financially support the team to enable them develop, fabricate and commission the race car”.

 (Source: The Engineering Network)

Read more »

R8 Audi

R8 Audi in Audi cars are superbly designed with much technology and style for excellent performance. Audi has now remodeled and redesigned Audi R8 and had entered into the fourth generation. You will be stunned to see the R8 Audi as it impresses people at the very sight. Audi is incomparable and cannot be matched with any other car of today. Audi gears into constant up-gradation of its parts and also it can be installed into any Audi Models easily. Audi promises and delivers a luxury car at a reasonable price. R8 audi is classic, elegant, stylish and aristocratic. You can sit back enjoy the ride in Audi.

Audi has entered the field with classic outer design such as variable ratio steering, blind spot detection and MMI. R8 audi has grown larger and it is one of the largest. The newly designed Audi r8 is now 4.6 inches longer and two inches wider than before. Audi's extremely stiff body gobbles up bumps on the road and stays balanced. Its extra rigid body gives an improved body control while driving. Audi is easy to roll over the corners and its all wheel drive makes it easy to drive clean and straight. Audi's new 40/60 torque split improves its stability in low speed corners. It handles all types of roads and there is an intrinsic tautness to the way it handles the road. Typically, the firmness in the body helps stifle cowers and dives, while the car's body movements are kept well under control.

Audi r8 with top notch leather is a great travel car that has space in the front as well as spacious back seats for all types of people. The headlights of r8 audi is amazing and works well for long distance travelling. It is a good family car.

Read more »

Vauxhall

Below is just a short history of the Vauxhall Car maker and specifically the Vauxhall Astra. Vauxhall cars have a firm commitment to quality, and a tradition that is unrivaled.

The great Vauxhall, specifically the Astra, is a roomy and no-nonsense small family car. The most recent model, introduced in 2004, is the fifth Astra since the start of its manufacture. It sports a larger interior than preceding versions, with lots of fun stuff included providing an up-market look and feel. Vauxhall Cars wide range of petrol engines and good choice of diesels make it a very well-liked car in the contemporary market. The three-door Sport Hatch alternative has the option of an innovative and attractive panoramic windscreen, which creates a whole new driving experience.

History of the Astra

The Astra sets the standard for small family cars. The most recent model, introduced in 2004, is the fifth Astra since the start of its manufacture.

The very first Astra was introduced in 1979 which replaced its precursor, the Vauxhall Viva in the UK. Vauxhall is manufactured and sold all around the world; branded as an Opel in continental Europe, a Holden in Australasia and a Chevrolet in Latin America. In Russia, it carries both Opel and Chevrolet badges. During the 1980s, the Astra was sold as a Pontiac in the United States.

Read more »

Cars 2013

The automotive industry continues to innovate, by bringing to the market new models that are stylish , fuel efficient and loaded with the latest technological amenities. In a bid to meet stiffer federal fuel economy mandates, car manufacturers are making greater use of engineering to deliver vehicles that are lighter, smaller and more efficient than ever before. Let's take a look at five New Car Trends you'll see for the Cars 2013 year.

1. Turbochargers -- Until recently, turbocharged cars were few and far between. That's because such models are more expensive and turbochargers were not as resilient, able to handle the day in and day out punishment that they take. The engineering has certainly improved and today's turbo engines should hold up for many years to come. That's what Ford, Hyundai, GM and others are betting on and are rolling out dozens of new turbo models to deliver smaller engines with more power.

2. Transmissions -- The standard automatic transmission of the 1990s was a four-speed overdrive. By the end of the 2000s, the six-speed became the de facto measurement for car manufacturers. The six-speed is still used, but manufacturers are now incorporating eight- and nine-speed transmission to deliver even better highway fuel economy. Some manufacturers, such as Nissan, have successfully innovated by using continuously variable transmissions, matching or exceeding the fuel economy of other transmissions and engines.

3. EVs -- Electrified vehicles including hybrids have not sold as well as had been hoped. Currently, just over 2 percent of all vehicles sold are EVs. For 2013, you'll see a greater use of plug-in hybrids as both Toyota and Ford introduce new models. A plug-in Prius and the Ford C-MAX Energi will deliver exceptional fuel economy. Whether customers will be willing to pay a premium price remains to be seen.

4. Carbon fiber -- Materials such as carbon fiber are lightweight and durable. But, they are also very expensive. Nonetheless, when used, such materials can cut the weight of cars, helping to deliver improved fuel economy. High-performance race cars use a monocoque chassis assembly consisting of this material. The Lamborghini Aventador uses carbon fiber monocoque; the Ford Motor Company in partnership with Dow Chemicals expects to put carbon fiber into most of its vehicles by 2020.

5. Navigation -- If navigation isn't standard, it is available in nearly every car made today. Today's navigation systems are quite complex, but with voice activation can be very useful. Some manufacturers such as Renault are integrating TomTom with their systems, while others, such as Hyundai have developed proprietary systems that include 911 assist and emergency notification. Most systems include a rear view camera, bringing in yet one more safety innovation in today's cars.

New Car Shopping

Consumers shopping for a new car can expect to find new technologies included that weren't available 10 or even five years ago when they last purchased a new car. Today's cars are better equipped, more fuel efficient and stylish. Prices have gone up considerably too, which means consumers should be prepared to face sticker shock and to negotiate the best deal possible.

Read more »

Bugatti Veyron

One quickly runs out of superlatives when trying to describe the Bugatti Veyron. I'm not even sure if one should use the word "car" to refer to such a monster. Endowed with absolute power and a daunting maximum speed, the Veyron looks and sounds like it just came out of some impossible future inhabited by gigantic gas pumps.

50 years after Ettore Bugatti's death, Volkswagen used its magic wand to resurrect the legendary firm, and to say the least, the German carmaker did a mindblowing job.

Motorsports enthusiasts will instantly refer you to the mythical Bugatti Royale from the 1930s, a colossal and majestic masterpiece, sold at such a prohibitive price that only three people were able to afford to buy it at the time. The Royale turned out to be one of the most rare and prestigious automobiles of all times, but despite record-breaking performances, its endless and fairytale-like silhouette became above all a symbol of unequivocable luxury able to make any Rolls Royce look like your everyday sedan. Instead of trying to match the Royale's incredible legacy, re-Volkswagen decided to look for inspiration in Bugatti's racing history to design the Veyron, rightfully using the name of the famous driver who won at Le Mans in 1939 behind the wheel of a Bugatti Type 57.

We got to drive this exceptional vehicle for a few miles in the parking lot of a San Diego country club. It's easy to feel intimidated by this incredible machine, so we carefully and promptly handed it back to its official tutor, French race car driver PierHenri Raphanel.

The Veyron is unbeatable. Its wide and massive shape sets it aside from other supercars such as the sleek Mercedes McLaren SLR or the angular Ferrari Enzo. But the real thrill comes from the Veyron's unrivaled performances: with an engine delivering 1001 hp and a top speed neighboring 250 mph, the new Bugatti flies over the road like a rocket in the morning sky. The Veyron goes from 0 to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds, which is no less than a second faster than a Ferrari Enzo. Pedal to the metal, you can reach 200 mph in little more than 15 seconds. This is a first in the field of street-legal vehicles, and you would have to steal a Champ Car to have a chance to catch up with the Veyron. To be frank, at the end of the day, I still wouldn't put a dollar on you.

Revolutionary techniques were involved in the making of this 21st Bugatti. In order to gather the 1001 horsepower needed to establish a new automotive legend, Volkswagen has designed an 8 liter W16 engine by mating two narrow-angle V8s. Peak torque is 922 lb/ft at 2200 rpm No less than four turbochargers garnish this frenzied powerhouse and engineers had to come up with a special seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to allow for all this wild energy to be transferred to the road. Needless to say, fuel efficiency was never an issue in the process, and you'll be delighted to learn that the Bugatti Veyron has given a new meaning to the term gas-guzzler by settling for a little more than 2 miles per gallon at top speed. In this configuration, the tank would go from full to empty in less than 12 minutes. All kinds of rumors are surrounding this unbelievable ride: pushing hard on this monster will make a set of tires last about 125 miles.

It took several years of trial and error to achieve the Bugatti Veyron's final version. Launched by flamboyant CEO Ferdinand Piëch in 1999, the project started with a prototype equipped with a W18 engine (three flatV6's side by side).

Soon, engineers realized they needed a more compact structure, and the W16 was adopted and installed in a mid-rear position. Fine tuning the beast was a long and difficult task, and many incidents occurred during the testing. A lack of stability at high speed even provoked an accident and the destruction of a prototype. In 2003, Piëch was replaced by Bernd Pischetsrieder at the helm of Volkswagen, and the new leadership took the project back to the drawing board. Under the supervision of engineer Wolfgang Shreiber, the Veyron became more stable and drivable. Gordon Murray, the famous and brilliant father of the astounding McLaren F1 of the early 90s who had in the past harshly criticized the Veyron initial concept and prototypes, was recently revealing his thoughts on the Bugatti's final version: "One really good thing, and I simply never expected this, is that it does change direction. It hardly feels its weight. Driving it on a circuit I expected a sack of cement, but you can really throw it at tight chicanes.

Only 300 Bugatti Veyrons will be made over the next five years. It will cost you no less than $1.5 million to get your hands on one of them, but apparently, Bugatti has already received 70 firm orders. In a classy move, Volkswagen moved Bugatti back to Ettore's original headquarters at Saint Jean Castle in Molsheim, Alsace, and the resurrected firm should even increase its production in 2006 to meet the demand. Believe it or not, all in all, the Veyron is a good bargain: its manufacturing costs far exceed its selling price. Following the steps of its respectable ancestors, this unique automobile is first and foremost a magnificent and decadent study announcing the end of an era. Stepping away from the cockpit of this unforgettable machine, lost in a state of denial, it was almost hard to keep in mind that the days of gasoline engines are numbered.

Read more »

Bugatti Car

This Italian Sports Car was first manufactured in France by an introverted genius known as Ettore Bugatti. Bugatti had a legendary reputation for building some of the most expensive sports cars of the past century. The first Bugatti after the First World War did not fare well. The company had perennial financial problems all the way up to the 1950s.

The company underwent restructuring, refinancing and finally was sold to Volkswagen- who currently own the company. During the 30s, Bugatti did get a lot of help with engineering from Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati.

The initial Bugatti were fancy cars- more a work of art than anything else. Each part of the car was individually crafted and from this evolved the modern day glossy Bugatti that we know of today.

As a racing car, Bugatti did do well in many European races but the car was chiefly designed to be enjoyed on the road for a casual drive.

The classic Ettore Bugatti Cars of the past included the Type 35 Grand Prix, The Royale, The Type 57 Atlantic and the Type 55 Sports car. Only a few of these classic cars exist today. It is estimated that there are about 2000 Bugatti cars in existence today.

In the late 90s, Volkswagen purchased the right to produce cars and soon manufactured the Bugatti EB 118 AND 218 Veyron. The Veyron was mass produced in 2005 and was found to be super fast car. It also consumed gas at an exorbitant rate. The original Veyron had many test failures. The latest Veyron 16.4 has fared better but is also costly and requires a lot of gas even for short distances. Because the car has always been bought by the super rich, sales of Bugatti have remained stable- untouched by the global recession.

However, when the gas prices peaked in 2008, all the Bugatti Cars remained in the garage. It was costing close to $250 to fill the car in late 2008- and for those who love to put the pedal to the metal, the Bugatti tank will last 20-30 minutes.

Read more »