Rolls-Royce Corruption Probe Said To Expand To Nigeria Bribes

Investigation focuses on bribes to government officials Rolls-Royce says it is co-operating with the authorities

A U.K. investigation into bribery at Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc has reached Nigeria as the Serious Fraud Office looks at the company’s former operations in the oil-rich country, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

The investigation is focusing on whether agents acting for the company bribed government officials in connection with energy tenders through the year 2013, said the person, who declined to be identified because the matter is private. A spokeswoman for the SFO declined to comment Thursday.

“Concerns about bribery and corruption involving intermediaries in a number of overseas markets remain subject to examination by the Serious Fraud Office and other authorities," said a Rolls-Royce spokesman. "We are co-operating with the authorities.”

The SFO asked Rolls-Royce to look into possible corruption concerns, and in 2012, the London-based company handed over details on what it called “matters of concern” uncovered in China and Indonesia. A year later, the SFO opened an investigation into whether Rolls-Royce engaged local agents in return for orders and whether that could constitute corruption.

The Financial Times reported on the probe earlier Thursday.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-19/rolls-royce-corruption-probe-said-to-expand-to-nigeria-bribes

HOW TO AVOID CAR ACCIDENT

Vehicle crashes occurs on daily bases around the globe, and take the lives of many people. However, there are many ways to avoid this fatal outcome.

1) Over speeding. This has got to be the most important factor to consider in avoiding accidents, so drive carefully and don't over speed!

2) Brake pads. In fact break failure are the number one causes of accidents involving trucks and larger vehicles. Due to the nature of most Nigerian Roads, studies shows most road accidents in Nigeria are caused by break failures especially from the larger vehicles and the nature of our roads hasn’t helped matters. Always take note of unusual sounds you hear when applying your brakes. For example, a squeaking noise when applying the brake could probably be lack of brake fluid.

3) Natural causes are normal. Natural weather conditions like Rain, Fog are bound to happen. Rain has been the catalyst to most natural accident cases in Nigeria. When it rains it reduces the driver perception and is especially highly debilitating at night. Rain affects the ability to see through the car windshield despite your wind shield wipers operating; the splashing and even your wind shield wipers also periodically block vision. When it rains, drive at a reasonable speed that you feel wouldn’t cause an unexpected accident. Sometimes windshield wipers are not 100% efficient as they can leave a smear of water as it wipes. Wipers are always cheap to replace. So as soon you see signs that it is wearing out, replace it.

4) Don't drink and Drive. Don't drink any alcoholic beverages while driving! And don't drive while under the influence of alcohol! In the first place, you risk the life of those who will be in your car, not to mention you. So be reasonable - no drinking and driving.
Source:http://www.nairaland.com/1812767/facts-cars

THE LOOK ON A MAN'S FACE WHEN A WOMAN IS DRIVING

This how a man's face looks, when his wife is doing the driving..

FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VERSUS BACK WHEEL DRIVE (PART 1)

Both online and offline, I have seen guys argued about how Front wheel is better than and Back Wheel and vice versa.
Based on some online surveys,  it has been established that rear wheel drive has more advantages over front wheel drive, but automakers tend to produce more of front wheel drive, which begs the question why, but it does mean that the automakers are hiding a secret from car lovers and enthusiast.

Although it has been stated that biggest benefit of rear wheel drive over front wheel drive, is it ability to spread the load of the car across all its four tires. below are some benefits of rear wheel drive over front wheel. in order to understand these difference, we are going o discuss about it Part 1 and Part 2 s as seen below;

Better weight balance. Most rear wheel drive cars have the engine in the front and the drive components in the rear. Front drive cars have everything up front. By properly balancing the front and rear of the car you can improve the handling, acceleration, braking, and thus safety of a car.

Better acceleration. On all but the slipperiest surfaces rear wheel drive cars accelerate faster than a front drive car from a stop. This is because when you accelerate quickly from a stop the weight of the car transfers to the rear of the car. In a rear drive car this places extra weight on the rear of the car, essentially jamming the tires into the road greatly increasing traction. In a front drive car, when the weight goes to the rear, weight is taken off of the front wheels. This allows the front wheels lose traction and spin easier. If the wheels are spinning not only does this slow you down but it also makes it difficult to steer the car. In the rear drive car the front tires are available for steering even if the rears have lost traction.

Better Road Holding. The better weight balance of rear wheel drive allows the car to handle better. The more even weight allows the car to drive neutrally through a corner. This means both the front and rear of the car have near equal loads acting upon them. In a front drive car the the heavy front end causes the front end to have a higher load on it. This will cause the front tires to eventually lose grip well before the rear tires are fully loaded. Front tires on front drive cars do much more work than the rears causing them to wear out much faster. It is best to balance the load as best you can among the four tires. If you are accelerating or slowing down (engine braking) these forces will act upon the already heavily loaded front tires of a front drive car. In a rear drive car the front tires are left for steering even when accelerating or engine braking. Sharing the work among all four tires is the keys.

source: http://www.rearwheeldrive.org/rwd/rwdbenefits.htm

 

MISTAKES CAR OWNERS NEED TO AVOID

 

 

This tips are very important for every car owners.
kindly click this link for video details: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkn-K2noClw

HOW TO KNOW IF A CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT (PART 2)

4.Assess the Car's body lines:
Crouch down at one end of the car so you're eye level with the body of the car. Look along the main line down the side of the car's body. This line should be straight and even and the car's paint should reflect normally. An uneven line or distorted reflection indicates that body panels of the car have been replaced or hammered out due to body damage.

 

5.Examine Panel and Door gaps:
Look at the gaps between each door and the adjoining body panel. The gaps should be straight and an even width from top to bottom. A car that has had auto accident damage will have uneven gaps due to misalignment or replaced panels or doors.

6.Feel the body for Filler spots:
Run the palm of your hand down the body panels of the car and around the corners of the fender and bumper. A car with accident damage will have bumps or uneven spots from filler used to repair damaged areas.

7.Check for Clamp Marks:
Clamp marks around the frame of the car indicate that the car has been on a frame machine, so the car has likely sustained damage that required major repairs to the car's body after an accident.

 

8.Look for Repainting:
Look closely along the edges of the car's doors and body panels for any nicks, scratches or uneven paint areas. Signs of a different color paint underneath could mean that the car has been repainted after an accident or that a door or panel was replaced and repainted to match the rest of the car.

9. Check if the Airbags are intact:
 An airbag is a vehicle safety device. The purpose of the airbag is to provide occupant protection and restraint during a crash event. The airbag module is designed to inflate rapidly then quickly deflate during a collision or impact with another object or a sudden deceleration. the question how do tell if an airbag has being deployed, if the seller decide to keep that information from you. There are three things to check are the Airbag Indicator Light, inspect the dash, and the airbag cover.

To check the airbag indicator light for clue of airbag system trouble. Turn the ignition key to the first position, and pause there.  You should see all the indicator lights turn on, including the airbag light. Turn the ignition to the start position and start the vehicle. Take note of the airbag indicator light. Normal operation is when the light comes on momentarily and goes out. If the light stays on or flashes, there is a problem with the airbag system, the vehicle might had been in an accident, meaning that the airbag wont work.

When an airbag deploys, the airbag cover splits apart. The split cover can be repaired. Look and feel for any unevenness in the cover. Check for the presence of seams and repainting. If the cover was repainted, it will look "fresh" compared to the rest of the interior. Check the cover to see if it has the vehicle manufacturer's emblem and the SRS (Safety Restraint System) logo on it. Cosmetic airbag covers will not have the emblem or the SRS logo. Indeed, some cosmetic covers will state that there is not an airbag inside it.













Another indicator of airbag deployment is dash replacement. When there is an airbag deployment, both the driver and passenger side airbags will have deployed. Since the passenger side airbag is located inside the dash, an airbag deployment will split the dash open.
10. Check for the Information Placard:
before buying a car, its very important to check if the vehicle has been panel-beated by locating the information placard on door, boot, and bonnet usually attached to it. if missing from any of the parts mentioned, it means that the vehicle had being in an accident.

Therefore, every car buyer, should first make a checklist of all these points when making that crucial choice over the car they intend to purchase, to avoid been swindled of their hard earned money.

 

 Source:
http://www.myquicklane.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/vehicle_checkup_report_big.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/2087843797_3771989382.jpg
http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/attachments/taurus-sable-general-discussion/52839d1208298272-finally-some-pics-windshield-crack-img_2856.jpg
http://www.myturbodiesel.com/images/misc/detailing/scratch-after-2.jpg
http://www.carsdirect.com/car-safety/how-to-tell-if-a-used-car-had-an-airbag-deployed

2016 BEST LUXURY SEDAN CARS

I thought, I have seen it all, until this beauties on wheels stole my heart and I could not help myself but fall in love with these awesome rides.

check this link out for detail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n33z9lQ_0YM

HOW TO KNOW IF A CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT (PART 1)

It's important to know how to check cars for accident damage when considering purchasing a used car. Assessing past damage will help you determine the real value of the car and detect resulting problems that could result. Here are some tips on how to detect auto accident damage.

1.Obtain a Vehicle History Report:
Use a vehicle history research company like Carfax to get a full report on the car's history. This file will contain a list of all past owners, insurance information and any accident reports or claims filed involving the vehicle. This will help you know what kind of damage to look for when physically inspecting the car.

2.Look for Fender and Bumper Cracks:
Examine both ends of the vehicle and look for any cracks or patched areas. Fenders and bumpers break easily in a collision because they are often made of lightweight or plastic composite material. Breakage or repairs to the fender or bumper is a good indicator of further car accident damage.

3.Check the Windshield:
Look at all windows and the front and back windshields of the car to check for vehicle accident damage. Note any chips, cracks or webbing. This could indicate that the car was involved in a collision and these areas will definitely require repairs.

 

Source:
http://www.myquicklane.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/vehicle_checkup_report_big.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/2087843797_3771989382.jpg
http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/attachments/taurus-sable-general-discussion/52839d1208298272-finally-some-pics-windshield-crack-img_2856.jpg
http://www.myturbodiesel.com/images/misc/detailing/scratch-after-2.jpg
http://www.carsdirect.com/car-safety/how-to-tell-if-a-used-car-had-an-airbag-deployed

CAR CLASSIFICATION BASED ON SIZE

Generally speaking most people see, buy, or drive cars without knowing what class, type or category the cars belong too, and that includes me. Except for few, most people buy cars for they name, needs,durability, speed, e.t.c, but no body actually put the internal volume or length of the car into consideration. That's why am writingthis article to throw more light on Car classification based on size.

Cars are usually classified either based on weight, size, Length, wheeelbase, numbers of doors,seats that require seat belt depending on country or region.
The size class for cars is based on interior passenger and cargo volumes as described below.
According to recent US Enviromental Protecetion Agency (EPA) classification based on Size, car model are classified into 5 class or  types, and these classification based on size, which includes both length and volume.
Therefore,below are classes of Cars based on their length and volume by EPA.

1. Microcar: are sometimes refers to as Bubble Car, with length not more than 118.11 inches (9.88 ft). there are the smallest classification of Automobile, and are in the boundary between car and motorbike. Most  Microcars have 3 tires, as opposed to the conventional 4 tires cars.

E.g. Isetta, REVAi/G-Wiz, Tata Nano.



2. Subcompacts Cars:- Are cars with a class size less than a compact car, not more 165 inches (13.75 ft), but more than a 118.11 inches (9.88 ft) in length when compared to a Microcar. According to the EPA, a passenger car is classified as subcompact if it has between 85 cubic feet (2,407 L) and 99 cu ft (2,803 L) of interior volume.

E.g. include; Mitsubushi Mirage, Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris,
Honda Fit, Nissam Versa

3. Compact Cars:- As stipulated by the EPA, for the US and international models respectively, is approximately between 161 inches (13.4 ft) and 175 inches (14.6 ft) long for hatchbacks, 173 inches (14.4 ft) and 187 inches (15.58 ft) long for convertibles, sedans (saloon) or station wagons (estate car). Multi-purpose vehicles  and sport utility vehicles based on small family cars (often called compact MPVs and compact SUVs) have similar sizes, ranging from 165 inches (13.75 ft) to 177 inches (14.75) in the U.S., and from 173 inches (14.41 ft) to 185 inches (15.41 ft)in international-based models.

E.g. Honda Civic, Hyundai Elentra, Mitsubushi Lancer, Toyota Corrola, Nissan Sentra, Ford Focus.

4.Mid-size Cars:- these class of vehicles today are the most popular category of car sold in the world with 27.4 percent sold in the US in the first half of 2012, usually have length between 185 inches (15.4 ft) and 195 inches (16.3 ft). Another widely used definition is that of the EPA, which classifies cars between 110 cubic feet (3114 L) and 119 cubic feet (3369 L) of interior volume as mid-size.

E.g. Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Mitsubushi Eclipse, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Passat,Acura ILX, DS DS4, Audi A4,BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lincoln MKZ

5. Full-Size Cars:- denote full-size cars whose length more than 195 inches (15.4 ft) in basic low-priced, family sedans. The luxury models often tended to reach  211 inches (17.6 ft). initial, a wheelbase  greater than 110 inches (9.2 ft) was the criterion for full-size. Full-size is also defined in space measurement as greater than 3,300 L (120 ft³) of combined passenger and cargo interior volume.

E.g. Ford Taurus, Chevy Impala, Hyundai Genesis, Kia Cadenza, NIssan Maxima,Toyota Avalon, Cadillac CTS, Chrysler 300, Jaguar XF, Acura TLX, Volvo S80.


source:
http://www.vehiclecharts.com/types-of-cars.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/car classificationn
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml#sizeclasses

DIESEL ENGINE DISADVANTAGES OVER PETROL ENGINE

•  Lower power to weight ratio then petrol engines, due to the increased internal component strength- to cope with the high pressures.
•  Lower rev band range compared to petrol engines, although turbo/ super charging has helped to combat this in the last decade- again caused by heavy internal components to a certain degree.
•  Normally noisier and rougher in operation compared to petrol counter parts, although diesels are almost on par with technological advancements with modern applications- especially if we look at German car manufactures for example.
•  More expensive to purchase and run compared to petrol alternatives, due to increase in stronger components and more regular service schedules- higher mileage use will offset this with fuel savings, but anything say below 12,000 miles a year- petrol will be a safer bet.
• Diesels have had some success with racing series, but from an overall power to weight point of view, I assume petrol to be more competitive at this stage in time- as a larger engine needs to be deployed compared to a smaller petrol for similar overall BHP, but Diesels do produce more Torque especially when deployed with turbo charging.

Source: www.rapid-racer.com/car-engines.php#sthash.zcrNxQba.dpuf

DIESEL ENGINE ADVANTAGES OVER PETROL ENGINE

• Diesel engine is 45% efficiency in converting fuel into mechanical energy compared to Petrol at 30%- this means that Diesel engine have higher miles per gallon and have been used extensively in the commercial world.
•  Engine life expectancy is twice as long compared to petrol engines, due to the stronger internal design to cope with higher pressures under combustion. The engine does weigh more compared petrol counterparts though.
• No need for HT leads, spark plugs and coils, meaning greater reliability especially in damp environments and used almost extensively in marine applications.
•  Diesel engines are immune to vapour lock and the fuel is not explosive like petrol.
•  No proportionate decrease in fuel efficiency compared to petrol engines, at higher engine loads. Produce less heat in cooling systems and exhaust pipes.
•  Produce less carbon monoxide and can be used in underground applications.
•  Can accept turbo/supercharging with out risk of detonation, unlike petrol engines at higher pressure levels.
•  Higher torque levels lower in the rev range than petrol equivalents.
•  Diesel fuel is denser then petrol and contains roughly 15% more energy.
• Alternative fuels can be used to power Diesels, with great success with used cooking oils and other vegetable based fuels- this will mostly result in lower performance though.

Source: www.rapid-racer.com/car-engines.php#sthash.zcrNxQba.dpuf