THE TURTLE 1 ( GHANA )

TURTLE 1

African Automotive design is alive and well in Western Africa. Ghana to be precise. This is an intriguing concept vehicle that found life in the middle of a project and a local community.  Here is a brief detail on how it all came about.  

" Visual artist Melle Smets, researcher Joost van Onna traveled  to Kumasi in February 2013 to build a African concept car, in collaboration with the local community.

 They Set up Shop and created a unique automobile in three months. Philosopher Bram Esser joined the team and worked as an apprentice in local workshops to learn from the life in Suame Magazine. Filmmaker & Photographer Teun Vonk documented the building process of the concept car. The development of an African concept car is the connecting theme guiding the viewer through the international flow of waste processing as well as the local automotive cottage industries."

courtesy of 

 http://www.setupshop.eu/

http://www.hathawaydesigns.org/set-up-shop.html

LARAKI MOTORS Returns (MOROCCO/ AMERICAN RELAUNCH)

LARAKI MOTORS (MOROCCO/ AMERICAN RELAUNCH)

The Epitome is Laraki’s extreme, yet elegant interpretation of the mid front engine hypercar theme. Designed and built by Laraki Designs, in California, Epitome is aggressive, muscular and fearless, but still inviting. She is all about proportion, play of light, shapes and unusual surface treatment that finally work in harmony, to give her the unique character and stance she enjoys.
At a glance, one immediately knows the kind of performance Epitome is capable of. The hypercar uses carbon fiber and aluminum extensively, for their mechanical and light weight properties. The result is a 1400 Kg performer, powered by a 1100 hp quad turbo, 7 liter V8 engine. And there you have it, the universal formula for extraordinary cars. Light weight and high power. Nevertheless, the chassis and suspension are at the state of the art, to ensure unmatched performance.
More than a hypercar, the Laraki Epitome is a work of art, as it triggers one’s deepest emotions and senses. Even the smallest detail was created in that perspective. Components such as the side mirrors, the doors, the hood, the air ducts and other parts were given the highest attention to their esthetics, that they could be considered works of art in their own right.
Only a handful Epitomes will be ever made, for the world to appreciate and exclusive owners to enjoy.

Abdesslam Laraki
CEO, Laraki Designs California

Source 
larakiyachtdesign.com

A pure dream turned into reality. More is more. Be it the price, the size, the horse power its alright. Elegance is a state of being. Take it as you will, Laraki is the bold statement from a Moroccan Yacht and car designer.

African Automotive design is a rhetoric that observes and identifies syllables that echo Africa's rich heritage.

AADA-design-language

Previous posts featuring Laraki's earlier vehicle developments.

laraki-fulgura-concept-2007
laraki-borac
laraki-fulgura-2004 B
laraki-fulgura A

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)

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

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

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

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

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)