THE CAR NAIRA BLOG

The ROX 01 is an all-terrain luxury SUV built by to blend rugged off-road capability with a premium family travel experience. Utilizing Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) technology, it delivers a massive combined range without any charging anxiety. It functions as a highly competent overland machine that transforms into a luxury lounge on wheels.  At the recent West African Automotive Show at Lagos' Landmark Centre, I spent some hands-on time exploring the vehicle firsthand. Here is everything I uncovered about its design, performance, and tech. Exterior and Design The ROX 01 adopts a classic, boxy silhouette featuring sharp body lines, a straight roof, and a commanding road presence. It measures 5,050 mm in length, 1,980 mm in width, and 1,869 mm in height, riding on a spacious 3,010 mm wheelbase. The front profile is flanked by sharp LED T-shaped headlights and distinct daytime running lights in what I think is a very clean almost minimalist design approach. It rides on 21-i...

The Tavet Garent, an EV focused brand from Nord Automobiles, is a bold statement in Africa’s EV landscape. Tavet positions the Garent as “Premium electric sophistication”, blending luxury with cutting-edge EV technology and sleek, futuristic styling, with a focus on minimal drag and modern aesthetics.  It is designed to combine luxury, performance, and sustainability in a package that rivals global leaders while being tailored for African conditions, adapting electric mobility solutions to the continent’s unique needs (infrastructure, climate, and logistics).  Chassis 4-door saloon with 5 seats Dimensions: 4,880mm x 1,895mm x 1,460mm  Wheelbase: 2,915mm  Suspension: Mcpherson (Front), Multi-link (rear) Powertrain  The Garent is offered as a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)/Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV). EREVs carry a small internal combustion engine (ICE) which do not power the wheels but only serve to charge the batteries, sort of like a mobile generator...

The Nord A5 Luxury is Nord Automobiles’ bold entry into the compact crossover segment; a locally assembled SUV that blends global engineering with regional flair. Built on the proven Changan CS55 Plus platform, the A5 Luxury is tailored for Nigerian roads and tastes, offering a compelling alternative to global heavyweights like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Exterior Nord’s designers have given the A5 Luxury a distinctive look that sets it apart from its Chinese sibling. The upright stance, SUV-style cladding, and crisp LED lighting front and rear lend it a confident, modern presence. It’s a crossover that looks ready for both Lekki traffic and Abuja highways. Seating Capacity: 5 Body Style: 5-door compact SUV Suspension: MacPherson strut (front), multi-link (rear) Interior Step inside and you’re greeted by a clean, driver-focused cabin. Leatherette upholstery, a semi-digital instrument cluster, and a central touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity come sta...

The Sony Honda Afeela 1 is an innovative all-electric vehicle (EV) developed through a collaboration between Sony and Honda. This joint venture, known as Sony Honda Mobility (SHM), aims to combine Honda's automotive manufacturing expertise with Sony's advanced technology and entertainment capabilities and was just presented at CES 2025. The Afeela 1  comes in two versions: the Origin and the Signature. The Origin starts at $89,900, while the Signature trim is priced at $102,900.  Some key features of the Afeela EV are: - A display screen on the front end that shows the logo, greetings, and other customizable messages. - Advanced Technology: The vehicle is equipped with 40 sensors, including cameras, LiDAR, radars, and ultrasonic sensors, to support advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). - Autonomous Driving: The Afeela 1 includes a suite of autonomous driving features, powered by AI and machine learning, rumored to be subscription-based. - Entertainment: It features Sony H...

The 2024 Nord A3 is a sedan from Nord Motion, a premier Nigerian automobile manufacturer. It  is designed to offer a blend of elegance, sporty performance, and safety features, making it a standout in its class.   It is positioned in the Nord lineup as a refined and luxurious competitor to vehicles such as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, etc., in the steadily shrinking sedan market.  It's quite commendable that Nord is still putting some skin in the sedan game despite everyone's seeming preference for SUVs today. Prices start at  ₦ 47,280,000. Origin The 2025 Nord A3 was originally designed and built as the Cowin Xuandu by Kaiyi Auto, under the Cherry Automobile Group, in 2021. It was then offered to the Nigerian market in 2024 by Nord Automobiles as the Nord A3. Specifications Build: Unibody Seating Capacity: 5  Body Style: Compact 4-door sedan Layout: Front engine, front-wheel drive (FWD), no AWD available Suspension:...

Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing (IVM) has taken an unforeseen step in its journey to become one of Africa's largest automobile manufacturers. At a time when major vehicle manufacturers across the globe are easing their electrification plans, IVM seems to be moving in the opposite direction, surprisingly in Nigeria, a country plagued with power infrastructure decay.  As announced on the company's website, their first dabble into the full EV world comes in four variants:  i. Innosson IVM Link, 201 km IVM Link ii. Innosson IVM EX01, 200km IVM EX01 ii. Innosson IVM EX02 330km IVM EX02 iv. Innosson IVM EX02 , alternative price option IVM EX02 AP The IVM Link and IVM EX01 seem identical in pictures. We're unsure of the differences between the EX02  and EX02 (alternative price option). One thing is sure however, the marketing department need to come up with better names.  No specific prices announced yet, but he EX02's pricing starts at 38,000,000 only. That's certainly...