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Comedian, Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basketmouth is one to
reckon with in Nigeria’s entertainment industry. He’s rated as one of
the richest and best comedians in Nigeria and beyond, also reputed to
have performed in many local and foreign shows. The Theatre Arts
graduate from Delta State University is unarguably hilarious and has
continued to dish out rib-cracking jokes to his teeming fans.
Many people have also argued that, with
basketmouth, one cannot maintain a straight face, which symbolises his
outstanding excellence when it comes to comedy.
The father of two made history when he acquired a customised Opel Insignia in 2013, alleged to be the first in Africa to be so ordered, which cost him about N10 million.
When he took delivery of the car, he
tweeted, “She’s the first and only one in Africa, I built her from the
scratch, as in…I cooked her like soup.”
The Opel insignia 2013 edition
comes with a standard six-speed transmission which seems smart enough at
picking gears. Propelled by a 2.8-litre turbo V6 engine, the Insignia
huffs out 239kW and 435Nm. It has a fuel economy of about 10.9 litres
per 100km. The hot Insignia takes six seconds to reach 100km from
standstill and can reach a top speed of 250km/h. This model can be
anybody’s for a shade under $60,000.
Interior
The Insignia boasts of 8-way
power-adjustable and ventilated front leather seats, leather-wrapped
steering wheel and gear-shifter. Compared to other cars in its class,
the Insignia’s front seats are mounted 15mm lower to put both the driver
and front passenger firmly in place and in a sportier position, which
affords a clear view of both the instruments and the road ahead.
It has Bluetooth phone integration, iPod
connectivity, USB audio input, a seven-speaker audio system, humidity
sensor, 7-inch colour information display with satellite navigation
which allows drivers to save points of interest and find the most
economical route for their trip. It has a pre-installed application for
streaming music and using internet functions.
The front camera, already fitted to the
Insignia for traffic sign recognition and lane departure warning, now
has the added feature of Following Distance Indication, which measures
the distance to the car in front and helps drivers avoid rear-end
collisions with visual and audible warnings.
Exterior
A unique front bumper with ‘tiger tooth’
air intake, dual exhaust pipes, sleeker front end with slimmer but
undisguised headlights and LED running lights, a wider front grille, and
redesigned front bumper with a lower fog-light recess give the exterior
a clean, yet sporty look with standard 19-inch wheels, with optional
20-inch wheels for $1000.
Standard equipment also include bi-xenon
automatic or dusk-sensing headlamps, automatic high-beam, headlight
washers, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, trip computer,
blind-spot assistance, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing
wipers and LED daytime running lights.
Despite its powerful engine,
four-wheel-drive system and 0-100km/h sprint time of 6 seconds, it also
brings with it the practicality of five seats, 1015 litres of cargo
space (rear seats folded down), and CO2 emissions of 255 grams per
kilometer.
Safety
Its standard accessories include
standard front lighting system called Adaptive Forward Lighting Plus
that provides multiple functions, including beams that adjust to weather
and driving conditions and headlights that peer around corners in the
dark.
Driving the Opel Insignia, which is
geared more towards luxury than outright sportiness, is cool; users feel
somewhat distant from what’s happening at the wheels and in the engine
bay. A quick glance at the speedometer tells you that, yes, you are
indeed travelling rather quickly, but it sure doesn’t feel like it.
Grip is good on partially wet roads, and
it has lots more grip under hard acceleration, as the AWD system is
capable of funneling 100 per cent of drive to either front or rear.
The Good: The Insignia boasts of great fuel economy, luxurious interior and good stability while on track and even wet roads.
The Bad: Some reviewers say its transmission shifts too slowly, thus leading to frustrating moments when left in the wrong gear.
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