Car Talk
A Review of Bajaj Qute Quadricycle: The New Car That’s Likely To Replace Okada And Keke Napep In Lagos State
Last week, the social media went haywire when Lagosians saw some new pictures of some cars which are rumoured to be the replacement for the Okada and Keke Napep.
Ever since the ban of Okada and Keke Napep in some selected areas of the state, life has not been the same for Lagosians especially for the younger ones who depend on this mode of transportation in order to get to school.
Since the pictures went viral on social media, many have to wonder on the make of the car, the specs and how it looks like.
AutoReportNG did a bit of digging and we discovered the name of the car is a Bajaj Qute or Bajaj Brute Quadricycle.
Introduction
The Bajaj Qute, earlier called Bajaj RE60, is a Rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive, four-passenger quadricycle. It was built by the Indian company Bajaj Auto and is aimed primarily at the Indian domestic market. The car was the first four-wheeler manufactured by Bajaj Auto, which was unveiled on 3 January 2012. In India, the Qute is not legally classified as a car. On 22 May 2013, The Central Government legally classified it as a quadricycle as it is unable to reach speeds of 90 km/h and is therefore only allowed to be used for commercial purposes to replace auto-rickshaws (Keke Napep)
Technical specifications
The Qute is powered by a 200 cc single-cylinder engine with a capability to generate power output of around 20 bhp. The four-wheeler has a metal-polymer monocoque body due to which it weighs 400 kg. Turning radius of the first four-wheeler of Bajaj is 3.5m. It has 4-valve water-cooled DTSi engine with closed-loop fuel injection system. The engine is 216 cc and is light in weight.
The maintenance cost of the vehicle is comparable with a 3 –wheeler, this makes the vehicle suitable for daily commuting. The vehicle has ample storage space in the front glove box. Inside front bonnet, there is a storage capacity of 20 kgs and there are roof rails with a carrying capacity of an additional 40 kgs which is suitable for market women for their goods and market wares.
Engine Specification
Engine:
Four-stroke, twin spark-ignition, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled
Capacity:
216.6 cc
Max Engine Output:
[8.08 KW (CNG) & 9.70 KW (Petrol)] @ 5500 RPM (at crankshaft)
Max Torque:
[16.1 Nm (CNG) & 18.9 Nm (Petrol)] @ 4000 RPM (at crankshaft)
Driving Assessment
Qute has the smallest turning radius of 3.5m, which makes it extremely easy to manoeuvre through congested lanes. Dash-mounted sequential shift gears provide comfort in driving. The small size of the vehicle helps in navigating the city traffic and parking in tight spaces.
Conclusion
If all plans go well and truly, if the Lagos State Government decided to adopt this as a replacement for the Okada and Keke Napep in the state, one wonders if there is much difference between the Keke Napep and the Bajaj Qute as they are almost the same with same sitting capacity.
This is a developing story, we will get you posted as the event unfolds.
Watch the review below
