Benefits of Locally Specified Vehicles vs Imports, By Inchcape Kenya.

• Sensor Parameters

Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles specified for the Kenyan market are fitted with sensor parameters that are suitable for the Kenyan weather and climate variances.

Most imports from other markets such as Europe, for instance, have their engine thermostats set lower because they work in areas that have lower climatic conditions.

The imported vehicle thermostat will therefore not function optimally in Kenya given the wide difference in conditions and this lowers the engine efficiency of the vehicle given that they trigger cooling when it’s’ not necessary and will be deemed dysfunctional.

• Suspension configuration

Every market has a unique road terrain and Kenya is no different. This is why Kenya specified Jaguar Land Rover vehicles have a suspension configuration that is suited to deal with the different silt, sand, and rock terrains in the region.

For instance, locally fitted vehicles come with high tension coil springs that can absorb shock that may come from the uneven roads and potholes.

Imported vehicles, more often than not, encounter problems with suspension because they aren’t suited for Kenyan terrain.

• Engine Configuration

Fuel and oil quality varies across the world. Europe, for example, has a fuel that is more refined and has a higher octane rating compared to the fuel in Kenya, which is less refined and has a lower octane rating. The octane rating measures the resistance of a fuel to ‘spontaneous detonation’ under extreme pressure.

Vehicles specified for the Kenyan market have an engine configuration that is suitable for the quality of fuel and oil available in the market. The engine is purposely configured to handle low octane fuel which guarantees optimum performance.

An import that is purposely built to use fuel with a high octane rating won’t perform optimally in a market that uses low octane fuel and to counter the issue, the import engine will work to protect itself resulting in decreased power. This eventually leads to most engines succumbing to knocking.

To further shed light: because Kenyan fuels come with a low octane rating, they are liable to spontaneous combustion, i.e they detonate too soon, and before the spark- as they are compressed. This early detonation is known as pre-ignition which causes knocking of the engine, a costly and inconvenient problem.

• Function Component Configuration

Lastly, changes in function components is another reason why getting a Kenyan specified Jaguar or Land Rover vehicle guarantees that your new car will serve you longer. Imports from other markets such as Europe often come with components that are not required for the local market such as heated windscreen and front water jets that are used for deicing.

Getting a Jaguar or Land Rover is a great way to start when setting out to seek adventure, and getting one locally is an assured delivery that your new car will match up to every terrain.

This article first appeared on the dealer's website.