Popular 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.

Basketmouth breaks continental record with Opel Insignia

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 N10m.

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: The transmission, some reviwers says, shifts too slowly which can lead to frustrating moments when left in the wrong gear