May 31, 2012

Lessons Learned from the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge

Photo courtesy of Jollibee Facebook Page

A couple of months ago, I was fortunate enough to be chosen to embark on a very unique contest involving fast cars, fast food, and the concept that was born from their marriage: drive thru. For 10 days, my chosen partner (Neil Pagulayan aka Neil Almighty of FM station 99.5 RT) and I basically drove through almost the entirety of the Jollibee drive thru network collecting points, completing challenges, and what have you. Unfortunately, the winners won’t be revealed until night, so this story may not have such a happy ending to it.

But that doesn’t matter. What does matter is Neil and I have carried with us some of the most unique experiences we’ll ever have in our entire lifetime. And I can say that with a degree of authority given our pair has the age average (thanks Neil). I could certainly do a list of a thousand lessons we’ve learned from the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge, but here are the biggest lessons we’ve learned:

Mazda Museum: Past, Present, and Future in 1 Hour


Hiroshima is often not high on a typical tourist’s list of “must-see, must-go places”. Getting there requires advanced planning since it takes a two-hour Shinkansen (bullet train) ride from the international hub city of Osaka (Kansai International Airport). Plus once you get there, the city center itself has little to offer compared to the likes of Tokyo and Kyoto. However a train transfer away from downtown brings you to the beautiful island of Miyajima and its floating torii gate in one direction, and on the opposite direction, the Mazda Museum.

HARI and Gawad Kalinga to Build Hyundai Green Center for Innovation in Bulacan

Photo courtesy of Hyundai Pre
Educating the public about the concept of biodiversity is a crucial long-term initiative for creating proactive steps towards protecting and sustaining the country’s natural resources.
Last April 29, 2012, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), official distributor of Hyundai in the Philippines, recently strengthened its on-going partnership with the Gawad Kalinga Center for Social Innovation (GK-CSI) at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila. In its advocacy to edify the public, especially students, with sound plans to safeguard the environment, HARI committed to support GK in the construction of the Center for Green Innovations which will rise in GK’s pioneering Center for Social Innovation, Enchanted Farm, in Angat, Bulacan. Said center will house a 100-seat venue for seminars or “green camps” to educate the youth into becoming responsible stewards of our natural resources. Educational materials will also be available within the facility to provide references and innovative ideas during lectures and discussions on conserving our natural heritage.

May 30, 2012

Lamborghini Manila Opens

Photo courtesy of Lamborghini Press
Manila joined the 120-strong Lamborghini worldwide dealer network with the official opening of Lamborghini Manila last Monday. No less than Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini President and CEO, was at hand to official inaugurate and open the expansive showroom, which will not only be home to world-famous supercars such as the Gallardo and Aventador, but will also showcase the exclusive fashion line Collezione Automobili Lamborghini.

Located at 11th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City, Lamborghini’s decision to open in one of the most prime and sought-after areas of cosmopolitan living and lifestyle in Metro Manila signals the Italian brand’s uncompromising style and intent to expand into the Philippine market.

Toyota 86 PHL Prices to Top P 1.9M - Top Gear Philippines

Photo courtesy of Toyota Press
Top Gear Philippines has unveiled what seems to be the introductory prices of the upcoming Toyota 86 sports car. And true to the 86's form, it's actually quite affordable. According to Top Gear Philippines, the Toyota 86 will be available in the Philippines in three variants: one in MT and two in AT.

In SYNC with the Times: In-Depth Look at Ford SYNC


Even if it doesn’t feel like it, driving a car is like doing an intricate ballet routine: it requires concentration physically and mentally—physically, because you’re constantly pressing and de-pressing different pedals, swinging the steering wheel left and right while sometimes operating a lever or a button; mentally, because you’re always looking out in all directions making minute judgment calls and sometimes even anticipating the unexpected that appear apparently out of nowhere. The last thing you need is the additional distraction of a ringing mobile phone or even an iPod that’s proceeded to play an unwanted tune. Thankfully, there’s a technology out there that addresses these distractions. It’s called SYNC and chances are, it’s in a Ford vehicle near you.

Mercedes-Benz Actros Takes to Batangas Racing Circuit


CATS Motors, Inc. (CATS) introduces the new Mercedes-Benz Actros in an exclusive driving event at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

Two Actros truck variants were available for test drive during the event: A 6-wheeler 20-ton 310 Hp Actros 3 and 10-wheeler 26-ton 350 Hp Actros 3. Guests, composed of the motoring press and haulers, were able to experience the power, safety and capability of the new Mercedes-Benz trucks for the first time.

Petron Student Art Competition Now Open for Entries


Everyone’s Vision Petron is a competition for photographers, painters and designers. It is also a venue for filmmakers, musicians, performance artists, art enthusiasts, and all Filipinos to converge and be one through their shared love for Philippine art and culture.  

Themed Lakbay Kalikasan —A Journey of Nuturing Nature, this year’s competition focuses on the different ways of caring for and protecting the environment. Samples may be seen in Petron's own efforts to protect our biodiversity through coastal management, reforestation, mangrove planting, creating fish sanctuaries and artificial reefs, and protecting sea turtles.

May 29, 2012

Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge Day 7: The Video


We finally made it to Cagayan de Oro--the main stop for Day 7 of the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge.

Please remember to vote for Neil and Uly of Team 2. Show your support for the motoring industry!

Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Collaborates with DOE and Meralco on i-MIEV Evaluation

Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Press
Mitsubishi Motors Phils. Corp. (MMPC) is pleased to announce that an Electric Vehicle or EV Cooperation Agreement with the Department of Energy (DOE) and MERALCO is underway which mainly covers the use of Mitsubishi Motors’ zero emission electric car the i-MiEV (i-Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), for evaluation and demonstration purposes.  MMPC will be the first auto manufacturer to bring in a pure electric car in the country given that its principal Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is in the forefront of EV development.

This collaboration project will entail MMPC to lend demo cars of i-MiEV to both DOE and MERALCO for the purpose of studying EV’s behaviors and performance when utilized in Metro Manila in various conditions, and also examine the impact to power system when EV is charged.  The outcome of the evaluation will enhance the understanding of EV and determine the requirements of supporting charging infrastructure.  It will also be a preparatory step toward the possible future introduction and create greater public awareness of electric vehicles.

Nissan Motor Philippines Supports Biodiversity


Photo courtesy of Nissan Press
Some 100 representatives of the business community, media, people’s organizations, local government units, and international organizations trooped to Ang Pulo Mangroves in Calatagan, Batangas on May 15 for a media forum and mangrove planting activity. The multi-sector event dubbed “Conserve Marine Biodiversity, Conserve Life” forms part of the events organized for the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2012 and the National Oceans Month.  

Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NMPI), together with Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation,  the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR-PAWB), the Batangas Government Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Provincial Government of Batangas, the Municipal Government of Calagatan, and led the planting of 200 mangrove propagules at Ang Pulo.

Honda Cars Philippines Resumes Sale of Jazz 1.3



Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) resumes sales of the Jazz 1.3 liter variant starting May 18, 2012 following the recovery of supply from Honda’s manufacturing plant in Thailand, which again started production of automobiles last March 26, 2012.

Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge Day 6: The Video


So it's Day 6 of the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge and we find ourselves in the Queen City of the South--Cebu! See what we've been up to before we travel to Cagayan de Oro!

Remember to show your support for the motoring industry by voting for Team 2 in the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge Poll.

May 28, 2012

Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge Day 5: The Video


We're half-way through the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge. This is Day 5, and we've just crossed by ro-ro to the Visayas region.
Don't forget to vote for Neil Almighty of 99.5 RT and Uly of Philippine Star by clicking here. We appreciate your support as the motoring industry's falling behind next to celebrities and athletes!

May 25, 2012

Toyota Motor Philippines Launches "86 Sightings" Marketing Campaign


Toyota Motor Philippines, in what could be the best guerrilla marketing move, has launched the Toyota "86 Sightings" to mark the upcoming launch of the 86 sports coupe in June (we'll be there on June 18-19 for the media track day). If you want to see the 86 in the flesh a full month before we'll get to drive one, the schedule is located after the break.

Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge Day 4: The Video


We head to Southern Luzon, particularly Bicol in Day 4 of the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge. This is actually the day before we all embark on a 4-day journey to Visayas and Mindanao!

Don't forget to vote for Team 2: Neil and Uly in Jollibee's Facebook Poll!

It's More Fun with Toyota: Toyota Road Trek 8

Photos by Ulysses Ang
May. It’s the height of summer, with temperatures reaching well over 36 degrees Celsius in Metro Manila. It’s hot, humid, and dry—the perfect weather for a trip out of town. Of course, given that this is Toyota’s annual Road Trek event, this wasn’t your ordinary beach trip. Being a first-time Road Trekker (I declined the early ones and wasn’t invited to the later ones); I didn’t know what to expect. In the end, I found the Toyota Road Trek experience to be one unforgettable event.

May 24, 2012

HARI and DOTC Partner in Road Safety and Responsible Car Ownership

Photo courtesy of Hyundai Press
Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), official distributor of Hyundai in the Philippines, recently inked its partnership with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in observance of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. Sharing the DOTC’s advocacy for safer roads for all, HARI collaborates with the DOTC to create a comprehensive road safety strategy (safer roads, safer road users, and safer vehicles) with the end view of helping reduce death and injury caused by road accidents.

HARI bolsters its commitment to deliver Hyundai’s brand of excellence to motorists through the implementation of its car safety and maintenance programs. Together with its 39-strong dealerships in the country, the Philippine Hyundai distributor has been upholding the promotion of road ethics among the public, especially motorists, with Hyundai’s signature programs on responsible car ownership, car safety, and road safety. Among these are the Hyundai Car Wellness, a comprehensive after-sales program that aims to provide Hyundai customers avenues to keep their cars fit and roadworthy at all times and instill in them an attitude of safe driving; and the Summer Motorist Roadside Assistance (SMRA), a special dealership assistance program on major and preventive services while on the road during Holy Week.

Said DOTC Assistant Secretary Dante Lantin, “On observing the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, we are looking at the thousands, even millions, of lives that we could save from road death and injury. We commend Hyundai for taking to heart and leading by example in tirelessly promoting road safety and responsible car ownership.”

HARI’s partnership with the DOTC was further underscored during the second Hyundai RUN for a Cause held April 29, 2012 at the Quirino Grandstand. There, HARI showcased its key CSR programs for 2012-2013 with its partner organizations. Each cause had a designated color to signify HARI’s involvement in different nation-building endeavors: blue (road safety and responsible car ownership), red (education), green (environment), gray (social entrepreneurship and countryside development), orange (community development through health), yellow (Filipino heritage and pride), purple (youth development through sports), and pink (women and children’s rights protection).

Goodyear Tops "Fortune 500" List for Northeast Ohio


The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is the largest business in Northeast Ohio according to the 2012 “Fortune 500” list, which was released recently.

Based on 2011 sales of $22.8 billion, Goodyear is ranked by FORTUNE as the 126th largest business in the country, up from 139th last year.
 
Compiled since 1955, the “Fortune 500” ranks U.S. companies by sales.  Companies are ranked by total revenues for their respective fiscal years.  Included in the survey are companies that are incorporated and operate in the U.S. and file financial statements with a government agency.

The complete “Fortune 500” listing is in the magazine’s May 21 issue, which is on newsstands, and on its Web site, www.fortune.com/500.  

Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies.  It employs about 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 53 facilities in 22 countries around the world.  Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry.  For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com.ph.

Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge Day 3: The Video


The continuing saga of the 10 teams in the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge! Don't forget to vote for Team 2 in the Jollibee Facebook Poll.

May 23, 2012

Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge Day 2: The Video


Remember to show your support for the motoring industry by voting for Uly and Neil of Team 2. Click this link!

Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge Day 1: The Video


And so our 10-day journey begins. Catch us everyday on ABS-CBN, ETC or CinemaOne. And remember to vote for Uly and Neil of Team 2! Click this link.

May 22, 2012

AVID Jumpstarts Q2 with 31% Growth; Total Industry Dips 1%


Performance and Drivers

Compared with the 1% decline in total industry sales, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) opens the second quarter with a strong 31% growth in total sales from January to April 2012, with 10, 633 units sold from the 8,119 in the same period last year. This is due to AVID’s consistent robust sales of Passenger Car (PC) models, registering an 85% increase in total PC sales—from 3,526 to 6,527 units sold in the first four months of the year.

This year, April’s overall total sales rose to 12% as more consumers purchased models in the PC segment. In the same period, PC sales alone recorded 55% growth, with 1,324 units sold versus the sale of 852 units in the same month last year.

PLDT Watcher Keeps an Eye on your Business

In the world of financial accounting, the term used for the loss of assets between the point of manufacture or purchase from the supplier and the point of sale is called shrinkage.

It is a word that business owners prefer not to hear. Because the sheer numbers of shrinkage, or shrink, resulting from employee pilferage and shoplifting are staggering: 44 percent from employee (or internal) theft and 35 percent from shoplifting. That’s a combined 79 percent loss because the manufactured and/or purchased goods are no longer around to be sold for profit.

PLDT now has a solution to curb this incalculable cause of loss.

It is called “Watcher.”

May 21, 2012

Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience: The Video

Ok...this happened a year ago already, but we still can't get over it! Here's a video of the Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience that happened at the Subic International Airport. Enjoy!

PLDT SME Nation Launches F.A.S.Track

Photos by Ulysses Ang
Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) who are elbow-deep in critical field operations such as transport, logistics and courier delivery operations, can reap big-time benefits in their businesses by deploying PLDT SME Nation’s innovative, simple and user-friendly, web-based asset monitoring system. 

Simply put, F.A.S.Track Online (Field Asset System for Tracking) is a productivity tool that has an accurate and invariable per-minute location monitoring feature that allows business owners, particularly companies with a fleet of vehicles and people, to precisely pinpoint their locations while on the road, nationwide, 24/7. The information can be sent to and read from any favorite online device, such as a desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phone.

Shell Launches "Target One Million" to Save Fuel

Photo courtesy of Shell Press
Filipino drivers show positive attitudes towards fuel economy knowing that this will result to more savings revealed the latest Shell FuelSave Index. According to the study, 94% see fuel efficiency as an important way to save money and to personally help use resources in a more sustainable way.

The Shell FuelSave Index is a Shell commissioned research that looked into the driving habits of motorists in European and Asian countries in order to understand how to help more drivers save more fuel, more often.

Recent findings showed that the Filipinos are willing to change their driving behavior to save on fuel; reflecting 87% of those surveyed while 85% have actually changed the way they drive to reduce the amount of the fuel that they are using.

May 20, 2012

Petron Assembles The Avengers


Petron brings another treat to its customers with its Assemble the Avengers promo, running from April 1 to May 31, 2012, at participating Petron service stations nationwide.

Fans of the upcoming action blockbuster Marvel's The Avengers, presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures,  will have a chance to complete their Super Hero set through Petron's Assemble the Avengers promo.  With every P1,000 single or accumulated purchase of any Petron fuel—Blaze 100, XCS, Xtra Unleaded, Pinoy Gasoline, Xtend, Diesel Max and Turbo Diesel—the customer is entitled to purchase one Marvel's The Avengers Action Tumbler that comes with a special cup topper for only P60.

There are four Petron limited edition Marvel's The Avengers Action Tumblers to collect—Iron man, The Hulk, Thor and Captain America. These may be redeemed only at the participating station where the customer loaded fuel, and the customer must present the single or accumulated receipts when redeeming the toy tumbler. Lost or damaged receipts will not be replaced or honored.
Marvel's The Avengers opened at Philippine theaters on April 25, 2012.

Petron Offers Free Coffee, Philippine Star


Get going with coffee and catch the latest news with Petron's "Kape at Balita" promo! Motorists who gas up between 6:30 am to 8:30 am at participating Petron stations will be treated to free coffee and newspaper for the month-long promo duration, which runs from May 10 to June 8, 2012.

For a minimum single purchase receipt of P1,000 of Petron Blaze 100, Petron XCS Unleaded, Petron Xtra Unleaded, Petron Pinoy Gasoline, or Petron Regular Gasoline entitles the customer to one free sachet of San Mig 3-in-1 Coffee and one free The Philippine Star newspaper. The free coffee and newspaper may be redeemed from the same Petron station upon presentation of receipt, from 6:30 am to 8:30 am.

The "Kape at Balita" promo is valid only for cash and credit card transactions. Bulk, PO and wholesale transactions do not qualify.  The San Mig 3-in-1 Coffee sachet will be provided as a dry sample; cup and hot water are not included.

Look for the promo signages at participating Petron stations nationwide and get your early morning dose of "Kape at Balita" with Petron!

Toyota Road Trek 8: Video


We were gone for three days last week, and here's the reason why. Toyota held its annual Road Trek event in Bohol and Cebu. Here's what we did. Enjoy.

May 15, 2012

Land Rover Club Philippines Participates in Trans-Kalimantan Expedition 2012

Photo by Igor Maminta
The Land Rover Club Philippines (LRCP) joined the Land Rover Owners Club Malaysia's (LROM) Trans Kalimantan Expedition 2012 from March 10 to 24, 2012.

The LRCP team consists of Leo Dominguez, a Filipino lawyer and adventurer; Igor Maminta, a Filipino professional motoring photographer; David Fraser, an Australian who retired from the Asian Development Bank; and Vicky Vigneswaran Karthigesu, a Malaysian Land Rover enthusiast and adventurer who provided technical support and co-driving for the Team.

The Team successfully brought the LRCP and Philippine Flag at LROM's Trans Kalimantan Expedition 2012.

May 14, 2012

Jollibee Drive-Thru Cross Country Challenge Teaser



Will your favorite blogger win the ultimate road trip? Find out soon on ABS-CBN. In the mean time, you can follow the face on Twitter by using the hashtag: #JolliChallenge or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jollibeephilippines

All-New BMW 3 Series Launched in PHL



No other automobile has created a bigger impact in the luxury car segment than the BMW 3 Series. Since it launch in 1975, the “baby” BMW has sold over 12 million units, making it not only the best-selling BMW automobile, but the luxury segment’s best-seller for many years now. And just last week, Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer of BMW cars in the Philippines has written the next chapter in the 3 Series history by launching the all-new, sixth generation model.

The all-new BMW 3 Series has a rich and illustrious history to live up to, and judging by the initial reaction, this model will have little problem. Just like the first 3 Series, the all-new 3 Series continues with the tried-and-tested concept of offering a compact body with an elegant design, powerful and modern engines, a classic rear-wheel drive set-up, and sporty suspension tuning. The result is a car with unrivalled driving dynamics and agility. Additionally, the 3 Series introduces systems developed under the BMW EfficientDynamics strategy giving this car the lowest fuel consumption and emissions in its class.

Hyundai Kicks-Starts 2nd Quarter with Strong 35% Growth




Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) starts the second quarter with a 35% growth in total sales for the period of January to April 2012. This was brought about by the 113% rise in Passenger Car (PC) sales—from  2,534 units sold in the first four months of 2011 to 5,396 units sold in the same period of this year. Models in the PC segment such as the i10, Accent and Elantra increased the overall boost in sales. The entry of the new Eon in April likewise generated increased interest in Hyundai vehicles. 

April 2012 sales likewise showed an 11% growth in total sales, with a sale of 1,099 units this year from 645 units sold in April 2011. While PC models continued to drive favorable sales performance, there was a slowdown in  Light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales due to delayed arrival of shipment.

HARI enters the second quarter of the year on a positive note with sustained optimistic consumer outlook. According to Nielsen’s Global Consumer Index, the Philippines placed in the top 11 of most optimistic countries in the world. The Philippine economy is expected to remain on track this year on the back of higher public infrastructure spending and improved investor confidence against the short-term challenges of global uncertainties, particularly in the Euro zone.

Ferrari FF Launches in PHL

Photo courtesy of Autostrada Motore
The eagerly-anticipated Ferrari FF recently made its Philippine debut at Autostrada Motore Inc., the official importer-distributor of Ferrari cars in the Philippines. The Ferrari FF is the first four-seater four-wheel drive car.

“This new Ferrari takes the Prancing Horse into new territory, matching the legendary performance, style and driving excitement expected of a Ferrari with new levels of ability thanks to its unique four-wheel drive system, and its spacious and flexible interior which makes it the most useable and versatile supercar built by Ferrari,” says Simon Inglefield, Head of Ferrari Asia Pacific Other Countries.

May 11, 2012

Philippine Car Price Guide: May 2012

We're a bit late, we know. Blame the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge. It was a hectic 10 days...no mobile phones...constant driving...but hey, we made it back. In case you want to see us in action, you can catch it on ABS-CBN, Cinema One and ETC starting on Monday. We'll post the schedules once we get them here.

In the mean time, here's your May 2012 Philippine Car Price Guide:

Lexus Unveils 2012 RX 350 Luxury Crossover

Photos courtesy of Lexus Press
The new, upgraded RX model range made its Philippine debut in a posh dinner held last Tuesday at the Lexus Manila showroom in the Fort. 

The new RX exterior features a new, more elegant and aggressive frontal design. An enhanced interior offers an expanded choice of color schemes, new trim finishes, a new steering wheel and a revised instrument binnacle.

Johnnie Walker Creates Signature Blend with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

Photo courtesy of Diageo Press
Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one Scotch Whisky brand teams up with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes (VMM) Driver and World Champion Jenson Button to create the JOHN WALKER & SONS Signature Blend Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Edition – a unique and rare blend in celebration of the brand’s successful eight-year partnership with the winning F1 Team.

Forming part of the global “Step Inside the Circuit” campaign, Johnnie Walker threw its hat into the wonderful spectacle of F1 racing in 2005 when it partnered with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to give fans exclusive and intimate insights into the world of Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, and the rest of the team both on and off the track.

Hyundai-DOT Partnership Out to Bring More Fun to PHL Exhibit at Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea

Photo courtesy of Hyundai Press
Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, and the Department of Tourism (DOT) gear up for a trailblazing joint effort at reinforcing the image of the Philippines as the preferred tourist and investment destination in Asia at the forthcoming EXPO 2012 Yeosu Korea that will be held in the coastal city of Yeosu in South Korea from May 12 to August 12 this year.

Ford Philippines April Sales Rise Nine Percent

Ford Philippines today reported April retail sales of 677 vehicles, an increase of nine percent over previous month. Strong demand for several Ford models, coupled with the continuing improvements to local supply contributed to the uptick in sales for the month.

The all-new Ford Fiesta led the April performance with sales of 265 units, increasing its year-to-date sales to 1,039 units. The Ford Escape SUV turned in a strong month with retail sales rising 33 percent from March to 149 units.

Drive with Confidence, Have More Fun with the 2012 Isuzu Crosswind Special Edition


With over 7,100 islands, the Philippines has no shortage of breathtaking sights to offer visitors and local tourists alike. The more than 60,000 Isuzu Crosswind units on Philippine roads, meanwhile, are rolling testaments to the multipurpose vehicle’s enduring popularity and usefulness.

So fittingly, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) staged a road trip to one of the country’s premier destinations—the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan—in introducing the 2012 Isuzu Crosswind Special Edition. In the event dubbed “It’s more fun with the Isuzu Crosswind in Palawan” that was held from April 18-20, 2012, IPC reinforced the proven strengths and exciting new features of the latest Crosswind in a way that showcased some of the Philippines’ unique scenic attractions, and allowed access to no less than Palawan’s underground river that was newly included as among the world’s Seven Wonders of Nature.

May 7, 2012

Review: 2012 Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT A/T

Photos by Ulysses Ang
Small cars are a love ‘em or hate ‘em affair—sometimes both in one vehicle. You love them for their perceived frugality and ease of parking, and hate them for their utter dullness and tin-can structure. Recent attempts have proven successful at banishing the notion that small cars are a cruel form of punishment. Chevrolet seems to be joining this bandwagon as well with its Spark, proving that small cars can be a decent drive and have some kind of personality at the same time.

May 3, 2012

Review: 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI A-Line

Photos by Ulysses Ang
Rally-derived sports sedans such as the Subaru WRX STI certainly appeals to a lot of buyers. After all, what’s not to like about its bodacious good looks, powerful turbocharged engine and all-weather security courtesy of an advanced all-wheel drive. However, even if you can afford one, since it’s only available with a manual transmission, it takes a select few—the purist—to truly appreciate a beast such as this. Fortunately for the rest of the populace, thanks to the increasing trend towards automated gearboxes on high-performance machines, Subaru is now offering an automatic transmission option on its WRX STI for the very first time and it’s called the WRX STI A-Line.

From the outside, there’s absolutely no way to distinguish between the manual and automatic transmission variants of the WRX STI. Both the self- and automated-shifting models carry its rally-bred heritage on its shoulder with the wide body design, copious amount of air vents, high-luster alloy wheels and of course, a large rear wing. Thus, Motor Image Pilipinas, the distributor of Subaru automobiles in the country, has taken upon themselves to offer one big differentiating factor: the six-speed manual is only available as a sedan while the automatic is exclusively a five-door hatchback.

May 2, 2012

All-New BMW 3 Series Launching on May 10

Photo courtesy of BMW Press
Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the exclusive distributor of BMW automobiles and motorcycles in the country is gearing up for the launch of the all-new 3 Series on May 10. We'll be live from the specially-constructed BMW Tent. Coverage starts at 7:00 PM Philippine time. For live feeds, follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/carguideph/

May 1, 2012

We'll be Sorta Gone Until May 9!

Photo courtesy of Jollibee
As you read this, your esteemed author and his good buddy, Neil Pagulayan (Neil Almighty) of 99.5 RT will be undertaking the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross Country Challenge which will run until May 8 (or is it 9). And since this is a contest ala The Amazing Race, we don't have our phones with us.

In the mean time, you'll get some scheduled updates, but we'll be slow on the news until May 9. Until then, wish us luck! Hopefully by the time you read this, we'll beat the crap out of these pretty boys and girls!

For more information about the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross Country Challenge, you can check out their facebook page: Jollibee Philippines. Likewise, you can PROBABLY (but we're not sure), follow us on twitter throughout the event at: @carguideph and @neilonradio.