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September 23, 2014

Review: 2014 Volkswagen Beetle 1.4 TSI Comfortline


Ask a kid to draw a car and chances are he’ll trace a curvy line, using three semi-circles interconnected together. Without meaning to, he would have subconsciously penned the all-too-familiar silhouette of the Volkswagen Beetle. In the Philippine context, there’s no car out there that’s more memorable as the Beetle. Loving called ‘The Bug’, the Beetle was the quintessential symbol of mobility. In the 1960’s, the Beetle stood for freedom of movement for the everyday man. As a result, everyone had one or at least knew someone who did. Although the decades that followed saw the rise of the Japanese economy car, ask anyone old enough about the Beetle, and they’ll regard it only with fond memories.

September 22, 2014

Ferrari Posts Record First Half 2014 Sales


The Ferrari S.p.A. Board of Directors met under the chairmanship of Luca di Montezemolo (before stepping down) to examine the financial results for the first half of 2014.

The figures show growth in all indicators despite the planned reduction in car deliveries.

September 21, 2014

Title Race for Philippine GT Championship Heats Up in Clark on September 27


Now halfway through the 2014 season, the Yokohama Philippine GT Championship returns to the Clark International Speedway this September 27 and 28 for Round 4.

September 19, 2014

PIMS 2014: Toyota Updates Fortuner, Hilux; Shows Unique Fun Vii Concept


The largest automaker in the Philippines showed off its latest motor show brand identity display, Wave Design at the Philippine International Motor Show. Opening the waku-doki themed display was concert queen Sarah Geronimo. After her mini concert, it was down to business where Mr. Michinobu Sugata reiterated Toyota’s commitment to bring motorsports to the people by bringing the third round of the Toyota Vios Cup to Manila. The race, which will be held on October 18 to 19 will be at a specially designed circuit in McKinley, Taguig.

PIMS 2014: BMW Shows Off First-Ever X4 and Refreshed X3


Asian Carmakers Corporation, the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, made waves at the Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) by showing the complete line-up of its X Series line. The BMW X Series Pavilion provided guests with a chance to experience endless explorations with the complete range of BMW X Series composed of the X1, X3, X4, X5, and X6.

PIMS 2014: Volkswagen Previews Golf GTI (w/ Complete Specs)


Volkswagen showed off its sporty side by unveiling two new additions to its line-up. The first is the Jetta Sport Edition, a new variant of Volkswagen’s globally best-selling compact sedan that now offers a more stylish exterior. The second is the Philippine sneak peek of the much-anticipated all-new Golf GTI Mark 7, a car that Volkswagen Philippines will launch in 2015.

PIMS 2014: French High Fashion at Peugeot


Peugeot, through its official Philippine distributor Eurobrands Distributor, Inc. (EDI), showed off a bit of French high fashion at its pavilion in the Philippine International Motor Show. With a full model line-up display: 3008 crossover, 5008 MPV, 508 executive sedan, Expert Tepee family van, and RCZ sports car, Peugeot held a mini fashion show to welcome special guests on the opening day.

PIMS 2014: Mazda Launches New 3 Speed Model and Equips Bose on Most of Line-Up


Known for its “zoom-zoom” driving fun, Mazda Philippines is adding yet another reason for buyers to consider getting a Mazda: Bose sound system. At The Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), Berjaya Auto Philippines has announced that more local Mazda units will feature the Bose sound system as standard equipment. During the same event, the company also unveiled its new range-topping variant for the Mazda3: the Mazda3 Speed.

PIMS 2014: Mitsubishi Shows Off Its Heritage and Future


Mitsubishi Motors Philippines (MMPC) is using the Philippine International Motor Show to showcase a robust line-up of vehicles including concept cars that have debuted in other international motor show such as the Geneva Motor Show and Tokyo Motor Show. MMPC flew in these concepts along with the Pajero Dakar Rally car to showcase the brand’s heritage as well as future product direction. Aside from these concept cars, MMPC’s pavilion also has a sneak preview of the all-new Outlander as well as the recently soft-launched ASX crossover.

PIMS 2014: Honda Reveals Brio and Brio Amaze Pricing (and Its Racing Heritage)


In a page seemingly lifted from their 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013 exhibit, Honda Cars Philippines decided to show off the brand’s racing heritage by bringing over not one but two motorsports inspired exhibits: the NSX Concept and the Japan Super Formula open-wheeled race car. Of course, they decided to use the Philippine International Motor Show to finally unveil their all-new Brio and Brio Amaze B-segment car.

PIMS 2014: Nissan Launches All-New X-Trail (w/ Complete Brochure)


Nissan Philippines is aiming to increase excitement in its local line-up as the unified company launches the all-new X-Trail at the Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS). Perhaps the model with the strongest consumer recall locally, the third-generation X-Trail is Nissan’s global compact crossover offering that is slated to be sold in over 190 countries worldwide. The Philippines is one of the first countries in the ASEAN market to receive the X-Trail which is built at Nissan’s Kyushu, Japan plant.

September 17, 2014

PIMS 2014 Events Schedule and Highlights


Ask and you shall receive. This is the CAMPI Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) official schedule of events and activities from Thursday, September 18 to Sunday, September 21. See you at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Gates open at 10 AM and don’t close until 9 PM.

Challenge Accepted: Honda takes the All-New City on a Fuel Economy Run

Photos by Ulysses and Honda Press (Jam Ramos)
For our full review of the Honda City 1.5 VX Aero Sport Modulo, click here.

Honda has always prided itself with producing environmentally-friendly cars. From creating CVCC in the 1970s to bringing VTEC in the 1980s to developing gasoline-electric hybrids in the 1990s, Honda has successfully broken the barrier between what’s possible and impossible. The Japanese company’s relentless pursuit of engineering excellence as well as its unconventional approach has put them in high regard when it comes to drivetrain design. Locally, their approach is no different. Apart from introducing variable valve timing to its products, Honda is the first car company in the country to be Euro-4 compliant across its entire line, a feat it has done as early as 2004.

Ford Philippine August Sales Soar 138 Percent


Ford Philippines today announced an all-time record monthly performance with overall retail sales in August soaring 138 percent year-over-year to 1,967 units.

The record month was led by the Ranger’s all-time best monthly performance in the Philippines, continuation of the all-new Ecosport’s early success and continuing demand for the Fiesta and Everest nameplates.

Car of the Year 2014-2015 Kicks Off Testing


The Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI), the organization of motoring journalists behind the Philippine Car of the Year awards, recently launched their 2014-2015 Car of the Year-Philippines (COTY-P) and Truck of the Year-Philippines (TOTY-P) testing season.

September 16, 2014

Subaru Palm Challenge 2014 Crowns Cebu Winner, Last Stop is Manila


Motor Image Pilipinas (MIP), the authorized distributor of Subaru in the Philippines has identified the second member of the Philippine Team through the 2014 Subaru Palm Challenge Philippine Face-Off Cebu Leg.  Now going on its sixth year in the Philippines, its second year as a national search, the contest aims to find 10 mentally and physically strong challengers, from across the country, to represent the Philippines at the MediaCorp Subaru Challenge in Singapore this November 2014. There, they will go head-to-head with challengers from around Asia such as Singapore, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Hyundai Posts 10 Percent Growth in August


Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, quells the ghost month with August sales up by 10% to a total of 2,073 units compared to its year-ago level. With positive sales performance in August, Hyundai’s year-to-date sales tally reached 15,676 units, 7% higher than the recorded 14,713 units for the first eight months of 2013.

See and Experience Toyota at the 5th Philippine International Motor Show This Weekend


This September, see and experience Progress In Motion as the number one automotive company in the country, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP,) joins the 5th Philippine International Motorshow (PIMS.) Organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI), the 350 square meter Toyota booth will feature the Vios One Make Race Model, the best-selling Vios, the mini hatchback Wigo, the well-loved Innova and the new Fortuner and Hilux. Moreover, Toyota will also showcase a concept car called the “Fun Vii” representing the brand’s commitment to its future in mobility. The 5th PIMS will be held from September 18 – 21, 2014 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Review: 2014 Subaru WRX CVT

Photos by Ulysses Ang
After driving countless cars throughout the year, there is only a handful you can seriously consider owning; one such car is the Subaru WRX. In Ice Silver Metallic. With the Lineartronic CVT. After tasting what it’s capable of on the track early this year, it’s time to what it can do on public roads. And you know what? It can rekindle your love affair with the open road. It’s a car you beg to drive and then drive some more. It’s the car you want to bring through the “scenic route”, meetings and appointments be damned. Plus, it comes in a package that makes it logical to own. The only thing left is to resist the temptation to sign that check.

September 14, 2014

A Class Higher: All-New Mercedes-Benz C-Class Now in the Philippines (w/ Complete Brochure, Video)


Mercedes-Benz’s best-selling model globally, the C-Class, has received its most dynamic and radical change yet as it aims to become the benchmark in the premium mid-sized sedan category. Indeed, the German automaker is promising that the all-new C-Class (W205) is now “one class higher” in performance, agility, safety, and comfort. In a jam-packed launch last week, Mercedes-Benz Philippines through its exclusive distributor, Auto Nation Group, Inc. launched the C 200 AMG. This will soon be joined by other engine variants and design lines in the near future including the Avantgarde and Exclusive line.

Chevrolet Philippines Revises Captiva for 2014. Now with 400 Nm of Torque!


Chevrolet Philippines is once again readying an assault in the compact crossover market by revamping and re-introducing the Captiva for 2014. Headlined by revisions to its drivetrain as well as new features, Chevrolet is aiming to enlarge its share in this growing segment.