“Did you see the new Mazda3?” asked Yasushi Nakamuta, General Manager of Mazda Design Division, the moment we sat down. Referring to a string of spy shots floating around the internet, we nodded in agreement. “What do you think of it?” Sounding like a trick question, we answered once more in the affirmative and added that the spy shots probably don’t do the car proper justice. “Ah, yes,” Nakamuta-san continued. “You still haven’t seen a lot.”

Kia is giving its unique and funky Soul crossover a global debut at the upcoming LA Auto Show.

Luis Gono shone once more in local motorsports at two very different disciplines.

Foton Philippines is adding two new additions to its Gratour line with the market preview of the Gratour TM and Gratour iM6.

Michelin tires and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines have joined hands to make after sales service at Mitsubishi service centers much more convenient for customers.

Mazda’s decision to put evocative design as one of its cornerstones has paid off. Their KODO: Soul of Motion, together with Skyactiv technology and Jinba-ittai has enabled them to grow 50 percent in terms of retail sales in the ASEAN region in the past 4 fiscal years. Given their meteoric rise, everyone is excited with what comes next.

It looks like motorists will have a bit of a reprieve come January 1, 2019 as President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the suspension of the second round of excise tax on fuel.

MAN Automotive Concessionaires Corporation (MACC) has just recently become the third company in the Philippines, after CW Home Depot and Diamond Rent-A-Car, to choose the Santana sub-compact sedan for its corporate fleet.

Ford Philippines announced that October retail sales hit 1,625 units, led by the Ranger pickup and Everest mid-sized SUV.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) is having a 4-Day Sale once more this November 15-18, 2018. Now, special deals and discounts may be had of up to P 65,000.

Two months after she was announced as a brand ambassador for Nissan, 21-year old Naomi Osaka just showed off her brand-new ride and it’s something that fits her competitive spirit.

Since 2003, MINI drivers around the world have been learning more about their cars’ famed go-kart handling at the MINI Driving Experience.  Whatever the location, whatever the track, the underlying principle is the same: by learning how to handle their car at the extreme, drivers will ultimately become better and safer drivers in everyday traffic.

Toyota Motor Philippines announces the success of its charity concert last Wednesday, November 7, 2018. Due to the overwhelming support of the public, the Toyota Classics 2018 has reached record-breaking ticket sales of over P 2 million.

The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI), the exclusive importer and distributor of Chevrolet vehicles in the country can see the 2018 line-up up close at the Chevrolet Motorama 2018.

Volvo’s newest baby, the first-ever XC40 made a special appearance at the Lifestyle Asia Power Gala.

UPDATED: Here is it (11/16).

After showing off the Corolla in hatchback and wagon form, Toyota is set to complete its compact car trifecta with the global unveil of the all-new Corolla sedan. Set to make its debut simultaneously in at least two major markets—North America and China, the all-new Corolla is set for a 2019 release, just in time for the 2020 model year.

Modern cars have thousands of parts all working together to make sure it operates as the manufacturer intended. With that, a vehicle is just as strong as its weakest link. In the case of Subaru, a P 400.00 part is now responsible for a global recall of more than 400,000 units—including those currently running in the country.

Likely to gain notoriety in the future, Part # 13217AA521 or the Valve Spring will possibly fracture under stress. According to Subaru themselves, an abnormal noise may be observed from the engine and in some cases, it may cause the engine to stall and be unable to restart.

Now, before you try throwing your valve spring in disgust, here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about this particular recall which should shed more light into this matter.


What is the recall about and why do they need to replace valve springs?

According to Subaru Corporation, the recall is to replace engine valve springs which could possibly fracture under stress.  When this occurs, an abnormal noise may be observed from the vehicle’s engine, the engine could stall, and be unable to restart.

Will my vehicle experience valve springs failure?

As advised by Subaru Corporation, Motor Image needs to do a recall to ascertain that all affected vehicles are checked.  Please contact your nearest servicing dealer and provide your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and they will check if your vehicle model is affected by this recall.

How do I check my vehicle’s VIN number?

You would be able to check your vehicle’s VIN number at the following locations:

• Front shock absorber top mounting inside the engine compartment 
• Below the right front floor carpet 
• B pillar (by the driver’s door)
• Front Windshield (left side of vehicle) 
• Vehicle Sales Invoice or Certificate of Registration

Currently, I own a vehicle involved in the recall campaign. Do I have to wait for a notification letter from Subaru before I can bring my vehicle in?

Yes, Motor Image’s Customer Service Department will be reaching out to owners of the vehicles affected by the recall. Should your Subaru Vehicle be a pre-owned one, we also recommend contacting any of the Motor Image Pilipinas hotline numbers at (02) 882 9788 local 102; (0925) 711 8475 or (0917) 851 4095.

When will MIP start recalling affected vehicles?

As of this moment, Motor Image Pilipinas is working with Subaru Corporation to coordinate the arrival of parts. Once this is clear, they will start to inform customers about when they can bring in their vehicles.

Will the process involve a full engine pull-out?

Motor Image Pilipinas cannot confirm the extent of work involved at the current moment as they are still getting information from Subaru Corporation. An update will be sent out once they receive more details.

Do I have to pay for the rectification work if my vehicle is involved in this recall campaign?

No. This service will be performed free of charge.

How much time is required to complete the job satisfactorily?

Motor Image is unable at this point to confirm how long it will take to conduct the rectification work as we have to assess every customer’s car and will update each customer accordingly.

Editor’s Note: If the Australian market is used as a gauge, the work will entail somewhere between 10-12 hours per vehicle.

Will this process be warrantied?

Yes, a 1-year warranty or 20,000-kilometer warranty (whichever comes first) will be provided after the work has been completed.

If your vehicle has undergone modification outside of Subaru Specifications, do I still have to undergo the Recall?

Yes, for all affected recall vehicles, Motor Image will have to perform the recall work as per Subaru Corporation’s Job Description. However, they cannot be responsible for any malfunction caused by the incompatibility of the original Subaru parts with non-standard parts which may have been part of any modification work. Any malfunction or performance issues which arise after the recall campaign shall be the responsibility of the customers who have modified their vehicles.

Alternatively, owners of modified vehicles can revert their vehicles to original factory specification before sending them in for the recall work.

For the customers who will not allow us to do the recall campaign because they have replaced their valve springs with aftermarket parts, Motor Image will be requesting them to sign an indemnity form.

A lot of things have been talked about the 2019 Mitsubishi Strada. Given its newfound good looks, naturally, most of the chatter has been focused on the aesthetic. There are some who also dabbled on how the Strada features improved on- and off-road performance.

Future Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will be able to tell if you’re feeling unwell and adjust settings to combat motion sickness.

Hyundai Philippines’ After-Sales Service team was crowned champion of the first Hyundai Trucks and Bus World Skills Olympics (WSO), held last October at Hyundai’s Global Learning Center in Cheonan, South Korea. This triumph follows the Philippine team’s previous accomplishment of bagging gold at the World Skills Olympics - Asia and Pacific Leg, held at the Hyundai Logistics Center (HLC) in Calamba Laguna, last July.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation recently signed a partnership with Lalamove, Asia’s leading on-demand delivery app, to offer the best deals for Lalamove partner drivers.


With a reputable history of providing the best commercial vehicles for Filipino businesses, Isuzu is geared up to make it easy for Lalamove drivers to upgrade or acquire Isuzu vehicles. This partnership entails both discounts for all existing Lalamove partner drivers with free 3 years of LTO registration. With a cash discount of P 15,000 and P 20,000 worth of Preventive Maintenance Services coupons, drivers will have a beneficial head start for their Lalamove journey.

Leveraging the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance’s global manufacturing footprint, they’ve announced one of the first products in their shift towards common platforms and common production facilities: the return of the Mitsubishi Express (aka L300 / Space Gear).

Mitsubishi FUSO is wanting to get into the Modern PUV game. And with that, they’ve previewed their very own PUV Class 2 model: the Canter Commute.

Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), continues to provide better rewards and services to new Chevrolet owners through Caltex Save Plus as it recently announced the renewal of its partnership with The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI).

Shopping online this November 11 or Singles Day (11.11) exponentially increases the chances of you getting laid. For the first time ever, MINI Philippines is selling 20 units of the limited-edition MINI Monte Carlo on Lazada Philippines, exclusively.

Attention: Subaru owners—do you want to be sort of a Subaru brand ambassador? If you’re able to convince your friends or relatives to test drive and/or buy a brand-new Subaru from today until November 20, 2018, you stand to win service vouchers for every successful referral.

It was only going to be a matter of time when Toyota’s sporty Gazoo Racing or GR badge would make its way to its off-road vehicles like the Hilux. Well, the time is now: meet the Hilux GR Sport.

After a series of teasers, Mitsubishi Motors has finally pulled the wraps off the 2019 Triton (our local market Strada) in Thailand. Coinciding with the pickup truck’s 40th anniversary within the Mitsubishi line-up, the revitalized Strada goes on sale in Thailand next week with other markets to follow soon thereafter.

Faulty valve springs are starting to affect more than one Japanese automaker. After Subaru issued a recall spanning 400,000 units globally, Mazda just announced that they’re doing the same for 640,000 vehicles globally.

Busy bees, rejoice: professional car maintenance is now available right at your doorstep. Meet MyCasa, a 24/7 mobile car care service that offers basic automotive jobs such as change oil, change brake pads, brake rotor resurfacing, engine decarbonizing, glass coating, and exterior detailing anytime, anywhere.