Bound by a common vision of bringing insurance closer to the Filipinos and hasten  vehicle registration at the Land Transportation Office (LTO), major motorcar insurer Federal Phoenix Assurance Co. (FPAC) embarked on a groundbreaking partnership with the leading microinsurance agency Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions (CLIS), insurance arm of the country’s largest pawnshop chain Cebuana Lhuillier, through the Cebuana Compulsory Third Party Liability (CTPL) Insurance or Cebuana CTPL.

With the glamor and bright lights that symbolize the City of Angels, what better place for the global auto show debut of the Volvo S60 Polestar Concept than the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show? After all, the 508-horsepower beast, built by Volvo's official performance partner, Polestar, is arguably the most glamorous and lightning-quick Volvo concept car ever made.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Everyone likes change. If change didn’t happen, then you’ll still be making phone calls in a booth, and you wouldn’t be reading stuff like this over the internet. Though change is generally good, there’s a fine line of being too conservative and too radical. If there’s too little challenge, you’ll be branded as passé. If you’re too radical, they’ll say you’re weird. Finding the exact mix is the challenge to becoming well-received.

Lexus Manila unveiled the new 2012 LS model range, including the LS 460L 5-seater and 4-seater.

Following the recent GS and ES models, the new Lexus flagship is a bold blend of refinement and evolution. It incorporates powerful new styling featuring the Lexus spindle grille design, with enhanced driving dynamics and industry-leading technology.

(L-R): Minnie Valencia, VP for Marketing and Sales, Paolo Borromeo and Max Borromeo, Dealer Principals, Matt Bradley, Ford ASEAN President and Randy Krieger, Ford Group Philippines President.

Ford Philippines today celebrated the continued expansion of its nationwide dealer network with the groundbreaking of the Ford Alabang dealership and the opening of the new Ford Pampanga dealership. Matt Bradley, president, Ford ASEAN, and Randy Krieger, president, Ford Philippines joined Ford’s dealer principals at both locations to help celebrate the milestones.

Auto enthusiasts have a treat in store at the upcoming 6th Manila Auto Salon, with the latest trend in vehicle customization through 3M Vehicle Wrap Film Series 1080. Exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Winterpine Marketing Corporation, 3M car wraps will be showcased through an on-site installation at their booth at the SMX Convention Center from November 29 to December 2, 2012.  As a special offer for Manila Auto Salon visitors, all bookings for a 3M full vehicle wrap will be offered at 50% discount.

In partnership with Motor Image Pilipinas, the exclusive distributor of Subaru in the Philippines, and Auto Trend, a premium car dealer, three outstanding vehicles will be customized with the 3M Vehicle Wrap Film for the exhibit.

There’s no shape more instantly recognizable than the silhouette of a Porsche 911. With its illustrious history going back to 1963, no other car has been the epitome of careful progress and evolution from the stables of Stuttgart in Germany. From tip to stern, the all-new 911 (internal designation 991) continues the legacy penned by Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche but modernized with cutting-edge technology.

The all-new 911 is one of the biggest development steps in the history of the model. Almost 90 percent of components have been redeveloped including an all-new platform, only the third since the original 911. The new 911 grows 100 millimeters between the wheels and some 55 millimeters in overall length, but with shorter overhangs (minus 32 millimeters in front and 12 millimeters at the back) and a lower roofline than the previous model. Yet despite the increase in size, because the 911 predominantly uses aluminum in its construction, the new car is up to 50 kilograms lighter than before.

Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW cars in the Philippines, will serve as the official premium mobility sponsor of the 37th Consular Corps Ball which will be held on November 30. A fleet of 5 Series units will be used to shuttle VIP guests during the said event.

Volvo Car Corporation has taken another step on the journey towards autonomous driving - self-driving vehicles - by demonstrating a new traffic jam assistance system. The new system, whereby the car automatically follows the vehicle in front in slow-moving queues up to 50 km/h, will be ready for production in 2014.

Photos by Ulysses Ang and Ford Philippines

Fuel economy runs have become dime-a-dozen for us in the motoring media. Whenever there’s an invite for one of these things, we put on a game face, all for the glory of which team sips the least fuel. The strategies and techniques for becoming the ultimate fuel miser are well-known that there are no “trade secrets” to speak of. In short, give us a list of who’s going on a fuel economy run, and we can tell which team will win even before the start flag’s waved.

Sensing this predictability, Ford Philippines has come up with two unique fuel economy runs designed not just to test the mettle of its newest compact, the Focus, but to bring out hidden talents of some in the motoring press.

With more than 150 thousand ‘LIKES’, Kia Motors Philippines’ Facebook page just upped the ante for local and multinational brands who use the social media website for their digital marketing campaigns. Bringing ‘A Different Beat’ experience to its customers, Kia launched the Kia Beat Bop and Create Your Own Beat which allows their Facebook fans to play for a new iPad and even a Kia Picanto.

The period January-October 2012 saw the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) post 18% growth in total sales to 24,004 units from the 20,340 units sold in the same period last year. Said growth can be attributed to strong sales in the Passenger Car (PC) segment, which went up by 29% and in the Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) sales that grew by 5%. The launch of new models also provided the extra boost in sales, especially in the LCV category.

The positive sales performance was steered by British United Automobiles, Inc. (MINI), The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (Chevrolet) and Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc.’s newly launched models. Each member registered an overall increase of 41%, 23%, and 13% respectively.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

No one’s denying that the Toyota Camry is the perfect choice for the executive. Aside from a company car friendly price tag, the Camry’s got all the toys for high levels of passenger pampering and promises one of the lowest maintenance cost in its class. If there’s one complaint that almost everyone levels at the Camry, it’s this: it lacks any sort of driver involvement. However, even that’s changed with the all-new model.

Manila’s premiere styling and tuning show, the 6th MANILA AUTO SALON opens its gates again on November 29 to December 2, 2012 at the SMX Convention Center , Mall of Asia in Pasay City with a legendary twist.

“Racing With Legends” is a documentary, which for the first time ever, shows the great racing events that transpired during the Golden Age of Philippine motor sports and tells about the pioneering spirits of the race car drivers and organizers of that special era.

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, opens Q4 with overall sales up by 13% to 18,818 units sold from January to October, as opposed to 16,705 units in the same period last year.  While total sales of the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) segment declined by 12%, vehicles under the Passenger Car (PC) segment hoisted sales with 11,593 units sold, 37% better than the 8,474 units sold from January to October in 2011. This positive performance was due to the impressive sales of the Accent and EON.

Meanwhile, October alone saw a drop in sales by 9% with 1,662 units sold, due to the delayed unit arrivals of some models, as compared to the 1,822 units sold in the same month last year. Although PC sales in this month experienced a slowdown in sales, LCV sales grew by 28% due to the timely arrival of units of the all-new Santa Fe.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation is adding more fun and excitement to its vehicle lineup as it introduces the all-new Mirage. The all-new Mirage is a global car developed on the concepts of high fuel efficiency, affordability and compactness. Produced in Mitsubishi Motors Thailand, this global car features excellent fuel economy, very environment friendly with very low carbon emission, optimized equipment for exceptional value and most of all it is fun and easy to drive. The all-new Mirage is available in GLX and GLS variants with both 5-speed manual transmission and Continuously Variable transmissions to choose from.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) finished the month of October with another record breaking performance. This was the 2nd time this year (after July’s 6,258) that the manufacturer has registered a milestone sales level. Based on the most recent CAMPI report, Toyota Motor Philippines tallied 6,946 units, the highest any manufacturer in the country has ever registered in a single month.

This is perhaps one of the most innovative launches in recent memory for a car in the Philippines. Using the Microtel Hotel near Mall of Asia as a screen, Mitsubishi playfully projected moving images of its Mirage going through its paces. Here's wishing we'll get more launches like these!

At the Los Angeles Design Challenge 2012, Mercedes-Benz is presenting its Ener-G-Force Concept, a cool design study that shows off what a G-Class will look like in 2025. And according to Gorden Wagener, Director of Design at Mercedes-Benz Cars, it proves a clue about a "new beginning for the off-road design idiom of Mercedes-Benz".

Porsche Classic is now willing to sell reproduced emblems for early 911 or 356 models. Of course, what makes it even more spectacular is the level of detail they go through just for one of these crests.