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December 21, 2013

Volvo to Unveil Concept XC Coupe at 2014 North American International Auto Show

In September, the Volvo Concept Coupé was launched to critical acclaim and many awards, and represented the world’s first insight into Volvo Car Group's (Volvo Cars) new design direction under Senior Vice President of Design, Thomas Ingenlath. It also showed one interpretation of how the proportions and versatility of Volvo Cars' new Scalable Product Architecture, that will underpin all medium and large cars in the company’s future, could look.

After staging the Peugeot Eco Fun Run four times over the past few months, official Peugeot importer and distributor Eurobrands Distributor Inc. (EDI) formally crowned the fuel economy kings.

Honda Launches Limited Edition City MUGEN This Christmas Season

MUGEN fans, rejoice. Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) has just announced the availability of a limited edition City decked in original and genuine MUGEN accessories this Christmas season.

Take a breather from all the holiday spending with Volvo’s Drive Now Pay in March Ownership Offer. Enjoy a 90-day bank holiday and start driving your brand new Volvo through this easy ownership program that gives you additional perks such as FREE Chattel mortgage, 3-year comprehensive insurance with acts of nature, 3-year LTO Registration, 3-year Volvo Standard Maintenance Service and a 5-Year Roadside Assistance.

In celebration of Columbian Autocar Corporation’s (CAC) 20th anniversary, the exclusive distributor of Kia Motors in the Philippines initiated a year-long promo to celebrate with its loyal Kia customers. The offering, dubbed as Kia Drive to 20 promo, gives Kia test-drive participants a chance to win the hottest gadgets every month while Kia buyers can win major prizes of brand new Kia cars or trips abroad.

Volkswagen PH Adds Polo Notchback (Sedan) to Line-Up

Automobile Central Enterprise, Inc. (ACEI), the official distributor of Volkswagen cars in the Philippines officially adds a new car to its line-up: the Polo Notchback (sedan). The Polo Notchback is currently available in a sole variant: the 1.6 TDI with 105 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual and is currently retailing for P 950,000.

Toyota Tacloban Team Members led by their (L) President, Mr. Jimmy Yaokasin and (R) Toyota Motor Philippines President, Mr. Michinobu Sugata

Last December 14, Saturday, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) President, Michinobu Sugata visited one of the manufacturer’s dealerships, Toyota Tacloban in the wake of supertyphoon Yolanda. Along with TMP’s top management, EVP for Marketing Yohei Murase and SVP for Marketing Jose Ariel T. Arias, the company offered gift baskets as a reminder to its team members to celebrate Christmas despite the challenges experienced. TMP also previously sent food and water supply to immediately aid them after Yolanda struck the said dealership.

In a statement, TMP’s President expressed, “The Christmas spirit should live on in spite of the trials faced by our team members. These simple tokens that we have shared symbolize our continuous support and concern for the Toyota family. I am very glad that Toyota Tacloban’s President, Mr. Jimmy Yaokasin also serves as an inspiration to our team members in remaining strong and resilient especially in tough times like this.”
Toyota Tacloban is currently the only automotive dealership that is open and operational in the said district.

Isuzu Trucks Power Projects of Top Engineering Construction Firm

Heavy-duty trucks from Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) are now powering an integral part of a reputable engineering company’s various construction and power plant projects across the Philippines.

IPC has recently turned over 20 brand-new units of Isuzu CYZ51 10-wheeler dump trucks to First Balfour Inc., a business entity that belongs to the Lopez Group of Companies. The trucks are to be used for the various hauling and disposal requirements of the top construction firm.

2013 Honda CR-Z M/T vs 2013 Toyota 86 M/T

Some car enthusiasts say that we are what we drive. In fact, some even claim that a car is a window into the driver’s soul. So, what does driving a sports car say about you? It might mean that you are: one, someone who’s always at the center of attention; two, a risk-taker; three, a person of power and influence; or four, all of the above. A sports car is a statement piece. Nothing spells out success and wealth more than a sports car.

And now, thanks to an aggressive strategy emphasizing driving fun, Japanese car companies are finally getting into the sports car act, once a segment reserved for European makes and models. And the two most popular examples are the Honda CR-Z and the Toyota 86—subjects of this head-to-head grudge match.

Like a surgeon peering inside a patient, Caltex recently showed how engines that are fed with low quality fuels become dirty in no time. In contrast, the same test showed pictures of how an engine that regularly uses Caltex with Techron are kept clean and operating at optimum levels.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (NML) announced the establishment of Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI), a new joint venture formed with long time partners Universal Motors Corporation (UMC) and Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NMPI).

NPI, to be headquartered in Manila, will start operations as the new national sales company for the Philippines from early 2014 and will be responsible for strengthening branding, marketing and sales strategy, and dealer operations in the Filipino market. NPI intends to reinforce brand and sales power by broadening the product lineup and strengthening sales and services across the nation.

Philippine Car Price Guide: December 2013

The final edition of the Philippine Car Price Guide for 2013. We've got a handful of new models that make its way into the Guide:

Chevrolet Malibu
Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 GT Premium with Performance Package
Hyundai Azera
Hyundai i10 GLS A/T
Mercedes-Benz S 500 LWB
Peugeot 508 GT
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Volvo XC40

See the entire Price List after the break.

Make Your Hyundai Happy this Christmas Season with H.A.P.P.Y Tune-Ups

Give your Hyundai car a special Christmas gift and find yourself humming merrily with it all throughout the flurry of holiday activities.

Avail of Hyundai After-sales Premium Promo Year-ender (HAPPY) Tune-ups at selected dealerships from December 2-28, 2013.

Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, continues to celebrate unmatched leadership in the luxury vehicle segment with the recent inauguration of its latest dealership, AutoAllee BMW. Located at Eton Centris, North EDSA, AutoAllee BMW is the 8th dealership of BMW, the only luxury car brand in the country with the widest dealer network.

Hot on the heels of its well-received launch last September, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) shared some more good news about the D-Max pickup.

“This pickup is truly a workhorse that’s ideal for people who need a vehicle for both business and leisure. I am happy to note that the market realizes this, judging by consumers’ positive feedback with regards to sales and vehicle engine performance,” said Mr. Takashi Tomita, IPC Executive Vice-President as he gave his opening remarks.

Hyundai Motorsport has unveiled its full team line-up at a special launch event in Offenbach today, as the manufacturer gears up for its debut in the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship at Monte Carlo next month.

Hyundai Motorsport has set realistic targets for its debut season with the primary objective of finishing each rally event with two cars. The young team will approach each rally with the goal of accumulating vital knowledge and data in order to strengthen its foundations for subsequent years. Going up against vastly more experienced WRC competitors, the team knows that it has a steep learning curve, but it certainly relishes the challenge and will be aiming to compete for podium places during the season.

Caltex with Techron: the Clean, Environmentally-Friendly Fuel

In recent months, gasoline fuel in the Philippines was put under close scrutiny due to claims made by local Volkswagen distributor Automobile Central Enterprise, Inc. (ACEI) that they couldn’t market and sell their gasoline models due to the presence of heavy metals such as manganese in locally available unleaded gasoline. As a refresher, manganese causes irreparable long-term damage to cars as well as public health (it’s a known carcinogen).

Chevron Philippines Helps Needy Communities in One Week of Caring

Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, closes the year with a celebration of the spirit of volunteerism among its employees and business partners by helping out needy communities in one week of volunteerism called Week of Caring (WOC).

About 724 Chevron employees and Caltex retailers recently painted murals with children with learning disabilities, played traditional Filipino games with orphans, planted tree seedlings, did talk therapy with victims of sexual slavery in WW2, fed abandoned and abused animals, and cleared a turtle sanctuary in San Pascual, Batangas from trash and debris.

UPDATED: Motor Image Pilipinas launches Subaru Love Drive

UPDATE: We just included the Subaru Love Drive video after the break.

“Love. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru,” has been the Japanese automaker’s slogan for the North American market for quite some time. Though the Philippines is sticking to the international slogan, “Confidence in Motion”, it seems a bit of the love is rubbing onto Philippine distributor, Motor Image Pilipinas.

Ford Philippines today announced the launch of a new vehicle promotion with its ever-popular Ford Mustang, “Conquer the Highways, Rule the Fairways”.

Through this promo, Ford is offering their loyal customers the opportunity to not only conquer the road with their signature Ford Mustang but also rule the golf course with a specially-designed Ford Shelby GT500 golf cart.

The Hyundai Lateral Drift Pro-Am Championship Series 2013 concluded six rounds of heart-stopping drift battles among the country’s best drift drivers last November 30, 2013 at the Megatent in Libis, Quezon City.

This year, the competition shifted to higher gear as Drift Couple from Japan, Hiromi Kajikuma and Kimihiro Obata, graced the series as guest judges for all six rounds.

Vision Accomplished: CATS Motors Launches All-New S-Class

CATS Motors, Inc., the Philippine distributor of Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicles in the country recently launched what's deemed the "best car in the world", the all-new S-Class.

Built under the ethos of, "Essence of Modern Luxury", the all-new S-Class puts a lot of emphasis into the passenger comfort an convenience, especially for the rear occupants where the new or re-designed seats, air conditioning, and infotainment system all make themselves quite known even at a glance.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Toyota has been harping a lot about being “Fun to Drive, Again” lately; in fact, it has become their official marketing slogan in Japan. And though the end result is cars that are indeed more engaging behind the wheel; for Toyota, the change is happening from the ground up. For the bi-annual pilgrimage centered on the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota Motor Corporation brought the global media together and showcased their company’s history as well as offering a glimpse into its future. Indeed, throughout the six days, Toyota is focused with one eye at its rich history of innovation and engineering with the other eye looking out for future design and technologies.

Suzuki Philippines, Inc. (SPH), the only integrated motorcycle and automobile company in the country, recently opened another 3S outlet in Quezon City in line with the company’s aggressive expansion.

The Suzuki Auto Commonwealth is a one-stop, full-service shop that can cater to sales, services, and spare parts needs of motorists in Metro Manila especially the Commonwealth Ave. Area in Quezon City. This is the first Suzuki 3S dealership along Commonwealth Avenue.

Take Home a Honda This Holiday Season

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) shares the holiday spirit as it offers its exclusive treats for customers to get that dream car off their Christmas list. Available until December 31, 2013, the Honda City, and certain variants of the Civic and CR-V are being offered with outright cash discounts, freebies and flexible financing schemes, making it easier for you to drive home a Honda.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) continues to uphold strong sales this November 2013 with 7,458 units coming from October’s record-breaking sales of 7,476 units. In the Passenger Car segment, TMP sold a total of 2,715 units while the Commercial Vehicle segment tallied 4,743 units.

Hyundai Green Dealership Design Awards Winners

Hyundai Central EDSA won the greenest Hyundai dealer award.

Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) and the University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Architecture (UPCA) capped the three-month Hyundai Green Dealership DESIGN competition with the awarding of winners last November 25, 2013 at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel.

Bagging First Place was the team of Francis Timothy Santos, Carla Lim, and Carem Morales who conceptualized a green Hyundai Central EDSA. Second Place went to Aedriane Celis and Danilo Donor who worked on the green design for Hyundai Commonwealth Avenue. Third Place went to Patrick Lawrence Monfort, Jilliane Gomez and Andrey Lopez who were assigned to Hyundai E. Rodriguez. Winners received trophies and cash prizes.

Daimler AG will help the people of the Philippines. Due to the tragic events caused by the typhoon "Haiyan" the company provides on short notice 500,000 euro for the suffering population. The donation will go directly to the German Red Cross. The money will be used to bring vital relief supplies - such as tents, kitchen sets, hygiene kits and plastic sheets - for over 15,000 people in the Philippines. In addition, Daimler asks its employees to make donations.

Tokyo Motor Show 2013: Subaru Goes Levorg...and It's Coming to the Philippines!

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Instead of showing off the all-new WRX, which they unveiled instead at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, Subaru instead showed off a new model, the Levorg at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013. And the biggest news? It's actually coming to the Philippines.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Aside from showing off the Levorg, Subaru also showed off a pair of concept cars at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013. Both models are actually study concepts, showing off the brand's new direction both in terms of design and technology but they could also be a brand-new compact crossover as well as the all-new Outback albeit in concept form.

UPDATE: Motor Image Pilipinas, the official distributor of Subaru in the Philippines has revealed that the Philippine-market all-new Legacy will carry a (say it ain't so) 2.5-liter normally aspirated motor. This was confirmed in a dinner with the Subaru Society.

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, today announced that the "Legacy Concept" will make its world debut at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show (Press day: November 20 and 21; Open to public from November 22 through December 1, 2013). The concept model hints at the future design direction of Subaru's flagship Legacy model.

Ford Shows Off All-New 2015 Mustang

All-new sophisticated design clearly inspired by 50 years of Mustang heritage evolved to attract wider array of customers and expand global market availability.

Mustang now available with three engines offering a broader power of choice – a more powerful 5.0-liter V8, a 3.7-liter V6 and an all-new fuel-efficient 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine.

Mustang sets new performance and dynamics benchmarks for the brand with world-class handling, more precise steering control and enhanced ride comfort.

Tata Motors Ltd, India’s largest automobile company, has appointed Pilipinas Taj Autogroup Inc. (TAJ) as its Philippine distributor for Tata passenger and commercial vehicles. The Distribution Agreement, which was officially signed last October 31, 2013, is especially timely as the industry expects more robust growth in the coming year.

Isuzu companies in the Philippines, both subsidiaries of Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) of Japan, have each made a contribution to an internationally recognized Christian organization for the continuing relief initiatives meant for the victims and survivors of Typhoon Yolanda.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Just like Mitsubishi, Suzuki showed off three new crossover concepts at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013. These are the: Crosshiker, X-Lander, and Hustler Coupe.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Mitsubishi showed off a trio of SUV concepts at the Tokyo Motor Show indicating the future direction the company is taking. The three concepts, the GC-PHEV, XR-PHEV, and Concept AR all belong in different size categories and are the clearest vision of what future SUVs such as the Pajero and ASX would look like.

Drive Safe with Nannar Tire Smart Cap

Having a correct tire pressure on our car is very important. It saves your money, fuel, and even protects life.

Healthy Living Inc, the distributor of Nannar Tire Pressure Monitoring LED Smart cap (TPMS), is a must for people that want to make sure that their tires are properly inflated. Once installed, it will alert you if your tire pressure drops by a set of point. And best of all, your tires will have longer tread life.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Nissan unveiled a pair of concept cars with radically different characteristics, created by a new approach to product development, that together offer a new take on authenticity.

The IDx concepts on the Nissan stand at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show are case studies. The first is a casual/lifestyle-focused vision, the IDx Freeflow. The second is IDx NISMO, an ultra-sporty model of the future that looks as if it came directly from a driving simulator.

With only a few weeks to go until Christmas, Goodyear Philippines is celebrating with some ‘giving of their own’ through a Worry Free Holiday promo. From November 1, 2013, to January 31, 2014, motorists who purchase a set of Goodyear tires from participating outlets nationwide will receive a free limited edition Goodyear gift.

Chevrolet Makati Opens

Chevrolet Philippines shifted into high gear when it opened its new dealership at the heart of Makati City’s Automotive Row last October 31. One of the new generation dealerships that adhere to the new Corporate Identity Standards pioneered by GM International Operations, the Makati dealership is set to raise the bar for automotive excellence with its outstanding showroom experience, customer relations management, and sales and aftersales services. Located along Chino Roces Avenue (formerly Pasong Tamo Extension), the dealership that broke ground last May stands with an imposing view coming out of the Lumbang gate of Dasmarinas Village.

Race of Champions 2013 is Cancelled

The Race of Champions 2013 has been cancelled. Here is the press release they just issued:

The Sports Authority of Thailand and the organizers of the 2013 Race Of Champions have announced that the event cannot take place as planned on December 14-15 due to the current political situation in Bangkok.

Our thoughts are with the Thai people during this difficult period and we wish that a peaceful solution will soon be found. The Race Of Champions has been held all over the world for 25 consecutive years and we are currently looking at options of repeating the success of last year's event in Bangkok on another date.

Fans who have already purchased tickets for this year’s Race Of Champions should contact Thai Ticket Major or their ticketing agent for further information on refunds.

Tokyo Motor Show 2013: Honda Shows Jazz-Based Crossover, Ability to Think Outside the Box

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Honda has already teased some information of the concepts it displayed at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013 even before the show started. But what surprised everyone is the reveal of Honda's new segment busting crossover, the Jazz/Fit-based Vezel.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) is pleased to announce the availability of the new CR-V 2.0 V Modulo Limited Model.

As one of the pioneer models in the SUV category, the CR-V continues to provide car-like drivability and ride comfort, while providing new features and technologies that enhance driving enjoyment and ownership experience of our most valued customers.

Introduced in September, the All-New Isuzu D-MAX continues to build sales momentum as it posted phenomenal results in October, accelerating Isuzu Philippines Corporation’s (IPC) sales tally.

The All-New D-MAX’s 179-unit sales in September spiked to 339 units in October, or 160 more, resulting in an 89.4% growth, according to the latest combined reports released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association. The bulk of the additional figures in October can be credited to the pickup’s strong performance in Mindanao and Metro Manila markets.

As Volvo Philippines celebrates its 19th year, it offers a smart way to upgrade to a brand new Volvo with the Volvo Trade Up Program. Enjoy additional perks such as a P50,000 Volvo Gift Coupon and a free Samsung item of their choice when they trade-in their old car to a new Volvo. High appraisal value is guaranteed and other perks await for clients making the smart choice to switch to Volvo.

Subaru Launches All-New WRX in Los Angeles

Subaru has finally taken the wraps off the hotly-anticipated all-new WRX which made its global debut at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show.

The all-new WRX promises better handling and performance through a brand-new drivetrain headlined by a 2.0-liter direct-injection gasoline engine. Featuring the trademark intercooler turbo (with a hood scoop) and a flat-four layout (Boxer), the all-new WRX pushes out 268 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. The all-new WRX also features the model's first-ever 6-speed manual and a new, optional Sport Lineartronic CVT transmission.

Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

Paul Walker, known best as Brian O'Connor in the Fast and Furious movie series, has died. The 40-year old actor and car enthusiast died in a car accident in Santa Clarita, California just north of Los Angeles. The death has been confirmed on his own social media accounts including Facebook and Twitter:

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