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May 6, 2014

It's On Like Donkey Kong: Toyota Vios Cup 2014 Kicks Off May 24!

Last January 25, 2014, the number one automotive company in the country, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) successfully staged the Vios Cup Exhibition Race. Attended by over 6,000 petrol heads and racing fans, TMP definitely proved that motorsports is back in the country -- stronger and better than it was before.
This coming May 24 (Saturday) at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga, TMP will bring waku-doki, or heart-racing fun to the public for them to experience another full-on motorsports / racing festival! Come and be part of the 2014 Season of the Vios Cup (Race 1) this summer and experience various exciting activities not only for motorsports fans but for the whole family and even your friends! It’s a festival you wouldn’t want to miss.

You’ve got to hand it to the folks at Toyota; in a span of a few years, maybe two at the most, they’ve managed to inject some adrenaline into their once Valium-inducing line-up. Now, waku-doki or “fun-to-drive” has become the adjective that describes everything that Toyota does. Of course, some are more successful than others, but at the end of the day, they’re intensely focused on delivering cars that are more than just plain reliable and durable. Take for instance, the Vios, Toyota’s B-segment mainstay that’s the favorite of everyone from cabbies to young executives. It’s gone from a simple Point A to Point B transport to a sharply styled number that’s hip.

Across the exhibition hall a kid runs towards a beige 1964 Ford Mustang on display The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The kid is barely nine years old, and his knowledge of cars hasn’t reached the level where he’d care about mileage, drivability, or comfort. Yet, there he is, mesmerized by the Mustang—his wide smile, a definite sign of someone who’s found his first and true love. Alongside the kid, Japanese tourists pose for a quick snapshot beside America’s beloved pony car.

The Boss is Back: BMW Launches All-New X5 for the Philippines

The usual quiet mid-summer weekday night at the Manila Polo Club was lively with a lights and sounds show that marked the arrival of BMW Philippines’s latest offering. Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines officially launched the third-generation of the world’s most successful Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV)—the one that started it all—the all-new 2014 BMW X5. Entering the latest chapter in its successful history, the all-new X5 is set to raise the benchmark in terms of design, interior spaciousness, luxury, versatility, driving dynamics, efficiency, and innovative equipment features.

The 12th Michelin Challenge Bibendum, an innovative “think & action tank” promoting clean, safe, connected, accessible, and affordable mobility, will be held in Chengdu, China from 11th to 15th this November. It was announced at a joint press conference by Michelin Group and the Chengdu municipal government.

Toyota Wigo Busts Out into the Market with 27.9 Percent Market Share in Entry-Level Hatchback Segment

The newly launched “mini” hatchback of the number one automotive company in the Philippines starts strongly in its first full month of sales. Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) has sold a total of 627 units of the Wigo making a mark in the automotive industry. It posted a 27.9% share in the entry-level hatchback segment outpacing its competitors in March.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

UPDATE (1): We have included the official video of the Jeep Thrills Pinatubo at the end (5/19).

“It’s the fear that kills you,” muttered our instructor, Kenneth Rialp, as he gave us this off-roader’s golden rule to live by. And with that, The Philippine Star writer Angel Rivero and I set off in our bone stock Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited CRD to tackle one of the most challenging off-road destinations in the Philippines: Mount Pinatubo. And we’re not doing it alone. We’re doing it with at least 20 other Jeep Wranglers and a handful of Jeep Grand Cherokees as part of Jeep Philippines’s Jeep Thrills Pinatubo.

A North Expedition with the All-New Ford EcoSport and Fondo Manila

Ford Philippines partnered with Fondo Manila for a road cycling event known as “Northern Expedition”. Forty participants composed of professional and leisure cyclists geared up for a two-day cycling ride, conquering 80 kilometers on Halsema Highway, known as the highest elevation point in the Philippine highway system at 7,400 feet, and a 70-kilometer stretch via Ambuklao Road near Baguio City. Three all-new EcoSport units were used as support and gear vehicles throughout the grueling journey.

We live in a time where our smartphones constantly run out of juice. In fact, that’s the reason why a lot of “power bank” or portable battery chargers have popped up. But in a sea of available brands, there’s one that should pique the interest of gadget lovers and car enthusiasts alike: the JunoPower Jumpr.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

UPDATE: Read our in-depth review of the Honda City 1.5 VX Aero Sport Modulo. (8/12/2014).

Car manufacturers constantly play a game of upmanship each time they come up with a new vehicle. Once in a while though, a car becomes more than merely “best in class”, it starts to transcend segments becoming something that’s totally different and unexpected. The all-new City is one such example. From its humble beginnings as Honda’s B-segment sedan, it has morphed into a car that can take on the competition a segment or two higher. And to prove this point, Honda made us drive it from the confines of the urban jungle all the way to La Union.

Road Closures During Obama's Philippine Visit

Several roads and major thoroughfares will be closed for US President Barack Obama’s Philippine visit from Monday, April 28 to Tuesday, April 29.

The following thoroughfares will be closed:

Monday, April 28, 2014

All 4 terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from 12:30 to 1:30 PM.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

These roads will be closed from 8 AM to 12:00 PM:

Gate 3, Fort Bonifacio
Entire stretch of Lawton Avenue
Stretch of McKinley Parkway from 5th Avenue to 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City.
Upper McKinley Road from C5 to Lawton Avenue
Entire stretch of Bayani Road from C5 to Lawton Avenue
No right turn from McKinley Road to Lawton Avenue
All 4 terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from 12:30 to 1:30 PM.

Isuzu Philippines Kicks Off 2014 D-Max 4x4 Drive Series in Pampanga

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) kicked off the 2014 Isuzu D-Max 4x4 Drive Series last weekend at the Eastgate Center in Barangay San Jose, San Fernando, Pampanga in front of a visibly excited crowd of off-roading enthusiasts and pick-up lovers.

Philippine Car Price Guide: April 2014

UPDATE: We updated several items for this month including links to test drives (4/29).

We apologize for the slight delay in uploading this month’s Philippine Car Price Guide. Though there were numerous launches at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) this month, we just had to wait for a handful of vehicles which weren’t launched at the annual motoring event. Well, we think the wait is more than worth it. We’ll also update the test drive links in the Car Price Guide in the next few days.

In this month’s update, we have:

Honda City
Hyundai Grand i10 (update)
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Picanto 1.0 LX
Kia Soul 1.6 CRDi LX
Mazda3 Skyactiv
Subaru WRX
Subaru WRX STI
Tata Manza
Tata Vista
Tata Xenon
Toyota Yaris

Chevrolet Philippines Opens New Dealership in Tarlac

Chevrolet furthers its reach in the Philippine market as the company opens its newest dealership - Chevrolet Tarlac. With a growing population of 1,273,240 residents and being a highly urbanized and agricultural province, Tarlac is expected to be a sizeable market for Chevrolet. A hard-working and historically rich town in Region III deserves top quality vehicles from a brand that combines performance, style and utility with a century-old heritage.

Michelin Philippines Chief Representative Michael Nunag announced that starting June 2014 all of the new Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar, will be fitted with 245/35R20 Michelin Pilot Super Sport ultra-high performance tires. The new Volvos will be sold on four continents around the world.

The Polestar engineered cars are Volvo's fastest production cars ever and with their 350hp six cylinder turbocharged engines are able to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds.

One of the best examples of successful public-private-partnerships in community programs is seen in the links among Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of Caltex fuels and lubricants, the city health offices (CHO), the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (FEJODAP), and the Metro Bus Operators Association (MBOA) to bring TB awareness to public transport workers. Above photo shows a health center nurse training drivers to become certified volunteer treatment partners. The treatment partners will in turn conduct TB awareness training for fellow drivers in transport terminals.

The “Caltex Labanan ang TB para Tsuper Healthy” campaign works by holding TB awareness seminars during downtimes of jeepney and bus drivers in terminals to avoid disrupting their livelihood. To date, Caltex has reached more than 14,000 or 60% of 23,000 PTWs in Makati, Manila and Quezon City with help from 57 volunteer treatment partners trained by CHOs.

April 22, 2014

Honda Cars Philippines Launches All-New City and Confirms Brio for PHL Market (w/ Complete Brochure)

Photos by Ulysses Ang and Honda Press

UPDATE 2: We have driven the all-new Honda City to La Union! Read about our First Drive here. (4/29).

UPDATE: We have included more photos, higher resolution of the brochure (spec sheet), and the official press release (4/27).

Honda Cars Philippines is aiming to set the standard in the sub-compact sedan segment with the launch of the all-new City. Penned under Honda’s new design language—Exciting H Design—the all-new City is a mix of angular lines, creases, and curves that look to elevate Honda back into the forefront of design. Beyond the design, the all-new City also presents new convenience features and a revised powertrain for improved power and efficiency.

Mazda Philippines is offering the public its first taste of the all-new Mazda3 with its public debut and test drive this coming weekend, Friday, April 25 to Sunday, April 27 at the Bonifacio Global City.

Together with the rest of Mazda’s “KODO” line-up, the Mazda6, CX-5, and CX-9, the public will be able to test drive the all-new Mazda3 from 9am to 6pm (09:00 – 18:00) by visiting the Mazda booth located at 9th Avenue, High Street, Bonifacio Global City (Big Bear Area between Nike and Krispy Kreme).

Though we’ve driven the all-new Mazda3 to Baler, Aurora and back, this is your first chance to try the all-new Mazda3 for yourself.

Volvo Car Group Celebrates 50 Years of Child Safety

Volvo Car Group’s (Volvo Cars) dedication to protecting the smallest and most vulnerable car occupants celebrates its 50-year anniversary in 2014. This ground breaking work started with the world’s first rear-facing child seat prototype in a PV544 back in 1964 – and the latest innovation is an Inflatable Child Seat Concept that is easily tucked away in a small bag when not in use.

Two of the world’s most recognizable icons came together last April 16-17, as the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang convertible will be on display on the observation deck of the Empire State Building in New York. The display – replicating the same feat from nearly 50 years ago – coincides with the global celebration of 50 years since Mustang debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) saw its sales accelerate by 19% in March to a total of 3,189 units versus February sales of only 2,675 units. The group’s laudable growth for the month was equally boosted by the solid performance from both the Light Commercial Vehicle and Passenger Car segment.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

In the age of celebrity nicknames such as “Kimye” (Kim Kardashian + Kanye West) or “Brangelina” (Brad Pitt + Angelina Jolie), it was just going to be a matter of time for the automotive industry to follow suit. And Volkswagen seems to have done just that with their compact crossover, the Tiguan. Though one might think it’s named after a nomadic desert tribe like the Touareg, it actually stands for Tiger + Iguana because Volkswagen thinks this feisty little number combines the best attributes of these two animals: power and grip. Indeed, the name is quite suitable for one of the best surprises in the compact crossover genre.

JCT-Blanche Dominates on the Drag Strip at Round 3 of 2014 NDRC Southern Series

Round 3 of the highly-contested 2014 National Drag Racing Championship (NDRC) Southern Series was held last April 5 at the Batangas Racing Circuit Drag Strip. And while the JCT-Blanche Nissan GT-R may not have beaten the 8-second mark, but a best time of 9.391 seconds was enough for Jonathan Tiu to win the Pro Class yet again.

Before the Focus, the Philippines had the Lynx; but for the rest of the world, Ford’s compact sedan was the Escort. And now, the nameplate’s being revived but for the Chinese market (for now). Shown at Auto China in its final production form, the Escort is a compact sedan based off Ford’s global c-segment platform.

While others have reported on a refreshed Chevrolet Cruze (with a Malibu-like front grille), here is the Cruze that the Philippines would most likely get: the global Cruze which was debuted at Auto China in Beijing.

Normally concept cars are things of pure imagination: outrageous lights, wheels, doors, and what have you. But once in a while, there comes a concept car that seems almost ready to cross the line between design studio to showroom floor. Once such example is the Volkswagen Golf R 400—a car which, as it says on the tin, pushes out 400 horsepower. Concept car my a**!

One of the most successful premium SUVs, the Volkswagen Touareg has been given a timely nip-tuck and has been shown to the public at Auto China in Beijing. The changes to the Touareg are both comestic and mechanical and will only be a matter of time before we see this updated premium SUV roam the streets of Manila.

2015 Subaru Outback is Still Basically the Raised Legacy Wagon You Love

It seems reports of Subaru ditching the tall-riding wagon look for the all-new Outback are greatly exaggerated as the company unveiled the fifth-generation model at the New York International Auto Show. Like its predecessors, the all-new Outback is instantly recognizable as a tall-riding Legacy, something that has attracted a fiercely loyal clientele since the first generation launched in 1995.

Subaru has a long and successful history in the world of rallying and they’re about to right a new chapter using, what else, the all-new 2015 Subaru WRX STI? Using the New York International Auto Show, Subaru has showed off its new Global RallyCross Championship competitor.

Piloted by Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen, Subaru has previewed its new GRC competitor which features a wide body kit with a carbon fiber roof scoop, side mirrors, and rear wing. The wheels are provided by Method. And like all other GRC competitors, the tires are Yokohama. Subaru of America will reveal more details of its GRC competitor in the fall.

Aside from the GRC, Subaru has also announced that the all-new WRX STI will compete in the Rally America Championship with Travis Pastrana and David Higgins driving. That racing WRX STI should arrive later this year.

Nissan Shows Off A Sexier Murano in New York

Based on the design brief that will “elevate your experience”, Nissan unveiled the third-generation Murano at the New York International Auto Show. Based off the Resonance Concept, all-new Murano has the unmistakable Nissan family look: the V-Motion front-end, boomerang lights (with available LED headlights), and the floating roof treatment.

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