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April 16, 2014

Mazda Produces One Millionth Skyactiv-Equipped Vehicle

Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that global production of its three full-SKYACTIV vehicles, the Mazda CX-5, Mazda6 (known as Atenza in Japan) and Mazda3 (Axela in Japan) has surpassed one million units, reaching 1,040,000 units as of the end of March 2014. All three models adopt the full range of Mazda's SKYACTIV technologies. The milestone was achieved approximately two years and four months after production of the Mazda CX-5 began in November 2011.

Showing that Chevrolet and its Camaro’s a class act, the Bowtie brand has sent a birthday greeting to the Ford Mustang which is celebrating its 50th birthday this coming April 17. The intense rivalry between these two so-called “pony cars” has been intense as of late to the point that Chevrolet’s been comparing them to other great rivalries outside the automotive industry. If these two great rivals could get along once in a while, why can’t we all?

Hyundai Philippines Posts 19 Percent Growth in March 2014

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, experienced 19% growth in March to a total of 2,030 units compared to February sales of only 1,710 units. March’s gains pushed three-month sales to grow modestly by 1% to 5,983 units from last year’s first quarter sales of 5,951 units.

As the only and the biggest Filipino fuel refiner, Petron takes pride in its capability to formulate world-class products for Filipino motorists. Having served the fuel needs of the country for more than 80 years, Petron has a deep understanding of the driving conditions on Philippine roads, with its R&D team constantly creating fuels that will deliver optimum efficiency for every type of vehicle. Whether you are driving a luxury sports car, a family van, a cargo truck, a motorcycle or a public utility vehicle, Petron has a fuel designed to meet your motoring needs with the best value.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Normally, you launch a new vehicle in the relative safety of a hotel ballroom before inviting motoring journos to flog them on a racetrack or let them loose on public roads. Not so with Mazda. From the company that promises zoom-zoom, the best, and perhaps the only way, to prove your product’s mettle is to drive it 600 kilometers from Manila to Baler, Aurora and back. It’s a baptism by fire—one that not only proves that the Mazda3 is a class-redefining sports compact, but one that clearly says that Mazda’s back big time. (For the complete specs and press release click here or how it stacks up against the competition).

One Challenge, Five Destinations: Isuzu D-Max 4x4 Drive Series to Kick Off in Pampanga on April 25-27

You love the great outdoors, you got the right equipment, you live for off-road fun. So, are you ready to take on the challenge?

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) is inviting you to the 2014 Isuzu D-Max 4x4 Drive Series in Pampanga. Featuring the exciting all-new Isuzu D-Max 4x4, the event is scheduled to hit full throttle on April 25 to 27 at the Eastgate Center, Brgy. San Jose, San Fernando, Pampanga (at the back of Robinsons Starmills). Activities are set to start at 10:00 am and will last until 6:00 pm for the three-day staging (except on the opening day when the first hour is reserved for invited guests).

1964 was a milestone for Sweden’s automotive industry. That was the year Volvo Cars opened its gates at the Torslanda plant, marking the biggest industrial investment in Sweden’s history.

With a capacity for building up to 200,000 cars a year, the plant raised the bar for the development of new models, production volumes and manufacturing technology.

So where does the all-new 2014 Mazda3 stack up against its compact car competition. Here, we’re pitting the 2.0 R 4-door against its most likely 2.0-liter competition: the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Atlis, Mitsubishi Lancer EX, Subaru Impreza, and Ford Focus.

The information presented below cannot be too segment specific since this will be a new feature of this site (each time a new car comes out), so you cannot expect things like Active City Stop, i-Eloop, etc. This serves as a handy reference guide only. The best figures are presented in bold.

The chart below is a high-resolution .PNG file. In order to see it, you can simply click it. Otherwise, you can open it in a New Window or click ‘Save As’.

Summer has officially arrived and what better way to enjoy this yearly vacation by heading on to your next get-away destination! Have a worry-free road trip by making sure that your vehicle is in tip-top shape.

Have your Toyota checked by Toyota-certified technicians for free! Simply visit any of our 41 dealerships nationwide from March 31 – April 16, 2014 to avail of a Free 20-point vehicle safety inspection.

MMDA Posts Complete EDSA Re-Blocking Details (and They're All Here)

UPDATE: MMDA has said that South-bound re-blocking schedule has been postponed and will start at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, April 16 and not Tuesday, April 15 while North-bound re-blocking has been moved to 8:00 PM on Friday, April 18 instead of 5:00 AM.

The Metro Manila Development Authority or MMDA has officially published the complete re-blocking schedule along EDSA this coming Holy Week. The affected areas will have some lanes closed next week as early as Holy Tuesday, April 15 and work is expected to be completed by Easter Monday, April 21.

UPDATE 2: Our first drive of the all-new Mazda3 is here (4/15/2014).

UPDATE: See how the all-new Mazda3 stacks up against the competition here (4/14/2014).

Ten years since the Mazda3 nameplate made its debut on Philippine soil, its third and latest generation arrives on local shores. Packing the most recent evolutions in all the key aspects that have made the first and second models (launched locally in 2004 and 2012, respectively) a success both here and abroad, the all-new Mazda3 pushes the boundaries in vehicle design, engineering, and manufacture not just at the level of the C-segment, but of the automotive industry as a whole.

Effective April 1, 2014, Mazda Makati dealership closes its operation temporarily while a new facility is being planned and developed. The new facility, currently under study and development, will meet the new requirement of Mazda’s new standard in providing superior sales and service customer experience.

In continuous effort to provide utmost customer service, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) together with its dealership network nationwide will set-up its annual Honda Emergency Assistance Team (HEAT) to provide on-site road assistance, service and support in different travel destinations nationwide from April 16 to 20, 2014 (except April 18, Good Friday).

The NLEX, CAVITEX and SCTEX have drawn up contingency measures to cope with the expected surge of vehicles during the Holy Week.

The move has become a traditional exercise for the three expressways to ease traffic flow and make it more convenient for motorists as they turn up in droves for the traditional observance of the Holy Week in the provinces.

The application of Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), exclusive distributor of KIA vehicles in the country, to join the PBA pro basketball league, has been approved by the PBA Board of Governors.

Ms. Ginia R. Domingo, president of CAC, said in a press statement "We are elated to receive word of the acceptance of our application to join the PBA and thank the board of governors for their vote of confidence."

Domingo added that the basketball community can look forward to more exciting times ahead with Kia's entry into the PBA. "KIA's joining the PBA bodes well for the game given the renewed interest and popularity in the league.”

"KIA's joining the PBA is yet another testament to the success of KIA 's global strategy of engaging our customers through sports marketing. With our entry into the PBA, expect us to live up to KIA's marketing axiom as the brand with the Power to Surprise", Domingo quipped.

April 11, 2014

MIAS 2014: Facts and Figures

Barely a week has passed since The Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) 2014 opened its doors to a record crowd last week, Worldbex Services International (WSI), the organizer of MIAS has released several interesting key facts and figures about the 10th year of MIAS:

Ford Soars to Best-Ever Philippine March Sales and Strong First Quarter Performance

Ford Philippines rounded up the first quarter of the year with record breaking performance for the month of March, with retail sales soaring 34 percent year-over-year to 1,339 units. Sales in March helped the first quarter increase 38 percent from the same quarter last year to 3,692 units.

Toyota Motor Philippines Initiates Special Service Campaign

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) will issue a Special Service Campaign for the spiral cable of the Innova, Fortuner, and Hilux sold locally from November 2004 to June 2010.

Due to the shape and location of the spiral cable retainers, this may cause some connectivity loss related to the air bag system. In such case, the driver side air bag may not deploy in the event of a crash. There are, however, no incidents reported related to this condition.

The number one automotive company in the country sets a new sales record surpassing 8,000 units in a single month last March. Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) sales grew across the board tallying 8,840 units, the highest any manufacturer in the country has ever registered.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

UPDATE 1: Full review of Subaru WRX CVT and WRX MT.

UPDATE 2: Full review of Subaru WRX STI Premium.

It’s not every day you get excited about a car even before it was officially launched. In my case, the anticipation for the all-new 2014 Subaru WRX and WRX STI was so high, I was literally begging on my knees to be one of the first to get my hands behind one. Motor Image Pilipinas, the exclusive distributor of Subaru in the Philippines, literally whetted my appetite to the point where I was salivating like a rabid dog thanks to all the carefully planned teasers including bringing over the WRX Concept to Manila. Everything turned full circle as they held the regional launch of the WRX and WRX STI in Manila—the first time the country played host to our 9 Asian neighbors for quite some time. (For the complete specs, click here).

UPDATE 3: Here is our First Drive story of the all-new Subaru WRX and WRX STI (4/9/2014).

UPDATE: We have now included the complete specs below (4/9/2014).

UPDATE: We have confirmed the prices for the all-new WRX and WRX STI. Details below (4/3/2014).

We’ve carefully followed the steady progress of the 2014 Subaru WRX and WRX STI and hope that it will arrive here sooner rather than later. Well, after a tease with the WRX Concept, Motor Image Pilipinas has launched the all-new Subaru WRX and WRX STI at their stand at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS).

New Multi-Brand Showroom to House Subaru and Changan Cars in Manila Bay

Tan Chong International Limited (TCIL), the parent company of Subaru and Changan distributors in the Philippines, today announced the opening of the first phase of its brand new multi-brand facility in Metro Manila. Located at the automotive area of Manila Bay, the new facility will house major Subaru models, with the Changan brand to be added in the later part of the year.

The latest addition to the Subaru sales network in the Philippines, the Motor Image Manila Bay showroom is located at Lot 39, Block 2, Bradco Avenue, Aseana City, Paranaque. The flagship Subaru showroom in Metro Manila celebrates Subaru’s classic roots and tradition, as well as its dedication to engineering excellence.

Review: 2014 Honda Accord 3.5 S-V

Photos by Ulysses Ang

I always have a soft spot for the Honda Accord; having personally owned one straight out of college. It was my steed during my first job as a marketing professional and my ride to dinner dates with the then girlfriend (now wife). Everything equal, I’d pick the Accord as my executive sedan of choice—it was always that tad more sophisticated, sportier, and stylish. Of course, that was before everyone got into the act. Now there’s literally a sea of choices with everyone now offering their own take on the executive sedan genre. And although this market segment is more niche than mainstream, it’s so competitive that carmakers introduce cutting edge style and technology that’ll one day trickle down to the rest of their line-up. Given the sheer importance of the executive sedan, where does the all-new Honda Accord sit?

Honda Cars Philippines Welcomes New President and General Manager

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), Honda’s automobile business unit names Toshio Kuwahara as its new President and General Manager effective April 1, 2014. Mr. Kuwahara is filling the post formerly held by Tatsuya Natsume, who has been assigned a new post in Brazil.

Petron Lakbay Alalay, the country’s longest running motorist assistance program, has evolved into a year-round series of activities to help motorists and communities. With the Holy Week and long summer break just weeks away, why don’t you get a jump on your travel plans by getting your car in shape with Petron’s free safety check?

Caltex Gearing Up for Summer Journeys

Summer plus Holy Week means a steady stream of vehicles, packed with vacationers and their gears, will be heading to the beaches and tourists spots. Those with religious vows to keep will be motoring from one church to another in Visita Iglesia. Caltex with Techron, the 5-Star Fuel, is helping make sure, that despite the heat, road repairs and traffic, motorists will be able to enjoy their journey.

Ten years of significant existence is no small feat. This is what the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) is presenting at the 2014 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), with the display of the Mazda 6 as the Car of the Year-Philippines 2013-2014 (COTY-P) and the Ford Ranger Wildtrak as the Truck of the Year-Philippines 2013-2014 (TOTY-P).

The purveyor of the original Sport Utility Vehicle, Jeep, launched the 2014 Grand Cherokee to a packed crowd at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS). The new Grand Cherokee builds on the legendary go-anywhere, do-anything reputation of its illustrious ancestor, the Willy’s Jeep, while delivering best-in-class fuel economy, advanced user-friendly technology, world-class craftsmanship, and on-road refinement.

This summer fueling up has become more filling for over 1 million happyplüs card members who will earn happypoints on their fuel purchases from over 500 Caltex stations nationwide.

The Search Starts and Ends at BPILoans.com

Want to buy a car? A house or a condo? Planning to start a business? Wanting to know if what you have is enough to get all these and more? These are big questions in life that require research. Let’s face it, everything can be found online. The question is who should you trust and who can you go to? The credibility of our sources will determine the effectivity of our search.

Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC) is showing off the second-generation Soul at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) happening this weekend. Though it shares similar lines to its most immediate predecessor, the 2014 Soul is all-new and is inspired by the Track’ster Concept shown in 2012.

Eurobrands Distributor, Inc. (EDI), the official distributor of Peugeot in the Philippines teased their upcoming supermini—the Peugeot 208 GTI by displaying a kitted up version at its pavilion at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS). The 208 GTI wears the iconic Peugeot Sport livery, a nod to the French brand’s rally heritage. The Peugeot 208 GTI is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with 197 horsepower and 275 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The lightweight and compact 3-door Peugeot 208 GTI is expected to arrive in the Philippine very soon.

MIAS 2014: Chevrolet Shows Off Diesel Superiority

Chevrolet making waves at the Manila International Auto Show where its pavilion centers on the Bowtie brand’s “Turbo-Diesel Powerhouse”—the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Colorado, and Spin.

To show off its iconic style and its partnership with the latest Marvel franchise, Chevrolet is displaying a customized Chevrolet Colorado fitted with loud and proud Captain America decals on display. Visitors of the Manila International Auto Show can also expect to catch a glimpse of the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 or better known as “Bumblebee”, one of the lead characters of the blockbuster movie series: Transformers.

Video: The Ride of Her Life

What’s a better way to sell the Subaru WRX STI? Forget the usual ad campaigns. Subaru of America put on a different spin on things with The Ride of Her Life short film that features the 2015 (2014 for us) Subaru WRX STI. It’s certainly a very campy take with drifts, donuts, and a whole lot of ham. It’s even produced by “DoubleURXXX Productions”. Go figure. Happy weekend everyone!

April 3, 2014

MIAS 2014: The Icon Returns: Volkswagen Beetle Returns to Manila (w/ Complete Specs)

Automobile Central Enterprises, Inc., the official distributor of Volkswagen cars in the Philippines is finally celebrating the return of its most recognizable icon: The Beetle. No less than Fernando Zobel de Ayala and his brother Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala led the festivities at The Mind Museum at the Bonifacio Global City before the public unveil at the 2014 Manila International Auto Show.

Pilipinas Taj Autogroup is offering two light-duty commercial vehicles at the Manila International Auto Show, the Ace and the Super Ace.

Stylish, efficient and reliable, the Xenon is a perfect blend of looks and performance. It lends a commanding presence on the road with its aggressive frontal styling, flared wheel arches, and alloy wheels. Available in both 4x2 and 4x4 drive options, the Xenon will come with two trim options- Premium and Economy.

Taking forward its luxurious lineage, the new Manza INI sets a new benchmark for sedan buyers in the mid-sized car segment with its plush interiors and state-of-the-art technology features. The car's contemporary stance is as easy on the eyes as it is dominant on the roads.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Prepare to meet four new vehicles from the biggest motor company of India, Tata Motors Limited, the leader in commercial vehicles and among the top in passenger vehicles.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

The demise of Ford’s C-segment crossover in the Philippines is greatly exaggerated as the company used the Manila International Auto Show to preview the all-new 2015 Escape—a crossover that’s expected to bridge the gap between the EcoSport and Explorer in terms of both features and price. Though no official specs were given during the preview, Ford Philippines Managing Director Kay Hart announced that the 2015 Escape will be formally launched in the fourth quarter of 2014 with deliveries to start soon thereafter.

Photo by Ulysses Ang

Ford Philippines has announced at its sprawling 1,000-square meter pavilion that deliveries of its segment-busting SUV, the EcoSport has begun. The EcoSport is no stranger to us having been previewed with a Media Launch in January and a Regional Ride and Drive in March. The EcoSport is just one of 15 vehicles showcased by Ford at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) and shows the brand’s commitment in delivering class-leading One Ford vehicles.

Video: Most Epic Car Chase Scene, Period.

There are movie car chases and then there’s this. Coming from sygnan0’s YouTube channel is what could be the most epic car chase made in the history of film. It’s packed with action, explosions, and oddly enough, laughs. Don’t believe us? See for yourself.

April 2, 2014

CATS Motors Holds Summer Sale on Pre-Owned Mercedes, Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge

Enjoy the summer heat with an exclusive treat from CATS Motors Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles: premium pre-owned vehicles will be sold at incredibly marked-down prices for the month of April.

Chevrolet is set to release its next-generation Ecotec engines which will form the core of the brand’s small displacement engines beginning with the all-new Chevrolet Cruze which launches in China this year. The new Ecotec engines are designed to be adoptable to different vehicle applications thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while offering leading efficiency, refinement, and durability.

With increased competition from its Japanese rivals, Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), the exclusive distributor of Kia Motors in the Philippines isn’t about to take that sitting down. They’ve officially confirmed that the P 450,000 Kia Picanto 1.0 LX M/T will take center stage for the Korean brand at the 2014 Manila International Auto Show.

Volvo Philippines has given us a sneak peek of their upcoming display at the 2014 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) that opens tomorrow, Thursday, April 3. Headlining their display is the all-new 2014 Volvo V40 Cross Country—a more rugged, more off-road friendly version of the V40 sport wagon.

Expect even more thrilling on track action this coming April 5 as the 2014 National Drag Racing Championship returns to the Batangas Racing Circuit Drag Strip for Round 3 of the Southern Series.

Just in time for summer, Chevron Philippines has announced the opening of its latest gasoline station in La Union—the Surf Capital of the Northern Philippines. Located along the National Highway near Pugo Junction, it’s perfectly situated for vacationers who plan to hit the beaches dotting from Agoo to San Fernando to Ilocos Norte. Motorists are assured of five-star quality fuel because of Caltex with Techron. Caltex La Union is owned and operated by Northern Star Energy and Fuel Distribution Corporation.

April 1, 2014

BMW Confirms X7 at Spartanburg Plant Expansion Ceremony

Photo shows the all-new BMW X4's start of production at the Spartanburg plant.

BMW has officially announced another addition to its growing SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle) line-up with the confirmation of the X7. Although no details were given, it was done to coincide with BMW’s additional investment to expand its Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, USA. In total, BMW will invest a total of one billion (yes, that’s with a ‘B’) US dollars by 2016. This increases their annual capacity by 50 percent to 450,000 vehicles from 300,000.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Mid-cycle facelifts are mostly just that, facelifts. More often than not, carmakers slap on a new grille, bumpers, and rims, stand back, congratulate themselves, and call it a day; saving the best bits for the next-generation model. But that’s not the case over at Ford. Yes, the Fiesta has also undergone the ubiquitous nose lift late last year (a radical one at that), but more importantly, the main mechanical bit, the engine, has been completely stripped out; all for the better.

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