CarGuide.PH | Philippine Car News, Car Reviews, Car Prices

February 14, 2016

Toyota Motor Philippines Reveals More Fortuner Tidbits

Toyota Motor Philippines gave a sneak peek of its all-new 2016 Fortuner at its annual media thanksgiving party last January. And now, they’ve revealed even more tidbits including one, interestingly enough, that has to do where the Philippines will source Toyota’s PPV or Pickup-based Passenger Vehicle.

Ferrari is shifting its naming terminology as it bids goodbye to the FF. In its place is the GTC4Lusso, a car that will make its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show. More than just a simple swap of the badge, the GTC4Lusso introduces new technology to make this stunning V12-powered four-seater the definitive grand tourer on the planet.

After being thoroughly impressed by the 2016 Ford Explorer Sport (read our review here), Ford Philippines has announced the availability of a new variant that slots below the Sport: the Explorer 2.3 Limited.

Dedicated enthusiasts of various bestselling Suzuki cars finally came together under one umbrella to celebrate the Suzuki Way of Life.

Honda Cars Philippines is re-releasing its limited edition Cool Blue color for the Jazz sub-compact after the first batch was snapped up very quickly. As before, the Cool Blue hue remains as a limited edition with only twenty (20) units available for sale. And as always, the Cool Blue Limited Edition comes decked either in Modulo or MUGEN trims that add to the sporty and standout appeal.

Mitsubishi Motors Declares Participation in CARS Program

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced its decision to participate in the CARS Program (Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy Program).

There’s an air of mystery and intrigue with Aston Martin. While everyone grew up on a steady stable of Italian and German high-performance machinery, this British supercar brand has become iconic because of the silver screen. Tied synonymously with super spy James Bond, Filipinos have seen it being driven to exotic locations and saving the world countless times for over 30 years. And that’s usually with a beautiful woman in the passenger’s seat.

Ford Uses Materials Ready for the Long Haul (w/ Videos)

Throughout a vehicle’s lifetime, it’s inevitable that the materials inside a car show signs of wear and tear. Imagine the frequent sitting on car seats, leaning on arm rests, gripping the steering wheel and fiddling with the instruments. So what does Ford do to help make sure all vehicles are up to this challenge?

As part of their commitment in being the “reliable partner,” Isuzu Philippines Corporation—the official local distributor of Japanese car maker for the country—has formally forged a new partnership with some of the top tier athletes in the country, this time, triathletes from the Visayan region.

Ferrari announced its best year in 2015 with global shipments totaling 7,664 units or an increase of 6 percent compared to 2014. This performance is driven by an increase in sales of their 8-cylinder models led by the California T, 458 Speciale A, and of course, the newly launched 488 GTB. Unfortunately, sales of their 12-cylinder models: the F12berlinetta and FF are down 24 percent during the same period.

I love the Juke. Say what you want about the styling, but after a week’s worth of driving, I just can’t get tired of it. Among all the cars the revitalized Nissan has brought to market so far, this is the one that’s nailed it dead on. It’s certainly not the perfect vehicle, but it’s young, hip, and different—the very adjectives that Nissan needs if they were to stand a chance against the Toyotas and Hondas of the world. Clearly, this has none of the staidness leftover from the beige leather and fake wood; this is styled to stand out.

Michelin Launches Primacy SUV: The Most Important Safety Feature On Your SUV

Most SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) drivers choose their vehicle’s safety features carefully – considering ABS, airbags, and traction control. But more often than not, they underestimate the vital role that tires play. As the only contact with the road, good tires are a driver’s first guarantee of a safe and comfortable ride.

Hyundai Motor received international recognition for its vehicle design from the prestigious iF Design Awards jury. All-new Elantra and All-new Tucson won iF Design Award 2016 in “Product” discipline, under “Automobiles / Vehicles / Bikes” category.

Timeless Wonder: The Toyota Automotive Museum in Nagoya (w/ 74 Photos)

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Sounds of children’s laughter greeted us as we approached the Toyota Automobile Museum in Nagoya. Groups of children on a school trip, with their brightly colored yellow hats, were seated under the watchful eyes of their teachers while waiting for the museum to open. Not far from them stood another group of museum attendees – seniors with their white hair (or lack of it) and canes and some even in wheelchairs. And scattered around were some twenty-to-thirty-something– young or old, depending on the viewer- adults, ourselves included.

Monster Jam Returns to Manila This June 2016

Last year, over 22,000 fans made history when Monster Jam entertained Pinoy fans of all ages. 2016 gets even BIGGER as Monster Jam returns to the Philippines on June 18 and 19 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Davao City Procures Additional 53 Units of Tata Ace Jeepney

Tata Motors Davao, which is operated by Davao Bonifacio Motors Incorporated, along with, Davao City Mayor, Rodrigo Duterte, turned over the second batch of Tata Ace Bata units with jeepney bodies yesterday to 53 barangays, with each barangay receiving one unit. The turn over ceremony was held at the People’s Park, Davao City.

I read about it all the time in press kits: Ford doing extreme weather testing on their cars. And for a moment, I think: surely, this has got to be an exaggeration. No carmaker would go through the lengths of freezing cars in minus 40 Celsius. In a freezer. That is, until I found myself at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport trying to pick up the 2016 Explorer Sport in minus 17 Celsius.

Discounts Galore at Subaru's Kansha Festival

Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. (MIPI), the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the country will hold its much awaited Kansha Festival from February 1 to 7, 2016. Also known as Subaru customer appreciation week, the Kansha festival is originally a celebration adapted from the Japanese “Kinro Kansha no Hi” or Labor Thanksgiving Day.

Following her triumph in Las Vegas which ended a 42-year titular drought, the new Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was welcomed by adoring Filipinos who shared in the immensity and pride of her achievement. To show the world, the universe rather, how to go around the metropolis in style, Pia opted for a classy, luxurious Audi A8 as “carriage” during her much publicized Manila homecoming.

UPDATE 1: We included the official Press Release from Honda Cars Philippines below (2/2).

Honda is preparing to bring back its premium 7-seater mid-sized crossover, the Pilot back to its Philippine showrooms. Announcing the news via their official Facebook page, Honda Cars Philippines says that the all-new 2016 Pilot will arrive in showrooms this February.

Suzuki Philippines Incorporated (SPH) zooms into 2016 with an upbeat outlook, as it announced today an overall robust 2015 performance, achieving its highest record sales of 10,000 units with 52 percent year-over-year sales growth, massive increase in visibility and market share, and aggressive network expansion, as well as bagging several awards for its vehicles. This cements the company’s position as one of Philippines’ best performing car brands in terms of YoY growth.

Ford Sales Up in ASEAN But to Shutter Japan, Indonesia Operations

Ford Motor Company announced that its overall retail sales for the ASEAN region in 2015 rose 3.3 percent from the previous year to a record 103,975 units.

The California T, Ferrari’s immensely successful front-engined V8 model with retractable hard top and 2+ seating configuration, is now available with the brand-new Handling Speciale (HS) option.

Tata Motors has appointed Mr. Guenter Butschek as Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director. Mr. Butschek will lead all operations of Tata Motors in India and in international markets including South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Africa. Jaguar Land Rover would continue to be managed by its Chief Executive Officer and Director, Dr. Ralf Speth, who is also on the Board of Tata Motors. Mr. Butschek will be joining the company on February 15, 2016.

The connection between what you wear and what you drive is strengthening with help from Ford’s new wearables research laboratory, where scientists and engineers are working to better integrate wearable devices and vehicles to help keep drivers safer behind the wheel.

Slowly but surely, the missing pieces of the electric vehicle industry puzzle are falling into place. One big piece just got plugged in recently: financing. This was revealed by Rommel T. Juan, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines to Launch All-New Outlander, Refreshed Mirage

They say, you can’t keep a good man (or company) down; they’ll only get stronger and better when they get up. It’s a saying that’s so apt for Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation or MMPC. After being embroiled in the non-existing issue dubbed Sudden Unintended Acceleration, the country’s second best-selling nameplate is already looking forward to 2016 with great optimism.

The Philippines is welcoming back SsangYong Motor. The fourth largest Korean automaker has found a new distributor, Berjaya Philippines. Berjaya, the company who successfully turned around Mazda and made it one of the biggest nameplates in the country, is poised to weave its magic anew.

You’re not exactly sure how to classify the Trax. Chevrolet officially calls it a crossover, but from some angles, it can actually pass for a hatchback. Now, whether you’re in “camp lowered crossover” or “camp raised hatchback”, one thing is for certain: it’s a vehicle that’s worth more than just the sum of its parts.

“Car of the Year” is an honor not bestowed on just any car. It takes something quite special to elevate a car from being just “good” to being “extraordinary”. See, it’s actually hard to find a bad car nowadays. Sure, there are some cars that are better than others, but for the most part, any modern automobile is better than anything being cranked out five years ago. Such is the playing field the Mazda2 had to overcome to win not just one, but two car of the year trophies—one in Japan and, more importantly, here in the Philippines. The question is: does it deserve the title?

Volkswagen Philippines Lays Down 2016 Product Plans

At their annual Media Appreciation Night held at the Volkswagen Bonifacio Global City showroom, the German carmaker outlined their product plans for 2016 after a banner 2015. This includes the introduction of upgrades and enhancements to existing product lines and introduction of sought-after new models.

We already reported that Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), the exclusive distributor of Kia Vehicles in the country, has begun pre-selling the 11-seater Grand Carnival last Christmas for just P 1,575,000. The reason for that aggressive pricing can now be told: the passage and implementation of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement or AKFTA.

Quick Links

February 14, 2016

February 10, 2016

February 9, 2016

February 6, 2016

February 4, 2016

February 3, 2016

February 2, 2016

February 1, 2016

January 31, 2016

January 26, 2016

January 25, 2016