It’s hard to get excited about the Nissan Almera. When it first made its way to the Philippine market three years ago, it already looked dated right before it rolled off the assembly line. And given the Filipino car buyer’s penchant for something sleek and sporty, it failed to gain traction despite boasting a blizzard-inducing air conditioning system. Fast forward to 2016 and Nissan has refreshed the Almera with a re-tweaked design and more features. Can it gain lost ground now?

These are the first photos you’ll see of the 2017 Mazda3 in its new hue, Machine Gray Metallic, out in the wild. Taken during a track exercise demonstrating G-Vectoring Control at Mazda’s Mine Proving Ground, we skirted the “no photography” rule by having engineers simply park the car in a “photography safe zone”. They obliged. God bless them.

Mazda knows it’s not a large car company. The biggest ones in the world boast production numbers topping in the 7 million range while the Hiroshima-based carmaker does no more than 1.5 million. Yet, instead of obsessing with market share and volume, Mazda wants to develop a strong bond with its customers. In turn, this has become Mazda’s corporate identity; their irreplaceable presence in the motoring world.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) is giving its CR-V a brand new shade: Lunar Silver Metallic. This new and modern color is available for both the 2.4 SX Navi AWD and 2.0 S AT variants. It’s a welcome update for customers who are inclined to purchase a premium compact crossover.

Maxliner, a known OEM supplier of bed lienrs for brands such as Toyota, Ford, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, and Chevrolet is now offering 3D digital-mapped floor mats.

Responding to the growing transportation requirements of Northern Luzon, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) has started initiatives meant to expand its reach in the region through the future opening of a new facility.

With the belief that starting them young is the best way to inculcate road safety awareness in the population, the Michelin Corporate Foundation conducted free road safety seminars and other safety activities for teens and school children in Cebu City.

Iloilo City welcomes Subaru as authorized dealer AllWheel Automotive, Inc., part of the AutoCentral Group of Companies, has formally opened Subaru Iloilo to cater to fans and owners of Subaru in the bustling city and the surrounding areas.

Mitsubishi is about to throw its hat into the entry-level SUV/MPV ring with their newest concept car which is making its worldwide debut at the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show.

Chevron Philippines Inc., the marketer of the Caltex brand, along with Philippine Seven Corporation, has opened its 80th 7- Eleven convenience store in San Mateo, Rizal last May 30, 2016.

Planning the most beautiful routes, riding them with like-minded motorcyclists, sharing experiences during the day and talking gasoline at night. With this in mind, BMW Motorrad has entered into a strategic partnership with the technology start-up Rever in order to build up a global community of motorcyclists.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

There’s no greater test of love for a car than a long-distance drive. While it’s easy to get infatuated with a car right at the showroom floor, that feeling normally fades away the moment you put in the miles. You imagine the seating position could be better; the sight lines clearer; the power more linear. So imagine what Mazda put at stake when they subjected the entire Skyactiv-G line-up (except the MX-5 and Mazda6) on a grueling 4,000-kilometer journey through Indochina.