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

September 7, 2016

Polestar Performance Tweaks XC90; Makes It Most Powerful Volvo Ever

The new generation Polestar Performance Optimization has just been released for the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine, making the world’s most powerful and cleanest SUV even faster and more inspiring to drive.

BMW is set to change the notion of what you think a sports car is with the official Philippine unveil of the i8. Powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, the 231 horsepower sports car scampers to the century mark in just 4.4 seconds.

Mazda is expanding its market reach with the launch of the much-awaited CX-3 sub-compact crossover. Dubbed the “freestyle smart crossover”, the CX-3 received good scores during a recent drive from Thailand to Vietnam. Now, it’s finally here and you might as well have your checkbooks ready.

No, the Philippine Market Mazda CX-3 Isn't Covered by the Global Recall

Would-be owners of the Mazda CX-3 can zoom-zoom with peace of mind. Contrary to earlier reports, the soon to be launched CX-3 sub-compact crossover is not covered by the recall on the rear damper stay. This is a clarification made by Mr. Steven Tan, President of Berjaya Auto Philippines, exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in the country.

Another day, another limited edition Honda City; well, that’s the impression you get as Honda Cars Philippines (HCPI) is showing off yet another spruced up City sub-compact sedan just in time for the Philippine International Motor Show in about a week.

Last September 5, the Makati Shangri-La Hotel formally received 31 units of the Passat limousines from Volkswagen Philippines during a ceremonial hand over.

Three years is a long time in the automotive world. In the same amount of time when the typical car financing matures (or warranty expires), a once great product can get left behind or worse, be forgotten in the minds of would-be buyers and consumers. This is especially true for the compact crossover genre—a segment that’s seen about a dozen competitors, not even counting the mid-sized SUVs that have all popped up since then. Now, imagine if your company is reliant on such a product, accounting to more than 50 percent of sales in the process. Keeping a slight edge could very well determine survival. Imagine then the weight on the Subaru Forester’s shoulders.

Isuzu Crosswind is Maynilad's Choice to Improve Operations

Isuzu vehicles’ capabilities at delivering reliable and efficient service have made them the default choice for numerous corporate entities, including public utility firms.

Suzuki @ Work, the Free Check-Up Service Campaign (FCSC) which Suzuki Philippines Inc (SPH) launched in January 2014, has received overwhelming response and participation for the past two years, no matter which Suzuki branches and no matter in what provinces the service camps have been held.

Volkswagen Philippines is set to cement its own unique sense of style in the executive sedan segment with the launch of its four-door coupe, the CC. A brisk seller globally, where more than 270,000 have found their way into garages, the CC adds a more dynamic shape to the elegant Passat on which the CC is based on.

MINI Offers Great Value This September with "Perfect Match" Promo

Buyers of brand-new MINI vehicles until September 30 this year will get the biggest bang for their buck via the “Perfect Match” promo of MINI Philippines.

Toyota Motor Philippines is finally launching the fourth-generation Prius for the local market. Featuring evocative styling, improved driving dynamics, and a fuel economy north of 40.8 km/L, the Prius will take center stage at the country’s number one automaker’s pavilion this coming Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS).

Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC) isn’t taking the bourgeoning crossover segment sitting down. Taking center stage at the brand’s display at the upcoming Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) is a “Filipinized” version of its stunning Soul. How is it unique? Well, it has 7 seats for one.

PIMS 2016: Honda Cars Philippines is Teasing Us with the BR-V

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) is teasing everyone as to their pavilion line-up at the upcoming Philippine International Motor Show or PIMS. Happening this coming September 14-18, HCPI is designing their display under the theme of “Joyful Future Journeys”. It’s pretty obvious at this point that HCPI will use this opportunity to display new and revamped vehicles for the Philippine market.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) is steadily gaining ground in the hotly contested pickup truck segment with the launch of the new 2017 D-Max. Currently the country’s most fuel-efficient vehicle, based on the Department of Energy Fuel Economy Run, the 2017 D-Max packs a series of upgrades that make it more athletic while building on Isuzu’s core values of reliability, durability, dependability, and value for money.

Who says it’s the men who decide on what car to buy? According to the latest JD Power Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI), that’s beginning to change. In the latest CSI survey, where Toyota Motor Philippines topped the ranking (for the third year running), 45 percent of the car buying population is composed of women, a proportion that’s steadily increasing.

After two and a half years of providing services to the Philippine new-car industry, AutoDeal, the Philippines’ leading online new car lead generation and lead management platform, has announced its expansion into the local used car classifieds space.

Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, launched the all-new BMW 7 Series in March 2016 to redefine contemporary luxury in the automotive industry. As the brand solidifies its commitment to cater to the distinct taste and lifestyle of BMW 7 Series owners, it now proudly introduces the BMW 7 Series Privileges Programme.

Clima Mobility is the newest member of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP). However, Clima Mobility does not fit the profile of a regular EVAP member. It is not backed up by a big manufacturing company or a foreign partner or funded by a foreign multinational company. Clima Mobolity is a product of an intense passion for automobiles and for the love of the environment.

Subaru Levorg Gets Highest Safety Rating in Europe; EyeSight System Begins Global Rollout

Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) just announced that the Subaru Levorg sports tourer has just been awarded with a five-star overall safety rating by the European New Car Assessment Program or Euro NCAP. It gets the highest score possible after being evaluated for “Adult Occupant Protection”, “Child Occupant Protection”, “Pedestrian Protection”, and “Safety Assist”.

After releasing the results of its Customer Service Index or CSI study last July, JD Power is now releasing the results of the Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) study. And among the 11 mass market brands in the industry, Toyota ranks the highest in new-vehicle sales satisfaction. This marks the third year that Toyota has topped the survey. Meanwhile, Isuzu ranks second and Kia third (the full results are available below).

Michelin Pilot Sport Experience Blazes Sepang Circuit Anew; Sees Launch of New Pilot Sport 4 Tire

The Michelin Pilot Sport Experience (MPSE) blazes its way back to the Sepang International F1 Circuit in Malaysia for the 12th consecutive year. For over 25 days in August and September, Michelin will treat more than 600 selected invitees from Asia, the Middle-East, Oceania and Europe to another round of excitement and sheer driving pleasure in the iconic Malaysian track.

There’s a lot at stake with the all-new Honda Civic. With the hype saying that it’s “reborn”; this is the clearest indicator whether or not Honda, as a company, is heading in the right direction. Though Honda has expanded their line-up of late, the Civic remains their barometer. It’s their Big Mac, their Frappuccino, their “TM” next to the company name. Will the Civic do Soichiro Honda proud or will it have him turning in his grave?

Ford Releases Survey on Pinoy Attitude Towards Fuel Efficiency

When it comes to buying a new car, more than 80 percent of Filipino consumers say that fuel efficiency is more important than power.

Philippine Price Guide: August 2016

We just updated The Philippine Car Price Guide and linked it to a single page. This makes bookmarking the newest edition so much easier compared to before. You can click “Car Prices” on the menu or click here for CarGuide.PH’s Monthly Car Price Guide.

Still, to guide you, we’ll still post a blog update to notify you of the latest changes per month. And in the case of the August update, these are the new entries/updates.

Chevrolet Colorado (price adjustment)
Chevrolet Sail (price adjustment)
Ford Everest (price adjustment)
Ford Expedition (price adjustment)
Ford Explorer (price adjustment)
Ford Mustang (price adjustment)
Ford Ranger Wildtrak (price adjustment)
Honda Civic (new variant)
Honda CR-Z (new variant)
Hyundai Veloster (price adjustment)
Mahindra Enforcer (price adjustment)
Mahindra Xylo (price adjustment)
Mitsubishi Adventure (price adjustment)
Mitsubishi L300 (price adjustment)
Mitsubishi Strada (new entry)
Nissan Sylphy (new entry)
Suzuki Alto (price adjustment)
Suzuki APV SGX (new entry)
Suzuki Celerio (price adjustment)
Toyota Vios (new entry)
Toyota Yaris (new entry)

August 26, 2016

2016 Toyota Vios and Yaris Get a Change of Heart

The country’s best-selling passenger car and its more stylish sibling get a heart transplant this August. The 2016 Toyota Vios and Toyota Yaris are now both equipped with a Dual VVT-i and CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) across the line.

From today to 29 (10:00 am to 10:00 pm), Volkswagen Pampanga will hold a mall tour of German-engineered vehicles Touareg Sport Edition SUV, Polo Sedan, and the iconic Beetle at the Marquee Mall along Aniceto Gueco Street in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Chevrolet Takes Wraps Off Production 2017 Trailblazer

After showing it off as a Concept at the 2016 Bangkok International Motor Show, Chevrolet has finally taken the wraps off the production version of the Trailblazer at yet another motor show in Thailand. At the BIG Motor Sale 2016, Chevrolet has announced the sale start of the 2017 Trailblazer in the Land of Smiles.

SsangYong Motors is remembered mostly for their tie-up with Mercedes-Benz producing products such as the MB100 (Istana) and Musso. Though that arrangement happened to span only three years (1991 to 93), it left an indelible mark on the company that remains with them until today. Moving forward from simple licensing agreements, SsangYong is inching towards a corporate vision of becoming the “most innovative and respected Korean automotive company”. Flush with cash from its acquisition by the Mahindra & Mahindra Group, SsangYong plans to expand its global footprint by selling 300,000 units globally.

Motul’s top-of-the-line, full synthetic racing oil with technical expertise and race track experience, 300V is the brand’s most popular product. It’s also the most trusted by racing teams around the world. The 300V has a cutting-edge formulation that can be used in every application be it for daily or high-performance driving.

Goodyear launched its latest high performance tire, the Goodyear Wrangler TripleMax, in the Philippines. Designed for mid-size SUVs, the Wrangler TripleMax delivers Superior Braking Performance, Shorter Wet Braking, and Road Hazard Resistant features, offering a safer and more fun driving experience with the family.

Mr. Young Han Song, SsangYong’s Executive Managing Director is one straight talking corporate executive. After forging a partnership with SsangYong Berjaya Motor Philippines (SBMP) in January of this year, the partnership is starting to bear fruit with the local launch of four models: Korando, Rodius, Tivoli, and Tivoli XLV.

Mahindra Hailed with Best New Product at 2016 Transport and Logistics Show

Mahindra was hailed as “Best New Product” at the recently concluded 2016 Transport and Logistics Show at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, August 18-20, 2016. The award recognized Mahindra’s introduction of its latest product offerings – noted for their innovation, dependability and competitiveness – in the three-day transport fair.

The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI), exclusive importer and distributor of Chevrolet automobiles and parts in the country, offers rock solid all-in low down payment promos and cash discounts to its customers through its “The Powered Up Truck Month Promo.”

At a glance, it’s hard to position the 2016 Honda Pilot. At P 3,380,000, the sole EX-L variant is around a Brio’s worth of pesos more than its most expensive rival, the Ford Explorer Sport. Yet, the Honda’s spec sheet looks a tad pedestrian compared to the Ford’s Trump Card worthy one: 284 versus 370 horsepower, 353 versus 475 Nm of torque. It’s looking very much like a lopsided win for the Blue Oval until you spend some seat time in the Pilot. This isn’t Ulysses Ang versus Michael Phelps in the swimming pool; this is more like Neil deGrasse Tyson going against 50 Cent in a game of Jeopardy. And in this case, the Pilot’s not playing the role of gangsta-rapper.

SsangYong Designs Now Are Inspired by Korea and Nature

In the past, SsangYong has made cars which were as visually challenging to understand as their nameplates: Rexton, Actyon, and Rodius. In fact, for decades, the brand seemed to look for inspiration from the West only to have the finished product look like something that was subjected to a Korean cultural blender. Well, SsangYong is putting that past behind them and now all eyes are on the double dragons and this time, it’s for a good reason.

Everyone knew it was coming, but it was just going to be a matter of time. Well, that time is now as Mitsubishi Philippines has given its Strada pickup truck the much-needed MIVEC treatment with the unveil of the Strada GT.

This is the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6—an homage to the glorious age of aero coupes that also manages to carry this tradition to the future. At almost six meters in length with a 750 horsepower engine, it’s pure sensorial excess, but at the same time, it’s every bit environmentally conscious with its completely electric drive system that can run up to 500 kilometers between charges.

Your Next Uber Maybe a Volvo. And It Might be Driverless Too.

The next time you hail a car from the ride-sharing app, Uber, it may not have a driver at all. That’s if Volvo has anything to do with it. In a landmark agreement, the Swedish luxury carmaker has inked a deal with the world’s leading ride-sharing company to develop the next-generation of autonomous driving cars.

Ford Announces Two More Years of Ford GT Production

If your Ford GT application was denied, then you may be in luck. Ford Performance just announced that they’re adding two more years of production for the all-new carbon fiber supercar. The announcement comes on the heels of letters sent to potential customers notifying them of their application status to purchase the Ford GT.

Tell me, do you bleed? Well, prepare to bleed some pesos and relive some moments from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with this officially licensed limited edition Ridaz Batmobile travel case which drops in some stores starting this weekend.

Nissan will honor its Global Director of Excitement and seven-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt to celebrate his historic career and his 30th birthday this Sunday, August 21.

Suzuki Philippines, Inc (SPH), the only integrated motorcycle and automobile company and the pioneer manufacturer of compact vehicles in the country, extends its reach to the South with the opening of its latest auto satellite showroom located in SM City General Santos.

The electric jeepneys have come a long way. From the industrial zones to commercial establishments to residential subdivisions to LGUs to school campuses to resorts and now, the malls. Which is but natural for after all, the Philippines is the mall capital of Asia. Malling is the country’s national past time. And malls have defined the course of development for the Philippines for so long. In fact, mall population density is considered a very good barometer of the country’s economic condition.

Nissan Philippines Just Disallowed GT Academy Lap Times

Attention Nissan GT Academy hopefuls: if you entered a lap time during the live events at SM Mall of Asia (June 30) and Trinoma (July 1-3), those lap times have just been disallowed.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines’ long servicing flagship SUV, the Pajero, gets a new heart for 2016 that boasts more power, better refinement, and of course, Euro 4 emissions compliance.

Morris Garages or MG is beefing its Philippine line-up with its first-ever SUV, the GS. Priced at just P 1,250,000, the MG GS brings in British flavor in a segment normally dominated by the Japanese, Korean, and American makes.

Having revealed extensive investments in making fully autonomous cars a reality, Ford has announced its intention to have a high-volume, fully autonomous capable vehicles in commercial vehicles in five years. There’s a caveat though: you can’t buy one. This will strictly be for ride-hailing or ride-sharing services use only.

Nissan Philippines Upgrades Sylphy

Nissan Philippines has given its Sylphy a much-needed upgrade for 2016. But you won’t find the difference by walking around outside or poking inside the engine bay. Nope. The newest thing on the 2016 Sylphy is its infotainment system. And take note, you’re paying extra for that.

Auto Nation Group, Inc., is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Jeep in style with the Jeep Funtastic Deals. Coinciding with the CATS Motors Three-Day Clearance Sale, the Jeep Funtastic Deals is happening at the Bonifacio Global City from August 19-21, 2016.

Demonstrations of the off-road driving capabilities of Isuzu’s four-wheel-drive models continue to thrill crowds across the country as Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) staged the third round of its spectacular 4x4 event in the Queen City of the South.

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