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

January 19, 2018

Filipinos Should Welcome the Modern Jeepney

Recently, there has been much talk about the Jeepney Modernization Program and the push of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to launch 200,000 new PUVs over the next three years.

Suzuki Philippines (SPH) ends 2017, posting a 34 percent year-on-year (YOY) growth and dealership expansions in key cities across the country.

Despite introducing a track-oriented Mustang GT350R, Ford has been losing the horsepower war against the Dodge Challenger Demon and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Well, that’s about to change as Ford teased the “most powerful street-legal Ford ever.” Meet the 700-horsepower Mustang Shelby GT500.

Kia Philippines Announces Post-TRAIN Prices with One Pleasant Surprise

Kia, through its Philippine distributor Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC) is the first Korean carmaker to announce their new vehicle prices taking into account the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law. Taking effect last Monday, January 15, 2018, prices have, surprisingly, remained stable.

Ford presented its plans to streamline operations globally and introduce a slew of new models including 40 electrified vehicles (16 fully electric ones) by 2022. The announcement was made at the Deutsche Bank Global Auto Industry Conference in Detroit.

After a banner year for the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) in 2017 where it successfully hosted the very first ASEAN EV Summit, 2018 looks very bright for the domestic EV industry.

With Motor Image Pilipinas’s announcement of an impending price increase due to TRAIN and the end of the high-performance XT model, now would be a good time to snag a brand-new Subaru Forester.

Mazda is the most fuel-efficient brand according to the US-based Environmental Protection Agency or EPA. The annual list, released by the US government agency, sees Asian brands dominating the Top 5 places.

North America Votes and This is Their Car and SUV of the Year

Chosen by a panel of more than 60 jurors from the print, online, and broadcast media across the United States and Canada, the North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) was recently announced at the 2018 North American International Auto Show (aka Detroit Motor Show).

The Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board or LTFRB just threw the rule book at the Transport Network Companies (Uber and Grab to you and me). In a recent press conference, the government agency responsible for land-based public conveyance is reminding both Uber and Grab that they have to phase out non-compliant TNVses in 90 days. With the Memorandum Circular published last December 2, 2017, that sets a March 2, 2018 deadline.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board or LTFRB greeted 2018 with a shocker to Transport Network Companies or TNCs: hatchbacks with a displacement below 1,200-ccs or 1.2-liters (round-ups are okay, according to this report) aren’t allowed anymore as Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) vehicles. Given the LTFRB’s rather unpopular reputation of late, social media lashed out immediately on LTFRB board member and de facto punching bag Atty. Aileen Lizada on the government’s archaic or in their LTO own words, primordial standards. But is there a reason for all this uproar or is the LTFRB simply following the law?

2019 Hyundai Veloster is Looking Like a Proper Hot Hatch (w/ 25 Photos)

Rumors of the Hyundai Veloster’s demise is greatly exaggerated since the Korean carmaker chose the typically SUV-centric US market to unveil the all-new, second-generation Veloster. Designed collaboratively between Hyundai’s design center in South Korea and the US, the Veloster retains its unique two-plus-one asymmetric body style along with a slew of drivetrain and chassis improvements to up its sportiness.

With the new vehicle excise tax in place, pickup trucks may well be the new “people’s car.” It’s the latest in a series of transformations that’s seen it morph from no-nonsense workhorses to lifestyle playthings. And amidst the usual choices filled with Hilux, Rangers, and D-Max, there’s one that’s worthy of a closer look: the 2018 Chevrolet Colorado.

The Volvo XC60 has been crowned the best-performing large off-roader, and the car with the best overall performance of 2017 in the Euro NCAP 2017 Best in Class safety awards.

Bermaz Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles and parts in the country, recently conducted the 4th Maztech Philippines Customer Service Skills Competition last December. The annual skills competition is designed to promote camaraderie and showcase the talents, knowledge, and attitude of various aftersales personnel in the Mazda Philippines dealership network towards the Mazda Quality Service process.

Mitsubishi Philippines Increases Prices Including Strada Pickup Truck Due to Excise Tax

Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corporation (MMPC) is the latest carmaker to announce its new suggested retail price or SRP taking into account the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law.

Volkswagen has just unveiled the 7th generation Jetta, a full-on redesign of their compact car that promises dynamic proportions, optimal space utilization, and new range of assistance systems. Produced at the German automaker’s Mexico plant, it will be put on sale there by the first quarter of 2018 with the US market to follow by around midyear.

Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea’s largest automaker, and Grab, the leading on-demand transportation and mobile payments platform in Southeast Asia, announced a strategic partnership that will expand Hyundai’s innovative future mobility services in Southeast Asia.

How do you reinvent an icon? That’s the conundrum faced by Mercedes-Benz designers and engineers as they set their sights on the G-Class’s first ground-up redesign. The German carmaker’s longest serving model, the G-Class has been renowned for its uncompromising on- and off-road performance and impeccably solid build quality; traits which have been certainly carried over to the 2019 model.

2018 Ford Ranger: This is It (w/ 13 Photos)

After years of absence in the biggest pickup truck market in the world, Ford is finally bringing the Ranger back to the US. Still based off the current T6 global platform, the 2018 Ranger (2019 in North America) undergoes yet another refresh and packs more driver-assist technologies including the world’s first off-road cruise control.

Mazda Philippines Sets All-Time Sales Record in 2017

Bermaz Auto Philippines Inc. (BAP), the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles and parts in the country, reported record sales numbers for the month of December and the full year of 2017.

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo and Shaw Automotive Resources, Inc. (SARI) President Felix Limcaoco III, along with other top executives, led the groundbreaking ceremony of Hyundai Trucks and Buses Batangas City located along Diversion Road in Balagtas, Batangas City.

SsangYong Berjaya Motor Philippines (SBMP), the exclusive distributors of SsangYong vehicles and parts in the country, reported a robust 140 percent increase in its sales numbers compared to the brand’s output during its first year of operations in 2016.

Subaru Absorbs Some New Vehicle Excise Tax in Revealed Post-TRAIN Prices

Coming from a strong 2017, where Philippine sales reached 116 percent of target, Motor Image, the exclusive distributor of Subaru eyes strong growth amidst the new vehicle excise tax this year. Speaking to members of the Philippine media at the regional launch of EyeSight and the 2018 Subaru XV and Outback in Singapore, Mr. Glenn Tan, Managing Director of Tan Chong International Limited (TCIL), the parent company of Motor Image remains confident that Motor Image’s Philippine sales will continue to grow.

Toyota GAZOO Racing unveils what’s essentially a World Endurance Championship (WEC) for the road at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2018: meet the Toyota GAZOO GR Super Sports Concept. It sets the direction of what sort of cars to expect from Toyota and GAZOO Racing.

Subaru wasted no time giving the world a sneak peek of how the future STI could look like. After showing the VIZIV Performance Concept (a potentially future WRX) at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show 2017, STI immediately got to work and in just 4 months shows the VIZIV Performance STI Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2018.

Subaru Launches EyeSight-Equipped 2018 Outback and XV

Motor Image, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles across 9 countries in Asia launched the EyeSight driver assist technology on two vehicles: the 2018 Outback and the 2018 Subaru XV. Unveiled at the 2018 Singapore Motor Show, both of these models are slated to arrive in the Philippines by Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) in April.

The Volkswagen Amarok has won the ‘International Pick-up Award 2018’ (IPUA 2018). Like its predecessor in 2010, the new Amarok, now with high-torque V6 engines, has also succeeded in winning over the jury of transport journalists.

Motor Image Pilipinas is rolling out Subaru’s advanced driver assistive technologies dubbed EyeSight for our market real soon. So naturally, it begs to question three things: how does it perform? Can it take on aftermarket stuff like tints? And finally, can it be retrofitted on non-EyeSight equipped vehicle? Well, we’ll answer them one by one here (if you need an in-depth primer on what Subaru EyeSight is, click here).

Foton Philippines Retains Prices for January 2018

Foton Philippines is the fourth local manufacturer to reveal their vehicle prices effective January 2018. And taking the lead from Hyundai, they have decided to freeze their prices more or less despite Republic Act 10963 or the TRAIN Law taking effect last New Year’s Day.

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