Coming from a high where the Subaru XV was adjudged the “safest car ever made in Japan,” Subaru announced that its all-new Forester has received a similar citation also from the Japan New Car Assessment Program or JNCAP.

Aiming to close the year on a high, Motor Image Pilipinas, the country’s exclusive distributor of Subaru is launching “The Subaru Christmas Special” which extends discounts as much as P 250,000 to would-be buyers (see table below).

Last November 26, 2018, HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, alongside St. Scholastica’s College Manila, launched the Maria Fe Perez-Agudo (MFPA) Center for Leadership Excellence with the MFPA Thought Leadership Forum held at St. Cecilia’s Hall.

After its successful comeback in 2017, Toyota Gazoo World Rally Team successfully cliched the Manufacturer’s crown in the World Rally Championship (WRC). One of their technical partners is PIAA—provider of the rally team’s lighting system for their Yaris WRC race car. Reflecting on their achievement this year, PIAA Philippines’s Aldrich Sacdalan had this to say: “We are proud of this achievement, and it reflects PIAA’s strong partnership with Toyota, and its trust in our lighting systems.”

The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI), the exclusive importer and distributor of Chevrolet vehicles and parts in the Philippines, is set on reestablishing its presence in the largest city in Eastern Visayas with the recent groundbreaking ceremony for the new Chevrolet Tacloban dealership.

Hatchback on stilts or low clearance SUV, whatever you think of the 2018 Hyundai Kona’s packaging, one thing’s for sure: it delivers one of the best surprises this year. Competing in the burgeoning sub-compact crossover segment, the Kona comes across as a well-styled, well-executed choice that, at P 1,118,000 is great value for money.

If you’re a motor show regular, you’ll notice by now that Mazda always had the dreariest montage that opens their presentation. It’s filled with old models plus it’s so pixelated it looks like a poorly executed upscale video in today’s 4K world.

Grab, the Philippines’ and Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing platform, brings the GrabTaxi service to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). As the everyday app, Grab continues to expand its operations to reach more Filipinos as it now serves 12 cities in the Philippines.

Okay, admittedly the name could have been sexier, but no matter; there’s a new one-off Ferrari car and the world is all better for it. Called the SP3JC, it’s designed by the Ferrari Styling Centre as a commission by a Ferrari client and collector who wanted an uncompromising roadster.

In a market for a new pickup truck real soon? Well, it looks like there will be a new choice real soon: the 2019 Mitsubishi Strada. After its global unveil last month , Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has just opened a teaser website for its much-awaited new pickup truck.

The US-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS just released their 2018 headlight evaluation and things are looking dim, literally, for owners of the Civic, Fit (our market Jazz), and HR-V. These three Honda models are among the 40 other models tested by the IIHS to score a “poor” when it comes to their headlights.

Following the success of their NISMO Heritage Parts program with the Skyline GT-R R32, Nissan’s performance and motorsports division, NISMO has just announced that they’re expanding the reproduction of parts to include the supercars of the Playstation generation: the Skyline GT-R R33 and R34.

After a Bicameral Conference Committee Hearing last November 26, the upper and lower houses of Congress have unanimously approved the proposed Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act.

Nissan is ready to show off the race capabilities of its fully electric vehicle, the Leaf. Shown as the Leaf Nismo RC, Nissan is planning to build 6 of these bad boys to show the world the power and excitement of an EV.

The ASEAN market didn’t have to wait very long: the refreshed Honda Civic is almost upon us. Previewed at the Thailand International Motor Expo, Honda’s 10th generation compact sedan gets revised styling and more advanced safety equipment.

Accompanying the availability of Brilliant Sporty Blue as a regular color in the Civic’s color palette, the 2019 model comes with a revised front bumper. The RS Turbo receives more tweaks with the high-gloss black grille with a RS badge and high-gloss black 17-inch alloy wheels complimenting the now high-gloss black door handles (bye-bye, chrome).



Inside, the Civic now receives the convenience of a physical volume knob for its 7-inch Advanced Touch Audio Display. It’s also worth mentioning that the Thai-market Civic also gets wood trim for the RS Turbo—something we sincerely hope gets changed before its migration here.

Safety-wise, the 2019 Civic can now be equipped with Honda Sensing—a suite of driver-assistive features that include collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation with lane departure warning, and auto high beam. On top of that, the Civic also gets Lane Watch.


Mechanically, the Civic remains unchanged and this means it’ll remain powered by a 1.8-liter SOHC 4-cylinder engine making 141 horsepower and 174 Nm of torque or a 1.5-liter turbocharged VTEC Turbo with 173 horsepower and 220 Nm of torque. Both are equipped with an Earth Dreams CVT.

With Thai market sales starting in January 2019, it’s increasingly likely that the 2019 Civic may see a surprise appearance this December at Honda’s annual media thanksgiving party. Otherwise, expect it to arrive in the Philippines within the first few months of 2019.

This may look like a normal Honda HR-V, but look closely and you’ll notice a very subtle difference: it’s got not one, but two tailpipes coming out the back. If you’re guessing that this is a turbocharged HR-V and you’re right on the money.

We can’t stress enough that Americans like things big so it’s no surprise that Korean automaker Hyundai is giving them just that: the biggest passenger vehicle they’ve ever made: the first-ever Palisade.

Kia’s funky crossover, the Soul is back for a third generation. Riding on an all-new platform and with an available turbocharged engine and all-electric motor, the Soul is just about everything the young urbanite would ever need in a vehicle.

The Philippine automotive aftermarket industry will take center stage once more as two of the most awaited motoring events will be held this November 29 to December 2, 2018 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Presented by Delium Tires Philippines, the 12th Manila Auto Salon will be held back-to-back with the 24th Sport Truck Show.

The wait is over. After countless leaks, spy shots and speculation, Jeep has finally confirmed the car industry’s worst kept secret: the return of the Wrangler pickup truck. Playing up their heritage of unmatched toughness, iconic design, and best-in-class towing and payload, this is the 2020 Jeep Gladiator.