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August 21, 2020

2021 Toyota Corolla Cross vs the Competition

The almost back-to-back arrivals of the 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross and 2021 Ford Territory have re-ignited the compact crossover segment. Once a niche market cornered by the Honda HR-V and Subaru XV, it’s now getting crowded with at least half a dozen choices out there.

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official Philippine distributor of the leading Korean auto brand in the country, and Petron Corporation, the country’s largest oil company, forged a new partnership to support the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Libreng Sakay program.

Update: The rumors are true. The turbo is back (10/22).

One of the biggest criticisms leveled against the current fifth-generation Subaru Forester is the lack of a turbocharged option. Ever since the nameplate’s introduction in 1997, having a turbo option along with all-wheel drive has always been one of its defining characteristics. Don’t fret Subaru fans, because it seems the Japanese carmaker may be looking to bring back that back as early as the end of this year.

Toyota Motor PH to Seek Government Help to Keep Local Manufacturing Viable

With the economic slowdown, the Philippine automotive industry will need the government’s support to survive.

After a long wait, Toyota Motor Philippines has finally entered the compact crossover segment with the 2021 Corolla Cross. Sitting below the RAV4 in terms of size and price, the Corolla Cross aims to bring the brand’s success in the compact sedan space into the small SUV segment.

New-vehicle buyers are being offered an increasing number of advanced technology features, some of which are hits while others are currently missing the mark.

Despite the economic slowdown brought upon by the coronavirus pandemic, Mercedes-AMG says its Project ONE hypercar is still a go. Their latest proof is that it has finally entered the next phase of development: dynamic testing.

In response to the government’s call for contactless and cashless solutions for the transport sector, PayMaya is now enabling operators of various modes of mass transportation in the country with its advanced end-to-end payment platforms.

Subaru has shown off the second-generation Levorg sports tourer in Japan, and it brings the company’s newest turbocharged engine along with a promise of bolder styling and even more enhanced dynamics.

Maxus Philippines, established just a little over a year ago in June 2019, continues its dealer expansion efforts with the opening of two dealerships in the south: Bacolod City in Western Visayas and Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao.

While most people associate the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study or IQS for vehicles available in the U.S. market, did you know they hold the same for Japan as well? Given the reputation of Japanese carmakers in making high-quality vehicles, which carmaker has had the least problems during the first 90 days of ownership? Honda.

Thailand Debuts a Sharper Looking, Better Speced 2021 Yaris Hatchback

About a month after the global debut of the “new look” Vios, Toyota has now grafted on the same serious-looking face on its hatchback sibling, the Yaris. But more than just giving it a more acceptable fascia, the Yaris in Thailand also levels up in terms of equipment that puts even the recently-launched Philippine market new Vios to shame.

If there’s one product that’s responsible for the rise of Hyundai in the Philippines, it’s the Starex. It’s become the vehicle of choice for many Filipino families enabling it to establish a legacy all on its own.

With all the glitz of the Ford Territory’s launch now past us now, it’s time to get to work. With no potential commercial interest that could cloud our verdict (after all, we treat car reviews as sacred), we’ll have our honest and semi-brutal review real soon. Before that though, we’d like to share one Easter Egg we found buried in the Territory’s infotainment system.

If you’re looking at the Xpander Cross, now is certainly a good time as Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has now included it in their Head Start Promo.

Lexus takes pride in the hospitality that it shows its customers at the Lexus Manila dealership. This spirit of Japanese hospitality, otherwise known as Omotenashi is at the center of the Lexus brand after all. Taking care of the Lexus customer is paramount, so the necessary precautions (thorough disinfection, mandatory face mask use, social-distancing guidelines, and strict temperature checks) have already been put in place early on to elevate Lexus Manila’s safety standards amidst this global pandemic.

While I’m not completely sold on Mazda’s new “Carbon Edition,” here’s some news that’s welcome to just about every aspiring CX-9 owner: it’s getting an even more upscale interior for 2021.

Japanese government figures tried to bring Nissan and Honda together for merger talks this year according to the Financial Times.

Ford is planning to stretch the lifecycle of the next-generation Mustang from the previously planned six to eight years.

Motorcycle Barriers No Longer Required for Certain Riders

In the latest installment regarding those motorcycle barriers, the national task force for COVID-19 has said that they’re no longer required for as long as the riders are living in the same house, and that the place of residence is under General Community Quarantine or GCQ.

Last July, Honda Cars Philippines started introducing high-efficiency cabin air filters for their cars to remove all sorts of bad or nasty stuff from entering the interior. Well, good news: they’ve expanded their offering.

After a set of teasers that showed its design and interior, Kia has finally revealed all the details surrounding its all-new 2021 Carnival.

The company previously known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles continues to plop Hellcat engines left and right in a bid to grab headlines. The latest one to receive the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8? The Ram 1500.

After its Geneva Motor Show debut last year, Ferrari Philippines announces that the availability of its newest V8-powered supercar: the F8 Tributo. With that, it emphasizes Ferrari and exclusive Philippine distributor Motostrada’s commitment to offer the Prancing Horse’s full model range with aftersales support to customers.

Vehicle Importers Report 50.9 Percent Drop in Year-to-Date 2020 Sales

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) saw Year-to-Date (YTD) sales drop 50.9 percent in the first seven months of 2020 compared to the same period last year. That said, AVID sees a healthy recovery with 5,100 units sold in July compared to June.

The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI), the exclusive importer and distributor of Chevrolet automobiles and parts in the country, is rolling out its “Ride to a Fresh Start” Sales Offers to provide you with more flexible options in owning your brand-new Chevy.

Not having to content with similarly-styled SUVs from China, Jeep now has to fight against an Indian rival as well in the 2020 Mahindra Thar.

Thirty or odd so minutes after we posted our analysis based on Kia Philippines’s 15-second Stonic teaser, they sent two official PR photos (see top and below). Based on this, we could be looking at yet another sub-compact SUV sourced from China.

After teasing it to members of the motoring press, Kia Philippines has finally made it official: the Stonic sub-compact SUV is coming this October. No exact date was given on their social media accounts, but it does give us our first full look at this new crossover which is expected to slot below the Seltos in both size and positioning.

This Special Edition Ford Ranger Will Confuse the LTO

With the LTO once again cracking down on modified 4x4s and pickup trucks, if Ford Philippines opts to bring in this special edition Ranger, it’ll be the stuff of nightmares for the authorities. Meet the Ranger Heavy Duty.

SsangYong Berjaya Motor Philippines, the official distributor and dealer of SsangYong vehicles and parts in the Philippines, is letting customers experience value by making its various models more accessible with cash discounts, zero interest financing, or low monthly downpayments.

The Soon-To-Arrive 2021 Subaru Evoltis Just Aced a Very Tough Safety Test

Living up to their reputation of building the safest vehicles on the road, Subaru just announced that its three-row 7-seater Ascent (to be called Evoltis locally) has just been named a 2020 Top Safety Pick+ by the U.S.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS.

Mercedes-Benz Philippines brings in the newest member of its SUV family: the all-new GLB. Marking the 8th model underpinned by the Modular Front Architecture (MFA), it’s the German luxury automaker’s first 7-seater compact SUV.

Attention carmakers: this guy is looking to buy a brand-new car. Well, make that 1,000 new cars and he’s willing to shell out 1.4 billion pesos for it. This guy is Mark Leviste and he’s the vice-governor of Batangas.

Foton PH Introduces the Diesel Powered Gratour TM 300 for P 730k (w/ Specs)

Foton Philippines is opening more opportunities for local businesses to level up with its new vehicle lineup assembled by Filipinos for fellow hardworking FilipinosL the 2020 Gratour TM 300 now powered by a class-exclusive diesel engine.

Having settled the question surrounding the Ford Territory’s paternity, the next obvious question on everyone’s mind was: is the Filipino consumer getting shortchanged? Why is Ford Philippines offering the Territory when they could have brought in the Escape or Kuga instead?

The launch of the Ford Territory while good for the Filipino consumer (hey, it starts at just P 1.179 million) has certainly raised some eyebrows, particularly for brand purists who see this as nothing more than a re-badge of a Chinese-made vehicle.

Ford Philippines is entering the compact crossover segment with its all-new Territory. Aimed at young professionals and starting families, the Territory offers a technology-driven driving experience wrapped around a sleek, stylish urban-ready design.

Digital financial services PayMaya has teamed up with Petron Corporation to provide a safe and contactless payment experience to motorists fueling up at participating Petron stations nationwide.

Don’t let the name fool you. Despite being called the “Carbon Edition” models, these new special edition CX-5, CX-9, and Mazda6 don’t even have an ounce of the stuff.

Porsche has proven that even its Panamera four-door is no slouch. Even before the car’s world premiere, a slightly camouflaged series production car has already lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in just 7:29.81 minutes making it the fastest executive car ever to lap the legendary circuit.

Chery Auto PH Sales Soar 162 Percent Month on Month

Chery Auto is a brand on the rise in the Philippines. In an official statement, the Chinese automaker saw a 162 percent month-on-month sales rise.

Nissan in Malaysia was on the right rack when they started offering the Leaf EV as part of a “risk free” three-year lease. A survey in Europe finds that a similar “try before you buy it scheme” will help dispel the lingering concerns surrounding the tech.

PGA Cars, the exclusive distributor of Audi in the Philippines brings in the new Audi A8 L 3.0 TFSI MHEV, their luxury limousine that offers specifications and equipment unmatched by competitors in its class.

Pilipinas Shell is shutting down its refinery operations in Tabangao after 58 years of continuous operation.

After teasing it last year, Mazda has some sad news for those expecting to see the Mazda3 go racing: the program has been axed.

The newest addition to the 2021 Elantra line-up brings the model’s first-ever N Line model. Designed and engineered to deliver more enhanced driving fun, the Elantra N Line serves as an entry-point to Hyundai’s high-performance N Brand line-up while also expanding its appeal to a wider audience.

With the G50 finally touching down on Philippine shores, Maxus Philippines has revealed even more details of its newest MPV ahead of its debut.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation experienced a significant increase in retail sales for the month of July as it achieved a total of 3,149 units sold.

Stay Safe this Rainy Season with the Goodyear Wrangler TripleMax

With the rainy season in full swing, switching to a good set of tires will help keep you and your family safe. The Goodyear Wrangler TripleMax is the tiremaker’s most affordable tire line in the SUV segment, yet it offers shorter wet braking distance and road hazard resistance features.

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