Photos by Ulysses Ang

Ford Philippines continues its successful partnership with leading radio network, 99.5RT as the all-new Ford Focus is set to hit the streets of Manila with the coolest team of radio jocks.

The partnership with Ford Philippines and 99.5RT showcases a stickered all-new Focus 5-door hatchback to be used by the Awesome crew of 99.5RT as their official vehicle for Ford Philippines’ Start it. Share it. Win it. campaign – an interactive and unprecedented launch campaign for the all-new Ford Focus designed to engage Filipino consumers with real-life ‘smart-demos’ from weekend events spanning August 3 to September 16. Participants will be asked to ‘Start it. Share it. Win it’ – meaning to start the all-new Focus and experience the smart technologies, share it with their friends via Twitter and Facebook, and become eligible to win the all-new Ford Focus Titanium+.

Hyundai Sand.Sea.Sky. is calling all young, outspoken, and aspiring non-professional filmmakers to join the Hyundai Short F.I.L.M. (Film, Innovation, Life and Motion) filmmaking competition by submitting their 15-second video entries with the theme: “What Makes You Brilliant?”. Participants can get a chance to interact with internationally renowned and multi-awarded filmmaker Brilliante Mendoza, produce their own short film to be shown on the big screen, and win cash prizes. 

Mazda recently introduced the all-new Mazda BT-50 compact pick-up truck in the Philippines, providing customers total truck utility combined with the style and comfort of a premium passenger car. 

The all-new Mazda BT-50 is available in three variants: the 2.2L Mazda BT-50 4x2 with manual transmission priced at PhP 1,300,000 while the automatic transmission is at PhP 1,350,000; the 3.2L Mazda BT-50 4x4 with automatic transmission is priced at PhP 1,490,000.

Volvo Philippines makes it easier to own a brand new Volvo through its Buckle Up Ownership Packages. Running until September 30, 2012, Volvo enthusiasts can drive home a new car for as low as 20 down payment at 0% interest and payable up to 60 months.

This exciting ownership offer is made available for the Volvo XC60 and XC90 AWD SUV. With high ground clearance, amazing crossover capability, clever design and world-class safety, these SUVs offer the best mix of comfortable city driving and rugged outdoor escapades. A selection of ownership packages is also available for other models. Whether it is the nimble C30 Sports Coupe, the range of fuel-efficient S60 Sports Sedans or the versatile V60 Sportswagon, each Volvo is assured to deliver dynamic performance because each car is designed around you.

The all-new Ford Ranger has proven itself a leader in fuel economy in the Philippines after traveling 1,623 kilometers on a single tank of fuel – averaging an incredible 19.44 Km/L over the entire journey between Manila, Subic, Clark and Tarlac City.

The all-new Ford Ranger was recently put to the test to demonstrate Ford’s commitment to delivering class-leading fuel economy in every vehicle segment in which the company competes – and once again, the company delivered.

The 2012 Volvo S60 earned a top rating of "good" in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) new small overlap frontal crash test, making it the highest-rated European luxury vehicle among those tested. The Volvo S60 was rated higher than the Infiniti G, BMW 3 Series, Acura TSX, Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class and the Lexus IS 250 / 350. The Acura TL was the only other vehicle to earn a "good" rating. 

"When we decided to build a world-class sports sedan we made sure it was a great Volvo first and foremost," said John Maloney, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America. "We set the benchmark on safety, and we continue to lead the crowd."

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) kicks off the third quarter with a 27% rise to 18,017 units from 14,195 units sold in the same period last year. This compares with the overall industry growth of 11%.  In the same period, the Passenger Car (PC) segment boosted overall sales which grew by 52% to 10,906 units from 7,180 units sold last year.

Strong sales of British United Automobiles, Inc., The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI), and Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) increased total sales of AVID for the said period.

July alone registered a growth of 19% in aggregate sales of PCs and LCVs to 2,218 units from 1,871 units sold in the same month last year.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Photo by Ulysses Ang

Universal Motors Corporation (UMC) is finally showing some new stuff at the 4th Philippine International Motor Show.

Headlining everything is the preview of the new Juke compact crossover. Although UMC has yet to decide whether or not the Juke will indeed be sold locally, UMC did release this statement:

"Rest assured that UMC will do its best to give the Philippine market the vehicles they want and aspire for."

So while things are sounding vague at the moment, the Juke is indeed at the Nissan UMC booth at PIMS. Aside from the Juke, UMC is also showcasing Navara pick-ups and Patrol Super Safaris decked in special wraps and large alloy wheels.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines is showcasing a total of 8 cars at the 4th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), with two of them upcoming models intended for sale soon. At their stand, Mitsubishi is showing off:

1. Mirage
2. Outlander
3. 1987-1989 Galant VR4 Rally Car
4. Lancer EX 1.6
5. ASX
6. Pajero
7. Montero Sport
8. Strada

Of course, the biggest news is the sneak peek of the Mirage and the Outlander. It's understood that the former is expected to be released this November, while the latter will be "really soon".

Photo by Ulysses Ang

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) joins the 4th Philippine International Motorshow (PIMS) organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) with a “Fun to Drive” theme.  The 380-square meter TMP booth will feature the new 86 TRD, all-new Camry, Innova and Fortuner TRD.  TMP has also launched the 86 Aero variant and the limited edition Vios TRD at the said event.  The 4th PIMS will be held from August 16 to 19, 2012 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Now on its fourth year, the PIMS, shall showcase a host of new products under the theme “Drive the Fun.”  As the country’s biggest automotive company, Toyota, for its part, will make its booth spectacular by showcasing exciting sportier products.

According to TMP President Mr. Michinobu Sugata, “Today we have shown you a glimpse of Toyota’s new direction. Ladies and gentlemen, this is only the beginning. We at Toyota are proud to bring you even more exciting vehicles in the future.”

The 4th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) is proving to be an excellent venue to showcase the strength and the optimism presently experienced by the country’s automotive industry. Organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers in the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI), the biannual PIMS runs from August 16 to 19, 2012, at the World Trade Exhibition Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila.

PIMS is also serving as a spectacular way for Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) to display its product range as the company’s vehicles take to the show’s spotlight. Lined up at Isuzu’s booth are six models: the 2013 Sportivo X, the  Crosswind XS, the 2012 D-MAX Boondock 4x4 Special Edition, the 2012 D-MAX LS 4x2 Special Edition, the NHR cab with Flexi Truck body option, and the 2013 Alterra Urban Cruiser X.

Photo by Ulysses Ang

Suzuki Philippines, Inc. previewed the Swift Sport through the concept that inspired it: the Swift S-Concept.

Launched at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Swift S-Concept is powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.

Visually, the Swift S-Concept features a Kizashi-inspired plunging black grille, brushed metallic bumper inserts and "claws" around the fog lamps, red Brembo brakes peeing behind the 18-inch alloy wheels. The look is completed with the large roof-mounted rear wing, rear diffuser with twin exhaust pipes, and smoke tints on the headlights and tailights.

Inside, the Swift S-Concept sports black-and-yellow Recaro sport seats, a leather steering wheel, metallic pedals, and piano black accents on the dashboard.

Photo by Ulysses Ang

CATS Motors, Inc., the distributor of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and trucks in the Philippines showcased the third-generation Mercedes-Benz M-Class at the Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS). The all-new M-Class features an AMG Sport kit equipped. Under the hood is a 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine (ML 350 BlueTEC) good for 260 horsepower and 620 Nm of torque. This is then equipped to a 7-speed automatic.

The new Mercedes-Benz M-Class is showcased with the rest of the Mercedes-Benz SUV line-up including the iconic G-Class at the Mercedes-Benz booth at PIMS.

Columbian Autocar Corporation previewed two new production vehicles at the Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS). These are the Kia Optima executive sedan and the updated Sorento mid-sized SUV.

Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW cars in the country, recently announced new BMW M Performance Parts specially designed for the new BMW 1 Series, BMW 3 Series Sedan and the BMW 5 Series Sedan.

Like the BMW M Performance Parts already available for the high-performance M3, 1 Series M Coupe, X5 M and X6 M, the components developed for 1 Series, 3 Series and 5 Series models ensure an authentic M experience of BMW M-specific motor racing technology to everyday driving.

This new line of accessories provides a distinctive, sporty character to further enhance driving dynamics. BMW M Performance Parts are the result of years of racing expertise and have been developed in close collaboration with BMW M GmbH. Each component goes through an intensive development and manufacturing process, which results in uncompromised performance. Exclusive chassis, aerodynamic, cockpit and powertrain components are now available for the 1 Series, 3 Series and 5 Series Sedans.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) announced its line-up of automobiles for display in the 4th CAMPI Philippine International Motor Show to be held at the World Trade Center, Pasay City from Thursday, August 16 to Sunday, August 19, 2012.

At this motor show, the booth concept of Honda is “Joy of Mobility”, which originated from founder Soichiro Honda’s dream to provide joy to people by enhancing their personal mobility. Through this, people’s interaction with one another is enriched. Through the years, Honda continues to increase the joy of mobility it provides by always improving the value of each product it creates through new technology, added convenience and utility and high levels of safety and quality.

For the 4th Philippine International Motor Show, Honda will display its much anticipated hybrid models that provide joy of mobility by combining eco-friendly and fun-to-drive. Also, production models installed with Modulo will be displayed, which provides joy of mobility through the personalization of customers’ vehicles. Finally, stock production models the all-new CR-V and all-new Odyssey will be displayed, which provide a new level of joy of mobility in the compact SUV and family mini-van categories.

Shell Philippines is proud to support one of the most highly anticipated automotive events of the year; the 4th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS). On August 16-19, 2012, the World Trade Center in Pasay City will be transformed into a motorists’ haven featuring the latest vehicle releases, exciting concept and prototype cars and everything in between for the motoring enthusiast. Organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI), PIMS promises fun for the whole family and Shell Philippines is front and center of the excitement.

Shell Philippines brings its Quality fuels and lubricants expertise closer to the motoring public with its massive display occupying the World Trade Center lobby. The Shell Booth features an exciting exhibit of their Quality fuels and lubricants portfolio including the all-new Shell V-Power Nitro+ line, Shell FuelSave line and Shell Helix, as well as an impressive display of the sought-after Ferrari Formula One Showcar.

Expect August 16 to 19, 2012 to be a fun-filled family day for thousands of motoring enthusiasts who are expected to flock to the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City for the much-awaited 4th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS).

Promising “more fun the fourth time around,” the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI), the country’s premier organization of vehicle manufacturers and assemblers, is again treating the motoring public with dazzling exhibitions of concept or prototype vehicles and the latest advancements in automotive technology.

People are talking about the continuing phenomenal growth rate of Lexus of 46% over last year amidst a growth decline of 16% of the luxury market segment in the same period (based on CAMPI sales report as of July 31, 2012). 

Shifting 32 units in May of this year, Lexus Manila then proceeded to set a record for sales in June with 35 units sold and finally capped off the quarter by achieving its highest ever sales in July with 41 units sold.

Ford Philippines and its network of dealers are stepping up efforts to respond to the large number of requests for repair of Ford vehicles damaged by rain and floodwater at the height of the recent Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

“We are experiencing a marked increase in the number of servicing appointments in the last few weeks as a result of continued heavy rains. Together with the support of our dealer network, we are confident that our team can respond to the needs of our customers with the highest level of service and quality,” says Randy Krieger, president, Ford Group Philippines.

Between August 8 and September 30, Ford customers whose vehicles have been damaged by the floodwater caused by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) can enjoy a special 20 percent discount on flood-related parts (customer-paid), a 15 percent discount on insurance-paid parts (Ford genuine parts only), and an additional 10 percent discount on labor supplied by Ford’s authorized dealer network.

Here's the official launch video for the Toyota 86 held at the Subic International Airport. Have a fun and safe Wednesday!

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) announced during their 24th Anniversary dinner that owners affected by the recent floods will be helped with hefty discounts on parts and labor. As a way of assisting Toyota owners, TMP will provide the following discounts:

• 40% on Engine ECU
• 20% on Selected Flood-Affected Parts
• 20% on Labor

This was also announced in conjunction to TMP's donation of P 1-million to the province of Laguna and to the City of Sta. Rosa.

Car makers are finally taking the compact sedan segment very seriously. After years of domination by the likes of the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, they’re now facing serious competition from both east and west. And one that’s made the most impact is the Hyundai Elantra. Far and wide, it has stolen the show locally with a long wait list and an even longer list of satisfied owners. But is the Elantra just all flash and no substance? After spending two weeks back-to-back with the 1.6 GL MTand 1.8 GLS AT, all I could say is: the competition should be very afraid.

Photo by Ulysses Ang

Based on the most recent CAMPI report, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) posted record breaking sales for the month of July. The manufacturer registered total sales of 6,258 units, its highest total in 24 years of operations. In the history of the Philippine automotive industry, no other manufacturer/distributor has broken the 6,000 unit barrier until now.

During this record breaking run, Toyota’s passenger car line up continues to have a stellar performance. Toyota garnered 49.8% of the passenger car segment with a total of 2,155 units sold. The company’s locally manufactured vehicle, the Toyota Vios played a big role in this success as it recorded its highest monthly total of 1,654 units.

Honda has finally taken the wraps off the 2013 Honda Accord which they call as "the most sculpted Accord ever".

Whatever you think of it, it's clear that like the Civic and CR-V before it, it's certainly a very conservative step forward in terms of design. In fact, with intense competition from the likes of the Toyota Camry and even the Subaru Legacy, does the all-new Accord have what it takes to fight?

More details on the 2013 Accord will come out when it makes its North American market debut in the fall. Of course, we'll provide more details as they arrive.

UPDATE 1: It's been revealed that the 2013 Honda Accord will feature a new family of fuel-efficient engines ("Earth Dreams" engines) in both V6 and 4-cylinder configurations. The latter will feature direct-injection technology. Plus, the Accord will have a CVT transmission.

UPDATE 2: The Accord's official North American launch date is slated for August 20 US time. We'll probably get more information about Honda's next-generation executive sedan soon thereafter.

Continue on for the entire press release:

Ford Philippines today announced a 23 percent year-over-year increase in July retail sales to 745 units, driven by the all-new Ford Ranger and the continued popularity of the all-new Ford Fiesta.

The class-defining all-new Ranger proved incredibly popular in its first month of sales in the Philippines with sales of 246 units, representing the best-ever sales of the compact pick-up since its introduction in the Philippines in 1999.

Honda would like to express its deepest sympathy and condolences to victims of southwest monsoon rain caused by Typhoon Haikui. To support the impacted areas, the Honda group of companies will provide approximately 1.5 million Pesos toward the relief and recovery efforts:

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.: 1 Million Yen (approximately 500 thousand Pesos)

Honda Foundation, Inc.: 1 Million Pesos

Honda Motor Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo, Japan, is the parent company of the Honda group of companies in the Philippines, while Honda Foundation, Inc. is the working organization for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities of Honda group of companies in the Philippines.

Honda Group of Companies in the Philippines:

Honda Philippines, Inc. (Manufacturer and distributor of Honda motorcycles and power products)
Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (Manufacturer and distributor of Honda automobiles)
Honda Parts Manufacturing Corp. (Manufacturer of automobile component parts)
Honda Trading Philippines Corp. (Trading company)

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) registers 20% growth in total sales to 14,281 units in January to July 2012 compared to the 11,852 units sold in the same period last year. The Passenger Car (PC) segment, boosted by sales of the Accent and the EON, grew by 58%, or 8,926 units sold versus the 5,650 sold in the first seven months of 2011.

July posted 2% growth in total sales with 1,530 units sold compared to the 1,497 sold in the same month last year. This was once again driven by the PC segment whose total sales grew by 19% to 1,095 units from the 924 units sold in July 2011.

Trade in your old, working or non-working navigation devices and get a brand new AVT Navigator for as low as P3,500 at the 2012 Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), to be held from August 16-19, 2012, at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Lateral Drift Championship Series 2012 Round 2, weathers a fund raising event dubbed as “Drift for a cause” this Saturday, August 18, 2012 at the Clark Expo grounds for the Habagat victims.
This will be a drifting event which will go side to side with car show display to be organized by Lateral Drift (LD) Production and Creator Studio. The event beneficiaries will be our brothers and sisters situated in Pampanga who were victimized by the recently low pressure storm experienced last week.

August is typically a slow month for the automotive industry (the Chinese so-called "ghost month".) In any case, there are still some new additions / updates in this month's price guide, please we've got the upcoming Philippine International Motor Show on August 16-19. We'll see some new cars by then :-) Here are the new additions and/or updates:

• Hyundai Genesis
• Hyundai Sonata 2.0 Limited
• Lexus ES 350
• Lexus GS450h
• Mazda BT-50 (now available in all Mazda dealerships)
• Mitsubishi Lancer EX 1.6
• Subaru Impreza

UPDATE: We just received word due to the recent floods and in consideration of its victims, Subaru is moving the Impreza Challenge Manila leg to Saturday, September 8 instead. The venue will remain the same.

Want to win an all-new 2012 Subaru Impreza? All it takes is to be the last man (or woman) left holding. The Subaru Impreza Challenge 2012 will be held on Saturday, August 11 Saturday, September 8 at the Bonifacio High Street Activity Area, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Participants must download and fill-up this application form.

Shell and Seaoil on Thursday said they will not implement an oil price hike next week in areas affected by the recent flooding.  This despite an increase in the prices in the world market.

"The move will, hopefully, help alleviate the current predicament many of our countrymen find themselves in where they have to manage the impact of the floods and rains," Roberto Kanapi, Pilipinas Shell Vice-President for Communications and Government Relations, said.

News from Automotive News reports that Honda is clearly learning from the lackluster response to the all-new Civic. According to that news outfit, Honda is shifting some vehicle design, including the all-new Civic, responsibilities over to Honda R&D Americas.

Additionally, Honda R&D Americas is penning the all-new Acura NSX. Currently, they have 2,000 employees, a number which mostly likely to go up in the next few years.

Source: Automotive News

Here's a bit of good news for motorists who have to go to work tomorrow.

The Makati City government has lifted the vehicle reduction or number coding scheme for Thursday, August 9. This is will certainly help those who need to go to and from work, especially if it's located in the CBD or Central Business District.

UPDATED: Now, according to a tweet sent by the Malacanang, they've confirmed that number coding is suspended tomorrow for the entire Metro Manila including Las Pinas.

Stay safe, everyone!

Photo courtesy of Mazda Press

Mazda is releasing teaser after teaser of its upcoming all-new Mazda6. Its mid-sized sedan, which for a time was close to being axed, will be showcased at the 2012 Moscow International Automobile Salon which runs from August 29 to September 2, 2012.

Though details are still somewhat sketchy, it's been revealed that the all-new 6 will wear the "Kodo - Soul of Motion" design language pioneered by the CX-5. The 6 (at least in European spec) will feature a brake regeneration technology called "i-ELOOP". The 6 will also feature the a SkyActiv-G engine with 2.0-liters of displacement mated to a 6-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic. Whether the 6 will see a power bump from the CX-5's mill remains to be seen.

While you're waiting for the all-new 6 to show itself, a preview video is available after the break straight from the folks at Mazda:

Senator Francis Pangilinan appealed for a “price hike holiday,” especially on fuel and food.

In a statement, he asked private firms to go easy on jacking up prices to allow residents in Metro Manila and a major part of Luzon to get back on their feet.

"Maawa naman ho tayo sa taumbayan sa mga panahong ito. Naiintindihan namin na kailangang mabuhay ng mga negosyo, pero sa panahon ng krisis tulad nito, sana ay ipagpaliban muna ng mga kumpanya--lalo na yung may mga 'buffer', ika nga, sa kita nila--ang pagtaas ng presyo. Lubog na nga ang mga tao dahil sa grabeng pagbaha, ilulubog pa ba natin sa pagtaas ng presyo mga bilihin?" he said.

Some oil companies adjusted prices on Tuesday.

Source: ABS-CBN News

Following the lead of Nissan Motor Philippines, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporaiton (MMPC) has just launched a teaser for their Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) line-up.

Headlining their display is the all-new Mirage (which we've already driven in Thailand). According to Mitsubishi, the Mirage will arrive with a 2-DIN touch screen DVD/GPS navigation for the top-line model. In addition, the Outlander is also making a comeback to the Philippines after being shown for the European market at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Pinoys just love the Honda CR-V. When it comes to functionality, practicality, and comfort, the CR-V is hard to beat. So much so that it has been the country's best-selling compact crossover since its market introduction in 1997.

Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NMPI) is the first car maker to reveal more about what to expect at the upcoming Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) which will run from August 16-19 at the World Trade Center.

Our new DTS Ultimate chip is here, been a long wait but the factory in UK has come through with a real beauty. This is the latest Diesel Upgrade chip available now and it makes more power plus more fuel savings than our competitors.

With a processor that runs 6X’s faster than other brands, this chip has a sampling rate faster than anything else in the world. The New Generation board is 2012 technology and the processor is the latest and fastest that’s available in the market today.

Photo courtesy of Porsche Press

Driving trials of the Porsche 918 Spyder are entering the next phase. A permanent fixture of the test program for the 918 Spyder – and in the tuning process for all Porsche vehicles – is the 20.8 km long challenging Nürburgring-Nordschleife race circuit. After all, a lap time of less than seven minutes and 22 seconds is one of the development goals of the innovative super sports car with a plug-in hybrid drive.

Photo courtesy of Audi Press

Audi presented the German Olympic squad going to the 2012 London Olympics with an Audi A1 e-tron in the German colors.  As a  partner of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the National Paralympic Committee Germany (DBS), Audi provided the Audi A1 e-tron as an exhibition car which will serve as a shuttle service between the German House and the MS Deutschland cruise ship.   The Ingolstadt based automobile manufacturer has provided a total of 60 vehicles.