August 2019 | CarGuide.PH | Philippine Car News, Car Reviews, Car Prices

August 31, 2019

All-New Subaru WRX, Levorg Expected in 2020; To Have Smaller Turbo Engines

Subaru is busying migrating its entire product line-up to its stiffer, safer, more capable Subaru Global Platform. Of course, enthusiasts are holding their breath as to when the WRX and WRX STI will be getting the same treatment. Well, it seems with have the answer now. But sadly, you’ll have to wait your breath a little bit longer: late 2020 is the earliest the world will see the next iteration of a go-fast Subaru.

The Audi e-tron is the First All-Electric Vehicle to Rate Highest in Safety Test

Dispelling old wives tales that electric vehicles aren’t safe, Audi grabbed the highest score in the U.S.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) earning it as a Top Safety Pick+. The Audi e-tron is the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) to earn the rating.

Frequent flyers, listen up! If you happen to be a Mabuhay Miles member, simply showing off your membership card can get you up to P 240,000 in discounts on select Hyundai models.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is inviting all racing fans and car enthusiasts to the August leg of its grassroots motorsports series, the Vios Racing Festival.

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc., is adding a new Santa Fe variant. Now, if you’re thinking for a high-grade 4WD variant, you’re out of luck. Instead, the new variant is aimed to help Hyundai’s 7-seater unibody crossover compete against 7-seater pickup-based passenger vehicles.

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) says sales reached a total of 50,164 units for the first 7 months of 2019, a slight dip from the 50,505 units sold in the same period last year. In July alone, the AVID members reached 6,987 units—a 11 percent decrease.

There are two kinds of car enthusiasts in the world. The first is content to sit behind his desk (or phone), happy to debate about numbers—curb weight, power, acceleration; the other simply says, “forget about the numbers,” gets in, buckles up, and drives off with a huge smile on his face. The 2020 Mazda3 is all about the second: it transcends what’s written in black and white; it is simply made to be driven.

2020 Isuzu D-Max Brings More Style For the Same Price

Sixteen years after its nameplate was introduced into the market, Isuzu Philippines Corporation launches the most modern, most stylish iteration of the D-Max yet: the 2020 LS-A.

Subaru, Mazda, and now, Suzuki. Toyota Motor Corporation has a partnership stake in them all. After announcing a technical partnership in March, the Toyota has extended its alliance with small car specialist Suzuki to cover ownership as well.

Honda Cars Philippines is Launching the 2020 Accord in September

It has taken them a while, but Honda Cars Philippines is finally ready to unveil the all-new 10th generation Accord next month. The launch, which is slated for the fourth week of September sees a bolder, more luxurious executive sedan from Honda.

An eagle-eyed reader spotted that aside from the Mazda3 hatchback missing from Mazda Philippines’s vehicle line-up (it’s actually called a Sportback now), the CX-3 was also MIA. Well, we reached out to Steven Tan, the President of Bermaz Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Mazda in the country to get the scoop on the brand’s sub-compact crossover.

Mazda isn’t hiding the fact that they think majority of Mazda3 buyers will go straight for the 2.0 Premium models. With that, it comes as no surprise that the entry-level 1.5 Elite doesn’t see as much coverage as its sexier top-trim sibling. But leave it to the guys at Mazda Philippines to bring a base 1.5 Elite sedan along for this road trip; and they even brought some good company: the Honda Civic 1.8 E.

After getting a minor equipment bump in Japan last year, Subaru has now given its Impreza a much more noticeable makeover. The mid-cycle refresh for Subaru’s compact car, the 2020 Impreza will go on sale later this year in Japan with other markets soon to follow.

We said it before and we’ll say it again: the 2020 Mazda3 is a technical marvel; it’s a gift that keeps on giving. We’re one of the first in the ASEAN market to bring Mazda’s all-new compact through its paces on a road trip, but before then, we got to speak to its Program Manager.

From ryokan slippers, Nissan is now taking its ProPilot autonomous driving tech to the golf course with this unique golf ball. Dubbed the ProPilot golf ball, it applies Nissan’s ProPilot 2.0 to a golf ball enabling them to move following a predefined route.

Review: 2019 Porsche Cayenne V6

When Porsche came up with the original Cayenne in 2002, most, if not all, saw it as an opportunistic cash grab—done to fill the company coffers and nothing to improve the brand positioning. Yet, in the 17 years since, the Cayenne slowly, but surely found its footing and its place in the Kingdom of Stuttgart. From an awkward mess from an unloved corporate stepmom, today, this all-new third-generation model is the product of Porsche’s continuous honing. It has, for all intents and purposes, truly made this two-ton SUV into an impeccable everyday sportscar that seats five.

As a worldwide partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Toyota Motor Corporation announced that they’ll be providing a full line-up of electrified vehicles, including unique versions of certain vehicles as well as vehicles developed specifically to support the Tokyo 2020 games. With this, the aim is to achieve the lowest emissions target level of any official fleet used at the Olympic and Paralympic Games ever.

Waze announces YouTube Music as their newest audio player partner giving drivers a new way to listen to music safely while driving.

The 2020 Mazda3’s Evolved KODO Design is known to be beautiful and evocative, but did you know it also contributes to the safety and security of children too? Well, Mazda’s new compact car received the Japan-based Kids Design Award for its outstanding front visibility, thereby protecting children from front blind spots.

The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI), the exclusive distributor of MG cars in the Philippines is offering its best-selling ZS crossover with either a low downpayment of just P 18,000 or a cash discount as much as P 80,000!

Peugeot Philippines Now Offers 24/7 Service

Peugeot Philippines has come up with an innovative aftersales service program that’ll delight busy bees and night owls out here: 24/7 service.

Volvo Philippines strengthens its advocacy for road safety as it launches the Safe Roads by Volvo program. By partnering with schools, Volvo PH aims to raise road safety awareness especially among school children, their parents or guardians, and other people in and around school premises.

The Chinese have successfully conquered the challenging Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit with Lynk & Co successfully smashing two standing records. The Lynk & Co 03 Cyan Concept lapped the famed racing circuit in 7 minutes 20.143 seconds, averaging 170.4 km/h.

Don’t adjust your screens: this special-edition Subaru x Seiko watch really does have a tilted face. Limited to just 360 units, this commemorative watch celebrates Subaru’s 60th anniversary and contains enough World Rally Blue detailing to satisfy even the most casual fan.

If you’re lucky enough to snag one of the few units of the 2019 Suzuki Jimny available for the Philippine market, you may want to add a bit more pizzazz. For that, PartsPro has you covered. The list of mods that they’re offering is pretty extensive, but what really caught our eye is that they’re offering the DAMD styling kit, too.

UPDATED: The 2020 Mitsubishi L300 Euro-4 is More Powerful But More Expensive (w/ Specs, Brochure)

Update: Mitsubishi Philippines just released the official power figures. Article as been updated (8/27).

Just like what they’ve done with the Lancer “box-type” in the 1980s, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines is about to mark the comeback of one of its most beloved icons: the L300. Discontinued last year due to the country’s shift to Euro 4 emission regulations, the L300 is back, this time sporting a cleaner, more powerful engine, and sadly a hefty price jump.

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines has sold 19,790 units in the first seven months of 2019, equivalent to a 2 percent growth compared to the same period last year.

Soon, CTEK won’t just be handling car battery care and maintenance, it will be charging electric vehicles as well. The news comes as CTEK acquires Swedish-based Chargestorm, a market leading developer of products and systems for the charging of electric vehicles.

Castrol Philippines recently launched its latest line of Castrol Magnatec lubricants with the industry-pioneering Dualock Technology. Available for both diesel and gasoline applications (including one specially formulated for engines with idle start-stop technology), these new line of engine oils are now available in the market.

CST or Cheng Shin Tire expands its Philippine line-up with five new passenger and 4x4 tires. The eighth-largest tire marker in the world introduced the Parkour – PK01 performance tire, Sahara – AT II and Sahara – MT II sports utility tires, and Marquis – MR61 and Medallion – MD – A1 passenger car tires.

As part of its ongoing PitStop promotion, Nissan customers can enjoy big cash discounts and free service packages when they buy a participating vehicle, from now up to September 30, 2019.

This is Suzuki's Rush, BR-V Fighter: Meet the 2020 XL6

Suzuki has finally blown the covers off the high-riding version of its Ertiga MPV: the XL6, and unlike its rivals from Toyota and Honda (and the added body cladding), they’re still calling this an MPV.

Nissan Philippines is refreshing the Terra 7-seater SUV this 2019. Stare if you must, but the changes aren’t found anywhere outside (save one); they are, actually all found inside.

Marikina City is taking the lead in cleaning up its streets in compliance with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s Memorandum Circular 2019-121 to “clear up roads of illegal structures and constructions.”

The Commission on Audit has released its annual findings on the Department of Transportation. While the previous 2017 report shows the same problems plaguing the agency, for 2018, Art Tugade and his team were able to come up with improvements.

After trying out the Dakar-Winning Toyota Hilux last April, it looks like Fernando Alonso is now certain that he’ll be taking on the grueling endurance race with defending champions, Toyota. The two-time F1 and Le Mans champion will participate in a series of tests with Toyota Gazoo Racing over the next few months.

The Isuzu Fuel Economy Challenge returned this year, and this time, it’s the various Isuzu clubs that took the spotlight. The first leg had the mu-X Owners of the Philippines (mu-X OP) compete while the second leg had Team Isuzu Pilipinas, and the third, Team Isuzu Car Enthusiasts.

For more than two decades, Porsche Philippines has been at the forefront of customer satisfaction in the automotive market, and after-sales service remains one of its focal points. In fact, half of Porsche Philippines’ success is attributed to its distinguished services because of its motivated, experienced, Germany-trained technicians, modern facilities, and equipment.

Volkswagen Philippines, in partnership with the Lica Auto Group, inaugurated the Volkswagen Santa Rosa dealership along the automotive row of the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road.

Subaru Opens Registration for 2019 Palm Challenge

Motor Image Pilipinas, the exclusive distributor of Subaru is now opening the registration for its annual Subaru Palm Challenge.

Appealing to the Sixth Sense: All-New Mazda3 Goes for an Intuitive Driving Experience

Without question, the 2020 Mazda3 is now the benchmark by which all other compact cars will be measured against. With an elevated level of design, craftsmanship, and engineering, it’s a feast for all the senses—even taste, if you dare lick the leather. More than that, the all-new Mazda3 creates an intuitive driver experience backed up by a full suite of driver assistive features called i-Activsense.

There’s a post circulating on social media (we have embedded the post below) of a dramatic vehicular accident in Surigao caused by the wheel spokes sheering off. According to Black Rhino Philippines’s Sam Liuson, the wheels on the vehicles are clearly fake.

Last year, a friend was deciding on her first car and one of the options that I recommended, straight out, was the Mazda2. Back then, the new generation Premium line had not even been launched; and the last year model of the Mazda2 that I was able to drive was the 2017. Yet, the impression remained that this was a car worth keeping on the list if you’re on the market for a no-nonsense, reliable sub-compact that came with impeccable style.

The running joke in automotive circles is that Toyota Motor Philippines’s making a killing with the Hiace Super Grandia and Alphard thanks to the insatiable demand driven mostly by “TDK” (Mainland Chinese) VIPs and POGO (Philippine Offshore Gambling Operation) businesses. But are these people really the ones lapping up Toyota vans as quickly as Toyota dealers could stock them?

Three years ago, Honda Cars Philippines was one of many automakers who had to issue recalls due to defective Takata airbag inflators. At that time, 19,624 units were affected. And while they were able to fix some of them, it looks like they’ll have to rework 14,074 of these units.

One month before its global debut, Nissan has sent out three new teaser images of the second-generation Juke. This time, the 2020 mode eschews any sort of carefully planned studio presentation, and instead, it’s hit the ground running albeit in camouflaged form.

Toyota's Luxurious 2020 Hiace Super Grandia Finally Arrives in the Philippines

It was only a matter of time, but Toyota Motor Philippines knows that there’s a demand for well-appointed large MPVs in the country. Now, that demand can be met with the introduction of the 2020 Hiace Super Grandia.

Ex-Toyota Asia Pacific Exec Now Chairman of GT Capital's Auto Dealership Group

GT Capital is appointing ex-Toyota executive Mr. Vincente “Vince” Socco as Chairman of GT Capital Auto Dealership Holdings, Inc. or GTCAD, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GT Capital which serves as the dealership holding vehicle for the group.

Ford Philippines is extending its Truck Month and Big Deal offers until the end of August. While the main attraction remains the Ranger pickup truck, the biggest savings can be had with the Explorer SUV.

When Motor Image Pilipinas, the exclusive distributor of Subaru launched the all-new 2019 Forester in January, demand was so high that would-be owners had to wait months just to get their units, particularly the top-of-the-line 2.0i-S EyeSight. The Subaru distributor actually depleted its stocks so quickly that they had to remove the introductory price offer in April, resulting in a slight price increase.

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