December 2020 | CarGuide.PH | Philippine Car News, Car Reviews, Car Prices

December 29, 2020

Ford's Made Improvements to the 2.0-liter Turbodiesel Engine, 10-Speed AT

While the mildly refreshed Everest and Ranger grabbed all the headlines, Ford says they’ve also made running changes to its 2.0-liter diesel engine, and they’re now offering an unprecedented warranty program (if you’re in Thailand) to back it up.

Few days before welcoming 2021, Geely Philippines is opening its doors in Imus, Cavite. Geely Imus is managed by Sojitz G Auto Philippines’ dealer partner, ANC Group of Companies.

Skyway Stage 3 Open to Motorists Starting December 29, 2020

San Miguel Corporation promised, and they delivered. Despite delays due to rains and a collapsing girder, the Skyway Stage 3 will be partially open to the public starting Tuesday, December 29, 2020.

Top 5 Picks for 2020

With pandemic-related community quarantine measures in place since March, one would think that choices for this year’s Top 5 Picks would be slim. Thankfully, that’s not the case. All in all, we managed to test 41 vehicles this year. While this number is slightly down from 2019’s 50, it’s still a sizeable number given we need to trim down the list to just five.

Christmas in the Philippines has always been a special time for everyone to come together and share in the festivities of the holiday season. One of those time-honored traditions is gift giving for our families and friends.

As part of their continued steps to improve their business efficiency, Honda Cars has announced that they are closing yet another assembly plant.

Despite its president, Akio Toyoda, questioning a pre-mature shift to EVs, Toyota is pushing ahead with its plans to adopt battery electric vehicle (BEV) technology. Curiously, one of their first Japanese domestic models is this—the Toyota C+ Pod.

Ford PH Drops BF Goodrich Tires on Newer Ranger Raptors

When the Ford Ranger Raptor made its debut in 2018, one of the key differences it had, performance-wise, compared to the regular Ranger was its trick suspension. Ford Performance certainly worked hard, giving it the ability to go off-road, fast.

Just in time for Christmas, the Katala Foundation has received their promised BT-50 3.2-liter 4x4 Pangolin Edition. Their new pickup truck will help support the NGO’s conservation activities for the endemic Palawan Pangolin.

In what seemed like a last-minute move, the organizers of the Tokyo Auto Salon have decided to cancel its annual event.

SMC to Implement Toll Holiday on Christmas, New Year

San Miguel Corporation, through its infrastructure arm, is waiving all toll fees at its expressways for Christmas and New Year.

After a series of exciting model launches, Toyota Motor Philippines is wrapping up the year with the introduction of the 2021 Yaris.

Trisenburg Auto Corporation (TAC), the official distributor of JAC passenger and light commercial vehicles in the Philippines will double its dealer footprint.

South Korea’s fourth largest automaker, Ssangyong Motor has filed for bankruptcy after failing to repay creditors. The move was finalized at a board meeting held by the South Korean SUV specialist.

Nissan Magnite Debuts in ASEAN with a Starting Price of Just P 707,000

After debuting for the Indian market, Nissan’s promise to go global with its Magnite SUV has been fulfilled. The next market to get their sub-compact SUV? ASEAN. The first market in its sights? Indonesia.

Subaru’s advanced driver assist technology, Subaru EyeSight is heading to more carmakers. As Hitachi Automotive Systems, its developer, is now opening it up first to Isuzu (with the mu-X), and now, Suzuki as well. Its broad acceptance is a testament to the technology, to say the least.

Nine months since it implemented a “no toll fees” policy for medical front liners at all its operating expressways, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) reported that its waived toll fees for the country’s heroes against the COVID-19 pandemic, has reached over P138 million as of December 20.

Audi Sport factory and customer teams have capped off the 2020 racing season with a record number of successes achieved amid significantly reduced race events held worldwide, a result of pandemic restrictions.

MG Philippines ends 2020 on a high note with the the opening of three new MG dealerships, namely MG North EDSA, MG Otis, and MG Camarines Sur. This will bring the current total of MG Philippines dealerships up to 34.

Hino to Open Soon in Laguna

Hino Motors Philippines, the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Hino trucks, buses and parts in the Philippines, recently held an agreement signing ceremony for the Hino Laguna dealership.

Suzuki Philippines Inc. (SPH) opens another dealership to better serve its customers. This time the car brand is going north. With the grand opening of Suzuki Auto Clark by Family Cars Inc., the second dealership under the group, Suzuki is now even more accessible to car owners and enthusiasts in Clark, Pampanga.

For P 3.4-million, the MINI Convertible Sidewalk Edition is One Extroverted Droptop

Mini Philippines is capping off 2020 with the introduction of the Mini Convertible Sidewalk Edition—a more extroverted version of its open-top Cooper S.

Toyota Motor Corporation may be starting to embrace full electric vehicles—including one rumored to run on solid-state batteries as a joint-venture with Subaru, its president, Akio Toyoda warned about the “excessive hype” surrounding them.

The holiday season doesn't keep Kia Philippines from growing. While December should be about relaxing and keeping still, the local distributor is till aggressively expanding in Metro Manila again with the opening of the Kia BGC showroom in Taguig.

Volkswagen Philippines is hoping to re-energize its line-up this 2021 with the preview of their first model of the year: the 2021 Santana. Showed via a set of teasers (see below), the German automaker says their sub-compact sedan will come with “more features for customers to enjoy.”

Nissan PH Recalls 2017-2018 X-Trails Due to "Phantom Braking"

Selected units of 2017-2018 Nissan X-Trail compact SUVs are being recalled due to a fault with one of its Advanced Driver Assist features.

Toyota Motor Philippines is announcing a recall for selected 2018 Hilux models surrounding its brake system.

The Mercedes-Benz V-Class continues to set the standards in the luxury MPV segment with its design, value appeal, comfort as well as safety and assistance systems. Aside from its special pricing—up to P 400,000 off thanks to the Yuletide Deals promo, here are 5 undeniable reasons to love the Mercedes-Benz V-Class.

Suzuki Philippines Incorporated joins the first-ever virtual motor show as a beacon of their commitment to stay within reach of their patrons. During the previous months, different industries were affected by the pandemic, but for the automotive industry, companies like Suzuki proved that there is no slowing down among the industry players.

Dream Nissan vehicles are now within reach with more savings and discounts on select vehicles from the Nissan “Safer Drives and Deals Promo,” extended until December 31, 2020, available in all authorized Nissan dealerships nationwide.

As the flagship of the Mercedes-Benz range, the S-Class boasts an impressive level of luxury, state-of-the-art technology, high level of comfort and ground-breaking safety systems. It embodies the automotive essence of a lifestyle characterized by the highest possible standards of mobility and individuality.

Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP) has inaugurated two more outlets to cap off the year with Geely Lipa, Batangas and Geely Zamboanga. The completion of Lipa and Zamboanga outlets has further widened the reach of Geely, following the rise of the other showrooms such as Geely North Edsa, Geely Quezon Avenue, and Geely Cagayan de Oro, with more outlets opening soon.

After another messy implementation (remember ADDA?), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is backtracking on their 100 percent cashless policy at expressways. The government agency has now said that cash booths will make a comeback, and a no penalty policy will be implemented at tollways.

Two years after it announced the first-ever classic car parts re-supply program for its MX-5, Mazda is giving yet another beloved vehicle the same treatment: the second- and third-generation RX-7.

Chery Auto PH Holds Public Preview of the Tiggo 7 Pro at MIAS Wired

If our first impressions aren’t enough, you can also take a sneak peek at Chery’s upcoming compact crossover—the Tiggo 7 Pro at MIAS Wired.

The holiday season is fast approaching, and people are now drawing up plans for a road trip during the long break. Aside from keeping safety protocols in check, there is a need to assess your vehicle’s condition before you go on a long drive for your and your family’s safety.

With the pandemic and the resulting community quarantine measures, the most anticipated annual motoring event in the country, the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) has shifted gears by mounting its ever digital edition, MIAS Wired.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation and its 55-strong dealer network are extending substantial discounts on parts needed to get flood-damaged Mitsubishi vehicles back on the roads again.

Typically, when a car manufacturer lends out a test drive unit, they’d make sure it’s speced either as a top-, or at the very least, a mid-trim variant. With plenty of bells and whistles, it can easily distract the casual journo from tiny flaws which would be more evident if it were bare. With that, it was ballsy for MG to send over this—the MG 5 Core M/T—the entry-level variant of its most affordable car in the market. At P 658,888, can this fleet-friendly, med-rep welcoming sedan pass muster?

In 1970, the term “minivan” had yet to be coined, SUVs were primarily used by outdoor surveyors, and a new kind of supercar emerged wearing the unfamiliar badging “GT-R” in Japan. And future car designer Jaebum “JB” Choi was still decades away from being born in Seoul, South Korea. A lot can change in 50 years.

Geely Talks About Diesels, Electrification, and High-Performance Engines

Geely will not be developing a diesel engine. This news comes straight from Dr. Håkan Sandquist, Director of Powertrain Strategy at CEVT (China Euro Vehicle Technology AB), an innovation center owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. CEVT is responsible for much of the modular development seen in Volvo and Geely cars such as powertrain and platform.

With more supplies of its Autosweep RFID stickers coming in the next two days, San Miguel Corporation, the operator of South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), Skyway, NAIA Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), is targeting to operate a total of 156 RFID installation stations by the end of December to make it easier for more motorists to migrate to the government-mandated electronic toll collection system.

The holiday season is the perfect time to treat yourself and your loved ones to your heart’s desires. And if you’ve always wanted that Lexus in your garage, Christmas is the time to finally make that dream come true. In the spirit of Christmas, Lexus has crafted these flexible payment schemes to make owning a Lexus so much easier.

Subaru may not be launching anything new at the country’s first-ever virtual motor show, MIAS Wired, but they are sweetening the deal with additional offers for all reservations done during the event.

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. has confirmed that it will be bringing in four all-new models in 2021. Previewed as a shadowy silhouette at MIAS Wired, these are the all-new Tucson and Starex, as well as the facelifted Santa Fe and Kona.

Petron is Future-Proofing Its Fuels

Petron is future-proofing both its gasoline and diesel fuels in light of powertrain technology advancements.

In a disclosure made to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), publicly-listed and the largest oil player in the country, Petron Corporation has just confirmed that it will shutdown its Bataan refinery plant by January 2021.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) officially re-opens Honda Cars Fairview (HCFR), its 37th dealership in the country last December 11, 2020.

The bonkers Toyota GR Yaris is coming to ASEAN, and the first market to receive it is Thailand. After showing it off at the Thailand International Motor Expo, Toyota Motor Thailand has just opened the order books for its rally car for the road with customer deliveries starting there by 2021.

2020 has been a year no one saw coming. COVID-19 has wrought economic, political and emotional chaos, testing the limits of individuals, families, healthcare systems and whole sectors of societies. Yet as Ford released their annual Further with Ford Trends Report, the global pandemic also reveals some interesting insights.

Quick Links

December 29, 2020

December 28, 2020

December 27, 2020

December 24, 2020

December 23, 2020

December 22, 2020

December 21, 2020

December 20, 2020

December 18, 2020

December 17, 2020

December 16, 2020

December 15, 2020