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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
March 22, 2013
Driving the Moment: Subaru XV in Bali
Vent It Out Friday: You've Got Soul
To this day, a lot of people don’t like the new Nissan GT-R. They respect the car’s performance, but they largely ignore it because aside from the aspect of technical mastery, it pretty much threw out everything that the Skyline GT-R heritage stood for.
No longer did it have a bullet-proof, silky smooth turbo-charged inline-6. No longer was it a quirky box with a wing. No longer was it a car that could trace it roots to a staid family sedan. No longer was it the tunable, every-man Godzilla on wheels that prior GT-Rs had been.
No longer did it have a bullet-proof, silky smooth turbo-charged inline-6. No longer was it a quirky box with a wing. No longer was it a car that could trace it roots to a staid family sedan. No longer was it the tunable, every-man Godzilla on wheels that prior GT-Rs had been.
When Worlds Collide: Sole Slam X Automax Car Show Slated on April 13
Summer of 2013 just got hotter with chicks, kicks and cars! A much-anticipated collaboration between Sole Slam and Autobot Autoworks dubbed as WHEN TWO WORLDS COLLIDE: Sole Slam Manila X Automax Carshow 2013 on April 13 and 14 at One Esplanade, SM Mall of Asia Complex where we will bring the finest sneakers and the top street cars of today. This year we will sponsor three top local DJs and include a live concert from the nation’s top hiphop, RnB and dance artists. This event will also feature special appearances from hot Filipina celebrities and personalities and top tattoo artists, Russian pole dancers and anti gravity yoga performances. Expect an unforgettable and most talked about event that will leave everyone in awe, excitement and anticipation.
March 21, 2013
Getting a Hyundai Elantra or Accent is Made Even More Brilliant
You can shine brighter, just in time for the summer! Buy a brand-new Hyundai Elantra or Hyundai Accent Sedan with Hyundai’s Brilliant DEALS—Discounts, Easy And Light Schemes!
Brilliant discounts and financing terms await you. For cash buyers, as much as P25,000 cash discount. Pay as low as P78,000 down payment, or low monthly amortization of P7,023 with all-in packages thrown in, inclusive of 1-year comprehensive insurance, 3-year LTO registration, Chattel mortgage fee, free tint, matting, and more! You can get savings of as much as P99,000!
So why wait, when you can have your very own Hyundai Elantra or Accent sedan right now? Give it a go with Hyundai’s Brilliant DEALS. Rush over to your nearest authorized Hyundai dealer today!
Cars included in Hyundai’s Brilliant DEALS promo are: Elantra sedan variants (1.6 GL A/T, 1.6 GL M/T, and 1.8 GLS A/T) and Accent sedan variants (1.4 GL M/T and 1.4 GL A/T). All deals are subject to bank approval. Promo is until March 31, 2013. See flyers for more details. Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 1964 Series of 2013.
BPI Family to Introduce "First Car Buyers" Loan Plan at MIAS 2013
For three straight years, BPI Family Auto Loan once again presents the 2013 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) to be held at the World Trade Center on April 4 to 7, 2013. Themed, Innovation and Technology, BPI Family Auto is offering on-site and on-line loan processing with special deals on car purchases.
Now on its 9th year, the MIAS remains to be the Philippines’ biggest motoring event of the year. Welcoming more than 88,000 visitors last year, the 2013 MIAS expects 100, 000 spectators and car enthusiasts to visit this year as it features more than 300 cars on display including numerous launches of the newest and hottest cars in the Philippine market today.
Honda Cars to Stage Annual Motorists' Assistance Program
Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) is running the Honda Emergency Assistance Team (H.E.A.T.) program to provide motorists travelling during the holy week an on-site travel aid, service and support in different destination on March 27 to 31, 2013.
Ford Names as One of the World's Most Innovative Companies
HARI President and CEO Honored as Icon of Entreneurship
Ms. Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, President and CEO of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), official distributor of Hyundai cars in the Philippines, was cited among the 2013 Women Icons of Entrepreneurship at the Fifth Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit 2013 of Go Negosyo. The award was presented to her by Mr. Joey Concepcion, Founding Trustee of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.—Go Negosyo (L), Summit Keynote Speaker Hon. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Mr. Ramon Lopez, Executive Director of Go Negosyo.
The Fifth Go Negosyo Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit, which recognizes the Filipina as a catalyst of change and progress, was held to coincide with the international celebration of Women’s Month. Go Negosyo is on its eighth year of dedicated work to empower Filipinos to be enterprising and entrepreneurial.
March 20, 2013
Subaru Confirms XV Hybrid, New Performance Concept for New York Auto Show
Subaru has confirmed that it will be showing a brand-new XV Hybrid at the upcoming New York International Auto Show. Though there are no details yet, Subaru has revealed that the XV Hybrid will use an in-house developed hybrid system paired with the company's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive.
In addition to the XV Hybrid, Subaru is also showing off a new performance concept. This is perhaps a good look at the upcoming WRX.
March 19, 2013
The Epic Journey: Driving the 2013 Subaru Forester to Sagada
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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
March 18, 2013
Lamborghini Manila Unveils Final Edition of Gallardo
Lamborghini Manila recently presented the final edition of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 in an exclusive preview at its stylish showroom in Bonifacio Global City.
The new Gallardo was unveiled by no other than Lamborghini Manila President Roberto Coyiuto III and the newly appointed Italian Ambassador Massimo Roscigno.
Honda Cars Sets Foot in Naga City
Honda Cars Philippines, Inc recently broke ground in Naga City, Camarines Sur to mark its official entry in the Bicol region. Owned by Mr. Jeremie Lo, the dealership is soon to rise along San Jose, National Highway, Pili, Camarines Sur, with operations to start by the second half of 2013.
With this partnership, Honda is pleased to be able to offer easier access to the full model line-up of products, competent service technicians, well-trained sales associates and accommodating customer relations officers present in all other Honda dealerships to the Bicolanos.
Ground breaking of the future site was done last March 12, 2013. The ceremony was attended by Honda Cars Philippines, Incorporated (HCPI) President and General Manager Tatsuya Natsume, Marketing and Sales General Manager Roberto “Bobby” Ong, Customer Service Division Head Norman Millare and other HCPI executives, and owner, Jeremie Lo. Also gracing the event was Pili, Camarines Sur Mayor Tomas Bongalonta.
24th Mitsubishi Lancer International Junior Tennis Championship This Week!
Organizers of the country’s longest running international junior tennis tournament, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC), International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) are expecting an even more exciting Mitsubishi Lancer International Junior Tennis Championship (MLIJTC) as the biggest juniors’ tournament in Asia opens on March 19, 2013.
Vision Petron Collaterals Bag Highest Award from PRSP
Leading oil refiner Petron Corporation earned a Hall-of -Fame Award in the recently concluded 48th Anvil Awards of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) for Everyone’s Vision Petron Collaterals. Vision Petron Collaterals were bestowed with PRSP’s highest honor after bagging the Anvil Award of Excellence under the PR Tools-Publications category eight times since 2001. The Anvil is the symbol of excellence in public relations in the Philippines.
Volvo XC60 is First Luxury SUV to Achieve IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award
The 2013 Volvo XC60 earned a TOP SAFETY PICK+ in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) new small overlap frontal crash test, currently making it the first and only midsize luxury SUV to achieve such results.
Thanks to its top marks in the latest test, Volvo is now the only luxury manufacturer with two TOP SAFETY PICK+ vehicles. The 2013 Volvo S60 sports sedan received the Institute's highest safety honor in an earlier test.
March 15, 2013
Vent It Out Friday: Automation Damnation
As an avid watcher of cable television show, Air Crash Investigation, I find it hard to believe that majority of crashes that happened, happened because of simple human error—specifically, a conflict between man and a piece of technology (that was supposed to keep him safe) which he didn’t understand. Indeed, the aviation industry has continuously learned from these mistakes and has repeatedly amended pilot training and plane technology to take into account the somewhat faulty “human logic”. More than that, there’s a serious lesson to be learned for the automakers as well, especially those who hope to make cars safer by taking the controls away from the driver: don’t do it.
March 12, 2013
Review: 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer EX GLX A/T
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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
Review: 2013 Subaru XV 2.0i Premium
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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
However, in both those cases we were handed the keys to the 2.0i, the base model that’s all well and good but not truly representative of the entire XV line. Instead, that distinction goes to the 2.0i Premium, which is the better selling XV. Yes, it’s slightly more expensive but it also comes better loaded with features. Is the additional price tag worth it or are Subaru buyers getting it wrong? Let’s find out.
March 11, 2013
Toyota Motor Philippines Awards Top Performing Dealers
Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) recently hosted its Annual Dealer Conference and Gala Awards at Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu last February 22, 2013 to recognize the remarkable performance of its dealer network. The event was held to honor individual achievers and top-performing dealers in the areas of Sales, After Sales and Customer Satisfaction and Overall Dealer Operations. Moreover, TMP was also awarded by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), Toyota Motor Asia Pacific (TMAP) and Mitsui & Co., for its achievements from the previous year. One of which is attaining its 11th consecutive Triple Crown Title.
Goodyear Launches EfficientGrip SUV: Goodyear's Quietest SUV Tire Ever
Building on the technology from its successful and award winning tire for luxury passenger cars, the Eagle EfficientGrip SUV, Goodyear has broken new ground again with the introduction of Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV – Goodyear’s quietest SUV tire ever.
Strong and robust, Goodyear Efficient Grip SUV is engineered with QuietTred Technology to give an exceptionally quiet ride without compromising grip and handle capabilities.
March 8, 2013
Toyota Offers Free Vehicle Safety Inspection this Summer
Furthermore, for your peace-of-mind, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation will once again launch the Toyota Motorists Assistance this coming Holy Week – a service tradition for the past 22 years. From Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, service teams will be deployed in eight major destinations across Luzon to assist the motoring public in Bantay, Ilocos Sur; Rosario, La Union; Baguio City, Benguet; Urdaneta, Pangasinan; Tagaytay City; Calamba, Laguna; Lucena City, Quezon; and Sipocot, Camarines Sur. The service teams will provide free roadside assistance and repairs to all vehicles with emergency concerns, regardless of makes and models.
BPI Family Auto Loan Holds Online Auto Madness
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| L-R: Mr. Teodoro Limcaoco, BPI Family Savings Bank President, Mr. David Sarmiento, Jr., Senior Vice-President of Auto Loans Head, and Mr. Ramon Altamirano, Loans Product Marketing Head officially opens the BPI Family Online Auto Madness |
From the bank that brought to you the original Auto
Madness (the now common term for irresistible deals on new car financing) comes
another unique product: the country’s first-ever Online Auto Madness. In conjunction with the BPI Family Auto Madness that is happening from today until March 10, 2013 (the first of four this year) at the Glorietta Activity
Center, BPI Family is extending their Auto Madness promotion until March 31
through the website www.bpiautomadness.com. Through this unique website, BPI
Family offers the convenience of buying a car and getting a loan 24/7 online.
In addition, qualified buyers will get free insurance with acts of nature
coverage and of course, unbelievable low loan rates.
Ford Expands Ranger Line-Up with Wildtrak
Ford Philippines today announced it will expand the lineup for its class-defining all-new Ford Ranger at the 2013 Manila International Auto Show with the official launch of the range-topping Wildtrak variants.
The all-new Ranger Wildtrak will be available in three variants - the Duratorq TDCi 2.2L VG Turbo 4x4 in both manual and automatic transmission, and the top-of-the-line Duratorq TDCi 3.2L VG Turbo 4x4 in automatic transmission.
The addition of the Wildtrak will expand the all-new Ford Ranger lineup in the Philippines to six highly-competitive models featuring an unmatched combination of power and safety, fuel efficiency, comfort and capability in its segment.
Vent It Out Friday: Dipstick Future
Technology, along with laziness is killing the oil dipstick. Is this important? Should we care? Will we miss it when it’s gone? The answer to all three is an emphatic yes.
Consider the lowly dipstick: it lives in a dark, hot cave known as the engine bay. It gets covered by liquefied and processed dinosaur remains and nasty, carbon sludge on a regular basis. Once every few thousand kilometers, it gets forcibly yanked out of its home, wiped down, shoved back into its house, and then yanked out again. Its world is build of inconsistency, shock, and extreme conditions.
Consider the lowly dipstick: it lives in a dark, hot cave known as the engine bay. It gets covered by liquefied and processed dinosaur remains and nasty, carbon sludge on a regular basis. Once every few thousand kilometers, it gets forcibly yanked out of its home, wiped down, shoved back into its house, and then yanked out again. Its world is build of inconsistency, shock, and extreme conditions.
Volvo Cars Introduces Active High Beam Support
The new Volvo S60, V60 and XC60 - shown to the public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show - can be fitted with an innovation that makes driving in the dark safer and more comfortable. The renewed Active High Beam Control makes it possible to use high beam continuously thanks to an ingenious mechanism that prevents dazzling of oncoming drivers. At a press conference in Geneva, Volvo Car Group will also present a new world-first collision-avoidance technology.
Driving at night presents car drivers all over the world with challenging conditions. "Our aim with the renewed Active High Beam Control technology is to enhance visibility in the dark by making it possible to use high beam permanently, without having to switch to low beam when meeting or catching up with other cars," says Prof. Lotta Jakobsson, Senior Technical Specialist Safety at Volvo Cars Safety Center.
March 7, 2013
Ford Philippines Sales Double in Best-Ever February Performance
Ford Philippines today reported its best-ever February performance with overall retail sales jumping 108 percent year-over-year to 865 units. Continuing the company’s best start to any year, and building on the momentum from its best-ever January, the exceptional month was driven by strong sales of vehicles across the Ford lineup.
“We’re off to a very strong start to the year, as customers continue to respond positively to our full lineup of Ford vehicles,” said Randy Krieger, president, Ford Philippines.
Honda Cars to Open in Tacloban City, Leyte
Following its commitment to bring products and services closer to its customers, Honda is set to open a new dealership in Tacloban City, Leyte, with operations targeted to start by the second half of 2013. Said dealership is owned by the Mercado Group of Companies and will offer the full line-up of Honda products and services to customers in the Eastern Visayas region. The Tacloban dealership will be the 5th authorized Honda dealer in the Visayas.
Lexus Dominates 2013 JD Power Survey
Lexus ranked highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates for a second consecutive year in the 2013 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). The study tracks the number and type of problems owners have with their three-year-old vehicles. In the study, Lexus RX had the fewest reported problems in the industry, which is the first time in the history of VDS that a crossover or SUV has achieved this accolade.
Lamborghini Launches Veneno Super Sports Car
In the year of its 50th anniversary Automobili Lamborghini presented an extremely exclusive model at the Geneva Motor Show 2013. Only three unique units of the Lamborghini Veneno will be built and sold. Its design is consistently focused on optimum aerodynamics and cornering stability, giving the Veneno the real dynamic experience of a racing prototype, yet it is fully homologated for the road. With a maximum output of 552 kW / 750 hp, the Veneno accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds and the top speed for this street-legal racing car stands at 355 km/h. It is priced at three million Euros plus tax – and all three units have already been sold to customers.
March 5, 2013
Review: 2013 Honda Insight
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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
March 1, 2013
Late Breaking: Motor Image announces all-new Subaru Forester pricing
Bali, Indonesia—Motor Image Pilipinas has just announced the pricing of the all-new Subaru Forester for the Philippine market. It will arrive in two variants: 2.0 i-L and 2.0 XT. The entry-level model will be priced at P 1.398M and the turbo variant will be pegged at P 1.868M. It will be launched at the 2013 Manila International Auto Show running from April 4-7. Meanwhile, the XV will slash its pricing to P 1.298M for the 2.0i. The 2.0 i-Premium will still be at P 1.478M but will have leather seats as standard equipment. More details soon.
Vent It Out Friday: These Bumpers Don't Work
Modern car bumpers are, in the majority of cases, beautiful but utterly useless. They just don’t work. From experience, it often takes huge amounts of money to repair damage from fairly minor accidents—sometimes requiring a replacement—from a relatively minor shunt. And that’s the fundamental problem: modern car bumpers are designed to break.
But before heading there, it’s a good idea to qualify first on how bumpers should work. Basically, a car bumper should be that part of a car that satisfies a simple criterion: it should be able to take some, without you giving any. The ideal car bumper should allow you to crash into another car or object, stationary or moving, at speeds below 8 km/h with zero visible damage. A good bumper design should provide the driver with a sort of buffer zone where small errors in judgment can be absorbed and forgotten. Of course, the modern bumper fails at doing this. However, there was a time when bumpers were able to achieve this ideal, but sacrifices had to be made in one area: aesthetics.
But before heading there, it’s a good idea to qualify first on how bumpers should work. Basically, a car bumper should be that part of a car that satisfies a simple criterion: it should be able to take some, without you giving any. The ideal car bumper should allow you to crash into another car or object, stationary or moving, at speeds below 8 km/h with zero visible damage. A good bumper design should provide the driver with a sort of buffer zone where small errors in judgment can be absorbed and forgotten. Of course, the modern bumper fails at doing this. However, there was a time when bumpers were able to achieve this ideal, but sacrifices had to be made in one area: aesthetics.
February 27, 2013
ACC Seals Partnership to Build BMW Flagship in PHL
Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW vehicles in the Philippines, has officially formalized its partnership with the Armed Forces & Police Mutual Benefit Association, Inc. (AFPMBAI) for the long-term lease of an AFPMBAI property located in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The lot will be the future site of the BMW Flagship Dealership, envisioned to be the largest and most modern BMW showroom in the country. The deal, amounting to over Php 1Billion, was made official through a MOA signing ceremony between Mr. Jose Ch. Alvarez, Chairman of ACC, and Brigadier General Ricardo C. Morales, President & CEO of AFPMBAI.
Volvo Cars Asia-Pacific Heads Visit Volvo PH
Volvo Philippines’ optimism for 2013 is made even brighter as Volvo Cars Asia Pacific (VCAP) top executives visited the country recently. VCAP President, Mr. Carl Goran Larsson, VCAP Chief Finance Officer Miss Roslin Ooi, and VCAP Regional Business Manager Ai Phing Teh expressed their continued support for Volvo Philippines and its programs to push the Scandinavian luxury brand in the local market.
February 26, 2013
Review: 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 V6
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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
February 25, 2013
All-New Bentley Flying Spur to Debut in Geneva
Bentley establishes a new luxury performance sedan benchmark with the launch of the new Flying Spur. With its unrivaled blend of effortless driveability, exquisite luxury and craftsmanship, sculpted design and state-of-the-art technology, the new Flying Spur takes the worldwide success of its iconic predecessor further. Bentley’s most powerful four-door model ever makes its global debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show on 5th March.
UPS Joins as Ferrari F1 Sponsor
UPS recently announced the expansion of its sponsorships in motorsports by entering Formula 1® racing through a multi-year sponsorship of Scuderia Ferrari. The alliance was announced today in Barcelona, Spain and featured Scuderia Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso, shortly before the Spaniard took the track for the first time in the team’s 2013 F138 race car bearing the UPS shield.
MIT Technology Review Names Audi as 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World
Every year the editors of the “MIT Technology Review” look for companies all over the world that have announced groundbreaking technologies. This year the jury put Audi on the list of “50 Disruptive Companies” in recognition of the piloted driving project it presented at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Detroit.
February 22, 2013
Berjaya Auto Philippines Introduces Mazda YOJIN3
Berjaya Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Mazda in the country, today announced the introduction of a new vehicle ownership program — the YOJIN3 Mazda Total Care. Through the program, Berjaya Auto Philippines will be offering a) 3-year free periodic maintenance service, b) 3-year roadside assistance with exclusive Mazda concierge service, and c) 3-year bumper-to-bumper manufacturer warranty. YOJIN3 Total Care will be bundled to all brand-new Mazda vehicles sold starting January 1, 2013 at no additional cost to the customers.
Vent It Out Friday: Turning Marikina for the Worse
Editor’s Note: Welcome to our newest section, “Vent It
Out Friday” where we just have a commentary on just about everything.
This highly opinionated, highly emotional section will appear (as much
as possible) every Friday. Soon, we’ll also be opening “Vent It Out
Friday” to our readers, but for now, you can respond to the topic at
hand via the comments section below.
I’ve been a resident of Marikina City for all my life. I’ve seen it grow. I’ve seen it change. I’ve seen it turn for the worse. What was once considered as a “model city” in the Philippines is now, unfortunately, heading to the dumps. For non-Marikenos reading this story, this may sound like a harsh criticism, but let me explain.
I’ve been a resident of Marikina City for all my life. I’ve seen it grow. I’ve seen it change. I’ve seen it turn for the worse. What was once considered as a “model city” in the Philippines is now, unfortunately, heading to the dumps. For non-Marikenos reading this story, this may sound like a harsh criticism, but let me explain.
February 19, 2013
Review: 2012 Toyota Prius and 2012 Toyota Prius C
If a car were a just a bunch of numbers, the Toyota Prius family won’t make much economic sense: priced at P 2,250,000 for the Prius (the White Pearl in these photographs adds another P 15,000) and P 1,475,000 for the Prius c (the Full Option model lent is at P 1,525,000) these cars aren’t cheap. In fact, on price alone, you can get any one of these other Toyota cars: the luxurious Camry, the practical Fortuner, and even the sexy 86, and still have enough money left over for some accessories. However, after spending a week back-to-back with the Prius and Prius c, it shows that these cars are more than just the sum of their parts. They start to offer more than just their price tag: they imbue a sense of environmental responsibility that you can’t get anywhere else. And that may be its greatest achievement.
CAGI Elects New Board, Executive Committee
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| From L-R: Mikko David, Christopher Kho, Bess Zamora, Bam Olivares, and Ferman Lao |
Showing confidence in the leadership of CAGI, members re-elected Ferman Lao (Kotse.com, Top Gear Philippines), Bam Olivares (Daily Tribune), Bess Zamora (AQ Magazine), and Christopher Kho (Kotse.com) as board members. Mikko David (TopGear Philippines) is the sole newcomer to the group.
February 18, 2013
AVID Remains Upbeat in 2013
Compared with the prior month, sales in January rose by 23.4% to 2,625 units sold from 2,128 units, driven by the expansion in the Passenger Car segment (43%) and sales growth of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. at 32.4%.
February 15, 2013
Vent It Out Friday: Be Smart and Test Drive
Editor’s Note: Welcome to our newest section, “Vent It
Out Friday” where we just have a commentary on just about everything.
This highly opinionated, highly emotional section will appear (as much
as possible) every Friday. Soon, we’ll also be opening “Vent It Out
Friday” to our readers, but for now, you can respond to the topic at
hand via the comments section below.
With all the car choices in the market today, it’s so easy to get carried away. You’ll see a special offer here or a low downpayment scheme there and before you know it, bam, you’re driving out with a brand-new car. But how many times do we actually know what we’re getting ourselves into? How many times can we say, we’re getting X instead of Y because X fits my needs better? How many times were we swayed more by free chattel mortgage and LTO registration rather than getting a car on its own merit? For car enthusiasts who frequently read newspapers, magazines and websites before going from dealership to dealership, it may rarely be the case; but what about for the rest of the car buying public? It certainly sounds like a tagline, but Honda Cars Philippines said it best: “be smart and test drive.”
With all the car choices in the market today, it’s so easy to get carried away. You’ll see a special offer here or a low downpayment scheme there and before you know it, bam, you’re driving out with a brand-new car. But how many times do we actually know what we’re getting ourselves into? How many times can we say, we’re getting X instead of Y because X fits my needs better? How many times were we swayed more by free chattel mortgage and LTO registration rather than getting a car on its own merit? For car enthusiasts who frequently read newspapers, magazines and websites before going from dealership to dealership, it may rarely be the case; but what about for the rest of the car buying public? It certainly sounds like a tagline, but Honda Cars Philippines said it best: “be smart and test drive.”
February 14, 2013
BMW to Hold First Road Show at Malarayat Golf & Country Club in Lipa
Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW vehicles in the Philippines, will be holding the first leg of the BMW Roadshow on February 22 to 24 at the Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas.
2012 was a milestone for the BMW brand in the Philippines. BMW solidified its positioning as the number one vehicle brand in the luxury segment for 10 straight years, finishing the year with a total of 33% market share in the premium luxury segment.
February 13, 2013
Nissan Almera at Trinoma Mall Until Today
In celebration of the Chinese New Year, Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NMPI) is holding a grand display featuring the all-new Nissan Almera at the TriNoma Mall in Quezon City. The display, located at the mall’s ground floor at the MRT-link, will be held until today, February 13.
To highlight the upcoming Valentine’s Day as well, a fully-accessorized Nissan Almera sporting a Victoria red hue is also included in the display.
Following TriNoma, the all-new Nissan Almera will also be featured at other popular malls in the metro. What’s more, a test drive activity will be held by all Nissan dealerships nationwide from February 15.
February 12, 2013
Review: 2013 Nissan Teana 350XV V6
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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
February 11, 2013
Honda's Amazing Financing Options Extended
Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI), in partnership with BPI Family Savings Bank, RCBC Savings Bank, BDO, PS Bank, Eastwest Bank and Unionbank has extended the Honda Financing Option Program until February 28, 2013, extending customers’ ease of buying a Honda vehicle.
The Honda Financing Option provides customers with true savings through interest rate as low as 5.43% on low monthly scheme; as low as 10% down payment, or an all in package scheme inclusive of chattel mortgage, LTO registration and a one year comprehensive insurance; plus an inclusion of 3 years preventive maintenance if customers avail through Eastwest Bank. Unlike the financing schemes of other brands that offer huge discounts but eventually recover this through astronomical interest rate.
An Experience Like No Other: The Audi Driving Experience
There are track days, and there’s the Audi Driving Experience—a track day unlike any other, allowing mere mortals to flog cars with more than 500 horsepower on a race track. The Audi Driving Experience is a carefully crafted immersion experience into the world of Audi and everything the company stands for, namely: performance engineering.
Volvo North EDSA Centris is Now Open
Volvo opens its doors to all Volvo enthusiasts at the northern metro through Volvo North EDSA Centris. (From L-R) Volvo North EDSA Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chairman, Mr. William Tan with Mr. Vincent Licup, Chairman and CEO of Vovo North EDSA receives the Official Volvo Dealer Plaque presented by Volvo Cars Asia Pacific President, Mr. Carl Goran Larsson. The Volvo North EDSA Centris is located at Two Cyberpod ETON Centris, EDSA corner Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. Call (+632) 376 4943, 376 4947, 376 4965 for a test drive.
February 8, 2013
Accent CRDi Now Available at All Hyundai Dealerships
All the smoke and mirrors are finally gone as Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) has finally made available the much-awaited Accent CRDi. In fact, there's better news: it's now available at all Hyundai dealerships nationwide.
Ford Philippines Posts Best-Ever January Performance; Sales More Than Double
The record month was given a significant boost by the robust performance of the all-new Ford Focus, with January sales of 95 units – the strongest single month for the Focus nameplatein almost three years.
Toyota Camry Named Korean Car of the Year
News Flash: the Toyota Camry has been voted by the Korea Automobile Journalist Association as the Car of the Year 2013. The medium-sized sedan earned the highest score of 78.75 points for its value on price, performance, safety and fuel efficiency. On top of that, Toyota's Lexus GS and Prius Hybrid were no. 1 in performance and green-car categories, respectively. This is the first time a foreign model has earned this title since the award was presented three years ago.
Moreover, the Camry is one of the best-selling import cars in Korea. During the same period of winning this title, Toyota’s sales in Korea soared over 200% in 2012 compared to the previous year. In the Philippines, the Camry has been the best-selling model in its segment since 2001.
You can read our review of the Philippine model Toyota Camry 2.5 V here.
Vent It Out Friday: Paying Your (Association) Dues
Editor’s Note: Welcome to our newest section, “Vent It
Out Friday” where we just have a commentary on just about everything.
This highly opinionated, highly emotional section will appear (as much
as possible) every Friday. Soon, we’ll also be opening “Vent It Out
Friday” to our readers, but for now, you can respond to the topic at
hand via the comments section below.
Upon opening my mailbox, I received a formally written letter which will undoubted become ubiquitous to anyone living in a private subdivision or condominium: VAT on association dues. We have Ms. Kim Henares to thank for the additional financial burden that we’ll have to shoulder each and every month, but I have no qualms about that. If it’s going to help the country, why not? Although the additional P 720.00 per month is somewhat hard to swallow, my real beef is with the P 6,000 in association dues per se, especially if the building association is happily swimming in my money and not doing anything.
Upon opening my mailbox, I received a formally written letter which will undoubted become ubiquitous to anyone living in a private subdivision or condominium: VAT on association dues. We have Ms. Kim Henares to thank for the additional financial burden that we’ll have to shoulder each and every month, but I have no qualms about that. If it’s going to help the country, why not? Although the additional P 720.00 per month is somewhat hard to swallow, my real beef is with the P 6,000 in association dues per se, especially if the building association is happily swimming in my money and not doing anything.
Philippine Car Price Guide: February 2013
Here's your monthly does of the Philippine Car Price Guide. In this installment we see some changes from some luxury brands as well as updates from some mainstream brands as well. New and updated entries include:
- Audi A4
- Audi Q3
- Bentley
- Haima Hunda
- Haima Tenda
- Kia Sorento 2.2 EX 4WD 7-Seater (FL)
- Lifan Foison
- Mercedes-Benz B-Class
- MINI Price Updates
- Mitsubishi Strada GLX 4WD
- Nissan Murano Z51 (price update)
- Nissan Patrol Royale (price update)
- Rolls-Royce
- Toyota Vios (price update)
Subaru to Show New VIZIV Concept, Boxer Diesel with CVT in Geneva
With the 2013 Geneva Motor Show looming large over the horizon, more and more car makers are revealing their display plans. For Subaru, it has revealed two tidbits for their stands.
First, the company will unveil the VIZIV Concept, "representing a direction of new designs and technologies enhancing the Subaru brand into the future". Based on the sole photograph released, it's the first glimpse of the all-new Outback or perhaps even the Tribeca.
Second, Subaru will premiere its Boxer Diesel engine technology mated to a Lineartronic CVT (hooray!) Debuting on the Outback, this is the first time the Boxer Diesel will be mated to an automatic transmission.
UPDATED: EDSA Rehab Project Gets Green Light; MMDA Proposes "Mock Rehab"
The Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making body of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) composed of 17 mayors in Metro Manila, has approved the proposal of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to rehabilitate the entire 24 kilometer stretch of EDSA.
Costing an estimated P 3.4 Billion, the EDSA rehabilitation project is said to transform the often neglected road into a world-class highway with a pavement rivaling the "North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway". The project is said to start in May 2013 and will run for 24/7 to be completed in time for the East Asia World Economic Forum in June 2014. Once done, EDSA's world-class pavement will last between 5 to 10 years.
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