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December 15, 2011

First Drive: 2012 BMW 116i Urban and 118d Sport

Photos by Ulysses Ang

It's as if everything conspired to make the day's drive difficult: the heavens opened up and the traffic was horrendous. Yet, for all the troubles we faced that day, by the end of it, there was a general consensus that the all-new BMW 1 Series is one exceptional automobile. Rarely does a car prove itself while stuck in traffic, but that's exactly what this premium hatchback did. For a minute, you can forget that the BMW 1 Series's "dual personality" stood for the Urban and Sport line and instead, label it as equally capable whether at speed or at rest.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

The tides certainly have turned—it’s this singular thought that raced in my mind after turning on the TV. A few seconds of a generic daytime soap turned into a bombardment of ads; after all, what would you expect from the land of consumerism? The ads for Cialis and Robitussin were easy to ignore, but the ones from Ford weren’t. It’s the sort of car ad I wasn’t accustomed to: quoting gasoline mileage and maintenance cost over horsepower and torque. The US financial meltdown was certainly a factor, but moreover, it’s the overall change in corporate social responsibility that’s fueling this newfound green initiative. And car companies like Ford are taking the lead.

Volvo XC90 Named as Sweden's Most Valuable Export Product

Photos courtesy of Volvo Press

Viking Cars, Inc., the exclusive distributor of Volvo passenger cars in the Philippines has shared us a bit of news which names the XC90 ("the late comer") as Sweden's most valuable export product since its launch in 2002.

The same press release indicates a special promo for all would-be XC90 buyers this Christmas season as Viking Cars, Inc. is offering up to 20 percent off on the XC90 until Christmas Day, December 25.

Photos courtesy of Dodge Press

After teasing us with some shots of the 2013 Dart, Dodge has finally shown us what to expect inside. And we're liking what we see.

The gauge cluster, in particular, looks highly sophisticated thanks to its integrated TFT display. Add to that the new "racetrack" ambient lighting (it goes all the way to the foot wells, door handles, map pockets, center console and cup holders).

What does all this bode for the Philippine market? The rumor mill suggests that CATS Motors, Inc., the exclusive distributor of both Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge cars is planning to beef up its North American offering. Although nothing's final yet, we cannot discount that the Dodge Dart may make it to our shores, perhaps giving the likes of the Honda Civic and Mitsubishi Lancer EX a run for their money.

Bad Santa! 6 Stocking Stuffers Any Car Guy Wouldn't Want to See

Photo courtesy of stock xchng

Christmas is the season for giving and receiving gifts. And as much as we love receiving gifts we’ve dreamed about all year, harsh reality sets in and there’s bound to be some duds along the way; especially when the giver buys the intended gift at the last minute. So, to all gift givers out there, before you head over to the automotive section of your neighborhood department store, read this carefully. Here are just some stocking stuffers you should probably avoid giving to your special someone as he or she probably won’t appreciate the five minutes of effort you put into it.

MD Juan Holds World War II Re-Enactment

MD Juan Enterprises, famous for building replica World War II Willy's Jeeps in the Philippines recently had some fun. They managed to do some authentic re-enactment of the Abucay Line Battle and they shared their press release with us. Read it after the break.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Remember that memorable diner scene in When Harry Met Sally--the one where Meg Ryan had a fully-clothed orgasm? I had the very same experience with the all-new Ford Ranger as we traversed through the roads of Northern Thailand; and while Ryan's character faked her's, mine was all real. The moment I stepped into the Ranger's cabin, I just couldn't stop grinning ear-to-ear and that smile stuck on like the Joker's all the way throughout the drive. Mind you, I'm not the sort of guy that likes pick-ups, but this one truly blows me away. It's that good.

Review: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LT

The Chevrolet Optra is the automotive equivalent of cheap chocolate—it’s sweet at the beginning but leaves a bitter, cough syrup-like aftertaste. In an odd marketing twist, Filipinos bought the Optra in droves, perhaps driven by curiosity over the Chevrolet brand and the affordable price tag. Well, in the end you only get what you paid for and soon there were countless people who complained about the Optra’s propensity to be lackluster. You name it, it didn’t do it well. Soon, interest waned and the Optra was lost in the bowels of automotive dullness. Thank god.

Philippine Car Price Guide: December 2011

This blog is called carguide.ph, so what's a better way to showcase our service by providing you, our readers, with the most comprehensive Philippine car price list.

This chart will be updated monthly to reflect new models or changes to existing ones. Take note though, that this price guide serves only as that--a guide...there are some instances where dealers (or even manufacturers) change their prices at a whim.

The table will take a while to load, but hey, it's worth it!

A decade ago, it would have been hard to imagine Hyundai as remotely ‘pulse quickening’. Though they had a pretty solid line-up then, they’re not exactly the sharpest knife in the cupboard. Then, Hyundai turned around 180-degrees and as quickly as Popeye would gulp down a can of spinach, suddenly churned out world-beating cars that are sexy and fun-to-drive as they are solid and reliable. And leading the charge is the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

Custom Mercedes-Benz SLR Proves You Have Money, But No Taste

Photos courtesy of Jalopnik

Car enthusiast website, Jalopnik has reported what could very well be the gaudiest and ugliest custom Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren ever done.

Dubbed "Red Gold Dream SLR", it costs US$ 11-million and is decorated with everything from 500 rubies (including the wheel nuts) and 14-karat gold. If you're still not convinced, it runs 700 horsepower (currently). But, the owner, Swiss club owner Ueli Anlicker wants to bring up the power to an even 1,000 horsepower before ultimately selling it.

View more eye-scorching pictures after the break.

Photo courtesy of Ford Press

Ford has revealed an interesting new feature for their upcoming 2013 Mustang.

Available as an option, the Mustang will be able to project the image of a galloping horse onto the ground besides the vehicle when the driver unlocks the doors. It may seem trivial enough, but Ford could pretty much send the industry trend here as we've seen with ambient cabin lighting and illuminated door sill plates.

Interesting indeed. Let's wait and see how this comes out.

Mercedes-Benz GP to Tweak Name for 2012 F1 Season

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Press

What's in a name? Well, a lot if you're Mercedes-Benz.

For 2012, the Mercedes-Benz GP Petronas Formula One team will be changing its name formally to Mercedes-Benz AMG Petronas Formula One team. According to Mercedes-Benz honchos, the addition of those three magical letters signifies their seriousness and promised competitiveness for the 2012 season. With tremendous success in DTM racing, team principal Ross Brown and company will surely have the weight of the world on their shoulders.

In other news, the Mercedes-Benz AMG Petronas Formula One team have also announced that they will be delaying the launch of their 2012 challenger, the F1 W03. The launch will only make it to the second winter testing on February 21 in the hopes the additional development time will make the car much more competitive.

UPDATED: Dodge Teases Dart Compact Car

Photos courtesy of Dodge Press

Dodge is finally getting serious with their compact car offering. After often ridiculed with the terrible design and quality of their Caliber hatchback, Dodge is trying to hit the bulls-eye with the 2013 Dart. The full reveal is slated at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, but Dodge is quick to reveal teaser shots of their all-new compact sedan.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Large diameter wheels and low profile tires are everywhere now from car show rooms, motor shows and even the race track. So whether the vehicle came from the assembly line or was upgraded after it was delivered, Plus Sizing probably played a role in its tire size choice. Plus Sizing allows tires and wheels to make a statement while providing functional improvement.

BMW’s claim to fame has always been anything sporty. Be it a coupe, convertible or sedan, as long as it carries the famed blue and white propeller upfront, you immediately know it carves curves like no other car could. But what about BMW’s recent product expansion; specifically the likes of the X1, X3 and X5? They certainly sound antithetical to what the brand stands for, especially carrying the moniker: Sport Activity Vehicle. Things become even more confusing with the X6—BMW’s newest niche—the Sport Activity Coupe. It’s an odd prescient for a vehicle that’s essentially a tarted up X5. Beyond the looks which are an acquired taste, does the X6 still have some BMW goodness baked into it?

Photos by Ulysses Ang

We car journalists are a spoiled bunch. We’ve been through countless track exercises both in the Philippines and abroad which are supposedly meant to test the car’s abilities. The problem is, most of the time, they’re meh. They’re designed to keep the cars safe more than anything else. So after a while, these things get boring. And tedious. And repetitious. So it’s not hard to imagine what happens when you receive yet another driving experience event invitation. Granted it’s from Mercedes-Benz, the idea of babying multi-million peso cars through a snoozer of a course isn’t exactly something to look forward to. Plus, the drive to Subic and the cost of toll and fuel means it won’t come cheap. But here we are at the sprawling Subic International Airport, having dragged ourselves from bed just three hours ago. Are we ready to sleep again, but this time behind the wheel?

Special AVT GPS Navigator Deals Makes for Great Christmas Gift

Still don't know what to give that car guy friend of yours for Christmas? Well, consider the AVT GPS Navigator. With over 300,000 points of interest programmed and a built-in speed camera warning feature, it is the go-to source for OEM fitment on new cars.

If you're still not convinced, the AVT Navigator PN-403 has a special offer just for this Christmas. Starting December 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012, the PN-403 can be yours for just P 7,000. And it's available at 0% financing for 3-, 6- or 12-month installments.

In two separate announcements, both Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) and Motor Image Pilipinas (MI) have announced that the Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ will be made available to Philippine car enthusiasts.

TMP, the Philippine office of Toyota Motor Corporation has announced that the Toyota 86 (or in Europe, the GT 86) will be launched in the Philippine market. In an interview held at the sidelines of the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota Motor Philippines President Michinobu Sugata was quoted as saying, "We are launching the Toyota 86 in the Philippines quite soon."

Speaking in a non-committal manner, another Toyota Motor Philippines executive said that the Toyota 86 is slated for a mid-2012 launch with a price tag of no more than P 2-million.

On the other hand, MI has confirmed that the Subaru version of the two-door sports coupe, the BRZ will be on sale in the Philippines by mid-2012.

This just means that both the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota 86 will be made available at roughly the same time. This equates to more choices to car enthusiasts in the country. We can't wait!

Is Your Car Safe for the Holiday Travel?

Photos courtesy of Ford Press

Whether you plan on visiting your mother-in-law in Bicol or simply want to have some R&R in Baguio, your car needs to be up to the task. Imagine what would happen if it wasn’t. Likely, you’ll find yourself stuck by the side of a deserted road; or worse, be towed away by the highway patrol. Imagine the stress, helplessness and agony.

You have to take matters into your own hands. If you’re planning on taking a road trip this Christmas season, make sure you provide your car with some basic maintenance.

Honda Aims for Best-in-Class Fuel Economy in Every Segment

Photo courtesy of Honda Cars Press

Even if current Honda products are no slouch when it comes to fuel economy, the Japanese automaker recently announced a new undertaking: "Earth Dreams Technology".

Under this new corporate direction, Honda will align itself to accomplish "top-of-industry" fuel economy in every vehicle class within three years. It may sound like a lofty goal, but Honda is confident of achieving this fully encompassing its power plant line-up as well as a new "fun-to-drive" CVT transmission. In addition, Honda hopes to its hybrid systems to more use such as potentially powering AWD systems and such.

What timing for the Christmas Rush! Seaoil, one of the Philippines's leading independent oil firms has just announced a new promo for the Christmas season. Read on to find out more!

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Press

The year-end typically means slower days (or even weeks) as businesses wind down and prepare to close their books on yet another year. Well, that’s not the case with CATS Motors, Inc., the official distributor of Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the Philippines, as they launched a brand-new portfolio in their business: premium-class trucks.

Photos courtesy of Ford Press

Pick-up trucks, by nature, serve a single purpose: they’re a workhorse. They are the modern ‘beast of burden’—rarely beautiful, but highly prized for their durability and dependability. However, as consumers are introduced to much more sophisticated fare, how can this lowly beast remain true to its humble origin, and yet, serve its new generation of masters?

We're Moving to carguide.ph

Fellow readers...as we beginning counting down to the end of 2011 and the approach of the new year, let me announce it here that we're officially moving to our own domain name: carguide.ph. The URL is still the process of being sorted out (you know how the internet is), so you will probably see errors, missing files and such during this movement process. However, let me assure you that it's all part of the growing up process and I hope you continue reading my blog!

Seaoil Recognized for Environmental Program

Photo courtesy of Seaoil Press

In lieu of a slow news day (it's the end of the year after all), here's a press release from the folks at Seaoil:

SEAOIL Philippines, Inc., the country’s leading and largest independent oil company, was awarded the “Outstanding Environmental Management Program Award” by the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) at the recent Franchise Excellence Awards (FEA). The company was recognized for pioneering the use of ethanol-blended fuels in 2005 through its Biofuels Program.

In 2005, SEAOIL together with the Department of Energy and USAID launched a nationwide information campaign on the use of biofuels after the implementation of the Biofuels Act. The Filipino-owned oil firm was also the first to introduce E85 fuel, a special fuel blend containing 85 percent ethanol available in selected stations, and is being tested for Philippine National Standards certification. The FEA is one of the country's most prestigious annual events that recognize the best franchise practices across various industries and organizations, and is a member of the World Franchise Council and Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation, the group that holds the annual Franchise Asia Awards.

(L-R): Franchise Asia 2011 conference committee chairman and Philippine Seven Corporation president Jose Victor Paterno; PFA vice-chairman and Manels Group of Companies chair Manuel Siggaoat, Sr.; SEAIL president and CEO Francis Glenn Yu; and FEA chairman and Quisumbing Torres Law Office partner Atty. Leo Dominguez.

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December 15, 2011

First Drive: 2012 BMW 116i Urban and 118d Sport

Green with Envy: Ford Takes Lead in In-Car Green Technology

December 14, 2011

Volvo XC90 Named as Sweden's Most Valuable Export Product

Dodge Teases 2013 Dart Interior

Bad Santa! 6 Stocking Stuffers Any Car Guy Wouldn't Want to See

December 13, 2011

MD Juan Holds World War II Re-Enactment

First Drive: 2012 Ford Ranger

December 12, 2011

Review: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1.8 LT

December 9, 2011

Philippine Car Price Guide: December 2011

Review: 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Drift Car

December 8, 2011

Custom Mercedes-Benz SLR Proves You Have Money, But No Taste

2013 Ford Mustang Illuminates You with a Galloping Horse

Mercedes-Benz GP to Tweak Name for 2012 F1 Season

UPDATED: Dodge Teases Dart Compact Car

Plus Sizing the Right Way

Review: 2011 BMW X6 xDrive35i

Passport to Punishment: Mercedes-Benz Driving Experience

December 7, 2011

Special AVT GPS Navigator Deals Makes for Great Christmas Gift

Toyota and Subaru Confirm 86 and BRZ Plans for Philippines

Is Your Car Safe for the Holiday Travel?

December 6, 2011

Honda Aims for Best-in-Class Fuel Economy in Every Segment

Seaoil Offers Cash Rebates for the Holidays

CATS Motors, Inc. launches Mercedes-Benz Actros Truck in the Philippines

Deep Dive: 2012 Ford Ranger

December 5, 2011

We're Moving to carguide.ph

Seaoil Recognized for Environmental Program