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January 2, 2012

TOTAL Reigns in 2011 Motorsports

Photo courtesy of TOTAL Press

Our friends at TOTAL has sent us the follow press release to tout their success in the motorsports scene for 2011.

Press Release
TOTAL Reigns in 2011 Motorsports

Red Bull Racing in Formula 1, the Citroën Total World Rally Team in the WRC and the Peugeot Total Team in Endurance Racing each won their respective world championships in 2011.

Photo courtesy of Ford Press

A new year means new cars...and apparently, Ford is the first one to come bursting out with its all-new B-segment crossover which will debut at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi, India.

The all-new crossover which is teased by this headlight/grille shot is based off the popular Fiesta sub-compact. Details are still scares at the moment, but from what we know it will have an Ecoboost (perhaps with a 1.4-liter displacement) under the hood.

With Ford Philippines bringing a delegation to cover this new small crossover's debut at the Auto Expo, it's a safe bet that we'll see this new crossover plying the streets of Manila some time soon.

Happy New Year from carguide.ph

It's the start of the New Year! 2012 will have tons of exciting stuff for carguide.ph. Thanks for all the support and continue reading!

December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas from carguide.ph

To all our readers, a Merry and Blessed Christmas to you all! Take extra precaution driving where ever you're going and remember, don't drink and drive!

December 23, 2011

Top 5 Picks for 2011

Photos by Ulysses Ang and Hyundai Press

At carguide.ph, we don't mince words and though we've existed for less than two months, we just had to come out with our very own Top 5 picks for 2011. Take note...these five cars were launched in 2011. At the same time, these are the cars we've managed to spend some seat time in--so Ferraris and Lamborghinis don't count.

Anyway, continue after the break to find out our Top 5 picks in preferential order.

Test of Man and Machine: Ford Focus Endurance Challenge

Photos by Mikko David

It just piques your interest when you receive an invitation from Ford labeled ‘Top Secret’; after all, it always implies something exciting. So with the giddiness of a 10-year old kid, I clicked ‘open’ and lo and behold: it’s an invitation to race—to race for 12 non-stop hours behind the wheel of a Ford Focus TDCi. With thoughts of the glitz and glamour of the 24 Heures du Mans (‘24 Hours of Le Mans’ for the non-French speakers out there), I immediately did my best impression of Steve McQueen, replied yes and encircled my June 4-5 with a big, bright red circle.

Safety with Children

Parents all want the best for their children. They are thus inclined to purchase all sorts of books, toys, strollers, and gadgets for kids when preparing for a trip; they want to educate them and keep them entertained. Yet in one aspect, many parents remain negligent: safety in ferrying children in cars. How many times do you see children standing up unrestrained in the front passenger seat, or a mother carrying a kid in her lap, sometimes without a seatbelt?

Mercedes-Benz Unveils 2013 SL-Class

Photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Press

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has always been regarded as the brand's technical tour-de-force: a car where they only put the best. Unfortunately, putting a lot of stuff also means putting on a lot of weight, a perennial problem of Mercedes-Benz's two-seater grand tourer. And with a name that somewhat translates to "Sport" and "Light", it has become ironic indeed.

Photo courtesy of stock xchng

Whether you drive a car or sport utility vehicle, your motor vehicle is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your life. And with car prices going up every year, it makes perfect sense to take good care of your car. Pamper her right and she could last 150,000 kilometers or more. Ignore her and you’ll be spending lots of time at repair shops or worse, the scrap heap.

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?

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