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July 14, 2015

Share Your Kia Experience and You Can Go to South Korea


Kia is rewarding its loyal owners yet again with a trip to South Korea. And this time, all it takes is for you to share your Kia story on their website. Interested? Read on.

Review: 2015 Honda Brio 1.3 V A/T

Photos by Ulysses Ang
How much are you willing to pay for a sportier body style? That’s the thousand peso question thrown to be would-be car buyers each and every time they cross shop between a sedan and a hatchback. Normally, the hatchback, seen as the sportier of the two body styles, commands a slight premium over the more practical but slightly duller sedan. For Honda though, the answer is quite different: it’s forty thousand pesos less in favor of the five-door. Yes, separating the top-line Brio and Brio Amaze (see review here) is a sizable P 40,000 spread. The question is: are the savings worth it?

July 12, 2015

UPDATED: Philippine Car Price Guide: July 2015

We’re a bit earlier than usual this month for the July edition of the Philippine Car Price Guide. We wanted to wait for the all-new Hilux, but since it’s launching last week of July, we figured we can’t wait that long. So ladies and gents, here’s this month’s updated list. Here’s what’s new:
  • Audi (price updates)
  • BMW (price updates)
  • Lotus (new entry)
  • Mitsubishi L300 XV (price update)
  • Mitsubishi Mirage GLX (price update)
  • Mitsubishi Montero Sport SE (new)
  • Toyota Corolla Altis (price update)
  • Toyota Fortuner (price update)
  • Toyota Hiace (price update)
  • Toyota Innova (new variant)
  • Toyota RAV4 (price update)
  • Toyota Vios (new variant)
  • Toyota Wigo (price update)
Shout out to our readers who found additional pricing updates. And in case you’re wondering, all entries that are clickable will send you to their respective test drive articles. Make sure to try it out.

Video: Wheels TV Season 2 Starts on Saturday, July 18


Want to catch me on television as I channel my inner James May? Tune in every Saturday starting July 18 on ABS-CBN Sports+Action (formerly Studio 23) for Philippine STAR’s Wheels TV. Joining me are Matteo Guidicelli, Manny delos Reyes, Kap Maceda-Aguila, and Angel Rivero. It’s the country’s only print-to-broadcast motoring show. And in case you missed any of Season 1’s segments, you can also catch them on Facebook (click here).

Feel free to leave comments about the show (except my weight gain haha) below.

UPDATED: 2016 Montero Sport Teased by Mitsubishi Motors Thailand (w/ Video)


UPDATE 2: Here it is in all its glory (8/1).

UPDATE 1: Included a link to the teaser video below (7/16).

Mitsubishi has released a single teaser photo of the all-new Montero Sport which is slated for a Global reveal this August 1 at the Bangkok International Grand Motor Sale 2015 (BIG Motor Sale 2015).

July 9, 2015

Great Offers on Hand at Subaru Tanabata Festival July 13-19, 2015


Motor Image Pilipinas Inc., the exclusive distributor of Subaru in the Philippines would like to extend its appreciation to its customers for their continuous support to the brand. A Tanabata Festival will be held at all Subaru Showrooms nationwide on July 13-19, 2015.

Toyota Registers Strong Sales in First Half of 2015


The number one automotive brand in the country remains strong as seen in its sales last June. Compared to the same period of last year, Toyota’s sales increased by 17 percent with 9,923 units sold last month. The automotive brand capped off the first half of the year with 57,717 units registering a year-to-date growth of 19 percent versus last year. Its Passenger Car (PC) and Commercial Vehicle (CV) sales tally at 23, 804 and 33,913 units respectively.

Lotus Cars Manila Previewed at Globe Slipstream 2.0 (w/ Specs, Prices)


The iconic purveyor of light-weight, high-performance British sports cars is finally in Manila. Lotus Cars Manila, a new brand under the Autohub Group, gave the public a sneak peek of their line-up at the Slipstream 2.0 event in Bonifacio Global City. It was the perfect venue as the Prince of Speed and Globe Tattoo ambassador Marlon Stockinger was on hand to show off his car handling prowess using his Lotus Formula Renault 3.5 open-wheeled race car.

Isuzu Philippines Previews New Heavy-Duty Trucks


Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC), the country’s leader in the commercial vehicle segment showcased their newest heavy-duty trucks under the C and E Series at its assembly plant located in Biñan, Laguna.

Suzuki Philippines Bags 3 Awards for Excellence


Suzuki Philippines, the Philippine arm of the global automobile manufacturer Suzuki Motor Corporation, received three global awards from the recently concluded 2014 Suzuki After Sales Awarding. The event, held in Bangkok, Thailand last June 15, 2015, gathered together Suzuki subsidiaries, distributors, and affiliates from all over the world to recognize and award their continued efforts to uphold Suzuki’s commitment to excellence in product and customer relations.

Ford Santa Rosa Opens


Ford Philippines continues its dealership network expansion with the opening of Ford Santa Rosa. The new Ford dealership in Sta. Rosa Laguna is the 37th full sales and service dealership of Ford in the country.

July 8, 2015

Green Pill or Red Pill? Havoline and Techron Concentrate Plus Tune-Up Pack


Caltex Philippines provides your car with the ultimate protection it needs with the dynamic Havoline Tune Up Packs. Motorists can choose between Havoline ProDS Fully Synthetic ECO 5 SAE 5W-30 4-liter pack or Havoline Synthetic Blend SAE 5W-30 4-liter pack bundled up with Techron Concentrate Plus. This special deal allows motorists to save up to P 450 each. The Tune Up Packs are available in selected Caltex gasoline stations nationwide.

Ford Celebrates Record First Half of 2015


Ford Philippines today announced it’s best-ever performance for the month of June with retail sales rising 10 percent year-over-year to 1,870 units.

Modulo, MUGEN Corner at Now All Honda Cars Makati Dealerships


Honda Cars Makati, Inc. offers a more rewarding ownership experience among Honda car owners with the availability of Modulo and Mugen accessories at its showrooms in Makati, Pasig, Alabang, Shaw, Global City, and soon in Manila Bay.

July 7, 2015

Review: 2015 Ford Escape 1.6 SE EcoBoost

Photos by Ulysses Ang
Undeniably, the Ford Escape is an impressive piece of kit. Regardless of what measurement you use, it’s got all the bells and whistles to satisfy even the most tech-savvy individual. Though the overall execution is somewhat mixed (read our Ford Escape 2.0 EcoBoost Titanium AWD review), there’s no denying that it’s pushing the value quotient way up to the stratosphere. But that story’s largely applicable to the top-line Titanium model. How does the Escape story apply to the “base” 1.6 SE variant? Read on.

July 2, 2015

First Batch of Mazda Philippines-MFI Scholars Begin OJT


Berjaya Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in the country together with MFI Foundation Incorporated (formerly Meralco Foundation Inc.) will now begin the second phase of its ongoing partnership in MFI’s Industrial Technician Program (ITP).

Kia Philippines's Technician Recognized in Kia World Service Advisor Competition


A company is only as strong as its partners, and Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), the exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines, is no exception. Staff development is one of CAC’s most important programs that they provide to their partner dealerships’ sales and service departments. A prime example of one dealership that has taken full advantage of this is Kia Pampanga.

Tata Teams Up with Atoy on Emergency Response Vehicle


Pilipinas Taj Autogroup, the exclusive distributor of Tata Motors passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the Philippines, in partnership with ATOY Customs, presents the ideal vehicle for local government units and disaster response teams in the country, the Tata Ace Rescue Boy.

Battle Hardened Warrior: Off-Roading with the Isuzu D-Max

Photos by Ulysses Ang
The local pickup truck segment is tightening and the one that’s starting to feel the pinch is long-time leader, Isuzu. For years, the D-Max has enjoyed brisk sales, but the increased competition from within the segment has caused its sales to plateau in recent months. Knowing quite well its importance to its line-up, the D-Max had to learn to sing a different tune from the “dependable workhorse” formula it has known from Day One. Earlier this year, Isuzu has done just that. They introduced the 2015 version of the D-Max, a timely upgrade that the company hopes will lure weekend warriors and lifestyle-oriented buyers to join the long list of satisfied Isuzu customers.

June 30, 2015

Have MINI, Will Travel: Get a Free Trip to the MINI Oxford UK Plant


Fancy a trip to visit MINI’s Oxford assembly plant in the United Kingdom? Well, dream no more as British United Automobiles, Inc., the exclusive distributor of MINI automobiles in the country is offering you the chance to travel to the MINI Oxford plant with the MINI Plant Oxford Experience: MINI. DRIVE. FLY. And the best part? All you need to do is to buy any participating MINI model until August 31, 2015.

2015 Mazda6 Sports Wagon: What's the Difference? (w/ Specs)


Mazda Philippines just brought out the all-new Mazda6 Sports Wagon. And there’s no denying it’s a thing of beauty. It’s certainly a different choice than your typical luxury crossover or executive sedan. Mazda Philippines President Steven Tan says, “It’s like you combined the best elements of the Mazda6 sedan and the CX-5.” You can’t say it any better.

Mazda CX-5 Goes Battling Entry-Level Crossovers with New Maxx Variant


After showing it off as part of the Mazda Collection at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) last April, Mazda Philippines is finally revealing all the details of the 2015-2016 (their terminology, not ours) CX-5 and Mazda6. Of course, regular readers will notice that these are already in the June 2015 Philippine Car Price Guide and we have reviewed the 2015-2016 Mazda6 sedan. So let’s focus on the most interesting aspect: the new CX-5 Maxx.

Honda Offers Wash Over Promo Until September 2015


Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) announced its much sought after promo is back!  For as low as Php 27,000, Honda’s Washover service can restore your car’s original paint to its brand new spectacle. Customers save half the price from its original suggested retail price of Php 54,000. Plus with Honda’s highly-trained technicians, modern drying facilities, and premium-quality paint, you can be assured of a brand new look for your car.

Review: 2015 Mazda6 Skyactiv Sedan

Photos by Ulysses Ang
It’s been a long while since you last saw the Mazda6. At two years, perhaps that’s too long a time. So given the chance to get reacquainted with her once more, you don’t say no. You free up your schedule and make sure you spend time with her. After all, how can you resist? Yes, her siblings are all fascinating, but there’s something alluring with the Mazda6. She’s hands down, the sultriest and sexiest one in the family, especially if she comes wearing that tight-fitting Soul Red Dress. She’s the four-wheeled love affair that makes wives jealous and friends envious.

June 29, 2015

Hyundai Enters Sub-Compact Crossover Market with Creta


Hyundai just pulled the wraps off its much-awaited sub-compact crossover, the Creta, in India. Designed as the Korean brand’s answer to the likes of the Ford EcoSport and even the Honda HR-V, the Creta looks to be part Tucson, part i20 Cross Sport, and part Kia Soul.

Tata Philippines and Kuya Kim Continue Partnership


Pilipinas Taj Autogroup, the exclusive distributor of Tata Motors passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the Philippines, renewed their partnership with its brand ambassador Kuya Kim Atienza this day of June 26, 2015 in line with the automaker’s commitment to provide the Filipino motoring public, vehicles that are cost efficient, reliable and durable for their everyday needs.