The long wait is finally over. After spending a total of eight test days under the sun, several weeks tallying score sheets, and countless sleepless nights in anticipation, it all boiled down to one special awards night as the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) hailed a new a successor to the Car of the Year title last March 29, 2012 at the 8th Manila International Auto Show (MIAS). Selecting through a total of 36 nominees and 11 finalists, the Hyundai Elantra is now the 2011 - 2012 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P).

The Hyundai Elantra stood out not only amongst the vehicles in its class, but also above the rest of the entries for this year's COTY-P. It ranked high in the Qualitative tests, where it was scored based on criteria such as aesthetics, comfort, and drivability, and was one of the top performers in the Technical test that evaluated the acceleration, braking, and handling characteristics of each vehicle, while offering great value for money. Presenting the award to the Hyundai Elantra once again proves that the title of Car of the Year Philippines is not for the fastest, cheapest, or most popular car in the market. Rather, it is an award for the car that offers best value to the consumers.

Photo courtesy of Ford Press

The All-New Ford Explorer 3.5L V6 AWD Limited was named Best Luxury SUV in the 2011-2012 Car of the Year awards ceremony held on March 29.

“It’s a proud moment for Ford, our employees and our customers to have Explorer named Best Luxury SUV,” said Vinay Piparsania, vice president for Marketing and Sales, Ford Group Philippines. “Winning this honor confirms our One Ford plan is working to deliver vehicles people truly want and value, with industry-leading quality, fuel efficiency, safety and smart technology.”

Imagine a guy from Alabang driving along EDSA to a friend’s party. Bobbing his head to the rhythm of his favorite song, he takes occasional glances on his smartphone that doubles as a GPS device. Suddenly, a billboard featuring a curvy Brazilian model clad in a red, skimpy two-piece bikini springs up from the horizon, distracting his focus on the road. And before he knew it, he had already missed the turn by almost half a kilometer, with no U-Turn slot in sight for the next mile ahead or so.

Obviously, most drivers often experience a hard time finding their way in unfamiliar territories. How many times have you spent several minutes driving around an area where you’ve been to for the first time, simply because you don’t want to ask questions from people that you pass by?

Photo by Ulysses Ang

British United Automobiles, Inc. is completing the local Mini line-up by formally introducing the all-new Mini Coupe and Roadster at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS).

The Mini Coupe is a new two-seater model that is geared squarely to maximize driving fun thanks to its fun selection of engines, chassis set-up, weight distribution and aerodynamic properties. The Mini Coupe is the first model in Mini's history to adopt a three-box body structure with a striking stepped rear end. The Mini Coupe can be ordered from the Coupe S (184 horsepower, P 2,950,000) and the Coupe John Cooper Works (JCW) with 211 horsepower (P 3,650,000).

Meanwhile, the sixth model in Mini's line-up is the all-new Mini Roadster which is basically a soft-top version of the Coupe. The soft-top is operated by hand and can be operated at any speed. An active rear spoiler activates at speeds above 80 km/h for increased stability. The Roadster retails for P 3,150,000 for the S and P 3,650,000 for the JCW version.

Read the full press release after the break.

Photo by Ulysses Ang

CATS Motors, Inc. has one of the bigger displays over at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) and for good reason: they're introducing a lot of exciting new products for the public. Among them is the 2012 Chrysler 300C with the first ever eight-speed automatic fitted into an American car.

Fitted to the 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar (292 horsepower), the new ZF eight-speed automatic helps increase fuel economy by reducing the gaps normally associated with up- and down-shifting. The 2012 300C also benefits from a new Sport mode for quick shifts for a more performance-oriented acceleration and higher shift dynamics. All-in-all, the 2012 300C promises to achieve fuel mileage figures in excess of 13 km/L. Aside from the eight-speed ZF automatic, the 2012 Chrysler 300C also features an all-wheel drive system for greater all weather traction and stability.

Chrysler's flagship design is also fitted with all the latest safety equipment such as electronic stability control (ESC) along with seven airbags, front-row reactive head restraints, hill-start assist, rain-brake support and ready-alert braking.

Also new at Chrysler's MIAS booth is the re-designed Town & Country with an all-new grille design and refreshed interior.

Photo by Ulysses Ang

In the Philippines, Chinese car manufacturers are often considered as a joke. Unless you're Foton. In fact, among all the Chinese brands, Foton is the one that has garnered the most attention with its affordability and sensibility. They have found their way onto government fleets with their various commercial vehicles and now, at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), they have added yet another pick-up to their line-up: the Thunder.

Retailing for just P 878,000 for the 4x4 M/T variant, the Thunder surely follows the same Foton formula of affordability. But beyond the excellent price, the Foton has one new arsenal: a Cummins ISF 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine that is rated for Euro 5 emissions standards. The new engine is rated at 148 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque with a life cycle to overhaul expected at around 500,000 kilometers.

A 4x4 variant will also be made available, but no pricing is available yet.

Photo by Ulysses Ang

With just days to go before the start of the Manila International Auto Show, BMW couldn't confirm if their all-new M5 would make it in time. But when the curtains fell on their M Power Pavilion, it's clear what car is on the center stage: the all-new BMW M5.

Making its Philippine debut, the all-new BMW M5 is powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine that churns out an impressive 560 horsepower and 680 Nm of torque. It obliterates the 100 km/h mark in just 4.4 seconds for a top speed in excess of  250 km/h. The BMW M5 retails for P 10,990,000 and already has a two-month wait list. In fact, the shiny blue unit over at BMW's pavilion is already spoken for.

Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) is now the Philippines third largest selling automotive brand. And it seems there's no stopping this Korean freight train has they have launched two new models at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS): the Eon sub-compact hatchback and the Veloster hatchback.

Manufactured in India, the new Eon slots below the i10 has HARI's most affordable car. The retail price of the Eon is a mere P 438,000 and P 498,000 for the range-topping model. Powered by a 0.8-liter (yes, as in 800 cc), the Eon has a peak power of 55 horsepower and 75 Nm of torque. More importantly, it promises over 25 km/L in fuel efficiency. Despite being a basic sub-compact, the Eon comes with front power windows, keyless entry, a driver's airbag and an audio system with USB input.

Meanwhile, the Veloster has also been previous at MIAS. Pricing and specifications still haven't been finalized as the Veloster is officially on "preview" mode. However, it's clear from the exterior that the Philippines will be getting the Veloster 1.6 GDi (as opposed to the new turbo-charged model). The Veloster 1.6 GDi will push out 138 horsepower and 167 Nm of torque. This stylish and unique three-door hatchback will slot below Hyundai's sporty and sleek Genesis Coupe in terms of price.

Clearly, Ford Group Philippines is capitalizing the fact that it's got the biggest area at the Manila International Auto Show (more than 1,000 square meters) to debut a slew of new models for the Philippine market. Already making its debut at the Ford Club of the Philippines Anniversary last month, the Fiesta family has grown with the public debut of the new Fiesta Sport Plus hatchback and Fiesta 1.4 Trend which is now available in both 4-door and 5-door automatic transmission variants. Meanwhile, the most significant news for Ford is the Philippine market introduction of the all-new Ranger pick-up truck.

Motor Image Pilipinas, the official distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines has unveiled the much-awaited XV compact crossover at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS). Based off the all-new fourth generation Impreza (which will debut later in the year), the XV represents the company's new "Confidence in Motion" philosophy.

The XV promises to blend Subaru's core values of driving dynamics, comfort, all-around safety and stability with fuel efficiency and practicality. The XV is powered by the all-new 2.0-liter FB Boxer engine with 150 horsepower and 196 Nm of torque. The sole transmission is a 6-speed CVT (continuously variable transmission). Power is put to the road via Subaru's trademark symmetrical AWD system with an initial torque split of 60/40. This can be re-distributed to the set of wheels that require the traction automatically.

We've seen it as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and now, we're finally going to see the final ASEAN market specific Ford Focus! Yay!

carguide.ph will be live from the Bangkok Motor Show starting Monday, March 26 where we'll be covering the unveil and details about the all-new 2013 Ford Focus. Then, we'll be at the Challenger Hall at Impact Muang Thong Thani for the rest of the new cars.


So...don't forget to follow us on Twitter for the latest information from Bangkok!

Chevrolet is revealing the first of the next-generation 7-seater SUVs with the 2013 Trailblazer which is breaking cover at the upcoming Bangkok International Motor Show. First previewed at the Dubai International Motor Show as a concept, it's now in production form. Sales will start in Thailand by June.

Like the Colorado, the Trailblazer will be powered by a family of Duramax turbo-diesel engines and will feature a myriad of available safety features including Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control and Hill Descent Control.


Read more after the break.

Putting rumors of its impending death to rest, Hyundai has released teaser shots of its all-new Santa Fe which will be unveiled at the upcoming New York International Auto Show in April.

The all-new Santa Fe, which will be known as "DM" in South Korea will embody a design concept which Hyundai calls "Storm Edge". Of course, it will still be based off Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy. Aside from the two shots revealed, Hyundai remains tight-lipped about the all-new Santa Fe. However, Hyundai does say that the Santa Fe will embody "Refinement", "Smartness" and "Practicality".

Since its launch, the Santa Fe crossover has sold over 2.56 million worldwide.

AVID, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors has reported total sales of 2,881 vehicles for the month of February. This represents a 46 percent growth year-on-year. Overall, the growth is largely driven by passenger cars which rose to 2,025 units from 934 units year-on-year.Overall, AVID members are positive about the rest of the year with new model launches (some of which will be launching at the upcoming Manila International Auto Show).

Here is the AVID sales breakdown between members for February:

• British United (MINI) -  16 units
• CATS Motors (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz) - 60 units
• HARI (Hyundai) - 2,369 units
• Scandinavian Motors (Volvo) - 20 units
• Motor Image Pilipinas (Subaru) - 73 units
• TCCI (Chevrolet) - 318 units

Read the complete press release after the break.

Photo courtesy of Kia Press

KIA surprised Cavite last February 20, 2012 with the groundbreaking of its newest dealership, KIA Molino. Offering everything from sales, service, to spare parts, KIA Molino is expected to excite and be talked about by Caviteños when it opens its doors by the end of September.

Gracing the event were, from left to right, Engr. Joey Galan, contractor for JS Galan Builders & Trading, Mr. Joseph Wang, President of Richfield Properties, Mr. Hernando D. Gañac, Jr., VP for Marketing, Columbian Autocar Corp. (exclusive distributor of KIA in the Philippines), Arch. Charina Cruz-Haltland, Architect for Kia Molino, Mr. Franz Alvarez, President of Kia Molino, Ms. Ginia R. Domingo, President of Columbian Autocar Corp. and Mr. Anton Haltland, General Manager of Kia Molino.

Photo by Ulysses Ang

The most awaited replacement for the Mazda Tribute and CX-7 is almost finally here! The Mazda CX-5 is reaching Philippine shores by April. and guess what, the pricing and specs have been leaked a full month before the launch date!

Thanks to enterprising sales agents, they have revealed at the 2013 Mazda CX-5 will be available in two variants: a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic. However, both models will be front-wheel drive. The price for the CX-5 M/T is pegged at P 1,392,000 and P 1,452,000 for the A/T.

The asking price may be hefty, but the CX-5 is the first Mazda vehicle to fully incorporate the new SkyActiv-G technology which boasts excellent fuel efficiency without sacrificing driving fun and dynamics. In the CX-5, a 2.0-liter version of the SkyActiv-G will be used which is good for 155 horsepower and 210 Nm of torque.

Aside from SkyActiv-G, the 2013 CX-5 will come fully loaded including auto on/off HID headlamps, LED tail lamps, 19-inch alloy wheels, leather seating, automatic climate control, an integrated audio system with USB and Bluetooth hands-free as well as 6 speakers. In safety, the CX-5 will come with 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, brake assist, traction control and stability control.

Source: sulit.com.ph

Photo courtesy of Ford Press

The All-New Ford Explorer has been reinvented, raising the bar on SUV safety by combining technologies to help avoid crashes with those that set new standards of protection in the event of one.

The comprehensive safety story of the All-New Ford Explorer adds new features including the world’s first inflatable second-row seat belts.

“The All-New Explorer  2.0L GTDi XLT combines – all at once – our best technologies to not only help prevent a crash, but to help prevent injuries to occupants when a crash is unavoidable,” said Vinay Piparsania, vice president for Marketing and Sales, Ford Group Philippines. “The use of high-strength steels such as boron in the Explorer body structure also offers a greater level of protection, while meeting the most stringent roof crush standards.”

Explorer showcases Ford’s commitment to safety by offering passengers an unprecedented array of active and passive safety technologies.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has announced a safety-related recall of its Fuzion multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). The announcement was made to coincide a memo sent to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regarding the very same safety defect.

The recall, which affects Fuzion MPVs sold between June 2007 to February 2012 (2,137 units) is related to the car's steering column intermediate shafts and how insufficient welding may result in failure. According to Mitsubishi, owners will be inconvenienced by 1.5 hours at the most while technicians check and replace the necessary parts.

The VINs of the Fuzion models affected will be placed on Mitsubishi's website. Concerned owners may also call Mitsubishi Motors's Customer Care Center at +632-658-0673 from Mondays to Fridays, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Read the entire press release after the break.

Photo courtesy of Volvo Press

Linsanity has gripped Volvo and it was just announced that rising NBA star Jeremy Lin will endorse Volvo cars and automobiles in China, the United States and other Chinese-language markets in Asia. Lin's endorsement deal will last for two years and during that time he will appear in corporate and marketing activities as Volvo Brand Ambassador as well as appear in advertising in these markets.

Read the entire press release after the break.

Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Press

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has announced that it has begun the sale of its Mirage sub-compact hatchback in the Thai market. The very same car is made at a brand-new factory in Mitsubishi Motors Thailand's (MMTh) Laem Chabang Plant which is the largest Mitsubishi plant outside of Japan. According to Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, the global Mirage will be sold initially in Thailand followed by the rest of ASEAN (Philippines will definitely be a part), Japan and then Europe.

In Thailand, the Mirage is powered by a 1.2-liter engine with Mitsubishi's MIVEC technology enabling it to return up to 22 km/L. Mitsubishi aims to sell 2,500 units of the Mirage in Thailand alone per month with a price ranging from THB 380,000 to THB 551,000.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation is continuing to deliver on its promise to renew or refresh its vehicle line-up this year by launch the 2012 versions of the Yaris sub-compact hatchback and Land Cruiser 200 luxury sport utility vehicle last week. Although these two vehicles appear to be at the opposite sides of the spectrum, both in size and price, Toyota has made sure that the Yaris and Land Cruiser come with new and re-designed features to make them more appealing and class competitive than ever before.

Since its introduction of the AVT Navigator as the country's first-ever portable GPS navigation system with extensive local support for updated maps, the AVT Navigator product range has seen increased demand from motorists who appreciate a reliable road guide.

Exclusively for the 2012 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS)—to be held from March 29-April 1, 2012 at the World Trade Center, Roxas Boulevard, Manila—the AVT Navigator PN503 will be sale at the AVT booth at a very special discounted price.

Photo courtesy of Petron Press

The country’s leading oil company Petron Corporation recently marked another milestone as it bagged two coveted distinctions from the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), including the Integral CSR Award for its success in making social responsibility an essential part of its business operations.

A feat unmatched by any other oil company, Petron bagged the prestigious Integral CSR Award at the 2nd MAP CSR Leadership Challenge for its “Growing. Greening. Giving Back: Making CSR and Sustainability a way of life in Petron” strategy along with the Best in Environment and Sustainable Development Special Award for its “Measuring, Managing and Minimizing our Environment Footprint in Bataan” program.

As part of its safety awareness campaign for motorcycle riders, Safe-T-Ryders Training Center will be holding its 2nd Biker Meet-Up on Saturday, 24 March 2012, at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

The Bikers Meet-Up program starts off an open forum to listen and respond to urgent concerns of motorcycle riders, giving them an opportunity to dialogue on issues related to traffic regulations, safety ordinances, etc.  For the 2nd Bikers Meet-Up, former LTO Chief Alberto H. Suansing will once again listen to the bikers from Quezon City.

Members of the Subaru Club of the Philippines is now abuzz with the launch of the Subaru XV at the upcoming Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) on March 29, 2012. And according to some members, the Subaru XV will have two models and will be priced P 1,288,000 for the base model and P 1,398,000 for the high-end model. The high-end model will get a moon roof, a multi-information display, dual climate control, a back-up camera, power folding mirrors and HID headlamps.

If this is true, the Subaru XV's pricing will be very close to the Forester. In fact, if no other price change will be announced at MIAS, the high-end XV will be identical in price to the Forester XS!

Based on the fourth-generation Impreza, the Subaru XV is a high-riding compact crossover in the same vein as the Mitsubishi ASX. Like the Mitsubishi, the XV is powered by a 2.0-liter engine mated to a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

Source: Subaru Club of the Philippines [registration required]

Several Toyota dealerships are reportedly giving hefty discounts for the current Toyota Camry. If you're considering to buy a new Camry, the 2.4 V is being offered at less P 250,000 from list price, while the 3.5 Q and 2.4 G are both offered at P 200,000 less from list.

All this points towards the reduction of inventory and the impending launch of the all-new Camry. Some dealer representatives are pointing towards an April release for the all-new Camry. According to some sources, it will be very close to the European model Camry seen in the pictures above.

Things are apparently heating up for the Manila International Auto Show. The biggest annual motoring event, which opens its doors on Thursday, March 29 is already playing host to the Philippine launch of the Subaru XV compact crossover.

Now, it's just been confirmed that Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai cars and commercial vehicles in the Philippines is set to launch the Veloster and Eon at MIAS. The Veloster, which is already grabbing headlines in the North American market for its head-turning looks as well as fun but fuel-efficient drivetrain will be the star of HARI's more than 1,000 square-meter display at the World Trade Center. Meanwhile, the Eon, which is a sub-compact city car designed for the Indian market, will also make its debut at MIAS. The Eon, which is in the same category as the Suzuki Alto should become a game-changer for HARI.

We'll be live from the MIAS floor on March 29, so follow us then!

carguide.ph recently just returned from a two-week vacation in Japan. Of course, expect from juicy stories from us including some pretty interesting future cars we'd be seeing on Philippine roads.

Well, while you wait for those stories, here's the updated pricing guide for March 2012. The notable new entries here include the all-new Lexus GS, the new Toyota Innova as well as new variants of the Mitsubishi Adventure.

Enjoy!