Ford Philippines today reported March retail sales of 623 units, an increase of 50 percent from the previous month, as vehicle supply from Thailand continued to improve.

The all-new Ford Fiesta led the March performance and reaffirmed its segment leadership by delivering its best-ever monthly sales of 392 units – an increase of 64 percent from February. Despite the lingering effects from the Thai floods on local supply, the class-leading Fiesta delivered overall first-quarter sales that rose slightly from the previous quarter to 774 units.

UPDATE: Yes, we've finally confirmed a launch date of the all-new Camry. It will happen on Thursday, April 26. Again, if you want to follow us during the launch event, make sure you follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/carguideph/

Guess what we saw the Bangkok International Motor Show: the 2012 Toyota Camry. Recently unveiled for the local Thai market, this is the best indication of how the Philippine model will shape up once it's unveiled in the second quarter of this year. And a look down through the specs reveal one surprising thing: there's no more V6 at least for the Thai market.

Well, it's not THAT surprising considering the price of gasoline. However, what's even more surprising is that the Philippines is set to continue its three-model line-up which includes a 3.5-liter V6. This means you'll see the 2012 Camry in three flavors: 2.5 G, 2.5 V and 3.5 Q

For the Philippine market however, a query with our local Toyota dealership reveals that the Camry will still retain the 3.5-liter V6 and we probably won't see the entrance of the hybrid model just yet. This means that the Camry will retain its three-model line-up: 2.5 G, 2.5 V and 3.5 Q.

After the biggest motoring event of the year, MIAS 2012 (Manila International Auto Show), we've compiled all the launch vehicles and their prices into the April 2012 Philippine Price Guide. They include new cars from BMW, Ford, Foton, Hyundai, Mini, Subaru, Toyota, and Volvo.

Of course, with the upcoming Mazda Revolution in just a week's time, we've also included the all-new Mazda3 and CX-5 into this update as well. Enjoy!

Ford Philippines launches its summer retail promotion, The Works, which offers customers a worry-free purchase with Ford’s all-in low down payment packages with Ford’s Scheduled Service Plan (SSP). Ford’s summer promotion provides customers with an easy purchase and ownership experience featuring popular vehicles such as the Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus and Ford Escape.

For as low as PhP99,000 all-in low down payment, customers can drive home their very own all-new Ford Fiesta, the fun to drive Ford Focus or the all-action Ford Escape SUV.

Photo by Ulysses Ang

We were the first to leak out the pricing of the 2012 Mazda CX-5 and now, we can ultimately say for certain that the 2012 Mazda 3 will also be unveiled at the Mazda Revolution weekend event that's happening at the NBC Tent at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig from April 21-22.

Now, if you can't wait for an additional week, here's what we've learned about Mazda's new compact car. First, the bad news: the entry-level variant of the all-new Mazda 3 is priced at a not-so-affordable P 999,000. That's right--if you were dreaming of a P 780,000 Mazda 3 like before, you're not going to get one this time around. Still, the P 999,000 (the 1.6L Sedan) comes reasonably loaded with automatic climate control and a complete set of safety equipment. Up one notch is the 1.6L Hatchback at P 1,098,000. There doesn't seem to have any noticeable difference with equipment level though we've noticed that the Hatchback does carry a sportier design (sport package?). Both the 1.6-liter models will be powered by the old 1.6-liter MZR engine with 104 horsepower and 144 Nm of torque. Though these figures won't necessary excite your loins, you can get the new 5-speed automatic with paddle shifters will be a welcome addition.

The last model in the Mazda3 line-up is the 2.0L Hatchback which is pegged at P 1,290,000. Priced precariously to the likes of the better-equipped Subaru XV (and to some extent, the Mitsubishi Lancer EX), the Mazda3 2.0 gets leather seating and a moon roof. The 2.0 is powered by the 2.0-liter version of the MZR with 147 horsepower and 182 Nm of torque. Again, these figures aren't necessarily impressive, but it's good news that at least a 5-speed automatic is standard as are paddle shifters.

Will these rumored/leaked specs turn out to be the final ones? Well, we'll have to wait and see the all-new Mazda3 and the CX-5 at the Mazda Revolution event. As always, we'll be tweeting live from the event, so don't forget to follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/carguideph/

Photo courtesy of Goodyear Press

Goodyear, one of the world’s leading tire brands, has launched its highly anticipated smart phone app, Highway Helper on Android. This is in response to the explosive growth of smartphone users in Asia who are using apps as a life-enhancement productivity tool for functions like driving in the Philippines.

The Goodyear Highway Helper app was developed to cater to the needs of drivers while on the road, making any road trip a hassle-free experience. With the massive number of people taking long drives to relaxing resorts and beautiful beaches during summer road trips, it is always important to be extra cautious on the road especially while driving with loved ones. Goodyear’s reintroduction of its unique Highway Helper mobile app with new and improved multi-functional application features will make summer road trips a fulfilling and exceptional experience for everyone.

Photo courtesy of Mazda Press

Mazda Philippines is set to introduce SKYACTIV technology in the all-new Mazda CX-5, which is scheduled to launch this April in the Philippines. SKYACTIV technology is designed to increase fuel efficiency and engine output while providing optimum driving pleasure, and environmental and safety performance.

“We are thrilled to bring SKYACTIV technology to the Philippines which will revolutionize the driving experience of our local Mazda customers,” said Janinna Mendoza, Mazda’s AVP for Marketing.

SKYACTIV is a blanket term for Mazda's innovative next-generation technologies that are being developed under the company's long-term vision for technology development -- sustainable Zoom-Zoom.

Photos by Ulysses Ang and Ford Press

Photos by Ulysses Ang

While trying to search for information about the upcoming April launch of the Toyota Camry, we happened to stumble on a little nugget of information in Toyota's official Thailand Website: the Toyota 86 is now available for order in the Kingdom of Thailand. Of course, this just means that the reality of seeing an 86 on the roads of Manila is slowly becoming a reality.

Unfortunately for us, it seems that Toyota Thailand didn't get the memo with regards to the Toyota 86's aggressive pricing strategy. In the US, a similar Subaru BRZ / Scion FR-S can be yours for just a little over US$ 25,000 (~ P 1,075,000). However, in Thailand, the Toyota 86 starts at a whopping THB 2,490,000 which translates to over P 3,400,000! If this is any indication to the 86's Philippine pricing, we have an advice for Toyota: don't bring it in! Sorry Toyota, but ou'll probably have better luck selling a Prius or two at a million bucks less.

Source: Toyota Thailand

Hyundai has finally taken the covers off its all-new Santa Fe at the New York International Auto Show. And as promised, it finally brings the Fluidic Sculpture design motif to the aging mid-sized crossover. At the show floor, Hyundai surprised the audience by unveiling two wheelbase choices (standard and long wheelbase) for the all-new Santa Fe possibly meaning the demise of the Veracruz full-sized crossover.

From the outside, the Santa Fe takes on the "Storm Edge" concept which aims to capture the strong and dynamic images created by nature during the formation of a storm. Though we're not entirely sure how it fits right into the Santa Fe design, we certainly like the Santa Fe's new bolder exterior which include available 19-inch alloys.

Photo courtesy of Subaru Press

It seems Subaru is keeping itself busy by jumping from one major motor show to another. After unveiling its XV at the Manila International Auto Show and then in New York, they've revealed that they're using the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition to showcase the 2013 Legacy which they say is specifically designed for the Chinese market.

In what looks to be something straight out of an April Fool's joke, the teaser photo reveals an increased ride height for the 2013 Legacy meaning it will probably share the Outback's longer suspension travel and suspension. Given China's terrible roads, this is probably a very good move. Aside from the raised suspension, Subaru is also hinting "more changes than you'll expect from a yearly model change". This could ultimately mean the introduction of the new-generation Boxer engine in China as well as the EyeSight technology or even the Lineartronic CVT.

Aside from the 2013 Legacy, Subaru is also set to showcase its new BRZ for the first time in China as well as a new rally car for the Chinese market. The Beijing International Auto Exhibition starts on April 23 and we'll try to give you news when we can!

Photo by Ulysses Ang

As the Philippines celebrates the Holy Week this week (Thursday, 05 April to Sunday, 08 April), our last update will be the Volvo PLDT Alpha Track Day press release. We will be going through a well-deserved break and the corresponding spiritual reflection too. We will resume our daily updates starting Monday, 09 April.

However, you can continue to follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/carguideph/ during the break. Next week we'll have a slew of new stories including the Philippine Car Prices for April 2012. See you then!

Volvo Philippines proudly displayed its cars’ prowess on the tracks at the recently concluded PLDT Alpha Track Day on March 26, 2012 at the Clark International Speedway in an all-out race competition. This annual event hosted by the PLDT Alpha Enterprise brought together the country’s top executives for a car-filled day with the dynamic new breed of Volvos as the main cars for the track run.

After the karting activities in the morning, the Top 40 drivers progressed to practice their skills on the track with the powerful Volvo S60s. They were given the option to “choose their weapon” and drive either the 1.6L S60 T4 or the 2.0L S60 D3 turbodiesel. Both cars delivered superbly on track much to the delight of the car aficionados present. Guests enjoyed the pulling power of the S60 D3 Turbodiesel  -- a powerhouse that pushes the limits with low emissions, 400Nm of torque, and quick, sure power. It ensures immense driving pleasure while enjoying the fuel efficiency of up to 22Km per liter. The single turbocharged engine infuses the drive with the composed feeling of being in control in all situations without compromising on the fun of driving. The S60 1.6 T4 with its 180Hp and 240Nm of torque also delivered top performance and had the drivers fling it around with ease and confidence. The S60’s advanced multi-link rear and McPherson spring strut front suspension mounted on a rigid body with a low center of gravity translate into a feeling of being in command and in safe control. The front and rear suspensions also interact to provide stable braking and crisp steering.

A Goodyear innovation designed to extend the life of truck tire retread cushions, while improving quality and performance, has been named “Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year” by Tire Technology International. The Retread Multi-Piece Cushion technology was awarded by an independent, international jury of tire professionals, engineers, and academic scholars.

“Goodyear is focused on delivering market-driven innovation to our customers and consumers around the world,” said Jean-Claude Kihn, chief technical officer for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. “We are honored to once again be recognized by Tire Technology International for the innovative Multi-Piece Cushion technology, which will be highly valued by our customers.”

The 8th Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) has recorded a record year in terms of audience attendance. In its 4-day run, MIAS has garnered 88,600 visitors up 3,000 from last year. With such a huge success, we're pretty sure that the 9th Manila International Auto Show slated for April 2013 will be even bigger. Congratulations to Worldbex Services International and all those who participated!

The Ultimate 8-Star Christmas Promo grand prize, a brand new Volvo XC60, was awarded to Jeanette Suy Chua (center) by Megaworld Corporation First Vice-President and Commercial Division Head, Kevin Tan, (left) and Viking Cars Inc. Assistant Vice-President, Loi Concepcion-De Guzman (right).

The Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Ultimate 8-Star Christmas promo ran from November 3 until January 31. All Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, namely: Eastwood City, Venice Piazza at McKinley Hill, Burgos Circle at Forbes Town Center, Paseo Center, The Clubhouse at Temple Drive, and Newport Mall at Resorts World Manila, participated in the promo.

The Volvo XC60 is available locally in three exciting variants, the dynamic 2.0L T5 with 240hp and 320Nm of torque, the 2.4L turbodiesel at 215hp and 415Nm of torque and the powerful 3.0L T6 boosting 304hp and 440Nm of torque.

In line with Petron Corporation's mission to be the leading provider of total customer solutions in the energy sector, the company is expanding its trademark Lakbay Alalay program into a full-blown, year-round campaign.

Now billed as Lakbay Alalay, Kasama Mo Sa Biyahe, the expanded program includes a slate of activities reaching far beyond the traditional motorist assistance services for Holy Week. Through this program, Petron hopes to strengthen the bond of companionship and unity with Filipinos everywhere, not just during the Holy Week but in all aspects of their daily lives.

Problems for Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) just seems to be piling up. After a disastrous 2011 thanks to the double disasters in Japan and Thailand, HCPI is announcing a recall for its second-generation CR-V compact crossover made between 2002-2004. This recall affects over 20,500 units.

This safety recall has to do with the insufficient length of electrical wire used on the CR-V's headlight switch. After some time, the wire will get stretched during operation and at worse cases, it will cause the headlight to malfunction.

For complete information including the VINs affected by the safety recall, read through after the break.

Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW cars in the country, will rollout a Quality Measure Campaign for owners of the previous generation BMW 5 Series (E60/E61) and BMW 6 Series (E63/E64).

The campaign will focus on a possible incorrect mounting of the battery cable cover inside the boot. This may lead to a malfunction of the electrical system and lead to the vehicle failing to start. However, there have not been any reported accidents or injuries to persons resulting from this fault.

In the Philippines, there are approximately 700 vehicles that were identified individually pertaining to this quality measure campaign. The cars involved were manufactured between 2003 and 2010. Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail and will be asked to bring their vehicle to a BMW dealer for a 30minute repair at no charge.

“ACC is being proactive in addressing this campaign to reach out to our customers and communicate to them that their safety is our top of mind. Immediate information is key to make sure that they get their cars to the dealerships for this campaign as soon as possible,” said Glen Dasig, Executive Director for Sales and Marketing.   For more information about this Quality Measure Campaign, please do not hesitate to contact your authorized BMW Dealer or email information@bmw.com.ph 

Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Press

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) one of the country’s top automotive brands recently inaugurated another world-class showroom in Subic Bay Gateway Park.  Carworld Subic Inc. is strategically located on a 3,286 square meters lot with a 2,220 square meter two-storey building in Lot C-8 Subic Bay Gateway Park, Phase I Commercial Area, Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Carworld Subic boasts a 10-car display showroom.  It also has a service center with 25 service bays which can accommodate various servicing requirements, such as periodic maintenance, electrical, mechanical, air-conditioning services, body repairs, and paint jobs among others.  The new dealership facility is committed to bring not only quality vehicles but also quality services that will equate to total customer satisfaction.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) is providing on-site travel aid, service, and support in different destination this Holy Week through its Honda Emergency Action Team (H.E.A.T.) program on April 4 to 8, 2012.  Private and public car owners of Honda & Non-Honda vehicles can receive services such as general check-up, preventive maintenance, retail and sales and travel advisories.

There are 10 strategically located HEAT sites as follows:  3 in Southern Luzon - Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City, Batangas City, Batangas and Legazpi City, Albay; and 7 located up North – Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Marcos Highway, Baguio City, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac City, Tarlac, SBFZ, Olongapo, and Baliuag,  Bulacan. Roving teams can be contacted through the following numbers: 0917-3144546 (South) and 0917-5973607 (North). 

H.E.A.T. is an emergency action team committed to promote Honda’s social responsibility in terms of providing road assistance to motorists who will encounter problems during their trip.
H.E.A.T. is made possible in cooperation with Emicor, DENSO, Motolite Batteries, SAVI, Three Bond, OE Works Mfg Inc. and Keylargo Car Accessories.

For more details, please log on to www.hondaphil.com. You may also follow HCPI on Facebook.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has lifted the number coding scheme from Monday, April 2 to Monday, April 9 for the Holy Week holidays EXCEPT for Makati City where the number coding will be in effect from Monday, April 2 to Wednesday, April 4. Makati City will also lift the number coding on Holy Thursday, April 5 to Monday, April 9. The number coding scheme will resume on Tuesday, April 10.

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?