We were gone for three days last week, and here's the reason why. Toyota held its annual Road Trek event in Bohol and Cebu. Here's what we did. Enjoy.
May 20, 2012
Toyota Road Trek 8: Video
We were gone for three days last week, and here's the reason why. Toyota held its annual Road Trek event in Bohol and Cebu. Here's what we did. Enjoy.
May 15, 2012
Land Rover Club Philippines Participates in Trans-Kalimantan Expedition 2012
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| Photo by Igor Maminta |
The LRCP team consists of Leo Dominguez, a Filipino lawyer and adventurer; Igor Maminta, a Filipino professional motoring photographer; David Fraser, an Australian who retired from the Asian Development Bank; and Vicky Vigneswaran Karthigesu, a Malaysian Land Rover enthusiast and adventurer who provided technical support and co-driving for the Team.
The Team successfully brought the LRCP and Philippine Flag at LROM's Trans Kalimantan Expedition 2012.
May 14, 2012
Jollibee Drive-Thru Cross Country Challenge Teaser
Will your favorite blogger win the ultimate road trip? Find out soon on ABS-CBN. In the mean time, you can follow the face on Twitter by using the hashtag: #JolliChallenge or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jollibeephilippines
All-New BMW 3 Series Launched in PHL
No other automobile has created a bigger
impact in the luxury car segment than the BMW 3 Series. Since it launch in
1975, the “baby” BMW has sold over 12 million units, making it not only the
best-selling BMW automobile, but the luxury segment’s best-seller for many
years now. And just last week, Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official
importer of BMW cars in the Philippines has written the next chapter in the 3
Series history by launching the all-new, sixth generation model.
The all-new BMW 3 Series has a rich and
illustrious history to live up to, and judging by the initial reaction, this
model will have little problem. Just like the first 3 Series, the all-new 3
Series continues with the tried-and-tested concept of offering a compact body
with an elegant design, powerful and modern engines, a classic rear-wheel drive
set-up, and sporty suspension tuning. The result is a car with unrivalled
driving dynamics and agility. Additionally, the 3 Series introduces systems
developed under the BMW EfficientDynamics strategy giving this car the lowest
fuel consumption and emissions in its class.
Hyundai Kicks-Starts 2nd Quarter with Strong 35% Growth
Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) starts the second quarter with a 35% growth in total sales for the period of January to April 2012. This was brought about by the 113% rise in Passenger Car (PC) sales—from 2,534 units sold in the first four months of 2011 to 5,396 units sold in the same period of this year. Models in the PC segment such as the i10, Accent and Elantra increased the overall boost in sales. The entry of the new Eon in April likewise generated increased interest in Hyundai vehicles.
April 2012 sales likewise showed an 11% growth in total sales, with a sale of 1,099 units this year from 645 units sold in April 2011. While PC models continued to drive favorable sales performance, there was a slowdown in Light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales due to delayed arrival of shipment.
HARI enters the second quarter of the year on a positive note with sustained optimistic consumer outlook. According to Nielsen’s Global Consumer Index, the Philippines placed in the top 11 of most optimistic countries in the world. The Philippine economy is expected to remain on track this year on the back of higher public infrastructure spending and improved investor confidence against the short-term challenges of global uncertainties, particularly in the Euro zone.
Ferrari FF Launches in PHL
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| Photo courtesy of Autostrada Motore |
“This new Ferrari takes the Prancing Horse into new territory, matching the legendary performance, style and driving excitement expected of a Ferrari with new levels of ability thanks to its unique four-wheel drive system, and its spacious and flexible interior which makes it the most useable and versatile supercar built by Ferrari,” says Simon Inglefield, Head of Ferrari Asia Pacific Other Countries.
May 11, 2012
Philippine Car Price Guide: May 2012
We're a bit late, we know. Blame the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross-Country Challenge. It was a hectic 10 days...no mobile phones...constant driving...but hey, we made it back. In case you want to see us in action, you can catch it on ABS-CBN, Cinema One and ETC starting on Monday. We'll post the schedules once we get them here.
In the mean time, here's your May 2012 Philippine Car Price Guide:
In the mean time, here's your May 2012 Philippine Car Price Guide:
Lexus Unveils 2012 RX 350 Luxury Crossover
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| Photos courtesy of Lexus Press |
The new RX exterior features a new, more elegant and aggressive frontal design. An enhanced interior offers an expanded choice of color schemes, new trim finishes, a new steering wheel and a revised instrument binnacle.
Johnnie Walker Creates Signature Blend with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
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| Photo courtesy of Diageo Press |
Forming part of the global “Step Inside the Circuit” campaign, Johnnie Walker threw its hat into the wonderful spectacle of F1 racing in 2005 when it partnered with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to give fans exclusive and intimate insights into the world of Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, and the rest of the team both on and off the track.
Hyundai-DOT Partnership Out to Bring More Fun to PHL Exhibit at Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea
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| Photo courtesy of Hyundai Press |
Ford Philippines April Sales Rise Nine Percent
The all-new Ford Fiesta led the April performance with sales of 265 units, increasing its year-to-date sales to 1,039 units. The Ford Escape SUV turned in a strong month with retail sales rising 33 percent from March to 149 units.
Drive with Confidence, Have More Fun with the 2012 Isuzu Crosswind Special Edition
With over 7,100 islands, the Philippines has no shortage of breathtaking sights to offer visitors and local tourists alike. The more than 60,000 Isuzu Crosswind units on Philippine roads, meanwhile, are rolling testaments to the multipurpose vehicle’s enduring popularity and usefulness.
So fittingly, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) staged a road trip to one of the country’s premier destinations—the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan—in introducing the 2012 Isuzu Crosswind Special Edition. In the event dubbed “It’s more fun with the Isuzu Crosswind in Palawan” that was held from April 18-20, 2012, IPC reinforced the proven strengths and exciting new features of the latest Crosswind in a way that showcased some of the Philippines’ unique scenic attractions, and allowed access to no less than Palawan’s underground river that was newly included as among the world’s Seven Wonders of Nature.
May 7, 2012
Review: 2012 Chevrolet Spark 1.0 LT A/T
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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
May 3, 2012
Review: 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI A-Line
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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
Rally-derived sports sedans such as the
Subaru WRX STI certainly appeals to a lot of buyers. After all, what’s not to
like about its bodacious good looks, powerful turbocharged engine and
all-weather security courtesy of an advanced all-wheel drive. However, even if
you can afford one, since it’s only available with a manual transmission, it
takes a select few—the purist—to truly appreciate a beast such as this. Fortunately
for the rest of the populace, thanks to the increasing trend towards automated
gearboxes on high-performance machines, Subaru is now offering an automatic
transmission option on its WRX STI for the very first time and it’s called the
WRX STI A-Line.
From the outside, there’s absolutely no way
to distinguish between the manual and automatic transmission variants of the
WRX STI. Both the self- and automated-shifting models carry its rally-bred
heritage on its shoulder with the wide body design, copious amount of air
vents, high-luster alloy wheels and of course, a large rear wing. Thus, Motor
Image Pilipinas, the distributor of Subaru automobiles in the country, has
taken upon themselves to offer one big differentiating factor: the six-speed
manual is only available as a sedan while the automatic is exclusively a
five-door hatchback.
May 2, 2012
All-New BMW 3 Series Launching on May 10
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| Photo courtesy of BMW Press |
May 1, 2012
We'll be Sorta Gone Until May 9!
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| Photo courtesy of Jollibee |
In the mean time, you'll get some scheduled updates, but we'll be slow on the news until May 9. Until then, wish us luck! Hopefully by the time you read this, we'll beat the crap out of these pretty boys and girls!
For more information about the Jollibee Drive Thru Cross Country Challenge, you can check out their facebook page: Jollibee Philippines. Likewise, you can PROBABLY (but we're not sure), follow us on twitter throughout the event at: @carguideph and @neilonradio.
April 30, 2012
Toyota Philippines Offers Certified Pre-Owned Program
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) launches the Toyota Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles (TCPOV) program. The TCPOV is a new program where in customers can enjoy utmost value for money in purchasing pre owned vehicles. TMP aims to cater to the market where purchasing a reliable used car is given much importance. Now a days finding dependable pre owned vehicles can be a difficult task. In launching the TCPOV, Toyota is able to provide buyers an avenue where they can always be assured of the vehicle’s quality and reliability.
April 27, 2012
Toyota Launches All-New Camry
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| Photos courtesy of Toyota Press |
Suzuki Philippines Unveils Kizashi Sports Sedan
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| Photos courtesy of Suzuki Press |
Known primarily as a maker of small cars
such as the Celerio and Swift as well as motorcycles, Suzuki Philippines
takes a bold step forward with the introduction of the Kizashi sports sedan.
Marking the company’s first foray into the highly competitive, brand conscious
executive sedan market, the Kizashi comes extremely prepared: it’s benchmarked
against some of the world’s best cars including those from European brands. Meaning
“a sign of things to come” in Japanese, the Kizashi delivers a unique blend of
performance, design and craftsmanship into the executive sedan segment.
Isuzu Philippines Launches Crosswind XS
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| Photo courtesy of Isuzu Press |
The Crosswind XS is a six-seater model. Without the third-row seat, the vehicle can carry more than 1.8-cubic meter cargo as its entire rear area is now a dedicated load space. This makes the Crosswind XS perfect for small families or those with young children because the vehicle can easily accommodate strollers, toys, extra clothes, groceries and other similar items. Also, the Crosswind XS becomes an even more ideal choice for business use as it can serve as a taxicab, service/delivery shuttle, or courier vehicle that’s able to load balikbayan boxes and other oversized baggage.
Hyundai Grand Starex: Official Transport of Annual ADB Meet
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| Photo courtesy of Hyundai Press |
In the Philippines, if there’s one Hyundai
that’s already recognized for being an iconic on its own right, it’s the Grand
Starex. Known for its extreme comfort, durability, and reliability, the Grand
Starex is always been one of the country’s best-selling large family van.
Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when the Hyundai Grand Starex has
been chosen as the official mobility partner for the annual Asian Development
Bank (ADB) meet.
What to Expect When You're Expecting: Ford Explorer 2.0 EcoBoost
The all-new Ford Explorer with the 2.0 EcoBoost engine is still a full three months away, but we’ve been lucky enough to have sampled, by all intents and purposes, the entry-level Explorer. Of course, the P 2.350-million price tag is anything but entry-level, but it still saves you something like P 200,000 compared to the V6. However, as with anything that’s more affordable, expect the Explorer experience to be diluted. The question is, by how much? The Ford Explorer V6 has raised the bar quite a bit by providing excellent driving manners and numerous creature features at a truly competitive price. So, how will its little brother, the 2.0 EcoBoost fair? Without passing judgement (that will come at a later time), here’s what you can expect from the Explorer V6’s little brother.
April 25, 2012
Review: 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer EX Ralliart
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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
At first glance, the Lancer Ralliart looks
pretty much like the typical Lancer EX it’s based on. In fact, while the Lancer
Evolution takes the path of being a sophisticated, no-holds-barred flagship
that offers track-honed features and the capability of outperforming more
expensive sports cars, the Lancer Ralliart feels more like a well-done tuner
car—a reincarnation perhaps of the original Evolution.
April 24, 2012
The Full Monty: Toyota Auto Salon Amlux
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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
Honda Cars Philippines Launches All-New CR-V
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| Photos courtesy of Honda Press |
Ford Unveils Production EcoSport in Beijing
Ford has finally taken the wraps off the production version of its B-segment crossover--the EcoSport at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. This all-new crossover, dubbed as the "SUV for the urban world", will be available in over 100 countries mostly likely including the Philippines.
Based off Ford's B-segment platform (which happens to underpin the Fiesta as well), the EcoSport comes with Ford's newest and most advanced EcoBoost turbocharged engine yet: a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine with 118 horsepower.
Other key features of the Ford EcoSport are: the Ford SYNC infotainment system, 16-inch alloy wheels, a push-button engine start/stop, and a cooled glove box. For safety, it gets 6 airbags, ABS, and Electronic Stability Program or ESP that integrates Hill Start Assist.
The Ford EcoSport will make its way to other markets in Asia including the Philippines soon.
Chinese-Spec Subaru Legacy Aims High (Literally)
Subaru parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. has unveiled the 2013 Legacy for the Chinese market, and from the looks alone, you know it's aiming high--literally.
The 2013 Legacy has been re-designed specifically for the Chinese market and the changes are quite extensive. First, the ride height has been increased by 60 mm. Second, because of the increased ride height, Subaru had to modify the front bumper, side spoiler, and rear bumper. The wheels remain 18-inches. And of course, to suit the Chinese buyer, Subaru has put chrome on the side sill spoiler and rear bumper. Inside, the Chinese version of the Legacy removes the silvery plastics and in place is a piano-black finish. The electronic parking brake and SI-Drive switches were also relocated for better usability.
The 2013 Subaru Legacy also debuts the new-generation 2.5-liter Boxer (FB25) for the Chinese market as well as the Lineartronic CVT.
April 23, 2012
Mitsubishi Expands Zamboanga Dealer
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| Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Press |
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