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August 8, 2013

Toyota Motor Philippines Celebrates 25th Year Anniversary

“Cars are not a mere means of mobility. They respond to the driver’s will.” – Akio Toyoda.

Fitting words from Toyota Motor Corporation’s CEO as his company aims to continually develop cars that are representative of the buying public’s needs and wants. This quote, though in reference to the Toyota 86 sports car, seems to encapsulate Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP)’s success as they celebrated their 25th anniversary last week at a gathering of family, friends, and business partners.

Big prizes are up for grabs for customers who will join the Caltex-Visa E-raffle promo from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, 2013. Customers have the chance to win P100,000 worth of free fuel daily or a brand new Toyota RAV4 during the grand raffle draw. Customers fueling up at participating Caltex stations nationwide using their locally issued Visa credit, debit or prepaid cards are qualified for the promo.
To join, a minimum fuel and/or lubricant purchase of P1,000, single receipt, within the promo period is required. Once the purchase is made, customers will need to register their transaction details through SMS sent to 3456 or online at www.caltex.com/ph/fun-stuff/visa-promo and www.facebook.com/CaltexPhilippines. A customer can make multiple entries based on different transactions. For each successful entry, a confirmation message will be sent promptly.

The thirty winners of P100,000 Caltex fuel cards will be drawn starting August 19 to September 27, Mondays to Fridays. The grand draw on October 1, 2013 will announce the lucky winner of the brand new Toyota RAV4 that comes with P 100,000 Caltex Cash cards.

Caltex will call the winners for confirmation and instruction on how to claim their prizes. Per DTI-NCR Permit No 7250, Series of 2013. See flyers for more information or, for updates on other Caltex promos and activities, visit www.facebook.com/CaltexPhilippines.

Ford Philippines Kicks-Off 2013 Driving Skills for Life; Invites Fans to 'Pledge' to Drive Safe

Ford Philippines officially kicked off the sixth year of the company’s global Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program this week, continuing its ongoing commitment to promote safe and smart driving practices in the Philippines.

In conjunction with a number of its dealers, Ford is conducting a series of DSFL seminars this year with the aim of more than 500 licensed drivers participating in the program, free-of-charge, through the end of the year. The training focuses on safe, smart and fuel- efficient driving skills, as well as providing handy tips on vehicle maintenance.

Ford Philippines Posts Record July Performance; Sales Jump 71 Percent

Ford Philippines today reported its strongest sales month of the year and best-ever July performance with overall retail sales last month jumping 71 percent to 1,273 units.

The exceptional July was led by significant sales gains across Ford’s entire vehicle lineup, most notably the all-new Ford Ranger, all-new Ford Explorer, all-new Ford Focus and refreshed Ford Everest.

For the ninth time in a row American customers have awarded sports car manufacturer Porsche first place: so for drivers in the USA, Porsche continues to remain the most popular brand of car. This was the result of the latest survey "Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL)" by California market research institute J.D. Power and Associates. Just last month, Porsche drivers in the US voted the Porsche brand the winner in the "Initial Quality Study".

And in the APEAL evaluation the Cayenne takes first place in the "Midsize Premium CUV" segment for the third time. At the same time, the sporty off-road vehicle was voted the third-best in the entire study. The Boxster also gained the most points in its class, winning the "Highest Ranked Apeal" award in the "Compact Premium Sporty" category. The Porsche 911, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year, takes second place in the "Midsize Premium Sporty Car" segment.

The overall ranking is the result of scores in ten different categories including driving dynamics, design, suitability for daily use and vehicle comfort. The current basis for the annual survey is information from more than 83,000 new-car buyers of a total of 230 different models which were registered from November 2012 to February 2013.

August 6, 2013

The World of Toyota is Opening this Week!

Get to experience fun and excitement (“Waku-Doki”) this coming August as Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is set to hold the biggest Exclusive Motor Show on August 10-18, 2013 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. Immerse yourself in the world of Toyota as this grand event will highlight vehicles from the past and the future. Designed and built to be at par with global Motor Shows, The World of Toyota is a rare opportunity for you to experience the Toyota Way on a whole new level!

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), Honda’s automobile business unit in the Philippines officially lets driving excitement soar high as it welcomes the All New CR-Z, Sport Hybrid Coupe at the NBC Tent in Taguig City; taking cue from the Filipino market’s enthusiastic reaction when the CR-Z MUGEN concept was first shown.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

There are only a handful of cars that can make a statement, a sense of visual drama that ignites your senses the moment it greets you on the driveway; one such car is the all-new Mazda6. A passing glance is enough to convince you that its designers and engineers didn’t simply want to build a Mazda for the executive sedan segment, but the Mazda of the executive sedan segment. Mazda is well-aware that the previous generation lacked a definable character, so they wanted to eliminate any vagueness with the 2013 model. That’s why all of the big terms the company has used for the last two years—KODO, Takeri, Skyactiv, driving pleasure, performance, efficiency, Sustainable Zoom-Zoom—were folded into the recipe for the all-new 6.

Autostrada Motore Launches 6th Generation Maserati Quattroporte in the Philippines (w/ Brochure)

Photo by Ulysses Ang and Autostrada Motore Press

Autostrada Motore Inc. announced the local availability of the V8 twin turbo Quattroporte; the fastest four-door Maserati built to date. This flagship car of the Maserati product range is larger, lighter, more luxurious and more practical than the globally acclaimed car that it replaces.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) formally opens the Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology (TMP Tech) in an Inauguration Ceremony held at the Toyota Special Economic Zone (TSEZ) in Santa Rosa City, Laguna.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse: Race Track Emotion Direct to the Road

With the new Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse, Automobili Lamborghini brings race track emotion directly to the road. It delivers high performance and brings the fascination of motor racing to the street-legal world. This new and most extreme model in the Gallardo line-up is based on the Gallardo Super Trofeo, the successful race car from the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, the world’s fastest one-make series. The car will have its world premiere at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

A select number of Philippine media and motorists will be among the participants in Malaysia’s world renowned Formula 1 Circuit in Sepang that will come alive with the roar and excitement of elite motorsports. The Filipinos are among over 500 Michelin customers, journalists and social media commentators from 15 countries who will enjoy the rare and unique opportunity of Michelin’s Pilot Experience.

The 19 days Michelin Pilot Sport Experience which starts August 6th will give participants including the exhilaration and adrenaline rush of piloting arguably some of the most competitive circuit racing vehicles in the motor sports arena. All of the activities are done under the watchful eye of professional instructors and renowned racecar drivers with decades of experience in totally safe and competitive driving environment.

Kia Launches Rio EX-S, Priced at P 848,000

The launch of the All-New Kia Rio last year proved to be a success and there’s no stopping Kia. This month, Kia introduces the fusion of one of its most loved models with one of the most stylish vehicles in its current line-up with the 4-Door Rio EX-S.

Pop quiz: what do Wolverine and Iron Man have in common? Aside from being among Marvel’s most bankable heroes and certified ladies men, both of these super heroes have chosen Audi’s flagship supercar, the R8, as their ride of choice. Coinciding with the Philippine showing of The Wolverine, PGA Cars, Inc., the exclusive importer and distributor of Audi in the Philippines, showcased the new R8 with a special preview at their world-class Bonifacio Global City showroom last week.

Chevrolet Previews Spin; Pre-Launch Price Offer of P 798,888 (w/ Complete Specs)

There's a new AUV on the block and everyone is invited to take it for a spin. Chevrolet Philippines - The Covenant Car Company Inc. (TCCCI), the exclusive importer and distributor of Chevrolet automobiles and parts in the Philippines shall officially launch the Spin in August 2013 but as a special pre-launch offer, Chevrolet Philippines is giving everyone a chance to preview this 7-seater, All-Around Utility Vehicle (AUV) in selected malls in Manila in the coming weeks and avail of discounted introductory price offers which starts at P798,888.00 for the 1.3L Turbo Diesel LS, P908,888.00 for the 1.3L Turbo Diesel LTZ and P 838,888.00 for the 1.5L LTZ gasoline engine.

Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles in the Philippines, once again brings the increasingly popular Kia vehicles closer to people with Kia on Tour 2013. This nationwide mall-based tour brings Kia’s latest model line-up around the Philippines for prospective customers to experience.

2013 Kia Sportage 2.4 DLX AWD vs 2013 Honda CR-V 2.4 SX

Compact crossovers—they’re now pretty much one of the most common forms of transportation. Every car manufacturer’s got one, and in one way or the other, they’ve got their own differentiating factors be it luxury, space, power, or value. Of course, in time these differentiating factors all tend to get mushed up; the effect of an ever-crowded market space. Sometimes, what you get are crossovers that supposedly offer something unique, but offer pretty much a similar driving experience as its most direct competitor. To put this theory to the test, it was necessary to pit the best-selling compact crossover, the Honda CR-V, in its top-of-the-line 2.4 SX guise no less, against the Sportage, Kia’s direct answer to the CR-V, represented here also in its range-topping 2.4 DLX trim. Now, let’s get this fight started!

Toyota to Showcase Concept Cars at The World of Toyota Motorshow on August 10-18

This August 2013, the no. 1 automotive brand in the country, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) will bring in two concept cars to the Philippines. These vehicles that will give us a glimpse of how cars will be in the near future will be exhibited at The World of Toyota Motorshow on August 10 – 18 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. Toyota’s FCV-R and Lexus’s LF-LC exude the brand’s new design philosophy and technology of cars in the future.

Richard Yap is Nissan Almera's New Brand Ambassador

Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NMPI) has named local daytime TV’s leading man Richard Yap as its brand ambassador for the all-new Nissan Almera 1.5L.

Yap is popularly known for his portrayal as the lovable “Sir Chief” in the hit series, Be Careful With My Heart, and now has a growing list of product endorsements under his belt.

Bentley Motors today confirms that it will proceed with the development of the Bentley SUV, the company’s fourth model line. The SUV will be made in Crewe and will go on sale in 2016. It will create over 1000 jobs in the UK. Over the next three years Bentley will invest more than £800 million in its headquarters at Crewe and the development of new models.

Honoring its responsibility to the environment, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) has turned over to ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Kalikasan program collected used lead acid batteries and used industrial oil so these could be disposed in line with proper environmental standards.

Peugeot Opens in Nueva Ecija

After launching Peugeot Las Piñas, Peugeot Cagayan de Oro, Peugeot Quirino and Peugeot Cebu earlier this year, Eurobrands Distributor Inc. (EDI), official importer of Peugeot vehicles in the country together with RDT Lionside Motors Corporation, formally opened last July 15, 2013 the doors of Peugeot Nueva Ecija. Like all the previous Peugeot dealerships before it, Peugeot Nueva Ecija aims to provide the full Peugeot ownership experience to its customers while ascribing fully to Peugeot international standards. With the showroom’s opening, Peugeot has set a new benchmark in showroom experiences in the Northern Luzon area.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) has presented in Cebu the newest additions to its medium-duty truck lines, as well as a host of unique transportation solutions, at the 2013 Isuzu Truck Fest – Cebu, which was successfully held from July 18 to 20 at SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area, Mabolo City.

BPI Auto Loans Extends Free 1-Year Comprehensive Insurance

Cars are considered to be an essential investment, be it for a working professional or for a family. More than its function to transport and move you from place to place, it is a tool that brings convenience. Having your own vehicle opens up a lot of possibilities and advantages - having to go on road trips to popular destinations with the family and being able to explore new places anytime are just some of the fun things it affords you.

As it is fairly a large purchase, choosing which car to buy could be a difficult decision to make. Alongside with it, how to buy that car is another question to consider. BPI Family Auto Loan is a trusted partner that will make it easy for you to get that dream car.

2013 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2.8 LTZ vs 2013 Toyota Fortuner 3.0 V

Which one is better: Chevrolet Trailblazer 2.8 LTZ or the Toyota Fortuner 3.0 V? This is a question most commonly asked, but never answered; at least not directly. But, no matter how you look at it, this comparison is inevitable. On one corner, you have the Toyota Fortuner—the one who pioneered the entire “sleek-looking, truck-based 7-seater SUV” craze (sorry, the Ford Everest doesn’t count because it looks just too agricultural). Recently re-styled and upgraded, the Fortuner soldiers on with more or less the same innards that made it successful. On the other is the Chevrolet Trailblazer, the newest addition to the ever-growing slew of alternatives, and single-handedly the vehicle that has catapulted the bowtie brand into to the mainstream. It maybe new from the top-down, but it keeps very close to the Toyota Fortuner formula. And with a price spread just a hair above P 45,000 (P 45,112 to be exact), these two were destined to slug it out.

Strong new offerings coupled with tried and tested segment leaders saw the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors’ (AVID) Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) storm up sales rankings in the first half of 2013.

From January to June of this year, AVID’s LCVs marked an impressive 20% increase over the same period last year, increasing its tally to 7,524 units sold from 6,270 a year ago. Fueling this onslaught were Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc.’s Subaru and The Covenant Car Company, Inc.’s Chevrolet brands with compelling new offerings in the Compact and Mid-Size SUV categories.

The LCV segment’s exemplary first half performance provided a strong cushion in tempering a supply-stricken Passenger Car (PC) category where primary movers Hyundai and Chevrolet both experienced significant losses due to supply-dictated performance as well as strong external competition. As a result, AVID ended the period with a mere 3% decline over the same period a year ago, offsetting the 18% decline by the PC models.

A Play Date with the 2013 BMW X1

Photos by Ulysses Ang

It began almost two weeks ago with the most “humble” of invites: a black box with the words “BMW X1: Let’s Play” printed on it. Receiving a three-dimensional, non-paper invite already made me feel special, but once I got to peek inside, it made it say, “Oh my god”. There it was, in all its glory, a brand-new BlackBerry Z10 (well, half of the participants received an Apple iPhone 5). It came with the strict instructions that it was to be returned after the drive, and yet, this made me feel like a million bucks. And this was just the appetizer.

If you need to travel long distances for your daily commute, it is essential to have enough fuel in your tank to get through the day. And it’s a huge windfall to get all the fuel that you need, free!

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