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September 22, 2013

AVID Quells "Ghost Month"; Sales Up 30 Percent


The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) performed against the odds in August, growing by an impressive 30% compared to the same month a year ago, ending the period with 2,411 units sold against 1,858 in August of the previous year.

September 19, 2013

Mileage for Adventure: Bridgestone Ecopia Ecorun

Photos by Ulysses Ang
My muscles tensed up, anticipating the slack of the rope. I could feel my heart beat as the wooden handle tightened, sending me across the wakeboarding course in the hopes of clearing a set of orange buoys. Clearly, this isn’t your average fuel economy fun run. Then again, the Bridgestone Ecopia isn’t your average fuel economy tire.

September 18, 2013

Isuzu Philippines Corporation Launches All-New D-Max

Photos by Ulysses Ang
What were you doing in November 2003? The month the Concorde supersonic jet made its last ever flight over Bristol, England, Isuzu Philippines Corporation launched a game-changing pick-up called the D-Max to replace its venerable Fuego range. Amidst intense competition from its rivals, the D-Max has remained one of Isuzu’s perennial best-sellers, garnering an unbelievable 44-percent market share at one point. A decade later and 20,000 satisfied owners later, Isuzu’s hoping to continue its hot streak with the launch of the all-new D-Max—the model’s first comprehensive model change since its launch.

Asian Carmakers Corporation Holds Groundbreaking of BMW Bonifacio Global City Showroom


Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW cars in the Philippines, continues to celebrate its Decade of Leadership in the luxury vehicle segment with the groundbreaking of its biggest and most modern showroom in the country, the BMW Bonifacio Global City.

September 17, 2013

Review: 2013 Mazda CX-5 AWD Sport


The crossover utility vehicle or crossover for short is a segment that came about by addressing the needs of the customers who wanted the perks of a sports utility vehicle or SUV together with car-like comfort. Indeed, the modern day automotive industry is a buyer’s market. Gone are the days when consumers were limited to product A, product B, and product C – take it or leave it. Consumers now know what they want, buy what they want, and clamor for what they want. Mazda is one maker who actually listens to their customers and the CX-5 is proof of that.

Golden Age of Formula One Relived in Rush; In Theaters Starting Wednesday, September 18!


Filipino movie goers are in for a high-speed treat this 2013 as “Rush,” the Hollywood recreation of the notable 1970’s rivalry between Formula 1 racers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, is set to hit the big screen.

The epic action-drama film stars Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt and Daniel Brühl as Niki Lauda, and is directed by two-time Academy Award winning director Ron Howard. The movie takes the viewer into the golden age of F1, and the legendary rivals’ lives on and off the race track as they pursue the 1976 World Championship at Fuji, Japan.

Honda Intensifies Campaign Against Copycat Motorcycles


Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (HMC), one of the world’s leading motorcycle and automotive manufacturers, recently filed a lawsuit against Luzon Ram Cycle or Ramas-Uypitching Sons, Inc. (RUSI), a Dumaguete-based corporation, for allegedly selling and distributing motorcycles which infringe on five Honda patent and industrial designs in violation of the Intellectual Property Code.

Goodyear Servitek Opens in Bicutan


The newest addition to Goodyear Philippines’ nation-wide branded retail network, HH Asia-Tyre Corporation, recently opened its doors at Doña Soledad Avenue in Bicutan, Parañaque City.

For businessmen Henry Chua and Harry Tang, who are behind HH Asia-Tyre Corporation, this latest venture is a confirmation of solid partnership with Goodyear Philippines which began 25 years before.

September 16, 2013

Hyundai Opens Pasong Tamo Dealership


Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), official distributor of Hyundai cars in the Philippines, powers up its presence in the country's premier business hub, Makati City, poised to treat customers to a brilliant experience like no other.

10,000 Ford Volunteers Unite for Their Communities During 8th Annual Ford Global Week of Caring


About 10,000 members of the Ford Volunteer Corps – comprised of Ford employees, retirees and dealers - are joining together to tackle more than 200 projects on six continents during the eighth annual Ford Global Week of Caring.

QC Lady is First Kia's Drive to 20 Winner


The first quarter of the Kia Drive to 20 Raffle Promo came to a close last August 12, 2013 with executives of Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), exclusive distributor of Kia Motors in the Philippines, picking out 20 lucky winners of Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos smart phones, as well as the grand prize offered for the first quarter draw, a brand-new 2013 KIA Soul.

Shell Introduces Motorist App for iOS and Android


Over 160,000 mobile applications are made available to the reported 1.2 billion downloaders around the world and, developers continue to create applications for all kinds of needs, from gaming and social networking to productivity and even planning and mapping road trips.

In a country where what all motorists want is a simpler and faster route, Shell has designed the Shell Motorist App – a new tool that offers motorists a more convenient driving experience with features that will ease any kind of trip, may it be a 30-minute drive to work or a two-hour drive to the beach.

September 12, 2013

55 Years. 3 Days. 1 Celebration: Subaru Celebrates 55 Years with All-Wheel Drive Experience on September 20-22, 2013


Motor Image Pilipinas (MIP), the authorized distributor of Subaru in the Philippines, celebrates the 55th anniversary of Subaru since the sale of the first Subaru 360 in 1958. As part of the celebration festivities, MIP will hold a carnival featuring its first Subaru All-Wheel Drive Experience on 20-22 September 2013, at 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City.

Toyota Motor Philippines Announces New Vios Sales Record


According to the most recent CAMPI report, the best-selling vehicle in the Philippines has once again set its new sales record last August 2013. Since its introduction a decade ago, the Toyota Vios attained its highest sales volume registering 2,125 units in a single month compared to its previous highest sales posted in December 2012 of 1,760 units.

September 11, 2013

Peugeot Lipa Officially Opens


After launching Peugeot Las Piñas, Peugeot Cagayan de Oro, Peugeot Quirino, Peugeot Cebu and Peugeot Nueva Ecija earlier this year, Eurobrands Distributor Inc. (EDI), official importer of Peugeot vehicles in the country, together with South Auto-X Group, Inc., formally opened last September 7, 2013 the doors of Peugeot Lipa. Like all the previous Peugeot dealerships before it, Peugeot Lipa 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 extended its reach to the Southern Luzon area. In the months to come, Peugeot will also open dealerships in Pasay, C-5 Pasig, Bacolod and Davao City. EDI has also revealed that all of the said dealerships will be full service dealerships with complete sales, service and after-sales facilities.

Subaru Completes Manila Leg of Impreza Challenge 2013


Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc. after holding the event in Cebu and Davao for the first time, with a total of 208 participants, went back in Manila to get the Top 7 winners who joined by winners from Cebu and Davao, and the rescheduled Pampanga to complete the Top 10 Challengers that will represent the Philippines in the Asian Finals in Singapore on October 26-29, 2013.

Goodyear Assurance TripleMax is Motor Trend (China)'s Tire of the Year 2013


During the ‘2013 Tire of the Year Awards’ ceremony organized by Motor Trend magazine, Goodyear’s Assurance TripleMax was named ‘Tire of the Year 2013’ in China. As a relatively new product which only recently arrived in the market, the award is confirmation of the performance and quality of the ATM tires and a testament to the level of positive feedback it has received from the market. This award will help ATM make further gains in the Chinese market as its official badge of entry into Goodyear’s highly acclaimed all-star lineup of products.

September 10, 2013

Review: 2013 Honda Accord S-V 3.5 V6

Photos by Ulysses Ang
A long time ago, in a lifetime far, far away, Philippine executives only had a handful of choices when it comes to buying a full-fledged luxury (mid-sized) sedan. Before the Toyota Camry, Mazda6, and Subaru Legacy, there was the Toyota Corona and the Mitsubishi Galant. Soon, the Honda Accord joined the fray and it quickly became a recognizable nameplate. And then, the Toyota Camry happened and that pretty much killed the Galant and swept everyone away including Honda’s once popular flagship sedan. Soon though, the Accord clawed its way back into contention by introducing more luxury-focused models with new features that gave a feeling of comfort, class, and plushness. As the launch of the ninth-generation Accord looms near (Honda Cars Philippines refuses to give a launch window), it’s time to look back at the current model and how it stacks up against the competition some five years since its launch in 2008.

September 9, 2013

Ford Philippines Sales Rise 44 Percent; All-New Ranger Continues to Drive Overall Growth

Following a month that saw severe storms impact the country for a second consecutive year, Ford Philippines today reported August retail sales that rose 44 percent year-over-year to 826 units, driven by continued strength in demand for the class-defining all-new Ford Ranger.

Ford continues to be the country’s fastest growing automotive brand in 2013 with year-to-date retail sales rising 79 percent through August to 8,360 units.

Audi to Turn Frankfurt International Motor Show Upside Down


A new skyline for Frankfurt am Main: Audi once again has a spectacular architecture in store for visitors of the International Motor Show (IAA). Constructed specially for the exhibition, the building invites visitors to consider the parameters for urban mobility from an unusual point of view. Inside, skyscrapers and entire city districts sprout from the ceiling to create “hanging cities”. Visitors walking through the pavilion experience the diverse requirements on future mobility and the technological innovations from Audi.

Toyota Corolla Surpasses 40 Million Sales Mark


Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces today that cumulative global sales of the Toyota “Corolla”, the world’s most popular car, surpassed 40 million in July, reaching 40.01 million units. This milestone marks another historic achievement for the Corolla, Toyota’s perennial global car.

Porsche Training and Recruitment Center Asia Celebrated its 9th Batch Graduation


The Porsche Training and Recruitment Center Asia (PTRCA) celebrated the commencement exercises for its 9th batch of scholars held last Saturday, 31 August 2013. Sixteen students were carefully selected by Porsche officials and these scholars underwent complete training in preparation for their role as certified Porsche Service Mechatronics to be deployed in various Porsche Centers worldwide. To date, there are already 127 PTRCA graduates who are currently employed in Porsche Centers located in the Middle East, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Established in April 2008, the PTRCA is the first Porsche technical training facility outside of Germany made possible through the partnership of Porsche AG, Don Bosco Technical Institute, and PGA Cars. The program aims to provide technical training complete with Porsche training vehicles and special tools, English language training, financial support and employment to underprivileged but deserving Filipino youths.

For more information please contact Porsche Center Philippines at +63-2-7270381 to 85 or visit its showroom located at 201 EDSA Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

September 6, 2013

UPDATED: 2014 Honda Jazz / Fit: This Is It (New Info, Photos)


Honda has revealed a couple of photos of its all-new Jazz (known as the Fit in Japan) a few weeks after a magazine leaked out some photos. And from the photos, we like what we're seeing. It sports Honda's new "Exciting H Design!!!" design language, which the brand's attempt to inject more style into their products after some pretty lackluster effort of late.

Honda Announces New "Exciting H Design!!!", Applied First to 2014 Jazz / Fit


Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced a new design concept, "EXCITING H DESIGN!!!," that will be applied to all Honda automobiles globally to promote a more unique character and stronger presence around the world.

Fuel Your Shopping with Shell and SM Advantage Card


Pilipinas Shell, one of the country’s leading energy companies, teams up with Marketing Convergence Inc., the company behind SM Advantage, the country’s biggest loyalty program, to bring greater reward experience for Filipino motorists. Starting September 1, motorists that gas up in close to 1000 Shell Retail stations can earn rewards points for their SM Advantage Card, SM Prestige and BDO Rewards Cards.

Ford Continues Expansion with Opening of Ford General Santos


Ford Philippines today celebrated the continued expansion of its nationwide dealer network with the official opening of Ford General Santos in Mindanao.

Ford General Santos is the tenth new full sales and service outlet the Company has opened in less than one year, helping the Company grow its network by nearly 50 percent.

Honda Extends Subsidy on Parts for Flood-Affected Vehicles


Following the recent calamity brought by typhoon Maring and southwest monsoon rain, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) conveys its deepest sympathy to the victims of the calamity. Further, as a way of helping its customers with inundated vehicles, the company is extending substantial discounts on parts and services to somehow help ease the burden of its valued customers.

Volvo Named Top Luxury Brand in Effective Dealer Experience in North America


Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA) ranked first among luxury brands at having dealerships that are effective at influencing the purchase, according to Foresight Research's 2013 Dealership Report. Foresight Research provides this yearly report as a comprehensive evaluation of current dealership experiences, buyer expectations, selection criteria and overall purchase influence versus all other marketing efforts.