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February 24, 2014

BMW Goes Front-Wheel Drive with 2 Series Active Sport Tourer...Wait, What?!

Call it blasphemy, but BMW has finally thrown in the towel and is introducing the brand’s first front-wheel drive vehicle. There’s good reason to BMW’s madness though: the 2 Series Active Sport Tourer wants to achieve “particularly high levels of versatility and functionality in the premium compact class”. In other words, BMW is doing that Mercedes-Benz did with the B-Class. Done and dusted.

The Philippine Automotive Competitiveness Council, Inc. (PACCI) held its 2014 Organizational Meeting on February 7, 2014, determining its new Board of Trustees, electing its Key Officers, and previewing the goals it has set for the year.

Roughly three months after Super Typhoon Yolanda, known internationally as Haiyan, devastated most of the Visayas region, victims are still in the long and arduous process of rehabilitation. No one was spared from nature’s wrath, including one of Kia’s regional dealerships, Kia Ormoc.

Ford has used, of all things, the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain to debut a refreshed Focus that’s expected to debut in markets including the Philippines as a 2015 model. Headlining the changes of course, is the debut of Ford’s new design language—something already seen in the refreshed Fiesta and EcoSport models.

It is all systems go for the Electric Vehicle Summit 2013 at the Multipurpose Hall of Meralco, Pasig City on February 27-28, 2014. The summit was originally scheduled on November 28-29, 2013 but was reset due to the devastation then brought by Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas that necessitated the urgent attention of government agencies on relief operations.

For being the lucky 1-millionth PETRON Value Card member, Ms. Puso Gabiola (third from left) was rewarded with bonus treats. With her are PETRON representatives (L-R): Cards Head Billy Centeno, VP-National Sales Division Archie B. Gupalor, and AVP-Marketing Ana Neri.

Petron Value Card, the privilege and rewards card designed for motorists, has been seen widespread acceptance phenomenal growth in its membership base nationwide, numbering 1.4-million members as of January 2014. Starting with the 1M member, Petron Value Card has celebrated its milestone members with each succeeding 100,000th cardholder, with bonus points on their Petron Value Card and various premium items.

Philippine Car Price Guide: February 2014

Yes we know we're a bit late this month. We wanted to include several new models into the Philippine Car Price Guide before the monthly update (at least you don't have to wait until March). Anyway, here are the new additions for this month's update:

BMW 4 Series
Chevrolet Sonic 1.4 LT
Ford EcoSport
Honda Accord
Honda City (Price Update)
Hyundai Accent CRDi Sedan
Hyundai Grand i10
Hyundai Grand Santa Fe
Jaguar XJL 2.0 T
Lexus CT200h
Mitsubishi Lancer EX (Price Update)
Mitsubishi Mirage G4 GX
Mitsubishi Strada 2.5 (Price Update)
Peugeot 208 GTi
Suzuki Jimny (Price Update)
Suzuki Swift DZire AT
Toyota Innova
Toyota Wigo
Volkswagen Jetta 1.2 TSI
Volvo V40 Cross Country

First-Time Car Buyer? The Toyota Wigo is the Perfect Choice (w/ Complete Specs)

Photos by Ulysses Ang

UPDATE (1): We have our full review of the Toyota Wigo 1.0G M/T. Read our review here.

You are looking at the most important vehicle for Toyota Motor Philippines. Officially launched just a few days ago in the Queen City of the South, Cebu, the Toyota Wigo is the Japanese automaker’s first foray into the sub B-segment category and the one that’s expected to lift Toyota’s Philippine sales past 90,000 vehicles annually (they’re currently doing 70,000-plus). With the come-on of being “Easy to Own, Easy to Drive, Easy to Enjoy”, the Wigo is aimed at first-time car buyers who want a no-nonsense vehicle that can fit their increasingly mobile and sophisticated lifestyle. And the Wigo delivers.

Iconic Dealership, Inc. (IDI) formally held a ground breaking ceremony for its first dealership in the Queen City of the South – Volkswagen Cebu. The simple ceremony was led by Volkswagen official distributor Automobile Central Enterprise, Inc. (ACEI) President & CEO, Mr. John Philip S. Orbeta. Present in the event to support the Volkswagen project was Arch. Edwin Gumila from Group 3, Mr. Joey Gaisano of White Gold, Inc., Mr. Erwin Locsin (Branch Manager of Volkswagen BGC), Hon. Mayor Mike Rama, Mr. Rene Mariano (President, Triplewell), Ms. Christine Donato (Sales and Network Development Director), and Mr. Boyet Libiran, Project Manager (Libiran Architect Associates).

Volkswagen Cebu will be located at A. Soriano Avenue, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City. The soon to rise state of the art facility is expected to be fully operational towards the end of 2014.

Get Free Gas When You Buy Michelin Tires

Need a new set of tires? Consider getting a spiffy set of new Michelins. For every purchase of Michelin tires (at participating dealers, of course), gets you a Petron e-Card loaded with P 500 if you buy 2 (two) tires with the same pattern and tire size and P 1,000 if you buy 4 (four) tires.

The Michelin Free Gas Promo runs until March 31. For a complete list of participating tire dealers, check out Michelin's official website at www.michelin.com.ph.

Suzuki Kicks Off Service Camp Series in Naga

Suzuki customers in Naga can enjoy a free 23-point car check-up as Suzuki Philippines rolls out the first leg of its 2014 Free Check-up Service Campaign (FCSC) in Suzuki Auto Naga on February 21-22, 2014.

Review: 2014 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2.8 4x2 A/T

Photos by Ulysses Ang

When Chevrolet first released their Fortuner/Montero Sport killer, the Trailblazer, there was one glaring gap in the line-up: a 4x2 with an automatic transmission. Sure, off-road purists balked at the notion of getting a highly-capable ladder-on-frame SUV and removing its transfer case, but 99 percent of people just want a 7-seater with generous ground clearance and impervious levels of water wading capability. And though Chevrolet offered the Trailblazer 4x2 with a manual transmission, only a handful of people would opt a three-pedaled set-up because of traffic. Well, Chevrolet took a year to engineer and bring one over, but now that it’s here, the Trailblazer 2.8 4x2 A/T has become the 7-seater SUV to have.

AVID Sales Up 22 Percent in January 2014

The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) welcomed the New Year with a remarkable 22% increase during the first month of 2014 compared to the inaugural month a year ago.

January’s performance was buoyed by equally impressive showings from Passenger Car (PC) and Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) segments, with both managing to notch up healthy 22% increases.

Moving the world together. During a two-week immersion in the Philippines, 87 Korean youth volunteers participating in Happy Move Camp were guided by this adage of moving the world together to become a better and happier place for people in need. Culminating last February 13, 2014, powerful and moving acts of sharing happiness, cultures, and goodwill ensued.

Fueling up at Caltex not only gives motorists the five benefits of Caltex the 5-Star Fuel, customers can also get cool freebies such as gift certificates, food items, gadgets, Caltex toy stations and other items for every P1,000 single-purchase receipt in the Cool Caltex Catch promo.

BMW Philippines is solidifying its leadership in the premium car segment by launching the all-new 4 Series Coupe—a car that they call “a new era for the sports coupe”. Replacing the 3 Series Coupe, the 4 Series (BMW now affixes even number model designations for their two-door models) has an athletically designed body, enhanced performance, and of course, improved efficiency.

Suzuki Philippines, Inc. (SPH), the only integrated automobile and motorcycle company in the country, expands its network in the Philippines by opening two more dealerships at the start of 2014. Suzuki’s newest outlets, Suzuki Auto Bohol and Suzuki Auto Nueva Ecija, are all set to deliver automobile sales and other services to customers in the Visayas region and Central Luzon, respectively.

Racewell Marketing Signs Partnership as Marketing Arm for Batangas Racing Circuit, Inc.

L-R: Robert Ortiz, Racewell Marketing CEO; Joel Francisco, Petronas Energy Philippines, Inc. Marketing Manager; and Nelson Gayola, Batangas Racing Circuit, Inc. Managing Head for Corporate Communications.

Racewell Marketing, a full service motorsports agency, today signed a partnership with the Batangas Racing Circuit, Inc. (BRCI) as the marketing arm of its locally-owned circuits. The official contract signing between Robert Ortiz, Racewell Marketing CEO and Nelson Gayola, BRCI Managing Head for Corporate Communications Department was held on February 12, 2014 at the Boom na Boom Complex, in Pasay City.

Lexus Named J.D. Power's Most Dependable Brand for Third Consecutive Year

Lexus scored a hat trick by ranking highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates for a third consecutive year in the 2014 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). The study tracks the number and type of problems owners have with their three-year-old vehicles (a lower score reflects higher dependability).

For customers and fans to get re-acquainted with the WRX nameplate (a model not sold in the Philippines since 2010), Motor Image Pilipinas has brought in the lusty Subaru WRX Concept for your viewing pleasure. Starting today until March 20, the Subaru WRX Concept is on display front and center at the Subaru Greenhills showroom along EDSA.

Fall in love with chocolate and candy Mustangs this Valentine’s Day. To celebrate, Ford Motor Company today revealed all-new miniature chocolate and peppermint candy Mustangs made with a 3D printer.

This is the first time Ford has 3D-printed a miniature vehicle model that you can snack on.

The Philippine flag will be flying high at the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli 2014 when the country’s first representative, Vincent Floirendo takes the wheel of a 458 Challenge race car. Floirendo will race in the first Asia-Pacific round from February 21-23 at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Succeeding races in the calendar include rounds at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi and the Fuji International Speedway in Japan.

Although open-wheeled racing gets the lion’s share of attention locally, Filipino motorsport fans will finally get to taste a different sort of racing action through the Asian V8 Championship. The brainchild of The Philippine Formula Autosport Foundation (PFAFI), headed by founder Tom Pastor, the Asian V8 Championship will use late-model NASCAR racing cars complete with their 450 horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engines on local track venues.

Hyundai Asia Resources, official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, started the year on high gear with an impressive 13% growth year-on-year. Sales last month hit a total of 2,243 units, up from the 1,992 units sold in the same period last year.

Petronas Energy Philippines, Inc. (PEPI), the distributor of Petronas lubricants in the country, today renewed their title sponsorship for the 2014 season of the Petronas Philippine Motorsport Championship.

The 2014 Petronas Philippine Motorsport calendar includes races on both two and four wheels. For motorcycles, this covers the Philippine Superbikes Series, FDR Philippine Scooter Racing Championships, and the Philippine Underbone King Championships. Meanwhile, auto racing involves the Philippine GT Championship and Philippine Drag Racing Championship, as well as the KF Series, National Karting Series, and Asian Karting Open Championship for go karting.

Continuing the two-week immersion of Korean university students for Kia’s Happy Move Camp, Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), exclusive distributor of Kia Motors in the Philippines, planned a special Kia Dealer Tour and Cultural Afternoon for the volunteers.

Hyundai Arms i10 for Brewing Mini Car Battle, Calls It Grand (Again) (w/ Complete Specs)

Hyundai has this thing recently of calling all their cars, “grand” lately. After calling their larger Starex, the “Grand Starex” and their extended wheelbase Santa Fe, the “Grand Santa Fe”, they’re applying the very same formula to their veteran mini car offering, the i10. Of course, now it’s called the Grand i10. And yes, like Grand Santa Fe and the Grand Starex, the Grand i10 has grown. It’s like Hyundai decided to feed it Cherifer: it’s longer by 80 mm and 65 mm wider than the pre-Grand i10. That’s just for starters.

Ford Philippines recently celebrated its 2014 Annual Ford Dealer Convention at the Filinvest Tent, which recognized top achievers among their Metro Manila and provincial dealerships.

Ford Balintawak, under the leadership of its Dealer Principal Anthony N. Cheng, was named Ford’s ‘2013 Dealer of the Year’ in Metro Manila. Ford Iloilo, led by Dealer Principal Andre R. Borromeo, was named the ‘2013 Dealer of the Year’ among provincial dealerships for the second year in a row.

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February 24, 2014

BMW Goes Front-Wheel Drive with 2 Series Active Sport Tourer...Wait, What?!

PACCI Holds Organizational Meeting, Elects New Officers

Kia Extends Help to Customers Affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)

Ford Updates Focus with New Look, Features for 2015

Electric Vehicle Summit 2013 Slated February 27-28, 2014 (Yes, You Read That Right)

Petron Value Card Members Hit 1.4M in January 2014

February 23, 2014

Philippine Car Price Guide: February 2014

February 21, 2014

First-Time Car Buyer? The Toyota Wigo is the Perfect Choice (w/ Complete Specs)

Ground Breaking Ceremony Lays Foundation for Volkswagen Cebu, Opening Planned Late 2014

Get Free Gas When You Buy Michelin Tires

Suzuki Kicks Off Service Camp Series in Naga

February 18, 2014

Review: 2014 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2.8 4x2 A/T

February 17, 2014

AVID Sales Up 22 Percent in January 2014

Kia's Happy Move Camp Culminates in Celebration of Sharing

Fuel Up at Caltex for Instant Cool Catch

BMW Philippines Goes for Gold with All-New 4 Series Coupe

Suzuki Philippines Grows with New Bohol, Nueva Ecija Dealerships

February 15, 2014

Racewell Marketing Signs Partnership as Marketing Arm for Batangas Racing Circuit, Inc.

February 14, 2014

Lexus Named J.D. Power's Most Dependable Brand for Third Consecutive Year

The Subaru WRX Concept Races to Manila and Motor Image's Holding a Photo Contest Too!

Ford Makes Mustang Candy by 3D-Printing

First Filipino Competes in Ferrari Challenge

NASCAR Comes to the Philippines Via Asian V8 Championship

Hyundai Philippines Opens Year with 13 Percent Growth

Petronas Philippines Renews Title Sponsorship for the 2014 Philippine Motorsport Championship

Korean Students Experience Kia in the Philippines During Happy Move Camp

February 13, 2014

Hyundai Arms i10 for Brewing Mini Car Battle, Calls It Grand (Again) (w/ Complete Specs)

Ford Honors Top Dealers at 2014 Annual Dealer Convention