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May 13, 2014

Ford Philippines Donates Ambulance and Fire Truck to Support Philippine Red Cross

Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), assisted by Dr. Gwendolyn T. Pang, secretary general of PRC receives a Ford Ambulance and Fire Truck from Ford Philippines managing director, Kay Hart (third from left) and AVP for government and corporate affairs, Josie Gonzalez (far right) to support ongoing emergency response efforts of the PRC across the Philippines.

Kickstart Your Summer with Volvo's Advantage Offer

Drive home more adventures this summer with Volvo’s Advantage Offer. Enjoy generous acquisition package for select brand new Volvos. Current Volvo owners will also get a free 21-point service check on their vehicles and enjoy preferential rates on select parts and services.

BMW Provides Fleet of 7 Series to 23rd World Economic Forum in East Asia

Philippine government appoints Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW cars in the Philippines, to serve as the official premium vehicle partner for the 23rd World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA) to be held on May 21 to 23, 2014 at The Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Metro Manila. A fleet of the most innovative sedan in the luxury segment, the BMW 7 Series, will be used for servicing visiting Heads of the States and Government leaders from across Asia during the said global forum.

Miss Vanessa Aganan, Dealer Development Manager of Volvo Philippines presents the Official Volvo Trade Partner Plaque Mr. Paul Yap, President of Volvo Iloilo (Iloilo Great Cars). The new trade partner will be offering its products and services to the Visayas and Mindanao areas. Volvo PH continues to expand its reach with Volvo Alabang, Volvo Cebu, Volvo Makati and Volvo North EDSA. Experience the new breed of Volvos by visiting or calling the nearest Volvo Dealer or Trade Partner.

Hyundai Turns Over Grand Starex, Grand Santa Fe as Official Mobility Partner for 23rd World Economic Forum East Asia & the ASEAN Finance Ministers' Investor Seminar

Last May 9, 2014 at the Esplanade in the Mall of Asia, Korean auto giant Hyundai formally turned over the Grand Santa Fe and Grand Starex units to be used as official transport for the ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Investor Seminar (AFMIS) that will be held on May 20, 2014, and the 23rd World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA) on May 21-23. It is the first time that the Philippines plays host to the WEF-EA.

First Drive: 2014 Nissan Sylphy and Nissan Altima

Nissan is back in the Philippines and back big time. This seems to be the unequivocal message as the revitalized Nissan Philippines brought its two newest offerings, the Sylphy and Altima to the Clark International Speedway for the company’s first major event: the Nissan Spin.

Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC) President and CEO Ms. Ginia R. Domingo confirmed earlier reports of a meeting today with Congressman Manny Pacquiao of Sarangani.

"The head office of CAC in Makati was especially graced today by our country's boxing hero and legend Cong. Manny Pacquiao," Domingo said in a statement.

Cong. Pacquaio met with CAC executives and expressed his desire to help in organizing the KIA PBA basketball team after the PBA board granted CAC its approval to form a team in time for the 40th season of the league.

"We are both elated and excited at the possibility of our nation's most popular and revered sports icon, Cong. Manny Pacquaio, becoming a part of Team Kia," Domingo added.

"We will continue our discussions in the next few weeks and will announce our plans as soon as they are firmed up," Domingo ended.

UPDATED: Mazda MX-5 Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Special Edition

UPDATE (1): Mazda Philippines has confirmed that it will be releasing a total of 25 of the 1,000 units of the 25th Anniversary Edition for P 1,800,000. (5/11)

Along with the introduction of the next-generation MX-5’s Skyactiv-Chassis, the Mazda MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary Edition revealed in New York is a special edition model that brings together 25 years’ worth of fun shared with fans.

Based on the power retractable hard top model, and available with either 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions, it is available exclusively in Soul Red Metallic.

Meticulous attention to detail has been paid in every area of the vehicle such as the black-painted roof, A-pillars, and door mirrors; off-white leather upholstery and door trim, hand-finished decorative panel, and the adoption of Bilstein dampers.

No other mechanical changes have been made to the MX-5.

The 3rd Bangkok International Auto Salon All Set for June 19-29 at Muangthong Thani

The Bangkok International Auto Salon 2014, the largest custom car and accessories show in ASEAN, enters its third successful year with the “Passion for Performance” theme.

Apart from the latest custom cars and tuning technology sent directly from Japan, visitors also get to check out customized models from major automobile producers. Also on display are customized cars from Thai mechanics while roadshows in MICE Cities are also planned in order to help raise awareness and develop Thailand’s potential as the center of automobile production in ASEAN.

For the second consecutive month, Ford Philippines today announced its all-time best monthly performance, with April retail sales soaring 60 percent year-over-year to 1,764 units.

Coming from a sales milestone just last March, the number one automotive company in the country continues to break the 8,000 unit mark for the second consecutive month. According to the most recent CAMPI report, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) posted a share of 45% with total sales of 8,102 units in April.

It's On Like Donkey Kong: Toyota Vios Cup 2014 Kicks Off May 24!

Last January 25, 2014, the number one automotive company in the country, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) successfully staged the Vios Cup Exhibition Race. Attended by over 6,000 petrol heads and racing fans, TMP definitely proved that motorsports is back in the country -- stronger and better than it was before.
This coming May 24 (Saturday) at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga, TMP will bring waku-doki, or heart-racing fun to the public for them to experience another full-on motorsports / racing festival! Come and be part of the 2014 Season of the Vios Cup (Race 1) this summer and experience various exciting activities not only for motorsports fans but for the whole family and even your friends! It’s a festival you wouldn’t want to miss.

You’ve got to hand it to the folks at Toyota; in a span of a few years, maybe two at the most, they’ve managed to inject some adrenaline into their once Valium-inducing line-up. Now, waku-doki or “fun-to-drive” has become the adjective that describes everything that Toyota does. Of course, some are more successful than others, but at the end of the day, they’re intensely focused on delivering cars that are more than just plain reliable and durable. Take for instance, the Vios, Toyota’s B-segment mainstay that’s the favorite of everyone from cabbies to young executives. It’s gone from a simple Point A to Point B transport to a sharply styled number that’s hip.

Across the exhibition hall a kid runs towards a beige 1964 Ford Mustang on display The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The kid is barely nine years old, and his knowledge of cars hasn’t reached the level where he’d care about mileage, drivability, or comfort. Yet, there he is, mesmerized by the Mustang—his wide smile, a definite sign of someone who’s found his first and true love. Alongside the kid, Japanese tourists pose for a quick snapshot beside America’s beloved pony car.

The Boss is Back: BMW Launches All-New X5 for the Philippines

The usual quiet mid-summer weekday night at the Manila Polo Club was lively with a lights and sounds show that marked the arrival of BMW Philippines’s latest offering. Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines officially launched the third-generation of the world’s most successful Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV)—the one that started it all—the all-new 2014 BMW X5. Entering the latest chapter in its successful history, the all-new X5 is set to raise the benchmark in terms of design, interior spaciousness, luxury, versatility, driving dynamics, efficiency, and innovative equipment features.

The 12th Michelin Challenge Bibendum, an innovative “think & action tank” promoting clean, safe, connected, accessible, and affordable mobility, will be held in Chengdu, China from 11th to 15th this November. It was announced at a joint press conference by Michelin Group and the Chengdu municipal government.

Toyota Wigo Busts Out into the Market with 27.9 Percent Market Share in Entry-Level Hatchback Segment

The newly launched “mini” hatchback of the number one automotive company in the Philippines starts strongly in its first full month of sales. Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) has sold a total of 627 units of the Wigo making a mark in the automotive industry. It posted a 27.9% share in the entry-level hatchback segment outpacing its competitors in March.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

UPDATE (1): We have included the official video of the Jeep Thrills Pinatubo at the end (5/19).

“It’s the fear that kills you,” muttered our instructor, Kenneth Rialp, as he gave us this off-roader’s golden rule to live by. And with that, The Philippine Star writer Angel Rivero and I set off in our bone stock Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited CRD to tackle one of the most challenging off-road destinations in the Philippines: Mount Pinatubo. And we’re not doing it alone. We’re doing it with at least 20 other Jeep Wranglers and a handful of Jeep Grand Cherokees as part of Jeep Philippines’s Jeep Thrills Pinatubo.

A North Expedition with the All-New Ford EcoSport and Fondo Manila

Ford Philippines partnered with Fondo Manila for a road cycling event known as “Northern Expedition”. Forty participants composed of professional and leisure cyclists geared up for a two-day cycling ride, conquering 80 kilometers on Halsema Highway, known as the highest elevation point in the Philippine highway system at 7,400 feet, and a 70-kilometer stretch via Ambuklao Road near Baguio City. Three all-new EcoSport units were used as support and gear vehicles throughout the grueling journey.

We live in a time where our smartphones constantly run out of juice. In fact, that’s the reason why a lot of “power bank” or portable battery chargers have popped up. But in a sea of available brands, there’s one that should pique the interest of gadget lovers and car enthusiasts alike: the JunoPower Jumpr.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

UPDATE: Read our in-depth review of the Honda City 1.5 VX Aero Sport Modulo. (8/12/2014).

Car manufacturers constantly play a game of upmanship each time they come up with a new vehicle. Once in a while though, a car becomes more than merely “best in class”, it starts to transcend segments becoming something that’s totally different and unexpected. The all-new City is one such example. From its humble beginnings as Honda’s B-segment sedan, it has morphed into a car that can take on the competition a segment or two higher. And to prove this point, Honda made us drive it from the confines of the urban jungle all the way to La Union.

Road Closures During Obama's Philippine Visit

Several roads and major thoroughfares will be closed for US President Barack Obama’s Philippine visit from Monday, April 28 to Tuesday, April 29.

The following thoroughfares will be closed:

Monday, April 28, 2014

All 4 terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from 12:30 to 1:30 PM.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

These roads will be closed from 8 AM to 12:00 PM:

Gate 3, Fort Bonifacio
Entire stretch of Lawton Avenue
Stretch of McKinley Parkway from 5th Avenue to 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City.
Upper McKinley Road from C5 to Lawton Avenue
Entire stretch of Bayani Road from C5 to Lawton Avenue
No right turn from McKinley Road to Lawton Avenue
All 4 terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from 12:30 to 1:30 PM.

Isuzu Philippines Kicks Off 2014 D-Max 4x4 Drive Series in Pampanga

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) kicked off the 2014 Isuzu D-Max 4x4 Drive Series last weekend at the Eastgate Center in Barangay San Jose, San Fernando, Pampanga in front of a visibly excited crowd of off-roading enthusiasts and pick-up lovers.

Philippine Car Price Guide: April 2014

UPDATE: We updated several items for this month including links to test drives (4/29).

We apologize for the slight delay in uploading this month’s Philippine Car Price Guide. Though there were numerous launches at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) this month, we just had to wait for a handful of vehicles which weren’t launched at the annual motoring event. Well, we think the wait is more than worth it. We’ll also update the test drive links in the Car Price Guide in the next few days.

In this month’s update, we have:

Honda City
Hyundai Grand i10 (update)
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Picanto 1.0 LX
Kia Soul 1.6 CRDi LX
Mazda3 Skyactiv
Subaru WRX
Subaru WRX STI
Tata Manza
Tata Vista
Tata Xenon
Toyota Yaris

Chevrolet Philippines Opens New Dealership in Tarlac

Chevrolet furthers its reach in the Philippine market as the company opens its newest dealership - Chevrolet Tarlac. With a growing population of 1,273,240 residents and being a highly urbanized and agricultural province, Tarlac is expected to be a sizeable market for Chevrolet. A hard-working and historically rich town in Region III deserves top quality vehicles from a brand that combines performance, style and utility with a century-old heritage.

Michelin Philippines Chief Representative Michael Nunag announced that starting June 2014 all of the new Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar, will be fitted with 245/35R20 Michelin Pilot Super Sport ultra-high performance tires. The new Volvos will be sold on four continents around the world.

The Polestar engineered cars are Volvo's fastest production cars ever and with their 350hp six cylinder turbocharged engines are able to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds.

One of the best examples of successful public-private-partnerships in community programs is seen in the links among Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of Caltex fuels and lubricants, the city health offices (CHO), the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (FEJODAP), and the Metro Bus Operators Association (MBOA) to bring TB awareness to public transport workers. Above photo shows a health center nurse training drivers to become certified volunteer treatment partners. The treatment partners will in turn conduct TB awareness training for fellow drivers in transport terminals.

The “Caltex Labanan ang TB para Tsuper Healthy” campaign works by holding TB awareness seminars during downtimes of jeepney and bus drivers in terminals to avoid disrupting their livelihood. To date, Caltex has reached more than 14,000 or 60% of 23,000 PTWs in Makati, Manila and Quezon City with help from 57 volunteer treatment partners trained by CHOs.

April 22, 2014

Honda Cars Philippines Launches All-New City and Confirms Brio for PHL Market (w/ Complete Brochure)

Photos by Ulysses Ang and Honda Press

UPDATE 2: We have driven the all-new Honda City to La Union! Read about our First Drive here. (4/29).

UPDATE: We have included more photos, higher resolution of the brochure (spec sheet), and the official press release (4/27).

Honda Cars Philippines is aiming to set the standard in the sub-compact sedan segment with the launch of the all-new City. Penned under Honda’s new design language—Exciting H Design—the all-new City is a mix of angular lines, creases, and curves that look to elevate Honda back into the forefront of design. Beyond the design, the all-new City also presents new convenience features and a revised powertrain for improved power and efficiency.

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