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July 4, 2014

MINI Opens in Cebu

MINI Philippines has broadened its reach by venturing into the Visayas and Mindanao regions through the opening of MINI Cebu in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Located along A.S. Fortuna St. in Mandaue City and headed by Kris Lyndon Go and Brian Chua, President and Vice President, respectively, MINI Cebu is an affiliate of the Autocentral Group which also operates Suzuki, Subaru, Ford and JMC dealerships in the Visayas and Mindanao.

A small petrol engine that powers Ford cars including the new Fiesta has fought off competition from premium brands and supercars to win the “Oscars” of the engine world for an unprecedented third time in a row.

Ford Motor Company’s 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine – which lowers fuel consumption without sacrificing power – was named 2014 International Engine of the Year for its drivability, performance, economy, refinement and technology.

Motorists can now use EasyDrive stickers for a most convenient and speedy passage along the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), courtesy of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC).

Review: 2014 Toyota Innova 2.5 V

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Nine years is a long time in anyone’s book. In the same year YouTube was launched and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI, Toyota hatched a new product that revolutionized the Asian Utility Vehicle or AUV segment by killing it. The product’s name: the Toyota Innova. Of course, a lot has happened since then and new players have entered into the segment. Still, it seems that the more things change, the more it stays the same; especially true when it comes to the Innova—a product that’s essentially unchanged since its debut in 2005. Still here it is, still in prime fighting form two face lifts later.

Honda Cars Opens in Camarines Sur

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) continues to expand its dealership network as it recently opened its 32nd full-service dealership, Honda Cars CamSur (Pili) - HCCP. In constantly providing total customer satisfaction, Honda marks its official entry in Bicol region and brings world-class quality products and services easily accessible to Bicolanos. The dealership is located along San Jose, National Highway, Pili, Camarines Sur with sales operations from Monday to Sunday (8:00AM to 6:30PM) and service operations from Monday to Saturday (8:00AM to 5:00PM).

Further with Ford 2014: Ford Debuts Industry's First Five-Row Side-Curtain Airbag

The all-new Ford Transit 15-passenger wagon makes its debut in the United States and Canada with the industry’s only five-row side-curtain airbag.

Photo by Ulysses Ang

Dearborn, MICHIGAN—Ford underscored the importance of its licensing business (which brings in more than US$ 2 billion per year) by introducing yet another addition to its successful product tie-ups: the Ford F-150 Power Wheels. The ride-on toy, which is developed and sold by Fisher-Price takes the iconic F-150 to an entirely new dimension: one that kids will love and enjoy. It will be sold for US$ 349.99 (~PHP 16,100.00) beginning in September for the US market. This marks the third-generation ride-on toy inspired by the F-150 and though pricey, it actually can tackle rough terrain and even features LED headlights just like the real thing!

12 Iconic Vehicles to Showcase Evolution of PHL Auto Industry at 5th PIMS

The 5th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) will treat this year’s visitors to an exclusive tour of the local motoring history with an exhibit of 12 iconic vehicles to highlight this year’s theme “Progress in Motion”.
Organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI), the country’s premiere automotive exhibition will showcase a rare collection of automobiles from the 1950’s to the 2010’s that shaped the automotive landscape of the country in the last 60 years.

Toyota Motor Corporation has revealed the exterior design and Japan pricing of its hydrogen fuel cell sedan, first unveiled as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show last year.

The car will launch in Japan before April 2015, and preparations are underway for launches in the U.S. and European markets in the summer of 2015.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), Honda’s automobile business unit in the Philippines, inaugurates Official Honda Accessory Corner business in two pilot dealers Honda Cars Greenhills (HCGH) and Honda Cars San Pablo (HCSP) .

Further with Ford 2014: All-New Global Ford Edge Makes Debut

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Dearborn, Michigan—At the eve of the Further with Ford Trend Conference, Ford Motor Company unveiled the all-new, second-generation Edge crossover at their world headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan Considered now as part of Ford’s “global product portfolio”, the all-new Edge could find its way to markets such as South East Asia and the Philippines where it is seriously being considered (it’s actually sold already in markets such as China). Innovation and design come together truly as the 2015 Edge packs a fresh new design, more interior technology, and more fuel-efficient drivetrains than its predecessor.

So, Honda has finally released their all-new, Jazz. But where does it sit next to its competition? Well, we’ve stacked it up against its most likely competition in the sub-compact, gasoline-powered hatchback segment: Chevrolet Sonic 1.4 LTZ, Ford Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost, Kia Rio 1.4 EX, Mazda2 1.5, and Toyota Yaris 1.5 G. We actually wanted to pit it against the Suzuki Swift 1.4 as well, but data for its interior dimensions are rather hard to find.

UPATED: Different Lives, One Car: All-New 2014 Honda Jazz Launched (w/ Complete Brochure)

UPDATE 1: See how the 2014 Honda Jazz stacks up against the competition (6/25).

Honda Cars Philippines is continuing its product-led comeback with the release of the all-new, third-generation Jazz—the sub-compact hatchback that promises to be the only car you need for all the lives you need. Dynamically styled with an intelligently designed interior, the all-new Jazz also promises to be one of the sportiest, most fuel-efficient cars in its segment.

Eagerly awaited by both the motoring public and the automobile industry, Sunshine Television (STV) will again launch its annual awards program to seek out the Philippines’ most popular automobiles. The 3-month public poll for the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards (AFPCA) gets underway on July 1, 2014 with a banner field of candidate models vying for much-coveted honors.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Dismissing the Tata Xenon based on looks alone is like giving Kate Upton the cold shoulder just because she’s fat. Filipinos are certainly drawn to cars first and foremost for how it looks. We love the angles and the curves. But let me tell you this: pass on the Xenon at your own peril. Beneath the oddball looks sit one of the most class-competitive pick-up drivetrain and chassis you can find. Yes, Philippines—the Xenon’s worth a look if you give it a shot.

The New Original: 2014 MINI Launched (w/ Specs)

The Mona Lisa, The Beatles, The MINI—how do you improve on the original? This is a common conundrum facing instantly recognizable, unequivocal classics. In the case of the MINI, a car with a long and storied history, they have taken not just the car’s DNA, but its very spirit and crafted something new and yet familiar at the same time. It begins with a clean sheet design where each and every surface is made sleeker and curvier. And then, it goes to the interior, with a new man-machine interface that puts the driver in unparalleled control. Finally, under the body, a new drivetrain developed from the ground-up to give the most smiles per kilometer. In short, to say that the 2014 MINI is all-new is an understatement; yet a passing glance is enough to say, this is a MINI through and through. Meet the all-new MINI, the new original.

Fueled by the drive to continually create customer experiences that truly matter, Ayala-owned Honda Cars Makati, Inc. (HCMI) has come up with several means and ways to attend to the needs and requirements of its customers at their utmost convenience.

The number one automotive company in the country, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMPC), continues to focus its efforts in genuine customer service as seen in its dealer expansion this 2014. Just this month, the company opened two (2) new dealerships in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and Taytay, Rizal ready to serve its customers in nearby areas. To date, Toyota’s network of dealerships has already reached 43 and this number is expected to increase further by the end of the year.

Kia's Peter Schreyer Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Kia Motors Corporation and Hyundai Motor Group, has received the prestigious Lifetime Design Achievement Award from EyesOn Design.

Michelin and Audi Rekindle Success at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Michelin and their team-up with the Audi Sport Team proved fruitful yet again with a one-two triumph at the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both the new Audi R18 e-tron Quattro racecars were fitted with a new type of Michelin racing tires.

The rains are here and Suzuki is helping its customers prepare their cars for the floods and traffic. Suzuki Philippines, the only integrated automobile and motorcycle company in the country, is offering Free Check-Up Service Campaign to its loyal customers. On June 20 and 21, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Suzuki customers in Quezon City can avail of the free 23-point car check-up during the Suzuki @ Work service camp at Suzuki Auto Commonwealth.

Once again, Chevrolet is starring in one of this year’s most awaited and biggest movies: Transformers: Age of Extinction. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this trailer courtesy of the folks from Chevrolet Philippines.

Transformers: Age of Extinction will show in Philippine cinemas on June 25.

In celebration of BMW’s continued leadership in the premium automotive segment, Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC), the official importer and distributor of BMW vehicles in the Philippines, will be sending lucky BMW buyers to the BMW World 2014, the biggest single-brand motor show, to be held at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Rainy weather and wet roads demand greater care and precaution whilst driving. Just a few meters may make that significant difference you need to avoid an accident.

Chery Cars Philippines: Promoting Mobility for All

Chery Cars Philippines aims to empower wage and salary workers so that they can have their own vehicles or start their own businesses through easy loan access.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), reaches 2,500 All New City reservations since the introduction of the model last April 22. Accumulated All New City reservations in just a month signals how HCPI’s primary model has successfully set new standards in the subcompact category.

In front of nearly 300,000 spectators, Audi continued its unique string of victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours. In the 82nd running of the world’s most important endurance race, Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F) and Lucas di Grassi/Marc Gené/Tom Kristensen (BR/E/DK) made for a one-two Audi victory.

Review: 2014 Mazda3 2.0 Skyactiv

Photos by Ulysses Ang

No matter how you look at it, the C-segment is both getting crowded and shrinking at the same time. It’s crowded because there are at least 12 choices out there from Japanese, Korean, American, and German makes; it’s shrinking because the higher price tag of these once so-called “people’s car” has made buyers either move up towards crossovers (seen as better value) or move down towards B-segment cars (seen as more affordable to own and maintain). These facts could be a potential bummer if you consider compact cars to form an integral part of your vehicle line-up. In other words, you end up either shaping up or shipping out. In the case of the all-new Mazda3, it’s been shaped into the sharpest katana out there. Hattori Hanzo better watch out, there’s a new killer sedan on the loose.

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