CarGuide.PH | Philippine Car News, Car Reviews, Car Prices

September 4, 2015

First Drive: 2016 Ford Focus 1.5 EcoBoost

Photos by Ulysses Ang and Ford Press

Settling down in my hotel room in Adelaide ahead of driving the 2016 Focus, there was a bottle of water placed on the side table. Contemplating whether or not the 7.50-dollar price tag was worth quenching my thirst, I noticed something peculiar stamped at the bottom: 1.5-liters. Literally, the displacement of the Focus’s new engine was in my hands. Obviously, this was a coincidence, but it also drives home the point of just how small this engine is going to be.

Continuing what it started five years ago, Isuzu Motors Ltd. (IML) Japan in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and World Vision Philippines bids farewell to another batch of successful service technician graduates.

Own a Subaru with P 78,000 Down Promo

Those looking to reward themselves with a brand-new Subaru this holiday season should consider Motor Image Pilipinas’s new Early Holiday Low Down Payment deals.

Applicable to the Subaru XV, Forester, Outback, Impreza, Legacy, WRX, and WRX STI, you can get them with a down payment as low as P 78,000. This makes it a lot easier to own the brand’s unique mix of technologies that espouse performance, comfort, handling, and safety.

This offer is only good until September 31, 2015.

For more information about this promotion, visit any of the Subaru showrooms located nationwide: EDSA – Greenhills, Bonifacio Global City, Manila Bay, Alabang, Sta. Rosa, Batangas, Cebu, Davao, and Cagaan de Oro.

Toyota Motor Philippines Offers Smart Advantage with 2015 New Avanza (w/ Brochure)

The best-selling compact MPV in the country has received a fresh update for 2015 to keep it in touch with its recently launched competitors. Since its introduction to the Philippine market in 2006, the Avanza has already sold more than 50,000 units. And now, with this new revamp, Toyota Motor Philippines is confident that it’ll remain the preferred choice in its segment.

Petron Corporation, the country’s leading oil company, is giving its loyal Petron Value Card holders even more reasons to smile with the introduction of special bonus points.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) proudly announces that its automobiles are now EURO 4 certified. Initially having obtained the certification for its locally-manufactured City; HCPI has also secured EURO 4 certification for the following vehicle models: Brio, Brio Amaze, Mobilio, CR-V, Civic, Jazz, HR-V, Accord, Odyssey, and CR-Z. As early as June 2015, HCPI has actively sought, and obtained EURO 4 emission standard certification from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its entire vehicle line up.

Review: 2015 Isuzu mu-X LS-A 4x4

Photos by Ulysses Ang

The mid-sized SUV race is one of the most hotly contested ones right now and simply ignoring it means you can’t reach critical mass in terms of sales numbers. Of course, to gain a strong foothold, manufacturers have come up with their positioning be it through performance, smart technology, or comfort. That’s well and good if you’re a large carmaker with equally deep pockets. But what if you’re Isuzu—a name more synonymous with commercial vehicles than passenger cars? In the wake of newer and fresher choices, can the mu-X flourish, let alone survive?

Six Awesome New Features of the 2016 Ford Focus

UPDATE 1: Read our First Drive here (9/4).

Ford just let us drive the new 2016 Focus over 260 kilometers here in Adelaide, Southern Australia. We’ll have our full impressions soon, but for now, let us offer a sneak peek of what to expect. The current Focus has always been a technology leader for Ford and it has debuted a lot of cutting-edge tech for the compact car class. This one brings that to the next level.

Four Characteristics of Mazda's Jinba-Ittai

Mazda has frequently used the word Jinba-Ittai to describe the driving feel of their cars. Although everyone knows this by now as the Japanese word for “Horse and Rider as One”, what does this actually mean? Mazda engineers have actually narrowed it down to specific characteristics found in all of their cars.

Mazda's Quest for Manufacturing Innovation Through Monotsukuri

Photos by Ulysses Ang

A lot of news about Mazda centers around keywords such as KODO, Skyactiv, and Jinba-Ittai. And though these words revolve around engineering innovation, there’s also one keyword that has helped transform the business of Mazda: Monotsukuri.

BMW Celebrates 40 Years of 3 Series with Anniversary Edition

The BMW 3 Series can look back over an extraordinary career path. Among the key milestones along the way have been its success in pioneering a new vehicle category, establishing itself as the embodiment of the distinct BMW drive in its segment, and becoming the world’s top-selling premium car.

Of KODO and Takumi: Mazda's Design Secrets Revealed

Mazda vehicles of late are recognized for their stunning design, scooping up numerous international awards in the process. Everyone now knows KODO – Soul of Motion design language, but how does the company actually come out with their designs? The process may surprise you.

Review: 2015 Honda Mobilio 1.5 V

Photos by Ulysses Ang

It’s not every day you get excited about driving the latest MPV. After all, it removes the illusion that motoring scribes only drive the most awesome cars (and some are actually picky in that regard). Now, you do have to give exception to the Mobilio for one simple reason: it’s a Honda. At least, you know it should be a decent drive. Plus, since it performed impeccably well during the Puerto Galera drive, it should do well on a regular drive. So after a week of putting it through its paces, can it be definitely concluded that the Mobilio’s a good car? Well, yes! It’s especially true if you can’t practice family planning.

Philippine Car Price Guide: August 2015

The August Edition of CarGuide.PH’s Philippine Car Price Guide is now out and in this update we have the following changes and/or updates:

Chevrolet Captiva (price increase)
Chevrolet Colorado Tracker / Tracker Pro
Chrysler 300C
Ford EcoSport Trend Urban Pack
Ford Ranger
Honda City VX Navi Modulo
Honda City VX Navi MUGEN
Hyundai Tucson 2.0 S VGT AWD
Lexus ES 350
Mazda2 Speed
Mitsubishi Adventure (price increase)
Mitsubishi Montero Sport GTV 4WD SE (price increase)
Peugeot 2008
Suzuki Celerio
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 V (price decrease)
Toyota Hilux
Toyota Innova (price increase)
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (price increase)
Toyota Wigo (price increase)

Subaru, through distributor Motor Image Pilipinas and its authorized dealers in Cebu and Davao, successfully ended the provincial legs of the annual Subaru Palm Challenge 2015. The provincial legs, which were held last August 8 in Ayala Center, Cebu and August 15 at SM Lanang Premier in Davao, saw over 300 registrants per leg. Eventually, this was shortlisted to 120 Cebuanos and 120 Davaoenos for the Cebu and Davao legs repectively.

The future looks positive for Volvo as the brand posted a 4.6 percent increase in retail sales for the month of July as it sold 38,128 cars globally. Europe, as well as the US, were key drivers of growth. Both regions reported significant increases on sales of the all-new XC90 (where it has achieved its annual target in the US with a quarter to spare) and continued demand for the 60-series car lines.

So what do you get when you mix two of the hottest segments in the ASEAN car market? The Honda BR-V. Shown in prototype form at the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2015, the BR-V combines the Mobilio’s 7-seater capability (and basic body shape) with a raised ground clearance.

Complementing an impressive Q1 2015 sales performance, Suzuki Philippines maintained its momentum in Q2 to post a 65 percent year-to-date sales increase over last year’s first-half figures. This is the highest growth increment so far this year for the company, whose June sales tally is also the highest selling month in the first half of 2015.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) starts the second half of 2015 strong, attaining exceptional sales and outstanding after-sales service performance.

Ford Philippines celebrated the re-opening of Ford EDSA – the first authorized Ford dealership that opened in the country two decades ago.

First Drive: 2016 Ford Ranger 2.2 Wildtrak

Photos by Ulysses Ang

The local pickup truck segment feels like something straight out of the reality show, Survivor. With the level of cut throat competitiveness going around, only the strongest will outwit, outlast, and outplay everyone else emerging as the ultimate king of the hill. Ford has certainly been playing that game right so far and it shows: the Ranger continues to be the country’s best-selling pickup truck. That streak is bound to continue with the heavily refreshed 2016 Ranger.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

The urban crossover genre, it seems is the next big thing. Judging by how many carmakers want to get into the act, it’s the newest fashion must-have. A stroll through the Ateneo de Manila campus reveals the unshakable truth: compact sedans and sub-compact hatchbacks are so baduy. They’re probably your dad’s or older sibling’s choice. Today it’s all about crossovers because parking on unpaved lots is so hassle and going through floods during rainy season is so nakaka-burat. And so, Honda’s done the right thing and dived straight into the deep end with the HR-V.

UPDATED: Ford Philippines Debuts New 2016 Ranger (w/ Specs)

UPDATE 2: Read our First Drive of the Ford Ranger 2.2 Wildtrak here (8/19).

UPDATE 1: We now have a copy of the spec sheet below (8/18).

Ford Philippines officially debut the new 2016 Ranger with an epic 175-kilometer ride-and-drive activity through various terrain settings in Bicol. We’ll reserve our more in-depth feature in the coming days, but here’s all you need to know: it’s totally awesome. We drove it through volcanic ash, broken pavement, and muddy trails where it performed beautifully. All in all, it continues its legacy as the segment’s toughest and smartest pickup truck by offering a wide array of new technology, some of which you don’t even get in a comparably priced SUV.

The Masterpiece: 2016 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Skyactiv on the Race Track

Photos by Ulysses Ang

The Mona Lisa is something you admire for the way it looks. Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony is something you admire for the way it sounds. Robuchon’s food is something you admire for the way it tastes. Although these things can move you, the experience is rarely encompassing. In truth, any of these engage just one of the five senses. This is what makes cars special. They are, by nature, a multisensory experience.

One of the best-selling vehicles in the Lexus Manila line-up, the ES has now seen a refresh for the 2016 model year highlighted by progressive exterior styling, more opulent interior construction, and added safety features. Taking the ES to the next level in elegance and luxury, the 2016 ES now adds more of what Lexus has to offer. In fact, the Japanese luxury marque is confident that it will be the best-in-class.

Ferrari announces the Frankfurt Motor Show debut of the new 488 Spider, the most powerful mid-engined V8 car from the Prancing Horse. It will be offered with a patented retractable hardtop along with new technical innovations.

The iconic British sports car brand, Lotus formally inaugurated its showroom in San Juan City with a well-attended ceremony marking the arrival of the world-renowned makers of lightweight, no-frills, fun-to-drive cars.

Ford Philippines Launches Limited-Edition EcoSport Trend Urban

Ford Philippines today announces the launch of the Ford EcoSport with Urban pack, a limited-edition version of the Trend model of the popular versatile sport utility vehicle (SUV).

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