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

February 4, 2019

First Drive: 2019 Suzuki Ertiga GLX A/T

The term, “Multi-Purpose Vehicle” or MPV is used to describe any vehicle that puts flexibility above all else. Things like styling, performance, and comfort are typically left out, and if present, feel like mere afterthoughts. In the past few years though, things have changed. MPV buyers started demanding more than just flexibility; they started wanting everything a passenger car or even SUV could offer. Enter the 2019 Suzuki Ertiga, a car that heeds the call of the modern family man.

After Toyota Motor Philippines announced its arrival on the second week of February, more details have finally surfaced on the all-new 2019 RAV4.

How Bad is Bad? A Look at the Philippine Automotive Industry in 2018

2018 is a year to forget for the Philippine automotive industry. After 7 years of impressive growth, car sales dropped last year due to factors such as the implementation of the revised new vehicle excise tax (part of the TRAIN law) and the resulting higher inflation and weakening peso.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines wants would-be MPV buyers to sample the Xpander MPV first-hand to prove once and for all that it’s the best MPV around.

After cementing itself as the 9th biggest auto brand in 2018, Foton Motor Philippines is setting a higher bar this 2019 with the introduction of a new marketing campaign that aims to reinforce the brand’s confidence in opening bigger possibilities and creating grander breakthroughs for Filipino families and businesses.

Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), closes 2018 with strong growth in its retail business. Continued expansion and successive openings of new fuel stations across the country brings the company’s nationwide retail network to more than 600 stations.

With a long history in rally including winning the Dakar Rally in 1986, Porsche is eyeing a comeback as early as next year to compete in the FIA R-GT class with the Porsche Cayman GT4 Rallye.

The Schumacher name is returning to Ferrari as 2018 FIA Formula 3 European Champion and son of 5-time Formula One world champion Mick Schumacher has signed on to be a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA).

There Will Be a Second-Generation Subaru BRZ

The introduction of the Toyota Supra, particularly a base 197-horsepower variant in Japan has certainly put the “Toyobaru” twins back in the spotlight. Will Subaru and Toyota move forward with a next-generation 86 and BRZ? Or will their affordable coupe bit the dust after just one, albeit lengthy, model generation?

You think a “regular” Honda Civic Type R or a Honda NSX doesn’t stand out enough? Well, how about wrapping them in gold foil.

Kia Philippines Adjusts Prices, Specs of Picanto, Sportage, Sorento, and Grand Carnival for 2019 (w/ Full Specs)

Along with the first-ever 2019 Kia Soluto, the newly-appointed Kia distributor in the Philippines, AC Industrials introduced revamped versions of the Picanto, Sportage, Sorento, and Grand Carnival that brings added features and better pricing compared to before.

Subaru dropped the first hints of the all-new 2020 Legacy which will be unveiled to the world at the upcoming Chicago Auto Show next week.

Ford Ranger Achieves 10th Consecutive Sales Growth in Asia-Pacific Region

The Ford Ranger continued to be a bright spot for the American carmaker as the nameplate achieved all-time record sales in the Asia-Pacific region last year—its tenth consecutive year—with retail sales climbing 5 percent to 139,501 units.

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, the world’s leading automotive alliance, today that its member companies sold a combined total of 10,756,875 units in the 12 months to December 31, 2018. The Alliance maintained its position as the world leader in volume sales of passenger and light commercial vehicles.

UPDATE: We also included the brochure below (02/04).

There’s a different kind of Korean war brewing and that involves two recently launched sub-compact sedans to hit the Philippine market. Less than 12 hours after Kia Philippines unveiled the Soluto, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc., fired back and introduced the Reina.

Kia Philippines Launches Opening Salvo: the 2019 Soluto Sub-Compact Sedan (w/ 17 Photos, Specs, Video)

Under its new distributor AC Industrials, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala Corporation, Kia unboxed the first of three all-new vehicles slated to hit the Philippine market in 2019. The Kia Soluto—a sub-compact sedan exported from Kia’s joint-venture with Dongfeng will see battle in the sub-B-segment category with a starting price of just P 625,000.

As the Philippine automotive industry stumbled 15 percent in 2018 due to a perfect storm of rising inflation, higher fuel prices, and the implementation of the revised excise tax on new vehicles, Nissan Philippines managed to see sales rise 40 percent last year—the only manufacturer to exhibit a double-digit sales growth.

The SUVification of Mitsubishi continues with the announcement of their newest concept crossover that promises to “carve up its own niche.”

HARI Foundation, Inc. (HFI) Chairman Richard L. Lee paid tribute to his Lasallian roots and affirmed his personal advocacy for innovation in the sciences with the launch of the Richard L. Lee Engineering and Technology Block.

After a strong 2018, Nissan celebrated the start of the new year by reaffirming the brand’s position as one of the leaders in the automotive industry.

JM Far East Inc., the Philippine exclusive distributor of Falken Tires, has launched the newest range of Falken high-performance and all-terrain Tires: the Wildpeak M/T 01, Wildpeak A/T3W, and Azenis FK510-SUV.

The Overland Xpo is all set for its 3rd installment this February 2 to 4, 2019 with over 100 4x4 vehicles joining. The Overland Xpo, organized by Overland Philippines, will be held at the heart of Zambales.

From betting on hybrids to betting on pure electrics. Toyota has announced that it is entering into a joint-venture with Panasonic to establish a new company that will be making batteries for next-generation electric vehicles or EVs.

UPDATED: Is Hyundai Philippines Going to Douse Kia's Party with the Reina?

UPDATE: Check out the launch story and full specs here (01/31).

It looks like Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. or HARI is about to throw a spanner into Kia Philippines’s much-anticipated car launch. Just today, HARI started teasing a new vehicle which will drop in on January 31, 2019—a day after Kia Philippines’s brand re-launch.

In recent years, there has been a steady growth in the subcompact and compact crossover category. The potential is real, with brands like Subaru coming out with the XV, Mazda introducing the CX-3, and even Jeep coveting a piece of the pie with the Renegade. One of the first players in this segment, Honda saw to it that the HR-V gets updated for 2019 with this one: the sportier-looking 1.8 RS CVT. And spending more than a week with it, it’s clear that the HR-V still has what it takes to standout of this crowded segment.

So the all-new 2019 Subaru Forester just dropped into Philippine shores and what’s the first collective reaction: where’s the turbo? Granted the first-ever Forester underpinned by the Subaru Global Platform performs amicably on everyday road conditions, there are still some who say, “It ain’t a proper Subaru without a turbo.”

The big nose trend over at BMW has begun. After the giant schnoz debuted on the X7 SUV, the same treatment can now be seen in their flagship 7 Series luxury sedan. Look beyond that unsightly fascia though, and BMW promises better luxury and more tech than ever before.

Many responded to the challenge, but only a few made it to the top. And for those who did, Isuzu Philippines Corporation has rewarded their skills, and efforts, with a well-deserved overseas trip.

Search CarGuide.PH

Quick Links

February 4, 2019

First Drive: 2019 Suzuki Ertiga GLX A/T

Are These the Specs and Prices of the 2019 Toyota RAV4?

February 3, 2019

How Bad is Bad? A Look at the Philippine Automotive Industry in 2018

Mitsubishi Philippines Says They Can Prove That the Xpander is the Best MPV Around

Foton Philippines Starts 2019 with New Marketing Campaign

Despite Challenges, Caltex Philippines Posts Retail Growth in 2018

Porsche is Coming Back to Rallying with the Cayman GT4 Rallye

Schumacher Name Returns to Ferrari

February 2, 2019

There Will Be a Second-Generation Subaru BRZ

Honda Creates Gold Civic Type R, NSX

February 1, 2019

Kia Philippines Adjusts Prices, Specs of Picanto, Sportage, Sorento, and Grand Carnival for 2019 (w/ Full Specs)

Subaru Shows Off Tesla-Like Touchscreen in All-New 2020 Legacy

January 31, 2019

Ford Ranger Achieves 10th Consecutive Sales Growth in Asia-Pacific Region

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance Retains Position as Largest Seller for Passenger Cars and LCVs in the World

UPDATED: 2019 Hyundai Reina Undercuts Its Kia Twin (w/ Specs, Brochure)

January 30, 2019

Kia Philippines Launches Opening Salvo: the 2019 Soluto Sub-Compact Sedan (w/ 17 Photos, Specs, Video)

Nissan Philippines President Reveals Formula for Success

Mitsubishi's New Concept Could Signal a Pajero Replacement

Hyundai and De La Salle Engage in Partnership

Nissan Philippines Bucks Auto Industry Dip, Posts 40 Percent Growth in 2018

Falken Philippines Launches New SUV Tire Line

Over 100 Off-Roaders Will Embark on an Extraordinary Adventure This February 2-4, 2019

Toyota to Develop, Sell EV Batteries to Other Carmakers

January 29, 2019

UPDATED: Is Hyundai Philippines Going to Douse Kia's Party with the Reina?

Is There Still Room for Honda's HR-V: A Perspective on the 2019 Honda HR-V RS

The Subaru Forester XT is Still Available and It's Priced the Same as the 2019 Model

There's Some Interesting Tech and Luxury Behind the BMW 7 Series's Unsightly Nose

Isuzu's RZ4E Engine Ekes Out 17.60 km/L in mu-X, 20.7 km/L in D-MAX