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April 3, 2015

MIAS 2015: Tata Goes Business-Minded

Pilipinas Taj Autogroup, Inc., the official distributor of Tata automobiles and commercial vehicles in the Philippines just revealed their showcase line-up for the upcoming Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) slated from April 9 to 12 at the World Trade Center. This year, Tata is focusing on business-minded applications.

This is What the All-New 2016 Honda Civic Will Look Like

Honda unveiled the all-new Civic Concept at the New York International Auto Show giving the public its first glimpse of what the highly-anticipated tenth-generation model will look like. After being criticized for being lackluster (even after its extensive re-design), the ninth-generation and current model will be saying goodbye this fall (third to fourth quarter 2015) in favor of a model that focuses on ‘spirited performance and class-leading versatility’.

Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) reacts to GT Academy graduate and NISMO racing driver Jann Mardenborough’s horrific crash at the Nurburgring in Germany which called to question the ability of GT Academy graduates and the future of GT Academy itself.

Subaru’s performance division, Subaru Technica International or better known as STI, is expanding their global reach. At the New York International Auto Show, Subaru has announced that they are replacing the US-based Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT) in providing aftermarket parts as well as increased engineering presence in the company’s Global RallyCross Team.

Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), exclusive distributor of Kia Motors vehicles in the Philippines, and its After Sales division recently concluded the 8th Kia National Skills World Cup.
Held last March 19, 2015 at the Kia Pasay Training Center, personnel from Kia dealerships nationwide competed in a test of skill and knowledge in diagnosis, troubleshooting, repair, and customer service that should be attuned to Kia’s global top-notch standards.

Robinsons Rewards Card (RRC) members will enjoy earning more points not only when they shop at their favorite Robinsons stores but also when they fuel up at Caltex. RRC members can now use their points to redeem P1 discount for every one liter fuel purchase at participating Caltex stations nationwide. Every five liter gas up earns a point which means that the more customers fuel up at Caltex and shop at Robinsons, the more points for fuel and shopping savings.

Subaru is offering a special introductory discount for the first 100 units reserved/booked of their all-new 2015 Legacy and Outback plus a free one-year or 10,000-kilometer PMS. The flagship models, which are celebrating their 25th and 20th anniversary respectively, will be shown to the public at the 2015 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) on April 9.

BYD Unveils 5-Star Customer Service Program

Solar Transport Automotive Resources Corp., (STAR Corp.), the exclusive distributor of BYD vehicles in the Philippines, today announced the launch of its 5-STAR Customer Service Program, a comprehensive customer-centric after-sales initiative to continuously deliver the best brand ownership experience to BYD customers.

MIAS 2015: Ford to Preview All-New Everest

Already shown to the public at the Bangkok International Motor Show, Ford Philippines has officially announced that the all-new 2015 Everest will have its public debut at the 2015 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) slated this April 9 to 12 at the World Trade Center.

This marks the first time Ford’s revolutionary mid-sized SUV will break cover in Manila and will offer the best indication yet of what the final specs would be. Stay tuned to CarGuide.PH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get the latest news on the all-new Everest and on the Manila International Auto Show. Or read more about the all-new Ford Everest in Bangkok here. Or at the global launch here.

Review: 2015 Suzuki Ertiga 1.4 GLX A/T

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Just when you thought the AUV kingdom was dead and buried, a new crop of vehicles start taking the place of the old guard. With the exception of the immortals: the Crosswind and the Adventure, the rest of the choices are relatively new to the market. The latest one to lock horns comes from the least likely source: Suzuki. Known more for their cute kei cars with unforgettable names (Hustler, anyone?), Suzuki jumped straight into one of the bloodiest battles as it tries to gain a foothold in the AUV kingdom. Their steed is the Ertiga.

Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE003 Provides Maximum Control

Tires are integral to a car’s performance. In the most basic sense, they are the only four points of contact a car has to the road. That narrow patch of rubber, measuring no more than a few centimeters wide, help determine the handling characteristics that separate an ordinary vehicle and an extraordinary one.

MIAS 2015: Chevrolet Trax Set to Challenge Ford EcoSport

Chevrolet is the first to launch a fighter to Ford’s best-selling EcoSport with a Philippine market sneak peek of its Trax at the 2015 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) at the World Trade Center on April 9 to 12, 2015.

Nissan Brings GT Academy to the Philippines

Nissan is looking for the next big racing star with the launch of famous virtual-to-pro racing competition, GT Academy. Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) officially joins the newly formed GT Academy Asia which pits the best Philippine “couch racer” against other countries including Japan.

Chevron Philippines Inc. announces the launch of its patented Techron Concentrate Plus (TCP) fuel system cleaner in the country.

Chevrolet Philippines-The Covenant Car Company Incorporated demonstrates its commitment to the safety of Chevy customers and the Filipino public, by staging its annual Chevrolet Holy Week Motorist Assistance Campaign.

The year is shaping up to be a great one for Kia Motors as their vehicles gained recognition globally.

Michelin is Tire of Choice for Porsche Cayman GT4

For the launch of its new Cayman GT4, Porsche has chosen to equip all of the cars with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 ultra-high-performance tires: 245/35 ZR20 (91Y) TL N0 front and 295/30 ZR20 (101Y) XL TL N0 rear.

Since its market launch, the Q3 model series has been a successful model for the Audi brand. With the desire to constantly improve its automobiles, Audi has launched the new Audi Q3—not only with a refreshed design, but also boasting with a number of advance technical innovations.

In a daring program to show how confident Volvo is in the 2015 Volvo V40 CC, Volvo challenges car buyers to test drive and experience the new hatchback and compare it to its competitors. If, after putting the car through its paces and experiencing its uniquely class-leading delights, and clients still choose other compact premium hatchbacks over it, Volvo Philippines will gladly shoulder a free tank of fuel and wish you on your merry way.

History has been made as the first and longest running drift series in the country as it started out its 10th season of the Hyundai later drift championship series and year 3 for the Hyundai brand as title sponsor. It was held last Saturday, March 21 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines parking lot and alongside the Atomized 5th Carshow by the De La Salle university of Mechanical Engineering.

Chevrolet Philippines – The Covenant Car Company Inc. (TCCCI) celebrates the expansion of its dealer network with the inauguration of Chevrolet Batangas. Dubbed as an industrial center with its growing population of 2,377,395 residents, the city of Batangas is expected to be another significant market for Chevrolet in southern Luzon.

Volkswagen continues to expand its reach and market coverage with the opening of its new showroom along Quezon Avenue, now getting to be the busy automotive row of northern Metro Manila. The brand new facility, Volkswagen QA, is strategically situated at the heart of Quezon City - near the corner of West and Timog avenues on the westbound side. It is built in more than 1,500-square meter lot area with spacious 14-car display, a delivery handover lounge, parts & accessories shop, customers’ lounge, negotiation and reception offices.

UPDATED: Ford Unveils Game-Changing Everest for ASEAN Market; Inches Closer to Manila Release

Photos by Ulysses Ang and Ford Press

UPDATE 1: See the Philippine specs, model variants, and prices here (05/19).

Ford continues its product-led transformation with the ASEAN launch of the all-new Everest at the Bangkok International Motor Show. Shown side-by-side with the new Ranger which was unveiled a day earlier, the production version of the all-new Everest is the product of Ford’s intensified customer study to give potential buyers everything they would want in a mid-sized SUV.

Review: 2015 Toyota Fortuner 2.5 V

Photos by Ulysses Ang

You’re looking at what’s possibly the final iteration of the Toyota Fortuner. If rumors are to be believed, Toyota’s venerable mid-sizer will see its first significant change next year; a full ten years since its market launch. During this time, it has endeared itself to the Filipino consumer, crowning it as one of the country’s best-selling vehicles almost perennially. It has proven so strong that despite increased competition from American, Japanese, and Korean quarters, the Fortuner has remained a top-of-mind choice in its class. As Filipino consumers are almost ready to bid farewell to this successful chapter in Toyota’s history, it seems appropriate enough to drive the swansong version in its newly launched variant, the 2.5 V.

Motor Image Pilipinas Inc., the official distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines, along with Subaru showrooms nationwide is now offering the Forester i-L variant with the ICE Package today until March 31, 2015.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) continues to show their strength in the car manufacturing industry as their “big boys” provided strong performance for the month of February, boosting its sales for the first two months of the year.

In February 2015, Volkswagen Philippines took eighteen (18) media members to Magalang in Pampanga for the 3rd leg of ECO FUN RUN, a fuel economy test for the Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) engine technology. The event was in cooperation with Pilipinas Shell Petroleum.

Editor's Note: click here for the full launch story.

The Ford Ranger re-wrote the pickup truck rules when it made its debut three years ago. Riding on the Blue Oval’s four brand pillars: Quality, Green, Safe, and Smart, it mixes the best attributes of a passenger car with those of a dependable workhorse. Almost overnight, it transformed the pickup into more than something used by utility men and contractors. It made pickups cool.

UPDATED: New Ford Ranger is an Uncompromising Mix of Tech and Capability (w/ Video)

Photos by Ulysses Ang and Ford Press

UPDATE 2: Ford just revealed the 2015 Wildtrak (6/13).

UPDATE 1: Here are 7 things you cannot miss in the 2015 Ford Ranger (3/24).

Ford is writing the next chapter in the history of the Ranger pickup with the global unveil of the 2015 model at the 36th Bangkok International Motor Show. Heavily revamped, the new Ranger builds upon the world-class capabilities that made it a global success that includes the Philippines, where it’s currently the best-selling nameplate in its segment. For 2015, Ford is widening the bandwidth of comfort and convenience offered by the Ranger without compromising its tough and rugged package.

New 2015 Toyota Camry Aims to Set Benchmark Once More (w/ Brochure)

The best-selling executive sedan in the Philippines just received a bolder and sportier makeover as it faces stiff competition in the segment this year. The 2015 Toyota Camry boasts of a design that straddles between excitement and refinement. The valiant stance exudes a strong presence that complements its luxurious and iconic title.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMPC) officially pulled the curtains off the all-new 2015 Strada, a pickup that promises to blend passenger car comfort with SUV amenities, functionality, and ruggedness. The fifth-generation model in Mitsubishi’s storied pickup truck history, the all-new Strada takes the concept of “sport utility truck” to the next level as it aims to become the top choice among pickup buyers in the country.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) formally announced the appointment of Mr. Yoshiaki Kato as the company’s new President and Chief Operating Officer effective April 1, 2015. Mr. Kato will succeed Mr. Hikosaburo Shibata who will have a new role in Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC)’s global operations.

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