July 2014

MANILA, Philippines – July is usually the wettest month of the year, but that didn’t dampen the Philippine automotive industry as several events were actually held during the heavy rains. It also served as a great indicator of the things to come in the latter part of the year.

 Mini Cebu opens

Mini Philippines 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 Visayas and Mindanao.

Range Rover Sport Launch

Land Rover Philippines (LRPhils) Motors Inc., the official and exclusive importer and distributor of Land Rover vehicles in the country, welcomed the all-new 2014 Range Rover Sport—the brand’s most dynamic and sportiest model that still manages to embody the Land Rover spirit of unparalleled all-terrain capability and Range Rover’s opulent luxury. Considered as the fastest, most agile, and responsive Land Rover ever, the all-new Range Rover Sport exerts a bold and progressively designed exterior that’s more assertive, powerful, and muscular.

Subaru XV STI Performance regional launch

Cementing its foothold as the exclusive distributor of Subaru in the region, Motor Image has unveiled the new Subaru XV STI Performance Edition in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The Subaru XV STI Performance Edition combines the rugged sportiness of the Subaru XV urban crossover with STI’s world-renowned engineering prowess to create a vehicle with enhanced aesthetics and performance from improved handling and aerodynamics. At the same time, the launch of the XV STI Performance Edition marks a stronger market presence for Subaru’s tuning division, Subaru Technica International or better known as STI.

Suzuki Ertiga

Barely a monthly after introducing the Swift 1.2 hatchback, Suzuki Philippines unveiled yet another addition to their growing automobile line-up: the Ertiga. Dubbed as a “Lifestyle Utility Vehicle” or LUV for short, the Ertiga takes a completely different approach to the very competitive but lucrative compact 7-seater MPV or multi-purpose utility vehicle market. Instead of relying on the traditional ladder-on-frame construction, the Suzuki Ertiga gets a unibody monocoque platform for unparalleled car-like comfort and refinement. And Suzuki isn’t just using any platform; it’s using the award-winning Swift platform ensuring that the Ertiga is imbued with the same fun-to-drive characteristics as its venerable hatchback.

Honda VSA testing

Taking the safety lead in the sub-compact segment, Honda Cars Philippines (HCPI) has equipped both their all-new City and Jazz with all the safety features to make them five-star ASEAN NCAP safety-compliant. Honda let journalists in on what its Vehicle Stability Assist or VSA could do in a series of exercises mainly: Slip and Grip, Side Slip, and Brake and Evade.

Ford Ranger Tailgate Challenge

Tailgate parties—it’s the quintessentially American male thing where groups of bros hang around in parking lots (typically during a big game) with hot food sizzling on a grille and cold drinks chilling in a cooler. Although you can try doing that here in the Philippines, you’ll earn the irk of security guards even before you could unfold your bench out. So what’s the best thing you can do? Go out of town, to the middle of nowhere (preferably where trail meets road), and then whip out the grille. Of course, you need a very capable go-anywhere, do-anything vehicle and a group of the manliest men in the motoring beat to drive out of the comforts of Manila and cook burgers. And so, that’s exactly what happened with the Ford Ranger Tailgate Challenge.

BMW 4 Series

BMW is keen on setting a new benchmark in design and innovation with the launch of the all-new 4 Series Gran Coupe. The first-ever four-door coupe in the premium mid-sized segment, the 4 Series Gran Coupe seamlessly blends the unmistakable look of a sports coupe with the practicality and functionality of a four door sedan. Like the 4 Series Coupe before it, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is available in BMW’s new Line series. In this case, it’s the Sport and Luxury lines, each highlighting different design characteristics that suit one’s preferences.

The diesel Tatas are here

Car buyers now have more choices with the arrival of the new Tata Manza Aura and Vista Ignis. Launched by the Pilipinas Taj Autogroup, Inc., the official and exclusive distributor of Tata vehicles in the Philippines at their new Cainta showroom along Ortigas Avenue Extension, the Manza Aura and Vista Ignis are powered by the highly efficient and refined Quadrajet diesel engine which promises high fuel efficiency. At the same time, these models were designed with good passenger comfort and worry-free ownership in mind.

BMW 5 Series and 5 Series GT

With dynamic ability, comfort, elegance and a host of innovations designed to further enhance a luxurious driving experience, the new BMW 5 Series once again raises the bar for the premium executive sedan segment. It has sealed its position as the global leader in its class with over one million units sold, earning a unique status in the segment. A new chapter dawns in its impressive success story with precise modifications to the cars’ design, and innovative additions to the range of available equipment. Two models of the New BMW 5 Series, namely the BMW 5 Series Sedan and the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, have been launched in the Philippine market.