22 April 2013
Ford's updated 2013 Everest grows a smile for 9th MIAS
Words and photos by Christopher Kho
If history is any indication, Ford will base the upcoming next generation Everest on the latest all-new Ranger. And now that the Everest we currently have is already six years old, it's only about time that Ford comes up with a new one. But at the 2013 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), Ford Philippines gave their best-selling SUV one last hurrah by giving it a smile. This is the new 2013 Ford Everest.
Unlike the other Fords on display, the 2013 Everest didn't receive as much fan fare. It was only when our own Assistant Editor Carlo Sapera pointed it out that I noticed the differences.
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Newly Launched
22 April 2013
Kia's all-new 2014 Soul looks ready to get frisky
Words by Gracey Maquiniana | Photos courtesy of Kia Motors Corp.
Remember last year's Track'ster Concept? We'd like to believe that it was Kia's fantasy of what the ultimate track day car should be, built around the Soul's platform. What we didn't know was that the head honchos over at Kia took the concept to heart and used it to build the all-new 2014 Soul. Redesigned from the ground up and now strutting a lovely Inferno Red shade and new 18-inch alloy wheels, Kia's latest sporty compact crossover is definitely something the ladies would love to have. I know I do.
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It was only two weeks ago when we got the news that Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, and Honda were all involved in a major Global Airbag Recall that affected 3.4 million cars worldwide. The first to make a move was Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) who confirmed that some 9,743 local units of 2001 - 2002 Civics and CRVs are included and have thus issued a recall of their own. Berjaya Auto Philippines Inc. (BAP), on the other hand, assured us that none of the locally-sold Mazdas are part of the campaign. And the latest car manufacturer to issue an official statement regarding the Global Airbag Recall is Nissan Motors Philippines, Inc. (NMPI).
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Industry Update
Words and photos by Christopher Kho
It's been only a year since the Honda City got a well-deserved facelift, but Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) thought that it was necessary to make their best-selling model even better. And what they did this time is to stuff it with all the goodies and features one could wish for, raising the standard for subcompacts one step higher. Plus, some added few safety features now earn the City a full 5-star ASEAN NCAP crash safety rating.
The biggest change to the line-up is that there's no longer a 1.5 E variant. Instead, they've added two new versions they call 1.5 EL and 1.5 ENC. The 1.5 EL is pretty much identical in spec with the previous 1.5 E, except for one difference: black leather seats. The 1.5 ENC, on the other hand, gets the most revision of all.
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19 April 2013
Audi Philippines records 28% sales growth in Q1 of 2013
PGA Cars Inc., or more specifically Audi Philippines has just reported a whopping 28% year-on-year growth in Q1 of 2013 as compared to 2012. They've surpassed initial targets and the sales increase is mainly attributed to new entry-levels models they introduced early this year; more specifically the new Audi Q3 and A1 five-door Sportback. According to Audi Philippines Sales Director Lito Jose, these two new compacts “ushers a new phase for Audi in the country, because for the first time we have a model below P2,000,000.”
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Industry Update
18 April 2013
The Hyundai Azera's appearance at AVID's Innovation Congress is more than just for display
Words by Christopher Kho | Photos by Jose Carlo R. Sapera
If you went to the AVID Innovation Congress (ICON) held at the Bonifacio Global City earlier this month, then there's a good chance that you saw the new Hyundai Azera that was on display. Classified as a full-size sedan, it's bigger than the Sonata and smaller than the Genesis sedan (not Coupe). The model has been on sale since 2011 in countries such as South Korea and the US, but not in the Philippines. Well, this should come as good news to some of who want to travel in a bit more style: A representative from Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) has confirmed to us that they're finally ready to bring the Azera here.
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Words by Ferman Lao | Photos courtesy of Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd.
While the rest of the world still moon over cars that debuted at the Bangkok and Manila International Auto Show, two cars caught our eye which could indicate that Honda thinks the future lies in China. The Honda Concept C and Concept S were unveiled at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show. Yes, we're bringing this news to you a year late because back then, we didn't think much of the two concepts. It's only now that we realize that these could be the next generation Civic and Jazz.
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Concept
Berjaya Auto Philippines Inc. (BAP), Mazda's new exclusive importer and distributor in the country, is on a roll. In just a few months after they took over the Mazda brand last January, they're now opening their second dealership under the new company, complete with a showroom, and parts and service facility. Mazda Cabanatuan is Mazda's 11th dealership in the country - a 3S dealership facility situated along Maharlika Highway, Cabanatuan City.
After Mazda Dagupan that opened in February 2012, Mazda Cabanatuan is the Laus Group's second Mazda dealership which goes to show just how happy they are with the brand's performance.
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Industry Update
