09 August 2012
Adventures in Cube-Space | 2011 Suzuki APV Type II
Words and photos by Niky Tamayo
It’s an odd sensation, puttering along in traffic, head and shoulders above everyone else... to look down upon lowly SUV drivers, as you sit at the stoplights. Sir, you do know you have a bald spot, right? No, I mean the one where the paint’s flaked away on your roof.
This sensation is made even odder by the fact that the car I’m driving weighs less than most cars. You’re towering over the crowd, yes, but like that tall, skinny kid in high school, that won’t keep you from getting beaten up at recess. Thus, you don’t get the swelled head that most SUV drivers and van drivers get from the rarefied air at this altitude. That’s a good thing, by the way. All cars on the road should be shaped like this. Perhaps thinking outside the box means putting wheels on it.
Published in
Van & MPV
30 July 2012
The Brute Ute | 2012 Mitsubishi L200 GX Single Cab
Words and photos by Niky Tamayo
Australia has always been a motoring anachronism, the last haven of the great, American full-frame V8 sedan. Aside from the Commodores and Falcons, though, Australia is also home to the deliciously ironic “ute” (short for utility). It’s as informally laid-back as its name suggests. It’s simply a two-door car (often with a snarling V8) with a pick-up bed out back. Note: Car. While two-door pick-up trucks are available elsewhere, none quite capture the sporty, red-neck flavor of the “ute”.
Enter the L200. Though based on the Mitsubishi Strada, it’s bereft of rear seats, body-cladding, and even power windows and mirrors. As such, it weighs in at a mere 1,525 kilograms - over 400 kilograms lighter than the top-dog 4x4 and 200 kilograms lighter than the base-model 4x2. Even better, it’s lowered to within scraping distance of the ground, giving it a sporty stance despite the tallish tires.
But is it really a “ute”? Sadly, no. But rear wheel drive and a turbocharger spell fun any which way you spin it, even if it’s attached to a pick-up. Just look at the GMC Syclone. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, just yet...
Published in
Pickup
Words and photos by Jose Carlo Roberto R. Sapera
Nowadays, accessing the internet is much easier and cheaper than it was 10 years ago, especially with the advent of “Wireless Fidelity” or Wi-Fi. This invention has significantly changed how we access information and have become so abundant that malls, buses, and airplanes now have it. Not to be left behind, Universal Motors Corporation (UMC) tricked out their best pick-up truck to create the Navara Tech Xtereme.
Published in
Pickup
04 July 2012
All Smiles | 2012 Mazda 3 2.0L R
Words and photos by Sidney Ang
The sexy body, lavish interior, and choice of a 2.0L instantly made the first Mazda 3 stand out from the competition, which is why it was an instant hit back in 2004. I used to own a Mazda 3, and the good looks, both in and out, are what attracted me to it. I opted for the 1.6L over the more powerful 2.0L engine, but I do have my reasons. Needless to say, I enjoyed the car immensely and, years later, it still got its share of double takes, with just a few exterior enhancements.
Eight years later we finally get the “all-new” Mazda 3 in the Philippines. But every car enthusiast should know that this model came out way back in 2008, and the Internet is already flooded with pictures, specs, and reviews. So is it too late for the latest generation Mazda 3 to join the party?
Published in
Compact
Words and photos by Niky Tamayo
From observation, diesel-powered cars don’t sell as well here in the Philippines. While budget-conscious Filipinos love diesel SUVs, vans, and pick-up trucks, diesel cars often get the cold shoulder. Perhaps it’s simply because we’ve never really had hero diesel cars to look up to. When people think of a diesel SUV, it’s pretty easy to conjure up images of Land Cruisers and Patrols conquering the far flung jungles of the world. But for a diesel car, it’s usually a smoke-belching Isuzu Gemini or a dinky Hyundai Accent taxi weaving erratically through traffic that come to mind. Neither of which is as sexy as a big, burly SUV.
The great diesel cars have invariably all been German, with a price tag several times what most people would pay for a simple driving appliance. But the times are changing. Years ago, it would’ve been hard to imagine a car capable of both 20 km/l fuel economy and a 200+ km/h top speed, let alone one priced within reach of most middle class buyers. Today, we have two and, surprisingly, they’re both from America, the land of high-octane muscle cars. Roll out the Ford Focus TDCi and the Chevrolet Cruze VCDi.
Published in
Comparo
Words and photos by Niky Tamayo
Honda has taken a lot of stick for the all-new Civic. Many feel that it is too much of the same, that Honda has not invested enough in technical innovations, as if they’ve dropped the ball, fallen asleep at the wheel, or jumped the shark. But did the Civic really need changing? Granted, there are things I didn’t like about the previous car; but even until it was replaced, it was very good. It was spacious, lightweight, powerful, and economical. Never mind that it wasn’t the newest car on the market, it was still one of the best.
Hence, the FD Civic is a hard act to follow. This new Civic falls short in some ways, but improves upon the formula in others. While the Honda faithful may not be happy, it is undoubtedly a better car. Let’s break down the differences and see why.
Published in
Compact
15 June 2012
Moving the Masses | 2012 Honda City 1.5S AT
Words by Ferman Lao | Photos by Christopher Kho
The Honda City has been around for quite some time now. Since it was launched locally in the mid 90’s, it has become one of the most ubiquitous vehicles around. Back then, the model was only offered with an eco-miser 1.3L engine that came with either an old school carburetor or a more respectable electronic fuel injection system. Then a couple of years later, a 1.5L EFI version came along, which gained the City a much bigger following, as it was one of the most reliable and affordable cars available at the time.
Come the turn of the millennium, the SX8 (as it was fondly known to a huge number of its owners) had grown a bit long in the tooth and was given a complete revamp. Launched in 2003, the second generation City was a marked departure from the outgoing model and featured numerous avant garde improvements. Among them were a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), and an innovative and highly flexible rear seats dubbed as ULT (Utility, Long, Tall) seating. These innovative features had never been available before in a local subcompact until the Honda City came along, showing people what a compact urban people mover ought to be.
So to see if Honda has kept its winning formula intact, we got our hands on a newly face-lifted third generation for a quick test drive.
Published in
Subcompact
Words by Niky Tamayo | Photos by Ken Tamayo
The Avanza is the brainchild of corporate collaboration. Originally engineered in Indonesia as the Daihatsu Xenia, it slotted in under the Innova as a replacement for the wildly popular Kijang/Revo. It addressed the taxi market that the Innova was too expensive to service.
Being a taxi special, the original Avanza was dirt cheap. The base model interior was straight from the 80’s, complete with analogue odometer and wind-up windows. While the 1.5G was infinitely better, it cost as much as the bigger Innova. Yet the Avanza had its charms. It was light and nimble, and the unibody construction gave it a lot of interior space for its size. Now, there's a new Avanza in town, we take it out for a spin to find out if its still as good as the last one.
Published in
Van & MPV
