Story by Ronnie Trinidad of Sprocketph.com
Red Bull driver and 2005 Formula D Champion Rhys Millen invaded the streets of Manila last April 30, 2012 as part of the world's biggest energy drink's “Action Attack on the Philippines” event to launch the brand in the country. While thousands of spectators, a couple dozen security officers, and a handful of hired extras were able to watch the 39-year-old New Zealander burn up some rubber up close, I was one of the few lucky people who were able to personally meet the man himself.
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The long wait is finally over. After spending a total of eight test days under the sun, several weeks tallying score sheets, and countless sleepless nights in anticipation, it all boiled down to one special awards night as the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) hailed a new a successor to the Car of the Year title last March 29, 2012 at the 8th Manila International Auto Show (MIAS). Selecting through a total of 36 nominees and 11 finalists, the Hyundai Elantra is now the 2011 - 2012 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P).
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Car of the Year
After 12 months, the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) is once again ready to crown a new Car of the Year for 2011 - 2012. Scheduled on the opening day of the 8th Manila International Auto Show, the awards night will be held on March 29, 2012 at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) in Pasay City.The entires are open to all new passenger and commercial vehicles introduced between November 1, 2012 and October 31, 2011. This year, a total of 36 cars in 13 different categories are vying for the title as the 2011 - 2012 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P) and range from as small as a basic mini car to a full-sized luxury SUV.
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Car of the Year
26 March 2012
The Porsche World Roadshow: A day with 10,000 horsepower
Words by Ferman Lao | Photos by Christopher Kho
Ok, perhaps it's not exactly 10,000, but with the least capable vehicle available for testing producing almost three times more than your typical subcompact, while the most powerful easily over 500, to it's easy be lulled into thinking that the day's selection had a total power output was within that region... or a bit more. In fact, the experience could undoubtedly be the automotive equivalent of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's “The Greatest Show on Earth.” This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Porsche World Roadshow = a day wherein every model in the Porsche catalog are driven in the manner they were designed to be driven, made possible only by Porsche AG and PGA Cars Inc.
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Features
20 March 2012
Can E-Jeepneys solve Manila’s transport woes?
Words by Niky Tamayo | Photos courtesy of www.ejeepney.org
It may seem hard to believe, considering the state of the economy, but there are now nearly seven million motor vehicles registered in the Philippines. While the sheer numbers should make for greater mobility and productivity for our workforce, there is the little issue of all those vehicles being on the road at the exact same time, causing massive traffic jams. As they still burn fuel when sitting still in traffic, this situation costs us billions of Pesos every year in oil imports, as well as cause massive air pollution. And that's where the E-Jeepney comes in.
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22 February 2012
An Isuzu is Born: A day of building world-class trucks
Words and photos by Christopher Kho
If you've watched documentaries such as National Geographic's Mega Factories, then you probably know, more or less, what goes inside a vehicle production line. But unlike the plants they feature on TV that roll out exotic Italian supercars, Isuzu's facility at the Laguna Technopark in Biñan, Laguna assemble more modest AUVs, pickups, and trucks. What sets them apart, though, is that every single brand new vehicle they produce is proudly Philippine made. And to celebrate the plant's 15th anniversary, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) invited us for a plant visit to see just how much love they put into each Isuzu vehicle.
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The Car Awards Group, Inc. (CAGI) is proud to present its newly-elected officers for the 2012-2013 season. With an 80% re-election rate, two of our own staff members are now officers of CAGI. Our Editorial Director, Ferman Lao, continues his post as President of CAGI, while our Editor-in-Chief, Christopher Kho, takes his post as the new Corporate Secretary. Andy Sevilla and Bam Olivares maintain their positions as VPs for External and Internal Affairs, respectively, and Bess Zamora retains her position as Treasurer.
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Car of the Year
Words by Christopher Kho
While everyone's mooning over Jeremy Renner, Edward Norton, and Rachel Weisz at the set of Bourne Legacy in Manila, there's one celebrity member from its crew that prefers to stay low-key. But thanks to Rockstar Philippines, we got the chance to meet first-hand its stunt driver and two-time Formula Drift Champion Tanner Foust. Of course, we also took the chance to get some autographs and pictures with the champ.
Tanner Foust is an accomplished international rally, drift, and road racing racecar driver from the USA that competes under the banner of Rockstar Energy Drink. He also works as a stunt driver on his time off, plus he has appeared in several TV shows such as Redline TV and the North American version of Top Gear. He's a six-time medallist in the X Games Rally Racing (three of which were gold) and Formula Drift National Champion in 2007 and 2008. Due to his busy schedule as a driving stuntsman in Hollywood and campaigning the Rockstar Ford Fiesta in the European Rallycross Series full-time, however, he has temporarily retired from the drift scene since 2011.
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