06 September 2012
A piece of rally history: 1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Group A
Words by Christopher Kho | Photos by author and Hans Gerald Chua
Before the dawn of the Lancer Evolutions, before sequential gearboxes became standard equipment on rally cars, and way before traction and yaw control were perfected, there was the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4. It made its international rally debut back in 1988 and, after five years of competition, has taken no less than six victories in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and one driver's title in the 1988 Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).
Calling this car “legendary” would be a bit of an understatement, as it was the granddaddy of all four-wheel-drive Mitsubishi rally cars that came after. That's why we didn't dare miss the chance to see this legend in the sheet metal when it made a rare appearance at the 4th Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS).
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14 August 2012
Survival Guide: Driving Through Floods 101
Words and graphics by Niky Tamayo
On the second week of August 2012, three days of continuous rain plagued Metro Manila and submerged most of its roads and homes under several feet of floodwaters. It was like Ondoy all over again. Apart from people losing their homes and, worse, their lives, these events also reminded us once again how ill-informed and unprepared motorists are for driving in flooded conditions. To do our part, Kotse.com has prepared an easy survival guide to ensure you and your most expensive appliance survive even under the worst weather conditions.
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08 August 2012
Play time's over; Mitsubishi's all-new Mirage is out to change the world of subcompacts
Words and photos by Christopher Kho
In June of 2012, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) registered a total of 16,956 units in sales for the first six months of the year. This puts them securely as the country's second-largest automaker, though still 40% shy of Toyota's lead. But all that could change when Mitsubishi brings out their smallest car yet - the all-new 2012 Mirage.
Not due to be released until the year's end, MMPC was kind enough to fly members of the motoring media to Thailand - where the Mirage is being built - just so we could get a first-hand look at their upcoming subcompact. And given their close roots in motorsports, they opted to let us take the spunky hatchback to the race track instead of going on a long drive out of the city. Though the units we tested were in right hand drive (RHD), the specs were as close as what we're going to get in a few months’ time according to Mitsubishi.
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Words by Jose Carlo R. Sapera | Photos by Leslie Sy
I've been driving for more than 10 years now, and my friends and loved ones always remind me to drive safely at all times. Though it might be more fun in the Philippines, it doesn't take an expert to know that the accident rate in our country is pretty high. According to the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), there were a total of 1,833 people killed and 29,000 people injured in more than 85,000 road accidents last year. The numbers speak for themselves. Road accidents is a big problem in the Philippines, and it needs to be addressed quickly.
That's why last July, Total Philippines Corporation gathered people together from the different sectors of society to help raise awareness in road safety. Called Total Drive City, we were asked to drive around the streets of the Metro and prove just how safe of a driver we really were. Participants for the day-long event included the Philippine National Police (PNP), members from the motoring media, driving schools, car manufacturers, car dealers, and private car owners.
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Words and photos by Elmer Maniebo
Without any annual International Auto Show to boast about, the Brits are left wondering how to satisfy their petrol head fix. I was at the 2008 British International Auto Show held at Excel, London, and, judging by the attendance of car manufacturers and new launches, it was nowhere near the pomp and drama of the likes of Geneva, Frankfurt, or Paris.
But every year, over 200,000 certified petrol, gear, or piston heads from all over the world gather around 12,000 acres of glorious woodlands, empty fields, and a racetrack nestled along a woody estate and perched above Chichester in West Sussex. Showcasing the world’s best race car drivers behind the wheels of the most exotic, fastest, and rarest cars the planet has ever seen, this is the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
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Words and photos by Jose Carlo R. Sapera
To celebrate their 500,000th production unit in the country since 1989, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) launched the search for the earliest locally-manufactured Toyota vehicle back in March 2012 called the “Classic Toyota Hunt.” The mechanics were simple. Simply present your oldest locally-produced Toyota in your nearest Toyota Dealership and stand to win a brand new Innova. Of course, vehicles must be in running condition to qualify, and its engine, body, and chassis must be original, not modified and tampered with. And after the searching the entire nation, Mr. Anthony G. Chengliong and his 1989 Toyota Crown Deluxe emerged as the winner.
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Words by Niky Tamayo
Though it’s something many of us in the auto industry knew was coming, it’s still saddening to hear that Ford Philippines will be closing down the Ford Motor Company Philippines (FMCP) plant at the end of the year, as they close down operations with the rollout of the last Ford Escape, and perhaps the last Ford, to be produced in the Philippines.
This is not to say that Ford is leaving the Philippines completely. Ford Group Philippines is staying. The Ford dealership network is staying. Ford sales are better than ever. But in a tough, competitive global economy, production streamlining means everything, and despite endless deliberations and discussions on how to continue on in the Philippines, Ford is pulling the plug on its historic plant, simply because it no longer makes financial sense to build in the Philippines.
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Photos by Igor Maminta and Jundio Salvador
The Land Rover Club of the Philippines (LRCP) is more than just your typical car club. Yes, they do love showing off their best sheet metal and getting down and dirty four wheeling on the weekends; but other times, they go beyond by lending a helping hand in times of crisis or representing the country in international events.
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