Displaying items by tag: bt 50

Mitsubishi Mirage and Mazda BT-50 newly-crowned 2012 - 2013 Car and Truck of the Year Philippines

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:30:28 +0000

After the long search, the 2012 - 2013 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P) has finally been revealed last April 4, 2013 at the 9th Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) held at the Philippine Trade and Training Center (PTTC). Following the footsteps of last year’s winner, the Hyundai Elantra - of which we see many of on the streets - this year’s champ is none other than the all-new Mitsubishi Mirage GLS MT.

Yes, the Mirage nameplate made quite a comeback in 2012, fully refreshed and entirely renewed. And after seeing a growing number of this subcompact on the streets and raving reviews about how it’s such a bang for the buck, it’s not a wonder why it trumped 80 other contenders in 20 categories. Although they've won multiple categories in previous years, this is Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation's (MMPC) very first time to clinch the coveted Car of the Year Philippines title.

CAGI President Ferman Lao remarks, “The 2012 - 2013 Car of The Year Philippines season was a tough one. It wasn't just in terms of the sheer number of cars that had to be tested, but the continually increasing improvements, value and competitiveness each new model brought to their respective classes.”

But there’s a new twist this year, because, for the very first time, the Car Awards Group, Inc. (CAGI) also recognized the Philippines’ first Truck of the Year. The 2012 - 2013 Truck of the Year Philippines (TOTY-P) goes to none other than the Mazda BT-50 4X4 AT. While this might not be the first time for a Mazda to win a grand award from CAGI (the Mazda 6 won the 2006 COTY-P), this most definitely is Berjaya Auto Philippines, Inc's first of the many more to come in the future after it took over the Japanese brand in January 2013.

Of course, CAGI also recognizes this year’s stars in each category, as well as special awardees.

2012 - 2013 Car of the Year Philippines Category Winners

Basic Subcompact Car	Mitsubishi Mirage GLS MT
Subcompact Car	Hyundai Accent CRDi VGT Hatchback
Compact Car	Ford Focus Titanium Sedan
Midsize Car	Toyota Camry 2.5V
Premium Midsize Car	Volvo S60 D3
Rear Wheel Drive Sportscar	Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T with Brembo Package
Front Wheel Drive Sportscar	MINI Coupe Cooper S
Compact Crossover 2WD	Mazda CX-5
Compact Crossover AWD	Honda CR-V 2.4 EX AWD
Midsize Crossover	Hyundai Santa Fe R2.2 GLS 6AT 2WD
Large Crossover	Ford Explorer 2.0 EcoBoost XLT
Luxury Compact Crossover	Range Rover Evoque
SUV	Mitsubishi Montero Sport 3.0 V6 GLS
Premium SUV	Jeep Grand Cherokee
Compact Van and MPV	Toyota Avanza 1.3E
Van and MPV	Peugeot 5008
Luxury Van and MPV	Honda Odyssey 3.5L V6
Pickup 4x2	Ford Ranger 2.2 MT
Pickup 4x4	Mazda BT-50 4x4 AT

Special Awards

Clark International Speedway Motorsports Award	Hyundai Asia Resources Inc.
Speedlab Tuner's Choice Award	Toyota 86
Bosch Technical Advancement Award	Foton Thunder
AAP Road Safety Award	Ford Focus with Active City Stop
ETON Centris Urban Warrior Award	Subaru XV
Standard Insurance Award	Chevrolet Trailblazer
Caltex with Techron Green Award	Toyota Prius C
RCBC Savings and Auto Loans Best Value for Money Award	Kia Rio 1.2 LX

In case you're wondering what are the other nominees for the 2012 - 2013 Car and Truck of the Year Philippines, you can check the full list, including the complete performance results, by clicking the [link].

The 2012 - 2013 Car Of The Year Philippines awards is presented by the Manila International Auto Show and is supported by the Clark International Speedway, Caltex with Techron, Eton Centris Walk, Standard Insurance, BOSCH, RCBC Savings & Auto Loans, Victoria Court, Dole Juice Drinks, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts & Coffee, MG Madrid & Co., Winner Graphics, Automobile Association Philippines, and SpeedLab.

The Car Awards Group, Inc, an organization composed of motoring journalists from the country's premiere print, broadcast and online publications , and is supported by media partners Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, The Manila Bulletin, The Daily Tribune, BusinessMirror, The Manila Times, Malaya Business Insight, Sunshine Television, AutoReview, StoplightTV, AutoIndustriya.com, Kotse.com, Interaksyon.com, Top Gear Philippines, AQ Magazine, Speed Magazine, Manila Standard Today, Jam 88.3, C! Magazine, Wave 89.1, Gadgets Magazine, Motioncars.com, Motorcycle Magazine, World News, Sprocket.ph, and PowerWheels Magazine.

Car of the Year 2012 - 2013 Day 9: The Last Hurrah

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:28:46 +0000

Words by Jade Lu | Photos by Hans Gerald Chua

Last Saturday, January 26, 2013, was the final day of the qualitative testing for the 2012 - 2013 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P). It was a day for big brutes once again, as Hyundai sent the Santa Fe R-2.2 GLS 6AT 2WD and Premium 4WD, which were matched by Toyota’s Fortuner 4x2 G DSL AT and Hilux 4x2 G MT and Mazda’s CX-5 and BT-50. The Honda CR-V made its reprise with the 2.0 S and 2.4 SX variant, this time made in Thailand with local specs (Honda sent the Japan-made CR-V last time).

It was the fitting ending for this chapter. The cars weren’t too exciting to leave us done and fulfilled at the end of the day; they were mellowed down to leave us wanting more. Of course, “more” would come to us during the technical testing at the Clark International Speedway on February 25 to 27, when the cars will once again converge for the acceleration, braking, and handling tests. But until that comes, we were satisfied enough with the cars we’ve driven to keep us at ease until the end of February. Hopefully, the sky will stay clear of rain clouds and strong winds until then.

With that last hurrah, here are some final words from our writers about the cars of Day 9:

Jose Carlo R. Sapera, Kotse.com Assistant Editor: 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe GLS Premium 6AT 4WD

The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe has exceeded all my expectations of what an SUV should be. It looks absolutely huge on the outside, but surprisingly cozy on the inside. There's lots of soft-touch surfaces on the dashboard and door inserts covered in beautifully stitched leather. Even small details like the power window switches and door grab handles have been beautifully sculpted. There’s plenty of leg and head room on the front and middle seats, but the third row is quite cramped. Nevertheless, it can be folded flat for more luggage space. With all the amenities, plus the plush ride and low floor, the Santa Fe feels more like a luxury midsize sedan on the driver's seat, which is a good thing.

On the road, the 2.2 liter common rail diesel mil purrs silently as it provides ample power even with five people on board. Likewise, the six-speed automatic responds quite well and shifts ever so smoothly. The electronic parking brake, on the other hand, takes a bit of getting used to and can get quite annoying to engage or disengage at times. And even with the Santa Fe's size, we found it quite easy to maneuver around traffic. Parking was also a breeze in this variant, as it came with a reverse camera.

For P2,228,000, you get plenty of kit including a panoramic sunroof, reverse camera, electronic parking brake, and Bluetooth connectivity. If you want to get something at par with the European brands at a fraction of a cost, then the Santa Fe should meet or even exceed your standards.

Leslie Sy, Kotse.com Online Expert: 2012 Mazda BT-50 3.2L 4x4

I would like to confess that I am not a fan of big SUVs and pickups for the simple fact that almost all of them have the same bone jarring ride quality - great for hauling heavy loads, but tiring and uncomfortable as a daily ride. The 2012 Mazda BT-50, on the other hand, which shares the same underpinnings as the Ford Ranger, was surprisingly an exception.

As expected, ride was “truck hard” when driven slowly within the parking lot, but astoundingly became rather comfortable at higher speeds. Despite of this pickup's handling manners, which constantly reminded me that I was in a large truck, I was actually having a bit of fun driving it. The five-cylinder 3.2L turbo-diesel engine producing 197 hp and 470 Nm of torque was definitely zippy for such a big truck. The six-speed automatic transmission shifted like silk without a single jerk during my test drive.

Overall, the interior is nothing to write home about, but I would consider it as “pleasant,” especially if I have to spend hours behind the wheel of this rig. The dashboard was nicely done in a textured hard plastic with a few touches of silver trims to break the overall black monotone of the cabin. The steering wheel was lovingly wrapped in leather for that touch of luxury. Basic-looking black leather-covered front and rear seats would accommodate five people in relative comfort. One big surprise is that the BT-50 features dual-zone auto-climate control - something normally more associated in luxury SUVs than in pickup trucks.

The BT-50 is a good pickup to own IF you happen to like the somewhat-polarizing Mazda-styled front and rear end. For me, it looks less of a working tool and more family SUV. Priced at P1.49 million, it just might be affordable enough to give pickup truck buyers a step-up from the usual choices.

Hans Gerald Chua, Kotse.com Contributor: 2012 Toyota Fortuner 4x2 G DSL AT

The Fortuner has been one the country's top SUVs, primarily because of its outstanding features and affordability, not to mention that it's a Toyota. This updated model has a new 2.5L diesel engine under the hood with a new Variable Nozzle Turbo (VNT) and top-mount intercooler. As suggested, it's a lot more responsive and livelier than the previous 2.5L powerplant and is now comparable to the bigger 3.0L version. We also estimate that the upgrade should make it more fuel efficient since you no longer have to jam the accelerator so often to get it going.

This model still wears the updated exterior package we first saw in 2011, which features a Land Cruiser-inspired front end and clear tail lights that we're a bit skeptical about. There are, however, several new upgrades inside; the most important of which is the 2DIN touch-screen infotainment system which has GPS navigation and bluetooth connectivity. This should give you more enjoyable driving experience than the usual radio.

Like before, the leather front and rear seats are comfortable and deliver a subtle snug fit for its driver and passengers. The third row seats though can only fit small children. And despite the updates under the body, the suspension still needs a bit of work, as it's not as comfortable as I’d hope.

Mazda's all-new 2012 BT-50 arrives with a whimper

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 23:31:18 +0000

Words by Christopher Kho

“Better late than never,” they say. Although we've already seen this familiar pickup in showrooms as early as July, Mazda Philippines only recently advised us that their all-new 2012 BT-50 pickup truck is officially here. And now that the Japanese automaker is in the middle of divorce proceedings with Ford Group Philippines, it'd be great to see the BT-50 try to upstage the blue oval brand's Ranger, which also happens to be its fraternal twin.

According to its design team, the BT-50 was sculpted as a “sophisticated beast.” So how do you turn a brute into a prima donna? Well, aside from just giving it a futuristic wedge-shaped profile and slapping on the Mazda 6's front end to it, Mazda engineers have also fitted it with more features than your iPad. Of course, this pickup has its muscular side to it too, highlighted by Mazda's signature five-point grill, boomerang-shaped headlights, and beefy wheel arches.

Underneath all that sheet metal is a four-cylinder MZ-CD 2.2L diesel engine with a variable-nozzle turbocharger that packs 150 horsepower and 375 Nm of torque. But if you feel the need for a bit more grunt, there's a bigger five-cylinder 3.2L option with 200 horses and 470 Nm. If these specs sound familiar, it’s only because these are the same engines found in the Ranger. And yes, the six-speed manual and automatic transmissions also found their way into the all-new BT-50.

The BT-50 is now bigger and better than ever, which means it can provide loads of cabin space for all your friends and family members, even if they've packed a bit more weight over the years. Entertainment comes from a 3.5-inch infotainment sound system with six-inch speakers, while dual-zone air-conditioning keeps everything cool. And as with all Mazda's, the interior is predominantly covered in black plastic, highlighted with silver and chrome accents. We're just a bit worried how the leather upholstery would fair in a rough and tumble lifestyle.

Like most new pickups, the all-new BT-50 steers away from the old “tractor-style” drive. They say it's engineered to ride like a passenger car and handle like an, umm... SUV? That makes me wonder which SUV they're pertaining to exactly. Cabin noise was - thankfully - reduced to drastically improve the travel experience.

Aside from ABS, TCS, and DSC, it comes fully-equipped with features to keep you out of trouble. These include Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Load Adaptive Control (LAC), Trailer Sway Assist (TSA), Roll Stability Control (RSC), Hill Launch Assist (HLA), and Hill Descent Control. But in case anything untoward does happen, front, side, and curtain airbags add a layer of protection, as well as a shock-absorbing steering column and a crushable brake pedal. They've even made the bonnet and bumper pedestrian crash-friendly, if jaywalkers can't get out of the way fast enough.

Available in Titanium Grey, Copper Red, Gunmetal Blue, Cool White, and Black Mica, the all-new Mazda BT-50 is retailed at P1,300,000 for the 2.2L 4x2 manual, P1,350,000 for the 2.2L 4x2 automatic, and P1,490,000 for the granddaddy 3.2L 4x4 automatic.

So, why didn't Mazda Philippines make a racket when they launched their flagship pickup truck? For starters, the base BT-50 is already P231,000 more expensive than the equivalent Ford Ranger, making it somewhat less appealing to the mass market. But the bigger reason is that, starting 2013, Mazda Philippines will no longer be part of Ford Group Philippines (FGP) and will be run by the Malaysian-owned Berjaya Corporation. When that happens, we're hoping that Mazda's line-up will be priced more competitively than its blue oval brand's counterpart.

TRS's crash course video on its testosterone-powered Drift Truck

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:05:08 +0000

Words by Christopher Kho | Video courtesy of Tuason Racing TV

Tuason Racing School (TRS) is giving Ken Block a run for his money with their “Truck Drifting 101” video, an action-packed 3 minutes and 44 seconds of adrenaline-pumping tire-burning sideways action directed by the talented Ardie Lopez and filmed at the King's Playground in FTI. It stars the TRS Mazda BT-50 Drift Truck: the world's first diesel-powered full cab drifter. This is not your typical chop shop pick-up that was converted from a road-going sedan. Instead, TRS snatched an off-the-shelf BT-50 and converted this would-be workhorse into a formidable smoke machine. And with the help of Mazda, Castrol, and Bridgestone, it won the 2010 Pro Am Lateral Drift Championship, fending off more predominant drift cars.

Now clad in the new chrome Castrol Racing livery, the BT-50 Drift Truck, piloted by Mike Tuason, maneuvers around a purpose-built gymkhana course. Although it took some cues from Ken Block's videos, the creative team made sure that they could pull off some stunts that Ken can only dream of. And to balance out all the testosterone, Mike demonstrates that with gentle hands and some fancy footwork, his precise driving can actually strip off articles of clothing from three of Castrol's loveliest ladies. Big brother JP also made an appearance in the video, but look a step back from the limelight and let little brother Mike do all the driving. JP looked cool and calm reading the paper with a refreshing drink in hand.

Watch all the high-flying action with the video below.