Friday, 25 January 2013 08:56
COTY 2012 - 2013 Test Fest Day 8: Performance Day
Words by Jade Lu | Photos by Hans Gerald Chua
The end is near - for the qualitative testing dates, at least. The second to the last 2012 - 2013 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P) qualitative test fest day was held least Saturday, 19 January, and things were looking pretty bright despite the gray skies. And who wouldn’t be excited? We were testing six lovely sportsters and two tough trucks. The members of the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) couldn’t wait to get their hands all over these beauties; we didn’t know where to start!
Hyundai brought in the Genesis Coupe’s 2.0T 6MT and 3.8L V6 8AT variants, set side-by-side with Toyota’s 86 Aero AT and MT, not to be outdone by MINI’s Cooper S Coupe and Cooper S Roadster. Contrast these low riders with Isuzu’s D-Max 4x4 AT and 4x2 MT, and we had a ball.
After the final qualitative test day this coming Saturday, 26 January, all models from the previous and this coming weeks will once again be put to the test by CAGI’s Technical Team, this time on track for the technical phase of the COTY-P. That would be held in the end of February at the Clark International Speedway (CIS).
For now, here is what our writers had to say about the hardy two-door contenders from last Saturday:
Published in
Car of the Year
Tuesday, 27 November 2012 07:54
AVID sales drops by just 1% in October; Keeps 18% growth in 2012
Six out of the 10 members from the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc. (AVID) has collectively tallied sales of 2,241 motor vehicles in the month of October 2012. That puts them only 1% shy of last year's 2,254. Not bad. Do care to note though that Motor Image Pilipinas, the official distributor of Subaru in the country, wasn't an AVID member yet last year, so you're looking more at an 8% drop technically. However, the group's performance of 24,004 sales total between January to October is still 18% better than the 20,340 sold in the same period last year.
Published in
Industry Update
Friday, 19 October 2012 08:25
Ford and MINI announces departure from WRC in 2013
Words by Christopher Kho
Only weeks after Hyundai announced their return to the World Rally Championship (WRC), Ford and MINI have, sadly, declared that both their factory-backed teams are exiting the championship after the 2012 season. Citing different reasons for their departure, the news has burst our bubble as we had hoped that the WRC will finally return to its glory days with VW and Toyota joining the field next year.
Published in
Motorsports
Thursday, 20 September 2012 09:02
The Paceman is Mini's new wild child
Words by Carl Trocio | Photos courtesy of the BMW Group
What is this Mini Paceman they speak of? Is it the shortest guy to come out of a pace-ship? Nay! This is Mini’s 7th child to come out of their hobbit house. You may ask yourself, “They already came out with 7? But they all look the same!” But like most puppies from the same mother, there are a couple of different variations, each with its own distinct features.
The Paceman first saw the light of day at the 2011 Detroit Motor Show when Mini decided to make the fat kid in the family, the Countryman, suck his tummy in and stuff it in a track suit. So they ended up with a new two-door, “coupe-y”, restyled, closer-to-the-ground member of the family. It's sort of like dressing your brother in drag and introducing him as your long lost sister. Sexy? Maybe...
Published in
Newly Launched
Thursday, 12 April 2012 08:44
MINI Coupe and Roadster: The Ultimate Dating Machine
Words by Niky Tamayo
The MINI hatchback has never sold itself on practicality. Sure, it's a relatively fuel efficient car with the carbon-footprint of a newborn mouse, but there are cars that cost less that can do a whole lot more. This situation obviously limits the brand's appeal, so in order to widen its horizons, MINI have taken the logical next step in development: Make it even less practical.
The MINI Coupe does away with such frivolities as a back seat or a cargo hatch. The Roadster goes one step further and takes away the unnecessary roof, too.
The result is absolutely fascinating.
Published in
Newly Launched
Wednesday, 11 April 2012 08:39
Hierarchy of Wants | 2011 MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4
Words by Niky Tamayo | Photos by Ken Tamayo
In an early attempt to explain the process of self-actualization, Abraham Maslow famously came up with his “Hierarchy of Needs.” The basic idea is that you aren’t concerned with high-level needs until your more basic needs are met. Thus, you’re not concerned with shelter until you’re fed, not concerned with love until you’re sheltered, not concerned with career until you’re loved, and so on and so forth. High up on Maslow’s pyramid, tackled only after every other need is fulfilled, are self-actualization needs like creativity and spontaneity.
In other words, the only people buying a MINI Countryman are people who’ve achieved Maslow’s equivalent of Nirvana. Unfortunately, most car buyers are stuck at Level 2: Security. Even your typical luxury car buyer falls further down on the pyramid, under Level 4: Self-Esteem (“mine is bigger than yours”). But apparently, there are a lot of self-fulfilled buyers in the Philippines, as the Countryman is selling like hotcakes.
The rest of the world simply doesn’t know what it’s missing.
Published in
Crossover
Wednesday, 21 March 2012 06:44
10 cars making their debut at the 8th Manila International Auto Show
Words by Christopher Kho
The 8th Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) is all set to go this March 29, 2012 at the World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay City. With 26,000 sq. meters of exhibit space, it promises to be the Philippines' biggest motoring event of the year yet again. And in line with year's theme “Life in the Fast Lane,” we're giving you a quick preview of the 10 new cars scheduled to make their official Philippine debut at the show.
Published in
Newly Launched
Tuesday, 06 March 2012 08:30
Welcome to the Dark Side: The 2013 MINI Countryman John Cooper Works
Words by Niky Tamayo | Photos courtesy of the BMW Group
While purists may be crying foul at the introduction of the "it's-really-not-an-SUV" Countryman, MINI is going full-steam ahead in launching the most powerful iteration of their ubiquitous 1.6 liter engine yet.
In John Cooper Works form, the Countryman develops 211 horsepower and up to 300 Nm of torque. That's nearly twenty horses more than the Cooper S Countryman. And while the quoted 7.5 second sprint from 0 to 100 km/h for the 6AT might not sound that special, considering the 184 hp Cooper S Countryman does it in 7.7 seconds, it's worth bearing in mind that the JCW variant has all-wheel drive. A comparable ALL4 Cooper S Countryman is over a second slower, which is a dramatic difference.
Published in
Newly Launched
Friday, 03 February 2012 08:39
Car names defined
Words by Christopher Kho and Jade Lu
Car makers across the globe name their latest models after elaborate words from the English dictionary (except for the Europeans who use a labyrinth of letters and numbers) to somehow reflect its prominent characteristics and dazzle their patrons over its obscure moniker. But after a multitude of brochures, advertisements, test drives, and car reviews, have we really given some thought what some of these nameplates really mean? Thankfully, the internet - and notably the guys at Dictionary.com - has put together a list of definitions for some of the most prominent and memorable car models ever to grace this planet.
Published in
Features
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 09:37
Peterhansel clinches 10th Dakar win with MINI in 2012
Words by Christopher Kho | Photos courtesy of the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.)
After 14 stages covering 8,377 gruelling kilometers over gravel, mud, and sand in three different South American countries, Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel in his X-raid MINI Countryman ALL4 Racing emerged victorious and took his 10th overall Dakar rally win in Lima, Peru. With this win, Peterhansel indeed is the master of the Dakar after winning it six times on a bike (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1998) and now four times on a car (2004, 2005, 2007, and 2012). He is joined on the podium in second place by teammate Joan “Nani” Roma from Spain in the sister MINI ALL4 making it a one-two finish, while Giniel de Villiers in the South African-built Imperial Toyota Hilux V8 surprised all with a third place finish on the pick-up's debut.
Back in January 1, 2012, 443 bikes, quads, cars, and trucks took off from the starting line at the coast of Mar del Plata in Argentina for the 33rd running of the Dakar rally. 15 days later, only 249 of those who started made it to the finish line in Lima, earning the Dakar the title as the toughest off-road race in the world.
Published in
Motorsports
