Friday, 01 February 2013 07:28
Car of the Year 2012 - 2013 Day 9: The Last Hurrah
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:
Published in
Car of the Year
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, 22 January 2013 08:25
Toyota Motor Philippines bags 11th consecutive Triple Crown
A car brand in the Philippines earns one of these “crowns” when they top the industry's sales chart in either the Passenger Car (PC), segment, Commercial Vehicle (CV) segment, or in Overall Sales. And since 2002, only Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has captured all three.
TMP sold a total of 65,396 vehicles in 2012 which captures 41.7% of the total market share. 21,291 of these fall under the PC segment, while another 44,105 belong to the CV segment. Not only do these numbers bag the country's largest automaker their 11th consecutive Triple Crown, but is also their highest since the start of operations in 1988. As an added bonus, TMP's 20% growth last year bests the industry's 11%.
Published in
Industry Update
Friday, 18 January 2013 19:32
Toyota gives us something to rave about: The all-new 2014 RAV4
Words by Jade Lu | Photos by Christopher Kho
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is starting the year right by giving us something to rave about as they unveiled the long due all-new 2014 RAV4. It looks nothing like its predecessors; that’s for sure.
Presented in Red Mica Metallic, the all-new RAV4 was definitely dressed to impress. Its now well defined features are a very welcome change from the bulbous details it once had. It was almost like the final episode of 'The Biggest Loser.' The once rotund figure had evolved into what looks like a hunkier version of himself. It looks like Toyota really stepped up to make a worthy competitor of the RAV4 against the likes of the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson.
Published in
Newly Launched
Wednesday, 16 January 2013 10:16
Detroit: Toyota's Furia Concept is a strong hint of the next-gen Corolla
Words by Christopher Kho | Photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota's design department has been playing things safe for the past decade. Sure, the cars they came up with don't look bad, but just a little bit too safe, if you ask me. But at last, the Japanese automaker's new priority is to “develop more dramatic, expressively designed vehicles.” And the result is this - the Toyota Corolla Furia Concept - which they revealed at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.
Published in
Concept
Wednesday, 09 January 2013 10:19
COTY 2012 - 2013 Test Fest Day 6: Take us away
Words by Jade Lu | Photos by Hans Gerald Chua and Christopher Kho
If there was one thing the Kotse.com crew looked forward to when the New Year started, it was this. On the very first Saturday of 2013, the boys and girls of the Car Awards Group, Inc. (CAGI) gathered at the Eton Centris parking lot for the sixth round of the 2012 - 2013 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P) Test Fest.
The first models on the chopping block for 2013 looked like they were ready to take us a long, long way from home. We’d be ready to take these fine examples on a road trip at the drop of a hat. Chevrolet was first to arrive with the Trailblazer LTZ 4x4 A/T and the Orlando LT A/T. Toyota sent us the Avanza 1.3E, Avanza 1.5G, Prius C, and Camry 2.5V. Hyundai’s dynamic duo of the Sonata 2.0 GLS 6AT Limited and Tucson Theta II T2.0 Limited 4WD left us all wondering what new treats these models have in store.
Published in
Car of the Year
Tuesday, 08 January 2013 10:20
Bow down peasants, Toyota's got the all-new 2013 Crown
Words by Jose Carlo R. Sapera | Photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Corporation
For those who were already around in the 70's, you probably know what a Toyota Crown is. In fact, the model has been around since 1955 and is touted as Toyota’s flagship sedan. And to cap off the year of the water dragon, the Aichi-based Japanese car manufacturer rolled-out the red carpet for the all-new 2013 Crown.
Two flavors of the Crown are on offer: a commanding Royal and a stylish Athlete.
Published in
Newly Launched
Thursday, 20 December 2012 08:50
Toyota reaches highest annual sales ever with 1 month still to go in 2012
Only 11 months has passed this 2012, and yet, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has already broken their annual sales record in history. Based on the latest CAMPI report, TMP and Lexus Manila Inc. has sold a total of 58,890 units this year so far, capturing 34.6% of the market share.
This achievement puts TMP on track to take their 11th consecutive Triple Crown with the top spot in the Passenger Car Segment (30.8%), Commercial Vehicle Segment (36.8%), and Overall Sales.
Published in
Industry Update
Tuesday, 18 December 2012 08:57
TMP confirms all-new 2013 RAV4 is coming in January
Words by Christopher Kho | Photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Corporation
By now, you would have already seen pictures of the all-new 2013 RAV4, which is sleeker, smarter, and somewhat stouter than the model it replaces. It just made its world debut at the recent LA Auto Show, so we were guessing that it should take a couple more months before it arrives on our shores. But according to Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) President Michinobu Sugata, the all-new RAV4 is actually ready to hit local dealerships by January 2013.
Sugata made the rather surprising announcement at a private Christmas luncheon with the press. And more importantly, they gave us a copy of the brochure (complete with all the specs), which we're more than happy to share with you.
Published in
Newly Launched
Thursday, 06 December 2012 06:01
Mazda CX-5 beats the 86 and BRZ as Japan's 2012 - 2013 Car of the Year
Words by Christopher Kho
Well waddya know. Contrary to popular belief, the The Toyota 86, and its fraternal twin the Subaru BRZ, apparently is not the best car to come out from the land of the rising sun this year. Beating it by 45 votes is the all-new Mazda CX-5 which earned the coveted title of 2012 - 2013 Car of the Year Japan.
According to the Japan Car of the Year (JCOTY) committee, the 86 and BRZ did impress with its “thrilling rear-wheel-drive handling, high-revving boxer engine, and reasonable price. But it was the CX-5's “revolutionary SKYACTIV technology, great handling, and economical clean diesel engine” that impressed the jurors the most.
Published in
News
