Displaying items by tag: toyota

Toyota PH's Q1 2013 sales up by 33%; Bags 41.3% of the market share

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:05:38 +0000

What does one do when they're already the No. 1 car manufacturer in the Philippines? Extend your lead by a country mile of course. And that's exactly what Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has been doing for the first four months of 2013.

TMP just reported a 33% increase in sales for Q1 of 2013, compared to the same period last year. If you punch in the numbers, they've sold 23,395 Toyotas from January to April and earns them 41.3% of the market share according to the latest report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI). That roughly means that for every five cars sold in the Philippines, two of those are Toyotas.

April 2013's figures are quite remarkable as well. TMP registered sales of 6,334 units which is only 612 units shy of their record-breaking sales month in October 2012. This also allowed them to maintain their lead in both the Passenger Car and Commercial Vehicle segment selling 1,990 units and 4,344 units respectively.

Looking at the specifics, the Vios continues to be country's best-selling vehicle with 1,476 units sold in the month of April alone. Putting that into perspective, Toyota sells just about as many Vios' than all of Ford Philippines' models combined in a month. And with an all-new model expected to arrive in July, we can only guess how much bigger the sales number would grow. The Innova, on the other hand, maintains its position as the country's No. 1 MPV with sales reaching 1,245 units last month.

“TMP experienced positive sales across the board, seeing continued strength with our locally manufactured Vios leading the charge,” said TMP President Michinobu Sugata. “2013 is forecasted to be another record breaking year as reflected in the performance of the industry in the 1st four months of the year. We can expect this trend to continue as the Philippines shows growth in its economy and specifically the automotive industry.”

Vaseline wants you to Be The Man and win Toyota 86

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:50:36 +0000

For those of you who have been out of touch, Vaseline nowadays makes more than just petroleum jelly that people use to lubricate their *ahem* unmentionables. Believe it or not, they also have skin care products for men such as facial washes and moisturizers. Yes, men need to feel clean and beautiful too. But if you disagree, then maybe this will change your mind.

Vaseline just launched the “Be The Man, Win the Car” promo. Simply put, you can win a brand new car by buying (and hopefully using) any of Vaseline's skin care products for men. And they're not raffling off just any other car like a Mitsubishi Mirage or Ford Fiesta. No! No! No! These guys want you to “Be The Man” when you drive home your very own Toyota 86 - a car we at Kotse.com consider as the latest quintessential rear-wheel-drive two-door sports car. Of course, there can only be one “Man” and thus, they're only giving away one Toyota 86.

If you took the time to read the fine print, it does say that the Toyota 86 they'll be giving away is “subject to availability of color.” But who cares if it's not red? It's still a Toyota 86, right? We're just not quite sure though why Vaseline calls the grand prize a Toyota 86 “Limited Edition” when, in our knowledge, there's no such thing. Again, who cares.

Want an 86? Good. All you have to do is to follow these three Simple Steps to Win:

BUY any Vaseline Men Facial Wash or Moisturizer Tube with sticker on pack
SCRATCH the sticker to reveal the code
TEXT VMEN to 2600


 
Note: Each text will be charged P2.50/txt for Smart/Globe and P2.00/txt for Sun.
 
But wait, there's more! After texting the code, you can earn more raffle entries by entering your mobile phone number at this [link]. They're also giving away instant load to some lucky winners.
 
To prevent you from getting lost in the myriad of Vaseline Men products in the supermarket. Here are some of the products you can choose from to enter the “Be The Man, Win the Car” promo:
Vaseline Men Face Antispot Whitening Moisturizer with Oil Control
 Vaseline Men Face Antispot Whitening Moisturizer with SPF 15.
 Vaseline Men Whitening Body Wash with Active Whitening
 Vaseline Men Face Antispot Whitening Face Wash with Glacial Clay for Oil Control
 Vaseline Men Face Antispot Whitening Face Scrub with Microbeads for Anti Dullness
 Vaseline Men Face Antispot Whitening Face Wash with Activated Carbon for Spots Removal
 
Before you begin daydreaming about driving around in your brand new Toyota 86, you might want to take note that Vaseline “Be The Man, Win the Car” promo lasts until July 15, 2013 only. You might also want to use the Vaseline Men products you bought so at least you'll look as good as the car you'll be driving.
 
For more info and details, visit Vaseline Men's Official Facebook page.



Point and Shoot | 2012 Toyota 86 TRD AT
Thu, 09 May 2013 02:21:56 +0000
Words by Ferman Lao | Photos by Christopher Kho
 

In 2012, we got the opportunity to field test one of the latest quintessential sports car, the Toyota 86.
 
It bears one of the most attractive modern interpretations of the classic sports car silhouette - a svelte low hood and roof line, steeply-raked windscreen, two doors, two seats (we don't consider the rear vestigial seats to be real), and a sweeping short rear end. Its character lines show the level of attention to detail that the designers put into the 86. One such example are the indents on the hood that wrap around the Toyota emblem and flow all the way to the roof. Not only does it look good, but also have an aerodynamic function. This is an indication that the engineers have been given free reign too.

 
The 2.0L boxer engine's state-of-the-art dual injection system allows it to be both frugal under light throttle and powerful when the pedal kisses the proverbial metal floor. Gear heads will appreciate the elegance when each of the injection systems activate individually or in unison as the demanded by driver behind the wheel.
 
We absolutely loved it! After all, what's not to love? And if it wasn't evident then, we'll make it known so now. That's because we managed to get our hands on its' more rambunctious brother, the Toyota 86 TRD.
 


 
T-R-D 
Mention the letters TRD to any Toyota-phile and you'll immediately get nods of approval and awe. Toyota Racing Development is the in-house tuning arm responsible for almost every performance-enhanced Toyota, Lexus, and Scion vehicle in existence. As the name implies, it also takes care of Toyota's motorsports interest globally. 
  
For the 86 TRD, the immediate indicator that this is not your “everyday sports car” is the fully functional aero kit. The front spoiler sports an air dam as well as abbreviated canards that increase downforce and channel the wind around the front end as velocities rise. The theme continues with the side skirts, trunk spoiler, and rear skirt with an integrated lower diffuser. Everything here is designed to enhance the 86 in going faster both in a straight line and thru the corners.
 
The TRD adjustable-height coil over suspension lowers the vehicle slightly while significantly improving handling over the standard car. The improvement, however, comes at a price both literally and figuratively. Aside from the P200,000+ price tag, the 86's comfort changes from everyday drivable to a rather uncomfortable that's better suited for the track.
 



 
For those who may not necessarily require the high performance suspension but still want better corner control, the myriad of TRD stiffeners, which are mostly unseen, will be the better choice. This includes the TRD front and rear stabilizer bars, which offer better roll control without giving up much in ride quality.
 
Other performance-enhancing hardware scattered around the car include a high pressure radiator cap which allows for a much higher boil over point for the coolant, a low-restriction free-flowing air filter, and a matching quad-tip free flowing sport exhaust muffler. Meanwhile, a few cosmetic touches such as TRD badging on the step sills, TRD oil cap, and the TRD red start-stop button gives it just a tad more air of authority over those not so equipped.
  

 
A Sharper Tool in the Shed
Does it all work? Of course! The 86 TRD drives that much sharper and stays planted through corners either at an everyday pace or at more elevated speeds which puts one's license at risk of being canned.
 
Point, shoot, bullseye. That best describes how precisely and instinctively the car handles.
 
An interesting observation that may be best answered by those with more in-depth personal knowledge is that throttle response vis a vis the standard 86 is definitely much better. Whether it is only because of the enhanced intake and exhaust flow capabilities alone or a more aggressive ECU programming, we can only surmise. The only thing we know for sure is, it's definitely something we love very much, like almost everything else on and about the car.
 
Now, if only ordering one was a much more pleasant experience than it currently is, it would be the perfect modern sports car in every sense of the word.
 
All in all, the add-ons from TRD will come up at around P800,000. That's on top of the price of the 86 itself. But do note that each upgrade can be bought separately from the dealership so choose as you see fit.
 

 


Toyota Motorsport GmbH builds race-ready GT86 CS-V3
Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:36:05 +0000
Words by Ferman Lao | Photos courtesy of Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG)
 

In case you haven't noticed, it's an open secret that the Toyota 86 was made for far greater things than just being a fun little sports coupe. It's not just for someone suffering from a midlife crisis or some yuppie who think that he's got it made. No sir! The Toyota 86 is so much more than that. Its mission in life is to remind all of us that we drive not just to get from point A to point B. Instead, driving is a skill that needs to be nurtured and the drive should be as much fun as the destination itself.
 
With that in mind, Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) created a “cost-effective” motorsport version of the 86. After an auspicious development period, wherein it finished 1st in its class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, the car dubbed the TMG GT86 CS-V3 is now available on sale as an entry-level race car that offers low maintenance and running costs at a price that won't break the bank - €38,500 excluding tax to be exact or P2.071 million. This makes it the perfect choice for anyone who wants to get into motorsports.

 


 
The TMG GT86 CS-V3 is competition-ready out of the box. It was specifically developed for the V3 class of the Nürburgring-based VLN series, but can likewise be raced in any production-based championship.
  
To prepare the Toyota 86 for racing duties, TMG calls on its wide motorsports acumen and equips the car with a racing exhaust, suspension, and 16-inch disk brakes with additional brake cooling. Meanwhile, the chassis has been made significantly stiffer with help from an FIA-approved roll cage apart from “optimizing weight distribution.” They've also slapped on a set of racing slicks mounted on 17-inch wheels.
 

 
But to meet production-based homologation, the 2.0L four-cylinder boxer engine and six-speed manual transmission were left untouched. That means it still packs the same 200 hp and 205 Nm of torque. Acceleration, however, is a bit quicker thanks to less weight and stickier tires, so it now reaches 100 km/h in just 7.0 seconds.
 
The end product is a head-turning competitive race car that's built to the highest standards with the sole objective of delivering a fun and affordable racing experience.
 


Toyota, Nissan, and Mazda entangled in a massive Global Airbag Recall too
Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:45:09 +0000
Words by Christopher Kho
 

Just yesterday, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) issued a voluntary safety recall of some 9,743 units of 2001 - 2002 Civics and CR-Vs due to a faulty passenger side airbag. This was part of Honda's global campaign that involves more than 1.1 million vehicles world wide. Well, from the looks of it, they're not the only one with this problem because fellow Japanese giants Toyota, Nissan, and Mazda are also dealing with the same problem too.
 
You see, these four have been souring their airbag inflators from Takata - the world's second largest supplier of airbags and seatbelts. But due to a manufacturing defect, the airbags Takata supplied may not inflate correctly and cause injury. So technically, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, or Honda are not at fault as some others would perceive.

 
Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) said that it was recalling 1.7 million cars worldwide, which includes models such as the Corolla, Camry, Tundra, and Lexus SC 430 manufactured between 2001 and 2003. Nissan and Mazda, on the other hand, are recalling 480,000 and 45,000 cars, respectively. If you add them all up (including Honda), that's a grand total of 3.4 million cars!
 
So far, only HCPI has issued an official recall in the Philippines to address the faulty airbag issue.
 
Meanwhile, Berjaya Auto Philippines CEO Steven Tan assured us that all local Mazda units are not affected by the recall. He explains that only 2003 models of the Mazda 6 are included, whereas the Mazda 6 was launched in 2004 in the Philippines thus making all local units unaffected. Also part of the recall is the Mazda RX-8 - a model which was never sold here locally apart for some gray imports.
 
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has also issued an official statement regarding the matter. “As of now, TMP is currently assessing the effects of the global recall. We have yet to determine if this has an effect to vehicles sold in the PH market. We shall provide the necessary information in the coming days as soon as it becomes available,” remarked TMP Vice President Atty. Rommel Gutierrez.
 
Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. (NMPI), on the other hand, is still waiting for a service bulletin from their parent company in Japan if the vehicles sold here will have to be recalled.
 
[Source: CNN.com]
 


Toyota unwraps the all-new 2013 Vios in Bangkok (w/ video)
Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:54:07 +0000
Words by Christopher Kho | Photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Thailand Co. Ltd.
 

Remember that pudgy kid back in high school? The smart straight-A student who always had a smile on his face and was everybody's friend, including the entire faculty. He was never quite popular with the girls though, that is, until college came along. It's as if he went through a complete makeover overnight. Now a lot slimmer, dressed sharper, and well-groomed, he's the nice guy everyone wants to be friends with in the university - all of which the all-new 2013 Toyota Vios wants to be when it made its world debut at the Bangkok International Motor Show.

 
The past two generations of the Vios were considered “safe” choices. Practical, comfy, and affordable - traits that made it the Philippines' best-selling car for quite some time. But this all-new model wants to be more than that.
 


 
Toyota took a bolder step design-wise in making the third generation Vios really stand out. It wears the brand's new signature fascia that comprises of a pair of arrow-shaped projector headlights with an upper chrome insert and an 86-inspired trapezoidal lower grill. At the back, there's a subtle spoiler integrated onto the trunk, corner reflectors, and tail lights that look sharp enough to cut through the competition.
 
When compared to the previous' gum-drop shape, the all-new Vios looks more proportional. Longer front and rear overhangs visually makes it bigger, while lines running along the body gives it a stronger temparament. Then, they've fitted larger 16-inch wheels to fill up the wheel wells.
 
As far as size goes, the all-new Vios measures at 4,410 mm long, 1,700 mm wide, and 1,475 mm tall. That makes it 110 mm longer and 15 mm taller than its predecessor. This allows for a roomier cabin that will be much appreciated by all passengers.
 


 
Because you'll spend most of the time inside, Toyota put in just as much effort in redesigning the interior. The nicely sculpted dashboard is encrusted with silver and chrome pieces and, from pictures, looks to be covered in leather. All seats provide better side support and now come with headrests. The gauges, on the other hand, have been repositioned in front of the driver as opposed to the centrally-mounted layout of the previous two generations. Aside from a new 2DIN headunit and auto climate control, the all-new Vios also comes with “acoustic glass” that is supposed to reduce cabin noise while driving. Driver and passenger airbags, ABS, EBD, and a Theft Deterrent System (TDS) come in as standard features.
 
Power is sourced from the same 1NZ-FE 1.5L four-cylinder VVT-i engine that delivers 107 hp and 141 Nm of torque. The five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmission are likewise carried-over to this model. Quite interestingly, there's no mention of a cheaper 1.3L variant in the line-up.
 

 
Apart from the usual G, E, an J variants, they've added a new S variant which stands for “sporty.” It has an all-black interior (instead of beige), Start/Stop button, and smart keyless entry. Other than that, it doesn't have any mechanical differences from the other three variants that should make it go faster.
 
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the all-new 2013 Toyota Vios. Now all grown up, it finally has the looks to get all the girls’ attention, plus more. Expect it to arrive in the Philippines by June 2013.
 
 

 


Toyota's i-Road concept is a practical EV trike for two
Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:30:07 +0000
Words by Jade Lu | Photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Corporation
 

Toyota is no stranger to unorthodox personal mobility vehicles. Thankfully, unlike their previous four-wheeled experiments, their latest concept is more geared for realistic street use unlike the old egg- or wheelchair-like drones. The name could use a sprucing, though.
 
The Japanese automaker recently debuted the i-Road at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. With three wheels, two seats, and zero emissions, the i-Road is a totally electric concept vehicle meant to reduce the energy consumptions attached to transportation.

 
It stands at less than one meter wide for motorcycle-like maneuverability. And speaking of motorcycle-like, the i-Road is equipped with new Active Lean technology, which automatically leans the vehicle while cornering to provide a safe driving experience without the need for helmets. This is good, especially at higher speeds, but how fast can this thing go, really?
 


 
The i-Road is powered by a lithium ion battery mated to two 2kW electric motors mounted in the front wheels. It can run up to about 50 km in a single full charge, after which it can be fully recharged with a conventional power outlet within three hours. There are no official numbers on how fast this can go, but we doubt it would go very fast. Not like it matters. The i-Road is meant to address environmental concerns, not for drag racing on the streets.
 
This three-wheeled two-seater concept vehicle is not anything particularly new, as other manufacturers have their own versions of green machines. But that is not to say Toyota is welcome in joining the race, especially in an all-electric concept. We welcome the i-Road with open arms, hoping a budget-friendly production version of it would come about soon. Manila could really use these!
 


Toyota's FT-86 Open Concept is perfect for wives and comb-overs (w/ video)
Tue, 12 Mar 2013 02:17:01 +0000
Words by Carl Trocio | Photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Corporation
 

Still basking in the success of creating “THE” drivers’ car to have - the Toyota 86 - Toyota came to the 2013 Geneva Motor Show to unveil their most-probably-to-be-produced concept of a topless version of their new starlet. And similar to a child star who “grew up” in all the right places, seeing a topless version of that would get mixed reactions. Set your eyes on the FT-86 Open Concept.
 
Aside from the obvious loss of a roof, an automatic tranny, and interior cosmetics, Toyota says it’s the same banana. Instead of a fixed metal roof, they put in an electronic-folding multi-layered fabric top with a glass rear screen all stowed behind the rear seats - all while maintaining the 2+2 seating format. Some genius might say that the headless horsey will be lighter than the coupe, but the top mechanism doo hickies and additional chassis strengthening doodads might make up for the loss of sheet metal weight.

 
As for the performance side, the FT-86 open concept will still be launched by a 200 hp boxer engine but might only be offered with an automatic six-speed flappy paddled quick draw tranny.
 

 
Now comes the sad part (for most of us). In nicer terms, the FT-86 Open Concept bears an elegant white exterior body which is carried over to the accents on the dashboard. This is then contrasted with golden yellow carpets, while navy blue leather covers the rest of the interior. Umm... is it just me or does it look like it was colored by a four-year-old watching Sailor Moon? (Queue “In the Navy” and “The Love Boat” songs.)
 
It seems that Toyota has made a compromise to target a wider market band. The hard-headed Toyota 86 was targeted to be a real drivers’ car. It's for people who has the passion to drive and enjoy the labors of such exercise. These are people with dirt under their nails, a racing line in their heads, and helmets in the trunk. All they think about are stuff to put in the car to enhance the driving experience.
 
And then they took the roof off…
 

 
The FT-86 Open Concept now attracts women, middle-aged men with comb overs, and douche bags. When the Toyota 86 first came out, its natural habitat was on an asphalt road, a track, or somewhere we can enjoy the full perks of what the car can give. The Open Concept looks like it belongs in a shampoo commercial.
 
I admit the car is a looker. It should enter your family as a “and” car not an “or” car. Get the coupe first. And if the wife doesn’t start yapping, get her the Open Concept. The world is full of compromises.
 
 

 


Toyota confirms debut of open-top 86 at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show
Fri, 08 Feb 2013 01:48:58 +0000
Words by Christopher Kho
 

How do you make the world's most thrilling front-engined rear-wheel-drive lightweight sports car even better? By chopping its roof off, of course and turning it into a cabriolet. Toyota has confirmed that the “FT-86 Open concept” will make its public debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in March. While no exact details have been published, they did give us this sketch to contemplate upon.
 
According to Toyota, the concept is a “possible future development” of the Toyota 86 sports coupe. That means they're not exactly quite sure if it should go into production and they'll gauge the public's reaction to the model to know if they'll push through with it or not.

 
Judging by the artist sketch alone, the drop-top Toyota 86 will not have a fancy-schmancy trunk cover like those found on more expensive supercar convertibles. It retains its 2+2 seating configuration which is slightly “better” than the Mazda MX-5 strict two-seater configuration. There is, however, no word if it will come with a soft or automatically folding hard top. And as of the moment, Toyota is still carrying out engineering tests on a prototype, probably to check the chassis' rigidity and handling abilities now that the roof's gone.
 


Toyota officially reclaims title as world's largest automaker
Fri, 01 Feb 2013 01:17:47 +0000
Words by Christopher Kho
 

This is it! The official numbers are finally in, and Toyota is once again the world's largest automaker. Its 2012 global vehicle sales report show that the Japanese giant sold 9.748 million vehicles, which means it dethrones General Motors - who sold 9.29 million vehicles last year - from the no. 1 spot. Coming in at third is the Volkswagen group, which includes VW, Audi, and Porsche, with sales tallying at 9.09 million vehicles.

 
The feat was no easy task for Toyota, considering the number of trials it went through in 2012. Their sales and production were drastically hurt by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan in early 2011, followed by the floods in Thailand later that year. The consequences of both tragedies were so great, that it even caused a supply shortage here in the Philippines.
 
After that crisis, Toyota was hit by a different kind of problem in mid 2012. Sparked by a dispute over a group of islands in the East China Sea, there was a widespread boycott of Japanese products, Toyota vehicles included, in China. Things got so bad that Japanese vehicles were being burned on the street by Chinese protesters.
 
But now that all of those problems are behind them, Toyota can now enjoy the fruits of their labor. Toyota's global vehicle sales jumped by 23% in 2012, which is comprised of a 19% increase in overseas sales and an impressive 35% increase in Japan.
 
GM has been the world's top-selling automaker for more than seven decades before it lost the title to Toyota in 2008. It then reclaimed the crown in 2011 when Toyota was recuperating from the effects of the Japan earthquake and Thailand floods.
 
So what's next for Toyota? Well, they're planning to sell 9.91 million vehicles in 2013 which is in line with for their goal of selling 10 million vehicles in a year.