DEFENDING champions Ferrari and bitter rival McLaren have unveiled the new cars that they hope will propel them to victory in the 2008 Formula One season.
Here’s the Reuters video report.
By Aida Sevilla Mendoza
Inquirer
AS a member (and past president) of the Car Awards Group Inc. (Cagi), I didn’t give high marks to the Volvo C30 that won the Car of the Year (Coty) Award for 2007. But that’s only because I was absent when the C30 was brought to the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Cavite on the last car testing day of Coty 2007 in October.
Thus the great expectations when I was given the chance to drive the Volvo C30 for four days early last month after it had already garnered the most coveted Cagi trophy. Were these great expectations met?
Yes, as far as the C30’s styling is concerned. While the C30’s face resembles the Volvo S40 with which it shares the Ford Focus’ platform, its sloping rear end/big glass hatch sets it apart from the rest of the crowd. The C30 is simply stunning. It looks like nothing else on the road, at least from the back. Its clean lines, short overhangs and aggressive, fast-forward stance give it an eye-catching profile.
By Andre Palma
Inquirer
IN A PERFECT world, each human being should have a personal, unrestricted means of transport. For the sake of limiting this argument let us leave out bicycles, skateboards, motorcycles and beanie hats with propellers. Come on, this is a motoring column and the author does not claim any expertise or liking for anything other than automobiles after all.
With that out of the way, the “one person one car” dream is really bordering on idealistic. Even if we are able to dig into our pockets for an automobile, there is the issue of the vehicle reduction scheme.
However much you want to use your car seven days a week for the 52 weeks of every year, the last digit on your plate number will doom you to a carless day out of every seven. So in order to drive every day without fear of a traffic ticket, one actually needs a second car.
By Tessa R. Salazar
Inquirer
INQUIRER MOTORING puts the spotlight on the individuals who have made their mark in local motorsports. Let’s start with the legendary “Tito Poch.”
“A single word would describe my wishes for motoring in 2008: consideration. If everyone would show some consideration toward other drivers, we would have less traffic, stress, accidents. Simple things like not blocking the way of the cars around you, not using two lanes to make a right turn, keeping the intersections open. These are all things that require only a little consideration on our part, and it will give everyone a better road system to drive in.” — Pocholo “Tito Poch” Ramirez, 74, co-host of “Motoring Today,” racing credentials here and abroad are too many to list down, one of which is winner of the Driver of the Year title five times in the 1970s
“My wish is to see our government invest more on road safety and also better implementation of road rules.” — JP Tuason, 32, founder of Tuason Racing School and two-time Karter of the Year.
By Charles E. Buban
Inquirer
AT THE QUEZON Memorial Circle, a sprawling park at the heart of Quezon City, visitors can take a short test drive to a cleaner, greener future: For only P30 per lap, they can either take the wheel or hitch a ride on the country’s first electric car developed by a Filipino inventor.
The eight prototypes of the “G Car” built by engineer Gerry Caroro have been attracting some 100 to 200 park goers daily since the fleet was added last Nov. 30 to the Circle’s eco-themed attractions.
“My dream is for every Filipino to one day enjoy wonderful stretches of virtually pollution-free roads, with my G Cars as the principal mode of personal transport,” said Caroro, who produced the vehicles at an average cost of P280,000 per unit from his West Avenue workshop in QC.
