By Aida Sevilla-Mendoza
Philippine Daily Inquirer

SIX years ago, Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) introduced an out-of-town driving excursion and competition called the Isuzu Challenge to demonstrate the versatility and fuel efficiency of its vehicles. The Isuzu Challenge soon became a much-anticipated annual event for motoring journalists and Isuzu vehicle owners alike.

Lately, IPC has expanded participation in its out-of-town driving events to include the lifestyle as well as the motoring media. IPC’s recent “Great Drive, Great Life” two-day happening, for example, had trendy lifestyle outdoor activities on the agenda such as trap shooting, cruising aboard a yacht around Subic Bay, horseback riding and sailing as well as the usual driving skill contest of an off-road slalom course and river crossing with the 2008 Isuzu Alterra.

Apparently, IPC is presenting its flagship model, the Alterra, in a new light. Strong, durable, reliable, all-terrain and fuel-efficient, yes, but also comfortable, smooth, on-street driveable and well-suited for long family trips and leisure activities. Since the Alterra is built on the same platform as the Global D-Max and is powered by the same engine, it inevitably acquired the rough-and-ready image of a made-over pickup truck rather than a family-friendly sport utility vehicle. IPC is trying to balance that image.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

CHECK out this video INQUIRER.net reporter Relly Carpio took of world-renowned precision driver Russ Swift wowing the crowd with his driving skills at the show grounds of the Manila International Auto Show 2008

.

For his performances, Swift used the new Subaru Impreza WRX STI and the MI Rally Model, which is an exact replica of the winning Subaru car in the World Rally Championships.

By Relly Carpio
INQUIRER.net

MAZDA has revealed the all-new Mazda MX-5 Retractable Hard Top (RHT) that combines the comfort and convenience of a hard top with the exhilaration of a convertible. The new MX-5 is inspired by the Japanese phrase Jinba Ittai that literally means “oneness between horse and rider.”

Check out the video I took.

Sarah Meier, model and MTV VJ, was on hand for the revealing. Eric Malimban, the marketing manager of Mazda Philippines, expressed his excitement about the third-generation Miata, saying, “the Mazda MX-5 RHT is the epitome of Mazda’s stylish, innovative brand essence and the realization of the Zoom-Zoom spirit Mazda is known for.”

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By Relly Carpio
INQUIRER.net

CHANA Automobile Co. Ltd., China’s largest minivan producer, made its Philippine debut on Thursday at the Manila International Auto Show.

Stephen Sy, president of Focus Ventures Inc., Chana’s exclusive Philippine distributor, was on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Chana is offering a wide product range with three distinct categories: the super mini, the minivans and the minitrucks/multi-carry vehicles. All models are equipped with 1.3 liter 16 valve engines. Each comes with a three-year warranty, “which shows our commitment and trust in the product,” Sy said.

Their carrier product is the Benni, a super mini, at P438,000, available in manual or automatic, with power steering, driver’s airbag, ABS, power windows and front and rear fog lamps. The Benni was styled in Italy, and is a survivor of the Chana Trax Experience, where Chana took their vehicles on an 80-day drive for 26,000 kms from China to South Africa.

Chana also offered three 8-seater compact MPVs — the Starlight, Star II and the CM8 — and three compact mini-truck models.

By Relly Carpio
INQUIRER.net

FORD introduced its Ford Focus TDCi, the first diesel-fed vehicle to “hit the track” in the Philippines. It was developed together with Tuason Racing School (TRS). JP Tuason, owner of TRS, said he was “delightfully surprised to have done very little modification on the Focus, showcasing its real ’street to track’ capability.”

TRS matched the engine with an enhanced suspension, fiberglass body parts, K&N filters, racing brake pads, six-point rollcage, racing seats, racing seatbelts and a fire extinguisher. But the engine was kept stock, a powerful engine at 136 HP with its 2nd-generation common rail injection technology.

Here’s a video I took of Ford Group Philippines president Richard Baker unveiling the Ford Focus TDCi on Day 1 of the Manila International Auto Show.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By Relly Carpio
INQUIRER.net

THE MANILA International Auto Show 2008 opened Thursday at the World Trade Center in Pasay.

Apart from many of the major car manufacturers, the list of exhibitors includes a number of car accessories and services suppliers. Among the highlights in the show activities is the presence of precision driver Russ Swift who will perform for the duration of the event, which will run until April 6 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Here’s a video I took of Subaru CEO Glenn Tan unveiling the new Subaru Impreza WRX STI and the MI Rally Model, which is an exact replica of the winning Subaru car in the World Rally Championships.

Swift will be using the brand new Imprezas for his performances.

More on that soon.

By Aida Sevilla-Mendoza
Philippine Daily Inquirer

FORD MOTOR CO.’S sale of its Jaguar and Land Rover brands to India’s Tata Motors Ltd. for $1.7 billion is just one sign of a big shift in the global auto industry.

That an Asian manufacturer producing the world’s cheapest car, the $2,500 Nano, would buy two luxury British marques from an ailing US giant automaker is ironic enough. It could only mean that Tata intends to become a global player, using Jaguar and Land Rover’s advanced technologies to challenge high-end competitors like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

Ford, which lost more than $15 billion in the past two years, sold Jaguar and Land Rover at a loss to help fund its restructuring effort after having spun off assets such as the Hertz car rental agency and Aston Martin.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By Charles E. Buban
Philippine Daily Inquirer

LET’S face it, those who could afford the 2008 4×4 Isuzu Alterra has to be well-situated financially, able to have at least P1.673 million of spare cash (or won’t mind paying the equivalent monthly obligation).

Indeed, these Alterra buyer has the ability to enjoy a lifestyle a lot of us could only dream of.

Well, this writer was able to taste that sort of lifestyle when Isuzu Philippines organized Isuzu Alterra… Great Drive, Great Life event a couple of weeks ago where invited motoring media participated in an off-road gymkhana, shooting clay targets (with a shotgun), had lunch aboard a yacht (while cruising Subic Bay in Zambales), went sailing, joined in a modified equestrian competition and finally tried Subic Bay Yacht Club’s fabled synchronized head and foot massage.

[Read the rest of this entry »]

By Aida Sevilla-Mendoza
Philippine Daily Inquirer

“HEY, that’s the same engine!” exclaimed a friend of mine when he opened the hood of the 2008 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G.

This friend, who is technically savvy about cars, was correct. The 10th generation Corolla which debuted in Manila this March is powered by either of two engines: the IZZ-FE 1.8-liter,16-valve, 4-in-line, DOHC, VVT-i or the 3ZZ-FE 1.6-liter, 16-valve, 4-in-line DOHC, VVT-i. These are the same powerplants in the 2004 Corolla Altis.

But with a slight difference: whereas the 1.8-liter 2004 Corolla Altis packed 147 PS/6,000 rpm, the latest 1.8-liter’s horsepower has been reduced to 132 PS/6,000 rpm to comply with Euro 3 emission standards. Max torque is now 170 Nm/4,200 rpm compared to 188 Nm/4,200 rpm in the outgoing model.

[Read the rest of this entry »]