The INQUIRER.net VDO team reviews the Toyota Previa, a luxury minivan worth more than P2 million, via a road trip spanning more than 600 kilometers. With a little twist for Halloween, the Previa goes through the highways as its passengers inquire about the vehicle’s features.
By Leo Magno
INQUIRER.net
ALTHOUGH the 2008 Toyota Prius can hold its own in terms of stylishness and exterior aesthetics and aerodynamics, it is what lies within this vehicle that strikes me more than its superficial construction.
I’ve never been one to adore form. Rather, I go for substance. And that’s what I found most appealing in this vehicle. My own vehicles are not well-taken cared off on the outside, but their engines are humming like bulls raging to be released on the streets of Pamplona — whether it’s the color-coding car or my own daily road warrior.
Beauty fades. Your cars will get dented and they will get old and ugly. You may even encounter fender-benders and those moronic street kids who steal side mirrors. But with the Prius I couldn’t care less as long as its second-generation hybrid system continues to work its magic whether it’s the high-output electric motor or the internal combustion engine that’s making it move quickly and efficiently.
In the recent 2nd Philippine International Motor Show, INQUIRER.net speaks with several car manufacturers about the recent concept cars they have lined up in the future. These “cars of the future” are now using other alternative means of powering engines, including electricity (using more powerful and less expensive batteries). Hybrid cars are also the rage today, as manufacturers respond to pressures the global green movement to come up with ways to cut on energy consumption amid the oil price increases.
Here’s a video interview with Mitsubishi vice president for customer service Dante Santos who explains how an electric car works.
Here’s a video interview with Korean carmaker Kia Motors explaining the displayed “fuel cell electric vehicle” or FCEV. The FCEV runs on electricity produced by combining stored liquid hydrogen with oxygen, as explained by Edgardo Castro Jr., training manager for Columbian Autocar Corp, Kia’s local distributor.
Here’s also a closer look at Toyota’s hybrid Prius sedan that alternately runs on gas and electricity. Toyota has created a hybrid pickup naming it as one of their “cars for the future.” Unveiled earlier this year, the Toyota A-Bat is further elaborated on by Allen Rufo, Toyota Philippines vice president for customer service marketing, who also gives his views about hybrid vehicles in the local market. Video taken at the Philippine International Motor Show held at the World Trade Center.
Finally, Japanese carmaker Honda unveils a new version of the Jazz, also called Fit in other countries. In this video interview, Honda Philippines head of sales operations Voltaire Gonzales talks about the new features in the Jazz.
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.
By Andre Palma
Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE NEW Toyota Corolla is out. Much awaited by the public and the rest of the industry, it is rather curious that a product of this importance hasn’t broken cover with the fanfare and fuss expected of such an established model. Roughly 30 million Corollas, in 10 iterations, sold over 42 years is a lot to shout about. The relative silence over the tenth generation launch says so much.
This is a car that will definitely find itself in the garages of many Filipino families. There are those out there who will buy a Toyota Corolla, sight unseen, just on blind brand loyalty. You cannot really fault these faithful, over the years several of the past versions of this car have really been reliable, value for money automobiles. Two models — the KE7x series and the AE8x series, both of the ’80s — were actually fun to drive. Add to that the inexpensive nature of Corolla parts and you can see why many are still hooked.
Pending a test drive of the 10th Generation Corolla, a definitive verdict cannot be laid down. Although, a quick read of the specification sheet will show that very little has mechanically changed from the previous 2001-on model.
By Tessa R. Salazar
INQUIRER.net
AFTER SATISFYING over 32 million owners around the world and undergoing nine “generational” changes, the Toyota Corolla is ready to take another step up in the evolutionary ladder.
So, 42 years after the first Corollas came out of the assembly line worldwide, the 10th generation Corolla Altis makes its debut in the Philippines in March. And basing on raw measurements: the overall look can now be described as sportier, but roomier. That seems contradictory at first, but read on and you’ll get the picture.
It may not look as sporty as the 5-door Corolla Auris hatchback, the one that you will see in Europe and Japan, but at least the 10th generation Altis is sportier than its local predecessors.
By Tessa R. Salazar
Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE AUTOMOTIVE buzz last week was that US automaker General Motors Corp.’s “solid sales growth” gave it a slim lead over Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corp. in 2007 global vehicle sales, allowing it to keep its top spot for the 77th year.
GM sold 9,369,524 vehicles last year — a measly lead of 3,000 over Toyota’s 9.366 million vehicles sold last year. Automotive business analysts are expecting a more intense rivalry this year as the two compete for emerging markets like China and India.
But the No. 2 placer, it seems, isn’t complaining.
By Tessa R. Salazar
Inquirer
WAS it just coincidence that as the Inquirer flashed the news about climate change on its banner page, its Motoring section had in its possession (for a couple of days, at least) two hybrid cars from two of the world’s trailblazers in hybrid power technology?
Maybe there has been, indeed, an ultimate purpose for endeavors that would, at first, seem meaningless and a waste of time. Take, for example, our effort to drive these two hybrid cars (a Toyota Prius and a Honda Civic with Integrated Motor Assist) through some of the most congested locations in Metro Manila at the worst possible driving times (payday Friday night and Saturday afternoon).
Thus, the 1.5-liter Prius (a second-generation test unit) and the 2006 Civic 1.3 i-DSi with IMA were virtually inseparable for two days, driven in identical routes and lanes, loaded up at the same fuel stations and subjected to the same traffic situations.
By Aida Sevilla-Mendoza
Inquirer
THE 4TH Car of the Year (Coty) Philippines Awards program, which was held at the Rockwell Tent in Makati last Thursday, established quite a few firsts.
It was the first time that: a European brand won the big trophy. The 2007 Car of the Year, the Volvo C30 (shown in photo) is a sports coupe that aced the Luxury Subcompact category versus the BMW 120i and the Mercedes-Benz B160.
What’s more, the Swedish carmaker outshone its German rivals two more times when the Volvo S60 T5 won the Executive Car of the Year Award and the Volvo S80 2.5L topped the Luxury Car category.
By Andre Palma
Inquirer
THE INEVITABLE came to my garage last week in the form of a charcoal gray, four-door hatch. The nondescript car mutely crept up the incline of the driveway and powered down in almost complete silence; such a voiceless way to announce an arrival of such significance. I stared at it for a while, trying to grasp the gravity and consequence of this automobile. And in the quiet darkness of the garage, I could swear all the other cars were staring too.
This is a car that for all intents and purposes, spells the obsolescence of almost every other car on Philippine roads today. Over a million units of this very model and its similarly powered brethren inconspicuously ply roads around the globe, leaving in their wake reduced fuel consumption and some of the lowest motor vehicle carbon emissions ever. The hybrids have landed and the 2007 Toyota Prius is at the tip of the spear.
Here’s a photo of the Toyota Prius hybrid in silver pine.
Old news
Hybrids and their symbiotic petroleum and electric engines are old news in the rest of the world but only a handful of these cars are in the country. Having already tested hybrids at both Hondas Tochigi R&D and Toyotas Fuji Speedway, one can only imagine my excitement for a test drive in the Philippine setting.
