By Tessa R. Salazar
Philippine Daily Inquirer

OH, you lucky devil, mister or miss sole winner of the biggest lotto jackpot in this small corner of the world. Two hundred forty nine million pesos is truly a mind-boggling amount, and we’re sure you’d want to do a million things with that moolah. But we’re also equally certain that the first thing you’d want to buy with your “hard-earned” cash is some decent wheels, wouldn’t you?

So, before you run to the nearest showroom and clean out everything that’s on display, check out first the latest cars introduced by the leading carmakers. Hey, Inquirer Motoring won’t tell you to save your money (you’d probably laugh your head off if we said that), but what we could probably help save you is time.

The new Honda Accord and the new Mazda 6 — direct competitors and both former grand winners of Car of the Year Philippines — have been launched by their respective manufacturers Honda Cars Philippines and Mazda Philippines.

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By Charles E. Buban
Philippine Daily Inquirer

AS General Motors and Japanese rival Toyota battle it out for domination of the world auto market, GM announced it will intensify its presence in the Southeast Asian region, which the Detroit-based car giant described as one of the fastest-growing car markets in the world.

“Like China, Russia, India and Brazil, GM sees a huge opportunity for expansion in Southeast Asia. Expect more developments in the coming months, which would include introduction of new vehicle models that car buyers within this market will want at a price they can afford,” announced Steve Carlisle, president of GM Southeast Asia Operations Limited and Chevrolet Sales Thailand.

Speaking before the official opening of the 29th Bangkok International Motor Show in Thailand, Carlisle hinted at coming up with a new vehicle model that would fall under the Asian utility vehicle category, a type of vehicle that is already popular in the region, including the Philippines.

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By Andre Palma
Philippine Daily Inquirer

EMPHASIS is too often placed on the person behind the wheel. Drivers are labeled good or bad, judged in the most extreme cases, by those who would just lounge and enjoy the ride. Behind the backs of the drivers who just took them to their destination, passengers whisper about nauseating pedal work, terrible lane choice and near misses.

Passengers should understand that by agreeing to ride with someone, a meeting of the minds takes place. When people get into a car, a social contract is mutely agreed upon. Someone is going to get behind the wheel and drive, while others pile into the free seats and just go along for the ride. Even in cases where the relationship of driver and driven is strictly professional, the car’s owner may have strategic control of the automobile but the how and when is under full control of the driver.

That said the behavior of those along for the ride is a gray area at best. In the worst of situations, this is seen as a free pass to act in whichever way they want. The light jokes about back seat driving, or passengers who think that an automobile can be operated by voice command, cease to become funny when it happens to you. Admit it, ladies and gentlemen, how many times have you wished for an ejection seat function in your car, just so you can lose the noisiest and pushiest of your cargo.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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