I had to check my calendar while writing this Spec Showdown. That’s because it’s a battle between the all-new Nissan Z and the Toyota GR Supra. I just had to make sure that it wasn’t the 1990s all over again (or else, my laptop should be running on Windows 98)! Indeed, the Z and the Supra have been at it for decades. And with rear-wheel-drive Japanese sports coupes becoming in vogue again, it’s no surprise that the latest iterations of these iconic nameplates get stout powertrains and eye-catchi

The GAC GS3 Emzoom is quite possibly one of the most exciting models that will come to the Philippines this year. The subcompact crossover will launch on June 30, 2023 with a starting price of under ₱1 million. It also has pricing and features that match and even beat the likes of the popular Geely Coolray. But there’s one rather unique thing about this new Chinese crossover. The top-spec GL variant will have a special exhaust system as standard. When you listen to it on YouTube, it makes poppin

I’m more of a tuning kind of guy, and I purchase aesthetic and functional mods to make my driving more satisfying. I want my cars to ride smoothly for everyday driving while handling sharply on sweeping bends and tight corners. I like to lower a vehicle to reduce car lean while cornering hard and to make them look good to my eyes. But I'm also not too fond of crashy suspensions and those that hop over bumps because they lack travel and have springs that are as stiff as a sore neck. In the same w

Since the launch of the Honda Civic Type R FL5 last week, interest in the Japanese hot hatch has skyrocketed. During the brand's media Thanksgiving event, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. executives claimed that only 40 units of the Civic Type R were initially brought in, and 39 of these will be sold to the public through its dealers. Some new owners have already posted their latest acquisitions on social media, proud to be the first to own a certified everyday sports car. With so few units availabl

Learning to drive “stick” is not really unusual in the Philippines – every driving school has a course on that. But in the United States, where automatics have ruled the roost for decades, driving a manual gearbox seems to have become a dying art, to the point that MINI has opened a special program for its American clients. The British carmaker announced in a November 2022 press statement that it will open the MINI Manual Driving School, in light of the brand’s decision to offer three pedals in

After a year of hiatus, Toyota and Subaru have unveiled the 2022 version of the Toyota 86. This sports coupe is a partnership project between Japanese automakers - Toyota Motor Company and Subaru Corporation. This model entry has a massive impact on popularity because of its affordable price in the automotive market against European sports car brands. This year’s version is extra special for car enthusiasts as Toyota 86 2022 has a lot of performance improvements and style enhancements. One of th