The weather has been funny this past week. Although the smog (supposedly a tantalizing cocktail of volcanic ash and vehicle emissions) seems to have subsided somewhat, each day mixes searing heat with pouring rain. Assuming none of you have gotten a cold by now, here are your five favorite stories from September 25 to October 1, 2023. This is the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup! Chery’s EV trio From being the whipping boy of Chinese car hate locally, Chery Auto Philippines has now become on

To say that the Toyota Fortuner (Specs | News) has been a runaway hit for the brand in the Philippines is an understatement. But after 18 years, two generations, and many enhancements, Toyota is still not yet done with its venerable three-row SUV. The 2023 (yes, our friends from Autofun Thailand continue to call it a 2023 model) Toyota Fortuner with 224 PS and 550 Nm of torque has been unleashed in The Land of Smiles. The same engine that currently powers our Fortuner GR-S, LTD, and Q variants l

The Toyota Innova has a long and storied history in the Philippine market, being a crowd favorite since its introduction nearly 20 years ago. It became one of the stalwarts of the Asian Utility Vehicle segment for its versatility and exceptional ability to meet the needs of the Filipino family. Now, however, the Innova is considered a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) and has carved a niche of its own, with very few rivals being able to match its success and renown in the segment. That said, we briefl

Buying an electrified vehicle is going to be a whole lot easier, at least in Indonesia. Our friends from AutoFun Indonesia reported that the Indonesian government is finalizing a host of financial incentives for people looking to buy a hybrid-electric or fully electric vehicle (EV). As of press time, an estimated 80 million rupiah (₱283,000) discount may be given to full EV buyers, while hybrid owners may get 40 million (₱141,000) rupiah off. However, these will only be offered to models that ar

The debut of the first Ford Ranger Raptor in September 2018 represented the interesting return of a trend that many local carmakers have long rendered extinct. It helped bring back the "factory special," which are regular models that have been souped up straight out of the assembly line or showroom. The Raptor revived the spirit of cars like the old Honda Civic SIR, which offered sensational performance that made it truly distinct from its more hum-drum siblings. Ford's top-of-the-line pick-up t

What do the Honda Civic RS Turbo CVT, the Honda HR-V V Turbo CVT, and the Honda HR-V S CVT all have in common? Aside from their illustrious badge, which has signified technological innovation through the years, all are shining examples of Honda’s mastery at mixing efficiency with performance. At around Php 70 per liter, fuel prices have become volatile enough to make the average car buyer think hard about owning a car. Is the cost of purchasing and owning a brand-new vehicle still a worthy exerc