Kia Philippines recently held a round table discussion with members of the media. The South Korean automaker outlined its plans and strategies for the coming months. We were also introduced to the new Chief Operating Officer, Brian Buendia, who is set to lead the brand starting this July. At the discussion, the key members of the brand talked about its plans to better its after-sales service, expand its dealership network to 50 nationwide, and improve its service advisor and service technician s

Everyone knows by now that the all-new Ford Ranger Raptor will be launched in the Philippines on May 18, 2023. And everyone also knows by now that the ultimate version of Ford’s pick-up truck is expected to arrive on our shores with a biturbo diesel engine, although there is still hope that the mighty twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 gasoline variant could still be part of the lineup. But what everyone might not know is that you can try out the all-new Ranger Raptor the day after its launch, with Ford Ph

In the olden days, hybrid cars were meant purely for better fuel economy. Many owners put up with the soggy driving dynamics and the "econobox" equipment levels to maximize every drop of fuel. But nowadays, hybrids are becoming the top-of-the-line variants for many cars. Toyota Motor Philippines followed this approach for the Corolla Altis, Corolla Cross, and RAV4 hybrids. And even Honda Cars Thailand is getting into the act, replacing the 1.5-liter turbo engine in the top-spec 2022 Civic RS wit

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) is banking heavily on the all-new Honda BR-V to deliver a four-fold increase in market share in 2023. The carmaker announced in a Nov. 21, 2022 press conference following the launch of the BR-V that it is looking to capture 20 percent of the small sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment next year. “The current market share for the BR-V, we have five percent of the small SUV segment,” said HCPI general manager for sales Louie Soriano. “Remember, we were the first on

The Toyota Vios remains to be one of the best-selling cars in the Philippines. Since its debut in 2003, it has dominated the B-segment by offering the ideal blend of practicality, performance and running costs. Indeed, it is the go-to choice of fleet buyers who need a tough subcompact car, such as taxi operators, driving schools, the police and even racing drivers. That’s why when a new Vios arrives, it’s always big news. Indonesia was the third Southeast Asian country after Thailand and Laos to

The common English saying “crossing your Ts and dotting your Is” refers to being meticulous. With the 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross, the Japanese automaker took lessons from the previously launched competition (such as the Suzuki Ertiga, Toyota Avanza, the now-defunct Honda Mobilio, and the SsangYong Rodius) and applied them to its starter multipurpose vehicle (MPV) when it was first introduced in 2020. Two years and a pandemic have passed, and one of the Nippon diamond star’s top sellers has un