“In this business, you gotta have a tough skin.” This is what Visor.Ph Editor-in-Chief Vernon Sarne told me at last week's BMW M2 launch event. Chief, as I fondly call him to this day (he got me to join Top Gear Philippines magazine as a cover photographer and writer back in 2010), has seen it all and has been through wars ordinary people would have waived the white flag early on. The mental and physical stress this job entails can be too much for someone who cares about his craft. So when we he

Customer service has been thrust into the spotlight with the recent events from a Chinese automaker coming onto social media and making waves. To reassure future and current customers, other brands are stepping up to the plate to ensure that their customer and aftersales services are top-notch. One of these brands is Jetour Philippines, which recently launched its customer service hotline and chatbot service. Meet Kendee the new brand mascot The brand says the move was made to ensure customer en

Disclosure: GAC Motor Philippines lent us the 2023 GAC Empow GE for one week with a full gas tank and access to its loaded RFID cards. It's a bold statement to say that something from China can give the Honda Civic, an established nameplate, a run for its money. This might be the case for the 2023 GAC Empow GE, as it ticks all the right boxes for those looking for a sporty sedan. Hear me out, though, because I know there is still a lot of controversy over Chinese vehicles, especially with the re

The Hyundai Stargazer is undoubtedly one of the most eye-catching multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) on sale today. Launched in the Philippines on November 2022, its futuristic styling and crisp, seven-seat interior make it a prime candidate to be one of Hyundai Motor Philippines’ best-sellers. But for those who want a Stargazer with a more off-road appearance, there’s always the Stargazer X that’s launching on Aug. 10, 2023 at the GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show. And even before the offici

Ford Philippines has delivered a solid retail performance for the first half of 2023 thanks to continued demand for its lineup of Next-Generation vehicles. The automaker saw retail sales increase by 55 percent from a year ago to 13,838 units sold, with the Next-Generation Ford Ranger, Ford Territory, and Ford Everest driving overall sales. The Ford Ranger emerged as the brand’s best-selling model in the country, with sales growing by 25 percent year-on-year to 5,436 units sold. Its great sales s

The Honda WR-V subcompact crossover, which was launched in Indonesia on Nov. 2, 2022, seems like a logical move for Honda Cars. Using the platform and the proven mechanicals from the all-new Honda BR-V multi-purpose vehicle, the WR-V is expected to attract young professionals (whom Honda Cars Indonesia calls the “hustlers”) and small families that want to move up from a regular subcompact sedan or hatchback. However, the Honda seems a little late to the party, especially since the Toyota Raize a