AutoFun PH Rearview Roundup: Start 2023 with these 12 awesome stories from 2022

It is now officially 2023!

And it so happens to land on the day that we run the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup.

But instead of presenting the top stories from last week, we bring you our 12 most popular articles from the year before.

We sifted through all the stuff we wrote (and there was a lot!). We crunched the numbers.

Here is the dozen that captured your attention in 2022.

#12 – Goodbye, Sir Albert

Even though we are celebrating the arrival of the New Year, we start on a bit of a sad note.

Former Transportation undersecretary Alberto Suansing passed away on Sept. 23, 2022 at the age of 70.

A fierce advocate of improving Philippine road safety, he is best remembered for his energetic, comprehensive and easy-to-understand lectures on the dangers of the streets.

We hope you’ll keep watching over us in our commutes and road trips, Sir Albert.

#11 – The all-electric Jag

Jaguars epitomize traditional British luxury by combining space, pace and grace.

For the 21st century, Jaguar has let go of its old-world image by welcoming the electric revolution with its Jaguar I-PACE crossover.

AutoFun Philippines content head Mikko David got to try out the I-PACE with Jaguar Philippines head Chris Ward. 

As a former touring-car driver, was Mikko was impressed by the British carmaker’s opening salvo to the luxury electric-vehicle (EV) market?

#10 – EVIDA law offers perks to going electric

My first story after leaving the motoring beat for four years was about a piece of groundbreaking motoring legislation.

The implementing rules and regulations of Republic 11697 or the “Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act” (EVIDA) came into effect on Sept. 20, 2022.

The law offers a variety of incentives for people who buy an EV, including exemptions from number coding and discounts at the Land Transportation Office.

For 2023, the government is eyeing the removal of tariffs to make imported EVs cheaper. Would all this tempt you to buy one?

#9 – Are you the next Mitsubishi ASX?

The Mitsubishi XFC Concept may look like it's from the year 2040, but it points to a potential new crossover for the Japanese carmaker.

Mitsubishi Motors president and CEO Takao Kato said in a speech that the production version is expected to go on sale in ASEAN markets as early as April 2023, including an electrified variant.

The XFC Concept is also the first Mitsubishi to come with Wet Mode, which was designed for ASEAN countries to enable safe driving on roads flooded by rain showers.

How much of the XFC Concept’s dramatic hexagonal design will make it to the final version?

#8 – Yamaha Philippines Racing Team suffers setbacks in Malaysia

In motorsports, nothing is ever assured.

And this was certainly the case for the Yamaha Philippines Racing Team at Round 4 of the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) in Sepang, Malaysia last October 2022.

The team, which is composed of McKinley Kyle Paz, April King Mascardo and Gian Carlo Mauricio, hoped to replicate Mascardo's podium finish in the previous round.

However, a combination of penalties and a DNF over the race weekend dashed all hopes for spots on the podium.

But in motorsports, you never say die.

#7 – Hyundai goes all-in for EVs

Hyundai Motor Company is not the only carmaker investing in EVs, but it certainly isn’t skimping on investment.

The Korean carmaker said on October 2022 that it plans to have 23 electrified models by 2025, along with reaching one million sales and a 10-percent global market share by the same year.

One of the models in Hyundai’s push for electric is the IONIQ 5 crossover, which is slated for launch in the Philippines on January 2023.

Would an electric Hyundai be in your garage anytime soon?

#6 – Honda rolls out 5 off-road motorcycles

Honda Philippines Inc. (HPI) did not hold back when it unveiled its new off-road motorcycle lineup on November 2022.

The company debuted the CRF450R, CRF250R, CRF150R, CRF125F Big Wheel and CRF125F all in one go. The CRF450R and the CRF250R are the steeds of choice of motocross champions Chase Sexton and Jett Lawrence.

HPI also said it plans to push harder for the 2023 motocross season.

Would you like to take flight with these dirt-track two-wheelers?

#5 – All that’s hot at the 2022 Manila Auto Salon

AutoFun Philippines contributor Francis Pallarco loves all things custom, which is why he was more than happy to cover the 2022 Manila Auto Salon.

The show featured some of the best builds from local shops, ranging from sleek supercars to towering off-road rigs.

Which of the cars featured at the show took your breath away?

#4 – Japanese quality, European chic

The Yamaha Mio Fazzio seems to have everything you could want in a scooter.

You get the cool looks of a European model, but with the reliable and superbly engineered mechanicals of a highly experienced motorcycle manufacturer like Yamaha.

The Mio Fazzio is also the country’s only hybrid scooter, promising truly sensational fuel economy. AutoFun Philippines motorcycle editor Gilbert Chao seemed rather impressed by it.

Despite all this, is the little Yamaha something you’d want to ride around in?

#3 – The hybrid Toyota Vios is coming!

The all-new Toyota Vios hasn’t even been launched in the Philippines yet, but our ASEAN neighbors are getting exciting new variants.

Our friends at sister publication WapCar Malaysia were able to talk to executives of Toyota Asia Pacific, who confirmed on December 2022 that a hybrid Vios is in the works.

The Toyota Raize in other ASEAN markets already has a hybrid version that mates a 1.2-liter, twin-cam, 12-valve inline-3 gasoline engine with an electric motor. This produces 103 PS and 170 Nm and is paired with a continuously variable transmission.

We ask again – when is the new Vios coming to our shores?

#2 – There’s a new sheriff in town

Our second-most popular story from 2022 is not about a car or a motorcycle.

It’s about Philippine racing veteran Rikki Dy-Liacco, who was appointed Head of Motorsports of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP).

Aside from being a slalom, circuit and rally champion, Dy-Liacco also has more than 13 years as a steward of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), officiating international race events like Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, the Macau Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Can AAP’s new sheriff meet his goal of uplifting Philippine motorsports starting 2023?

#1 – Bring back the Toyota MR-S

By far and away, the most popular story that we published in 2022 was about a car that doesn’t even exist yet.

But there really is something tantalizing about the “baby Lamborghini” looks of the Toyota MR-S rendering by Japanese publication BestCarWeb.

Toyota is reportedly teaming up with Daihatsu and Suzuki to revive its venerable mid-engined sports car by 2025.

Given that the GR Supra, GR Yaris and GR86 are already sold locally, would a GR MR-S be a runaway hit here, too?