When the opportunity for a long weekend presents itself, you take it as a break from your busy work week. It's a great time to go on a road trip or catch up with friends. That’s precisely what I did with my recent Hyundai Stargazer test unit on loan. It was the perfect opportunity to test if the South Korean 7-seater had what it took to be the ultimate “barkada” mobile and if it had what it took to be a proper multi-purpose vehicle. The road trip we would embark on would start in Quezon City and
Nov 29, 2023
Much has been said about Chinese EV maker BYD, especially about how it is poised to officially overtake American EV brand Tesla in the number of electric vehicles sold by the end of this year. Along with its aggressive global expansion efforts, BYD also made sure it "invaded" the Land of the Rising Sun in grand fashion as it set up the only China-brand pavilion at the recently concluded Japan Mobility Show 2023. Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division, must have sur
Nov 12, 2023
Not all cars at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show were concepts. Some were actually production models either launched in Japan at JMS, or already sold in the country. Let's take a look at some of the more interesting cars that various JMS exhibitors decided to showcase at this year's show. Toyota Crown Sport SUV - Your Lolo's car no more Seen at the Toyota booth is the Toyota Crown Sport SUV. Echoing the vibes of the Mazda CX-30 with its red and black color mix, the Crown SUV looks more like a jacked
Nov 6, 2023
The recent “Undas” week gave us all the chance to reflect not only about those who have left us, but also about our own lives. For those who stayed in Metro Manila, it has been a pleasant mix of clear roads, good weather and occasional rain showers. And for those who drove out of town, it was a chance to spend up to a week away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It really makes you wonder about what the Philippines would be like if economic development were spread all throughout the archip
Nov 5, 2023
At the recent Chery Technology Day in Wuhu, the Chinese car company explained its global strategy as it ramps up its export business. The nearly two-hour-long set of presentations was so detailed and exhaustive that you'd imagine you were sitting in a board presentation or a marketing sign-off meeting. But it made sense to show it to the 600 or so Chery-brand users and media in attendance. It was a captive audience if ever there was one. El Plan One key observation we made was how Chery seems to
Nov 2, 2023
Disclaimer: 70mai sent us an A810 dashcam unit for review along with a 128GB SD card While we typically review cars, now and then, we get something that's not a vehicle but is still car-related, such as what 70mai sent us with their A810 dashcam. It's one of their higher-quality dashcams with a host of features to help protect you with more than just video and audio. Dashcams play an essential role as they offer you an extra layer of protection and can record your side of the story in the event
Oct 29, 2023
It really is getting chillier. And the climate is likely to grow colder as the holidays draw near. November is just around the corner, as many of you may have noticed. But in the "Land of the Rising Sun," the automotive action has been hotter than ever because of the 2023 Japan Mobility Show (formerly called the “Tokyo Motor Show”). The rebrand is not a mere marketing exercise – Japan is gunning to stay ahead of the game in all forms of mobility. The stories from JMS, along with a new Korean bra
Oct 29, 2023
High-end European sport-utility vehicles (SUV) from Audi, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are often found inside exclusive residential enclaves in Makati or Alabang. These luxurious leviathans are meant for families who want the ultimate creature comforts, while having supreme practicality and space. Put another way, it’s for the sort of Filipinos who wouldn’t be caught dead in a Toyota Innova. Given that these posh SUVs are so expensive, their generous ground clearance will never be troubled by
Oct 27, 2023
Lotus Cars made quite an enormous wave at the 2023 Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit on Oct. 19, 2023. The British carmaker unveiled the fastest dual-motor electric vehicle (EV) in the country – the Lotus Eletre R. Packing 918 PS and 985 Nm of torque, the hyper SUV can outpace the likes of the Lamborghini Urus S and the Aston Martin DBX 707, all while consuming absolutely no fossil fuels. And now, Lotus Cars has revealed more about its upcoming encore – the Emeya hyper-grand tourer EV. Harking
Oct 24, 2023
What splendid weather we’ve had this past week! Clear skies, no volcanic smog, and rain showers every once in a while to keep us from getting overheated. It feels like summer in the “-ber” months. Something else that was rather heated was your reception to our stories from the last week. Here are your favorite five from October 9 to 15, 2023, in this edition of the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup. Go, go ATTO 3! Even though it has the name of a children’s cartoon character, the BYD ATTO 3 e
Oct 15, 2023