Autofun News

The Ford Island Conquest (FIC) has long offered a thorough test-drive experience for potential buyers in the Philippines. And now, Ford Philippines’ major event is making its way to Cagayan de Oro for the first time on Sept. 22 to 24, 2023 at the Limketkai Center, the American carmaker said in a press statement. From 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., guests can visit the in-mall vehicle display of Ford’s latest vehicles and take an on-road test drive where customers can experience the Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4x4

VJ Bacungan

Sep 21, 2023

Ford Motor Company is giving the Ford Ranger the electrification treatment as the Blue Oval brand has just announced that it will launch a plug-in hybrid version of the popular pickup truck in 2025. Unlike what Toyota has done for the Fortuner and Hilux, the electrified Ford Ranger won’t come with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. Instead, it will be a full-blown hybrid offering zero emissions while in its electric vehicle mode. Also read: Would it work in the Philippines? What to expect from the To

Joey Deriquito

Sep 20, 2023

Volkswagen Philippines has announced the indicative pricing of its upcoming compact crossover, the Tharu. The Tharu 300 TSI DSG SE will be priced at ₱ 1,850,000, and the high-grade Tharu TSI DSG SEL will be launched at a price of ₱1,950,000. You may read up on the specifications of both variants in our previous story. ALSO READ: The Volkswagen Tharu is now here. Wanna know how much it will cost? According to the German carmaker, the Tharu will be on display at the Karrera Café in Filinvest City,

Mikko David

Sep 20, 2023

Besides the Chinese, the Germans have been pushing hard to make headway in the electric vehicle (EV) market. The likes of Audi and Porsche have been doing relatively well with their EV offerings in the Philippines. And now, Mercedes-Benz is getting into the game with the launch of three new EV models. The carmaker officially unveiled the EQA, EQB and EQE battery-electric vehicles on Sept. 20, 2023. “These vehicles are more than just an evolution; they are a revolution,” IC Star Automotive Inc.,

VJ Bacungan

Sep 20, 2023

Toyota’s plans to slowly electrify its model lineup are coming together with more information about the possible specifications for the upcoming Toyota Fortuner hybrid being released. Reports have indicated that the Fortuner hybrid will still use its 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine, but will be combined with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It won't be considered a full-hybrid vehicle, unlike the Toyota Corolla Cross and Toyota Yaris Cross. Note that Toyota has not yet released any official specificat

Joey Deriquito

Sep 20, 2023

“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

Mikko David

Sep 20, 2023

Toyota is doing something interesting for the European market as the Japanese brand has just launched a hydrogen-powered version of the Toyota Hilux in England. The new model was launched at the brand’s Burnaston Plant in Durby and will only see use as a commercial vehicle as it will serve as a test unit to see if hydrogen fuel may have a future versus electric cars. The hydrogen Hilux is also part of the government’s support for developing zero-emission vehicles suitable for use in remote areas

Joey Deriquito

Sep 19, 2023

I had to check my calendar while writing this Spec Showdown. That’s because it’s a battle between the all-new Nissan Z and the Toyota GR Supra. I just had to make sure that it wasn’t the 1990s all over again (or else, my laptop should be running on Windows 98)! Indeed, the Z and the Supra have been at it for decades. And with rear-wheel-drive Japanese sports coupes becoming in vogue again, it’s no surprise that the latest iterations of these iconic nameplates get stout powertrains and eye-catchi

VJ Bacungan

Sep 18, 2023

The Ford Ranger has proven to be a capable pickup truck in the global market and the Philippines. But Ford thinks it can do better as it has made a specialized version of the vehicle that now comes with an electric motor. The FG-P is a Ford Global Fleet Sales product built for defense and security companies, giving them better stealth capabilities when they need to creep to a destination. What makes it unique? Ford has given the FG-P an electric motor on the rear axle that can work independently

Joey Deriquito

Sep 18, 2023

Disclosure: Omoda & Jaecoo Philippines took us on an all-expense paid trip to China. Hotel, accommodations, and transportation were taken care of by the company. This is not a paid advertisement. All our comments and observations were not previewed nor pre-approved by Omoda & Jaecoo Philippines. Okay, let’s get the white elephant out of the way. We know a lot of you harbor anti-Chinese car brand sentiments. Whether it’s from your own experience or you’re just waving the flag of nationalism, it’s

Mikko David

Sep 18, 2023

The refreshed 2024 Honda Brio was officially launched in the Philippines on July 13, 2023. Although the updates were largely cosmetic, such as new bumpers, there are also new colors available for all Brio variants. The prices of all the models have also gone up, which may make potential subcompact hatchback buyers look elsewhere. So we’ll do the obvious comparison now – is the 2024 Honda Brio V CVT a better buy than the venerable 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage GLX CVT, which is ₱55,000 cheaper? It’s the

VJ Bacungan

Sep 17, 2023

Toyota Motor Corporation has a long and storied history of performance divisions. While the Japanese brand is known for the reliability and durability of its products, it has also dabbled in the performance and motorsports segments. The Japanese automaker has joined several prestigious races in its history, which include the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Super GT, and the World Rally Championship. While there are many legendary Toyota vehicles, we should mention its various performance and tuning div

Joey Deriquito

Sep 17, 2023

Disclosure: Astara Philippines, the official importer and distributor of GAC Motor Philippines, kindly lent me a 2023 GAC GS4 for eight days. It arrived with a full tank of fuel and loaded RFID cards. They always say, “Never judge a book by its cover.” But experience has taught me (and perhaps many of us) that carrying preconceived notions about people or things can actually be useful. In my work as a reporter, I generally talk to high-level officials when I want to discuss the intricacies and n

VJ Bacungan

Sep 17, 2023

The all-new 2024 Honda CR-V marks the introduction of two important technologies for the Japanese carmaker. One is the return of the Honda hybrid-electric powertrain in the CR-V RS e:HEV. And the other is the official rollout of the app-based Honda CONNECT system. Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) vice president Louie Soriano said at a press conference following the launch of the all-new CR-V that all variants will come with a free three-year Honda CONNECT subscription. Talk to your CR-V The Ho

VJ Bacungan

Sep 17, 2023

The all-new 2024 Honda CR-V carries over one of the most notable features of the previous model – the third-row seat. This family-friendly feature, along with third-row air-conditioning, is standard on all non-hybrid CR-Vs. AutoFun Philippines was the first to report on this ahead of the all-new CR-V’s launch on Sept. 13, 2023. This means Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) now has two seven-seaters in its lineup, including the strong-selling Honda BR-V. In an exclusive interview, the Japanese ca

VJ Bacungan

Sep 16, 2023

Mazda fans, rejoice! Mazda Philippines has given the 2024 Mazda3 a quiet update, giving the vehicle more human-centric technologies and promoting the brand’s Jinbai-Ittai philosophy while reinforcing the car as one of the most feature-packed in its segment. Enhanced connectivity Enhancements to the 2024 Mazda3 start with its bigger Mazda Connect infotainment system. From its original 8-inch configuration, the Japanese automaker has given the vehicle a much larger 10.25-inch display with better g

Joey Deriquito

Sep 16, 2023

To say that EVOxTerra is taking its sweet time in rolling out the Hongqi brand and lineup might be an understatement. And in case you're wondering, the brand name is pronounced "hong-chi." The Hongqi E-HS9 was first teased at the Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit back in October 2022. It took EVOxTerra another five months to officially announce that it will indeed bring in the Hongqi flagship three-row EV crossover lineup in March this year. At that time, it was only taking pre-orders for the E

Mikko David

Sep 15, 2023

Jetour Philippines is set to liven up the Cebu Auto Show as it brings its vehicle lineup to the automotive event. The Cebu Auto Show takes place from September 14 to 17 and is an event with multiple car-related activities available, including vehicle displays and more. The auto show is being held at the IC3 Convention Center with it running from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Those interested will be happy to know that Jetour Philippines is set to offer an immersive automotive experience for all attendees

Joey Deriquito

Sep 15, 2023

Honda Philippines welcomes the holiday season by giving back to its customers with its “Oh-Ber-Load” deals. All Honda owners, including those who missed their maintenance visits for a year and those whose cars are beyond the warranty period, are urged to avail of exclusive offers that will help ensure the smooth operation of their vehicles. As an early holiday gift, Honda dealers give a free 50-point check-up with tire and battery assessment and a 10% discount on recommended parts for replacing

Joey Deriquito

Sep 15, 2023

Honda Philippines recently launched the 2024 Honda CR-V. The new generation of the crossover brings turbocharged power to its nameplate in the local market and a new hybrid variant. The new hybrid CR-V RS e:HEV now puts it in direct competition with the hybrid Toyota RAV4 LTD HEV, especially with the Japanese automaker revising the final pricing of the Honda crossover to make it more competitive. That said, we will compare the all-new 2024 Honda CR-V RS e:HEV versus the Toyota RAV4 LTD HEV Hybri

Joey Deriquito

Sep 15, 2023

Peugeot Philippines has something special from September 15 to 17, 2023, as the French automaker is having a test drive event where customers can try out their favorite Peugeot vehicles. Three dealer locations participate in the brand’s first wave of customer test drive events: PEUGEOT Alabang (Ayala Town Center), Peugeot Quezon Avenue, and Peugeot Pasig. All three dealer locations will feature a variety of Peugeot vehicles at the test drive weekend event and offer enticing deals to customers lo

Joey Deriquito

Sep 15, 2023

The Hyundai Motor Group has submitted a trademark to the Korean Intellectual Property Protection Office for the term “Hypercasting” for the use of Hyundai and Kia. The trademark was submitted under the category of light metal fabrication, metal heat treatment, metal casting, and pressure casting. It also refers to the Korean interpretation of the aluminum die-casting technology used to make vehicle bodies. Die-casting technology replaces the older method of spot welding multiple stamped metals t

Joey Deriquito

Sep 15, 2023

The launch of the all-new 2024 Honda CR-V marked the return of an electrified model in the carmaker’s Philippine lineup following the phaseout of the Legend luxury sedan some years ago. The CR-V RS e:HEV packs a 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine mated to an electric motor. The combined output is 184 PS and 355 Nm of torque, coursed through a continuously variable transmission. The e:HEV full-hybrid system also has an EV Drive Mode that lets the vehicle run solely on battery

VJ Bacungan

Sep 15, 2023

Ferrari has officially appointed a new exclusive distributor for the Philippine market with Velocita Motors Inc. (VMI), a unit under San Miguel Corporation. It was previously under the Front Row Group, owned by Mody Llamas Jr. and Sam Verzosa. The Italian prancing horse now sees a new distributor that will put it in good hands for many years, as San Miguel Corporation is no stranger to performance and luxury cars. They also import and distribute BMW vehicles in the Philippines. “This partnership

Joey Deriquito

Sep 14, 2023

SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp., the official importer and distributor of BMW cars in the Philippines, introduces the highly-anticipated second generation 2024 BMW M2 Coupe in Pure and Carbon trim with starting prices of ₱5,990,000 and ₱ 8,890,000, respectively. Driving purists can jump for joy as BMW Philippines president Spencer Yu says the company will take orders for manual transmission units. We reported previously that the BMW M2 will likely be the last model from the German marque to come

Mikko David

Sep 14, 2023

Toyota Motor Philippines recently unveiled the 2023 Model Change Toyota Hilux GR-S at the Toyota Gazoo Racing Vios Cup leg two at the Clark International Speedway. The new pickup had a prominent display at the front of the venue, showcasing its unique body and tougher looks for all eventgoers. The new Hilux GR-S isn’t just a bunch of exterior modifications slapped onto a stock vehicle; this time, Toyota has given it some mechanical upgrades similar to what you would find in the Australian versio

Joey Deriquito

Sep 13, 2023

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. said on March 2023 that it would bring in a hybrid model this year, following the phaseout of the Honda Legend luxury sedan a few years ago. The Japanese carmaker has made good on its promise with the launch of the all-new 2024 Honda CR-V on Sept. 13, 2023. AutoFun Philippines was the first to report that the brand’s venerable crossover would be launched with an electrified powertrain. The top-spec CR-V RS e:HEV packs a 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline

VJ Bacungan

Sep 13, 2023

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) concluded the 2023 Toyota Gazoo Racing Gran Turismo Cup (TGR GT Cup) Philippines at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga. The sim racing series' National Finals were livestreamed during the second leg of the Vios Cup. Racers in the top Sporting Class battled for a slot in Team Philippines for the TGR GT Cup 2023 Asia Finals. The event had three tracks featuring three different cars. The first race had Trial Mountain as their designated course with the Toyot

Joey Deriquito

Sep 13, 2023

Subaru Japan has done something interesting with its Subaru Levorg by releasing the Layback model, a high-riding version of the vehicle. The Layback has a 55-mm lift over the regular Levorg, increasing its total ground clearance to 200 mm. Currently, the model is only available in the Land of the Rising Sun, but hopefully, it will make its way to other markets soon. Sleeker styling On the outside, the Subaru Levorg Layback has less angular styling than its lower-riding sibling, going for a slimm

Joey Deriquito

Sep 13, 2023

The Honda HR-V remains to be one of the most charismatic models in the Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) lineup. Its eye-catching looks, superb performance and the excellent Honda SENSING active-safety suite all make for a great subcompact crossover, even though the Turbo model is rather pricey. But the HR-V has been plagued with supply issues since September 2022, with HCPI saying at the time that deliveries were “uncertain” because of a global parts shortage following the COVID-19 pandemic. T

VJ Bacungan

Sep 13, 2023