Mitsubishi Motors Philippines celebrates 100 years of motoring heritage Mitsubishi Motors Philippines' annual Expo opens next week and is made extra special as the Japanese automaker reaches an important milestone. This year, Mitsubishi Motor celebrates its 100th year in the business. To be held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the event will run from June 8 to June 11. In the Expo, visitors will see past icons from Mitsubishi, their rally racers, and the latest cars they have on offer. Mitsubishi also promises fun for the whole family programs from Nickelodeon, activities at the Family Park and special appearances by Maine Mendoza, Alden Richards and Ramon Bautista on June 10. Music fans can also enjoy live performances of Ebe Dancel, True Faith, DJ Marx and many more.
Visitors will also get the chance to test drive the current models from Mitsubishi, as well the iMiev electric vehicle. The Montero Sport Head to Head Challenge will also be running during the Expo, giving those interested in the SUV a chance to drive it against the competition. Mitsubishi will also be holding a safety and driving etiquette program and will also be displaying the line of Fuso Trucks and Buses available in the country. More classic Mitsubishi cars will also be shown at the annual Owner's Concourse Display. Mitsubishi adds that big surprises await Mitsubishi owners on June 10. As with past Mitsubishi Expos, admission is free. Hyundai Kona set to make world debut on June 13 After releasing several teaser images of their all-new crossover, Hyundai has just announced that the Kona will make its world premiere on June 13. Set to take on other B-segment crossover stalwarts, the Kona features a funky design that is unlike the company has ever come up with. Based on the teaser video, the Kona will have a double headlight design that gives it a distinct face. From the looks of things, the top portion of the front fascia will have LED daytime running while the bottom section will be fitted with what appear to be LED or HID headlights. While not yet fully revealed, the Kona will likely have an updated Cascading Grill reminiscent of the one used in the all-new i30. Black body cladding, directional alloy wheels and flared wheel arches are also likely to be present on the Hyundai Kona. Topping it all off are what appear to be thin eye-catching LED taillights. Recently, our spies were able to take photos of the upcoming Kona in heavy camouflage. Based on images provided, the prototype looks a lot like the production vehicle teased in the video. In addition, our spies suspect that its platform may be derived from the next-gen i20 hatchback while engines could be borrowed from the all-new i30. Front-wheel-drive will come as standard while all-wheel-drive will be available as an option.
Last year, Mitsubishi revealed their XM crossover-MPV concept at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. The automaker also said that they are set to put it into production by October 2017. In a recent development, it appears that Mitsubishi has chosen a name for their newest car.
In a report by Indonesian publication KompasOtomotif, the road going XM may be called Expander. The publication also said that there will be nine variants to choose from once it debuts. As to what variants it will be, KompasOtomotif did not mention these. Aside from the variants, the report also stated that the Expander will be exported to Europe but did not say if ASEAN countries will also get the crossover-MPV. According to Paul Tan, Mitsubishi has declined to make a comment regarding the name, as well as the variants. The publication also interviewed Osamu Iwaba, sales and marketing director of Mitsubishi Indonesia. In their story, Iwaba said that their crossover-MPV is set to compete in the “Low MPV” class, better known as the B-segment MPV. Examples of cars in this segment are the Toyota Avanza, Honda Mobilio and the Suzuki Ertiga so one can expect seven seats from the Mitsubishi. In the past, the automaker did confirm that the the production version of their concept will retain a tall ride height. With that, it might just be aimed squarely at the Honda BR-V as well. When the tentatively-named Expander debuts later this year, it is possible to expect design cues lifted from the XM concept. That concept featured box-flared arches, slim headlights, L-shaped tail lights and the marque's signature 'Dynamic Shield' front fascia. Source: KompasOtomotif via Paul Tan Unless you've been living under a rock, then you will have heard all about the Anti-Distracted Driving Act (ADDA) and how much confusion and anger it has caused among motorists. Since it was enforced last week, the Internet has been flooded with comments, suggestions, rants, and even lots of hilarious memes. Even senators made their feelings about the new law known.
According to a report by Rappler, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has suspended the implementation of the law. This announcement came after the House transportation panel pointed that they should not be enforcing the law before conducting a nationwide information campaign. As stated in Republic Act No. 10913: "The DOTC-LTO in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and private agencies and organizations shall undertake a nationwide information, education and communication (IEC) campaign for a period of six (6) months from the effectivity of this act." Transport officials admitted that they hadn't yet conducted a campaign of that nature. Committee chairperson and Catanduanes representative Cesar Sarmiento commented: "It's very clear that [the law] requires [an] information and education campaign for a period of six months from the effectivity of the act. Since the implementing agencies failed to do that, I think it would be unfair for the public na mahuli nang 'di nila naiintindihan ['yong batas]." "We will abide with the authors of the law, and the COTr (committee on transportation), DOTr will focus more on info dissemination and will hold the enforcement of ADDA," said Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board board member Aileen Lizada. In an official statement, DOTr said: "To respond to the call of both Houses of Congress to defer the implementation of ADDA, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) take heed to the Congress, being the authors of the law, to defer the enforcement of Republic Act 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act (ADDA). "Relative thereto, the DOTr shall immediately revive its Technical Working Group to conduct a review of the IRR in coordination with concerned stakeholders. "An Information and Education Campaign (IEC) shall commence as soon as the new IRR is crafted. "In the meantime, we invite the public to continue the constructive discussion on this new law so as to contribute on how we could all better promote road safety, discipline, and responsible driving." We bring good news! Volkswagen has confirmed a GTI version of the Up. A mere five years (ahem) after the Up’s launch, there’s a fast one finally on the way. Meet the VW Up GTI.
Yes, it’s got Volkswagen’s most hallowed hot hatch badge upon its snout, alongside all of the GTI hallmarks, with a red-striped grille and tartan seats inside. Even the color palette is borrowed from the current Golf GTI. Officially a concept, but with a production version confirmed, the Up GTI uses a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo engine with 113hp and 199Nm. Worried that’s not enough? The original Golf GTI had 5hp less, and this Up, while heavier, is still just 997kg. That means an 8.8sec 0-100ph time and a 196kph top speed. Modest figures, yes. But ones that make it a car with accessible performance in the real world. You’ll actually be able to wring this thing’s neck. There’s a 15mm suspension drop and some general tinkering underneath to sharpen it up, but it’s already an uncommonly good car to drive as standard. We’ve long suspected the base car could handle more power so here’s hoping its chassis magic hasn’t been lost with VW’s tuning. The suspension drop certainly makes it look a bit meaner. The GTI upgrade is predictably subtle but does enough to make this Up look ‘proper,’ we reckon. A move helped by its three-door layout, something increasingly rare in the hot hatch sector. There’ll be a five-door too, though. Unless VW’s had a serious off day, this promises to be a thoroughly good car. Whether it’s a true great will all hinge on its price. The VW Up GTI concept gets its big reveal at the Worthersee festival in Austria next week, with sales starting in early 2018. Reckon it’s a winner? Could a new variant of the Honda Jazz be on the way to our shores? The Japanese carmaker has just introduced a refreshed version of the popular third-generation five-door hatchback to the Thai market, together with an all-new RS variant--the first Jazz to carry the RS badge.
Details regarding the actual refresh are slim, with the company saying that design changes to the Jazz come mainly in the form of a redesigned front grille, new LED headlights with daytime running lights, as well as several additional interior features. What Honda has provided though are several images of the RS variant, which features a sporty and more aggressive new look. The first detail to strike you is the red RS emblem on the new front grille, below which sit a pair of new RS-style fog lights. The rear bumper features an RS look as well, while the new side mirrors come in an attractive black finish. Inside, you'll find newly-designed seat covers with orange stitching exclusive to the new Phoenix Orange color scheme. We have to say, though, it's kind of disappointing to see an RS variant without performance upgrades. Would you consider this a true RS variant? Regardless, we're still excited at the thought of this landing in the local market. You can check out more images of the model below. We'll keep our eyes peeled for more details regarding the overall refresh. The all-new Kia Rio has landed locally, and we're happy to say the fourth-generation of the Korean subcompact hatchback looks just as good as we'd hoped.
Philippine-spec units feature the same sharp appearance and refined aesthetics you saw when initial images of the car surfaced in September last year. First off you'll notice the company's redesigned Tiger Nose front grille flanked by sporty, new-look projector type headlights, below which are foglamps which have been moved outwards. The car is bigger overall, too, being 5mm wider and 15mm longer than its predecessor, but 5mm shorter. These changes combined with edgier character lines and a choice between athletic 15- or 17-inch alloy wheels endow the Rio with a cooler, more youthful vibe than the last-gen model. It's definitely sleek as far as hatches go, and we're digging it. Inside, local Rios carry dark, minimalist cabin designs, which carry over the increased dimensions from the exterior to provide a convenient, spacious environment. Like the outside, many of the changes we saw in international-spec units made their way here, save for the high-resolution touchscreen (make do with a 3.5-inch LCD). There's still a considerable amount of plastic, but its high-quality finish and the simple, modern design of components give off a great feel in line with its youthful exterior. We sat inside the cabin and found its seats to be comfortable, and its overall atmosphere cozy. Other things to note? Bluetooth connectivity, USB charging in the rear, and automatic climate control. The all-new Kia Rio will be available in four variants, all of which will run on a 1.4-liter engine capable of 99hp and 133Nm. They'll all come mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, but we're glad to see that the base variant comes with a six-speed manual. Below are the variants and prices: *Kia Rio SL MT – P735,000 *Kia Rio SL AT – P845,000 *Kia Rio DX – TBA *Kia Rio GL – P955,000 So far, the Rio has a good number of things going for it, headlined by great looks, a cozy interior, and a youthful new vibe. Let's hope it's as good to drive as it is to look at. "Sporty" isn't usually a word you would associate with the Honda Mobilio. The MPV has received its fair share of criticisms about its drab appearance. This face-lifted version, however, borrows a few elements from its Honda siblings to warrant the adjective.
The new Mobilio has just surfaced over in Thailand. On the outside, it gets a redesigned grille that looks similar to the one on the current Honda Civic, complete with LED position lamps. Underneath are stylish new 15-inch alloy wheels. Inside, it gets a redesigned front console, a new multi-information display, automatic A/C, push-button start, and a 6.1-inch touchscreen. The Thai-spec Mobilio is powered by a 1.5-liter i-VTEC that generates 117hp and 146Nm, mated to the usual CVT. It comes in three variants: the five-seater S, the seven-seater V, and the seven-seater RS that comes with a slew of sporty accessories. Standard on all variants are safety features like G-Force Control, a safety body frame, dual front airbags, vehicle stability and hill-start assist systems, ABS, electronic brake distribution, and a rear-view camera. "Designed for those who pursue metro lifestyles, where urban living and a sense of style are balanced by the desire for practical functionality, the new Honda Mobilio sets a higher standard for luxury and comfort, while also providing exceptional utility,” said Honda's Thailand COO Pitak Pruittisarikorn. Do you guys like this new and sportier Honda Mobilio? Last month, a refreshed version of the Toyota Wigo surfaced in Indonesia. Naturally, we got curious and started asking our friends at Toyota Motor Philippines whether we'd be seeing an upgrade on our shores. We got a few hints here and there, but nothing concrete. Thankfully, we didn't have to wait very long. The Japanese carmaker has revealed via a Facebook post and a press release that the new mini hatchback is here.
Our version looks a bit different from the one that launched in Indonesia, but it retains that same athletic vibe. The biggest change here is under the hood: The old engine has given way to a new 1.0-liter VVT-i powerplant. Other upgrades include a redesigned front fascia (it now looks a lot like the current Toyota Corolla Altis) and rear bumper, new 14-inch alloy wheels, projector-type headlamps with line guide, LED rear combination lamps, rear reflectors, and a rear center headrest. Standard on all variants are ABS plus seatbelt and light reminder warnings. The G variants will get a steering radio switch and mirror-integrated signal lamps. Inside, the new Wigo features a redesigned interior that includes new seat patterns and door trims. The multi-function audio system gets a new look as well. The popular mini hatch comes in a choice of Silver Mica Metallic, Gray Metallic, white, black, red, and a new Orange Metallic shade. Prices for the new Wigo are as follows: E MT- P526,000 G MT- P564,000 G AT- P599,000 If you ask us, this facelift infuses the once-plain hatch with a bit more sportiness and style. What do you guys think of the updated Wigo? |
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