Setting up a car brand from scratch can be a daunting task. Aside from satisfying government and regulatory requirements, anyone planning to bring in a foreign brand will be faced with a number of difficult challenges along the way. That is why most automotive brands prefer to partner with a local distributor. Filipinos who run the distributorship are presumed to know the ins and outs of setting up the company, dealing with government agencies, hiring the right people, establishing systems and p

The all-new 2024 Honda CR-V will officially launch in the Philippines on Sept. 13, 2023. AutoFun Philippines was the first to report that the venerable crossover would arrive this year with an all-new hybrid engine. This marks the local return of an electrified model in the Honda Cars Philippines lineup. The previous-generation model made waves locally for two reasons – an available, economical turbodiesel engine and a third row of seats. The former has gone the way of the dodo, while the latter

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

When it comes to practical and affordable seven-seater MPVs, the most popular choices that come to mind are the all-new Honda BR-V and the soon-to-be-launched 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross. This will surely make it difficult for buyers to choose which of the two they should get. But suppose the local spec 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross is close to being kitted out like the one launched during last year’s 29th GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show. In that case, there’s a lot to look forward

Just one night's sleep separates us from the unveiling of an all-new small crossover from Honda. Tomorrow, November 2nd, the digital camouflage of the Honda SUV RS concept will be unraveled, and the production version of what is believed to be the next-generation Honda WR-V in that market will be introduced. The Honda WR-V nameplate isn't exactly new for markets such as Indonesia and India. In those countries, the WR-V is a hopped-up previous-generation Honda Jazz GK5. For the 2023 model, the de

Toothpaste! Most of you will instantly have the red and white colours of Colgate pop in your head. Likewise when I say rally! Your mind snaps to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. It's hard to blame anyone for that. It's just heuristics. The Lancer Evo has become synonymous with rallying - flying through forests, exhaust going off like a machine gun - and it's no surprise they won the World Rally Championship (WRC) with Tommi Makinnen four times consecutively from 1996 to 1999. For all its history