The Toyota Alphard has been a surprise hit in the Philippines. Even though it’s a gasoline-powered minivan, it’s boxy yet stately styling, combined with its vast and luxurious cabin, meant it was a hit for everyone from politicians to high-roller gamblers. Indeed, no five-star casino in Metro Manila is complete without its own fleet of black or white Alphards. Given its success, Toyota decided to make subtle but significant changes to the all-new Alphard and its sportier sibling, the Vellfire. T

Local automakers got a big shot in the arm after the Philippine government extended the timeframe of its ₱27-billion program to boost domestic car manufacturing. The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) announced in a May 2023 press statement that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a five-year extension to the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program. PSAC is composed of business leaders and experts across six main sectoral groups: Agriculture, Digital Infrastructur

It is Sunday once more, so we’re back with another edition of the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup. Valentine’s Day is just a few days away and many of you will likely have some fun dates with and/or great gifts for a special someone (sanaol talaga). For those who want to take their mind off February 14, 2023 (which we single people call Tuesday), here are five of your favorite stories from February 6 to 11, 2023. Tasty EV treat? We start off with something sweet (unlike my love life). AutoF

The current generation of the Toyota Alphard is getting long in the tooth as it has been on the market for about eight years. Its age marks the model as a prime candidate for a replacement. Our colleagues at Wapcar Malaysia reported that a new generation of the Toyota minivan might be coming as soon as May 2023, with renders popping up claiming to be close to the production version. While we take this information with a grain of salt as these are just renders, they give us a general idea of what

Ever since the Honda Mobilio and BR-V twins, the MPV market has had MPVs traipsing around as SUVs for buyers of all different kinds, and the Mitsubishi Xpander and Xpander Cross are no different. Both seat seven and use 1.5-liter engines mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic gearbox. Both obviously sit on the same platform and use the same panels, underpinnings, and trims. The 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander and the 2023 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross both enjoy new facelifts, but the question rema

With the impending launch of the Hyundai Stargazer, Filipino subcompact MPV buyers will again be given another option to choose from in this hotly contested category. Along with the Suzuki Ertiga, the Toyota Veloz and Avanza, the Honda BR-V, the Mitsubishi Xpander, and the recently launched Nissan Livina, you can see how car manufacturers are going after a bigger slice of this growing pie. The trend is also evident around the ASEAN region, with PT Hyundai Motors Indonesia recently unveiling the