Largely wonderful weather this last week! As the holiday season draws near, it’s been clear skies with cool, refreshing breezes that can help us lay off the air-conditioning (and, consequently, bring our sky-high electric bills down). Despite the chilliness rolling in, it’s been a hot week for one Asian carmaker – and for once, it isn’t from China! Hyundai Philippines launched two new models last week and is mulling over bringing even more. The South Korean company is among your five favorite st

Initially making its debut at the 2023 Gaikindo International Auto Show (GIIAS), Hyundai Philippines is set to launch the all-new Hyundai Stargazer X on October 16, 2023. But wait, there is more as the South Korean automaker, through an official invite/ teaser image, has revealed that it is also launching another new vehicle alongside the SUV-fied Stargazer. While the Hyundai Stargazer X is essentially what the Xpander Cross is to the Xpander, it comes with a few new features and a different int

The Mazda CX-60 won’t be the only luxury crossover to take on European brands in the Philippines. Mazda Philippines president and CEO Steven Tan announced at the CX-60 launch on June 9, 2023 that the larger CX-90 will be in the country within the year. “The reason why we pre-launched it in the market today, number one, because the development team is here,” he said at a press conference. “Number two, the answer is very soon,” Tan replied, when asked about an exact timeframe for the launch. RWD c

Recent rumblings in the automotive industry talk about Chinese brands changing management hands. And from what we've heard, there will be a few. But why do the principals feel the sudden need to come in lock, stock, and barrel to take over the Filipino-run local distributorships? Haven't they done enough to promote the brand? Did the distributors fall short of sales targets? Or have the distributors failed in the perception game despite the uptick in Chinese-made cars' build, tech and quality in

Hybrid vehicles have slowly begun to become popular in the Philippine market. Automakers are increasingly releasing these kinds of cars, hoping to capitalize on the growing demand. Recent additions to the Philippine market include the likes of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, Haval H6 and the Haval Jolion. Meanwhile, the likes of the Geely Okavango and the recently launched Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid are classified as "mild" hybrid vehicles. But just how do mild hybrids work? Wh

There are specific reasons for how we choose things. We have a preference for the food we eat. We have a choice in how we dress. We plan our travels because we have priorities. We tend to make choices based on our needs. This is the same when we choose the perfect car for ourselves or others. We match our criteria depending on our needs and wants. Subcompact SUVs are some of the most in-demand vehicles today as they answer our needs and wants. What we need is a vehicle that could accommodate our