The recent “Undas” week gave us all the chance to reflect not only about those who have left us, but also about our own lives. For those who stayed in Metro Manila, it has been a pleasant mix of clear roads, good weather and occasional rain showers. And for those who drove out of town, it was a chance to spend up to a week away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It really makes you wonder about what the Philippines would be like if economic development were spread all throughout the archip

Electrification has taken over the Philippines in many ways. There are battery-electric vehicles that offer near-silent, zero-emission mobility, along with truly stunning performance. And for those who don’t want to join the electric revolution quite yet, there are the mild hybrids. These pertain to cars with regular internal combustion engines that have small battery packs to assist with vehicle functions. Unlike a full hybrid, a mild hybrid cannot operate on purely electric power alone. Chery

Suzuki launched the latest version of the XL7 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in Indonesia on June 15, 2023. Similar to the Ertiga Hybrid, the XL7 Hybrid features a mild-hybrid powertrain that uses a 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine. This is connected to an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) that replaces the alternator and charges the battery. It also doubles as an electric motor that provides assistance to the vehicle when accelerating from a standing start. Meanwhile, the ba

Ahead of the launch of the Empow and all-new GS8 on Jan. 18, 2023, GAC Motor Philippines announced the appointment of its new brand head. Astara Philippines, which is the new local distributor of the Chinese brand, said in a January 2023 press statement that Redentor “Jun” Cajayon will be taking the post. Cajayon has over 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and network development in the automotive industry. He had served as general manager of another Chinese car marque, Maxus Philippines

With no word yet as to when, or if, it will be available in the Philippines, the Mazda CX-60 has already received an award in its homeland. Because of its Driving Position Support and Driver Emergency Response technologies, the rear-wheel drive Mazda CX-60 has been selected for the "2022-2023 Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car Technology of the Year" award. Driver monitoring to the next level The Mazda CX-60 was launched early this year as a larger, more powerful, and more premium crossover to co

Car manufacturers do their best to provide innovatively developed vehicles now and then to help people make the right choices. Also to top the competition. Some models stand out, and some are still in the process of developing their products. The reality is that even those car models that stand out from the rest have downsides, too. As Chinese car manufacturer Changan introduced the 2022 CS35 Plus in the Philippine automotive market, it initially gained popularity because of its affordability. I