“In this business, you gotta have a tough skin.” This is what Visor.Ph Editor-in-Chief Vernon Sarne told me at last week's BMW M2 launch event. Chief, as I fondly call him to this day (he got me to join Top Gear Philippines magazine as a cover photographer and writer back in 2010), has seen it all and has been through wars ordinary people would have waived the white flag early on. The mental and physical stress this job entails can be too much for someone who cares about his craft. So when we he

Hybrid vehicles are becoming popular in the Philippine market, with more and more automakers bringing their examples to the car-buying public. We have recent entries into the segment from the Chinese such as the Haval Jolion (Specs | News) and Haval H6, and even more from the Japanese, such as the Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, RAV4, Zenix, Yaris Cross, and Nissan Kicks, each trying to get a piece of the lucrative pie, especially with the ever-increasing fuel prices. While many are curious about

To say that the Toyota Fortuner (Specs | News) has been a runaway hit for the brand in the Philippines is an understatement. But after 18 years, two generations, and many enhancements, Toyota is still not yet done with its venerable three-row SUV. The 2023 (yes, our friends from Autofun Thailand continue to call it a 2023 model) Toyota Fortuner with 224 PS and 550 Nm of torque has been unleashed in The Land of Smiles. The same engine that currently powers our Fortuner GR-S, LTD, and Q variants l

Ford Philippines has the Ford Ranger and the Ford Everest as its popular pickup truck and 7-seater SUV. These vehicles have two diesel engine options: the 2.0-liter single turbo and the 2.0-liter bi-turbo motor. While the former is for entry-level to mid-grade models, the latter is reserved for the top-spec 4x4 variants. So, this raises the question, what exactly makes the bi-turbo engine a good fit for drivers plying on Philippine roads on a daily basis? Why the 2.0-liter bi-turbo? According to

Mazda Motor Corp. has announced that it will launch its first electric vehicle-only model in 2027. The Japanese automaker’s CEO, Masahiro Moro, stated in a recent interview in Tokyo that the new model is part of the brand’s effort to speed up its electrification efforts to keep it competitive globally. Mazda has already dabbled with electric vehicles (EVs) with the Mazda MX-30 crossover, launched as a hybrid vehicle with electric-only and rotary range-extender models also available. It also sell

Following the unveiling of the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro mild-hybrid on June 2023, another electrified crossover will join the Chinese carmaker’s lineup Chery Auto Philippines announced in a July 2023 press statement that the first batch of the subcompact Chery Tiggo 5x Pro, which will also feature a mild-hybrid powertrain, has arrived in the Philippines. The Tiggo 5x Pro Hybrid and Tiggo 7 Pro Hybrid, which were both showcased at the 2023 Manila International Auto Show, are expected to officially launc