Disclosure: Astara Philippines, the official importer and distributor of GAC Motor in the Philippines, took us on a two-day media drive with the all-new GAC GS8 4WD. The company paid for all our meals and accommodation. GAC Philippines recently invited us to test the all-new GAC GS8 4WD on a media drive. However, as a point of comparison, they also brought two units of the sport-utility vehicle's (SUV) two-wheel drive (2WD) version to showcase the differences between it and the new variant. Our

Lest we forget, the dry season is officially here, hence the sweltering heat we’ve been having this past week. It’s almost as hot as our stories for March 20 to 26, 2023, which all generally shared one theme – “big” cars. Here’s a look back at the five stories you loved the most in this edition of the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup. CR-V Hybrid coming soon? The first big car we have on the lineup is the all-new Honda CR-V, which debuted at the Bangkok International Motor Show 2023. For the

Kia Philippines officially launched its entry into the country’s fledgling electric-vehicle (EV) market, the EV6 crossover, on March 21, 2023. The EV6 was first unveiled locally at the Philippine International Motor Show on September 2022. There is currently one variant, the EV6 GT-Line, which costs ₱3,788,000. Kia Philippines said it will import an initial batch of 50 units. The EV6 can use a charging-station network set up by charging options manufactured by Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc.

Toyota has significantly contributed to the popularity and development of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) since it launched the original Toyota Prius in 1997. Over the last decade, the Japanese carmaker has also rolled out a wide range of hybrid cars in the Philippines that offer incredible fuel economy without the range anxiety that battery EVs still get because of insufficient charging stations. Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) announced in a January 2023 press statement that it is showcasing its

Changan Motors Philippines, Inc. (CMPI) is confident for 2023 as it celebrated a whopping 222-percent sales growth from 2021 to 2022. The Chinese carmaker said in a Jan. 16, 2023 press statement that it sold 1,787 units in 2022, up from 557 units the year before. The brand also celebrates its goal of hitting 100 percent of its sales target for wholesale as well. The brand’s two best-sellers lead the pack in sales, the Changan Alsvin sedan and the Changan CS35 Plus crossover. “We started 2022 str

The last time we reported on Spanish-based car distributor Astara, it was finalizing its plans to enter the grueling 2023 Dakar Rally. But the company announced more relevant news in a December 1, 2022 press statement following its formal contract signing with Chinese carmaker GAC Motor in the Philippines. Astara began operations locally on January 2022 and distributes the French car brand Peugeot. The firm also distributes GAC Motor in Peru and Chile. “We are truly honored to continue GAC Motor