The Toyota FJ Cruiser, which is no longer with us, was created as a spiritual successor of the legendary FJ Land Cruiser. The Japanese carmaker has once again paid tribute to the beloved FJ at the SEMA Show 2023. But this time, its new creation is more than just chunky looks and a V6 engine. Toyota unveiled the FJ Bruiser concept at the annual U.S. custom auto show, sporting a Toyota Motorsports Garage full tube frame and roll cage under the classic FJ45 pickup body. Perhaps the most dramatic ch

Disclosure: The Covenant Car Company, Inc., the official importer and distributor of Chevrolet in the Philippines, kindly lent me a 2024 Chevrolet Trax Redline for seven days. It arrived with a full tank of fuel and loaded RFID cards. AutoFun Philippines paid for a carwash. When we watch a movie, we generally view it on its own. We soak in a new storyline, discover more about the characters, and (perhaps subconsciously) absorb the power of the scoring and cinematography. But things get a bit tri

Turbodiesel sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) like Mitsubishi Montero Sport and the Toyota Fortuner may rule Philippine roads, but this country will always have a soft spot for American iron. Since the late-1990s, V8-powered Leviathans like the Ford Expedition and the Chevrolet Suburban have maintained a small yet commanding presence in our streets, guzzling unleaded like there was no tomorrow. But Ford decided to shoehorn a turbocharged V6 into the Expedition to accommodate the demand for better fu

Disclaimer: Jetour Auto Philippines paid for my airfare, transportation and accommodation for a week-long trip with other media practitioners to China, including a visit to Auto Shanghai 2023. Everybody in the Philippines is familiar with the Chery QQ from the mid to late 2000s. The dinky urban hatchback became the symbol of everything that was wrong with China-made cars. With shabby workmanship, questionable aftersales (if there were any) and non-existent warranties, the QQ was China’s first ma

The Hyundai IONIQ 6 Electrified Streamliner matches its older sibling, the IONIQ 5's, winning ways as it takes the World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle of the Year, and World Car Design of the Year titles at the World Car Awards 2023. This year’s trophy haul matches what the IONIQ 5 won last year at the World Car Awards. The WCA’s international jury of 100 automotive journalists from 32 countries voted in favor of the IONIQ 6 for its “unique aerodynamic design and outstanding all-electr

The Hyundai Stargazer recently broke cover and became the latest model to enter the hotly contested subcompact MPV category. With the headstart enjoyed by the likes of the Toyota Avanza and Rush, the Honda BR-V, the Mitsubishi Xpander, the Suzuki Ertiga, and another newcomer, the Nissan Livina, Hyundai’s affordable seven-seater has a lot to prove to sway Filipinos toward its fold. During our brief afternoon with the Hyundai Stargazer, we noticed how some of its design, technical, and safety feat