AutoFun PH Rearview Roundup: 5 hot stories for a chilly Christmas Day

Today is Christmas Day!

We at AutoFun Philippines would first like to wish you all a great holiday season, whether you’re at home or out of town.

This is, of course, the AutoFun Philippines Rearview Roundup – a compilation of the top stories that we published over the last week.

And what better way to cozy up to the chilly weather than to warm yourself up with the five hottest stories from the past week?

AAP Motorsports’ new sheriff

We start off with one of the biggest names in Philippine motorsports: Rikki Dy-Liacco.

The circuit, slalom and rally champion was named as the new Head of Motorsports of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), which is the sole National Sporting Authority of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body of global car-racing events.

Besides his extensive racing experience, Dy-Liacco brings with him over 13 years of experience as an FIA steward for major international motorsports events like the Asian Le Mans Series, F3 Asian Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, and the Macau Grand Prix.

He plans to uplift Philippine motorsports to the international arena. Will this new sheriff succeed in taming the "Wild West"?

Hybrid Toyota Vios in the works

The Toyota Vios is one of the country’s best-selling cars. And news about an upcoming hybrid version got you all in a tizzy.

Toyota Asia Pacific chief executive officer Hao Tien said they plan to roll out hybrid models for their A-segment and B-segment, which includes the Toyota Wigo and the Vios, respectively.

The next-generation Vios has not yet been introduced in the Philippines, and there’s no word yet on when Toyota Motor Philippines will launch it.

Would an electrified Vios find a home in your garage?

Hyundai's all-new Kona

Remember the old Hyundai Kona crossover?

It was a chunky-looking little thing with a punchy 2.0-liter inline-4 gasoline engine. But it never really sold well enough to make an impact locally.

The all-new Hyundai Kona may just change that, carrying over spaceship-like elements from the radical-looking Hyundai Staria van.

The Korean carmaker said the new version of this crossover will have four variants: full electric, hybrid electric, internal-combustion engine and the brand's sporty N Line trim.

Do you think Hyundai Philippines would have a better shot this time around with this sharper-looking Kona?

The Peugeot 5008's dual personality

Many of you seem intrigued by how the Peugeot 5008 has managed to reinterpret the MPV formula. 

Its striking looks and ideal proportions give it an undeniably SUV-ish styling and presence. But with 5+2 seating, it can haul seven warm bodies and then some. 

Curious how it fares as a seven-seater? Check out our review of the Lion brand's people-mover contender.

Please Santa, a mid-engined Toyota sports car

The purported Toyota MR-S reboot has yet to be officially confirmed, but that didn’t stop Mikko and me from dreaming.

Both of us have had the privilege of taking the last MR-S to the limit on the race track – and almost sent ourselves into the wall in the process.

From a hybrid powertrain to a droptop version, we laid out what we wanted to see in this evocative new sports car, which is rumored for launch in 2025.

What else do you think the MR-S revival should have?