Text and photos by Kap Maceda Aguila

THE wait is over. The buildup that began in February finally culminated in the grand launch of Toyota’s latest product, the Rush, at a Pasay City venue.
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) president Satoru Suzuki said in a speech that the Rush is envisioned to “[appeal] mainly to city dwellers who want a vehicle that can keep up with their active and exciting lifestyle — a car that is stylish and allows them to express themselves. We are optimistic that this new model will become a popular choice for first-time SUV buyers.”
This is TMP’s sixth SUV/crossover product in the country — joining the Land Cruiser, Prado, Rav4, Fortuner and FJ Cruiser. Significantly though, the company reveals this is its foray into the entry-level SUV niche. People on the lookout for a more affordable SUV or MPV should note the sub-P1 million tags of two of the Rush’s variants. The manual-transmission E goes for P948,000, while the A/T E is priced at P988,000. The top variant G (only available with A/T) breaches the million-peso mark, but by only P70,000.
Toyota boasts the Rush as a feature-packed vehicle despite its “entry-level” tag. The SUV has smart entry, a push-button start/stop system, dual air-conditioning, seven-inch capacitive touchscreen audio system, 17-inch alloy wheels, a built-in roof rail, and other niceties such as 13 total cupholders and, for the G grade, LED head lamps and rear camera. While the E variants have a five-seat configuration (and a trunk space of 514 liters), the G gets two additional collapsible seats.
The Rush makes its case as an SUV through qualities such as high ground clearance (220 millimeters), and generous approach and exit angles (31 degrees and 26 degrees, respectively). It packs a slew of active and passive safety measures such as six SRS air bags, ABS with EBD, traction control, hill-start assist, and an emergency stop signal.
Even as the Rush utilizes the platform of its Avanza MPV sibling, it is markedly larger in length (4,435 millimeters compared to the Avanza’s 4,190 millimeters), and surpasses it in width (up 35 millimeters to 1,695 millimeters), and height (up 10 millimeters to 1,695 millimeters).
There’s an impression that the Rush annexes not just the platform but the 1.5-liter power plant of its stable-mate, but a TMP official clarified that its four-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC, chain-drive with dual VVT-I engine is “same as the Vios” but “sourced differently.” This gasoline-fed engine serves up 102 hp at 6,000 rpm and 134 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm, and finds expression via a four-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual gearbox. The power train drives the vehicle’s rear wheels.
The Rush is available in Black Metallic, Bordeaux Mica, Bronze Mica Metallic, Dark Red Mica Metallic, Silver Mica Metallic, and white colors.

THE distributor of Mercedes-Benz in the Philippines has introduced an even safer version of the brand’s heavy-duty truck.
Fitted on the Mercedes-Benz Actros is the second-generation version of the company’s Active Brake Assist. The capabilities of the system were demonstrated on April 24 by Auto Nation Group (ANG), seller of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in the country, on a closed-off road at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the first version of its Active Brake Assist activates automatically only if it detects a risk of a head-to-tail collision with a slow-moving obstacle in front of the vehicle. The system’s latest version also automatically applies the brakes if it senses a stationary obstacle ahead.
The automaker explained Active Brake Assist 2 uses a radar to scan up to 200 meters in the lane ahead of the truck. Along with this, the system also continuously determines the distance to a vehicle or a stationary obstacle in front, as well as gauge the difference in speed between the two vehicles. In case a collision is unavoidable, the system sends the Actros’s driver a red-lighted triangle icon and an alarm, and will still apply the brakes automatically to reduce the truck’s speed.
Mercedes-Benz assured Active Brake Assist 2 operates in all weather and light conditions, as well as at speeds up to 89 kph. It added the system has already been proven in more than 14,000 trucks and three billion kilometers over European roads.
“We are proud to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the second generation of Active Brake Assist and how it can further help prevent accidents and collisions. We at Auto Nation Group would like to strengthen the presence of the safest truck in the world — the Mercedes-Benz Actros — in our country to make our roads safer,” said Don Ramos, assistant vice-president for commercial vehicles at ANG.
Mr. Ramos noted the Actros is “by itself a safe and modern truck” that, with the installation of Active Brake Assist 2, is made even safer because of an enhanced risk-mitigating technology.
Other safety systems fitted on the Actros are ABS-equipped discs, acceleration skid control, disc brakes all round, electronically controlled brakes, lane keeping assistant, roll control and proximity control, among others. Active Brake Assist was introduced to the Actros in 2006. — BMA

Subaru cuts prices of select models

SUBARU distributor Motor Image Pilipinas said it is reducing the prices of some select Subaru models despite the higher taxes now imposed on vehicles. The discounted prices are only offered this month.
The price of the Subaru Forester 2.0i-L has been reduced by P70,000, making it P1.398 million; the Forester 2.0i-P by P60,000 to P1.618 million; and the Forester 2.0 XT by P50,000 to P1.898 million.
Also discounted are the prices of the new Subaru XV and Outback, now both equipped with the brand’s EyeSight driver assist technologies. The XV 2.0 i-S’s price was cut by P50,000, making it P1.538 million, while that of the Outback 3.6 R was reduced by P80,000 to P2.208 million.

Phoenix, RCBC unveil ‘lifestyle credit card’

PHOENIX Petroleum on April 26 announced a partnership with RCBC Bankard in which it launched the Phoenix RCBC Bankard Mastercard, described by the company as a “lifestyle credit card packed with exclusive benefits for motorists,” as well as with “lifestyle access” and points rewards.
Phoenix said cardholders get a 5% rebate on purchases of its fuel, free towing and roadside assistance, accident insurance coverage, 5% discount on Phoenix gasoline and diesel engine oils, and conversion of rewards points to free flights, gift vouchers, or cash rebates. Other privileges include a real-time SMS alert service that lets cardholders have security and control over their spending; conversion of straight purchases to installment; access to cash anywhere in the world; free travel insurance and purchase protection; and a bills payment facility.
“The Phoenix-RCBC Bankard Mastercard is a continuation of our initiatives aimed at bringing our fuel products and services to a higher level and at providing a competitive and credible alternative from that of the majors,” Phoenix Petroleum COO Henry Albert Fadullon said during the card’s launch program.

Hyundai PHL tops brand’s awards

PHILIPPINE distributor Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) said it took top awards recently given by parent company Hyundai Motor Company.
HARI said its commercial vehicle division won Hyundai’s 2017 Regional Excellence Award for Asia & Pacific, besting 15 other markets in the region, as it was cited for its “rapid growth in sales, bold marketing campaigns and unparalleled brand loyalty.” The company added sales of its commercial vehicles grew 883% in 2017.
HARI said its passenger car division was recognized with the 2017 Best Sales Award for “hitting the highest sales volume in the region, besting the 27 other distributorships in Asia Pacific.”
The two awards followed HARI’s citation for excellence in Customer Satisfaction in After-Sales in Asia-Pacific, according to the company.

Isuzu presents new tech school graduates

ISUZU Motors Ltd., through Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) and its partners Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and World Vision Philippines, recently presented the latest batch of 18 service technician graduates who completed their National Competency Certificate program — a four-level program administered by the regional branch of TESDA that offers vocations for automotive servicing.
In a statement, IPC said the new graduates completed NC1 to NC4 training, the latter being the highest level of certification in the country. The technical training course is a two-year program backed by the Isuzu-TESDA Auto Mechanic Training Center that aims to produce highly skilled Filipino automotive service mechanics who can serve the country.
IPC noted the project started in 2008, and that the recent graduation program was the 13^th held at the training center.