FORD PHILIPPINES continues to add to its industry-leading number of pickup variants with the addition of two 4x4 variants, a manual and an automatic, of the Ford Ranger FX4.

FOR SURE, there was quite a bit of rejoicing (as well as a sigh of relief) over the three consecutive months of growth registered by the auto industry following that infamous April when member companies of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) sold a combined 133 units — an all-time low.

THEY MAY be a (relatively) small and boutique-like car company when compared to the other Japanese car giants, but Mazda knows how to give big to its customers. The Hiroshima-born brand, which also happens to celebrate its 100th anniversary this 2020, has again brought joy to its clientele after recently announcing that it shall be upgrading its traditional “Yojin” three-year free preventive maintenance service to a longer five-year free service plan. Like the original Yojin, the new plan will still cover all the expenses of each periodic maintenance appointment that is usually held every six months, or at 10,000-km intervals — and yes, that already includes free oil replacement with a Shell-branded fully synthetic lubricant.

German automaker Daimler AG and its American subsidiary Mercedes-Benz USA LLC agreed Monday to settle allegations they violated US and California emission rules in an agreement topping $1.5 billion in penalties and other costs.

HONESTLY, when we were tightly in the clutches of the enhanced community quarantine during the first quarter’s waning days, did we ever think the auto industry would ever (or at least soon) see a surfeit of new vehicle models being rolled out — albeit digitally? Yet here we are. Even casual browsers of social media surely would have seen the steady march of new models across many brands.

FIFTEEN YEARS since completing its 50-car, super-limited production of the MC12, Italian car maker Maserati unveiled its latest and most powerful supercar yet — the (Maserati Corse 2020) MC20. Made mostly out of carbon fiber and aluminum, and entirely developed by the Trident brand, the beauty wields a whopping 630 maximum horsepower and 730Nm of peak torque with its surprisingly high-tech twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, mated with a dual-clutch eight-speed transmission. Its astounding zero-to-100kph time is less than three seconds, and this feat is partially made possible by the fact that the vehicle’s monocoque chassis is made from carbon fiber — bringing its weight down to a jaw-dropping sub-1,500kg figure. It costs a fraction (only about a quarter) of the previous MC12, starting at about US$210,000. And it has those amazing butterfly doors, too. What’s not to like?

Newly-branded Nissan enhances customer experience with virtual showroom Safety can never be underestimated. From the beginning motorist to the experienced automobile enthusiast, safety is a...

WITHOUT ANY DOUBT, Scandinavian nameplate Volvo Cars has long been recognized as one of the global leaders in automotive safety. The car manufacturer has had a long history of major contributions to modern car safety technologies, with the three-point safety belt (invented by Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin back in 1959) being perhaps the most important invention in the history of automotive safety thus far.

FROM “MEET MG” when it first assumed stewardship of the brand here in October 2018, The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI) reveals the new MG Philippines tagline: “Expect Extraordinary.” MG Philippines said in a statement that it will “(continue) to provide well-appointed, modern, attainable British-heritage cars, and client- and consumer-centric aftersales services for every Filipino.”

THE TOYOTA Referral Rewards programs offers an incentive for successful Vios referrers who are current Toyota owners as well. The promotion, ongoing from Aug. 10 to Sept. 30, gives P5,000 worth of digital gift certificates when a Vios buyer is referred to any of the 70 Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) dealerships nationwide.

EXCLAIMED SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp. (ACDC) Chairman Ramon Ang, “Maganda ang performance, matipid pa sa fuel, and grabe ang low-end torque (It performs well, is fuel-efficient, and has awesome low-end torque. Who would’ve thought that a four-cylinder engine could perform this way?” during an online press conference held right after BMW Philippines’ official, virtual launch of the 2020 BMW 7 Series in the country.

MAXUS PHILIPPINES last week digitally launched the G50, a compact eight-seater multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).