The People’s Choice!

The motoring public has spoken through votes cast via texting (SMS), online via the internet or right on the display site and the 2006 "most popular automobile" is the Isuzu Crosswind while the "most popular Honda motorcycle" is the Wave 125S.

The winners of each category in the Petron Xtra Unleaded 2006 Auto Focus Automobile & Motorcycle of the Year — People’s Choice Awards were handed their very unique and aptly designed trophies (polished automobile pistons enclosed in glass) in fitting ceremonies held at the Main Ballroom of the plush Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City.

The winners were determined after three months of polls and three weekends of Grand Display at the Fort in Taguig City where the motoring public had the chance not only to see all the competing models up close before making their choices as test drives were also offered. It was actually even an opportunity for many future buyers to closely scrutinize and compare the vehicles that they have in mind in a most convenient setting. Instead of shuffling from one manufacturer’s or distributor’s dealership’s showroom to another, all the current models were conveniently gathered in one site. All a buyer had to do was visit one booth after another that were all walking distance from one another and hop from different vehicles for test drives to actually feel the engine’s performance and experience first hand all their features and amenities — again, all conveniently in one place and even at one time or all in a weekend.

It is a scenario that major players in the industry welcome and find difficult not to be in or lose the chance to effectively and in a manner most practical, market their products. Numerous actual sales, aside from serious inquiries that ended in actual sales, were documented from last year’s maiden staging and more successful unprecedented sales performances were likewise experienced during the three weekends of the Grand Display this year.

As early as now, many of the marketing top honchos of the industry were already suggesting added activities for the sector’s annual biggest event to ensure more crowds to gather and make it a yearly family summer event. Many manufacturers and distributors have agreed to organize "dress-up competitions" among owners of their brands with Sunshine Television, the awards’ organizers, underwriting the numerous prizes that can be won. The provincial staging of the Grand Display, which was not pursued this year, would definitely be part of next year’s program of activities.

The voting was intense and very close in many of the categories except for a few, which really had "hands-down" winners. A system was put in place where there would not be any duplication of votes. For SMS, it was "one number-one vote per category" set-up while the more popularly used online voting had "one e-mail address-one vote per category", a system to weed out "bogus" votes determined through the e-mail addresses used.

Here are the winners and runners-up in each category.

Sub-Compact Sedan of the Year — Toyota Vios

Runner-up — Honda Jazz

Compact Sedan of the Year — Mazda 3

Runner-up — Toyota Altis

Mid-size Sedan of the Year — Honda Accord

Runner-up — Toyota Camry

Large Sedan of the Year — Volvo XC70

Runner-up — Mercedes-Benz S Class

AUV of the Year — Isuzu Crosswind

Runner-up — Mitsubishi Adventure

Compact SUV of the Year — Honda CRV

Runner-up — Toyota Rav 4

Mid-Size SUV of the Year — Toyota Fortuner

Runner-up — Volvo XC 90

Large SUV of the Year — Isuzu Alterra

Runner-up — Mitsubishi Pajero

Minivan of the Year — Toyota Innova

Runner-up — Mitsubishi Grandis

Large Van of the Year — Hyndai Starex

Runner-up — Toyota Hi Ace

Pickup of the Year — Isuzu D-MAX

Runner-up — Toyota Hilux

We would like to thank all those who supported this year’s staging of the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards starting with our presenting sponsor of this year’s awards, Petron Corporation (Petron Xtra Unleaded) and the presenting sponsor of our Philippine Motor Sports — Legends and Heroes Photo Exhibit, Michelin Tires. For the beautiful glass trophies we have Asahi Glass Phils. to give credit to and the very effective security in the site to ensure the safety not only of the vehicles on display but all the spectators, organizers and all the people at the site as well we doff our hat to Bolinao Security & Investigation Agency. We could not have extensively promoted the event without our prestigious major media partners — The Philippine STAR and Solar Entertainment. Everything seemed to fit into place together with our working partners Solar Interactive, which provided the SMS voting services and Image-Spin for the fantastic design of our photo exhibit. And of course, all the super-efficient, highly-charged and dynamic men and women of Sunshine Televison for making the Petron Xtra Unleaded 2006 Auto Focus Automobile & Motorcycle of the Year — People’s Choice Awards a huge success and indeed the country’s biggest yearly motoring event.

Until next year!

LTO-IT System on a roll

The long lines and the long wait that always comes with it are already things of the past in most Land Transportation Office (LTO) offices for a student’s permit, a renewal of a driver’s license and for vehicle registration thanks to the LTO-IT project being run by Stradcom.

Now, with the celebrations of LTO’s 94th anniversary held last April 26 comes the unveiling of the mobile licensing office called "LTO e-Patrol". A project of Stradcom Corporation and LTO, it aims to bring public service closer to the people, especially in far-flung areas that the regular LTO offices cannot fully serve due to geographical challenges.

The "LTO e-Patrol is a fully customized and air-conditioned bus equipped with computer hardware and communications link designed to provide services like issuance of Student Permit, Driver’s License, Motor Vehicle Registration (motorcycle, tricycle and jeepney), encoding of alarms and apprehension on "online" mode, etc.

It has been a conscious goal in the LTO to establish itself as a model government agency that the public can be proud of through advance technology and order. The LTO is reported to be closely working with Stradcom Corporation to achieve this goal and maintain it. Stradcom, for its part made known that it recently upgraded its main computer servers to the tune of 16.5 million pesos and has plans to upgrade soon the servers of all LTO regional and district offices. This will help boast the maximized use of the LTO-IT facilities and encourage all LTO district and regional offices to refrain from manual transaction processing — the key to fast, efficient and transparent services.

Another milestone in LTO’s history and part of its week-long celebration is the opening of its Road Safety Training Center, which aims to educate motorists not only on driving techniques but also on traffic rules and regulations and other international related laws on traffic.

Make mine a Diesel!

Audi, the German luxury carmaker, thru its sole importer and distributor PGA Cars now has something for those who are already starting to feel the pinch of the ever increasing prices of gasoline — high end automobiles fitted with Turbo Direct Diesel Injection or TDI engines that achieve new levels of fuel efficiency, power and torque. This is the same engine technology that powered the Audi R10 TDI car to the first ever victory of a Diesel powered sports car at the 12 Hour Race at Sebring, USA.

PGA’s Amado del Rosario and Spencer Yu were all hyped up during a test drive session with the media recently held at the Fort with their new diesel offerings — the A4, the Avant and the A6 sedan.

The 4-cylinder 2.0 liter TDI engine in both the A4 and Avant claims of a fuel performance of 19 kms per liter. The A4 is touted to have an acceleration rate of 9.7 seconds from 0 to 100 kph and a top speed of a little over 200 kph.

On the other hand, the A6 sedan with the V6 3.0 liter TDI engine registers 12 kms for every liter and vaunted to hit 100 kph in 7.3 seconds with a top speed of 243 kph.

You actually have a chance to experience all these claims and the awesome TDI power by requesting for a test drive appointment by calling PGA Cars (727-0381) or their showroom along EDSA.

Reminder for auto buffs and motoring enthusiasts

Tomorrow, Thursday at 10 o’clock in the evening, the channel to click to is Sports Plus for your weekly automobile show — Auto Focus, while your "Sunday viewing habit" — Motoring Today — airs at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, yes, every Sunday and yes, also at Sports Plus.

Happy Motoring!!!

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