Counting our blessings

It’s Christmastime, and what better time to say thanks than now. Of course, expressing our gratitude should not be limited to the Yuletide season. There are never-ending reasons for us to be grateful: good health, a loving family, true friends, a stable source of livelihood, etc. etc. 

On a personal level, 2014 has been a humdinger of a year for me: from getting my first taste of circuit racing in the first leg of the hugely successful Toyota Vios Cup (and doing decently well, finishing 21st after starting from 26th in a record field of 30), to driving cars that were yet to even be launched at the time of the drive (including the all-new Nissan X-Trail in Japan and the Ford Mustang and Porsche 911 Carrera GTS in LA—the latter in no less than the challenging Willow Springs Raceway).

I got to visit what, to many JDM (Japan Domestic Market) fans, are hallowed ground: the Nismo Museum and Tuning Shop in Yokohama, which is basically a shrine to anything and everything that makes a Nissan go insanely fast. Seeing various GT-R engines on display is like seeing the actual Mona Lisa with your own eyes (which is something I managed as a side trip when I visited The Louvre during the Paris Motor Show, which I covered for the first time this year).

Speaking of first-time motor show coverages, the LA Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center (which happens to be right beside the iconic Staples Center) was another first-time event for me this year. 

Then there was the chance to meet and watch the incredible rally/stunt driver Ken Block doing his trademark donuts and breathtaking drift maneuvers with his monster (and Monster Energy-sponsored) fire-breathing turbocharged all-wheel drive Ford Focus. Watching Ken Block mixing it up with Japanese rivals in Nagoya, Japan—and beating them (and their Nissan GT-R’s) at their own turf—was truly a memorable experience. And did I mention that I was with Monster Energy ambassadress Ellen Adarna at the time for three whole days? 

Seeing centuries-old castles in Sweden (for the world launch of the new Volvo XC90 in Stockholm) and England (to watch the Chevrolet-sponsored Manchester United football club play Liverpool in the city of Manchester) were two unforgettable highlights of the year as well.

Now for car lovers and the car industry alike, there are countless things to be thankful for, particularly for 2014. The big news is Toyota, which now commands almost half of the local car market. I tip my hat to them, not just for their sound marketing campaigns, but also for delivering truly handsome-looking and solidly built cars and commercial vehicles. Looks and quality is a hard combination to beat—but put a Toyota badge on it and it’s well-nigh unbeatable.

But that’s not the only success story of 2014. Mitsubishi has been a strong but seemingly silent No.2. And considering that the brand is nowhere near that position anywhere else in the world is testament to the hard work and determination from the boys and girls from MMPC. They will be relocating to the former Ford plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna in 2015, and with a much bigger production capacity, expect Mitsubishi to spring a surprise or three next year. 

Most Improved Player Award goes to Ford, which is now an inspired No.3. Who would have thought that an American nameplate would supplant so many Japanese and Korean brands in such a short period of time? Again, solid products coupled with good looks always sell.

Isuzu continues to surprise, fighting for No. 4 despite just having three models in the Crosswind, D-Max, and mu-X. I’d like to see how other brands would fare if they only had a pickup, an SUV, and an MPV to sell.

Honda is the Comeback Player of the Year. Recovering from the double devastation of the flooding in their plants in Japan and Thailand, Honda is bouncing back with a slew of inspired new products and a marketing campaign that clearly makes the company’s newfound energy and vigor felt.

Nissan, too, is on a roll with their new X-Trail and the soon-to-be-introduced all-new Navara pickup. If only more people will experience the Almera, Sylphy, and Altima sedans, they’ll realize how much they have been missing.

Chevrolet? They may have been relatively quiet, but a glance at their sales figures says otherwise. The Bowtie is probably the only brand that enjoyed a whopping 70-percent increase in sales in the Philippines year-on-year. That achievement is unprecedented in General Motors global sales operations this year. And Detroit is looking much more closely at the Philippine market to see how Chevrolet’s ASEAN counterparts can replicate that success.

So for the large part, the car industry has much to celebrate for. For car enthusiasts and the typical car buyer alike, it’s like being a kid in a candy store. New Porsches, a new Mustang, a new Lamborghini Huracan(!), plus many upcoming exciting new cars, pickups, and SUVs in the pipeline—what’s not to like? 

Be thankful, everyone. Merry Christmas!