PGA Cars banners super rides in exclusive show

MANILA, Philippines - It was some sort of religious experience for car lovers, actually.

PGA Cars, known for its premium brands Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Porsche, rolled out some of the best vehicles in the company’s rarefied stable via its first-ever exclusive show dubbed: “The World of Super Cars,” held at the SMX Convention Center in Manila last weekend.

Excited visitors to the show were treated to the sight of luxe rides executed in a myriad ways yet bound by a common thread of class, style, and performance.

Audi

PGA Cars trotted out the Ingolstadt-based carmaker’s Hollywood high rollers such as the classic first-generation S8 V8 that appeared in the 1998 Robert De Niro starrer Ronin. The S8 was the ride that Skipp Sudduth’s character “Larry” opted for as a getaway vehicle. Meanwhile, Jason Statham’s famous alter ego Frank Martin has gone for the A8 – Audi’s luxurious four-door, full-size sedan – in two Transporter flicks. The A8 packs a 6.0-liter W12 delivering 450hp and 580Nm.

Of course, who can ignore Audi’s supercar R8? Iron Man will be glad to note that Audi Philippines displayed two variants of his fave ride: a 4.2 FSI, packing a naturally-aspirated V8, and the limited-edition R8 GT. Coupled with a larger 5.2-liter V10, the GT musters 560hp, 540Nm, and reaches 100kph in 3.6 seconds. In case you didn’t know, the R8 also makes an appearance in Fifty Shades of Grey and Taken 3. Also present for “The World of Super Cars” was the Audi’s most powerful production car, the RS6 Avant. With a 5.0-liter, turbocharged V10, the RS6 Avant pumps out an impressive 580hp and 650Nm.

While Audi trotted out the cars in the Hollywood limelight, the message in “The World of Super Cars” was clear: the Audi ethos extends to the entire lineup – from the entry-level A1 hatch, to the World Car of the Year A3, the A6 compact executive sedan, the 3.0-liter A7 executive sportback, and even the SUV offerings in the Q3 and Q5. The corporate philosophy of “Vorsprung durch Technik (Advancement through Technology)” indeed extends across the lineup.

Bentley

The ultra-luxury marque from Crewe featured three vehicles in the show. First was the new Bentley Flying Spur, packing a smaller but no less capable 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8. It generates 500hp of power and 660Nm of torque—transmitted via all-wheel drive and an eight-speed quick-shift transmission. It shares engines with the Continental GT V8, which was also featured.

Still, the height of luxury belongs to the Bentley Mulsanne, named after a corner of the famous Le Mans racing circuit. Craftsmanship and bespoke luxury speaks Bentley all the way on this full-size executive sedan whose interior comfort and features are amply matched by a powerful heart. The 6.75-liter turbocharged V8, mated to an eight-speed automatic, serves up 505hp and a hearty torque rating of 1020Nm.

Lamborghini

The Sant’Agata, Bolognese-based carmaker was duly represented through four of its alluring supercars. The Gallardo successor Huracan LP 610-4, cutting a svelte and sexy profile, certainly appears to be a worthy replacement for the bestselling Lambo (to the tune of 15,000 units) which rolled off the assembly plant for a decade before being retired. Packing a potent 5.2-liter, naturally aspirated V10, the Huracan serves up 610hp and 560Nm. Also present for the show was the Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale. Its rear wing is “taken directly from the race car and delivers three times more downforce than the standard Gallardo.”

The alpha dog, jet fighter-like Aventador LP700-4 squeezes an incredible 700hp and 690Nm from its 6.5 liter V12, which enables it to reach 100kph in a breath below three seconds. Finally, the Lamborghini Murcielago Super Veloce 670 or LP670-SV, one of only 350 units worldwide, immediately preceded the launch of the Aventador.

Porsche

Models from the past and present of the storied Stuttgart’s carmaker wowed and thrilled showgoers. A considerable, powerhouse lineup was led by the 911 GT3, Macan Turbo, Cayenne Turbo, Cayman GTS, and Boxster GTS.

Of note, too, was the muscular Carrera GT, a 5.7-liter, naturally-aspirated V10 that generated 612hp and 590Nm. The six-speed manual, first unveiled as a concept in 2000, was Porsche’s “road car translation of the Le Mans race car” in the 911 GT1.

Year 1975’s 930 Turbo took its hallowed place in the exhibit as the pioneer of Porsche’s turbocharging efforts. The flat-six, 3.3-liter heart of this looker served up 300hp and 439Nm—good for a standstill-to-100 time of 5.1 seconds, and a top speed of 259kph.

In a release, PGA Cars reports that: “The Porsche brand has always been known for uncompromising driving performance and involvement… Each (car) caters to a different segment of the sports car market, from the more lifestyle oriented (Boxster), to the more hard-core, track-focused driving enthusiast (911 GT3).”

Fans of the four brands were also able to purchase premium, original items from the featured collection of each. Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc., was also at the venue to offer car coverage deals. Proceeds from ticket sales went to two beneficiaries: the Philippine Toy Library, an organization that sets up classrooms filled with toys and caters to daycare centers for children up to seven years old, and the St. Francis School-VSA Arts Philippines—noted for its rehabilitation program for hearing-impaired children.

In a speech at the venue, PGA Cars director Amado del Rosario hinted that we might expect a succeeding show. “This is one of the rare opportunities that you will have all these cars under one roof,” he said. “This is just the first time; expect to see more.”

We could always pray.