2009 ends with a bang

MANILA, Philippines - While December 2009 might be remembered by many as a month filled with political and sports controversy, the Philippine automotive industry will most likely look at it as an exclamation point to a stellar year. Yes, despite all the talk of martial law, massacres and sports heroes gone awry, the Philippine automotive industry trudged forward with a resiliency almost unheard of in these shores – completely unmindful of the controversies. In what was supposed to be a year of struggle, the industry thrived admirably, closing with a couple of significant launches and several milestones. Here’s December as we saw it in the motoring industry…

Audi’s RS6

To open the month of December, PGA Cars, official distributors of Audi automobiles in the Philippines, launched the mother of all mid-size super luxury sport sedans in the form of the RS6, a 580-horsepower monster that can reportedly reach 100km/h in 4.5 seconds. This super A6 is powered by a twin-turbo V10 that churns out 650 Nm of torque and features racing-inspired direct injection and dry-sump lubrication.

The RS6 features all the belles and whistles one could ever ask for in a car of its stature, including a six-speed tiptronic that has been improved to shift at one tenth of a second. But if leaving the shifting to a quick-thinking computer isn’t your cup of tea, then you can also manually change gears by using either the shift lever or the paddles on the steering wheel. The RS6’s suspension and handling, on the other hand, are helped immensely by an electronic stabilization system even as a speed-dependent servotronic power steering system helps keep the driver in firm control of this wild beast. At P8.8 million, the RS6 isn’t a cheap car, but realistically, neither is anything that comes with it – the unique experience and exhilaration most especially.

Hyundai’s Tucson

Rest on its previous success my foot. While Hyundai has attracted its fair share of fans throughout the years, trust this Korean corporate giant to keep pushing the envelope. The initial result of this relentless pursuit of perfection takes form in the stunning new Tucson. Provocative, sharp, brimming with attitude and simply visually arresting, the new Hyundai Tucson was launched right smack towards the start of the Christmas rush. Yes, presumably in an effort to keep small SUV hunters wide eyed and seriously interested.

Powered by either of two continuously variable valve timing-equipped (D-CVVT) gasoline engines: Hyundai’s Theta II 2.4-liter (4WD) and Theta II 2.0-liter (2WD) motors, the new Hyundai Tucson comes in four unique iterations, the prices of which are as follows: P988,000 for the 2.0 GL M/T 2WD, P1,038,000 for the 2.0 GL A/T 2WD, P1,158,000 for the 2.0 GLS A/T 2WD, and P1,458,000 for the 2.4 GLS A/T 4WD. Not a week after its official launch, we immediately test-drove the 2.0 GLS A/T 2WD variant. Watch out for our impressions of it in next week’s Business Motoring pages.

Kia’s Sorento

Earlier this year, we swore an oath of secrecy to Kia Motors – who were kind enough to send us to Korea to give us a sneak peak at a vehicle many have been eagerly anticipating. We drove it, photographed it and struggled hard to keep our mouths shut – until the time was right. This promise we have kept. The reward for keeping the promise is this opportunity to break the news here and now. Yes, car buffs, the all new Kia Sorento is every bit the improvement from the previous variant that we’ve been building it up to be. And yes, it is available for you right here, right now. Finally.

Visually a lot more streamlined and fresh, the new Sorento ushers in the new Kia line that represents its core values. Is it possible to come up with vehicles that are at once safe, comfortable and appealing? You bet your kimchi! The all new Kia Sorento’s monocoque frame makes it a very comfortable vehicle. Consequently, the lighter body frame has allowed Kia’s engineers to concentrate on eight key development areas – class-leading performance, increased fuel economy, reduced emissions, improved on-road handling, more fun-to-drive responsiveness, greater cabin space and comfort, enhanced overall safety and the introduction of new technologies. The new Sorento comes in eight colors: Clear White, Bright Silver, Spicy Red, Ebony Black, Metal Bronze, Muscle Beige, Titanium Silver and Java Brown. For more details on the new Kia Sorento, visit www.kia.ph or your nearest Kia dealership today.

CATS’s 20th

Twenty years ago, a man named Felix Ang dreamed of providing the Filipino car buff with the best after-sales accessories shopping experience ever. Today, he dreams of much bigger things – like bringing in the best possible cars that money can buy into the country. Both dreams, of course, have become reality. CATS Motors, official distributors of Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles in the country as well as provider of Mazda vehicles to the Ortigas, Pasig and Mandaluyong area, celebrated their milestone 20th year last December 10. Ang, the company’s president, could not have been more proud.

“If I were to break it down to significant episodes, I would say there were three levels of growth where CATS as a company is concerned. The first would be the time when we put up the company, the second would be the time when we decided to expand the company and the third would be the time when we finally signed the general distributorship agreement with Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge,” said a very proud Ang when asked to recall how CATS grew into what it has become today. From where we stand, we’d argue that CATS is a great example of how a hardworking and industrious Filipino entity can not only thrive, but moreso set high standards in any industry. Our congratulations go to the men and women behind CATS Motors!

TRS’s 10th

Half as old yet perhaps just as dynamic and energetic as CATS Motors is the country’s first and only professional racing school – Tuason Racing School (TRS). Founded by brothers JP and Mike Tuason in honor of their late father Arthur, TRS aims to provide comprehensive drivers training to its clients in go-karting, circuit car racing and formula car racing. Recently, they have also included a responsible motoring program into the mix, making them not just an exciting but also (and perhaps more importantly) a responsible motoring entity.

“Our father’s vision was to develop motor sports into a career where Filipinos can excel in,” reasons JP when asked how the idea of putting up TRS came about. Ten years after, with the kind of strides they’ve made, we can safely say the siblings would have made their father proud. Our hats off to the Tuason Racing School!

Castrol’s top mechanic

Top cap off the year, Castrol Philippines decided to share some fantastic news. Having participated in the ASEAN Mechanic Contest for motorcycles for the first time, the team they sent settled for no less than first place. Marlou Acedera, a soft spoken Filipino mechanic, bagged top honors and was named the ASEAN region’s ultimate mechanic. For his efforts, Acedera was given the chance to witness the Moto GP finals, meet top seed racer Toni Elias of the San Carlo Honda Gresini Team, enjoyed the rare opportunity to visit the pit garage of the San Carlo Honda Gresini team and watch their race engineers in action, and take home a handsome paycheck too boot. More importantly, he’s brought a tremendous amount of respect to our mechanics, the hardworking but often under-appreciated folks who comprise a significant chunk of the local automotive industry. Our felicitations go to Acedera for a job well done and to Castrol for staging such a commendable project!