Motoring wishes for 2014: No ‘neighs,’ just ayes

MITSUBISHI Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

In this year of the workhorse, the figurative thoroughbreds will be galloping out of the car dealerships and into homes.

For the second issue of Inquirer Motoring in 2014, we caught up with car enthusiasts, and asked them what rides they would like to imagine rolling their way into Philippine shores and what changes they would like to see on the roads, in cars and in the motoring industry in general. And despite 2014 being a horse year, what we see from the wishmakers are more “Ayes” than “neighs.” Now that’s positive thinking, a great way to start the year indeed.

1. Diesel please, Louise

The buzz is on that Honda has been making waves with its diesel option in countries like India. Honda’s 1.5 i-DTEC would, hopefully, jolt the Japanese car company to stand out in a sea of gasoline-powered cars in the Philippines.

“I would like to see the new Honda City and Jazz arrive with the diesel engine option, as well as the turbo gas engines,” quipped Ferman Lao, Top Gear Magazine technical editor and Car Awards Group Inc. president.

Car enthusiast and industry observer Ian RJ Reyes also hopes to see the introduction of the Honda 1.5 i-DTEC diesel engine, aside from multipurpose Honda Mobilio.

Reyes added: “I was expecting the Freed (Honda’s mini MPV) to surface locally in 2010, but it didn’t happen. For Honda to make a real comeback, a fleet of Honda cars should come in. Apart from the upcoming Brio, Jazz, City and Accord, the seven-seater Mobilio should be it.”

2014 NISSAN GT-R photo:www.nissanusa.com

As for the entry of the diesel-powered engine, Reyes predicted, “Once this happens, I’m sure this will mean a lot of work for Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) if they install this in their Jazz, City and Civic in the 1.6 form. I presume that HCPI will undergo a ‘break-in’ session as this will be their first time to work on and market a diesel engine.”

2. More hustle with the muscle

Enthusiasts would like to see more muscle cars throw their weight around these parts.

Car enthusiast Ermine Potenciano, who is also a member of Team FD (eighth-generation Honda Civic Club), said: “I have always been a fan of American muscle cars (my mainline diecast car collection) and I was happy to see Dodge Challenger R/T and Ford Mustangs on the roads of Manila in 2013. For this year, cars that I want to be beside with on the streets and in parking spaces would be the 2014 Hemi Barracuda, Chevy Camaro and the new Nissan Skyline GT-R,” Potenciano added.

3. The Mitsubishi Outlander is in; a proper Nissan lineup

Although it was the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that grabbed headlines last year, what with the mounting interest in alternative fuel vehicles, industry observers like Reyes wouldn’t mind seeing a new Outlander inland.

“I presume that this SUV will be coming from Japan, and none of its engines qualify it for Jpepa (Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement) privileges. Unless MMPC (Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp.) can assemble it locally or within the Asean region, then that will be a miracle,”  Reyes observed.

He added: “With the recent news that Mitsubishi will tie up with Renault-Nissan for the C- and D-category cars, that is definitely the light at the end of the tunnel for Mitsubishi. But when we will see an actual unit (from that tie-up), that’s another waiting game.”

Reyes explained: “Let’s just say that Nissan in the Philippines is still in its cocoon, and all we can do is wait. All it takes is the Datsun GO and GO+, March, Almera, Sentra, Altima, 370Z, Evalia, NV350, Urvan, Juke, Terrano, Navara and Patrol. They should be able to gain more market share.”

4. The super Supra

Toyota wants the year to be fun; a throwback, perhaps, to 1965 when it unveiled the 2000 GT, hailed as Japan’s first supercar. Francis Samonte, Toyota Auto Club chair and financial advisor, wishes that the new Toyota Supra be released “as soon as possible.”

“I have been anticipating the release of a new Toyota supercar for the longest time. But probably not this year,” he quipped.

5. Pocket-friendly Peugeot GTI

French brand Peugeot has been making cars for more than a century, along the way building up a solid heritage in design. According to auto journalist Tony Lewin, Peugeot was one of the first European manufacturers to follow the American example and set up its own design studio. When Eurobrands Distributor Inc. reintroduced the brand in the Philippines, an entire continent of possibilities for car enthusiasts reopened as well. Erstwhile

Inquirer Motoring columnist Andre Palma, an ex-rally driver and performance driving instructor, wishes to see Peugeot GTI in local shores.

Palma wishes for “fun cars that won’t break the bank; value-for-money pocket rockets.”

6. More views for the VW

Part of Palma’s wishlist of fun, pocket-friendly cars is the Volkswagen Golf GTI. According to Top Gear UK’s review in July 2013: “The standard GTI is perfectly fine—but we’d be finding the extra cash to upgrade to the Performance Pack.”

Reyes quipped: “VW did a good job in its third comeback. I was expecting both the Amarok and Golf, but they are nowhere to be found. VW’s pickup truck will be an interesting local offering, to think that most pickup trucks are from Asia. The Golf would be interesting as well due to its global popularity. Although the Jetta is already present, nothing beats the hatchback.”

7. A dash of Citroen

Potenciano’s wish is for Citroen to set up a dealership in the Philippines.

French car manufacturer Citroen is known for its innovation, original thinking and sheer inspiration in design.

Potenciano enumerates two other wishes for 2014:

8. Improvement of aftersales services

“Car dealers should improve their aftersales customer service and make their preventive maintenance service (PMS) charges affordable and reasonable.”

9. More auto brands to support car clubs

“Car manufacturers should consider supporting (their) car clubs because members become their road ambassadors. We rarely see manufacturers supporting car clubs, which have huge and active memberships and who conduct regular meet-ups. Manufacturers only remember/invite their car clubs when their headquarters’ bosses are in town to launch a new model,” he observed.

10. A sure insurance

Lao rounds up the last wish on this list. “My wish is for motorists not to be shortchanged by insurance companies when they need to make a claim,” he said.

What’s your 2014 wishlist?

E-mail the author at tsalazar@inquirer.com.ph.