PH top 5 automakers launch a stable full of new models in the first seven months of 2015

By Jason K. Ang August 03,2015

WITH the Philippine auto industry set to extend its bull run in 2015, automakers have been frantically launching new models to beef up their lineups.

The top 5 automakers have been among the busiest, aiming to cement and increase their market share with more attractive models and innovative features.

Toyota: Alphard, Prius C, Camry, Hilux

LUXURY is stamped on the Alphard’s spindle grille.

LUXURY is stamped on the Alphard’s spindle grille.

The country’s number one automaker by a large margin has not been resting on its laurels.

Toyota Motor Philippines started the year by launching two new models: the Alphard MPV and the Prius C hybrid hatchback.

The 2015 Alphard is an all-new minivan that increases the luxury content while providing plenty of power. The interior boasts of business-class worthy seats in the second row, with power recline and ottoman features.

The Alphard’s interior is more versatile than before, with a third row that can slide forward to accommodate more luggage. Ingress is easier with a 50-millimeter lower rear access step and 70 mm-larger rear door.

With the Honda Odyssey switching to a four-cylinder engine, the Alphard remains the only premium Japanese MPV packing a V6. The 3.5-liter delivers ample power and torque, making short work of long highway journeys.

The Prius C remains the most affordable Japanese gasoline-electric hybrid on the market. Toyota freshened the high-mileage hatchback with a sportier face and bright exterior color choices.

The 1.5-liter engine with an electric motor system helps the Prius C rank as the most fuel-efficient car in the Philippines.

2015 Toyota Camry sedan

2015 Toyota Camry sedan

Another class best-seller, the Camry, gets a new edition for 2015. It has a new, sportier face with LED lamps, wide grille, and that huge black maw set into the bumper.

LED taillights, a new rear bumper, and vestigial spoiler on the trunklid all help make the Camry look less boring.

The interior gets a new meter cluster and blue interior illumination. It is still offered in 2.5-liter and 3.5-liter variants.

A Camry S with paddle shifters, red stitching on the upholstery, and 17-inch alloy wheels joins the lineup.

To celebrate its milestone of selling one million units in the Philippines, Toyota released a special edition of its category-leading Innova and Vios.

The two Philippine-assembled vehicles get a special green paint job and navigation systems for a modest P15,000 price increase.

toyota-hilux-01The all-new Hilux  debuted in July. With new-generation diesel engines and a reinforced ladder-frame chassis, Toyota’s stated goal is to “redefine toughness.”

This means not just formidable off-road performance, with new electronic hill descent control, but a more comfortable ride on road.

Hilux promises 25-percent better fuel economy with the new engines and six-speed transmissions.

Mitsubishi: Strada

MANEUVERABILITY is one of the strongest qualities of the Mitsubishi Strada.

MANEUVERABILITY is one of the strongest qualities of the Mitsubishi Strada.

Mitsubishi’s Strada has offered a good balance of workhorse performance and leisure-oriented styling and convenience features.

The all-new Strada continues that goal, with a new aerodynamic front end with chromed grille and sculpted bumper.

The new Strada is 70 mm longer and 15 mm wider than the outgoing model. The pickup bed is now 1.47 meters wide by 1.52 meters long by 475 mm deep.

The Mitsubishi Strada cabin gets better sound insulation and damping materials for a more comfortable ride. The J-line separating the cabin and pickup bed has been redesigned to allow the rear seat to have an angled backrest.

The Strada gets a 2.5-liter diesel with 176 horsepower and 350 Newton-meters of torque, paired with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic.

Hyundai: Tucson, i20 Cross Sport

AT THE launch of the all-new Hyundai Tucson and the i20 Cross Sport are (from left)  Hari chair emeritus Richard Lee, Hari vice chair Conrad Marty,  Hyundai Motor Co. export department head and senior general manager Park Jin-young, Hyundai Motor Co. Asia and Pacific Regional Headquarters director Park Sang-min and Hari president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo. photos by EUGENE ARANETA

AT THE launch of the all-new Hyundai Tucson and the i20 Cross Sport are (from left) Hari chair emeritus Richard Lee, Hari vice chair Conrad Marty, Hyundai Motor Co. export department head and senior general manager Park Jin-young, Hyundai Motor Co. Asia and Pacific Regional Headquarters director Park Sang-min and Hari president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo. photos by EUGENE ARANETA

Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. launched the all-new Tucson SUV in April. The launch coincided with the inauguration of the Hyundai Logistics Center in Laguna.

The new Tucson looks decidedly more upscale, with a baby Santa Fe exterior and features.

The new Tucson has a roomy interior with clear instruments and a video screen mounted on the instrument panel. The cooled seats that debuted in the Sonata sedan find their way to the Tucson, keeping your back cool even in scorching heat.

Launching with the Tucson is the new i20 Cross Sport, a tall hatchback. The i20 is a competitor of sorts to compact crossovers like the Ford Ecosport, albeit with a more car-like shape.

i20 CrossSport frontThe i20 Cross Sport features 170-mm ground clearance, side and front body cladding, and a skid plate beef up to tackle rough roads and moderate floods.

The i20 Cross Sport has one distinct feature: an available 1.4-liter common-rail diesel with 220 Nm of torque.

The interior gets a multifunction steering wheel, split-folding rear seat, and rear parking camera.

Ford: Everest, Expedition Platinum, Mustang

Everest ExteriorFord unveiled the all-new Everest SUV at the Manila International Auto Show in April. The Everest comes with a more upscale design that won’t pale when parked beside the Explorer and Expedition Platinum.

The new Everest comes with many segment firsts, including electronic terrain control, panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, power-folding rear seats, active park assist, blind spot information, and Sync 2 system with 8-inch touchscreen.

With deliveries set to start in September, the Everest is expected to push the pickup-based SUV segment to new levels of performance and comfort.

Expedition-8Speaking of the Expedition, the new Platinum edition launched at MIAS makes the full-size SUV more relevant and even desirable.

The new Expedition gets a 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine with 364.93 HP and 569 Nm. Variable-damping suspension with comfort, normal and sport modes gives the Expedition better ride and handling control.

Style doesn’t take a back seat, as the Expedition gets 22-inch alloys, an 8-inch touchscreen, and Brunello leather on the steering wheel.

ONLY 64 units of this limited edition Ford Mustang will be made available in the Philippines.

The iconic Mustang was launched by Ford in rock n’ roll style. The new Mustang, with shark-bite front fascia, 19-inch alloys, and aviation-style cockpit, is the classic pony car updated for a new generation.

The car gets independent rear suspension for better ride and handling.

Engine choices are the 2.3-liter four-cylinder Ecoboost with 309.7 HP and 434 Nm, or the classic 5-liter V8, with a roaring 434.96 HP and 542 Nm.

Isuzu: D-Max 2.5-liter 4×2

TAKING care of the manual version of the new 2.5-liter powered 2015 Isuzu D-Max are the father-and-son tandem of Sergio and Ivan Isada.

TAKING care of the manual version of the new 2.5-liter powered 2015 Isuzu D-Max are the father-and-son tandem of Sergio and Ivan Isada.

Isuzu launched the 2.5-liter D-Max 4×2, giving Isuzu’s best-selling model better fuel efficiency.

The new 2.5-liter engine with common rail direct injection and variable geometry turbocharger delivers 134 HP, only 12 less than the previous 3-liter, and maximum 320 Nm of torque, ans 26 Nm more than the previous model.

With a smaller and more powerful engine, the D-Max attains better fuel mileage. Isuzu managed to extract 2191 kilometers on a single tank during a fuel economy run through Luzon, equivalent to 28.83 km per liter for the manual version.

The high-end D-Max LS variant and the standard LT 4×4 both get the new 2.5-liter engine.

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