MIAS 2014 to unveil Subaru WRX STI, iconic VW Beetle

THE TOPLINE WRX STI

As the summer season heats up, so does the automotive industry as it prepares for the year’s biggest motoring event slated on April 3 to 6, at the open fairgrounds and enclosed halls of the World Trade Center and Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City.

Setting a new record of 96,000 visitors last year, organizers of the 2014 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) said they are looking forward to another banner year as new brands will be introduced to the show for the first time. Among them are German brand Volkswagen, India’s Tata Motors and Chinese brand BYD. BYD’s remote-controlled car is expected to be showcased in the event.

With VW’s comeback in Philippine shores recently, it is inevitable that the Ayala-owned Automobile Central Enterprise Inc., the country’s distributor for Volkswagen, will introduce the all-new Beetle here. VW enthusiasts welcome the latest addition to the VW models already available in the market, the Polo Notch, Jetta, Tiguan, Touareg and the Touran.

For its part, Motor Image Pilipinas, the country’s distributor for Subaru automobiles, will unveil the all-new WRX STI.

THE ALL-NEW Volkswagen Beetle

Aside from the topline WRX STI, Motor Image Pilipinas will also unveil its WRX variant on the same event.  Although the final specifications of the Philippine model has yet to be revealed, the Philippine variants will also use the same powerful 2.5-liter, horizontally opposed turbocharged “boxer” engine with the STI variant having an exclusively tuned suspension for enhanced rigidity and a multimode DCCD (Driver’s Control Center Differential).

Russ Swift, a regular celebrity performer in MIAS since 2007 will be back again this year as he performs his signature and Guinness World Record-breaking maneuvers in the new Subaru models.

Another Ayala company, BPI Family Savings Bank, is launching a monthlong Auto Madness campaign nationwide this year from March 13 to April 13.  Aside from being able to buy a brand-new car anytime, anywhere online at www.bpiautomadness.com, the bank has partnered with MIAS for the third consecutive year, showcasing its buyer-friendly features in the show for its Metro Manila campaign.