Cagi now on the hunt for Car of the Year-Philippines

RAIN or shine, the “hunt” lasts for four days. The collective effort of 30 media organizations from the motoring beat is making the Car of the Year-Philippines’ test fest at the Filinvest City in Alabang a dream shaping up to become reality.

The vehicle tests, which started on Oct. 6, would include qualitative and quantitative evaluations. With over 60 of the newest vehicles from all major car manufacturers, and even from new players in the Philippine auto market on hand, the Car Awards Group Inc. (Cagi) is ready to churn out the cream of the crop.

Entry-level subcompact cars from China, India, Japan and Korea as well as ultrahigh-end vehicles from American, British, French and German automotive companies are being put through their paces as this story goes to press.

Instrumented tests reveal how these cars, regardless of price tags, perform during pedal-to-the-metal acceleration, pylon, and hard-braking challenges done three times for each. These tests are done using the latest and most precise instruments, such as the GPS-racelogic VBox with gyro sensors for the handling test.

Cagi’s test fest has been considered the ideal organized vehicle evaluation system. The evaluations are structured so as to be simple enough to be understood by the media to be written for regular readers, but quantifiable, comprehensive, and precise enough for motoring technical evaluators.

Aside from the much-coveted Car of the Year-Philippines and Truck of the Year-Philippines titles, winners shall also be awarded for the following categories: basic subcompact; subcompact, premium subcompact; compact car, executive car, luxury compact car; ultraluxury car, subcompact crossover; compact crossover; large crossover; compact SUV; midsize SUV; pickup 4×2; pickup 4×4; subcompact MPV; compact MPV; and large MPV/van.

The entries that top their respective classes then become the candidates for Coty-P and Toty-P.

Now en route to the final leg of four test-drive days on Oct. 13, the Coty-P and Toty-P are the first exhaustive automotive search in the Philippines, and recognized by the Automobile Association Philippines. The test fest unites close to 30 Filipino motoring journalists, the culmination of which is the Coty-P and Toty-P awards to be held at the end of the year.

The Cagi board has also required the local distributor of Rolls Royce to have a representative seat with the scribes when the group tests the P25-million Wraith on Oct 13.

Auto brands BAIC, BYD, Chevrolet, Ford, Foton, Honda, Haima, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Mini, Nissan, Peugeot, Rolls-Royce, Suzuki, Toyota, and Volkswagen have all sent their latest units to the test fest.

The 2014-2015 test fest is open to all “all-new” or “significantly updated” vehicles launched in the local market from October 2013 to October 2014. For purposes of definition, “significantly updated” refers to vehicles that have had significant mechanical or electronic changes to the powertrain, drivetrain, suspension or activity systems that affect the way they drive or operate.

Since its beginnings in 2004, Cagi has been giving a decade’s worth of awards to the most outstanding vehicles available in the market and, in the process, has been raising consumer awareness by enabling them to make informed choices.

The 2014-2015 Car of the Year Philippines is supported by Caltex with Techron, Filinvest City Alabang, the Manila International Auto Show, Worldbex Services International, SpeedLab, AAP, Victoria Court, Team Spyder, MG Madrid & Co., Icubus Solutions and Winner Graphics.

Cagi is supported by various media partners including motioncars.inquirer.net.