A wrap up of April’s busy motoring related stories on social media

 

From a bus bomb scare to Binay look-alikes to LTO’s recall on its administrative order on vintage cars, April was full of surprises.  It was also a busy month for the automotive social media calendar. Here’s a look at what happened this month.

 

MIAS brings the heat to PH’s auto market 

Summer’s sizzling heat was even made hotter by the country’s biggest motoring event, if the crowd at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) was an accurate gauge. More than 110,000 visitors trooped to the World Trade Center complex over the four days of the auto show to see the latest and greatest offerings from some of the country’s car manufacturers and distributors. This also generated the most number of posts and likes and shares on the automotive social media. From car photos to booth models, car enthusiasts bombarded this month’s social media with selfies and videos on the much-anticipated annual motor show.

Audi returns to Marvel Universe in Captain America: Civil War 

German luxury car brand Audi has always been a fan of Marvel movies. It returns to the Marvel universe the silver screen in the latest Marvel flick “Captain America : Civil War” movie released earlier this week. The collaboration continues the Audi brand’s commitment to one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises and passionate fans.  After nearly a decade of successful collaborations, the Audi and Marvel alliance remains strong.  Its campaign includes an exclusive digital video called “The Chase,” directed by the film’s directors Anthony and Joe Russo. Audi excites the Marvel universe by previewing a pivotal scene featuring the all-new Audi SQ7. Additionally, the campaign will include a 30-second commercial which will begin airing globally mid-April. Captain America, played by Chris Evans, debuts the all-new Audi SQ7, while Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) finds himself once again behind the wheel of the all-new Audi R8 V10 plus Coupe supercar. Making its Hollywood debut is the Audi prologue show car as the model of choice for Chadwick Boseman’s character, Black Panther/T’Challa. Emily VanCamp as Agent 13 sports the all-new Audi A4 and Zemo, played by Daniel Brühl, drives the A7 Sportback.

 

Ayala announces plans to build KTM bikes in PH 

 

During its annual stockholders’ meeting, Ayala Corporation Chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala announced the group’s joint venture with KTM AG,  Europe’s leading global motorcycle manufacturer, to both serve as the exclusive local distributor of KTM products and to manufacture motorcycles for the Philippines and for export to China and Southeast Asian countries. With over Euro 1 billion in annual turnover, KTM is Europe’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer, with a 9.6% market share in Europe and a 6.0% share in the US.

 

Bomb scare causes heavy traffic on Edsa

Last April 17th, a bomb scare on a bus shut down a portion of the northbound lane of Edsa in Cubao, Quezon City, on Sunday evening, choking traffic for several hours in the area. The scare began at Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, when at 7:45 p.m., passengers of a Magic Line Express bus  with plate number TXT 498 informed conductor Eduardo de Leon Jr. of a “suspicious black bag” left behind on a seat near the back of the vehicle, a report from the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) showed. The bag, according to De Leon’s account to the police, was brought on board by three men who got on the vehicle in Baclaran, Parañaque City. Over the past week, text messages warning of bombs supposedly to be planted by terrorist groups had been circulating in Metro Manila.

MMDA’s ‘no-contact’ apprehension policy 

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) launched its “no-contact” apprehension policy last April 15th, using hundreds of closed-circuit television cameras will be used to monitor traffic violations, track down erring motorists, and have them fined based on the video recordings. The agency also clarified that the CCTVs would only augment its traffic enforcers who would still be manning the streets and apprehend violators on site.  Summons or notices will be sent to the vehicle’s owner or operator (in the case of PUVs) to identify the driver of the vehicle at the time the traffic violation was captured by the CCTV. Within eight hours, more than 200 vehicles were tagged on camera for traffic violations under the “no-contact” apprehension policy. Most of the early violations were for obstruction, reckless driving, and illegally using Edsa tunnels, the last involving public utility buses, said MMDA Chair Emerson Carlos.

Fast & Furious chick Michelle Rodriguez drives 320 kph Jaguar F-Type

 

Hollywood actress Michelle Rodriguez drove the new Jaguar F-Type SVR, the fastest series production Jaguar vehicle ever, on a closed highway in the Nevada desert. It is home to the world renowned Silver State Classic Challenge road race, where the actress pushed the F-Type SVR Coupe to its top speed1 with the speedometer indicating 321 kph – a personal top speed for the star. Michelle Rodriguez said: “Driving this car was insane! I’ve now broken my personal speed record in the beautiful Jaguar F-Type SVR. Reaching 201mph felt amazing, the car drove really smoothly, all my corrections were minimal, I was super focused, and it really reacted in all the right ways. I don’t think I’d ever go this fast without a professional driver seated next to me, but oh man, it was an incredible feeling.” The F-Type SVR is the first Jaguar SVR and fastest F-Type ever. Acceleration from 0-96kph takes just 3.5 seconds, and, in coupe trim, the new Jaguar joins an elite club of cars capable of accelerating to 320kph.  Jaguar Philippines also recently held a special track day for the F-Type at the Clark International Speedway last April 15th for VIP guests and select members of the motoring media.

 

VP Jejomar Binay look-alike cabbie in Indonesia goes viral 

Last March, some Filipino tourists visiting Indonesia shared photos and a video on social media when they got to ride a taxi cab driven by a cabbie who they claimed looks like Vice President Jejomar Binay. Cess Barcenas and her friends met the Binay look-alike taxi driver during their recent trip and, upon their amusement, posted a video of them chanting the famous campaign jingle of the vice president, “Only Binay.”  Barcenas also requested the look-alike to pose with the “Laban” sign, a significant trademark pose of the presidential candidate and former Makati mayor.

 

LTO probes own staff over stolen car plate materials 

Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Roberto Cabrera ordered the relief and investigation of several employees under the agency’s Plate Making Plant (PMP) following the reported disappearance of some P4-million worth of license plate materials from the facility during the Holy Week break. Cabrera made the directive amid suspicion that the aluminum plates had been gradually pilfered in small quantities long before the “theft” was reported to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Monday. Last January, the then newly appointed LTO chief asked the regional directors to conduct an inventory of vehicle plates and driver’s license cards in line with efforts to address the supply shortage brought about by disallowed contracts. “It’s possible that the plates were gradually taken and when the inventory was ordered, that’s when the theft was reported,” LTO spokesperson Jason Salvador told the Inquirer. PMP chief Rogelio Buduan earlier told the QCPD that 10,000 plates and 1,250 uncut aluminum sheets were stolen during the nonworking days of Lent. The plant, located in the LTO main compound on East Avenue, Quezon City, only makes duplicates for lost plates since a contract for new standardized plates was bid out in 2013.

 

LTO recalls order against vintage cars  

Vintage and classic car interest groups took the social media by storm but was relieved when the Land Transportation Office (LTO) recalled an order restricting the use of classic and vintage cars and limiting its use to certain days of the week and promised to hold further talks with representative interest groups and vintage car owners last April 6th, a day before the start of the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) held at the World Trade Center. The LTO announced the recall of administrative order No. RPC-2016-033, known as the “Registration and/or Recording of Vintage Motor Vehicles in an ad published in the Inquirer last April 2nd. This has become one of the most controversial orders the LTO has made in recent history.  Concerned interest groups composed of classic and vintage car owners went to social media and the internet to voice out their frustration, albeit also insulted by the fact that their well-cared vintage cars are perceived as a risk to the motoring public while dilapidated public utility buses and jeepneys as well as other forms of PUV’s (public utility vehicles) continue to ply the streets at risk of losing life and limb due to poorly maintained engines and brake systems.  This was picked by the mainstream media and was aired in several TV news networks during and after the MIAS. Last week, the LTO chief arranged a meeting with known leaders of various vintage and classic car clubs to discuss the controversial administrative order to pore over the matter and made an effort to understand better the vintage and classic car ownership culture and to understand the plight of the said owners.

 

Motul launches “Drive Right” campaign at MIAS  

In an effort to promote driver discipline and defensive driving,  French lubricant brand Motul, launched its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaign at this year’s Manila International Autoshow (MIAS).  Stating that driving is a way of life, whether it’s taking the kids to school, doing the grocery run or going to work; being behind the wheel is an essential part of our personal, family and work life. It can be enjoyable and pleasant, but at times can also be stressful and dangerous with fatal consequences. Majority of car crashes usually involves one driver. Road rage incidents are common, and Motul hopes that this Drive Right campaign will remind everybody out there that the roads are for everybody and we must learn to share it with discipline and inspire goodwill among fellow drivers. Stickers were given away at the Motul booth at the MIAS, visitors can avail of “Drive Right” car stickers by simply registering your name and e-mail address.  To avail of these stickers, visit Autoplus Sportzentrium at 233 Edsa Mandaluyong  City.  Motul stickers will also be available in select dealers by next month.

 

Viral story of Nora Aunor’s son Ian de Leon for helps motorcyle accident victim

Although the multi-awarded superstar actress has been hurting over personal differences, Nora Aunor said she was proud of and happy for her son, actor Ian de Leon, who was lauded by netizens for his quick action in saving a young victim of a hit-and-run accident. Last Sunday, Kristine Madrigal Sarmiento sought the help of netizens to reach out to De Leon, so she could “personally” thank him for bringing her 10-year-old son Ethan, who was hit by “a speeding motorcycle,” to the hospital. In her Facebook post, Sarmiento said the actor “was the only one who came to the rescue of a total stranger.”

 

Honda PH launches all-new 10th-generation Civic sedan

Honda’s recent launch of the all-new Civic sedan was greeted with much anticipation on social media. The new car features a sporty new design and an available turbocharged VTEC engine. Honda hopes that the Civic can once again rocket to the top of the competitive compact sedan segment. The new car comes packed with a host of convenience and driver-assist features, all wrapped up in a more dynamic-looking body shell. The big news with the Civic is the availability of a turbocharged gasoline engine for the RS Turbo variant.  With a DOHC VTEC valve system, the new 1.5-liter turbo engine delivers 173 horsepower at 5500 revolutions per minute, and a healthy 216 Newton-meters of torque starting at 1700 rpm. Other variants get the 1.8-liter normally aspirated VTEC engine with 141 HP and 171 Nm. Both engines are mated to a continuously variable transmission. The RS Turbo gets paddle shifters for the CVT.  The All-New Civic 1.8 E is priced at P1.088 million and the RS Turbo at P1.398 million.

 

 

Suzuki launches the Ciaz sedan 

 

Suzuki Philippines has officially launched the Ciaz subcompact sedan. Suzuki is positioning the Ciaz as a sensible and innovative car for the Asian market. The new Ciaz is available in three variants: the GL manual transmission, GL automatic transmission and the premium GLX. The name Ciaz stands for “City from A to Z,” describing the intended environment for the new subcompact. Ciaz comes in three variants: the Ciaz GL Manual Transmission at P738,000; the Ciaz GL Automatic Transmission at P773,000; and the Ciaz GLX at P888,000.