2003 has been a good year for Philippine car buyers. Manufacturers may still be struggling with tepid sales volumes, but the buyers have been given a multitude of new car choices, from at least three all-new subcompacts to seven new SUVs introduced in the past twelve months. With new tax regulations that are more advantageous to buyers and car makers, and car companies now able to source products from multiple manufacturing sites, 2004 should also be an exciting year where new car introductions are concerned. Here’s a sampling of what we can hope to see on our shores next year. (Please note that none of these predictions have been confirmed by car manufacturers, and of course, photo will vary from actual unit.)
Honda Stream. Ferrying around a large family while still maintaining a semblance of style and performance has always been a challenge for the minivan class. If you find Starex and Space-Gear-sized vehicles too large, Honda has a solution in the Stream minivan. A stretched wagon with a capacity for 7 adults, the Stream will come equipped with a 2.0-liter i-VTEC engine mated to a conventional 5-speed automatic with manual override. Wish list: The dolphin-like Stream may look agreeable, but bring us the new, mean-looking Odyssey instead.
Honda Jazz. The City broke the barriers of the subcompact class, bringing safety features, innovative interior package and creative engineering usually found in cars one class higher. A welcome addition to the family will be the City’s hatchback sibling, the Jazz. The 5-door Jazz will feature a 1.5 liter i-DSI dual-spark plug engine (86 bhp/ 131 Nm), CVT transmission and the versatile folding rear seat. A great bonus is that it looks even slicker than the City. Wish list: Eye-burning exterior colors.
Ford Focus. The long-awaited replacement for the Lynx will slot into the Ford passenger car lineup. Unmatched razor-sharp handling and responsive engines will be the main selling points of this compact sedan and hatchback family. Photos of the US version have just been released (above), but we expect that the European versions will have sharper detailing. Wish list: We hope the Focus will have the option for the high-torque 1.8 TDCi diesel, or the 212-bhp turbo 2.0-liter currently in the Focus RS.
Mazda 3, 6 and RX-8. Mazda, soon to be reintroduced under Ford Group Philippines, will boast of a revitalized lineup of sedans and sports cars. The Mazda 3 is a compact car with a choice of sedan or hatchback bodies, while the 6 is a midsize sedan. If the usual choices look too conservative and drive just as boringly, then this pair of Mazdas may be your salvation. Both feature aggressive looks and reportedly best in class handling. The RX-8 sports car has two unique features: a normally-aspirated rotary engine displacing just 1.3 liters but pumping out up to 238 bhp, and four doors, the coach-style rears opening up for wide access to the two full-sized rear seats. Wish list: The hatchback 3, and the 238-bhp engine for the RX-8.
Toyota Revo. The Revo will probably follow the path of the Everest and Adventure Master in building an AUV/SUV body on a pickup chassis. The new Revo will look considerably sleeker, almost like the 4Runner. Engine choices will be a 2.5 or a 3-liter diesel, with the top version pumping out 125 bhp and a robust 315 Nm. Wish list: 3.5-liter diesel for good pulling power.
BMW 6 series and X3. The sporty 6-series coupe returns in 2004, with an intense new shape incorporating styling cues like the eyebrow front lenses and bulging trunk lid from the current 7. Performance will be characteristically potent, with a 4.4-liter V8 packing 333 bhp, good for 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. Transmissions will be a choice of 6-speeds: manual, automatic or semi-automatic. The compact SUV will see a premium entry in the X3 “Sport Activity Vehicle.” The X3 will feature one of two 3.0-liter inline-6 engines, a gasoline generating 228 bhp / 300 Nm, or a diesel with 201 bhp and a massive 410 Nm. The new xDrive 4-wheel drive system and 17-inch wheels are standard. Wish list: With performance that promises to blow us away as much as the styling, either one should be a pleasure to drive.
Chevrolet Lumina. By introducing the Aveo and Optra, and relaunching the Zafira, Chevrolet signaled its intent to take a large chunk of the passenger car market. The Lumina should complete their lineup and give the default-choice Japanese midsize sedans some competition. The Lumina is powered by a 200 bhp / 305 Nm 3.8 liter V6.
Volvo S40. With a sexy new body wrapped around an all-new platform, the new S40 should make quite a dent in the executive-sedan market. The new Volvo S40 is shorter, but at the same time wider and taller, than its predecessor, creating more interior space. Despite its compact dimensions, the all-new Volvo S40 packs a transverse five-cylinder in-line engine, with either 2.4 or 2.5 liter displacement. The most powerful engine, the T5, offers a maximum of 220 hp and 320 Nm of torque. The Volvo S40 T5 will later become available in combination with all wheel drive. Volvo’s legendary safety is maintained, with several crumple zones incorporated into the frontal body structure, with four different steel types to effectively absorb collision forces. Wish list: The T5 with all-wheel drive.
Mitsubishi G-Wagon. If the Mercedes G-wagen is out of financial reach, then Mitsubishi’s alternative, the SUV G-Wagon may be attractive. It’s built on the L200 chassis, with a length just cracking the 5-meter mark, and a 235-mm ground clearance. There will be 3 rows of seating for up to 7 passengers, automatic transmission and a front-rear aircon system. A 2.8 liter inline-4 diesel engine with turbo and intercooler produces 123 bhp and 292 Nm. The braking grip from the 265/70 R16 tires will be maximized by standard ABS.
Nissan Teana and Presage. The Nissan Cefiro nameplate will soon be replaced by a new one called Teana (native American for “dawn”). The Teana will retain the Cefiro’s midsize sedan configuration, and will also pack an upgraded version of the super-smooth VQ V6 engine, from 2.3 to 3.5 liters. The new 8-seater minivan Presage is also based on Nissan’s FF-L (front engine, front drive, large) platform. This should bode well for the minivan’s ride and handling. The interior features three rows of seats, with a fold-flat third row and a folding second row for easy entry and exit. The VQ engines can be paired with Nissan’s XTRONIC CVT continuously variable transmission. The Teana also features Japan’s first SRS side curtain airbag systems that extend protection even to third-row seat occupants. Wish list: The 3.5 liter V6 Teana paired with the CVT.
By Jason Ang | Photos Courtesy of the Honda, Ford, Mazda, Toyota, BMW, Chevorlet, Volvo, Mitsubishi, Nissan
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