The Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) 2008 pulled ahead of the competition and cemented its reputation as the country’s biggest motoring event. Held last April 3 to 6 at the World Trade Center, MIAS 2008 drew 77,000 visitors. This year, 24 car brands participated including several new first timers such as Chery and Chana. This is up from last year where 22 car brands joined the show. 2008 also showcased the return of the air conditioned tent (located adjacent to the main exhibition hall) bringing the total indoor exhibition space to a sprawling 15,100 square meters.
Seeing the growing trend towards car customization and personalization, this year’s theme was entitled “Imagination in Motion”. In connection with this, MIAS, in cooperation with Lightspeed Philippines premiered its first Classic Car and Custom Car Competition where an immaculately restored 1976 Mitsubishi Galant won best of show. At the same time, the first ever EMMA (European Mobile Media Association) Sound Competition was held. This was the first time a mobile sound competition was done with an internationally recognized rulebook. Michelle Yu, the country’s leading female drifter served as one of the celebrity judges.
As the only major motoring event for the entire first half of 2008, several new models broke ground at the show including the all-new Mazda6, MX-5 PRHT, BMW M3 Coupe, and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.
Being the only international-quality motor show held during summer break, MIAS continued its family-friendly atmosphwere to cater to just about anyone from casual car buyer to full-blown car enthusiasts. World renowned precision driver Russ Swift made a stunning comeback behind the wheel of the all-new Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Racing aficionados got up close and personal with the all-new Godzilla—the #22 MOTUL-Pitwork 350Z JGTC, the Tuason Racing Ford Focus TDCi and Formula 3 race car as well as a line-up of the country’s fastest dragsters. Ford’s trademark off-road driving experience headlined the numerous brands, while Mazda held the record for more than one hundred test drives during the four day event. Daily car club displays from the Muscle Car Club to the BMW E30 Club, an FHM bikini car wash, contests were some of the other activities done.
Over the past three years, The Manila International Auto Show aimed to help the Philippine car industry by providing a world-class showcase for brand-building and generating vehicle sales. With a visitor count averaging 68,000 people, The Manila International Auto Show hopes also to ignite the passion and enthusiasm for all things automotive.
Mazda6
When taking about executive sedans, the adjective ‘sexy’ rarely pops up. With the all-new Mazda6, it is the complete opposite as this car is full of sex appeal. With its bodacious ‘cycle fenders’ up front and sleek roofline, the Mazda6 looks every bit like a four-door sports car. The minimal overhangs, sleek front and rear facia and generous wheelbase makes this one car that begs to be driven hard.
Good thing it has the pace to match those sporty looks thanks to a bigger engine. The trusty MZR four cylinder engine’s displacement is up to 2.5-liters bumping the maximum power to a healthy 168 horsepower. An adaptive five-speed automatic with sequential shift override and cruise control makes sure you have smooth and perfect control over your progress.
Mazda CX-9
The SUV buyer is getting choosy nowadays. Not only are they expecting an interior to cuddle their ever-growing family, but it must have a shell that looks nothing like a mom-mobile. Plus, performance must be sporty and still have ample ground clearance when tackling a rough piece of tarmac on the way to the shopping mall. Mazda obliges and adds a trickle of their ‘zoom-zoom’ magic to the SUV world in the form of the CX-9.
The CX-9 with its raked windshield, low roofline and 20-inch alloys is actually a genuine 7-seater SUV underneath. There are enough creature features to keep everyone happy including a high-quality audio system, dual climate control and power adjustable seats. It equally scores high in safety too with standard curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes with EBD as well as a stability control system with roll stability. None of these will deter from the real fun: driving.
Mazda MX-5 PRHT
First seen at the Manila International Auto Show last year, the Mazda MX-5 PRHT is now available for sale. The world’s best-selling sports car needs little introduction, as it single handedly revived the roadster genre. Its recipe for success was simple: light-weight and driver-focused.
With more than a dozen other makers offering their own roadsters, Mazda pushed the design envelope further without straying from its successful formula by introducing a novel Power Retractable Hard Top or PRHT feature on the third-generation MX-5.
Subaru Impreza / WRX / WRX STI
Subaru is now officially a mainstream brand with the introduction of 4 variants of its iconic Impreza. Commonly known for its rally-bred variants, the all-new five-door now comes in both decaf and triple espresso. No less sissy than its turbo-charged siblings, the R Sport with its 150 horsepower and symmetrical all-wheel drive will definitely satisfy first-time Subaru buyers. If more than 200 horses under the hood is a must, then you can always climb up the ladder to the 230 horsepower, 2.5 WRX.
If this is still not enough to satisfy your horsepower craving, then there’s the Impreza WRX STI. The legendary suffix stands for Subaru Technica International, Subaru’s in-house performance team. With Dual Active Valve Control (Dual AVCS), the STI reaches a peak 305 horsepower. Putting all that power onto the pavement is an exclusive all-wheel drive system that features a driver controllable system dubbed Driver Control Center Differential (DCCD).
Honda Accord
Refined, dynamic and innovative—some of the words that amply describe the all-new Honda Accord. Completely re-designed from the ground up, the Accord features increased dimensions for a more luxurious interior; however its skin retains its unmistakably powerful presence with sharp and powerful character lines.
The range-topping variant features an innovative cylinder management system called Variable Cylinder Management or VCM. This enables the Accord’s 3.5-liter VTEC engine run either in 3, 4 or 6 cylinder mode achieving fuel economy levels comparable to that of a compact car. With all cylinders firing though, the Accord is somewhat of a muscle car, pushing out close to 270 horsepower.
The car’s dynamism is echoed in its interior which is simple yet modern and luxurious. Easy-to-read gauges and intuitive controls form the foundation of the Accord and add to that cutting edge features such as a memory card slot for playing MP3s through its 160-watt 7 speaker system.
Chana Automotive
Chana may not be the most recognizable car brand yet, but with its entry into the Philippine car market, that will all change. As car companies go, Chana is one of the most experienced, building cars as early as 1957. Automotive design and engineering has always been their specialty and companies like Ford, Mazda and Suzuki have chosen Chana to be their Chinese market partner. Wanting to showcase their technological expertise, they started making cars under their own brand.
Initially, the Philippine line-up of Chana consists of no less than 4 new models, all of which make their respective debuts at The Manila International Auto Show. The flagship Chana, the Benni is set to re-write everything you’ve thought about a Chinese-made car.
For starters, the Benni looks downright modern. On closer inspection, you’ll notice the complete set of exterior features including front and rear fog lamps, 14-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler with third brake light and a rear wiper. Inside, the Benni boasts of a single CD player with 4 speakers, power windows, power door locks and keyless entry system!
The 1.3-liter 16-valve engine delivers modest performance, but makes up for it with a stratospheric 22.72 km/L mileage and Euro-III emission standards. The 84 horsepower engine is hooked up to a five-speed manual that makes the Benni capable to speeds in excess of 140 km/h. This level of sophistication is carried over to the steering rack with features an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. A driver’s side airbag and anti-lock brakes complete the standard package.
BMW M3 Coupe
No car has reached cult status as quickly as the BMW M3. And like its status in automotive history, the newest one is indeed mighty quick, obliterating the 100 km/h mark in just 4.8 seconds. Based off the award-winning 3 Series Coupe, the M3 is built from the ground up in order to become an even more superior driving machine.
It starts from the right engine: a 4.0-liter V8 cocking up 420 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. Shunning any fancy gearbox for a slick 6-speed manual, the M3 Coupe signals its intent as a true driver’s car. Like all other M cars, the M3 is built on the foundation of precision engineering and involves F1 technology in several components including a carbon fiber roof.
Ford Focus TDCI
You’ve heard about how Europeans rave about having a diesel engine under the hood of their compact cars, and now you can experience one yourself in the Ford Focus TDCi Sport. Though it looks no different than a standard 2.0 Sport, this stylish 5-door hatchback hides a powerful punch with its own DuraTORQ engine.
The locomotive-like engine packs a wallop: 134 horsepower and 340 Nm of torque (that’s double compared to a typical 2.0-liter petrol)! And if that’s not all, a 6-speed manual gives the driver precise control on when he wants his license revoked for speeding. And despite the heavier nose, the Focus TDCi still retains its nimble and balanced body thanks to Ford’s trademark Control Blade rear struts.
Chery Automotive
Established in 1997, Chery (pronounced as “Qirui”) has become one of the most recognizable car brands from Mainland China. With a sales growing tenfold, Chery relies on a long list of international partners such as ACTECO, Bosch and Lotus to make true, world-class quality cars at prices too shocking not to ignore.
In the Philippines, Chery has one of the fastest growing dealer network and with line-up of 6 cars, represents one of the extensive in the country. At one end is the QQ3, the Philippines’s cheapest car. Although its biggest draw is its cute looks, the all-power amenities shame even cars twice its price. And then there’s the modern-looking A5 compact car. Again, it’s fully-loaded but priced one notch below. The A5 is surprisingly modern again with dual airbags and anti-lock brakes as well as a 1.6-liter ACTECO (FIAT engine) under the hood. The biggest surprise comes from the Tiggo—an SUV priced to complete with sub-compact cars.
Suzuki APV Type-II
For 2008, the Suzuki APV has been substantially upgraded. Dubbed “Type-II”, the revised APV features a more aerodynamic front end thanks to sculpted headlamps. Underneath, the rear leaf springs have been retired in favor of modern coil springs for a much more comfortable ride. The Type-II also sees the introduction of a luxury model with second-row captain’s chairs and dual SRS airbags as standard.
Mitsubishi Lancer / Lancer Evolution X
Patience is a virtue, and for fans of the Mitsubishi Lancer, it’s nice to see them rewarded by a spectacular 2008 model. The all-new Lancer (called Lancer EX to differentiate it from the run-of-the-mill Lancer, which will soldier on) is powered by an all-new, all aluminum 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to either a 5-speed manual or CVT. There’s something for everyone with the new Lancer. Performance junkies will appreciate the 158 horsepower engine, standard 18-inch alloys and Evo-inspired body kit. Audiophiles will revel in the 9-speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system, while everyone else will love the roomy and well-built interior.
For the full-blooded rally experience though, there’s no substitute for the Lancer Evolution. Now on its tenth iteration, the latest Evo features a turbocharged version of the Lancer’s engine which is good for 280 horsepower (the Japanese mandatory figure) and 422 Nm of torque. While a 5-speed manual is still offered, the one to have is the new twin-clutch 6-speed automatic gearbox. Other new technology debuts in the Evolution X include Mitsubishi’s Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC), Active Stability Control and Active Yaw Control.
By Ulysses Ang | Photos by Ulysses Ang
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