botchi santos

Gono knocks on the championship door

I’ve known the Autoplus crew for well over a decade. I started visiting their second shop in West Avenue when I was a college student back in the late ’90s, simply drooling over the parts I could…

Supercar ownership begets a super attitude

In this day and age, the Filipino consumer is spoiled with choices. In the automotive industry, we are experiencing a golden age as well. There’s a huge plethora of cars available for all segments—from super affordable, fuel…

‘The Boss’ : BMW X5 up close and personal

With luxury sport utility vehicles growing in demand at a rapid pace worldwide, fueled in particular by China’s massive appetite for all things premium, BMW, the pioneer luxury car manufacturer to offer a premium SUV, has unveiled…

There’s a place for Bentley charms

It’s not very often that an ultra high-end luxury car manufacturer invites for a small launch cum track day at the Sepang International Circuit. So when Bentley Motors sent an invite for me to participate in…

BMW 3-Series GT: Joy in a more practical package

Sun, sand, gorgeous landscape, equally gorgeous women, with passion flaring up on every corner. There’s no better place to discover BMW’s niche-busting sedan-cum-SAV-cum-estate, the 3-Series GT.…

The all-new Honda Accord: Moving the goalpost

With Honda Cars Philippines firmly back into the mix, they have brought their A-game, promising more new models to introduce to the country. Despite a lack of a diesel-powered SUV, pickup or MPV/people-mover, no one seems to…

Porsche 911 Turbo S: The return of the King

Porsche’s seminal everyday, all-weather, all-season supercar, the 911 Turbo, has carefully and continuously evolved since the original 930-generation Turbo came out in 1975. From a traitorous, scheming widow-maker to a perfectly capable and comfortable everyday car, Porsche’s…

Mazda CX-5 Sport AWD: Standing toe-to-toe

Over the years, we’ve missed out on some really good Mazda vehicles. We never had models like the RX-7 lineup, the MX-5 (OK, it is sold here but just too expensive), the 929 Executive Sedan, and the…

Micmic Rojas: Man of Steel

More specifically, Micmic Rojas is the man of lightweight aluminum alloy wheels. And unlike most executives of car companies and its supporting industries, Micmic is a man that lives and breathes cars.…

Oddities at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013

Japan is a country that embraces peace, tranquility, harmony and serenity. Unfortunately for some, it is a country that also embraces anonymity, uniformity and, due to a combined Buddhist/Shinto belief, aspires to a single consciousness, focusing always…

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