Motoring Today Column

Jan 23, 2019

The newest motorcycle website is now up

You can now click on to www.motomagphilippines.com and explore the newest motorcycle website that the country can offer —and doing just that can make you win bags full of prizes from regular website raffles like helmets, safety gear, bike accessories initially courtesy of top-notched bike shop, Moto World.

And you can check it out also for quite a few more reasons, like if you are in the market for a new bike you can click on the Moto Comparo page, where you can so conveniently compare, feature-to-feature 3 different models at the same time. What a thorough and expedient way of making a decision as to what bike really suits your needs and your liking.

Bikers who would like to be updated on the latest legal issues between the government and the biking community can always check the Moto Forum page where they can even voice out their opinions freely.

The Moto Industry page contains full information about industry players (motorcycle companies), their new bike models, technologies, promos, etc.

The latest news and developments about the motorcycle (moto sports, product launches, government rules and regulations, etc.) can be readily access on the Moto News page.

The MotoMart page is the directory of 'what and where' to get motorcycle products and services.

Moto Features , the page exclusive for the latest moto sports events, motorcycle reviews of the latest small and big bikes, latest technology reviews, etc.

Moto Clubs, an exclusive page for Biker's Clubs, which would contain the names of their officers, their latest events, etc.

I guess we have given you more than enough reasons to check out the site, but best of all is the chance to win valuable and functional raffle prizes, especially for bikers that are in store for those who would immediately'like' the MotoMag Facebook page.

The 10 amazing years of Lexus Philippines

It was a decade ago when my good friend,Mr. Daniel 'Danny' Isla (aka'Sir John'), the founding President of Lexus-Manila got his close friends together to issue a personal invite for us to attend the official opening of its office and impressive and expansive showroom right at the heart of Bonifacio Global City.

This year marks Lexus' 10th year of delivering amazing products and excellent customer service in the Philippine luxury automotive scene. The brand made its local debut in January 14, 2009, with the opening of its showroom and the launch of its initial line-up- the LS 460 flagship sedan, the ES 350 executive sedan, the GS 460 sports sedan, the IS 300 compact sedan, and the LX 570 full-size SUV.

In a statement released during what was described as festive yet elegant10th anniversary celebration,Lexus Philippines said that the brand has become 2nd in the Philippine luxury automotive industry. For four consecutive years now, Lexus has maintained strong leadership in SUV sales, being number one in the commercial vehicle segment. This significant growth has positioned Lexus Philippines at4th rank regionally- tied with Lexus Thailand- in terms of new car sales. In terms of market share, Lexus Philippines is Top 2 among its regional affiliates, next only to Lexus Indonesia.

To cater to the increasing demand of consumers all over the country, Lexus Philippines has expanded their service operations to bring the Lexus experience outside the showroom. From their sole dealership in Metro Manila, they have set up five Lexus Accredited Service Centers across the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions particularly in Laguna, Pampanga, La Union, Cebu, andDavao, done in partnership with the local Toyota dealers.

Lexus Philippines ' 10th anniversary celebration also came out as an opportunity to unveil one of their latest offerings—the Lexus UX, described as a subcompact SUV crafted expressively for the modern urban explorer.

During the new model's launch it was presented as a model that brings to the table the widest field of vision and best turning radius of any luxury subcompact SUV. It was crafted to achieve the best possible aerodynamic performance through world first aerodynamic features. Inspired by the traditional Japanese concept of Engawa that blurs the boundary between a home's exterior and interior, it was designed to create a feeling of seamless continuity inside.

One of the distinguished guests during the milestone event was former Toyota Motor Philippines'marketing guru, Mr. Vince Socco, who's presently the Executive Vice President of Lexus Asia, based in Singapore. For some plausible reason like a family dinner, I unfortunately failed to attend and miss out on the "who's who" get together and reunion of sorts of the motoring media and those"friends of Lexus Philippines" that included Lexus-Manila founding president and recent retiree who leisurely commutes between Manila andNew Zealand, Danny 'Sir John' Isla, motoring columnist and syndicated sports columnist, Al 'Sir Paul' Mendoza, motoring journalist par excellence and EIC of top-notched automobile website, VISOR, Vernon Sarne, automotive products' marketing wizard, Ariel 'Anak' de Jesus and Lexus-Manila sitting president, Raymond Rodriguez.

Congratulations to Lexus Philippines.

Subaru brings motoring media to 2019 Singapore Motorshow

Together with other visitors to the2019 Singapore Motorshow, members of the Philippine motoring media were treated to exciting displays and activities at the Subaru booth to include unveiling of a new model and a glimpse of what the future holds for the brand.

Displayed for the first time in Singapore is the All-New Forester e-Boxer, a hybrid model of the brand's popular SUV. The petrol-electric midsized SUV boasts a propriety dual-engine mechanism, which consists of a lithium ion battery pack that activates at lower speeds to conserve fuel, and a petrol engine that kicks in higher speeds.

The new hybrid model was presented as one that rides on the Subaru Global Platform, which has been designed from the start to accommodate conventional, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric powertrains. This results in a negligible difference in height of the cargo floor between the hybrid and the petrol versions - enabling theForester e-Boxer to offer more than 500L of cargo space.

They were also able to catch a glimpse of the Subaru VIZIV Tourer Concept, which was first showcased at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show. Bearing design similarities with the WRX STI, the Subaru VIZIV Tourer Concept boasts a more aggressive and sleeker exterior, paying homage to the brand's x Solid design language. Additionally, Subaru also displayed specially accessorized editions of the brand's popular models, including the Subaru XV 2.0i-S, Subaru Outback 2.5i-S, Subaru Forester 2.0i-S, Subaru Forester 2.0i-L .

By the way, tomorrow, Motor Image Pilipinas shall unveil a new Subaru model to the Philippine market - the Subaru Forester. Watch for it.

Happy Motoring!!!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ray Butch Gamboa graduated from the College of Arts and Letters of the University of Sto. Tomas. It was a course that should have been preparatory to a law degree, but the call of broadcasting aborted his plans.

At the age of 16, while still a student, Butch tried his hand at disc jockeying, landing a job at Mareco Broadcasting Network’s AM stations DZBM and DZLM. From there, Butch moved on with his illustrious career as a popular disc jockey, riding the airwaves of Bob Stewart’s middle-of-the-road music at DZXX, and ending his disc jockeying career at ABS-CBN’s DZYL and DZQL.

From there, he stayed on with ABS-CBN, covering live the proceedings at the Manila Stock Exchange and eventually entered into the world of television sales as an account manager for the premier channel of ABS-CBN Channel 2.

In the early 70’s, at the outbreak of Martial Law, Butch was one of the thousands of professionals who woke up jobless when then President Marcos declared the new status of the nation. With the closure of ABS-CBN, Butch ventured into different fields outside of broadcast. He tried his hand and with ease and success at export (Costume jewelry), real estate (brokerage), and restaurants (fast food).

In 1987, after the revolution, with the broadcast industry back to its free state, and with its irresistible call ringing in his ears, Butch made his inevitable comeback and pioneered in a local motoring show, producing Motoring Today on Channel 4 and co-hosting with local motor sports’ living legend Pocholo Ramirez.

After 4 years, he ventured into another pioneering format by producing and hosting Business & Leisure, which was originally aired on ABS-CBN’s Channel 2. The format eventually espoused similar ones in other different channels. But the clones in due course faded away leaving the original staying on airing on Channel 4 and eventually on Shop TV on Sky Cable’s Channel 13.

The following year, the pioneering spirit in Butch spurred him to produce another TV show, Race Weekend, also on Channel 4, covering circuit racing at the Subic International Raceway after the motor sport’s hiatus of 17 years. But when similar shows with duplicated formats sprouted, he decided to give way and ended the program after a year, although still enjoying unparalleled viewership.

In 1998, when the local automotive industry was in a slump, Butch contributed his share to help the ailing industry by producing another popular motoring-related show, this time exclusive to the automobile and its industry—Auto Focus, which became a vehicle for local automotive assemblers and importers to showcase their products and dwell on the industry’s latest technological developments.

In 2003, Butch teamed up with his brother, Rey Gamboa who was a former Shell executive and presently one Philippine Star’s business columnist to co-produce and co-host the TV show Breaking Barriers on Channel 13. It is a talk show that features guests who are in the news and in the middle of controversies. The program ventures to draw deeper insights into current issues to learn how they impact to our daily lives.

Today, Motoring Today on its 28th year of service to the general motoring public still enjoys its unprecedented loyal vierwership nationwide while Auto Focus, after 16 years has firmly established its niche viewership among automobile enthusiasts and on the other hand Business & Leisure is on its 24th year dishing out current business issues and lifestyle features.

Today, aside from writing weekly columns for the Philippine Star (Motoring Today on Wednesdays and Business & Leisure on Saturdays) and executive producer / host of weekly TV shows (Motoring Today, airs Sundays on Solar Sports Channel 70, Business & Leisure, airs Tuesdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13 and Auto Focus airs Thursdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13, Ray Butch Gamboa is currently the Chairman and CEO of Sunshine Television Production and Marketing Services Corp., President of Gamcor Management and Development Corp., Chairman of Asia-Pacific Realty Corporation, President and Chairman of Socio-Communication Foundation for Asia and Founding Chairman of the Society of Phil. Motoring Journalists (SPMJ)

 

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