Motoring Today Column

Nov 11, 2020

Motorists who regularly use EDSA should take note that both northbound and southbound d U-Turn slots near Dario Bridge are now closed.

Signages have been placed along EDSA about the closure.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has issued the following advisory on routes to take with the new closure:

From northbound going southbound, affected vehicles may take the U-turn slot near Oliveros Drive in front of Shell Station.

From southbound going northbound, affected vehicles may take the U-turn slot at EDSA-Quezon Avenue flyover.

This is the fourth U-Turn slot to be closed to give way for the EDSA Busway project which designates the innermost lane of EDSA as an exclusive lane for buses travelling along the national highway, said the MMDA.

NLEX Biya-Hero

NLEX Corporation has not forgotten about its continuing campaign to educate on and encourage motorists to observe safe driving practices on the expressway.

In collaboration with the Land Transportation Office and NLEX Ventures Corporation, NLEX has launched what it called the "Maging NLEX Biya-hero" campaign.

"Since 2005, NLEX Corporation has been conducting several road safety programs for its stakeholders. This 'Maging NLEX Biya-hero' campaign is a vital addition to the company's efforts to engage motorists and impart them the value of road safety that NLEX espouses," said NLEX Ventures president Renato U. Ticzon at the launch.

The campaign will distribute materials and engage in activities to inform private motorists about traffic rules and regulation enforced in expressways and to remind them of their responsibility in making the roads safe.

Aside from promoting road safety, the 'Maging NLEX Biya-hero' campaign "also intends to help restore the vibrance of rest and refuel areas along NLEX-SCTEX, which are also affected by the current pandemic," an NLEX press statement said.

NLEX teams will go around rest and refuel areas along the expressway to continue educating motorists and inspiring them to be advocates of road safety, it added.

She Ranger

The US of A is going to have its first ever woman vice president. This is quite a historical milestone. And in her first speech as a vice president-elect, Kamala Harris, said, and we paraphrase, while she is the first, she will not be the last.

Why is this significant? Well, Ford Philippines has just launched a campaign it calls "Ranger for Her."

As the vice presidency in the US is no longer the sole realm for men, pickups may no longer be the reserve of men.

Ford, which by the way is an American brand, may just be picking up on that fact.

In the press release announcing the "Ranger for Her" campaign, Ford said "pickup trucks like the Ford Ranger have evolved into modern lifestyle vehicles that offer the same comfort and technologies as passenger cars, but with the versatility and toughness to function as a workhorse, business partner, family vehicle, and anything in-between."

"The modern pickup truck has become the ultimate expression of personal independence and empowerment, increasing its appeal with urban families, youth and women," it added.

Ford noted that there is a growing segment of female pickup truck buyers across the region.

The new "Ranger for Her" campaign is aimed at bringing the Ford's "wide pickup portfolio closer to women customers and drivers."

It's a two-pronged campaign using two "strong and empowered women to represent the 'Built Ford Tough' qualities of the Ford Ranger."

One prong is the "Superheroes Campaign" fronted by actress Iza Calzado.

Ms. Calzado took a Ranger Wildtrak to deliver 200 sanitation kits and disinfection materials consisting of alcohol products, face masks, face shields, and sanitation wipes to a Gawad Kalinga community in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

The community's women leaders have been working hard as part of the Kusina ng Kalinga project to prepare and cook meals for 300 on a daily basis.

"I am honored to be standing before you to recognize all the sacrifices you have been doing for your community over the past few months," she told.

The second prong is the Great Driving Roads campaign led by Rachel Peters who has been taking another Ranger Wildtrak to many of the country's scenic spots, meeting interesting people along the way.

Ford said Rachel will star in a two-episode travel video series that will premier on hers and Ford's social media channels this November.

"Traveling during the lockdown is quite difficult, but if you follow safety and health protocols, it is possible. The Ford Ranger is built for so many things and is perfect for adventure-driven women who love to escape the urban jungle. Roads are slowly opening up again and this is exciting news for us all. The opportunity to be immersive and spend quality time in the great outdoors once the pandemic is over is something I'm sure all of us will no longer take for granted," Rachel said.

In launching the "Ranger for Her," Ford said: "More and more women such as Iza and Rachel are breaking through the expectations and obstacles of modern-age womanhood. This is why an increasing number of them are choosing pickup trucks, such as the Ford Ranger, as a capable and reliable partner that allows them to live their best lives and takes them exactly where they need to be."

Mitsubishi Upgrades

The signal for the shift to digital marketing and online transactions in the auto industry just got stronger.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) has joined many other automakers and distributors in upgrading its online presence providing enhanced online for those who visit its portal to the Web, www.mitsubishi-motors.com.ph .

MMPC says its new on-line home "introduces significant design improvements, interactivity features, and new customer tools that better inform site visitors and make the purchase of their new Mitsubishi vehicle easier and hassle-free."

It adds that the Mitsubishi Web portal comes with an optimized User Interface for mobile, desktop, and tablet devices to improve page loading performance and scalability for site visitors whichever device they use.

Among the enhanced features of the Mitsubishi on-line portal is a quick-loading and easy to use Dynamic 360° Exterior and Interior Viewer to help visitors actually see and appreciate their chosen vehicle in detail before any purchase.

Online visitors can also locate the nearest Mitsubishi dealership, book test-drives, and request quotations. Mitsubishi vehicle owners can book appointments for preventive maintenance services or repairs.

Mitsubishi said that in December its website will have Chat Bot functionality to allow visitors and customers to instantly receive answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the brand, its products and services.

Mercedes Discounts

Mercedes Benz Philippines is not immune to the discount virus sweeping the automotive sector.

The exclusive distributor of Mercedes Benz automotive products has announced million-peso discounts for several vehicles in it lineup in what it calls the "11.11 Exclusives."

These include, among others, up to P3-million worth of cash discount and freebies for a brand-new Maybach S 560;1.5-million total cash discount and freebies for the S 320 Long; P500,000 cash discount for the brand new E 200 AMG.

To learn more about discounts, head tothe Mercedes-Benz showrooms atEdsa Greenhills, Bonifacio Global City, Alabang or Cebu, or visit the online showroom to choose the Benz that fits your lifestyle and preferences.

But remember, the cash discounts and freebies will only be available on November 11, 2020.

Happy Motoring!!!

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