Motoring Today Column

Jul 28, 2021

In spite of all the restrictions and difficulties brought about by the unrelenting Covid-19 pandemic, the automotive sector has proven to be quite resilient in making the marketplace for automobiles exciting again.

New and exciting models are being rolled out and sales have rebounded.

GR Yaris

Toyota Motor Philippines is bringing in the GR Yaris, the pocket rocket hatch developed by Toyota Gazoo Racing, the No.1 Japanese carmaker's performance development arm.

Toyota is stirring excitement for the GR Yaris which it says has been developed first as a motorsports racer before being metamorphosed into a production vehicle, instead of the other way around.

Powered by a G16E-GTS 3-cylinder inline DOHC 4-valve roller rocker engine hailed as the "world's best" inline 3, the GR Yaris arriving soon to local shores will have a six-speed manual transmission coupled to the unique GR-Four 4-wheel drive system.

Toyota says the GR-Yaris to be sold by 16 GR Performance dealers nationwide will come with the High Performance/Circuit Package as standard.

Highlighting the track-ready nature of the GR Yaris are the Carbon Fiber Roof, 18-inch BBS Forged Alloy Wheels, Front and Rear Torsen Limited Slip Differential , and Multiple Drive Modes (Normal, Sport, and Track).

The GR Yaris will also feature audio system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility and Toyota Safety Sense, a suite of safety tech including Pre-Collision System, Automatic High Beam, Lane Trace Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control.

It also comes with 6 SRS airbags, Anti-lock Brake System, Vehicle Stability Control, and Hill-start Assist Control.

You can get your GR Yaris from Toyota's 16 GR Performance dealers starting August 14, 2021 for only P2.65 million.

Kombi Coming

Volkswagen Philippines is also building exciting excitement for the return of the Multivan Kombi.

It is playing the nostalgia card with the slow roll-out of the Kombi, the iconic nameplate of the affordable and versatile van of the fifties to the seventies.

But the Kombi it is bringing in has nothing in common with the iconic uber affordable people carrier of old beyond the name and of course German engineering.

The Multivan Kombi set to arrive in the country aims to conquer the premium MPV market.

In Volkswagen Phililppines' own words, "the world's bestselling van now comes into the Philippine market as a re-envisioned icon, an updated and upgraded top-of-the-line Multivan Kombi that pinpoints top-level executives and successful personalities who stand to enjoy the vehicle's sophisticated and luxurious amenities, safety features, and ride technologies the most."

VW is not shy about the pricing of its new generationMultivan Kombi Highline which starts at P3.64 million.

All that will get you what VW describes as "unmatched heritage, consistently world-class automotive engineering and design locked in with German precision, top-of-the-line technologies and safety features."

Suzuki Claims P3

Suzuki Philippines has come out to say it has broken into the top 3 in vehicles sales.

In a press statement, Suzuki announced "its foray into the top 3 spot of the Philippine Automotive Industry, a breakthrough in Suzuki Philippine's performance history."

Suzuki says it achieved this growth in sales "despite the difficulties and obstacles experienced by the Philippine Economy during this ongoing global pandemic."

Leading the charge in first half performance is theSuzuki Carry with 19.9 percent of totalSuzuki sales, the Ertiga with19.6 percent, and the Dzire with 18.4 percent.

"Suzuki's continued growth is a testament of our brand's mission of expanding our reach for more people to experience what the Suzuki Way of Life! is all about," said Keiichi Suzuki, Vice President and General Manager for Suzuki Automobile.

Davao Bike Lanes

Transportation Secretary Art Tugade is a busy man these days, traveling to and fro across the length and breadth of the nation to inaugurate an achievement or progress to make mass and individual transportation safer and more affordable.

One such recent trip was to Davao where Secretary Tugade led the formal inauguration of the 54.744 kilometer bike lane network in the city.

The bike lanes in Davao complete the497 kilometer bike lane network inDavao City, Metro Manila and Metro Cebu to promote active transport as a sustainable and efficient mode of transportation.

According to a DOTr press statement, the Davao bike lane network spans across 14 road sections within Davao City to include Quimpo Boulevard, Sandawa Road, Roxas Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Quirino Avenue, E. Jacinto Extension, Dr. A. Gahol Street, Mabini Street, F. Torres Street, Loyola Street, Porras Street, Inigo Street, and Decasio Street.

The bicycle lanes "feature white and green pavement markings, signage, bollards, bike symbols, solar studs, and concrete delineators" to make it safer for cyclists.

Rebutting Recto

The Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center Steering Committee (PVMIC) created by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has come out with a press statement answering point-by-point the issues and concerns raised by Senator Ralph Recto over recent actions taken by the DOTr regarding the PVMIC program.

The DOTr earlier issued Memorandum Circular No. 2021-02, or the Implementation of Geographical Area of Responsibility (GAOR) for the renewal of registration for light vehicles and motorcycles.

Under the circular, LTO offices will only accept reports from PVMICs in areas covered by the latter's GAOR.

Recto was among critics who questioned the legality of turning over the function of inspecting vehicles for roadworthiness to the private sector. The senator also said the new GAOR initiative will result in longer lines, longer processing times for renewing registration papers.

Recto said the GAOR initiative will result in LTO district and satellite offices to have "suking" PVMICs which he fears will result in more corruption in the registration process.

On the question of legality of privatizing theMotor Vehicle Inspection System, the PVMIC Steering Committee, in a press statement said, "Administrative Code of 1987 and E.O. 125-A allows DOTr to call on any corporation or organization, whether public or private, to participate and assist in the implementation of transportation programs."

The committee also cited the OSG opinion that said the MVIS is only outsourced, operated under a private sector participation agreement, but the government still has direct control and supervision of the roadworthiness testing and motor vehicle registration.

On the matter of "suking PMVIC", LTO Offices with overlapping PMVIC GAORs may accept the result of any PMVIC within their area of coverage, the committee said.

The committee added the solution is increasing the number of PMVICs that should open nationwide, in order to for all areas to be covered.

Happy Motoring!!!

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