Motoring Today Column

Mar 02, 2022

Civil works for the LRT-1 Baclaran Expansion Depot has just been completed and inaugurated.

LRT-1 private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) said the expansion added 4.2 hectares to the existing 6.4-hectare Baclaran Depot.

This means there will be more rail tracks and maintenance facilities to support more trainsets, both for LRT and the LRT-1 Cavite Extension.

LMRC said the expanded LRT-1 Baclaran depot will see the addition of 21 stabling and maintenance tracks to the existing 45, increasing the depot's stabling capacity from 130 to 182 Light Rail Vehicles.

It will also accommodate trains from existingGenerations 1, 2, 3, and new Generation 4 LRVs.

Following the inauguration, LRMC president and CEO Juan F. Alfonso said: "The LRMC team, together with our partner contractor, is currently accelerating the electromechanical installations for the new facility to allow the stabling and maintenance of additional trains, particularly the new Gen-4 fleet."

"We remain fully committed to raise the bar of service excellence in public transport," he added.

PITX Licensing Center

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has opened a new licensing center at a very convenient location, the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

The LTO expects the new PITX licensing center should make it easier for drivers at the southern end of Metro Manila and nearby provinces to renew their licenses.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade even promises that seafarers and OFWs can get licenses renewed in just around 30 minutes at the LTO-PITX Licensing Center.

Said Tugade during the inauguration of the new licensing center: "Kung ikaw ay seafarer, kung ikaw ay OFW na kung saan meron kang 30 minuto na naiiwan dito, mag-apply ka sa pasilidad na ito, 'yung lisensya mo kaibigan, lalabas at lalabas."

Welcome Emgrand

There's a new subcompact sedan in the market. And it's from Geely, the same Chinese automaker that brought in the Coolray, the surprise hit in the subcompact SUV/crossover market.

Many are now saying the Coolray may have done much to make made-in-China vehicles much more acceptable to a market long prejudiced against them.

For those in the market for a subcompact sedan the arrival of the 2022 Geely Emgrand should be a welcome addition, giving them another option to choose from.

But perhaps not so for the competition in a market awash in four-door, five-seat subcompacts.

During the launch of the fourth entry from Geely, Yosuke Nishi, president of Sojitz G Auto Philippines Corporation (SGAP), the local Geely distributor, said: "The Geely Emgrand aims to continue what we have begun from our young brand. We have heard and listened to our customers and this gave us the confidence to bring in a sedan for the Filipino market."

This confidence may have been bolstered by the Emgrand's success in China since its launch back in 2009.

Geely claims the Emgrand "has been a consistent best-selling sedan in China for 9 consecutive years with cumulative sales of more than 3.38 million units until last year."

Geely appears to be taking the same marketing strategy for the fourth generation Emgrand that has proven successful with the Coolray, offering attractive styling, advanced tech, very competitive pricing.

Said Nishi: "Indeed, the new Geely Emgrand packs in enough features you would normally expect from bigger cars minus their expensive price. If I am to sum up the proposition of the Emgrand to the market, it is "Value for Money." That's what Geely is known for and that's exactly what you get on the All-New Emgrand."

Geely is offering two variants of the Emgrand -the Comfort and the Premium - both powered by a new 1.5 liter gasoline engine with Dual Continuous Variable Valve Timing that delivers 102 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and142 Newton-meters of torque and mated to a an 8-speed continuous variable transmission.

Suggested retail prices for the Emgrand areP908,000 for the Premium and P798,000 for Comfort.

Autohub in Youtube

Anyone and everyone now seem to have a YouTube channel. Cooking, fishing, gaming, music channels, etcetera, etcetera.

A YouTube channel has power and reach as many Youtubers have found out. Something that many automotive companies are finding out.

The Autohub Group has now launched it own YouTube Channel ( Autohub YouTube ).

The channel will provide the latest reviews, reveals, exclusives and updates on the many brands and models under the Autohub Group.

Now marking its 23rd anniversary, the Autohub Group comprises 22 multinational brands and operates over 65 dealer branches.

Check Autohub's YouTube channel. If you enjoy its streams, then don't forget to like and subscribe.

Happy Motoring!!!

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(email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

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