Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. recently partnered with its corporate fleet accounts in promoting the importance of fuel efficient driving and in making it a habit. Taking into consideration the number of cars being managed by these accounts, a simple tweak on driving habits makes significant difference in extending fuel mileage.

The increase in CO2 emissions, rapid depletion of fuel supply and threat of global climate change make the need for any form of savings and corrective measures highly essential.

Accordingly, Honda invited 10 fleet accounts and embarked on a fuel efficient driving competition entitled, Honda Challenge Cup to demonstrate practical driving methods under real-world situations. Encouraging everyone to drive every drop, the competition posed various challenges in both city and highway driving conditions using normal, day-to-day driving style and with a running airconditioning system.

Since 1996, Honda has pioneered in the conduction of fuel economy competitions in the industry. Honda has been promoting care for the environment awareness by means of saving fuel consumption and minimizing CO2 emission, even when gas prices were not yet an issue.

There are several techniques that can be applied in optimizing fuel mileage but the most essential of all trickles down to three main aspects: vehicle, fuel and driver.

In achieving greatest impact on fuel economy and clean air, Honda has always targeted the mass-market models. Years of research has led to the development of engines with highly efficient internal combustion system like the i-VTEC, for you to get the most out of every drop of fuel. More than outstanding fuel efficiency, Honda vehicles are also engineered to pass the stringent European Emission Standards. Aimed to regulate the amount of pollution that can be released into the atmosphere, these standards set the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles sold in Europe. The European Emission Standard is also considered one of the strictest in the world. Among local manufacturers, Honda is the only brand that has reached EURO 4 levels for ALL its model line-up, even if Philippine regulations only require EURO 2 compliance. Conformity with EURO 4 standards translates to approximately 55% reduction in carbon monoxide if compared with EURO 2 levels. As early as 2004, Honda has started to introduce models with EURO 4 levels, accumulating to 67,400 units sold. Indeed, driving a Honda does provide a strong sense of social responsibility for a cleaner environment.

Another significant factor in going for the extra mile is the use of high quality fuel. High quality fuel has special formulation that aid better combustion efficiency.

Lastly, the key to a fuel efficient driving is in the hands of the driver — having full control over the machine. One has to have proper driving skills and understanding of the vehicle. Simple tweak on one’s driving habits not only extends fuel mileage but maximizes monetary savings and lessens deposit of harmful pollutants into the environment. Just imagine, if a corporation is maintaining a fleet of 100 cars and each vehicle user gets to save 1 liter of gasoline per day for 20 working days within a month, the company can already save approximately Php 936,000 in fuel charges per year (computed at Php 39 per liter of gasoline). That is how significant a mere liter of savings per day is.

Now is the time for change. Honda takes proactive measure as it calls on everyone to decisive action for the benefit of the generations to come. Get the most out of fuel, DRIVE EVERY DROP and reduce emissions towards a cleaner and healthier future for everyone.

For fuel saving tips and technologies that reduce harmful emissions, kindly visit www.hondaphil.com. Watch out for more updates and upcoming editions of Honda Challenge Cup.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation offers special sales incentives for new vehicle purchases of Typhoon-affected Toyota Customers. The devastating effects of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng have left a lot of vehicles damaged, some beyond repair. To aid flood-affected Toyota customers, TMPC will offer discounts ranging from P25,000 to P62,000 for select Toyota models for purchases made from October 1-31, 2009.

There are two ways to avail of Toyota’s special sales incentive. With the PAY CASH scheme, customers with cash purchases will enjoy special discounts for the Vios, Innova, Yaris, Avanza, Hilux, Altis, Hiace, Fortuner, RAV4 and Camry.

With the PAY LOW scheme purchases made through Toyota Financial Services (TFS) Lease-to-Own scheme will enjoy payment terms from 24 to 60 months, 10 to 30% cash out, and an all-in package including free one-year insurance with Acts of God coverage, LTO registration, and no chattel mortgage. A 90-day payment holiday will also be enjoyed wherein the first monthly amortization will be settled by customers three months after vehicle release.

Toyota’s special typhoon assistance is open to all Toyota customers of typhoon “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” who are interested to replace their flooded vehicles with a brand new Toyota. Only those with vehicles flooded from seat level and above are eligible to participate. This special promo is available at any authorized Toyota Metro Manila and Luzon Dealers only.

“As the country’s biggest automotive company, this is our way of letting our customers know that Toyota will be here every step of the way to help them. We are already offering special discounts for parts and labor for those whose damaged vehicles need repair. But we also understand that there are cases where the damages are beyond repair. This is why we are offering discounts for new vehicle purchases,” expressed Raymond Rodriguez, First Vice President for Vehicle Sales Operations. TMPC is also offering 40% discount on engine ECU, 20% discount on selected flood-affected parts, and 20% discount on labor.

For more information on Toyota’s special assistance for flood-affected customers, please contact the Toyota Customer Assistance Center (CAC) at 819 2912.

Get ready for some serious auto styling and tuning once again at Asia’s coolest and the Philippine’s largest automotive aftermarket show – the 2009 Manila Auto Salon on November 26-29 at the SMX Convention Center.

Get madly chilled out, styled and tuned because at Manila Auto Salon everything is COOL! Over 120 customized/modified cars, SUVs and trucks will be showcased and competing for the 14th editions of the Custom Car Show and the Sport Truck Show. Over 30 of the best vehicles with mobile set-ups will be competing under the IASCA Sound Quality with Install and IdBL events at the 3rd Mobile Electronics & Technology Show. The country’s best performance cars will vie once again for the Ultimate Tuner Award and the hot search for the Manila Auto Salon Race Queens will finally be on!

Watch out for special event updates on the 4-day, activity-packed styling and tuning show of the year— the 2009 Manila Auto Salon. For participation and sponsorship inquiries, contact TRADESHOW INTERNATIONAL, INC, at 6713122, 6718381-82 or email tradeshow92@yahoo.com, www.manilaautosalon.com.

Tsikot.com and Tsikot.Tv are official media partners of Manila Auto Salon 2009.

Armor All has an exciting challenge for all tsikot.com members. Armor All “Spot That Car Challenge”.

How to Join:

1. The 1st 10 tsikoteers to spot the Armor All car parked somewhere in Metro Manila will receive a gift pack P1000.00 of Armor All products. This challenge is open for Metro Manila-based members only.
2. If you have spotted the Armor All car from the period of October 26-30, take a photo and upload/embed it right away at this tsikot.com forum thread. Your tsikot forum name should come with the photo and your contact number (Mobile phone and landline).   Reminder: don’t reveal where you found the car to keep up the challenge for tsikoteer hunters.
3. Clue of Armor All car location: (Only 1 clue per day)
Oct 26 Clue # 1 – You can find the Armor All car somewhere in Metro Manila where they celebrate the feast of St. John the Baptist- “Wet day”

4. Bonus: 1st tsikoteer to spot and upload/embed the photo of Armor All car (valid entry) will have a chance to meet a celebrity guest and a cover girl of a popular men’s magazine. This special event will be on October 31, Saturday, 3:00 PM and have his car featured at our demo station applying different Armor All products to make it Clean, Shiny and Protected.
5. Come and join the fun and receive your prizes on October 31 at 3:00 PM

Good luck! May the best tsikoteer spotter win!

For more information, please read this thread.

Due to the significant number of flood-damaged vehicles coming in Mitsubishi Motors service centers particularly in Metro Manila and nearby Luzon areas, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has issued a statement explaining delays encountered in repairing these units.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Vice President for Customer Service Department said that “We request for further understanding from our customers regarding the delays in repairing their flood damaged vehicles. Our dealers are doing their best effort to accommodate everyone and all of them are working in full force to avoid inconvenience to our valued customers. Because the volume of repairs has already exceeded our dealer capacity, our dealers are now taking initiative to secure additional space to accommodate these vehicles.”

Mr. Zafra added, “We are always in contact with our principal, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) in order to expedite the delivery of our ordered parts especially for the critical ones.” Critical parts such as electronic control units or ECUs for engine, automatic transmission, airbags and Mitsubishi Electronic Time and Alarm Control System (ETACS) are usually stocked by MMC Japan in very limited quantities. To accommodate all the requirements of flooded vehicles will mean that these ECUs will have to be produced by MMC’s supplier and would usually require a lead time of around 2 to 3 months.

MMPC continuously monitors and assesses dealers to ensure that quality service and satisfaction will always be served to every customer. To further assist affected customers, MMPC has also brought down the total repair costs for these flood-damaged vehicles by providing 40% discount on all ECUs (Engine, Transmission, SRS Airbag, ETACS), 30% for other parts (such as electrical parts, body and engine parts, maintenance parts), and a 20% discount on labor costs.

For more information, you may contact your nearest Mitsubishi dealer or call Mitsubishi’s Customer Service hotline at telephone number 658-0673, or you may also log on to www.mitsubishi-motors.com.ph.

Toyota reengineers its sport utility vehicle as it introduces the new Land Cruiser Prado this October. The next generation Prado boasts of a more powerful engine and suspension system, luxurious exterior and interior enhancements, and class-leading functional and safety features. The new Prado is available in 5 colors with a price range of P 3,495,000 for the manual transmission and P 3,595,000 for the automatic transmission.

For many years, the Prado, together with its bigger brother Land Cruiser 200, has been a symbol of luxury, power and status, and has earned positive reputation worldwide. Among the array of new features, the engine tops the list. From 1KZ-TE, it now has a new 1KD-FTV engine, giving a more powerful output of 163 Hp. From indirect injection, Toyota’s direct injection 4-stroke common rail diesel engine (D-4D) now powers this luxurious 4X4, making it more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly. Its transmission system is a notch higher featuring 5-speed Automatic and 6-speed manual transmission systems. A Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), a state-of-the-art technology found only in the most luxurious of SUVs, likewise improves riding comfort and drivability. The KDSS hydraulically connects the front and rear stabilizers to optimally balance the effect that each stabilizer has on one another. On-road, KDSS works to suppress roll and increase vehicle stability. Off-road, the torsional effect of each stabilizer is offset by to achieve a longer wheel stroke and ensure superior traction when driving on rough terrain. Optimal use of the stabilizers achieves both outstanding on-road comfort and stability alongside uncompromised traction off-road.

On the outside, the new Prado is a head-turner. Projector-type HID headlamps with Auto leveling device, Rain sensing front wipers, outer mirror-mounted turn signal lamps, rear spoiler with integrated LED stop lamp, and a bigger 18” wheel to name a few, not only makes it more luxurious, but safer to use as well. Inside, elegance is immediately noticeable with metal and silver trim combination. EC rear view mirror and new optitron meters also distinguish it from the previous generation.

The Prado’s functional features are at par with other luxury SUV brands. This includes cruise control, clearance and reverse sonar, back monitor, push start and smart entry system, audio system with Bluetooth, MP3 and Auxiliary capability, steering wheel switches for Bluetooth and back monitor, and power fold for rear seats. The Toyota Safety technology is also incorporated as it adapts vehicle stability control (VSC), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), brake assist (BA), Downhill Assist Control (DAC) and Hill Assist Control (HAC), as well as active headrest for front seats.

This luxury 4X4 SUV is available in 5 colors, together with Raven Black are 4 new colors of Gray Metallic, White Pearl, Silver Metallic, and Dark Steel Mica. All these elegant exterior shades perfectly blend with the Ivory interior.

The new generation Land Cruiser Prado is available in any of Toyota’s 27 dealers nationwide. For more information about the new Land Cruiser Prado, please call Toyota’s Customer Assistance Center at telephone number 8192912 or log on to www.toyota.com.ph.

Isuzu Philippines Corp., the world’s leading utility and lifestyle vehicle line, has launched a calamity assistance program that gives customers a 30-percent discount on parts and related labor charges.

“Isuzu is one with the country in these truly challenging times,” said IPC executive vice president Yuki Kato. “We would like our clients to know that we will extend all the assistance they may require to get their Isuzu vehicles back on the road.”

Under this program, Isuzu is providing a 30-percent discount on parts including engine, transmission, drivetrain, ECM/TCM, body panels, doors and electrical parts but excluding batteries and accessories. The same discount applies on labor charges for repair, replacement, installation and overhauling of the mentioned parts.

The program covers only those vehicles that are brought to Isuzu dealerships from Oct. 9 to 31. Should Isuzu fail to release the vehicle on or before Oct 31 due to unavailability of needed parts, said vehicle will still be covered by the program.

The calamity assistance package includes all Isuzu dealerships, authorized sub-dealers, branches and satellite offices.

“We understand that this is a situation that needs urgent attention,” said Kato. “So we would like to inform our clients that we will do our best to accommodate all their vehicle-related concerns the way we at Isuzu have always done it…quickly and efficiently.”

For inquiries, visit your nearest Isuzu dealership. In Metro Manila, Isuzu dealerships can be found in EDSA Balintawak, Quezon Ave., Commonwealth, Pasig, Manila, Makati and Alabang.

In the provinces, Isuzu dealerships are located in Isabela, Pangasinan, Cabanatuan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, San Pablo, Bacolod, Iloilo, Mandaue, Cagayan de Oro and Davao. Check also www.isuzuphil.com for other Isuzu updates.

Ford Philippines registered a 24 percent quarter-on-quarter growth vehicle sales in the third quarter despite the challenging business environment, the company’s top official said.

“We have one of the freshest lineups of new products in the country,” Ford Philippines president Rick Baker said. “Our product portfolio now boasts of new and significantly freshened vehicles that are class-leading in quality, fuel efficiency, safety and value. Our sales results reflect that our Filipino consumers continue to appreciate Ford’s efforts to produce vehicles they want and value.”

A total of eight new vehicles have been added to Ford Philippines’ portfolio over the last year. These are the new Escape in September 2008 and Focus in November 2008, and over the past nine months, the 2009 Expedition, the new Explorer and E-150 Club Wagon, the new Ranger, Everest, and most recently, the Ranger Wildtrak.

The new Ford Everest leads the pack with 616 units sold in the third quarter, up 41 percent compared to the second quarter. A month after the 2009 Everest was relaunched last June, it achieved its best-ever monthly sales since the vehicle was first introduced in 2003.

Other models topped their second quarter sales with Ford Focus closing with a 43 percent increase, the Ford Ranger posting a 14 percent increase, and the E-150 Club Wagon reporting a 23 percent increase.

Sales of Ford Escape and Ford Expedition likewise continue to trend positively, with an increase of 17.5 percent in Escape sales and 19.3 percent increase in Expedition’s sales.

In the third quarter, Ford announced the completion of its largest-ever fleet sales order to Ford Motor Indonesia (FMI), exporting a total of 577 Philippine-made Ford Focus units for the Indonesian National Police Force as part of its 2009 fleet program.

As the first and only volume exporter of completely-built units (CBU) vehicles in the Philippines, the 577 Ford Focus units purchased are manufactured in Ford’s Sta. Rosa, Laguna plant.

“We are delighted with the progress of our CBU export program in light of this year’s more challenging environment,” Baker said. “Ford Philippines is the only domestic manufacturer with a CBU export program, and we remain committed to deliver high quality vehicles to our neighboring ASEAN markets,” he added.

By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio, Philippine Star

Leading car manufacturers Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMC) and Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) are offering discounts on parts and labor charges in order to help victims of tropical storm Ondoy.

Toyota will offer discounts on replacement of flood-related parts and labor, as well as extend service workshop operations to accommodate affected customers while Honda is offering 30-percent subsidy on all parts, lubricants and 10 percent on labor charges for flood-related repairs.

“Toyota would like to express its sympathy to motorists affected by Ondoy. The number of damaged vehicles is unimaginable and we sympathize with our valued customers who are victims of the crisis,” Raymond Rodriguez, TMPC first vice president for Vehicle Sales Operations said.

Less than a week after the typhoon, Metro Manila Toyota dealers have received more than 2,000 affected vehicles for service and repairs. The numbers of Toyota cars that need to be serviced have now reached a level way above the capacity of Toyota dealers.

In order to help its customers, Toyota will provide discounts of 40 percent for engine Electronically-controlled Units (ECU), 20-percent discount on selected flood-related parts, and 20-percent discount on labor.

All Toyota Metro Manila and Luzon dealers shall likewise fully utilize its current workshop capacity to accommodate all vehicles for service and repair. Each dealer will also have a Special Help Desk for typhoon victims, and customers can directly contact the Toyota Customer Assistance Hotline.

“The typhoon has caused widespread damage in Luzon. We send our deepest sympathies to all the victims of this disaster. After the storm has passed, we have projected a significant increase in service intake of inundated vehicles,” Hiroshi Shimizu, president and general manager of HCPI said.

At present, Honda regularly monitors its dealership network to assess the actual situation.

To prevent further damage to the vehicle, Honda advises immediate disconnection of the battery terminal or better yet, complete removal of battery from the vehicle.

Honda also warned affected owners to avoid switching of ignition or starting of engine to prevent electrical short circuit. For vehicles completely submerged with floodwater, it is best to clean the car, especially the engine bay and air-conditioning unit, with clean water to prevent further rust formation and corrosion.

By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio, Philippine Star

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMPC) is offering discounts on replacement of flood-related parts and labor, as well as extend service workshop operations to customers whose Toyota vehicles were damaged by typhoon “Ondoy”.

“Toyota would like to express its sympathy to motorists affected by typhoon Ondoy. The number of damaged vehicles is unimaginable and we sympathize with our valued customers who are victims of the crisis,” Raymond Rodriguez, TMPC first vice president for vehicle sales operations, said.

Metro Manila Toyota dealers have received more than 2,000 affected vehicles for service and repairs. The number of Toyota cars that need to be serviced has reached a level way above the capacity of Toyota dealers.

TMPC will provide discounts of 40 percent for engine electronically-controlled units (ECU), 20 percent discount on selected flood-related parts, and 20 percent discount on labor. TMPC said all Toyota Metro Manila and Luzon dealers have been advised to fully utilitize their current workshop capacity to accommodate all vehicles for service and repair. Each dealer will also have a special help desk for typhoon victims, and customers can directly contact the Toyota Customer Assistance (CAC) hotline.

Visit any of Toyota’s 10 authorized outlets in Metro Manila and Luzon or Call the CAC Hotline at telephone number 819 2912 or through email at customerassistance@toyota.com.ph.

In addition, clients of Toyota Financial Services (TFS), TMPC’s financing arm, can also contact their help hotline at 757-8500 (Monday to Friday), or log on to their website, www.toyotafinancial.ph.