Manila Auto Salon 2009 Slated on November 26 to 29, 2009

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 Tsikot Challenge

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.

Mitsubishi Philippines Clarifies Repair Delays for Flooded Vehicles

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.” Read more

Toyota Redefines Luxury with the New Prado

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. Read more

Isuzu Philippines Offers Assistance to Typhoon-Hit Vehicle Owners

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. Read more

Ford Philippines Sales Up 24% in Third Quarter on New Lineup

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. Read more

Toyota, Honda Offer Discounts

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. Read more

Toyota Philippines Offers Discounts on Parts, Repairs of Flood-Damaged Units

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. Read more

Local Auto Sales Rise by 3.4% in September 2009

The automotive industry reported a 3.4-percent increase in sales in September despite the numerous challenges the industry had to face this year.

According to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) overall vehicles sales stood at 93,385 units during the first nine months of this year.

The industry continues to remain cautiously optimistic and is still looking at hitting the target of at least a flat growth for this challenging year, CAMPI president Elizabeth H. Lee said. Read more