TO demonstrate its best-in-class capabilities, including durability, reliability, fuel efficiency and versatility, the all-new Ford Ranger recently embarked on a 23-day run across the archipelago. Dubbed “Fearless: The Ford Ranger Extreme Drive,” the trip began on April 17 with a flag-off at the Ford Group Philippines headquarters at Santa Rosa, Laguna.

The marathon drive will see the Ford Ranger traversing 15 regions, 44 provinces and some 275 cities and towns, making use of the roll-on, roll-off facilities or the Expanded Strong Republic Nautical Highway System.

The drive team will attempt to link the northernmost tip of Luzon (Claveria, Cagayan Valley) to Mindanao in a single journey, reaching as far down south as Glan in Sarangani Province.  The Ranger will negotiate different road networks, as well as off-road situations in the sand dunes of Ilocos, the dirt roads of Samar and the slopes of Mount Banahaw.  

Aside from highlighting the different destinations in the Philippines, the Ranger will make stops at the various dealerships across the country, to allow local residents to get familiar with the vehicle.  Public test drives will also be conducted by some dealerships during the run.

Steering the Ford Ranger in various legs of the run are veteran off-road drivers, including multiawarded 4x4 racer Hilario “Larry” Mendiola and professional 4x4 driving instructor Christopher “Beeboy” Bargas.  

From Santa Rosa, the Ford Ranger will go through Southern Luzon, and push forth to Bicol, Samar and Leyte.  From there, it will move to Mindanao, through Davao, Sarangani and Cagayan de Oro, before motoring to the Visayas. Finally, the vehicle will go through Oriental Mindoro and Batangas, before doing the North Luzon loop, passing through the eastern towns of Rizal into Ifugao to Cagayan Valley.  The run will culminate in an off-road drive experience to Mount Pinatubo.

“We haven’t really brought the Ranger experience to the markets outside Metro Manila since the launch.  By doing this run, we hope to reach more people and introduce the excellent features and capabilities of the Ford Ranger to them.  At the end of the country-wide run, we are confident that truck enthusiasts would be able to validate the features that make Ford Ranger the best in its class,” said Tonette Lee, Ford Asean brands.

“We also think it is really interesting that we are going to some places where other manufacturers haven’t been and discovering new sights, like Glan in Sarangani Province, and also rediscovering some old off-road favorites like Pinatubo. And this is really in keeping with the Ranger character of being out there and fearless and conquering obstacles, and allowing you to do more and be more,” she added.

To excite the public as the Ford Ranger moves from one province to another, pit stops are scheduled at all Ford dealers nationwide where welcome events, Ranger meet and greet as well as sales and service caravans will be conducted. These dealers are located at Dagupan, Cabanatuan, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, San Pablo, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

THERE was a time when the Kia brand was synonymous with cheap and low quality.  Things have changed since then and the Korean carmaker has boldly taken great strides over the years to polish its act. Now, it is safe to say that Kia manufactures some of the best automobiles in the world.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines spices up the SUV segment with the introduction of its three new and exciting models, the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander, Mitsubishi Endeavor and Mitsubishi Pajero. These new SUVs will definitely thrill the market considering their advanced features and exceptional styling.

TO demonstrate its best-in-class capabilities, including durability, reliability, fuel efficiency and versatility, the all-new Ford Ranger recently embarked on a 23-day run across the archipelago. Dubbed “Fearless: The Ford Ranger Extreme Drive,” the trip began on April 17 with a flag-off at the Ford Group Philippines headquarters at Santa Rosa, Laguna.

IT’S all go for the introduction of Michelin’s new set of special SUV tires next week as it holds the “Give It Some Latitude” on April 25 in Zhuhai, China.

“FELIPE’S weekend was fantastic and this was due to his capability—and to the car of course.” That’s how Ferrari’s technical director Mario Almondo summarized Felipe Massa’s win in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix, but both Almondo and sporting director Stefano Domenicali paid tribute to the Brazilian’s ability to turn around his performance following a poor start and losing the Malaysian Grand Prix to Fernando Alonso the week before.