BUYERS are now anxiously awaiting the release of the new Isuzu Global D-Max, which was previewed by the press on Monday at the Tagaytay Midlands, where Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) president Keiji Takeda was all smiles as he welcomed all the media participants. No, we weren’t able to play golf that day since Monday is an “off” day for the Midlands golf course, according to Isuzu VP for corporate business division Art Almadrid, who was nursing a cold and flu.

The vehicle was driven by the media around the Midlands during an Amazing Race-type contest held during the event. Also in attendance were IPC’s Yuki Kato, vice president for dealer network; Joseph Bautista, product development head; and executive vice president Kazuhiko Sho.

The event, which signaled the end of the yearlong Isuzu 10th anniversary celebration, was such a success that all the participants, whether winners or nonwinners, went home with big smiles on their faces!

HERE’S a reader’s reaction which I am printing to impart to some major establishments that there are people who share our line of thinking:

“Thank you Andy for your article regarding [the lack of] lights in business establishment areas. Leaving street or walkway lights on [for] a few more hours after closing will not incur much, considering the benefits to their customers and, more so, the safety of their own employees. I also agree with you regarding establishments selling stolen goods, particularly side mirrors. Yes, the famous Banawe, QC, and Evangelista in Pasay City. How can they acquire surplus side mirrors when these items come in assemblies or whole side-mirror units in the first place? Their goods should be confiscated outright and returned to (their) rightful owners! More power to your column.—Richard Sebastian.”

TOYOTA is now conducting a special-service campaign for Innovas produced between February and December of 2005, wherein the said vehicles can be taken back to dealers for a checkup and replacement of rear axles that were found to have not met durability standards.

Although no failures have been reported, Toyota is willing to replace those rear axles with brand-new and much-improved ones for free. Engr. Vitaliano Mamawal, Toyota vice president for customer service operations, said, “Toyota believes in providing our valued customers with vehicles of outstanding quality, safety and value.  We are also committed to give your cars the best maintenance services for a pleasurable and trouble-free driving experience. We wish to thank our Innova customers who have already availed themselves of our Special Service Campaign and we would like to invite our other remaining customers for a service appointment at their nearest authorized dealers.  For any inquiries, contact our Customer Service Assistance Center at 819-2912 or your dealer’s service department.”

THIS Saturday is the last and final day of testing for The Petron 2007 Car of the Year-Philippines Awards at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, courtesy of the Manila Jockey Club Inc.

The Petron 2007 Car of the Year-Philippines Awards is organized in cooperation with the Automobile Association Philippines and supported by The Manila International Auto Show, Rockwell Lands, Bosch, Bridgestone, San Lazaro Leisure Park, Standard Insurance, San Miguel Corp., Makati Skyline, Jollibee, Segafredo Zanetti, Concept One and Speedlab.

The awards night will be held on November 15 at the Rockwell Tent in Makati City.

IT’S only a week before local motoring journalists leave for the Tokyo Motor Show to be held in Japan’s Makuhari Messe.

Several top local car manufacturers have invited the local media to see one of the greatest motor shows on Earth. The event rates highly in the motoring world and is a must-see for all avid car enthusiasts, many of whom troop there every two years.

As early as now, let me thank Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. (especially our friend Raymond Tribdino) for giving us a slot in their delegation! I am really very keen on seeing the newest GT-R car, which we are scheduled to visit in Odaiba, and also the Nissan Advanced Technical Institute, the site of the Nissan Project Imagination Factory in Atsugi, before going to Makuhari Messe!

THE legendary Henry Ford has said it himself:  “I am not an inventor, I am an innovator.”

Although he is the acknowledged king of the motorcar, Ford was also known as among those who pioneered in building America’s freeway in the early 1900s. 

IT was named after the ship that Captain James Cook, hero of the seven-year war, commanded when he set off from England to conduct a scientific survey of Australia and New Zealand.

Full Tank: ABC of Driving

CAR accidents usually happen in three seconds or less. The count goes, “Zero One, Zero Two, Zero Three.”  In three ticks of the clock, bone-breaking, if not life-snapping, mishaps can happen.

Eyes on the Road: One of the greatest motor shows on Earth

BUYERS are now anxiously awaiting the release of the new Isuzu Global D-Max, which was previewed by the press on Monday at the Tagaytay Midlands, where Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) president Keiji Takeda was all smiles as he welcomed all the media participants. No, we weren’t able to play golf that day since Monday is an “off” day for the Midlands golf course, according to Isuzu VP for corporate business division Art Almadrid, who was nursing a cold and flu.

Sheer driving pleasure revelry

THERE are BMW XPos, and there are BMW XPos. But with the BMW Sauber Formula One (F1) team close to getting second place in the 2007 F1 Constructors’ Championships, BMW Philippines saw fit to celebrate all things BMW—and all things BMW Motorsport—in a recently concluded XPo at The Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Goodyear shares driving tips for wet roads

RAIN is considered as a major cause of road accidents. With increased rainfall comes the challenge of driving safely. When roadways are wet, tires can lose traction or cause vehicles to hydroplane and the driver to lose control. Additionally, visibility is greatly decreased during wet weather.