IN an unprecedented move, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) presented its best-selling cars to the public outdoors, using the entire length and breathe of the iconic BGC High Street’s sprawling park in Taguig City.
The three-day extravaganza from August 4-6 happily stunned a car crowd not used to seeing a huge showcase of automobiles delicately, symmetrically, positioned in an open-air arena frequented practically by all walks of life almost seven days a week.
“It’s our humble way of showing our appreciation to our customers, friends and allies, of expressing how we value their support, by exhibiting the widest array of our models for their singular delectation,” said Jing Atienza, the TMP executive vice president.
It’s a milestone party never been done before, the event setting a first in the motoring industry, where a record 35 vehicles featuring models and variants of Toyota and its big brother, Lexus, are not merely to be appreciatively gawked at but to be test-driven as well from Fifth Avenue going round Grand Hyatt Hotel through Lexus Manila Inc. and back.
“This is a team effort at presenting a totally different menu for our clients and supporters alike,” said Lexus vice president Carlo Ablaza. “We wracked our brains to come up with this out-of-the-box idea if only to help spur growth in the motoring industry.”
The event is but a bombastic kickoff to TMP’s 35th anniversary bonanza after its birth on August 3, 1988.
“We dedicate this celebration to the generations of Filipino Toyota customers who have embraced the Toyota brand and became Toyota’s brand ambassadors,” said TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto. “To thank our customers for this milestone and to give them a glimpse of our exciting future together, we are treating them to exciting and unforgettable activities this month to kick-start our 35th year.”
The celebration has also been centered around Toyota’s push for car electrification for carbon neutrality, capped by the unveiling of the All-New Toyota Yaris Cross HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle).
The Yaris Cross was joined at the BGC show by electrified sedans, MPVs, and SUVs in the event called “Go Electrified with Toyota.”
The fair allowed customers to familiarize themselves with and personally experience electrified vehicles, with the TMP/Lexus combo of Jade Sison, Sunshine Cabrera, Nadinne Capistrano, Michelle de Guzman, Faith Allana Rufo, Shaina Mae Semana and Aries P. Alconaba combining efforts to help ensure the event’s smashing success.
As a special feature of the anniversary, Akio Toyoda, the chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, will fly in from Tokyo to do a racing exhibition in Manila. Known as Morizo when joining a motorsports event, Toyoda will topbill TMP’s two-day Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival at Luneta’s Quirino Grandstand.
Morizo will perform exciting but challenging stunts in a rare spectacle reserved in world-renowned tracks on August 23-24. He will be joined by famous Japanese racers Norihiko Katsuta and Masahiro Sasaki on board cars they use in global events.
Driving alongside them in drifting and gymkhana challenges are Filipinos Alex Perez, Luis Gono, Marlon Stockinger and Ryan Agoncillo, using TGR’s performance cars GR Supra, GR Yaris and GR 86.
Famous artists like Ely Buendia, Ben&Ben, Parokya ni Edgar and Kamikazee will provide music during the two-day racefest that is open to the public for free.
See you there.
PEE STOP Toyota’s 35th anniversary offers huge special deals this month at all its 72 dealerships nationwide. Cheers!
