2nd Philippine International Motor Show

• Commuting inspires UST students to design winning 'car of the future'

 • Pinoys eye mark in global auto design

• Machines, models vie for attention at motor show

• Is the RP market ready for hybrids?

• Small cars get big attention at motor show

• New car buyers put more value on safety

• Drive green: Tips to save on fuel

• New-generation cars debut at motor show

• French rally champ steals show

• Speech of CAMPI President Elizabeth H. Lee at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show on Aug. 21, 2008 [available at Speeches/Presentations]

• Gov't prods automakers to bring in hybrids [story below]

• Photo Gallery: Day 1 PIMS photos

• Press Coverage of Day 1

• New/Latest cars unveiled at PIMS (Photo Gallery)

The  2nd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) offers an experiential, interactive and exhilarating motor show experience for everyone – from the car owners to the car-less.

From the serious motoring enthusiasts to potential buyers and families looking for unique motoring fun, this year’s  PIMS is casting a wider net by offering something for everyone.
 

Be part of our exciting coverage of the PIMS this August 21 to 24, 2008 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City! Feel free to download stories and photos from this free site.

 All information on this site have been approved by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CAMPI), the organizer of the PIMS.

PBA cagers James Yap (second from left) and Reynel Hugnatan of Alaska were among the celebrity visitors at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show, Aug. 23. 

ATENEO Blue Eagle's hotshot player Chris Tiu (right) poses with the Volvo mascot at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show on Saturday, Aug. 23. Tiu is the official endorser of the Volvo C30 and also the Youth Ambassador for the car company's Youth Leadership Program. 

MOTORING Today host Buth Gamboa shares a Kodak moment with a fan in front of the Kia booth.

Team UST beside their winning transport design, LUCEE.

WHO says being an ordinary commuter on Manila's streets won't take you anywhere? 

A team of industrial design students from the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) found inspiration from their harried lives as daily commuters and came up with the winning design in this year’s 2nd Transport Design Competition at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS).

Andy Kubota, 19, and co-artists Joseph David Gutierrez and John Kevin Lee Reyes joined the competition for the first time and entered their futuristic “LUCEE” (for Light, Urban, Compact, Eco-friendly, Ergonomic) after just one week of planning.

Asked what made LUCEE click, Andy said the concept car uses ETFE (ethylene tetraflouroethylene) – "the same material used in the Beijing Aquatic Bubble" – which would make the sleek transport 75% cheaper to manufacture. The material would also make commuting on the LUCEE more comfortable in a tropical country like the Philippines, he added.

For conceptualizing the winning design, the UST team took home P20,000 in cash prize and a plaque. Three other UST teams won the second and third places, and the special honorable mention (see story below).

Grand-prize winners Joseph David Gutierrez and John Kevin Lee Reyes of UST with head judge Christopher Lacson (left) and CAMPI president Elizabeth H. Lee (2nd from left).

 Second placer Maryloise Eunice Narido with Ms. Lee

Third-placer Eduardo O. Viloria with (L-R) Mr. Lacson, Ms. Lee, and other judges Ed Calma and Allen Rufo.

Special Honorable Mention: Jeremiah Mendoza, Abegail Castillo and Jandreah Fia Zamar 

CARS OF THE FUTURE. Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. vice president for customer service Allen Rufo, one of the judges of this year’s 2nd Transport Design Competition at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), discusses the chances for the Philippines to produce global auto designers of the future. Students from the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) dominated the competition. [PHOTO by Revoli S. Cortez]

MORE than showcasing glitzy automobiles conceptualized overseas, the local motoring industry is also building high hopes of designing the cars of the future.

“What we manufacture here in the Philippines is largely designed in other countries. What we strive to do is to make our own mark in vehicle design,” said Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. vice president for customer service Allen Rufo, who worked as a vehicle designer in Japan.

Mr. Rufo was among the judges of this year’s 2nd Transport Design Competition at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), where students from the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) dominated.

“We are proud of the increased participation this year, which satisfies the fuel-efficient and environment-friendly criteria,” said Mr. Rufo, who was joined by award-winning industrial designer Christopher Lacson and renowned interior designer Ed Calma in the panel of judges.

Now on its second year, the PIMS competition organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) seeks “practical and doable designs with a futuristic stance.”

The design competition attracted 35 entries from students taking up industrial design, fine arts, and engineering courses in various Metro Manila colleges and universities.

Bagging the top prize were UST students Andy Kubota (artist) and teammates Joseph David Gutierrez and John Kevin Lee Reyes for their  futuristic “LUCEE” (for Light, Urban, Compact, Eco-friendly, Ergonomic) design. The design concept “harnesses wind” to enhance the vehicle’s energy output.

Second placer was the “Busy E” design of Maryloise Eunice Narido, while Eduardo O. Viloria’s “Trans-E” with wheel-converting balls that could move forward and sideways placed third. Rounding off the all-UST winners roster were Jeremiah Mendoza and co-artists Abegail Castillo and Jandreah Fia Zamar for their “Aerocle” air-powered transport system design, which won special honorable mention.

Undeniably, current vehicle design trends are shifting toward being environment-friendly. “The future of vehicle design really revolves around hybrids, hydrogen cars, and electric vehicles. They emit less and drive for more,” said Mr. Rufo. “It would be very exciting as the cars of the future may return to retro on the outside but have powerful hybrid engines on the inside.”

“In the end, it is the market that will dictate if any of these ‘futuristic’ cars are doable or not. What we’re pushing for now is our design capability, which will start with the students whom we applaud for their ideals,” he added.

The first-place winner of the competition bagged P20,000, a plaque, and the distinction of winning in this year’s major international motoring event. #
 

MORE than the flash and magnificence of SUVs, luxury sedans, and small-but-terrible hatchbacks, the visual appeal of the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) revolved around the tried-and-tested formula of celebrities, sports personalities, and enticingly clad promo models, all defining the glitzy motoring world.
    
The opening ceremonies at the World Trade Center, Pasay City last Aug. 21 was graced by no other than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who attracted hordes of media and photographers. But the shutterbugs had more than they bargained for: a number of celebrity sightings during the four-day motoring event, along with the virtual feast of sexy models.

Power launches
A slew of next-generation automobiles were launched by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) members and other global auto brands during the motor show. Singing diva Regine Velasquez descended from the ethereal white-themed Hyundari Resources Asia, Inc. display area while filling the main hall with her rendition of Fantasia Barrino’s “I Believe.” With the voice of broadcaster TJ Manotoc filling the 11,000-square main exhibit hall, Hyundai launched the Genesis luxury sedan and the small but powerful i30 and i10 hatchbacks, dubbed as “industry challengers” by Hyundai officials.
    
Renowned local musician Jay Cayuca and his violin graced PGA Cars’ unveiling of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV) and the eight-cylinder roadster called the R8.

Sports world
Nine-time French rally champion Stéphane Peterhansel addressed a swarm of Filipino fans at the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. display area, sharing his experiences at the Paris Dakar Rally and the wild and wonderful motorsports world.
    
Also spotted during the four-day motoring extravaganza was Ateneo Blue Eagles star cager Christ Tiu, who this month signed the contract as the official endorser of the all-new Volvo C30 and also serves as spokesperson of the Volvo Youth Leadership Program that aims to tap youth leaders in the high society ranks for social development programs.

“I really believe that the future of our country depends on us, that's why it's so important to have youth role models today whether in the family, inside the classroom, in our group of friends, in sports or in media,” says Tiu.

Eye candy
But the formula is no less than tested and unmistakable: glitzy cars and sexily clad models and promo girls – ranging from the classic mestiza to the exotic Brazilian beauties of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. and the distinctly Pinay morenas of Nissan/Universal Motors Corp. The hiring spree of models for the 2nd PIMS has reportedly caused a shortage in local supply.

  
One of them is Ma. Lourdes Arervalo, a fresh Film graduate from the University of the Philippines, who enticed spectators in her blue midriff and hotpants at the “Honda: Driving Your Lifestyle” presentations. She and seven other car models dished out Honda’s marketing spiels and willingly posed for Kodak moments in the male-dominated trade space.

“I’m also into cars, fashion and photography so participating in this spectacle provides no less than a wide spectrum of new experiences,” Ms. Arevalo said.

Trooping the 2nd PIMS are huge barkadas, mostly young, single male professionals. A landscape engineer and a self-professed bachelor at 28, Ricky Coronado of Valle Verde, Pasig City said his expectations of the motoring event were exceeded.

“The girls in their tight jumpsuits and choreographed numbers are a sight to behold! Now would you even ask me why I’m spending a Thursday here?” Mr. Coronado said. – Katrina Pascual / Writers Edge

 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Chevrolet's Tahoe and Malibu hybrids and the Toyota A-BAT.

IT has been more than a decade since the first commercial hybrid vehicle was launched but the eco-friendly machine has yet to grace the streets of Manila. As fuel prices continue to soar, however, the pressure for automakers to heed the call for “green” and fuel-thrifty vehicles has also increased. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has also joined the clamor and urged the car industry to fast-track the adoption of green technology in the market.

Several hybrid models recently made their debut at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show in Pasay City. “All manufacturers are looking into the hybrid technology,” said Toyota Motors Philippines’ Jennifer Uy.

Toyota, maker of the Prius, the first commercial hybrid and thus far the most fuel-efficient car in the market, revealed that cost remains the “ultimate disadvantage” that is practically stalling the introduction of hybrid cars in the Philippines. This is because a hybrid engine has more components than conventional engines, translating to higher costs, said Ritsmond Kalambacal, technical instructor for Toyota at a seminar on hybrid technology at the motor show.

He said a hybrid vehicle combines two technologies developed primarily to ease the burden on non-renewable sources of energy. Current models have an electric-powered motor and a combustion engine. Moreover, hybrid cars also produce significantly less carbon emissions than normal vehicles, said Mr. Kalambacal.

Hybrid vehicles can run on either fuel or electricity and does not need to be charged, thus also eliminating the need for infrastructure on public charging stations. If the battery charge drops, the engine automatically drives the generator (an extra part) to recharge the battery.

The hybrid engine stops as soon as the vehicle comes to a halt, reducing idle time and improving fuel economy. The unique power-splitting device found in hybrid cars allows dividing the load of pushing the car forward, explained Mr. Kalambacal.

As the car starts, it relies on motor and starts to use fuel only when it reaches 40 kilometers per hour. When the car decelerates, the engine uses the movement of the wheels to recharge the battery. Mr. Kalambacal said the ultimate goal at Toyota is to produce a car that will completely be self-sufficient. Already, the third-generation Prius uses the movement of the wheels to produce electricity. – Glen Diaz / Writers Edge

 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The new Suzuki Swift with manual transmission and the Suzuki Alto. Hyundai's newly unveiled i10 and i30 hatchback models. Volvo C30 and the new second-generation Honda Jazz. [PHOTOS by Bitan Pesayco]  

FINANCIAL guru Francisco J. Colayco shares his insights at a seminar on entrepreneurship sponsored by Universal Motors Corp. (UMC) at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP favors the young, as they still have the appetite to take the risks from engaging in business, said financial guru Francisco J. Colayco at a seminar on entrepreneurship sponsored by Universal Motors Corp. (UMC) at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

“Going into business is the highest form of risk. Take the risk now while you’re still young,” said Mr. Colayco, author of several best-selling personal finance books and founder and chairman of the Colayco Foundation for Education, a non-profit organization.

Emphasizing that the mindset – and not the type of investment tool or instrument – determines a person’s financial success, the money guru said the right financial goals are to “grow, protect, spend wisely, and share.” What a person does with his time, and how well he allocates his resources are “the most powerful tools” that will shape his financial destiny. Follow the “80-20 rule,” he said, which simply means “you cannot use money earned from sweat to buy your wants.”

“The challenge is to distinguish your needs from your wants,” he stressed. “We’re a coin with two sides: we should separate our own persona from our business.”

Mr. Colayco’s talk was part of the Asenso Negosyo Academy, a corporate social responsibility program of Universal Motors Corp. aimed at fueling the Filipino entrepreneurial spirit so it could eventually contribute to the country’s socio-economic growth.

UMC recently launched its “Ur Van, Ur Business” program that helps build business opportunities for the everyday Filipino through the Nissan Urvan, which can be used as a flexible 12-, 15- or 18-seater passenger shuttle, school bus, delivery van or as an ambulance

In line with its CSR thrust of uplifting lives, UMC commits to donate P1,000 to the Center for Community Transformation Credit Cooperative (CCTCC) for every Nissan Urvan sold under the “Ur Van, Ur Business” Program. CCTCC’s microfinance program reaches out to women micro entrepreneurs so that their families could break the cycle of poverty. – Sheila S. Pesayco / Writers Edge

SAFETY FIRST. Celebrity parents Anthony and Maricel Pangilinan preach the value of safety at a seminar on family safety and security at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS).

THEY are the “yummies”  – young married couples who were once single yuppies – and they comprise a strong block of new car buyers looking far beyond value for money but also value for safety.

With the increasing emergence of family safety on buyers’ list of priorities, carmakers are taking the cue by introducing cleaner and safer cars and setting up their own automotive safety centers.

“It’s an exciting and dangerous world out there,” said celebrity parents Anthony and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan last Aug. 23 at a seminar on family safety and security at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) showcasing 15 participating global auto brands.  “Chaos exists, but it is up to you to introduce the order. Order could come in something as simple as car seatbelts,” the couple said.

The seminar was organized by Scandinavian Motors Corp., local distributor of Swedish car brand Volvo. Launching its newest model called the XC60, Volvo asserts its “safety first” stance beyond its position in the high-end, luxury vehicle stature in the market today.

“Protection is what we stand for. The new XC60 model, for instance, is a car that actually stops itself when it senses that you are about to get into a collision,” said Lyn Manalansang-Buena, Volvo’s vice president for marketing services. She added the new model is the first of its kind in the world and is due for release in the market by the end of the year.

Ms. Manalansang-Buena said Volvo also has “the cleanest internal cabin in the motoring world” today, along with other pioneering automotive safety measures. Volvo introduced the rear seat safety belts fitted for the first time in 1967, driver airbags in 1987, Side Impact Protection System (SIPS)  introduced in 1991, and the concept of City Safety (as reflected in the standards of all the XC60 models) brought to life in 2008.

Steering closer to long-term responses to safety issues and challenges, Volvo has also introduced its safety center devoted to crash-testing cars. Situated in Sweden and in Bangkok, Thailand for the Asian region, the $6-million facility has a crash safety development team responding to accidents and monitoring data, studying automotive accident causes and responses.

Some local carmakers and distributors have also made the same move towards safety driving.  The Honda Safety Driving Center (HSDC)  in South Super Highway, Parañaque —one of the 32 centers of Honda in 18 countries — offers motorcycle riding and automobile learners safety courses plus skills certification. At an initial P225-million funding, the center took off from the Honda Riding Academy in 1980 and today has a roster of safety coordinators aimed at producing “drivers with skills and good attitudes.”

 “About 90% of accidents are due to human error. Faced with the local driving context, safe drivers need, not only the proper skills, but the intelligence to become safe drivers on the road,” said HSDC senior trainer Hermes Hermano during a seminar on Aug. 22 at the PIMS. “Simple things — keeping a three-meter vehicle distance, looking over one’s shoulder as a dose of caution — count most to contribute to the ever-pressing issue of road safety.” – Katrina Pascual / Writers Edge
 

Would-be drivers get the chance to get behind the wheel without the risk of road driving through Honda's driving simulation training at the motor show. 

The prohibitive cost of petroleum products has made fuel efficiency a byword in today’s motoring environment. The 15 participating global auto brands at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City clearly heeded this trend by offering new models that are thrifty on fuel and improve consumers’ mileage.

Yet while the vehicle itself matters when it comes to fuel efficiency, the biggest factor remains to be the person behind the wheel, said Charlie Osia, technical instructor at Toyota Motors Corporation, at a seminar on fuel efficiency at the motor show. Ultimately, he said the motorist is still the most crucial part of the fuel efficiency equation.

One of the quickest ways to improve fuel take is by simply removing any excess and unnecessary weight when driving. Simply put, the heavier the load, the harder the engine has to work and the more fuel it consumes.

Motorists can also temper their use of the vehicle’s air-conditioning unit, especially during a prolonged traffic jam. Mr. Osia said a vehicle consumes 20 to 30 percent more oil when stuck in traffic than while in motion. Simply tweaking the aircon settings can also make a difference. Some people have the impulsive habit of jacking up their aircon settings to the maximum level than just settle for a comfortable level.

Even the way a vehicle starts and accelerates affects how much fuel is consumed. A hard, sudden step on the accelerator will cost the motorist twice as much fuel than just a slow and gentle press. Mr. Osia said a motorist’s fuel consumption could easily double just by making this mistake on the accelerator.

Finally, revving the vehicle before killing the engine is not only unnecessary, it is also wasteful. A single rev consumes enough gas to run 50 meters. This may not seem much, but piled up, this can amount to pretty significant figures.

Makers of the new crop of vehicles have heeded the call to drive green. Among the fuel-efficient concept cars unveiled at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show ongoing until August 24 are: Mitsubishi Motors’ iMIEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle), a miniscule hatchback that runs on electricity; Toyota’s A-BAT, a truck-car hybrid concept vehicle that has a four-cylinder gas engine but works on both electricity and gas; and the Kia Sportage SUV demonstrator, a fuel-cell electric vehicle that runs on electricity produced from hydrogen.

A machine, however, can only do much.  

Aside from a motorist’s behavior behind the wheel, there are also external factors that affect a vehicle’s fuel efficiency, such as road conditions and weather. Fuel consumption during the summer season, for one, goes up as motorists are likelier to jack up their air-conditioning units to cope with the heat.

Despite all the technological advances that made newer engines and models as fuel-efficient as possible, motorists still largely determine how much gas (and money) they will save in the long run, Toyota’s Mr. Osia said. – Glen Diaz / Writers Edge

AFTER the rain of confetti had settled and the smoke had cleared, the motoring public was treated to a slew of new auto models that made their Philippine debut at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) ongoing at the World Trade Center in Pasay City until August 24.

On opening day last Aug. 21, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo walked the main exhibit hall accompanied by the country chief executives of the 15 participating global auto brands, inspecting first-hand the fresh car models soon to hit Manila’s streets, and a number of concept vehicles straight from the future.

This year’s motor show featured some of the glitziest vehicle unveilings as member companies of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) pulled all the stops in elaborate presentations to launch their latest offerings.

Top singing diva Regine Velasquez descended in a harness from the ceiling of the massive Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. display area, her thunderous voice filling the 11,000-square World Trade Center exhibit hall during the unveiling of an all-new luxury sedan and two hatchbacks Hyundai officials described as “industry challengers.”

With Ms. Velasquez and other dancers emerging from cocoon-like canopies, Hyundai revealed the Genesis, a luxury sedan powered by a 3.8-liter, six-cylinder engine; the i30 hatchback with a 1.6-liter power plant; and the tiny i10 with its fuel-thrifty 1.1-liter engine.

More power

Noted musician Jay Cayuca raised the heat on his violin as PGA Cars slid the cover off the all-new Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, a 550-hp, 4.8-liter eight-cylinder luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV) from the German carmaker. Boasting of more power, the new Cayenne can do 280 kph and sprint to 100 kph in 4.8 seconds.

Audi, in an adjacent booth, showed off the sleek R8, a 420-hp, eight-cylinder roadster whose first batch of 20 units is soon to arrive in Manila’s ports.

Not to be outstaged was Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp., uncovering the much-awaited iteration of the Lancer Evolution X sports sedan. The Evo X is how Mitsubishi defined power: 291 hp squeezed out of a 2-liter lightweight turbocharged aluminum engine under an aluminum hood. It’s a street racer’s dream in metal form.

Mitsubishi also launched the 2009 Galant 240M executive sedan with a 2.4-liter, 162-hp powerplant, and a “concept” SUV derived from the stylish Strada pickup. Dubbed the Concept MS, the new SUV will make its Philippine debut end-August following its global launch at the Moscow Motor Show this August 26.

Mitsubishi’s main attraction was the iMiEV, which stands for Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle. Still a concept car, the miniscule hatchback showed President Arroyo during her visit a glimpse of the shape of things to come in the electric motoring age.

Toyota Motors Corp. displayed its A-BAT, a truck-car hybrid concept vehicle, a compact version of a pickup truck. The A-BAT will have a 4-cylinder gas engine that works with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, a powertrain that enables the car to run on both electricity and gas.

Toyota also unveiled a new Land Cruiser powered by a 4.4-liter turbocharged diesel V8 and a six-speed automatic transmission. Also showcased was a limited edition of the bestselling Vios sedan decked with 17-inch wheels, high-intensity discharge headlamps, rear spoiler and ipod interface. The branded version came with exclusive floor mat and keychain.

Design-driven

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. launched the all-new 2008 Jazz. The second-generation Jazz featured a sleeker cabin-forward design, drive-by-wire, and paddle shift and 16-inch wheels on the 1.5-liter variant. The 1.3-liter model featured 15-inch wheels and a five-speed automatic transmission.

BMW publicly launched the X6 xDrive30d, a sleek, muscular luxury crossover SUV powered by a 235-bhp, 3.0-liter, six-cylinder diesel engine. Its newest SUV yet, the X6 joins the BMW X3 and X5 SUV lineup. The X6 came in three variants, with a model powered by a V8 engine.

Suzuki came up with a 2.4-liter version of the Grand Vitara 4x2 which was P300,000 cheaper than the 2.7-liter, six-cylinder model. A four-speed manual version of the Swift hatchback was also displayed.

Kia brought in a Sportage SUV demonstrator that runs on electricity produced from hydrogen. The fuel-cell electric vehicle can do 150 kph and has water only for emission. Kia also launched an all-new SUV called the Mojave powered by a 3.8-liter six-cylinder gasoline engine.

Entrepreneurial

Nissan focused on entrepreneurship and launched a version of the popular Urvan van that seats 21 people. Dubbed the Pangkabuhayan van, the Urvan is being positioned by Universal Motors Corp., its assembler, as the vehicle for starting a business.

Isuzu presented a mobile theater setup in the Alterra SUV. Isuzu redefined auto entertainment by mounting a 32-inch JVC LCD screen for the rear passenger. The setup, however, does not come standard.

General Motors brought in a collection of vehicles under the Chevrolet badge that runs on alternative fuel. Displayed were the Tahoe SUV and Malibu sedan hybrids, as well as an Optra sedan that run of compressed natural gas. GM is considering offering the vehicles locally. Also displayed were diesel versions of the Captiva SUV and the Epica sedan.

Mazda showed off its well-designed collection of vehicles with the recently launched Mazda 6 and Mazda CX-9 crossover SUV. Mazda boasted of its gasoline-powered engines capable of taking in 20% ethanol using E20 fuel.

Ford launched its all-new Escape SUV with new lights and cleaner lines. The new Escape still carries a 2.3-liter gas engine and automatic transmission with options for four-wheel and two-wheel drive. – Bertrand O. Pesayco / Writers Edge

RALLY CHAMP AT MOTOR SHOW. Nine-time rally champion Stéphane Peterhansel is interviewed by Auto Extreme producer Ardie Lopez at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) about his experiences as one of the most successful drivers in the history of the Paris Dakar Rally.

In a sea of glitzy cars and skimpily clad promo girls, he stood out and stole the limelight just by being one of the fastest men on a machine.

Nine-time rally champion Stéphane Peterhansel spoke before a throng of eager Filipino fans about his experiences as one of the most successful drivers in the history of the Paris Dakar Rally, considered one of the most gruelling and dangerous races in the motorsports world.

His soft voice filling the 11,000-square meter of exhibit space of the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) at the World Trade Center on Thursday, the 40-year-old French rally champ admitted it will be harder to predict what the future will look like for motorsports. “The next decade will be different – with new cars (being launched), new destinations that nobody knows,” he said.

The rally racing driver from France had won the Paris Dakar Rally riding Yamaha motorcycles six times from 1991 to 1998 before leading Mitsubishi three times from 2004 to 2007. He competed in the Race of Champions in 2005 and 2006 and is also a two-time World Enduro Champion.

Mr. Stephanel said much of his victory came from a lot of mental preparation in every race. “It’s not a problem to keep my motivation up. It’s always been my dream to become a professional driver,” said the rally champ, who does not see himself slowing down just yet.

“It’s 70 percent car, 30 percent driver,” he said when asked what accounts for his victorious rally records.

When he’s not in the racetrack, the French champ drives his family in a Mitsubishi Pajero – which is “good for its big space for my family’s stuff” – and loves to take the newly launched Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X for a spin.

“It’s not possible to follow this car,” he said, referring to the Lancer Evo, which has a newly designed, turbocharged, all-aluminum engine and a five-speed manual transmission prefered in rallying.

Aside from the Lancer Evo X, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines also unveiled the electric car iMiEV and another concept car that will soon make a debut in Russia.  A total of 15 global auto brands are participating in the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show, the country’s biggest motoring event, ongoing until August 24 at the World Trade Center. – Sheila S. Pesayco / Writers Edge

The future in motoring. President Arroyo gets a sneak peek into the future of motoring at the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show, which includes the unveiling of Mitsubishi Motors' iMIEV electric car. Mrs. Arroyo is seen in photo listening intently to the presentation of CAMPI vice president Melchor Dizon of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. Looking on are CAMPI officials led by CAMPI president and Universal Motors Corp. executive vice president Elizabeth H. Lee. [PHOTO BY REVOLI S. CORTEZ]

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday ushered in a new era in Philippine transportation by calling on local car manufacturers to begin introducing vehicles that run on alternative fuels, a move that will reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

Speaking to members of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) during the opening of the 2nd Philippine International Motor Show at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Mrs. Arroyo told the chief executives of the 15 participating auto brands to hasten the introduction of fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles that run partly on battery power.

“We await the arrival of hybrid vehicles,” she said. “This is part of our Green Philippines Program and having vehicles that run on renewal energy is a big help.”

CAMPI president and Universal Motors Corp. executive vice president Elizabeth H. Lee said the auto industry will be bringing in hybrid vehicles in the near future as soon as sales and production of these types of vehicles hit a critical mass in the Asian region. Cars and trucks that run on hybrid technology use a combination of battery power and fuel-fed engine to run. They consume roughly half the fuel of regular vehicles and produce less emission. Hybrid vehicles are sold in developed countries like the US and Japan.

In her opening ceremony speech, Mrs. Arroyo also paid tribute to the immense contribution of the auto industry to the economy’s growth, as well as the significance of putting up a world-class motor show in the country.  “This motor show tells the world we are ready to compete,” the President said.

She also pledged to run after car smugglers who burden the industry with unfair competition.  “Government sells smuggled sports cars it has confiscated at public auctions run by non-government organizations. Proceeds of the sale go to social welfare programs. We’d rather do away with the small taxes we collect to save the auto industry,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo has also ordered the funding of a program to provide financing for the conversion of public utility vehicles to run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
“We call on the auto industry to respond by providing more vehicles that run on hybrid technology, LPG and biodiesel,” she told CAMPI member companies. “You can also provide buses to transport employees and reduce your use of energy.”

CAMPI is holding the country’s only motor show of international calibre to highlight the strength of the auto industry. Despite a slump in car sales in the US market, sales of cars in the Philippines showed double digit growth and an 11-year high, said CAMPI president and Universal Motors Corp. executive vice president Elizabeth H. Lee. Total vehicle sales rose 14.2% for the first seven months of the year from 2006 levels on the back of strong dollar remittance from overseas Filipino workers and rising entrepreneurship.

Aside from providing jobs to more than 74,000 Filipinos who directly depend on it for their living, the local auto industry also contributes in the form of government revenues from taxes. In 2007 alone, the industry contributed a total of P18.92 billion in taxes, up from P14.94 billion in 2006. 

“It is critical to understand the importance of an auto industry as a key driver to an economy, especially to one like ours. The automotive industry is perhaps one of only two remaining significant manufacturing efforts in the Philippines,” said Ms. Lee.  “No successful, developed country is without an auto industry that contributes significantly to its gross domestic product,” she added. – Bertrand O. Pesayco / Writers Edge

Driven by the spirit of giving back, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) has recently donated to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) part of the proceeds raised from last year’s highly successful motor show that drew some 60,000 visitors. The donation will be used to buy a vehicle for PGH’s mobile blood donation program that will travel around the metropolis to augment the state-run hospital’s supply of blood.

Elizabeth H. Lee, CAMPI president, said the donation forms part of the organization’s corporate social responsibility. “The success of the first Philippine International Motor Show emboldened us to give back something to society that can help those in dire need,” she said.

In photo during the ceremonial turnover last July 22 to PGH are (L-R): CAMPI secretary general Atty. Homer Maranan, vice president Melchor Dizon, and president Elizabeth H. Lee; Dr. Enrique Domingo, PGH OIC director; Dr. Eufrosina Melendres, head of the PGH Blood Bank; Dr. Marimin Lapuebla, head of the PGH Department of Laboratories; CAMPI treasurer Alfredo G. Magpayo; and Dr.Joseph Lai, PGH coordinator.