Autocar Philippines November 2021

FIRST DRIVE: VOLKSWAGEN T-CROSS 180 MPI AT S • NISSAN GT-R NISMO

MORE MOBILITY

November 2021 PHP 250.00 Est. 1895 | www.autocar.com.ph

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F U L L R OA D T E S T

BMW M440i xDRIVE Can the car behind the controversial new grille meet a warmer reception?

NEW CARS

2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Black Series

C O M PA R O

Porsche 911 Carerra S Versus Taycan 4S

R OA D T R I P

GR-eat reason to drive south

HOT NEWS: MICHELIN PH INTRODUCES THE LTX TRAIL • FORDPH CELEBRATES GLOBAL CARING MONTH

THIS MONTH November 2021 | Volume 6

OPINIONS 2 4 6

Editor’s Note Neil Pagulayan My Week in Cars Steve Cropley Opposite Lock Binky Siddayao

NEW CARS 10

2022 Audi Q5

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2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer Lamborghini Huracán STO

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Maserati Ghibli Hybrid All-new Mazda BT-50

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2021 Subaru XV GT Edition 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Black Series 2021 Suzuki S-Presso Special Edition

BMW M440i xDRIVE 32 ❝ I DROVE THE 911 FIRST BECAUSE I WANTED THAT GROUNDING, AN ABSOLUTE DATUM POINT ON WHERE THE WORLD’S GREATEST SPORTS CAR IS IN 2021 BEFORE TACKLING THE TAYCAN.❞

FIRST NEWS 14 15

Michelin PH introduces the LTX Trail

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GeelyPH explores north through NLEX Lakbay Norte HondaPH announces Vehicle Certification Program

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Find reliable, high-quality 2nd-hand cars easily with Premium Warranty Services

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FordPH celebrates Global Caring Month

MitsubishiPH commits to make your life better ToyotaPH opens new dealership in Lucena

ANDREW FRANKEL

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Caltex grows in Q3 2021, expands into auto & motorcycle aftermarkets

FIRST DRIVE 20 24

Volkswagen T-Cross 180 MPI AT

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Toyota Hilux GR-S and Fortuner GR-S drive to San Pablo

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BMW 4 Series

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2021 Manila Auto Salon

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ToyotaPH’s caps action-packed 2021 GAZOO Racing Vios Cup season

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Porsche 911 verus Taycan

Nissan Nismo GT

NISSAN NISMO GT 24

2021 MANILA AUTO SALON 40

ROAD TRIP COVER STORY FEATURE MOTOSPORTS COMPARISON TOYOTAPH’S CAPS ACTION-PACKED 2021 GAZOO RACING VIOS CUP SEASON 44 NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 1

THIS MONTH

Neil Pagulayan Managing Editor

Photo by Jose Altoveros

EDITOR’S NOTE

s the we come close to the end of the year and Covid-19 restrictions ease a bit, the different car brands aren’t showing any signs of letting up, pushing out exciting new models as fast as the remaining time left in 2021 allows them.

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This month in Fresh out the box, we see the 2022 Audi Q5, the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe, the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer, the Lamboghini Huracán STO, the Maserati Ghibli Hybrid, the All-New Mazda BT-50, the 2021 Subaru XV GT Edition, the 2021 Suzuki S-Presso Special Edition and the 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Black Series. Aside from new vehicles, our news section is chock-full of features, like why MitsubishiPH changed their slogan specially for the Philippine market and new company called Premium Warranty Services can help you find quality second hand vehicle that they’ve vetted themselves.

We have a story coming out of the UK on the Nissan GT-R Nismo, they’ve found a way to make it better, apparently, all Nissan engineers do is sit around figuring out how to make this car faster.

ToyotaPH takes us to lunch in San Pablo, but

we have to drive ourselves there in the recently launched GR-S variants of the Hilux and Fortuner, which was a great idea! We check out the BMW 4 Series, another one with their “interesting” new grille is examined in great detail and we take the Volkswagen T-Cross for a quick drive to see why people like it so much.

The Manila Auto Salon makes it’s highly symbolic comeback, showing that the car show scene, along with the rest of the auto industry is getting back up on it’s feet and we of course look forward to the comeback of other calendar auto events. In local motorsports, ToyotaPH wraps up the 2021 GR Vios Cup. We feature a showdown between a 911 and a Taycan, which will you root for? petrol or electric?

And they’re both really great cars from Porsche.

So yeah, it’s another jam packed issue and we’re already working on our year-ender issue. We know for a fact that there are more launches before the year ends. Lets hope that Covid-19 infections decrease further as more and more of our population get vaccinated and hopefully restrictions ease up even further in time for the holidays.

✉ irapanganiban@wheelsph.com

2 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

COMMENT

MY WEEK IN CARS

Evoque’s shape still impresses, and 68mpg isn’t shabby either

SATURDAY

We car lovers are having a helluva summer. The Covid concertina effect on dates has ensured there’s a blockbuster motoring event every day of every weekend for the foreseeable future. I was delighted to be at an important one at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, the ‘25th+1’ anniversary celebrations for the MG F, a car ignored for far too long. I spent a cheery halfhour chatting publicly about it with Nick Fell (chief project engineer), David Knowles (who wrote the book) and Denis Chick (who ran the 1995 press launch).

The technical recipe for the F – lightweight K-series engine, transverse mid-mounted powertrain, spacious cockpit yet compact exterior, Rover Metro subframes carrying supple Hydragas suspension, pretty Gerry McGovern styling – still makes a desirable roadster today.

No wonder the 600 owners at the British Motor Museum were so conspicuously proud of their cars. The F always deserved respect, and now it’s getting some.

TUESDAY

A Range Rover Evoque arrives – a timely chance to reflect again on this car’s unique shape and function. I find myself staring at the beauty of those short overhangs, the purposeful stance, the descending roof and the rising waist and wondering how the hell it can also be so damn practical. This one is a P300 plug-in hybrid, the first PHEV I’ve driven in a while, what with the recent blizzard of fully electric cars.

I took it on a 140-mile tour of outer Wiltshire and returned with the fuel computer showing 68mpg – a figure boosted by its initial 30 miles of electric-only propulsion but kept high by its sheer efficiency. I plugged the ‘empty’ Evoque into our home charger, and 90 minutes later, it was

4 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

❝

I reckoned the idea was a little bit barmy

MG F meet-up highlighted this model’s appeal

❞ at 100% again. People decry PHEVs for weight and complexity reasons, but nothing else in the electrified ranks beats their beguiling versatility.

THURSDAY

When I heard about the launch of the Official Frank Stephenson Colouring Book – an opportunity for us punters to visualise the ex-Mini-Ferrari-McLaren designer’s greatest cars in liveries of our own – I reckoned the idea was a little bit barmy. But when I mentioned it to friends, they went crazy for the idea. Then the book arrived, costing less than a tenner, and I had to be restrained from getting the pencils out myself, there and then. Many won’t resist the urge. To make it all worthwhile, Frank has offered to choose and curate the best via his YouTube channel. Details online.

AND ANOTHER THING… Given the indifferent efforts of its driver, my recently acquired Lotus M100 received surprising plaudits at a recent Prescott meeting for its looks, its colour and especially its non-standard multi-spoke 17in wheels.

I fielded lots of enquiries about those. I’m told they’re from a Rover, but does anyone know which one?

SATURDAY

It was 6am and I was inclined to stay in bed, but the Steering Committee struck a note of reality. “Don’t forget,” she said, “that this is your favourite day of the year.” I remembered in a flash that the 2021 Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional was getting under way this very day. It was fully three hours’ drive away at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire. I had previously been to a couple of these events – earmarked for Austin Allegros, Hillman Avengers, Talbot Solaras, Vauxhall Vivas, Lada Rivas and those who love them – and I definitely needed to be at this one. Within minutes, I was in the car heading north. By 9.15am, I was inside the castle gates, smirking at a sign that read ‘The Bland That Time Forgot’.

Many people will know by now that a Proton Black Knight (plaudits to the marketing type who coined that moniker) took first prize in the 50-car concours, the main event. But for most of us, the greatest joy was wandering the ranks of spectators’ cars, ordinary but loved, marvelling at their variety and condition. And what a special pleasure to be at something so large and wellorganised yet gloriously devoid of ‘commercial messages’, save for the benign presence of the sponsor, the Hagerty classic car insurance firm.

If you didn’t make it this time, don’t miss 2022.

GET IN TOUCH

✉ steve.cropley@haymarket.com

@stvcr

11 AUGUST 2021 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 4

THIS MONTH Technical Editor

Binky P. Siddayao OPPOSITE LOCK

ARE YULE EXCURSION READY? socially distanced getaway requires more planning and preparation.

And a successful trip can be a welcome boost in the excitement of Christmas.

Even if you’re driving to visit relatives and heading out town or temporarily relocating for a change of scenery there are still some safety concerns to use to help you prepare and stay safe during a Yuletide Road trip.

First to consider is your vehicle. Get it professionally serviced before your trip. Make sure to check and monitor the air pressure of your tires and consider the present condition of your tires.

Inspect all levels of your engine oil, radiator coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and transmission fluid before and during your road trip. Each of these essential fluids play a critical role in the safety of your vehicle.

Try to store a tank full of gas the week leading up to your trip.

This may help avoid any water

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(condensation) collecting in or entering the fuel line which would stop the flow of gasoline.

Do the same when you reach your destination. Depending on the temperature or the weather and how long your vehicle may sit idle for, you’ll want to mitigate any issues with the car starting when you’re ready to hit the road again.

Keep your windshield clean and make sure the wipers are working and the blades are in good condition. Don’t forget to fill up the washer bottle with water.

Prepare your itinerary

and notes. Nowadays with the different and changing municipal rules in provinces regarding traveling its best to be prepared. Find out where the nearest hospitals, pharmacies and clinics are along the route should you need any medical help. Of course, never neglect the safe places to eat.

Find the latest COVID-19 travel guidelines, restrictions, and requirements alongside infection rates for the destinations you’re visiting along your road trip route.

Google or research COVID-19 travel guidance of the town or

❝

province to help you stay as informed as much as possible, with the latest information all in one place, including entry requirements (like testing and quarantining), mask requirements, curfew hours, restrictions on dining and shopping, and more.

Make sure to keep close and trusted friends or loved ones in the know about your road trip stops by sharing your travel plans. Keep friends and family informed of your whereabouts in case they need to reach you.

One can also share your travel plans in a variety of other ways including via text and email in a secure way.

With La Nina officially declared always remember check the local weather forecast along your intended routes and destinations. When bad weather is expected, stay home until it is safe to travel.

Never forget to pack an emergency kit in case you get stuck—and know who to call for help.

Always anticipate the unexpected when you’re on the road.

Never forget to pack an emergency kit in case you get stuck—and know who to call for help.

❞ GET IN TOUCH

✉ binkypsiddayao@gmail.com

6 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

EDITORIAL TEAM IRA V. PANGANIBAN Editor-in-Chief EDGAR QUESADA Associate Editor EARL MANALANSAN Managing Editor NEIL PAGULAYAN Managing Editor Online BINKY SIDDAYAO Technical Editor OLSON CAMACHO Off Road Editor D I N O RAY D I R ECTO I I I After Market Editor MATT PRIOR | KRIS LIM | BINKY SIDDAYAO Columnists JOHN REY SAN DIEGO Staff Writer WILLIAM HERRERA | LUIS GERONA Contributors ANJO PEREZ Senior Photographer BONG BOADO | KEITH MARK DADOR | LOUIE CAMACHO MARK QUESADA | ALAN RANCH SEVILLA ARNOLD RIODEQUE | BOBS JEROME | MEMERT MONTELOYOLA Photographers RAYMUND RAVANERA Graphic Designer

The original car magazine, published since 1895 ‘in the interests of the mechanically propelled road carriage’ International Director Alastair Lewis alastair.lewis@haymarket.com Syndication Enquiries Isla Friend isla.friend@haymarket.com Editor Matt Burt Editorial Director, Automotive Jim Holder Managing Editor Allan Muir Reviews Editor Will Nightingale Chief tester Matt Saunders New Cars Editor Rory White Managing Director David Prasher Chief Operating Officer Brian Freeman Chief Executive Kevin Costello Chairman Rupert Heseltine Autocar magazine and the Autocar logo are trademarks of Haymarket Media Group Limited, United Kingdom and used under license by Autobrands Media Ventures, Inc. Content reproduced from Autocar magazine © Haymarket Media Group Limited 2011 all rights reserved.

ADVERTISING AND MARKETING SALES RUBY M. AGUSTIN | MAVHIC C. NATIVIDAD Account Manager C O R P O R AT E T E A M Chairman of the Board GEORGE APACIBLE President IRA V. PANGANIBAN Vice President RONALDO TRINIDAD Secretary OLSON CAMACHO Treasurer EDGAR QUESADA Executive Assistant MANEL CATINDIG

The views and opinions expressed within Autocar PH magazine are not necessarily those of Haymarket Media Group Limited or those of its contributors.

Autocar magazine is published in China, Greece, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Thailand, and United Kingdom. www.haymarket.com

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Batangas Racing Circuit

EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-in-Chief – Anjo Perez Columnist – Arnel Doria Contributors – Rica Sison, Joseph Bautista, Lara Camacho Pocholo Reyes, William Herrera, Neil Pagulayan, Earl Manalansan Photographers – Mark Quesada, Alan Ranch Sevilla Staff Writer – John Rey San Diego

All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of Autobrands Media Ventures, Inc. is prohibited. For booking or inquiries on advertising, please call our advertising department at (02) 815-6519. For interested magazine distributors or magazine subscription please call (02) 815-6519 and look for Manel Catindig.

The views and opinions expressed within Autocar Magazine are not necessarily those of Autobrands Media Ventures, Inc. or those of its contributors. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequences arising from it. In case of all product reviews, judgements have been made in the context of the product based on Philippines prices at the time of review, which are subject to fluctuation and only applicable to the Philippines market.

Published by

Graphic Designer – Jeff Infante

Contact us at info@wheelsph.com Wheels Magazine is published monthly, a registered trademark of Autobrands Media Ventures, Inc. in cooperation with Gulf News. Copyright 2015.

8 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

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NEW CARS T H E L AT E S T C A R S T H I S M O N T H

2022 Audi Q5

The updated version of Audi’s best-selling premium SUV is now available in the Philippines.

Carrying a sportier design as well as updated features and technologies, the 2022 Audi Q5 has become better and set to attract buyers of the segment.

More than its good looks, the Audi premium SUV is also intelligent when it comes to safety. The latest Q5 received the highest honor from the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its superior vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-

to-pedestrian front crash prevention.

The new Audi Q5 comes in two trims of Q5 S Line TFSi that is gasoline-powered and the diesel-powered Q5 S Line TDI. Both engines in both variants feature a mild hybrid system

making the new Audi Q5 more fuel efficient. The mild hybrid system enables the 2022 Audi Q5 to coast with the engine off, and allows for start-stop mode at speeds below 22 km/h, boosting fuel efficiency while also reducing emissions.

Fresh out the box PH car market is loaded this month!

John Rey San Diego We are well into the last quarter of the year and car companies are relentless in introducing new car models and variants into their lineups. Along with making the market more exciting, this could be seen as a good indication that the local automotive industry is well on it’s way to recovery from the effects of the pandemic.

Here are the recent car launches in the local car industry and some of the notable information for each model.

10 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe Yes, the first-ever mid-engine Corvette is officially here in the Philippines. With its new drivetrain layout, the 2022 Corvette Stingray Coupe offers better weight distribution with enhanced straight line performance and track handling courtesy of the rear weight bias.

Powering the all-new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe is the next-gen 6.2-liter Small Block V8 LT2 engine that is rated to produce 474 hp and 613 Nm torque. With these numbers, the all-new Corvette holds the fastest 0-100kph acceleration time of any entry Corvette ever with 3.55 seconds. This even goes under three seconds with the Z51 Performance Package.

Another highlight of the all-new Corvette is its structure being built around the center tunnel. This gave the Corvette a light yet stiff structure to serve as the foundation for the suspension system for a more optimized performance. Developed to be a true supercar fit for everyday usage, the most exotic Corvette yet is now available through indent orders in any Chevrolet dealership nationwide.

2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer The iconic Chevrolet nameplate is making a return in the Philippine automotive market. Chevrolet Philippines recently brought in the all-new Trailblazer which is now a premium compact SUV. Now sportier and more dynamic, the latest Trailblazer serves as the latest contender in the heated compact SUV segment.

The sleek exterior design of the all-new Trailblazer is highlighted by its front fascia which takes inspiration from its sports car brethren, Chevy Camaro. This is particularly seen with its Intellibeam headlights, LED DRLs, and LED fog lights. Aside from the totally new design, the Trailblazer comes with top notch safety features as well like Traction Control, Enhanced Stability Control, Roll Over Protection, Hill Start Assist, and Torque Vectoring by Brakes among others.

Like a true compact SUV of today, the all-new Trailblazer is powered by a small but punchy engine. The Chevy compact SUV is powered by a 1.3-liter inline three-cylinder DOHC turbocharged engine that comes from General Motor’s next-gen Euro IV E-Turbo engine lineup. Mated to a Hydramatic VT40 CVT system that brings power to the wheels, the all-new Trailblazer is rated to output 155 hp and 235 Nm torque.

Lamborghini Huracán STO The Lamborghini race car that is made for the road is now here in the Philippines. The Lamborghini Huracán STO pays homage to the motorsport heritage of Lamborghini Squadra Corse’s Huracán Super Trofeo EVO race car, as well as that of the Huracán GT3 EVO that won the 24 Hours of Daytona three times, and the 12 Hours of Sebring twice.

This Lamborghini that is made for racing homologation purposes is a rear-wheel drive supercar powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine that is rated at 640 hp and 565 Nm torque. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a seven-speed LDF dual-clutch transmission. It has an acceleration performance of 0-100km/h in 3.0 seconds, 0-200km/h in 9.0 seconds, and a whopping 310 km/h top speed.

The Lamborghini Huracán STO or Super Trofeo Omologato draws inspiration from its race car brethren taking technologies developed from the track to the roads. From its one-piece front fascia called “cofango,” to the Huracán Super Trofeo EVOderived rear fenders, the new Lamborghini Huracán STO sports an entirely new exterior design in order to optimize airflow and reduce weight.

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 11

Maserati Ghibli Hybrid Modena Motorsports Inc., the exclusive importer of Maserati in the Philippines, officially launched the Maserati Ghibli Hybrid in the country. The introduction of the hybrid version of Maserati’s exquisite sedan expands the range of the Italian marque.

The Ghibli Hybrid is Maserati’s answer to the longstanding challenge for the brand to enter the world of electrification without altering Maserati’s core philosophy and values. The Ghibli Hybrid follows the step of the global unveiling of the Maserati MC20 super

sports car in ushering the brand’s new era.

Under the hood of the Maserati Ghibli Hybrid is an internal combustion engine, a 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder turbocharged engine that is coupled with a 48 volt alternator and an additional electric supercharger (e-Booster). This hybrid engine setup of the electrified Ghibli is rated to output 330 hp and 450 Nm torque.

With the top speed of 255 km/h, the Ghibli hybrid has an acceleration performance of 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds.

All-new Mazda BT-50 Adding to the highly-competitive pickup truck segment of the market, Mazda Philippines introduced the latest generation of the Mazda BT-50 pickup truck. The all-new BT-50 is a totally new truck from its predecessor. For its exterior, the new generation BT-50 features the simplicity and dynamism of the Kodo Soul of Motion Design like other Mazdas of today.

With the durability and functionality expected on a pickup truck, the all-new Mazda BT-50 is also rightful of the Mazda badge with its premium interior that features high-quality materials. The BT-50’s cabin has an elegant yet highly functional interior that offers comfort and convenience to driver and passengers. Safety is also assured thanks to the Mazda Active Safety Technology (MAST) suite of pre-crash safety features.

Powering the new Mazda pickup truck is a 3.0-liter inlinefour intercooler variable-geometry turbo diesel engine that is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This combo is rated to output 190 ps and a max torque of 450 Nm that is available even at just 1600rpm. For its off-roading capabilities, the BT-50 4x4 comes with an electronically controlled drive selector to switch between 2WDs and 4WDs drive functions.

It also has an electronic Rear Differential Lock for more difficult terrain. Available in three different trim levels: M/T 4x2 is priced at P1,390,000.00; the A/T 4x2 priced at P1,430,000.00; and the A/T 4×4 priced at P1,790,000.00. you also get the The 5-Year Free Service Plan.

12 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

NEW CARS

2021 Subaru XV GT Edition Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc., the official distributor of Subaru vehicles in the country expanded its range of GT Edition models in the country by introducing the new Subaru XV GT Edition. Now with a more aggressive look, the latest XV GT Edition aims to keep up with stylish, dynamic, and young-at-heart individuals who want to make a statement on the streets.

The Subaru XV GT Edition features a body kit that is more aggressive yet perfectly fits the updated XV model. The front under spoiler has been redesigned and front bumper garnishes have been added. The new XV GT also sports Subaru’s SI-DRIVE and Dualfunction X-MODE for more dynamic performance and enhanced off-road capability, respectively.

Available in color options Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Cool Grey Khaki, Plasma Yellow Pearl, Horizon Blue Pearl, Pure Red, Magnetite Grey Metallic, and Crystal Black Silica, the new Subaru XV GT Edition is priced at PHP 2,008,000.

2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Black Series 2021 Suzuki S-Presso Special Edition

Everything looks good in black and the Mitsubishi Xpander is no exception. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) spiced things up with its award-winning MPV by giving it a more elegant look in the form of the Mitsubishi Xpander Black Series.

The special edition Xpander features black accessory accents around the vehicle. The special edition Mitsubishi MPV features blacked out grill, dynamic shield garnish, lower bumper, fog light bezel, door mirrors, sill garnish, door handles, panel moldings, and rear lower bumper. Topping off the all black look is a set of 17-inch alloy wheels in black finish.

The special edition Mitsubishi Xpander Black Series is only available in two color options of Quartz White Pearl and Black Jet Mica. The new Xpander Black Series is now available in Mitsubishi dealerships nationwide with the priced tag of PHP 1,138,000.

When Suzuki Philippines introduced the S-Presso in the first quarter of this year, the small hatchback reminded the public that Suzuki still holds the crown when it comes to compact cars.

Making it more exciting, Suzuki Philippines launches the new Suzuki S-Presso Special Edition.

The special edition S-Presso features subtle updates that gave the small hatchback more presence on the road. Upfront, it features a new upper grill garnish, lower bumper garnish, and a new front skid plate which compliment the S-Presso’s stance.

The S-Presso Special Edition also features door claddings, fender arc cladding, and new side skirts. In the rear, a new lower bumper garnish, rear skid plate, and rear upper spoiler set the S-Presso Special Edition apart from the ordinary.

Available only in Starry Blue Pearl color option, the Suzuki S-Presso Special Edition is priced at PHP 568,000 and is now available in Suzuki Philippines’ dealership nationwide.

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 13

N E WS G O T A S T O RY ?

Email our managing editor autocarphweb@gmail.com

MichelinPH introduces the LTX Trail M

ichelin, the world’s leader in sustainable mobility for all types of vehicles, has recently launched the MICHELIN LTX Trail tire, its on- and off-road tire, specifically designed for high-rise pickups and SUVs. The tire offers an extended lifespan, long-lasting safety with excellent wet braking performance – even when worn, and lower interior noise levels for a more comfortable ride. With this versatile tire that performs well on paved and unpaved roads, driving with confidence and safety is enabled, regardless of the road condition and destination.

14 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

Daesy Natalya – Country Lead for the Philippines revealed: “At Michelin, we never stop innovating to enable people to move around more freely, safely; and to live a better life in motion.

The new Michelin LTX Trail serves as the perfect fit for consumers, who own a pick-up or SUV and whose lifestyle demands the ability to reach on- and off-road destinations, for work or pleasure.

This tire is designed for multi-purpose use, 80% on-road and 20% off-road driving. It gives drivers a safe and comfortable ride on the road, and still being able to take them off the road when needed;

and has the ability to handle different types of terrain – ranging from city commuting, wet road, highway driving, to light and moderate off-road.”

“Michelin LTX Trail is a great match for the increasing popularity of SUVs, which is projected to grow 5.6% year-onyear, from 2021 to 2026.

It is suitable for both 4×2 and 4×4 high-rise pickups, and SUVs – such as Toyota Hilux, Toyota Fortuner, and Nissan Navara,” added Daesy Natalya.

The MICHELIN LTX Trail features 3 major advantages: 41% longer mileage1 with the RallyForce2 Tread

Compound that provides better durability and maximum service life for both on- and off-road use, and a new tread design with the Biting Shoulder that wraps from the tread down the sidewall, to protect against sidewall aggression and ensure greater off-road performance and traction.

Long-lasting safety, even when worn, with Variable Thickness Sipes that provide improved contact patch for better handling, grip and braking performance. On wet roads, when compared to its premium competitors, the MICHELIN LTX Trail stops 3.1 meters shorter when new, and 4.6 meters

shorter when worn2.

On dry roads, when new, it stops 3.8 meters shorter3.19.8% lower sound pressure level4, thanks to Duo-Harmony Blocks featuring two different block shapes in the tread’s center that spread the pattern noise energy across a wider spectrum, for a quieter and calmer driving experience.

In the Philippines, the MICHELIN LTX Trail is now available in 15 sizes, with rim dimensions ranging between 15 and 18 inches, at Michelin’s authorized tire dealers across the nation. For more information, please visit (www.michelin.ph).

MitsubishiPH commits to make your life better F or over 50 years, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation has been providing Filipinos with reliable and world-class quality vehicles that have been their life partner for so many years.

MMPC’s strong number 2 position in the automotive industry is a testament to the solid bond that the brand has established with its customers. This tail end of year 2021, MMPC aims to reinforce its connection with the Filipino community by pledging to a new local slogan “Life Made Better”.

“Our new local slogan Life Made Better is a reflection of our revitalized commitment to significantly contribute in enriching the car life experience of Filipinos. We wish to create a positive culture within our organization that will radiate to our customers. Our

main goal is to significantly contribute to the recovery and growth of the Philippine economy. With our effort to make lives better, we hope to bring Mitsubishi Motors closer to the hearts of Filipinos” – says Mr. Takeshi Hara, President and CEO of MMPC. Currently, Mitsubishi Motors is locally producing the Mitsubishi Mirage, Mirage G4 and L300 in its Sta. Rosa, Laguna plant.

The local manufacturing operations generate thousands of jobs as well as several business opportunities for local suppliers. MMPC also has a total of 59 dealerships nationwide and is expected to further expand next year.

The expansion does not only provide easy accessibility and convenience to clients but also helps rejuvenate the community with various

economic contributions.

“MMPC is geared to improve its service in every customer engagement to further enhance ownership experience. We are carefully studying each touch point to make sure that our

clients will have an easy and pleasant experience with our brand. We will maximize the use of our social media pages as a source of inspiration by sharing positive and encouraging content.” – says Mark Parulan, MMPC’s brand

communications head.

To know more about Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation, its products and offers, you may log on to www. mitsubishi-motors.ph or visit your preferred dealer.

ToyotaPH opens new dealership in Lucena

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oyota Motor Philippines (TMP) continues to fulfill its mission to produce happiness for all by expanding its network eastward towards the historic and scenic city of Lucena, in Quezon Province, headed by the dealer franchise owner Mr. Nathaniel Fandiño, who also leads operations of Toyota Lipa, Batangas located at the adjacent province of Batangas.

Quezon Province is the sixth-largest province in the country with close proximity to fast growing provinces like Rizal and Bicol. Toyota Lucena City will play an important role in this growing local economy by providing access to mobility for the ease and convenience of everyone.

Toyota Lucena City boasts a sprawling floor area of over 13,380 square meters. The facility is designed to reflect the ever-evolving & innovative spirit of Toyota to provide a welcoming atmosphere and

immersive brand experience through sales and service.

It also has an expansive workshop that will provide the quick and reliable service Toyota is known for.

Customers will surely love and enjoy their visit with the facility’s relaxing atmosphere, modern interior design and comfortable spaces. Every customer will appreciate the immersive brand experience that will connect them to innovation, values, products & lifestyle that is uniquely Toyota.

“At Toyota Lucena, we aim to give you the ultimate Toyota mobility experience.

From inquiry, purchasing, servicing, then replacing your Toyota vehicle, we want you to be a customer for life. Come experience a whole new approach to car ownership at Toyota Lucena. We’re excited to welcome you and to exceed your expectations!” said Mr. Fandiño as he shares his sentiments and excitement about the launch of the new dealership. Furthermore,

this new dealership has created new opportunities with hundreds of jobs for the locals.

A boost in local tourism is envisioned ahead with this new achievement by Toyota as Quezon Province is a haven for beautiful beaches and mountain trekking sites including the world-famous Mount Banahaw. Land travel is the most accessible form of seeing the sights comfortably and with safety in mind.

Toyota Lucena City

is located along the Pan-Philippine Highway, Barangay Ibabang Dupay, Lucena, Quezon, and is open to serve customers from Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Follow the dealership on its official website toyotalucena.com and on facebook.com/ toyotalucenaofficial/.

Follow TMP’s official pages – Toyota Motor Philippines on Facebook and Instagram, toyota.com.ph, Twitter (ToyotaMotorPH), and Viber (Toyota PH) – for regular updates on products and services, dealer operations, announcements, and events. For safely distanced viewing, you may check out your preferred Toyota model and inquire online at toyota.com.ph/ showroom and choose your preferred dealership so they can revert to you on your product inquiry. Download the myTOYOTA PH app for Android and iOS for all your Toyota needs, from car selection to car care, maintenance, and upgrades.

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 15

GeelyPH explores north through NLEX Lakbay Norte W ith the more relaxed travel restrictions and more people getting fully vaccinated, many are looking forward to finally get out of the prolonged home confinement and begin local travel. And what more could feel safer than knowing that you are getting back to travelling with a safe car?

Sojitz G Auto Philippines (SGAP), the official local distributor of Geely in the country, was tapped

by NLEX Corporation to be its mobility partner as it reintroduces NLEX Lakbay Norte, a media familiarization tour that aims to help the tourism industry bounce back from the pandemic by showcasing destinations and cultural highlights in North and

Central Luzon.

This November, NLEX Lakbay Norte goes to Pampanga, the home of culinary and gastronomic delights coupled with funfilled adventure and cultural finds.

“Ever since, Geely has been putting a high premium on safety for its vehicles. We’ve always been vocal about equating value with safety by putting in our minds the drivers and passengers in every vehicle we introduce to the market.

We want to give them peace of mind in every Geely drive,” SGAP President & CEO Yosuke Nishi said.

“I believe, this partnership can effectively slowly revive the tourism industry in the Philippines with safe travels,” Nishi

added.

For his part, NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista said, “We are happy with the partnership with Geely as we both strive to provide safe an d convenient travel to the public, as well as support economic recovery through tourism.”

The NLEX Corporation is a premiere company engaged in the development, construction, and management of toll road projects. It is the

builder-concessionaire and operator of two major expressways that link Metro Manila to North and Central Luzon: the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

The tollway company also holds the concession for the NLEX Connector, an 8-kilometer all-elevated highway built along the PNR right of way, extending the NLEX southward from the end of NLEX Harbor Link Segment-Caloocan

Interchange along C3/5th Avenue, Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila.

These expressways enable to bring good life to people by allowing them to enjoy the freedom of journey and making every region accessible.

For many years, Geely has been upholding highquality standards for all its vehicles, ensuring the safety of both the drivers and passengers — from smooth ride to high technology.

HondaPH announces Vehicle Certification Program H onda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), is pleased to announce its Vehicle Certification Program to its valued Honda Customers. The program is one of the ways Honda supports customers who observe the prescribed periodic maintenance services at authorized Honda dealerships and Service Centers nationwide.

Through Honda’s Vehicle Certification Program, Honda vehicles are certified based on the compliance to standard periodic maintenance as prescribed by Honda. This Certification ensures that the vehicle has followed the timely replacement of all parts and lubricants keeping the vehicle in excellent condition. The certificate will come in handy for those looking for pre-loved Hondas, as it assures and certifies that the used vehicle being sold has gone through proper care and maintenance

16 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

through our authorized Honda dealerships and Service Centers nationwide, therefore, contributing to gaining higher resale value.

Eligible vehicles may be certified based on two (2) categories of certificates, depending on the vehicle’s warranty condition.

1. Customers with vehicle within warranty period must complete the required six (6) Periodic Maintenance Service (PMS) visits from purchase date.

2. Customers with vehicles that are beyond three (3) years from the purchase date must complete four (4) consecutive standard PMS visits after the warranty period.

Should the vehicles reach 10,000 kms ahead of the prescribed 6-month PMS interval period, the standard PMS schedule considering period shall be observed. (6-months or 10,000 kms; whichever comes first.) Checking and

replacement of Parts and Lubricants must be aligned with Honda’s Standard PMS Schedule. Usage of nongenuine Honda parts or any vehicle modifications are subject to disqualification to Honda Certification Program Customers with eligible vehicles may obtain their certificates free of charge from the Servicing

Dealership. Certificates for vehicles within warranty will be issued upon the last maintenance visit of customer upon confirmation that they have qualified for the program. On the other hand, certificates for out-of-warranty vehicles will be issued upon request.

The validity of certificates shall be annotated on the certificate for both types

which has an effectivity of six (6) months from the last maintenance visit.

Visit Honda’s VIRTUAL SHOWROOM at www. hondaphil.com to know more about the proper maintenance of your Honda and Honda’s Vehicle Certification Program.

You may also inquire with any of the 37 Honda Cars dealerships nationwide.

NEWS

Find reliable, high-quality 2nd-hand cars easily with Premium Warranty Services

P

remium Warranty Services Philippines, Inc. (PWSPI) aims to transform the country’s pre-owned car market. It noted that buying a used car in the Philippines is fraught with many challenges, especially for the uninitiated. Usually, the purchase is on an “as-is-where-is” basis and buyers are left to fend for themselves after that.

“Many Filipinos are in the market for used cars as an alternative to public transport or as an additional option for personal mobility,” Vince Socco, Chairman of PWSPI and GT Capital Auto & Mobility (GT CAM), said.

“By providing top-quality inspection and warranty services, PWSPI is able to bring a new level of transparency to the second-hand car market and help provide buyers with added peace of mind in both the buying and ownership experience,” he added.

PWSPI sees a clear opportunity to provide sellers and buyers with a convenient solution to trade in used cars. With PWSPI’s inspection services, buying used cars is worry-free and reassuring as warranty coverage may be availed through used car dealers.

FINDING A QUALITY PWSPI-INSPECTED VEHICLE To elevate the buy-andsell experience of used cars, PWSPI is partnering with financial institutions and second-hand car dealers that supply pre-owned cars to the market and online portals. PWSPI inspects their inventory of vehicles to provide buyers with transparency on the cars they are considering to acquire.

Once PWSPI completes its 188-point vehicle inspection, it issues a certification on the car’s condition. Vehicles listed online will carry an “Inspected” badge

with a link that’ll take an interested buyer directly to a copy of the inspection certificate. In the dealer showrooms, vehicle surveyors will affix a sticker on the windshield attesting to the inspection by PWSPI. A copy of the inspection certificate is available upon request.

Currently, PWSPI is ironing plans with Carousell, to have PWSPI inspect and certify all used car that are listed on their online platform.

“We want to make PWSPI inspection and warranty services easy to find and avail. Partnering with used car dealers and online autoportals in offering these services is the natural place to start,” Socco says. “They know their customers and the market best and our role is to help them provide better value and a better purchasing experience,” Socco added.

In addition to the inspection certification, PWSPI will also provide photos of the vehicle, highlighting the significant findings on the condition of the car.

JAPANESE QUALITY INSPECTION SERVICES PWSPI fields its team of qualified vehicle surveyors to used car dealers to conduct inspection of vehicles. Using an array of tools and equipment, the evaluators apply 360o inspection of the exterior, interior, undercarriage,

engine and on-board devices (OBD).

Aside from looking for dents and scratches, paint thickness is also measured to detect any potential repainting resulting from an accident.

The cross-member, pillars and welding spots are checked for integrity. The car’s OBD is electronically scanned for fault codes to uncover hidden issues.

Suspension is also checked to determine if shock absorbers, ball joints and other related parts are in good condition.

WORRY-FREE USED CAR OWNERSHIP The peace of mind provided by PWSPI goes beyond its certification of the vehicle condition.

Buyers of pre-owned cars

can also elevate their ownership experience by purchasing a vehicle warranty from the used car dealer, backed by the experience and technical expertise of Premium Warranty Services.

Pre-owned car dealers are able to offer warranties on vehicles aged 10 years below or with mileage of 150,000 kms or less.

One-year or two-year warranties are available – a benefit that used to be enjoyed only by brand new vehicle buyers. Buyers of second hand cars can opt from either an Engine & Transmission Warranty or a Comprehensive Warranty that covers over 200 parts, depending on their budget or personal preference.

A basic one-year Engine & Transmission coverage on a three-year-old used car starts at Php 5,100.00 which is a very reasonable investment in exchange for the added security it offers. A full two-year Comprehensive Warranty on a three-year old vehicle, on the other hand, is available for Php 13,300.00.

Warranties are offered for used cars that are certified as eligible by PWSPI Vehicle Surveyors.

It is available for major Japanese, American,

and Korean car brands except for grey market parallel imports, modified or commercial vehicles. In the event of a warrantable part failure, a claim can be conveniently filed through PWSPI. PWSPI will evaluate the claim and, if approved, will refer the owner to one of its accredited repair shops. An owner can make claims up to a maximum accumulated repair cost between Php 250,000.00 and Php500,000.00 over the length of the warranty period, depending on the type of warranty.

The Philippines is the third foray of Premium Warranty into the Asian market after Thailand and Indonesia. It sees that motorization in the country will continue to drive the growth of the used car markets.

“The second hand car market – even during the pandemic – has been quite resilient. We believe that the Filipino car buyer – new or pre-owned – demands a better experience that is consistent with more developed markets,” Socco also noted.

For more information on PWSPI’s services, please visit http://pwsp.com.ph or follow Premium Warranty Services Philippines on Facebook.

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 17

FordPH celebrates Global Caring Month F ord Philippines celebrated the Global Caring Month with a mix of virtual and in-person volunteer activities participated by its employees.

Held every September, the Global Caring Month is an annual social responsibility event that sees thousands of Ford and dealer employees from around the world take time to participate in various community projects.

In a virtual volunteer activity, Ford employees acted as teachers and instructors in Gawad Kalinga’s (GK) Paraisong Pambata program. Over 20 kids from GK Sulangon Village in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte participated in storytelling, drawing, and arts and crafts making through video conferencing. Ford Philippines also provided school supplies and food essentials to the children.

Ford employees also took time to participate in an in-person volunteer activity, following the proper safety and distancing protocols, in GK Enchanted Farm in

18 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

Angat, Bulacan. At the site, employees planted trees and harvested farm produce, as well as sorted and packed vegetables for distribution to families and communities. The vegetable packs benefitted over 350 families from various GK villages and communities in Bulacan.

“The spirit of volunteerism continues at Ford with our Global Caring Month, as we find ways to reach out to communities via online or on-site and initiate projects that truly make a difference,” shares Josephine Gonzalez, Government and Corporate Affairs Director, Ford Philippines.

“The commitment of each Ford employee to extend a helping hand has never wavered over the years and we are excited to bring our programs to more individuals, families, and beneficiaries in the years to come.”

Aside from volunteer activities, Ford Philippines also used mini-grants awarded by Ford Motor Company Fund to support activities by GK and Save the Children Philippines

during the Global Caring Month. GK used the fund to install water system in tribal communities in San Fernando, Bukidnon and Dona Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan. The Save the Children gratitude grant supported the improved delivery of health and nutrition services in the management of acute malnutrition (child wasting) in Villareal, Samar.

Ford Philippines also kicked off the 13th edition of the globallyrecognized Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program last September. With the theme “Safe Driving in the New Normal”, this year’s DSFL is covering timely topics including pandemic car care and maintenance tips, car sanitation and disinfection, and driving techniques during the rainy weather. This year’s DSFL sessions will be conducted virtually in order to foster a safe and physically-distant learning environment.

“This year, we are making the DSFL a more relevant training program for our participants by sharing the necessary driving habits and skills as

they navigate the roads in the ‘new normal’. The DSFL is now available and accessible on the digital platform that allows us to expand our reach to more drivers nationwide,” shares EJ Francisco, Communications Director, Ford Philippines.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) remains an integral part of Ford’s business, with its continued focus in the areas of education, community development, and healthcare. Its Automotive Technician Scholarship Program, in partnership with AmCham Foundation, has seen its 4th batch composed of 30 scholars finishing last July. The program aims to

provide underprivileged but deserving students access to education so they can improve their economic status.

Ford is also partnering with Gawad Kalinga for its Kusina ng Kalinga (KnK) program, which is a strategic response to hunger and malnutrition among Filipino children.

Lastly, the Healthcare Capacity-Building Program is in place to strengthen the capacities of local residents to support the healthcare needs of their families and community through the conduct of basic healthcare training.

Resident-volunteers in Capiz and Pampanga received the training recently.

NEWS

Caltex grows in Q3 2021, expands into auto & motorcycle aftermarkets F or the third quarter of the year, Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), further strengthens its network and brand growth with six new retail service stations, 15 new Caltex Havoline autoPro shops and 14 new Caltex bikePro shops all over the country.

To service and provide quality, safe and clean fuels and lubes to motorists, Caltex opened stations in Metro Manila, Bukidnon, Leyte, Zamboanga and Camarines Norte, which are all key cities and provinces in the country.

The first retail site is in P. Cayetano Blvd, Taguig City, which houses Bonifacio Global City, one of the leading financial centers in the country.

Another Caltex site that recently opened in Metro Manila is located in Eusebio, Pasig City.

Primarily, a residential and industrial area, Pasig has increasingly become a commercial area in recent years with the establishment of the Ortigas Center Business District.

Caltex opened more retail stations in key

provincial areas across the country as well. In Bicol region, Caltex recently opened a retail station in Brgy. Pamoragon, Daet, Camarines Norte, a popular surfing spot among surfers worldwide.

Beginners and pro surfers often visit this area due to consistent waves and soft sand beach throughout the year.

In the Eastern Visayas region, Caltex recently opened a retail station

along the Diversion Road, Cogon, Ormoc City. It is a coastal port city that serves as Western Leyte’s economic, cultural, commercial and transportation centre.

Caltex also opened retail stations in key areas in Mindanao, one of which is located along the National Highway, Poblacion, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. Known as the region’s food basket, it’s the leading producer of

rice and corn. Pineapples, bananas and sugarcane are also grown on plantations in the province.

Lastly, Caltex opened a retail site at Zamboanga West Coastal Road, Gusu, Zamboanga. Dubbed as the Sardines Capital of the Philippines, about 70% of the city’s income comes from sardine fishing and processing. Zamboanga City is a natural harbor for vessels visiting the rich fishing grounds of the

Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago, located near the western extremity of the Mindanao continent.

For motorists looking for high quality service and products for their cars’ needs, 15 new Caltex Havoline autoPro shops recently opened in the following locations: Quezon, Isabela, Angeles, Pampanga, Batangas, Bacoor, Cavite, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Roxas City, Capiz, Cebu, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga and South Cotabato.

Caltex also opened 14 new Caltex bikePro shops in the following stations: Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Batangas, Cebu City, Zamboanga del Norte and North Cotabato. These autoPro workshops and bikePro sites provide top notch Caltex lubricant products and services like maintenance checks and car repairs to make one’s journey hassle free.

CPI Country Chairman Billy Liu said, “We will continue to strengthen our growth by opening more Caltex stations at the most needed areas so that local motorists and travellers can have a joyful ride with high class quality fuels and lubricants together with first rate services.”

Despite the pandemic, Caltex has opened 25 retail sites and 55 combined Caltex Havoline autoPro workshops and Caltex bikePro sites around the Philippines since the beginning of 2021.

For more information or to locate the nearest Caltex station, visit www. caltex.com/ph/find-acaltex-station and Caltex Havoline autoPro shops at www.caltex.com/ph/ motorists/productsand-services/havolineautopro-workshop/ havoline-autoproworkshop-locator.html.

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 19

F I R ST D R I V E S N E W C A R S T E ST E D A N D R AT E D

VOLKSWAGEN T-CROSS 180 MPI AT S An Easy Choice 20 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

A

surprise is always nice, and when it comes with four wheels in the shape of a compact crossover SUV, it’s a good thing. No I wasn’t gifted one, but I did get quite the surprise when I drove VolkswagenPH’s latest small SUV offering, and it wasn’t even the top of line variant.

I like all SUV’s, from the subcompacts like this T Cross, to the big full sized expedition/suburban types. They all offer the same things, but in different proportions.

Taller ground clearance, commanding field of view, more headroom and legroom, perhaps more seats if it seats 7 or more. We won’t get into engine displacement and approach and departure angles, that’s for more than the basic SUV specifications.

We’ll get to what the surprise was later on. Lets have a look at why this is a good seller for VolkswagenPH. We got to drive the T-Cross 180 MPI AT S, which is their base variant for this model.

EXTERIOR

Just like the rest of their lineup, the T Cross is smart, but typically conservative in a style you expect from VW. The T-Cross is also the first model locally available to bear VW’s updated logo and it’s pretty much the only thing that sets it apart from the rest of the lineup. The chrome grille extends out into the halogen headlamps. this variant doesn’t come with fog lamps but the headlights offer good coverage up front. The area where the fog lights would be still has the brushed aluminum accent and a faux stone guard gives the front and rear end on the bottom of the bumper a tough look. The lower part of doors have plastic cladding which extend up around the wheel wells and around the bottom part of the front and rear bumper.

The rear lights are subdued to blend in with the black garnish that surround it and it matches the spoiler on top of the rear hatch.

It rolls on 205/60’s on 16” five spoke alloy wheels.

POWERPLANT

It’s powered by a Euro 6 compliant Bluemotion Technology 1.5 liter four cylinder gasoline engine that puts out 113Ps at 6000rpm with 145Nm of torque at 3500rpm mated to a 6-speed Tiptronic Automatic transmission with Sport Mode putting power to the ground through the front wheels. Just enough power to get you around in the city and on the expressways, but when fully loaded with passengers and cargo, it does seem a bit wanting on uphill drives up to Antipolo, but if you’re with friends you probably won’t notice.

INTERIOR

Unlike the top of the line SE variant which has a color keyed interior scheme to match the body color, this has an all black interior according to the brochure (but looks more dark grey to me) which although is plastic, does however have different textures which make it seem less cheap looking, the finish seems hard wearing and actually looks quite good. Both driver and front passenger seats are manually adjusted.

The D shaped steering wheel has controls

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 21

for cruise control, the MFID in the instrument cluster and entertainment system. On all the displays, and anywhere there is writing, VW uses the same font and this also adds to it’s clean look and is nicely lit. When you enter, you’ll be greeted by comfortable fabric seats with the headrest built in, and it was just the right height for me. In the center there is an 8” touchscreen entertainment system has Apple CarPlay with a USB port in front and it’s four speakers sound pretty decent. In front of the gear shift lever, you get a 12v socket. The back seats are also quite comfortable, with enough legroom and headroom for the taller than average pinoy. It’s also interesting to note that you get illuminated USB type A and type C sockets to charge your devices.

22 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

SAFETY AND OTHER AMENITIES

It comes with driver and front passenger airbags, 3 point seatbelts for everyone, ISOFIX anchor points, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP), Hill Hold Control, Anti-Slip Regulation, Rear Parking Distance Control, Engine immobilizer and Tire Pressure Monitor. While not really important, I find that the one touch up/down power windows useful for all passengers.

IMPRESSIONS

The surprise was, I found that VW’s T-Cross fit me quite well, I’m not tall, standing a relatively average 5’5”, felt like this compact crossover SUV might have been designed with me in mind. I’m not pulling your leg, nor am I trying to get on the good

side of our friends in VW. When I’d adjusted the seat and finally got on the road, everything seemed in it’s place. It handled well on the open road and in the city, the suspension did pretty well at smoothening out the bumps on our horrible city streets and even with it’s small size was quite stable on the expressways passing large cargo trucks.

It’s fit and finish is as you’d expect from VW and despite this being their entry level variant, it’s doesn’t feel any less equipped that the top of the line variant. It comes in an assortment of youthful colors and this one we got to drive was in Chinchilla Grey, and no chinchillas were harmed in making this color. Priced at Php1,098,000 makes it tempting for those of you considering perhaps your first

SUV, German at that, or a wildcard choice between this and a top of line non European subcompact sedan. The choice is an easy one. It’s conservative design is also one of it’s pluses, VW’s tend to age pretty well and will probably last long enough for you to pass it on to a future offspring.

NEIL PAGULAYAN

VOLKSWAGEN T-CROSS 180 MPI AT S

AAAAB Price Engine

PHP 1,098,000 Bluemotion Technology 1.5 liter 4-cylinder gas Power 113 Ps @ 6000rpm Torque 145Nm @ 3500rpm Transmission 5-speed wet-type dual clutch Fuel Capacity 43 liters

FIRST DRIVES

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 23

TESTED 26.11.20, OXFORDSHIRE ON SALE NOW PRICE £180,095

NISSAN GT-R NISMO The mighty 2+2 sports car that can devour supercars whole on challenging UK roads has been upgraded to make it even quicker

24 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

FIRST DRIVES

s this it? This could be it. The end. This is the 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo, announced in the middle of 2019 and available to us just in time for 2021, and with it, it could be that the R35-generation GT-R will reach the end of the development line. Maybe.

So far, age hasn’t stopped Nissan developing the GT-R. But if you’re thinking that the relative gains must be getting smaller and smaller by now, then I think you’d probably be right.

But gains there are, and engineers there must be, looking for them, constantly tweaking and evolving everything there is to have from this brutalist sports car even 13 years after they started making it.

The first iteration of this more hardcore Nismo variant arrived in 2015. Nissan then made a series of annual changes to the regular

GT-R, some of which filtered back up to the Nismo later as part of a round of upgrades in 2017, but this is the proper follow-up.

The important thing is that, on the face of it, it’s still a big 2+2 coupé with a four-wheel-drive powertrain and complex mechanicals. But here come some technical highlights over the previous Nismo. They are quite niche.

There is one less groove on the Dunlop front tyres – increasing the amount of rubber on the road by 11% – while a new rubber compound is said to be 7% more grippy. The tyre shoulder is more rounded to keep more tyre in contact with the road and, overall, ‘tyre cornering force’ is up by 5%.

The 3.8-litre hand-assembled twin-turbo V6 engine has new turbochargers, as before taken from the GT3 race car variant, but the race items have clearly been à

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 25

TESTER’S NOTE Dunlop was Nissan’s tyre partner from the R35 GT-R’s launch.

Parent company Goodyear has started pushing its Eagle performance tyres harder recently, though. So maybe not next time? MP

It grips better than you might think on cold, damp roads and its four-wheel drive lets you shimmy purposefully towards the corner exit ßimproved lately and so have these.

They employ 10 vanes apiece, one less than the previous model’s, and each vane is 0.3mm thinner. If you open the throttle at 68mph in fourth gear (in manual mode), it says here that this 14.5% reduction in mass and 24% reduction in inertia mean engine response is improved by 20%.

For all the extra apparent response, power remains unchanged at 592bhp. But it has less weight to push around, too, thanks in some part to increased use of carbonfibre. New front and rear bumper and wing

designs are 4.5kg lighter than the previous Nismo’s and a new roof saves 4kg and bonnet 2kg.

Then there are lighter wheels (although only by 25g each) and, more significantly, the adoption of carbon-ceramic brakes, of 410mm diameter at the front, between them weighing 16.2kg less than the previous items.

Overall, then, the new Nismo is around 27kg lighter than it was, although that still leaves its kerb weight at 1703kg. It never was a light car and it isn’t going to start now.

The dampers have been softened, though, to account for this modest decrease in mass, by some 20% in rebound and 5% in compression, with revised spring rates, too, while the power steering map has been adjusted.

Inside, there is a fantastic suede-ish-covered steering wheel and new Recaro seats that offer brilliant lateral support. The interior got a host of upgrades in 2017, with plenty of carbonfibre on display and some nicely stitched leather. And the retention of analogue instruments

GT-R’s shape is familiar but those yellow carbon-ceramic brakes, its wheels and the tyres are all new 26 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

and the presence of plenty of other physical buttons mean that, although visually ageing, it remains more usable than some cars in which controls have migrated to an all-seeing digital system.

The price is pretty modern, mind.

In 2015, the Nismo started at around £125,000, which had increased to £149,995 by 2017 and, well, look away now for your 2021 costs. The new Nismo is £180,095.

But, then, it’s a supercar, isn’t it?

Well. I don’t know. Supercars have two seats and an engine in the middle and the GT-R is not like that. It’s also 1703kg, yet it’s not as plush as, say, an Aston Martin, nor as compact as a Porsche 911. It’s a car that almost sits in its own class and that’s reflected by the way it drives.

It is hard and intense. There are different modes for the dampers, including Comfort, which I think might have been called that as a joke. The GT-R Nismo is not a comfortable car, grumbling over surface imperfections and sometimes when there aren’t surface imperfections, either. But it does get better as you go faster.

So, too, does the steering. At normal road speeds, it’s quite light and there’s a little bit of nothing just off straight-ahead, but then as you steer a few more degrees, a lot happens quite quickly.

Disconcerting, but again better if you

FIRST DRIVES

❝ It all adds up to a car that’s very exciting but gets more so the faster you go

❞ It’s showing its age inside but we have few complaints about its analogue dials, convenient switchgear and supportive seats go faster, where it’s heavier and less nervy and starts to transmit road feel.

The brakes are good at any speed, but the best pedal feel comes when the discs are warm. Under harder braking, and on smoother roads, the GT-R is less affected by tramlining than it is if you’re driving it mildly.

High-level single-seaters and sports racing cars do this sort of thing to an extreme: if a driver fails to keep the tyres and brakes warm enough, performance and mechanical grip fall away to the extent that tyre grip runs out

before the speed where aerodynamics help it go faster.

The GT-R Nismo isn’t an animal to that extent. It is a 1700kg roadregistered car, after all. But similarly, you don’t get a huge amount back going slowly. And on the road at this time of year in the rain, there’s a limit to how warm you can get it.

It’s worth the effort, though. The Dunlop SportMaxx rubber (255/40 R20 at the front and 285/35 R20 at the rear) finds more purchase than you might think, the nose is direct if you bleed the brakes off gently into

a corner, and then the power will shuffle itself around to allow a little rear-biased shimmy on the way out of a bend, which feels very natural and secure.

The engine is mighty, too, revving to the other side of 7000rpm with a vigorous top end and a revised titanium exhaust that rasps rather waspishly when you get there. Not that you’ll be there for long. Second gear runs to the other side of 70mph and third must be good for 100-plus.

It’s all right, mother: I didn’t try it.

All of which adds up to a car that’s

very exciting but gets more so the faster you go. It’s not smooth and complete like a 911 Turbo, but it’s not low and glamorous like a Ferrari 488 GTB or Lamborghini Huracán, even though I suspect it’d give either of them a hard time around a circuit.

It remains, then, in a class of one, right to the end. An end that will surely begin to heave into view soon, albeit with no let-up in this car’s detailed development or dimming of its unique appeal.

MATT PRIOR

@matty_prior

NISSAN GT-R NISMO It remains hardcore and uniquely rewarding right to the end.

Assuming, of course, this is the end?

AAAAC Price Engine

Revised twin-turbo V6 will rev beyond 7000rpm to a vespine soundtrack

£180,095 V6, 3799cc, twinturbocharged, petrol Power 592bhp at 6800rpm Torque 486lb ft at 3600-5600rpm Gearbox 6-spd dual-clutch automatic Kerb weight 1703kg 0-62mph 2.8sec Top speed 196mph Economy 19.7mpg CO2, tax band tbc RIVALS Mercedes-AMG GT-R, Porsche 911 Turbo

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 27

ROAD TRIP

Toyota Hilux GR-S and Fortuner GR-S drive to San Pablo GR-eat reason to drive south 28 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

I

n late October, Toyota Motor Philippines invited us to drive their latest launched additions to their lineup, the Toyota GAZOO RACING Hilux GR-S and Fortuner GR-S, the Sport variants of their pickup and midsized SUV. We started off the day at Alabang Town Center and with only two participating publications on that day, we decided among ourselves which vehicle we’d like to drive out to San Pablo and swap that with the other for the drive back. We set off at around 9am and made our way to our lunch destination with more than enough time for us to get through morning rush hour

traffic. For the drive out, I chose the Hilux GR-S, and I’d be driving it roughly 50km’s to Sulyap Gallery Café and Restaurant in San Pablo City.

HILUX GR-S Pickups these days are more capable, they are easier to drive in and around tight urban parking areas than their workhorse origins. Getting out of the mall parking of ATC was easy with it’s new Panoramic View Monitor.

Making my way to SLEX and merging with traffic was easy with the Hilux GR-S’ turbocharged 2.8L diesel made short work of “getting up to speed” and joining the flow at highway speed.

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 29

Launched recently, the Hilux GR-S is the next step up after the Conquest variant. It gets a new black gloss G-MESH front grille design, body colored overfenders and around the back, you get a black gloss sports bar.

Finding our way to our lunch destination was easy with Apple CarPlay connectivity allowing us to use WAZE and at the same time, listen to either the radio or our favorite playlist on spotify.

We made our way through winding country roads and some morning through Calamba, Pansol, Anos and past UPLB, and it eased up as we made our way to San Pablo.

Making it early to Sulyap Gallery Café and Restaurant, we did some catching up with each other in person. Since the pandemic, events like these were few and far between. On a side note, we all tested negative for covid prior to the drive.

After a sumptuous Filipino lunch, and quite a bit of time to spare, we took photos of both the Hilux and Fortuner, then 30 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

went for a drive around San Pablo. We checked out Sampaloc Lake behind the City Hall, and we found a nice open space where locals can safely spend time outdoors.

When it was time to head back, and this time it was my turn to drive the Fortuner GR-S back to Manila.

FORTUNER GR-S I was looking forward to driving this Fortuner, equipped with JBL speakers, which would help me stay alert on the ride back. It closely resembling the LTD variant, the GR-S has a more aggressive front end with a redesigned bumper and fog lamp combination.

The wheel arches are body

colored, a bi-tone rear spoiler, back door garnish and a redesigned rear bumper. The rear hatch is powered and now opens with a kick-sensor.

It’s also equipped with the same safety suite found in the LTD and Q variants, Toyota’s Safety Sense consisting of Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert and Adaptive Cruise Control. There’s also the Panoramic View Monitor, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

WHAT DO THEY SHARE? The experience behind the wheel is definitely different for both vehicles, but the two have a few things in common.

Both are relatively easy

ROAD TRIP

to maneuver in city streets and tight parking situations, both are definitely fun to drive on the open road and with the same engine and tuning both putting out 204Ps at 3,400rpm and with 500Nm of torque coming in between 1,6002,800rpm and mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, you’ve got more than enough power on demand, whether you’re carrying cargo, friends or both in either the Hilux or Fortuner GRS, and that torque comes in early where you want it.

Both Hilux and Fortuner get black tinted clear coat on their 18” alloy wheels and bright red brake calipers with GR markings. Both cabins are

as equally sporty as the exterior, with red, black and smoke silver metallic accents on surfaces, leather wrapped steering wheels, suede and leather sport front seats all with red stitching. Aluminum pedals are standard on both Hilux and Fortuner GR-S and they also have paddle shifters. Both get 8-way power adjust seats for the driver and interiors are unmistakeably GR with the logo on the headrests, the steering wheel, the engine start button, and even the floor mats.

The Hilux GR-S is a long way away from it’s humble pickup origins.

It’s got car comfort and amenities similar to top of the line sedans. It will still remind you that it is a

pickup, especially if you’ve not put anything in the bed or are driving alone. The ride can be somewhat stiff due to it’s cargo carrying capacity, but it’s not harsh.

The Fortuner GR-S as expected, has a more civilized ride than the Hilux, the 7-seater SUV is more composed on the open road and is more comfortable. Getting back to Manila was helped by Apple Carplay allowing WAZE to guide me while my spotify playlist sounded awesome on it’s JBL speakers.

You can’t compare the two as they represent two different lifestyles, both are capable vehicles, made even more appealing with Toyota GAZOO RACING appointments.

Our lunch south of Manila was a great excuse to catch up with friends and drive these two well built vehicles. The Toyota Hilux GR-S we drove in Emotional Red is priced at Php2,005,000 and the Fortuner GR-S we drove in White Pearl CS/Attitude Black Mica is priced at Php2,509,000.

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 31

ROAD TEST

No 5505

BMW 4 Series

Can the car behind the controversial new grille meet a warmer reception?

MODEL TESTED M440i xDRIVE

32 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

ROAD TEST nough time should have passed since the arrival of the latest BMW 4 Series in UK showrooms in October for those who objected to its styling in pictures to have seen the car in three dimensions on UK roads.

So now, as the hostile social media reception is softened slightly by familiarity for some and no doubt set in aspic for others, comes our time to get beyond the styling and interrogate the engineering substance of this car as only the Autocar road test can.

The second-generation 4 Series is, for now, on sale in two-door coupé (codename G22) and twodoor convertible (G23) bodystyles, with the four-door Gran Coupé (G26) set to arrive later this year.

There’s the option of four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines and just one six-cylinder motor for the time being. By March, 430d- and M440d-badged straightsix diesels will be available, too, and a full-fat M division M4 won’t be much further behind.

The car is, of course, the lower, wider-striding, meaner-looking alter ego of the G20 3 Series that arrived last year. Like the 3 Series, it offers a choice of ‘mild-hybridised’ engines, but here they complement a car with stiffened, extra-tantalising handling poise and an air of exclusivity about its two-door cabin, the combination of which has been the BMW coupé calling card since the early 1970s.

And rather than any recent forerunner coupé, it’s a 1970s antecedent of the 4 Series that BMW’s designers were referring to with the new car’s oh-so-contentious, upright and in-your-face radiator grille: the Wilhelm Hofmeisterpenned E9-generation 3.0 CSi. Read on to find out if the new rangetopping M440i xDrive can do justice, on the road and against the timing gear, to such a celebrated ancestor.

E

DESIGN AND ENGINEERING

AABCC

We like  Six-pot petrol auto powertrain’s responsiveness and drivability is as good as its first-order pace  Four-wheel-drive chassis doesn’t disappoint for handling appeal

We don’t like  Lacks the understated visual grace of its predecessors. And then some  Cheaper 4 Series need the optional adaptive suspension to ride really comfortably

Familiarity has failed to make the Autocar road test jury fans of this car’s styling. The new frontal aspect, with its arrowhead bonnet creases and that new grille, is intended to engender a new-found sense of confidence and a refreshed distinctiveness. But it’s the deficit of the consistency, simplicity and restraint seen on the best-looking modern BMW coupés that we regretted most. The car’s surfaces mix bulbousness and fussiness; its rear quarters lack both proportion and definition; and its Hofmeister kink can only be described as ‘absent, presumed missing’.

There is better news for those prepared to look beneath the skin, but even that search requires persistence. To begin with, that this car has grown so much in comparison to the first-gen 4 Series isn’t the greatest of omens. It’s a significant 128mm longer, as well

Range at a glance ENGINES

POWER

FROM

420i M Sport 420d M Sport 420d M Sport xDrive 430i M Sport M440i xDrive M4 Competition

181bhp 188bhp

£39,870 £42,440

188bhp 255bhp 369bhp 503bhp

£43,990 £44,055 £53,865 £76,200

TRANSMISSIONS 8-spd automatic BMW’s 4 Series range consists of two bodystyles and three trim levels, for now at least. Munich’s third bodystyle, meanwhile – the four-door Gran Coupé – is expected to join the range later this year.

With most engine options, you can choose between M Sport and M Sport Pro Edition trims. The latter costs a hefty £5000 premium but comes with an exterior styling upgrade and plenty of equipment.

Convertible versions are around £5500 more than coupés.

as both wider and taller than the F32-generation car. The last-gen 435i M Sport weighed 1640kg when we tested it in 2013. This new one has hit 1775kg.

For those looking for points of difference relative to the 3 Series, however, there are plenty to find.

A lower body profile gives the 4 Series a centre of gravity that is 21mm closer to the ground than that of the equivalent 3 Series, while the chassis gets specific structural reinforcements. The 4 Series also has wider axles than a 3 Series and retuned springs, dampers, mountings and anti-roll bars.

BMW’s latest-generation, twinturbocharged 2.0-litre diesel engine powers the 188bhp 420d. And what that engine has in common with the 369bhp twin-scroll turbocharged petrol 3.0-litre straight six here in the M440i is that they both use a 48V mild-hybrid electrical assistance system for extra efficiency, as well as for the odd hit of up to 11bhp.

A 2.0-litre 420i petrol with 181bhp and a 2.0 430i with 255bhp are also available, but neither with the new 48V electrical system.

All versions of the car use BMW’s eight-speed Steptronic torqueconverter automatic gearbox from ZF, but whereas the four-cylinder models are rear-wheel drive as standard and, in some cases, four-wheel drive as an option, the six-cylinder cars like à

E9-gen 3.0 CSi was a design inspiration

 Oversized, portrait-oriented kidney grille dominates the front end. The pre-war BMW 328 sports car’s grille was taller still, of course, but that doesn’t mean an updated modern tribute necessarily fits on a compact coupé.

 LED headlights are standard. Blue accents show you’ve coughed up the extra for BMW Laserlight LED illumination. They do make the car look a bit like it’s ready for a drag race of a different kind, though.

 The crisp geometry of BMW’s trademark Hofmeister C-pillar has been dispensed with, and the rising beltline meets the roofline at an awkward angle.

Have the convertible version and this needn’t bother you, of course.

 Swollen form of the rear wing leaves an open expanse of bodywork downwards to the rear wheel arch, which has the opposite effect to the one presumably intended: it makes the stance look weedy.

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 33

Weights and measures

440 litres

ma x

ax

mm

mm

73 0

0m

113

8 8 0m m

0.29

Kerb weight: 1740kg 2851mm

859mm

1393mm

990m m max

DIMENSIONS

1060mm

4770mm

PA R K I N G Typical garage height

 Front seats are easy to drop into and blend enveloping lowness with accessibility and decent visibility. They’re of a design you won’t find in a 3 Series.

Typical parking space width (2400mm)

1640mm

2085mm (with mirrors) 4100mm

 Back row isn’t easy to access, even for smaller passengers. The seats aren’t uncomfortable, although you’ll need to be fairly short of stature to agree.

W H E E L A N D P E DA L ALI G N M E NT Ergonomic layout of primary controls is excellent.

Slight offset to the right for the pedals is still very comfortable, and you can left-foot brake if you like.

75mm 200mm

H E AD LI G HTS Test car had optional Laserlight units fitted. They offer particularly good range and clarity, if not the outright brightness you might expect.

ßthis one get BMW’s natively rear-driven xDrive four-wheel drive system as standard.

M Sport mechanical specification is the jumping-off point for ownership in the UK, which means most UK cars will come with BMW’s stiffened suspension springs and passive ‘lift-related’ dampers, along with a reinforced frontal structure and variable sports steering. Higherend engines get BMW’s uprated M Sport brakes to boot, and if you go all the way up to either M Sport Pro Edition or M Performance trim levels, adaptive dampers become part of the package. Being an M440i, our test car had the latter, as well as BMW’s torque-vectoring rear differential as standard (which can also be added to a 430i or 430d as a cost option).

34 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

Centre

INTERIOR

AAAAC BMW devotees will be well used to the extra-glitzy materials and the technological glare of the firm’s current interior design philosophy.

The days when the ambient quality and luxury of Munich’s cabin treatments were deliberately understated are long gone. Some time ago, the firm decided it needed to take on both Audi and Mercedes in that respect, and it conjured driving environments of readily apparent richness and lavishness. Pretty soon after that, the G20 3 Series got an interior full of boldly hexagonal chrome and high-tech, widescreen wizardry – and that’s a treatment the 4 Series now inherits.

It’s an interior in which it’s very

 Boot is 440 litres before you fold the seats (which drop 40/20/40, handily). That’s bigger by a stretch than a Mercedes C-Class coupé’s but smaller than an Audi A5’s.

easy to make yourself comfortable over long distances. It feels expensively hewn and appointed and is broadly easy to interact with and to configure to your liking. The driving position is only marginally lower and more snug than that of a 3 Series. You wouldn’t call it sports car low, but then, with ease of access and long-range visibility in mind, neither should it be. The control layout is excellent, with very generous adjustment of the steering column possible. Slightly wide A-pillars impinge on forward visibility to an extent, but only as is broadly common among modern cars.

Instrumentation is all digital, with the rev counter and speedometer displayed around the lateral extremes of an octagonal binnacle screen. The display themes change

with the selected driving mode, but few are as easily readable as they ought to be and none of them provides a simple pairing of circular dials that could be read so easily at a glance. In cars with BMW’s optional head-up display, of course, you can never claim to be ill-informed of your road or engine speed, but on behalf of those who like to pare down and simplify what the car is telling you in order to make longer trips less tiring, BMW could still do better.

The 4 Series’ rear seats are predictably tricky things in which to berth. You’ll need to be under 6ft tall to find enough head room, although leg room is a little less meanly provided. Overall, though, the 4 Series’ back-seat accommodation is reasonable enough for occasional use. The ability to fold the rear à

ROAD TEST

 Like regular series BMWs, the M440i retains these physical drive mode buttons. New ‘Adaptive’ adjusts chassis and powertrain to suit your driving style.

 Silver and dark-grey switchgear isn’t ‘classic BMW’ but isn’t unattractive. Plan view car button with ringed illumination is for disabling driver assist functions.

 ‘Analogue’ tacho and speedo are like opposed brackets. There is labelling and grading when engine is running but they’re still not sufficiently easy to read.

Multimedia system AAAAB BMW’s decision to bring the 4 Series to the UK at baseline M Sport equipment level means all cars come with the full-sized digital instrument and infotainment set-ups.

They also all feature the firm’s Connected Package Professional, which, among other things, delivers wired smartphone mirroring for both Apple and Android systems. Wireless mirroring for Apple handsets comes with the ‘enhanced Bluetooth’ option that adds wireless device charging. It’s £350 on its own, or included as part of the Technology Pack.

The firm’s latest ‘Operating System 7.0’ software is very good. It appeals not only because it looks great and responds quickly but also because you can control it so flexibly – via the familiar rotary input device, or through the touchscreen or by voice control. The modularity of layout of the car’s home screen is also great, as is the column of menu shortcuts, which makes the system more easily navigable.

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 35

❝ The M440i just grabs the right gear and knuckles down

❞

ß seatbacks 40/20/40 is a welcome boost to carrying flexibility, meanwhile, and boot space is good.

PERFORMANCE

AAAAB There is real strength running through the operating character of both the six-cylinder engine and eight-speed gearbox of this car. The combination is a hard one to criticise either for full-throttle power or partthrottle drivability – and it’s harder still to cast aspersions once you realise the car will also return better than 40mpg when touring.

A convincing sense of audible mechanical charm is all the M440i really lacks – which perhaps at first sounds like a trifling complaint when weighed against such objective might. But however hard it may be for today’s car makers to allow for such things, you expect to be able to hear a BMW straight six working away under the bonnet of a car like

this. But, for various reasons, you just can’t hear enough of it in this one.

The engine’s power delivery is brilliant in the way it blends ample, accessible turbocharged torque with crispness and linearity of pedal response right across the rev range. It seldom seems at all laggy or boosty and it spins beyond 6000rpm with the freedom and vigour of an atmospheric unit. Of course, it never bogs down at low revs, either. BMW quotes 4.5sec from rest to 62mph for the car. In our hands, on a slightly damp and chilly surface, it hit 60mph in just 4.1sec, which also speaks loudly and clearly of how little there is wrong with the speed of engagement of the torque converter or the efficacy of the four-wheel drive system.

The gearbox is at its best in giveand-take motoring when operating in one of its ‘sportier’ control regimes.

Thus, it sets its downshifts smartly and decisively after a deliberate throttle input, and if the car’s 48V

hybrid assistance adds anything to the performance, it may be to the improvement of that part-throttle, roll-on responsiveness, which is very good indeed. Unlike other modern autos, whose many ratios seem like an invitation to swap cogs almost at will, the M440i’s gearbox seldom seems hyperactive: it just grabs the right gear and knuckles right down.

There’s no escaping how synthesised the car’s audible driving experience sounds when you pay it close attention, though. It may be that BMW’s latest exhaust system and particulate trap have taken away what genuine mechanical charisma the B58 engine had left, or it may be that BMW has simply turned up the sound effects in an attempt to add more drama.

Whatever the cause, the M440i is left in a place where it will sound inoffensively sporty and authentic enough to those who aren’t paying much attention. However, those

who remember so many silken 328i engines over the years are very unlikely to be fooled.

H A N D L I N G A N D S TA B I L I T Y

AAAAB Uproar would probably have broken out in a room full of BMW drivers if told, 20 years ago, that the only way to buy a mid-sized coupé with ‘standard’ rear-wheel drive and a longways six-cylinder engine from their favourite firm would one day be to buy the M division version.

This 4 Series is the first BMW in its particular model lineage for which that statement is true. And yet it’s no sell-out. Although four-wheel drive is clearly part of the equation and has added mass to this car, it doesn’t particularly blunt the dynamic appeal, which, as you would expect, remains the defining selling point.

The M440i xDrive is just that little bit more level in its body control and keener in its handling responses than

 M440i’s four-wheel drive system adds mass but doesn’t dampen the engagement or appeal. The car is stable and sure-footed but also agile and adjustable in corners.

36 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

ROAD TEST Track notes Purposefulness, precision and verve bubble out of the M440i when it’s cornered quickly. A measured initial steering response prevents it from diving into bends, then good inherent balance and plenty of lateral grip keep your appointment with the apex and stop the car from washing too wide even when you feed in power.

As always, BMW offers fully enabled stability control, dynamic mode and full deactivation – and you don’t need to switch it off totally to be given the freedom to move the chassis around on the power.

The suspension works the contact patches evenly, and the drivetrain keeps torque at the rear wheels when you’re accelerating out of bends, only moving it forwards in any quantity when you’re beginning to blend attitude into the car.

Outright vertical body control just begins to come into question over the most testing crests and dips, but composure is quickly restored.

 Great balance and traction out of T2 make for as much speed as you dare carry around the next couple of bends.

 Compression after T4 causes lots of vertical body movement.

Adaptive dampers need a second bite at cancelling it but they manage eventually.

 Staggered wheels and level body control keep the chassis secure around off-camber bends, such as the Hill Route’s T1.

FINISH

an equivalent 3 Series, a car that is, let’s not forget, the best-handling executive model in its particular niche in any case.

Like all fast BMWs, this one majors on precision at first. And, sure enough, it trades on sure-footed stability and traction in circumstances where its predecessors might be shaking their hips more playfully. But it’s composed and compelling, inviting you to engage with the road in a way that few executive cars do. And, unlike other four-wheel-drive executive options, it actually feels rear driven: you can rotate and manipulate the chassis that little bit with power and interact with the handling on a fundamentally more interesting level than many modern cars allow.

That the 4 Series stops narrowly short of sports car-level agility, with its steering filtering more than a purer driver’s car would, may disappoint some. But that’s indicative of the broader dynamic brief that this

car must serve than any sports car would be expected to meet. Everyday, any-weather usability and effortless high-speed, long-distance touring stability should be any BMW coupé’s meat and drink. As they are here.

That’s largely thanks to this car’s suspension specification – particularly its adaptive dampers, without which other 4 Series we’ve tested have certainly felt firmer riding and less comfortable, as we’ll expand on in a moment. And yet it can also mix it with a frontengined sports car for grip, handling composure and driver involvement.

C O M F O R T A N D I S O L AT I O N

AAAAC Wider test experience suggests that adaptive M suspension may be crucial to the rolling comfort of the 4 Series. We’ve tested it before on BMW’s passive M Sport dampers and found its ride, both at lower speeds and on slightly uneven UK country

START roads, a little restive and excitable.

But the adaptively damped M440i tested here didn’t suffer with that problem – not, at least, on A- and B-roads, whose lumps and bumps were dealt with serenely enough.

A car such as this will always feel more at home on motorways, at higher speeds and when devouring distance, and this one is no exception.

Nevertheless, those who anticipate plenty of cross-country driving ought to go for the suspension upgrade if their budget allows.

Even if you do, you’ll find the car’s low-speed town ride slightly fussy.

It joggles its weight between either side of its axles in a way that would amount to head toss in a tallerprofiled car but, even so, it doesn’t quite pass unnoticed here.

The car’s ride isolation, on 19in wheels and run-flat tyres, is respectable but not outstanding.

There are more refined coupés out there for those who want them.

BUYING AND OWNING

AAAAC BMW has dangled the entry-level 420i M Sport temptingly just below £40,000. Even our generously endowed M440i xDrive marginally undercut its older Mercedes-Benz and Audi competitors on price. In light of some favourable forecast residual values, the BMW should be competitive on monthly finance.

The 4 Series’ standard equipment tally is marginally more generous than that of the 3 Series, but buyers should expect to spend extra on the optional M Sport Pro package (which is the only way to add those adaptive dampers, among other things, from £2300), as well as a few other items.

Wireless smartphone charging, premium audio and a head-up display are packaged neatly in the Technology package (£1900) but you can cherry-pick some of those items individually to save a few pounds. à

AC C E L E R AT I O N

30mph

40 50mph

1.6s 2.3s 3.1s

60mph

70mph

80mph

90mph

4.1s

5.3s

6.6s

8.1s

100mph

110mph

10.0s

0

120mph

12.2s

14.8s

10s

140mph

22.3s 20s

30mph 40mph

50mph

60mph

70mph

80mph

90mph

100mph

1.8s 2.6s

3.6s

4.6s

5.9s

7.5s

9.4s

11.5s

0

130mph

17.9s

110mph

120mph

14.2s

17.1s

10s

130mph

140mph

20.6s

25.3s

20s

B R A K I N G 60-0mph: 3.01sec 30mph-0

50mph-0

9.2m 0

10m

20m

30mph-0

49.6m 30m

40m

50mph-0

8.7m 0

70mph-0

25.8m

70mph-0

23.7m 10m

20m

46.9m 30m

40m

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 37

Data log

59 litres

T E C H N I C A L L AYO U T

Traditional BMW mechanical layout with a longways-mounted inline six-cylinder engine up front and an automatic gearbox immediately behind it. Clutch-based xDrive four-wheel drive system is natively rear drive and the M440i uses a torquevectoring active differential at the rear in addition. Weight on the scales was distributed 54% front, 46% rear.

POWER & TORQUE 500

500

Power output (bhp)

300

200

200

100

100

mph 2nd 20-40 1.6 30-50 1.6 40-60 – 50-70 – 60-80 – 70-90 – 80-100 – 90-110 – 100-120 – 120-140 – 140-160 – 160-180 – 180-200 –

TIME (sec) 1.6 2.3 3.1 4.1 5.3 6.6 8.1 10.0 12.2 14.8 17.9 22.3 28.1 –

3rd 2.4 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.5 – – – – – – – –

4th – 2.7 2.6 2.7 2.8 3.0 3.3 4.1 – – – – –

5th – 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.8 4.0 4.3 4.7 5.6 – – –

6th – – 4.8 4.9 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.9 6.4 7.0 6.6 – –

7th – – 6.3 6.2 6.6 7.0 7.6 8.3 8.9 10.1 – – –

8th – – – 9.5 10.0 10.1 10.6 12.2 14.5 19.7 – – –

0

2000

Engine (rpm) 4000 6000

0

8000

MAX SPEEDS IN GEAR 1 37mph 7000rpm 2 57mph 7000rpm 3 89mph 7000rpm 4 112mph 7000rpm 5 155mph 6414rpm 6 155mph 5627rpm 7 155mph 4614rpm 8 155mph* 3601rpm * claimed

Torque (lb ft)

AC C E L E R AT I O N I N G E A R

MPH 0-30 0-40 0-50 0-60 0-70 0-80 0-90 0-100 0-110 0-120 0-130 0-140 0-150 0-160

400

300

0

AC C E L E R AT I O N

369bhp at 5500-6500rpm

R E S I D UA L S 60

Mercedes-AMG C43 Premium Coupé 50

30 20 10 0 New

Audi S5 TDI quattro Edition 1 Coupé

1 year

2 years

3 years

4 years

 Newer BMW is tipped to outperform both of its key rivals for residual value, although the difference isn’t huge.

R OA D T E S T N o 5 5 0 5

38 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

BMW M440i xDrive Coupé

40 Value (£1000s)

369lb ft at 1900-5000rpm

400

ROAD TEST Testers’ notes MATT SAUNDERS I don’t like the way the needles for the instrument dials disappear in some driving modes. You won’t always want a digital speedo displayed and some cars won’t have the optional head-up display. More simple, readable dials would be very welcome.

RICHARD LANE Interesting that BMW elected to take the run-flats off the biggest-rimmed 3 Series derivatives but has left them on for the 4 Series.

Does that harm the drive? Well, the steering could be more feelsome and the ride just a bit quieter, although neither is a deal-breaker.

VERDICT

AAAAC

A rounded, engaging and potent coupé let down only by its looks

Spec advice

ou wonder if, now that it’s an established model line in its own right, the 4 Series could become too successful for its own good. When the last-generation version came along, rumours were rife of 3 Series owners trading up into four-door 4 Series Gran Coupés in big numbers. Some may do the same this time. But given the way this new 4 Series looks, and how BMW has omitted certain options from its powertrain armoury, that outcome looks less likely in 2021 than it was in 2013.

Whatever the motivating factors explaining the styling of this car, it would be a major injustice not to bear witness to its many and various objective qualities. The M440i is a car you could use every day of the year and enjoy on absolutely every journey. It is at once fast and engaging; stable and composed; long-legged and refined; and a rich and luxurious thing in which to travel.

More’s the pity, then, that it isn’t generally a bit more appealing to the senses – somewhat easier on the eye and sweeter and more charismatic to the ear in particular.

We rate this car – but we don’t like it as much as we might have.

Y

R OA D TEST R I VA L S

1

2

3

4

Have a 430i with the M Sport Pro and Technology packages. It’ll give you a potent reardrive coupé with the right suspension spec and a limited-slip diff, all for less than £50,000.

Jobs for the facelift  Find a way to get more real engine noise into the cabin.

A physical tube to the front bulkhead might be the best way to do it.  Drop the grille. Don’t tweak it. Don’t shrink it.

Just drop it.  Would a 445e, using the six-pot PHEV unit from the 5 Series, be possible?

5

Verdicts on every new car.

BMW M440i xDRIVE Strong chassis, powertrain and interior deliver class-leading status, even if we’re not sold on the looks.

AAAAC

MERCEDES-AMG C43 4MATIC EDITION COUPE Has every bit of the visual allure the BMW lacks. Powertrain is more rough-edged but likeable.

AAAAC

KIA STINGER GT-S All right, it’s a four-door; but given it looks this good, goes this well and costs so little, don’t overlook it.

AAAAC

LEXUS RC-F Brings enticing atmo V8 combustive appeal to the table for not much more than M440i cash. Heavy, but still tempting.

AAABC

AUDI S5 TDI QUATTRO COUPE Diesel lacks richness in this company. Lacks charm and handling balance of others, too.

Big on ownership appeal.

AAABC

Price Power, torque 0-62mph, top speed CO2, economy

£53,865 369bhp, 369lb ft 4.5sec, 155mph (governed) 176g/km, 36.2-36.7mpg

£55,175 385bhp, 384lb ft 4.7sec, 155mph (governed) 221g/km, 29.2mpg

£41,145 361bhp, 376lb ft 4.7sec, 168mph 233g/km, 27.7mpg

£62,940 457bhp, 384lb ft 4.5sec, 168mph 268g/km, 23.9mpg

£53,925 342bhp, 516lb ft 4.8sec, 155mph 180-184g/km, 39.8-40.9mpg

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 39

FEATURE

2021 Manila Auto Salon

The Queen of car shows is back!

W

hen the pandemic hit the country in the first quarter of last year, no one thought that it would take roughly two years before things got any better.

The events industry is one of the badly affected sectors in the country, which affected several happenings in the motoring industry.

Sure, the automotive

40 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

industry was able to adapt to the new normal.

For almost two years, new car models have been introduced through online events. But what we really miss are the tastefully built tuner cars showcased in one venue and could be ogled upon.

Good thing, the Manila Auto Salon is back.

Making its comeback worthwhile, some of the

biggest car shows in the Filipino car culture were held simultaneously.

Last November 11 to 14, 2021, the Manila Auto Salon, Trans Sport Show, and Sport Truck Show happened at the SMX SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

Getting bitten by the car bug at a very young age, I have been in countless car shows.

But visiting my first car

show after getting stuck indoors for almost two years was different. It felt new. It was like I was attending my first car show. I remember the excitement of seeing tuned cars once again.

It took me back to the Megatrade Hall days of the Auto Salon.

As a JDM fan myself, I was able to indulge in some exquisite

Japanese car builds in the country. Here are some bits of what was this year’s Manila Auto Salon. Of course, there were several GT-Rs. Two that stood out are the AMS Alpha-built 1400 horsepower GT-R and the Autoholic GT-R. The 2021 Manila Auto Salon is the first car show since the arrival of the most-awaited Toyota GR

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 41

Yaris in the Philippines.

As expected, the GR Yaris made its first appearance in the prestigious car show.

Two exhibits displayed units of the GR Yaris sporting modifications which made the hot hatch even more desirable. Like wine, 1990s Honda Civics get better with age.

Several EKs and EFs made it to the show.

One golden era Civic that caught people’s attention was the yellow K-swapped EK coupe which features quality aftermarket parts.

A handful of exotic sports cars also made the show even more stunning. A couple of McLarens, Porsches, Lamborghinis, and more were showcased for those with the exquisite taste. Aside from the tricked out rides, humongous off-roaders courtesy of the Sport Truck Show were also on display giving 4×4 fans

42 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

a treat of seeing modified SUVs and trucks up close.

Several Land Cruisers, Hilux, Rangers, and other purpose-built pickup and SUVs were showcased with various exhibits at the show. The recently launched Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series made its Manila Auto Salon Sport Truck Show debut in the form of an armored up specimen sporting a set of Black Rhino wheels.

The show welcomed not only tuner cars but auto brands as well.

Nissan Philippines put up an exhibit and displayed two of the fun-to-drive models in their lineup, the Nissan 370Z Nismo and the all-new Nissan Almera Turbo. The Autohub Group also exhibited its Shelby product line and showcased a Ford Mustang GT which sports a complete catalog of Shelby aftermarket parts. Isuzu Philippines Corporation also made an appearance at the

show with its all-new Isuzu D-Max rally truck displayed at the Philippine Rallycross Series exhibit. Fresh from its dirt time trial racing debut, the D-Max was showcased back-to-back with Debest Autofix’s 3SGE Beams-swapped BMW E36 rally car.

The past two years have been difficult for everyone. Though it took quite a while, still, it is great that we are finally here, car shows are here again. More than being an event where car enthusiasts were able to enjoy once again, this edition of the Manila Auto Salon meant much more. For car nuts, it is like we are finally nearing the end of the tunnel known as the coronavirus pandemic.

Hopefully, we make it through. For now, let us hope for the best and enjoy the local car culture with utmost care and consideration for everyone’s health safety.

ROAD TRIP

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 43

News, insight and opinion from the world of motor racing

M OTO R S P O RTS

44 AUTOCAR.COM.PH OCTOBER 2021

TOYOTAPH’S CAPS ACTIONPACKED 2021 GAZOO RACING VIOS CUP SEASON

he biggest racing series to happen during the pandemic recently had its seasonfinale. 49 racers gathered at the Clark International Speedway last Novemer 6 for the final leg of Toyota Motor Philippines’ (TMP) 2021 GAZOO Racing Vios Cup. Being one of the series to usher the return of motorsports in the country, the GR Vios Cup final races were packed with intense racing action along with new names emerging the top spots.

“Today marks another milestone for the country’s premier motorsports program. We are at the homestretch — the final leg of this year’s races,” TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto said during the opening program “We have championed over many obstacles to bring the TGR Vios Cup back.

And we couldn’t have done this without all of you. On behalf of Toyota Motor Philippines and

T

all our partners, I would like to thank you for your continued support and participation this season,” he continued.

Like previous races in this season, the final Vios Cup leg comprises of three Circuit Championship races with three race classes battling in each race – Super Sporting, Sporting, and Promotional classes.

Also, the Autocross

Challenge which tested the media, celebrities, and influencers into race against time was held during the weekend.

For the Circuit Championship, heat of the competition was taken to a notch higher with double points at stake for the final two races of the season. Racers who needed catching up in the points standings gave it their all as those on the

top of the competition try to secure their spot in the championship.

Starting the weekend with a competitive stride, Jiro Garbes, Jacob Ang, and Pauland Dumlao are the top podium placers in their respective race classes for Race 7.

Racers pushed the limit of grip, with Team Asiatel – OTR Racing Team racer, Jason Lao grabbing the win for the Promotional

class, Jose Altoveros ultimately bested the other racers, followed by Enzo Delos Reyes and Paolo De Borja as the second and third placers.

Motorsports enthusiasts shared in the excitement over livestream. After

hitting the brakes in 2020 because of the pandemic, Toyota’s big return to the race tracks reaffirms the company’s waku-doki spirit. Watch out for the Vios Cup’s next heartpumping season for even more engine-revving

excitement. Catch the action again during the final leg of this year’s Vios Cup on TMP’s official Facebook and YouTube channels – Toyota Motor Philippines and Toyota Gazoo Racing PH. The TOYOTA GAZOO

Racing Vios Cup 2021 was organized in cooperation with Bridgestone, official fuel partner Petron, supported by Motul.

Other sponsors are Brembo, Denso, AVT, 3M, OMP, Tuason Racing and ROTA.

GETTY IMAGES

Class for Race 8.

Meanwhile, Eagle Cement Racing Team racer Jacob Ang dominated the Sporting Class while Pauland Dumlao took the top podium spot again for the Super Sporting Class.

Racers Troy Montero, Joaquin Garrido, and Estefano Rivera took the spotlight in their respective classes for the final race of the season.

The thrill continued in the Autocross Challenge with a higher difficulty level during the final run.

Racers had to bring their A game maneuvering through more obstacles compared to the previous legs while tackling a different area of the track.

The match concluded with social media personality Jules Aquino claiming the championship title in the Celebrities and Influencers class, with Arron Villaflor and Lexi Mendiola following as second and third placers, respectively. In the Media

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 45

THE TEST OF TIME

Even after we set 13 EV endurance records in the new Taycan, it has some way to go to match the 911’s legendary staying power.

Andrew Frankel compares the traditional and modern Porsche PHOTOGRAPHY LUC LACEY

46 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

911 vs TAYCAN COMPARISON t was over a year ago that I first suggested to the editor the idea behind this test. It was to pitch the most analogue version of Porsche’s most traditional offering against its most modern. This was more than just petrol versus electric, it was analogue versus digital, a rear-drive car with an internal combustion engine and a manual gearbox lobbed at an allelectric four-wheel-drive technology showcase without so much as a flappy paddle to cover its modesty.

But then various things happened, a global pandemic among them.

Porsche also found itself flat out just satisfying demand for two-pedal 911s and then, when the manual did come on stream, they all went to the US, which is by far the biggest market for

I

such cars. And finally, when threepedal 992s made their way over here, Porsche thought it best to get its cars to its most loyal and patient customers first and onto its press fleet second.

Which is probably fair enough.

You may also look at their relative specifications and wonder why we bothered. After all, one has four doors and the other just two. The Taycan is getting on for half a metre longer (almost all in the wheelbase), more than 10cm wider, nearly 8cm higher and, get this, 740kg heavier. There are entire cars that weigh less than that. Should we not be putting it up against something else instead, like a Panamera?

Well, maybe, and perhaps one day we will. But today this isn’t so much a comparison of cars as concepts. It is, I think, now broadly accepted à

Manual 911 is geared for the purists

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 47

911 vs TAYCAN COMPARISON

❝ It’s all a hack can do not to resort to hoary old clichés about man and machine in perfect harmony ❞

Do you like the look of the Taycan’s 21in Exclusive Design wheels with their carbonfibre aeroblades? You’re going to need to: they’re £5636 per set.

Sense of speed and agility belies both the EV’s size and weight ß that, rightly or wrongly and for good or ill, electric cars like the Taycan will replace pure ICE cars like the 911 and, in the context of the history of the automobile, not long from now. So how much further does the finest of the new breed still have to be before it’s just a better option for most people most of the time than the best that the traditional approach has been able to yield? In short, can revolution eclipse evolution?

There’s another reason they’re here: road testers tend to think in quite binary ways before putting one car up against another; customers

In one respect, the Taycan has a digital dash with knobs on

don’t. I recently had a conversation with someone who couldn’t decide whether to get a new Range Rover or a second-hand McLaren. And I’d bet plenty that there are long-term 911 lovers out there who, for reasons of tax efficiency, a growing family or concern for the environment or their personal image, are right now wondering whether now is not the right time to trade in their rearengine flat-six coupé for something a bit more spacious, refined, environmentally aware, cool and, well, electric. Bear in mind how close they are in price and performance –

especially once you’ve added the essential Performance Battery Plus to the cost of the Taycan 4S – and suddenly what we’re doing here may not seem so strange after all.

I drove the 911 first because I wanted that grounding, an absolute datum point on where the world’s greatest sports car is in 2021 before tackling the Taycan.

And it’s in a very good place. Now that it can be had with manual gears, pretty much the only diversion from the purist’s perfect car wishlist are the two turbochargers attached to

its 444bhp, 3.0-litre engine. But so little is the lag, so smooth the power progression, so sharp the throttle response and so great the sound that I’d challenge anyone to tell me those two puffers don’t actually add to the driving experience.

Even though some say it has become too large, that’s not how the 911 feels within. That intimate driving environment has been preserved, my only significant complaint being that the now (almost) entirely digital dashboard doesn’t suit the character of the car. I’ve driven enough of them sufficiently far on ample occasions to know that if I were to come around to that way of thinking, I’d have done so by now. It looks as out of place here as would a suite of mechanical clocks in the Taycan.

But the rest remains breathtaking, and this is a very standard 911. Save a 10mm suspension drop (£665), there’s nothing on this car to aid it dynamically – no ceramic brakes, active roll bars or four-wheel steering – nor does it need any of it. Drive it hard on a decent road and you à

NOVEMBER 2021 AUTOCAR.COM.PH 49

ß will find a car that’s so intuitive to operate, so well bolted to the road surface, that it’s all a hack can do not to resort to hoary old clichés about man and machine in perfect harmony. So I’ll put it this way: where so many set out to impress their drivers, the 911 seeks only to involve them, which is a far more precious and special commodity. It’s why, as we progress in what some may regard as the wrong direction, we drivers grow closer to it instead of becoming more estranged.

And it does it at all speeds: the 992’s greatest trick is to engage the driver from the outset, something the standard 991 never quite managed to do. And manual gears serve only to provide further immersion into its world. Would I swap them for a PDK? I would not.

But when it comes to trickery, the 911 is a kid bought a Harry Potter wand for Christmas, while the Taycan appears to be the love child of David Blaine and Harry Houdini. Whatever the 911 does with whatever it has with which to do it, the Taycan is more remarkable by far.

The first trick is to convince you that it’s more powerful than it is.

The headline says 563bhp, but in fact that’s only briefly available during a launch control start and then only if you’ve spent the extra on the big

battery. In normal use, a standard Taycan 4S has 429bhp, less even than the 911. The second trick is it still doesn’t feel that way. Naturally, all performance figures are recorded using launch control – so with 88bhp more than is usually available even with the big battery – yet that 4.0sec 0-62mph dash feels entirely plausible.

And remember this is the slowest of the three Taycans on sale.

The reason why actually has less to do with power and more to do with torque or, more specifically, torque delivery, which is instantaneous. So while its real-world power-to-weight ratio isn’t in the same street as that of the 911 (218bhp per tonne versus fully 300bhp per tonne), up to speeds that don’t directly threaten your licence or liberty, you would swear the Taycan were as fast.

911’s ability to engage is the greatest trick in either car’s repertoire The manual 992’s seven speeds seem too many.

The shift quality is good, but the six-speeder in the 991 GT3 (and current 718 Boxster/Cayman) is even better.

But it’s cleverer than that. Way more clever, in fact. It doesn’t just seem faster than it is but smaller and lighter, too, and that’s a far harder trick to pull off. Now, this Taycan did have £1650 worth of rear-wheel steering to ameliorate the worst aspects of its vast, near-three-metre wheelbase, but that alone can’t explain how it feels so agile and accurate, so keen to change direction, so responsive in your hands. At times, it doesn’t even feel like magic but something closer to witchcraft. It will sit on the 911’s tail quietly and happily and require a fraction of the effort from the driver to do it. You imagine the 911 driver managing the revs, endlessly stirring that stick, toiling away while you sit there relaxing in the silence, allowing

50 AUTOCAR.COM.PH NOVEMBER 2021

911 vs TAYCAN COMPARISON Porsche 911 Carrera S RATING On sale Price Engine

1st

The best ’standard’ 911 in at least 15 years, made all the better by the addition of a third pedal.

Power Torque Gearbox Kerb weight 0-62mph Top speed Battery Econ’y/range CO2, tax band

2nd

Porsche Taycan 4S AAAAA Now £88,193 (Performance Battery Plus) Two AC permanent magnet synchronous motors 483bhp (563bhp on overboost) 479lb ft (overboost) 2-spd automatic 2220kg 4.0sec 155mph 93.4kWh (gross), 83.7kWh (usable), Performance Battery Plus, lithium ion 288 miles (Performance Battery Plus) 0g/km, 0%

The world’s best electric car by a distance but, for driving pleasure, still no match for a 911.

a thin smile to spread across your face at the thought.

And the only problem with that is the ear-to-ear grin on the face of the person driving the 911. The Taycan may be as quick, it may be able to pull the same amount of g-force in a corner while, remember, accommodating four average-sized adults in adequate comfort, even if the boot is too small for their luggage. What it can’t do to remotely the same extent is that small but crucial thing we talked about earlier: involve the driver. And the magic works only up to a point. I’ve noted that the 992’s singular skill is to involve from the outset, but it just keeps on getting better all the way to the limit.

By contrast, the Taycan is never as involving as the 911 at any stage, and once you really start to boss it

along, it starts to show its size and weight just a bit.

The point is that even were that not the case, the 911 would remain the clear choice for all those who love to drive. The Taycan is better than the bare numbers (especially that 2220kg weight figure) would ever suggest, and it is in many ways the more impressive achievement as a result. It’s the world’s greatest electric car by a mile and the cleverest automotive conjuring trick on sale today. I more than admire and respect the Taycan; I really like it, too. For many people for whom charging is not an issue, it might well prove the better bet. Just don’t for one minute allow all of that to let you escape with the idea that, as a thing to drive, it’s some kind of post-modern 911.

It’s not, and it never could be. L

C O U L D T H E 9 11 E V E R G O E L E C T R I C? Not any time soon, if Porsche sports cars line director and therefore the current ‘Mr 911’, Frank-Steffen Walliser, has anything to do with it.

“The 911 will be the last Porsche to become electric,” he told me last year, “coming hopefully after my retirement so I’m not responsible any more and no one can blame me… I will fight to let the 911 keep its engine.”

Even a plug-in hybrid 911 seems some distance away, meaning the 911 will cling to its much-loved but increasingly old-fashioned technology for a while yet. Although the current 992 series is known to be capable of becoming a hybrid, Walliser isn’t keen on the inevitable

side effects, including the effect on the car’s weight and luggage capacity and even its shape.

“If you wanted to make such a car, it would be easier to make a completely new car,” he said.

Given the 992 was introduced only in 2019, that suggests a hybrid is unlikely before 2026 at the earliest.

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