Motoring BusinessMirror
E4 Friday, October 11, 2019
A new spin from Michelin; Toyota taps student power
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EW YORK CITY—This city doesn’t sleep? That was before. It sleeps a lot now. Blame it on 9/11, if you know what I mean. Anyway, sleep or no sleep, I’m still here. I won’t leave till I’m done watching Beautiful or Hadestown on Broadway. Meanwhile, I need to keep my promise to Tessa Jazmines, my dearest fr iend from way, way back. I missed her Michelin pressy a while back and so, I penalize myself. Here, Tessa dear, printed in toto: “Mic hel in, t he world ’s leading t ire company, unvei led t he Mic hel in Energ y X M2+ w it h
the tagline: ‘ Your Stopping Super power’ at t he Ma ni l a Polo C lub recent ly. “Targeting young and budgetconscious consumers looking for tires with safety and performance that last, the Michelin Energy XM2+ is the ideal fitment for small- and midsize passenger cars. Developed to outperform its previous generation in wet braking, the Michelin Energy XM2+ offers ultimate safety—both when new, and throughout its useful life.”
Michael Nunag, Michelin chief representative to the Philippines, revealed that: “The Michelin Energy XM2+ improves, in various aspects, on its predecessor—the Michelin Energy XM2, which has been a leading mass-market tire for 8 consecutive years. Its performance is made to last. Also, the tire’s ‘Stopping Superpower’ is preserved at a high level, even when the tire has been used for a long time. As its advertising campaign goes, Michelin Energy XM2+ is a Stopping Superpower, keeping consumers safe and confident on the road, time after time.” Nu nag e x pl a ined t hat t he Michelin Energ y X M2+, w ith a new f u l l-silica r ubber compound, prov ides shor ter wet bra k ing distances by 1.5 meters when new, and by 2.6 meters when wor n, compared to the average of other premium tire manufacturers. T he tire a lso offers longer mileage that out l a sts ot her prem iu m t ire manufacturers by 25 percent. Nunag added: “ The ‘+’ sign on the sidewall denotes the rubber compound upgrade that is behind the braking superiority of the Michelin Energ y XM2+
v e r s u s it s p re d e c e s s or. T he tire also maintains the Green ‘X’ marking of its predecessor, indicating optimized fuel savings. We hope the combination of enhanced safety and superior value-for-money will particularly appeal to the younger consumers.” The new Michelin Energy XM2+ is now available at Michelin’s authorized dealers across the nation in 36 sizes, from 14- to 16-inch diameter. For more information, please visit www.Michelin.com.ph. Wet braking test 80 to 0 kph, conducted by TU V R heinland Thailand Ltd. (an independent 3rd party), on Michelin’s request, in November 2018 at Nongnooch Garden Chonburi, Thailand, on dimension 205/55R16 on Toyota Altis. Comparing new and worn Michelin Energy XM2+ versus four other brands of tires (figures represent the average of four other premium brands). Reference: TUV Rheinland Thailand Ltd., Technical Report 1203058671 001 and 002. Worn condition: tires tested at 2 mm remaining tread depth. Longevity test conducted by China Automotive Technology and Reseach Center Co. Ltd. (CATARC)
(an independent 3rd party), on Michelin’s request, in September 2018 in Tianjin, China, on dimension 205/55 R16 91V on VolksWagen GOLF7 comparing Michelin Energy XM2+ versus Premium Competitors (figures represent the average of five other premium brands). Longevity test run in average real usage with 20,000-km run and estimated longevity at the depth of Tread Wear Indicator.
Toyota student competition
“WHAT we’re doing here is a preview of what we’re going to do in the professional world,” said Judith Mae del Valle, a Marketing Management major from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), Antipolo City. Judith is in a team entered in the first Toyota Young Marketeers Challenge (TYMC), which aims to extract creativity, innovation and an effective marketing campaign for the Toyota Vios. “We launched TYMC to provide college and university students a learning opportunity beyond the classroom,” said Cristina Arevalo, first vice president for Brand and Product Planning of TMP. Elvin “Hayes” Luciano, the
TMP point-man for the project, said the TYMC targets the future of marketing hopefuls from our student ranks. Students are to be brought to TMP’s plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna, for immersion and study of Vios’s actual production. Student Ronald Calaingan said: “The Vios is the best in the market right now but it doesn’t mean that it couldn’t get better.” From Elijah Francois Corea of UST ’s Junior Marketing Association: “ This is a great opportunity for learning and sharing our knowledge to our fellow marketing students.” The winners will receive prizes in kind and cash as well, capped by a trip to Japan-Toyota. The winning piece will be used as a marketing Toyota campaign. “To win it would be a great honor, indeed,” said Solbi Lee of DLS-CSB Manila.
PEE STOP Was it in 2004 when I
was here the last time? I stayed for, maybe, a week after flying in from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I covered the World Team Golf Championship. Indeed, the big apple hasn’t lost its charm.
SPARCO PRODUCTS AT BLADE
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EGARDED as the country’s largest automotive accessories retail chain with 58 stores nationwide, Blade has carved a respectable niche in the aftermarket industry with its extensive line of affordable
automotive accessories and car care products that ranges from car audio-video down to air fresheners and wheels. Among their popular brands is Italian brand Sparco, an Italian auto part and accessory company headquartered in Volpiano, Turin, Italy, that specializes in producing items, such as seats, steering wheels, harnesses, racewear and helmets. In the Philippines, Blade is the distributor for Sparco’s lifestyle products such as seat covers and floor mats. Sparco floor mats are easy to clean and made from a non-skid backing material and designed to universally fit
most cars and AUV’s. For brands such as Sparco, OMP and Goodyear, Blade caters to the consumer line of automotive products, such as air compressors, seat belt pads and car floor mats. They also offer a complete line of car care products, such as Blade signature products Sonax, Mother’s, Meguiar’s and Wurth among others. Blade Auto Center’s line of car accessories and gadgets are reasonably priced due to its high purchase volume. Their automotive lifestyle stores are located in SM, Ayala and Robinson’s Malls nationwide.
DAF TRUCK WINS CZECH AWARD
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AF Trucks’ LF series has been crowned “Top Light Truck of the Year” in the Czech Republic. Operators and drivers together identified the DAF LF as their favorite distribution truck thanks to its “excellent design, view and extraordinarily low operating costs.” In addition, the DAF CF Construction was awarded as the “Top Construction Truck of the Year” for its “robustness, high payloads and low operating costs.” The Top Czech Transport 2019 Awards is an initiative from magazine Transport a Logistika and the three Czech transport associations ČESMAD Bohemia, Svaz Spedice a Logistiky ČR en Česká Logistická Asociace. Michal
Štengl, editor in chief of the Transport a Logistika magazine and chairman of the jury said, “DAF has convinced customers that it builds the best tractors on the market. With the LF series and the CF Construction it proves its leading position in other segments, as well.”
‘LF has best package in the segment’
“THE DAF LF provides the best overall package in the segment of medium duty trucks designed for urban distribution and municipal services,” said Štengl; adding that, “It offers an excellent view from the cabin, the smallest turning circle in the market and adds a sturdy design with rugged steel bumpers. The
wide range of extremely efficient power trains and its high payload make the LF ideal for literally any application.”
‘CF Construction is ready to face every challenge’
“THE Czech industry has a clear unanimous opinion on who the winner is in the segment of construction vehicles,” Štengl said. “The CF Construction is sturdy and ready to face any challenge of operation under tough conditions, while being extremely light and offering high payloads at the same time. New technologies and powerful drivelines, together with extraordinary levels of axle articulation, ensure excellent off-road driving characteristics,” concluded Štengl.
‘Valuable recognition from the market’
“IT is unique to win no less than two Top Truck of the Year awards at the same time, “commented Richard Zink, director for Marketing & Sales and member of the Board of Management at DAF Trucks. “That makes us feel extra proud. The accolades are a valuable recognition from a comprehensive group of Czech experts and underline that our light, rigid and construction trucks are of the same high level of our award-winning tractors: highly efficient, extremely reliable and very comfortable.” Visit their showroom at 341 G. Araneta Avenue, Quezon City, 1100 Metro Manila.
HONDA ROLLS OUT THE ALL-NEW ACCORD Continued from E1
The new power plant is mated to a Continuously variable transmission (CVT) developed based on Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology. In order to further enhance driving dynamics, Sport mode has been programed enhance both throttle and steering responses. Together with paddle shifters, the driver now has better control over gearbox operation and power delivery. Meanwhile, Honda’s Eco Assist System, which consists of the Econ mode and Eco-Coaching Ambient Light, is still
available to help encourage drivers achieve fuel-efficient driving.
Introducing Honda Sensing THE all-new Accord now comes standard with the latest Honda Sensing. Using cutting-edge sensing technologies, this new system aids the driver in preventing, as well as effectively respond, to dangerous driving situations. Honda’s suite of driver assistive features provides an array of advanced safety features, such as Collision Mitigation Braking System
(CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) and Auto High Beam. How Honda Sensing works is that it receives information from two different devices— millimeter-wave radar at the front bumper and a monocular camera mounted inside the upper windshield. Both devices work simultaneously to monitor and assess various conditions, while providing feedback to the driver to prevent collisions. Other
standard safety features are six air bags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), AntiLock Braking System (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), Emergency Stop Signal, front and rear parking sensors, multiview reverse camera w/ guidelines, Lane-Watch Camera and Straight Drive Assist. The all-new Accord EL Turbo CVT with Honda Sensing is priced at P2.288 million. It comes in Platinum White Pearl, Crystal Black and Modern Steel Metallic colors.