Voting for Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards Starts

The annual polls to find out "the most preferred and most popular automobiles and motorcycles in the country" officially start on February 17, 2007.

The 2007 Auto Focus Automobile & Motorcycle of the Year – People’s Choice Awards shall be launched this Saturday at seven o’clock in the evening at the Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City.

Expected to converge at the Entertainment Center of the foremost shopping mall south of the metro are top executives and associates of all the players in the country’s automotive industry and its peripheral sectors.

Highlight of the launch would be the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon leading to a mini audio-visual display of all the current models of automobiles and motorcycles available in the country that shall be voted upon by the public. Together with the pictures and video of the automobile and motorcycle models are all their technical specs.

The "people’s choice awards" and the attendant "grand display and test drive", were conceived with the end view of helping the industry give its consumers a more educated choice before buying their vehicles. In the same token, the consumers are empowered to vote for the vehicles of their choice or preference without necessarily actually making a purchase, a most valuable information for the manufacturers and distributors. The two-way exercise is envisioned to produce a level of communication that would lead to better products and services.

Aside from pinpointing their choice of what should be the automobile of the year, the public can also vote for their preferred vehicle in each category. The results determine the most preferred sedan, SUV, pick up or van in all their sub categories like sub-compact, compact, medium, large, etc., and ultimately the "most popular" automobile among all the current 2007 models. The same is done for all motorcycle models commercially available in the country presently.

Aside from seeing the mini audio visual display of all the current models of automobiles and motorcycles to vote on at the Alabang Town Center this Saturday, a "mall tour" would give the public a chance to see it at the SM Megamall, at the newly opened Mall of Asia and at the recently opened The Block of SM North EDSA. On February 22 the mini audio visual display will be at the SM Megamall while the other schedules shall be announced later.

Public voting can be done either "on line" through the internet or "on site". Cyberspace surfers can vote by logging on the Auto Focus Website (www.autofocus.com.ph). "On site" voting can be done at the malls where the audio visual displays are scheduled or during the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards Grand Display and Test Drive at the World Trade Center scheduled from May 24 to 27.

It was at the grounds of The Fort at the Global City where the first two years of staging the Auto Focus Automotive Display and Test Drive were held. However, upon suggestions from industry leaders, this was moved to an indoor venue this year. In the forefront of the list of exhibitors are Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, Honda Cars Philippines, Incorporated, Suzuki Philippines Corporation, Isuzu Philippines Corporation, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc., Motor Image Pilipinas (Subaru) and Ford Group Philippines. The country’s newly forming "after market" sector has also decided to have its presence in the automotive exhibition together with other industries peripheral to the auto sector.

During the Auto Focus Grand Display and Test Drive, many manufacturers are also expected to display some of their current models "fully dressed up and accessorized", which the public would also vote on a separate category for "best dressed" model. This is aside from the privateers car show where the "people’s choice awards" would also be bestowed on different categories among automobiles of different brands and year models.

Those that have business interests (products or services) related to the motoring industry (automobiles & motorcycles) are invited to join in this very comprehensive automotive exhibition scheduled from May 24 to May 27 at the World Trade Center, which is expected to draw crowds not only composed of automobile and motorcycle enthusiasts but also the motoring public as well. You may contact the organizers, STV, Sunshine Television at 633-44-22 or at their offices at Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City.

See better and drive safer

What used to be considered as just an aesthetic accessory for its novelty, HiD or High Intensity Discharge bulbs is now considered a standard safety feature by many automobile owners and most manufacturers. Now, to provide better comfort and service to its clients, Hummer Philippines, exclusive distributor of Xenon-Bulbs, highest quality brand of HiD bulbs, has refurbished its showroom along Araneta Avenue, Quezon City.

"I feel that it is time to give back to our loyal customers. With this showroom, clients can enjoy the air-conditioned confines and watch their favorite movie or read in our comfortable lounge," said Mr. Benedict Go, head honcho of Hummer Philippines during the blessing of the showroom that houses not its various line of HiD bulbs but also OEM Spec headlight and tail light clusters for European sedans, Sebring high performance exhaust systems and Smart bikes.

"There are a lot of lighting products currently being sold in the market and being passed off as Xenon Bulbs. These imitation bulbs are cheaper but they wear out easily and carry no warranty. Our packaging alone reflects the quality of our products," adds the young Benedict, an active member of a group of young entrepreneurs engaged in high quality "after sales" products that their motoring media friends refer to as the "after market mafia".

Trucks have Eco runs too

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) has made February 22, Thursday as a "red letter" day for their Isuzu Eco Transport Seminar.

Using the Isuzu N-Series trucks, a fuel economy run complete with "technical training" is slated at the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC) the whole day culminating in an Award’s Night for those registering the best fuel performance.

A Technical Overview shall made by Mr. Heinrich Lim, an IPC trainor to be followed by runs using normal driving habits and with fuel economy applications.

The Isuzu trucks have been bannered not only to have the best diesel engines but also as fuel misers. This is the best opportunity for IPC to prove their detractors wrong.

Motoring Tip of the Week

The best way to determine if your vehicle has fluid leaks and what the fluid may be is to first clean the flooring of your garage – spotless if possible. The next step is to put old but clean and dry newspapers spread in the flooring right under your vehicle as soon as you drive it inside your garage. You can now collect the newspaper that you laid out the day after and see if there are fluid marks. If there are marks then there is a leak. You can ask someone who knows to find out the kind of fluid that’s leaking by how the fluid marks smell.

Happy Motoring!!!

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