Perhaps women and cars really combine best

Known astute business tycoon Jose “Pepito” Alvarez, in all his machismo, uncharacteristically displayed his firm belief in women power by recently appointing not one but two women to head his two leading automotive companies.

In a short but fitting announcement to the country’s motoring media at the Manila Polo Club last Monday morning, February 21, the local auto industry pioneer and recognized pillar announced the retirement of industry veterans Felix J. Mabilog, Jr. as president of Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC) and Bobby Rosales as president of Asian Carmakers Corporation (ACC) after long and fruitful years of service not only to their respective companies but also to the country’s auto industry as a whole.

Designated to fill the large shoes of these two distinguished auto industry veterans who, in their own rights, have contributed greatly to the betterment of the local automotive industry were Ginia Domingo as president of CAC and Maricar Parco as president of ACC.

But of course these two ladies are definitely not novices in the business of selling automobiles. Ginia started with Toyota in 1989 as a marketing assistant, then moved to General Motors Philippines and then to Ford Group Philippines where she was vice president for marketing when she left to take on the challenge of heading CAC.

Maricar for her part started similarly as a marketing assistant with Honda Cars Philippines, then moved to Ford Group Philippines, then to Prestige Cars (BMW Dealership) before finally being taken in at ACC where she was vice president for marketing before her designation as president of the exclusive distributors of BMW in the country, ACC.

I sorrily missed this formal changing of the guards, with apologies to our good friend Pepito and of course also to Felix and Bobby and likewise to Ginia and Maricar due to some continuing previous commitment. However, Sunshine TV’s production manager Jenny Bleza had an on-cam interview with the chairman himself of the two companies, Mr. Alvarez who made known his move of letting women, who he considers as also as persevering and would like to get the work done, like their male counterparts, to run his automobile business while he takes the men in his organizations to join him in his Cassava farming and Ethanol processing ventures.

Many in the motoring media were caught unawares by the move, not to doubt the capability of the two ladies who are young but already have considerably well-rounded exposure to the business and experience of managing it but of the radical shift of gender leadership. In jest some were saying that this could be in line with the belief of having more is better or “if they have one, I have two”.

Whatever, our congratulations to our good friends Maricar and Ginia (they are no strangers to the motoring media, if that’s a plus) and all the best as you face this new chapter in your life.

More powerful Mitsubishi models

Invited members of the motoring media trooped to Clark last Thursday and Friday for the Media Launch and hands-on experience of the new upgraded offerings of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines.

The twin launch was that of the upgraded and more powerful versions of its best selling Sport Utility Vehicle, the Montero Sport as well as it very popular Double Cab Pick-up, the Strada.

The new Montero Sport, in both variants of GTV 4x4 AT and the GLS 4x2 AT, is now powered by 2.5 liter 4 In-Line DOHC 16-valve with Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) and Intercooler 4D56 Common Rail diesel engine that produces horsepower rating of 178 Ps/4000 rpm and 350Nm of maximum torque @ 1800 to 3500 rpm.

The Strada, similarly with two new variants – the 2.5 GLX-V 4x2 AT and the 2.5 GLS Sport-V 4x4 AT and with almost the same engine specifications that produces the same power as well as torque.

The motoring media had a grand time trying out the new Montero Sport variants at the Clark International Speedway with the GTV 4x4 now equipped with 5-speed INVECS-II automatic transmission with Sportronic mode and newly complemented with Magnesium Alloy paddle shifters. Several driving challenges were designed by the group of George Apacible and Pepon Marave, which they say would further bring out all the superb driving attributes of the Montero Sport with generous prizes given to the winners.

Froy Dytianquin, vice president for marketing services of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines expressed his confidence that the Montero Sport’s continued success would not only be maintained with the upgrades but would even further break sales records considering that the Montero Sport has all what a customer would like in an SUV, “…like the Super Select 4WD system, the same type found in the current Pajero, which lets the driver switch from 2WD to high-range 4WD even at speeds up to 100 km/hr – and back at any speed with just the movement of the lever. There’s also the excellent riding comfort of the Montero Sport that’s made possible by its front double wishbones with coil springs and a rear 3-link coil suspension with a long trailing arm design with both ends fitted with stabilizer bars to reduce body roll during cornering.” The jolly and ever-friendly friendly MMPC executive adds, “Proof of customer satisfaction is the phenomenal sales that it has registered since it was first introduced in the local market. Not mentioning its global success.”

The introductory price of the new Montero Sport 2.5 GTV is P1,688,000 and for the GLS-V variant is at P1,408,000 while the suggested retail price for the Strada GLX-V 4x2 AT is P1,030,000 and for the top of the line Strada GLS Sport 2.5 V 4x4 AT is P1,295,000.

Of course, it’s best to see these models up close and with a test drive to boot at any of the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines dealerships located all over the country.

It was short and sweet

That was how the launch of the BMW X3 was described by many in the motoring media, many of whom have seen almost all kinds of auto launches in their careers – “short and sweet but effective”.

The BMW X3, was launched last February 10 at the rooftop of the Ayala Steel Parking Area located right behind Rustan’s, unknowingly for many, the last event or appearance of our good friend Bobby Rosales as president of the evening’s hosts, Asian Carmakers Corporation (CAC), official distributors of BMW in the Philippines.

The presentation was unique as Bobby together with then vice president for marketing Maricar Parco, who’s now president, appeared between snippets of classic movies starring movie icons (in sepia too) as they extolled the attributes and features of the BMW X3.

Here are some of the BMW X3’s specs:

• Straight 4-cylinder 2-liter diesel engine with aluminum crankcase, turbocharger and common rail direct injection.

• Max Output – 135kW / 184bhp @ 4,000 rpm

• Max Torque – 380 Nm from 1,750 – 2,750 rpm

• Acceleration – 0-100 km/hr in 8.5 seconds

• Top Speed – 210 km/hr

• Average fuel consumption – 5.6 ltr/100km

The BMW X3 is now available at all BMW showrooms with an introductory price of P4.490M.

Selfless show of support

There are no competitors when it comes to promoting the universal concern for road safety.

This was proven by the support for the Young Street Smarts Club Road Safety School Tour (free seminars/workshops that we conduct in schools to make students become safe and responsible road users of the present and the future) by four of the keenly competing high end vehicle distributors in the country, namely, (alphabetical order) Asian Carmakers Corporation-distributors of BMW, CATS Motors-distributors of Mercedes-Benz/Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge and PGA Cars-distributors of Audi and Porsche.  

There are no borders for the promotion of road safety and I doff my hat to my friends Bobby Rosales, Maricar Parco, Felix Ang, Greg Yu and Robert Coyiuto, Jr. and his sons, Robert III and Benedicto. All these guys just gave their support without blinking when they were told that it’s a project that would help keep our children safe while on the road and help reduce road accidents by teaching the youth how to become safe and responsible road users.

Happy Motoring!!!

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