The 2015 Manila International Auto Show is bigger than ever. Even from the first day of the event, there were already a truckload of attendees in the event floor. While the number of people could be caused by the government declaring April 9 a holiday, it nevertheless will boost MIAS’s annual number of attendees. A fresh breath of air in the show is that, before, you either had Ford, and then the rest. Ford has occupied the largest floor space for a long period of time now. Now though, the exhibitors are Ford, Mazda, and then the rest. This year, both Mazda and Ford occupied the largest floor space, and for a good reason. Mazda revealed the most number of new products out of all the brands in the show. The all-new Mazda 2, the facelifted Mazda 6, now with a wagon body style, the facelifted Mazda CX-5, and the ASEAN debut of the all-new Mazda MX-5, were all revealed at the show. For now, there are 4 variants (3 sedans and 1 hatchback) of the Mazda 2, but this will be followed suit by a 1.5 S, 1.5 R and 1.5 R Speed variants, all in hatchback form. Since Mazda had the most number of launches, let’s talk about the zoom-zoom brand first.
Mazda
Mazda’s 2015 collection has been revealed in a beautifully designed show floor, and equally stunning are the newly revamped line-up from the zoom-zoom brand. Further soldiering on as a brand that is keen on design, the launching of the 2015 Mazda collection was hosted by the current model mentor and co-host of the 2015 season of Asia’s Next Top Model, Joey Mead-King. Making their speeches are Berjaya Auto Philippines’s very own Steven Tan, Mazda Executive Officer, Hiroshi Inoue, and Mazda 2 Program Manager, Minoru Takata. Part of his announcement was that the Mazda 2 is will only be available with a 1.5 liter SkyActiv-G petrol engine, equipped solely to a 6-Speed automatic, but the 1.5 liter engine is more fuel efficient than the 1.3 liter it also replaces. Once the stylishly-designed 2015 Mazda line-up, a fashion show featuring the latest designs inspired by Mazda’s Kodo design language were shown to the public. The clothing line was designed one of the Philippines’s top fashion designers, Mark Bumgarner, and the runway models of the show are the current model competitors of the 2015 season of Asia’s Next Top Model. Lastly, Maggie Wilson is the last supermodel to walk the runway, and officially drew the fashion show to a close.
Media Presentation and Fashion Show
The Cars
Mazda 2 1.5 S Sedan: P795,000
Mazda 2 1.5 V Hatchback: P855,000
Mazda 2 1.5 V Sedan: P865,000
Mazda 2 1.5 R Sedan: P925,000
Mazda CX-5 FWD Pro: P1,495,000
Mazda CX-5 AWD Sport: P1,695,000
Mazda 6 Sedan: TBA
Mazda 6 Wagon: TBA
Mazda MX-5: TBA
Mazda 2 Specs
Mazda CX-5 Specs
Mazda 6 Specs
Ford
In the opposite side of the show floor, Ford still remains to have one of the largest floor spaces in the show. Truly, Mazda has set a benchmark in how to please a crowd, and it is certainly a tough act to follow in the remaining days of the auto show. Ford has revealed the facelifted 2015 Ford Expedition Platinum variant. The new Ford Expedition gains new styling enhancements, including new projector halogen headlamps, LED foglights, new alloy wheels, and new tail lights, while in the inside, LED ambient lighting and MyFordTouch is the most obvious change, while audiophiles will appreciate the 10-speaker 700 watt Sony Sound System. Parking shouldn’t be a problem with the reversing camera, and for added convenience, side steps automatically fold into the vehicle’s body when the doors a closed, in order for the body to be aerodynamic. Smart key with push button start is now offered as standard. The engine is also brand new for the Expedition. Gone is the big ol’ V8, replaced by a smaller but equally capable 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6. The current generation of the Expedition is already long in the tooth, and finally, Ford has given it a minor refresh. Also present in the booth is the already sold out (50 units only) 2015 Ford Mustang 50th Anniversary Edition. The standard version of the new generation Mustang is set to debut sometime in the middle of the year. Also teasing the public is the all-new Ford Everest.
Ford Expedition Platinum: P3,488,000
Ford Expedition Platinum Specs
Subaru
Subaru held its Philippine premiere of the 2015 Subaru Legacy and Outback at the 2015 MIAS. The new generation midsize AWD sedan aims to bring fuel efficiency and driving pleasure to the executive midsize sedan segment. The Subaru Outback is powered by Subaru’s 3.6 liter 6-Cylinder petrol Boxer Engine (256 hp, 335 Nm), while for the first time, there are two engine options for the Subaru Legacy. The first engine is a newly developed 2.5 liter naturally aspirated 4-Cylinder petrol Boxer Engine (170 hp, 236 Nm), and for the first time in a Legacy in the Philippines, the same 3.6 liter 6-Cylinder petrol Boxer Engine from the Outback, which also effectively replaces the 2.5 liter 4-Cylinder EJ25 turbocharged petrol Boxer Engine with the top mounted intercooler. Introducing a less powerful variant for the Legacy also meant that the base price for a Legacy also goes down, and now has a friendlier starting price.
Subaru Legacy 2.5 i-s: P1,808,000
Subaru Legacy 3.6 R: P2,098,000
Subaru Outback 3.6 R: P2,288,000
Kia
Kia has launched the new Grand Carnival and Sorento. The two vehicles are all-new from the ground up, and they both share the same platform. The Grand Carnival’s interior space is bigger than its predecessor, but the overall length is actually shorter. The Kia Sorento, meanwhile, becomes longer than the model it replaces. Both vehicles boasts a more cohesive and a more handsome look, which is of course, a design penned by Kia’s Peter Schreyer. Both vehicles are almost similarly equipped, with a large TFT OLED display in the gauge cluster, smart key system, and a power liftgate. The Sorento is equipped with AWD, and for the Grand Carnival, captains chairs for the second row, and while the third row seats are still heavy, the folding mechanism is now simpler to operate. Both the Kia Grand Carnival and Sorento are powered by the Hyundai-Kia group’s 2.2 liter ReVGT diesel engine, producing 197 hp and 421 Nm of torque. For now, only the top trim variants are available, and both are priced at P2,300,000. More affordable variants will be available in the coming months, including the return of the base variant of the Sorento, priced at P1,298,000
Kia Sorento Specs
Kia Grand Carnival Specs
Chevrolet
MIAS became Chevrolet’s testing ground for knowing the public’s reception towards its small SUV called the Trax. The public’s reception will the Chevrolet’s gauge if should they bring in the Trax or not. Meawhile, Chevrolet introduced new or revised variants of their best selling Trailblazer SUV. The new or revised variants include the 4×2 LTX MT, 4×2 LT AT, 4×2 LTX AT, 4×4 LTZ AT and 4×4 LTZ Special Edition (SE) AT. In total, there are now 7 variants of the best selling Chevrolet.
The 4×4 LTZ SE includes a new front and rear bumper design, LED projector headlamps, LED daytime running lights integrated in the bumpers, and a reverse camera integrated into Chevy’s MyLink system. Inside, the SE now has piano black trimmings to give that contemporary feel inside the cabin. The 4×2 LT AT and 4×2 LTX MT and AT now have 18 inch alloy wheels, rear camera integrated into the rear view mirror, rear parking sensors, and for the 4×2 LTX AT, a new Android-based infotainment system with Mobile connect, which is basically a MirrorLink technology that displays your phone’s screen onto the car’s infotainment system. As a bonus, buyers of the 4×2 LTX AT gets free 3 GB per month of Globe Tattoo 4G internet for the first year of usage. Lastly, tire pressure monitoring system is now equipped in the 4×2 LTX AT, 4×4 LTZ AT, and 4×4 LTZ SE AT.
2.5 4×2 LT MT: P1,298,888
2.8 4×2 LTX MT: P1,378,888
2.8 4×2 L AT: P1,398,888
2.8 4×2 LT AT: P1,488,888
2.8 4×2 LTX AT: P1,588,888
2.8 4×4 LTZ AT: P1,748,888
2.8 4×4 LTZ SE AT: P1,788,888
BMW
BMW has used the 2015 MIAS to showcase its first ever front wheel drive car, the BMW 2 Series ActiveTourer. Despite the 2 Series name, it has no relationship with the rear wheel drive sporty coupe in any sort of way but the name. To many, the BMW 2 Series ActiveTourer is the beginning of BMW’s brand dilution. A brand that is associated with sporty sedans, SUVs, and of course, sports cars, an MPV in its line up seems blasphemous. In order for BMW to prove the loyal fans that their move is good for the brand’s image, the 2 Series ActiveTourer is based on the Mini Cooper’s platform, which is a sporty chassis to being with. The result? An MPV that doesn’t disappoint in the corners, or so the journalists say. The BMW 2 Series ActiveTourer is equipped as standard with BMW’s ComfortAccess smart entry system, and in conjunction to the ComfortAccess is the smart tailgate system, in which the tailgate will automatically open when you swing your foot under the rear bumper. The BMW 2 Series ActiveTourer is powered by a 1.5 liter 3-cylinder turbocharged and direct injected petrol engine from the Mini Cooper, producing 134 hp and a powerful 220 Nm of torque.
BMW 2 Series ActiveTourer: P2,950,000
BYD
If there’s any Chinese car manufacturer that should be given credit for its cars, it should be BYD. While some may be knock offs like the S6, which copies the Lexus RX, most of its cars are pretty innovative. BYD has used the 2015 MIAS to showcase its new Qin (pronounced as Chin) Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The Qin is claimed to be able to travel 70 kilometers on electric alone. In standard hybrid mode, the engine runs in conjunction with the electric motor, and the 1.5 liter turbocharged and direct injected engine and electric motor combination isn’t just aimed to deliver efficient power, but to also provide exhilarating performance. The total output of the system is 304 hp and 440 Nm of torque, and can accelerate midsize sedan from 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds. Power is sent via a dual clutch transmission. Now, because this is a plug-in hybrid, the batteries can also be charged via the mains, and if the battery is drained, it will take 8 hours to fully charge it, and they claim that it only costs P100 to fully charge the vehicle. Just like the BYD F5 Suri that was premiered last year, the BYD Qin also possesses the company’s remote control feature.
BYD Qin: TBA
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