Automotive
NissanConnect makes walk around checks easier
Reduce your checklist before setting off on a journey
When I was in driving school, my instructor kept pressing on the fact that we need to do a walk-around check before we set off on a journey. Be it a short ride to the mall, a quick drive to a cafe, or running errands in the city.
This isn’t something I witnessed growing up. Wheel-owners in my life mostly hop in the car and proceed to drive, regardless of the state of the vehicle.
It’s probably why a lot of their cars break down on them when they need them the most.
When the time came for me to sit behind the wheels, I kept reminding myself to inspect the car before going out. Frankly, it was exhausting and time-consuming. But spending a few minutes to check your vehicle can prevent you hours of headache if you encounter something down the line.
Now, imagine being able to cut back the time spent on inspecting your car. That’s what the NissanConnect did for me, when I had the Nissan Almera VL Turbo CVT.
An app connected to a city car
For a week, I had the Nissan Almera acting as a daily driver for my city errands and for accompanying me on a weekend in Lipa, Batangas.
The city car aided in my pursuits of balancing my life as a creative director and as a media personnel for Spartan Race Philippines.
Inside, I had the realme C55 loaded with NissanConnect Services. It wasn’t the handset I prefer to connect with Android Auto and help in navigation. Instead, the phone was solely used for keeping the vehicle in check. Especially at times when I have to drive down South.
Why use it anyway?
Nissan, just like most automotive brands nowadays, integrate technology into their vehicles. Through a mobile app, car owners can easily lock and unlock their doors. You can even start the engine before you hop on your seats!
Think about how many times you have to enter your car after being parked in open heat, only to complain about how hot it is inside?
Believe me, at least having the engine and the AC turned on for more than five minutes before you step in is a game changer. I know this too well since I’m fond of parking my vehicle in open areas.
At a glance, I was able to check my vehicle’s status through NissanConnect Services. I was able to see the estimated range that the Nissan Almera can go, based on its current fuel capacity.
There are also features that you can check such as Vehicle Health, Monitoring, Driving History, Notifications, and more.
Check before you go
The habit of doing walk around checks should be practiced more. It’s more important when you have a long trip out of town, and you just can’t afford to have any mishaps down the road.
Time is precious, especially on a weekend meant to be spent with people close to your heart.
Taking a peek at the Vehicle Health, I can check the Tire Pressure, Brake, Anti-Lock Braking System, Airbag, Engine MIL, and more. If there are issues, it’ll be easy to spot them without checking all of it.
This reduced my walk around check since I just needed to use the smartphone to see if my vehicle’s fit to drive.
After checking the lights, oil, water, gas, and engine, and of course, myself, I hop in and connect my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for Android Auto or my iPhone 13 for Apple CarPlay.
Before I drive, I make sure my Spotify’s connected along with Google Maps so I can drive at ease.
Stay within the limit
Safety and security are one of the key features of NissanConnect Services. Through the app, you can monitor your vehicle by setting up a curfew.
This ensures no one uses your vehicle past its curfew, and you’ll be alerted if someone does. That feature works best when you allow someone else to use your car, or if it’s a family vehicle.
You can also set limits on an area, barring certain neighborhoods you deem so. But what I love the most is setting a speed limit to ensure I don’t go beyond, especially on the freeway.
You might think, there’s cruise control anyway? Why bother with it?
As a control freak, I don’t like using cruise control as it absolves me from maintaining proper distance by relying on technology. Being alert helps me keep awake especially on a long drive.
Whenever I go out of my speed limit, the realme C55 receives alerts that I went beyond what I set. This is also important if someone drives your vehicle and you’re in your passenger princess era.
Plenty of times, my passengers didn’t feel we were speeding at 100 km/h, seeing how smooth the drive was. Checking the app would let you know if your driver is moving past the limit.
Sometimes, it helps to remind them to slow down especially when you’re not in a hurry to go to your destination.
Know your history
I’m not quite sure who else does this, but I typically check where I’ve been in the past month or so. Google Maps has been helpful in providing me the locations of places I’ve been to, which helps me track the distances I travelled.
Through NissanConnect, I was able to check the vehicle’s driving history. Having been lent by Nissan Philippines, I was able to preview how many trips the Nissan Almera have been into. I was also able to check the distance it clocked, and the time spent driving.
For a weekend, I contributed around 300km or so, going back and forth between Pasay City, Imus City, Calamba City, and Lipa City — across four provinces!
A handy tool
For most wheel-owners, having a mobile app connected to your vehicle might seem a daunting task. When you’ve been accustomed to your ways, it’s challenging to learn a few things here and there, especially when technology isn’t your strong suit.
But for tech-savvy babies like yours truly? Having the NissanConnect is such a handy tool.
It makes walk around checks easier and less daunting. One glance through the app, and you can see if you’re fit to drive. And if you are, you can get ready to put some music before you drive to your next destination.
Automotive
VinFast extends free unlimited charging in 3 markets amid rising fuel prices
Customers in India, Indonesia, and the Philippines to enjoy 3 years of free unlimited charging
VinFast has announced the extension of its free unlimited charging program in three key Asian markets: India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Customers purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) in these countries (or currently own a VinFast EV) can enjoy the zero-fuel-cost advantage for three years, or until March 31, 2029.
This is amid the rising fuel costs in these countries, primarily due to the U.S./Israel-Iran war. Under the new policy, customers can charge for free at authorized V-Green charging stations.
By removing one of the largest operating costs of driving, VinFast aims to help motorists experience the economic advantages of electric vehicles (EVs) while supporting the countries’ transitions toward more sustainable mobility.
The program will be extended broadly to all customers, including both existing owners and future buyers. It will cover both private customers as well as those using their vehicles for transportation services, like the Green GSM EV taxi service network.
Alongside the free charging policy, the charging network developed and operated by V-Green is continuously expanding across the markets where VinFast operates.
This expansion helps create favorable conditions for consumers to confidently transition to greener and more sustainable transportation.
In addition to the free charging incentive, VinFast is already implementing multiple policies to promote the green transition in key Asian markets.
These include a battery subscription program that lowers upfront investment cost, a resale value guarantee policy, flexible payment options, and market-leading warranty coverage.
BYD is lighting up the electric vehicle segment. For a while now, the Chinese automotive brand has been offering affordable alternatives to the so-called giants of the market, in turn becoming a giant itself. The company has since entered other segments, including the luxury market, through its sub-brands Denza and Yangwang. Now, it’s reportedly considering an all-new venture: the world of Formula One.
The new Formula One season saw the debuts of Audi and Cadillac to the racing grid, proving that the sport isn’t averse to expanding beyond the usual ten teams. Naturally, entering the sport is not an easy process, but for the right brand, it could be a very lucrative opportunity.
According to a source from Bloomberg, BYD is currently evaluating an entry into Formula 1. Right now, the Chinese company has not made a decision, but it is an idea floating around.
Besides the rigorous entry process, owning an independent racing team can cost BYD hundreds of millions of dollars per year. It’s not a cheap sport.
That said, there are other ways for the brand to enter the grid. One of the more cost-effective options is to become a title sponsor of an existing team by providing funding and technical expertise without the stress of managing a team directly.
Alternatively, the brand can also skip the red tape by buying an existing team. Audi, for example, entered the current grid by buying the team from Sauber. Of the current grid, Alpine is reportedly considering putting the team up for sale, making it a potential target for newcomers.
Outside of F1, BYD might also have an easier time entering other competitions including the FIA World Endurance Championship.
SEE ALSO: This BYD car is now the world’s fastest car in the market
Automotive
Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo makes global debut at MWC 2026
Tech giant becomes first technology brand in Vision GT program
Xiaomi has unveiled the full-scale concept model of the Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo or Xiaomi Vision GT at MWC 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. This marks the company’s official entry into the elite Vision Gran Turismo project.
Created for the legendary Gran Turismo franchise, the electric hypercar concept represents the first time a technology company has been invited to participate in the Vision GT program. Xiaomi now joins a select group of global automakers, becoming the 36th brand to take part and the creator of the 51st Vision Gran Turismo concept overall.
The project began at the GT World Series in London, where series producer Kazunori Yamauchi personally invited Xiaomi to design its own Vision GT car. For Xiaomi’s global EV design team, the opportunity meant rethinking hypercar development from a technology-first perspective, blending advanced aerodynamics with AI-driven intelligence.
Sculpted by the wind
At the core of Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo is aerodynamic balance. Instead of chasing extreme low drag or maximum downforce alone, Xiaomi pursued efficiency between the two.
The concept follows a “Sculpted by the Wind” philosophy. Its teardrop cockpit silhouette, integrated air ducts, and airfoil-shaped structural elements guide airflow seamlessly from front to rear. The body avoids excessive add-ons, relying instead on built-in aerodynamic solutions.
Signature design elements serve dual purposes. Cross-shaped headlights integrate into the airflow system, while the halo-shaped taillight sits within a massive rear air outlet. An Active Wake Control System surrounds the rear with micro-perforations that manage turbulent air using real-time speed and angle data.
The Accretion Rims feature vortex-style wheel covers that remain visually stationary while the car is in motion, reducing drag from rotating surfaces. Internal turbine fins help cool the brakes during operation.
Through iterative simulation testing, Xiaomi says the concept achieves a drag coefficient of 0.29, downforce of negative 1.2, and an aerodynamic efficiency rating of 4.1 — figures that highlight balance rather than extremes.
A “sofa racer” interior
Inside, Xiaomi departs from the rigid, track-focused cabins typical of hypercars. The “Sofa Racer” concept emphasizes comfort without sacrificing control.
A ring-shaped cockpit architecture wraps around the driver, blending dashboard, doors, and seats into one continuous structure. Breathable 3D-knitted fabric materials aim to provide both support and warmth.
At the center is Xiaomi Pulse, an intelligent assistant integrated into the dashboard. Working alongside Xiaomi HyperVision and the company’s HyperOS platform, the system adapts displays and interactions based on driving mode and environmental data. Physical controls remain tactile and precise, including an infinite-shaped steer-by-wire wheel.
The concept also integrates into Xiaomi’s broader “Human × Car × Home” ecosystem. Powered by XiaoAi AI Assistant and the Xiaomi MiMo foundational model, the car connects with personal devices and smart home products, positioning itself as part of a unified digital lifestyle.
Xiaomi has also envisioned a companion driving simulator designed as furniture for the home, extending the Vision Gran Turismo experience beyond the vehicle itself.
Yamauchi praised the project, noting how the design successfully resolves the tension between low drag and high downforce. Further details about the car’s arrival in Gran Turismo 7 will be announced at a later date.
With its Vision Gran Turismo debut, Xiaomi signals a broader ambition: redefining the electric hypercar through AI integration, ecosystem connectivity, and aerodynamic precision.
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