Automotive

Mazda MX-5 RF Club Edition: A must-have sports car

Effortlessly ticks the right boxes

Published

August 7, 2019

Joash Maramara

This is the fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 RF Club Edition. Tracing way back from its great grandfather in the ’90s, it has been a well-loved car and has been a favorite affordable sports car of many.

The company has been known for making beautiful cars through the years and is a car brand close to my heart due to my affinity for the RX-7 and RX-8 in my younger years. In addition to that, I remember always choosing an MX-5 Miata in the racing games I played back then. It was one of my all-time favorite cars simply because it looked good and was fun to modify.

It was the best-selling two-seat sports car in history, selling over 1 million units since it first came out. Each succeeding model was an improvement of the last and it still continues until today.

Now, the latest MX-5 has set the bar high. Just by looking at it is already exhilarating. Personally, it’s the best looking MX5 yet and I think the majority will agree with me.

This Club Edition variant in the Philippines sits just below the 30th Anniversary Edition MX-5 RF and comes with new Recaro seats, BBS alloy wheels, and some updates in features.

Other than that, it’s the same sexy design that many of us fell in love with. The wide panels and glossy curves make this car drop-dead gorgeous especially in that Soul Red Crystal – definitely makes it look glowing hot. In terms of design, it truly stands out among other cars in its segment.

Getting in the car, you instantly notice the sporty Recaro bucket seats wrapped in leather with suede accents and red stitching. You are seated in a very low position and pretty close to the road underneath you, while your legs are stretched all the way forward which kind of gives you that race car driver feel à la Formula 1.

The dashboard is well-designed and its minimalist approach is very pleasing to the eyes. You have classic circular air vents while its dashboard and steering wheel are also wrapped in leather. A notable design feature would be the metal door panels that match the color of the car. It gives you that well-appreciated connection between the exterior and interior while adding a lot of character for the cabin.

Mounted on the center of the dash is a 7-inch infotainment system with what the company calls Mazda Connect. It is very convenient and user-friendly and provides navigation, calls, and music hands-free . The center console is high and well-equipped with knobs and switches that make driving easier. Instead of concentrating on navigating through the touch display, you have a tactile knob at your fingertips.

A car’s audio system is something I am very particular with, and the MX-5’s 9-speaker Bose audio setup with integrated speakers on the seat’s headrest was more than impressive. It delivered superior audio quality even with the roof down and with wind noise. the speakers in the headrest gave me crystal clear audio and were very useful when making a hands-free phone call.

Turning on the engine, you straight away notice the low engine grunt even in idle. The engine sound is exceptional and this is what we expect a small sports car to sound like.

This car is not only made to look good. The MX-5 is also a proper sports car packed with plenty of power and agility. The 2.0 Skyactiv engine produces 184 horsepower which is more than sufficient for a car that weighs only a thousand kilograms.

Sport mode on, pedal to the metal, this car catapults you from 0-100 in less than 7 seconds. Driving the MX-5 in the open road will definitely get your heart pumping and your adrenaline rushing. This car just wants to be driven and is begging to be driven fast.

The paddle shifters are functional even when you’re not in Manual Sport Mode. This is a brilliant feature when you just want to overtake and downshift in a normal driving mode. Safety is also taken seriously — the massive Brembo brakes can bring the car to a halt from 100kph in under 3 seconds. You also get Lane Departure Warning as standard.

In terms of steering, this car is firm and steady and has a bit of weight to it at high speeds. This gives you a sense of control, especially in tight corners. The firm suspension plus the weight of the car makes cornering in neck-snapping speeds effortless.

Fuel consumption is remarkably economic, with the introduction of i-ELOOP regenerative braking and i-stop feature that shuts off the engine when stopped at traffic lights, for example.

This car gives you nearly the same presence and confidence as supercars that cost more. You just feel good in this car, not to mention that it’s a major head-turner especially when driving top down on a scenic road. It’s times like these that you just feel like you’re part of a movie scene or something.

I have nothing negative to say about the vehicle except maybe the rear is not as aggressive-looking as the front of the car, it felt inconsistent to the overall design of the car with round taillights in contrast to the angry headlights up front.

With the MX-5, you feel very connected to the car and the road. It may not be the best daily car as it’s not very utilitarian in its nature, but if you want to enjoy the open roads and really want to experience the essence and joy of driving, this is a must-have sports car.

See the MX-5 take on some twisties in this video:

Automotive

BYD eMAX 9 DM-i leads the future of luxury family travel

Sophistication and smart performance in a seven-seater MPV

Published

October 23, 2025

MJ Jucutan

The BYD eMAX 9 DM-i is a mid-size MPV built to move modern families toward an electrified future.

Unveiled at the 13th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit, the new flagship MPV from BYD seats seven and runs on the brand’s Super DM-i hybrid system.

The BYD eMax 9 DM-i brings together power and efficiency in one refined form.

Luxury that travels with you

From the outside, the eMAX 9 DM-i stands tall and confident.

It wears BYD’s Dragon Face design with bold lines, signature LED lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels that give every drive a commanding presence.

Inside, the cabin feels like a private retreat. Hands-free side doors and a powered tailgate make entry effortless, while a built-in refrigerator keeps drinks cool for long drives.

Both the Premium and Advanced variants feature a Tri-Zone Cooling System that allows each passenger to set their preferred temperature.

The Premium model adds massage and ventilation to the captain’s chairs. Plus, plush leather seats and a 15.6-inch infotainment display complete the experience.

Power and efficiency

At its core, the eMAX 9 DM-i runs on BYD’s Super DM-i technology, which combines a high-power electric motor with a 1.5-liter turbocharged generator.

Together, they produce 271 PS and 315 Nm of torque, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.5 seconds.

The Premium variant comes with a 36.6 kWh battery that delivers up to 170 kilometers of pure-electric driving. Meanwhile, the Advanced model provides 95 kilometers.

With both electric and fuel power combined, the eMAX 9 can travel up to 1,000 kilometers on a single charge and a full tank.

Charging is simple and flexible. AC charging takes around 3 to 5 hours depending on the variant. Meanwhile, DC fast charging brings the battery from 30% to 80% in under 20 minutes.

The eMAX 9 can also share its power through Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, which allows users to plug in small appliances or camping equipment directly into the vehicle.

Safety that gives confidence

The eMAX 9 DM-i is designed to protect every passenger.

The Premium variant features BYD’s DiSus-C suspension system, which automatically adjusts to different road conditions for a smoother and more stable ride.

Its DiPilot driver assistance suite includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist.

Eight airbags, a 360-degree camera, and rear cross-traffic alerts provide added peace of mind for every trip.

Price, availability

With prices starting at PhP 2,678,000 for the Advanced variant and PhP 2,998,000 for the Premium, the BYD eMAX 9 DM-i is a refined statement of sustainable luxury. It is available in Cosmos Black, Deep Sea Blue, and Aurora White.

Every purchase is backed by BYD’s comprehensive warranty: eight years or 160,000 kilometers for the Blade Battery and drive unit, and six years or 150,000 kilometers for the vehicle itself.

Automotive

HONOR, BYD team up for AI-powered smart mobility

HONOR connectivity tech plus BYD’s DiLink ecosystem

Published

October 23, 2025

GadgetMatch

HONOR has announced a strategic partnership with new-energy vehicle manufacturer BYD. The collaboration merges HONOR’s smart connectivity solutions with BYD’s next-generation DiLink system. This aims to create intelligent, AI-powered mobility experiences for everyday drivers.

The agreement was formalized in Shenzhen, witnessed by HONOR CEO James Li and BYD Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu.

A new phase in intelligent mobility

This partnership expands on years of cooperation between the two tech leaders. Their collaboration will now move across three key fronts:

Core technology and features: Joint innovation in cross-device ecosystem integration, AI agent functions, and high-precision Bluetooth-based digital keys.
Channel ecosystem and user benefits: A shared model that connects HONOR’s vehicle tech with BYD’s ecosystem for smoother cross-platform experiences.
Joint communication and engagement: Coordinated marketing efforts and shared launch milestones to engage users more directly.

Building on a strong foundation

HONOR and BYD’s partnership began in 2023 with smartphone NFC car keys. This allowed BYD drivers to unlock vehicles using HONOR devices. In 2024, they expanded to in-car fast charging. This year, Denza became the first brand to integrate HONOR Car Connect, paving the way for other BYD models to adopt the system for seamless phone-to-car connectivity.

Driving the AI era

Both companies aim to push the boundaries of AI-driven mobility, with upcoming projects centered on digital keys, deeper phone-to-car integration, and smarter safety features.

The collaboration will also take center stage at the 2025 HONOR Global Developers Conference and AI Device Ecosystem Conference on October 23, where HONOR will showcase the HONOR AI Connect platform and its role in building human-centric, scenario-based AI solutions.

Automotive

Inside the BYD Di-Space Museum

I unearthed my inner science geek at BYD’s first new energy vehicle museum!

Published

October 21, 2025

MJ Jucutan

Going to Zhengzhou felt like slipping into the past version of me. The nerdy, excitable kid who used to memorize science books like bedtime stories. Except, I never looked like a nerd. I had no braces or oversized glasses.

I grew up looking like a himbo (still do, if you ask me), yet my brain has always been wired to understand the language of technology better than most.

So when ACMobility, the distributor of BYD cars in the Philippines, invited me to the BYD Di-Space Museum in Zhengzhou, it felt like a homecoming staged on glossy floors and wheels powered by the future.

It’s BYD’s first national new energy vehicle (NEV) science museum, designed to immerse visitors in the world of clean mobility, design, and technology.

For the first time in my life, I got ridiculously excited about a museum. Me? Geeking out? Maybe I’ve been hiding my true self all along.

First encounters

The museum sits in Zhengzhou’s Erqi District, about 30 minutes by bus from the InterContinental Zhengzhou Zhengdong, where I stayed like a king for nearly a week.

It sprawls across 15,000 square meters, with another 8,500 outside for supporting facilities. It’s divided by four floors, each one like a chapter of a novel about energy and innovation.

The first floor welcomed me with a story: the evolution of transportation energy. From fossil-fueled beginnings to the clean energy of electric vehicles, the narrative unfolded like a history lesson I didn’t want to skip.

Then came the rise of BYD Auto itself, tracing its journey from battery maker to global NEV leader.

Of course, no museum would be complete without a brand culture space. There were plenty of BYD merchandise and accessories to choose from.

And there’s a café where I could buy an Oatmilk Latte with AliPay via my GCash QR code. Though, when I asked Google Translate to decode the Chinese characters, it told me my drink was “poison milk.”

And you know what? Maybe it was right. Oatmilk is my poison, one I’ll gladly sip until my final breath.

The heart of innovation

The second and third floors were the real showstoppers. Here, BYD peeled back the curtain to reveal how design, engineering, and experimentation transform into actual cars.

It’s like watching haute couture get stitched together, except instead of gowns, you get vehicles meant to save the planet.

READ: 4 electric car myths, debunked

Every corner flaunted BYD’s core technologies. First was the Blade Battery. It’s a slim, elongated battery designed not just for power, but for safety. It’s called the Blade because of its shape and also its resilience.

Engineers literally put it through nail penetration tests and crush tests to prove it won’t explode. Although, I already saw this part when I visited the BYD Headquarters in Shenzhen, where the nail penetration test was full-on display.

Then came the E4 Platform. Think of it as BYD’s secret stage for performance. With motors on each wheel, the system allows precise control and hair-raising acceleration, making NEVs not only efficient but exhilarating.

On another side, there was the Yun Nian System. This is where BYD gets poetic. Yun Nian, meaning “cloud chariot,” is a suspension technology that reads the road like it’s fluent in empathy, smoothing out bumps and keeping rides graceful even on unforgiving terrain.

Then, there was the fifth-generation of DM Hybrid Technology. It’s BYD’s latest dual-mode hybrid tech that blends electric power with gasoline efficiency. It’s proof that clean energy doesn’t mean compromise, it just means extending choice and control.

On another wall, you will find the Patent Waterfall, a massive installation housing over 35,000 patents BYD has earned over the years. Yes! Thirty. Five. Thousand. Patents.

More than a museum

The Di-Space Museum isn’t just a shrine to BYD. It’s a stage for the public to fall in love with the future of mobility and to understand clean energy without needing an engineering degree. It’s a way to imagine what a green society could look like.

And here’s the part that got me a little sentimental: I wish we had something like this in Manila. A place where science feels cinematic, and where sustainability is presented not as sacrifice but as lifestyle. I want a place where kids — and grown-up kids like me — can dream.

Because this museum is more than a milestone for China’s NEV industry. It’s a promise. A powerful declaration that the future is electric, and it’s dazzling.

P.S. I filmed a full video tour using my favorite toys: the DJI Osmo Nano, Insta360 X5, and my iPhone 16 Pro. The future is green and it looks even better on screen.