Automotive

A racing virgin’s experience at the Toyota Vios Racing Festival

Challenging, but something worth doing again

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I love driving. Whether it’s an out of town drive for hours or simply going for a short trip with the wife, one could always count me in for such activities. So when Toyota Motor Philippines extended an invite to their annual Vios Racing Festival, I didn’t think twice and submitted my name.

I thought, “I drive pretty well on the road so this shouldn’t be that challenging. How hard is it to avoid cones, anyway?”

Boy, was I wrong.

The Racing Festival

As a quick background, Toyota Motor Philippines has been organizing Vios motorsport events in the country for six years now. Called the Vios Cup, the circuit race celebrates the spirit of Waku-Doki (shortened from the Japanese phrase “Waku waku doki doki” which translates to a feeling of “heart-pumping excitement”) and features drivers from different backgrounds — celebrities, new Vios owners, and car club members are just some of the individuals invited at this special event.

The Autocross Challenge

This season, TMP has added the Autocross Challenge that runs alongside the main event. It’s a timed competition where participants race through an obstacle course and finish with the quickest lap time possible. Basically, the company presents it as an amateur-friendly way to get into the world of motorsport.

The Experience

Unlike the main event where participants spent months training for the circuit race, I and my fellow media participants only got one day of practice driving around the obstacles before the event. The cars were provided by Toyota — a souped-up Vios OMR fit for the track — complete with manual gearbox and loads of torque. We were also given tracksuits and helmets so apart from keeping me safe, I looked like a legitimate race car driver wearing those.

As the title states, I had no experience whatsoever in racing cars. After the briefing, I was basically given the suit and the car and thrown into the track to get a feel for how to make the fastest lap time possible.

So I got in the car, drove up to the starting line, lodged the transmission to the first gear, and gave the engine a full rev. As soon as I was given the go signal Fast-and-Furious-style, I was off — complete with tires screeching.

The obstacle consisted of multiple chicanes and we needed to slalom our way past them. To make things more interesting, there were sharp u-turns and a 540-degree turn at one point and it was where I spun out since I made the mistake of applying brakes while making the turn. It felt like I was in a movie, though, like Ansel Elgort in Baby Driver.

After finishing the first lap, I made mental notes of how I can improve my time for the next practice run. The problem here wasn’t how to avoid obstacles. It’s how to avoid obstacles with speed to be able to finish with the quickest time.

Good thing there were seasoned racers with us and they were able to give me some tips. One could say that taking on the Autocross challenge is similar to dancing — you have to know exactly when to shift, when to brake, and when to turn. These are key elements that I needed to keep in mind, pretty much like memorizing dance steps. I did better time during my second attempt and that concluded our practice day.

Then came the race day itself. After breakfast, I was just in my hotel room sitting down and pretending to drive while thinking about the track. I saw the racing movie Rush a few years back and that’s where I got the idea of imagining yourself on the track, taking on the obstacles and practicing gear shifting at the right moment.

After the opening ceremonies and the main event kicking off, it was our time to compete. To cut some of the details, I finished with a time of 1:01 with the top 10 finalists finishing at 0:58. Considering it was my first time doing something like that, I was pretty happy and satisfied with my performance.

End of Day Thoughts

As someone who’s always into trying out new things, participating in an Autocross Challenge was definitely one for the books. It’s a great initiative from Toyota Philippines to continuously hold events like this to keep the spirit of motorsport alive in the country.

The racing festival itself, even if you’re not a participant, was a really enjoyable event even for the entire family. It’s also worth recognizing TMP’s efforts to bring new blood into the sport every year as it’s not exclusive to Vios owners only. In fact, they’re also opening the Autocross Challenge for the public through their social media pages.

So if you want to get into the adrenaline-pumping world of racing, head to their official pages and see how you can be part of the next Toyota Vios Racing Festival.

If you’re still reading up to this point, it just means you’re one interested fellow and you might want to check out the event next year when it makes a comeback.

You’ll enjoy it. I know I did!

Automotive

Ford revs up Truck Month with extended 5-star care offers

Explore exclusive cash discounts, flexible downpayment plans, and showroom activations in the Philippines.

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Ford Philippines brings back its annual Truck Month this September, pairing special financing and cash savings with extended service coverage across the updated Ranger and Everest lineups.

The month-long program shifts the focus toward long-term ownership peace of mind. This ensures drivers feel supported well beyond the showroom floor.

Comprehensive coverage for every journey

For drivers who view their truck or SUV as an essential partner for travel and daily routines, maintenance clarity brings genuine confidence.

Select variants in the lineup now include Ford’s 5-Star Care Package, bundling a five-year warranty, five-year scheduled service plan, and five-year roadside assistance.

Flagship performance models built for challenging roads, including the Ranger Raptor 3.0L V6, Ranger Wildtrak X 3.0L V6, and Ranger Wildtrak 3.0L V6, pair this complete service coverage with PhP 20,000 in cash savings. On another note, the Raptor 3.0L V6 also offers a PhP 150,000 all-in downpayment option.

Versatile family vehicles receive identical long-term backing, with the Everest Platinum 3.0L V6, Everest Wildtrak 2.0L, Everest Sport+ 2.0L, and Everest Active 2.0L all bundling the five-year care plan. Meanwhile, the Everest Wildtrak 2.0L Turbo includes an additional PhP 20,000 cash discount.

Financing designed around daily routines

Flexibility plays a central role in fitting a vehicle into personal budgets and busy lifestyles.

For the first time, the practical Ranger XLS 4×2 introduces access to the 5-Star Care Package, allowing buyers to select between long-term maintenance coverage, a PhP 50,000 cash discount, or a PhP 49,000 all-in downpayment.

Drivers drawn to the Ranger Sport 4×2 can opt for a PhP 59,000 all-in downpayment or zero percent interest financing. By providing multiple ownership paths, Ford aligns purchase incentive options directly with driver priorities, prioritizing lasting value throughout the lifetime of the vehicle.

Bringing the experience to dealerships and malls

The Truck Month celebration extends further with the Super September event, taking place from September 16 to 20 across nationwide dealerships and key shopping centers.

Customers who reserve any Ford vehicle during this five-day showcase receive an extra PhP 20,000 in cash savings on top of ongoing Truck Month offers.

Display venues including Virra Mall Greenhills, SM Southmall, SM Seaside Cebu, Robinsons Dumaguete, and SM City Sta. Rosa feature interactive showroom activities and refreshments, offering drivers an accessible way to explore their next vehicle companion.

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Automotive

BYD aircon care promo: Cleaning package to come with freebies

Stay cool all year

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BYD Cars Philippines has launched the BYD Cool & Fresh Combo aircon care promo, happening from September 9 to October 31, 2026.

Under the promo, customers who avail of the Vehicle Aircon Cleaning Package will receive a free cabin air filter and free CarTul Air & Surface Disinfecting Mist.

This gives BYD the time to introduce the new ancillary product as well, which comes in a three-steps cleaner package.

It kills bacteria and viruses, enhances airflow efficiency, and eliminates unpleasant odors. And that’s without having to remove the dashboard.

So owners who avail of the aircon cleaning package throughout the promo period will be able to try the product first hand, without having to spend for it.

For reference, the aircon cleaning package is priced at PhP 5,262.

The offer is available to all BYD vehicle owners who are due for their 1-Year Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS) or have reached 20,000 kilometers on their odometer.

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Automotive

ACMobility launches EV safety program to help drivers make the switch

The new “Drive Electric” curriculum covers everything from charging safety to actual EV ownership costs.

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ACMobility, the Ayala Group’s mobility arm, launched its “Drive Electric. EV Safety Program,” and it’s aimed at pretty much anyone curious about EVs.

That means advocates, people thinking about buying one, fleet operators, and just regular folks who want to understand what they’re getting into.

The goal is straightforward: clear up the misconceptions around EVs by giving people practical, easy-to-follow information on how the technology and charging infrastructure actually work.

The program covers safety guidelines, the real costs of ownership, and how charging works, so people can decide for themselves if going electric makes sense for them.

At the launch, ACMobility CEO Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala talked about the bigger picture, saying the company’s priority is to empower drivers to shift to a more sustainable and cost-effective transport option.

He framed the program as part of that commitment, aiming to give drivers practical tools and accessible technical knowledge on EVs.

Building the curriculum with actual experts

ACMobility didn’t build this alone. The program came together with professional instruction partners and close coordination with the Department of Energy, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines, and the Philippine EV Community.

The curriculum runs five modules deep, and it tackles the questions people actually ask before buying an EV: what it really costs to own one long-term, how much you can save, how to charge safely, what to do in an emergency, and how the technology itself works.

What comes after the launch

ACMobility says this is just the start. The company plans to roll out educational seminars nationwide for drivers looking to make the switch, expanding into corporate sessions, community workshops, and showcases at bigger industry events.

Future sessions will pair the technical side with actual test drives, so people get hands-on time with EVs alongside the expert guidance.

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