Automotive

New Honda City, Brio officially unveiled

Elevate your drive

Published

on

Honda City | Brio

Honda Cars Philippines has officially launched the latest editions of the Honda City and Honda Brio at the Mega Fashion Hall at SM Megamall.

Both the newest City and Brio variants feature improvements in their exterior and interior designs and the full suite of Honda’s safety features, including Honda SENSING.

The New City

The new Honda City gets sportier and more stylish with a crafted RS design front grille with RS emblem, as well as a new front and rear bumper with carbon-wrapped molding. 

On the side are sharp horizontal character lines while exclusive to the RS variant is the new Side Sill garnish. The windshield shape has also been modified to reduce blind spots further.

The exterior is complemented by new LED daytime running headlights and fog lights available across all variants. The Honda City also gets 15- to 16-inch redesigned alloy wheels in Black Cut, Silver Cut, Silver paint Alloy, or Steel with cover.

For the interior, the RS gets full leather seats, new designs on the pedals, improved accents for its panels, and ambient lights for its instrument cluster.

Models also get an advanced 8-inch touchscreen display with improved LCD and a better reverse camera resolution. For entertainment, the new City can be connected to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In terms of performance, the City’s 1.5 DOHC i-VTEC CVT engine delivers a maximum output of 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque; the car also tested for 22.2 kilometers per liter for fuel efficiency.

The New Brio

Meanwhile, Honda’s standout compact hatchback is finally getting its second-generation model, with more enhancements to cater to first-time or alternative car buyers who seek style, comfort, and performance.

The latest Brio’s exterior gets a handful of updates, from its Piano Black RS design front grille, updated fog lights and garnish, and daytime running lights.

At the back are the tailgate spoiler and RS design rear bumper lower garnish and tail lights in the RS variants while the wheels have been updated to 14-inch Alloy and Steel or 15-inch Alloy.

Inside is a 7-inch touchscreen across all models; the new Brio variants also have enhanced audio controls and an assortment of connectivity options including Bluetooth, USB, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The RS variants get up to a 6-speaker setup, inclusive of two tweeters.

In terms of safety, all new variants get Honda’s G-CON technology, ABS, and electronic Brake-Force distribution, along with parking sensors.

Price, availability

Honda City

  • 1.5 E CVT: PhP 973,000
  • 1.5 S CVT: PhP 998,000
  • 1.5 V CVT: PhP 1,073,000
  • 1.5 RS CVT: PhP 1,128,000

Available colors

  • Ignite Red Metallic (RS CVT, V CVT and S CVT)
  • Obsidian Blue Pearl (new color; RS CVT and V CVT)
  • Platinum White Pearl (RS CVT and V CVT, additional PhP 20,000)
  • Taffeta White (S CVT and E CVT)
  • Lunar Silver Metallic (S CVT and E CVT)
  • Meteoroid Gray Metallic (all variants)

Honda Brio

  • 1.2 S MT: 735,000
  • 1.2 V CVT: 827,000
  • 1.2 RS CVT: 853,000
  • 1.2 RS Black Top CVT: PhP 863,000

Available colors

  • Stellar Diamond Pearl (new color; RS Black Top CVT and RS CVT; additional PhP 20,000)
  • Electric Lime Metallic (new color; RS Black Top CVT and V CVT)
  • Phoenix Orange Pearl (RS Black Top CVT)
  • Rallye Red (V CVT)
  • Meteoroid Gray Metallic (RS CVT, V CVT, and S MT)
  • Taffeta White (V CVT and S MT)

Automotive

BYD says that way better EV batteries are coming next year

Solid-state batteries will debut with higher-end models in 2027.

Published

on

With gas prices reaching the edges of believability, electric and hybrid vehicles are turning into worthy upgrades. That said, the more casual consumer still has a lot of questions about going electric, primarily about the durability of the battery and range anxiety. Well, a major battery technology upgrade is coming in the next few years, and BYD has just committed to it for next year.

Via the Spanish outlet Carwow, BYD EVP Stella Li confirmed that the company will launch its first vehicle with a solid-state battery in 2027. Now, if you’re a regular consumer, a solid-state battery probably doesn’t make much sense to you. But here’s the basics: it’s smaller, safer, and can last longer on a single charge.

If you’re fine with technical explanations, a solid-state battery uses more solid components, as opposed to the liquid solution used by the current standard of lithium-ion batteries. Because it’s more solid, it has better energy density. Higher energy density means a smaller size is needed to achieve the same battery capacity as modern batteries. In turn, this means that a vehicle can pack more batteries inside, allowing for better capacity. Oh, and let’s not forget that these batteries are generally safer and less prone to incidents.

In the same interview, BYD says that the first model will arrive next year. Unfortunately, because of the battery’s cost to produce, the component will likely debut with the company’s higher-end models. Still, it’s an exciting sight to behold. The electric and hybrid market is already quite the temptation for users, so an even better battery will further push the segment to better heights.

SEE ALSO: BYD adds the facelifted Seal 5 DM-i to its hybrid sedan lineup

Continue Reading

Accessories

70mai launches the A900 series with 4K front, rear recording

Two new 4K dual-channel dash cams, both with 4G

Published

on

70mai has launched the A900 Series, led by the flagship 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 Ultra, with the 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 joining it in the lineup.

Both models record in 4K from the front and rear cameras, and both support 4G, so your footage stays reachable from your phone even when you’re away from the car.

4K recording from both cameras

The A900 Ultra uses dual Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 sensors to capture clear 4K footage from both directions. As a result, details like license plates and road signs remain sharp.

Smart HDR balances bright and dark areas under shifting light. Users can also adjust color tones and contrast. To keep feeds synced, the rear camera uses LVDS digital transmission. This tech sends a lossless 4K feed with just 20ms of latency.

Handling changing light

Driving into a tunnel or under the shadow of a tall building changes the lighting quickly, and 70mai built three imaging technologies into the A900 Ultra to deal with it.

MaiColor Vivid+ Solution 2.0 is meant to give more natural colors and finer detail, along with smarter scene adaptation. Night Owl Vision 2.0 reduces noise and glare to help with nighttime clarity.

Lumi Vision is made for parking surveillance in near-total darkness, where it automatically adjusts exposure and gain and applies noise reduction. 70mai says this produces clear, full-color footage in extremely low light.

Parking mode and remote access

Smart Parking Guardian Mode 2.0 protects your vehicle while parked. It combines AI motion detection, dual-channel collision detection with pre-recording, and time-lapse options.

The system draws just 5mA on standby to prevent battery drain. For extended coverage, the optional 70mai Battery Pack Mini powers surveillance for up to 30 days.

In photo: A900

Pairing the camera with the 4G Hardwire Kit unlocks 70mai 4G Cloud+ 2.0 features on the app. Enhanced Buffered Emergency Recording saves up to 190 seconds before an incident and 30 seconds after.

It automatically uploads this footage to the cloud for immediate remote viewing.

The 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900

In photo: A900

The A900 sits alongside the Ultra as the more accessible option. It records True 4K HDR at 30FPS from both the front and rear cameras, and Smart HDR can be scheduled to turn on at set times.

Its f/1.55 aperture is meant to help in low light, and 4G Cloud+ 2.0 keeps the dash cam connected to the 70mai App. It’s the model for drivers who want dual-channel recording and 4G connectivity at a lower price.


The 70mai Dash Cam 4K A900 Ultra retails for US$ 300, available for pre-order at US$ 240. Meanwhile, the A900 is priced at US$ 200, currently 20% off at US$ 170.

Continue Reading

Automotive

The Kia EV3 brings gallery-worthy design in a compact electric form

The 2025 World Car of the Year turns daily driving into functional art.

Published

on

The all-new Kia EV3 officially debuted against the architectural backdrop of the Ayala Museum.

Named the 2025 World Car of the Year, the compact electric SUV redefines daily driving as functional art. It also holds prestigious Red Dot “Best of the Best” and iF Design awards.

Sculpted like a modern piece of design

The EV3 shares the forward-thinking design philosophy of the acclaimed EV5 and EV9.

Its exterior features an evolved Digital Tiger Face paired with signature LED lighting. Sculpted geometric surfaces and flush door handles maintain a smooth silhouette.

A tailored rear spoiler, roof rails, and 17-inch alloy wheels complete the profile. The result looks composed and elegant, especially when parked outside a contemporary gallery.

Beneath its sculpted skin lies instant, whisper-quiet electric power. A front-mounted motor generates 204 PS and 283 Nm of torque.

A 58.3 kWh battery delivers up to 511 kilometers of range on a single charge (NEDC). Replenishing energy fits seamlessly into a busy lifestyle.

Standard 11 kW AC charging goes from 10 to 80 percent in roughly 5 hours and 20 minutes. Meanwhile, 350 kW DC Fast Charging restores the same charge in just 29 minutes.

A digital sanctuary, literally

Inside, the cabin opens into a clean, modern sanctuary.

A striking 30-inch Triple Panoramic Display centers the dashboard. It unifies the instrument cluster, climate settings, and infotainment beneath one sweeping glass surface.

Leather upholstery and an eight-way power driver’s seat prioritize comfort, and the power lumbar support ensures relaxed driving on longer journeys.

There’s also a sliding central console tray that creates an adaptable workspace on the go. On another note, connectivity remains effortless throughout the interior space. The system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Additionally, dual wireless charging pads, five USB-C ports, and six speakers keep devices powered and entertained. For weekend getaways, 60:40 split-folding rear seats easily expand cargo capacity.

Intuitive safety

Intelligent peace of mind comes standard through the Kia DriveWise suite.

Active features include Advanced Smart Cruise Control and Forward Collision Avoidance with Autonomous Emergency Braking.

Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blindspot Safety Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Safety assist at every turn.

Seven airbags protect the front, side, and curtain areas. Electronic Stability Control, Hill-Start Assist, parking sensors, and a rear-view camera complete the protective core.

Price, availability

The Kia EV3 starts at PhP 1,898,000, inclusive of a home wall charger. An introductory offer reduces the price to PhP 1,868,000, saving early buyers PhP 30,000. Reservations also include five years of free Preventive Maintenance Service.

Kia provides a five-year or 160,000-kilometer vehicle warranty. The high-voltage battery carries an eight-year or 160,000-kilometer warranty.

The EV3 comes in seven curated exterior colors. Options include Aventurine Green, Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black, Terra Cotta, Frost Blue, Shale Grey, and Ivory Silver.

Continue Reading

Trending