Maniolas

Rolls-Royce Manila’s Willy Tee Ten, the author, her husband and Aerohub’s David Cook If you had to sit in traffic or travel great distances, wouldn’t you rather do that while sitting comfortably in a luxurious Rolls-Royce? Or why not skip the traffic and travel time by taking a helicopter? But let’s address the most important question first—how can you get a Rolls-Royce or a helicopter? The straightforward answer would be, earn millions of pesos and then go to a Rolls-Royce and a helicopter dealership. But an alternative solution is now available—one that is easier, more achievable and more practical. Last December 10, Aerohub Aviation Services together with Autohub Group of Companies, introduced their Fractional Ownership Program for Robinson’s helicopters and Rolls-Royce cars. Aerohub has an alliance with Lionair Inc., the exclusive distributor of California Corporation Robinson Helicopter Company. The Fractional Ownership Program (FOP) is the first of its kind in the Philippines. It offers the ability to acquire partial ownership of a Rolls-Royce car and/or a Robinson helicopter (R44s and, soon, R66s). A maximum of five individuals can share the ownership of one helicopter or a Rolls-Royce car, for personal or commercial use. Autohub Group president Willy Tee Ten explained that the FOP’s collective ownership arrangement enables owners to enjoy all the benefits of owning a helicopter or a Rolls-Royce, without the hassles that such type of ownership usually entail. Owners won’t have to worry about the pilots/drivers, hangar arrangements/parking, flight route, servicing and maintenance of the aircraft/vehicle. Aerohub and Read More …

Who says crossovers can’t handle a real-life off-road trail? Subaru just proved naysayers wrong when they brought bone stock Foresters, in both turbo and non-turbo trims, to the first-ever X-Mode drive that brought their compact crossovers from  San Juan to through some rough terrain eventually ending up at the Daraitan River in Tanay, Rizal. The highly experiential activity, open to both the motoring media and Forester owners, showcases some of the leading feature of the country’s bestselling compact crossover. Chief among them is the generous 220-millimeter ground clearance and 500-millimeter water wading depth. Of course, this is joined by the 23.0-degree approach, 21.0-degree ramp breakover, and 25.0-degree departure angles. These figures are certainly are much more adept at handling off-road trails compared to other vehicles in its class. More than just the design though, the secret of the Forester is in its unique mechanical architecture that makes it a cut above the rest in handling difficult terrain. Where other crossovers fear to tread, it remains a confident vehicle thanks first to the Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (S-AWD) system that reduces mechanical power loss from the engine to the wheels. Next, the Boxer engine reduces the center of gravity meaning it has a lesser tendency to tip when traversing steep terrain. The main highlight though is X-Mode. First introduced in the current-generation Forester, X-Mode coordinates the engine, transmission, AWD, and brakes enabling it to safely drive through any terrain. It also re-configures the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), traction control, and enables Hill Read More …

SINGAPORE – Porsche and Singapore share more than a little in common – both are synonymous with the pursuit and achievement of excellence and both enjoy the same results from decades of relentless progress and development. It is thus fitting to jointly celebrate the twin milestones of the city state’s golden jubilee as well as the 30th anniversary of Stuttgart Auto, the sole dealer of Porsche in Singapore. To commemorate these twin celebrations, a celebratory event, The Porsche Circuit, was held at the Suntec Convention Centre in the last week of July. The Porsche Circuit marked Singapore’s 50 years of nation-building, Porsche’s rich history, and Stuttgart Auto’s many accomplishments over the past three decades.  Celebrations began with a gala dinner attended by 450 guests including the media. The evening was graced by S Iswaran, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry, as well as Earl Bamber, one of the winners of the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as reigning Porsche Supercup and double Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion. Two new 911 variants – the 911 Targa 4 GTS and the 911 GT3 RS, as well as two unique celebratory models – the 911 Turbo S SG50 custom-built for Singapore and the Cayenne SG50 Exclusive Edition, which is limited to 10 units for Singapore, were unveiled.  On display for the first time in Singapore is also the 911 Carrera S Martini Racing Edition, a limited edition vehicle customized by Read More …

CHIANG RAI, Thailand—Companies that make things like cars, computers, smartphones, or even sportswear are always out for the next big thing. Game-changers, they like to call them. They like to claim that their new car/phone/shoe will redefine the genre. Well Ford is up to those exact same word-mongering this time around. And are they putting their money where their mouth is! Never mind ABS and EBD. Those acronyms (initialisms, actually) are par for the course even for subcompacts. Let’s try Hill Descent Assist, Blind Spot Information System, Cross Traffic Alert, Curve Control, Active Park Assist, Active Transfer Case with Torque on Demand, and Active Noise Cancelation. Let’s try intelligent four-wheel drive and a cutting-edge Terrain Management System. Let’s try power-folding third row seats and a power liftgate. Add to that a fold-flat second row to add flexibility and versatility. Just a few years ago, those cutting-edge features could be found only in a Range Rover, a Mercedes-Benz, BMW or a Volvo—vehicles that cost anywhere from almost four to over eight million pesos. And it’s now on a Ford SUV that starts at a little over P1.3 million. Okay, those features are found in the top-of-the-line version costing just under P1.9 million. But that’s still one heck of a bargain considering the level of equipment—or the lack thereof—of its predecessors and its rivals.   The new Everest, which is made in Ford’s Auto Alliance plant in Rayong, Thailand, is still based on a body-on-frame construction but boasts a coil spring suspension with Read More …