Maniolas

MANILA, Philippines – Kia and the Australian Open have partnered for four years now to bring together the worlds of motoring and sports. Every year, Kia Lucky Drive to Australia is staged to give opportunities for Kia test-drive participants to experience world-class tennis action at the Australian Open. The Australian Open is the first Grand Slam tournament in the tennis calendar and is home to amazing tennis rivalries, historic matches, and unparalleled sports action. Last December 16, Columbian Autocar Corporation (CAC), exclusive distributor of Kia Motors in the Philippines, officially announced the winner of this year’s trip for two to the Land Down Under to witness tennis at its best. After test-driving a Kia Sportage at Kia Pampanga, Elbert John Cruz will receive tickets to watch a semifinal match in the Australian Open 2015 Men’s Singles. Aside from live match viewing, Cruz and his companion will be able to enjoy city tours throughout their 4-day/3-night stay in Melbourne. CAC VP for Marketing Hernando D. Gañac, Jr. was elated at the continued success of Kia and the Australian Open’s partnership. “Tennis here in the Philippines also has a strong following and Kia and CAC are happy to provide a once-in-a-lifetime tennis experience to one lucky Filipino fan. He added, “Kia always tries to stay a step ahead when it comes to bringing the brand closer to our market. Kia Lucky Drive to Australia is a prime example of how we let people experience motoring’s finest, while at the same time, rewarding Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – After their extraordinary adventure in 2013, which saw them smash the record for the celebrated Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Peugeot Sport, Red Bull and Total have again joined forces for another exacting yet equally exciting challenge: the Dakar. To take on the 10,000km of the world’s longest and toughest cross-country rally 25 years after the French car manufacturer last contested the event, the team has recruited Carlos Sainz and Cyril Despres. Last June’s memorable new record of 8m13.878s for the ascent of Pikes Peak confirmed that Peugeot Sport had lost none of its taste for motorsport. After emphatically showcasing its expertise on the celebrated climb’s steep, demanding course, the team could easily have contented itself with last year’s one-off foray. However, its passion for competition needed feeding with further stimulating new challenges and the next one will be the infamous Dakar. Following last year’s intense adventure in the lofty mountains of Colorado, USA, Peugeot Sport, Red Bull and Total have decided to set their sights on the wide open spaces of South America which provide the backdrop for the toughest cross-country rally of them all. Inevitably, the decision recalls a particularly successful period in the history of the French team which made an indelible mark on the Dakar by winning the legendary competition four years running from 1987 until 1990, first with the 205 T16 Grand Raid, then with the equally iconic 405 T16 Grand Raid. In between times, the Dakar has traded the dunes of northwest Read More …

Passengers alight from an EZ-10 driverless electric shuttle developed by the Ligier Group. The first fleet of its vehicles will operate by 2015 at the Michelin International Centre for Research of Ladoux. Photo by KAP MACEDA AGUILA CHENGDU, China – “Civilized countries are not ones where the poor have cars, but are ones where the rich take the public transit,” said Guillermo Peñalosa, commissioner of parks, sport, and recreation for the City of Bogota in Colombia. Yes, think about it. Speaking at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum’s so-called TEDCity 2.0 Salon, the Colombian public official asked attendees to reconsider the way mobility is thought of in a context of development. TED is a “non-profit devoted to spreading ideas… beginning in 1984 as a conference where technology, entertainment, and design converged.” Started in 1998, the Bibendum, so named as a nod to the French tire maker’s famous mascot, has been drawn up as an annual event to explore the avenues towards sustainable mobility. The 12th edition held here in China’s fourth most populous city, sought clear goals to “(set) ambitions C02 reduction objectives worldwide, (create) ultra-low emissions zones in cities, (deploy) door-to-door transport solutions, (reinvent) last-mile delivery logistics, and (promote) public and private investment.” Indeed, mobility is what drives economic growth, and yet transportation can also spawn a host of problems that society can ignore at its peril. Peñalosa rued that 1.2 million lives are lost every year in traffic accidents. Of these, 270,000 are killed walking in sidewalks or on the Read More …

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. Asia Pacific Sales Director Sebastien Henry and Lamborghini Manila Sales Manager Enrique Jarlego II MANILA, Philippines – A new era is beginning for Automobili Lamborghini and the luxury super sports car segment. It’s called the Huracán and with it, Lamborghini is not only presenting the successor to the iconic Gallardo, it is also redefining the benchmark for luxury super sports cars in this segment. With 14,022 units produced, the Gallardo was the most successful Lamborghini model ever made. During its ten-year production run, it took the brand into a completely new dimension. And now, in true Lamborghini tradition, the successor to the Gallardo also takes its name from the world of bullfighting: Huracán was a fighting bull of the Spanish Conte de la Patilla breed that fought in August 1879 in Alicante. The mighty bull’s unyielding character made him invincible. With its pure and unique design, an innovative technology package, and outstanding dynamics, the Huracán offers a super sports car experience on a whole new level. The Huracán combines absolute performance with easy-to drive road behavior and both luxurious and sport-oriented finish. With the Huracán, Lamborghini is taking a big step into the future, and enhancing the brand’s illustrious history with the next automotive legend. The ceremony was held last November 26 in the presence of Sebastien Henry, Head of Southeast Asia of Automobili Lamborghini, who unveiled and presented the Huracán for the first time to Manila. The official world debut took place during the 2014 Geneva Read More …