2016 Isuzu mu-X’s drive & ride and island hopping
Apart from their fast- selling trucks, which are much preferred by those that are deep into the professional commitment to transport goods, services and people, Isuzu
Philippines Corporation (IPC) now has its midsize SUV, the Isuzu mu-X that’s likewise surging in their sales charts breaking records.
With the market’s unprecedented acceptance after last year’s launch of the nominated heir to the similarly successful Isuzu Alterra, IPC now introduces the 2016 Isuzu mu-X 3.0L VGS with a maximum horsepower rating of 163 Ps and maximum torque of 380Nm churning out of a common rail direct injection and an intercooled Variable Geometry System (VGS) turbocharged powertrain.
To give the motoring media an up close and personal hands on experience with the
2016 Isuzu mu-X, IPC organized a drive and ride event last week, April 6 to 8 in the island paradise of Palawan with 14 journalists hosted by IPC executives headed by no less than its president, Mr. Hajime Koso joined by evp,
Mr. Takashi Tomita and senior vice president Mr. Art Balmadrid with product development
manager Mr. Joseph Bautista.
“This event, mainly complemented by the 2016 Isuzu mu-X 3.0L VGS and this province, has proven its point: that the vehicle is eyed to be closed to the heart of every traveler and that its power would keep one’s heart at beating fast,” said Koso-san
“We are proud that this vehicle was brought along this side of the world so that many can enjoy its perks
and abilities,” the motoring media’s well-liked IPC president added.
From the airport the fleet of 2016 Isuzu mu-X convoyed to the island safari of Calauit located at the northern tip of Busuanga. In this long grueling 75 kilometer-drive and ride, the IPC flagship went through a tough test of engine performance, riding comfort, maneuverability as the journalists made the 2016 Isuzu mu-X prove true all its feature claims. And indeed it passed all the torturing tests with flying colors after going through a variety of road surfaces from smooth, dusty to gravel-filled to rough roads to no roads at all.
The comfortably punishing and demanding drive and ride experience was followed by a welcome lunch with some of the most exotic animals in the world like giraffes, zebras and the Calamian mouse deer to name some within the Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary. Being an avid and passionate animal lover I had mixed emotions while there—ecstatic being with these exotics that I rarely see but very sad as I get to learn that some of these beautiful animals fall prey to humans for their meat’s commercial value. But then that’s another story, but indeed a disturbing one for which I intend to give some inches in my Business & Leisure column, which appears here at the Star every Saturday. Right after lunch at the Calauit Wildlife Sanctuary, we continued with the test drive and ride. Although shorter at 43 kilometers, at least we were already bound for our place of rest, the Busuanga Bay Lodge.
After the first day’s demanding test drive was the second day’s welldeserved R&R, which included a long de-stressing and recharging boat ride in the serene and placid waters of Palawan and an island and beach tour of Banul Beach, Barracuda Lake, Atwayan
Beach, Kayangan Lake and Siete Pecados. The day was capped with an evening of singing and the ever-present bottles of Macallan single malt.
The public will be able to have its own test drive experience with the 2016 Isuzu mu-X including its new exciting variant together with other brand new vehicle models from the country’s major automobile manufacturers and importers during the Auto Focus Summer Test Drive Festival at the SM Mall of Asia on April 21 to 24. Results of “on site” voting for “Auto of the
Year” We conducted a 4-day “on site” voting during the MIAS for the Auto Focus Automobile of the Year-People’s Choice Awards and here are the public’s Top 10 choices. These votes shall be included in the present tally.
Standard 1. Subaru WRX STI (Sports Car) Votes 234 2. Ford Ranger (Pickup) Votes 147 3. Mitsubishi Montero Sport
(Midsize SUV) Votes 143 4. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
(Large SUV) Votes 130 5. Toyota 86 (Sports Car) Votes 124 6. Mazda MX-5 (Sports Car) Votes 116 7. Mitsubishi Lancer EX (Compact) Votes 88 8. Mazda Mazda 3 (Compact) Votes 83 9. Honda Civic (Compact) Votes 65 10. Toyota Fortuner (Midsize SUV) Votes 62
Luxury 1. Lamborghini Aventador
(Luxury Sports Car) Votes 290 2. Porsche 911 Carrera S
(Luxury Sports Car) Votes 212 3. Ford Mustang (Luxury Sports Car) Votes 207 4. BMW M4 (Luxury Sports Car) Votes 121 5. Mercedes-Benz SLC 200 AMG Line
(Luxury Sports Car) Votes 120 6. Lexus RCF (Luxury Sports Car) Votes 117 7. Dodge Challenger SRT
(Luxury Sports Car) Votes 115 8. Lamborghini Huracan
(Luxury Sports Car) Votes 111 9. Mini MINI Cooper
(Luxury Subcompact) Votes 83 10. Bentley Continental GT
(Luxury Sports Car) Votes 78
The next “on site” voting shall be held during
the Auto Focus Summer Test Drive Festival at
the MOA.
On line voting continues on www.autofocus.com.ph with daily electronic raffles giving lucky voters items of value as prizes.
Vote for your favorite automobiles via your cellphone and win a prize.
Happy Motoring!!!