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By Brian Afuang
IN a diverse mix—if not mix-up—of vehicle models, categories and
testing methods, Subaru emerged the big winner in the 2008 Car of
the Year-Philippines (CoTY-P) awards as the new Forester 2.5 XT won
best four-wheel drive crossover/wagon and the Impreza WRX STI as the
best sports car/sedan. The Impreza WRX STI also took the event’s
top award, having been named the 2008 Car of the Year.
In 2007 the previous-generation Forester also
won best crossover/wagon while the old-model Impreza WRX took the
best sports car/sedan honors. The Subaru vehicles that won this year
are genuine introduced-in-2008 models.
Nicky Mariano, general manager of Motor Image
Pilipinas, the country’s official distributor of Subaru vehicles,
expressed surprise at the Impreza WRX STI’s car-of-the-year
honors, saying “winning a category is a big thing for us
already.” He added, “It is an honor to win the award given the
competitors that had to be overcome. This win further solidifies our
claim that the Impreza is the best all-around performer.”
Kia also scored big in this year’s CoTY-P as
it harvested three awards; the Picanto MT DLX won as best basic
subcompact, the Carens EX AT as best compact van/MPV and the
Carnival EX as best luxury van/MPV.
Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota
each took two category honors. The Mercedes-Benz C 200 and ML 350
won as best luxury sedan and best ultra luxury crossover/wagon,
respectively; the Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 CVT and Montero Sport 3.2
GLS won as best two-wheel drive crossover/wagon and best executive
SUV; the Nissan Grand Livina and Frontier Navara MT won as best
executive van/MPV and best two-wheel drive pickup; and the Toyota
Vios 1.5 G MT and Hilux DSL AT won as best executive subcompact and
best four-wheel drive pickup.
In the compact-car category, the Hyundai i30
bested its rivals; the Mazda 6 won best midsize car; the Jaguar XJ
best ultra luxury sedan; the Ford Expedition best ultra luxury SUV;
the Range Rover Sport best exotic SUV; the Volvo XC70 best luxury
crossover/wagon; and the Jeep Commander took home luxury SUV honors.
Numerous special awards were also handed out,
which include the Lifetime Achievement citation to Philippine motor
sports legend Pocholo Ramirez. Veteran automotive journalist and
Ramirez’s cohost in the Motoring Today TV program, Ray Butch
Gamboa, awarded the citation to Kookie Ramirez, who received it in
behalf of his father. In a taped acceptance speech, an emotional
Ramirez said, “It feels different when your colleagues in the
motoring industry give you an award for your efforts. I am at a loss
for words about how I exactly feel right now.”
For its part, the CoTY-P organizer, the Car
Awards Group Inc. (CAGI), said it “had a hard time” in
determining this year’s winners. “The sheer number of cars that
participated this year was really a challenge to the CAGI members.
We had to sacrifice four consecutive weekends with our families to
wrap up the testing schedule in accordance with our time frame.
Looking back, the strong support of the CAGI members and the
automotive industry is a testament to the credibility and respect
prevailing in our ranks. This year’s testing is a momentous
footnote to CoTY-P’s history,” said CAGI President Ira
Panganiban.
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