To A New Level: 2024 Philippine International Motor Show
What we saw, heard, and felt at the 9th edition of the Philippine International Motor Show
It’s hard to believe that the Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) has already opened at the World Trade Center – Metro Manila for the 9th edition. Apart from the first few stagings which happened on an annual basis, the current iteration only happens every other year.
The 2022 edition of the premiere show hosted by the Chamber of Automobile Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) was a comeback and a reunion of sorts after certain global events in 2020. But now in 2024, it’s time to get back to business as it should be, as every one of the 17 major brands came out big, and made it very worthwhile to brave the challenges and even the weather.
Now that the skies are showing a bit more blue, let’s go through what we saw at the 2024 Philippine International Motor Show from a CAMPI that is also bigger than ever.
When you enter the main hall from the left side, you’ll find Kia’s gorgeous booth where the cars really stand out because of the darker aesthetic of the surroundings. It really makes the vehicles pop, as Kia Philippines had the Sorento SUV, the Sonet subcompact crossover, and the new-look Carnival minivan in all white. Even the EV6 in its shade of gray stands out.
The star of the booth is the EV9 in a beautiful shade of Ocean Blue; a color befitting a pure electric SUV that promises to change what customers can expect from a premium 4x4 EV. Yes, Kia ticked all the option boxes on the spec sheet for the EV9, and they’re offering it for PHP 5.888 million.
If you’re front and center, then you take the opportunity to shine. That’s exactly what Chery did at PIMS, as they came out with a lineup that showcases the new direction they have with design and technology.
The new Tiggo 2 Pro now has a sleek redesign with a new sporty front end and a revamped cabin aesthetic, all while maintaining a very attractive price point from PHP 708k to PHP 818k if you buy in cash. There’s also the new look Tiggo 5X Pro, but they’re not selling it yet because it’s still a preview.
If you’re looking at something electrified, the Tiggo 7 Pro is also there in plug-in hybrid form.
If there was a booth full of surprises, it’s Honda. They have a joint effort with the motorcycle arm in the market (which is a separate company) which is why you’ll see the CBR 1000RR-R Fireblade SP, as well as the EM1 e: electric scooter. But the main draw is the automobile division which also had a few surprises.
Honda finally announced the prices for the hybrid variant of the Civic. The ultra-efficient (and fun) RS e:HEV will retail for PHP 1,990,000. Honda also brought out a limited edition variant of the CR-V V Turbo, as it gets a rather extensive list of enhancements from the Honda accessory portfolio like chrome finishers, seat back protection, spoiler, chin, rear skirt, and more.
But the big draw was the Mugen Civic Type R Group A. This is a kitted version of the FL5 which gets a set of Mugen wheels, Mugen front splitter, Mugen side skirts, Mugen diffuser, Mugen exhaust, and the much larger Mugen wing. It’ll set you back almost PHP 5 million, and they’re only offering 5 units… all of which are spoken for.
All around the Ford booth are their crowd pleasers: models that really do well in our market. The Explorer is there and while it may not have big numbers, it’s still big on space. There’s also the Territory which is currently Ford’s best-selling model (if not one of) because it offers more size and features for the price.
The Everest is also there in the range-topping Platinum variant as well as the Ranger… well, two Rangers. That’s because the other Ranger at the booth was a new variant of the Raptor: the V6.
Yes, Ford Philippines has listened to the clamor from customers (and from AutoIndustriya readers) and brought in the V6 turbo gasoline variant of the Raptor. It’s a proper beast of a vehicle with almost 400 horsepower that we got to drive in Vietnam last year. And the best part: they’re offering it for PHP 2.739M.
MAZDA
This time around, Mazda didn’t build a mountain for their models because they believed their vehicles could truly stand apart. And they’re not kidding.
They have the only car with a rotary engine at the main hall (Mazda does own the patent) in the MX-30 R-EV. No, the MX-30 is not for sale yet, but the Autoexe packages for the CX-60, the MX-5, and the Mazda3 most definitely are. These upgrades enhance the feel and handling performance (perhaps even more) of Mazda’s like up and are now available.
The true star of the booth at Mazda has to be the custom MX-5 race car that is hanging vertically on the wall. It’s a full carbon fiber body build inspired by the great #55 Mazda race car, and they’ll be racing it on the endurance events.
In the last few motor shows, Jetour really captured a lot of attention, and this PIMS was definitely an interesting one.
They debuted the X50 crossover; it’s their B-SUV and is packed with a lot of features, including Apple Carplay and Android Auto. More importantly, it starts at PHP 888k for the manual transmission variant.
There’s also Dashing i-DM which is the plug-in electrified version of the Dashing crossover, but what really drew people to the booth was the T2 Terminator. Arnie wasn’t there, but the SUV certainly made a big impression.
MG
We had expected MG (now under SAIC) to shine at WTC for what would be the brand’s first PIMS, but instead, they went for a very minimalist approach compared to their previous appearances at MIAS. That is rather unusual especially since PIMS happens every two years, and other brands pull out all the stops to really outshine each other; that’s just competition.
Regardless, MG did bring out their line with the G50 Plus, the hybrid version of the MG3, the neat-looking MG One, as well as the scissor-door Cyberster EV. What they really wanted to highlight was the preview of the all-new HS in PHEV form.
They say the MG HS will go on sale sometime in January.
Over at BMW, they’re not about having big booths or fancy presentations; rather, they let their cars do more of the talking.
They have the XM which is a large plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The version they have at the show is the Label Red which is the most powerful version of the XM, and it retails for almost PHP 19 million. BMW also has the Z4 M40i convertible there, and it’s available for order.
The main draw is the legacy 5 Series, but it doesn’t have an engine and neither is it a sedan. That’s because what they brought was the i5 M60 Touring which is the pure EV and wagon version of the venerable 5er. The vehicle retails for almost PHP 8M.
Another newcomer to PIMS is Changan, and they came out of the gate with a big reveal in the futuristic Hunter RE-EV.
Yes, it’s a pick-up truck. Yes, it’s a range-extender EV with a 2.0L turbo gasoline. That means it can dive well over 1,000 kilometers on a full tank and full charge and can deliver V2L capability; which makes it perfect for camping. Actually, during the second day of PIMS, they updated the vehicle on display with a rooftop tent and other camping accouterments.
Changan also had the rest of their models at the show with the CS35 Plus as well as the UNI-T Midnight Edition which is limited to 10 units.
SUZUKI
The brand may be known for small cars, but that only means they fit more in the booth. Suzuki had the Ertiga, the XL7, S-Presso, and even the EVX concept which they debuted in India a few months ago.
What had a lot of people interested at the Suzuki booth were the two examples of the Suzuki Jimny Rhino. It’s a kitted and decaled version, but it does look good. And they have the 3-door and 5-door versions of the Jimny Rhino.
DAEWOO BUS
Normally we don’t see too many large commercial vehicles inside the main hall at PIMS, but Daewoo Bus wanted to make a big impression.
They came into the show with a large bus, as well as two examples of the modern PUV that they are pitching to cooperatives and independent operators.
In past editions of PIMS, we typically aren’t surprised by Isuzu… but not this year.
Center stage is the electric version of the N-Series. It’s not a launch, but it shows that Isuzu has the technology when they make the decision to introduce electric mobility for business logistics. They also have a Traviz that has been built as a van; a model that many loyal Isuzu customers will certainly be interested in.
What caught our attention were the two D-Max units and the sole mu-X. There’s a standard D-Max along with another that is kitted out for off-road and camping. A lot of automakers really are exploring the popularity of taking your vehicle out for an adventure.
The mu-X, however, is something that could really be popular in the market, as they call it the Executive Edition. Basically, they leveled up the mu-X with a nice set of wheels, but also upgraded the interior by removing the rear seats and fitting two power relaxation seats with massage and an ottoman. Yes, the VIP treatment.
UAAGI also had a few surprises at PIMS, as they showcased the Traveller Sierra van which is an EV. They didn’t mention a range because it’s a preview, but it should have potential should they push through.
For you campers, the massive Foton Tunland pick-up has been kitted with the latest in camping and off-road gear for your next outdoor excursion.
What was truly a surprise was the Wonder; a small pick-up truck that will be available in single and dual cab with a 1.6L gasoline engine. Clearly, this is intended to compete against the likes of the Liteace and Carry.
HYUNDAI
If sister brand Kia likes to go for dark aesthetics, Hyundai likes to go for much brighter aesthetics in their booth.
They showcased their Stargazer X, the popular Staria van, as well as the hybrid versions of the Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe. We had wanted to see the robot dog called Spot, but we heard he was being a bit shy… at least electronically shy given the space constraints.
But what you won’t miss at the Hyundai booth is the bright blue Elantra N with the 2.0L turbo and 280 PS. Right beside it, are two very serious simulator rigs where you can test your skills on a virtual Batangas Racing Circuit.
Drawing big crowds at PIMS was Nissan because they really gave the crowdgoers what they wanted to see even though many were previews.
To start, they revealed the Nissan Z NISMO; the even higher performance variant of the Z. It has 420 PS, a NISMO-tuned 9-speed auto, NISMO seats, a striking shade of gray, and more. The Z NISMO retails for PHP 4.668M.
Over in the back, they had the Nissan Magnite; a small turbocharged crossover that will surely excite those looking for a first car from a trusted brand. But a lot of people really checked out the Nissan X-Trail e-Power which is being evaluated for launch in the Philippines. Hopefully, that happens soon.
But in the corner is a strange aquarium-type display. And inside is an all-new Nissan Patrol, albeit camouflaged. They’re not launching it yet, but we’re definitely interested.
Being the number one automaker in the country means they cannot be outdone, and Toyota certainly took it to a new level because they showed us the future. The Kayoibako concept captured our attention, as it shows how the footprint of an EV can be maximized to deliver the best space and versatility. This’ll be really cool if they push through with a production model.
The other is the BZ4X; a production EV from Toyota, but one that they haven’t launched yet in the Philippines. Currently, the only BEV from Toyota here in the market is the Lexus RZ450e; the upscale sister model of the BZ4X.
They also displayed the Toyota Corolla Cross H2 Concept and the all-new Toyota Camry HEV.
However, people were really checking out the three customized variants of the upcoming Toyota Tamaraw. One was fitted sporty-style with a trailer, ATV, and racing seats. Another was fitted to be more of an RV. The other was all business as a café food truck.
It was Mitsubishi, however, that really made history at PIMS. Yes, they had the Triton, the Triton AXCR, the XForce, and the Xpander Cross Outdoor Edition, but it was the fact that they became the first automobile marque to hold a world premiere at a Philippine motor show.
The vehicle they debuted was the DST Concept; an SUV that they say will use a monocoque platform while having the off-road performance that Mitsubishi is known for. They’re not saying what kind of powertrain it will have, but we know it will have three rows of seating.
THE FUTURE
The Philippine International Motor Show has truly taken it to a new level. The organization, the timing, the management, and the cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and concepts offered a great mix for everyone. And from here on out, we can only expect more and better. The only real limiting factor is the venue and how to enhance the showgoing experience, but that’s a conversation for a different time.
The 9th Philippine International Motor Show runs until Sunday, October 27.
