Boxer Madness 5: Over 400 Subaru vehicles gather for epic meet
Boxer engines take over Parqal lifestyle mall
Let’s get ready to rumble.
Normally, that catchphrase signifies the start of a boxing match. But last weekend, that was the proper way to describe the signature sound of the “boxers” that gathered at the open spaces of Parqal Mall in Aseana City.
Subaru vehicles of different models showed up for the fifth edition of Boxer Madness, presented by Subaru Club Philippines, Atom Tech by HG Autoworks, and Motor Image Pilipinas. The largest gathering of the Subaru community in the country saw over 400 participants, with showroom stock examples and tasteful builds ranging from mild to wild.
The newer VA and VB generations of the WRX were found on almost every spot of the venue, but older Impreza-based models also had their fair share of appearances at this year’s event.
We spotted a few examples of the Impreza from the Group A WRC days, and there were also those coming from the generation of the “Bug-eye”, “Blob-eye”, and “Hawk-eye”.
Regardless of the badge, Boxer Madness 5 warmly welcomed members of the 86-BRZ club to the event. The original 2.0-liter boxer and the new generation rear wheel drive “Toyobarus” with the FA24 were in attendance and occupied a large space of the event area.
In the Subaru lineup, the Forester has always served a good balance between performance and practicality. This was evidently shown at the event where a good number of Forester XTs carried performance mods similar to the Impreza-based WRX and WRX STIs, while other owners went for an outdoor theme by fitting their Foresters with all-terrain tires and mudflaps.
Speaking of the outdoors, overlanding has become a popular recreational activity in the country. With Subaru vehicles known for its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, some owners decided to head towards the overland build direction with dressed-up examples of the XV, Crosstrek, and even the larger Outback crossover sporting rooftop and awning tents.
The Subarus present at this year’s Boxer Madness 5 are indeed very diverse, but perhaps two of the wildest customization jobs we spotted at the event were found at the Atom Tech by HG Autoworks booth. One is a white WRX STI with a Chargespeed body kit, while the other is a WR Blue BRZ fitted with a Varis Arising kit.
Both cars feature air suspension and Advan wheels, but the most striking detail of the WRX STI and BRZ are their liveries inspired by the Japanese mecha anime series called Evangelion. As we found out during the event, the two cars are actually owned by a couple who are long-time members of SCP.
We asked the couple about what SCP members enjoy the most about the club aside from the shared love for Subaru vehicles, and it was apparent that it’s the bonding and camaraderie formed by the members through the fun-filled games, raffle draws, and entertainment segments.
One of the activities featured groups of SCP members trying to fill the most number of people inside a Subaru Forester, in which the winning team was amazingly able to fit in 19 individuals.
As a way of giving back to the community, Boxer Madness 5 also held a bloodletting drive for young patients in need at the National Children’s Hospital.
When the event drew to a close late in the evening, there was only one thing on our mind. And perhaps, most of those who attended may also be thinking the same. We're curious about what’s in store, and we look forward to more new boxers ready to rumble at the next installment of Boxer Madness.
