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ISUZU
Philippines Corp. invited on March 14 and 15 members of
the motoring and lifestyle media to a special event
called “Great Drive, Great Life,” an out-of-town driving
activity and fun competition designed to show the merits
of the 2008 Isuzu Alterra as a recreational vehicle that
is ideal for travel and leisure for the whole family. In
the past, Isuzu had successfully presented the Alterra
as a highly capable lifestyle as well as off-road
vehicle during its long drives with journalists. This
time around, it was the Alterra’s competence as a
comfortable on-road cruiser that was put in the
spotlight.
The
participants gathered for takeoff at Tiendesitas in
Ortigas Center, Pasig City. From there, they drove the
fleet of Alterras—all fueled by Petron Diesel Max and
loaded with personal items from Unilever
Philippines—all
the way to the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga.
In
Clark, participants competed in the first contest of the
event, the off-road gymkhana. The journalists drove the
2008 Isuzu Alterra through an off-road course that
required skill and precision. The contest was about
accuracy, not speed. With a set number of points given
at the start of the course, the drivers had to finish
the course within the prescribed period of time.
Demerits were also handed out for every failed execution
of the designated maneuvers.
The
group then proceeded to the Eagle Sports Shooting Club
and Range, where they engaged each other in the next
contest, the sports clay shooting. Using a shotgun, the
participants aimed at clay pigeons. Every successful
shot out of the five official shots given to each
shooter was worth a point.
Next,
the group headed to the Subic Bay Yacht Club via the
newly completed Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).
This marked the first time that an auto manufacturer was
allowed to hold an event at the completed SCTEx, which
had not yet opened to the public at the time of Isuzu’s
activity.
Following a relaxing lunch cruise, the competing teams
went sailing, racing each other aboard four-man
sailboats. They sailed their boats to a buoy located
some 300 meters from the shore and back. The winners
earned predetermined points for this contest.
After
the sailing competition, the group drove to the El
Kabayo stables, where they were pitted against each
other in the final contest of the event—horseback
riding. Straddling a horse, the competitors were
involved in a barrel race relay that saw them take turns
running around a circular course, wherein the teams
received points based on their total times.
The
cumulative points garnered from all four activities
determined the event’s overall winners.
“Obviously, we wanted to show our customers that there
are so many fun outdoor activities that you can do with
the 2008 Isuzu Alterra,” said IPC president Keiji
Takeda. “While it’s true that our popular SUV is a
dependable workhorse, we are also confident that it is
ideal for whole families as they engage in recreational
activities and leisure trips. Which is precisely why it
has been voted the best large SUV for two consecutive
years in the Petron Extra Unleaded Auto Focus People’s
Choice Awards.”
The 2008
Isuzu Alterra—aside from being powered by a hardworking,
fuel-efficient and Euro-III compliant 3.0-liter 4JJ1-TC
iTEQ common-rail direct-injection turbodiesel—is now
equipped with more features to make road trips more
pleasant for the family. These include a new JVC AVX33
DVD player that boasts of a 3.5-inch monitor, Dolby
digital decoder, iPod connectivity, 5.1-channel digital
surround speaker system and a slim 180-watt subwoofer at
the back. There is also a rear spoiler-installed camera
that feeds images into the audiovisual system’s
high-resolution monitor.
Outside,
the side mirrors have a European design. They are now
power-folding, while the driver’s side view is also
equipped with a wide-angle mirror for better visibility.
Rounding out the special features of the 2008 Alterra
are the transmitter-integrated key for keyless entry and
chromed door handles for a more upscale look and feel. |
