THE Tokyo Motor Show fever is on. Next week, delegations of motoring journalists will troop to the Japanese capital—batch by batch as usual—to see for themselves the latest in vehicle technology. In general, the trip will include immersing the wordsmiths into fresh insight in industry trends and, in particular, tinkering with the concept cars.

It’s the wish of every car buff from both print and broadcast networks worth his salt to be there. In fact, it is almost a must that presence is required. Thus, an invite to the bash is as precious as a diamond-laced engagement ring given by Sean Lennon to his dream girl. Right, Sir John (a.k.a. Danny Isla)?

As in past Tokyo Motor Shows, too, the nation’s car companies, particularly the big players led by Toyota, will likewise dispatch compact contingents composed of their dealers and other suppliers that have done good business with them not only for the year about to end but also during the many years that their partnerships had been tangoing it together—harmoniously, or otherwise.

Always, the Tokyo Motor Show is one vehicle for the industry leaders, as well as the up-and-coming players, to renew warm ties with their friends, allies and other partners and, in the case of the veterans in the business, also cement a relationship forged through years of companionship.

Held once in two years, the Tokyo Motor Show began decades ago to unravel the latest in the motoring business. It intends to educate the public not only on the vagaries of car production but the latest projections and speculations in the business as well.

I have my own subjective reasons why I wish to be in the Tokyo Motor Show again.

One, I will see anew in the flesh the newest vehicle technology from virtually around the world as the Tokyo Motor Show (TMS) is only one of at least five major Motor Shows involving the globe’s major car manufacturers.

Two, I can rub elbows again with some of the top guns of the world motoring industry (since 1999, I’ve had the pleasure of talking-interviewing the ones who crafted the direction of Toyota the last 10 years or so).

Three, me and my fellow Beatlemaniacs, led by Sir John, will experience again listening to nothing but Beatles music at The Cavern in Roppongi.   Sir John and I can only pray though that the Silver Beats are still there, with the virtual look-alike of John Lennon as the group’s lead vocalist.  Even if I’d be there every night for a week, I won’t mind it all.

Four, there’s also the John Lennon Museum at Saitama City. Sir John and I had been there several times already, but the thrill never dies in us each time we visit the place—which is the only John Lennon museum of its kind in the world (built by John Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono).

Five, the TMS affords me the luxury to have generous servings of the real McCoy: genuine sushi and sashimi, washed down by hot sake. Just one night of it and I’m done. Well, Kobe beef would surely be a bonus—with Suntory to boot!

Of course, it pays that, most of the time during the TMS, I also see such great guys like Vince Socco popping out from nowhere.  It was Vince, now one of Toyota’s top decision-makers in the Asia-Pacific region, who set the benchmark on how the industry should properly coexist with media people.  Without Vince, I have no idea where the media-industry relations would be right now.

Stubborn, stupid expressway drivers

I AGREE with Ray Butch “Elvis” Gamboa, the face of motoring television in the country.

In his column, Motoring Today this week, he said drivers occupying the innermost lane should give way when a car directly behind wants to overtake.

Often, we encounter people refusing to move out of the fast lane, using the stupid line: “Why should I give way when I’m following the speed limit anyway?”

Heeding the speed limit is one thing, but knowing how to read is another.  While you may be correct in the “speed limit” thing, there’s also a sign that reads, “Left Lane is For Overtaking Only.”

Now, if you don’t understand English, my advice is, yes, to quote Elvis, “Use your common sense.”

Obviously, the one honking behind you, flashing his lights behind you, wants to overtake you.  It’s elementary courtesy that you should give way and not stick to your stupid line that “I’m within the speed limit, so why should I move over?”

Moving out of the fast lane is as normal as breathing, if not as easy as combing your hair.  Why not do it for the sake of logic, if not in the name of safety itself?

Mayor’s call from Baguio

Peter Rey Bautista, the youthful, SUV-driving mayor of Baguio City, has expressed his gratitude to all those who had sent help, material or otherwise, to victims of typhoon Pepeng.

“Through you, I wish to express my thanks for highlighting Baguio on national papers and in international news. It has helped bring needed relief goods and help from all over the world.  However, many organizers for conventions have called in to cancel their reservations.  It will further adversely affect livelihood of our people and our economy. Hope we can now highlight more positive news about Baguio and let the people know that major city and tourism structures have not been affected.  Together, let us help Baguio.  Together, we shall overcome.  By God’s grace and by His power.”

As I write this, two of the zigzags going up Baguio have been opened to the public: Naguilian Highway and the Marcos Zigzag.  Kennon Road is said to also open shortly.

Being rushed for repairs is the Bued Bridge, the main artery connecting Pangasinan and La Union that also serves as the gateway to Baguio coming from Central-Southern Luzon.

But until the bridge is finally fully operational, one can go to Baguio via Mangatarem, Pangasinan, by turning left in Tarlac en route to Camiling.  From Mangatarem, you go straight to Lingayen, Pangasinan, then to Dagupan all the way to the town of San Fabian and, from there, make a right to McArthur Highway in Damortis, La Union.  From Damortis to Rosario, La Union, it will not take you 30 minutes to get to the Marcos Zigzag.  It should be easy from there going up to Baguio.

One can also make a left in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, going to the famed Manaoag town.  After Manaoag, you pass San Jacinto town and, before hitting Mangaldan, turn right going to San Fabian.  And that would bring you to Damortis all the way to Rosario for the Marcos Zigzag.

Baguio is such a lovely city, a landmark in the beautiful Philippine landscape, that we shouldn’t just abandon it for one nasty typhoon.

In fact, I’ve done my own checking.  And I have yet to hear one participating team canceling its reservation for the Fil-Am Golf Championship.

Touted at one time by the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest golf tournament in the world for its sheer number of participants, the Fil-Am, began in 1949, is scheduled at both Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club from November 24 to December 12. It’s been such a long time for me to be working in the tournament as a rules man, together with my good neighbor, Jake P. Ayson.

But then, come to think of it, if it’s Baguio we are talking about here, do we have the luxury of entertaining second thoughts about not pursuing plans originally planned?

Not me.

A car that doubles as a boat

THIS one would have been perfect for the monstrous floods that hit the metropolis recently.  It’s a story about a car that doubles as a boat. I read it at Yahoo. Here:

“A California company has combined a Corvette with a luxury speedboat and thrown in some jet ski to create a holy trinity of awesomeness it calls the WaterCar Python.

“For around $170,000, you can pick up a Python rolling chassis and install a General Motors LS series engine of your choosing—from a used LS1 to the same mind-bendingly powerful LS9 found in the Corvette ZR1. Choose that level of insanity and WaterCar estimates the engine and transaxle installation should run an additional $30 to $50K.

“Once installed, the Python will make short work of your trip to the boat launch with an average zero to 60 time of 4.5 seconds. Once you get to the yacht club, stun your high-society friends by driving the Python straight into the water, pressing one button to retract the wheels and another to start the jet. You’ll be gliding on a bright blue highway in seconds. Far from a glorified Amphicar, this baby can do 60 mph on the water.

“On paper, the Python appears to be twice as fast on the water than its closest competitor, the Gibbs Aquada. We wonder how long it will be before someone smashes Sir Richard Branson’s record of crossing the English Channel in an amphibious automobile that he set in his Aquada back in 2004.”

Gibo should order a dozen of it now?

PEE STOP. Congratulations to Volvo, whose XC60 continues to rake it in!  From 60 units sold as of June since its introduction in the country, it has now registered staggering sales records.  Kudos to Albert Arcilla, the Viking Cars’ top honcho…Tonight is the night as the Auto Focus Awards will be finally unraveled.  I can see Ray Butch “Elvis” Gamboa grinning from ear to ear this early as he sees another smashingly successful event for his babe of many years now…Hugs, too, to Mary Ann Reyes, the Philippine Star columnist, who scored her first hole-in-one during the BIAP Golf Cup at Southwoods Legends. Although there was no prize allotted for the feat (usually a car), BIAP president JB Baylon gave Mary Ann an instant P100,000!  Gleng mo rin, JB!

AFTER the recent calamity caused by Mother Nature, it is not surprising when one wonders if all that talk about climate change, global warming and the greenhouse effect was the main reason for typhoon Ondoy’s devastation. And if it was, then we would have been truly part of the problem driving around in our wonderful cars that emit so much carbon and other pollutants.

This writer is just glad that automobile manufacturers have already produced alternative-powered vehicles that are environment-friendly. Such a car is the now-popular Toyota Prius.

The Prius is the first hybrid electric- and gas-powered car that came into commercial production in the late ’90s. Toyota prides itself in the knowledge that when environmental awareness was seeping into the consciousness of car owners, they were able to deliver a product that appealed to that new taste.

Driving the Prius was a delight indeed. Before the strange tempest befell Metro Manila, Toyota gave this writer the opportunity to drive one of its test units to satisfy his curiosity about the hybrid car.

First, the Prius is powered by a revolutionary Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD). This allows the car to run on electric motor or gas engine or even both at the same time if need be. The electric motor is powered by a set of batteries that enable it to move without emissions. It is also the quietest engine that this writer knows of. When the battery goes down, the gas engine automatically kicks in to take over the job.

The switchover from the electric motor to gas engine is seamless and almost unnoticed. This is because of the management system, which controls the car’s engines. You can see it on the dashboard display that also shows the other functions of the car.

The Prius’s electric motor generates up to 80 horses of power, while the gas engine is a 1.8-liter 16-valve VVT-i that feeds up to 100 hp. This combo is enough to satisfy the regular driving needs of a typical urban motorist driving to work. It also fulfills his need to be environment-friendly.

Another feature of the Prius is the regenerative braking system. Here, kinetic energy is recovered from the heat produced by the brakes and then stored into the battery of the electric motor to be used when the car is on electric mode.

There are three driving modes for the Prius. The “eco” mode is for fuel efficiency and it works when the computer system of the car assists the driver in achieving maximum fuel consumption efficiency. There is also the “EV” or electric vehicle mode wherein the car runs purely on its electric motor. Finally there is the “power” mode, which allows the car to be driven in a more powerful manner if the driver feels the need for a faster car.

Inside the Prius, one will be surprised with the level of comfort and luxury Toyota has poured into it. The fabrics are of high quality and the leather seats are very comfortable to plop into. Leg room has been sufficiently addressed and the dashboard has that futuristic look complementing the presentation of the Prius as the car of tomorrow. Aircon, sound system and other in-car amenities were not spared the luxury to ensure that a wonderful drive is exacted from the Prius.

From the outside, the Prius is definitely a car of the 22nd century. Its lines are sleek and aerodynamic in influence. The short hood flows down into the grille and then down to the bumper in one motion. The rear has a double backlight improving rear visibility with vertical tail lamps and LED brake lights.

But for all its beauty and wonder, and even its environmentally correct design, the Prius is not a cheap car. Priced at P2.25 million, it is roughly the equivalent of an entry-level Subaru or high-end Mitsubishi Lancer. Still, the ability to brag that one is helping out the environment may mean a lot to those suffering the wrath of Ondoy.

WHEN you mention the words “Mercedes-Benz E-Class,” the image that comes to mind is of a town car that one can use to go around urban areas in style, but delivers forward performance that rivals its C-Class siblings.

But when you mix in the word “coupe,” you have an automobile meant for serious traveling, especially when the roads are unknown and time is pressing.

Such is the inherent allure of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe.

Available locally as an E350 Coupe AMG Sport, the car is a serious traveler, not just meant for transport. You see it in the exterior package, which resembles its E-Class saloon sibling front and rear, but with side profiles resembling the CL-Class coupes. You’re aware that there’s no B-pillar to interrupt the arc of this coupe’s roof line, and so the roof seems properly self-indulgent in that daring-the-boundaries-of-physics way.

You can also see the “serious traveler” motif in the cabin. The driving position is full size and the view over the hood is expansive. The squarish dash (derived from the current C-Class) has been carved away to enhance the feeling of interior spaciousness. You can enjoy spirited driving or calm cruising via the Comand (COckpit MAnagement and Navigational Device) system, which is Bluetooth-ready and totes a small screen above the middle aircon vents. The Comand system also has a simple layout for the steering wheel Ice (in-car entertainment) controls, and clarity that can rival the Bose ICE on the Chrysler 300C 3.5L V6. And while the graceful Italian-esque sweep of the immediate precursor E-Class interior style has given way to a more geometric, masculine look mandated by new Mercedes design chief Gorden Wagener, this car’s interior is a very nice place to be.

Perhaps the pinnacle of the coupe’s character can be found in its forward means of self-propulsion. It may not be as hard hitting as its US market-only E550 brethren, but the 3.5L V6 accelerates resolutely from low revs up to its 6,250-rpm redline. The seven-speed slushbox is also up to the task as well, featuring a 7G-Tronic manual mode (with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters) for raised shift points should the driver have a serious speed itch to scratch. The AMG sport steering wheel, Artico leather-lined front seats (with pronounced side bolsters that keep one’s bum in place during hard cornering) and brushed stainless-steel pedals (with rubber studs) add further to the coupe’s thrilling driving experience.

Speaking of cornering, the car’s low stance makes road holding a given instead of an adventure. When it jounces over a bump or rolls into a corner, the body moves once and then settles into position and it’s ready for what’s next. It picks up its feet over any bump, delivering a supple ride. 

The serious traveler will definitely need some punch when it comes to safety features, and this is where the E350 Coupe also delivers. Coming standard is a drowsiness detection system (billed as Attention Assist) that warns the driver (at 80 to 180 kph) as soon as certain sensors within the ECU (electronic control unit) detect signs of drowsiness or inattention. These sensors constantly analyze driving behavior and check for any changes compared with the driver profile individually determined previously. There’s also an intelligent lighting system (that swivels headlight beams five to ten degrees in either lateral direction at night for increased darkness visibility), tire pressure monitors, multiple airbags and crash-responsive head restraints.

The E350 Coupe has a lot of style, yet it fulfills its mission with a satisfying lack of pretense, and makes it a serious consideration for a premium brand car.