DURING the briefing/send-off party for the journalists invited by Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) to the Tokyo Motor Show now ongoing at the Makuhari Messe in the suburban Japanese capital, Sonny Guerrero was asked: “Why aren’t you joining this most important motoring event in Asia?”

Sonny’s answer was, “Taong bahay kami.”

Typically Filipino, this thing called “Taong bahay.” (Tending the fort while everybody’s away.)

At the occasion highlighted by a sumptuous lunch at The Bonifacio High Street’s Stock Market, Sonny, the diminutive, strong-willed senior vice president for TMP marketing, was with Raymond Rodriguez (first VP for vehicle sales and operations), Jing Atienza (VP for vehicle sales and operations), Dax Avenido (advertising head) and Yuji Goto (executive VP).  Also in attendance were Danny “Sir John” Isla (Lexus Manila president) and Elijah-won Sue Marcial (public relations head).  Sir John, the delegation head, and Elijah-won, the undisputed mother hen, will shepherd the Tokyo-bound media team—a job they had superbly done in the last Tokyo Motor Show in 2007.

Sonny G, he with the inquisitive mind, asked one delegate, “On the side, what do you do after each function is completed at the Tokyo Motor Show?”

The delegate’s reply was quick: “I join Beatlemaniacs in going almost nightly to The Cavern at Roppongi, a bar where nothing but Beatles music is played live by Japanese bands.”

Hearing that, Yugi-san said, “Really? You do that nightly?”

“And also,” the delegate said. “Do you know that some Motor Shows back, I went to Saitama City with a friend to visit the John Lennon Museum, which is the only John Lennon Museum of its kind in the world?”

“Really?” said Yugi-san. “But Saitama City is a bit far from Tokyo.”              

“I know,” the delegate said. “The first time we went there, we took a taxi.”    Sonny reacted to this with his eyebrows raised. “How much did it cost you to get there by cab? I can imagine you must have spent a small fortune.”

When told him of the price, Sonny almost fell off his chair.

“You are really a certified Beatle fanatic, buddy,” Sonny said.

“You bet,” the delegate said. “And I intend to go back there again as a side trip to this year’s Tokyo Motor Show.”

Raymond, Jing, Dax—and, yes, Yugi-san—could only nod approvingly.

Cars to drive in 2014

I RECENTLY read a piece by Hannah Elliott, one of my favorite car writers in America, about cars that we would be driving five years from now. She titled it, “The Cars You’ll Drive In 2014.”

Since our topic is about new cars and the Tokyo Motor Show is again expected to unwrap the latest models and concept cars (God willing, I will still be in Tokyo as a TMP guest for the Tokyo Motor Show while you read this), Elliott’s article is worth printing. Here are excerpts:

“Everybody knows the auto world has shifted. The trick is divining which brands have got the gumption to last.

“Now, with President Obama’s new efficiency standards requiring a fleet-wide fuel economy average of 35.5 miles per gallon, automakers have their work cut out for them.

“Domestic carmakers in particular are gearing up to battle forthcoming offerings from new-to-the-US Fiat, with its diminutive 55.5-mile-per-gallon Fiat 500, and Chinese newcomer BYD, maker of the staid hybrid-electric F3DM sedan.

“Motor City had better get cracking. It takes four years to produce a market-ready vehicle, and a typical lifecycle for one model is seven years.

“Just don’t get your hopes up for lots of choices when it comes to plug-in cars. Automakers insist there’s still much to improve about the humble combustion engine, and they plan to seek out all the improvement they can get.

“Tom Plucinsky, a spokesman for BMW, says the company will bring a gasoline-powered and highly efficient X1 compact SUV to market by 2014. “There’s no breakthrough,” Plucinsky says. “It’s all little things that can add up. We’ve made big advances over the last five years or so in the efficiency of the gasoline engine, but we think that there’s another 10 percent there.

“BMW will find that 10 percent by using smaller [read: lighter], forced-induction engines that generate more power. [Plucinsky says naturally aspirated engines will be relatively nonexistent by 2014]. Ford and Mercedes have also said they’ll bring four-cylinder, turbo-charged engines to the US in the next several years.

“Audi has joined the light-engine surge as well, committing to building a next-generation S5 that weighs hundreds of pounds less than the current version. Audi’s Bradley Stertz says advances in aluminum construction will lighten its load, making it more fuel-efficient.

“In the meantime, Americans can expect a trickle of vehicles from afar. Italian-run Fiat and Alfa Romeo will likely have vehicles in US showrooms by 2014. But the real news lies further east: China.

“At the Detroit Auto Show, Chinese automakers Brilliance and BYD [“Build Your Dreams”] showed cars that could eventually reach the states, perhaps branded under a different name. Geely and Chery are other Chinese automakers with ideas for expansion outside the East.

“Lincoln Merrihew, senior vice president of business solutions for market research firm TNS, says he expects a China-made car to hit in five years or less.

“Asia leads the green-power front. Nissan is testing battery-charging networks in Arizona, saying an unnamed electric vehicle will go on sale by late 2010. Toyota says it will sell one million gas-electric hybrids per year during the 2010s.”

Hyundai Automobile of the year                                                   

CONGRATULATIONS to Hyndai Grand Starex for being voted the 2009 Automobile of the Year during the highly successful Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards held at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig. Fe Agudo, the newly minted president and CEO of Hyundai Philippines, was all smiles as she personally accepted the award from Ray Butch “Elvis” Gamboa, the architect of the awards with his chief lieutenant, Jen Pineda, as his ablest back-stopper for the ambitious project. Of course, Gerry Aquino, the chairman of the awards committee, deserves praise, too, for his expert handling of the votes tallied and his yeoman job of overseeing the compilation of ballots.

Guys, take a bow.

The fifth annual staging of the awards was organized by Sunshine Television in cooperation with Goodyear Philippines, Caltex Techron, Top Gear and Speed magazines, Solar Sports and Magic 89.9 FM.

I raise a glass to the winners, with special mention to Volvo SCX60 which was the runaway choice in the Media Category for “Best Safety Features” because, ahem!, I personally handed the trophy to Loi Concepcion. Atty. Albert Arcilla, the Volvo top gun, was supposed to join Loi on stage but he had to leave early for a previous commitment.

Again, my felicitations go to all the winners. But to the losers, you were still winners in your own right. It’s not easy producing outright winners all of the time.

Lexus and Toyota Supercars

I’M almost sure that while you are reading this, I must be gawking at with gusto the Lexus two-seat supercar and LF-Ch at the Tokyo Motor Show ending November 4.

The LF-Ch concept vehicle is a compact, five-door package equipped with the Lexus Hybrid Drive. Through this, Lexus continues to define itself as the 21st-century benchmark for progressive automotive luxury.                                            

Likewise, Toyota vehicles I must have also seen already with much awe and sampled their comfortable, possibly all-leather seats are the FT-86 Concept, Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept and the FT-EV II.

The FT-86 is a compact, rear-wheel-drive sports vehicle and the FT-EV II is the future Toyota electric vehicle, or an urban electric vehicle.

And, of course, as you read this, I could still be salivating over the TF 109, Toyota’s Formula One racing car.

The TF 109 alone is noted for its aerodynamic performance and highly reliable engine.  Said the Toyota brochure: “With eight years of F1 racing behind it, Toyota has produced a vehicle that draws on a wealth of accumulated racing experience and incorporates cutting-edge technology and an unshakeable desire for victory.”

Anytime, I can believe that.

PEE STOP. Motor racing fans will surely get a new thrill when the SkyCable’s Channel 258 ASN (All-Sports Network) unwraps its coverage of Nascar races, Formula Drift, Touring Car and GT Racing soon. This is on top of other big-time sports events like NFL, NHL, NCAA football and many more.  The monthly fee is P150. Call 631-0000 or send a text message to (0917) 631-0000 and (0918) 863-1000 for details… Do you know that each time I am in Japan, I lose weight? Maybe it’s the sushi-and-sashimi diet.