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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Brave new normal

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For the automobile industry, it's a brave new world – to borrow the title of Aldous Huxley's bestselling book – in this time of the coronavirus pandemic.

While the industry has absorbed heavy beating after the initial aftershocks of the prolonged crisis, it also has managed to harness some opportunities into potential gains.

With the Internet opening a silver lining, automakers are quick to respond and gear up for the new frontier: Virtual showrooms that many locals now explore to the hilt while keeping buyers and dealers within the safe confines of their homes or offices.

Toyota Motor Phils. is among the first to set up its Virtual Showroom offering a varied range of Toyota variants in its lineup, from the iconic Corolla to its humongous vans. However, it was beaten to the draw in terms of online launches staged last month by the American Ford Group with its Ford Everest and China-made Geely Azkarra.

Not wanting to be outdone, Toyota quickly pulledout a follow through

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and took the wraps off the 2020 Wigo, a refreshed and upgraded version, while Isuzu Phils. broke from the old norm and launched on the digital platform the 2020 Isuzu D-Max Boondock 4X4.

What this tells us is that motoring will never be the same again and we have to adapt to drastic changes or fall by the wayside.

Here We Go: Toyota hatchback redux

Ever the innovator, Toyota launched the 020 Wigo in an interactive digital reveal streamlined live on June 15, 2020.

First unwrapped in 2014, the Wigo debuted at a time when the public face limitations in public transportation and increasing safety during these challenging times, providing the best option for budget-conscious first-time car buyers and those looking for extra car for other family members.

The New Wigo remains an iconic car that offers the same familiar feeling of practicality and reliability, but made more advanced, more convenient, safer, and more fun with its sleek and sporty TRD Styling, said TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto during his welcome remarks.

The 2020 Wigo lineup is headlined by the new TRD S, a sporty and exciting vari Overall, the New Wigo stays true to being a practical and affordable choice that can cater to the marketfs transportation needs, all while being fun to drive.

The New Wigo G gets machine cut design alloy wheels and a new look on its rear combination lamps. The G and E variants also share a new front bumper look. The TRD S variant sports a more adventurous look with the TRD kit installed. The kit includes the front spoiler, side skirt, two-tone rear spoiler, rear skirt, and TRD S badge and decals. The new Yellow SE color is only available in the TRD S variant.

The New Wigo now comes with the push start button and Steering Switch, as well as LCD touch panel type A/C for the TRD S and G variants. The power retract and adjust side mirrors make driver rear visibility easily adjustable, and parking is more convenient and beginner friendly with the new back camera that comes with TRD S and G variants.

The TRD S variant's TRD kit also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Voice Command Feature, and a class leading Digital Video Recorder, making every trip safer, more convenient, and enjoyable.

Safety features are never compromised with all variants coming with SRS airbags for the driver and front passenger, back sonar, and Anti-Lock Brake System.

Isuzu: Go beyond normal

Scaling a new front, Isuzu Philippines made its first-ever digital launch on June 17, 2020 by way of the 2020 D-Max Boondock 4×4. That marked the world-renowned truckmaker’s innovative response to the “new normal” situation.

Within the “Live Life Differently” mantra, Isuzu encourages its clients and would-be customers to discover the endless possibilities of driving an Isuzu vehicle. To “Live Life Differently” would mean to simply go beyond the comfort of our homes, to explore the outdoors, and open ourselves up to more adventures, all the while driving an Isuzu vehicle, the company said.

With the 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4×4, to “Live Life Differently” now gives the off-roader the added confidence to take his or her adventures a notch tougher, higher, and farther.

IPC President Hajime Koso proudly introduced the 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4×4 as “purposely named after the mountains. The Boondock boasts rough and rugged styling, coupled with the exceptional engine performance of Isuzu – designed to handle practically all types of terrain: sand, gravel, riverbed, mud, and rocks.

Built upon the popular 3.0L D-MAX 4×4 LS-A model, the Boondock trademark adds an even tougher, more rugged image with the tried-and-tested performance to back it up, making it the ideal pickup for the Filipino motorist looking for that one vehicle to embody the “can-do” attitude of a true off-roader.

The 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4×4 is powered by the Euro-4 compliant 4JJ1-TCX 4-Cylinder in-line Blue Power 3.0-liter diesel engine with VGS turbo charger and intercooler mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with gearshift indicator or a 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift, able to generate maximum power outputs of 177 PS at 3,600 RPM and 380 N-m of torque at 1,800 to 2,800 RPM.

The 2020 D-MAX Boondock 4×4 is fitted with 265/70 R17 all-terrain tires wrapped around matte black off-road rally type design R17 rims. The Boondock decal on the tailgate is now paired with a new hood and body customized graphics that pays tribute to the country’s highest “boondock”, Mt. Apo. With the Isuzu Boondock 4×4, who can stop you from scaling greather heights? Perhaps, only your personal limitation. 

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