Cars
MX-5 Keeps Top Spot as World’s Favorite Convertible
The Mazda MX-5 has once again proven its timeless appeal, holding on to the crown as the world’s best-selling convertible. The two-seater roadster first earned its Guinness World Record back in 2000 and, 25 years later, remains unmatched. Global cumulative sales have topped 1.25 million units since its 1989 debut, all built at Mazda’s Ujina plant in Hiroshima.
In a shrinking market for drop-top sports cars, the MX-5 stands out even more. Data from Jato shows that in 2024 it outsold every other cabriolet worldwide, with 27,669 units delivered. The momentum continues into 2025.
UK and Global Appeal
In Britain, the MX-5 is the best-selling two-seater roadster and ranks second among all convertibles. More than 135,000 units have been sold there since 1990, including nearly 30,000 from the current fourth-generation model. So far in 2025, 859 units have been delivered in the UK, placing it ahead of mainstream rivals and just behind luxury badges like Porsche.
To mark the car’s impact, Mazda UK is displaying its 30th Anniversary MX-5 from the Heritage Fleet at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) headquarters in London until September 24. It’s a nod to the British roadsters of the 1960s that originally inspired Mazda’s open-top icon.
Philippine Market Strength
The Philippines has also become one of the strongest markets for the MX-5 in Asia outside Japan. As of June 2025, 1,563 fourth-generation ND models have been sold locally. Demand is split nearly evenly between the soft-top and retractable fastback variants, with 40 percent of buyers choosing the six-speed manual transmission.
The MX-5 set a new Philippine record in 2023 with 205 units sold, and current figures suggest 2025 could match or exceed that. To celebrate both the model’s popularity and the ND’s 10th anniversary, Mazda Philippines is hosting an exhibit at Power Plant Mall’s South Court until August 31. Limited-edition commemorative merchandise is also on offer for fans.
Still Driver’s Choice
Available as a fabric-roof Roadster or RF Retractable Fastback, today’s MX-5 continues to emphasize lightweight construction and sharp handling. UK Managing Director Jeremy Thomson described it as “one of the most exciting and satisfying cars money can buy,” adding that Mazda’s dedication to constant refinement over 35 years has kept the MX-5 engaging and accessible.
The current lineup offers eight variants split between Prime-Line, Exclusive-Line, and Homura trims, powered by either the 132ps 1.5-liter or the 184ps 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine. All units registered from September 1, 2025, will also carry Mazda’s new six-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
Over three decades, the MX-5 has collected countless awards, inspired passionate owner clubs worldwide, and become a fixture in grassroots motorsport. With its enduring mix of affordability, fun, and driver focus, it remains not just the world’s best-selling convertible but one of the most beloved sports cars of all time.
Toyota Motor Philippines will hold Race Weekend 3 of the 2026 Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup at Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas, on August 15.
The event will be the championship’s first visit to the country’s oldest permanent car racetrack. Admission is free, while the races will also be shown live on the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines Facebook page.
Drivers will compete across the Super Sporting, Sporting and Legacy classes using Vios one-make race cars. The Tamaraw class will return with the Tamaraw one-make race car introduced this season.
Batangas Racing Circuit’s technical layout will give competitors a different challenge as they adjust to a new venue.
TMP Senior Vice President for Marketing Sherwin Chua-Lim said the circuit will test the drivers while introducing the racing series to more car enthusiasts.
“Our aim at Toyota Gazoo Racing has always been to provide opportunities for racers to test their limits for better and to bring racing closer to different car communities,” Chua-Lim said.
The race cars will continue using low-carbon fuel blends introduced during the previous round. The Vios race cars will run on E20, which contains 20 percent bioethanol, while the Tamaraw entries will use B5 fuel with a five percent coco-biodiesel blend.
TMP said the program supports the study of lower-carbon fuels and their possible wider use. It also seeks to contribute to energy security and the development of local biofuel supply chains.
TMP First Vice President for Corporate Affairs Josephine Villanueva said racers gave positive feedback on the performance of the blended fuels under demanding track conditions. Toyota will continue studying their feasibility for future motorsports events.
The race weekend is supported by partners including GT Radial, Petron, Denso and the Toyota Gazoo Racing Academy.
BDO Unibank is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a nationwide raffle that gives customers a chance to win five Toyota Ativ Hybrid cars and 250 SM Gift Passes.
The BDO 50th Anniversary Raffle runs from August to December 2026 and is open to eligible clients of BDO Unibank and BDO Network Bank.
New customers may join by opening a qualified deposit account, completing a one-time online registration and maintaining the required balance. Existing clients can earn entries by adding to their deposits and registering online.
The raffle has five draws. Customers who qualify in August can win one of 50 SM Gift Passes worth P5,000 each during the first draw on 14 September.
Another 50 gift passes will be awarded on 14 October to customers who qualify in September.
The next two draws will add hybrid cars to the prizes. Customers who qualify in October can win one Toyota Ativ Hybrid and one of 50 gift passes on 14 November. The same set of prizes will be awarded to November qualifiers during the 14 December draw.
All eligible entries earned from August to December will be included in the grand draw on 14 January 2027. Three Toyota Ativ Hybrid cars and another 50 SM Gift Passes will be given away during the final draw.
BDO introduced the raffle as a thanksgiving program for clients who have supported the bank during its first five decades.
The bank has served Filipinos through different stages of their financial lives, from opening an account for a first salary to saving for a home, education, business or retirement.
Financial habits have changed considerably during that period as mobile apps and online services made many banking transactions available without a branch visit. Customers have also started saving for a wider range of goals, including emergency funds, travel, investments and small businesses.
BDO said it will continue adapting its services as customer needs and banking habits change.
Mitsubishi is bringing back the ASX name for a new battery-electric model in Australia, where the 2027 ASX VR-e is scheduled to arrive in showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The new EV is not related to the gasoline-powered ASX currently sold in Australia. Instead, it is based on the Foxtron Bria, an electric vehicle developed in Taiwan by Foxtron, the automotive arm of electronics manufacturer Foxconn.
Mitsubishi has carried out local testing and development for Australia and New Zealand, while also giving the vehicle its own exterior and interior details.
The ASX VR-e name combines two familiar Mitsubishi badges. ASX stands for Active Sports Crossover, while VR-e takes inspiration from the VR-4 designation previously used on performance models such as the Galant VR-4.
Four variants are planned for Australia, namely LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR.
Mitsubishi has so far released only limited technical information for the ASX VR-e, but the Foxtron Bria on which it is based is offered with rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations.
The rear-wheel-drive version uses a single electric motor producing 171 kW, or about 229 hp, and can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive version develops 298 kW, or about 400 hp, and cuts the sprint to 3.9 seconds.
Both versions use a 57.5-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. The Bria is rated at up to 516 km of range under the NEDC test cycle for the rear-wheel-drive model, while the all-wheel-drive version is rated at 466 km.
Estimated WLTP figures are lower at around 430 km and 400 km, respectively. DC fast charging is rated at up to 134 kW, with a 10 to 80 percent charge said to take about 30 minutes.
The ASX VR-e measures 4,315 mm long, 1,885 mm wide and 1,535 mm tall, with a 2,800-mm wheelbase. Its dimensions place it in the small crossover and hatchback class.
Changes from the Foxtron version include Mitsubishi badging, revised daytime running lights, different alloy wheels and interior trim. The vehicle also uses an S-duct through the front fascia and active grille shutters to help reduce aerodynamic drag.
Expected equipment includes a 15.6-inch infotainment display, 9.2-inch digital instrument panel, power-adjustable front seats, a 360-degree camera, glass roof and ambient lighting.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia CEO Shunichi Kihara described the ASX VR-e as the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle in Australia since the i-MiEV and part of Mitsubishi’s wider electrification plans under its Momentum 2030 strategy.
Pricing and final Australian specifications will be announced closer to its launch later this year.
