Cars
Pasay’s Free Ride is Back—Now Smarter
Pasay City is bringing back free shuttle rides, and this time, the service gets a tech boost. Starting August 12, 2025, residents can hop on Toyota Lite Ace community shuttles for another year at no cost, with routes and seats managed through Toyota’s mobility apps. The move aims to cut commute stress, make trips more predictable, and move Pasay closer to its “smart city” goals.
Instead of the usual “ride wherever there’s a vacant seat,” passengers can plan trips and reserve seats via the myTOYOTA Shuttle PH app, while city administrators get real-time vehicle data and driver behavior insights through Toyota Fleet Connected Service. It’s a small fleet of five Toyota Lite Ace units donated in March 2025, but a big step toward cleaner, safer, and more efficient city mobility. Think barangay-to-City Hall errands, school runs, or quick hospital trips made smoother with digital tools.
Free rides cushion households from rising transportation costs, and app-based booking reduces “come what may” commutes. If the system works in Pasay, other local governments could copy the model, especially for first- and last-mile routes where jeepneys or buses aren’t practical. It’s also a test of public trust: will commuters actually use the app? Can the city keep the shuttles on schedule and the data secure?
The program builds on the Toyota Community Shuttle pilot that ran from December 2023 to January 2025, which proved that connected, shared transport can improve access without needing major new infrastructure. The relaunch, led by Pasay City officials with Toyota executives, signals tighter public–private teamwork to modernize mobility at the city level.
Toyota Motor Philippines is bringing the Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup back to the track on 11 July 2026 at Clark International Speedway, with the next leg set to test alternative fuels under race conditions.
The series was paused after its opening round in March at Riverpark in General Trias, Cavite, following the Automobile Association of the Philippines’ decision to suspend sanctioned motorsports events due to the fuel crisis. With AAP allowing selected racing activities to resume, Toyota’s one-make series is returning with a new fuel direction.
The Clark round will serve as a “rolling laboratory” for Toyota, using ethanol-blended fuels for the Vios One-Make Race cars and biodiesel for the Tamaraw One-Make Race vehicles. Toyota said the program supports Gazoo Racing’s role as a testing ground for building better cars while exploring more sustainable racing solutions.
The March opener marked the competitive debut of the Tamaraw OMR on the 2.4-kilometer Riverpark street course. Toyota Motor Philippines president Masando Hashimoto also joined the action behind the wheel of a Tamaraw, while Iñigo Anton and Will Lucas took wins in their respective classes.
The Vios OMR also ran during the first leg, with Sporting, Super Sporting and Legacy race classes on the grid. Both the Tamaraw and Vios OMRs are expected to return at Clark for the July race weekend.
Other local motorsports events have also resumed, including the Makabayan Endurance Race Series and Super Sprint, where alternative fuels are being encouraged among competitors.
For Toyota, the Clark leg gives the TGR Philippine Cup a role beyond competition. It puts biofuel use under the pressure of actual racing, where heat, speed, consistency and reliability can be measured in real time.
BAIC Philippines said the B30e Dune 4×4 has become its leading model this year, accounting for 69 percent of the brand’s total 2026 sales volume.
The hybrid SUV is priced at P1,888,000 and has emerged as BAIC’s strongest seller as buyers look for a mix of performance, fuel efficiency, comfort and utility in one vehicle.
The B30e Dune uses a 1.5-liter hybrid system paired with a 2-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. The setup produces 409 PS and 685 Nm of torque, allowing the SUV to accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 6.59 seconds with Launch Control.
BAIC said the model can also achieve up to 34.9 kilometers per liter, giving the B30e Dune a wide performance and efficiency range for daily driving and longer trips.
The SUV is equipped with an intelligent adaptive 4×4 system designed for changing road conditions, including flooded streets, rough provincial routes, sandy coastal areas and steep climbs. BAIC said the system gives the B30e Dune a full-time advantage rather than a feature used only for occasional trips.
The B30e Dune comes with a 14.6-inch infotainment screen that shows hybrid energy flow data while driving. A 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster displays key vehicle information for city and highway use.
The cabin also features leather seats with front-row ventilation and a panoramic sunroof. BAIC said these features address the heat and traffic conditions often faced by local motorists.
The model also includes a 540-degree camera system for tight parking spaces and blind-spot situations. A motorized power tailgate is fitted for easier loading of cargo in shopping areas and urban garages.
The B30e Dune adds a 150-watt, 220-volt rear cargo power outlet and Camping Mode, which allows the engine to function as a generator. BAIC said the feature can support equipment, essential devices during power interruptions or outdoor activities.
For safety, the SUV is fitted with six airbags and a Level 2 advanced driver assistance suite. The system includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Intelligent Lane-Keeping Assistance, Forward Collision Warning and Intelligent Braking.
BAIC said the B30e Dune’s share of its sales portfolio reflects a shift in buyer demand toward vehicles that combine capability, efficiency and comfort without forcing customers to choose one over the other.
The company said ownership support for the model includes genuine parts availability, service teams, dealership touchpoints and aftersales programs for long-term maintenance.
BAIC Philippines, distributed locally by UAAGI Auto Group, currently offers SUVs, crossovers and electrified models, including the B30e Dune Hybrid Off-Roader, B40 Pro TrailMaster, B40e Trailmaster rEV, B40 Ragnar, B60 Beaumont, B60e Beaumont rEV, B80 Wagon and X55 Verve.
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has expanded the 2027 Xforce lineup with a new entry-level GLX variant, revised pricing and added features for the compact crossover.
The Xforce now comes in three variants. The new GLX is priced at P1,119,000, the GLS at P1,299,000 and the GT at P1,661,000. Mitsubishi is also offering introductory prices until 31 July 2026, lowering the GLX to P1,049,000, the GLS to P1,199,000 and the GT to P1,591,000 for customers who complete their purchase within the promo period.
The GLX gives Mitsubishi a lower-priced Xforce at a time when compact crossover buyers are comparing value, equipment and running costs more closely. It keeps key features such as automatic LED headlights, daytime running lights, front fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, an electronic parking brake with auto hold, rear air-conditioning vents and a 40/20/40 split-folding second row.
Power still comes from Mitsubishi’s 1.5-liter 4A91 four-cylinder MIVEC engine, which produces 105 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 141 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels.
For the GLX, Mitsubishi uses a simpler cabin setup with fabric seats, urethane trim, a 4.2-inch multi-information display and an 8-inch Smartphone-link Display Audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also gets USB Type A and Type C ports for the front and rear, push-button start, a center floor console with cooling function and a six-speaker audio system.
Safety equipment includes Active Stability and Traction Control, Active Yaw Control, rear proximity sensors and a rear camera with dynamic guidelines. Mitsubishi’s GLX page also lists 193 mm of ground clearance, 17-inch alloy wheels and a rear camera among the variant’s highlighted features.
The GLS adds more equipment while keeping the price below the GT. It gets black leather seats with heat guard coating, cruise control, rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera with moving object detection. The GT remains the range-topper with Mitsubishi Motors Safety Sensing, adaptive cruise control, a power tailgate, ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control with nanoe X, an 8-speaker Dynamic Sound Yamaha Premium system and a 12.3-inch infotainment display.
For 2027, the GT also receives a panoramic glass roof, an 8-way power driver’s seat and a multi-around monitor with moving object detection.
Color choices also vary by variant. The GLX comes in Quartz White Pearl, Graphite Gray Metallic, Blade Silver Metallic and the new Red Metallic. The GLS adds Jet Black Mica, Energetic Yellow with Black Roof and Quartz White with Black Roof, while the GT comes with a black roof motif in Quartz White or Energetic Yellow.
MMPC president and chief executive officer Ritsu Imaeda said the new GLX and updates across the range are intended to give more customers a way into the Xforce lineup.
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