Carmakers are Starting to Phase Out MPVs

Already experiencing slow sales pre-pandemic, the coronavirus may spell the end for MPVs. More and more carmakers are starting to drop family-oriented MPVs in favor of SUVs and crossovers. The latest one to join the trend? Renault.

Reports coming out of Europe suggest that the French carmaker will discontinue both the Espace large MPV and the Scenic compact MPV. They are also set to bow out of the large sedan market as well. The move coincides with Renault’s plan to trim their line-up in order to save cash.

MPV sales have dropped significantly over the past few years as carmakers turn their focus on SUVs and crossovers. In 2019, global sales of SUVs outpaced MPVs by almost 8 times. This is compared to an almost two-to-one ratio in 2009, in favor of MPVs. In 2019, 36.4 percent of all cars sold worldwide were SUVs, compared to just 7.3 percent being MPVs.

The trend is also very clear in the Philippines where SUVs or crossover-styled 7-seaters have become favored versus their MPV counterparts (Fortuner vs Innova, BR-V vs Mobilio).

Industry analysts predict that small and large MPVs might disappear in most carmaker’s product portfolios with medium-sized MPVs staying on.

These "Air Tight" Honda Odysseys Will Help Transport COVID-19 Patients in Japan

Honda has just transformed 50 of its Odyssey MPVs to transport COVID-19 patients to hospitals and quarantine facilities in Japan. And they’ve done so without risking the driver from infection by sealing off the rear section.

The carmaker has placed an airtight divide between the driver and the rear passenger areas of the vans and tweaked their air conditioning systems to enable fresh air to enter through the front near the base of the windshield wipers, pass through to the rear passenger area through vents and exit through the back.

The one-way ventilation system ensures that air from the rear section doesn’t enter the driver’s space.

Honda began lending these special MPVs to health authorities in Tokyo, and eventually to nearby Saitama prefecture where the Odyssey is currently being produced. The company said it will consider making more available depending on demand.

By May 2020, Honda will begin producing its own face shields at its manufacturing sites in Tochigi and Suzuka.

The 2020 Toyota Fortuner, Alphard Gains Added Safety Features

Toyota Motor Philippines updates the Fortuner SUV and Alphard luxury MPV with more safety features this 2020.

The country’s best-selling mid-sized 7-seater SUV finally gets a rear backup camera as standard as part of its safety package. The image generated by the camera is projected onto the 6.5-inch infotainment system which itself saw an upgrade in 2019 to include standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The rear backup camera though doesn’t come free. The 2020 Fortuner sees a P 26,000 price increase across the board. Their new suggested retail price is as follows:

• Fortuner 2.4 G 2WD M/T – P 1,633,000
• Fortuner 2.4 G 2WD A/T – P 1,723,000
• Fortuner 2.7 G 2WD A/T – P 1,723,000
• Fortuner 2.4 V 2WD A/T – P 1,947,000
• Fortuner 2.8 V 4WD A/T – P 2,286,000

Meanwhile, Toyota’s almost-always-out-of-stock Alphard luxury MPV receives the Toyota Safety Sense driver assist system starting this year. The system, which first debuted on the Hiace Super Grandia Elite adds four additional driver assist features: Pre-collision System (PCS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and Automatic High Beam (AHB).

Along with the new safety features, the Alphard also gets standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well.

The new safety features (and enhanced infotainment system) though, sadly mean a hefty price jump too. The 2020 Alphard’s price tag is now up to P 3,910,000—a P 170,000 jump from its old price of P 3,740,000. But hey, if that lessens the chance of having those nasty POGO shuttles cut you off? It’s definitely worth it.

The 2020 Fortuner and 2020 Alphard are now both available at all authorized Toyota dealerships nationwide.

Ford Philippines Launches the P 2.3M Super-Sized Transit MPV

Ford Philippines is returning into the full-sized van segment with its most spacious, intelligent, capable, and cost-efficient offering yet: the all-new, 15-seater Transit.

While the Transit nameplate is relatively new in the Philippines, it’s the benchmark for large commercial vehicles since the nameplate first launched in 1965. When Ford opted to go “One Ford” in 2007, they plucked the Europe-only model, and started offering it to other continents over the past few years. Along the way, it garnered awards for its fuel-efficiency, smart design, and amazing value.

“Given its global success in boosting productivity for businesses, we at Ford are excited to bring the all-new Transit with the continued growth of the light commercial bus and van segment (LCBV) in the Philippines. The all-new Transit offers unique appeal to businesses and relevant sectors and is poised to help drive productivity and business growth,” says PK Umashankar, managing director, Ford Philippines.

The Transit is not only destined for private family use, but is also designed to compliment and support industries such as education, hotels and resorts, travel and tourism, medical, business process outsourcing, corporate, and even retail. With that, it promises optimized performance, enhanced comfort, and one of the lowest costs of ownership in its class.

Powered by Ford’s proven 2.2-liter Duratorq engine—the same engine family found in the Ranger XLT, the Transit offers 135 horsepower and 385 Nm of torque. This work-ready engine is coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels ensuring a balanced and fuel-efficient performance.

Measuring in at 5,981-mm long, 2,474-mm wide, and 2,517-mm tall, the all-new Transit offers great space made possible by its generous size. The capacious interior features a 15-seating capacity—with everyone enjoying their own individual headrests and 3-point seatbelts, 21 storage bins, 12 cup holders, and multiple power sockets.

For maximum comfort and convenience, the Transit offers a rearview camera, extra wide doors, rear cargo doors with a 180-degree opening capacity, easy clean non-slip rubber flooring, power side step, and power folding side mirrors. Safety is guaranteed by its standard Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with integrated hill launch assist, as well as an escape hatch for emergency situations.

The Transit comes with a bold, yet distinctive design featuring the trademark Ford three-bar grille, halogen reflector headlights with daytime running lights, fog lamps, steel wheels with hub caps, black bumpers and side moldings, and a rear bumper with integrated step.

Further highlighting its outstanding aftersales value, the Transit promises minimum maintenance cost with a once-a-year scheduled service interval. On top of this, all purchases done before the end of the year come with a 5-year free scheduled service maintenance plan to further offer a more competitive ownership experience.

“Offering work-ready capability and space capacity to meet the shifting demands of businesses, the all-new Ford Transit is set to become a benchmark for the LCBV segment in the country,” adds Ryan Lorenzo, marketing director, Ford Philippines.

The all-new Transit comes with a retail price of P 2,300,000 and comes in three colors: Frozen White, Moondust Silver, and Magnetic Metallic. It goes on sale at all Ford dealerships nationwide starting today.

2020 Ford Transit Specifications:

• Overall Length: 5,981 mm
• Overall Width: 2,474 mm (with mirrors) / 2,059 (without mirrors)
• Overall Height: 2,517 mm
• Wheelbase: 3,750 mm
• Seating: 15
• Engine: 2.2-liter Duratorq TDCi
• Displacement: 2,198 cc
• Maximum Output: 135 horsepower @ 3,750 rpm
• Maximum Torque: 385 Nm @ 1,500-2,000 rpm
• Bore x Stroke: 86.0x94.6
• Compression Ratio: 15.5:1
• Fuel Tank: 80 liters
• Emissions: Euro 5
• Transmission: 6-speed MT
• Final Drive Ratio: 3.31
• Driveline: Rear Wheel Drive
• Front Suspension: Independent MacPherson Struts
• Rear Suspension: Leaf Springs
• Front & Rear Brakes: Disc
• Wheels: Steel Wheels w/ Cover, 16x6.5
• Tires: 235/65R16
• Spare Wheel: Full-Sized Spare
• Headlights: Multi-Reflector with Daytime Running Lights
• Front & Rear Fog Lamps: Yes
• Passenger Side Load Door Function: Manual, Sliding
• Exterior Mirror: Power Adjust with Power Fold
• High-Mounted Stop Lamp: Yes
• Power Side Step: Yes
• Front and Rear Mud Flaps: Yes
• Radio Antenna: Roof-Mounted
• Front Wipers: Variable Intermittent
• Rear Wipers: Yes
• Windows: One-Touch Up/Down (1st), Right Side Sliding (2nd), Fixed (3rd, 4th, Rear)
• Tinted Glass: Yes
• Air Conditioning: Manual with Rear Climate Control
• Power Central Door Lock: Yes
• Rear View Mirror: Auto-Dimming
• Courtesy Lights: Yes
• Map Lamps: Yes
• Floor Well Lamps: Yes
• Load Compartment Light: Yes
• Glove Box Lid: Yes
• Steering Wheel: Urethane w/ Tilt/Telescopic Adjust
• Steering Wheel Audio Control: Yes
• 12V Power Sockets: x 3
• Front Overhang Storage Bins: Yes
• Cup / Bottle Holders: x 12
• Grab Handles: Front and Rear Passenger Side Doors
• Easy-Clean Rubber Floor Covering: Yes
• Rubber Floor Mat: Yes (Front Row)
• Seating Material: Fabric
• Driver’s Seat: Manual Height Adjust with Cushion Tilt and Armrest
• Front Passenger Seat: Manual Fore/Aft Adjust
• Two-Way Head Restraint: Front
• Front Seat Tray / Table: Yes
• AM/FM Stereo with USB/Aux/Bluetooth: Yes, w/ 6 Speakers
• Airbags: 2
• Seatbelts: 3-pt ELR with Pretensioner (front) x 2 / 3-pt ELR x 12
• ABS with EBD: Yes
• Electronic Stability Program: Yes
• Emergency Brake Warning: Yes
• Hill Launch Assist: Yes
• Tire Pressure Sensors: Yes
• Front and Rear Parking Sensors: Yes
• Rear View Camera: Yes
• ISOFIX Child Seat Anchors: Second Row
• Trip Computer: Yes
• Rear Roof Escape Hatch: Yes
• Emergency Hammer: x 2
• Perimeter Anti-Theft Alarm: Yes

Here's Something Volkswagen Philippines Should Consider Bringing In

I’m not a part of Volkswagen’s product planning team, but if I were, I’d considering bringing in this: the Viloran MPV. It’s a full-blown luxury MPV built to battle the likes of Toyota Alphard and Kia Grand Carnival. Best of all, seeing it on our roads is really, really possible because it’s actually a joint development with SAIC—you know, the source of our Santana, Lavida, and Lamando cars.

Anyway, the Viloran is about 5.3 meters in length and for that, it’s Volkswagen’s largest model. It seats 7 in a 2+2+3 arrangement, and the second-row Captain’s Seats even have electric footrests, too. There’s also a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, and a Royal Hall-level Dynaudio audio system.

The Viloran is built on the flexible MQB architecture and power is provided by the corporate 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. All in all, it makes 220 horsepower and 350 Nm with power routed through the front wheels via a 7-speed DSG automatic.

For the Chinese market, the Viloran will go on sale in the first half of 2020. It’s currently not known whether Volkswagen has any plans to offer this for export to other countries, but if Volkswagen Philippines wants to beef up their line-up, then they should seriously consider a product like this.

The Upgraded 2020 Mercedes-Benz V-Class is at P 4.690M (w/ Specs)

In 2014 the Mercedes-Benz V-Class celebrated its debut with a completely new approach to design, value appeal, comfort, and safety in the MPV segment. The concept went on to be a true success: This is confirmed by the 209,000 or so V-Class units that have been sold since its market launch in 2014, a sales record in 2018 with some 64,000 units, one of the youngest buyer groups at Mercedes-Benz and a successful global expansion, especially in Asia.

The style and value appeal of the new V-Class lead the way in the segment. The designers in Stuttgart have used a series of targeted measures to give the V-Class a new look which follows the design idiom of the current Mercedes-Benz passenger cars.

The new V-Class has a broader appearance and an even stronger visual presence thanks to its new front end. This comes courtesy of a new bumper design with striking cooling air inlets and a new diamond structure in the radiator grille. At the same time, four new light-alloy wheel designs ensure a striking, avantgarde appearance.

The interior of the new V-Class follows the trend of modernity and clarity. The new V-Class presents itself with new air vents in a more sporty turbine look as well as new dials in the instrument cluster. Thanks to the reduced design, drivers can orientate themselves much more simply. Modern and elegant can also be used to describe the new trim element in twin-stripe look which is used on the instrument panel and side paneling. The trim elements in the piano lacquer, ebony wood, carbon fiber and brushed aluminium looks remain. And as with the previous model, the first-row passenger seats can be configured to face backwards, allowing for convenient and shared use of the folding tables to hold meetings or have meals with other passengers seated on the second-row.

The V 220d starts at P 4.690 million.

Is Ford Philippines Bringing in the Transit MPV?

Is Ford Philippines finally bringing in a full-sized MPV to battle the likes of the Toyota Hiace Super Grandia and Hyundai Grand Starex? It seems so based on a teaser they’ve sent us for a product launch happening at the end of November.

Based on the teaser (invite) photo, it looks to be the Ford Transit MPV. A quick photo shop shows that it perfectly aligns and key aspects of the design such as the mounting of the front camera and grille detail line up perfectly.

Now, the question is: what sort of specs will the Philippines get? Well, that would all depend on where the Transit is sourced. If we’re looking at Europe, we’ll be getting the latest drivetrain—a 2.0-liter turbodiesel shared with the Ranger and Everest. For its services in the Transit, it makes 170 horsepower. And the transmission is the same 10-speed automatic, too. This won’t be out of the question because another left-hand drive market, Vietnam, gets a turbodiesel version of the Transit.

However, if sourcing is from North America, it’ll get one of three engine choices: the outgoing Ranger’s 3.2-liter inline-5, a normally-aspirated 3.7-liter V6, or a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. In these cases, the transmission is a 6-speed automatic. And while we have nothing against getting these powertrains, consider it an opportunity lost for Ford Philippines if they’d plop in a large displacement gasoline instead of a torquey diesel in their MPV. This could relegate the Transit from a potential volume player into a niche player once more (see E-150).

Now, the Transit is also offered in a dizzying array of heights, wheelbase, and seating configurations. With that in mind, the safest bet would be for Ford to offer at least two seating configurations—a more luxurious 10-seater with a low roof and a 12-15-seater with a high roof—with these two, it can make them a player in a large chunk of the large MPV segment.

As for the price? Well, gray market Ford Transits currently sell for north of P 2.3-million. If Ford Philippines wants to make a dent, they’d be undercutting these “entrepreneurs” for sure. Again, this is all speculative for now, so we guess all eyes will be on Ford this coming November is they can truly spring a surprise.

Who Is the Typical 2020 Toyota Hiace Super Grandia Buyer?

The running joke in automotive circles is that Toyota Motor Philippines’s making a killing with the Hiace Super Grandia and Alphard thanks to the insatiable demand driven mostly by “TDK” (Mainland Chinese) VIPs and POGO (Philippine Offshore Gambling Operation) businesses. But are these people really the ones lapping up Toyota vans as quickly as Toyota dealers could stock them?

Judge me if you want, but I don’t find the actual unveil to be the most fascinating part of a Toyota vehicle launch; and no, I don’t look forward to the giveaway or free food either. The most intriguing part for me is actually when they start presenting the market rationale. Whether it’s down to just curiosity or because of my marketing background (yes, I did once belong to the “other side”—where I had to regularly restrain media from stampeding to the buffet line), but I actually look forward to Toyota talking about market situation, buyer demographic, and so forth.

In 2015, the Commercial Vehicle or CV segment accounts for 61 percent of the total vehicle sold in the country. It has grown steadily since, peaking at 69 percent in 2018. And while the percentage jump isn’t as dramatic, once we take a look at the actual numbers, it’s actually astounding. From an average of 16,400 units per month sold in 2015, that number has risen to 27,700 units per month in 2018. As of mid-2019, that number already stands at 22,380 units.

Segmenting the CV segment, Utility Vans or UVs account for 12 percent—a steady number in the past four years. That said, it’s grown in volume from 2,100 average monthly sales in 2015 to 3,700 average monthly sales in 2018. Out of this, the Hiace is the undisputed leader, commanding a 55 percent (54.6 percent to be precise) share of the market. In the last two years, Toyota has, on the average, sold more Hiace per month than the second place Nissan Urvan and third place Hyundai Starex combined.

Toyota further segments the UV segment, categorizing the Hiace Super Grandia as part of the “High UV segment.” Using this as basis, the Hiace Super Grandia enjoys a 56.62 percent market share. It was momentarily threatened by the Hyundai Starex in 2017, when the Hiace Super Grandia’s share dropped to 39.3 percent, but since then, it has rebounded to 64 percent in 2018 and 70.3 percent thus far in 2019.

Now, this brings us to who buys the Hiace Super Grandia. While Toyota Motor Philippines admit that “luxury hotels, resorts, and casinos” will definitely be a target, they maintain that private individuals will remain the primary buyer. This “buyer” is predominately male (84 percent), aged 40-44 years old, and is married (85 percent). His monthly household income ranges from P 220,000 to P 240,000 which puts him in the “high income segment” or only 0.1 percent of total families in the country. And before you ask, no, not once did “St. Peter join the group.”

Considering the Toyota Hiace Super Grandia’s stature as the flagship of the sixth-generation Hiace line-up, Toyota Motor Philippines says they’re only expecting to sell 400 of these every month. Now, this may sound like a low number, but considering that the Super Grandia peaked at 276 units in 2018, growing the number by 45 percent sounds like a tall order—unless they see the market growing at a faster rate than it has in the past four years or they just plan to kill off everyone else.

Toyota's Luxurious 2020 Hiace Super Grandia Finally Arrives in the Philippines

It was only a matter of time, but Toyota Motor Philippines knows that there’s a demand for well-appointed large MPVs in the country. Now, that demand can be met with the introduction of the 2020 Hiace Super Grandia.

As the top-variant of the sixth-generation Hiace which was launched last February, the 2020 Hiace Super Grandia is all about comfort and luxury. Based on the “low roof” GL Grandia, the Hiace Super Grandia gets a classier-looking front-end with a unique grille and bumper design. The same goes for the back where the extended garnish visually widens the stance. Front and back, LED lighting is standard even down to the front fog lights.

“The Hiace Super Grandia is a preferred van of companies in various industries, and is quite popular as a family vehicle. It has indeed become a symbol of comfort, convenience, and durability,” says TMP President Satoru Suzuki. “We are excited to bring a higher level of luxury and a delightful ride experience that Filipinos truly deserve with the All New Hiace Super Grandia. We expect this model to further elevate the Hiace which currently has a 54.6 percent share in its segment, year-to-date as of July.”

With dual sliding doors (powered on the highest trim Super Grandia Elite), ingress and egress is made easier. Inside, it exchanges the premium economy 12-seater bench seating for a more luxurious business class 9-seater setup which includes two rows of Captain’s Chairs. Leather is standard on all but the base Super Grandia, with the Elite upping the experience with quilted leather with ottomans.

Mechanically, the Super Grandia shares the 1GD-FTV 2.8-liter engine found in the rest of the Hiace range. As such, it gets 176 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque. The sole transmission option is a 6-speed automatic. Interestingly, Toyota has also swapped the rear leaf springs for a four-link coil spring setup improving its ride and handling.

For all variants of the Super Grandia, bench type space up seats at the farthest row can accommodate up to 4 more passengers. Rear personal reading lamps provide each passenger a greater sense of personal control and convenience, giving them the option of better visibility in their personal space. Automatic climate control ensures passenger comfort all throughout the drive, with Nano-E air purifying technology for the Elite variant.

In terms of safety, the Super Grandia gets the usual set of airbags (9 of them), ABS with EBD, and stability control. As reported previously, the Super Grandia Elite sets a new standard as the first Toyota model to come equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) system. With that, it comes with four additional driver assist features not found elsewhere in its class: Pre-collision System (PCS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and Automatic High Beam (AHB).

There will be 6 variants of the 2020 Hiace Super Grandia and they’ll be available at all Toyota dealerships nationwide starting August 26:

• Hiace Super Grandia 2.8L Farbric – P 2,420,000
• Hiace Super Grandia 2.8L Fabric (2-Tone) – P 2,435,000
• Hiace Super Grandia 2.8L Leather – P 2,510,000
• Hiace Super Grandia 2.8L Leather (2-Tone) – P 2,525,000
• Hiace Super Grandia 2.8L Elite – P 2,875,000
• Hiace Super Grandia 2.8L Elite (2-Tone) – P 2,890,000

Now that the sixth-generation Hiace Super Grandia has landed on local shores, would it be too much to ask if Toyota will consider making a new version of the Grandia LXV? There is the high-roof GL Grandia Tourer after all.

2020 Toyota Super Grandia Specifications

• 1GD-FTV 2.8-liter 4-cylinder, turbocharged CRDi
• Maximum Output: 176 horsepower @ 3,400 rpm
• Maximum Torque: 450 Nm @ 1,600-2,400 rpm
• Transmission: 6-speed AT with Cruise Control
• Front Suspension: MacPherson Strut
• Rear Suspension: 4-Link, Coil Springs
• Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
• Rear Brakes: Ventilated Disc
• Overall Length x Width x Height (mm): 5,300 x 1,970 x 1,990
• Wheelbase: 3,210 mm
• Ground Clearance: 175 mm
• Minimum Turning Radius: 5.5 meters
• Wheels and Tires: 235/60 LT 17
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 70
• Seating: 10

2020 Toyota Super Grandia Key Features:

• Bi-beam LED headlights with LED daytime running lights
• LED front fog lights
• Headlamp washers
• Rear roof spoiler
• Speed-sensing door locks
• Power folding side view mirrors
• Auto Easy Closer (side and back door)
• Smart Entry with Push-Start Engine
• 4.2-inch multi-info display
• Tilt/telescopic steering wheel
• Auto-dimming rear view mirror
• CD/DVD/MP3/FLAC with Smartphone Mirroring, 6 speakers
• Automatic climate control
• 9 SRS airbags
• ABS with EBD
• stability control with hill start assist
• Front and rear proximity sensors
• Back-up camera

2020 Toyota Super Grandia Elite Key Features:

• Power sliding doors (dual)
• Power adjust driver seat (6-way)
• Power adjust rear seat x 4 (4-way)
• Quilted leather seats with ottoman
• Leather and wood interior trim
• Adjustable interior illumination color
• Nano-E air ionizer
• Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic High Beam)

The 2020 Toyota Hiace Super Grandia Elite is the First Philippine Model to Have Toyota Safety Sense

Update: The 2020 Toyota Hiace Super Grandia has now been launched. Details here (8/19).

Toyota Motor Philippines is now confirming that the first model to receive the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) system is the 2020 Hiace Super Grandia Elite. Launching on Monday, the flagship Hiace variant will have four main ingredients to its TSS system that will heighten its owners’ peace of mind.

The 2020 Hiace Super Grandia Elite will have Pre-collision System (PCS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), and Automatic High Beam (AHB).

Pre-collision System (PCS) – detects the possibility of a collision using various sensors and reacts accordingly, also taking into consideration the countermeasures taken by the driver. Upon detection of a possibility of collision, the driver will be warned with beeps and visual warnings. When the possibility of a collision is higher and the driver applies brakes, the brake assist system will apply additional pressure to the brakes as needed. When an even greater possibility of collision is detected and the driver did not apply brakes, automatic brakes will be activated to prevent the collision.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) – when driving at cruise control, the vehicle drives at constant preset speed and will adjust within the set cruise speed upon detection of another vehicle in front to maintain appropriate distance.

Lane Departure Alert (LDA) – detects driving lanes and alerts driver when the vehicle departs from its designated lane. This feature operates at a vehicle speed of more than 50 km/h, with a road width of more than approximately 3.0 meters.

Automatic High Beam (AHB) – while the headlight’s high beam setting is in use, the system automatically switches to low beam upon detection of vehicles at a certain distance in front or incoming vehicles on the opposite lane. The system will return to the high beam setting once the vehicle in front is at an appropriate distance or the incoming vehicle has passed.

Aside from the Super Grandia Elite, Toyota Motor Philippines says they intend to roll out TSS to more models in the near future.