Zigwheels PH January wrap-up

MANILA: The Philippine automotive scene has entered January 2025 with a lot of hard-hitting launches. It is, after all, the start of the year. As such, many locally present marques are bringing in the big guns to kick off the Year of the Snake with a bang. 

But as we are about to switch over to the next month, let’s take a look back at the biggest car and motorcycle stories for the month in Zigwheels Philippines’ first-ever monthly wrap-up. 

Suzuki PH launches Jimny 5-Door “Rhino Edition”

After launching the 3-Door Jimny Rhino Edition in 2024, Suzuki Philippines Incorporated has provided the same treatment to the 5-Door Jimny. 

Style-wise, the Rhino Edition elevates the Japanese marque’s off-road capable sports utility vehicle (SUV), making it look tougher and more adventure-ready than ever before. 

The latest offering from the brand is available with the following enhancements:

• Front and side undergarnishes
• Black mud flaps for the front and rear
• Soft Rhino spare tire cover
• Rhino emblem sticker on the rear door
• Rhino Edition body decals

Pricing for the Suzuki Jimny 5-Door Rhino edition starts at P1.739 million. For more details on the newly launched SUV, read the story here. 

Toyota Motor PH debuts refreshed Corolla Altis GR-S HEV

In January 2025, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) officially brought in the refreshed Corolla Altis GR-S hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). 

The aforementioned sedan was given light updates, such as a new front bumper, a new trunk-mounted lip spoiler, and clear lenses for the taillights. The brand has yet to share its total engine output, but it retains the familiar 1.8-liter 2ZR-FXE inline-4 hybrid gasoline system from the pre-updated version. 

For more details on the updated sedan, check out the full story here. 

Voge Motorcycle officially enters the Philippine market

Voge Philippines has formally entered the local market with two new offerings: the CU525 and the DS900X. 

The Voge CU525 is a cruiser-style model designed to rival the likes of the Honda Rebel 500 and Yamaha Bolt R Spec. Pricing for the new ride starts at P356,000.

Entering the adventure bike segment, on the other hand, is the DS900X. With a price ranging from P636,000-P656,000, it is set to compete against the BMW F 850 GS and Yamaha Tracer 9 GT.

Here is a table showcasing the key mechanical specifications of the CU525 and DS900X: 

Model	Voge CU525	DS900X
Engine	Parallel twin, eight-valve, liquid-cooled, DOHC fuel injected	Dual cylinder, four-valve, liquid-cooled, DOHC, fuel injected
Displacement	525-cubic centimeters (cc)	895-cc
Horsepower (hp)	50	93
Transmission	Six-speed

For folks who want to learn more about Voge’s two new locally available rides, check out the full story here.

Honda Cars PH previews new HR-V Hybrid

Another huge development in the local automotive scene is Honda Cars Philippines Incorporated’s preview of the new Honda HR-V Hybrid. 

In a nutshell, the popular HR-V crossover’s upcoming electrified version will be propelled by a 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline mill paired with two electric motors and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. 

In terms of performance, the yet-to-be-launched HR-V Hybrid’s internal combustion engine can deliver up to 104 hp and 127 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. The two electric motors further contribute 129 hp and 253 Nm. It also boasts a better fuel economy. 

Other notable features of the upcoming ride include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Honda Sensing (advanced driver-assist suite)
• Honda Connect system
• Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning
• Three-drive system (EV, hybrid, Engine)
• Two wireless smartphone chargers

For more details about the upcoming Honda HR-V Hybrid, read the full story here. 

BYD Philippines debuts refreshed Atto 3, new Seal Advanced trim

When it comes to fully electric vehicles (EV), BYD Cars Philippines also made considerable strides in January 2025 with the official local launch of the refreshed Atto 3 and the new Seal Advanced trim. 

The updated BYD Atto 3 received several improvements, such as a power tailgate (Premium trim), gloss black accents for D-pillar garnish, a wider set of Continental tires, ambient lighting, an NFC card reader, and a larger 15.6-inch touchscreen - among others. 

The new BYD Seal Advanced, on the other hand, comes with the following notable features: 

• Rear-wheel-drive
• Electric motor with 200 hp, 310 Nm of torque
• 61.50 kilowatt-hour battery
• 510-kilometer (km) estimated range
• 10-.25-inch instrument cluster
• 15.6-inch rotating central touchscreen
• Wireless smartphone charging
• 360-degree view camera

For more details on the updated BYD Atto 3, please refer to this story. Additional details on the BYD Seal Advanced can also be found here. 

BMW X5 xDrive50 e M Sport debuts for local market

SMC Asia Car Distributors Corporation, the official distributor of BMW vehicles in the Philippine market, has officially launched the X5 xDrive50 e M Sport. 

The model, which is set to replace the diesel-powered option, uses a twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid engine that can generate up to 489 hp and 700 Nm of torque. It also has a zero to 100 kilometer-per-hour (kph) sprint time of just 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 250 kph. 

Other notable features of the electrified X5 include fine wood trim, leather upholstery, advanced driver-assist systems, a four-zone automatic air-conditioning system, the M Sport braking system, as well as an electric-only range of 100-118 km. 

Read the full story on the BMW X5 xDrive 50e M Sport here

Honda Philippines launches Giorno+

In January 2024, Honda Philippines Incorporated (HPI) expanded its local motorcycle lineup with the introduction of the Giorno+. 

Appearance-wise, the small displacement motorcycle comes with a retro-inspired body. As such, it was introduced locally for HPI to gain a stronger foothold in the growing neo-classic scooter segment in the Philippines. 

Here is a table summarizing the mechanical specifications of the all-new Honda Giorno+:

Model	Honda Giorno+
Engine displacement	125
Transmission	Continuously variable transmission (CVT)
Horsepower	11.3
Torque	11.6
Brakes	Front disc, rear drums
Front suspension	Telescopic fork
Rear suspension	Unit swing

 

Read the full launch story of the Honda Giorno+ here. 

Porsche Macan Electric enters the Philippine market

Porsche Philippines started 2025 strong with the launch of the all-electric Macan in January. 

The model, which was introduced at the Enrique Zobel Memorial Polo Cup, entered the local market with the Macan 4 as its mid-level trim, and the Macan Turbo as its top-of-the-line variant. 

The most powerful of the two is the Porsche Macan Turbo, which is good for 639 hp and 1,130 Nm of torque. With its output figures, the said model can accelerate from zero to 100 kph in 3.3 seconds. 

Other notable components of the all-electric Macan include the Porsche Traction Management System, Porsche Active Suspension Management System, three screen displays (12.6-inch curved, a 10.9-inch center console, and a 10.9-inch passenger screen), and a comprehensive ADAS suite - among others. 

Read the full story on the Porsche Macan Electric here. 

Also read: 

Zigwheels PH weekly wrap-up

Singapore Motor Show tallies most number of hybrids, EVs

BYD to launch Shark nameplate in PH?