Zigwheels PH weekly wrap: Sep. 14-18

MANILA: Despite no new vehicle launch, last week was filled with news from local players who are more than eager to share their milestones. 

Nevertheless, we covered global releases, as well as interesting collaborations between an auto brand and a video game developer and publisher. 

Of course, we also brought some of the most pressing transport stories in the Philippine mobility sector. 

Other stories: Volvo, Daimler, Toyota join forces to push Hydrogen trucks in Europe LTFRB starts financial support program for modern Jeepney operators 'Love Bus' returns to offer free rides to commuters

Local news 

BYD Dolphin 

Eight BYD Dolphin electric hatchbacks just joined the fleet of the City Government of Muntinlupa police department. 

The emissions-free automobiles will be utilized by the Philippine National Police within the city, with duties including enhanced police visibility, daily law enforcement, and road patrols. 

For those who do not know, the BYD Dolphin packs a single permanent magnet synchronous motor paired with a 44.9 kilowatt-hour Blade battery. The setup makes 93 horsepower (hp) and 180 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque, and provides the city’s servicemen with an approximate range of 405 kilometers, according to the New European Driving Cycle. 

It costs P1.438 million. 

Tesla Plaid pickleball paddle 

Tesla Philippines just launched the first “Plaid” model in its lineup, but it’s not a car. 

Released not too long ago, the local wing of the American carmaker dropped a pickleball paddle made in collaboration with Selkirk. Features include an edgeless construction, integrated weights, and an open-throat face to maximize swing aerodynamics. 

Priced at P25,000, some fans speculate that the electric auto brand might be hinting at a soon release of Plaid models. 

At the time of writing, the said designation is only available for the S and X models—both of which are not sold by Tesla locally. 

Honda hits 10-M production milestone 

Honda Philippines Incorporated just built its 10 millionth motorcycle. The two-wheeler rolled off the line from the brand’s manufacturing facility in Batangas. 

Following the recent feat, HPI vowed to further bolster its manufacturing operations and pursue further growth in the Philippine motorcycle industry. 

The milestone model is a Honda Click 125 Smart Edition in Pearl Arctic White color. It is powered by a liquid-cooled, 125-cubic-centimeter engine with Programmed Fuel Injection Enhanced Smart Power technology. 

With enhanced fuel efficiency, it clocks in at 50.3 kilometers per liter, based on World Motorcycle Test Cycle standards. 

GAC PH honored in Kantar PH 2026 BrandZ report 

GAC Philippines was honored with the “2026 Breakthrough Brand–Automotive” in Kantar’s BrandZ Spotlight on Philippine Brands report. 

Alongside Toyota, GAC was the only brand from the auto industry to have been recognized at the event. And speaking of Toyota… 

Toyota motorsport events 

Toyota Motor Philippines will push through with the fourth and final leg of the 2026 Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippine Cup at the Clark International Speedway on October 24, 2026. 

Of note, the racing event was originally scheduled for an earlier date but was postponed because of inclement weather conditions, which also resulted in flooding and heavy traffic jams along the North Luzon Expressway. 

Further, the local wing of the Japanese carmaker is set to stage the final round of the 2026 Toyota Gazoo Racing Philippines Esports GT Championship on September 27 at the SMX Convention Center. 

To those unaware, the event is a sim-racing tournament in which Toyota Motor Philippines President’s son—Jo Hashimoto—is a participant, currently holding the eighth spot.  

Global buzz 

Kia PV7 

Kia Corporation has officially launched the PV7, a light commercial vehicle for the South Korean and European markets. 

It uses the marque’s all-electric Platform Beyond Vehicle architecture and is designed to support a wide range of business and mobility applications by bringing together electric performance, flexible interior space, and connected technology. 

Slated for a 2027 release, it packs a front-mounted electric motor produces up to 268 hp and 420 Nm of torque. 

Volvo XC60, XC90 PHEV 

Volvo continues to dish out electrified models, and its recent releases come in the form of the XC60 and XC90 plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV). 

According to the Swedish manufacturer, the new models are touted to offer extended combined and all-electric ranges while offering upgraded levels of interior comfort and safety compared to their older counterparts. 

For example, the former can travel up to 200 kilometers on electric power alone from a full charge. It uses a 2.0-liter inline-four gasoline engine paired with an electric motor and a battery to put out some 455 horses and 709.09 Nm of pulling power. 

Sharing the same powertrain, the latter can do 160 km of all-electric propulsion with a combined range of 1,100 km (Volvo XC60: 1,230 km). 

Ferrari 296 GT Modificata 

Italian luxury carmaker Ferrari has launched the 296 GT Modificata—a track-only offering equipped with the latest iteration of the brand’s six-cylinder engine that powered both production and race models. 

Per the brand, it is an extremely limited track-only two-seater based on the 296 GT3 and enhanced with technology from Ferrari's Sports models. Power comes from a rear-mid-mounted 2,992 cubic-centimeter 120-degree V6 internal combustion engine that makes 720 hp and 800 Nm. 

Rolls-Royce Phantom Hummingbird 

Rolls-Royce has debuted the Phantom Hummingbird, which is a private commission that was produced by the Private Office Dubai. 

It is the first-ever Rolls-Royce to feature abalone shell marquetry, which pairs well with mother-of-pearl for a shimmering visual effect on the figure’s feathers. It also gets a nature-inspired exterior theme with a Wildberry lower body and White Sands upper body, separated by hand-painted White Sands Coachline. 

The standard Rolls-Royce Phantom is fitted with a 6.7-liter V12 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. At maximum, the said mill can produce up to 563 horses and 900 Nm of torque. 

Yamaha introduces YZF-R2 

Yamaha Motor Corporation Limited has released the YZF-R2 supersport motorcycle in India. 

It is powered by a 204-cubic-centimeter, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, dual overhead-cam engine and makes 26 hp and 19.1 Nm. 

iCAUR V23 

The iCAUR V23 starred in the short film “Wuhu Drift” alongside Cody Walker, brother of the late Fast and Furious franchise protagonist Paul Walker. 

In the movie, it performs high-intensity slides, urban pursuit sequences, and tight-space maneuvers alongside iconic sports cars like the Nissan GT-R R34 and Honda S2000. 

The iCAUR V23 is set to make its Philippine debut next month. 

Blanka Base Camp 

Taking center stage at Suzuki Motor Corporation’s booth at the ongoing Tokyo Game Show 2026 is the Blanka Base Camp Carry light commercial vehicle. 

It is modeled after Street Fighter 6 playable character Blanka, who works as an adventure tour guide in his local Amazon jungle and has dreams of becoming popular by selling “Blanka-chan” dolls modeled after himself. 

Original Blanka cushions were distributed as novelty goods at the video game convention. 

Also showcased there was the Suzuki Hayabusa inspired by the Street Fighter character Juri. 

Transport stories 

Last week, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) suspended actor Nino Muhlach’s license for two years after he crashed his Denza B8 into several roadside establishments, injuring one person. 

In addition, the LTO placed the sport utility vehicle under alarm status to enforce the penalty and prevent transactions involving the vehicle while the resolution remains in effect. 

Further, the agency’s chief recommends the revocation of the license of the driver of the erring Porsche 918 Spyder, which was identified as using fraudulent plates. 

For more information about these stories, check out our monthly wrap video where we covered the above topics: 

Still with the LTO, the office has discontinued Stradcom’s LTO-ID system for all agency transactions. 

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has officially started providing financial support for modern jeepney operators. 

The said financial support consists of P20,000 per unit per month for eligible operators with existing arrears, active loan obligations, or those at risk of defaulting on their loans. The fund may also be used by operators to offset operational costs. 

And while we are on the topic of LTFRB, Toyota Motor Philippines is asking the agency to open the newly-added 7,500 slots for transport network vehicle service to conventional hybrid electric models. 

In global news, the Ford Mustang Mach-E in Australia has been recalled for a manufacturing issue that can cause the rear differential pinion shaft to break. 

This fault may lead to a loss of drive power or failure of the park function, increasing the risk of an accident. 

Likewise, the Australian government reported the recall of certain Nissan X-Trail e-POWER small utility vehicles because of a software glitch within the Lithium-ion Battery Controller. 

This issue may trigger a fail-safe mode while driving or during regenerative braking, potentially resulting in a loss of motive power and preventing the battery from charging. 

Also read:

ZW weekly wrap: Aug 24-28

Zigwheels weekly wrap: Aug. 17-21

Zigwheels weekly wrap: Aug. 10-14

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