Zigwheels weekly wrap: Mar. 2-6

MANILA: The first week of March was an eventful one with a local motorcycle launch and several exciting announcements from various brands, both here and abroad. 

It is also worth noting that aside from promos that are rolled out by brands, many Filipinos are keeping an eye on the trend in fuel prices. 

That said, here are the biggest news stories that happened last week. 

Local launch 

Suzuki DR-Z series 

The motorcycle arm of Suzuki Philippines Incorporated has rolled out the highly anticipated DR-Z series. 

Of note, the nameplates from the DR-Z line made their global debut sometime in April 2025. Their local launch came after their first outing in the country, by way of the Makina Moto Expo 2025. 

The Suzuki DR-Z series consists of two models, the DR-Z4S and DR-Z4SM dual sport motorcycles, and are fitted with a 398 cubic-centimeter engine paired with a five-speed constant mesh transmission. 

Both bikes also boast the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System, which integrates advanced technology features such as the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector and Suzuki Traction Control System, which includes a Gravel mode for off-road riding. 

They will set back enthusiasts some P589,000. 

Other stories: Volvo celebrates platinum years of seatbelt safety Nissan gets 2026 WWCOTY top honor for 3rd-gen LEAF PH-spec Geely EX5 EM-i to come in 2 trims; pricing starts at P1.288M

Global rollouts 

Harley-Davidson ST lineup 

Harley-Davidson released new Sport Touring (ST) models in Thailand, which coincided with MotoGP’s scheduled race in the country. 

The newly-released models are the all-new Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) Street Glide ST, CVO Road Glide ST, Low Rider ST, and Pan America 1250 ST. 

Per the American motorcycle company, the said models come with notable upgrades, such as the Milwaukee‑Eight 121 high-output engine powering the CVO motorbikes. 

BYD Seal 

In the United Kingdom, BYD gave the Seal sedan some mild updates. 

To note, the BYD Seal is also available in the Philippines. 

Its upgrades include improvements like increased boot space (from 400 liters [L> to 485 L) and front trunk (from 53 L to 72 L), new 19-inch wheels, and new paint options (Ruby Red, Lavender Gray, and Obsidian Black). 

With the seeming intention of keeping the interior minimal and sleek, the Chinese carmaker omitted the BYD logo on the front seat headrests, the Near Field Communication (NFC) mark on the center console, and removed the 15.6-inch infotainment system's rotating function. 

It also gained new features in the area of advanced driver-assist systems. 

Exciting announcements 

Lac Hong 800S, 900S 

VinFast has structured its automotive sub-brands and announced that it will launch two new models in 2027, specifically the Lac Hong 800S and 900S. 

As such, the newly-established Lac Hong sub-brand will be VinFast’s luxury division, while VinFast will serve as its mass-market passenger line, and Green for commercial mobility offerings. 

Of note, both VinFast and Green nameplates are available here in the Philippines. 

Geely EX2 

Geely Motor Philippines confirmed that the EX2 compact, five-door, electric hatchback is coming to the country. 

Considered the marque’s best-selling model in China (with almost 500,000 examples sold in its domestic market last year), it has earned the nod of the Department of Energy (DOE) and has been added to its list of approved battery electric vehicles. 

Aside from the Philippines, it is also expected to be launched in other markets such as Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, and South Africa. 

Geely EX5 EM-i 

Geely’s local arm also noted that the EX5 EM-i hybrid will be sold locally in two trims. They will be priced at P1.288 and P1.468 million, respectively. 

Toyota RAV4 

Toyota is planning to release the RAV4 in Australia by the end of March. On that note, fans are speculating that it could coincide with the official release of the nameplate in the Philippines. 

To recall, the Toyota RAV4 made an appearance at the 54th Golden Tee held at the Manila Golf and Country Club not too long ago. 

Its price has also been revealed by Toyota Motor Philippines, which starts at P2.183 million. 

Suzuki eVitara 

Suzuki has started retailing the eVitra in India, with a strong possibility of the fully electric model being released in the Philippines soon. 

It would be the very first fully electric model from the Japanese carmaker after releasing a slew of mild-hybrid vehicles in recent years. 

Suzuki Philippines Incorporated displayed the then concept car (EVX Concept) at the 9th Philippine International Motor Show, alongside the Suzuki Jimny Rhino Editions. 

The Suzuki eVitara has already received approval from the DOE. 

Mercedes-Benz VLE 

Mercedes-Benz is poised to roll out an all-new version of the VLE multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). 

The Mercedes-Benz VLE will have eight seats and will use the German brand’s new modular and scalable van architecture, which is touted for its flexibility. It will also be built in the marque’s Vitoria plant in Spain. 

It would be a good idea for Mercedes-Benz to bolster its portfolio in the country after several Chinese brands have seen the potential of luxury people movers in the Philippines. 

Honda Passport 

The Honda Passport is a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that was made to cater to the needs of the brand’s United States customers. It will soon expand from the West and enter the Japanese market in the second quarter of 2026. 

On that note, the question of whether or not it will soon land on Philippine shores — whose consumers are slowly leaning towards MPVs and SUVs — has been raised by several Honda fans. 

Its TrailSport Elite trim could compete with segment staples and is fitted with a V6 gasoline-powered mill paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. 

Nissan Patrol wins award 

The Nissan Patrol was honored with the iF Design Award. 

The accolade was given after it underwent scrutiny from 129 design experts from 21 nationalities, who used a matrix based on five areas of consideration: idea, form, function, differentiation, and sustainability. 

The Nissan Patrol is now available in the Philippines in two trims. 

Other local stories 

Recently, Ford Motor Company Philippines revealed that it will slash the price of the Bronco P1.37-M for a limited time. 

Likewise, a hefty discount is made available for the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Explorer, making these aspirational models more accessible to buyers. 

Also, many motorists are concerned with the projected fuel price hikes, due to the Middle Eastern crisis. Oil players are to face penalties should they fail to comply with existing fuel pricing rules. 

Also read: 

Zigwheels weekly wrap: Feb. 16-20

Zigwheels weekly wrap: Feb. 9-13

Zigwheels weekly wrap: Feb. 2-6

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