The year 2020 was certainly not what any of us expected. What was anticipated to be another bumper crop of fabulous new cars turned out to be an almost apocalyptic scenario of depressed sales, plunging profits, and overstocked inventories. But the car industry as a whole is resilient, and still succeeded in rolling out car after new car even through the various quarantine levels.
Here are 20 of the bright sparks of hope that helped illuminate one of the darkest periods, not just in the car industry, but in mankind’s history—arranged in alphabetical order.
1. Audi Sport
The recent announcement that Audi Sport, the high-performance arm of Audi, will be landing on Philippine shores this 2021 is probably the highlight of 2020 for many car enthusiasts. The onslaught will be led by the Audi RS 3 Sedan, the RS 6 Avant and the RS Q8. More RS models, including the new R8 supercar, will join the local Audi Sport range in 2021.
2. BMW R18
This year has been a heritage car renaissance of sorts for the global automotive scene, with the return of the Ford Bronco in the US market, the reappearance of a Jeep in pickup form, an all-new version of the timeless Land Rover Defender, among a few others. So why not a motorcycle, too? BMW Motorrad did just that with the breathtaking R18. Taking cues from the seminal R5 of the 1930s, the R18 marries period technology (pushrods instead of overhead cams) with state-of-the-art motorcycle tech—then integrates them all in a show-stopping cruiser with a biggest-from-Berlin 1802cc boxer motor.
3. Chery Tiggo 8
Midsize 7-seater SUVs are one of the most popular genres of automobiles in the country. On one end, you’ve got the ever-popular Fortuner, Montero Sport and Everest and other pickup-based rivals that start around P1.5 million. On the other end are the premium models like the Ford Explorer and the Mazda CX-8 and CX-9, all of which range from P2.3 to 2.9 million. Which makes the new Chery Tiggo 8 a gamechanger of sorts in the midsize 7-seat category. It challenges the establishment by offering luxury car features and pairing that with a compelling P1.2 million price tag.
4. Ford Territory
The Ford Escape, one of the bestselling SUVs in America, came at a time when the compact SUV market in the Philippines was starting to decline. The Blue Oval still has the Ecosport, but the little crossover and others of its ilk (Nissan Juke, Chevy Trax) are being besieged by the influx of bigger but more affordable players from new players MG, Geely and Chery. Enter the Territory. If Range Rover were to make a version of its Evoque and price it at P1.2 million, it would be something very, very close to the Ford Territory. Style, specs, and performance—the Territory’s got a lot going for it.
5. Geely Azkarra
The Coolray might be the hotcake of the Geely line with its cool styling and irresistible pricing, but it’s the Azkarra that really sets the bar when it comes to premium (the term “near-luxury” might be a better fit) features and details in a segment that didn’t even exist just two or three years ago. Add to that a mild hybrid drivetrain and you’ve got yourself a true-blue trendsetter.
6. Honda City
The sedan is under attack—from the onslaught of crossovers, that is. Midsize sedans are an endangered species. Compact sedans are struggling. Subcompact sedans are the last bright hope, but there are just so many of them that survival of the fittest is the order. Honda’s new subcompact sedan is one of the brilliant rays in this class—and the latest one is arguably the best (and best-looking) City yet.
7. Hyundai Venue
As if the head-turning Kona isn’t enough, Hyundai is offering up an even more affordable subcompact crossover—the Venue. Coming in at just over P900k, the Venue is yet another strong contender in the fast-crowding mini-SUV genre.
8. Jeep Gladiator
Pickups are yet another resilient category in the Philippine auto industry. So a new player won’t hurt, right? Enter the Gladiator. It’s priced way beyond the sweet spot of the Hiluxes, Rangers, Stradas, and Navaras, but it represents something that’s nothing less than a paradigm shift—a return to a pickup body style (after almost three decades) by one of the most legendary off-roading brands on earth.
9. Kia Stonic
After a few years in the doldrums, a revitalized Kia got its tonic—Stonic, to be exact. Not only is Kia’s baby crossover a looker, it also comes with a stunningly low starting price of P735k.
10. Lexus LM
With people waving fistfuls of money to get their hands on the very in-demand Toyota Alphard, it’s a no-brainer that Lexus would get in the game, too. The Lexus LM is both bold and brilliant—who would think of making a 4-seater minivan? But when you see the sumptuous multi-adjustable seats with power-retractable legrests and seven types (and five levels) of massage, the twin moonroofs, the 26-inch HD screen, the Mark Levinson audio system, and—the piece de resistance—the power glass partition for limo-like privacy, you get a taste of an airliner’s First Class cabin. On the road.
11. Maxus G50
The 8-seater MPV is a staple for the Filipino family—which is why the Innova is the go-to vehicle for those who want an affordable easy-to-drive minivan for the family. Why is the Innova the bestseller? Because it’s the only 8-seat MPV out there! Thankfully, new player Maxus has rolled out a compelling alternative: it’s the G50, and it brings with it a wealth of features—not to mention upmarket styling—to the now segment-of-two.
12. Mazda CX-30
Mazda, the purveyor of the most consistently beautiful and fun-to-drive cars on the planet, is at it again with the CX-30. I once considered the CX-3 as an MX-5 with a crossover body (the former is actually based on the Mazda2), but it’s the CX-30 that delivers sports car-like levels of sportiness, but cloaks it under one of the sleekest sheetmetal to ever adorn an SUV.
13. MG 5
Similar to the reasons for its rival, the new Honda City, to be on this list, the MG 5 makes it not just for being an exceptionally capable and generously featured small sedan, but for being among the best-looking ones in its class (the best-looking for me, actually). The MG 5’s gracefully elegant lines and the strong front and rear ends, with their bold assertive grille and the striking LED headlamps and taillamps, all subtly whisper “Audi.” I’d get one in silver and slap on some BBS-like wheels on it.
14. Mini JCW GP
What happens when one of the most universally loved cars in the world gets infused with the most horsepower it ever had? You get the Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP Edition—the fastest production Mini ever. Only 3,000 will be made and only six will make it to the Philippines. If that’s not a high point for 2020, I don’t know what is.
15. Mitsubishi Xpander Cross
A few years back, I got to test a pre-production Xpander in a test track in Japan before it was introduced in the Philippines. Getting to interview the Japanese designers and engineers, I was impressed by the level of development the Xpander got. No surprise then that it performs exceedingly well. The new Xpander Cross is the inevitable evolution of the superbly smooth and refined Xpander. The usual SUV accoutrements (including a raised ride height) adorn the body, which is fronted by one of the most concept car-like visages to grace the front end of a car—Mitsubishi’s Dynamic Shield design.
16. Nissan Z Proto
The biggest 2020 news from Nissan was the global reveal of the Z Proto, the concept car that heralds the long-awaited successor to the superb but aging 370Z. The design is both a throwback to earlier Z cars with contemporary cues thrown in for good measure. The new car is expected to be called the 400Z and will bring a breath of fresh air to the Japanese giant’s duo of sports cars (the other of which is the likewise aging GT-R).
17. Peugeot e-Legend Concept
One of the oldest companies in the world, Peugeot celebrates its 210th anniversary this year (and 120th as a car company). One of the more spectacular announcements in connection with the anniversary—and with a definitive view to the French carmaker’s future—is the e-Legend Concept. With its squarish lines and upright greenhouse, the e-Legend looks like a 70s coupe throwback—and arguably one of the most captivating designs from what has become a design leader in the global car business. Boasting cutting-edge electric and autonomous technologies, the e-Legend is a cinch to live up to it name. Let’s just hope it (or something similar) makes it to production.
18. Porsche Taycan
New Normal, say hello to the Brave New World. The Porsche Taycan can rocket from zero to 100 km/h in 2.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 260 km/h—and carry four people in utmost comfort and luxury. Without needing a drop of fuel. The Taycan is Stuttgart’s (and one of the world’s) first high-performance pure electric car to reach production. Needless to say, its technology is absolute cutting-edge.
19. Suzuki S-Presso
Hats off to Suzuki for breaking the mold in low-priced small cars with the S-Presso. It looks like nothing else on the road but impresses with its sheer honesty and unpretentiousness—and, of course, its lowest-in-the-country price tag of P518,000. It’s basic goodness on four wheels.
20. Toyota Corolla Cross
The Toyota Corolla Cross is not just a more affordable alternative to the venerable RAV 4. It represents Toyota’s vision of what the Corolla would be (or have to be) in the foreseeable future, especially with the trend of crossover sales growing and sedan sales declining. But more than the evolutionary body style, the Corolla Cross bristles with the technology Toyota is world-renowned for—a hybrid drivetrain. With the Corolla Cross rationale, are you still surprised that the Ford Mustang Mach E is an electric crossover? As Mandalorians would say, this is the way.
