I’ve always dreamed of driving a race car, to experience the feeling of driving flat out on the track, heel-toeing at every turn threading through chicanes. This won’t be a story about that, however; this will be more a lesson in racing protocol, “How Not To Screw It Up 101". It was a bit unfortunate that an *epic* fail on my part sort of put a damper on things, but we’ll get to that later.
What's hot at Toyota Vios Racing Festival 2019?
The Toyota Vios Racing Festival
The 2019 Vios Racing Festival recently came to a smashing conclusion last Saturday at the Clark International Speedway, with drivers from different classes competeing in their respective events to find out who's the fastest around the track and the autocross course.
This was the fourth and final leg of the annual event that saw its fair share of twists, turns, and straights, as well as a few exciting crashes where thankfully no one was seriously hurt.
It was a solid and action-packed event, as this Vios race car can attest to.
Popular celebrities such as Gerald Anderson, Chie Filomeno, Gretchen Ho, Daniel Matsunaga, Aubrey Miles, and Troy Montero showcased their racing stuff in the Celebrity Class of the Vios Circuit Championship.
Racing alongside the stars and competing in their own division are the Promotional Class drivers, many of whom are seasoned veterans. Previously racing with his fellow celebrities, Fabio Ide chose to compete in the promotional class this time around, to prove his mettle against the best of the best.
>>> Check out: Car of the Week | 2014 Toyota Vios Race Car
Autocross madness
Apart from the balls-to-the-wall race action on the circuit course, the Toyota Vios Racing Festival featured the Vios Autocross Challenge for participants from the Media, Social Media and Car Clubs classes. Yours truly went for the Media class; I don’t have enough followers on my Instagram account, and I have too much body fat to be with the Social Media Class.
Fans were able to enjoy and have a good time with their favorite celebrities
These were the stakes that lay ahead of me as I came late to the party, only joining the last leg thanks to the gracious invitation sent by Toyota Motor Philippines. Before the main event last Saturday, I was supposed to join the briefing and pre-race exercises which were mandatory even for seasoned drivers, much more so for newbies such as myself; unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch it.
Giddy with excitement, I put on my racing jumpsuit which was a little too small for my 2XL frame, since I was a last-minute entrant. We went straight to the track but as soon as my name was called, I was like a deer in headlights, frozen and numb as they ushered me to the race car. I felt like my whole life flashed before my eyes, culminating at that very moment. I finally knew what Ricky Bobby meant when he says he didn’t know what to do with his hands, I just wanted to go fast, and off I went.
The part where I got lost in all the confusion
I lined up on the grid, and as soon as they gave me the go-ahead, I just ran off to the first chicane. I was about to do a U-turn but one of the guides told me to go ahead, so I kept going straight. I mashed the throttle, fully expecting to pass by the next cone, but all I saw was more tarmac in front of me.
Panic started to set in, as no one was stopping me and I kept on going and going, downshifting and heel-toeing as I entered every corner and letting it all rip as I exited the apex. I was so high on adrenaline, and the entire stretch of the Clark International Speedway just lay before me, seemingly endless under the Saturday sun.
As I returned to the grid, I realized to my horror that I was racing in the opposite direction, which would have endangered the other racers had they been with me on the track; this driver just made a complete fool of himself by giving in to his baser instincts.
All I could manage was a feeble “I am so sorry” to the organizers. They were far from impressed by my stunt, but they were understanding enough to at least let me keep racing in the event. Even now, I still wilt at the memory of that faux pas, days after the event had wrapped up.
I kept repeating to myself: "Don't get lost!"
>>> Get yourself a Toyota Vios for sale and wait for the next race!
What I learned
Thankfully, the organizers just made light of my stunt, pointing out to the other racers the importance of briefing, listening and paying attention to instructions before setting foot on the track. Oh well, I'd rather be a semi-good example than a cautionary tale.
The rules are there for a reason, because the cliche is true; it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. I just thank the heavens that nothing untoward happened as a result my blunder.
>>> Find your nearest Toyota dealerships in the Philippines right now!
The winners were announced during the after-event ceremonies
The guys gave me another crack at the course. Since I am now more than familiar with the Vios race car at this point, I know what it was capable of. Despite my earlier display of derring-do, I didn’t make the cut for the finals, not even close.
But the autocross course was really fun; it showcased the handling of the Toyota Vios, the engine response was spot on, whether the clutch was in or out. This Vios is a very stable machine, although I felt like I’ve already had my fill of the festivities from behind the wheel, and all I wanted was to bring the car back to the pit in one piece.
There was an interesting race car on display as well
Would I ever come back? Absolutely. It was the best moment of my life, and I am profusely thankful to Toyota Motor Philippines for the chance to represent Philkotse.com and experience the Toyota Vios in an autocross environment.
Sure I’ve had a little too much fun, but if ever the organizers are gracious (or foolhardy) enough to invite me back, I'll make sure to never miss the pre-race orientation again. All in all, the Toyota Vios Racing Festival was an experience I will never ever forget.
The Philkotse.com team sure had a great day as well!
The 2019 Vios Racing Festival is supported by the following partners and sponsors: Bridgestone, Petron, Motul, Rota, Brembo, Denso, AVT, 3M, OMP, and Tuason Racing.
Until next year's Vios Racing Festival!
Here's the complete list of the podium finishers from last weekend's races:
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Circuit Championship
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Rank
|
Celebrity
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Promotional
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Sporting
|
|
Race 7
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|||
|
1st
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Troy Montero
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Francis Adriano
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John Dizon
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|
2nd
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Aubrey Miles
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Darrel Garbes
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Marc Soong
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3rd
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Gretchen Ho
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Julian Tang
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Red Diwa
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|
Race 8
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|||
|
1st
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Troy Montero
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Francis Adriano
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Lord Seno
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|
2nd
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Aubrey Miles
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Darrel Garbes
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Marc Soong
|
|
3rd
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Gerald Anderson
|
Elysse Menorca
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Gel Napat
|
|
Race 9
|
|||
|
1st
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Troy Montero
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Julian Tang
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John Dizon
|
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2nd
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Gerald Anderson
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Elysse Menorca
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Red Diwa
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3rd
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Daniel Matsunaga
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Ian Rosales
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Eggy Ong
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|
Autocross Challenge
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|||
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Rank
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SMPs
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Media
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Car Clubs
|
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1st
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Vince Vandorpe
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Anjo Perez
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Carlos Iñigo Anton
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2nd
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Jun Sunga
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Jose Luis Altoveros
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Sean Kody S. Ng
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3rd
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Reph Bangsil
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Raymond Figuerres
|
Mickie Carbonell
|
The Media Class racers surely had one of the best days of their lives
Follow Philkotse.com for more news, reviews, and insights on Philippine motoring.
Know more about Toyota Vios 2024
Competing in the subcompact sedan segment, the Toyota Vios 2024 is the top sales contributor for the Japanese automaker. The price for the Toyota Vios in the Philippines ranges from PHP 732,000 to PHP 1,054,000. A total of 7 Toyota Vios variants are offered, with the top-of-the-line Vios G CVT variant coming with a tag of PHP 1,039,000. Two engine options are available in the range, which can be connected to either a 5-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT). Dimensions-wise, the subcompact sedan spans 4,425 mm in length, 1,730 mm in width, and 1,475 mm in height. The main rivals of the Toyota vehicle include the Honda City, Mitsubishi Mirage G4, and Nissan Almera.
The Toyota Vios is not only the best-selling model in the Japanese automaker's lineup, but the entire Philippine market. It serves as a reliable subcompact sedan for those who are looking for a daily driver. Also, the Vios is proudly Philippine-assembled which supports Filipino automotive workers. Now, the vehicle is competing in its respective class head high using the refreshed body released by Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) in the country in 2020.
>>> New and used Toyota Vios 2024 for sale in the Philippines
Toyota Vios Launch
In 2002, Toyota introduced the first-generation Vios in the Philippines. A few years later in 2007, the second-generation sedan was launched. This version gained the "Batman" nickname due to the shape of its grille.
Several years onwards In 2013, Toyota brought in the third-gen Toyota Vios. It has grown in size, and it also came with a larger engine. The Toyota-made sedan was given a major update in 2018. It bore a new exterior design, and it also gained the upmarket Prime variants as well.
More recently in 2020, Toyota Motor Philippines launched another refresh of the Toyota Vios model. It's fitted with sportier fascia, a new grille, a new pair of headlamps, a revised foglamp housing, and a new lower grille, among others.
In March of 2021, TMP then introduced the Toyota Vios GR-S.
Toyota Vios Exterior
Up front, the Toyota Vios for the Philippines comes with a front end that mirrors the current designs of high-end models like the Corolla Altis and the Camry. The said design features a wide-slatted grille, flanked by the angular fog lamp housing. For the high-trim GR-S and G, the headlamps are three-tier LEDs with integrated LED daytime running lamps. The rest of the variants get a pair of four-bulb halogen headlights.
For the side and the rear, not much has changed since the previous version. The GR-S stands out from the rest of the variants with its black-colored exterior pieces, rear spoiler, and rear lower bumper with an integrated diffuser.
The Toyota Vios G
Apart from those, the Toyota Vios GR-S for the Philippine market also has different-looking side skirts and a set of GR-S 16-inch alloy wheels. The G variant on the other hand still has a piano black grille, but it gets chrome-plated door handles instead of the black-colored ones found on the GR-S.
The all-new 2021 Toyota Vios GR-S
>>> Related: 2021 Toyota Vios GR-S review by Philkotse
Toyota Vios Interior
The Toyota Vios for the Philippine market can offer seating for up to five occupants including the driver. For the top-spec GR-S and G variants, they both come equipped with automatic air-conditioning. For the most part, the Toyota Vios' dashboard are made out of sturdy plastic, combined with silver-colored accents.
Soft touch points for the Vios are also abundant. The Toyota-made sedan's door cards are made out of a combination of plastic, and a soft, fabric-covered material. There's also the presence of a center elbow-rest.
The Interior Of The Toyota Vios G
As for the seats, most variants except the GR-S come with fabric seats. The GR-S instead has synthetic leather with red contrast stitching, combined with suede pieces.
The rear seats of the Toyota Vios
To keep occupants comfortable, both the GR-S and G Vios variants are equipped with automatic air-conditioning systems. The rest of the trim levels on the other hand come with a manual air-conditioning system.
Inside the Toyota Vios GR-S
>>> Related: Toyota Vios for sale at good prices on Philkotse.com
Features & Technology
For entertainment, the Toyota Vios GR-S, and the Vios G variants for the Philippine market come standard with a 6.75-inch touchscreen headunit. The said headunit is also capable of connecting via Bluetooth, USB, and Aux jack.
The Vios G's touchscreen headunit
The mid-tier XLE and XE trims also have the aforementioned headunit, but these come with a four-piece speaker set instead. The Vios J on the other hand comes standard with a 2-DIN audio unit linked to two speakers.
Besides the aforementioned touchscreen, the GR-S is also equipped with the Gazoo Racing 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display. Other variants do get an Optitron gauge cluster, as well as a multi-information display. The GR-S and the G also come with a push-to-start button, a leather-clad shift lever, and a drive-mode selector. All Vios variants also come standard with a tilt-adjustable steering wheel column.
The tech and convenience features will vary depending on the variant of the Toyota Vios
For safety, the GR-S and G variants are equipped with dual-front airbags, side airbags, curtain shield airbags, and driver's knee airbags. The rest of the trim levels have dual-front airbags, and the airbag for the driver's knee.
Anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution, stability control, traction control, and hill-start assist are available on all Vios trims. Only the GR-S and G come with a rear-view camera, and only the former has a clearance sonar.
>>> See more: New and used Toyota Vios for sale in the Philippines at the best price
Platform & Chassis
The refreshed Toyota Vios for the Philippine market still uses the same platform as the previous model. As before, higher trim levels have disc brakes all around.
For suspensions, the Vios uses a MacPherson Strut type for the front and a torsion beam-type suspension for the rear. Moreover, the engine is still positioned transversely, with the power sent to the front wheels.
Engine & Drivetrain
The Toyota Vios for the Philippine market has two engine options. The larger one is a 1.5-liter inline-4 engine capable of making up to 106 hp and 140 Nm of torque. This said engine is available on the GR-S and the G Trim. For the former, it is paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) only. The Vios G can either come with a CVT or a five-speed manual transmission.
The Toyota Vios G's 1.5-liter mill
The other engine option for the Vios is a 1.3-liter inline-4 engine. At most, this mill can produce up to 98 hp, and 123 Nm of torque. For the XLE, the said engine can be paired with a CVT or a five-speed transmission. The 1.3 XE's sole transmission is a CVT, while the J comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission only.
The gear shift lever of the Vios GR-S
>>> Also check out:
- Toyota Vios 2020 Philippines Review: Join the club
- 2021 MG 5 vs Toyota Vios Comparison: Spec Sheet Battle
Toyota Vios 2024 Price List
| Variants | Price |
|---|---|
| Toyota Vios 1.3 J MT | ₱732,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.3 XE CVT | ₱774,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE MT | ₱862,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.3 XLE CVT | ₱902,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.5 G MT | ₱979,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.5 G MT (White Pearl) | ₱994,000 |
| Toyota Vios 1.5 G CVT | ₱1,039,000 |
₱ 732,000 - ₱ 1,055,000
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