As expected, the Manila International Auto Show kicked off with aplomb last Thursday with glittery spectacle at both the World Trade Center and the SMX Convention Center.

The MIAS is a four-day celebration of the Filipino automobile industry which put the spotlight — literally and figuratively — on its every aspect.

Yet the event is very much anticipated for the debut of the newest, prettiest, biggest and flashiest cars in the local scene.

At least four car distributors thrilled the thousands of aficionados right on opening day with lavish launches of their newest vehicles.

'The Good Cat'

Among them was the GMW (or the Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd.) which pulled the veil off the Ora 03 — the newest compact electric vehicle to hit the roads.

Known as the "Good Cat" for its meek feline appearance, the Ora 03 harked back to the 1960s looks only it was loaded with modern features.

For starters, it's powered by either a 48 kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery, or a 63 kWh lithium-ternary (NMC) battery in the long-range 500 variant.

The motor is mounted in front and gives 169 PS (PferdStarke which is roughly the horsepower equivalent) and 250 newton-meter of torque.

The Ora 03 EV measures 4235mm long, 1825mm wide, 1596mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2650mm.

It is designed by Emanuel Derta, formerly of Porsche which explains the street appeal similar to that the Mini Cooper EV.

The Ora 03 comes with two 10.25-inch digital monitors: For the instrument cluster, and the infotainment system.

It also features wireless CarPlay and Android Auto for both the standard 400 and long-range 500 variants. It also has wireless charging.

Added features are rotary knob shift, leather seats and steering wheel, and toggle switches for air conditioning.

The GWM Ora 03 EV boast 374 kilometers under the NEDC cycle in the standard 400 variant. The long range 500 version can reach 500 km.

Peugeot looks sharp

Peugeot Philippines trained the spotlight on its sport utility vehicles, primarily the 5008 and 3008.

Brand head Arlan Reyes described them as the "glimpse of the future of driving."

"The overwhelming response from attendees affirms our belief that Peugeot is synonymous with sophistication and innovation," he said.

Both the Peugeot SUVs boast spacious cabins with advanced cockpit technology.

They also feature top-of-the-line amenities such as ambient lighting and interior design.

JAC out of the box

Another brand under the Astara umbrella, JAC, rolled out its refreshed lineup with three SUVs including the JS4, JS6 and JS8 Pro.

The JS8 Pro is a stylish beauty with massive grilles that attract your attention. They go with macho headlamps to complete the rough, tough look.

It also has a ton of amenities inside, including a 12.3-inch instrument cluster paired with a floating head unit. Under the hood, it possesses a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. Price starts at P1.35 million.

The JS6 is the brand's premium model, a five-seater that has finer style. It also has a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine as well as a 24.6-inch dual-screen display.

The five-seater JS4 looks like the JS6's younger brother with the exception of the head lamps and front bumper.

Two pick-ups are also on display, the T8 Pro and the T9.

T8 Pro is built for tough terrain with a ground clearance of 210mm and a maximum wading depth of 1,200mm.

Powered by a 2.0-liter CTI engine, it is capable of churning out 167hp and 410Nm of torque.

The T9 has the same engine and same ground clearance and water-wading capability. But it sports a massive 10.4-inch vertical screen and a seven-inch LCD instrument cluster.

Ariya hits the note

Nissan lifted the curtains on the Ariya, an EV that only five years ago was a concept car. It should have been introduced in the market earlier but the pandemic happened.

Now it joins the brand's electrified lineup with the Leaf and the Kicks e-Power.

However, there is no green light yet on its local release which would largely depend on the showgoers' feedback.

The Nissan Ariya's futuristic design is aerodynamic with screens and touch panels inside. It also has voice recognition system through Amazon's Alexa. Intelligent Route Planner and smartphone app are also included.

Available in front or all-wheel drive, Ariya has 65kWh or 90kWh battery power depending on the variant.

Horsepower is 218hp to 380hp, with torque from 300Nm to 600Nm. A 65kWh battery pack can run to 450km on a single change, while the 90kWh version reaches 610km.

The DAILY TRIBUNE Blast has barely scratched the surface with the MIAS 2024. More features are in store on Monday.