Home > Author Archives: Lester Dizon (page 28)

Author Archives: Lester Dizon

Enamored by a Monster: New-Ray 2001 Ducati Monster S4

In April 2015, I was in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the Asia Premiere of the all-new Ducati Monster 821. My initial impression is that the new naked bike retains the character of the original Monster even with its new chassis and increased muscular styling. The good people of Ducati Asia laid out a ride around Chiang Mai through long country ...

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American Muscle, European Chic: Auto Art Millenium Ford GT

At the 2002 North American International Auto Show, the Ford Motor Company unveiled a new mid-engine two-seat sports car concept that was initially dubbed as the GT40. It was designed in anticipation of the automaker’s centennial year and as part of its drive to showcase and revive its “heritage models” such as Mustang and Thunderbird.  The GT40 was designed to ...

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Archives: 1st Independence Day Classic and Muscle Car Show (June 12, 2010)

Traditionally, June 12th is celebrated nationwide as the day that the Philippines claimed independence from foreign rule. But June 12, 2010 showed that many Filipinos are NOT really free from foreign control, specifically from their passion towards American classic and muscle cars. Dubbed as the “1st Independence Day Classic and Muscle Car Show” and held at the old parking grounds ...

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Race Car For The Road: Maisto 1997 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR

The only connection between this Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR (W297) and the McLaren Mercedes MP4-16 that we featured yesterday are their tri-star emblem and their racing heritage. But there’s a deeper and more “secretive” connection between this über German super car and the 1993 McLaren F1 that we featured two days ago (Tuesday, May 5). You’ll find out in a while. ...

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Ferrari Shares Their “Back on Track” Program

After  the  longest  closing  in  its  history  due  to  the  COVID-19  pandemic, Ferrari production in their Maranello factory will build up gradually to resume full operations on Friday, May 8, 2020 in alignment with Italian government regulations. The company has spared no effort to prepare for this moment by setting up their “Back on  Track”  program, which reflects Ferrari’s deep  ...

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All-New Mazda3 Clinches the 2020 World Car Design of the Year Award

After being shortlisted as one of the Top Three Finalists for the 2020 World Car Design of the Year Award last March, the all-new Mazda3 has been awarded by 86 jurors from 24 countries who made up the World Car Awards panel, as the winner for having the best design among all contending cars for the 2020 World Car Awards ...

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2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport R-Dynamic S: Ready for the Apocalypse

Picture this: A pandemic is spreading and chaos is everywhere. People are panic-buying in supermarkets and groceries to hoard basic goods, including… dear God… toilet paper! Traffic is heavy after some people lined their vehicles up to the middle of the road just to run to the stores. The highway out of the city is packed. You can hear police ...

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David Coulthard’s Best Season: MiniChamps 2001 McLaren Mercedes MP4-16

The F1 that we featured yesterday was the road-going McLaren. Today, we will feature the McLaren that competed in the actual F1 races. The McLaren Mercedes MP4-16 was the company’s entry in the 2001 FIA Formula One World Championship that was driven by the tandem of Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard in what would be their sixth and final season ...

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World’s Fastest N/A Production Car: Maisto 1993 McLaren F1

What does talk show host Jay Leno, Mr. Bean series star Rowan Atkinson, the late Beatles guitarist George Harrison, tech wizard Elon Musk, and the Sultan of Brunei have in common? If you guessed that they all owned, at one time or another, a McLaren F1 road car, then you’re absolutely right. Not to be confused with the Formula One ...

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Honoring Ettore Bugatti: Bburago 1991 Bugatti EB 110

On September 15, 1991, the Bugatti EB 110 GT was unveiled at both Versailles and in front of the Grande Arche de la Défense, near Paris, exactly 110 years after Ettore Bugatti‘s birth. The mid-engine sports car’s design elements paid homage to the classic Bugatti automobiles. The factory, Bugatti Automobili S.p.A., was owned by Italian businessman Romano Artioli, and the ...

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