To be honest, the first time I saw a Mazda 2 in person here in the Philippines, I was a bit skeptical about the design. I first saw it from the rear, and it looked to me as if it were a tad too small for a hot hatch. Maybe it was the shape of the lights, as it reminded me of those alien drawings to me. But when I saw it from the front, I began to appreciate the entire looks of it from a holistic point of view. Now when I see one, maybe becuase with the smiley face design in front, I feel it’s smiling at me. So guess what… I smile back. LOL!

Now when the Ford Fiesta came out, I was half expecting a better looking car. I knew it was from the same platform, but I was thinking the Euro-inspired looks would trump the JDM-styling of the Mazda 2. But after a while, the Fiesta’s design, in stock form, started to look boring to me. Not so with the Mazda 2. Again, maybe it’s that smiley face, but it always looks like a happy car to me.

With that, I present to you this photo of 3 Mazda 2′s from MazdaTech Philippines. I call this photo “The Triple Double”. Hope you like it!

Since I shared with you my opinion on what I’d like a Mazda 2 to look like, how about you? Would you want a Mazda 2 as a sedan or hatchback? What mods would you want to do to yours?

Related Stuff:
- More features on the Mazda 2 here.
- See more customized Mazda vehicles here.

Andy Rodriguez (A.Rodriguez Fotografia) and I joined the Miata Club on a trip to Tagaytay Highlands last weekend. It sure was a rainy and foggy trip of sorts, but that didn’t stop us from taking photos.

This is just a preview taken from my camera. Just a teaser of what is to come. Watch out for more right here at CustomPinoyRides.com. In the meantime, we’ll be quite busy editing and working on the layout for the upcoming 2012 Calendar… Watch out for it!!!

Thanks to the Miata Club for their hospitality, and for feeding us a sumptuous meal at Tagaytay Highlands. Hope you’ll enjoy the calendar we’ll be publishing featuring your club. Cheers!

If cars could talk, I wonder what Miatas talk about whenever they meet?

Related Stuff:
- See more features from the Car Photography Club.
- More features of customized Mazda vehicles here.
- Click here to join the Car Photography Club.

Rolling Shots never suck. But this one does… in an extremely good way.

Just look at that awesome ride. It exhibits that angry, purposeful-looking stare of a madman coming sraight at you, gritting his teeth on a cigar. If you see this ride rolling down your street, make sure you keep your pets and children at bay. You don’t want them getting sucked in now do you?

See the recent modifications on Calvin’s Skyline here.

Related Stuff:
- See more features from the Car Photography Club.
- More features of customized Nissan Skylines here.
- Click here to join the Car Photography Club.

Photos from CircuitShowdown.com

Delivering tofu after the race?

Circuit Showdown goes back to Batangas Racing Circuit for Round 6 of the series. But this time, they’re taking BRC from behind… Or rather, backwards.

Check out the awesome smoke-filled, exhaust flaming, three-wheeling action right here…

Fire!!!

“Carbonized” Honda S2000.

This GC Subaru Impreza I find to be very interesting. Simple and elegant yet purposefully modified on areas where it count. Even at this angle you’d know it means business. Rollcage not just for safety but to stiffen up the chassis as well, low profile tires for better handling, rally-style roof vent, and good grief take a look at how massive those brake rotors are…

Acura Integra. Honda lovers would rejoice seeing this!

Sibling Rivalry?

Honda Civic hatchback doing some three-wheeling action…

The Lancer replicates the move rather well…

But this guy tries to trump them with an attempt to get both rear tires off the ground…

Want this in black?

Or white?

Rota Wheels Evo IV. Want a set of these wheels for your own? Visit RotaWheels.com.

Nissan 370Z yeah! I wonder if the owner would want to puchase an Amuse Body Kit for this? I’m selling one in case there’s any interest!

If you cut this car in half, you will see our blood.

Coolness…

For more information on Circuit Showdown, as well as race schedules, and more photos, visit CircuitShowdown.com.

Photos by Butch Belgica

Despite the continuous downpour of rain and strong winds, Ford Club Philippines forded on with the funrun, not letting bad weather get in the way of driving pleasure, camaraderie, and of course good food famous in Rumpa restaurant in Clark, Pampanga.

If you’ve missed Part 1 of the photos, check it out here: Ford Club Philippines Funrun Photoshoot with the Car Photography Club Part 1.

Otherwise, read on to see Part 2 of the photo coverage…

Solo poses.

Blocking the tollgate exits… Like a boss…

Gathering up after the exit, preparing for the run to clark…

The guys of Ford Club Philippines.

Photos by Car Photography Club member Butch Belgica.

Related Stuff:
- If you’ve missed Part 1 of the photos, check it out here: Ford Club Philippines Funrun Photoshoot with the Car Photography Club Part 1.
- See more custom Fords here.
- See more features from the Car Photography Club.
- Click here to join the Car Photography Club.

The Subaru Impreza STi is already one sweet and fabulous ride. In black, it’s just like scrumptious cake made of dark chocolate – the taste is bittersweet. Like raw bitter power wrapped in a deliciously sweet all-wheel-drive package.

But when covered in mud after a day of playing naughty, heck, that’s just like caramel icing over the cake! It makes driving it all the more delicious. Besides, the Subaru Impreza STi is one of those very few cars that would look good even when dirty. Wouldn’t you agree?

Related Stuff:
- See more coverage of the FunRun Forum.
- See more features from the Car Photography Club.
- More features of customized Subarus here.
- Click here to join the Car Photography Club.

Photos from CircuitShowdown.com

EK Hatch Drag…

Round 5 of Circuit Showdow 2011 brings us to Clark International Speeday, specifically the West Short Track. Apart from the usual field of ultra-fast Japanese Tuner Cars, Round 5 had an increased attendance of hot and fast sports cars joining in on the fun.

So without further ado, check out the spectacular photos of the adrenaline-filled weekend action…

Drifting Civic?

“Race in Peace”

For more information on Circuit Showdown, as well as race schedules, and more photos, visit CircuitShowdown.com

There’s something about Kevin Carlos’ S14 Silvia that I found to be really captivating. It has that sort of mysteriously evil yet seductive look to it, as if it were staring sharp at you, biting its lips.

No other S14 Silvia can give you that kind of look, except maybe if it were looking at you with its Vertex Headlamps, and when you start looking at it from head to toe, you see it’s dressed in a Vertex Body Kit and CF Hood lathered in TVR Starmist Grey Paint. Plus the fact that it’s wearing Rota IKR’s suspended via Tein Springs…

Then it goes by you, and gives you that look-back. It catches you staring at its beautiful ass, accentuated by that Rocketbunny Wing…

Surprised, you find that it actually opens its doors, and invites you in, eager to take you for the ride of your life…

So my question for you is: WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS BABY FOR A RIDE?

Related Stuff:
- See more features from the Car Photography Club.
- More features of customized Nissan Silvias.
- Click here to join the Car Photography Club.

Joined the Ford Club Philippines fun run (in the middle of a typhoon) to Clark a couple of days ago. Barely managed to take good photos due to the bad weather. Just check out the trees in the photo above. The wind was crazy, and the rain was just continuously pouring! But I still managed to snap a few. Here they are for your viewing pleasure…

Black and chrome is the theme for this Ford Fiesta.

This macho-looking Ford Ranger Trekker is rolling on none other than 18-inch Rota Wheels! The light bar up front gives it a more purposeful look too.

Autobots have blue eyes, and Decepticons have red eyes right? This Ford Everest must be an Autobot in disguise…

Pretty hard to pull off rolling shots in the pouring rain while going 140kph…

Thanks to Ford Club Philippines for the ride, and for the sumptuous steak lunch (more of brunch LOL!) at Rumpa Restaurant, Angeles, Pampanga. I actually have a few more photos but I can’t release them yet until the article comes out of our local you know what automotive car magazine. Anyways, we’ll gather up the photos for the 2012 Calendar together with my photographer friends who went with us. Thanks! And watch out for it!

Related Stuff:
- See more custom Fords here.
- See more features from the Car Photography Club.
- Click here to join the Car Photography Club.