Volkswagen Philippines introduces new Tharu SUV, priced

Volkswagen Philippines is offering Filipino car enthusiasts and families a chance to experience the brand’s latest compact SUV, the Tharu, in a special event. The official public launch was made on September 29 and continued through public test drives on September 30 and October 1.

The Tharu, a bold and cutting-edge offering from the renowned German marque, promises to provide a unique driving experience. Attendees will have the opportunity to get up close to the vehicle, appreciate its spacious and comfortable interior, and test its performance and infotainment features.

Following the launch event, the Tharu Experience will extend with week-long mall displays at various locations, including the Main Atrium of SM Pampanga from September 30 to October 6, the 2nd level of The Block in SM North Edsa from October 5 to 11, and the Ground level of The Podium in Mandaluyong City from October 19 to 25. Additional displays are also planned for November and beyond.

The Tharu represents Volkswagen’s venture into the future of Philippine mobility, combining the brand’s signature look with advanced convenience, safety, and connectivity features. Precision engineering is evident in features such as Matrix LED headlights with IQ-Lights, a fully digital cockpit, Active Park Assist, and the Virtual Pedal Tailgate with a kick-sensing system.

In terms of aesthetics, the Tharu offers a variety of unique body colors, including Pure White, Mangan Grey, Petroleum Blue (available for the SE variant), and Polytech Blue (available for the SEL variant), which includes an exterior black package for the roof, rails, door mirrors, and trims.

Volkswagen ensures that Tharu owners have peace of mind with warranty coverage of 100,000 kilometers or 3 years, along with minimal periodic maintenance service (PMS) requirements of once every 10,000 kilometers or 1 year. Tharu ownership perks also include free 24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance (ERA), with only technicians trained by globally certified trainers working on Tharu vehicles at the service bay, backed by on-site and virtual diagnostic technical support.

The Tharu is available in two variants: the Tharu 300 TSI DSG SE priced at PhP 1,808,000 and the top-of-the-line Tharu 300 TSI DSG SEL, which will retail for PhP 1,945,000.

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Aiming to be unconventional: A Women’s Month firing range date with Ford Philippines

03/25/2024

March is a time for celebrating women in all shapes and forms and from all walks of life. This year, I found myself part of a celebration that was as unconventional as it was inspiring — a firing range date with fellow female members of the motoring media.

Ford Philippines, in a move to align with this year’s theme to #InspireInclusion, invited us to the Armscor Shooting Center in Marikina for a day of shooting fun and a lesson in inclusion.

Challenging Gender Norms

I joined a group of women who, like me, are navigating the male-dominated world of automotive journalism. The faces are familiar since there really aren’t that many women in the automotive scene but the numbers have been growing.

Thinking about that and seeing those faces at this event, I see what Ford wanted to remind us of: Women belong in all spaces, including those where we’re not traditionally expected. We were there to flip the script on what society expects of us, even if it is just a day at the firing range.

The air was filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation as we were introduced to the basics of shooting—stance, grip, and safety. The instructors were thorough, ensuring we understood every aspect before proceeding. (These are real weapons, after all.)

Targets were set up. Expectations were set. Deep breaths were taken. What started as an exercise in learning, handling, and safety quickly turned into a celebration of empowerment.

It can’t be denied, there was hesitation at the start with many of us being first-timers or having not done this in a long while.

But once the ball started rolling (bullet started flying?), the smiles started showing.

 

The weather was hot, the shots were loud but we were too focused on having fun to be bothered. And despite a whole bunch of us being first-timers, there were headshots all around! By the second round of bullets, we were all pretty excited to keep shooting (and even got a gun upgrade).

Goes to show, that once that veil of fear and hesitation is lifted, there’s only room for fun.

Shooting as empowerment

I’ve held and shot guns before, many many years ago in Texas, but the environment there was different;  very welcoming despite your age, gender, or race.

As a younger, more sheltered Vikka, it confused me that I was allowed to shoot, and (despite my Dad’s dissuasion) was encouraged me to do so. That experience stayed with me, a reminder that shooting isn’t exclusive to any one group of people.

 

So when Ford Philippines extended the invitation, I was thrilled, to say the least.

The fact that it was part of Women’s Month made it even more special, too. I’m always game to shatter stereotypes when I can and I was eager to do it alongside fellow women in the automotive field. In the moment, it felt like a powerful statement.

As my turn inched closer, I couldn’t help but reflect on my first time shooting. Back then, I was surrounded by a diverse crowd, which made me realize that the sport wasn’t just a ‘boys’ club’ as movies and mainstream media used to make it out to be as I was growing up.

This time, the experience was even more profound. With each shot fired, I felt a growing sense of strength and confidence (and adrenaline).

It was a small reminder that we, as women, are capable of so much more than society often allows us to believe.

The Broader impact

Ford Philippines’ initiative is a reflection of its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and forward-thinking attitude. The event may seem like just a day at the firing range but pardon me if I want to treat it as a poetic metaphor; that we women hold more power than we think we do but have been taught to fear it.

In this day and age, more women are taking the wheel, bringing fresh perspectives, and reshaping industries. And we shouldn’t feel we don’t deserve it. More so be afraid of it.

As I left the Armscor Shooting Center, I carried with me more than just memories of a fun day. I left reminded that inclusion shouldn’t be undermined.

No matter the industry or space,  we must continue to encourage and break barriers, whether gender or otherwise, and challenge the norms that have held us back.

With initiatives like Ford’s, we are reminded that our place is wherever we choose it to be.

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