If you're not crazy about the Volkswagen Eos, you're not alone. But even this revamped Eos will not live long. By 2014, the Eos is due to be replaced by the 2015 Passat convertible (a.k.a. United States. VW has decided to nix the venerable sedan from its U.S. CC and the aforementioned Cabriolet (illustrated above based on what our spies tell us) -- both minus the Passat badge -- together with next-generation 2014 Phaeton. To close the gap between the CC and the Phaeton, both models will be repositioned. While the luxury sedan moves down half a notch, the CC and the Cabriolet move up one rung. Other new convertibles under preparation by VW include a softtop version of the redesigned 2011 Beetle (which we discussed at length last February) and the 2013 Golf Cabriolet. There might also be an open-air Polo built by Karmann starting in 2012, but it won't reach the U.S.
While it managed to stay for four years, the gasoline engine limited its appeal especially this is sold in the US. Significance rating: 3/5. Time had passed for this pick-up truck. Ford made hay with the Laser in the 80s. But with most units accumulating rust, Ford Group Philippines wanted to purge this memory off with the Lynx. Aimed at industry mainstays Corolla, Civic, and Sentra, it found buyers but failed to topple the leaders. It may offer a sunroof, leather seats, and an RS version throughout selling life but it bowed out in 2005 for the European based Focus. Significance rating: 3/5. Its efforts wasn't enough. The success of the L200 and Frontier was the envy of Ford Philippines which prompted to introduce the Ranger. Unlike the hulking F150, you can live with its size and fuel consumption. This truck was the first American vehicle to be available with a diesel engine, which was a requirement in a diesel loving nation. Significance rating: 3/5. American and diesels can work in harmony.
Unlike the CR-V, the HR-V is a novelty vehicle especially it has a higher price and smaller dimensions inside and out. Nobody bothered with this vehicle unless one is a diehard Honda fan especially it was offered in an irregular basis. Significance rating: 2/5. Why bother with this SUV anyway? Before Erap was removed in position, Transfarm introduced the second generation Grand Cherokee to compete with the successful Expedition. There's a V8 engine but it is not enough to topple the favorite of the papas of the Sexbomb Dancers. Significance rating: 1/5. A packaged product marred with a stratospheric price and limited dealer support. Just like the Starex, the Carnival started out as a grey importer darling. With Columbian Autocar Corporation facing falling sales no thanks to some internal issues within the company, this minivan was brought in to re-brand the Kia nameplate. Somehow, it became a market success but with the arrival of modern competitors it fell behind.
Significance rating: 4/5. Koreans (and the Nippon) are the masters of space. Kia called this vehicle as an usher to its "New Millennium" technology. However, it was still remembered of its forefathers quality issues. While it first arrived, better competitors in the names of City and Vios came to the scene with better specification sheet. Other than a hatchback body, there is no other reason to buy this one. Significance rating: 2/5. First does not mean a blockbuster. An addition to the Kia line-up, the Sephia could be called as a liftback similar to what the Mazda Astina and Proton Wira had done back then. While the market couldn't remove their Kia memories with the Pride, the Sephia is no market success. Significance rating: 1/5. Wrong timing for such ambitious product. FGP's first passenger car offering was this expensive Lincoln. A popular choice among bridal car operators and American diplomats, this can be purchased at a staggering P2.6M which does not include the fuel bills for the truck based V8 engine.
Novelty got worn off for this vehicle. Significance rating: 2/5. The select few got hands. The smallest Benz that one can buy back then, and the cheapest too. The bad news is it flopped especially nobody bothered with a Benz without a trunk plus its failure in the moose test didn't do things either. The A Class badge resurfaced thirteen years later in a mature market. Significance rating: 1/5. Wrong timing for such a classy but practical car. Although available through indent order (still), this generation paved way to various engine options including a turbocharged one. It had curves than the previous model plus it was more noticeable than before. Significance rating: 3/5. It is still a class of its own. A "true" Benz SUV (the Musso was basically a rebadged Ssangyong) that was first in the luxury SUV race to compete with the Land Rovers. This one, while it looked great, had a share of reliability problems that is something not to be proud of. The BMW X5, launched during Erap's predecessor, was a much better product.
