Toyota Road Trek 8: Signature event did not disappoint

Toyota has done it again.

Over the years, the car maker’s signature event, the Toyota Road Trek, has built a reputation for being one of the most anticipated motoring events in the country—and for good reason. In its eighth installment this year, the event did not disappoint.

With more than 50 participants (two-thirds of which were representatives from various motoring publication and automotive TV shows), the recently concluded Toyota Road Trek 8 delivered on its promise of a good time—both on the road and off—that has now become somewhat of a tradition among members of the motoring press.

The three-day trip brought the automotive reporters (this writer included) to the historic place of Bohol before the party headed to the cultural province of Cebu. Between the Ro-Ro drive, the participants logged more than 200 kilometers of driving from one scenic route to another.

During the drive, the participants were able to use two of the country’s best selling cars today: the Innova and Vios, in their latest configurations.

Because both of the vehicles have been upgraded recently, the ever-powerful Toyota cars seamlessly traversed the winding and often meandering road conditions that the Visayan destinations offered.

In one particular place, while the convoy of nine cars were passing through the man-made forest in Bohol, the snaking and twisting road seemed to go on endlessly. But the uphill road was child’s play for the Toyota cars.

“This year, we have decided to showcase the Innova and Vios once again to celebrate our 500,000 unit local production milestone achieved in April,” said Toyota Motor Philippines president Michinobu Sugata.

In using the two cars, the company wanted to highlight how the top two selling cars are proudly Filipino-made. Vios, he said, was even given several exterior facelift, which amounted to a more sporty look that is sure to jack up its already impressive sales even more.

In true Road Trek fashion, several fun and exciting challenges that tested the participants’ skills (and sometimes patience) were installed along the way.

At one point, participants needed to estimate the number of school bags placed inside one Innova and one Vios parked at the grounds of the Baclayon Church. The bags, of course, weren’t there just for show. After the activity, 400 school bags were happily received by local elementary students who have gathered for the event. 

“For this year’s Road Trek, we really have only one rule: To have lots of fun,” said Yuji Goto, the company’s executive vice president of marketing division. “We’re glad to have many familiar faces and fresh ones who joined us this year.”

Another challenge saw members of the motoring press working the iPod Nanos given to each of them. They were tasked to accumulate as many steps as possible using the device as the pedometer.

Yet another activity had the participants reviewing about the Toyota Sure Advantage (TSA) conveniently through audio files pre-installed in the iPod Nanos for a question-and-answer game. The four pillars of the TSA, of course, are the following: Quality, Durability, Reliability (QDR); Worry-Free Ownership; Great Value; and Pioneering Technologies.

Aside from these engaging activities, the motoring press were also treated to pit stops were they had the chance to enjoy what Bohol and Cebu have been famous for such as the Chocolate Hills.

The annual Road Trek, since it was first launched in 2005, has taken members of the motoring press to Iloilo-Caticlan (2005); Cagayan de Oro-Davao (2006); Dumaguete-Cebu (2007); Palawan (2008); Bacolod-Dumaguete (2009); Iloilo-Boracay (2010); and Leyte-Cebu (2011).

Sugata said: “So far, 2012 has been a very busy year for Toyota and this is our way of thanking our media friends who have supported us over the years. Already, we are looking forward to more exciting years for Road Trek.”

*** This article was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 26, 2012 under the print-only Roadtalk Saturday special feature section. ***