03 MARCH 2019

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16 BLAST Jude Morte, Editor Sunday, 3 March 2019 Daily Tribune In a crowded compact sport-ute arena, the Hyundai Tucson is very much a topflight option. That’s because even with a minor change for the 2019 model year, the compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) can make any occupant extremely happy. What will most certainly appeal to the future Tucson driver-owner is the cabin, which sports a bevy of changes. The biggest upgrade, obviously, is the in-car infotainment or ICI. Now sporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the ICI allows one to access his or her smartphone’s favorite apps and use them via the eight-inch ICI touchscreen atop the middle airconditioning vents. Even realtime satellite navigational apps such as Waze and Google Maps can be utilized on the head unit, very much helpful when you’re in a hurry and you need to avoid traffic slowdown areas during rush hour. Improved in-car infotainment and driving dynamics make the 2019 Hyundai Tucson a serious consideration when it comes to compact sport-utes. The core competency of any ICI is the ability to play audio and video tracks without signal interruption — a bugbear of playing music via an auto’s head unit Bluetooth function. With Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, there’s no tendency for an audio or video file to slow down or skip. Plus, the six-speaker setup ensures that even pre World War 2 hits such as Tommy Dorsey’s rendition of “Sleepy Lagoon” are broadcast loud and clear throughout the interior. Lest this writer forgets, the Bluetooth function is also helpful. That’s because the Tucson’s built-in mic has strong pickup and allows any front occupant to talk to another party without background noise. What made the Tucson a game-changer in its original 2016 form were compact SUV confines that can sit five average Filipinos comfortably AND their respective baggage. There are eight cupholders, including two within the rear backrest divider. The rear backrest now has Isofix latches to mount child car seats. The cargo bay proper, with the rear backrests upright, swallows a balikbayan box and a DHL Jumbo Box plus two large backpacks. Last, the rear backrests can fold flat and flush with the cargo hold to handle long or odd-shaped items — with those items held securely by your choice of rope and the Tucson’s tie-downs near the d-pillars. Hyundai retained the turbodiesel R 2.0L straight four under the hood, but added two more forward gears, turned the Tucson into front-wheel-drive and introduced a more responsive tri-level Drive Select mode (Eco, Normal and Sport). As a result, there’s noticeable engine pull in the default “(D)rive” setup and the Normal mode, some two to three notches after 1,500 rpm. By 2,000 rpm, the turbo is beginning to spool and is wide awake by 2,500 rpm. But if you need serious highway overtaking, toggle the Drive Select mode to Sport, toss the automatic transmission or A/T to “D” and move it to the right for the manual mode. Doing the said process makes full boost arrive early, but make sure you don’t bounce off the rev limiter in second and third gear. That’s because the A/T’s second and third ratios are short, encouraging early upshifts to fourth up to sixth gear. With 7.0J x 18-inch rims and Nexen Npriz RH7 225/55 tires, the tire-to-road contact patch is wide enough for commitment to most slow corners. You can actually enter slow sweepers at 70-80 kph without the front end plowing. On the other hand, the ride comfort is firm but rarely hard. Steering is light but sharp, the latter providing transmitted feedback to the steering wheel on every lock-to-lock attempt. There are some changes to the SUV’s safety features. The electronic, lever-based parking brake behind the A/T is now a footbrake at the dead pedal side of the cockpit, the footbrake displaying decent to good bite. Only the rear bumper has parking sensors, but long backing and parallel parking are aided by a reverse gear-activated camera and a color-coded guide. The lattermost feature depicts in real time where the rear end will move, based on steering wheel direction. Just about the only disappointment in this regard was the lack of a rear view mirror dimming feature, which can cut down on glare from headlights behind the Tucson. Improved in-car infotainment and driving dynamics make the 2019 Hyundai Tucson a serious consideration when it comes to compact sport-utes. JPM SPECIFICATIONS Vehicle: Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDi GLS 8AT 2WD FL Type: Compact sport utility vehicle Engine type: Hyundai R 2.0L inline four cylinder diesel (182 hp / 402 NM), with common rail direct injection, variable geometry turbocharger with elecronic boost control and front mount intercooler Transmission: Eight speed automatic (with Drive Select mode and manual mode), front wheel drive Price as tested: P1.835 million CONTENDER EVEN NOW THE 2019 Tucson is still a looker in the exterior department. Toyota admits that the RAV4 sport-ute is a niche product but the Japanese automaker insists that the auto is very much part of their 2019 sales and growth plans. In fact, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (tmpc) first vice president (brand and product planning cluster) Maria Cristina Arevalo was keen on making the RAV4 brand a positively noisy one for 2019. “The RAV4 has always been a crossover SUV, always meant as a youth-oriented brand since its 1996 introduction here. The RAV4’s market is a niche market, (but it’s) quite significant. It’s classified per what we call the SUV-low segment, (competing) with the likes of the Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V. If we can sell more than 1,000 units per year, that’s still a good (performance).” TMPC first vice president (brand and product planning cluster) Maria Cristina Arevalo hopes the RAV4 sells more than 1,000 units per year. The RAV4 has always been a crossover SUV, always meant as a youth-oriented brand since its 1996 introduction. Arevalo was confident about the fifth generation RAV4’s prospects, as she toted the previous model as a reference point. “The (fourth generation RAV4), when it was introduced, hit more than 100 units per month. But then, through the years, based on natural model life cycles, sales goes down — the lowest being the last year before the next full model change. That’s because aside from the interest, the supply also is limited (during) the product’s last year.” Toyota stoutly maintains that although the RAV4 and the current Camry executive saloon have more or less the same price points, they are definitely different brands. To wit, the Camry’s prices are at P1.95 million (2.5G A/T) and P1.992 million (2.5V A/T), with an additional P15,000 for the white pearl exterior color. In contrast, the newly-launched RAV4’s prices are P1.638 million (2.5 LE), P1.87 million (2.5 XLE) and P2.188 million (2.5 LTD), with an extra P15,000 needed for those availing of the white pearl outside paint job. “The customer profile of the RAV4 is different from the Camry. The RAV4’s target buyers are married males, usually in their mid-30 to early 40 and those who want to drive the unit themselves. The Camry’s target buyers are customers who are in the early 40-50 age group, executives use it and is chaffeur-driven.” Part of Toyota’s plans for the RAV4’s growth as a brand is to make it a top-of-mind choice when it comes to sport utility vehicles. RAV4 chief engineer Yoshikazu Saeki claimed that the RAV4 has a bevy of safety features stemming from the sport-ute being part of the Toyota New Global Architecture K platform shared with the US-market only Avalon and the Camry. These include raised longitudinal side beams, a trailing wishbone multi-link rear suspension, a lowered beltline, thinner a-pillars (the vertical columns of steel that hold the front windshield in place, so-called becuase they look like an upright “A” when a car is viewed straight at the front) and a unitized chassis that’s 57 percent more rigid than its precursor. An emphasis on secondary safety systems, in particular for the top end 2.5 LTD, was also part of the global mandate for the fifth generation sport-ute. The parking brake is now a button at the left side of the A/T. It also has a hill hold function that prevents the RAV4 from rolling downwards, should the unit be on an incline and the slushbox is being moved from Neutral to Drive. Seven airbags wrap around the cabin, including two curtain airbags for rear occupants. The rear view mirror has an anti-glare function that cuts down on the light beams from vehicles behind the vehicle. Last, the 2.5 LTD has sensors within both front and rear bumpers, plus a reverse gear-activated camera and viewing via the head unit to aid in parallel parking and long backing. “All these safety features are part of Toyota’s global direction to become safety leaders, if not the pioneers of safety for the brand. Whether or not these safety features make it to (lower-priced models) is still being studied,” tmpc assistant vice president (product planning and pricing) Nico Bravante said. JPM THINNER a-pillars, raised longitudinal side beams and a lowered beltline are part of the SUV’s safety benefits under the Toyota New Global Architecture K platform. Niche, but still a priority
KINGS GUN 3RD STRAIGHT P18 LOYALTY COMES FIRST — XI P20 FLOWER WOWER P22 JAPAN’S SWEET BUN NOW IN MANILA P24 Aldrin Cardona, Editor Sunday, 3 March 2019 Daily Tribune SUNDAY SPORTS 17 KAWHI NAILS GAME-WINNER Trained to perfection TORONTO Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard attacks the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trailblazers at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada. AP It’s been an amazing ride CLEVELAND — Cavaliers veteran forward Channing Frye says he plans to retire at the end of this season. The 35-year-old made the announcement Friday on Twitter, saying: “It’s been an amazing FRYE Frye bids goodbye ride. I’ve had the chance to have some amazing teammates and play for some great coaches. I’m gonna miss it but I’m super excited to see the other side of the fence!” Frye is in his 13th NBA season. He’s in his second stint with Cleveland after being traded last season. One of the team’s most likable players, Frye has become a fan favorite because of his enthusiasm and leadership. Frye, who played on Cleveland’s NBA title team in 2016, signed with the Cavs this season to serve in a mentor’s role for the team’s younger players. He’s averaging just 3.3 points and 9.5 minutes. Frye was the no. 8 overall pick by the New York Knicks in 2005. He also played for Portland, Phoenix and Orlando. AFP We just practiced that exact scenario yesterday TORONTO — One day after the Toronto Raptors practiced “game-winning shots,” Kawhi Leonard made one against the Portland Trail Blazers. Leonard scored the go-ahead basket with three seconds remaining and the Raptors held on to beat the Trail Blazers, 119-117, Friday night. Toronto won it when Leonard used a screen by Kyle Lowry to drive against Portland’s Damian Lillard, then rose over his smaller opponent for the decisive basket. “We just practiced that exact scenario yesterday,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “It was great. Kyle sets a screen and we try to get the smaller guy so (Leonard) can just vault up over him and shoot.” Elsewhere, Hornets stung Nets, 123-112; Bulls survived Hawks, 168, 161; Celtics nipped Bullets, 107-96; Pelicans soared over Suns, 130-116; Clippers crushed Kings, 116-109; and Bucks dominated Lakers, 131-120. Toronto had run the same play moments earlier with Lowry making a layup. When the play was called again, Leonard was more interested in keeping the ball himself. “I was looking to get baseline,” Leonard said. “That first time I had seen I could be a little bit more aggressive and that’s what I did the second time down.” Leonard scored 38 points and Lowry had 19 points and 10 assists as the Raptors won for the ninth time in 10 games. Toronto is an NBA-best 11-4 in games decided by three points or fewer. “Just staying composed and understanding that situations aren’t always going to be perfect,” Lowry said. Marc Gasol scored 19 points and Pascal Siakam had 16 for Toronto, which has won four straight home meetings with Portland and seven of the past eight overall. The ball hit every part of the rim. C.J. McCollum scored 35 points and matched a career best by making seven three-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to extend Portland’s season-best five-game winning streak. Lillard scored 24 points and Jake Layman had 13 as the Trail Blazers suffered their first lost after winning four straight to begin a seven-game trip. “Obviously, it’s disappointing to lose but I like the way we competed,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. Ahead 93-84 to begin the fourth, the Raptors missed nine consecutive field goal attempts, allowing Portland to close to within one, 95-94, on a three-pointer by Lillard at 6:47. Leonard ended Toronto’s drought with a layup, but the Raptors couldn’t hold the lead and Lillard tied it 103-all with another trey at 3:27. Lillard made another tying three with 13 seconds left, but Leonard won it with his baseline jumper. “The ball hit every part of the rim,” Lillard said. “That took time off. If it had gone straight in, it almost would have been better.” By the time Portland inbounded the ball, there was barely enough time for a full-court heave. The Raptors connected on 11 of 17 shots in the first quarter and led, 31-24, after one. AP Spurs part with Pau Pau Gasol is an exceptional individual and the ultimate professional SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs announced a buyout agreement with Pau Gasol on Friday, allowing the veteran center to become playoff-eligible with another team. Gasol has been used sparingly by the Spurs of late, appearing in only two of their last seven games and his playing time has dropped this season to just over 12 minutes per game. “Pau Gasol is an exceptional individual and the ultimate professional,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “We are grateful for his contributions on the court, in the locker room and in our community.” The Spaniard signed with the Spurs in July 2016 and appeared in a total of 168 games with San Antonio, averaging 10.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 22.4 minutes. The 18-year NBA veteran and two-time champion is a six-time All-Star. In 1,223 career games, he averaged 17.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.59 blocks in 33.5 minutes. He is one of four players with over 20,000 points, 11,000 rebounds, 3,500 assists and 1,500 blocks in his career, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. AP Friday’s Games (Saturday in Manila) Charlotte 123, Brooklyn 112 Chicago 168, Atlanta 161, 4OT Boston 107, Washington 96 Toronto 119, Portland 117 New Orleans 130, Phoenix 116 L.A. Clippers 116, Sacramento 109 Milwaukee 131, Lakers 120 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 46 17 .730 — Philadelphia 40 22 .645 5½ Boston 38 25 .603 8 Brooklyn 32 32 .500 14½ New York 13 49 .210 32½ Southeast Division Charlotte 29 33 .468 — Orlando 29 34 .460 ½ Miami 27 34 .443 1½ Washington 25 37 .403 4 Atlanta 21 42 .333 8½ Central Division Milwaukee 48 14 .770 — Indiana 41 22 .651 7 Detroit 29 31 .483 17½ Chicago 18 45 .286 30 Cleveland 15 47 .242 32½ WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB Houston 37 25 .597 — San Antonio 34 29 .540 3½ Dallas 27 34 .443 9½ New Orleans 28 36 .438 10 Memphis 24 39 .381 13½ Northwest Division Denver 42 19 .689 — Oklahoma City 38 23 .623 4 Portland 38 24 .613 4½ Utah 35 26 .574 7 Minnesota 29 33 .468 13½ Pacific Division Golden State 43 19 .694 — L.A. Clippers 35 29 .547 9 Sacramento 31 31 .500 12 L.A. Lakers 30 32 .492 12½ Phoenix 12 51 .190 31½ Saturday’s Games (Sunday in Manila) Detroit at Cleveland Orlando at Indiana Brooklyn at Miami Golden State at Philadelphia Memphis at Dallas Oklahoma City at San Antonio L.A. Lakers at Phoenix Milwaukee at Utah New Orleans at Denver GASOL
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