Ride Of Power And Presence

MANILA, Philippines — What can be a better testament of product dependability and customer satisfaction than the one coming from no less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines himself?

Up to now, President Noynoy Aquino refuses to let go of his personal Toyota Land Cruiser LC100 as his official presidential car amid offers not only from Congress but from the private sector for newer, more luxurious and armor-protected vehicles for his comfort and security.

“Thanks but no thanks!” PNoy said in the latest news, referring to the offers for a new official luxury vehicle. Just by reading between the lines, PNoy’s obsession with the white Toyota Land Cruiser is deep. From his days as senator until he was elected as President, the Land Cruiser LC100 is serving him with utmost loyalty.

The possibility that his obsession to this particular type of Sport Utility Vehicle would probably become deeper if he encounters the new 2012 Toyota Land Cruiser LC200 launched by Toyota Motors Philippines (TMP) alongside the upgraded Toyota Yaris subcompact hatchback in Greenbelt 5, Makati City last Friday, March 16.

With a bigger body and bolder look, President Noynoy would look more ‘presidential’ on board this vehicle as he goes in and out of Malacañang. From its exterior alone, the Toyota Land Cruiser is ready for anything – from formal occasions to rugged situations.

Even without the aid of armored proofing, the powerful aura of the new Toyota Land Cruiser is enough to deceive PNoy’s adversaries as if it’s ready to take bullets any time and any place.

“For decades, the Toyota Land Cruiser has always set the bar high when it comes to SUVs. The new Land Cruiser sports the perfect balance between durability and performance of an SUV while still providing maximum comfort to ensure a relaxed ride during drives,” Michinobu Sugata, TMP president, said in his speech.

“The combination of these features helped the Land Cruiser become an all-time favorite,” he added.

Looking “presidentiable” himself during the occasion was Alfred Ty, Jr., Vice Chairman of TMP and Lexus-Manila accompanied by Danny Isla, president of Lexus-Manila.

The new Toyota Land Cruiser – which is powered by a 1VD-FTV 4.5-liter V8 Diesel engine matched with a six-speed super ECT (electronic control transmission) – looks fresh with numerous exterior and interior upgrades.

Starting with the new stylish front grille design and big barreled dual-headlamps equipped with High/Low Bi-HID projector system with daytime running lights and pop-up nozzle cleaner. At the tail is a pair of LED combination lamps that guarantees excellent visibility in dark situations.

With the Toyota Land Cruiser’s interior improvements, PNoy – who reportedly likes to sit in front – will surely feel pampered with the SUV’s classy instrumentation highlighted with wood grain and bright silver finish.

If he’s conscious about speed and other driving information, he can easily view from his seat the optitron color-information display with TFT (Thin Film Transistor). To keep him comfortable with the onset of the summer season, PNoy can just reach for buttons of the air conditioning system with 4-zone independent temperature control.

PNoy wants to drive when stressed from his presidential obligations. The Land Cruiser’s new steering wheel design wrapped in wood grain and leather trimmings along with audio, telephone, voice and display integrated controls. This means he can either sing with the music or converse by phone with his girl friend hands-free just to forget the day’s heavy load.

A shooting enthusiast, PNoy can take the Land Cruiser to remote areas where there is a firing range, considering its superb off-road capabilities while at the same time providing a comfortable ride.

With the Congress ready to approve the budget for the purchase of a new presidential car, PNoy will be insulated from lifestyle checks while cruising on the new Toyota Land Cruiser priced at P4,292,000 in colors Silver Metallic, Gray Metallic, Attitude Black and Beige Mica Metallic.

One more thing, PNoy likes his SUV in white skin. And a White Pearl color option with a tag price of P4,307,000 will be perfect for this bachelor-president who is always looking forward for a romantic date.