The Volkswagen Lavida: Your ideal life companion

Experience luxury that only the Lexus LM can offer

When it comes to the art of luxury vehicles, Lexus does not hold back – and that’s evident in the Lexus LM350. Known worldwide for their meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship, the LM350 will impress even the most discerning of car aficionados. Comfortable and highly exclusive, this is the luxury vehicle you will look forward to riding in and never want to get out of.

The LM, which stands for Luxury Mover, is the first luxury minivan of Lexus. And rightly so. Showcasing the best of what the Takumi craftsmen of Lexus have to offer, the intricate interior of the LM is designed with care intro every surface that is seen and felt, exemplifying the Japanese art of exceptional experiences and hospitality, known as Omotenashi.

Space and comfort take center stage in the fourseater and seven-seater models, which both have reclining captain seats with a choice of seven different massage settings with five levels of pressure. There’s ample leg room too, expected from a vehicle driven by the tagline ‘A New Space for Luxury’. The rear passenger seats are made with AdaptiPedic foam meant to absorb vibrations and conform to the shape of your body so you remain unfazed as you zip through the busy streets of Manila or have to sit in traffic longer than you expect. Extra storage can be found throughout the LM enough to fit in your purse or small work tote, and even matched luggage in the back.

Privacy can be achieved with a touch of a button. This raises a glass panel between the first and second row of seats, giving passengers their own chamber. It also has a 26-inch color screen with a Mark Levinson sound system and a mini fridge which can chill up to two bottles of champagne.

While the LM350 has a lot to boast in fine details and luxury, it also is in terms of power. Under the hood is a powerful 3.5 litre quad cam V6 powerplant delivering an output of 296hp which allows it to zip from 0-100 km/h in 7 seconds. You’d expect a big vehicle to roar, but the LM has 18-inch noise-reducing alloy rims finished in hyper chrome metallic.

Safety is always a priority of Lexus and has equipped the LM350 with an Adaptive High-Beam System; Pre-Collision System; Lane-Tracing Assist; Dynamic Radar Cruise Control; Blind-Spot Monitor; Parking Support Brake; and Rear CrossTraffic Alert.

While the Lexus LM may carry a more luxurious price tag than most high-end counterparts, the brand has definitely succeeded in turning an essential into something extraordinary.

To learn more, visit the Lexus website at lexus.com. ph or visit our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram @lexusmanila

To arrange a consultation with your personal sales consultant, visit the Lexus Remote page at https://fal. cn/3eSWW

The Volkswagen Lavida:

Your ideal life companion

What’s in a name? A name may reveal more than just a unique designation. Oftentimes, it also reveals a path for the future. Mon Buela, a sales and marketing manager in a financial firm, may not have realized it at the time, but when he purchased a Volkswagen Lavida, he may have also subtly declared his lifetime goals.

Mon, who has been quite the achiever in his chosen profession, has been living it up for some time as a single executive. His Lavida, no doubt, has proven to be the elegantly capable lifestyle partner, which he attests the “performance, space, and boldness” has allowed him to “reach new heights”, even to the extent of calling it as the “perfect daily driver” for people like him who want to move and do more.

But there’s obviously so much more to the Lavida than just its name, and those are what drew Mon in. He explained, “I knew Volkswagen produces topnotch cars worldwide, wherever they may have been manufactured. I also wanted a vehicle that isn’t costly to own. I got enticed by the once-a-year PMS visit, which costs half as much as the annual PMS in other brands. Moreover, I knew that Volkswagen cars are fuel-efficient.”

Adding more to this, Mon said “When I was in the market for a new car, I wasn’t simply looking for what it could offer. Yes, the Lavida has a fast engine, elegant interior, intuitive infotainment, and a head-turning exterior— characteristics that would lure bachelors like me. But I was already planning on starting a family, and I found this as my ideal starter family car. A high safety rating and ISOFIX child seat anchors made it fit in my plans. In addition, while most people would prefer SUVs at this price point, I don’t think those SUVs could match the experience and drive that the Lavida could offer.”

Mon has made it clear that he plans to settle down and start his own family, and nurture a blooming business. “The Lavida is one of my first steps in steering my life goals to the next direction,” Mon stressed. At this stage in his life, Mon is aiming for a much bigger personal best— one that would certainly involve nurturing a new family. His Lavida is there to make sure that journey reaches fruition, and the Volkswagen badge is there to assure him that the brand promise is kept. As he has mentioned, “Owning a Volkswagen is having a good and equipped car that will usher me into the following stages of my life. Volkswagen cars certainly have all the bells and whistles at an acceptable price range, particularly with the robust build and low cost of ownership.”

So when Mon put the Lavida through its paces, he knew then and there he made the right purchase decision. “Saying the Lavida is merely comfortable would be an understatement. The sturdy vehicle brought more than just comfort on the road. It allowed me to have peace of mind because of the safety features. Also, I can’t believe how fuel-efficient the Lavida has been. During my first weeks of owning it, I was trying to beat every personal efficiency record. My personal best so far has been 26.3km per liter.”

Oh, and in case Mon’s future wife would harbor any doubts on his loyalty and fidelity, this statement should be a most promising sign: “I don’t see myself changing my brand in the future.”

Steer new life into your own motoring lifestyle, and discover how a Germanprecision car like the Volkswagen Lavida can set your future to brighter, more exciting directions. Book an appointment with any Volkswagen dealership to test drive the Lavida: Volkswagen BGC at (02) 8558-5888; Volkswagen Quezon Avenue at (02) 8558-5818; Volkswagen Pampanga at (45) 961-1895; Volkswagen Santa Rosa at (0935) 427-8545; Volkswagen Cebu at (32) 517-8226; Volkswagen Iloilo at (33) 331-2622; Volkswagen Bacolod at (034) 4357575; and Volkswagen Cagayan de Oro at (088) 851-7960. Log on to www.volkswagen.com. ph and follow Volkswagen Philippines’ Facebook page and Instagram account at @volkswagenph to check out detailed specifications about the Lavida and other Volkswagen vehicles.