THE PINOY POPEMOBILE: TRIBUTE TO THE FMC ANFRA

So, Pope Francis is going to grace the Philippines with a Pastoral visit in a few short days time. The question is, how will he be getting around? Popes traditionally went around using an armored popemobile, but Pope Francis is the down-to-earth type--he wouldn’t like being paraded down the street in an armored aquarium and prefers to travel unarmored.

An  Armored Popemobile

A “Traditional” Unarmored Popemobile

Pope Francis' “New” Unarmored Popemobile

Traditionally, the Pope drove around in an enclosure-less vehicle; but following an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981 at St. Peter's Square, security was understandably tightened. The Philippines, as we all know, is a predominantly Christian/Catholic country and many will be wanting to go and see the man whom their faith declares to be the representative of God on earth. Such an unarmored popemobileis likely going to be a security nightmare for the Swiss Guard.

The Swiss Guard

I’m really curious to see what kind of vehicle will be used to transport the Pope. But have you ever wondered what car was used to transport Pope St. John Paul II when he visited the Philippines in 1995?

The Anfra

1995 was the heyday of the Francisco Motor Company (FMC) was still doing well and was manufacturing an Asian Utility Vehicle (AUV) it called the Anfra (short for Anastacio Francisco). This was a decent little wagon. It used a Mazda 1.3 gasoline engine, body on frame, rear wheel drive. It had a very uninspired design though and most were two door variants. But it was decent and successful for a car of its type.

The Anfra

I say it was successful because there was at least one Filipino company that bought the Anfra as a fleet vehicle, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), I still see remnants of the fleet making the rounds every now and then.

The PLDT Anfra

The FMC Anfra is an AUV developed under the auspices of the Commercial Vehicle Development Program of the Department of Trade and Industry in the early 1990s. At the time, FMC was:

[O]ne of the largest and only locally owned manufacturer and assembler of vehicles in the Philippines, with over 60,000 units sold. It further expanded into the assembly and distribution of small engine displacement cars under license from Fiat of Italy. As the contract with Fiat expired, FMC tied up with Hyundai of Korea to assemble and distribute Hyundai-brand cars and vans.

Sadly, the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 sealed FMC’s fate like the JAKA Tower in Makati.

The Hulking Remnants of the JAKA Tower

A tower of shattered dreams and wasted effort

Though it may make a comeback. Will FMC?

The Anfra Popemobile

Back to 1995, FMC produced this beauty for the Pope’s visit.  A news report states that it was “custom built for the late Pope John Paul II's visit to the Philippines in 1995. The six-wheel vehicle features a 250hp Mazda engine; foot plates for the Swiss Royal Guard; and an enclosure protected by 4in-thick laminated glass furnished by local car armorer CTK.” And in addition, it was designed in the Vatican.

Understandably this car is now a museum piece and will not be used for the upcoming visit. Besides, the plate says “JOHNP” and not likely to have been registered for use on the road. [JUST KIDDING!].Footnote 1

'Tis truly a shame that the good Pope will not get to ride in a car made by a company that shares his name, Francisco.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly, the visit of Pope Francis is a very solemn event and we must all, Christian or not, be ready to humble ourselves and try to learn from this man who has inspired millions with his humility and openness.

It is also sad to see what was once a large and proud automobile manufacturer bite the dust. The failure of FMC is really just one of the many failures our country’s automotive industry experienced and will be the topic of a future article. So unlike in 1995 when the Pope could experience parading in the Philippines in a Filipino automobile, 20 years on, in 2015, that is unlikely.

I'll leave you with a report from ABS-CBN News on the state of the Francisco family and this special Anfra today.

Toyota Avanza: A Peculiar Opportunity

Let me begin by saying that I like the Toyota Avanza. Its compact, utilitarian, durable, economical and, in its second generation at least, very pretty. Just see the picture above, I am thouroughly in-love with its looks. Now, I must admit that I have never actually driven an Avanza, but I have ridden in one a number of times thanks to its ubiquity as a taxicab and because a friend gave me a lift in one a few times. My friend commended it for its economy and nimbleness.

So what is it with the Avanza that attracted me to it? Its very concept I suppose: Its spiritual predecessor is the Toyota Kijang, as it is known in Indonesia, or Tamaraw FX in as it is known in the Philippines. This is known as the father of the Asian Utility Vehicles (AUVs): Simple, tough, durable, practical and ubiquitous. This vehicle really took the Philippines by storm, especially since Filipinos have the habit of lugging aroung their families or barkadas whenvever they go on outings.

First generation Tamaraw FX

This AUV has since been imitated by many. Some historical AUVs were the Ford Fiera, the Mitsubishi Cimmaron etc. Current vehicles of the same type include the Mitsubishi Adventure, the Isuzu Crosswind and the Carolino Supremo. The Toyota Innova is the direct descendant of the Tamaraw FX.

From right to left: old gen Toyota Kijang, 2nd gen Toyota Avanza, Suzuki APV, old gen Toyota Kijang and 1st gen Toyota Avanza. (Note: picture was taken in Indonesia)

While it is these truck-like things that inspired the Avanza, especially with their rear wheel drive (RWD) layout, the Avanza is decidedly car-like. But it is not car-like in the sense of a cross-over, which retains front wheel drive. The Avanza is RWD, furthermore, its relatively low slung and yet its very spacious inside: you barely notice the center tunnel. It runs on wheels meant for compact sedans. Lower it by an inch or two and it should be the height of a Toyota Vios.

This Avanza was modified to ride lower and its rear was chopped and doors welded to turn it ito a lowrider pick up.

As I said in the beginning, I find the Avanza very pretty. I think it has something to do with the wheel-base, the wheels are positioned as far out of the center of the car as possible, it has no overhang: it simply looks stable to me, and very sporty. The body also has soft curves. I like the headlight and grille design. I like it a lot.

 Nice curves, minimal overhang.

In contrast, I find the second generation Toyota Vios very fat and ugly (I know people voted it as the best styled compact sedan but I just don't agree). I liked the old one better. The old one had less overhang and had gentler more feminine curves. The new one looks bigger (bigger than a small-body toyota) and has too much overhang. It just feels like Toyota are wasting interior space with this one. Its really an issue where a car company takes its compact car and with every succeeding generation, it gets bigger and more decadent. Just look at the Volkswagen Golf and the Toyota Corolla.

 Look at that overhang. It looks fat and ungainly. It looks like a cockroach.

This is the idea that I want to enunciate: The Avanza is a pretty car (it definitely looks better than the second generation Toyota Vios), its rear-wheel drive, its sturdy, practical, economical and ubiquitous. So why not use it as the underpinning of a compact, practical and utilitarian RWD sedan. All that the company has to do is lower the car, cut the roofline a little and add trunk space instead of a wagon-style rear. How hard is that? I'm fairly certain that it would look more dignified than a Toyota A86, and car tuners could go mad with it. Toyota can even make a “hot-hatch”. I would definitely pick an Avanza sedan over a Vios. This might just spark a renaissance with the rear wheel drive compact car: something that we have not seen since the Boxtype Lancer went out of production.

Will be be seeing taxis powersliding the Quezon City Memorial Circle anytime soon?

Update: 10/30/14

The Indonesians sure love their AUVs and they have gone crazy for the Avanza in ways that put Filipinos to shame.  Toyota in Indonesia recently had a contest to celebrate the Avanza in a modified form.  Apparently the contest is about finding the best modified Avanza.  The contest is called "Avanza Pop You UP!" feel free to google it and enjoy the pics.

Screenshot from Toyota Indonesia Website