PGA Cars, exclusive importer and distributor of Porsche vehicles in the Philippines, recently marked 75 years since the iconic Porsche 356 “No. 1” Roadster was allowed to run on the road. That was on June 8, 1948, and was the “culmination of Ferry Porsche’s commitment to create his own sports car dream, and laid the foundation for what would become the Porsche legend,” said Porsche Philippines in a release.
Dubbed “Festival of Dreams,” the weekend event was headlined by the local unveiling of the new Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid, and the groundbreaking ceremony on the new Porsche Center Manila building.
“As we look back on a year of vibrant expressions of Porsche passion in Asia Pacific, we are glad that Porsche Philippines wraps up our 75th anniversary of sports cars with another thrilling activation,” said Porsche Asia Pacific CEO Hannes Ruoff, who attended the festivities here. “As we officially mark the groundbreaking of the new Porsche Center Manila, we hope to usher in a new era of success for our trusted partner, PGA Cars.”
For his part, Porsche Philippines President and CEO Roberto Coyiuto III declared, “The introduction of the new Cayenne E-Hybrid in the country represents the latest chapter in our evolving success story. Through models like this, we are redefining the concept of luxury by taking environmental and personal wellbeing into account along with performance. It also signifies our intention to continuously set the benchmark in the domestic luxury auto sector.”
Also in attendance were Robert Coyiuto Jr., the founder and principal of PGA Cars, and German Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke.
The Porsche Center Manila is expected to be completed toward the end of 2026 and will tower 15 stories. Housed within will be showrooms, corporate offices, and service areas – in addition to “future Porsche retail space requirements.” The center will adhere to the visual identity of the legendary German auto brand. Significantly, the completion of Porsche Center will greatly expand the service capabilities of Porsche Philippines, and integrates a “first-ever dedicated facility” for Porsche battery electric vehicles.
A selection of current-model Porsches were available to test at the “Festival of Dreams,” which drew hundreds of Porsche enthusiasts and fans to PGA Cars on EDSA. On display were the new Cayenne range, Macan, Panamera, and electric Taycan – joining the 718 Boxster, 718 Cayman, and 911, plus special versions like the 718 GT4 RS, 911 GTS, and 911 GT3.
Displays in the premises highlighted “special moments in Porsche’s history and the assortment of iconic Porsche sports cars put on exhibit.” Food and drinks were served in outdoor and indoor dining spaces.
The Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid is the first electrified model of the brand’s popular SUV nameplate, the all-new version of which was introduced in the country just last September. Porsche Philippines said the newest Cayenne is “seeing much success locally thanks to the models’ thoroughly refined powertrains, chassis systems, design and equipment.”
The Cayenne E-Hybrid is highlighted by its electric range, power, and charging speed. “Its sustainable hybrid strategy also optimizes charging and discharge phases in different driving modes for the respective environment in which it finds itself. The result is a compelling driving experience with even greater efficiency,” added the company.
Under the hood is a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine delivering 304ps. With the new electric motor integrated into an eight-speed automatic transmission, the system puts out 470ps and 650Nm – yielding a reported standstill-to-100kph time of 4.9 ticks.
Up to 88kW of can be converted to electrical energy in Generator Mode, to be supplied to the traction battery. “This is how the new Cayenne E-Hybrid uses a significantly larger share of braking energy to increase efficiency and performance. Moreover, recuperation can now decelerate the vehicle to a speed of 2 km/h,” declared Porsche Philippines. Using a new high-voltage battery with a capacity of 25.9kWh, the SUV can muster a purely electric range of up to 90 kilometers. An 11kW on-board AC charger fully charge the Cayenne E-Hybrid in about two hours and 15 minutes.
It’s clear that Porsche is here for the long haul, and is looking at further growth and resonance in a market that obviously gives it much love. Now that’s a show of, well, Porsche.