When Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) announced the return of the Tamaraw nameplate, many were excited about the comeback of the workhorse. Just last week, TMP officially started production of the next-generation Tamaraw at its Sta. Rosa factory in Laguna. However, some questions arose from this.

For starters, some were curious what would happen to the Lite Ace (AKA the Daihatsu Gran Max) since the Tamaraw will now also serve as a utility vehicle for TMP. Curious about this conundrum, we asked TMP president Masando Hashimoto if the LiteAce will still be on sale despite the Tamaraw's return.

According to Hashimoto, the LiteAce is in no danger of being discontinued in the Philippine market. The executive added that both vehicles can co-exist with one another, with the LiteAce serving customers who want something small and powered by a 1.5L gasoline engine.

On the other hand, the all-new Tamaraw (AKA Hilux Tamaraw) can cater to those who want something with a bigger frame and can be powered by either a 2.0L gasoline engine or a 2.4L turbo-diesel motor. Moreover, the Tamaraw can be mated with either a 6-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual, depending on the specification.

“The LiteAce can serve customers in a smaller area as it has a 1.5L engine. And we have the Tamaraw which can cater to customers that want something bigger and is available in several variants,” said Hashimoto.

Customers who still want to buy a utility vehicle from Toyota but prefer something smaller than the Tamaraw can rest easy that they can still get the Lite Ace.