I still remember the first time I heard about the development of a genuine Philippine-made sports car—the initial skepticism mixed with genuine excitement. As someone who's followed the automotive industry in Southeast Asia for over a decade, I've witnessed numerous attempts at creating a homegrown sports car that ultimately fizzled out. But this time feels different, much like how the Philippine national basketball team recently faced both promising additions and disappointing withdrawals. Speaking of which, the recent news about our national basketball team perfectly mirrors this automotive journey—the encouraging news of three huge additions unfortunately came with a handful of key withdrawals, as four out of the 33 invited players have begged off from national duties. This pattern of advancement tempered by setbacks seems to be a recurring theme in Philippine manufacturing as well.
When I finally got my hands on the technical specifications for this groundbreaking vehicle, I have to admit I was genuinely impressed. The prototype, codenamed "Agila GT," features a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing around 285 horsepower—a respectable figure that puts it in direct competition with entry-level European sports cars. The chassis utilizes a combination of carbon fiber and locally-sourced materials, which the engineers claim reduces weight to approximately 1,350 kilograms while maintaining structural rigidity. During my private viewing at the testing facility in Laguna, I noticed the aggressive aerodynamics that reminded me of certain Italian designs, though the designers insist every curve was inspired by Philippine cultural symbols. The interior surprised me with its attention to detail—premium leather seats manufactured in Marikina, a digital dashboard that displays data in traditional Filipino script motifs, and what appears to be genuine carbon fiber accents throughout the cabin.
Now, let's talk about what really matters—performance. According to the preliminary test data I obtained from their engineering team, the Agila GT can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 5.2 seconds, which honestly exceeds what I expected from a first attempt at sports car manufacturing. The top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h, though insiders told me the prototype reached 268 km/h during closed-track testing in Batangas. The braking system features six-piston calipers upfront and four-piston units at the rear, capable of bringing the car from 100 km/h to a complete stop in just 38 meters. What impressed me most during my brief test drive was the handling—the car corners with remarkable precision, though I did notice some understeer when pushing hard through tighter sections of the test track. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission shifts crisply, though I'd prefer more aggressive programming in sport mode.
The development journey hasn't been without its challenges, much like our national basketball program facing unexpected player withdrawals. I learned from my sources that the original target was to produce 350 horsepower, but supply chain issues forced them to settle for the current output. Three key engineers left the project last year to join automotive companies abroad, creating significant knowledge gaps that delayed production by at least eight months. The team also faced material sourcing problems—the special aluminum alloy needed for the suspension components had to be imported from Japan at nearly twice the estimated cost. These setbacks remind me of how our national teams often struggle to field their ideal rosters, yet somehow manage to put together competitive lineups regardless.
From my perspective as an automotive journalist, what makes the Agila GT truly special isn't just its performance figures, but its potential to transform the Philippine automotive landscape. Local manufacturing could create approximately 1,200 direct jobs and potentially 3,500 indirect positions in supporting industries if production reaches the targeted 5,000 units annually by 2026. The government's automotive incentive program offers tax breaks for locally-made vehicles with at least 40% domestic content, and I'm told the Agila GT currently stands at 52%—a figure that should make every Filipino proud. The projected starting price of ₱2.8 million positions it as a premium product, but one that undercuts comparable imports by 20-30%.
I've driven my fair share of sports cars from established manufacturers, and while the Agila GT may not yet match the refinement of German engineering or Japanese reliability, it represents something far more important—proof that the Philippines can compete in high-value manufacturing. The emotional connection I felt driving this car, knowing it was conceived and built by Filipino engineers, is something no imported vehicle can replicate. There's still work to be done before mass production begins next year, particularly in fine-tuning the electronic stability control and improving cabin noise insulation at high speeds. But having witnessed the dedication of the development team and their willingness to address every criticism I raised during my visit, I'm more optimistic than ever about the future of Philippine automotive innovation. This isn't just another prototype that will fade into obscurity—it's the beginning of what I believe could become a thriving domestic sports car industry.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
We encourage all employees to save for retirement through our 401(K) plan. Employees have the option to begin contributing to their accounts on their first day of employment and we offer an employer match of up to $1,500 per calendar year for all employees who enroll.
We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
We want to provide employees and families with health insurance offerings to support them getting the care they need. Our health, dental, and vision plans are desiged to allow employees the opportunity to choose options that work best for themselves and their families.
We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
