Second-generation Volvo XC60

For about nine decades, Volvo has been the only Swedish car company in the world to create different kinds of cars that appeal to most people. They made good cars, they made bad cars, it's all about following the circle of life, whatever that is. With Volvo making some of the best cars that appeal to today's millennials in terms of performance, economy, and safety, which is their focal point for Volvo since the XC60. With the XC60, the forefront of Volvo's commitment to create safe cars, now enters its second-generation, the Swedish car company behind this car don't just predict the future, they build it.

2018 Volvo XC60

2018 Volvo XC60

Yes, the XC60 is the brains behind Volvo's safe promises and because it's now on its second-generation, the team that designed it promises to be their most safest XC60 yet, incorporating all their safety know-how from their current lineup to this crossover as well as performance and economy at the same time, making it a well-balanced package for the modern world. Beginning with the exterior design, the new XC60 looks more like a mini-me XC90 of some sorts. There's the signature Volvo grille, the signature Thor's Hammer headlights, the contemporary styling that blends perfectly through the city centers, the rear view auspiciously similar to the XC90, and the wheels, everything you look on this crossover is just almost flawless and that's only the half of the story.

2018 Volvo XC60 interior

On the inside, the new XC60 is suffering the same problem as the other new Volvos because it now bears a monotonous interior design as you would expect from BMW, Audi, or even Renault. This "same-interior-different-exterior" approach is getting too nosy for car lovers but while you mutter about this kind of trend everywhere else, the XC60 boasts a plethora of tech features and concessions of comfort and space that will keep you accommodated for more but as a word of warning, this interior is a war zone in here because this five-seater will be as exhausting as an after-school Citizen Army Training regimen and when the second-row seats got occupied by those child seats, this means war. As long as this interior hasn't turned into a war zone, you are greeted by those luxury car features that will keep you longing for more. From the touch screen, the instrumental panel, the climate control, the Bowers & Wilkins premium stereo, the XC60 is a luxury crossover done right from start to finish.

2018 Volvo XC60

Of course, being a Volvo, you can expect a wide variety of petrol and diesel engine choices available but for those who are begging for power should go for this; the T8 Twin Engine with 407ps of power output courtesy of its twin-charged 2.0L petrol engine and an electric motor. With the 8-speed gearbox and SPA platform, a first for a 60-series Volvo model which is lighter and more rigid than the old XC60, it does 0-100kph in 5.3 seconds and onwards to 230kph. That sounds juicy and quick for a hybrid variant like this but now's not the good time to talk about how fun this car is, even though by Volvo standards, it's not half bad to drive, although in the case of the T8 Twin Engine variant, its all-wheel drive system is tad crazy and bizarre because the petrol engine powers the front wheels only, whereas its electric motor drives the rears, and if you're not careful with it, understeering is very likely and expect to bring some painkillers when your arms got hurt from steering with it.

Apart from the improved chassis that makes the XC60 a well-rounded performer at all corners of the earth, safety is the paramount of this crossover because it comes with class-leading safety tech such as Steer Assist, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, and Blind Spot Information System. Combining these with Volvo's award-winning safety features, the new XC60 lives up to Volvo's commitment that no one will be killed or badly wounded in a new Volvo by 2020.

The all-new Volvo XC60 starts at 402,900 Swedish Krona and while this is twice as expensive as the previous model, which is still on sale as the XC60 Classic, it's less expensive than the XC90, making it a fair value. It maybe expensive for an SUV like this but the new XC60's technological breakthrough should not be underestimated because with such like this, you can expect more from Volvo's promise to create more safe and enjoyable cars for the road ahead.

Available colors: Black Stone SOlid, Ice White Solid, Bright Silver Metallic, Osmium Grey Metallic, Onyx Black Metallic, Luminous Sand Metallic, Mussel Blue Metallic, Maple Brown Metallic, Denim Blue Metallic, Pine Grey Metallic, Fusion Red Metallic, Electric Silver Premium Metallic, and Crystal White Premium Metallic.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Four killed in Stockholm truck attack

Sweden is now one of the European countries plagued by those hit-and-run attacks since France, Germany, and recently Great Britain, as a truck rammed through a store in the capital city Stockholm, killing four people and injured others.

Authorities told that the driver apparently escaped the smoky and blood-streaked scene while being pursued. Later, they had apprehended a person of interest in the investigation, although they expressed doubt that he was the driver and said the search was continuing.

No one knows what motivated the attack but Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said the midafternoon rampage had been “an act of terrorism” and that the government would do “whatever it takes” for the public to feel safe.

Report: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/truck-crashes-into-department-store-in-stockholm-casualties-reported/2017/04/07/7942822c-1b96-11e7-bcc2-7d1a0973e7b2_story.html

Volvo V90 Cross Country

When Volvo brought back the V90 estate, which is based on the revived S90 flagship saloon, the Swedish car company want to do more with their recently revived flagship estate by giving it some crossover essentials that is deemed unnecessary for a wagon like this but because the future is becoming more crossover-prone than any other type of car, it succumbs itself into a crossover utility wagon that is the closest thing as you can get from the XC90 SUV.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

The Volvo V90 Cross Country is a V90 estate for those who are all work and all play; those who spend their office work on weekdays, then going out on the great outdoors on weekends, day offs, and holidays, rain or shine, day or night. It maybe a crossover with some heightened ground clearance to make it look rough but underneath, this is still the same V90 as we know it, the same flagship estate Volvo the upperclassmen have gone for due to its advanced technology that does not copy but becomes one.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country interior

Of course, being a V90 with some rough look on the outside, you still expect the same interior you'd expect from a normal V90. You still have a lot of toys to fiddle with on the dashboard, the same five-seater layout with the rear legroom well accommodated for a wagon with 5-Series standards in terms of luxury, the same spacious boot space that accommodates from 560 to 1,526L of luggage, and overall, it's a well-balanced tourer fit for any lifestyle from suburban to outdoors, from city streets to countrysides.

2017 Volvo V90 Cross Country

A wide selection of 2.0L petrol and diesel engines are offered on the Cross Country variant, mated with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic. The most powerful in the range is the T6 version with 320PS of power and 400Nm of torque. It does 0-100kph in 6.3 seconds and onwards to 230kph. Try that on your Outback, mate.

Because all models are fitted standard with all-wheel drive, the V90 Cross Country is fit for any kinds of road conditions that are shifted from climate change time after time and no matter which road condition you're going on, for better and for worse, rest assured that this Volvo is a fitting take on nature's madness and above all, it's armed to the teeth with Volvo's cutting edge safety tech courtesy of Pilot Assist, the most advanced standard safety package on the market today and it makes good use of its sensors, camera, front radar, and autonomous emergency braking for collision prevention. Nothing says as prepared as boy scouts camping on the haunted woods in extreme conditions.

The Volvo V90 Cross Country starts at 378,000 Kr (around Php 2,130,000), which sounds more costly to own than a normal V90 estate but more affordable to own than the XC90 SUV, which makes it as close as you can get from that Swedish behemoth. Although some remain unappreciated that the V90 ended up on the growing list of cars getting crossovered but in times of nature's madness, some find no other choice than be alongside the Volvo that gets through the extra mile than any other estates elsewhere. The more they know, the better they'll be accommodated with this Volvo that fits well on any weather forecast now and almost forever.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Forza Horizon 3: Saint's Row

Cue the Legendary Tribe Music because it's time for another barn find rumor! And this month's barn find rumor is located somewhere beyond Yarra Valley. Some say that the barn find in question was famous for being a car of choice of a certain smart aleck detective and played by a certain someone who landed in this role before he became the agent we all know and love.

Without further ado, let's get this treasure-hunting started!

And now, the moment of truth...



Let's see...Hmmm...A car famed for being the choice of a certain detective from a classic TV show. No way! It's a Volvo 1800! This is the car of choice for Simon Templar, the smart alecky detective and the star of The Saint. It's the TV show Roger Moore starred in before he became 007 number three. Just imagine, living like The Saint is like you're on the move, stopping criminals with his brand of honesty and wise-cracking ideas, something you'd expect from binge-watching some detective shows.

Seen here is the 1800E and this Volvo comes with a B20E engine with fuel injection producing 130HP of power, resulting to a 0-100kph time of 9.5 seconds and a top speed of 190kph. Not as quick by modern standards but it is still a good car to drive. Picturing myself as The Saint driving this Volvo while gunning down against members of a drug cartel in their Jeeps, Broncos, and Scouts in a middle of a wilderness is something they should have done in the first place. In fact, I did trying to live the fantasy of The Saint giving chase to the notorious drug syndicate operating in Australia, just to give you a hint on its star power that Roger Moore propelled it in the TV show. Let's cue The Saint theme song and let's get cracking.



And they said The Saint got them red-handed. Case closed but not for me because there are still more barn finds waiting to be discovered within a couple of months so the case is still on for The Saint.

Volvo S90 and V90

Continuing on Volvo's path to revitalization and modernization that started it all with the new XC90, with safety is its top-priority, the Scandinavian carmaker continues to revive itself from its dreariness and blandness from its current lineup in a more technological manner with the brand new flagship saloon, the S90.

2017 Volvo S90

The S90 name sounds hardly familiar to any Volvo historians many because that was once used back in 1996 as a minor change version of the 960 saloon. It was known to be the last Volvo in history to be rear-wheel drive, just like its wagon derivative, the V90. Of course, with the S90 and V90 names brought back as the company's flagship, don't expect they'll behave as the ones from the last century, though, because they are basically offered with front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive configurations.

2017 Volvo S90

2017 Volvo V90

What matters about the new S90 and V90 is the technology that serves as the driving force of these new flagship models and sticking true to its "zero casualty" promise that Volvo delivers within the next decade, the new S90 and V90 are packed with autonomous driving technology.

Sure, Tesla has that Autopilot shindig going on with their Model S but for Volvo, Tesla's Autopilot is nothing but a serious wannabe in the autonomous driving stakes so Volvo's kind of autonomous tech is something beyond reach from Tesla's hands. Called Pilot Assist, it is the most advanced standard safety package on the market today, and apart from doing most kinds of stuff that Tesla's Autopilot do most of the time such as making good use of its sensors, camera, front radar, and autonomous emergency braking for collision prevention, this tech comes with large animal detection and run-off road mitigation, something that Tesla should put in the first place, huh?

Autonomous driving can be good news and bad news for us but as a word of warning, drivers who are solely relying on autonomous driving tech should need to be aware on the road at all times because autonomous driving isn't all fun and games or rest and relaxation because having learned from Tesla's mistakes, it's imperative that drivers need to be active on the road, even when they engage the car's autonomous driving features for the benefit of themselves. One more thing though, while these cars are born to be autonomous, they're just semi-autonomous ones and you need to be extra clever to study its merits and demerits while on the road.

2017 Volvo S90 interior

What about design? Having learned from its large crossover derivative, the XC90, the new S90 and V90 features Volvo's new design language packed with "Thor's hammer" headlamps that looks strikingly impressive even after hours. Although squarish to look at from back and front, the sidelines are all dynamically proportioned to deliver that luxury mandarin that you expect from the German saloons. As for the interior, it's surprisingly very nice to be accommodated and very high tech. You could spend hundreds of minutes trying to toy around the inside of the car but once you have it, it means a very serious business proposal for you to get behind the wheel of one of Volvo's most technologically advanced vehicles ever made.

2017 Volvo S90

2017 Volvo V90

If the S90 and V90's main paradigm shift is safety, has they completely forgotten about performance? Not quite because even it its front-wheel drive powertrain, driving one of these can be broadly similar to the Audi A6 but in a very Scandinavian kind of way thanks to its new platform that was used on the XC90 but if you try to opt in for an optional AWD powertrain, it can be a proper multirole that can take on any weather it sees at the cost of being too much grip and prone to understeering when you corner it hard on the bends. Most models do come with different two-litre engine configurations, be it petrol or diesel, but the most powerful is the T8 Twin Engine, which combines this with an electric motor, resulting to 407PS of power and 640Nm of torque. Believe it or not, diesel models now come with a brand new PowerPulse technology that eliminates the turbo lag, which makes it wonderful on the go, and the new i-Art injection system which keeps these engines smooth while running. Depending on the variant, these models can be mated with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic.

Should you buy it? The new Volvo S90 starts at 364,900 krona while the V90 starts at 374,900 krona so on paper, they're somewhat more costly to own than the Audi A6, in sedan and Avant derivatives, but if you didn't mind about the price differences, the S90 and V90 deserved a lot more respect than the Germans because of its unparalleled tech it offers for the drivers on today. It maybe here today, but these cars are ready for tomorrow thanks to the science that Volvo promises within the next decade.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Forza Motorsport 6: AWD Bipolar Opposites

Ever since Subaru launched the WRX S4 in the Japanese market two years ago, its main purpose was intended to be a chief rival to the Volvo S60. Now with hotter versions like the WRX STi and the S60 Polestar in the picture, these all-wheel drive bipolar opposites are going head to head round the Top Gear Test Track to see which one is the best.



But before I tackle this unique comparison between the two all-weather super saloons, let's get to know more about these two.



A year after the Subaru WRX made its world premiere at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, the long-awaited return of the high-performance WRX STi sports saloon made its premiere at the 2014 North American International Auto Show.

For global markets, including the US, the new WRX STi comes with the EJ25 engine developing 305HP of power and 290lb-ft of torque while mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox. New for the 2015 WRX STi is the Active Torque Vectoring, which joins alongside other tech such as Driver Controlled Center Differential, Symmetrical AWD, Multi-Mode Vehicle Dynamics Control, and Brembo Performance Brake System with Super Sport ABS.

In Japan, two kinds of WRX models are offered such as the S4 model which features a brand new FA20 Direct Injection Turbo engine developing over 300PS of power while mated with a Sport Lineartronic gearbox as seen in its station wagon derivative, the Levorg, and this one equipped with the smaller EJ20 turbo engine which produces a similar power output of over three hundred horsepower. Both these models were launched in August 2014.



Based on the facelifted second-generation Volvo S60, the high-performance Polestar edition is a Volvo that is born on the track, and built for the road. With its responsive handling, smooth shifting, and precise stopping, the S60 Polestar is made with the experience and engineering of nearly two decades of Volvo's motorsport activity and it has undergone extensive development to become a super saloon worthy of wearing the Polestar badge. It was made to be a limited-edition model.

The 2015MY Polestar model uses the T6 variant of the S60 as its foundation and thanks to Polestar, it develops 345HP of power and 369lb-ft of torque, while mated with a 6-speed automatic gearbox, tweaked by Polestar. Apart from the engine, the Polestar S60 comes with stiffer springs, Öhlins shock absorbers, a high-capacity brake system, and other chassis upgrades.

The S60 Polestar is an impressive, agile, and extremely responsive complete package as each component is designed and crafted to maximize drivability and control everywhere, no matter the odds.



Now that we get to know more about these two, it's time to take them two for a spin around the Top Gear Test Track because...it's fun to try out the hottest rides here. It's a great thing we have a game that features this iconic testing ground as seen on TV.

Here's a quick tidbit. In terms of performance, the S60 Polestar has more power than the WRX STi's because its T6 engine develops 345HP of power. However, the S60's almost 300 lbs heavier than the Subie, meaning it's going to be one-sided. Anyway, no time to explain because it's time to get some answers around the track.


At the end of their one-lap session, the results are in. The WRX STi did it in 1:27.809 while the S60 Polestar, despite its high power advantage and quicker shifts, did it in 1:29.221, almost two seconds slower.

It's quite amazing that despite its aged performance in a more modernized look, it's not surprising that the old-school Japanese tuner saloon beats the high-tech Swedish luxury saloon by a slight margin reserved for forensics and mediums alike, and with the WRX STi, it's still Subaru's coup de grace.

It's been fifty long years since Subaru had its first boxer engine-powered car in history but with a car like the WRX STi's, the history of Subaru boxer engine remains one heck of a fight club because of its low center of gravity compared to others, a Subie like this can squeeze itself out from the cold and it's great to have a living legend like this.

Forza Motorsport 6: The big One:1 megacar

After moments of waiting, it's finally arrived. The megacar every Forza fan's desperate to get their hands on in the world of Forza and courtesy of the Mobil 1 Car Pack, the long-awaited Koenigsegg One:1 megacar has landed for us to toy around.

With Koenigsegg very proud of their works such as the Agera, the Agera R, and the Agera S, the Swedish car manufacturer uncovered their first ever "megacar" in the world; the One:1. This megacar debuted at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.

As the name implies, this megacar has the virtually impossible power to weight ratio of 1PS per 1kg weight, thanks to the 5.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine developing 1360PS of power and the car weighs 1360kg. It is mated with a specially developed 7-speed DCT.

For aerodynamic purposes, the One:1 trades the Agera's removable roof for an airscoop on the roof, to generate more downforce. As a result, it does 0-100kph in less than 2.8 seconds and a theoretical top speed of 440kph.

Koenigsegg has built six of these models and all six of these models have already been sold.



It's a dream come true for every hardcore Forza fan to get their hands on this monstrous machine built by Koenigsegg and as the only car in the world that eclipsed the impossible power-to-weight ratio, no one comes close, not even the so-called Holy Trinity of hypercars.For some people who already heard of it, they were scratching their heads, wondering what's like to be inside the One:1.

Because this is a ultra-powerful hypercar with its power-to-weight ratio beyond compare, driving one for the first time can be deemed to be very difficult because with all that torque implied in this megacar, wheelspin starts are very likely so drivers need to find the ideal start to get this One:1 smoothly. And then there's the handling because its dynamics are very intimidating, even a skillful driver might get ensnared by the One:1's menacing characteristics. It's difficult to handle the One:1 but the more you use it, the more you are learning how to drive the first ever megacar in the world.

To see how much "mega" this One:1 is, I devise a little test at the Top Gear Test Track. The fastest car in the Top Gear Test Track is the Pagani Huayra with a lap time of 01:13.8. The objective is to lap this One:1 faster than the lap time set by the Huayra. If it does, looks like the producers need to do some reevaluation on putting this car round the Top Gear track in the foreseeable future.



After a lap round the Top Gear track, I've set a lap time in the One:1 round the Top Gear track in 1:13.564. That's faster than the Pagani Huayra that The Stig set foot round the track years ago, although I could use a little more practice to go round faster than my recent personal best, though. With that kind of result, I sure wish the folks from Top Gear put this car round the track to see how it performs in the real world.

In the meantime, let's take time to enjoy the raw firepower in the car that will be forever be known in the pages of history as the world's first megacar created by the hands of Koenigsegg. With that kind of performance, no other hypercar comes close.

Volvo S60 Cross Country and V60 Cross Country

2016 Volvo S60 Cross Country

2016 Volvo V60 Cross Country

Following Volvo's rebirth of the Cross Country lineup starting with the V40 Cross Country tall hatchback, looks like the Swedish carmaker decided to give the S60 midsize saloon and the V60 station wagon a more rugged and outdoorsy experience and by judging on its character, it's hard to say if these latest versions are proven to be quite a handful to be lifestyle vehicles targeted for people who want to go out and do leisure stuff on the weekends.

On the contrary, they're nothing but just an S60 and V60 with some fat chunky tires, added ground clearance, and that's about it. There's nothing you can expect that these Cross Country models are made to go anywhere when the elements are thrown at them. The V60 Cross Country isn't so bad, especially it was made for those who can't afford an XC60 crossover, which is usually based on that car. As for the S60 Cross Country, looks like the big tires really spoils the sports saloon's looks. It looks like a ghetto man's donk car going on the alleyways on the evening playing with some rap music on his radio. Ooh, how would the neighbors think when they see one of these?!

Despite their odd appearances, the added ground clearance, the chunky tires, and the ALL WHEEL DRIVE system are all here to keep the car going while facing numerous road conditions like cobbled roads, slippery roads, speed bumps from your local suburbs, loose gravel, and many others. They're not really scary to drive as well especially on elevated roads like the ones you'll face somewhere between Gemini St., Leo St., and Pisces St.

Even though the V60 Cross Country and the S60 Cross Country are relatives, their engine choices are ironically different. In the S60 Cross Country model, the only engine offered is a 2.0L D4 engine producing 190PS of power output while mated with a 6-speed MT or a 8-speed AT. In the V60 Cross Country, on the other hand, it has a smaller 2.0L D3 engine, 2.0L D4 engine, and a 2.0L T5 engine producing 245PS of power. Now that's a lot of power for a station wagon of that size.

The S60 Cross Country starts at 373,200 Kr while the V60 Cross Country starts at 320,000 Kr, which is cheaper to buy than the saloon counterpart! How's that possible? No one really knows but either way, both the S60 Cross Country and the V60 Cross Country are well-targeted niches targeted for the lifestyle enthusiasts who prefer to go outdoors. Yes, they may not be as tough or rugged as any other SUVs know and they're big and horrible, but these cars aren't just cars. They're lifestyles in their own rights.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Second-Generation Volvo XC90

The Volvo XC90. When it was launched over a decade ago, it was their first attempt to take on luxury SUVs from Germany but as when time pass by, even with numerous improvements to keep it afloat, the XC90 has been decaying for so long and no matter how time passed by, the XC90 still looks pretty much the same. Now, for the first time, the XC90 finally got the regeneration it deserves and OH MY GAS! It looks perfect to look at.

2015 Volvo XC90

Well, here it is. They've all been waiting for this moment to come. This is the all-new Volvo XC90 and Volvo really mean it about the "all-new" phrase because it REALLY is all new.

First, the exterior design is brand new and this is the first to carry Vovlo's new signature look as well as its new Volvo logo in the front. No longer the male sign logo, it's now pointier than ever for a Volvo. The headlamps are now wearing the Mjolnir, or Thor's hammer for those who are gibberish about the M-word and although it wasn't more of a Mjolnir as we hoped for, this new look will be the forefront of future Volvo designs.

The new XC90 is armed with a brand new platform which is stronger and lighter than the previous platform the first one used. Because of this new platform, next-gen Volvos are looking forward to wear such a breakthrough platform but Volvo remains mum on this because they are on a "slow and steady" progress on rebuilding the Swedish carmaker, which became the pioneer of safety since the second-generation S60 of 2010. Apart from its new platform, the new car is now sharper and stable than ever thanks to its double wishbone front suspension and a new lightweight integral link rear axle. The air suspension is an optional extra and when you have it, it can be adjusted into five different modes, be it high or low depending on the road conditions.

2015 Volvo XC90 interior

On the inside, the new XC90 is now more high-tech than ever and because this car focuses more on the future rather than the past, everything's digitalized now and bad new for those music lovers, the CD player's nowhere to be found. Instead, you'll find this big screen dashboard just like you saw on the Tesla Model S. On this dashboard, you can take advantage of the built-in wi-fi hotspot, real-time navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity, and so much more. The interior's pretty harsh for us because it was the first to see the future when all cars doesn't have CD players anymore and replaced by those...things. Looks like the end of the CD era's fast approaching, don't you think and pretty soon, we won't be relying on physical media anymore and that's kinda sad.

Anyway, forget the harsh word because the interior is now as luxurious as a new Range Rover and because it's now longer and taller than the previous generation, getting inside in one of those is like having a first class trip to your office and way back home. It also works as a family car because it can seat up to seven people but if you're a little grumpy and if your mother asks to seat at the back, this is one thing you would pray that this will not happen to you unless you have a newborn crybaby and a child seat that adds your misery of having your parents force you to seat at the back. Ugh...

2015 Volvo XC90

All engines in the new XC90 are 2.0L and at launch, you can have either the twin-turbo 225HP D5 or the twincharged 320HP T6 but later on, you will be able to take on the top-of-the-line T8 Twin-Engine model. Yes. there's a PHEV that is way beyond compare than your average PHEV because with the combination of the T8 engine and the electric motor, over 400HP of power and 640Nm of torque is produce. That's four times more than what your Outlander PHEV had! And no matter which engine choice you'll pick, it's mated with Volvo's 8-speed Geartronic transmission, which isn't so bad for an everyday car.

2015 Volvo XC90

Because safety is the forefront of Volvo, the new XC90 is now fully prepared with the next-generation of safety features as well as two of the world's first safety technologies. There's the run-off road protection which detects what comes next on the road and the front safety belts are tightened to keep occupants in place. Lastly, there's the auto brake in intersections when in the event the driver turns in front of an oncoming car, it automatically halts this car full stop. There are so many safety gadgets loaded in this Volvo but I can't tell what are those or this will be one heck of a snoozefest but with all of these features, this new model believes the future really is now thanks to science. Very clever but car enthusiasts weren't so sure whether they like this car or not now that it becomes a car that feels like it's been made from the future and it's been made to avoid accidents once and for all. Hmmm...

The new XC90 starts at 554,000 Krona (or around 60,000 Euros estimated), which is more expensive than any other Volvos in the lineup but that's more affordable than the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. That's one luxury SUV you can afford on.

The new Volvo XC90 isn't just more of a full model change, it's about rebuilding the Swedish carmaker into new and exciting ways and I can expect big things for Volvo for now.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Forza Motorsport 5: Ace of Aces

These ultra-expensive, ultra-powerful, and ultra-rare machines can be considered themselves as "Aces" because they possessed superior capabilities, massive firepower, and road superiority a true ace should have. Whether it can be sophisticated or bewildering, to civilized to insane, the aces really are born in the perfect battlefield where only the best ace survive but which of these aces are "Ace of Aces?"



First, let's get to know the aces and first up, it's the Koenigsegg Agera. Made as the successor to the CCX, the one that Stig almost got killed while he drove one round the Top Gear track several years ago. It was powered by a turbocharged 5-litre V8 engine that produces 940PS of power and 1,100Nm of torque. 0-100kph in under 3.1 seconds and top speed of 435kph while mated with a 7-speed double clutch gearbox. It was awarded Top Gear's 2010 Hypercar of the Year.




Next, it's the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. While the Veyron is highly respected as the world's fastest machine, the Super Sport pushed the machinima to its extreme levels and with its 431.072 km/h (267.856 mph) top speed, the Veyron SS set the benchmark for the fastest production vehicles.



And lastly and notably a fierce one, the Hennessey Venom GT. This purpose-built speed demon from the Hennessey Performance Engineering possesses some record-smashing speed records with its fastest 0-300kph time of 13.63 seconds. It has clocked a max speed of 270.49mph on a runway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, making it unofficially the fastest car in the world and because it's unofficial, it's not quite matched to the production numbers of the Veyron SS.

The aces are set in the Top Gear Test Track and the fastest time is the winner.



At the starting line, both the Venom GT and the Agera are struggling to get it straight because the massive torque of these two sent these two on a catastrophic wheelspin but for the Veyron Super Sport, thanks to its 4WD powertrain, got off to a rocket start smoothly but in the corners, since the Veyron Super Sport is the heaviest of the three, both the Venom GT and the Agera glide through the corners with ease. This could be very one sided.

Mind you, the Venom GT has the most powerful engine compared to the Veyron SS and the Agera and because it's lighter, this ace sweeps through the corners and straights faster than you can say "Fox Two".



At the end of the lap, here are the results;

Veyron SS: 1:15.161
Venom GT: 1:15.122
Agera: 1:17.337

Which means, that the "Ace of Aces" goes to the Venom GT because not only its twin-turbo LS9 V8 engine possess a massive firepower but its lightweight bodywork has greater superiority on the track making it the ideal multirole in the high speed stakes and track days. This million-dollar hypercar is by no means the Ace of Aces in an all-out ace combat on Forza 5.

Latest A7H Update features SSC Tuatara and Koenigsegg Agera R

Tuatara on the latest A7 HEAT update

For the Version 1.0.7 of the hit mobile game, Asphalt 7: HEAT features two new supercars that will go insane for their high speeds. Yes, they've now featured, for the first time, SSC's gut-wrenching concept dream machine called the Tuatara and Koenigsegg's Agera R! Not only that, this new update includes a lottery mode where you can have a chance to win great prizes or new cars that seems to be too much for requirements and then, new cups added on the SPECIAL EVENTS section of the game. They've added new cups that will give you access to the Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary, Murcielago LP670-4 SV, Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante, and the SSC Tuatara.

Scoop: http://appadvice.com/appnn/2013/01/burn-the-streets-as-you-play-the-newly-updated-asphalt-7-heat

Volvo V40 Cross Country

2013 Volvo V40 Cross Country

Okay, this isn't what it exactly meant to be but why would Volvo brought back the "Cross Country" name for this sport utility wagon version of the V40 instead of another XC like the XC70, XC60, and the XC90? Don't blame me, blame Volvo why did they resurrect the Cross Country moniker. Some say that the terms XC and Cross Country are synonyms but Volvo said they're not. What's the difference? Volvo says that XC models have a distinct crossover character with unique body-styles including an elevated seating position, while the Cross Country models are expressive all-road versions of our dynamic wagons and hatchbacks. Huh? Wait a minute...Never mind about that whole conundrum set up by Volvo because you know why? I just don't get it.

Anyway, this new version is 40mm higher than the standard V40 and with such height increase comes with some added looks such as retaining the same rim sizes from the original, contrasting bumper, honeycomb mesh grille, upright DRL-lights, sculpted sills, and the contrasting rear bumper with integrated skid plate. It maybe just the same V40 look with some cosmetically enhanced toughness but overall, the XC err... Cross Country version tries to be a tough one even though in this such size as a hatchback.

For a car like this, the V40 Cross Country is kinda targeted for the outdoorsy type of person, someone who loves to go out for the great outdoors such as the mountains, the forest, the falls, or whatever nature made for us. Thinking about it, if you were going out BMX-ing, fishing, hunting deers, fortune hunting, or something what an adventure lover really want to, seems that this is the kind of Volvo for them if they can't afford on the XC models.

I was just wondering, in such cars like this, I am becoming more of a half-businessman, half-adventurer, meaning that there's all work, all play for me, meaning that I can use it to go to the office for work, or use it while going out for my leisure trip such as going for a game of basketball, or billiards, or boxing, or a dance-off by night, or anything that kills my boredom amidst the stringent schedule done by the times. Here in the V40 Cross Country, this is possible for me. I think it's better to drive and better to have one than the Subaru XV but don't think of ever getting one of these because in terms of pricing, it's much more expensive than the Subaru XV. Despite pricing, the V40 Cross Country has more features than the Subaru XV and also, they both have the same safety features especially the one that automatically brakes in the near-collision scenario.

Unlike the XV, which only comes with a 2.0L petrol engine, the V40 Cross Country do come with a host of petrol and diesel engines such as the 115PS D2, 150PS D3, 177PS D4, 180PS T4, and the 254PS T5 (the most powerful in the lineup). The T5 model of the V40 Cross Country comes with all wheel drive with class leading driving dynamics so you can go anywhere no matter what, even in the rain. Sounds reasonable and the Powershift transmission, available on the T4 model, is just another double-clutch goodness for this car. This is much better than the "Taters Donna Tate" CVT stuff in the XV.

It maybe cost more than the Subaru XV but the V40 Cross Country is just one of the examples that a Swedish-based carmaker can think of, despite the fact that it was made by Belgians in Ghent. It maybe more expensive than the XV but with all of the features loaded, this is much more of a premium blend. It's like Nescafe premium blend best served hot in a nice coffee table made out of wood.

Volvo XC60 meets Jeremy Lin

A couple of months ago, famed NBA player Jeremy Lin signed as a brand ambassador for Volvo not just for the Swedish carmaker's marketing initiatives in China but in the United States as well.

Here's a US TV commercial for the Volvo XC60 starring the Linsanity himself. It's called "The Unexpected Ones".



Well done Volvo and well done Linsanity. Looking forward for more bigger things!

Volvo V40

With the entry-level Volvo S40 sedan and its wagon counterpart, the V50, officially officially DEAD, as in no more, discontinued, axed, bye-bye, disappeared on the Volvo lineup, the V40 name, as you are utterly familiar with this as the wagon counterpart of the first generation S40, has been revived from the start as Volvo's new 5-door hatchback that you can think of it as a C30 taking a Cialis. Oh wait, the Volvo C30 is DEAD too, I forgot to tell you...

2013 Volvo V40

With the S40 sedan, C30 3-door hatch, and the V50 wagon gone for good and off to the junkyard in the sky, this Nya Volvo V40 cannot act the same thing as those three does. It does not have the handling credentials of the C30, the riding comfort of the S40, and the versatility of the V50. I mean seriously, this new V40 was made to compete the likes of the Citroen DS4, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Renault Megane, and the Volkswagen Golf.

A Brit designer, Peter Horbury, said that the new Volvo V40 is the last Volvo to be designed by him before he transfer himself to the company that recently owned Volvo, which is Geely from China. That sounds weird but the Volvo design DNA first applied on the XC60 and the second-generation S60 is a reach for the V40 but sad to say, this design feels like a V60 with its shortened length. It's like doing something with a ball pen back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. You see?

2013 Volvo V40 interior

Inside the V40, what you expect is somewhat a mash-up between the familiar buttons you can find on the now defunct S40, in-dash monitor with sat-nav straight from the S60 and the instrumental panel, well, this is a bit too futuristic, to be fair. This instrumental panel maybe new to us but it changes if you select three driving modes; if someone is focused on performance, the V40's instrumental panel goes all red hot, if you're driving in normal mode, the instrumental panel's all a bit simple but if you're focused on Eco Driving, the instrumental panel's all green and an Eco Guide is seen at the left side. If that wasn't put you, how about looking at the roof of the V40? What you see here is a huge panoramic glass roof which can be a bit too problematic if bright sunlight comes directly at you. Talk about a design flaw but still, the V40 accommodates up to five people, 335L of load capacity, 1073mm of front leg room, 847mm of rear leg room, 953mm of front head room, and that's it.

2013 Volvo V40

There are various variants of the V40 available such as the 115HP D2, 150HP D3, 177HP D4, 150HP T3, and 180HP T4. Those choices may come with either a 6-speed manual and for some, a 6-speed automatic transmission for those who are not hairy chested. A V40 D2 variant will have a combined fuel consumption of 3.6L/100km while the turbocharged V40 T3 will have 5.4L/100km of combined fuel consumption. Most variants do come with an idling stop system that shuts off when stopped and then start again when your foot is on the pedal, to save fuel. Overall, most of these are certified EURO 5 COMPLIANT. Stefan Jacoby said that the V40 wraps you in a much comfortable interior with such ergonomics and technology that will make you feel informed, focused, and relaxed. I kinda agree to that but no. That's not far enough.

There are tons of safety features offered on the Volvo V40 such as Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Information System, Park Assist Pilot, Lane Keeping Aid, City Safety with automatic braking and then there was the world's first PEDESTRIAN AIRBAG. What is it? How does the V40's pedestrian airbag work?





So, convinced how the pedestrian airbag works? It's somewhat an airbag bolted to the V40 bonnet and it inflates when this car hit the pedestrian, saving a life in an event of an unfortunate accident. We know this is a world's first feature but take extreme precautions about this pedestrian airbag because not most of the time this new feature works in an event of a collision between you and the pedestrian.

The Volvo V40's colors include; Svart, Passion rod, Ice vit, Silver, Svart Metallic, Titanium gra, Caspian bla, Flaminco rod, Biarritz bla, Vibrant koppar, Raw Copper, Misty Blue, and Electric silver.

My Comment:

So, a very complicating new feature, a panoramic glass roof that can be somewhat a design flow, class leading driving dynamics, and a proof that the V40 is not a replacement to the S40, C30, and the V50. You might think that this nya V40 has the handling of the C30, the riding comfort of the S40, and the versatility of the V50, fused into one Scandinavian packaging but this new Volvo has a long way to go. If I were driving this car, I am not somewhat likely to be succumbed by the V40's elegance, sportiness, and the versatility. You have to think better than that, Volvo. It takes Juan to know Juan but in here, it doesn't.

Photo: Volvo Cars

Welcome Back: 2006 Koenigsegg CCX

Koenigseggisseggggnignigsegigisegggg CCX with Top Gear wing

Koenigseggisseggggnignigsegigisegggg CCX interior

Close Call! I thought you may end up the same fate as Stig's!

The Koenigsegg CCX is definitely one of the most dangerous rides you would love to risk on this game. This car may have the longest name in the lap board (Koenigseggisseggggnignigsegigisegggg CCX) and this is the car The Stig has ever stuffed.

The Koenigsegg CCX comes with a body made of carbon fiber, a 4.7L twin-supercharged engine that produces 806HP, and a drag coefficient of a fish. Yep, Jeremy Clarkson said that and this was proven to be more addicting than smoking cigarettes. Because this car has no Traction Control, there's going to be a risk there. When The Stig lapped the CCX round the Top Gear Test Track in 1:20.4, Stig said that he can do faster than that, so he does it again and suddenly while he was at the Follow-Through, he manages to correct the steering but it doesn't have enough track for this car, resulting to a major accident.

Stig believed that if the CCX has a rear spoiler, it would corner well, and therefore, Koenigsegg got the memo and equipped the CCX with a rear spoiler, resulting a new record of 1:17.6, beating the Zonda F's lap time.

The CCX returned on Forza Motorsport 4 and it was one of the cars featured on the game's Autovista feature where you can learn some facts about the CCX or hear Jeremy Clarkson's commentary about the CCX. Be warned that the CCX is highly dangerous to drive for an unskilled player but if only someone who's as brave as The Stig should be wise to choose it.

The Koenigseggisseggggnignigsegigisegggg Agera

Oh come on. Don't worry. That's just a joke. Of course I can spell "Koenigsegg" correctly because if the Koenigsegg Agera's got featured in Top Gear and once The Stig lapped this, it may end up looking like this on their lap board:

"Koenigseggisseggggnignigsegigisegggg Agera"

Whoa! Just like what happened on the past models tested on Top Gear such as CC8S and the CCX (notable for Stig's accident round the Top Gear Test Track).

Agera vs. CCX at the Ring

So what is the Koenigsegg Agera? At first glance, the Koenigsegg Agera is the spiritual successor of the "Koenigseggisseggggnignigsegigisegggg" CCX and when I say spiritual, there is some "ghost" badge located at the Agera's 5.0L twin-turbo engine that produces 940HP of power. If performance is getting a bit more better, it's somewhat as powerful as the Bugatti Veyron or a Ferrari Enzo. No wait, the Agera is somewhat lighter than the Veyron but it's a bit heavier than the Ferrari Enzo, so there's a bit of a gap if I'm honest.

Agera for another Top Gear episode

Of course, as I'm sure you know, this car is part of the Launch Bonus Pack, a bonus available for those who've preordered Forza 4 before the release but it's too late. If you think you're too late for that, don't worry because thanks to the Launch Bonus Pack became available for the public for just 560 MS Points, you can now try the ultimate Koenigsegg ever built to satisfy your passion for cars.

As our passion for cars keeps on burning through our veins thanks to continuous gameplay of Forza 4, the Koenigsegg Agera served as a perfect example of "car passion" on this game. I once tried it round the Top Gear Test Track and it was made to be somewhat faster than the "Koenigseggisseggggnignigsegigisegggg CCX with Top Gear wing". I was thinking about 1:15.4, my personal best on this car, and yes, it was proven to be quicker than the CCX but a bit problematic than my seriously problematic Pagani Huayra. Who cares?

The Agera speeds through Japan

With the 1,400,000 CR pricing, it maybe seem to be difficult to get the Agera but if you belong to a certain car club, your best bet is to borrow the Agera from your fellow car club member if you want to try it out on online races. However, if you have the allowance, you can buy the Koenigsegg Agera, tweak its performance figures, or even do a Top Gear Power Lap Time with your Agera. It may seem to be difficult to master the Koenigseggisseggggnignigsegigisegggg (sorry again) Agera because of the speed that can't keep up with its handling but with practice, you have a Koenigseggisseggggnignigsegigisegggg that has a force to be reckoned with.