Top Gear James Bond special on October 29?

Aston Martin DB5

Sure, next season of Top Gear won't be here until next year but the show's planning a special episode paying tribute to James Bond's 50th anniversary. Sources say that Richard Hammond's hosting this TV special showcasing the best of the Bond cars from the Aston Martin DB5 on Goldfinger, BMW Z3 on Goldeneye, BMW 750i on Tomorrow Never Dies (a car can be operated by remote control), BMW Z8 on The World is Not Enough, Lotus Esprit submarine car from The Spy who Loved Me, Aston Martin V12 Vanquish from Die Another Day, Aston Martin DBS from Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace and so on.

Also, Richard Hammond tries to build a Bond Car on a budget and we don't really mean the Rover 800 or the Range Rover from last year's Top Gear at the Movies DVD. It's going to be a different DIY experience as Hammo's making a Bond car in today's economy.

Scoop: http://www.gtspirit.com/2012/10/14/top-gear-special-50-years-of-bond-cars-premieres-2nd-of-november/

Formula One 2012 Korean GP Update

F1 2012

Well, it appears that Red Bull's very own Sebastian Vettel does know how to do Gangnam Style, well not the kind of dance we all enjoy but at Yeongam despite the tyre-wear problems. Such win pushed S. Vettel ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso by a 6 point gap at the driver's ranking but can Vettel hang on to the very end?

PRESS RELEASE:


Race - Vettel storms into title lead with Korean win 14 Oct 2012
      
Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel may have had some tyre-wear problems towards the end of Sunday’s Yeongam race, but from outside the cockpit it looked like yet another walk in the park for the defending champion as his third victory in a row moved him into the lead of the world championship fight by six points from Fernando Alonso.

On a damage limitation day, the Spaniard brought his Ferrari home third behind Vettel and his team mate Mark Webber. It was the first time that any team have finished one-two this season.

The Australian’s pole counted for nothing as Vettel sped down the inside into the first corner, just as Alonso was likewise depriving Lewis Hamilton of third place. Further back, Sergio Perez hit Jenson Button’s McLaren before his Sauber team mate Kamui Kobayashi did the job properly, walloping it twice and sending it into immediate retirement with right-front suspension damage.

Nico Rosberg also sustained a cut left-rear tyre in the incident which accounted for his Mercedes a lap later. As he parked on the run down to Turn Three, the DRS zone was effectively negated for several laps until the silver car could be removed. Later Kobayashi was given a drive-through penalty for causing a collision, and retired as a result of damage his C31 incurred.

Vettel owned the race, controlling Webber easily. Further back, Alonso kept them honest but no more than that, and was lucky that it was team mate Felipe Massa who rode shotgun all the way to the flag after another good race for the Brazilian in which he had greater pace than the Spaniard. Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen was a lonely fifth, while a great drive by Nico Hulkenberg realised sixth place for Force India after a gritty battle with Romain Grosjean in the other Lotus.

McLaren’s disastrous day saw Hamilton troubled early on with tyre wear and he was the first pit stopper on the 13th lap as he switched from Pirelli’s super-soft rubber to the softs. He had superb battles with Raikkonen and then Hulkenberg and Grosjean, but that set lasted only until Lap 26. The third set was worn out by Lap 42, which dropped him from contention for sixth place to a fight for eighth with the Toro Rossos.

He pushed Jean-Eric Vergne as hard as he could, but after the Frenchman had reacted by catching and passing team mate Daniel Ricciardo to take an excellent eighth, Hamilton picked up a chunk of astro-turf on his right-hand sidepod. As that affected his MP4-27’s aerodynamics he dropped away and was lucky to resist Perez at the flag by a scant 0.3s.

The result puts Ferrari ahead of McLaren in the constructors’ stakes, 290 points to 284, as Red Bull’s great day brought their score to 367.

Force India’s Paul di Resta battled all afternoon with Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher, but Hulkenberg’s performance put him ahead of the Scot in the points table after Di Resta took 12th ahead of Schumacher. Behind them, Williams’ Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna ran wheel-to-wheel for much of the way. The Venezuelan led his team mate home by 1.9s after the Brazilian’s attempt to pass in Turn Three on the 54th lap was repelled.

The Caterham drivers also had a close race, swapping position on more than one occasion before Vitaly Petrov made it stick as Heikki Kovalainen fell back. They finished 16th and 17th as Timo Glock led Marussia partner Charles Pic in their wake. At one stage the German kept the green and yellow cars honest before falling back.

Narain Karthikeyan was the final finisher in 21st for HRT, as team mate Pedro de la Rosa joined Button, Rosberg and Kobayashi on the list of retirements.

Scoop: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/10/13926.html

With Vettel overtaken Alonso at the standings, can he still hang on against the rest or will Ferrari's Alonso catching up? You'll find out soon in India this October 28...

Let's Do The News! (October 14, 2012)

2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible

(cheers and applause)

What do you mean they both lose?

THEY REALLY BOTH LOSE. The hardtop versions of the ZL1 and GT500 are like puto (some kind of steamed rice cake in Philippine cuisine). If you make sawsawan to some dinuguan (pork and blood stew), you're going to ruin it. If you make sawsawan to a cup of coffee, you're going to make it better.

You really quite serious though?

It makes sense!

So, it was like that according to Top Gear, if you take a roof off a normal car like Peugeot or a BMW 1-Series, no harm done. They look dramatic. But with serious performance cars, that's a different story...

Yeah, for those convertible muscle cars, they were going to taste worse than dinuguan...

(audience laughing)

Okay, the news and word from Porsche is that they've launched a brand new variant of the Cayenne SUV called the Turbo S...

2013 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

...it's known to be the fastest, most outlandish Cayenne ever built. It has the same engine from the standard Turbo but now, it has a 50HP increase, meaning it can go 0-100kph in 4 1/2 seconds and has a top speed of 283 km/h.

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/12/2013-porsche-cayenne-turbo-s-shows-up-with-550-horsepower/

(sigh) I really don't like the Cayenne...too ugly...looks like a larva of the fly...

(audience laughing)

I disagree...Sure, Porsches maybe looking ugly with very complicating interiors but they are exciting to drive and with this Turbo S, I believe that this is the only SUV that focuses on speed. I want this one!

No way man. I'm not betting on those...

(audience laughing)

Well fine. But this Cayenne's on me.

Go for it, Porsche boy...

(audience laughing, then cheers and applause)

Now, as some may recall last month that Koenigsegg made a special one-off Agera R for a Chinese client, it's called the BLT, here it is, look...

Koenigsegg Agera R BLT

...no. It's not that BLT sandwich, it has a different meaning in China. BLT represents the pinnacle of the Koenigsegg customization program and truly show how bespoke a Koenigsegg can become.

Scoop: http://www.koenigsegg.com/latest-news/agera-r-blt/

Looks nice though, how was it?

In China, he's fine but moments later...the cops banged him...

(audience laughing)

What?!

The Chinese cops impounded the one-off Agera R BLT because he allegedly didn't declare the vehicle and failed to pay income tax.

So, this customized Agera R was...

Smuggled. His one-off Agera R BLT was a smuggled one...

Agera R BLT impounded by Chinese Customs

Scoop: http://www.gtspirit.com/2012/10/13/koenigsegg-agera-r-blt-seized-by-chinese-customs/

Why that happened?

Tell you what. For tax evasion, his Agera R BLT made a stopover at Vietnam and then heading to China. Some articles said that but I felt pity for that wealthy Chinese man responsible for the Agera R BLT.

Well, lesson learned that if you have enough money for your one-off supercar, be sure to have enough money for the income tax.

(audience laughing)

Hey now, those who are returning or new visitors to the Doctor Who Experience (opened since Summer 2012) at Porth Teigr, Cardiff, Wales, we just heard that there's some new stuff exhibited at the DWE.

Really?

Yeah! Rather than the life size Dalek made from Character Building Blocks, or even Matt Smith and Steven Moffat's handprints, there's some new stuff exhibited at the Doctor Who Experience and those came from the first half of Doctor Who Series 7.

Like what?

Let's see...Oswin Oswald's costume from Asylum of the Daleks, a chained Weeping Angel from The Angels Take Manhattan, Solomon's and Queen Nefertiti's costume from Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, oh and those robots from that episode as well.

Scoop: http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2012/10/matt-smith-steven-moffat-lend-a-hand-to-the-doctor-who-experience/

Oh! Looks like we got Mr. Manners! We are very crossed with you.

(audience laughing)

I wonder what's next? The cubes from The Power of Three? the gravestone of Amy and Rory? Melody Malone book? Shakri's costume? The Gunslinger?

There's more props coming at the Doctor Who Experience and because of this year's Christmas special and the second half of Series 7 next year, there's more and more props to be exhibited right until the program's 50th anniversary celebration. Don't worry though, like the TARDIS, this exhibition is bigger on the inside!

(audience laughing)

Right. As on the topic of DW, they streamed an online exclusive feature about what happened to Rory's dad, Brian. This is the epilogue that was never shot but thanks to these storyboards, we might be able to see. It's called P.S.

Dear Dad, 

This is the difficult bit. If I got this right, you’re reading this letter a week after we left in the TARDIS. The thing is: we’re not coming back. We’re alive and well and stuck in New York, 50 years before I was born. We can’t come home again, I won’t ever see you again and that breaks my heart.

I’m so sorry, Dad. I thought about this for years and I realised there was one thing that I could do, I could write you, tell you everything about how we lived, about how, despite it all, we were happy. But before I do, I need you to know…

you are the best dad any son could have had.

And for all the times I drove you mad and you drove me mad, all the times I snapped at you… I’m sorry. I miss everything about you, especially our awkward hugs.

I bought a trough, we have a small yard, a garden. But one more important bit of business, the man who delivered the letter, Anthony. Be nice to him…

because he’s your grandson.

We finally adopted in 1946: Anthony Brian Williams. He can tell you everything, he’ll have the family albums and I realise having a grandson who’s older than you is so far beyond weird.

But I’m sorry. I love you, Dad. I miss you.
 

Wow. That really made me cry!

Uh-huh! That really made me cry and on that perfectly harmonious bombshell, that's the news and oh, massive congratulations to the Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire for winning the fight against Toshiaki Nishioka!

(cheers and applause)

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible vs. 2013 Shelby GT500 Convertible

2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

This is the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible, which on this spec costs 59,545 US Dollars...

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible

...and this is the new Mustang GT500 Convertible, which in all intentional purposes cost 59,200 US Dollars.

For those who love some speed, power, and a lot of grunt, the GT500 is a better bet because this is now hailed as America's Most Powerful Production Car or better yet, the world's most powerful V8 car, beating out the former V8 king, the Corvette ZR1. On this Convertible version, you'll get the same experiences from the coupe version but with the roof down to enjoy the open air. The GT500 is America's new speed king, meaning that on the straights, the GT500 rules but unlike the GT500 because it relies on such prehistoric suspension even though it was tweaked by SVT, the Camaro ZL1 is much more track-focused thanks to its standard Magnetic Ride Control, standard Performance Traction Management, and standard track-capable equipment such as a rear-differential cooler, brake cooling ducts, and an engine and transmission cooler.

If they were softdrinks, they'll be Coke or Pepsi. If they were girls, they'll be Medaka or Rias....

There's more with these two cars; they're both Americans, they're both muscles, and they're both have roofs made of cloth rather than metal. If you put these two on a drag race, rest assured that thanks to its supercharged 5.8-liter V8 aluminum-block engine produces 662 horsepower and 631 lb.-ft. of torque, the GT500 trounces the ZL1 and its all-aluminum 580HP 6.2L supercharged engine. Even if you switch drivers and do the race again, the results remain the same. It's like Bumblebee being fragged by Eleanor.

Truth be told, the GT500 Convertible is quicker than the ZL1 convertible on a straight line but when placed on racetracks, the results are highly different. Thanks to its SVT-tuned suspension and an additional Track Package that costs them more, the handling feels much more dynamic than the old model. So dynamic, you may found out that this muscle's highly challenging if you're not paying attention. It takes a lot of skill and time to master the GT500's dynamic handling and if you do, you'll find it even more rewarding.

On the ZL1 though, it's still a "Dynamic and Dangerous" muscle car but because of its sophisticated computer wizardry or probably thanks to its standard Magnetic Ride Control or Performance Traction Management, the ZL1 tries to tame its dynamism a little bit further. Despite the ZL1's power output less than the GT500's, I can brake later than the GT500, I can turn harder than the GT500, and that's it. The ZL1's a track-focused muscle car with some added dynamism on it. Let's remember, the coupe version of the ZL1 lapped the Nurburgring at 7:41.27, quicker than the Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SV or even the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

On the subject of muscle car convertibles though, thanks to some strengthening needs, both of these cars are heavier than their hardtop coupe equivalents. A trivia though that with no roof, it all ends up with the engine on the front connected to its steering and suspension goodies by just a floor, just like two volumes of encyclopedias and a piece of paper. It's too wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff if you know what I mean.

2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible

The 2013 GT500 Convertible though, I believe that this is much better than the old GT500 Convertible. I'm just saying because there are so many stuff to do better than this includes...late night television, working at a fast-food restaurant, or go on a strike with your officemates. Stuff like that. Even though with major improvements, the convertible GT500 is a lot heavier than the hardtop equivalents and it spoils a lot.

2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

The hardtop ZL1 is one of the best Chevrolets I've experienced a few months ago but with the convertible ZL1, this is even better. With no roof, you can clearly hear the sound of the 6.2L supercharged engine even better. It sounds like there was a dirty brawl between Nina Williams and Miki Hoshii. That sounds better than this but with such noise, it's hard to notice it and you can't even feel the ZL1 convertible's extra weight. On the race track, both are good but for everyday use, I think the ZL1 is the better bet because on bumpy roads, the ZL1's suspension counterattacks the vibration more than the GT500's.

For a real treat on those convertible muscle cars, get a girl who spend her money on hair rebonding and do some experimenting. Unless your girl had used Rejoice shampoo, your muscle car convertible may end up turning her into a mohawk. Worse, you'll arrive in a black eye...

And that concludes my impressions to the ZL1 and GT500 cabrios. Naming a winner on these two is not that all fun and games because sadly though...well, sorry Mr. JCR Clarkson Esq. for saying your lines...THEY BOTH LOSE.

Photo: General Motors, Ford Motor Company

2013 Lexus LS range

2013 Lexus LS

2013 Lexus LS

Which is why, if you want a luxury Japanese premium sedan, might as well get one of these. Yes, it's a Lexus LS, and this incarnation have been a while for about six years when it was launched in Autumn 2006 but I have to say that this is still the indulgence that I have expected after slowly eating a delicious and chewy caramel candy that your neighbors gave you from last year's Halloween.

This year though, some big changes occurred on the current-generation Lexus LS and as we know it, we've expected a newly redesigned rear lamps and a new front face which gains the signature "Spindle Grille" first applied on the Lexus GS.

The 4.6L V8 (1UR-FSE) engine equipped on the LS460/LS460L was now being recalibrated so it now produces 392PS of power, about 7PS more than the previous model and fuel economy is a thirstier 8.4km/L, while being fitted with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The 2UR-FSE (5.0L V8) engine and 1KM electric motor that powers the LS600h/LS600hL has been tweaked as well. Although the power output remains the same, the JC08-rated fuel economy's been improved from 11.0km/L to 11.6km/L. The LS Hybrid is mated with a CVT with Manual Mode to make things a bit interesting as you endlessly flipping a page of a magazine while at the hospital, waiting for the doctors to call out your name.

2013 Lexus LS

Surprisingly, there is now an F-Sport variant for the first time on the 2013 Lexus LS! Thanks to this new F-Sport pack, it transformed the LS from a luxury Japanese saloon for the politicians into a ultra-sleek, ultra-sexy, aggressor with a much more aggressive stance to attack its prey alive, much like a hazing occurred at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Think about it, when I look upon the F-Sport pack of the new 2013 Lexus LS, things will go "BITE ME ALIEN BOY!" because it looks like an alien from Prometheus. Or better yet a predator from AVP. He he he he....Sorry, why would I said that? That's a dreadful simile to describe it...oh my gosh...

2013 Lexus LS interior

2013 Lexus LS interior

Aside from making the LS' exterior a bit more aggressive with a bit more feel, the interior has now been reworked so when every time I see fit on the inside, it feels more civilized, especially the dashboard kinda looks like the grown up version of the interior that I seen on the latest Lexus GS. Also, it also comes with the Lexus Remote Touch system that points me to which mode I am on and then I click it to engage it. Surprisingly, the monitor's now split screen, so there's going to be some kind of techie-overload here.

Speaking of which, the Lexus LS still comes with the L-Select interior customization program, which allows me to personalize the LS' interior just they way I want and when I have the perfect LS interior, I would say that this one's sonorously bespoke for this model. L-Select now offers 6 new themes such as Presidential Suite, Escape Journey, Japanese Modern, Royal Therapy, Wild Beauty, and Passionate Spirit, which allow even more variety and customization according to each owner's sensibilities and lifestyle.

With numerous safety features included, the 2013 LS now comes with the newly-developed Adaptive High-beam System (AHS), which uses a camera to detect preceding and on-coming vehicles and selectively blocks sections of the high beams that could interfere with other drivers' vision. That's very complicating but very clever. I like that.

So, the Lexus LS, on its 2013 model year though. It's now getting more aggressive like a sleeping dog but more civilized as the Duke of Westminster. Although, this is is a Lexus, it's not quite a suitable car for everyday use because thanks to such pricing, this is only fit for Japanese politicians, high rollers, celebrities, and high-profile people who want to stand out the crowd. 

AVAILABLE COLORS: White Pearl Crystal Shine, White Nova Glass Flake, Sonic Silver, Starlight Black Glass Flake, Red Mica Crystal Shine, Sleek Ecru Metallic, Mercury Grey Mica, Black, Black Opal Mica, Fire Agate Mica Metallic, and Lapis Lazuli Mica.

PRICE LIST:

460 バージョンL - 10,300,000 yen
460 バージョンL 4WD - 10,800,000 yen
460 Fスポーツ - 9,800,000 yen
460 バージョンC Iパッケージ - 8,950,000 yen
460 バージョンC Iパッケージ 4WD - 9,450,000 yen
460 バージョンC - 8,700,000 yen
460 バージョンC 4WD - 9,200,000 yen
460 - 8,300,000 yen
460 4WD - 8,800,000 yen
460L エグゼクティブパッケージ 4-seater - 12,600,000 yen
460L エグゼクティブパッケージ 4WD 4-seater - 13,100,000 yen
460L エグゼクティブパッケージ 5-seater - 12,600,000 yen
460L エグゼクティブパッケージ 4WD 5-seater - 13,100,000 yen
460L - 11,300,000 yen
460L 4WD - 11,800,000 yen

600h バージョンL 4WD - 12,500,000 yen
600h Fスポーツ 4WD - 12,300,000 yen
600h バージョンC Iパッケージ 4WD - 11,150,000 yen
600h バージョンC 4WD - 10,900,000 yen
600h 4WD - 10,500,000 yen
600hL エグゼクティブパッケージ 4WD 4-seater - 15,500,000 yen
600hL エグゼクティブパッケージ 4WD 5-seater - 15,500,000 yen

ALSO AVAILABLE:

Modellista Parts for 2013 Lexus LS F-Sport

2013 Lexus LS

URL: http://www.modellista.co.jp/product/ls/index.html

TRD Parts for 2013 Lexus LS F-Sport

2013 Lexus LS

URL: http://trdparts.jp/lexus/ls/index.html

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Driving Music (What is the name of the song on car commercial?) Vol. 43

ARGH...My blog's being attacked again...Even though it's a TRO for the law, my blog's still being under attacked by some dishonored assailants who spend most of the time looking for the song of some car commercial no matter if its past or latest.

It's this one. This bullet hole I found in my blog reads..."opel mokka commercial song". Damn, with a recently-launched car comes a TV ad and if there's lyrics...bam. The attack commences. As for this whole...opel mokka commercial song thingy....I am so sorry. We tried looking over the lyrics heard from this...Opel Mokka commercial and the results are none. So, it's an original song made for the commercial.

Speaking of which, thought I forgot about it? "song nissan sylphy ad"? A Nissan Sylphy commercial song? From Thailand? Ahem...We don't talk a car that hasn't been released in Japan yet. Well, some say the Sylphy's going to be in Japan this December so zip your mouths please because...another set of five driving musics (car commercial songs) are coming at you!

5. Good Time by Owl City - from the Renault Samsung New SM3 Korean commercial

4.  Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan - from the Peugeot 208 commercial

3. Tetra by SebastiAn - from the Citroen DS3 Ultra Prestige commercial

2. Abdication by Abel Korzeniowski - from the Renault Clio IV commercial

1.  Child's Anthem by David Garrett - from the fifth-generation Suzuki Wagon R commercial

...and there we are. Finished. Nice and easy. Another bullet hole fixed. If these happened again, I'm sure that they're up to something...

"Young ang Masarap!"

On the October 12, 2012 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Sinehan gags

- A couple drops a visit to some aswang...and his name's Dr. Tiktik...

- This wife's too clever, she charges her husband some money by any means necessary.

- Table's getting wobbly...waiter, can you help?

- Porke ba TOCINO, PAMPANGA-STYLE lang? Bubble Gang does CDO Funtastyk Young Pork Tocino by spoofing this commercial as TDO PUNTASTIK! Young ang masarap! 100% Young Pork!

Bubble Gang does CDO Funtastyk!

- Brod Pete and his pals are here again for ANG BAGONG DATING DOON!

Ang Bagong Dating Doon

1) Jackie Rice asks "may nasusulat po ba tungkol sa Cybercrime Law?"

RA 10175 - This Cyber ______ Law is just like E-________.

RA 10176 - Cyber Bells Cyber Bells. It's Christmas time in the city ________. Ring-a-ling, hear them ring. Soon it will be Christmas Day.

2) A pregnant woman from Novaliches asked the Facebook account (ibradpete): "Manganganak na po ako. Pwede po ba ipangalan ko sa anak ko ang Brod Pete?

Sorry. This name's already taken...Instead, use brodpete42786 or brodpete_12. It's cyber stuff...

3) Someone form Kawit, Cavite asks "Ano pong hayop ay hindi ibon pero lumilipad?"

Simple. It's buffalo. If you went to the restaurant and read its menu, you'll see BUFFALO WINGS.

4) Someone from Legaspi asks "sinong robot ang magaling mag-rap?"

Android E is the robot who knows how to rap. Remember the lyrics "HUMANAP KA NG PANG-E.T."

5) Wrong term: Wi-Fi - WiFi means Wireless Fidelity. Meaning it should have been pronounced (wai-fi) not (wai-fai). Or better yet (why pay)...

- This guy's getting angry while lecturing hunters...

- Parlor chat gone wrong

- This referee at the boxing match is...too kind.

Let's Do The News! (October 12, 2012)

2013 Renault Clio

So you really like the new Clio though?

Oh yes. This is absolutely the best looking Clio ever. I want to have this car rather than the Citroen DS4 or the Alfa Giulietta.

So, you know that there's going to be an estate and a Renaultsport version next year, right?

Uh huh but I can't believe that the next Clio RS really thrown a curve by making it a 5-door only hot hatch with a turbocharged 1.6L engine from...um...let's just say a Nissan Juke and a double clutch transmission. I wonder if they'll going to agree with this full model change... 

(audience laughing)

Right the news and big news that...

Wait...don't you mean?

ADMU logo

Ateneo Blue Eagles! They won the UAAP Season 75! Best two games out of three against the UST Growling Tigers! Yay!

(cheers and applause)

Scoop: http://sports.inquirer.net/65932/blue-eagles-bag-uaap-75-championship-for-five-peat

WOW! I'm impressed! ADMU got a five-win streak on the championship and hey, they really send the UST Tigers a bloody good hiding with the score of 65-62, in game two of the finals Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Yeah! But there is just one thing...

What?

Remember back in Game One when the coach of the Growling Tigers got angry to the coach of the Blue Eagles?

Oh! I really don't recall that.

Hey, speaking of which, I think that the coach of the Blue Eagles, who is Norman Black, did a really good job, nurturing a winning team and I think...it's sad to see Norman Black move on to the PBA and train the Talk N Text basketball team.

Do you think his tactics would work?

I think so and hey! Good luck Mr. Norman Black on your next journey! We would like to say thank you for treating the Ateneo Blue Eagles very well as well as ace players such as Von Rolfe Pessumal (19), Finals MVP Nico Salva (8), Juan Nicolas Elorde (4), Isaac Jules Lim (11), Gwyne Matthew Capacio (12) and Gideon Babilonia (21).

Yeah, what would UST Tiger head coach Pido Jarencio going to think about it?

(audience laughing)

I mean come on. Since the end of Game One, Jarencio became unhappy about Norman Black's strategy to the Eagles. Now that the Ateneos won the UAAP Season 75, is Jarencio upset also? Or ain't he BOVERRED?

(audience laughing)

No. He's fine. It's all in the sportmanship.

(ahhhh)

Anyway, while we're congratulating Ateneo's win, let's talk about Nonito Donaire Jr.on his upcoming match against Toshiaki Nishioka on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila).

What?

Let's tell him good luck to Nonito Donaire Jr. We all wish you the very best. Good luck and God bless!

(audience clapping)

Nissan had made a one-off gold Nissan GT-R R35 for the fastest man on earth!

Who?

Usain Bolt! Remember? You saw him maintain his reputation at the London Olympics since summer, right?

Oh!

Usain Bolt's GT-R

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/10/usain-bolt-helps-design-one-off-gold.html

I'd never knew that Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprint runner who is still the world's fastest human being (let's forget The Flash), is teaming up with Nissan, proving that there's excitement for the Japanese carmaker. Mr. Bolt's golden Godzilla though, this really hits the spot.

Right....But how come he's not interested in Lambo?

(audience laughing)

I mean remember THE WORLD'S GREATEST DRAG RACE II a coupe of weeks ago? The Nissan GT-R was lost by a Lamborghini LP700-4. How come he...

(audience laughing)

...uh never mind. Better not to talk about that...

There's going to be new Nendoroids coming next year and first up is this...

Nendoroid Asuna

URL: http://www.goodsmile.info/product/en/3710/Nendoroid+Asuna.html

Hang on...is that Asuna from Sword Art Online?

Yes. Indeed she is Asuna from Sword Art Online. She'll be out this March 2013.

Tell you what, I've seen a lot of anime otakus taking too much interest about Sword Art Online. I believe that this is 2012's best anime and even if its nearing its climax, it's still the most talked about anime of the year. Comparing that to a similar .//hack and you'll notice that they both have the same theme about MMORPG became dystopic and taking over realities...

I agree with you and that Nendoroid Asuna looks perfect. If they made a Nendo version of Kirito, they'll look awesome.

Iron Man has his own Nendoroid!

(ooohhh)

Nendoroid Iron Man Mark 7:
Hero's Edition

URL: http://www.goodsmile.info/product/en/3711/Nendoroid+Iron+Man+Mark+7+Hero+s+Edition.html

COOL! No wonder a Marvel character deserved a Nendoroid treatment! East meets West! Ha ha!

Yeah, right. I really wish I wanna have Iron Man in my desk and hey! Can I bring it to Speedy's?

What Speedy's?

Speedy's! That Sandwich Bar and Cafe as seen on Sherlock!

(audience laughing)

Ahem...I was planning to go there...Speedy's Sandwich Bar and Cafe. The cafe for Sherlock lovers...

(audience laughing)

If you had Iron Man because it's Robert Downey Jr, who is Sherlock Holmes in the SH movies, it would be too intimate. Cosplaying as BBC's Sherlock can be also intimate. Bringing a Sherlock Shellingford Nendo can be a consideration. If you're planning to go there my little hamster, it's up to you...

(Audience laughing)

Well, fine for that. Iron Man, meet Sherlock. Sherlock, meet Sherlock. Sherlock, meet Iron Man...(laughing)

(audience laughing, then cheers and applause)

Hey! There's a new Batmobile in town! Wanna guess what it looks like?

What is it?

Here...

Kia Optima Batman

(audience laughing)

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/10/to-batmobile-kia-presents-batman-themed.html

Ahem...that's just a modified Kia K5 with some Batman fixation on it...

Correct. It is a Kia K5 with some Batman credentials on it but this is part of the Kia Motors and DC COMICS' collaboration for "We Can Be Heroes" campaign, which is a relief effort to battle hunger in the Horn of Africa. This is the first of the eight Kia cars to be modified under the Justice League theme.

Oh....

Anyway, Honda's luxury marque, Acura, bids farewell to the ridiculously ugly ZDX crossover by giving it a facelift for the 2013 model year.

2013 Acura ZDX

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/10/acura-sends-off-zdx-with-facelift-for.html

Tell you what. I never really liked the ZDX because...well, by the looks of it, it looks like an eagle stuck in a turtle's body shell and I never really liked it, even with this finale 2013 Model Year ZDX that comes with a redesigned grille, dark wheel accents, front and rear parking sensors, power folding side mirrors, safety features like Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning systems.

True. Like Maybach, they will going to bid themselves farewell by making a facelift of their product and now, it's over...Maybach is officially dead in case you forgot.

(awww)

I guess that before a certain carmaker killing a certain car for some reasons, they decide to make it even better before its farewell. The ZDX though, the 2013 model year was its dying wish before Acura decided to axe it off in order to focus themselves on their upcoming models, including the RLX flagship.

Truth be told. And hey now, as you may remember about the driver who assaulted the MMDA constable a few months ago, who is a tobacco exec named Robert Blair Carabuena. We've picked up some news that the court ordered that Robert Blair Carabuena will be jailed.

Scoop: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/277849/news/metromanila/court-orders-arrest-of-motorist-who-assaulted-mmda-constable

I find this a little bit depressing. You know that he'd apologized to the MMDA constable a couple of weeks ago after the assault but for the constable, who is Mang Sonny Fabros, he said that Robert's should deserve what he gets. I guess that justice is swift...

Yeah, justice is swift...just what the Judoon said....(laughing)

And on that bombshell, that's the news!

Renault Clio/Lutecia IV

2013 Renault Clio (Lutecia)

If I can only have a drink for the rest of my life, I want an orange juice. If I want to drive a French-made hatchback, it would be this...the Renault Clio (or Lutecia (ルノ・ルーテシア) if you're Japanese).

For over two decades, the Renault Clio is the pinnacle of the Renault lineup, making it one of Europe's top-selling cars since its launch. In case you're wondering, this is the only car that became European Car of the Year twice, in 1991 and in 2006. No other car comes close.

Although, we kinda felt disappointed that we won't be seeing either a Williams (1993-1996) or our favorite mid-engined V6 (2000 - 2005), the Clio made some stunning results from the past when treated with such outrageous results and for this new fourth-generation Clio (Lutecia), this has gone up the world.

2013 Renault Clio (Lutecia)

To further explain about this latest incarnation, I want you to imagine a simple scene down a family restaurant. Imagine there's Ritsuko and Donna having a chat. And then...Ritsuko's had enough with Donna's chatting so she gets up, she takes her outside, and Ritsuko gives Donna a bloody good hiding. That's exactly what the Clio or Lutecia did. The best supermini, according to Automóvil Panamericano, has now been regenerated to take on the likes of the VW Golf, Toyota Auris, Peugeot 308, Mazda Axela, Citroen DS4, Alfa Romeo Giulietta, and others.

The new model is...kinda look like Ritsuko Akizuki in Donna Noble's outfit but I think it looks absolutely stunning. It's better than the previous third generation Clio/Lutecia that I drove before at a video game I currently have. Aside from its new DeZir-styled nose that became the new design DNA for Renault, there is a huge change for this new generation Clio/Lutecia and wanna guess that is? There is no three-door variant! That's right! Beginning with the fourth-generation Clio, they won't be offering a 3-door Clio and NEVER WILL BE. I know this is weird and next year's RenaultSport Clio RS is now a 5-door hot hatch instead of three but why? Nobody knows why...

2013 Renault Clio (Lutecia) interior

Apart that the new Clio (Lutecia) IV now has secret rear doors just like the DS4 and the Giulietta, the interior's getting a bit well behaved and well mannered but not much of it when you look at it. What satisfies me is the new Renault R-Link telematics system which acts more like an Android smartphone and best of all, you can buy apps for the R-Link as well! It is as clever as a Samsung Galaxy Note and less complicating than the Peugeot 208's touch screen and you can't really explain why. When top-of-the-line Clio models are equipped with the R-Link, it gets even more addicting than ever because this is a million times better than other Renaults wearing its Carminarat Tomtom navi that makes no sense whatsoever.

What's new here is a world's first. It's called Renault Bass Reflex system, and it delivers the volume and listening enjoyment of a 30-litre home speaker enclosure. This has more BASS than any other car's speakers and it was based on the use of vents - or ports - in the enclosure. Sounds clever and I love that way...

2013 Renault Clio (Lutecia)

It is as clever as Ritsuko Akizuki in Donna Noble's outfit, and as sexy as a female lifeguard from Baywatch. With the introduction of Renault's brand new energy TCe 90 and TCe 120 EDC petrol engines as well as the brand new energy dCi 90 diesel engine, it is a lot more economical without the compromise. And if you were wondering what's EDC, well Renault now made a six-speed EDC dual clutch automatic transmission that shifts faster with a bit more feel. The first clutch handles 1st, 3rd, and 5th, while the second clutch handles the 2nd, 4th, and 6th. For example, you're in 3rd gear and the second clutch is preparing 4th. When you shift it to 4th, the 5th gear has been pre-selected by the second clutch and when shift it to 5th, the 6th gear's been prepared at the second clutch. That is very simple and very clever. I like that. No wonder that the next year's Renaultsport Clio 200 ditched the manual in favor of the double clutch transmission...

Amazingly, the suspension system has been reworked to make it more agile and more comfortable and with the optimised calibration of the electrically-assisted power steering, you can feel the driving force within the new Clio. Renault really know how to make the best better and hey, this is the perfect car for some 19-year old woman who works as a producer at some talent agency. Oh, don't mate with this, sunshine! You know that the new Clio not only made by the French but by Turkish! Yes! France and Turkey were the only countries to made the Clio IV and that's it.

This car is always in the tune of "Call Me Maybe" and with such improvements, not to mention the downside that is cheap materials and poor rear visibility, the Clio (Lutecia) IV is starting to win my trust. So loyal, I can now forget the DS4 and the Giulietta. If I want a European hatchback with the combination of style and functional, this is my pick. I love it.

Available Colors: Brun Ardent, Gris Cassiopee, Gris Platine, Noir Etoile, Rouge Flamme, Blanc Glacier, Jaune eclair, and Bleu de France.

PRICE LIST:

Authentique 1.2 16V 75 - 13 700,00 € TTC

Authentique dCi 75 eco2 - 16 000,00 € TTC

Expression 1.2 16V 75 - 15 700,00 € TTC

Expression Energy TCe 90 eco2 - 16 900,00 € TTC

Expression Energy TCe 90 eco2 99g  - 17 100,00 € TTC

Expression dCi 75 eco2 - 17 800,00 € TTC

Expression Energy dCi 90 eco2 90g - 18 800,00 € TTC

Expression Energy dCi 90 eco2 83g - 19 000,00 € TTC

Dynamique Energy TCe 90 eco2 - 18 000,00 € TTC

Dynamique dCi 75 eco2 - 18 900,00 € TTC

Dynamique Energy dCi 90 eco2 90g - 19 900,00 € TTC

Business dCi 75 eco2 - 18 000,00 € TTC

Business Energy dCi 90 eco2 90g - 19 000,00 € TTC

Business Energy dCi 90 eco2 83g - 19 200,00 € TTC

Photo: Renault

Benz SL-Class R231 models recalled for refrigerant problems

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

All Mercedes R231 models, which stands for 2013 SL-Class models, have been fitted with the R1234yf refrigerant, which some say, it's more flammable and can be ignited if it is released in a hot engine compartment. That seems to be odd but, all models manufactured from December 19, 2011, through May 31, 2012, have been recalled to have their refrigerants replaced with R134a along with new refrigerant lines designed specifically for the R134a free of charge.

Scoop: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/mercedes-benz-recalls-2013-sl-class-for-having-new-refrigerant

Outtakes: Mazda Biante available in Indonesia?

Mazda Biante

OUTTAKE

Now, as you may wondering, is the Mazda Biante available in Indonesia? That's a question that led me to some puzzles. I scavenge around the net and truth be told...

YES. If you live in Indonesia and if you want a minivan from Mazda, you CAN now buy a Mazda Biante for 380,000,000 Indonesian Rupiah.

Sure? I believe yes. Originally, the Mazda Biante is a Japan-only minivan but because of so much Indonesians taking interest on this minivan, Mazda Motor Indonesia decided to bring the Biante so Indonesians don't need to come to some "back-street importers" to buy one.

The only engine of choice is a 2.0L DISI 4-cylinder engine with Sequential Valve Timing and Electronic Throttle Control. It produces about 150PS of power and 190Nm of torque.

Again, you can now buy a Biante at an Indonesian Mazda dealership for 380,000,000 Indonesian Rupiah. Thank you...

OUTTAKE END 

URL: http://mazda.co.id/type/Biante#overview-tab

Forza Motorsport 4 - 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

Heavyweight contender

Debuted at the 2005 New York International Auto Show as a 2006 model, the SRT8 version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee transformed the SUV into a sport utility muscle car, combining the thrills of a muscle sports car and the versatility of a sport utility vehicle into one clever package.

It was powered by a 6.1L HEMI V8 engine that generates about 420 hp (310 kW) of power. It comes with upgraded Brembo brakes, a special transfer case, an electronic all-wheel-drive system and interior and exterior updates. It is the fastest naturally-aspirated production SUV when it was launched.