2014 Range Rover Sport premiered in NY

2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

With a little help from special guest, James Bond actor Daniel Craig, the whole Manhattan stopped for a whole moment just to experience the world premiere of the new generation Range Rover Sport.

The reason why New York was chosen as the premiere point is because it is the world’s largest metropolitan market for the Range Rover Sport: more of these models are sold in this city than any other in the world.

Story: http://cars.uk.msn.com/news/daniel-craig-launches-new-range-rover-sport-in-new-york

For this new model, it follows the trend of its brother, the standard Range Rover, by dropping 800lbs of weight thanks to its aluminum bodywork. It even comes with an updated version of Terrain Response as seen on the standard Range Rover as well. Well, you know, the one with the Automatic setting on it that detects road conditions.

For the first time in Land Rover history that the Range Rover Sport now has 7-seats! 7-seats! In a Range Rooney! That's a first!

Story: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/2014-land-rover-range-rover-sport-drops-800-pounds-adds-v6-and-third-row/

Mitsubishi previews its Latio fighter

Mitsubishi Concept G4

What ths is is Mitsubishi's vision of an upcoming compact sedan that competes to the likes of the Nissan Latio sedan. It's called the Concept G4 and it uses the present day Mirage compact as its foundation and it's another one of the Thai eco cars.

Details remain light for now but Mitsubishi says that the G4's design leaves a sharp impression as it drives off into the distance.

Story: http://paultan.org/2013/03/26/mitsubishi-concept-g4-global-sedan/

North American exclusive XKR-S GT

2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT

Apart from the world premiere of the 2014 Jaguar XJR at this year's New York Auto Show, Jaguar will also be revealing the special edition XKR-S GT, a track-focused, road legal model based on the Jaguar XKR-S, which is limited to 30 cars, all destined for the North American market.

It's a model made to celebrate 25 years of Jaguar's R Performance and with this model, it still comes with the same aluminum quad cam 5-litre V8 supercharged engine that produces 550PS of power  but comes with race-inspired exterior design and enhanced aerodynamics. While top speed is limited to 186mph (280km/h), the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) drops from 4.2 to 3.9 seconds.

First time for a JAAAAAG is carbon ceramic brakes and such implementation dropped about 21kg of weight.

Story: http://www.carscoops.com/2013/03/jaguar-celebrates-25-years-of-r.html

2014 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia facelift previewed via 2014 Buick Regal

2014 Buick Regal GS

If this hints what the 2014 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia facelift would look like, yes. The 2014 Buick Regal range, set for debut at the 2013 New York Auto Show, DOES preview the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia facelift. You can expect new front noses, new rear lamps, and a new interior.

There is a drawback regarding the updated version. On the GS model, the 2.0L Turbo engnie had suffered a power drop from 270HP to 259HP, which is bad but this 2.0L Turbo engine that now churns 259HP of power can be offered on the normal Regal Turbo version, which is good. The Regal eAssist with the 2.4L engine and eAssist light electrification technology that makes 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque still retains as well.

For added good news though that both the Regal Turbo and the Regal GS with automatic trannies will come with a new AWD system that incorporates electronic limited-slip differential to help optimize traction in all driving conditions.

Like the 2014 LaCrosse big brother, the 2014 Regal comes with new safety features such as Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Collision Mitigation Braking.

Look for the 2014 Regal range this fall 2013.

Story: http://www.carscoops.com/2013/03/buick-shows-facelifted-2014-regal-gs.html

2014 Buick LaCrosse (GM Korea Alpheon) for NY debut

2014 Buick LaCrosse

Set for New York Auto Show debut, the minor change version of the Buick LaCrosse for the 2014 is getting a bit more interesting and a bit more "flagship" for a world-class luxury car. Aside from a well-refined exterior, the interior is now all new and it even comes with Buick's IntelliLink telematics system.

It's now safer as well thanks to numerous safety features such as Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Change Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Automatic Collision Preparation.

It still comes with front- and all-wheel-drive models with two gasoline powertrains: a 2.4-liter engine with eAssist or a 3.6-liter direct-injected V6, both linked to a six-speed automatic transmission.

This car is set for NY debut and sales start in Summer 2013. Sadly though, it is unclear for Koreans if the Alpheon will get the same treatment as the 2014 LaCrosse.

Story: http://www.carscoops.com/2013/03/2014-buick-lacrosse-features-mild.html

Nissan revealed sketch for upcoming NMKV model

Upcoming NMKV model previewed in a sketch

Nissan previews an upcoming rival to the Honda N-BOX, Daihatsu Tanto, and the Suzuki Spacia and this sketch did signal a preview for the second addition to the Nissan-Mitsubishi kei car venture. Some say, that this will be the replacement for the Mitsubishi Toppo tall kei wagon and its Nissan version of the said replacement will bear the name DAYZ ROOX. Both of these models will be revealed in early 2014.

Earlier, Mitsubishi revealed their new generation eK Wagon while Nissan spawns its own version of the new Mitsubishi eK Wagon called the DAYZ. Both the new eK and the DAYZ will go on sale in Japan only this summer 2013.

Story: http://www.carview.co.jp/news/1/182488/

Xian Lim, IHAW NA!

On March 25, 2013's Banana Nite's IHAW NA segment, Tito Bhoy interviews actor Xian Lim, about how's been with Kim Chiu, his shirt's size, and his interests.

Also, Melai Cantiveros has a tip for you, ladies, this Summer. In Laugh Three, you ladies have three ways to touch a hunk's abs in the beach...

Tip 1: Tell him if his abs are real or not

Tip 2: Pretend you're blind...

Tip 3: Bring some spreads!

2014 Nissan March previewed in Bangkok

2014 Nissan March

At this year's Bangkok Motor Show, Nissan used this venue to showcase the minor change version of the Nissan March/Micra K13 compact car after being in the markets since the summer of 2010. For this minor change, the March K13 features a new front view, enhanced rear lamps, and an updated interior.

The Nissan March K13 was launched in Japan since July 2010 and it was essentialy imported from Thailand. It was the first model to come with Nissan's brand new HR12DE engine which is a 1.2 L straight-3 engine that produces 59 kW (79 hp) of power and 108 N·m (80 ft·lbf) of torque.

Story: http://www.carview.co.jp/news/5/182444/

Equus Hermes

Hyundai Equus Hermes

Hyundai Equus Hermes

So, Hyundai's luxury cars is joining up with luxury fashion brands, eh? Years ago, Hyundai launched a Genesis Prada which features some special luxury amenities that feels like it wears Prada. Now, for the 2013 Seoul Motor Show, it seems that the flagship Hyundai Equus (Centennial) is getting the Hermes treatment and would you look at that, two-tone exterior color fit for a bling bling and the interior theme which comes with some exquisive leather on the seats, which feels like you're touching an expensive Hermes bag!

The Equus Hermes special will be shown at the 2013 Seoul Auto Show...

Story: http://www.megaauto.com/contents/view.php3?menu_id=10&id=58732&cur_page=1

F1 2013 Malaysian GP

Hamilton at the wrong pitstop

A 1-2 win for Red Bull Racing and for the drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber should have been a good one but it turned out to be a controversial argument between these two. Also worse, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton went to the wrong pitstop. The weird thing is that Hamilton switched from the McLaren racing team to Mercedes but because of his homesickness to his old team, what can I say? Taking a pit stop at a team he used to be...

As it turned out, this year's Malaysian GP packs some weird stuff going on the pits...

PRESS RELEASE:


Race - Vettel secures controversial victory in Malaysia 24 Mar 2013
       
Sebastian Vettel led team mate Mark Webber home to what should have been a celebratory Red Bull 1-2 in Sepang on Sunday, but the success was sullied by a post-race argument between the two drivers. All through the race the radio messages between Vettel and Red Bull’s team management told as much of the story as the on-track action. 

Webber led much of the race after a timely switch to dry tyres following the use of intermediates on a wet surface in the opening laps. Vettel complained for much of the time he was following Webber, and continually asked his team to tell him to move over.

As far as the Australian was concerned, he had the race in the bag and Vettel was bound by team orders to follow him home as they conserved tyres and fuel. But Vettel launched a huge attack to take the lead on the 46th lap, and pulled away after a brutal bout of side-by-side running which enthralled the crowd. 

Eventually, Vettel was able to pull away to a triumph which equalled Sir Jackie Stewart’s 27 wins. Later Vettel claimed to have realised only when they removed their helmets in parc ferme that he had made a mistake in overtaking Webber, but he had been warned on that 46th lap by team boss Christian Horner that he had a lot of explaining to do after the race. Vettel apologised to Webber and admitted that he had got it wrong, but the Australian was unimpressed.

Further back, Lewis Hamilton said he didn’t feel that he deserved his first podium finish for Mercedes, as team mate Nico Rosberg was repeatedly instructed by team boss Ross Brawn not to pass him as they both had to turn their engines to maximum fuel-saving mode. Rosberg honoured that instruction, but Hamilton said that he felt his team mate had driven a more intelligent race, as he himself had given in to his natural competitive instincts to take the fight to the Red Bulls and as a result had taken more out of his car.

It was a disastrous day for Ferrari, as Fernando Alonso ran into the back of Vettel in the second corner after the start, and then crashed going into Turn 1 on the second lap after gambling that a damaged front wing would hold out until his first pit stop.

Front row man Felipe Massa lacked the pace to stay with the leaders, but took a solid fifth ahead of the duelling Lotus’s of Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen, which lacked the speed they had shown in Australia. The black and gold cars, however, were able to get to the finish with only three pits stops to their rivals’ four.

Nico Hulkenberg fought hard throughout to take eighth for Sauber, with Sergio Perez claiming another two points for McLaren ahead of the feisty Jean-Eric Vergne in his Toro Rosso.

The other hard luck story of the day concerned Perez’s team mate Jenson Button, who ran in a respectable fifth place for much of the race, led briefly during the third round of pit stops, but then had a disastrous pit stop of his own when the right-front wheel was improperly secured. He climbed back to 12th, before being called in to retire with imminent mechanical problems late in the race.

Force India also had a horrible time. A delay in changing the wheels on Adrian Sutil’s car seriously held up team mate Paul di Resta, who pitted at the same time to switch from intermediates. The Scot then fought back mightily and was on target for points when he suffered a similar problem at his next pit stop. Sutil later had a recurrence, and both cars were eventually withdrawn.

Valtteri Bottas was 11th for Williams in a race in which team mate Pastor Maldonado had one off-track adventure which broke his front wing and later stopped out on the circuit, while Esteban Gutierrez took 12th for Sauber from Jules Bianchi’s splendidly-driven Marussia and the Caterhams of Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde. Pic was hit by Vergne during a mix-up in the pit lane, when Toro Rosso made an unsafe release, and both required new noses. Toro Rosso were later fined for the incident.

Max Chilton was the final finisher for Marussia in 16th place, as Toro Rosso’s Daniel Ricciardo joined Alonso, Di Resta, Sutil, Maldonado and Button on the non-finishers list.

The controversial result catapults the repentant Vettel into the lead in the drivers’ world championship with 40 points from Raikkonen on 31, Webber on 26, Hamilton on 25 and Massa on 22, while Red Bull have a comfortable lead in the constructors’ stakes with 66 points from Ferrari and Lotus on 40, and Mercedes on 37.

Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/3/14410.html

Hopefully, those mistakes at the pits will not be happen again, especially Lewis Hamilton who forgots that he's with Mercedes-Benz now, not McLaren. Next race is on China this April 14, and hopefully, such mistakes will be behind them and if this could happen again for Lewis Hamilton...we really don't know what...

The Avocado Souffle with Salmon Avocado Salad

JC: Question, how did Jenna Louise Coleman got that job of being The Doctor's newest companion? Coincidence? Nope. It was when the BBC interviewed souffle girl last about getting that role. Jenna Louise said the words  "I was in Marks & Spencer's holding an avocado, having the debate of what goes best in a salmon salad when I got the call from my agent,"

I was in Marks & Spencers
holding an avocado

RH: So it was the lucky avocado that made Jenna land the role of being The Doctor's new companion eh? She said that she got that role by a phone call while she was in Marks & Spencer's, holding an avocado, having a debate of what goes best in a salmon salad.

JC: Exactly, and because of Jenna Louise landed that role, we think that avocados REALLY goes best in a salmon salad so why not make a Jenna Louise Coleman appreciation meal?

RH: Wait a minute, don't you think about putting something on your V8 blender, eh, Sir Chef?

(audience laughing)

JM: So, what goes first for Jenna Louise's lucky avocado?

JC: I was gonna plan making an avocado souffle because it matches Jenna Louise's personality of being souffle girl...

(audience laughing)

JC: ...or an Salmon Avocado Salad because for Whovians who are now massive JLC fans think that avocadoes will be the best fit for a salmon salad.

JM: So, what do you want to cook first? The souffle or the salad?

JC: Simple! Eeny Meenie Miney Mo, catch the sailor by their doe. If he hollers, let him go. My mother told me to pick the very best one and YOU ARE IT.

(audience laughing)

JC: Souffle it is then...Best to start with the Avocado souffle recipe, fit for the souffle girl who got her luck while she was in M&S, holding an avocado. Let's begin...

INGREDIENTS FOR AVOCADO SOUFFLE:

• 5 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon fine cognac
• Freshly ground pepper
• grated nutmeg
• 2 medium avocados
• 5 egg yolks
• 6 egg whites ( room temperature )
• 1/3 cup crab meat, lobster meat or smoked salmon, diced
• 1/2 cup grated swiss cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Place butter in large glass container and microwave on high until melted.

• Stir in the flour and salt. Blend in the milk.

• Microwave on high stirring every 1 1/2 minutes until thickened, which will take about 3 and a half minutes.

• Remove and beat with a wire whip, adding pepper, dash of grated nutmeg and cognac. Keeping beating until until it cools a little.

• Peel, and seed the avocados. Place in a blender and spin until pureed.

• Mix in the egg yolks and blend for a few more minutes.

• Pour into a bowl and add the fish and swiss cheese, stirring to mix.

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and boil a pot of water.

• Whip the egg whites until they stand in stiff peaks. (Make sure your utensils are absolutely clean and free of grease or the whites will not whip.)

• Add a fourth of the egg whites to the avocado mixture and fold. Then pour in the remaining egg white and fold until mixed turning the bowl as you fold in the whites. Do not over fold which will deflate the egg white.

• Butter and flour a souffle dish. Pour in the mixture into the dish.

• Place the boiling water in a pan in the oven and place the souffle dish in the pan.

• Bake for about an hour. When the top is browned, the souffle is ready. 

Source: http://www.crinellawinery.com/family_cookbook/avocado_souffle.shtml

SEVERAL HOURS LATER...

JC: Mmmmm!!!! Avocado souffle for the lovely Jenna Louise is complete. Now, let's do the salmon salad which made Jenna debating if avocado's the best on this salad.

INGREDIENTS FOR SALMON AVOCADO SALAD:

• 2 (6 ounce) fillets salmon

•  1/4 cup butter, melted and divided

•  salt and pepper to taste

•  4 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced

•  12 grape tomatoes, halved

•  2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

•  8 ounces leaf lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces

•  1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and cubed

•  5 sprigs fresh cilantro, chopped

•  1 fresh jalapeno pepper, chopped

•  2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar

•  1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled 

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.

• In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.

• Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/salmon-avocado-salad/

MANY MINUTES LATER...

JC: And, voila! One avocado souffle and one salmon avocado salad for the lovely woman who said she was in Marks and Spencers holding an avocado and landed the role of Clara...

(audience laughing, then cheers and applause)

RH: Yeah, good job there, old man. Seems that you really made yourself a souffle. Does that means you are officially a....

(audience laughing)

JC: Nah, probably just for once but this is only because for Jenna Louise Coleman.

JM: Yeah but...aren't we suppose to make it next week in time for the return of Doctor Who Series 7?

(audience laughing)

JC: Oh... Well, anyway, let's eat. Besides, Jenna Louise won't mind about her lucky avocado...

Renault Captur

2014 Renault Captur

The Captur from Renault can easily be defined as the French take of the Nissan Juke. However, despite being France's answer to the Nissan Juke, this is just a fourth-generation Renault Clio with some outdoorsman credentials that doesn't make sense at all, probably because it's available only in front wheel drive. Thanks to the fact that it's a FWD hatchback-based crossovers, the Captur is not made for the outdoorsman. It's made for someone who thinks the Clio IV's not to big enough for them. Who cares about it?

2014 Renault Clio

Inside, the Captur really feels like the latest Clio, but because this is just a Clio, the Captur kinda feels like Miranda Hart and Catherine Tate switched places. It's like Miranda being Donna and Catherine's being Miranda. See? Wrong stuff told, just like the Clio-based Captur because it may look like an SUV but it isn't. It isn't really really that close. Renault claims that the new Captur combines the expressive styling and driving position of an SUV, cabin space and modular interior of an MPV, and the agility and driving enjoyment of a compact saloon car.

However, where does this point at? I'm sorry but this crossover feels like it's been headed south of the border. As for the riding, thanks to some flickering to the handling dynamics, the Captur is about as dreary as memorizing a song came from a kid's show. Just like me, I'm getting some sort of Last Song Syndrome, songs from the kids show a baby might watch, especially my sister's baby, gets stuck in my head. Ugh, there goes that "shake your peanut" song from Mickey Mouse stuck in my head.

The Captur shares some engine choices from the Clio such as this 0.9L Energy TCe engine, a 1.5L Energy dCi, or a 1.2L turbocharged engine. If you had chose the one with the 1.2L TCi engine, watch out for the double clutch transmission because like what we've expected on the Clio, the EDC maybe quicker to shift but lacks the feel. If you're going to reverse it, it's gonna take clicks on the left paddle and you'll be losing to the one with the manual transmission in a game of who's going to shift reverse first.

2014 Renault Captur

Pricing stats at 15,500 Euros, meaning that is almost two thousand more than the latest Renault Clio IV and almost a thousand euros more than the Clio Estate as well. However, this is cheaper to buy than the hideous Nissan Juke so it's a smart buy for those who didn't like the Nissan Juke but sometimes for a Frenchman, I would go for the Clio IV instead because the Captur is like a Clio with some outdoorsy credentials that doesn't deserve and with that change, I would rather use it for grocery purposes or donate it to charity without a doubt.

Photo: Renault