Forza Horizon 3: Race More

There is an unusual sportscar I got in Forza Horizon 3 and because this car is very unusual in the eyes of many, one clue pointing out to this mysteriously new sportscar is...well, let's just say that it's Indian.

So, I wonder what is this Indian sportscar everyone's talking about?



This Indian sportscar in question is none other than the brand-new TAMO RaceMo, India's newest sportscar made by TATA Motors, one of the largest car companies in India and the one that controls over Jaguar Land Rover, in case if you're into automotive history here.



The TAMO Racemo is simple to explain; it made a world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show and as part of a collaboration with Microsoft and Turn 10 Studios, players got their hands on the Racemo free of charge by obtaining it from the message center. As Tata's entry to the sportscar market, the Racemo is a mid-engined rear-wheel drive two-seater that is smaller than today's Mazda Roadster ND while drawing inspiration from European sportscars. It's powered by a 1.2L turbocharged three-cylinder Revotron engine that produces 188HP of power while coupled with a 6-speed AT and thanks to its extensive use of composite and aluminum construction components, its power-to-weight ratio is beyond a shadow of a doubt. Exclusivity aside, it will be limited to 250 vehicles.



I got to say that while this is very exclusive for a very small sportscar, I started to think that I have underestimated the Indians when it comes to their economic status and I admired their tenacity to work and compete with developed countries from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. For a sportscar like the Racemo, this pint-sized cub can really outsmart against the world's best and it can slip out by surprise, knowing that a car made by Indians are not to be taken very seriously in a game of cat and mouse. I agree that while this is not the most powerful sportscar ever made, its small size car is worth a while in a war of Davids and Goliaths where size matters when it comes to becoming slippery through the bends. This is what makes the Racemo special because this car was made to "race more".



Speaking of "race more", let's make it special by booking one with a race against well-known sportscars but sadly, the only one available for booking is the Maroondah Reservoir Trail and it's packed with dirt no sportscar ever survived but on a lighter note, this is going to be like the hero of The Jungle Book. Racemo, do your thing!



Not exactly like The Jungle Book but this Indian sportscar has the heart of the world-class performer and I think it got what it takes to take on the established ones on the road because while this car is made by the Indians, the Racemo is a serious performer in the world of sportscar and it's something that should not be underestimated.

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup - Camping World 500

Last Sunday's Camping World 500 race on the 2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup season held in Phoenix, Arizona, has been one heck of a risky gamble for the racers gunning for the top spot in the hot Arizonian weather they've faced, not to mention classic NASCAR moments that swoon the spectators.

From Kenseth's crash to Logano's blown tire disaster, this race is a history maker for Ryan Newman and his #31 Chevrolet as this race marks his first-ever victory in his career. Kyle Larson placed 2nd and Busch's in 3rd place, respectively.

The next race is at the Auto Club Speedway this Sunday, the 26th of March, for the Auto Club 400.

Bubble Gang - March 24, 2017 #BGGraduationNa

In the March 24, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Sunog gags

- Never underestimate...this guy.

- Expect some more surprises for the birthday boy...

- Interview with a mind reader

- Things a mother would do to her kids everyday...

- Bubble Gang does Koko Krunch All in One by spoofing this commercial as SOCO KRUNCH ALL IN ONE. May Gatas Na!

- Cracking the safe

- More news for moms in Balitang Ina!

- Free sample?

- The King has a way to choose a woman...

- Basa-Basa Pik!

Let's Do The News! (March 24, 2017)

- The Department of Health started screening inmates for HIV-AIDS. The screening began at the Quezon City Jail wherein a number of prisoners have already tested positive of HIV. According to Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial, the agency will have a complete list of detainees with HIV once the examinations end this March.

- President Rodrigo Duterte has no plans to release political prisoners in the resumption of peace talks with the communists on April in The Netherlands. The President stressed that the freed prisoners months ago are enough.

- Due to opposition, the Congress vote for US President Donald Trump's new healthcare act, which will repeal most of Obamacare, has been delayed.

- Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro will withdraw troops from the border after his soldiers set up camp in Colombia, according to his counterpart, Colombian leader Juan Manuel Santos. Santos, speaking on television, said the incursion of about 70 Venezuelan soldiers into the Colombian border province of Arauca was “totally unacceptable.”

- In case you missed it, Staples Center displayed a statue made in honor of the LA Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal.

- Tuner TechArt modified a 911 Turbo for a 720HP GTstreetR capable of reaching 60mph in 2.7 seconds.

- Actress Marian Rivera is ranked 2nd place in the list of sexiest woman in Asia, ahead of China's Huang Bingbing and behind India's Deepika Padukone.

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (March 23, 2017)

- Vice President Leni Robredo says that impeachment cases filed against her and President Rodrigo Duterte are just plain nuisances and it distracts the government from doing its job.

- The Committee on Justice and Human Rights approved the proposal that prohibits motorcycles without plates from roaming the streets. Under the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, motorcycles without license plates are not allowed on any street in the country on any given day. The bill was authored by Senator Tito Sotto, and Sen. Richard Gordon.

- A leak of mercury prompted Manila Science High School suspend classes following a teacher rushed to the hospital following the accident in the school's laboratory warehouse.

- British police made several arrests in a raid somewhere in Birmingham following yesterday's attack near the parliament. Five people were killed and about 40 injured when a car ploughed into pedestrians and a suspected Islamist-inspired attacker stabbed a police officer close to the British parliament.

- Shi'ite aid convoys linked to paramilitary groups have begun making regular deliveries to Mosul districts recaptured from Islamic State, bringing much-needed relief but also fears that their backers are encroaching into the mostly Sunni city.

- McLaren released a sketch for their upcoming hybrid three-seater hypercar, which claims to be its fastest ever road car

- The first trailer of the Netflix Original Movie, Death Note, based on the cult classic manga franchise, is now appeared. It stars Nat Wolff as Light Turner and Keith Stanfield as L, among many others. It will be available on Netflix this August 25th. CLICK HERE.

- Celebrity couple Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco are proud of their new home in Mindoro.

- A certain report told that a DZRH program hosted by Mocha Uson might get cancelled following harsh attacks against Vice President Robredo.

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (March 22, 2017)

- The Duterte administration promised to enforce the fact that the Scarborough Shoal and all the other disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea are part of the country's territory. During a press conference in Bangkok, Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo assured the public that the government is still committed in a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the disputed territories.

- CALABARZON tops "Project Double Barrel Reloaded" among the regional police offices nationwide. According to a PNP Operations Center report, a total of 2,802 have been arrested in their Anti-Drug Police Operations, 569 of these were recorded in CALABARZON based in Camp Vicente Lim, Canlubang in Laguna.

- Foreign ministers meet in Washington on Wednesday to agree on the next steps to defeat Islamic State, the first such gathering of the U.S-led military coalition since the election of President Donald Trump in November.

- Meanwhile, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives will vote on President Trump's revised Affordable Health Care Act, now called Trumpcare, on Thursday, Most feared that the new bill will kick 24 million people off of Obamacare, which will send their insurance premiums on a drastic rise.

- Cannabis entrepreneurs expressed hopes in Switzerland where business has suddenly taken off in recent months, six years after the country legalized low-potency “marijuana-light.”

- Former Spice Girl Mel B filed for divorce from her husband after nearly a decade of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. 

- Apple unveiled the newer version of the iPad with a brighter screen and other improvements. It's now available to order from Friday and with a $329 starting price that is the lowest ever for a full-sized tablet from Apple. The smaller iPod SE model will be available in 32 and 128 gigabyte (GB) versions, replacing the 16 GB and 64 GB models.

- With Ruby Kurosawa added, looks like the first-years of the Love Live Sunshine Nendoroid range is complete, leaving now to the third-years. Anyway, it's now available to order starting at 3,241 Yen plus tax and shipping and arrives this September.

Nendoroid Ruby Kurosawa

TTFN!!!

THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA MASTER Treasure☆

THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA MASTER Treasure☆

Another CINDERELLA MASTER addition has been unearthed from its buried treasure and this latest addition is worth treasuring on your Cinderella Girls CD collection, get it?

Treasure☆ is the latest addition of THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA MASTER CD lineup, inspired by the ever-popular THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls sub-franchise. This song's performed by none other by fan-favorites Uzuki Shimamura, Rin Shibuya, Mio Honda, Mika Jougasaki, and Riina Tada and not only the M@STER VERSION's offered but also two different remixes used on either the Radio Cinderella Girls and the CINDERELLA PARTY! programs.

For an added treat, the special song in collaboration with the Taiko no Tatsujin games, エンジェル ドリーム, was featured as well as solo mixes featuring Chieri Ogata, Rika Jougasaki, and Riina Tada. Fans played this special limited-time song in the latest Taiko no Tatsujin games many times and now, they're going to listen the whole song for themselves for the fun of it.

Be sure to get one for your Cinderella Girls collection if you like!

TRACK LISTINGS:

01) Treasure☆（M@STER VERSION）
02) Treasure☆（M@STER VERSION） for デレラジ☆MIX
03) Treasure☆（M@STER VERSION） for CINDERELLA PARTY! MIX
04) Treasure☆ オリジナル・カラオケ
05) エンジェル ドリーム 〜CINDERELLA GIRLS COLLABORATION MIX〜
06) エンジェル ドリーム　〜緒方智絵里ソロリミックス〜
07) エンジェル ドリーム　〜城ヶ崎莉嘉ソロリミックス〜
08) エンジェル ドリーム　〜多田李衣菜ソロリミックス〜

American version of Top Gear revived and heads to BBC America

*Old American version of Top Gear shown

You may remember last summer that History Channel pulled the plug on the American equivalent of the hit motoring TV show, Top Gear, which was hosted by racing driver Tanner Foust, comedian Adam Ferrera, and racing commentator Rutledge Wood.

Guess what? Great news! The American version of Top Gear is back. given the new name "Top Gear America", and it's heading to its new home BBC America later this year.

The newly revived American equivalent will have nod to UK roots and it will feature three new presenters racing enthusiast and veteran film and television actor William Fichtner, world champion drag racer Antron Brown, and premier British automotive journalist Tom “Wookie” Ford. The Stig is also included as well.

The new series will run in eight hour-long episodes, not only highlighting the most modern sportscars in the world but also cars that define the American car culture through the years. There will be a guest celebrity taking on a lap round Speed Vegas, the new home track for Top Gear America as well as The Stig.

The revived American version of Top Gear airs on BBC America this 2017.

Report: http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2017/03/announcing-all-new-car-show-top-gear-america-is-coming-soon

Let's Do The News! (March 21, 2017)

- Tensions ensued between Senate President Koko Pimentel and Senator Francis Pangilinan on the issue of the impeachment complaint filed against President Rodrigo Duterte as well as the same complaint against VP Leni Robredo. The Liberal Party immediately quashed over Pimentel's challenge to condemn the impeachment complaint filed against the President to prove that these "yellow-ists" are not part of a destabilization plot against Duterte.

- The Philippine National Police warns the public to be careful due to the threat of terrorism in Metro Manila following an alleged member of the Maute Terrorist Group was caught in Quezon City.

- Three separate rallies were held in front of the Supreme Court following the continuation of the oral arguments on the drug trafficking case filed against Senator Leila de Lima.

- US President Donald Trump has pledged to strengthen ties with Iraq to fight against the Islamic State. Trump met Iraq PM Haider al-Abadi at the White House on Monday for the first time since taking office.

- At least 23 people were killed in a bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in retaliation for the government forces' offensive to reclaim Mosul.

- In case you may never know, Lamborghini sparked controversy over their Nurburgring record with their brand-new Huracan Performante supercar. The Italian sportscar company is doubling down on the legitimacy of the car's 6:52.01 lap time record in the wake of the controversy.

- Richard Hammond was involved in a motorcycle accident in Mozambique during a shooting for an episode of The Grand Tour.

TTFN!!!

Third-generation Chevrolet Equinox

The previous Chevrolet Equinox may be a bit fair and nice by the looks of it but being American, it doesn't fare very well against well-established crossovers known the world over, specifically when there are Toyotas, Hondas, VWs, and others around it, the Equinox is becoming too obsolete for Chevrolet's ever-successful crossover lineup. For the third-generation Equinox, things have changed for better and for worse when you think about it.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

The new Equinox is now here and ready to be known the world over no matter the circumstances because by the time it was unveiled, General Motors plans to sell it to approximately 115 additional globally, meaning that this car will replace the Captiva globally, making it Chevrolet's lingua franca for the global crossover market, although while this is an all-new model, it's still a five-seater just like all the other Equinoxes of Chevrolet's past.

While the new Equinox is too early to decide its fate on the world stage, let's observe the design first and while this new design promises a quantum leap of globalization, it feels too fishy to look at considering that this is mainly an American car, the bits of it are what got them noticed. The front face looks awkwardly similar to the Honda Vezel while the side view reminiscent of the Ssangyong Korando Turismo and the rear view looks like the Isuzu...um...Isuzu...eh...you get the point.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox interior

2018 Chevrolet Equinox interior

Of course, this is basically a five-seater, but connectivity is heavily focused for the new Equinox's interior and I know that the new interior is highly reminiscent of today's Chevrolet saloon and this will be the new norm for all Chevy interiors in the future but because the touch screen is now standard for all models, you radio-changing speedo boys better scarper now because the radio's officially irreplaceable. Sorry. Anyway, that touch screen comes with smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and if that wasn't enough, it's got optional 4G LTE Wi-Fi like most Chevrolets offered so you don't have to worry about finding wi-fi while using apps, even the Waze you got on your smartphone.

Did you know that the new Equinox comes with available heated rear seats fit for the cold nights as well as bigger space at the back and the special feature that can open the back door at the lift automatically at the lift of your foot? If so, then the new Equinox is the most convenient crossover ever made not just as a family hauler but for road trips with mates around you. Looks like the Ford Escape might get upset about this.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

At the start, the new Equinox is powered by a 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine that promised 31MPG highway of fuel efficiency, according to General Motors but by summer, it will be offered by either its first-ever 1.6L diesel engine that promises a GM-estimated 40 MPG highway fuel economy or its high-performance 2.0L turbocharged petrol engine mated to a brand new 9-speed automatic gearbox. With this engine, not only it will be benefited with higher power output of 252 horsepower and 260lb-ft of torque, but also better towing capabilities. For all-wheel drive models, it even comes with a special feature that can switch to either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive depending on driving conditions and when switched to four-wheel drive, it feels so driveable in so many conditions. It feels nice for a crossover and looks like the Ford Escape might get upset over this one because by General Motors rule of thumb, it will succeed against its rivals, although I'm not sure on what these guys are up to with this new model.

The new Equinox has a ton of safety features, some that no rivals got to them. You get this Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision Alert, Rear Vision Camera, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Park Assist, Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Change Alert, IntelliBeam High Beam Assist, Safety Alert Seat, and of course, the Surround Vision monitor on the dashboard. It even comes with the Teen Driver feature that works like the parental controls on your television at home, you know what I'm saying.

Should you buy one? For now, you can have one for 23,580 US Dollars but you better act fast because due to the current political climate in the United States, expect this to be more expensive than it used to and you might not get happy about how American-made cars behave as today's political climate so...unless you got some adaptability to brag about, some might get to unhappy about this one. Still, with all of its improvements, the new Equinox finally got the urge to humiliate the Ford Escape and others. It really is the new standard for crossover.

Available colors: Summit White, Silver Ice Metallic, Orange Burst Metallic, Nightfall Gray Metallic, Mosaic Black Metallic, Cajun Red Tintcoat, Pepperdust Metallic, Satin Steel Metallic, Storm Blue Metallic, Sandy Ridge Metallic, Iridescent Pearl Tricoat, and Ivy Metallic. 

Photo: General Motors

Let's Do The News! (March 20, 2017)

- House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, a staunch ally of the Duterte administration, wants to impeach Vice President Leni Robredo for questioning over their bloody war on drugs. Duterte himself is facing an impeachment motion, with lower house representative Gary Alejano accusing Duterte of offences ranging from conflict of interest and assets concealment to drugs-related extrajudicial killings and operating a “death squad” during the 22 years he was Davao City mayor. VP Robredo issued a strong rebuke of Duterte's war on drugs last week, describing it in a video sent to the UN as an issue of public health that cannot be solved "with bullets alone."

- Former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shalani, the younger sister of former president Fidel V. Ramos, passed away earlier today, March 20, 2017, at the age of 87. Her death was confirmed by her daughter Lila Ramos Shahani, Philippine Commission Secretary General of United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, in her Facebook post. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer.

- Senator Bam Aquino told his fellow senators not to be pressured by politics and show that even though threatened, they can do their duties without being influenced, in response to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez's threat that he will file an impeachment complaint against VP Leni Robredo.

- US officials began taking fingerprints of asylum seekers in an Australian-run camp on the Pacific island of Nauru on Monday, signalling that vetting of applicants for resettlement in what US President Donald Trump called it a "dumb deal".

- Norway is now named the happiest country in the world according to a report from the World Happiness Report 2017, dethroning Denmark on the top ten happiest countries in the world followed by Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden.

- Actress Vivian Velez joined a rally with a small group demanding the impeachment and resignation of Vice President Leni Robredo.

- Mad Max actor Tom Hardy collaborates with director Ridley Scott once again for a Netflix original movie titled War Party, a US Navy SEAL drama film.

TTFN!!!

Forza Horizon 3: The rare Benz saloon

Looks like I scored myself another rare event car from last weekend's Forzathon event and this one is a real keeper in the eyes of classic car enthusiasts. This right here is the 300SEL 6.3, a luxury premium sedan that was used in touring car races while donning the legendary Rot Sau livery remembered by many.

Now hold on a second, I last encountered this beauty back in Forza Motorsport 4 during the XBOX 360 years and now it's back in the world of Forza as an event car sadly and those who never got the chance to grab one, there is a chance that it may come back in future events so stay tuned. Anyway, this iconic flagship saloon from its era comes with the 6.3L V8 engine derived from the 600 sedan and when mated to a four-speed automatic, it has a top speed of 137mph and it can go 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds. Four decades ago, AMG, back when it was a tuning company, produced special competitive versions of the 300 SEL and had an impressive, albeit short, racing career due to lack of proper tires or rule changes. Those race-spec 300SEL cars are nicknamed "Red Pig" and they finished 2nd place in the 24 hours of Spa in 1971. Five were made, three racers and two test cars. A race driver named Hans Heyer achieved a class victory with his Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 since 1971.

So, now that I got to know about the vintage limousine that became one of the all-time greats in motorsport history, looks like the red pig wants to play rough in the mud against some classic racers down at the timber mill and believe me, this could get VERY rough.