Congratulations to the winner of Hyundai THR Secret Car design contest!

ARMIPOTENT ADAM's winning entry

Forza Motorsport 4 player and member of the FM4 Car Club, APEX, ARMIPOTENT ADAM, who specializes on making fantasy liveries on FM4, is declared winner of the Hyundai THR Secret Car design contest. Thanks to his unique design, ARMIPOTENT ADAM takes home the 2012 Veloster. Ahem, we're talking about a real life Veloster. With that, I'm sure ARMIPOTENT ADAM will be happy to drive home the Veloster in real roads. Congratulations!

ARMIPOTENT ADAM may have been the winner of the Hyundai THR Secret Car design contest but your chance of taking home the Veloster still goes on because Hyundai Motor America and Forza Motorsport 4 announces "Hyundai Veloster Time Trials". From December 28 to January 8, players must download the Veloster gamer pic as a registration for the Hyundai Veloster Time Trials. Without this, you won't be participating.

Hyundai Motor America and Forza Motorsport 4 will announce the track and the Hyundai car will be using on this special event next week. The top 1000 players will move on to the second round next February and the fastest player will take home the Veloster.

Scoop: http://forzamotorsport.net/en-us/display.aspx?id=19327361356&blogid=71

....with apologies to Houki Shinonono, always.

Lancia Stratos concept

That will leave a bucket of tears to Houki Shinonono after all because multiple reports said that the New Stratos will no longer being produced, all thanks to Ferrari rejecting the hopes of the production run.

That made her sad...

However, despite the New Stratos will no longer being built because of Ferrari's rejection, reports suggest that a new Alpine is in the works.

Scoop: http://jalopnik.com/5872768/new-stratos-is-dead-long-live-the-alpine

The Un-Korean Korean Car

Family trip to the Swiss Alps

Yup! It's the Korean car not sold in South Korea and made exclusively for the European continent, the Hyundai ix20. I have no idea how did that car featured in Forza Motorsport 4 and I don't think there's a significance to this mini-MPV that was produced from the Czech Republic, the same country where they make the Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1, and the Peugeot 107. For a quick refresh about what is the Hyundai ix20, this mini MPV made a world premiere at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and it uses the platform from a car you used to have... A KIA V_NG_! (Sorry, some vowels blurted out to avoid search overload).

The ix20 variant shown in Forza 4 is powered by a 1.4L Gamma petrol engine which produces 89HP of power and 101lb-ft of torque. Which sounds familiar because this is the same engine that powered a car you currently have... A HYUNDAI _CC_NT! (Sorry, vowels bleeped again to avoid search overload).

The Stig drives the ix20!

I am very, very, very disappointed about the Hyundai ix20. Even though it is outfitted with Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy, it's still worth lacking because it's not sold in South Korea. I don't really recommend the ix20 to be a good car for the Forza 4 rookies but thankfully, it's still a Hyundai that does not speak Korean.

Bandai pulling out of the DVD, Bluray and Manga market in the US

Hayate the Combat Butler

This may be different from what happened to Tokyopop when it was closed at the end of May 2011. Bandai Entertainment is downsizing and for that, they will be pulling out of the DVD, Blu-Ray, and manga market, focusing only on licensing.

Beginning January 2012, Bandai Entertainment will no longer releasing new DVDs, Blu-Rays, and others. What does that mean? Don't expect releases of Nichijou, Gosick, among many others. That makes me so sad. Well, when Hayate the Combat Butler DVDs arrived in North America via Bandai Entertainment, sorry to say that they won't bring English-subtitled Hayate the Combat Butler 2nd Season DVD and Blu-Rays, especially the Heaven is a Place on Earth movie. What's worse is that they won't bringing second season of K-ON in the USA, especially the K-ON movie recently shown in Japanese theaters since December 2011.

Despite withdrawals, Bandai Entertainment still lives in a very different approach. They will continue to sub-license some anime in North America to the internet and TV broadcasters, especially merchandising.

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/bandai_downsizing_ken_iyadomi_interview

MINI Coupe tuning by AC Schnitzer

AC Schnitzer MINI Coupe 

The new MINI Coupe gets tuned by AC Schnitzer for the very first time. While we're still don't know about the performance figures yet, this modified MINI Coupe comes with a limited slip differential that locks up 75% for the Cooper S Coupe and it comes with a special exhaust for the Cooper S Coupe and the JCW Coupe. It also comes with a specially modified braking system, height-adjustable suspension, spring kit, aluminum strut brace, and rear anti-roll bar for the Cooper Coupe. Most have a choice of either a 17-inch or 18-inch rims. This Mini Coupe can't get even more wicked for the "cruising" scene.

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/01/ac-schnitzer-tricks-out-new-mini-cooper.html

2012MY Renault Twingo and Megane Coupe tuning by Elia

Elia Renault Twingo

Elia Renault Megane RS

The facelifted 2012MY Renault Twingo and the Renault Megane got tuned by German tuning firm, Elia, who specializes on tuning cars straight from the Renault-Nissan Alliance. On the tuned 2012MY Twingo, it comes fitted with a tuned suspension and 17-inch mags. On the tuned Renault Megane, it comes with Scissor-type doors that can be fitted on all kinds, especially the Renaultsport Megane.

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/01/elia-presents-new-packages-for-2012.html

Welcome Back: 2009 Lotus Evora

Just like what Jeremy Clarkson did on Top Gear

Lotus Dress Shop returned on Forza Motorsport 4. If you said "Lotus Dress Shop", blame it on Clarkson for calling it for the Lotus Evora. With no major changes occurred, I often used the Lotus Evora with multiple strategies in mind. Let's put it with this; if the Evora comes with the 6-speed manual transmission, I'll just put it on "MANUAL W/CLUTCH" but I need to be alert while shifting gears because pressing the Clutch is required before switching gears, otherwise, I might damage the transmission. When I'm thinking about the Lotus Evora S (the supercharged Evora), I should just fit a supercharger on the Evora's V6 engine so it can act like the Evora S. What about the Evora IPS? By my research, the IPS is the Evora that comes with a 6-speed automatic + manual mode. Play the Evora on AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and it should be enough but for something, I'll play the Evora on MANUAL TRANSMISSION. The Lotus Evora is built for strategy from the driver in mind and this applies the same thing on Forza Motorsport 4.

Guess I should drive the Lotus Evora at the Top Gear Test Track anyway...