The Honda Civic that is not Japanese...

We're looking on the cars of Forza Motorsport 4 that they don't get from the home market. For example that the Hyundai ix20, which is the Korean MPV that is not sold in Korea, then there was the Ford Ka which is not American. However, there was a bit of a gap for FF coupes. I was getting bored at the likes of the Mitsubishi Eclipse, old Scion tC, and the 2006 Honda Civic Si Coupe.

That's why I got the January Jalopnik DLC Pack but I didn't come here to score something else because the Pagani Huayra was there as the star attraction. I come here to look at this.

It's the new Honda. The 2012 Civic.
To each of their own.

It's the new, ninth-generation Honda Civic, to each of their own. This ninth-generation Civic was in North America, Europe, China, and South Korea. However, it's not sold in ASEAN countries and in Japan. I repeat, it's not available in Japan. That's not really surprising because sales of the previous-generation Honda Civic in its home market, Japan, were very poor. That was rubbish, and I do mean rubbish. There was no reason for that car to be on sale in Japan at all.

This new model is much more intriguing. Look at the pointy face, scary! Those design cues from the previous generation Civic remain but retouched to make it more advanced. However, a report from Consumer Reports said that the ninth-generation Civic is too low to recommend it. Why? You know the rest...

In my opinion, the average Civic owner were just punks who love messing the streets by night. The Honda Civic was a cheap car and this car is easy to modify. No wonder this car is fit for the cruising scene and it was made for "flexing" and "winding".

Anyway, back at the ninth-generation, not-for-Japan, Civic. This model featured on Forza 4 is the 2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe, the sportiest of the Civic range. This model is powered by a 2.4L K24Z7 i-VTEC DOHC l4 engine, that is capable of 201HP of power and 170lb-ft of torque. It can do 0-60m in 6.2 seconds and flatout in 149mph. That was so surprising but it doesn't earn a place over Japan yet.

It can do a lot more!

It could almost be a Mitsubishi Lancer in Toyota Corolla money because if the ninth-generation Civic was launched in Japan, it would only cost 1,900,000 Japanese Yen. Sadly, it's in here where everything really start to come unraveled. It is dreadful but that's not really a surprise, the Japanese just don't get sportiness. To them, sportiness is just a crime on Japanese roads and it can lead in serious troubles.

But two annoying parents and a jar of Vicks Vaporub and not enough to put me off. The ninth-generation Honda Civic tries hard to be cool. If there was going to be a major refresh in the year 2013, we do hope that the Civic will perform well, look well. Well, it's a start. The new Civic isn't just a good Japanese car, but it's a car for a stop. This time, this Honda deserves a ship's passage to the Yoko Yokohama Yokosuka.

I hope I can find the real one at the R33 Auto Exchange ...

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