Top Gear USA's Small Car for Big Stars

That's the SX4 we saw on the Japanese TV Ad
starring Masaharu Fukuyama.

Suzuki's SX4 Sportback served as the "Small Car" for Big Stars who guested on Top Gear USA. Because of the collaboration between Forza Motorsport 4 and Top Gear, there's no question why the Suzuki SX4 was added on this game because it has a place in Top Gear history. We've seen personalities who've guested on Top Gear USA such as Buzz Aldrin, Dominic Monagham, Ty Brrell, Kid Rock, Michelle Rodriguez, and Tony Hawk driving the Suzuki SX4 round the TGUSA Test Track to find out who's the fastest "Big Star in a Small Car". Seems the whole BIG STAR, SMALL CAR is the USA equivalent to "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" and yes, the Suzuki SX4 is yours to lap, but instead, at the ORIGINAL Top Gear Test Track in Dunsfold Aerodrome, Dunsfold, Surrey, England.

SX4 WRC challenges through the Alps

There are aero parts available at the Suzuki SX4. If you could fit them all from top to bottom, who knows, you could recreate the image of the Suzuki SX4 Rally Car. Now all it needs is some SX4 WRC livery that requires time and effort to recreate the Suzuki SX4 WRC Rally Car in your own hands. However, you should better not to overcook the SX4's tuning because it will ruin the handling. Try to keep it down if you want a tuned SX4 to remain its smooth handling. This Small Car as seen on Top Gear USA will stop at nothing to be more "reasonable" on Forza Motorsport 4.

Kenstyle Aero Parts for Prius α

Kenstyle Prius Alpha

Kenstyle now offers some sporty aero parts to modify your 2012 Toyota Prius α (Prius v in North America and Prius+ in Europe). Customers can choose two full kits. The first "Full Kit" that features a Front Half Spoiler, Side Skirts, and a Rear Half Spoiler. These will cost about 129,150 to 171,150 Japanese Yen. Meanwhile, a second "Full Kit" features the ones mentioned but it includes a bonnet spoiler and rear roof spoiler, totaling from about 194,250 to 256,200 Japanese Yen.

URL: http://www.kenstyle.co.jp/info2.php?id=235

GT5 EV Day Trip with Nissan Leaf

Song played in my Personal BGM: Eyes as Candles by Passion Pit

From the album: Manners

Let's see how far this electric car survive on this condition....

Leaf of Green Gables

When the Nissan Leaf came out at the market since December 2010, this electric car is proven to be a competitor to the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. The Leaf maybe a bit more expensive than the i-MiEV but it has proven to be energy-efficient because while the i-MiEV has a range of 110km in one charge, a fully-charged Leaf can go up to 124km. Last year, the Nissan Leaf became the first EV to award the 2011-2012 Japan Car of the Year, making this a big achievement for Nissan.

You'll be glad if there's another EV driver passing by...

To commemorate this, Gran Turismo 5 added the Nissan Leaf as part of the Car Pack 3 DLC, available now, and geez, can this EV Day Trip get even more interesting if the Nissan Leaf is picking a fight against the Mitsubishi i-MiEV in a greener place? Truth is, the Nissan Leaf is much faster than the i-MiEV on a straight line and it will stay on to the end. Still, this is not a good car to race against the entry-levels but this is a good way to demonstrate the art of mobility on Gran Turismo 5 because this game is not all about racing, it's mobility.

The Stig encounters the Nissan Leaf
in Kyoto...

...but the Stig is interested in other vehicles
rather than the Leaf

I can rarely see a Nissan Leaf crossing by the road when it came out in 2010, but for now, there are a plentiful of Leaves roaming around the road and this electric car is an icon. Don't worry, I saw this one on Top Gear where Jeremy Clarkson and James May are traveling through England using electric cars. Seems that Jeremy Clarkson's freaked out at the Leaf's navigation system. That's more weirder when Jeremy's freaked out at the Nissan GT-R's sat-nav during the "Race Across Japan" challenge.

That accomplishment of being the 2011-2012 Japan Car of the Year winner really made a recognition to the Nissan Leaf and with that added on GT5, I finally witnessed that this car really is the future. It's sorta like BLUE SKIES FOR OUR CHILDREN....

Hitachi to stop making TVs in Japan, but source it from other countries

Hitachi Wooo

I watched that report on NHK Newsline. It said that Japanese high-tech giant, Hitachi, will stop making televisions at the end of September 2012 because of the Yen's uncontrollably strength. Well, that was said from Hitachi spokeswoman, Sayori Nishino, but Hitachi outsourced overseas TV manufacturing to foreign firms three years ago.

Source: AFP

TOKYO — Japanese high-tech giant Hitachi said it will stop making televisions by the end of September as intense price competition hurts TV earnings at many electronics manufacturers worldwide.

Hitachi will "terminate television production by the end of September" in Japan, said Sayori Nishino, a company spokeswoman, having already outsourced overseas TV manufacturing to foreign firms in 2009.

But it will still sell televisions branded with its "Wooo" logo made by contractors.

For Japanese manufacturers in various sectors the surging yen has weighed on sales in foreign markets by making Japan-made products more expensive, as well as reducing the value of repatriated earnings.

Ratings agency Moody's last week downgraded both Sony and Panasonic, citing losses in the two firms' TV divisions, among other factors.

Television manufacturers around the world have been badly hit by rampant competition and minuscule margins, making profits difficult to squeeze out with consumers increasingly unwilling to shell out sky-high prices for sets. 

World's Largest Claw Game by (NO, NOT TOYOTA) Chevrolet!!!

World's Largest Claw Game from
Chevrolet Sonic

Remember last year in Japan where Toyota made the world's biggest claw game at the Roppongi Hills as a PR Stunt for the Toyota Ractis Verso? Yes, we know. The largest claw game most Japanese are playing while the Ohashi Trio are singing the commercial song for the Ractis Verso.

Guess what? Ractis Verso, someone's whoop your rear bumper because the Chevrolet Sonic's Let's Do This campaign takes the center stage for the world's most biggest claw game, something that Chevrolet snags the Guinness World Record. Check it out!

Yes, this is how you Sonic.

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/22/chevrolet-takes-the-guinness-record-for-the-worlds-largest-claw/

Peel P50's back for production!

Peel P50

Everybody around the world already gaining knowledge about the world's smallest car, the Peel P50, thanks to Top Gear. No wonder this small car car can fit indoors, just like what Jeremy Clarkson does!

Guess what? The Peel P50 is back as well as its Trident cousin thanks to some small firm and they're accepting orders for these two cars that has a size of those Little Tikes cars. Both are equipped with a 49cc engine, generating 3.35hp of power but they can be interested having a choice of two electric motors available.

Whoever owns it would be as annoying as Clarkson...

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/22/worlds-smallest-car-headed-back-into-production/

世界ー、低燃費

2012 Toyota Aqua

Last year, Toyota launched the much affordable alternative to the Prius known as the Aqua. It was heralded as the world's most fuel efficient hybrid car on the market, providing 35.4km/L of fuel economy based on Japan's JC08 Mode Test Cycle. The Aqua was made in the Tohoku region of Japan and this is the sign that people from Tohoku stood up again after the March 11 disaster. This model is Japan's effort to rebuild and recover.

This model will be exported worldwide as the "Prius C" and now, the Philippines was the first Asian country to get the Prius C! No wait, make that the first ASEAN country to get it!

Well, prices start for about 1,475,000 Philippine Pesos for an Aqua with standard features but you'll need about 1,525,000 Philippine Pesos to get an Aqua with full options, So if you have that cash, yes you can but if not enough then, no you can't...

Scoop: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/toyota-philippines-launches-all-new-prius-c