Nissan Juke NISMO

However, what if you're not a woman or in dire need for something a little more sporty? Just not this one, the Nissan Juke, okay? Because ever since it came out in Japan since the summer of 2010, it was already a hit because in its home market, Nissan scored over a ten thousand orders for the Juke, surpassing the 1,300 units per month sales target. However, despite being a hit, the Juke's well critizied over its unconditional design, even though it was designed in Britain, and its small room. Thing is though, the Juke was the first to feature Nissan's brand new MR16DDT DIG Turbo engine, which seems to be okay but not quite hot enough to satisfy its tastes.

Well known fact that stunt driver Terry Grant drove a Nissan Juke to pull off a world record by driving round Goodwood in two wheels! Anyway, if you think the Nissan Juke's not quite good enough to satisfy your "unsatisfied" hunger, there's another Juke that...um...well, you decide the outcome...

2013 Nissan Juke NISMO

 Nissan's tuning division, NISMO, took some time and some precautions to tinker the Nissan Juke compact crossover and the finished product resulted in this, the NISMO version of the Nissan Juke, the hot crossover with some sporty orientation in mind thanks to NISMO.

Thing is though, I sometimes didn't like the looks of a normal Juke because it's a bit of an oddball and it's a bit of a...joke but for the NISMO model, this is not a joke because the blokes from NISMO took it very seriously to make the best better and with the Nissan Juke NISMO, it's a struggle in the process.

First of all, the NISMO model of the Juke uses the 16GT FOUR model as its foundation for the NISMO Complete Car based on the Juke and by the looks of it, it's not a bit of a half-cook rooster that was fried up before its cockfighting debut. Surprisingly, instead of a fried rooster, I think the Juke NISMO kinda looks like a clown because the red side mirrors and the black, white, and silver exterior paint doesn't make any sense of being a sporty Juke model with a track-focused mind. Feels like it's as ruined as the elementary students messed up sets of Meccano toys and instead chose over LEGO because it's so easy to create stuff out of a million LEGO bricks. This feels like a Mecanno because it's so complicating to make than LEGO blocks.

Same goes for the NISMO-tuned suspension as well. Although, the NISMO tuned suspension offered on the Nissan Juke NISMO is capable enough to handle like a normal hot hatchback, it's still a bit fidgety, it's a bit Meccano-ish, and it's full of drama everytime this car went on the corners. It's the same feeling I've expected on last year's Hyundai Veloster Turbo because while the Juke NISMO is not on the same league as the Veloster Turbo, they both share the only experience in common; the handling that makes the driver very stressful. However, while the Veloster Turbo is a bit more stressful than the Juke NISMO, the Juke NISMO is kinda more of a beginners' luck. If you're the kind of bloke who got a driver's license for the first time, this car really doesn't matter if you're not concentrating but sometimes if you're not concentrating, it would be a straight and curly ride to your Sir Chief's office.

2013 Nissan Juke NISMO

Power comes from the same MR16DDT DIG TURBO engine but Nismo gave 10PS more, so now, it carries 200PS of power and 250Nm of torque while being mated with the XTRONIC CVT-M7 and All Mode 4X4-i with torque vectoring that some say it reduces the risk of having a little thing called catastrophic understeer. That seems to be quite juicy though, in fact, the improved chassis and the improved engine really makes it keen enough to tingle someone else's gentleman stuff over and over but only if it used in the right way.

With all that tinkering lead to its price and the Juke NISMO will cost you about  2,851,000 Japanese Yen and what can you say? Expensive? Reasonable? I can't say but with such pricing comes with the car that has an improved engine, improved chassis, unique exterior details, and the ride and handling that's about as hard as making Meccanos in your home.

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd

Nissan Note E12 Autech Axis

Now last year, we virtually killed the Nissan Tiida C11 to make way to its successor, the second-generation Nissan Note E12. It's the one with the same HR12DE engine from the March K13 or the new HR12DDR engine that prompt a class-leading fuel economy of 25.2km/L based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards. It's also Nissan's reasonably priced car because it starts at around 1,249,500 Yen.

Anyway, let's not summarize about last year's arrival because Autech Japan came up with a new sport conversion model that sits aside the Rider model of the Nissan Note E12.

2013 Nissan Note Autech Axis

Yes, this is the Autech Axis model of the Nissan Note E12. Although while the Rider model of the Note is all focused on being a sportier type of Note, the Axis model of the new Nissan Note is all about timeless elegance that is much more skin deep than a lady's Prada bag.

You still come with the same HR12DE and the HR12DDR DIG-S engine but on the Axis model, cosmetic treatments includes a stylish front grille, front bumper grille fin, elegant door handle plating, fog lamps, and the AXIS emblem at the back that stands out the rest. You can even opt for an optional 185/65R15 88S wheels with 15-inch Autech-made rims, plastic visors on the side, or back door molding.

Anyway, prices start at around 1,796,000 Yen for the Note Autech Axis model that comes with front wheel drive and the 1.2L engine on it while the latter that costs 1,843,000 Yen comes with the supercharged 1.2L DIG-S engine, four-wheel-drive, and that's about it.

Now what I like about cars that target the women audience is its practicality, style, safety, comfort, and its X factor that lets ladies stand out the rest but for the Axis version of the all new Nissan Note, perhaps they can do better. Sure, it maybe stylish enough for a lady driver but it needs a bit more glam like what stylish European compacts do. This one is...a bit too sensitive, too cheeky, and too much luster on its purge.

URL: http://www.autech.com/SV/NOTEAXIS/index.html

Let's Do The News! (February 19, 2012)

(cheers and applause)

JC: Hmmm...How scary was that?

RH: Well, it's scary enough to say "MOMMY!!!!"

(Audience laughing)

RH: Well, Silent Hill is all about scares right and this Book of Memories is another way to get yourself scared in the world of Silent Hill is by having immersed yourself as the hero of the story along with your friends. This is much more fun than bringing your friends to some real haunted house.

JC: Yeah, it was scary for that and you know what, in the coming days of this week, I shall talk about Metal Gear Rising, Majutsu to Kagaku no Ensemble PSP game, Majutsu no Index Endymion no Kiseki movie, and much much more. You in?

RH: No.

(audience laughing)

JM: Anyway, let's do the news and in case you've missed it, it seems that the BBC journalists are having a strike outside the BBC Television Centre, the place where Jeremy Clarkson drove his Peel P50 inside the building if you guys remembered it. Not just that, most of the BBC buildings were disrupted by strikes over redundancies.

JC: Okay, when you said there's a strike at the BBC because of its redundancies, what was that about?

RH: Well, a strike against the BBC is something that goes "STEVEN MOFFAT! PLEASE STOP BUTCHERING OUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS!!!" (laughing)

(audience laughing)

JM: Or is it "BRING BACK COLIN MORGAN!"

(audience laughing)

JC: What about "WE WANT MIRANDA BACK!" or "BRING BACK CATHERINE TATE!"

(audience laughing)

RH: Wait! Wait! Something better! Something better!

JC: What?

RH: "PLEASE BRING BACK SHERLOCK YOU MO-FO!!!"

(audience laughing, cheers and applause)

RH: Wow, there's going to be some sore of CIVIL DISCORD against the BBC, right? There's so many sleeping dogs around here and what's next?

JC: Kung fu? Car chase? Gun fights? Machine guns? Grenade launchers?

(audience laughing hysterically)

RH: Well, that would work but there's more than that. When you say grenade launcher, what sort?

JC: Well, an assault rifle with a grenade launcher attachment on it. You know, when a gunfight starts somewhere, you'll never know that there's a lucky bloke on the rooftop spend several minutes blowing everyone with some explosions. Feels like it's Hong Kong's North Point being under attacked by a gang war.

(audience laughing)

JM: You guys never learn anything eh? Well, there's a strike going on because pretty soon, the BBC will lay off two thousand employees for five years as part of its Delivering Quality First programme. Well, I agree to those lines I mean, if you were some lucky bloke having a strike against the BBC, what are you protesting about against the BBC? Job cuts? Steven Moffat ruining Doctor Who? Removing some of their favorite stars? Or anything that makes it worse?

(audience laughing)

JC: Yeah, there's never been an angry protesters going on around here and if they said "F**K YOU, BBC", they really do mean it...

(audience laughing)

JC: Well, while we never mind the sleeping dogs attacking the BBC via protests, let's move on to THE IDOLM@STER 2 because there's a new DLC coming on the PS3 version (only) this Friday. Here's what sums it up...



JM: PS3 exclusive DLC outfits are "Cardigan Schooler" and "Traditional Maid" does look very lovely and sadly not a Punkish Gothic in sight because Namco Bandai don't think it should make it on the PS3 version. Besides, the Punkish Gothic outfit is a DLC outfit available only on the XBOX 360 version of THE IDOLM@STER 2 and because of that, seems that the Punkish Gothic outfit was passed out. Sorry, no Punkish Gothic outfit for the PS3 version.

(audience laughing)

RH: Yeah, disappointed for that and if I was some lucky female otaku recreating those kind of new outfits offered on the PS3 version of iM@S 2, outfits like Cardigan Schooler and Traditional Maid look cool if she was on a...

JC: Ahem...On a what, shorty? Don't tell me...On the Stingray...The Corvette Stingray...

(audience laughing)

RH: Well, all right. You really got me. Besides, it's a PS3 thingy. You got me...

JC: Anyway, I know that the Peugeot 208 GTi is the hot hatch I usually prefer against the Renault Clio RS EDC because it has a proper transmission, proper hot hatch looks, and the heritage that dates back the 205 GTi. Now though, there's a new crossover and that name feels like it's been five years ago. Here it is...

2014 Peugeot 2008

JC: That's the Peugeot 2008. The Peugeot from the year 2008...

(audience laughing)

JM: My goodness. That looks awkward than I though, and I think this is somewhat a crossover version of the 208 compact. A good target to the Clio-based Captur, though.

JC: Ahem, don't bother that kind of French fry that looks like a Ssangyong Rexton by the looks of it.

(audience laughing)

JC: Anyway, Danica Patrick, the first female NASCAR racer, has made history at the Daytona International Speedway because she was the first female to set a pole position for the upcoming Daytona 500. Let's give her a big round of applause, ladies and gentlemen.

(cheers and applause)

JC: All right, has anyone seen the Harlem Shake on the internet frequently? Hands up...

(audience raising hands)

JC: I really don't know about that whole Harlem Shake gig. What is it? Is this something that takes over last year's Gangnam Style?

JM: Me too. I really don't get it about the whole Harlem Shake gig.

RH: Well, Harlem Shake is well, a 30-second fun where for the first 15 seconds, you are dancing alone while covering your face with something something and when the bass drops, bring in everybody you know and GO LOCO! Go nuts! Go crazy! Now do the Harlem Shake! Even softdrinks are doing the Harlem Shake!

JC: Yeah, but as a grumpy old man, I really don't want to embarrass myself doing the Harlem Shake with you two idiots on it. Besides, it's SUPER SILLY.

(audience laughing)

JC: Anyway, on that bombshell, that's the news. And better do the Harlem Shake by yourselves as I...beating my personal best on a game of Temple Run 2...

(audience laughing)

Silent Hill Book of Memories

Now, anyway, Silent Hill. You may remember that last year, there was a follow-up to the 2006 movie based on Konami's Silent Hill game called Silent Hill Revelations and that main protagonist kinda reminds us of that main character from SH3, anyone saw that film?

Anyway, shortly after that, there's another Silent Hill video game called Silent Hill Downpour. It was available exclusively for the PS3 and the scare never been so bad, so bad and scary, those who have it had wee their pants while spending hours of playing it. Just as you thought it's safe to go out there after a day's game, you were wrong because there's another Silent Hill game coming out to scare you but this time it's in the palm of your hands via your PSVita.

Silent Hill Book of Memories

Silent Hill Book of Memories is the first ever Silent Hill game made exclusively for the PSVita system but this game is more than that because this is the first ever Silent Hill game to have multiplayer gameplay, meaning that with the help of your friends, you can conquer your fears against your favorite Silent Hill monsters page after page after page.

It all started as a book where all your life's past and present were written and if you have the chance to rewritten what's done, you can alter the past. Oh dear, timey-wimey perspective but anyway, this Book Of Memories game is a stand-alone to Konami's flagship survival horror franchise and it focused more on multiplayer gameplay rather than psychological horror. Book of Memories allows players to create their own characters and immerse themselves to the world of Silent Hill, solving puzzles, collect items, brave through the scare rooms and face against some of the most memorable foes in the Silent Hill history such as the iconic Pyramid Head (one of the fan favorites), the Silent Hill nurses, the Bogeyman from Silent Hill Downpour, the Butcher from SH Zero, the Valtiel from SH3, the Double Head, the Straight Jacket, and Robbie, many others.

This survival horror game is too scary to play if you're alone but if you're teaming up with a buddy via co-op, you can work together to solve puzzles, fend off beasts, and take down bosses, the same moment when you're co-oping with your buddy since PW but forget about that. Sometimes when you're teaming up with your mates, Book of Memories keeps on getting harder and harder and harder until one of your mates say that this is getting too scary to work with you. Yeah, what a scary way to scare your friends by teaming up to play Book of Memories, you know what I mean?

Because the rooms are made to scare your wits, the supplies are limited, and the same Silent Hill darkness enveloped to your PSVita, Silent Hill Book of Memories really is a challenging game even for seasoned Silent Hill veterans. You have to make use of your effective strategy on how will you preserve your limited supplies, attacking enemies, and whatever it takes to survive an unforgiving world full of evil. At your first gameplay, you think that this is oh so piece of cake but as you progressed, it gets even more challenging until you came to the part that it takes hardcore guts to conquer your darkest fears.

Overall, Silent Hill Book of Memories is a game too scary to set off alone and you need help from your mates via co-op to save yourselves from the fear that haunts your deepest darkest secrets. Good luck...

Bulilit Vulcanizing Shop

As we continue on the 8th Anniversary celebration on Goin Bulilit on the February 17, 2013 episode...

- the corniest jokes on I'm Corny

- Vulcanizing Shop gags

- Paano kung naging driver ng ambulansya ang taxi driver?

- The Bulilits are asking questions to Dr. Eric Tayag on this week's CUTE & A!

- Paano kung naging driver ng ambulansya ang isang jeepney driver?

- Ooh! Eew!

- Two boys with stiff necks are watching a basketball match

- Former Bulilit Nash Aguas takes us behind the scenes on the auditions to find newest members of the GB family.

- Drama at the vulcanizing shop

- Ready Get Set Goin in Batya by Golly Wow!

Top Gear S19E04

Top Gear S19E04

There's a new sport created on the fourth episode of Top Gear Season 19 and that is known as Car Rugby. With Jeremy Clarkson, James May, a flock of Kia Sportage R's, and the brand new Kia Cee'd at Twickenham, Car Rugby is one of the most ambitious but rubbish Top Gear inventions ever made on the UK telly!

Despite Jeremy and James having fun in car rugby, Richard Hammond's suffering torment in Mexico, test-driving the Mastretta MXT, the Mexican-made super lightweight car that caused Top Gear some trouble among the Mexicans. If you remember back in S19E02, the last person arrive at the finish line will be shipped to Mexico and Richard Hammond's the last to arrive, facing the Mexican consequences.

On that episode, McLaren-Mercedes F1 driver Lewis Hamilton makes a triumphant return on Top Gear F1 star on a reasonably priced car and if by the word triumphant, he did made a triumphant lap time. In fact, he set a lap time of 1:42.9, defeating Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel!

Also, there's been a comparison test between the 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 Vauxhall Astra VXR, and the Renaultsport Megane 265. Although, the VXR did 1:28.3, the 2013 Ford Focus ST set a lap time of 1:29.6 while the Megane RS 265 did it in 1:27.7!

Forza Horizon: Can you find thrills on Horizon?

An open world driving game called Forza Horizon can sometimes be a thriller because most players have a million ways to get themselves a thrill in Colorado such as racing against each other or tunnel runs or car chases or I-70 runs or whatever they want to get them thrilled. That's how a gamer wants but what cars made some thrills on Horizon? Can you get thrills on driving the fastest supercars on Horizon? I'm not sure but there are some candidate for thrillers out there...

A true V8 road runner

Hmmm... I drove the Maserati Granturismo S coupe on Horizon and that seems fine for a V8 road runner that feels as sublime as a fancy restaurant but for sheer thrills, the Granturismo doesn't offer that. Sure, I once read stories about the Maserati history, about how the racing career became historical, and everything related to Maserati but sadly though, in the Granturismo though, it feels like it's a well-civilized being, feels like there was some university life going on around here. It was made as a grand tourer, not a thrill seeker that tickles my fancy. Sorry.

A true thoroughbred

What about the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione? This maybe a candidate for a thrill seeker. With big brakes, carbon fibre body, the same V8 engine that powers the Maserati, double wishbone suspension, and the fact that it was built on the same factory as the Maserati Granturismo, the Alfa Romeo 8C seems to be a thrill-seeker's preference but as I drove one on Horizon, (sigh) it doesn't made me feel the thrill. I mean look at it, the skies, the mountains, the roads, ruined by this car. Even though it was classified as a supercar, it doesn't feel a bit supercar-ish. It reacts, feels, and sounds like an American muscle car and sometimes, this car seems to be too uncomfortable enough to tickle my fancies. Despite its faults, the 8C is still one of the best Alfa Romeos ever built.

Pure Elegance

This is the car I found on the December IGN Car Pack. The Aston Martin DBS. Even though this is an invalid choice because the new 2013 Vanquish is supposed to be on Horizon, not this, this is still a proper thoroughbred car. Let's not talk about the faults okay? Not even the Volvo-sourced sat-nav system, okay? What it feels here on the DBS is pure thrills. Sure, it has the same German-built 6.0L V12 engine as the DB9 but the engine output produces 510HP of power while being mated with a 6-speed manual transmission. Also, I can expect the same architecture as the DB9 as well.

Despite the fact that it's just a DB9 that has been on breast implants, the DBS really shivers my excitement. Thanks to its Pirelli P-Zero tires developed specifically for the DBS, this car dances excelentlly and with the reworked suspension, the DBS sure seems to be more fun to drive than the 8C or the Granturismo.

I know, the Aston Martin DBS brought me more thrills than the Maserati and the 8C but in overall thrills, you can do better. There are so many thrills to find on Horizon, just not this car, okay? Take your time, the thrills are all around you and feel free to enjoy.