Honda StepWGN - Fifth Generation (RP3/RP4)

2016 Honda StepWGN

2016 Honda StepWGN Spada

There is no further explanation why the StepWGN reached its fifth generation but there is a main reason why they've regenerated Honda's family-oriented minivan suitable for the typical Asian family. Well, this is more than just a preparation for the StepWGN's 20th birthday next year since the first one came in 1996, the same year when the world introduced us to games where we catch monsters or survive a zombie-infested mansion, but the main points of the new model is the introduction of a very clever rear door and the first for a Honda vehicle; a VTEC Turbo engine. More for that later on but first, the design.

In the previous version, the StepWGN looked a bit too dowdy and awful like wearing your tighty-whities on your face for awful reasons and when you take it on the road, people begin to think you came from a home where you didn't remove the weeds in your garden, your room gets hoarded like grandma's house, and your bathroom has some poop all over the floor. For the brand new version, the design is becoming more promising than ever thanks to Honda's "EXCITING H DESIGN!!!" language. From the normal StepWGN to the rather rakish StepWGN Spada, taking them out from a drive to school or to work has never felt so civilized because, with this new look, people think you're more of a harried hard worker rather than a hoarder.

2016 Honda StepWGN interior

2016 Honda StepWGN Spada interior

Inside, the new StepWGN looks more decent than ever, although it still comes with the typical new Honda interior like you get in most modern Hondas built from 2013 and present like for example, the Honda Fit, but because this is much bigger than your average Fit, it's more than enough to fit seven or eight people inside with ample legroom even the pickiest of the passengers like me have no problem when someone asked them to sit at the back for some reasons.

Being the family-oriented Honda minivan ever made, the new StepWGN also comes with some available features such as a tray where you can place your meals and some other stuff, a rolled sunshade that you can roll it up or down in case of harsh sunlight hits you on traffic, climate control, a rear entertainment system where you can watch some movies while stuck at traffic, and many many others.

Here's the kicker for this new model, the StepWGN features a new type of rear door that no other minivan will ever have in their own life. It's called the "Wakuwaku door" and although it names like that furball I once watched on TV, this works in both ways; it can be lifted up for cargo purposes or by opening the half door to access the third-row seating when one of the seats is folded. That's a very clever door mechanism and how come no other carmaker has ever done it? This is the Honda way and this "wakuwaku door" is a StepWGN exclusive feature, you won't find this anywhere else.

2016 Honda StepWGN Spada

2016 Honda StepWGN

Another new kicker for the new StepWGN is the first-ever VTEC Turbo engine from Honda. Yes, finally, what we have here is a VTEC engine unlike any other VTEC engine known to speedo boys of many and it's a turbocharged version of every speedo boys' favorite engine. It's a 1.5L engine, designated as L15B, and it produces 150PS of power output and 203Nm. Fuel economy, depending on the variant, could be from 15 to 17km/L by JC08 Mode standards.

Yes, we do get the joy of driving the first-ever turbocharged VTEC engine from Honda so might expect this engine can kick in like every VTEC should but sadly in this new model, especially with the CVT gearbox, it can't. This VTEC will never kick in because this is a minivan carrying a turbocharged VTEC engine and being minivans just ruin your manhood and inverts you to fatherhood because you are married, you got kids, you got work, and that's it. All work, no play. You won't find this turbocharged minivan to be very rewarding even in the corners because of its size. Even though it's now more relaxing and more comfortable than the normal version, it's still not quite a fun car for your night out. Yes, they can make better cars to carry your mates for a shopping trip but because of so much seriousness, you can't find the fun in this people carrier, not much.

And while taking caution in case of the world's most imperfect drivers, the new StepWGN comes ready with the available Honda Sensing suite of safety features such as Collision Mitigation Braking, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keeping Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

The new StepWGN starts at 2,288,000 Japanese Yen and that sounds quite a lot when you compare it with the likes of the Nissan Serena, Toyota Noah, Voxy, and Esquire, and the Mazda Biante, but remember, it has everything that no other rivals had. It has a turbocharged engine, a clever rear door, and a much roomier interior.

With the Golden Week fast approaching, looks like this new model could be one of the most suitable vehicles you can buy if you're planning a Golden Week vacation but because of the pricing, it's going to be quite an issue for this one.

Available colors: Premium Spice Purple Pearl, Premium Sparkle Black Pearl, Milk Glass Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, White Orchid Pearl, Super Platinum Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Cobalt Blue Pearl, and Premium Deep Rosso Pearl.

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Let's Do The News! (April 22, 2015)

- Onto the migrant tragedy, Greek Deputy Defence Minister Kostas Isichos said that the European Union must take more responsibility on dealing with the crisis occurred in the Mediterranean Sea, where a ship carrying migrants was submerged and feared that over a hundred are dead. So far, 114 people have been rescued from the submerged ship and the two people behind the boat were charged for human trafficking.

- Almost a hundred people have been rescued from the floodwaters as violent storms ravaging through the east coast of Australia. Three elder people were confirmed dead in Dungog, where homes have been wiped out by the floods. The weather agency warned of more heavy rainfall before conditions begin to ease.

- As the countdown for the ultimate battle is fast approaching, boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. is finally licensed to fight Manny Pacquiao in the May 2 fight.

- The coalition of Arab nations announced that the air strikes in Yemen against the Shia Muslims is officially over, saying its goal has been achieved. They will now commence a new phase that includes humanitarian aid to Yemeni citizens and maritime patrols to prevent arms imports.

- New Zealand Prime Minister John Key apologized to the public over pulling the hair of a waitress who called him a "schoolyard bully" on visits to her cafe. Key realized his behavior is inappropriate but insisted he was merely "horsing around", not acting maliciously.

- Get to know this year's top 10 best car interiors according to Ward's Auto World.

- During the premiere of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 SV at the Auto Shanghai 2015, the Italian sportscar maker officially announced that it will be limited to 600 units.

- The 12th DLC Catalog for the PS3-exclusive The iDOLM@STER ONE FOR ALL video game has been announced and it's set for its April 28 on sale at the PlayStation Store. First up, there's a special appearance of Cinderella Girls' Kaede Takagaki. Then, some new outfits such as Symphony No.765 (from the Shiny Festa PSP game) and the brand new Splendor Soiree. Lastly, the song called MUSIC♪.

- The latest Real Racing 3 update welcomes players to the most challenging racetrack to date; the Nurburgring. Be prepared for the biggest onslaught on this racing app game because it takes some skill to master the world's challenging racetrack known to many. Also, Renault's making an appearance to this app game with three new machines such as the Clio Cup, the DeZir Concept, and the Renault RS 01 race car.

- According to actress Scarlett Johansson, shooting for the upcoming live-action Ghost in the Shell movie will commence as early as next year.

- Love Live's Yoshino Nanjou relieves her work-induced stress by using "animal therapy" in this latest Japanese commercial from Halls.

TTFN!!!

Gran Turismo 6: VW GTi Supersport Vision GT

Last year, Volkswagen wowed the GT6 players with the VW GTi Roadster VGT, which is part of the game's Vision Gran Turismo lineup of unorthodox concept cars built exclusively for this game, and now, they've introduced us their second chapter to Volkswagen's Vision Gran Turismo entry. Meet the VW GTi Supersport Vision Gran Turismo.



Their latest entry to the Vision Gran Turismo range is what everything a hyper hatch should be, possessing uncanny mobility and speed that only this V-dub can take advantage of.



For a start, this car looks a lot like the latest version of the VW Golf GTi but with all that enhanced aerodynamics, it's becoming to be more of a racecar rather than a hot hatch and like the GTi Roadster VGT from last year, it comes with the same 3.0L twin-turbo VR6 TSi engine which develops 503HP of power and 665Nm while mated with a 7-speed DSG.

Amazingly, the Supersport weighs exactly the same as the GTi Roadster by about 1200kg and when you handle both of these cars, you can't really tell, except by my further understanding that the hardtop version is the better handling one rather than the open-top one even though they both have aggressive aerodynamics and the clever four-wheel drive system.

To find out just how good the GTi Supersport really is, I took on the challenge at the Nurburgring GP/D and I have to aim for the gold target time of  1:28.000.



Hot hatches are great on the racetrack but because of their front-wheel drive layout, they tend to do understeer and no matter how hard you turn the wheel, it doesn't feel like they're responsive enough for your actions. Not so in this GTi Supersport because even when you have the hammer down, it will still do as you ask it to do. With the four-wheel drive layout, light bodywork, and race-inspired aerodynamics, the GTi Supersport can handle like a top-class racecar at ease and even a race-shy rookie can handle this machine at ease.

Thanks to its amazing handling, I managed to beat the gold target time at one go and I did it in 1:27.902. Not the quickest lap I ever made but it's a definitive proof that the GTi Supersport might just be GT6's best handling car you can try.



Expect new additions to the Vision Gran Turismo range soon!

Let's Do The News! (April 21, 2015)

- Onto the migrant tragedy, the Italian authorities have arrested the captain and a crew member of the submerged ship that killed hundreds of migrants off the Libyan coast. The two are among the 27 survivors of the submerged ship when they arrived in Sicily late Monday and they were held on suspicion of human trafficking.

- South Korean prime minister Lee Wan-koo has been offered to resign from his position after facing accusations of accepting bribes. He denies accepting 30 million won in illegal campaign funds two years ago. President Park Geun-hye didn't said if she will accept his resignation but has expressed sympathy for him.

- Senator Alan Cayetano threatens to block the proposed Land Transportation Office budget for 2016 if they didn't accept his call for a 30-day moratorium on the controversial "no plate, no travel" policy.

- The Metro Manila Development Authority apologized the public over their "sexist" advertisement which bans smoking on public place, only to find out they're promoting a dominant gender.

- A maglev train from the Central Japan Railway Company has set a new world record speed of 603kph at a 42.8km test track in Yamanashi Prefecture.

- Before leaving for Jakarta tomorrow evening, Japan PM Shinzo Abe has sent an offering to the infamous Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo to mark the start of its spring festival. This shrine honors the fallen Japanese soldiers, including convicted war criminals after World War II. Last year, when Japan commemorates the end of World War II, Abe made a private cash offering to the shrine under his name as the leader of the governing Liberal Democratic Party.

- Car manufacturers warned numerous car owners to stop repairing cars at home because home repairs are "legally problematic" and they are seeking copyright restrictions that could prevent car owners from repairing and modifying their own vehicles.

- The kind folks from Good Smile Company have unveiled a Nendoroid of Maki Nishikino from Love Live! She'll be available this August for 3,241 Yen plus tax.

Nendoroid Maki Nishikino

- IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The YouTube app will be rendered useless on older-generation mobile gadgets built from 2012 and older, starting NOW; including older versions of the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Apple TV, blu-ray players, and many others. This is part of upgrading their Data API and if you have an older-generation mobile gadget using the YouTube app, sorry to say that it's no longer active and you may either use its web browser to continue using YouTube or buy a new gadget.

- Check out the latest production cars and concepts premiered at the recent Auto Shanghai 2015!

Land Rover Discovery Sport

2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport

The brand-new Discovery Sport is more than just the replacement to the ailing Ford car-based Freelander because this crossover heralded the new Discovery sub-brand, aimed squarely for leisure-seeking and family-oriented adventurers. Since this whole trend of crossovers is spreading like forest fires in the west side, looks like Land Rover really are in tune with the times to create a commoner's vehicle with some Land Rover stuff in it like the ability to go off-road or something.

Although it's made to be an affordable offroader, the pricing starts at around 32,395 Euros, which is somewhat two grand more expensive than the most affordable Range Rover money can buy, the Range Rover Evoque, but keep that in mind that the Discovery Sport has something that its cheap brother don't; seven seats. Well, usually a 5+2 seating configuration for the DS but this is more family-oriented than the Evoque, you can count on it.

2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport

While the car's design looks like it came from bits from every Range Rover model ever made, the only engine choice offered in the DS is not so Land Rover-ish, perhaps it's a Ford-derived 2.2L diesel engine producing 187HP of power and can be mated with either a 6-speed MT or a more heftier 9-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Although the engine feels so dated as people dressed as 80's people in the modern party, it's still goes very well because of its 44.8mpg fuel economy and 166g/km of CO2 emissions.

If you think this is the only engine offered for the DS, think again because you can expect new and fuel-efficient JLR's Ingenium engines first applied on the Jaguar XE saloon very soon. These new breed of engines will keep the DS more refreshed and rejuvenated.

2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport interior

2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport interior

On the road, the DS feels more as civilized as what every soccer mom's van should and since this is a family-oriented car, it's rather nice. It even comes with an available rear seat entertainment system so the kids seating at the second-row can watch so much cartoons while stuck on heavy traffic. Although quite a worrisome for the driver, this is much better than snooping on kids doing kinds of ridiculous stuff in the car. Stuff like "I Spy", tong-its, are we there yet, and whatever kids say the dumbest things. It's also the safest you can drive thanks to its new safety tech such as Pedestrian Airbag and Autonomous Emergency Braking System, which is rather kooky for this one.

Off the road, despite the lack of a low-range gearbox, it still has some Land Rover goodness in it even for a crossover of that size thanks to the very clever Terrain Response system which allows the driver to choose different settings that can adapt through every road surface, be it tarmac, gravel, snow, or anything. No matter how unforgiving the terrain you're facing with, the DS knows how to Play Rough. Get it? Play Rough! No wait that's too much of a fairy stuff to mention that word.

2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport

To evaluate the new Discovery Sport, the things I like the most is its off-road capability, its modern design fit for a crossover of that size, and it's as family oriented like any other vehicle a soccer mom can drive everyday. What I don't like about this car is its price that is more expensive than the more-expensive Range Rover Evoque, the third-row seating's not so spacious, and the diesel engine's too old for a new car but I'm sure the upcoming Ingenium engines will resolve that matter.

Available colors: Fuji White, Indus Silver, Corris Grey, Santorini Black, Loire Blue, Aintree Green, Kaikoura Stone, Firenze Red, Scotia Grey, Yulong White, Barolo Black, and Phoenix Orange.

Photo: Land Rover

F1 2015 - Bahrain GP

Image: Getty Images

The scorching hot weather in Sakhir, Bahrain, is no match for the heated Formula 1 battle where, once again, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton wins big this season while Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen prevented Rosberg from gaining on Hamilton's rear, leaving Rosberg placed 3rd place. Before the race, McLaren's Jenson Button's F1 car did not start due to technical problems, probably an electrical fault.

In the driver's standings, Hamilton's in the lead by 93 points, with Rosberg 2nd place overall with 66 points, and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel 3rd overall at 65 points.

The next race is at Spain on the 10th of May, 2015.

Report: http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/latest/headlines/2015/4/second-bahrain-win-for-hamilton-as-raikkonen-splits-mercedes.html

Honda S660 gains app for fake engine noises

With the launch of the Honda S660 kei roadster, every car enthusiasts in Japan only have braced themselves for the rebirth of the legendary Honda Beat and this is one of the most affordable sports cars money can buy if you live in Japan because this car's Japan-only. Anyway, to further up the ante on the S660, Honda once made an app that fires away some "fake engine noises" onto the car's speakers.

Sound of Honda

The app is called Sound of Honda and it's applicable for the 6-speed manual variants of the new Honda S660. This app fires a synthesized versions of engine noises from famous Honda machines such as the legendary McLaren-Honda MP4/5 Formula One car, the NSX-R, and the EK9 Civic Type R. I know it sounds kooky but does a small kei roadster deserve some fake engine sounds on the interior?

So far, Honda hasn't point out a release schedule on the Sound of Honda app but they will plan to make it available soon.

Report: http://carview.yahoo.co.jp/news/newmodel/20150420-10222315-carview/