BMW 2-Series Cabriolet

2015 BMW 2-Series Cabriolet

Last year, the BMW 1-Series Coupe has been replaced and renamed as the 2-Series Coupe following BMW's new naming structure where all saloons bear odd numbers while two doors bear even numbers but despite that, the 2-Series name, which is reserved for use with the 1-Series' 2-door equivalent, has been used for their minivans in the case of the front-wheel drive Active Tourer, which caused mayhem for Bimmer fans too many. Anyway, there's now a convertible version of the coupe version of the 1-Series, which is great on your weekend getaway but is it any good?

Under the bonnet lies the same choices from the hardtop equivalent such as the 136PS 1.5L engine from the 218i, 2.0L turbodiesel engine for the 220d, up to the top-of-the-line M235i whose 3.0L turbo engine develops 326PS of power. That's about the same as its hardtop and its M135i hatchback equivalent but even though it delivers the same stuff from its cousins, the cabriolet version is a hundred kilos heavier than its hardtop equivalent so, in the range-topping M235i model, it can do 0-100kph in 5.2 seconds (0.2 slower) and top speed normally limited to 250kph.

So, the cabrio may not be as fast as its hardtop equivalent but how about the way it moves? Well, despite the added weight, the cabriolet model behaves like the hardtop model. If you're in ordinary models, it feels good enough to cruise your brows all the way while in the range-topping M235i model, you can still enjoy the same thrill you'd expect from the hardtop equivalent. It may be as bland as a supermarket hotdog but it still has some taste that you can't get enough of or for better, you might expect some guilty pleasures not by driving in one of those but also by arriving in one of those. Hmmm...

As for value, this car is most likely to be passed out by some because the 2-Series Cabrio model is priced at 32,200 Euros, which is almost five grand more than its hardtop equivalent or a grand more than its chief rival, the Audi A3 Cabriolet, but you should know that the non-quattro models of the A3 Cabriolet are not as engaging to drive as the 2-Series Cabriolet so despite the one-grand-price gap between the 2-Series Cabriolet and the A3 Cabriolet, it's more fun to own than the Audi.

Photo: BMW

Let's Do The News! (June 15, 2015)

- The top Islamist who staged an attack on an Algerian gas plant in 2013, named Mokhtar Belmokthar (a former senior figure in al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), has been killed in a US air strike according to officials. He and the other militants were killed in the eastern city of Ajdabiya, Libya, but there have been false reports of his death in the past. The Pentagon continues to analyzing his situation for now...

- A top commander from the National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia's second largest guerrilla group, has been killed according to the Colombian army. The name is Jose Amin Hernandez Manrique, known as Marquitos, and he was killed in the north-western province of Antioquia.

- The death toll from MERS in South Korea has been risen to 16. So far, there has been 150 cases reported overall.

- North Korea test fired three short-range missiles from a position near Wonsan on the nation's eastern coast.

- Technology provider Smartmatic appealed its disqualification by COMELEC from the public bidding for the lease of 23,000 optical mark reader machines to be used in next year's elections.

- In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors are in the lead by 3-2 after the score of 104-91 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

- To celebrate the upcoming launch of Halo 5: Guardians on XBOX One this late 2015, Ford teamed up with Galpin Auto Sports, Microsoft, and developer 343 Industries to create an F-150 Sandcat truck themed after the Sandcat battle truck on the upcoming installment of the hit video game franchise. It will be displayed at E3 2015.

Ford F-150 Sandcat

- Renault unveiled the Alpine Celebration Concept during the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans competition and this concept car previews the revival of the legendary Alpine brand that was started by the legendary A110 berlinette.

Renault Alpine Celebration Concept

- "The demon born from the round table". The F-15C Cipher and the F-15C Pixy from the video game Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War spawned themselves limited edition model kits courtesy from Hasegawa Hobby Kits. Priced at 3,000 Yen plus tax, hobbyists can take home and build their own "Demon Lord" as well as Galm 2 "Pixy" and recreate their Belkan War moments. The F-15C Cipher arrives at stores on the 23rd of June while the F-15C Pixy arrives on the 7th of July. "Yo, Buddy. You still alive?"

F-15C Cipher

F-15C Pixy

TTFN!!!

Porsche's 919 Hybrid wins the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans

This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans have seen numerous twists, before, during, and after the race because this year sees the appearance of the world's first front-wheel drive LMP1 prototype, the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO, but sadly, all three GT-R LM NISMO racing machines faced numerous setbacks, proving that Le Mans is not welcomed to front-wheel drive machines. Another twist in this year's Le Mans is that Audi's reign as the king of Le Mans is well and truly over as Porsche's improved 919 Hybrid, specifically the #19 919 Hybrid, snagged Audi's crown and helmed as the winner of this year's Le Mans.

Report: http://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/hour-24-porsche-wins-le-mans-_2_2_1746_21115.html

Image: Getty Images

Forza Horizon 2: Kickin with the F12

When Ferrari created the F12berlinetta, the Italian carmaker wanted to make a sportscar that can match against the likes of the Lamborghini Aventador as well as the Aston Martin Vanquish but in reality, it wasn't made to be a hypercar but rather a powerful grand tourer that incorporates Ferrari's know-how in the realm of motorsports. Sure, it lapped round the Fiorano test track faster than the Enzo but this is in a totally different league.

The F12berlinetta was born to be a purebred race machine with its throaty 6.3L V12 engine which excites most car enthusiasts worldwide. It is a product of Ferrari's passion for motorsports and it's one way of saying "we're the stars of Italy's sportscar realm and Lamborghini must exit here". Well, Ferrari worked so hard to improve their reputation and no matter how many times Lamborghini trying to outpower Ferrari with new and exciting machines that can defect even the most of Ferrari's followers, this carmaker learns how to fight back and for the F12, it knows how to kick back from its opposition.



When I drove this one in the original Horizon, I am already having a great time driving the F12berlinetta despite its handling characteristics that kicked me back like a bottle of Red Horse Beer. Here, in the world of Forza Horizon 2, it's the same story all over, only this time, a little reminiscent of its predecessor that is going to kill me with its car kung fu. Despite its character, the F12berlinetta is a fun car to drive and even novices can unleash its hidden potential from its Italian flair. Even though this is a serious car, this car promises the driver to kick back against his or her opposition as they're trying to reach their goals.

The thing is though, driving the F12 can be a lot of fun if you use your imagination...







What we have here is an F12 that is themed after one of our favorite buttkickers in the world of iDOLM@STER, Makoto Kikuchi, and the reason why I'd picked her for the design that I'd made because upon driving the F12, I'm getting the "kicking" experience while unleashing its power during races and while this is essentially a raw grand tourer that can kick through any rivals it see fit, it will take time for the driver to calm itself down before getting through corners. Its tough personality really reminded me of her's and every time I remember her...I gone into bedwetting mode in my sleep. Ha ha ha...

Anyway, to see how much "fight back" the F12 is, I booked this car for a championship somewhere over San Giovanni, and with some major improvements to make it competitive, the F12's starting to come alive.



Well, that was quite a messy progress but I managed to survive while driving the F12 without getting my pants wet when this car kicks me through. Better still, it was quite an accomplishment that with the F12, Ferrari knows how to fight back.

As I find out, even with the F12 making quite an accomplishment, it signals the end of the traditional V12 powerplant because in the future, all V12 Ferraris will be hybrids, just like the powerful LaFerrari, and while this announcement shocked the world, I am very glad that I made the so-called "last of the V12s" happy. I've finished my run and as the car ticked itself, I knew that its work is done.

#BGColorum

On the June 12, 2015 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Someone's raising suspicions about his girlfriend.

- Colorum gags

- An old lady's seeking help from Don Cantoni...

- Time for another round of Tsugi or Churva!

• Sa numbers 1 to 100, magbigay ng number na may letter A sa spelling. - Walang letter A sa spelling ng 1 to 100.
• May 46 na isda sa aquarium, namatay ang 27, ilan na lang ang natirang isda sa aquarium? - 46 pa rin.
• Sa karera, kapag nalagpasan mo na yung pangatlo, pang-ilan ka na? - Pangatlo

- INDIEFILM-DENCIA trailers!

- IKAW AT ANG INA takes on...baby talk!

- Imagine when hospitals treated patients in a lottery-style draw...

- Brod Pete and pals are back to solve everyone's questions in ANG BAGONG DATING DOON INTERNATIONAL!

PAF finale really ends this great show with a bang

The finale of Disney's hit TV cartoon show, Phineas and Ferb, titled Last Day of Summer, did ended the best cartoon show with a spectacular thriller that has been one heck of an adventure for Phineas, Ferb, and the gang, as well as Perry (Agent P) and Doof.

I don't want to tell what's what, but all I can say to everyone who witnessed the finale is...I've never felt so happy upon watching the finale. Yes, I may be sad to have my ever-favorite Disney show end, but I'm very happy that the ending is worth remembering.

This epic finale to a great show deserves a toast for spoons, oranges, or capri pants (what your mom's wearing now). When I said toast, I mean cheers. Yes. We deserve a big cheers for a great finale.

I just wanna say thanks for your wonderful adventures since your rollercoaster and please stay to our hearts and minds forever!

PAF FOREVER!!!

Jurassic World

The Jurassic Park films are all about survival against dinosaurs on a much larger scale and the first three films captured our imagination over our obsession over the primeval monsters that were once wiped out from history but became part of the pop culture geekdom. After years of waiting, a new Jurassic Park film has arrived and this time, it's the biggest since the last three films. Welcome to Jurassic World.

The world of Jurassic World is a theme park where thousands of people attended for some sight-seeing with the dinosaurs as well as other recreational stuff. When the park featured a new attraction, the spectators were surprised but when the new attraction becomes a dangerous thing, mayhem ensues, and only a brave group of individuals must survive this primeval mayhem on a large-scale.

With Steven Spielberg returned as the executive producer of this film, the biggest, long-awaited, installment promises to be the most thrilling film in the summer because Jurassic World blows their minds away with its plethora of primeval thrills that will leave moviegoers, even the whole family, jump out of their seats right until the moment the T-rex roars in a spectacular fashion, just like what you expect from the past films.

This movie feels like everything else but there are some drawbacks. First of all, it's the casting because while dinosaurs became the spotlight of Jurassic World, the human characters feel a bit too shoddy, they just can't make a name on this film. Also, this movie is just nothing but a product placement for a luxury car maker known as Mercedes-Benz. In the past, you saw a Jeep Wrangler (not an MB but from a time when Mercedes' parent company, Daimler, used to be called Daimler-Chrysler) in the first film while in The Lost World, you saw a first-gen MB M-Class. Now on this film, you'll find the offroad-conquering G63 AMG 6x6 making a name for itself on the film. What is this? You'll expect petrolheads to salivate an offroader appeared on the film?!

Anyway, despite its faults, Jurassic World is still a great film to watch and when it comes to find a film that delivers the biggest thrill this summer, look no further because this is truly one of the best films you'll watch this summer.

My rating: 4.2 out of 5.