Opel Karl/Vauxhall Viva

2016 Opel Karl

2016 Vauxhall Viva

The latest city cars in General Motors' European division, the Opel Karl and its British equivalent, the Vauxhall Viva, are more than just serving as a replacement for the old Agila city car but these new city cars will satisfy first-time drivers who got themselves a driver's license in the first place and start finding their first car to work with at very reasonable prices.

Sure, they maybe targeted for European audiences in mind but what makes us as bizarre as the curly haired man who talks about aliens from a certain show is these cars are both built in South Korea and they're based on the next Chevy Spark, which sadly, it won't be coming to the European mainland for good due to Chevrolet's withdrawal from the European market. Perhaps no wonder why GM Europe decided to use the Karl and the Viva as the supplement for the Chevy Spark's European demise much in the same case when their next-generation Astra will supplant where the Chevy Cruze left off. Of course, the next Cruze will not be coming to Europe at all.

2016 Vauxhall Viva interior

2016 Opel Karl interior

So, what's it all about these new city cars made for European first-timers in mind? For starters, the design may not be bad for a city car but it looks as cheap as its introductory price of 9,500 Euros (7,995 Pounds in the UK). On the inside, that's a total contrast to its cheap exterior looks because if you gone for the top-spec models, you get a nifty sat-nav system but whatever you do, don't even bother bringing your CDs because in the Viva, you can't find a CD player. It's just USB and Bluetooth connectivity made to play your digital files and this is just another one of the cruel ways why there are some cars of the future don't bother putting CD players and instead gone for the limp-wristed USB and Bluetooth connectivity because it's more convenient. It's a shocking grim vision that within the next two years, all new cars will not have CD players at all.

Anyway, while we wist away over its audio system that has no meaning of equality over music mediums, the Karl/Viva feels like a normal car for that size and with seating up to five people, it's a great car if you want to have a day out with your mates. The spacing's not so bad but it still needs room for improvement though because being a car made for first-timers, it needs to adapt situations where typical first-timers tend to go through such as garage sales, shopping malls, groceries, and so on.

2016 Opel Karl

2016 Vauxhall Viva

Since this is built to be a city car in the first place, the Opel Karl/Vauxhall Viva has to be like one and it has a one-litre ECOFLEX engine with up to 75HP of power and 99g/km of CO2 emissions mated with a 5-speed gearbox. That doesn't feel as quick by today's standards but it feels so nippy and lively for a small car and when you engage it to CITY MODE, the Karl/Viva feels so easy to handle as carrying a tote bag on your way to school. Although not sporty, it's somewhat a bit fun to drive and very civilized as well. Safety wise, the Karl/Viva has a lot of safety features for a small car like the rear park assist technology, hill-start assist, lane-departure, cruise control, speed limiter, and more. This is a great car to start with if you're new into the driving scene.

So, what's to like about the Karl/Viva? Its price, its mobility, its small car performance, and it's a great car to start with. What's not to like about these cars are its sat-nav system because it doesn't have a CD player, its cheap looks, its small boot that needs refining, and there are some things that needs a little work to keep the Karl/Viva competitive with the rivals.

Photo: General Motors Europe

Let's Do The News! (July 9, 2015)

- Greece has until the end of Thursday to present new proposals to the European Union to secure a third bailout from creditors and prevent a possible exit from the eurozone.

- According to the United Nations, over four million people escaped from Syria to avoid the conflict in their country.

- Typhoon Chan-Hom (known as Falcon in the Philippines) is moving northwest toward Okinawa, Japan, and as of Thursday night, it was 230km south of Naha, the southwestern prefecture's capital.

- The Japanese Lower House has passed a bill that bans the flight of unmanned drones over key facilities and would regulate the flight of drones as well as manned vehicles such as paragliders and hang-gliders.

- Investigations shown that the capsized M/B Kim Nirvana vessel in Ormoc, Leyte, which killed 62 passengers, was deemed misloaded and not overloaded.

- As moviegoers prepare for the 2016 reboot of the Ghostbusters films featuring an all-female lead cast, the director of the upcoming reboot has featured the new Ecto-1 made for the film.

- Raiden from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty gets his own Nendoroid version from Good Smile Company. Available this November for 4,630 Yen (plus tax), MGS fans can take home this protagonist and arm him with weapons. You can even hide him on a cardboard box as well!

- Actor Jao Mapa returns to his showbiz career, saying that he's back in showbiz for good.

- Toto Villareal, the chairman of the MTRCB, reiterates tall order against the executives for the Pinoy Big Brother 737 show to ensure child protection in TV content.

TTFN!!!

Toyota Pixis Mega

2016 Toyota Pixis Mega

2016 Toyota Pixis Mega interior

This is the latest entry to Toyota's Pixis kei car range, the Pixis Mega, and if that reminds you of any, this is essentially a Toyota version of Daihatsu's tallest kei car offered on the market, the Wake.

Just like the Daihatsu Wake it's based from, the Pixis Mega is a tall kei car built for leisure activity in mind. It offers several options, which fits their lifestyle, in the form of a two-stage adjustable deck board with fixed hooks, utility hook, luggage compartment floor hook, and many others. Because this is the tallest of Toyota's Pixis kei-car range, the Pixis Mega is a lot roomier than any other kei car offered.

Under the bonnet, the Pixis Mega comes with a very fuel-efficient 660cc KF engine, which delivers 25.4km/L of fuel economy. The steering is rack and pinion, has MacPherson struts on the front, torsion beam at the back (for FWD models because 4WD models come with three-link), it still work as a city car and you can have as much fun as you want. For safety purposes, it's loaded with Smart Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, and TRC. In case of what's what, Smart Assist comes with low-speed range collision avoidance support brake function, false start suppression control function, and preceding vehicle start notification function.

Prices start at 1,350,000 to 1,873,800 Yen and it's available at most Toyota dealerships across Japan.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Let's Do The News! (July 8, 2015)

- Back to the Greek debt crisis, the EU has been given Greece until Thursday to present new proposals to secure a deal with the creditors and has called a full EU summit for Sunday.

- US President Barack Obama held historic talks with Vietnam's Communist Party leader, Nguyen Phu Trong, at the White House. This is the first time the two nations held talks ever since their relationships normalized 20 years ago after the Vietnam War.

- The deadline for the Iran nuclear talks has been extended until Friday after they faild to reach an agreement in their Vienna meeting.

- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is facing graft allegations by the judicial authorities after the Wall Street Journal reported that about 700 million dollars had been transferred from the fund to Najib's bank accounts ahead of a general election two years ago.

- Typhoon Falcon has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility last night and is seen to enhance the "habagat". Luzon will experience monsoon rains which may trigger flash floods and landslides over Mindoro, Palawan, Zambales, and Bataan, while Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera, and Western Visayas are expected to experience light to moderate rains and thunderstorms. It is expected to leave the PAR by Thursday night or Friday morning.

- The BAC Mono has been given a power boost for the 2016 model year thanks to its new 2.5L Mountune engine that produces 25 more horsepower than the 2.3L Cosworth engine. The power-to-weight ratio is now 526bhp-per-tonne! Mamma mia!

- Two months after the megafight that defeated Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was stripped off his WBO belt he won from Pacquiao when he failed to pay the $200,000 sanction fee required by the organization. This means that the belt is now belonged to Timothy Bradley, who defeated Jessie Vargas last month for the interim championship.

- Prepare for the return of THE iDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS with a new trailer!

- Julia Louise Buencamino, the daughter of Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino and one of the co-stars of ABS-CBN's religious morning TV drama show Oh My G!, commits suicide by hanging from the ceiling by their household help last night. In the show, Julia played the role of Aimee, the bestie of the show's heroine, Sophie Cepeda, played by Janella Salvador.

- A billboard featuring TV presenter and comedian Vice Ganda was taken down in Cebu City for being "sexually suggestive". These billboards were promoting his concert titled "Gandang Ganda Sa Sarili sa Cebu (Eh Di Wow)", held at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel this Thursday, July 9th.

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (July 7, 2015)

- In the aftermath of the NO vote against the EU's austerity measures, Greek PM Alexis Tsipras is expected to unveil new proposals at a Eurozone emergency summit which includes a demand for Greece's debt to be cut by up to 30%. Athens has been urged to make serious proposals as it faces the risk of default on its 213 billion euro debt.

- Ten years ago, there was a series of terrorist attacks on the London Underground; 26 killed at Russel Square on the Piccadilly line, six at Edgware Road, and seven at Aldgate. Today marks the 10th anniversary of the London bombings as a service will take place at St. Paul's Cathedral to remember the 52 people died in attacks led by al-Qaeda-linked suicide bombers. A minute's silence will be held during the service and on London's transport network at 1130 hours, London Time.

- Sakari Momoi, the world's oldest man according to Guinness World Records, has died at the age of 112 due to chronic kidney failure.

- The Kyushu Electric Power Company, the operator of the Sendai nuclear plant, plans to start loading fuel into one of the reactors on Tuesday in preparation of restarting operations.

- The National Food Authority asked consumers to bring a fake rice to the office if they spotted one in exchange of a normal one. Officials said that fake rice uses a same chemical used in plastics and many other products and are harmful to the human digestive and reproductive system.

- Construction of all-gender restrooms in some airports in the Philippines will commence this month as part of the government's recognition to gender awareness development program. What does this mean? It means all males and females will be sharing the same restrooms!

- The Renault Talisman flagship saloon has been unveiled. Served as the replacement for the Laguna and Latitude, the new Talisman uses the same platform as the new Espace and comes with the choice of four-cylinder engines and three diesel engines. Sales commence at the end of 2015.

2016 Renault Talisman

- The IGN Car Pack on Forza Horizon 2 for the XBOX One console has arrived and it features cars like the Nissan Juke NISMO RS, Audi S1, Aston Martin V12 Vantage S, Lotus Evora S, Ferrari 575M, and the Plymouth GTX. Available for $5.

TTFN!!!

F1 2015: British GP

Photo: Getty Images

Despite Silverstone is soaked in wet weather, the race between the best Formula One racers still heating up and in that race, it's the home-grown hero, Lewis Hamilton, who snagged the checkered flag, marking his third victory that matches the records of British legends such as Jim Clark and Nigel Mansell. With Hamilton win the race, Nico Rosberg was placed 2nd and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel placed 3rd.

Onto the driver's standings; Hamilton is still leading at 194 points while Rosberg's remained in 2nd place at 177 points, and Vettel still in 3rd at 135 points.

The next race is set at Hungary on the 26th of July, 2015.

27th Annual Pacific Northwest Historics

During our Independence Day weekend in Seattle, I went to the Pacific Raceways to attend the annual Pacific Northwest Historics Vintage Races held at Pacific Raceways, Kent, Washington. That event ran from the 3rd to the 5th of July, 2015, and car enthusiasts from all over the Pacific Northwest part of the USA gathered to see the glory days of legendary racing machines revving their legendary engines for some brilliant races that excite the crowd even in this scorching hot weather. This year is very special because this race celebrates the centennial year of Germany's biggest luxury car manufacturer, BMW.




More photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHskfxyjb7

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