Let's Do The News! (October 2, 2025)

                           

                                        

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Motor taxi riders are appealing to the PH Congress to legalize motor taxi operations.

- The Armed Forces of the Philippines quashes rumors of a coup d'état plot against the PBBM administration.

- Philippine President Bongbong Marcos led the aerial inspection across Cebu, which was heavily affected by Tuesday night's Magnitude 6.9 quake.

- Senator Rodante Marcoleta criticized the contradictory statements of Senate President Tito Sotto III and Senate President pro-tempore Ping Lacson regarding amendments and insertions in the national budget. This is in connection with Lacson's earlier disclosure that the budget insertions of almost all senators will reach ₱100 billion before the end of the 19th Congress, to which Sotto clarified that the insertion of amendments is not bad and is part of the budget process.

- Police responding to reports of a stabbing at a synagogue in Manchester, England.

- "None of us have ever asked for special treatment", US female veterans respond to a controversial speech by the US War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

- Storm Amy will hit the UK from Friday, bringing winds up to 80mph.

- Two people were killed and hundreds were arrested after protests in Morocco turned violent.

- Famed chimpanzee expert and animal rights activist Jane Goodall passed away at the age of 91.

- ACMobility, an Ayala company, and Honda Cars Philippines jointly announce the transition of their 35-year dealer operations, effective January 1, 2026.

- The Acciona Sainz XE Team, ZEROID, and Jameel Motorsport are taking part in this weekend's last-ever Extreme E race and the inaugural Extreme H World Cup.

- Toyota Gazoo Racing teases its new hypercar competitor for the 2026 WEC season.

- Honda commenced its shakedown of its Prelude GT race car, to be used for the 2026 Super GT season.

- TWICE member Jeongyeon will sit out from the group's Bulacan concert due to health.

- Song Kang announced his first fan meeting after his military discharge.

- P1Harmony postponed today's concert in Toronto at the last minute.

- Xavien Howard announced his sudden retirement after four games in the NFL.

TTFN.

Hyundai IONIQ 6 N

The first-ever Hyundai IONIQ 6 N is here. Starting at 79,900,000 Korean Won plus additional costs, the all-electric high-performance super saloon you've been waiting for from the start is coming at you. Ready to find out what makes the IONIQ 6 N the EV super saloon you want to drive? You're in luck.

2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 N

2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 N interior

Based on the recently updated IONIQ 6 electric saloon, the IONIQ 6 N features a similar semi-racing appearance inspired by the RN22e Concept, which was derived from the pre-facelifted IONIQ 6. It's been three long years since the RN22e Concept shocked the world, and now, one of Hyundai N's rolling lab experiments has become reality.

The interior of the IONIQ 6 N retains the same functionality and feel as the standard IONIQ 6, but it features several distinctive additions. These enhancements consist of sports seats, an N steering wheel, and exclusive elements not found in the IONIQ 6 N Line. Notably, it features the N Active Sound + system, which adds a dynamic audio experience to driving, and the N Ambient Shift Light, a unique interior lighting feature that visually indicates precise shift points for optimal performance.

Compatible with the Hyundai N App, you can check how well your IONIQ 6 N performs on tracks like Everland, Inje, and Korea International Circuit.

Armed with an 84kWh Li-ion battery pack and two electric motors powering the front and rear wheels, the IONIQ 6 N produces up to 650PS of power and 770Nm of torque courtesy of the 10-second N Grin Boost. With N Launch Control set, it sprints from 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds and flat out in 257kph, 3kph slower than the IONIQ 5 N but faster than a high-performance European saloon. As for the driving range, it's good for 366km on one full charge.

Although aerodynamics play a crucial role in this car, its trump card is the new stroke-sensing ECS (Electronically Controlled Suspension) dampers, allowing this car to adapt to various road conditions, even on track days. Coupled with the N Torque Distribution and N Drift Optimizer, the result is a highly addictive driving experience you can't get enough of. Not bad for a grippy heavyweight Korean EV super saloon.

Although controversial, the IONIQ 6 N features numerous gimmicks such as the N e-shift system, where a virtual 8-speed DCT comes out for the play, and with the manual mode set, it shifts like you were in a video game.

Like the normal IONIQ 6, the N features a host of safety features such as Remote Smart Parking Assist, Surround View Monitor, and Hyundai SmartSense, among many others.

The IONIQ 6 N is a highly anticipated Korean electric super saloon that enthusiasts have been eager to see since the RN22e Concept. This car promises impressive performance, leaving us with a strong desire to drive it one day. It's high time to put this car under Red Notice.

Available Colors: Performance Blue Pearl, Serenity White Pearl, Nocturne Grey Metallic, Abyss Black Pearl, and Nocturne Grey Matte.

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company

Let's Do The News! (October 1, 2025)

                          

                                        

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- Last night, a magnitude 6.9 quake hit Cebu, killing 60 and prompting 600 aftershocks. The PBBM administration is mobilizing government agencies to provide assistance to those affected.

- PHIVOLCS has stated that the recent earthquake in Cebu is not related to the recent eruption of Taal Volcano.

- Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson has a clarification on the photo of the Discayas.

- Senator Chiz Escudero and Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay release separate statements denying allegations made by former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo linking them to anomalous flood control projects.

- The United States is facing a government shutdown after the Republican-led Senate failed to pass a funding bill within the last minute. Reports indicate that approximately 750,000 federal workers will be impacted, with many becoming temporarily unemployed and some possibly facing layoffs. Several government offices will be closed, while President Donald Trump continues to enforce his strict deportation policy.

- Kia will showcase its military vehicles at this month's Seoul ADEX from October 20 to 24, 2025, at KINTEX.

- Honda will field a new GT500-class race car in the 2026 Super GT season, based on the revived Prelude coupe.

- Porsche previews the interior of the next-generation Cayenne.

- Team EVEN joins the last-ever Extreme E race and the inaugural Extreme H World Cup this month. The team, fielded by KMS, will run an all-Norwegian pairing of Ole Christian Veiby and Hedda Hosas.

- Supercars driver Jaxon Evans will leave SCT Motorsport at the end of the 2025 season.

- Reebok collaborated with PlayStation to release limited-edition sneakers themed after the first-generation PlayStation console.

- Kim Ok Vin announces marriage.

- Actor Lee Dong Gun was diagnosed with a rare disease.

- Several WNBA players support Napheesa Collier ripping the series' leadership, demanding change.

TTFN.

DS Automobiles N°4

The DS N°4, priced at 37,730 Euros plus additional costs, is the DS4 replacement that the French elites would want. It's the ideal fashion statement that balances the good and bad characteristics of a proper French car. Let's investigate.

2026 DS Automobiles N°4

2026 DS Automobiles N°4

At first glance, the N°4 bears a similar shape to the DS4 it replaces, but up front, it dons the new DS design language first applied to the N°8, while the rear view shares a similar story. It has the DS AUTOMOBILES lettering to prove it. Either way, it blends fashion sense and common sense.

2026 DS Automobiles N°4 interior

While the inside offers similar creature comforts to its DS4 predecessor, the N°4 features a new 10-inch High-Definition instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. Perfectly integrated into the dashboard, the touch interface features augmented technology, orchestrating navigation, smartphone connectivity, and audio system control. The DS IRIS SYSTEM comes with ChatGPT, so you can ask questions now, drive later when you are ready. Asked about boot space, the HYBRID version is the most spacious with 430 litres to stack some stuff. 

The N°4 features an all-electrified lineup consisting of the 145PS 1.2L HYBRID mated to a 6-speed AT, a 225PS 1.6L PHEV with a new eDCT7 dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and the first-ever all-electric E-TENSE with a 58.3 kWh nickel battery with 213PS of power, 343Nm of torque, and up to 450km of driving range.

Sounds like a high-performance class until we get to know about its dynamics. Despite its cheap suspension layout that behaves like a mainstream Japanese family hatchback, the N°4 drives better than the previous model. It even comes with the DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION, which uses cameras that can detect road conditions and adapts through it like an auto-correct feature on your word processing software.

As expected, the N°4 is loaded with the most cutting-edge ADAS features offered in this semi-luxury hatchback, such as the DS DRIVE ASSIST 2.0 and the new DS DRIVER ATTENTION MONITORING, among others.

The N°4 carries the same fashion and common sense as its DS4 predecessor, but with the tech and the electrified lineup to prove its worth. Common sense never looked or felt stylish with this new DS hatchback rolling through the streets of Paris.

Available Colors: Vol de Nuit, Noir Perla Nera, Cristal Pearl, Cachemire, and Blanc Nacre.

Photo: DS Automobiles

Hyundai IONIQ 6 (2026MY Minor Change)

Launched three years ago, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 proved that electrification is addictive and worth exploring due to the wondrous features it possesses. For a Korean-made electric saloon, this is pretty impressive, and it could be the Sonata of the new age, which is outlandish to say. With the introduction of its 2026MY Minor Change, the new IONIQ 6 continues to redefine the electric saloon category with new ways and means.

2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6

With the starting price of 48,560,000 Yen plus additional costs, there's never a good time to reintroduce the Hyundai IONIQ 6 to the world with this latest minor change, and things couldn't get even more promising than before.

2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6

Beginning with the exterior, the front headlights have been shortened and feature a new front bumper design to improve their aerodynamic properties. At the back, the rear bumper looks more subtle than before, and the rear spoiler is now a ducktail, in the name of streamlining. For the first time ever, the IONIQ 6 N Line was added to the lineup, featuring a sporty exterior design and a blackened trunk to match its credentials. Either way, it's still the IONIQ 6 the world knows.

2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 interior

The interior's slightly revised for this minor change. It now features a revamped center console, a larger air conditioning touch panel, USB-C ports, improved door panels, and improved software with the new AI assistant that responds to your voice, among others. The N Line, meanwhile, features a unique N round steering wheel with a red drive mode button and metal pedals.

2026 Hyundai IONIQ 6 N Line

Onto the IONIQ 6 N's electric powertrain. The rear-wheel-drive Standard model runs on a 63kWh Lithium-Ion battery to produce 170PS of power and 350 N · m of torque with a driving range of 437km. The Long Range model, meanwhile, runs on the 84kWh Lithium-Ion battery to produce up to 325PS of power and up to 533km of driving range for AWD variants. Both models come with the all-new adaptive regenerative braking system, which now uses navigation data to adjust regeneration strength, such as speed camera locations, speed bumps, and roundabouts.

The driving experience has been improved thanks to its revised frequency-selective dampers, low-rolling-resistance tires, increased sound insulation, reduced high-frequency noise, and the new Smooth Mode that reduces the throttle and brake pedal sensitivity.

Like before, it features Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of active safety features such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2, rear-side collision avoidance assist, lane departure prevention assist, Highway Driving Assist 2, navigation-based smart cruise control, high beam assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Remote Smart Parking Assistant 2.

With its latest improvements compared to the pre-facelift model, there's never a better time to get familiarized with the award-winning Hyundai IONIQ 6 with this updated version.

Available Colors: Ultimate Red Metallic (N Line only), Serenity White Pearl, Aero Silver Metallic (N Line only), Nocturne Grey Metallic, Bio Philic Black Pearl, Gravity Gold Matte, Transmission Blue Matte, and Nocturne Grey Matte.

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company

Let's Do The News! (September 30, 2025)

                          

                                        

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The import ban on rice to the Philippines has been extended for 30 more days, according to the PH Department of Agriculture.

- The Discaya couple have faced the Independent Commission for Infrastructure for the ongoing investigation over the flood control projects' anomalies.

- KOJC Pastor Apollo Quiboloy was hospitalized after he had been having difficulty breathing, according to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

- House Speaker Bojie Dy confirmed that the Chamber accepted former congressman Zaldy Co's resignation.

- US President Donald Trump renewed his demands for the imposition of a 100% tariff on foreign movies coming to the US.

- US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on a new peace plan for Gaza and warned Hamas to accept it.

- JLR will resume operations shortly after the recent cyberattack.

- Daihatsu will end production of the second-generation Copen this August 2026. The company is continuing various studies for its successor.

- The BMW M Team WRT will campaign both WEC and IMSA for the 2026 season.

- The Lexus LS was updated for the 2026 model year with new heated seats.

- Lewis Hamilton's pet dog, Roscoe, passed away.

- The Kristoffersson Motorsport will participate in the Extreme E finale and the first-ever Extreme H World Cup.

- Electronic Arts was sold for $55 billion, the largest all-cash gaming deal in history.

- BIGHIT MUSIC shares update on legal action against malicious activities targeting BTS.

- Comedian Gil "Ate Gay" Morales begins treatment for Stage 4 cancer with the help of a generous sponsor.

- Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have officially divorced after 19 years of marriage.

TTFN.

My GT7 Log: AGENT H VS. AGENT H

Come weekdays, both the Honda Civic Type R and the Hyundai Avante N showcase their "everyday hero" potential, but come race weekends, their true colors as TCR competitors will shine. Here in Gran Turismo 7, I got to sample the two Asian turbocharged everyday heroes that became staples for their TCR alter egos.

How do these two Asian turbocharged everyday heroes differ from each other? Let's begin with the Korean super saloon first, before the Japanese super hot hatch.

Launched in 2021, the Hyundai Avante N is the first N saloon based on the Hyundai Avante/Elantra CN7. Powering the Avante N is the same 2.0L Turbo GDI engine from the Veloster N, producing 280PS of power while mated to either a 6-speed MT or an 8-speed wet-type Dual Clutch Transmission. With N Grin Shift, the car gets a 10PS boost, sprinting from 0-100kph in 5.3 seconds and an electronically-governed top speed of 250kph.

By calling the Avante N the road-legal version of its TCR machine, it has been festooned with numerous dynamic upgrades underneath, such as the N Corner Carving Differential, integrated drive axle, electronically controlled suspension, R-MPDS, rear stiff bar, and large capacity high-performance brakes.

In 2023, the Avante N received a minor change, featuring the same sharp looks as the normal Avante CN7 while maintaining the familiar specs from the pre-facelift model. A year later, a special TCR Edition of the Avante N was unveiled, complete with the same rear spoiler from its TCR equivalent.

Now, let's talk more about Honda's Super Hot Hatch, the FL5 Civic Type R. 

Based on the 11th-generation Honda Civic hatchback, the FL5 Civic Type R eschews the obvious styling from its predecessor in favor of a more subtle approach while retaining the triple exhaust setup from the FK8. For the first time since the FD2, the FL5 Civic Type R is back to being a Japan-made hot hatchback.

It runs on the same K20C1 2.0L VTEC Turbo engine as the previous FK8, but it's been boosted to produce 330PS of power and 420Nm of torque while mated exclusively to a 6-speed MT.

With the improved suspension setup, electronically controlled dampers, improved braking performance, and new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires built exclusively for this car, it smashed the Suzuka Circuit's FF lap record in 2:23.120 and recently, the Nurburgring Nordschleife's FF lap record in 7:44.881.

The FL5 Civic Type R became the 2022-2023 Japan Performance Car of the Year winner.

Recently, in 2025, a special Racing Black Package was offered for the FL5 Civic Type R, featuring a black interior.

To see which H-logoed car is the best, I went to Watkins Glen to have these two H-logoed turbocharged cars settle the score. Will it be the one with the H in the square or the other one with the H in the circle? It's Japan vs South Korea again. Let's roll the tape.

And here are the results...

FL5 Type R - 2m13.481s

Elantra N - 2m17.417s

Looks like the Japanese Agent H beats the Korean Agent H in the end. The Civic Type R has beaten its arch-rival, the Hyundai Avante N, by a huge margin. Looks like the Koreans aren't pleased about getting their behinds karate-chopped by the Japanese.

Both the Honda Civic Type R and the Hyundai Avante N worked well as everyday heroes. On weekdays, they are too busy to drive to work. On weekends, however, they became TCR superheroes ripping through the world's challenging racetracks.

TCR or not, both of these Asian turbocharged everyday heroes never fail to impress their followers, but in the end, it's the Civic that grabs more than the Avante.

Case closed.