Back in the first week of February, this week was the end of Philippines' favorite TV drama that spreads God's word to us, known as "May Bukas Pa". Who would miss God's precious gift to us, named Santino? I'm sure you missed everyone's favorite lovable "miracle boy".
Then, in February 8, a new fantasy drama takes place, it's titled Agua Bendita.
I know, we have to wait before Andi Eigenmann's appearance to the latest TV show very very soon, but the Agua character I saw in this latest fantasy drama series is much more like Santino because, she cures just like Santino, thanks to her watery appearance and more of some "Holy Water" traits. I mean, I saw the episode when the young Agua, played by Xyriel Anne Manabay, who also played as the young Bendita (I like her spoiled-brat attitude), cured the wounded bird, then the boy from another episode, and then, Bendita...
A hybrid car is a car dedicated for environmentalists. For those who are seeking adrenaline, they are focused on gas-guzzling sports cars rather than fuel-efficient hybrid cars. From Honda, they created a hybrid car dedicated for sports car enthusiasts, combining the fuel efficiency of the hybrid car with the thrill of the sports car at the same pace. The Compact Renaissance Zero from Honda, known as the CR-Z, is finally awakened from concept form to production form.
The Honda CR-Z is the true eco warrior, harmonizing both the purity of the hybrid car and the power of the sports car, combined to unleash the aspects for both people who want a better environment and people who want thrills on the highway.
From its striking design, the CR-Z resembles the hatchback flow from its predecessor, the CR-X, thus making this green samurai a spiritual successor to everyone's favorite Honda sports hatch from the 80's. Aside from the wonderful design, the CR-Z is powered by the 1.5-litre i-VTEC+IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid engine capable of 113PS of power with the additional 14PS motor power. Aside from having a CVT, the CR-Z is the only hybrid sports car equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission, perfect for real men who want to rid the boredom from hybrid vehicles. It also has the three-mode drive system that allows drivers to choose which mode is suited for their mood. For power, switch to Sport Mode, for balance, try Normal Mode, and for fuel efficiency, start the Econ Mode.
After checking the CR-Z's performance, the interior is their last stop for this eco warrior. Every sports car aficionados are going to be so thoughtful because the seating is perfect for two persons (with the additional 2-seater at the back); meaning only grown men are allowed to take the plunge of this upbeat hatchback, but luggage is not a hindrance for the CR-Z, because the spacing is just identical to the Nissan Fairlady Z.
My thoughts about the CR-Z:
Undeniably this is the world's first hybrid sports car built to ease men out of the hybrid boredom. What I can say about this sports car is definitely the right time for me to describe its true colors for this eco warrior. This sports car is perfect, this car gets ordinary hybrid owners throwing their keys and grabbing the keys to the world's first hybrid sports car made from Honda. Have fun people, the CR-Z is truly the regal shocker of the highway.
Mercedes-Benz's ultimate successor to the classic 300SL and the striking but now defunct SLR McLaren might not have been as hot as its predecessors, but the performance truly makes it the "new age lightspeed goddess" of this generation. The SLS AMG brings the AMG powerhouse up the antes even further and mostly gained the spirit of the legendary 300SL at the same pace.
To make men drool to the SLS AMG's style, the gullwing doors makes it a perfect combination of yesterday and tomorrow in the eyes of the Mercedes-Benz universe. To top it all, the style that was inspired from the 300SL is the root of hopes and dreams driven by fate and the engineering of Mercedes-Benz's AMG division, the powerhouse behind the ubiquitous "6.3 AMG" line. Not only that, the retractable spoiler that rises on high speeds or braking makes it a lovely feature for this lightning machine.
For the eyes of the owner, the interior gets most of the fun factor, despite the seating capacity is fitted for two adults. With only two seats equipped on this car, the SLS AMG is perfect for men who want to take a long-legged dame on a highway date 24/7.
To top it all off, the SLS AMG is equipped with the M159 V8 natural aspiration engine that has over 500 PS of power, accumulating the top speed of 315km/h and 3.8-second time from the 0-100kmh run. To bring most of the SLS AMG's majestic performance, the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed Getrag dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission gives men to shift freely from turn to turn. As for the braking, an optional carbon ceramic disc brakes give this "new age lightspeed goddess" improved stopping power from the regular brakes.
My thoughts about the SLS AMG:
Former Ferrari F1 driver, now Mercedes-Benz F1 driver, Michael Schumacher was really surprised by the raw power of the SLS AMG, even the question "is it still a car?" really confuses Mercedes-Benz fans from across the globe. Now, it needs to be tested by the men from BBC's Top Gear to see how the SLS AMG will achieve from their power lap times. If Pocholo Ramirez were still alive, he would give this German Mauser a true roar on the Subic racetrack. Anyway, the SLS AMG's explosive packaging makes it a grand comeback of the legendary Gullwing machine that makes men drool all the way to the Nurburgring.
Based on Kazuma Tamachi's science fiction fantasy light novel, To Aru Kagaku No Railgun, the spin-off from the hit 2008 anime, To Aru Majutsu No Index, revolves from the life and times of Mikoto Misaka, one of the Level 5 ESPers, who is an electromaster that shoots electricity, like a railgun, and her roommate Kuroko Shirai, a Level 4 teleporter who calls Misaka "onee-sama" all the time. Most fans found out that To Aru Kagaku No Railgun is more entertaining than the original because of the female characters, including newer ones like Kazari Uiharu (fans like this character because she is another one of Aki Toyosaki's anime roles) and Ruiko Saten (fans found this character entertaining than Mikoto Misaka) as well. With only a few episodes remaining on this high-voltage anime that packs a sting on the fans, Geneon Universal stings the Railgun fans with the first part of this soundtrack, subnamed as Spark!! Composed by Maiko Iuchi from I've Sound (who also worked from the original Majutsu No Index), twenty-two high voltage tracks (including the TV-sized versions of the songs "only my railgun" by fripside and "Dear My Friend" by Elisa, both full versions of this tracks are sold separately as a single album) stings the ears out of the Railgun fans, relieving every single moment of Mikoto Misaka, one coin toss at the time. Great when you want to recharge the best Railgun moments from the beginning.
Track Listings:
1. only my railgun -TVサイズ- (by fripside, full track sold separately as a single)
2. 常盤台中学校
3. 風紀委員の活動
4. ジャッジメントですの!
5. 初春飾利
6. 学舎の園
7. お姉さま…
8. 黒子の企て
9. いつもの仲間と
10. 策謀
11. searcher
12. battle area
13. 大切な友達
14. 渇望
15. 噂されるモノ
16. アンチスキル
17. 小さな望み
18. RAILGUN SHOOT
19. 逆転
20. あのときの約束
21. 木山せんせい
22. Dear My Friend まだ見ぬ未来へ -TVサイズ- (by Elisa, full track sold separately as a single)
Best Part: Twenty-two fully charged tracks are packed with even more voltage than Mikoto Misaka shooting electricity.
Worst Part: There is even more aside from this! (To Aru Kagaku No Railgun O.S.T. Part 2 coming soon!)
Back from 2007 IAA at Frankfurt, Germany, Mitsubishi Motors has prepared the Concept-CX that hinted Mitsubishi fans with surprises. The production version of the Concept-CX welcomes back the three letters that were disappeared since 2002. You heard that, ladies and gentlemen, the name RVR is back in the scene and this time, it is a miniature version of the popular Lancer-based Outlander crossover.
To make things interesting for its comeback, Mitsubishi used the same jet-like grille, as seen on the Galant Fortis (Lancer EX), Lancer Evolution, and the soon-to-be-facelifted Outlander. Aside from that, the right sizing makes it a combative compact crossover, making a single dent on Nissan's upcoming Juke crossover and consumers take advantage of the its new form, even Bugs Bunny from the Looney Tunes.
From the powerful 1.8-litre MIVEC engine, INVECS-III CVT, Active Stability Control, Anti-lock Braking System, Drive Mode Selector (available on 4WD), super wide HID headlight, and host of safety features, you can rest assure that this combat crossover has the edge that is performed to be almost like a wind.
My thoughts about the RVR:
Designed and engineered like the wind, the return of the RVR (also on sale in Europe this year as the ASX) is definitely the combat crossover utility, prepared for the entire family, especially young drivers who wanted to take a glimpse of this small crossover. As a formidable foe against the Daihatsu Be-Go, Toyota Rush, and for the upcoming Nissan Juke, crossover maestros might think twice before considering the RVR as their best bet for this category.
Reader Note: Why I put "Bugs Bunny of Looney Tunes" in this one? That is because of the Japanese commercial featuring Bugs Bunny and the first-generation RVR. Check it out!
The Storia's successor, the Boon, which is also the Duet's successor, the Passo (since Toyota became partners with Daihatsu), is the perfect match for women with the sense of fashionable lifestyle. (Remember the Japanese Passo commercial with Rosa Kato and the Boon commercial with Rena Tanaka) The Boon and the Passo became successful not just in Japan, but in Asia and Europe under the name of the Daihatsu Sirion or the Subaru Justy.
Now, in this year, change is finally applied to these fashionable compacts:
A certain fashionable women state that each style has its own taste. As for the second-generation Boon and the second-generation Passo, a certain fashionable sense is perfect for the women's taste of cute cars. Available only on the Toyota Passo is the more stylish +Hana (plus hana) variant.
This variant features a sporty exterior, chrome rear lamps, and stylish two-tone upholstery.
Both of them are equipped with a choice of two engines; from the 1.3-liter, 16-valve engine that delivers 95PS of power, and the economical 1.0-litre, 12-valve engine that has the outstanding fuel economy of 22.5km/L, giving them more travel time for the women, especially both of them are equipped with the economical CVT.
My thoughts about the Boon & the Passo:
Judging from its vague but cute look, the Boon and the Passo are a woman's sweet post-valentine treat, especially when a certain woman has a fate to choose between a man with a sports car or the compact car destined to be the perfect soul mate for a woman.
Reader Note: Originally, Toyota Motor Corporation would postpone the launch of the Passo because of the worldwide recall, and yet the Passo's launch did not postpone because Daihatsu was behind the manufacture of the Passo, which is in fact, the Passo is the OEM of the Boon.
Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation/Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
Back in Europe, the Fiesta from Ford is the best compact car that leaves drivers out to their daily siesta and in to their driving fantasies. With over 500,000 Ford Fiestas sold in Europe and Asia, the United States of America (Ford Motor Company's homegrown country) is finally bringing home the bacon, I mean, the Fiesta.
2011 Ford Fiesta Hatchback
2011 Ford Fiesta Sedan
While European countries get the 3-door hatchback, the America-spec Fiesta comes in 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback in the very beginning. Sales for the American Fiesta start either at 2nd or 3rd quarter of this year. For Pinoy Ford enthusiasts like you, expect the Fiesta will hit the Philippine market very soon, and when it hits, it will be like a marching fiesta that hits like the Ati-Atihan, the Sinulog festival, the Higantes festival and before you know it, the parade floats from the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Now onto the basics, the Fiesta was based on the Verve concept car and it uses the same platform from the Mazda2 (known as the Demio in Japan) for that purpose. While other countries have a choice of engines (1.4-litre, 1.6-litre diesel, and more), the U.S. Fiesta only offers the 1.6-litre, straight-four engine, capable of releasing a minimal power of 119hp and the fuel economy of 40MPG on the highway basis. Aside from that, the Fiesta has a choice of two transmission types; choose from the 5-speed manual transmission or the 6-speed automatic transmission with PowerShift, making the Fiesta sportier like no other.
2011 Ford Fiesta interior
The best part for the Fiesta is the interior. Owners can take advantage of the astonishing features such as the laminated glass, cell phone-inspired center console, leather seats, engine starter button, and more features give them some attractive experience.
My thoughts about the Fiesta:
Like the parade of floats marching on the streets from Europe, Asia, and now the United States, the Fiesta compact sedan and hatchback pummel out the drivers' siesta and awakes their senses with its striking design, unquestionable performance, attractive packaging and more. With the United States bringing home the Fiesta, will Ford Philippines bring the Fiesta?
