Subaru Pleo Mk.II

Rewind back to the date October 1998, and if you remember the kei car which is the successor to the Subaru Vivio, known as the Pleo, then how will you explain the outdated 11-year old kei car? Because of the outdated Pleo disappeared since December, and the partnership between Fuji Heavy Industries and Toyota Group, the Pleo name was reborn. Only this time, taken from the form of the seventh-generation Daihatsu Mira (known in other countries as the Cuore or Charade), which gives the newborn kei car some taste and flair suitable for the young, fashionable Japanese women.

Along with the recently launched, Daihatsu Tanto Exe-based Lucra, the new Pleo comes in two distinctive flavors: the regular Pleo targeted for the simple female drivers and the stylish Pleo Custom with the premium taste bold women wanted. The regular Pleo boasts overall cuteness that women always wanted to purchase this car for its looks. The Pleo Custom boasts overall karen-ness (Note: Karen is beautiful in Japanese) giving the term "a kei car with the look and feel of a luxury car" and customers love to buy this Custom variant for its sporty and luxurious features.

The interior of the new Pleo boasts overall comfort and luxury that only a kei car could take this comfort for granted. With the foldable rear seats, women can take advantage of this feature for placing several shopping bags after a long, stressful shopping trip to the mall. For the peace of mind, the new Pleo has a list of features such as the reinforced body, airbags, vehicle theft immobilizer, and anti-lock braking system. When performance is an issue, the new Pleo comes with either a KF-VE engine that delivers 58PS of power and the fuel economy of 21.0-24.5km/L or the KF-DET turbo engine that triggers 64PS of power and the fuel economy of 19.0km/L. It comes with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a CVT, depending on the variant you are.

My thoughts about the Pleo:
When the original Pleo disappeared four months ago, it is not surprising that the Pleo will return, only this time, as an OEM of the Daihatsu Mira. Is it a Coincidence or just a truth? You might just figure it out when you step inside the new age Pleo, in regular and custom flavors. Try it and you will decide how the new Pleo affect its audience impact for its style, packaging, quality, and performance. With the partnership between Fuji Heavy Industries and Toyota Group, the Pleo was another one of the Subaru OEMs since the Toyota bB-Daihatsu Coo-based Dex, Atrai Wagon-based Dias Wagon, and the latest Daihatsu Tanto Exe-based Lucra.

Photo: Fuji Heavy Industries

Subaru Lucra

Since December 24, Daihatsu launched the newest kei car that slots from the Tanto and the Tanto Custom kei car, known as the Tanto Exe and the Tanto Exe Custom. With the partnership between Toyota Group and Fuji Heavy Industries (also working for the "Toyobaru FT-86" projects), Subaru uncovered their own Daihatsu Tanto Exe, known as the Lucra.

When Subaru decided to stop making kei cars that dates back the Vivio, Pleo, R1, and the R2, they decided to source it out from Daihatsu, which of course a part of the Toyota Group, because of the deal that they would work together for their upcoming projects. Starting from the Toyota bB-Daihatsu Coo-based Dex, the alliance was formed between them.

Now, on the Lucra, you may recognize that this is the OEM of the Daihatsu Tanto Exe. How Subarists will find the Lucra very intriguing that why a Daihatsu-built kei car would was Subaru-badged. Despite the badging, the Lucra possesses different qualities that can also be found on the Tanto Exe:

- Two different styles to choose from; the original for cuteness and the Custom for sportiness

- Amazing seating arrangements that matches different situations

- 21.5km/L on most variants and 19.0km/L on the Lucra Custom RS variant

- Illumination accessory from the top and bottom

- Spacious interior

- Choice of audio and navigation systems available

- Available Momo steering wheel on the Lucra Custom RS variant

- Smart key entry with immobilizer

- Continuously Variable Transmission

- Anti-lock braking system

- Approved for Japan's eco car tax-break laws

My thoughts about the Lucra:

As an OEM of the Daihatsu Tanto Exe, the Lucra continues the strong bond between Toyota Group and Fuji Heavy Industries ever since the Dex, the Dias Wagon, and now the second-generation Pleo. (This is now Mira-based) With the regular, Lucra targeted for the practical customers and the Lucra Custom targeted for the hardcore kei car customers, both of these Lucras will have one giant leap for the car industry, despite its small size. Can the Lucra really replace the Stella because of their identical sizes? We are not sure, but try the Lucra and judge.

Photo: Fuji Heavy Industries

Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker OST

With the Peace Walker's launch date is on the end of April, and June for the U.S. and European markets, Konami has pleased to announced that the original soundtrack of this game is finally arrived and it gives them the first listen of the game's background music, courtesy of Akihiro Honda and the others. Complete with 28 heart-pounding tracks, you can rest assured that you and your friends can co-op in to this OST, warming yourselves up before the real deal arrives. Aside from the game BGMs, the theme song "Heaven's Divide" by Donna Burke and the bonus track "Koi no Yokushi Ryoku" by Nana Mizuki (found also on the maxi single CD) also added on this OST!

Track Listings:
1. METAL GEAR SOLID PEACE WALKER Main Theme
2. Heavens Divide (sung by Donna Burke)
3. Rain of Bane
4. Marshland
5. Clients
6. Heavy Arms
7. The Spear
8. Fearless
9. Tank Corps
10. Little Brother
11. Highland
12. Cold Principle
13. PUPA
14. Hide-out
15. Air Strike
16. Entry Gate
17. CHRYSALIS
18. COCOON
19. Mother Base
20. Dead Ahead
21. Facility
22. Take Down
23. Boot Sequence
24. Peace Walker
25. Outer Heaven
26. Uninterrupted Signal
27. Zero Allies!
28. Koi No Yokushi Ryoku (sung by Nana Mizuki, the Japanese CV of Paz Ortega Andrade)

All tracks will warm yourselves up before Peace Walker arrives in April (Japanese version) and June (English version) respectively!

Remember the tagline: SAY PEACE!

Super Junior's Super Girl song gets the Lokomoko treatment?

Episode Two of Lokomoko U (the third installment of the Lokomoko series on TV5), throws me just decent ROFLs. From the nightclub gags, another Talentadong Family sketch episode, another Tuesday and Monday episode, only this time Monday (played by Rainier) dressed as a traffic aide, a sketch about how to clean the TV (at the beginning of the sketch, we see those two men watching last week's Lokomoko U's LBM take on Girls Generation's Oh song), and at the end of Lokomoko U, a spoof of Super Junior's Super Girl song came out in the open?!

Yes, it is another one of K-Pop songs getting the "Lokomoko treatment" since Lokomoko High did to 2NE1's Fire and I Don't Care, and Super Junior's Sorry Sorry, Sorry Sorry Answer, and It's You. K-Pop songs with twisted lyrics.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta -New-

Alfa Romeo marks the return of the legendary Giulietta name (produced in the 1950's and ended in the 60's, resurrected in the '70s, but terminated again in the 80's) and this time, it is not a sedan, a coupe, or a convertible like how their grandparents remembered. The new Giulietta is now a 5-door hatchback, dedicated to terminate other competitive hatchbacks such as the Opel Astra, Volkswagen Golf, and the Renault Megane.

2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Replacing the decade-old Alfa 147 was a hard thing to do for the new Giulietta, but resurrecting a "more than 5-decade-old name" was essentially a manly act to follow for Alfa Romeo. Previously known as the Milano from the spy shots, the new Giulietta is a light shining in the light for hatchback lovers from across the European continent. With the exterior posing Alfa Romeo's new design language found at the 8C super sports car, and the MiTo compact, the Giulietta was the hatchback made as a "reward of the goddess.” When a customer peeks at the new Giulietta's side, it confuses them by thinking it is a 3-door hatchback, but honestly, this is a 5-door hatchback. It is because of the secret rear doors (seen on the GM Daewoo Matiz Creative and the upcoming Nissan Juke crossover) equipped as a surprise.

2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta

The Giulietta's interior is packed with the race-inspired cockpit that gives drivers an edge-of-the-seat fun that feels like they are racing the streets in the racecar, which in reality, they were seating on a normal production car.

2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta interior

There are several engines to choose from to give the Giulietta some chances to brink into the roads, ranging from the entry-level 1.4 TB, 1.6L MultiJet diesel, 2.0L MultiJet diesel, 1.4 TB MultiAir, and the high-end 1750 TBi (available only at the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde). With these engines available as of press time, you can rest assured that finding which engine suitable for the Giuletta is a tough-but-easy act to follow.

With Vehicle Dynamics Control, Dynamic Steering Torque, electronic differential, and the Alfa DNA selector added, the Giulietta is built for safety and performance enhancing purposes. Once more, it strives to obtain a 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP, meaning only the safest Italian ride is definitely the smartest.

My thoughts about the Giulietta:
Alfa Romeo, if you were back in our Philippine fleet, one of us can try your seductive power of the Giulietta. If I meant to say this phrase, maybe Filipinos like us to wish that Alfa Romeo will return to our shores with a new distributor so we can try this awesome hatchback on the streets of EDSA. Despite all this, the legendary Giuletta name makes a comeback in hatchback form, and most rivals will be unhappy to see the new Giulietta in action. Will the Giulietta become the next big thing for Alfa Romeo?

[STILL] Still more bad case of Toyota's mass recall

While Toyota is going 2012-like or Armageddon-like, there is something that this Japanese automaker still meeting its end of the drivers' lives (from the mass hybrid recalls, unintended speeding acceleration, some blame-it-to-the-cosmic-rays, and more suffering from the world's top automaker).

I found something on the news that the U.S. version of the recent Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, known as the Lexus GX, met its poor conditions, according to North America's Consumer Reports.

Wonder how U.S. Toyota/Lexus dealers decided not to sell the new GX. Maybe the case of SUV rolling cause that makes the GX avoided by consumers until further notice. 

Because of its weight, SUVs tend to rollover because irresponsible drivers think they can drift their SUVs on sharp turns, but no...

YOU CAN'T DRIFT YOUR HEAVY SUV!

Trust everyone. All SUV aficionados need to learn how to drive a SUV effectively without a bad case of rollover and other accidents, especially owners of the new Prado.

Oh, and Korean Toyota owners also suffering from the mass recalls.

Imagine if I was driving a Toyota, then the accelerator was stuck, I'm gonna open its sunroof, open my Fulton recovery system, and whoosh! I'm getting out of the near-accident Toyota! (Note: I put Fulton recovery system on the blog, because in Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, you can recruit knocked-downed but breathing troops with the use of Fulton recovery system. Use it and whoosh!)

Compare Peace Walker to Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

While we wait for Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker to arrive in Asia this April 29, US in June 8, Europe in June 17, and U.K. in June 18, we found some alternative co-op game others want to recommend it to others...

Capcom's Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite (日本名：モンスターハンターポータブル2nd G) for the PSP allows players work together as a team and use an array of weapons to take down monstrous foes. Of course, this game allows you to play by yourself or play with a friend.

Now what happens when two worlds collide?

Since April 7, the day when the final specs of MGSPW were released, Konami teamed up with Capcom (famous for Street Fighter, Resident Evil, Mega Man, and Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney games) to see how Peace Walker is better than Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. Of course, playing yourself or with a friend is much more exciting to take down giant monsters with your MGS weapons.

(Geez, better buy this Monster Hunter game and see how solo or co-op is best works for me)

My comment: One word which makes Peace Walker and MH: Freedom Unite have in common: cooperation. Team work pays off.

Kia K5 (Optima Mk.III)

Previously on November 2009, Kia Motors unveiled the majestic premium sedan, which is rumored to replace the Opirus, known as the K7. (Also known as the Cadenza in other markets) The K7 sedan made an appearance on KBS' action drama that was recently ended a few months ago titled IRIS, starring Lee Byung-Hun. (The promo video made car and K-drama addicts amused) This month, while we are waiting for ABS-CBN to take the distribution rights for this action drama, Kia unveiled another kind of K-machine that is the Lotze's replacement machine and it will be on sale the same date as Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker debuts Asia-wide and soon in the world market as the third-generation Optima. For the big bosses in South Korea, welcome to the world of K5.

2011 Kia K5

In case someone forgot how the naming occurred since the K7, this K-alphanumeric naming on new cars was part of Kia's new naming scheme, inspired from Citroen and Audi, to giving this Korean brand a taste of the West. The "K" stands for Kia Motors, the brand's birthplace (Korea), activeness (kinetic), and sense of judgment. (Kratos) With Kia's new "tiger nose" grille, as seen on present Kia models, including the Sportage R, the K5 achieved a sexier design thanks to the mastermind of Kia design himself, Peter Schreyer. When attaining its feistier form, the K5 is extremely glamorous from the front and the rear view is very attractive to the consumers. The latest Hyundai Sonata cannot stand a chance to the K5's form that is the most seductive medium sedan for adults.

2011 Kia K5 interior

While the exterior is mostly rated M for mature, the K5's interior is rated E for everyone. It looks similar to the upcoming Volvo S60, but honestly, Mr. Schreyer put a lot of hard work deciding how the inside of the K5 looks like and how will this interior attracts men from their bossy ages. With the heated steering wheel, found on the K7, added to warm the driver's cold hands, the K5 adds a new feature called Biocare seats. These new seats summon some fresh air every time when you seat inside. This seating feature is similar to the Sportage R.

2011 Kia K5

The K5's packaging is truly rated XXX for excellence, exceptional, and experience. It has the K7's welcome system that allows the car to open by itself once the owner is approaching the K5. It even has the active eco assist to increase fuel efficiency when cruising on the long and winding road. In addition, paddle shifters are added on the K5 for agile shifting on the run, giving this medium sedan the thrill of the sports car. For safety, the K5 has a list of features such as the lane departure warning system, side airbags, and vehicle dynamics control. The K5 has two different engine variants to choose from;a 2.0L engine with the power output of 165PS and the fuel economy of 13.0km/L and the high-end GDI 2.4L (found on the YF Sonata) with added 36PS of power output and the same fuel economy of 13.0km/L.

My thoughts about the K5:
Slated for Korean launch the same day as Peace Walker arrives this April 29, and soon in the world market, the K5 is not only the Korean medium sedan that is coming to us, only the desire for revenge that tickle a driver's vanity. Actually, I like the rear view of the K5 because it is more of a charm than the YF Sonata is. The present-generation Samsung SM5 seems primitive to tickle one's vanity, but this machine is burning with passion of becoming the top of the Korean medium sedan battle. This car is rated M for majestic.


Photo: Kia Motors America (U.S. Spec Version shown, Korean specification car may vary)

Heavens Divide / Koi No Yokushi Ryoku

This is the Metal Gear series' first character song CD made for those who want to experience both the Peace Walker theme song and the series' first character song made possible by Nana Mizuki, the Japanese CV of Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker's leading lady, Paz Ortega Andrade. This Maxi Single CD was out since Wednesday, April 7, the day when the final specifications of MGSPW were out, preparing for Asia's April 29 release and international version's June release.

Two words to describe this maxi single CD; tender but powerful. The first track in this maxi single CD, Heavens Divide, sung by Donna Burke, is sounded more like Calling to the Night, the ending theme from Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops, but the tone is relaxing at first and energetic all the way to the end of the song. That is why, I consider the song, Heavens Divide, as one of my favorite video game songs in my life. Take note that this song will be included in the Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker OST, coming next week. And now, after talking about Heavens Divide, it is now time to talk about the series' first character song. (Yay!)

The song, Koi No Yokushi Ryoku (which means love's deterrence in Japanese), adds something not only for MGS fans, but fans of Nana Mizuki, the popular seiyuu behind Fate Testarossa from Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha series, Moka Akashiya from Rosario+Vampire, Colette from Tales of Symphonia, and Hinata Hyuuga from Naruto series. It follows the same way as Heavens Divide, tender at first and energetic all the way. You might consider why because it sounded like one of Nana Mizuki's songs such as Phantom Minds, Trickster, Silent Bible, and others, because this is truly addicting in the ears of fans considering the number seven as their favorite number. (Because "nana" is seven in Japanese) It is just like what others said, Nana Mizuki's voice is too sexy for Paz Ortega Andrade. For those who want to hear this massive treat from Peace Walker, this maxi single CD is recommended not just for Metal Gear fans, but for the fans of Nana Mizuki as well. (I'm sure when the English-speaking members of S.C. Nana Net, the Nana Mizuki fan club, reading this blog, he or she will jump through the music store to buy this CD and listen it over and over until its nap time)

THIS TRULY THE BEST SONG YOU WON'T FIND IT ANYWHERE ELSE!

I'LL GIVE KOI NO YOKUSHI RYOKU A MASSIVE THUMBS-UP, SEVEN TIMES IN A ROW! YAY!


Limited Edition: There is a limited edition of this Maxi Single CD. It features an alternate cover of Paz Ortega Andrade (voiced by Nana Mizuki in the Japanese version of MGSPW and Tara Strong in the international version of MGSPW) which others find it amusing.

Aston Martin Rapide

2011 Aston Martin Rapide

The premier British supercar manufacturer, Aston Martin, famous for the cars shown in James Bond movies such as the DB5 from Goldfinger, V12 Vanquish from Die Another Day, and the DBS from two Bond movies, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, has just unleashed the brand's first four-door machine. This machine is blessed with the Bond spirits that brings its Porsche Panamera rival into shallow grave, and this is Aston Martin's ultimate masterpiece in the epitome of the premium sedan category. The Rapide was born.

Even this British car manufacturer creates Bond machines, this brand reveals its firsts to bring Aston Martin fans some twists and turns, just like Bond movies filled with some twists and turns, such as the Toyota iQ-based Cygnet compact, and for the Rapide, you can compromise that this premium sedan is the perfect prop for the upcoming Bond movie. (Hope that current Bond actor, Daniel Craig, might have a fistful of fistfights on this one)

Despite the Rapide is a four-door coupe, the spirit of the James Bond machine lives on, thanks to its design DNA that is truly the heart and soul of the brand that made vehicles reserved by Her Majesty's Secret Service. For many years of hard work done by the engineers, especially tested on the Death Valley to Kuwait, the Rapide possesses as rapid-fire performance only a true Bond star might impress on his missions. Powered with the 6.0L V12 engine, the Rapide boasts almost 500PS of power and achieve regulated top speed of 303km/h, with the 5.3 second split time from the 0-100km run. However, the Rapide's top speed could not catch up against the Porsche Panamera Turbo's top speed, (Because the Panamera Turbo can reach 4.2 seconds on the 0-100km/h run) but despite its disadvantage, the Rapide weighs less than the Panamera, thanks to the use of its lightweight materials used in this premium 4-door coupe. A six-speed automatic Touchtronic II transmission is equipped on the Rapide, providing this sports car less impact on its frugal fuel economy.

For the edge-of-your-seat excitement for the big men, the Rapide is armed with the finest rear entertainment system. This system fulfills most of its qualities only executives want to relax on the long and winding road. With Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, the Rapide utilizes realistic sound and quality compared to a live performance. Once more, you can watch your favorite DVD movies such as Transformers, Final Destination, ID4, Saw, 2012, and Titanic, with its rear monitor mounted behind the front seats, with clearer picture than other premium sedans. For added fun, wireless headphones are placed on the Rapide, giving the word "listening time" to the next dimension.

My thoughts about the Rapide:
What really needs for Aston Martin's first four-door coupe is to have Daniel Craig get behind the wheel on enemy territory. For me, what I will put on the Rapide's wish list is the motion seeking missiles, rapid-fire machine guns, smoke screens, nitrous oxides, and every fancy gadget as I saw on other Bond movies. As for the Rapide, the true spirit of the legendary British spy lives on. It is perfect to rescue the dames from the evil masterminds' plot to destroy humanity. Maybe men like us has the James Bond inside of our hearts, and the Aston Martin Rapide truly has the heart and soul of the two-door Bond cars inside.

How Lokomoko got evolved....

Back in 2008, when ABC5 has just renamed it into TV5, the funny word Lokomoko was added in the Philippine comedy vocabulary and it hams some fun among viewers who wanted to laugh out all night.

At its first installment, Lokomoko was just a teen version of Wow Mali. Of course, there are lots of teen stars poking more fun than other Pinoy comedy gag shows in just a split hour.

Then, in 2009, Lokomoko evolved into Lokomoko High, the show's second installment. With the roster of stars like Alex Gonzaga, Valeen Montenegro, Randolph Stamatelaky, Kim Gantioqui, Cara Eriguel, Empoy, Long Mejia, Caloy Alde, and others, this second installment takes the word "gag" to the next level.

With spoofs from other shows, twisted sketches, ROFL-prone gags, and music video parodies, I can say that Lokomoko High is always a part of fans like me.

And now, April 2010, as part of TV5's new "Kapatid" campaign, and the roster of all new TV5 shows, Lokomoko High is now evolved into Lokomoko U, the third installment of the Lokomoko series. It follows the same humor as Lokomoko High, but the cast has now revised into the following:

1. Alex Gonzaga (returning)

2. Empoy (returning)

3. Rainier Castillo (new entry, he was a Kapuso from GMA7)

4. Valeen Montenegro (returning)

5. Ynna Asistio (new entry)

6. Dianne Medina (new entry)

7. Tuesday Vargas (new entry)

8. JC De Vera (new entry? or returning?)

9. Caloy Alde (returning)

10. Luningning, Milagring, and Mariposa (ex-Wowowee dancers make a new entry to this show)

Let's not forget the Voyz Avenue! They are making a comeback to this third installment!

When I watched its pilot episode, all I can see was, a talented family, cabinet members, sound of silence, Tuesday with her puppet friend, Monday (played by Rainier), Master Showdown (?), and the spoof of some K-Pop song called Oh, by Girls Generation, with some funny Tagalog lyrics. My reaction was still it has the same Lokomoko puns, funny enough to tickle me into ROFL-ness.

Lokomoko U airs on TV5 every Wednesday at 8:00PM

READ BEFORE CHEWING YOUR ACUO GUM!!!

As you may know, the Lotte Acuo gum Japanese commercial with handsome Japanese actor, Ikuta Toma, it's great to say that fresh breath is the best way for this gum.

Now, what if they mix something up for this ad. In a recent Lotte Acuo ad aired in Japanese TV sets, with Ikuta Toma again, they placed three very special guests for this commercial (if you manage to hold your fresh breath while getting close to a woman), the three girls from the hit anime, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya! (There's Mikuru, Haruhi, and Nagato on this ad. but how?)

In this ad, we saw Ikuta Toma chewing a piece of Acuo gum, he just saw something at the boutique. The boutique clerk said that it was already out of stock, but when Toma-san blows his fresh breath, the clerk turn into Mikuru!? Then, the manager appeared and warned him not to turn everyone into anime characters. Toma blows again his fresh breath while apologizing to the manager, then she turned into Haruhi! Toma panicked and running away from the boutique and he encounters three cats in the alley, but Toma's fresh Acuo breath turned three hapless cats into three Yuki Nagatos! Well, that's about it. ROFL

Be careful men. When you are chewing a piece of Lotte Acuo gum, best to hold your ridiculously fresh breath, when you are near a girl. Once she smells your fresh Acuo breath, she will turn into a Mikuru, Haruhi, or Nagato.

It just happened ever since the success of the latest Haruhi movie, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, that was been showing in theaters since February, and caused a sensation among otakus. Even with the movie's success, remember to best keep your fresh Acuo breath discreetly from the women from your radius. Otherwise, you might get an unhealthy dose of "Haruhi-ism".