Audi A1

Attempting to recreate the web movie "The Next Big Thing,” starring Justin Timberlake, by yourself with the new Audi A1 is just one thing why you really like this hottest hatch built for the next big thing, but doing that is just the beginning.

Following several months of research and development from Volkswagen Group's luxury marque, nobody does it like how the Audi A1 made exclusively for the next big thing in Europe. At its first glance, the exterior of the A1 seems perfectly well designed but stubby as it looks. There could be a love-hate decision on the A1's decent design but it depends on what would their reactions be. It can be set by a single color or dual-tone to make the A1 look at its best appearance.




Following from its stubby exterior is the stylish interior. What you will experience from the A1's interior is its stylish two-tone seats. There are eight interior colors to choose from including the wasabi green interior, which gives a strong and spicy taste just how you taste the wasabi and retreat to drink plenty of water.

The Audi A1 features a wide array of engines only suitable for the next big thing. From the 1.4 TFSI engine that has 122PS of power output, and the 1.6 TDI diesel engine with the lowest carbon dioxide emission of 103 g/km, the A1 was made to be the next big compact car without sacrificing performance. It even has a choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or an S-tronic transmission. The A1 is also equipped with ESP for good stability that is suited for the next big thing.

My thoughts about the A1:
After watching all six-web episodes of The Next Big Thing with Justin Timberlake, and if you manage to get your hands on the Audi A1, then you are ready to recreate the entire Next Big Thing story by yourself, if you are in a safe environment, the lady, the bad guys, and the adventure you have on this compact.

Considering its stubby appearance, fashionable interior, powerful engine, and a budget worthy contender in this category, the A1 is a quick fire thing that makes us begging to PGA Cars to distribute it so we can do The Next Big Thing - Pinoy Version. The base A1's pricing can be cheaper than the Mini Cooper, but expensive than the Citroen DS3. When it lands in the Philippines, trust me, it would be an overpriced compact with just 2-3 million pesos. Only a bunch of UAAP players would try it for its looks and performance.

Fiat 500C Abarth

Just when you thought that the Fiat 500 with the canvas-top roof, called the 500C, was not surprising enough to satisfy your hunger for European compact cars, hey guess what, the sportier Fiat 500 Abarth gets armed with the canvas top, and it’s called the Fiat 500C Abarth!

This Abarth-tuned 500C is a great getaway car when you were a kidnapper, a most-wanted criminal, a husband getting away from his hotheaded wife, escaping from your boss, or you just want to play with this pocket rocket. As a special treat, the 500C Abarth allows you to color it by a single color or two-tone coloring to mix and match your style for this miniature weapon. It really captures the attention of the 500C Abarth's striking personality when racing amateurs come approaching to this majestic premium compact sports car.

The 500C Abarth is not the Abarth without the turbocharged 1.4L engine that has the power output of 140ps/5000rpm and the torque output of 18.4kgm / 4500rpm. Even when both the 500 Abarth and the 500C Abarth can accumulate a top speed of 205 km/h, the 500C's 0-100km runtime is 8.1 seconds, meaning it is slower than the 500 Abarth's 7.9 second run, but you might get a hang of it later when you want to tune that Italian mobster around.

There is one thing I am not quite familiar of, the paddle shifters armed on the 500C Abarth, this is a quick fire thing not recommended for a novice racer. These paddle shifters are recommended for a highly skilled racer to learn the basics of when or where to shift gears by means of speed, corners, and everything from the city streets, highway, or the racetrack.

My thoughts about the 500C Abarth:
If you are not familiar about the Abarth name, sad to say, do not try pushing your luck trying on this car, but if you are an Abarth fan, feel free to enjoy the 500 Abarth with the canvas top armed and ready to blow your minds, showing the mafia who is their father. This 500C Abarth is a quick fire thing that makes you feel like a true-blooded mafia ready to take down some rival mafia men by whatever means necessary. I am sure this is such a winner that we want Fiat back in the Philippines, if CATS Motors takes the distributive rights for the Fiat brand, so we might be able to experience the car we made ourselves drooling with jealously.

Pooyan this, Pooyan that, Heryan, Pooyan Mission!

Guys! Does anyone who loves video games remember some classic video game called Pooyan?

If you know what Pooyan is, there's a clip:



It's a game where you must shoot arrows to some balloon-hanged wolves trying to snatch your baby pigs. Well, of course, you know this old-age video game right?

Some might consider, the classic Pooyan is pooling in some Konami games like this:

On the left is some Nintendo DS game called Hayate No Gotoku! Ojousama Produce Daisakusen (日本名: ハヤテのごとく! お嬢様プロデュース大作戦 ボク色にそまれっ!) The second Hayate No Gotoku game for the Nintendo DS sold in Japan. As you may know, there are two versions of this game. Both versions let players have Nagi Sanzenin, Maria, and Hinagiku Katsura. However, the Oyashiki Hen (Mansion Version) lets you have Isumi Saginomiya, Sakuya Aizawa, Wataru Tachibana, and Saki Kijima (unlockable character when you're done), while the Gakkou Hen (School Version) allows you to have Yukiji Katsura, Ayumu Nishizawa, Izumi Segawa (the leader of the Hakuo Three Amiga), and Hermione Ayasaki (which is odd that person is Hayate Ayasaki but its an unlockable character when you're finished with this version).

In some part of this game, you (as Hermione) will play their version of the Pooyan game called, Heryan. In that mini-game, you will have to shoot some arrows through the balloon clinged Tama(s), otherwise Tama will start...ugh.. how can I say it politely.... you! Happen this three times or when the time is up, its game over! Once you're done, depending on your performance, you will gain goodies to raise your character.

Now, you guys know how does Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker feels like, right? There is also an extra ops mission called "Pooyan Mission". (Ugh, here goes the Pooyan reference!) Shoot the balloons that abduct soldiers before it reaches the sky! Fail three times and it's game over!

Got it?

Enjoy the Pooyan memory!

My PW First Impressions

A week ago after I bought the latest Metal Gear title called Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker (日本名：メタルギアソリッド：ピースウォーカー), of course what did I expect about this awesome addition to the legendary stealth action game that made it one of Konami's flagship titles...

To put up on this, sneaking missions can be easy or difficult, depending on which equipment you had and how your fellow player acts... Even when going solo, I can still take out the enemy leader without killing him and capture the armored vehicle, tank or helicopter I've encountered. I wonder if some guys doing Co-ops doing the same method as I am, no kills, enough Fulton recovery for each player, and the right equipments.

As you and I succeed, the missions getting more tougher and tougher, meaning you need more researched weapons and equipment essential to various missions, including Extra Ops.

As you progress the game, you can build the ultimate MG-ZEKE and use it on Outer Ops. To do this, you need to fight three AI weapons such as the Pupa (easy as pie), Chrysalis (too easy or too hard), and the Cocoon (extremely hard). As Huey says, try to leave parts intact.

The Peace Walker battle is far out to be the most difficult battle in this game. In your first encounter (in two leg form), this is easy to beat, unless you have enough supply marks and strike marks. The second, and mostly the last, battle (in four-leg form) is truly the most extreme battle you'll ever face, unless you need some co-ops with other players. Going solo is extremely hard, but in co-ops, you can take out of this "el basilisco" once and for all.

I'm sure I am truly addicted to this game. I handled several challenges, from sneaking various areas, doing some no-alert and no-kills, kick some AI Weapon butts, capture vehicles, surviving the dreaded torture from Dr. Strangelove, going through the final battle, then after completing the game; searching Zadornov (Galvez's real name) from his hiding spots, and rematch Pupa, Chrysalis, and Cocoon to gain essential MG-Zeke Parts. I like Cecile's imitation quetzal sounds, in some mission where you will retrieve the right ID card from a mercenary with some quetzal sounds nearby.

I am truly recommend this game for those who love it.

Say Peace!

The New Saab 9-5

Since Spyker bought the Saab brand from General Motors during the Global Financial Crisis, and Spyker reinvigorates the Swedish brand, we can see that Saab is the "Militaires Sans Frontieres (Soldiers Without Borders)" of the automobile industry, and the second-generation Saab 9-5 is their outer heaven or so we love to call it.



Once they call it a "phoenix rose from the ashes", we call it the Outer Heaven of Sweden, since Spyker Cars resurfaced the near-death Swedish car brand. Slated to be on sale this year, the new 9-5 proves to its Scandinavian brothers how worthy to be called a soldier without borders. To examine the true phantom beauty of the Saab 9-5, the exterior combines the aptitudes of the sports car and the luxury car to become the perfect sedan that has everything the potential men have to try it.

The interior has a commanding presence that is well suited for a well-mannered executive who are out from their mother bases, I mean, their businesses from day to night. The cockpit is designed to be more combat-ready, like how Saab dedicated to produce fighter jets, thanks to its heads-up-display, optional navigation system, instrumental clusters, and climate control. There is also an available rear seat entertainment system to cool down stressed executives, great for those who want to watch some war movies or even listen to some classical songs tempted to ease out their war stress.

Straight in the eyes of an car enthusiast, the new 9-5 offers several engines to choose from, such as the 2.0L turbodiesel engine, 2.0L turbo engine, and the flagship 2.8 V6 engine. There might be an 1.6L turbo engine and the 2.0-litre BioPower E85 engine available soon. Most 9-5 variants are six-speed semi-automatic equipped but do not let your boss caught you playing with the paddle shifters! The new 9-5 may come with an optional Saab XWD for the best all-wheel-drive experience.

My thoughts about the 9-5:

Can you declare Spyker Cars a heaven or hell for Saab? Its neither heaven nor hell, its Outer Heaven for Spyker Cars gaining ownership for Saab and the true meaning of Militaires Sans Frontieres would be right under the Big Boss of Saab Spyker Cars, Victor Muller himself. The new Saab 9-5 makes a formidable foe against its potential rivals such as the Nissan Fuga, Kia K7, Toyota Crown and Mark X, Lexus IS and GS, and the MB E-Class. It may also pick a fight against the new BMW 5-Series for its outer ops.

As expected, the new Saab 9-5 is worthy to be called a soldier without borders because it drives without borders.

The reasons how an automobile manufacturer disappears....

Hey car addicts,

As you realize, one of readers might question me that how does one carmaker dies?

In my opinion, there are numerous reasons how a single carmaker dies, and how it will affect owners of the cars built by the now-extinct brand...

1) Because of the economy

2) Because of sales

3) Because of some issues

4) Because they don't want it...

Just ask the American brands such as Plymouth, Eagle, Geo, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer and now, Mercury. These are the American car brands who already bitten the dust due to the severe economy, sales, and some different issues.

We are sure we are going to miss these car brands... even premature ones like the Pontiac Vibe, Pontiac G8, and the Mercury Milan Hybrid..... (sniff)

SEAT Ibiza ST

Rewind back at the 2009 IAA from Frankfurt, Germany, and when you step nearby to the Seat IBZ Concept Car, it made other enthusiasts triggered many questions that could that be the Sport Tourer variant of the Seat Ibiza. In reality, this is the Seat Ibiza ST, which is recently unveiled at the 2010 International Auto Show in Geneva, Switzerland. Based on the fourth-generation Ibiza, this new addition to the Ibiza range, consisting of the regular, FR, and Cupra, is built for spacing purposes as European families brace themselves for the long summer vacation, meaning they are ready for more fun outside.

The Ibiza ST is more of a stretched version of the Ibiza 5-door, just how Renault's Megane do for the estate variant. When it comes to pricing, the Ibiza ST's pricing is barely cheaper than the Renault Megane Estate, but as for the styling cues, we can give it to the Renault Megane Estate because it is more stylish than the Ibiza ST.

The Ibiza ST still retains the plain Ibiza interior, only this time, as a tourer, spacing is top priority for the Ibiza ST, but would that be enough for an European family to pack it all for the long summer vacation? In fact, it could have a possible chance to bring every summer vacation preparedness stuff and the kids before beginning the super-long weekend trip all over Europe.

The Ibiza ST has an array of Volkswagen-engineered engines available such as the entry level 1.2L engine, 1.4L engine, 1.2L TDI diesel engine, to the high-end 1.6L TDi CR engine. Choosing which engine type depending on performance, ecology, and style, can be a challenging task for the first-time buyer of the Ibiza ST, but only the customer can pick the right engine for the right journey. Depending on the variant, the Ibiza ST may get the following features necessary for their trip such as the Electronic Stability Program, Anti-Lock Braking System, rain sensor with anti-dazzling mirror, and tire pressure warning. You will be glad to have it on your European summer trip.

My thoughts about the Ibiza ST:
When the European summer is near, meaning European kids are getting out from school and parents packing up for the super-long weekend with the kids, the Ibiza ST is the perfect addition to the list of family movers needed to begin the long European summer excursion from town to town. Kids are going to enjoy playing "I spy" all over again while the Ibiza ST travels across the road from left, right, up, down, round and round. With the driving style seems too bland for the Ibiza ST, it is almost not so fun to drive with this grand touring sports wagon, unless if the Ibiza ST tries to make room against the Renault Megane Estate and the Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon. Glad if this is engineered for the European families preparing for the super-long vacation.