The Revised VW Phaeton

Honestly, the flagship Volkswagen Phaeton sedan never became a huge hit in this category dominated by other premium sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Lexus LS, and the Audi A8. Now, things are going to change when the aging Volkswagen Phaeton entered its new phase, that is, a minor facelift that will shape things up for this flagship of Volkswagen.

The only thing changed on the Phaeton's front view is the grille based on Volkswagen's design DNA by Walter De Silva. However, this new trademark grille was not quite a fitting for the Phaeton, but it shows off its straight character, giving it some sporty aura within reach. What has not changed in the revised VW Phaeton is the interior, it is still plain in the eyes of an executive, but still, it carries various features that fits royalty beyond quality. Once you sit inside, hospitality comes standard for the new Phaeton.

Under the hood, the Phaeton comes with either an entry-level 3.6 V6 engine, 4.2 V8 engine, or the top end 6.0 W12 engine. It also comes with the 3.0 V6, TDI engine that can be quite possibly a valuable diesel option for this premium sedan.

The Phaeton minor change comes with a wide variety of enhancements that suits well for the driver. First, there is Dynamic Light Assist that is an adaptive front lighting system that allows its lamps to turn where the steering wheel turns. Next, there is automatic distance regulation with front and side assist that keeps your driving on track for enhanced safety. Try experimenting with various features that suits the Phaeton's needs while taking a stroll in the famous European landmarks.

My thoughts about the Phaeton:
Most countries do not enjoy very much about the Volkswagen Phaeton, except China, where it enjoyed such success among Chinese executives. Just do not expect to see this facelift coming to the Philippines, when PGA Cars has a chance to return the Volkswagen brand soon.

The Phaeton is quite possibly a not-so-fun-to-drive in the eyes of a car aficionado, but the interior is a true fit for royalty, even if you are managed to spend 7 million pesos for this ride. The New Phaeton comes with either a 4-seater or a 5-seater variant, depending on which people can sit inside the VW Phaeton. If you were a politician, a business tycoon, an heir of a wealthy family, or a godfather of a mafia, you would think twice before taking a gander on the Phaeton's minor change.

Peugeot 308 GTi

It seems that the GTi's past is finally returned to scare its European rivals and show which hot hatch is built for deterrence. When Renault successfully returned the Gordini name and use the Renault Twingo Renault Sport and recently facelifted Clio (known in Japan as the Lutecia) Renault Sport for their Gordini spin-offs, Peugeot decided to revive the GTi (please note that it is Peugeot's GTi naming, not Volkswagen's) name via the high-performance version of the hard-hitting blockbuster from Europe, the Peugeot 308.

Destined to be locked-on by its rivals such as the SEAT Ibiza FR, Volkswagen Golf GTi, and the Renault Clio/Lutecia GT, the 308 GTi is not merely a cruise missile launched by the French Army but it has a heart of an officier subalterne (French for Junior Officer) which makes it a formidable choice among amateurs. With the base price of 26,900 Euros, which is pricier than the Renault Clio/Lutecia GT but affordable than the Volkswagen Golf GTi, how else can you expect more from this hot hatch built for excitement? To make it simple, the 308 GTi is powered with the standard turbocharged 1.6L, 200 PS, THP engine that covers the top speed of 237km/h and the split time of 7.7 seconds on a 0-100km run. Compare these stats with the Renault Clio/Lutecia GT and the 308 GTi say "you're such a loser" to its rival. The 308 GTi comes with a standard 6-speed manual transmission.

My thoughts about the 308 GTi:
Some things that were once disappeared may reborn in various forms. The GTi naming for Peugeot is finally reborn but not just in a form of an eccentric reason, but a reason to fight back in this economy. With this 308 GTi, this hot hatch is merely a good deterrent in the streets of Europe. It is merely to be known as "the return of the myth" since the GTi naming is back. With the JDM Civic Type R Sedan's disappearance, and the Type R Euro remains for one more chance, the 308 GTi can be a fair rival against the Honda Civic Type R Euro. It is not just made for fun, it is made for passion, if I do say so myself.

About Last Friday....

Last Friday's episode of Bubble Gang was a huge laugh-out with some gag who's pervert and slap it on his/her face, a doctor consulting with the high-blood patient, unlucky man, a drawing gets personal, TV shopping, recognized people, millionaire's club, killer surgeon, some pretty boy, and get this, another one of Yaya and Angelina's misfits in "Ang Spoiled". In this episode, Yaya babysits a baby while the baby's mother is away.

That's right. She said it all, "YOU'RE SUCH A LOSER!" LOL

Gotten myself jolly seeing these two appeared again on Bubble Gang!

WEE!!

Which sorbetes is better to buy at your grocery outlets?

Selecta Pinoy Sorbetes

Nestle Ice Cream Sorbetes

If my memory serves me correctly, these two spark a rivalry on which "Sorbetes in packs" are tasty, affordable, and fun for the whole family.

You probably saw the Pinoy Sorbetes commercial with Michael V from GMA's Bubble Gang. With the coconut milk added on these "sorbetes", it releases a real flavor that no other sorbetes ever tasted before. I'm sure I haven't tasted these yet, but believe me, this is the most delicious sorbetes you can't find it on the "sorbetero" roaming around the streets.

With Pokwang taking the lead as the TV commercial's image character, Nestle Ice Cream Sorbetes comes in different "sorbetes" flavors; tsoko peanut, ube, and keso. It costs P100, but not much fun to taste than Selecta Pinoy Sorbetes. It's a cheap buy but how can I say when I taste it?

Makes me wonder which of these two are "masarap" for the entire Filipino family, but you'll see....

Mayoi Neko Overrun Character CD Series

Nyaa! The feline fun of Mayoi Neko Overrun comes in four character CDs, courtesy of Geneon Universal Entertainment, each with their own version of the Mayoi Neko Overrun opening song, Happy New Nyaa, their own character song, and their own message to the listeners who had fun watching this fur-tastic anime about three girls in their feline-packed gags and humor.

Character CD #1 will lead by Fumino Serizawa (CV: Kanae Ito)


Character CD #2 will lead by Chise Umenomori (CV: Yuka Iguchi)


Character CD #3 will lead by Nozomi Kiriya (CV: Ayana Taketatsu)


Character CD #4 will lead by Otome Tsuzuki (CV: Satomi Sato)


My Comment: The character song, the different version of the Mayoi Neko Overrun opening theme, and their own messages to the fans will send them straight to the Stray Cats for their own personal tastes. Four Mayoi Neko Overrun Character CDs will render the fans go meow, or in Japanese, NYAAAN!!! If you have these four cat-related stuff, put those where they belong, in your anime music collection, nyan! Naughty girls are coming because there's more than meets the cat's eye!

Subaru Impreza XV

ack in 1995, Subaru released the crossover version of the first-generation Impreza, known as the Impreza Gravel EX (Express) that combines the ruggedness of the sport utility vehicle and the quality of a sports car. However, in 1997, it was discontinued, in favor of Subaru's first SUV, the Forester.

Subaru Impreza XV

This year, the rebirth of the Gravel EX is now in the form of the hatchback version of the Impreza, giving the unique attributes of a SUV and the sports car at the same time, suited for the down-to-earth adventurers. This crossover Impreza is named the Impreza XV.

Previewed at the Geneva Motor Show since March and now on sale in the Japanese market, the Impreza XV is the newest addition from the Impreza family, ranging from the hatchback, Anesis sedan, WRX STi hatchback, and the soon-to-be-released WRX STi sedan (coming next month). If you managed to come to the XV's exterior, it is familiar from the USDM Impreza Outback Sport, except the front grille that is almost similar to the latest BR9F Legacy Outback crossover. It also sports a roof rail and a side clothing to bring out its SUV look on this fresh new comer.

Two available engines are available for the Impreza XV, including the fuel efficient, approved for Japan car tax laws, 1.5L boxer engine that has a clean 17.6km/L of fuel economy. With this fuel economy, it will make the Mitsubishi RVR declare surrender, but not well enough to outclass the fuel efficiency of the Nissan Juke, even with the optional 2.0L boxer engine. When equipped with Subaru's trademark Symmetrical AWD, the Impreza XV can take you further from rain to shine, almost.

My thoughts about the Impreza XV:
To battle the Mitsubishi Outlander, you need the Subaru Forester for this operation. If you want to pick fights against the Mitsubishi RVR and the Nissan Juke, consider using the Impreza XV because this crossover version is a worthy contender to these rivals. The rebirth of the Gravel Express is quite obviously a topic regarding the release of the new Impreza XV, but how can the new XV suit enough for the adventurous drivers? Find out when you get behind the wheel of this active crossover.

Photo: Fuji Heavy Industries

The first recorded Lexus LFA crash in world history - WHAT THE FUDGE?!

Just what the fudge is going on around here? Just when we thought the Lexus LFA, coming soon worldwide, wows us with its majestic V10 performance, here's something that yells JDM fans "Anong nangyari?" or what happened?

First Lexus LFA crash in world history

Spotted in Germany, a prototype Lexus LFA crashed a BMW, with the result of the death of the chief test driver of Toyota Motor Corporation. We are not sure if that chief test driver was (cue the Semblance of Dualism music please) Hiromu Naruse, the man who hones our favorite Toyota sports cars.

This is surely to be the world's first LFA crash in world history, surely most Toyota fans will remember the Hiromu Naruse name in memory. Sniff... You won't regret how brutal is this crash but this is surely to be the biggest disaster of deterrence.

Without Naruse-sama, will the "FT-86 project" continue on? Would Toyota survive in the brink of the worldwide recall disaster?!

Ugh! Hope loyalists will try to spare their beloved Japanese car brand if they can. 

Read the article at:

http://www.examiner.com/x-8811-Detroit-Autos-Examiner~y2010m6d23-Lexus-LFA-onroad-testing-leaves-2-dead-2-injured

Best to cue the MGS4 Love Theme if we had time.... and leave it to the authorities to find out case to case.

Volkswagen Amarok

2011 Volkswagen Amarok

The Amarok name, which means wolf in the Inuit language, possesses predator-like attributes like the wolf hunting its prey, and the Volkswagen Amarok is the only predator that packs a punch from Europe, Africa, and South America.

Available as a double-cab only, the Volkswagen Amarok seems to be "macho" in the eyes of an entrepreneur. Could the Amarok be fair enough for the small business owner to take advantage of its rugged features? I guess not, but it depends on the entrepreneur's taste for business vehicles. Aside from being a business partner vehicle for the next generation of entrepreneurs, the Amarok makes a perfect gimmick trip friend that takes you places, even teenagers ready to bring their friends on their exciting adventures.

What can I say about the Amarok's interior? Well, for some reason, the interior seems to be OK for me, but it needs to be more luxurious to bring out its best. Therefore, the interior seems to be a bland mix of where you to look or where you want to relax, depending on your flavor. Imagine if I was an arms dealer, I would use the spacing on the Amarok to deliver military supplies to the troops, if you know what I mean.

The most difficult part to master on the Amarok is the standard 6-speed manual transmission, which means you are going to take things seriously to master the wolf within reach. The standard engine available for the Amarok is the Euro5-compliant, 2.0-liter BiTDi diesel engine with a power output of 163 PS. That engine has more power than the Toyota Hilux's 3.0L diesel engine, but would that be enough to outwit the Japanese pick-up trucks?

My thoughts about the Amarok:
The Amarok, when it reaches the Philippines, could be the most overpriced pick-up ever sold, because of the pricing that exceeds 3-4 million pesos, and it is more expensive than the Japanese pick-up trucks. This wolf will not be able to bring down the Japanese rivals by its pricing, but the performance side is the only main advantage for the Amarok. If you are really up for the challenge with the Amarok, make yourselves fine before challenging it. If you are with the Amarok, good luck trying it, the decision is in your entrepreneurship hands.

Can a Euro hatch beat a super fast car?

A few weeks ago, MINI has just issued a challenge against Porsche for a dead heat race, but not just any dead heat race, it's a grudge match between the Porsche 911 and the Mini Cooper S.

Question for car addicts is, can a lightweight sports hatch really beat the ultra-fast, ultra expensive German sports car in the American racetrack?

If you guys already know about these two, you probably know what that meant.

Watch the clip:

"IN THE END, PORSCHE BEAT MINI BY 2 SECONDS..."

How should they know? It's the speed that counts. It's impossible for an over 100 BHP compact to beat an over 300 BHP sports car! The only thing you can beat is the price itself! 

Oh well, you know how this grudge match at Road Atlanta ends...

Time to use the words of spoiled brat Angelina, if I already know this;

You're such a loser!

Joke lang po! Walang Personalan! Ha ha ha!

Coming back for round 2?!

Well, it had to happen, after To Aru Kagaku No Railgun (the spin-off from To Aru Majutsu No Index), ended since March 2010, the question leaves to the fans, even when they are listening to their Kagaku No Railgun Archives 1 and 2, and waiting for Archives 3 to arrive this 3rd quarter,

CAN WE BE AGAIN?!

Check this out:

http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/534263/blog/18175096/

As one Japanese blogger said, could that be it that the story that started it all, To Aru Majutsu No Index, returning for second round, or is it? Who knows, we think they, Index and Biribiri fans, know!

Bumping on the official site was this, as if they said, THEY WILL BE COMING BACK, as far as what the fans anticipate for this. Some guys said it will be on late 2010 or early 2011 to air this second season of the psychological action adventure (with comedy). 

Hope this will be more better than the first!

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.