Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Nissan Leaf's first epic fail!

Some blogger in Japan showed us a clip of the Nissan Leaf's first epic fail!

EPIC FAIL! If you guessed it....

It happened at the testing grounds of Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery during the new action tour sponsored by Nissan to promote not just the Leaf, but new fuel-efficient cars suitable for the environment.

World's first Leaf crash makes history. EPIC FAIL for Nissan's first electric car coming soon to the world market.




At least no one got hurt.

This goes to the history as the world's first Nissan Leaf crash happened at the testing grounds of Nissan Global Headquarters Gallery.

Video uploaded by goldstorehouse

The sportier side of Toyota iQ

Toyota iQ Go

           
At the end of August 2010, Toyota Motor Corporation just unveiled the sportier side of the super-small compact car known as the Toyota iQ.

Called the iQ→ (iQ Go), this iQ boasts a sporty front side and offers the same choice of a 1.0L and 1.3L engine.

For the first time, the manual version of the iQ→ (iQ Go), available in November 2010, will offer Toyota's first Smart Stop system. This is the first time Toyota's offering a manual-tranny car with the idling stop system. The fuel economy of the iQ→ (iQ Go) goes on about 23.5km/L. With that fuel economy, the iQ→ (iQ Go) will win over against the new Suzuki Swift ZC72S.

Geez, I hope Toyota Motor Philippines will bring not just the normal iQ, but also this sportier version called the iQ→(iQ Go).

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Honda Accord Inspire CP3 -Phase Two-

2011 Honda Accord Inspire


Upon the arrival of the fifth-generation Honda Inspire (known worldwide as the seventh-generation Honda Accord, not to be confused with the Honda Accord Euro sold in the North America as the Acura TSX) since the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show and sales started since the 2007 holiday season, it seems that some people are loyal to the Inspire's executive looks, premium interior, and the innovative 3.5L V6 i-VTEC engine with the world's first Variable Cylinder Management, which allows the engine to be automatically set to either 3, 4, or 6 cylinders, depending on the driver's driving tastes.

In late August 2010, the Honda Accord Inspire gained a minor change to be more elegant, more beautiful, more luxurious, and more fuel-efficient than its pre-facelift predecessor. On the front, the Accord Inspire received a new face that looks similar to the US-only Honda Accord Coupe, providing an aggressive stance on Honda's flagship medium-sized vehicle. On the back, the Accord Inspire rear lamps getting minor improvements. The Inspire's rims have changed too. On the inside, the Honda Accord Inspire has faux wood paneling all over to further improve its modest status for the customers.

There are four available options to choose from;

1) Regular Package which features front-seat side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags, front seat Active Head Rest, VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) + TCS (Traction Control System), discharge headlamps, front fog lamps with auto light control, rain-sensing wipers, power seats, power steering, LED door mirror winker, instrumental cluster, telescoping steering wheel, rear sunshade, cruise control, steering audio switch, Honda Smart Key System with Immobilizer, Intelligent Dual Full Auto Aircon, available Honda HDD Internavi System, USB Jack, Active Noise Control, DVD/CD/AM/FM Player, and six speakers.

2) Leather Interior features everything from the regular package with two leather color choices; ivory or black. A front seat heater is added to give warmth to the passengers on cold nights.

3) Advance Package features everything from the regular package with Adaptive Cruise Control and Adaptive Collision Mitigation Brake + Seat Belt

4) The fourth package of the Inspire combines all three packages into one, providing this car with complete options to be more luxurious for the semi-wealthy.

My thoughts about the Inspire:
With the fuel economy of the Honda Accord Inspire CP3 raised from the previous 9.8km/L to 9.9km/L, there's still nothing special about the latest minor facelift for the Honda Accord Inspire. New look, same features. That's how I can explain more about the latest facelift for the CP3 Inspire. With the facelift now on sale in Japan since late August, could Honda Cars Philippines have a chance to bring the newly redesigned Inspire here to the Philippines? The Honda Inspire is the leading target of cars such as the Hyundai Grandeur, Kia K5, Subaru Legacy B4, Mazda Atenza/6, and even the Toyota Camry.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Hmm... that's weird...

Back in 2009, when spending so much watching Japanese TV commercials, Toyota Motor Corpotation brought in Seishiro Kato, a cute and talented Japanese child star, as the cutest spokesperson for Toyota TV commercials, adopting the commercial role "Kodomo Tencho" (こども店長), a child dealer, to promote eco-car tax breaks and incentives on eco-friendly Toyota models, in case someone in Japan know more about the wonders of what JDM enthusiasts called the "Eco-car genzei" system.



So "kawaii" for a Japanese child star taking position as the spokesperson for Toyota, promoting the "eco-car genzei" on all eco-friendly Toyota models.

OK...OK...

On the first half on 2010, moments after Volkswagen overtaken Toyota Motor Corporation as the world's largest automobile manufacturer, the Japanese division of Volkswagen got something on their records, keeping Volkswagen sales in Japan up and running with the benefits of the "eco-car genzei" system.

Want to take a guess for Volkswagen Group Japan's biggest "eco-car genzei" tactic approach?

Take a look...



Volkswagen Group Japan's tactic to promote eco-car tax breaks on most fuel-efficient Volkswagens is to bring in Asami Himeka, also one of Japan's most popular child stars, and hey, that trick sure works well.

Hmm... wait, I saw that child star on a commercial of some Nintendo DS game from Konami, titled "Utacchi!"



Looks like some Japanese consumers going to think twice which side are they on. This looks interesting...

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Heiwa to Kazuhira no Blues - What is it all about?

I saw something added on the line-up of MGSPW items:


If I look down on that page, I noticed that Peace Walker will have a Drama CD as what Hideo Kojima announced earlier that month. It's not just a Drama CD, they'll also have two character songs included, plus BGMs never before released in the Original Soundtrack.

Two character songs will be led by Akio Otsuka (as Snake) and Tomokazu Sugita (as Kazuhira "Kaz" Miller), so if you guys haven't heard of it, this will come out on this CD this fall.

Akio Otsuka, as Snake, will sing "Showa Blues" and Tomokazu Sugita, as Miller, will sing "Minato no Yoko Yokohama Yokosuka", making fans more interesting.

Hope I can pre-order that CD...


....Baklang Grasa once again...

Last night's Bubble Gang hit us with gags telling them "why did they stopped doing things in the bed?", a news report regarding some we called it "kontra sarili", how do soldiers say when one soldier is down, a little girl meets an orphaned little girl, abducted woman hiding in the closet (?), MoyMoy Palaboy and Roadfill gone heavy metal on IyoTube (please tell me what title of the song played on that segment), a puppet for a make-up, and some MMK-style drama.

On that night's episode, you've guessed it, another Oily and Greasy misfit in Baklang Grasa. In that part, Oily and Greasy compete in a beauty pageant (that is, oh come on, a pageant for beggars, LOL).

Guess Oily and Greasy never been funny than the highly intellectual beggars from "Muchas Grasas".

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Suzuki New Swift (ZC72S)

2011 Suzuki Swift (ZC72S)

Slated for Japanese sales this September, the sixth-generation Suzuki Swift (Third-generation in the JDM category) was made to be an honest eco-car not just for Japan, but also for the rest of Asian and European markets. While the Swift Sports variant is just an issue of the past, most Suzuki enthusiasts will have to make do with just the regular version. The Swift's exterior was just an improved look of the previous generation with the side view that is similar to the Nissan Juke. On the rear view, the new Swift achieved a sexier curve, leaving the Toyota Passo and the Nissan March wave their white flags because the new Swift's attractive design beats the odds of these Japanese compacts.

On the inside, the Swift uses the interior found on Suzuki's medium sedan, the Kizashi. Once you get inside on the new Swift, you might have a split-second decision which is which because the Swift's interior is similar to the Kizashi. Who knows, this Kizashi-style interior will be outfitted to future Suzuki models as we say it.

With its styling cues, the new Suzuki Swift comes with the breakthrough K12B engine that produces a power output of 91PS/6,000rpm and the torque output of 12.0kg・m/4,800rpm. When armed with the 5-speed manual, the fuel efficiency will be 21.0km/L but with the CVT equipped on the new Swift, the fuel efficiency reaches to an optimum 23.0km/L. Not bad for an eco-car, outwitting the fuel efficiency of the Toyota Passo, but not well enough to fight the Nissan March because its fuel efficiency is way beyond compare.

My thoughts about the Swift:
With this compact having just the decent details, and with the Swift Sports variant coming very very soon, this Swift was made to be a decent competitor to the new Toyota Passo and the new Nissan March. Think about it, will Suzuki Philippines bring the new Swift here? The answer has a 60:40 fold, it may or it may not come but this compact is a perfect alternative to the Toyota Yaris and the Honda Jazz (Fit in other countries). Oh the contrary, you do not need to show her how the Swift's paddle shifters work, because she knows how you handle the new Swift well. The new Suzuki Swift will be available in Japan this September and the rest of the world sometime.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation