Famous J-Pop trio, Ikimonogakari, finally getting their own "best of" compilation album packed with the best songs handpicked by the members. Ikimonobakari ~Members Best Selection~ has all of your favorite Ikimonogakari songs such as Sakura, Koi Suru Otome, Akaneiro no Yakusoku, Kaeritaku Nattayo, Blue Bird, Kimagure Romantic, YELL, Joyful, Arigato, Kimi ga Iru, and more of your favorites. As an added treat, Ikimonogakari's new song, Kaze to Mirai, will be heard on the new Nissan Serena C26 Japanese TV commercial, is added to give not only Ikimonobakari fans, but also car enthusiasts a first chance to listen the new song of the new Nissan Serena as the Serena undergoes a complete eco model change!
Good to know that this song is added, so looking for that song of the new Nissan Serena is fun. This is a two-disc CD containing the best of Ikimonogakari.
When the fourth-generation Nissan March (built in Thailand) launched in Japan since July 2010, Nissan gave birth of the new range for eco-cars. This new range is called PURE DRIVE. Just what in the JDM world is Pure Drive?!
Pure Drive is Nissan's new range of fuel efficient cars, possessing qualities of a true eco car (a car that is fuel-efficient and eco-friendly) such as idling stop, clean diesel, and hybrid.
PURE DRIVE #1: Fourth-generation Nissan March K13
2011 Nissan March
The new, fourth-generation Nissan March (Micra in some markets), is destined to be a true eco-car in the JDM world, despite it was built from Thailand. The idling stop feature , new HR12DE engine, and XTRONIC CVT plays an important role to produce an outstanding fuel economy of 26.0km/L. For that, this is bound to be the first Pure Drive car equipped with idling stop. I can't wait for the new March to come to the Philippines as a competitor to the Suzuki Celerio.
PURE DRIVE #2: Nissan X-Trail Clean Diesel
2011 Nissan X-Trail 2.0GT
Much about the word Clean Diesel, the Nissan X-Trail Clean Diesel is equipped with the M9R engine that is turbocharged and diesel-fed but good for the environment. When the X-Trail Clean Diesel was launched in 2008, it offered in only one transmission, a 6-speed Manual, then in Summer 2010, Nissan added a 6-speed auto for the X-Trail Clean Diesel. The Nissan X-Trail 2.0GT Clean Diesel can go as much as 14.2 (6AT) to 15.2 (6MT). Hope that this will be a good addition to our lineup because this is diesel-fed and it can withstand the challenge led by diesel-fed SUVs
PURE DRIVE #3: Nissan Fuga Y51 Hybrid
2011 Nissan Fuga Hybrid
Nissan's first hybrid car that was now on sale in Japan and soon in other countries as the Infiniti M35 Hybrid. The Nissan Fuga Hybrid is equipped with the 3.5 V6 hybrid engine that has a fuel economy of 19.0km/L. Compare this fuel efficiency to the Toyota Crown Hybrid and the Nissan Fuga Hybrid wins. This is the true opulent eco car built for the environment-conscious and wealthy people.
PURE DRIVE # 4: New Nissan Serena C26
2011 Nissan Serena
Most JDM minivans are going to be upset because the new Serena C26 is equipped with the new MR20DD direct-injection engine combined with idling stop (found in the March K13) and XTRONIC CVT, providing an opulent fuel efficiency of 15.4km/L! Good enough to outperform the likes of the Noah, Voxy, StepWGN, or even the StepWGN Spada, unfortunately the new Premacy outperforms the new Nissan Serena C26 in the performance side. A very good eco van we wish to have it to the Philippines because this is even greater than the Yulon-built C24 Serena we had.
These are the cars of the Nissan Pure Drive range. In the future, Nissan will release more eco cars straight from the Pure Drive range and who knows eco cars are over the future.
The Nissan Serena, as far as I know, was a family-safe minivan built by Nissan since its debut as the Vanette Serena in 1991, then the Serena followed a full change in 1999 as the Serena C24 (currently sold in Taiwan and in the Philippines). In 2005, the Nissan Serena underwent to a full model change, dubbed the Serena C25 (never forget that Suzuki has one of these as the Landy). I cannot believe why we did not have this model. Now, things are going to change differently as 2010 marks the change of Japan's best-selling minivan. Ladies and gentlemen, here's your 2011 Nissan Serena C26.
2011 Nissan Serena
The new Nissan Serena C26 is now even eco-friendlier than its predecessor, which means it's better than the best. The only oddity is, the exterior of the Nissan Serena C26 is much more of an upgraded C25 with the front view similar to the Ford Fusion. Anyway, the Nissan Serena comes in three various forms; the base variant (20G, 20S, 20X), the high-end Highway Star, and the Autech-modified Serena Rider (now in C26 basis).
2011 Nissan Serena Rider
Most Serena C26 variants are equipped with the new MR20DD direct injection engine (much like Hyundai's GDi 1.6L engine, even better) that produces 147PS of power output and the fuel economy of 15.4km/L! The Serena C26's fuel efficiency toppled the fuel efficiency of rival minivans such as the Toyota Noah and Voxy, or even the Honda StepWGN and StepWGN Spada, but its fuel efficiency was not enough to topple the likes of the third-generation Mazda Premacy. To achieve its true eco status, the Nissan Serena comes equipped with the idling stop system and XTRONIC CVT. A new eco meter is added to ensure the C26's status as well as its driving condition and fuel economy. As far as I can see, the Nissan Serena is the fourth kind of the Nissan Pure Drive range consisting of the new Nissan March K13, Nissan X-Trail Clean Diesel, and the recently launched Fuga (Infiniti M) Hybrid.
2011 Nissan Serena interior
A major change in the interior can be an intriguing fact, but the Serena C26's family-safe status is a sure thing to keep a Japanese family entertained for more. By the way, the Serena C26 is just like the new Premacy, it's a 6+1 seater thanks to the middle seat on the 2nd row that can be folded as a armrest, a multi-table, or as a tissue box. There are 14 seating arrangements offered for the new Serena, finding which suits your situation is a good fit for this minivan. Good to know that some features found in the Nissan Elgrand E52 are passed on the Serena C26 such as the one-touch auto slide door, panoramic roof, 11-inch rear-view monitor, a sunshade roll, and an extra compartment at the rear. It seems friendly that this one is cheaper than the behemoth Elgrand E52.
My thoughts about the Serena:
This new Serena is even more better than the Yulon-built C24 Serena we have in the Philippines because not only the Serena has the sense of style, or even it had some of the features from the Alphard-killing Elgrand, but also it has the same idling stop technology derived from the latest Nissan March. It's like the Elgrand and March all fused into one. It comes in eight colors; Solid White, Brilliant White Pearl, Brilliant Silver Metallic, Blade Silver Metallic (available in base variants), Super Black, Natural Herb Metallic (new color, only available in base variants), Steel Blue Metallic (found in Juke 16GT) and Aurora Mauve Multiflex (available in Highway Star). It seems the high-end Highway Star variant will be put customers under its spell, but the Serena Autech Rider can be a fitting choice for hardcore minivan enthusiasts. The best-seller has got even more...better!
When legendary Toyota test driver, Hiromu Naruse, died in a car crash, where the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition prototype and a BMW sedan crashed face to face, it seems most JDM Toyota fans will never forget such a tragic event happened. His death was a huge lost to Toyota Motor Corporation, when this automaker was still in recall crisis.
Every JDM Toyota fans from around the globe will always remember Mr. Hiromu Naruse as a master test driver, and even a mentor to them. He was the man responsible to give birth of our ever favorite Toyota sports cars.
For that, Toyota Motor Corporation (company behind the Toyota and Lexus models) made a special tribute clip as a salute for the Nur-meister.
As always...
NEVER FORGET
Nur-Meister
The spirit of Toyota sports cars will live on just when the Lexus LFA comes.
Here we go again! As I keep on hearing the noise coming out on modified Hondas such as the Civic, Prelude, Accord, Fit, NSX, or Integra (Acura RSX), it seems my favorite hybrid car, the Honda CR-Z got tuned for SEMA 2010!
Time to get my earplugs on because these modified CR-Z Sport Hybrids from the SEMA 2010 are sure enough to blow some super noisy sounds straight from the muffler!
This November 6 episode of Banana Split goes like this:
- Fresh bash of showbiz news straight from Balitang Siksik Showbiz Edition
- Jokes at Boracay, include, riding on the yacht, at the dance bar, and at the beach
- The crazed masseur, Rizza Masahista (RR Enriquez) , strikes back! As if, strikes the back of Jayson Gainza 'till his body is covered in sand!
- Angelica Panginiban, as Badaphne, visits a safari-themed room on the Urban Zone spoor, Uban Zone. When she visits some bathroom, which has a tiger on it, Badaphne attacked by a tiger!
- Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco, that's Melason to you and me, in the tattoo parlor. Something wrong? Melason rewinds it back to you! (Yep, Melason tandem is the funniest tandem)
- The boys visit D'Mall, Boracay, for some dances
- John Prats, as Kuya Keem, in "Mga Shorts ni Kuya Keem (Mutanglawin Trivia)", explains more on sunblock. Can sunblock be also used on the fishes?
- The most ridiculous stuff to do are featured in the segment called "Ang O.A. Mo!" Some stupid stuff that is OA include, surfing on the log, lifeguard at the kiddie pool, and yelling if you were hurt but henna tattoo is placed without the sting.
Guess we may never going to get this special joy because the joy of the special-edition Z4 is for Japanese consumers only and its limited to just 15 units. Luckily we might be able to have one of these thanks to Forza 3.
BMW Z4 "Silver Top" on Forza Motorsport 3
See what I mean? A BMW Z4 Silver Roof made by leopauldelrosario on Forza Motorsport 3, to replicate the look of the Japan-only BMW Z4 Silver Top limited edition. It's obvious that Forza fans can replicate everything they saw!
Pricing of the BMW Z4 Silver Top limited edition costs around 5,590,00 Yen (about below $50,000 or 6,850,000 Pesos, not that accurate, but depends on the import tax) and its limited to just 15 units.
