MY OH MY! IDOLM@STER itashas of Toyota's Prius α (Alpha) and Vitz!

2012 Toyota Prius Alpha with IDOLM@STER itasha
(credit: DENGEKI ONLINE)

2012 Toyota Vitz 1.3F Smart Stop Package itasha edition
with IDOLM@STER's Makoto Kikuchi
(credit: DENGEKI ONLINE)

Auto Salon AMLUX Tokyo, the biggest shopping mall for all things Toyota, had showcased two IDOLM@STER itasha versions of the Toyota Prius α (Alpha) MPV and the third-generation Toyota Vitz/Yaris hatchback from October 22 to November 30, 2011.

For the IDOLM@STER itasha Prius Alpha, all the 765PRO girls are featured, but on the IDOLMASTER itasha Vitz, it only feautred Makoto Kikuchi, which is nice. These IDOLM@STER itasha versions of both the Prius Alpha and the Vitz really has hopes to reach the demographics between otakus and car enthusiasts alike.

Because the launch date of the Playstation3 version of THE IDOLM@STER 2 draws near, this title will stop at nothing to capture the biggest slice of it. We like these itashas...

Scoop: http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/419/419111/

Audi Q5 Hybrid

2012 Audi Q5 Hybrid

2012 Audi Q5 Hybrid interior

Audi's first hybrid crossover, the Q5 Hybrid, is a bonafide eco car that competes against the Lexus RX Hybrid and because this hybrid crossover has progressed, it has made to look better, feel better, and perform better than its Japanese rival. Why? The Audi Q5 Hybrid combines performance and economy because of the turbocharged 2.0L engine, the 8-speed tiptronic transmission, and the capability to go from 0-100kph in 7.1 seconds with the top speed of 225kph, unlike the Lexus RX Hybrid, which has a very redundant CVT, 3.5L V6 non-turbo engine, and the will to go from 0-100kph in 7.8 seconds with the top speed of 200kph. Benefited from its turbo engine equipped on the hybrid layout, the Audi Q5 Hybrid really is a progressed hybrid that takes on hybrid conventions that others found out to be dull, boring, and rubbish.

One of the subject, however, is the ecology. If the Lexus RX Hybrid has a combined fuel economy of 15.9km/L (6.3L/100km), the Audi Q5 Hybrid has a combined fuel economy of 14.5km/L (6.9L/100km), meaning that this Ingolstadt-based hybrid has a 1.4km/L gap behind the Fukuoka-made hybrid crossover. Also, the Audi Q5 Hybrid has a CO2 emissions of 159g/km, which is somewhat has a decent gap over the Lexus RX Hybrid's CO2 emissions of 145g/km. Even when both of them are Euro 5 compliant, these two have something good at these categories.

Okay, enough comparing with the Audi Q5 Hybrid against the Lexus RX Hybrid. This sounds a little bit complicating for the car enthusiasts who are looking for luxury hybrid crossovers. Let's see how to distinguish the differences between the Q5 Hybrid and the original Q5 in terms of exterior and interior. You might be easy enough to distinguish the Q5 Hybrid thanks to the "hybrid" badges on the side view and rear view, single-frame grille painted in high-gloss black, 19-inch wheels, and chrome exhaust pipes. On the interior, there is a different instrumental panel that says "charge", "efficiency", and "power" at the left side of the tachometer. With such differences, you are sure enough to know that this is the Q5 Hybrid.

Now for the color variation. The Audi Q5 Hybrid is available in 14 exterior colors such as Amethystgrau Metallic, Arktissilber Metallic, Cuvéesilber Metallic, Eissilber Metallic, Gletscherweiß Metallic, Mondscheinblau Metallic, Monsungrau Metallic, Monzasilber Metallic, Quarzgrau Metallic, Teakbraun Metallic, Daytonagrau Perleffekt, Granatrot Perleffekt, Lavagrau Perleffekt, and Phantomschwarz Perleffekt.

My comment:

It's so nice to see a turbocharged hybrid crossover like the Audi Q5 Hybrid because its philosophy is to combine ecology and performance on this hybrid crossover that performs well than the Lexus RX Hybrid but performance is what the Q5 Hybrid's good at because the Lexus RX Hybrid does quite well at the ecology side.

Photo: AUDI A.G.

YOUR NEXT LEVEL - GM Korea Chevrolet Malibu's TV ads

GM Korea's Chevrolet Malibu doesn't come out at the dealerships until early next month but GM Korea Company launched two new commercials for the Korean-spec Chevrolet Malibu, adapting the slogan "YOUR NEXT LEVEL" because this medium sedan has progressed to its world level.

With European engineering and dynamic Camaro cue design, the 2012 GM Korea Chevrolet Malibu really is an impressive medium sedan that competes against the Hyundai YF Sonata, Kia K5, and the Renault Samsung SM5. Of course, it doesn't arrive in North America until Spring 2012 as a 2013 model year, way after the Super Bowl season, but the all new Chevrolet Malibu is the first to arrive in South Korea this year. This eighth generation model marks its Korean debut courtesy of GM Korea Company as the replacement to the highly criticized Daewoo Tosca.

Because this was made in Bupyeong, South Korea, there is high hopes that this new model will come to the Philippines soon if The Covenant Car Company Inc. has the chance.

Speaking of which, I am familiar with that song played on this Korean Chevrolet Malibu (쉐보레 말리부) TV Commercial. The title is Sunday Morning by MAROON 5. That song was used on the Japanese Toyota Vitz commercial starring Rie Miyazawa.

Like this commercial song? Find it on itunes!

Feel like a kid again on Lokomoko

What just happened on the October 23, 2011 episode of Lokomoko?

- Playground gags

- The Merry Puppet Show hosted by a puppet who is not really a puppet, Mary Puppet!

The Merry Puppet Show

- Baby Talk! The babies are sputtering out some hilarious jokes.

- Dr. Long M.D. (Long Mejia) is back on his another case. This time, he deals with some guy (JC De Vera), whose favorite song was Anak.

- A Lokomoko drama titled Babuyan! Starring Eula Caballero as Angela, Long Mejia as Pedring, Tuesday Vargas as Milagro, Alwyn Uytingco as Ricardo, JC De Vera as Don Lucio, Valeen Montenegro as Donya Martha, Arci Munoz as Margaret, Rainier Castillo as Servando, and Daiana Menezes as Josefa.

- Whose Line Is It Anyhow?!

1) Pangtakip na lang ako lagi sa baho mo! - Pabango

2) Hindi ako nawawalan ng date - Kalendaryo

3) Kelan ba ako madidiligan? - Cactus

4) Lahat ng kanta ko hit! - Song Hits

5) Nilalayasan mo nalang ako kapag may nakuha ka ng pera sa akin - ATM Machine

6) Mas masarap akong kainin kapag walang buhok - Mais

7) Bakit natutuwa pa kayo tuwing nawawala ako? - Magician

Wow Mali pranks - October 23, 2011

Pranks pulled on the October 23, 2011 episode of Wow Mali:

1) Wow Clinic - When dentistry meets miscommunication, I don't understand what the clients are saying at the dentist...

2) Doray Alaskadora - Everyone's favorite troublemaker, Doray Alaskadora, explores on something dirty, or in Spanish, sucio.

Doray Alaskadora cleans up this person's face

3) Sa Ngalan ng Ina Mo - Walang himala! The Nora Aunor wannabe has arrived...on your backs!

4) Tirso Cruz III - Try and guess this....

5) Drama King & Queen - Let's see if you can cry on that in one minute!

6) Chicken Mummy - This mami tastes delicious if it was made by some mummy...

7) Babasaging Lola - Those manikuristas and masahistas would get noticed by this granny who drops something fragile at the table...

8) Instant Tyangge - Your tiangge's no match to Wow Mali's tiangge!

New i30's Never-Ending Ideas

The new, second-generation (not-for-Philippines), Hyundai i30, really has never-ending ideas. With Hyundai released the latest commercials for the second generation i30, we are getting zealous about its never-ending ideas such as the new Flex Steer, hidden back camera, and EPB (Electronic Parking Brake),

With such never-ending ideas, we have no choice but to plea at HARI to bring the new i30 here but that would be impossible because of its engines.

Forza 4 meets the new BMW M5 F10

Rite of Passage

The arrival of the new BMW M5 F10 exclusively on Forza Motorsport 4 sparked the hype from Forza fans, saying that how in the world can they find this new model and indeed, Turn 10 was so generous that the all new BMW M5 F10 is available at the in-game marketplace with no additional charge, or in short, FREE! It's yours to keep, race, and explore in Autovista mode.

The BMW M5 F10's interior

When I tried the all new BMW F10 M5, it has the same experience I tried on the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and the Jaguar XFR. It acts like those, feels like those, and the results are very decent for this new model. Those who already downloaded it at the marketplace for free are would wish to get the all new BMW M5 F10 for 90,000 CR. It's powered with the new 4.4L V8 Twin Turbo engine that produces 552HP of power and 501 lb-ft of torque. It weights 4,123LBS and it has a front weight ratio of 52%.

Shooting for the next Top Gear season...

At the hands of the owner, he or she can mix and match the all new BMW M5 F10 just the way they like it with its tuning setups and wide array of decorations to make several versions of the BMW M5 F10. Let's just say, they will create a modernized Ring Taxi version of the M5 or slap some hand-made license plates at the back to make it more classy.

Our friends from Studie AG previews
their BMW M5 F10 tuning project!

With driving aids off, the BMW M5 F10 is one heck of a scary ride because of its FR layout and if you're not careful, you blew your opportunity to drive it. What I like about this car is its aerodynamics, design, interior view, and the new engine which performs better than the V10 engine from the previous M5. What I don't like about this car is its weight. Driving the new M5 is a challenge but if you invest more in practice, you'll get used to this new and improved model. You no longer feel like a dull businessman anymore.