Toyota Prius S Touring Selection G's

2012 Toyota Prius S Touring Selection G's

The much awaited Toyota Prius G's has arrived and this is the latest Toyota ever to be modified by Gazoo Racing since the Noah, Voxy, and the Vitz RS. The new Prius S Touring Selection G's (G Sports) features an aggressive exterior design that changes the way this hybrid behaves forever. Now, that's how they call it "mean grean". As for the interior, it's all nested in black color with some red stitching on the seats and the steering wheel. Once more, the paneling is a resemblance of carbon fiber, making this Prius G's the darker side of the world's first mass-produced hybrid car.

Like most G's models, no engine tweaks occurred. As for the Prius G's, nothing's changed on the 1.8L 2ZR-FXE engine and 60kW 3JM electric motor that produces 136PS of power and 207Nm of torque. For this model, it comes with tuned suspension for precise handling that is really tuned and engineered for Fuji Speedway conditions.

Available in six colors; Super White II, White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Black, Red Mica Metallic, and Bordeaux Mica Metallic.

My comment:
The new Prius G's really is the darker side of Prius because of its aerodynamics, dark interior, and tuned suspension that makes it a well precised hybrid car that is great when you're cruising around Hakone, Hiroshima, Haruna, Akagi, Ura Rokko, Myogi, Usui, Omote Rokko, Shiga Kusatsu, Nikko, Zao, or Aso. Sales for the Prius G's in Japan starts this December 26, 2011!

Forza Motorsport 4 December IGN DLC!

Let's just say that the November Speed DLC was a complete success. The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 was a fan favorite for this DLC. Now, Forza Motorsport 4 collaborates with IGN for the new December IGN DLC pack, on sale this Tuesday, December 6, 2011.

Cars to be featured:

2011 Monster Sport Suzuki SX4 

2011 Mazda RX-8 R3 

2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor 

1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS-396 

1977 Ford Escort RS1800 

1981 Volkswagen Scirocco S 

1986 Alfa Romeo Spider Quadrifoglio Verde 

1988 Pontiac Fiero GT 

2010 Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4 

1957 Maserati 300 S 

Scoop: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/121/1213496p1.html

Verdict: This DLC will be on sale this Tuesday at the price of 2400 Microsoft Points. Those who already have the Season Pass got them covered. Just remember, the Ford SVT Raptor and the Pontiac Fiero were featured in Top Gear USA. So, what would Tanner Foust react when he see these rides he driven in Top Gear USA on FM4?!

Toyota Prius (ZVW30) Facelift

2012 Toyota Prius

When the third-generation Toyota Prius was launched in May 2009, this third-generation model is remarkably an evolution of the world's first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. Now, after being on service for two years, the third-generation Prius deserved a mid-life facelift to keep it updated for the road ahead. Well, it's a start.

The facelifted Prius is now gaining a new exterior design. Expect a new front bumper, front grille, under grille, rear combination lamp, 15-inch rims, and a new rear view that makes this third-generation different from the previous model.

2012 Toyota Prius interior

Inside, the shift knob and the steering switch base is now paneled in silver and there are new seat colors available, especially two-tones such as "Blue & Black" and "Brown and Black". Once more, the instrumental panel's now change to something more vivid and colorful for added accessibility but still, this is the same Prius interior from before.

No changes on the 2ZR-FXE engine that produces 99PS of power and 142Nm of torque. The power output can be increased into 136PS if the 60kW 3JM electric motor is active. It still uses the Nickel Metal Hydride Battery for EV Mode purposes only. As for the fuel economy, nothing's changed and still remains the 32.6km/L JC08 fuel economy at the entry level 1.8 L variant while most models remain the 30.4km/L JC08 fuel economy.

Pre-Crash Safety System is available for the new Prius as this system provides safe braking in an event when this car approaches the car's behind. There is also Radar Cruise Control that maintains speed while cruising on the highway, Steering-assisted Vehicle Stability Control, Antilock Brake System, Traction Control, Hill Start Control, and the new Pedestrian Warning system that emits noise on incoming passengers, especially the approaching blind.

Available in eight colors;Super White II, White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Black, Red Mica Metallic, Bordeaux Mica Metallic, Frosty Green Mica, and Light Purple Mica Metallic.

My comment:
The third-generation Prius' minor change has the same Prius experience with the new look, just to keep this new model updated after the third-generation was released since May 2009. As of now, there are so many Prius models roaming around the streets of Japan and this new model will drive sales even further but how can it keep up because it was heavily affected by the March 11 disaster and the Thai flooding?

Sales for the facelifted Prius starts this December 19, 2011 at all Toyota dealers across Japan.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Indonesian Golden Gate bridge disaster!

Markham II bridge tragedy

Would you look at that? This is just like what happen at some Final Destination movie where the teenage boy notices that the bridge is about to collapse. Well, this here's no movie, this is real. In a country like Indonesia, a bridge that resembles San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge over the Mahakam River was unexpectedly collapsed, leaving 11 people killed and over 30 are believed to be missing after the tragedy.

It's hard to count how many people are missing on the Indonesia Mahakam II Bridge Tragedy because nobody knows how many cars and people fell due to "zero visibility".

Our thoughts belong to those who are affected from this tragedy.

Scoop: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/indonesia/8919923/11-dead-after-Indonesias-Golden-Gate-bridge-collapses.html

Photo: Reuters

A very aggressive hatchback

What a mean looking face!

Appeared via the November Speed DLC, the new 2012 Audi RS3 Sportback is one red-hot hatchback that you can only try this on Forza Motorsport 4. On straight lines, this hatchback performs a perfect launch because of its 4WD drivetrain but because of this layout, perhaps the handling is wasn't as sharper as the Renaultsport Megane because it's somewhat heavy.

A Tale of Two Latecomers

When I tried out round the Top Gear Test Track, it did better than my modified Starion but relax, take it easy, there are other B-class cars that are way better than my RS3 full-tuned to B-Class standards. Because this one's colored red, just imagine if you were at the Red Team of a game of Top Gear Soccer, you could be the captain of the team.

Nope, it's not official...yet.

A car like the Audi RS3 can be somewhat very unresponsive when it comes to cornering because of its weight but it takes a lot of practice to master the fundamentals of the new Audi RS3 Sportback.

A big-time mob threat

As some found out a few moments ago, we read something from the Top Gear magazine, and they rated the Audi RS3 Sportback a 12 out of 20. The staff must have preferred the sound of the engine but the electric power steering was a huge disadvantage. Guess their proof from Top Gear were right, maybe this RS3 Sportback is hard to handle on tight corners, especially at the Nurburgring. Right now, I'd better suit up my Stig costume and drive the RS3 Sportback round the Top Gear Test Track while listening to the theme song of Twin Spica.

A very different approach for this Taiwanese politician

As some may found out that there was an election taking place at Taiwan this January 14, 2011. For a city councilor in Taipei, who is running for Legislative Yuan (the unicameral legislature of Taiwan), named Chien Yu-yen, she made a very different approach to encourage supporters to vote for her, which is somewhat very odd. Something that our country should have pulled that approach for next elections.

Ms. Chien Yu-yen uses a "Moe" character of herself on the campaign poster and other promotional goods which is somewhat very eccentric indeed. Of course, this "bishoujo character" style campaigning for Ms. Chien Yu-yen could be a good idea to attract Taiwanese voters who are fond of Japanese pop culture but will it work?

Scoop: http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2011/11/27/taiwanese-candidate-uses-moe-character-image-on-campaign-poster

The new Suzuki Swift Sport (ZC32S)

2012 Suzuki Swift Sport

The Suzuki Swift Sport is back!

Based on the ZC72S Suzuki Swift that was launched in Autumn 2010, the all new Suzuki Swift Sport is ready to drive hard, drive harder, and drive hard with a vengeance. Think you're ready to live free and drive hard? Firstly, the new Swift Sport's design is heavily inspired from the Suzuki Swift S Concept as seen on 2011 Geneva Motor Show last March. This provides aggressive looks, improved aerodynamics and some sporty character most Suzuki enthusiasts would love to enjoy. This provides the concept term "the sporty flagship" referring that this is Suzuki's flagship hot hatch.

2012 Suzuki Swift Sport interior

The new interior is somewhat intriguing. At first glance, it looks the same as the regular Swift but this has comes with a different instrumental panel, red stitching at the steering wheel, and sports seats at the front that also comes with red stitching, that makes it well tailored and bold for the driver to get inside and drive through the Shutokou at night.

2012 Suzuki Swift Sport

It might be a hot hatch that you can use it on the road and on racetrack but the Swift Sport is all about balance of performance and ecology. It is powered by the M16A engine that produces 136PS of power and 160Nm of torque. When the Swift Sport's equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission (available December 2011), it will achieve 14.8km/L JC08 of fuel economy and if the Swift Sport's equipped with the CVT that comes with 7-speed Manual Mode (available late January 2012), it will achieve a fuel economy of 15.6km/L JC08. Best of all, it has Euro-tuned suspension that is capable to take on most corners like for instance, the touge or the toughest curves of Japanese racetracks.

Available in six colors; Champion Yellow, Premium Silver Metallic, Super Black Pearl, Snow White Pearl, Ablaze Red Pearl, and Boost Blue Pearl Metallic.

My comment:
I'm glad that the Swift Sport's back for this current generation model and this would be proven to be more fun to drive, more fun to own thanks to its Euro-tuned suspension, 6-speed manual variant, and its improved aerodynamics. Still, this car is not somewhat very recommended if you're not ready to take on the new challenges led by the new Swift Sport. It could be a perfect track-day car but it is not all right for the new Swift Sport to surpass against its rivals.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation