Toyota to produce Camry in Taiwan

2012 Toyota Camry

It was announced that Toyota will produce the all new "hybrid-only" Toyota Camry AVV50 with its Taiwan joint partner, Kuozui Motors, Ltd. It will take place at the Kuanying plant in Taiwan. Production of the Taiwan-spec Toyota Camry Hybrid began in February 15, 2012 and it will produce about 7,000 units.

PRESS RELEASE:

Toyota 'Camry Hybrid' Production and Sales Start in Taiwan

Toyota City, Japan, February 16, 2012—Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that its production affiliate in Taiwan, Kuozui Motors, Ltd. (Kuozui), today marked the start of production and sales of the "Camry Hybrid" in Taiwan.

Production of the Camry Hybrid at Kuozui's Kuanying Plant in Taiwan's Taoyuan County began on February 15, making the plant Toyota's seventh hybrid-vehicle production site outside Japan.  Initial annual production is set at approximately 7,000 vehicles, to be the exclusive supply of the domestic market.

Sales of the vehicle, ranging in price from 1,069,000 to 1,399,000 Taiwan dollars, began today.

Marking the development, Kuozui President Haruaki Hoshino said: "We are very proud to begin production of the state-of-the-art Camry Hybrid at our Kuanying Plant.  With environmental and energy-conservation consciousness in Taiwan rising every year, we hope to supply the Taiwanese market with as many hybrids as possible."

TMC considers addressing environmental issues to be one of its most important management tasks and is actively working to promote hybrids and other environment-friendly vehicles.  At the end of 2011, global cumulative sales of TMC-produced hybrid vehicles reached approximately 3.6 million units.

Scoop: http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/12/02/0216.html

Mazda CX-5 (KEEFW/KEEAW/KE2FW/KE2AW)

The success of the facelifted Mazda Demio and Mazda Axela really shows that the new SKYACTIV Technology really provides exceptional fuel economy without sacrificing uncompromising performance. This technology made Mazdas as menthol fresh as a Vicks Inhaler except that now that Mazda had made this...

2013 Mazda CX-5

This is the Mazda CX-5, the most compact yet sparkling new Mazda ever made. This is the first production Mazda that comes with the brand's new design philosophy called KODO -Soul of Motion- as seen on the Shinari Concept. This is the first that come with the new SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine, first that come with the new SKYACTIV-BODY for excellent rigidity with a lightweight body, first that comes with the SKYACTIV-CHASSIS for superb cornering and finally, the first to come with a system similar to Volvo's City Safety and Subaru's Eyesight ver. 2 system and they called it Smart City Brake Support that automatically stops the car when it seeks an incoming obstacle.

Because this is the first that features Mazda's new KODO (魂動)-Soul of Motion- design language, the new CX-5 is heavily inspired from the Mazda Minagi concept as seen from the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. This look combines the expression of energy pulsing throughout the vehicle with the keen agility to move about freely and nimbly. The Mazda CX-5 expresses the image of a cheetah as it stands with its weight poised on its hind legs, ready to lunge at its prey. It's very intimidating, though.

2013 Mazda CX-5 interior

On the interior, the new Mazda CX-5 has a deep, longitudinally stretched design that resembles a cockpit and produces a sense of forward momentum. On the passenger's point of view, the instrument panel looks ample and solid. Although, it looks smaller than the CX-7 it replaces, it still carries up to five passengers and the rear seats can be folded for spacious situations. Because most Mazda models with SKYACTIV Technology do come with the "intelligent-Drive Master" (i-DM), the Mazda CX-5 has these. The i-DM is the world's first driver aid that supports enjoyable driving while encouraging a driving style that enhances passenger comfort and improves fuel economy. It provides you an overall score based on your driving experience and it gives you some practical advice before you can get off the CX-5. Good mark for Mazda, there.

2013 Mazda CX-5 interior

SKYACTIV Technology promises optimized fuel economy and uncompromising performance, so that's why the Mazda CX-5 has the best of both worlds. First, the 2.0 liter SKYACTIV-G i-stop engine (PE-VPS) engine produces 155PS of power and 196Nm of torque. This is equipped on the 20C and 20S 2WD variants and it provides them 16km/L of fuel economy, making it more efficient than its key rival, the Mitsubishi RVR. For the first time in Mazda history and it's available only on the CX-5 XD (Cross-D) variants is the brand-new 2.2 liter SKYACTIV-D i-stop (SH-VPTS) Common Rail diesel engine that produces 175PS of power and 420Nm of torque. It promises a record-breaking fuel economy of 18.6km/L. Depending on the variant, the new CX-5 comes with an improved 4WD for all round driving with fuel economy of 15.6km/L for the 2.0L petrol variant and 18.0km/L for the 2.2L diesel engine. Most variants do come with the 6-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE transmission that has good fuel economy, easy start up, direct feel, and smooth shifting, ideal for the world market.

The Mazda CX-5 is the first Mazda to come with the all new Smart City Brake Support that uses a laser sensor to detect a vehicle or obstacle in front and automatically reduces the extent of the brake rotor travel to quicken braking operation. If the driver fails to brake, SCBS automatically activates the brakes and reduces the engine output at the same time. It's like what the Volvo S60 and the Subaru Impreza Sport/G4 does.

The new Mazda CX-5 comes in six exterior colors; Zeal Red Mica, Sky Blue Mica, Velocity Red Mica, Aluminum Metallic, Black Mica, and Crystal White Pearl Mica.

My Comment:
First Mazda to obtain the KODO design language. First Mazda to have SKYACTIV-CHASSIS. First Mazda to have SKYACTIV-D. First Mazda to have SKYACTIV-BODY. And first Mazda to have Smart City Brake Support. With pricing begin at 2,050,000 Japanese Yen, consider this your first because the CX-5 is the best of both worlds. Is it just me or are we underpaid? Ah, but there's a bit of a problem. Nope, sorry, The Mazda CX-5's not coming to the Philippines because SKYACTIV technology is not fit for the Philippine market. Sorry but that's FGP-Mazda's rule, and also the Euro 2 compliant policy.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

Those Pommy Bas.....

2012 Honda Civic

Ahem. Obviously, they picked up their gauntlet, so welcome, everybody, to the ninth-generation, NOT FOR JAPAN, Honda Civic. This is the kind of Honda we can call on. The country's first ECON switch for enhanced fuel economy, the 1.8L i-VTEC that powered the old FD Civic that was died in 2010, the 5-speed automatic transmission, i-MiD display that allows you to use your pic as a wallpaper, cruise control, lots of it.

So, it's here, how much is this? This one costs 1,074,000 Philippine Pesos.

Scoop: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/launched-all-new-honda-civic

Room 3181 at Seattle Central

Hi! It's me, Leopaul.

On Room 3181 of the Seattle Central Community College (the study room) There was actually a different kind of wall that really won't let you into trouble.

In old times, most teenagers commonly using markers to vandalize the walls of school property and the authorities are getting mad at those who did it. On that Room 3181, there was a wall that you can write whatever you want but you can clean it with a cloth. This is some kind of Engineering Connection. A special kind of wall that was inherited from the white board. I find this wall very special because that wall will not turn me into a vandal for writing on walls. It's very convenient though but I have to tell you that only water-based markers will work on Room 3181's wonder wall because put that with a permanent marker and that's vandalism to you.

Now who would have thought of that kind of Engineering Connection?

Driving Music (What is the name of the song on car commercial?) Vol. 26

Okay, who've attacked me? If someone who Google searched "song in the verano car commercial", what's wrong with you? You're a big idiot. The music you've heard from the Buick Verano Car Commercial is an original music. I'm sorry but that is an original music. Please refrain from doing this because that is not funny!

For an alternative, here are some another five Driving Musics (Car Commercial Songs) for you to sit down, shut up! How hard could that be?

5) Hit the Road by Meisa Kuroki - the song heard from the Subaru BRZ Commercial

4) Style by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Bing Crosby - the song from the latest Volkswagen CC German commercial.

3) Smokescreen by Willis - from the USA Fiat 500 Abarth "Seduction" TV Commercial

2) What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) by Kelly Clarkson - from the USA Toyota 2012 Camry "Crew" TV Commercial

1) O Verona by Craig Armstrong (From Romeo and Juliet Music from the Motion Picture Vol. 2) - As seen on the Citroen C6 French Commercial

...and that's it. That's all for this now. Whatever you do, please refrain for Google searching for what is the song on a car commercial. It's not funny.

MGO services to be discontinued this June 12

Now this is somewhat bad news for those who are playing Metal Gear Online, the online multiplayer game included on Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, when it was launched in June 12, 2008, worldwide. Announced by Konami, services for Metal Gear Online will be closed on June 12, 2012, after four years of multiplayer mayhem. According to the schedule, March 21, 2012 marks the closure of MGO Online Shop. By April 24, 2012, you'll gonna love this. Expansion packs (GENE, MEME, SCENE) and Preset Codec Message Appeal Packs will be available for free download, and reward shop equipment will be available for free with the exception of non-sale items. Take note that on this date, registration for new player characters will not be available during this time.

So, if you're a vet on this game, time for the best send-off you can get before the MGO comes to a farewell this June 12.

Scoop: http://www.konami.jp/mgo/us/hd/event/information.html

American version of TG's Truck Driving challenge

So, Series 3 of Top Gear USA was on the tubes already and it starts with The Big Film under an Amercan version of a Top Gear classic; Truck Driving Challenge.

Two Scandinavian trucks and one American truck. That's two Volvos and one big red Peterbilt. Trucks featured on the Series 3 opener were given nicknames by presenters Tanner Foust, Adam Ferrera, and Rutledge Wood. One is nicknamed Bearded Lady, other one is Mother Trucker, and the last...I don't know... Tiny Dancer perhaps? Never mind. But let's summarize this; On the first challenge (a drag race where presenters go straight and hit reverse back to the start line), Rutledge won that. On the second challenge, which is the hill climb challenge, there's a part where those idiots ruined Tanner's phone while Tanner's doing a hillclimb in his Peterblit. On the third challenge; Tanner's Peterblit is the fastest truck of the three. On the final challenge; it's simple. It's somewhat a 40 mile trip to the finish line and the one with the least damage in the container wins. Tanner's truck carries somewhat classy. It's somewhat a dinner table well organized. For Adam's, there was some paints and bowling balls on it. And for Rutledge, this is somewhat our favorite part, fire and some fireworks!

I really laughed on the part where fireworks come out when Rutledged opened the container of his Volvo truck. Great, another Top Gear Top Total in history... The fourth challenge sees Tanner sustained less damage inside the container.

Overall, the "Big Rigs" challenge ended in a two-way tie between Foust and Wood. Next week, they'll be featuring the Mustang Boss 302 and it will race against the horse. ^^