Friday, March 23, 2012

Welcome Back: 2009 Lexus IS F

Jeremy Clarkson, meet Houki Shinonono.
Houki Shinonono, meet Jeremy Clarkson.


So, even in Forza Motorsport 4, THE BATTLE OF IS goes on and I don't mean that whole Infinite Stratos anime thing or that IS[アイエス]~男でも女でもない性~ drama thing. I'm referring to the Lexus IS featured on Forza Motorsport 4. There was the 2003 Lexus IS300, the 2006 Lexus IS350, and the 2009 Lexus IS F. This here is one of my favorite Lexus cars on this game, and still, this is a two-way tie between my favorite Lexus, which is the LFA. I'll talk about that later on but anyway, the Lexus IS F, some say it was made to be an M3 killer but it isn't. This is not as quicker as the BMW M3 Saloon and that's the point.

Most of these Japanese-y video game stuff is hidden under a wall of brute force and noise and yes. The 2UR-GSE engine packs a mighty punch and more power than the BMW M3. However, the Lexus IS F is somewhat heavier than the BMW M3 and while the M3 has a 6-speed SMG, the Lexus IS F comes with an 8-speed paddle shift transmission, which doesn't make any sense at all.

This is the kind of a sports saloon that always attacking you with scissors, not soothing your eyebrows. The M3 rides easily and comfortable but the Lexus IS F wasn't because it was too hard to handle and too risky to have your neck broken.

Even so, the Lexus IS F has a lap time of 1:26.8 at the Top Gear Test Track, slower than the BMW M3 Saloon, and that's it. End of discussion.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Spotlight: 2010 Ferrari 599XX (Community Bounty Hunter -ID TimberWolf-)

2010 Ferrari 599XX by ID TimberWolf


Hey there! Looks like I claimed another reward and this time it's rewarded for those, especially me, for defeating ID TimberWolf's The Regatta Community Monthly Rivals lap time. This here is the Ferrari 599XX modified by ID TimberWolf himself and I finally got my hands on this track-only version of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano that spiced up even further.

How did I managed to beat him? Secret weapon was the car commonly used by those who've taken The Regatta Community Monthly Rivals event for March 2012 is the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 but for mine, I bought some tuning setups courtesy of PAC Performance (credit goes for them). Back then, I used their setup to trounce a selection of rivals all the way to the time that I wasn't able to beat it anymore. I made it in 00:16.067, which is quicker than ID TimberWolf's 00:16.583!

I would like to thank Turn 10 for the prize. I would like to thank PAC Performance for the tuning setup made possible for the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28, and big thanks to ID TimberWolf. Seems that I'm getting addicted to the weekly Community Bounty Hunter event. Who's next?

In the meantime, time to celebrate by placing his handmade 599XX round the Top Gear Test Track!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Let's Do The News (March 21, 2012)

And now the news and just before that, I was getting a bit bothered since the launch of the 2012 Toyota Yaris in the Philippines. It seems that why this 2012 Toyota Yaris is still the NCP90 one rather than the new NSP130 Yaris.

2012 Toyota Yaris (the wrong one)

Why this? Seems that Thailand forgot about the NSP130 Yaris and still want to give it some minor change to the NCP90 Yaris. Yaris 2012 Minor Change? Hello! There was the new Yaris out in Japan since December 2010 and the rest of the world has that! What just happened Toyota Thailand?! We just sourced your cars but why would you still remain the old NCP90 Yaris rather than bringing the new NSP130 Yaris for keeps?

2012 Toyota Yaris (the right one)

Why would they want a minor change for the old NCP90 Yaris rather than bringing the new NSP130 Yaris? This is a disgrace. Thailand should be making the NSP130 Yaris rather than minor change the NCP90 Yaris! 

2012 Toyota Yaris RS (the wrong one)

Those people from Chachoengsao, Thailand should be ashamed to themselves! They should better be....

TO KEEP THE THAI GOVERNMENT HAPPY, THIS IS CENSORED.

...got that? (Panting)

Hope those people from Chachoengsao should build the new, third-generation, NSP130 Yaris/Vitz rather than "minor change" the old second-generation NCP90 Yaris.

Anyway, for the news. It seems that NBA sensation, Jeremy Lin, is officially officially became the brand ambassador for Volvo and this effects not just China but for the United States as well! One point for the Linsanity! Yay!


So, having Linsanity selling Volvo may be such a big plan for the Scandinavian automaker but anyway, what's new on TOP GEAR USA?

It seems that this week's episode of TOP GEAR USA would be the USA version of a Top Gear classic; BUILD YOUR OWN LIMOUSINES!


Okay, this is somewhat weird that the US version of Top Gear does the same thing as the UK counterpart. Imagine if Clarkson, Hammond, and May face off against Tanner, Adam, and Rut in some kind of a car-based Ashes challenge, this would be a gamble. Remember that Clarkson, Hammond, and May defeated their Aussie counterparts, resulting the cancellation of TG Australia. Imagine if this would happen...

Never mind, anyway, moving on to Nissan. It seems that the Japanese automaker revived the Datsun (ダットサン) brand and this revival is all about low cost eco cars. It was announced by Nissan's CEO, Carlos Ghosn, during his trip to Indonesia. This would be the third brand since Infiniti and the Datsun brand will be effective in India, Indonesia, and Russia beginning 2014. Because this Datsun brand is focused only on emerging markets, would the Philippines be next?


Now, let's check out the all new SL65 AMG

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG

Looks the same as the SL63 AMG but it comes with a new 6.0L V12 engine, designated as M279, mated with a (gasp) AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT! This is the first time a V12-powered AMG model fitted with a 7-speed gearbox! This is going to be the most powerful AMG model ever made and it will be premiered in New York next month.


Perhaps this is how every AMG model should have rather than those bearing the 63 AMG designation and what I sure hope that AMG should be an all V12 lineup, well almost...

Anyway, I just wanna say congratulations to my cousin, Yssa, for graduating high school. See this pic?


That's Yssa's big brother, EJ, to the left, and at the right, that's Yssa, graduating from High School. Just wanna say congratulations and good luck on your college life, Yssa. Take care!

Yep, it's graduation in the Philippines you know. It always happened at the end of March, which is the end of the school year for our Filipinos. Just wanna say congratulations for the job well done.

Sadly though, I still have a speech tomorrow and I'm spending days memorizing it for my final exam.

And that's the news!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Encountered the R172 SLK-Klasse

Hey there! Leopaul here!

Earlier before I went to Seattle Central Community College to take the final exam of my ITC 140 class, I just encountered a Mercedes-Benz SLK crossing the street.

What I saw there was its latest generation of the SLK-Klasse designated as R172. It looks cool though.

Gosh, I sure wish I want one of these...

Monday, March 19, 2012

Toyota Philippines launched the 2013MY LC200 but they launched the wrong Yaris...

Okay, it seems that Toyota Motor Philippines launched the facelifted 2013 Land Cruiser 200 which is right, but apparently, Toyota launched the wrong Toyota Yaris for the 2012 model year...


2013 Toyota Land Cruiser

2012 Toyota Yaris? No that can't be right



Now if you would probably why did we get the old 2nd Generation Yaris, which got some minor change for the Thai market earlier, rather than the 3rd Generation Yaris which done a full model change in Japan since December 2010 is because my friend told me about Thailand's Eco Car program and only Honda and Nissan got that memo. Mitsubishi's next for their new Mirage and it seems Thailand's waiting for Toyota to approve eco car production. No wonder Thailand still remain production of the 2nd generation Yaris.

"Personalan" with the Veyron Super Sport

Everybody knows that the Bugatti Veyron is the pinnacle of the supercar world because of its orgy and mind numbing numbers. It may cost over a million dollars, producing almost a thousand horsepower, and a top speed that exceeds 200mph. Just that everybody think that the Veyron's the world's fastest but now it isn't. While the Veyron can do 253mph, the SSC Ultimate Aero can do 256mph, making it the fastest car ever made, not the Veyron. The Germans aren't very pleased...

For Bugatti's act of revenge against the American-made SSC Ultimate Aero, they created a monster that it proves to be the ultimate Bugatti in history, something that is wickedly powerful than the Veyron.

Hello, what's this? A Veyron in carbon fiber body?

Surely it's carbon fiber but it's more annoying
than The Annoying Orange!

Hmmm....It could be a Bugatti Veyron but this is a bit more than that. It doesn't look like a Veyron and it doesn't sound like one. This could only be one thing...

So, are we opening the Guinness Book of World Records with the words
"Fastest Man on Earth: James May"? Not exactly...

Behold! The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport! The fastest production car in the world! Really? But how? To be sure, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport has the same 0 to 60 time as the original Veyron, which is 2 and a half seconds, but now the 0 to 100 time has improved. It would do that in 4.5 seconds, which is the same as the Porsche 911 GT3 and this will go to an electronically-limited top speed of 258mph. The standard Veyron has 987HP of power but the Super Sport has 1183HP of power. Also, the new Veyron Super Sport has a new bodywork which proves to be lighter than the standard Veyron and some aerodynamic tweaks are done as well. This ultimate Veyron showed up at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours D'elegance and it costs 1.7 million British Pounds Sterling and Bugatti said that only 30 will be produced.



In one episode of Top Gear, James May returns to Ehra-Lessien, Volkswagen's top secret testing base, to max out the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. Everybody knows that the top speed is limited to 415.07 km/h (257.91 mph) to prevent the wheels to blow off, right? What happens if it exceed? The team at Bugatti provided the Veyron Super Sport some extra durable tires that cost 20,000 Pounds per set and then James May is off to the max. He managed to max out in 417 km/h (259 mph) but after his run, Bugatti sent one of their test drivers to max it out and the record? Well, its 431.072 km/h (267.856 mph)!

When the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport was handed to The Stig, it set an astonishing 1:16.8 lap time at the Top Gear Test Track, faster than the Gumpert Apollo S.

Stig makes a lap with the Bugatti Veyron SS!

That car will simply make you go bananas when you push this car to the max, especially when you make drag races with this one. Seeking this as an enemy would be somewhat fierce but seeking this as an ally would be somewhat trustworthy. Even though it has a very challenging handling, the speed is simply monstrous. Your brain might be easily take off when you push it too hard.

The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport is applicable for those who owned the Forza Motorsport 4 Limited Collector's Edition. Those who are lucky enough would be wise to push the Bugatti Super Sport to the max.

Welcome Back: 2009 Bugatti Veyron 16.4

The Concorde of the Road


This car you're familiar with, the Bugatti Veyron. The meeting point for the most collection of numbers; one million Pounds, one thousand horsepower, and a top speed of over 200mph. Sorry because I often watched too much Top Gear but the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 has a special place in Top Gear history, despite that the British government permitted the show that they Veyron has to be featured once per season.

It raced against a Cessna 182...



James May maxed out the Veyron in Ehra-Lessien...



It made a fight against a Euro Fighter Typhoon (and the Veyron lost that fight)



And finally, it won a drag race against the McLaren F1 in Abu Dhabi.



If that wasn't enough, The Stig set a lap time of 1:18.3 round the Top Gear Test Track. Just as we thought that the world's fastest car should be the fastest at the Top Gear Test Track but we are wrong because the weight of the Veyron surely can't keep up. It's cornering ability might be challenging but at the straights, it's unstoppable.

Surely, this is wickedly fast but as of now, the SSC Ultimate Aero kicked the Veyron's butt, which later the SSC got its butt kicked by the ultimate Veyron ever built which is the Veyron Super Sport, which I will talk about that later.

It doesn't matter because the Veyron is back on Forza Motorsport 4 and it is one of the many vehicles to explore in the game's Autovista feature.

Driving Music (What is the name of the song on car commercial?) Vol. 31

The United States of America is leading country of car-commercial-song-loving petrolheads. Why? Because if they hear a music on a new car commercial, they would start asking what's the song. It always happen all the time. This time, I've encountered something and it's attacking me with the words "Song featured in March, 2012 Chevrolet TV commercial with four adults in a red car". Can't those car-commercial-song-loving petrolheads in America had enough? When will they stop this habit?

If they watched a new car commercial, they would hear a music. If they hear that music, they would start asking what's that song. If they start asking what's that song, they'll wait for answers. If they found what is the title of a car song, they'll find it and download it. If they did download it, they'll listen to this over and over. If they listen to this over and over, they'll plan to use this for their Forza 4 Top Gear Power Lap Time videos on YouTube. If they upload it, they'll encounter some e-mail that they have videos that may contain content that is owned by someone else. If they encounter it, they would dispute it. After disputing it and waiting for several days, they'll check that there's a message saying "Dispute rejected, claim has been reinstated." The whole "matched third party content" on YouTube is all too common because of (clears throat) your idea of using a car commercial song for such purposes...

Anyway, here comes another set of five Driving Musics to listen;

5) We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe) by fun. - from the Chevrolet Sonic Stunt Anthem commercial. Get one now at Amazon MP3.

4) Wild World by Jose Feliciano - from the 2004 Nissan Stagea Japanese commercial. Find this song at SHIFT IV NISSAN CM TRACKS, available now.

3) できっこないを やらなくちゃ by Sambomaster - from the 2010 Nissan Serena C25 Japanese Commercial

2) 風と未来 by Ikimonogakari - from the 2010 Nissan Serena C26 Japanese Commercial

1) It's time to find out that song featured in March, 2012 Chevrolet TV commercial with four adults in a red car. To be specific, it's a commercial for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO with eAssist. Anyway, for the song, it's titled "True" by Spandau Ballet.

And these are the car commercial songs for you to find. If you used those for YouTube purposes, those copyright holders, I'm afraid, will have to notify you and if you dispute those, it will always end with the words "Dispute rejected, claim has been reinstated." And on that bombshell, good bye!

F1 2012's opening salvo is McLaren's win

F1 2012 has already begun in Melbourne's Albert Park and McLaren-Mercedes' Jenson Button really kicked off his first win, pushing the famed Sebastian Vettel form Red Bull Racing to 2nd place and Lewis Hamilton from McLaren-Mercedes in 3rd.

Race - Button proves untouchable in Melbourne

McLaren’s Jenson Button drove a pluperfect race to take the lead of the world championship at Melbourne's Albert Park on Sunday, keeping his head and his lead even when a safety car intervention appeared to throw a beaten Sebastian Vettel a lifeline.

The 2009 world champion scored his third Australian Grand Prix victory in four years by taking the lead at the start from team mate Lewis Hamilton, who held a distant second until Vitaly Petrov stopped on the pit straight with power steering problems in his Caterham on the 36th lap and triggered the safety car deployment. McLaren had just pitted both of their cars that lap, but Vettel decided to stay out one longer and that, allied to benefit from the safety car, was enough to move his Red Bull into second.

When the racing resumed on Lap 42 Button simply checked out and left Vettel to fend off Hamilton and team mate Mark Webber, who’d been condemned to an afternoon of fighting back after a first-corner clash involving his Red Bull, Kimi Raikkonen’s Lotus and Nico Hulkenberg’s Force India. 

As Vettel tried to claw back the deficit to Button, Webber closed in on Hamilton, whose McLaren never seemed as well balanced as his team mate’s. By the flag, Button was a comfortable 2.1s ahead of Vettel, with Hamilton 1.9s further down and Webber within 0.4s of him.

Further back, Fernando Alonso scored an excellent fifth for Ferrari after making a fantastic start to end the opening lap in eighth place from 12th on the grid. As the fast-starting Mercedes of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg faded - the former went off in Turn One on the 11th lap and damaged his car sufficiently to have to retire, and the latter simply lacked competitive pace - he moved into contention for his finishing position. It was a typically tough and professional race from the Spaniard.

In the latter stages he had to defend hard from Pastor Maldonado, who had pressured Lotus’s Romain Grosjean into early retirement on the second lap, the Frenchman breaking his front suspension against the rear of the passing Williams. The FW34 was showing excellent pace and the Venezuelan was dogging Alonso’s wheel tracks until he came to grief in Turn Six, where earlier he’d lost ground with a moment. 

This time he lost control and smacked the wall hard on the 57th lap, throwing away sixth place and setting up a fierce battle between the Saubers of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez, Raikkonen’s Lotus, the Toro Rossos of Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo, and Paul di Resta’s Force India. 

As Rosberg’s Mercedes ahead of them suddenly slowed on the last lap after a collision with Perez had deflated the left-rear tyre, Kobayashi made it home sixth from Raikkonen. Perez clung on for eighth, with Ricciardo separated from him by 0.0s, Di Resta 0.1s further back, and Vergne another 0.1s down and just outside the points after a promising debut. It was breath-taking stuff.

Rosberg was classified 12th on a deeply disappointing day for Mercedes, who lacked the pace in the race that they’d shown in qualifying. Williams were similarly distressed. Maldonado was classified 13th, while Bruno Senna was involved in the first corner melee, lost time then, and later had a silly collision with fellow countryman Felipe Massa which cost them both dear. He was a non-finisher in 16th. The incident is still being investigated by the stewards.

Between the Williams duo came the Marussias of Timo Glock and Charles Pic, which ran reliably in what amounted to their first serious test session.

Joining Hulkenberg, whose car was too badly damaged after the first-corner collision, Grosjean, Schumacher, Petrov and Massa on the retirement list was Heikki Kovalainen, whose Caterham dropped out with a left-hand front suspension problem. The Finn also picked up a five-place grid penalty for the next round in Malaysia for overtaking under the safety car.

The result leaves Button in the lead of the world championship with 25 points, to Vettel’s 18, Hamilton’s 15, Webber’s 12 and Alonso’s 10, while McLaren head the constructors’ points with 40 to Red Bull’s 30, Sauber’s 12 and Ferrari’s 10.


So, McLaren made a good start but the F1 2012 season has just getting started. More action will be happened on Sepang, Malaysia, this March 25!

Some dwende are making tuso at Lokomoko

On the March 18, 2012 episode of Lokomoko (on its Rated PG state)....

- Dwarf gags

- Tanong ko lang, kulang...pwede bang magtinda ng kotse sa garage sale?

- Another shooting gags on Lokomoko...

- Tanong ko lang, kulang...meron bang itlog ang eggplant?

- Lokomersyal in Instant Housing Authority!

- Tanong ko lang, kulang...kung gulay ang kinakain ng vegetarian, ano ang kinakain ng humanitarian?

- Tirsong Tuso tries to win the heart of the general's daughter but the general does a favor to Tirsong Tuso; make him walk again! This involves hurting the general and almost anyone...

- Tanong ko lang, kulang...kung may highway, meron bang low way?

- Tanong ko lang, kulang...may apple ba ang pineapple?

- Who's Line Is It Anyhow?!

1) Hindi lahat ng thirteen ay malas! - 13th Month Pay

2) Ramdam na ramdam ko ang init mo lalung lalo na kapag iniipit mo na ako. - Thermometer

3) Hindi naman ako hinete pero palagi na lang ako nasa ibabaw ng kabayo - Plantsa

Ay Mali!!!

4) Maluwag naman ang dinadaanan ko pero bakit patagilid pa rin ang lakad ko? - Alimango

5) Hindi lahat ng party ay masaya! - 3rd party

6) Huwag mo na akong gugulatin, mawawala ako. - Sinok

7) Masaya pa kayo tuwing nagstrike kayo!!! - Bowling

Sunday, March 18, 2012

FLASHBACK: About The Namesake

The Namesake (film)


And now, it's time to revisit some of my memories in the past, this is the kind of movie I just watched while I was in Seattle Central Community College during my ESL 098 days...


I watched the movie adaptation of the book titled, The Namesake and it turned out to be great. As for me, watching film adaptations of the book makes them easy to understand and easy to learn what is in store for them. I strongly agree that watching the movie version of The Namesake is much more preferable than reading the entire Namesake book and I am glad that I saw this book come to life as a major motion picture from FOX Searchlight.

Although I find that this Namesake movie is more interesting to watch than reading the Namesake book, I find that there are differences from both the movie and the book and it would be preferable for me to list in my top three differences.

First, there was a scene that Gogol’s younger sister, Sonia, has an annaprasan, or rice ceremony. Like I said, annaprasan is a rice ceremony and it is a formal ceremony involves on the consumption of solid food. It also helps to predict their child’s future. I did not see Gogol’s annaprasan in the movie, only Sonia is.

Second, where is Ruth? In the movie, it only features two of Gogol Ganguli’s love interest; first is Maxine, and the last is Moushumi. This movie supposed to feature Gogol’s love interest, Ruth, in order to make it more interesting. Since the producers did not put the Ruth chapter on the film, I guess that it is best to read the book and see for myself. At least, I truly understand how the relationship between Gogol and Ruth feels like; they were lovers, then, they argue when Ruth returned to the United States, and avoiding each other from now on. Positively, I understand the Maxine chapter and the Moushumi chapter of the Namesake movie.

Lastly, who is Pierre? In the Moushumi chapter of the Namesake movie, they did not mention the names Graham and Dmitri. In the book, Gogol realized that Moushumi cheated him because of someone named Dmitri, but in the movie, Gogol was cheated by Moushumi because of the book she received from someone named Pierre. Who is Pierre anyway? What just happened? Well, despite different naming, it all goes according to the book.

Despite some of the differences happened, I think the Namesake movie followed the same path as the original Namesake book. I find it very understanding and helpful watching the Namesake movie and differentiate both the movie and the book itself.


Let's Do The News (March 18, 2012)

And now the news! Let me just say that I'm glad that I'm finally got my hands on the all new PSVita yesterday.

This is my PSVita

Pretty neat huh? And to be sure, I also bought a 16GB memory card that is bespoke for the PSVita. To total it up, this costs over $300. Sorry, not very good with Top Gear math.

However, something's a miss because my sister, Elise, had bought herself the new iPad, which I reviewed earlier...

Our Ate Elise got herself the new iPad!

See? She finally got the brand new iPad! Shoot! It was close though. But anyway, what she got was the one with the 16GB model, which is the entry-level of the new iPad range. See if how far can her iPad go...

So, I have the PSVita, my Ate Elise got the new iPad, how hard can it be?

Anyway, now it's 71 years old for Philippine Airlines.  Seems that the Philippine-registered airline prepping up their new marketing strategy aimed at encouraging tourists to fly with Asia's oldest carrier. The new campaign "Love, Your PAL" is made for both inbound and outbound travelers to regain the glory of Philippine Airlines.


So, this whole "Love, Your PAL" seems to be a marketing ploy, but can it work? Love your PAL? I just don't get it. This is just like you'll love your friends. It was like HEY LOOK AT ME! I LOVE MY PAL! (chuckling)

Looks like Richard Hammond's getting himself a new show that is made for Americans, by Americans, to Americans because the new show, Richard Hammond's Crash Course is coming to BBC America this April 16, 2012, right after the North American premiere of Top Gear series 18. Can't wait to watch that!


Anyway, with the popularity of Jeremy "Linsanity" Lin at the NBA , it seems that the Scandinavian automaker, Volvo, is on the hunt for Linsanity as the endorser for Volvo in the Chinese market.


If that worked out, we could be seeing Linsanity selling Volvos in China but the question is, can this become a reality to boost sales?

Ugh...I think that's far enough. That's the news. Thank you very much...