A different kind of Aston Martin for a different kind of driver

Quad battle with V12 Astons!

Ah, Aston Martins. Even though it was now owned and run by the Kuwaitis, this legendary British automaker became so famous for their Bond cars and the wondrous V12 supercars that became a family tradition. Cars like the DB9, the DBS, the V12 Vantage, and the Virage, they're all great fun even though the have a rear view mirror of a Ford Fiesta, satellite navigation from Volvo, engine made from Wales, buttons that I can't read in the sunshine, brakes that don't work pretty well and.....clutch easily break down.

DBS wins it all!

Taking a break....

Aston Martins are just all about POWER, BEAUTY, and SOUL. For power, those V12 engines that powered them give life to all of these Aston Martins and without it, they can't live (well almost because there was a V8 Vantage). For beauty, by the looks of it, they're all about elegance and drop dead gorgeous. However, the DBS is a bit of a gaudy looking hardcore but that's fine by me because Daniel Craig once drove it on Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Word from someone that the upcoming Skyfall movie will make a comeback of the original Bond car, the DB5. You'll gonna miss me when you're gone, DBS. As for the soul....

(telephone ringing)

Wait a minute....Hello? Oh, okay....

I got a phone call that there's an Aston Martin waiting somewhere on the track!

I wonder what awaits me?

I wonder what Aston Martin could be?

Big Aston meets Little Aston...

Unfortunately, this is not the Aston Martin I was expected to be. An Aston Martin compact? You have got to be kidding me. Surely it doesn't have the 6.0L V12, the POWER, the BEAUTY, and the SOUL of other Astons. What's underneath was a Toyota iQ for sure...

Interesting wearing a Malaysian plate number...

This is the Aston Martin Cygnet, the first compact city car from Aston Martin. It's based on the Toyota iQ but its made in Aston Martin's Gaydon plant. Yes, it maybe a Toyota iQ but what Aston Martin did is refine it with a bit of Aston Martin credentials inside and out. As for the pricing, the Aston Martin Cygnet is three times more expensive than the Toyota iQ. It will take over thirty thousand pounds to drive this Aston version of the iQ but with that price, it's a bit pointless because it doesn't have the POWER, BEAUTY, and SOUL of the other Aston Martins. What you get under the bonnet was the 1.3L 1NR-FE Dual VVT-i engine that carries 98bhp/6000rpm of power output, 125nm/4400 of torque output, and Euro 5 compliant.

The smallest Aston you can't afford

This car is part of Forza Motorsport 4's Meguiar's Car Pack. Even though the Cygnet is the baby of the Aston lineup and it's a Toyota in Aston Martin's clothing, it can do some sensible stuff. You can play car football on that thing but trust me, bringing a Cygnet to a match feels like some very wealthy high school student and her clique trying to compete against those blue-collar average high school girls. Like the iQ, the Cygnet has a turning radius of 3.9m, providing a quicker getaway against incoming opponents so you'll avoid getting tagged (or remained it in the Keep the It).

This is how you park a Cygnet!

I'm getting used to this Cygnet. This small wonder does the sensible stuff in Forza 4 just like the smart fortwo I had last month. And because of such smallness, it can do a different kind of parking that others find it surprising. Imagine that if you're parked at the shopping center like this. This car is not made for the hardcore enthusiasts but for those who are a bit more shopaholics if you asked me.

Cubed, Cursed, and a bit of Curiosity

Engineered for perfection

There is one car engineered to perfection, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the only C-Class variant that fueled most enthusiasts was the one with the AMG variant. Surely, AMG is Mercedes-Benz's tuning arm that injected them with steroids but the entry-level C-Class sedans aren't far out what they seem. Let's begin with an instant classic, the W203 C32 AMG.

A proper executive super saloon

This car, it reminded me of those Brabus-tuned C-Class I drove (or hijacked) on The Getaway games but this C32 AMG is a bit more of a car chase prop. Yep, this is more like a proper prop for a good car chase. Anyway, about that C32 AMG, this was launched in 2001 and it uses a 3.2L Supercharged M112 V6 AMG engine which produces 354PS of power and 450Nm of torque. It uses a 5-speed AT, providing a 0-60mph time of 5.2 seconds.

Sadly however, when Mercedes-Benz facelifted the W204 C-Class in 2004, the C32 AMG was dumped and replaced by a more powerful C55 AMG, the one with the 5.4L V8 AMG engine that has no superchargers whatsoever. Another problem regarding this is that either a C32 or a C55, like the past C-Class AMG models, comes with the "bolt-on" performance modifications that suffered them from relentless understeer. So to solve this problem, by the time the arrival of the W204 C-Class, they come up with this...

Step aside, here comes a new kid

C63 AMG speeding through...

Check out that back!

This is the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. It's based on the W204 C-Class. It is equipped with a new suspension derived from the CLK63 AMG Black Series and the ESP can now be turned off. The 6.2L AMG V8 engine has more power and torque than its key rivals, the BMW M3 and the Audi RS4. It comes with a 7G-Tronic AMG transmission that has three modes; Comfort, Sport, and Manual. This promises about 0-60mph time in 3.9 seconds.

This car was featured in Top Gear alongside the BMW M3 and the Audi RS4 while Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May rattled through the twists and turns of the Ascari Race Resort in Spain.

It was featured in XTM Top Gear Korea. Thanks to The Stig, the C63 AMG has a lap time of 1:36.83, quicker than the Lotus Exige Cup 260 but a few seconds slower than the Porsche Cayman.

Yes, the C63 AMG is just one of the finest AMG models you can buy and the M156 AMG V8 engine generates a lot of noise. This is an executive sports saloon unplugged but sadly however, the days of the M156 engine have come to an end because Mercedes-AMG developed a new 5.5 V8 BiTurbo engine. Most AMG models will use that kind of engine but as for the W204 C63 AMG range, facelifted, the answer was NEIN. Why?

The preferably of the old AMG 6.2 V8 over the new AMG 5.5 V8 BiTurbo on the facelifted C63 AMG is because this new engine won't fit under the hood of the W204 C-Class, even in sedan, estate, or now in coupe variants. There is also another reason why the new turbocharged V8 engine is not a candidate for the C63 AMG is because the chassis of the W204 can't survive the torque of the AMG 5.5 V8 BiTurbo. That is just a piece of cowardliness! I am really supposed to hope that Mercedes-AMG will become an all-turbo lineup but no. Thanks to NA cars like these (and even the new SLK55 AMG), it ruined it. And now, there's someone even worse than that! Care to guess what?

What car is this?!

It's coming!

It's here! The C63 Black!

Here it is and of course, it's still the ruination of the Mercedes-AMG range because it doesn't have the turbocharged V8 engine you get from present-day AMG models. This is the all-new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series. This car is part of Forza Motorsport 4's Megular's Car Pack.


Basically a beefed-up version of the C63 AMG Coupe, the C63 Black is armed with an improved version of the AMG 6.2L V8 engine, producing 517PS of power and 620Nm of torque, 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, 255/35 R 19 and 285/30 R 19 wheels, black diffuser insert from SLS AMG GT3, chromed twin tailpipes, AMG sports suspension with AMG rear axle differential lock, 3-stage ESP, two AMG sports bucket seats, black DINAMICA microfibre upholstery on the centre panels of the seats and doors, omission of the rear bench seat (single rear seats available as an option), AMG performance steering wheel in nappa leather/DINAMICA microfibre, steering wheel rim featuring flattened top and bottom sections has aluminium shift paddles for manual gear changes, red seat belts and red contrasting topstitching on the steering wheel, on the seats, door centre panels, armrests on the doors, the centre console and on the shift lever gaiter; three autonomous round dials has a three-dimensional TFT colour display.

It went on sale in Europe in January of this year for 115,430 Euros (plus 19% VAT) and later on in China and the USA.

Jeremy Clarkson reviewed this on one episode of Top Gear alongside the Maserati Granturismo MC Stradale. Thanks to The Stig, the C63 AMG Black lapped around the Top Gear Test Track in 1:21.0, a few seconds quicker than its key opponent, the Maserati MC Stradale.

Smoking all day long!

Still smoking!

Black Series models are more like hardcore versions of the Mercedes-AMG range. One fine example was the CLK63 AMG Black Series, which became the biggest thriller for Jeremy Clarkson on his DVD, Thriller. This is somewhat the exact opposite. This car only works on the track but on everyday use, (guess Clarkson's right), it's a bit too harsh thanks to its uncomfortable ride comfort. The terms SHOUTING, SMOKING, and POWER, these are what made this C63 AMG Black a very interesting instrument of terror and this does more like one of my favorites such as the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe and the new Jaguar XKR-S.

The C63 AMG Black will always leave you into trouble easily but surely it can't put a smile in your face and it will never soothe your brow all the way home. It kinda feels like you've been attacked by scissors for no reason.

C63 Black having a spotlight at the Top Gear Studio

A normal C63 AMG Coupe is a bit too okay but with this C63 AMG Black Series, what they've done here is turned it into a giant skunk that came out from the skunkworks. Surely this car loves to smoke but what lies beneath the shadows of the C63 AMG Black Series is nothing but a web of lies. To sum up then, I would rather prefer the Jaguar XKR-S but hey, both the Jaguar XKR-S and the C63 AMG Black have a top speed limited to 300kph, they have similar 0-60 times, and they look pretty much obvious. Both of them weren't made for the most intelligent men from some very intellectual institute. It was made to be insane. It will take moments to make a middle-aged man feel 5 years old again but only supercars can do that. This car was nothing but a colossal show-off.

When will Forza Motorsport 4 feature a Mercedes-AMG model equipped with the 5.5 V8 BiTurbo engine? I'm afraid was a No because they keep spending most of the time putting up some of the older generation cars rather than focusing on the latest and modern ones. It appears then, that there won't be a chance to see a turbocharged AMG car coming to Forza soon.

For the first time, a Korean car on CAR TOWN!

Hyundai Veloster

 

Here it is. For the first time ever, a Korean car made it on Facebook's social game, CAR TOWN. This is the Hyundai Veloster, a first of its kind on CAR TOWN.

About the Veloster:

Launched in South Korea since March 2011 as part of launching Hyundai's new Premium Youth Lab sub-brand, the Veloster is a unique hatchback that comes with the unique three door design. The additional door is on the passenger side for easier access at the back, even at closed quarters parking space. It is powered by a Gamma 1.6L GDi engine as applied from the Hyundai Avante MD. This car was featured on the City Hunter Korean drama starring Lee Min Ho.

Be sure to play Car Town to have one and have fun making designs or tune with it!

SLS AMG gets a new lease of life for the 2013MY

2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Roadster

2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT

So, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Mercedes-AMG's halo car, has been succumbed to engine downsizing and this marks the death of the 6.2L V8 engine that has been adorned by fans. For the 2013 model year, the SLS AMG gets a new lease of life as the SLS AMG GT and in here, the 6.2L V8 engine has been thrown away in favor of the 5.5L V8 BiTurbo engine. With this engine, the power is now improved from 563HP to 583HP. That's staggering!

Once more, it now comes with AMG's new Adaptive Performance Suspension with a much stiffer suspension .

While pricing has yet to be determined, the new SLS AMG GT comes with either a coupe (thank goodness, gullwings still here) and the Roadster (for those who don't want their faces purple for embarrassing). Those updated versions will come out in Europe this November.

Scoop: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2013-mercedes-benz-sls-amg-gt-photos-and-info-news

Welcome Back: 2008 Audi R8 & 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro

If you've been affected by the oil crisis,
this is the supercar to buy!

That is where this comes in. It's the sensation of the year 2007, the Audi R8. It's not just because of its spaceship-running lights that made it a sensation. This is Audi's first exotic sports car that was named after a winning Le Mans Prototype, inspired by the Le Mans Quattro concept car, and it shares most of the Lamborghini components. If you're prepared to have one without some luxury, then yes you can because it has half the price of the Lamborghini Gallardo. Under the hood lies a 4.2L V8 engine that generates 414BHP and 317Nm of torque. 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 190mph. With its lightweight body, delicious steering, and sophisticated quattro technology, you can make this car dance.

Jeremy Clarkson drove this on Top Gear until he was challenged by the Porsche 911 (997) driven by Richard Hammond. Despite it can corner better than the Porsche 911, Clarkson and the R8 lost in a drag race against Hammond and the 911. Courtesy of The Stig, it went around the Top Gear Test Track in 1.24.4, faster than the Brabus Biturbo Roadster!

It appeared on the Clarkson Supercar Showdown DVD. Nurburgring genius, Sabine Schmitz, pilots the Audi R8 against The Stig and the already beaten-up Porsche 911 GT3. As a result, the Audi R8 lost the battle against the 911 GT3 in a drag race, and around the Ascari Race Resort, therefore Jeremy Clarkson kissed The Stig.

In Top Gear's One Gallon Fuel Crisis Race, the Audi R8 survived and won the race with 5MPG, winning against the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Aston Martin DBS, and the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.

If an Audi R8 with a V8 engine wasn't a good match for you...then what about this?

This R8 is a bit too joyless....

It's the Audi R8 V10. It has a V10 engine from a Lamborghini Gallardo, 525HP, top speed of 196mph, and absolutely no sense of humor at all.

Here's a joke from Jeremy Clarkson from his DVD, Duel;

"Why are elephants big, grey, and hairy? Because if they were small, white, and round, they'd be aspirins"

Nothing. Nobody laughed at this joke. Nothing.

With a car that has no sense of humor, this is very possibly the best car I've ever driven. A Range Rover is better in a field, a Bugatti Veyron is a more complete engineering package, but the Audi R8 V10 is just sensational. The brakes, steering, and the noise are definitely perfect. This is becoming one of the best Audi sports cars ever made...or is it?

This car was reviewed by Jeremy Clarkson and despite being lost to a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, it corners better than the ZR1. With the lap time of 1.21.6 courtesy of The Stig, the R8 V10 is slower than its main rival, the Corvette ZR1.

This car showed up on Clarkson Duel DVD and thanks to the APPLE OF THE APEX, APPLE OF THE EXIT test, it was proven to be one of the best-drifting cars even though it used the wrong wheel. However, a lesson learned is that with Anthony Davidson wearing ice skates, it's impossible to drift the R8 V10. Yep, impossible to drift a car while wearing ice skates.

It also appeared on Richard Hammond's Top Gear Uncovered DVD and it lost to a drag race against the Porsche 911 Turbo (997).

Either way, both the Audi R8 and the Audi R8 V10 are just one of the finest Audis ever made because enthusiasts love to have a hand with those. Even though they were beaten by Porsches, they still have the best looks.

Let's Do The News! - The E3 2012 edition! (June 5, 2012)

Hey! Where did you go?

Ugh, I went to this year's E3 showcase and gosh, all those press conferences and game trailers really did give a kick to me.

Wow. Experiences?

Harsh but entertained...

So, shall we do the news, then?

Okay. Let's do the news but because this is E3 2012, this is going to be a special one.

So, what's the catch?

First up, there was this trailer to this upcoming spin-off of the Forza racing game franchise. It's called FORZA HORIZON. We heard about that since the announcement of the Porsche DLC Pack a couple of months ago and today, they finally showcased the trailer of this upcoming spin-off featuring lots and lots of cars tearing through Colorado.

Cool! I so wanna have that.

Me too. Anyway, this spin-off titled FORZA HORIZON is an open world racing playground where players explore around the Colorado rockies in style. A selection of the fastest of cars, including the star car, the 2013 SRT Viper, are here to rattle through the Colorado rockies in the pursuit of the Horizon Festival where music lovers and car enthusiasts collide. I also picked up that DJ Rob Da Bank from BBC Radio One is going to be involved on this game as well.

(ooohh)

Hold on! Hold on! DJ Rob Da Bank from BBC Radio One's going to be involved? Amazing!

Keep your cool down. More info later on.

I really want that FORZA HORIZON game because...um...think of it as Forza Motorsport...LIVE FOR YOU.

(audience laughing)

LIVE FOR YOU?! Wasn't that IDOLM@STER LIVE FOR YOU?

(audience laughing)

Just my expression...Anyway, what's next?

Let's see...um...Konami. Japanese video game maker goes big. They've gone HAIDARAAAA!!!!

(audience laughing)

What?

Anyway, they've gone mental, or should I say, METAL. They've previewed upcoming games such as the all new Metal Gear spin-off titled METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE. The game highlights Raiden's hack-and-slash action like you've never seen before.

(audience applause)

Damn cool, right?!

Spectacularly good for me. I'm so into that. The thrills, it's something that I would gladly forgive about. Speaking of Platinum Games, those guys did a good job here.

Um...you realized that Mega64 make a hilarious interpretation of RISING with a clip of Raiden taking several jobs. It's very funny because...IT'S WHAT WE DO AT WORK EVERY DAY! (laughing)

(audience laughing)

Hey Mega64! I just wanna say that you really rocked us! You guys rocked with this most hilarious clip interpreting Raiden and MGR! He he. Thumbs up!

Yeah, thumbs up!

Anyway, another Konami premiere at the E3 2012 was the Zone of the Enders HD Edition. Yep, it's those two ZOE chapters; from the original to the Anubis, got remastered for the first time for PS3 and XBOX 360. This game will come out this fall and I'm thrilled to have one.

Yeah!

One of my childhood memories, relieved. And oh, speaking of which, it's been 25 years since the first Metal Gear came out. This E3 2012 pays tribute to Metal Gear series' 25th year.

Yeah! What about other Konami premieres on the E3 2012?

Let's see...um...those Konami premieres include a sequel to the Castlevania Lords of Shadow, DRAGON COLLECTION social game, Frogger Pinball Frenzy, KARAOKE JOYSOUND, New Little King's Story (王と魔王と7人の姫君たち ～新・王様物語～),  an upcoming Winning Eleven 2013, SILENT HILL Book of Memories, and more.

Talk about big for Konami. Heh, I love Konami games. They have commanding presences. A presence of METAL GEAR. He he he....

(laughing)

Anyway, there's more than that came from. XBOX's ENTERTAINMENT EVOLVED mission involves more on the many features coming on the XBOX 360. Those include more than 35 new providers to its current roster of content suppliers, including Nickelodeon and Paramount, as well as bringing NHL and NBA games to Xbox. There's even a new XBOX Music Service as well but no further info yet till further notice. 

Scoop: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/right-click/microsoft-lives-entertainment-evolved-title-innovations-xbox-media-191934993.html

I was really impressed that even with XBOX 360 being there with us for several years but it keeps on evolving into more and exciting ways.

Anyway, Playstation, they're getting a bit more mental with such premieres such as the prequel of the GOD OF WAR franchise titled Ascension, due early 2013...

Scoop: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/06/04/e3-2012-god-of-war-ascension-unleashes-on-ps3-next-march/

...then the guys of Crash Bandicoot, Jak and Daxter, and the ever popular UNCHARTED franchise showcased more of the upcoming survival game THE LAST OF US...

Scoop: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/06/04/e3-2012-naughty-dog-reveals-the-last-of-us-gameplay/

...a new PS Vita game based on the upcoming Assassin's Creed III titled Liberation...

Scoop: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/06/04/e3-2012-assassins-creed-iii-liberation-revealed-for-ps-vita/

...more on the Playstation All Stars Battle Royale...

Scoop: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/06/04/playstation-all-stars-battle-royale-expands-ps-vita-drake-big-daddy/

...a new Playstation Move Racing Wheel...

Scoop: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/06/04/playstation-move-racing-wheel-revealed-at-e3-2012/

...and there was a new game from the people behind HEAVY RAIN!

Scoop: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/06/04/quantic-dream-to-take-you-to-the-beyond/

This whole...NEVER STOP PLAYING thing for Playstation, that's how they get even more bonkers with a fresh batch of upcoming games that will leave them bonkers.

Hmmm...You know Bethesda? The guys behind last year's RAGE, they spilled the beans more about their upcoming supernatural assassin game titled DISHONORED. Then, Square Enix showcased the revival of the hit action adventure game, Tomb Raider, which is delayed to next year. But there's something even more better than that because EA told that there's going to be a new content on the popular BATTLEFIELD 3 shooter game. Called BATTLEFIELD 3 Premium, this content grants access to the new CLOSE QUARTERS expansion pack and more. And it's coming exclusively to the PS3!

Scoop: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/06/04/battlefield-3-premium-with-close-quarters-available-today-exclusively-on-playstation-3/

Lucky them. Those PS3 games get a chance to have early access on new BATTLEFIELD 3 contents and they're getting a bit cocky now for some more kills in online multiplayer. He he he...

(audience laughing)

Sadly...we're running out of time but for a catch up, I also heard that EA's scoring big with premieres such as DEAD SPACE 3, MEDAL OF HONOR WARFIGHTER, CRYSIS 3 and loads of stuff. But there's something that made our lightbulbs went on.

What?

There was something from EA that really blown my mind. Something that is a bit more of a revision rather than calling it a continuation. Something that is a bit different than what it used to.

Wait let me guess....You know what it is right?

So, before we bail out, let me showcased you what the folks from EA came up on this year's E3 Showcase. Ladies and gents, I give you NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED!

To be fair, this is a different kind of MOST WANTED. It's different from the one you have since 2005. This 2012 NFSMW is made in collaboration with Criterion Games.

Wha....MOST WANTED? But...I have that game in my PS2...

Uh...yeah...the 2005 NFS MOST WANTED. What they showed here is the 2012 NFS MOST WANTED. It's a whole new NFS experience with new set of features and an upgraded Autolog feature to track down your progress.

URL: http://www.needforspeed.com/most-wanted

But....but....but...but...buh....bu....

Shut up! You know that this is a new kind of NFS Most Wanted. You can forget about the old Most Wanted. Forget it. Even the iconic M3 GTR. Nothing. This is a new generation of NFS MOST WANTED. They'll come with a SVT Raptor, 2012 Nissan GT-R, Lamborghini Aventador, SRT Viper, and lots of cars to escape the cops and crush the competition...alive. Like...UNBOUNDED. He he he...

And that's the news!

SEAT Ibiza Mk4 minor change

You might imagine that the Mk4 Seat Ibiza is slowy becoming a template for the Skoda Fabia and the Volkswagen Polo, well probably because of the PQ25 platform they've shared. Few years ago, I still think that this Mk4 Ibiza is getting a bit pretty well for the Spanish member of the Volkswagen Group. However, there are somebody really batter my point of view regarding the Ibiza.

There is another example of this; because in my blog, someone looking for the terms "SEAT Ibiza Fully". SEAT Ibiza Fully? Hello! We don't have one!! How come there are Algerians reading this? If you're an Algerian spend most of the time doing nothing but Google searching "SEAT Ibiza Fully", all I have to say to you, Algerian SEAT enthusiasts, is...YOU BIG DAFT C**K.

Now however there is a solution. It's the facelifted version of the SEAT Ibiza Mk4. Something that those cocks from SEAT Algerie won't be mentioning the "Ibiza Fully" thing again so those Algerian idiots won't bothering me again. For the minor change, the Ibiza 5-door, the Ibiza SC 3-door, and the Ibiza ST estate, now comes with a new front view that harkened back to the facelifted SEAT Exeo sedan and tourer, as are the new rear, signalling a new styling direction for SEAT.

2013 SEAT Ibiza range

2013 SEAT Ibiza FR range

2013 SEAT Ibiza interior

That is my idea of a good looking Ibiza Mk4. Something that those Algerian idiots won't be laying a finger on, but its difficult to explain why. Firstly the minor change is all about being fascinated. It's got SEAT's new styling direction that was adopted on the SEAT Exeo and the SEAT Mii, probably because the front lamps of the Seat Ibiza Mk4 minor change gained some kind of spaceship-like daytime running headlamps. Once more, the bumpers are revised to provide a sportier look than the pre-facelifted model. The Mk4 Ibiza may be four years old since its tenure in 2008 but with this new look, it gets even more interesting and even more delicious. It kinda feels like this is a cherry at the top of the cake. If that wasn't put you in, there's a sportier Ibiza FR variants that looks...pretty much the same as the normal Ibizas except for the FR badge on the grille, and the 16-inch alloy rims wrapped in 215/45 tyres.

Happily however, the SEAT Ibiza ST now comes with the FR variant but sadly, no 2.0 TDi engine. This engine is reserved for the Ibiza FR 5-door and SC.

Anyway, here are some of the engines offered if you picked the Ibiza 5DR:

• 1.2 60CV - 125 g/km CO2
• 1.2 70CV - 125 g/km CO2
• 1.4 85CV - 139 g/km CO2
• 1.6 GLP 82CV - 139 / 123 g/km CO2
• 1.2 TSI 105CV - 119* g/km CO2
• 1.2 TSI 105CV DSG - 124 g/km CO2
• 1.4 TSI 150CV DSG - 139* g/km CO2
• 1.2 TDI CR 75CV - 99 / 102 g/km CO2
• 1.2 TDI CR 75CV E-Ecomotive - 89 / 92 g/km CO2
• 1.6 TDI CR 90CV - 109 g/km CO2
• 1.6 TDI CR 105CV - 109 g/km CO2
• 2.0 TDI CR 143CV - 119 / 123 g/km CO2

Then, here are some of the engines offered for the 3DR Ibiza SC:

• 1.4 85CV - 139 g/km CO2
• 1.2 TSI 105CV - 119* g/km CO2
• 1.2 TSI 105CV DSG - 124 g/km CO2
• 1.2 TDI CR 75CV - 99 / 102 g/km CO2
• 1.6 TDI CR 90CV - 109 g/km CO2
• 1.6 TDI CR 105CV - 109 / 112 g/km CO2

And here are some of the engines offered on the Ibiza ST estate:

• 1.4 85CV - 139 g/km CO2
• 1.2 TSI 105CV - 119* g/km CO2
• 1.2 TSI 105CV DSG - 124 g/km CO2
• 1.2 TDI CR 75CV - 99 / 102 g/km CO2
• 1.6 TDI CR 90CV - 109 g/km CO2
• 1.6 TDI CR 105CV - 109 / 112 g/km CO2

Depending on those engine types, you could expect either a 5-speed MT, 6-speed MT, or a double-clutch transmission.  Those equipped with engines that produces 105CV of power may also get XDS electronic differential lock for neutral handling and powerful traction, just like a mechanical differential lock. When the electronics recognise that there is too little load on the front inside wheel during cornering it applies a brief braking impulse. A good example was in the form of the anti-lock brakes.

I'd buy the one with the 1.2 TDI CR E-Ecomotive because of the average fuel consumption of just 3.4 litres/100 km or 89g/km of CO2 emissions. It comes with an idling stop system that stops the engine when the car stopped and then start again when your foot is on the pedal, to save fuel. Surprisingly, the Aerodynamic package will provide an enclosed radiator grille and a lower air intake that optimises airflow within the engine compartment. It even comes with a front spoiler, rear wing, special deflectors on the rear wheel arches and 15-inch wheels with closed covers. With these, you can expect a drag coefficient of 0.30 and once more, a shift recommendation display and slightly increased tyre pressure completes the whole Aerodynamic package.

Depending on the variant, available colors of the new SEAT Ibiza Mk4 minor change are Speed, Boal, Tribu, Blanco Nevada, Rojo Montsant, Negro Cosmos, Plata Estrella, Gris Pirineos, Verde Lima, Azul Apolo, Blanco, and Rojo Emocion.

My comment:

It takes a very sensible man or woman to be indulged into this sensible new look of the facelifted SEAT Ibiza Mk4. Even though it sports a new look that was now a SEAT Design DNA, you still have a choice of either a normal 5-door hatch for your balanced proportion, 3-door SC for your sporty pleasure, and the ST estate that has more room at the back. With this minor change, this SEAT Ibiza Mk4 is now becoming the most sensible SEAT ever made for the sensible drivers.

If you're Algerian, don't expect this facelifted Ibiza approaching to you yet because SEAT Algerie has no plans to introduce the facelifted Ibiza. This facelifted Ibiza will be available for the first time in the Chinese market because as you know, SEAT is officially arrived in China to boost sales because China plays a major role in the automotive industry. Hmmmm, China....Why would they want to sell the Ibiza on China? That is a question, I'm afraid, I can't answer for now but anyway the SEAT Ibiza is made in the state-of-the-art SEAT plant in Martorell near Barcelona, Spain. Later this year, a facelifted Ibiza Cupra will be introduced but this takes time...

Scoop: SEAT S.A.