Friday, June 8, 2012

Let's Do The News! (June 8, 2012)

Anyway, now to do the news and since two of my pals left for important things to do, I have someone else to fill the gap. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, HERBIE!

(applause)
The Love Bug is in our studio!

Here it is! For the first time in our studio. HERBIE the LOVE BUG!

(applause)

So Herbie, welcome to our studio, do you have something to say?

(horn honking)

(audience laughing)

So you said you were having a jet lag ever since Forza 4 brought the Volkswagen Type 1 or 1200 or 1963 Beetle as part of the Meguiar's Car Pack, right?

(horn honking)

(audience laughing)

My gosh. I've seen everyone playing Forza 4 dressing the VW 1200 Beetle to look like you.

(audience laughing)

Anyway, what you got, Herbie? Some news? Okay let me see what you got...Hmmm....Oh....It says here that the second season of Oreimo will retain the title but a period (.) has been added on it. What can you say about that, Herbie?

(horn honking)

(audience laughing)

Excellent and um...says here that Oreimo is calling all fans to create a closing theme for their second season and the winner will be chosen as the second season's closing theme plus 110,000 yen/US$1,400 of cash prize.


So Herbie, do you got any ideas?

(horn honking twice)

(audience laughing)

What do you mean no? Come on, you could at least give it a chance. Besides, I'm not at music school you know.

(audience laughing)

If you're in Japan and if you want your presence be known on Oreimo's second season, feel free to express ideas of what will the second season's closing theme song will be. You have from June 22 to July 31 to come up so get out there and do some blue sky thinking okay? Now anyway, moving on, oh dear!

(ooohh)

Says here that the Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere Light Novels Get PSP Game...

(horn honking twice)

...as an RPG game developed by TENKY to be released this winter.


This is just unbelievable. Japanese video games have gone mental. Even with the arrival of the PSVita, why do most Japanese video game makers, no matter how big or small they are, they still rely on the PSP for creating anime-based video games. When will those make anime-based PSVita video games?

(horn honking five times)

What's that? Oh Herbie, I think you said that "as told earlier, PSP sales in Japan are still strong, that's why more and more Japanese video game makers still making PSP games".

(laughing)

I think you're probably right. Let's forget about this and moving on...Okay Herbie, show me what you got...

(beep beep)

2013 Roush RS Mustang
2013 Roush RS Mustang

Uh, Herbie, what you showed to us is the Roush RS Mustang V6, a tuned version of the 2013 Ford Mustang V6 for those who are a little bit tight on the budget for tuned muscle cars.


What can you say about that, Herbie?

(horn honking violently three times)

(laughing)

What do you mean "I want him down"? That tuned V6 Mustang by Roush looks good for those who are looking for cheap tuned muscles. It costs 26,000 Dollars and what you get here is the 3.7L V6 engine remained untouched but it comes with the Brembo package, Roush lowering springs, a subtle body kit, embroidered floor mats, billet pedals and the requisite Roush badging.

(engine revving)

Uh, okay, that's what you want it Herbie but do you have something next?

2013 McLaren MP4-12C

It's a McLaren MP4-12C right?

(engine revving slowly)

I know. This is the improved version of the MP4-12C for the 2013 Model Year. As expected, the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 is now producing 616HP of power. Then some improvements include the 7-Speed SSG transmission, top speed is now 333km/h (207mph), updated version of the Intake Sound Generator (ISG) system, Headlights linked to rain sensor when in automatic mode, Easy-Exit electric seat function incorporating Seat Return (if specified), New Meridian audio equaliser settings (if specified) and more.


I also expected a revised McLaren badge as well. So Herbie, what can you say?

(horn quickly honking three times)

(audience laughing)

You're exactly right Herbie. Pretty soon, this improved version will be round the Top Gear Test Track and have its standings rose but that takes time my dear Herbie. That takes time....Anyway Herbie, what's next?

(horn quickly honking two times)

Oh, the Chevrolet Volt, for the 2013 Model Year, sees an improved range to 38 electric miles, 98 MPGe. There's also a new EV Hold Mode that forces the car to burn gas and "hold" the energy in the battery for later use.


Uh, sounds reasonable, right? For this PHV, he he he...

(engine gently revving)

(audience laughing)

Herbie, what's that? What's that? Oh! I get it know. Says here that Anne Curtis is confirmed shooting Hollywood film "Blood Ransom"

(wow)


Sounds good news to us. Anne Curtis tweeted us on Twitter, confirming that she'll be on the Blood Ransom movie. The tweet says...

"Blood Ransom. Coming soon. https://www.facebook.com/BloodRansom"

...and this whole Blood Ransom movie will be directed by a Filipino-American named Francis dela Torre. How excited to see that. Even with life after "IT'S SHOWTIME", that Anne Curtis grown up so fast.

(engine gently revving)

(laughing and applause)

Anyway Herbie, bad news. I'd picked up some news that a Mexican boxer, Antonio Margarito, the former world welterweight champion who was suspended for 16 months after plaster was found in his gloves, retired on Thursday after an 18-year pro boxing career.

(awww)


“After much thought and extended conversations with my family and team, we have all agreed that the time to hang up my gloves and begin a new chapter in life has arrived,”

I guess that this Mexican boxer has left the ring for other things on his hands or should I say fists, right?

(engine slowly revving two times)

So, Herbie, do you have something to share before we left?

(engine slowly revving, then horn honking five times, and engine revving with excitement)

What? The Stig drove you round the Top Gear Test Track?!

(engine slowly revving, then horn honking five times, and engine revving with excitement)

Really? Do you have the footage?

(engine revved with excitement)

Okay, let's play the tape!




Guess The Stig took you very seriously, right. So, what's your best time?

(engine slowly revving, then horn honking five times, and engine revving with excitement)

1:29.475? You're pretty good, Herbie. You're pretty good. You did well, so when will you come back in our studio, Herbie?

(engine gently revving, and horns honking gently two times)

(audience laughing)

Anytime you want? You can stay with us! At least most Forza 4 players dressed their VW 1200 to look like you, right? It's okay, you can stay with us.

(engine revving with excitement)

(audence laughing and applause)

And that's the news!
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Ladies and gents, THE BELTA IS DEAD!

Toyota Belta (2005-2012)


Listen, I went on the internet and I found this....

2012年4月下旬 - 生産終了。以後は在庫のみの販売となる。

You know what this is? I jumped through the Japanese Wikipedia article about the Toyota Belta (which of course a Yaris Sedan) and this is what I found. Do you guess what that is? Anyone speak Japanese?

That's right! THE BELTA IS DEAD! No longer produced on the Higashi Fuji (Kanto Auto Works) plant since April 2012, a month before the unveiling of the eleventh-generation Toyota Corolla (E160)!

To everyone from Tianjin, Chachoengsao, Santa Rosa, Karawang, and Sham Alam, consider this a wake up call because when Toyota stop producing the Belta in their Higashi Fuji plant, you should better do the same!

THE BELTA IS DEAD!

NO MORE BELTA!

BELTA IS DEAD!

Okay, I maybe a bit mental for now. About the Belta, It was launched in November 28, 2005 and it was based on the second-generation Vitz/Yaris. The lineup consists of the 1.0L and 1.3L variants, FF variants have the CVT and 4WD models have a 4-speed automatic.

In August 25, 2008, the Belta received a facelift with a new grille.

In August 2009, the Belta's 1.0L variant and the 1.3L 2WD variants have improved fuel economy to accommodate Japan's ECO CAR GENZEI system.

In April 2012, production of the Belta ended.


Now while waiting for the response from those whether they will stop selling the Yaris Sedan in the US, can we just say that with production of the Belta from the Higashi Fuji plant ended, I really wish that those will never built the Belta, ever. There will be no FMC Belta for now because...THE BELTA IS DEAD.
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Thursday, June 7, 2012

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: Some idiots obsessed with soundtracks from Hollywood movies

Time for another Heaven and Hell and this is another one of my tale to tell....

I'd never realized that there are some idiots around there are obsessed of finding soundtracks from various Hollywood movies. Why is that? Why are you guys so obsessed with it?

With so many Hollywood movies being showing in theaters worldwide, how come they are so many movie goes are getting obsessed with those background musics heard on various Hollywood movies? Is it because they're spectacular? Is it because it so fun to listen it over and over again? Is it because it's way more fun to listen than anime or video game sound tracks? Not so because only a bunch of complete clattering buttocks are only obsessed with it. You only like a movie not only because of the actors or the storyline but you like it because of the music score you find it better to listen over and over again. This is just nothing but a waste of time. When you finished watching a movie, what you want to do is search on the internet for a original motion picture soundtrack of the movie you've watched. Movies from past to the present, it really doesn't matter unless you were a bunch of GOLDEN COCKS who are obsessed for the motion picture musics.

Thanks to the observation via GOOGLE INSIGHTS, most idiots from the Czech Republic, United States, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Canada, United Kingdom, Chile, Australia, and Germany spend the whole month searching for movie soundtracks. No wait, gets worse. If I set the timeline for ONE WEEK, turns out the UNITED STATES was in the lead of finding movie soundtracks, even those which are recently showing in theaters. So, how come the power of Hollywood movies attracted not just the movie goers who are excited to watch a movie but also movie fans who love original motion picture soundtracks?

This thing is seriously uncool. I kept visiting the Webmaster Tools to check out the ABNORMALITIES of my blog and guess what it came out on the ABNORMALITIES list? It's like someone's finding a soundtrack from THE LINCOLN LAWYER or DARK SHADOWS! I'm sorry, I really don't have that one because THERE IS A RULE ON MY BLOG;

I CANNOT ALLOW UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO DOWNLOADS. YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT?

Sadly then, it's 2:00 AM PST and I have to go to sleep right now before my Mommy discovered I'm not. Unless those COCKY STUFF has to put to an end, it seems that those clattering buttocks became too unstoppable to find the best original motion picture soundtracks. When will you guys stop?

If you have an argument, don't be afraid to POST A COMMENT. Come on! POST A COMMENT! It's not that hard, right? Come on! POST A COMMENT!

That is all for this Heaven and Hell. I find something that is truly irritating, this should be on my HEAVEN AND HELL segment. Until then, some idiots obsessed with soundtracks from Hollywood movies are considered HELL.
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Consumer Reports reviewed the Toyota Aqua...and they didn't like it

Once again, Consumer Reports took a beating against Toyota and this time Consumer Reports didn't like how the Toyota Aqua (Prius C in international markets) performs because of descriptions like "lackluster," "hard plastic," "cheap materials," "dead steering" and "slow."



Toyota's Aqua compact hybrid was launched in Japan since December 2011 and with the fuel economy of 35km/L based on Japan's JC08 Mode test cycle, it was heralded as the most fuel efficient hybrid car ever made, eclipsing the Prius hybrid. It costs 1,690,000 Japanese Yen for the base model and it was covered onto Japan's Eco-Car Genzei system for incentives.

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Yuko Oshima won the AKB48 General Election!

AKB48's General Election is all about finding out whose AKB48 girl is proven to be the most popular. This year, Yuko Oshima declared the most popular girl from the phenomenal JPOP girl-group, AKB48.

Here are the results;

1. Yuko Oshima (AKB48 Team K) - 108,837 votes
2. Mayu Watanabe (AKB48 Team B) - 72,574 votes
3. Yuki Kashiwagi (AKB48 Team B) - 71,076 votes
4. Rino Sashihara (AKB48 Team A) - 67,339 votes
5. Mariko Shinoda (AKB48 Team A) - 67,017 votes
6. Minami Takahashi (AKB48 Team A) - 65,480 votes
7. Haruna Kojima (AKB48 Team A) - 54,483 votes
8. Tomomi Itano (AKB48 Team K) - 50,483 votes
9. Jurina Matsui (SKE48 Team S/AKB48 Team K) - 45,747 votes
10. Rena Matsui (SKE48 Team S) - 42,030 votes


Congratulations to Yuko Oshima for winning the AKB48 general elections!
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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.

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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

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.


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