Welcome Back: 2010 Audi TT RS Coupe

Your rival video game has the Audi TTS, which is fun but not enough power to woo me. This game, Forza Motorsport 4, has the Audi TT RS, which has more power than the lame Audi TTS and a lot more fun to drive. Go ahead, you'll be the judge...

No tunnel's safe for this car!

The most powerful version of the Audi TT, the TT RS, comes with the 2,480 cc Inline-5 20v DOHC (CEPA) TFSi engine that generates about 335bhp of power and 332lb-ft of torque. Since the RS2 Avant, most Audi RS models are assembled at the quattro GmbH factory in Neckarsulm, Germany but for the TT RS, it's not made in Neckarsulm but instead produced at Gyor, Hungary, just like any other TT variants.

This car was mated with a 6-speed close-ratio manual transmission and in tradition, it's available only with quattro all wheel drive powertrain. By 2010, a year after the TT RS' 2009 debut, it was offered with a 7-speed DSG transmission for quick shifting.

In the USA, when it was launched in third-quarter of 2011 thanks to some 11,000-signature petition on the internet, the Audi TT RS does not come with launch control, 7-speed DSG, or Recaro seats.

Welcome Back: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500

Run, sexy!

As we all know, the 2007 Shelby GT500 is a unicorn car but what if the 2007 GT500's not enough for you? For an alternate, try driving a GT500 that is not a unicorn, the 2010 Model Year GT500.

The 2010 model year GT500 was based on the 2010MY Mustang, noticing by its exterior and interior upgrades. To differentiate it, this comes with the unique front fascia with larger upper and lower grilles, a unique hood, large fog lights mounted in the lower front fascia (similar to the previous GT500), Shelby's signature cobra badges on the grille, front fenders, and trunk lid medallion (with Shelby lettering over the medallion), unique 19-inch wheels (18-inch on the convertible model), and a unique Gurney Flap rear spoiler.

The 5.3L DOHC V8 engine was been updated with some parts similar to the 2008 GT500KR and with the cold air intake, it produces 540HP of power and 691Nm of torque. It comes with the Tremec TR-6060 6-speed MT but with larger clutch discs and other measures for added performance and NVH. It also comes with Ford's AdvanceTrac traction and stability control system standard with different settings to control the level of performance the driver desires.

The 2010MY GT500's aerodynamic upgrades provide increase downforce and reduced drag coefficient and for enhanced handling, the 2010 GT500 comes with the suspension sourced from the 2008 GT500KR.

"Effective. Maingat magpagaling."

On the August 3, 2012 episode of Bubble Gang:

- "Laya ka na" gags that set you free from jail...well almost...

- Cheche and Bureche take a peek at some aquarium at the house

- Mr. Assimo at the barber shop

- This program is brought to you by KABAYO-DATA sheet...

- Pickup Lines provided by Sukli, Bagwis, and Boy Pick Up!

- Bubble Gang does Biogesic by spoofing this commercial as DIOGESIC! Effective. Maingat magpagaling.

- This program is brought to you by KABAYOGESIC

- This mother though, she prefers a dog over her son, who looks dirty.

- A pawnshop is too sentimental to measure the sentimental value of an item...

- IyoTube in We Are Young

Let's Do The News! (August 3, 2012)

And now the news! So, you were saying that GT5 doesn't have the New GS? Forza 4 has one?

Indeed yes. Can't believe the boffins of Gran Turismo didn't even like the Spindle Grille. I just want to drive one at Fuji Speedway.

Anyway, can we do some proper news now?

Right.

Anyway, remember the Roxas Blvd flood earlier. As of now, it's depleting and what they found here are some...ewww....garbage! Who would do such thing I mean most of them are throwing garbage irresponsibly. It's their fault for this!

Yeah. Turning rivers into a giant trash bin? Ahem, don't you know what this is? This is what happened when every single idiot are throwing massive garbage in the river. What's next? A giant silo packed with pig manure?

(audience laughing)

Pig manure? That would be impossible. Only Homer would do that from The Simpsons movie. (laughing) Anyway, I think everyone around here have learned their lesson...

Wait....This whole dumping of garbage at the river case, how would authorities figuring out some causes? It's like, you wouldn't understand what's behind this. Squatters maybe?

Squatters....that's the most of their problems because, who would rather put some shanties at the river? That's what causing the dumping! You know what the authorities would do? They should better demolish it! Destroy! DELETE! EXTERMINATE!

(audience laughing)

Whoa there pal. No fun. What about the families living? I mean, they lived here and what would they react to your point? Yep, they'll be throwing some massive complaints to you because you think of them as the main resource of dumping garbage in the rivers.

Whoops. Sorry, didn't meant to say that. I was trying to be satirical. Like Jeremy Clarkson, thinking that union protesters has to be shot dead next to their families.

..and getting worse because people think you said a cruel joke.

(audience laughing)

Anyway, what's that on your hand?

Psychic paper.

What?

PSYCHIC PAPER! Looks like a blank paper but it works like magic. Doctor Who used that.

Anyway, what's that it said on your little....Psychic Paper?

Says here....Pagani Zonda R Evoluzione debuted at 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed a few weeks ago...

Scoop: http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/5230/Pagani-Zonda-R-Evoluzione.html

What? I thought the Zonda is dead and replaced by the Huayra?

That's what they thought but this Zonda R Evoluzione proves that there's life to this decade old Modena exotic.

Oh...

Wait! There's another one said on the Psychic Paper...

What is it?

Says here um... 1,000 1-Series M Coupe units left for sale

Scoop: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/bmw-has-around-1-000-1-series-m-coupe-units-left-for-sale

Ahem...you know that production of the 1M Coupe ended since March. We told that after we went back from the easter holiday. So, with 1000 units left worldwide, it seems that most enthusiasts have gone to an elusive hunt for these baby M's. This one's a collector's item.

Yep. Really is a collector's item. Be sure to get one quick because when they're gone, they're gone for good. Right?

Oh wait! Hold on! Another one coming up! Psychic Paper giving me messages. Cool.

So, what is it this time?

Says here...2013MY Volkswagen Amarok gains an enhanced diesel powertrain along with new convenience features, an increased trailer load and an extended 12 warranty against corrosion perforation.

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/08/2013-vw-amarok-pickup-truck-benefits.html

So...2013 Amarok, the engine performance of the manual gearbox equipped 2.0-liter BiTurbo TDI diesel unit has been boosted from 161hp (163PS) to 177hp (180PS) bringing it to the same output level as the automatic transmission versions. Then, BlueMotion Technology and automatic transmission variants were available....

That's amazing for the German pickup truck that takes on the un-Japanese and un-American midsize trucks. This is the only pickup truck we could trust even though it's expensive. This is the only pickup truck that was sold in its home market.

Right. The only pickup truck that is sold to its home market. Unlike Isuzu, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Ford, and Chevy. Why can't their midsize trucks don't work on their home market?!

(audience laughing)

Oh! Oh! There's another one and you'll gonna like it!

What is it?

It says...Have you seen the full trailer of the upcoming season of Doctor Who?!

....WATCH THIS!

(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)

Best trailer ever! And at the end of that trailer...WHO KILLED ALL THE DALEKS?

Yeah! Who killed all the Daleks? Who do you think?

We don't know! Is it our heroes? OR IS IT? I'm afraid we have to wait to find out the answer! Speaking of which, there was one part on the trailer that the Weeping Angels are back with a vengeance. As we all know, the Weeping Angels are far out the most scariest Doctor Who enemies ever seen because...what what can you say?

DON'T BLINK! DON'T BLINK! Don't turn back!

Yeah. Turns out there's going to be some new variant of this Weeping Angel monster. Seen here?

Some say, there could be the "baby" of the Weeping Angels. That reminds me... (clears throat) Could that reminded me of that baby angel statue we had outside of our home?

(audience laughing)

Who knows? Don't blink! If that touched us, we're dead. We could be killed by some moving statues! (laughing)

And another thing that I really REALLY don't understand was...

Dinosaurs! On a Spaceship! What?! A Jurassic spaceship? Spaceship loaded with dinosaurs? This could be worse than dinosaurs at the Top Gear Test Track during the Z4 vs. 370Z review.

(audience laughing)

DINOSAURS! ON THE TOP GEAR TEST TRACK!!! (laughing)

Who wouldn't?! It seems that the BBC Television Center's gone a bit jurassic! Hat tip to the producers!

Anyway, on that bombshell...what's that said on the psychic paper?

THAT'S THE NEWS!!!

The Aristo Story

Toyota's Aristo is sold as the Lexus GS for the global market back then. In Gran Turismo 5, they do have the first and final generations of Toyota Aristo and because there was no S190 Lexus GS and neither is the latest GRL10 Lexus GS, well because Yamauchi-sensei wouldn't mind about the new model, we had to make do with those; the JZS140 and the JZS160 Aristo or Lexus GS you may call it...

S140 Toyota Aristo

We begin with the S140, which is of course the first generation Toyota Aristo or Lexus GS known to many from the rest of the globe. First released in Japan since October 1991, the Aristo uses the platform derived from the Crown Majesta and the design was penned by Italdesign Giugiaro. Variants include the 3.0V, which has a 2JZ-GTE engine, and the 3.0Q, which has a 2JZ-GE natural aspiration engine. Later on, they even offered the 4.0Z i-Four, which comes with the 1UZ-FE engine from a Toyota Celsior or Lexus LS400.

This car was produced at Toyota's Tahara plant at Aichi Prefecture and either men or robots were responsible for assembling the packaging. This car was sold at the Toyota Vista dealership back then and it bridged the gap between the Cresta and the Chaser.

What I think about this generation though is rather a bit disappointing. You see, this car was made for those who are senior enough to play golf, go out at a country club, or your professor's driving one of these. Because it has a 4-speed automatic transmission that...doesn't make any sense, this car is sensibly quiet, comfortable, and bored. Yep, I am that bored because every time I drove the S140 Aristo, it feels like I was a passenger on this car. I didn't like the S140-type Aristo because...it's a bit dull, it's a bit ugly, and overall, too bland.

Because of that, in 1997, Toyota quickly responded about that and then they made the Aristo even better with this...

S160 Toyota Aristo

This is the S160 Toyota Aristo, the second-generation model, which today, it remains coveted by JDM enthusiasts because of its unique handling, unique style, and overall, high possibility of tuning this car into a shouty drifting machine or some sort of VIP STYLE car with lowered suspension, aero kits, oversized rims, and so much bling bling, which is a bit of a nuisance to me.

For this generation, the V8 engine and the 4WD layout has been dumped. Well, the V8 engines can be seen on the world market Lexus GS via GS400 or GS430 perhaps. The enthusiast's favorite, the V300, comes with the turbocharged 2JZ-GTE engine, while the simpler S300 comes with the natural aspiration 2JZ-GE engine. The VERTEX EDITION though, it comes with 17-inch rims and a rear spoiler to add some sportiness. Of course, the VERTEX EDITION is the pick for every boy in baseball hats reversed because of all those features may wish to pump up this executive saloon. Even with the 4-speed AT, they do come with a 5-speed Auto with manual mode in a form of buttons on the steering wheel. Cool, shifting gears via some buttons on the steering wheel? Who would have thought of that? Oh yes! Paddle shifters hadn't been invented yet until the 2000's!

It's really a brilliant car. Fast, agile, bulky, precise, and in terms of bangs for your buck, valuable. You might imagine that it's very sad that Toyota don't make these anymore. Those kind of cars you want to take it out to the Shutokou, that's what make the S160 Aristo cool. Sadly though, this is the last Aristo offered in Japan because production ended in November 2004 and it was replaced by the Lexus GS because in 2005, Toyota began selling Lexus-branded cars in Japan. Too bad that the GRS190 Lexus GS wasn't present on the game and neither is the latest GRL10 Lexus GS that a rival video game's going to feature it.

It's a shame that we don't get the 2013 Lexus GS on Gran Turismo 5 because Kazunori Yamauchi's been very busy sorting out for more but if I have to choose which of these Aristos will be, I would go for the shouty S160 Aristo because it's a favorite among JDM enthusiasts and it's the type of executive saloon common for the VIP STYLE scene.

Initial D-Rifter

Hachi-Roku Drift

This is what I'm on about. This is the AE86 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX, the tail-happy, tire burning, star of Initial D. This is what we think of the AE86! The base car, pumped up! You ever wonder why did Takumi Fujiwara never spoke during a race in that anime? It's because...we wouldn't have our own words!

This is just like Mt. Akina!

Now, the thing about this car though, it's called the S. SHIGENO Version, and this owner though that is Shuichi Shigeno, the author of Initial D, he had its engine improved so it's producing about 207HP of power. It even comes with familiar looks that are familiar to Initial D fans many but however, there's no Fujiwara Tofu insignia at the right side. That doesn't matter though because this pumped up AE86 has the qualities of the car Takumi Fujiwara drove so it's all about being bonkers on the corners. As I said bonkers, I do mean it because it takes a Takumi to master the skill of the AE86 because this car's a bit twitchy and a bit difficult because the power steering's a bit vague. Also, this car's a bit too slow on the straight lines. You can drive though the corners and you can drift through the corners and that's it. Don't get me wrong though, this car is fantastic. It's brilliant when it comes to its noise.

Probably, we're sad that we don't have Toyotas like these anymore....

Welcome Back: 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe

In the 1950's the Mercedes-Benz 300SL was the fastest production car of its day. Codenamed W198, it was introduced in 1954 as a coupe with the fascinating gullwing doors and later an open roadster. 

This car is a softened road-legal version based on the company's successful 1952 race car, the W194. It comes with the 3.0L M198 SOHC I6 engine fitted with a Bosch mechanical gasoline direct injection system that generates about 212-222 hp. It was mated with the 4-speed manual transmission.

As of now, the classic 300SL with the gullwing doors became a collectible with prices in the US$700,000-1,000,000 range. Sports Car International ranked this car as the number 5 sports car of all time. The present day SLS AMG inspired the Gullwing doors from the 300SL.