2nd Generation Toyota Auris (NZE181H/ZRE186H/NZE184H)

NOT AUTHORITY, BUT AURIS

2013 Toyota Auris

So, welcome everyone to the all new 2nd generation Toyota Auris, the most serious sports hatchback Toyota ever made since its introduction in Autumn 2006. This car really do some serious business for those who want a leisure break in Hakone but everytime when you approach to the new Auris, it's essentially quite as stricter as...the Chowking guy from an old TV drama I've watched before. I mean look at the outside, the front face kinda looked like the...Kia K5 while on the back, it looked like the Hyundai i30. There's no style for style's sake here because deep down inside, the Auris is a bit too European because of its European design and the performance that is a bit too European rather than being a Corolla-based hatchback made for those who want to spend some time out in Tokyo at night.

2013 Toyota Auris interior

On the new Auris, the interior's getting a bit too serious and sadly, the interior kinda looked like the Toyota Aqua. Inside, the seats are now lowered by 40 mm for a lower driving position and the steering wheel angle was modified to enhance the feel of sporty driving. On the back of the front seats, it's now thinner so the legroom for the back is now enhanced and the larger cargo space is at the highest levels in its class (360 liters under the VDA method), providing enhanced comfort and convenience. On the normal versions, you'll find three rings on the instrumental panel. One that reads up to 8000rpm, the middle that reads up to 180kph (with something else below), and the last one that checks the fuel gauge.

Sportier versions of the 2nd generation Auris, especially the top of the line Auris RS S Package, would expect seats with exclusive red stitching, a new optional panoramic roof window extending back to the rear seats and a retractable jackknife key that is a bit a stylish showoff. Also, it's got this instrumental panel similar to the Volkswagens of today. Anything I know? I don't know.... (laughing)

2013 Toyota Auris

There are two engine types available on the new Auris. TWO ENGINE TYPES, I repeat. One is the 1NZ-FE engine and the other was the high-performance 2ZR-FAE engine. Most models do come with the the high-efficiency Super CVT-i while the RS models get a sporting 6-speed manual, a sporting credential indeed, right? Seriously, the Euro-tuned suspension on the new Auris really provide better cornering and it handles just like a European hatchback. The new Auris do even come with the G AI-Shift that uses vehicle G-sensors to detect deceleration and turning force, enabling the AI to automatically downshift when entering a corner and to limit unnecessary up shifting when cornering. Sounds amazing but nope, that's not my thing, sorry.

For fuel efficiency, the new Auris with the 1NZ-FE engine promises about 18.2 km/L in the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's (MLIT's) JC08 test cycle but if you're opted with the SMART STOP feature, which shuts the engine off when stopped and then start again when moving, the fuel economy is now about 19.2 km/L in the JC08 test cycle. The 2ZR-FAE engine with Valvematic (a continuously variable valve-life and valve-timing mechanism) and Dual Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (Dual VVT-i) technologies will get about 16.0 km/L in the JC08 test cycle.

Because of the 1.5L 1NZ-FE engine's fuel economy as well as the addition of the SMART STOP feature, these models can qualify for incentives under the Japanese government's Green Taxation System or the ECO-CAR GENZEI system. I'm very serious about this...

As for the coloring, the new Auris comes with White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Black Mica, Red Mica Metallic, Orange Metallic, Avantgarde Bronze Metallic, and Blue Metallic.

My comment:

The old, first generation Auris (2006-2012) is a bit too weird, too chunky, and it reminded me of the old Vitz but for this all new 2nd generation Auris, it's no longer being a boyoyong clown of some sorts. It's like some actress readying her fierce pictorial for a men's magazine. With prices start at about 1,710,000 yen up to about 2,250,000 yen (Includes consumption tax, does not include recycling fees and differs in Hokkaido and Okinawa), (about 920,000 to 1,200,000 Pesos), the new Auris is becoming even more reasonably priced and  if you even drove one in the streets of Tokyo, Nagoya, or Osaka, you are becoming more of a yuppie than being a jerk going out for the country club. Welcome to the party, my friend, a bachelor's party in the frat. Quite a racy sports hatch indeed....very racy....O ho ho ho ho....

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

2012 Super GT Suzuka update....

Sorry for being late for the Super GT 2012 updates. Anyway, what's up on the 2012 Super GT Round 5 in Suzuka Circuit? Let's see...and oh, top five please....

GT300 Class:

1st place: #66 triple a Vantage GT3 driven by Hiroki Yoshimoto, Kazuki Hoshino, and Hiroki Yoshida

2nd place: #3 S Road NDDP GT-R driven by Yuhi Sekiguchi, Katsumasa Chiyo, and Daiki Sasaki

3rd place: #88 MonePa Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 driven by Manabu Orido, Takayuki Aoki, and Keita Sawa

4th place: #43 ARTA Garaiya driven by Shinichi Takagi and Kosuke Matsuura

5th place: #11 Gainer Dixcel R8 LMS driven by: Tetsuya Tanaka, Katsuyuki Hiranaka, and Atsushi Yogo

Source: http://supergt.net/pages/pg:race/device:pc/ln:en/year:2012/round:5/gt_class:gt300/menu:3

GT500 Class:

1st place: #1 S Road REITO MOLA GT-R driven by Masataka Yanagida and Ronnie Quintarelli

2nd place: #35 KeePer Kraft SC430 driven by Yuji Kunimoto and Andrea Caldarelli

3rd place: #24 D'station ADVAN GT-R driven by Hironobu Yasuda and Bjorn Wirdheim

4th place: #12 Calsonic Impul GT-R driven by Tsugio Matsuda and Joao Paulo de Oliveira

5th place: #23 Motul Autech GT-R driven by Satoshi Motoyama and Michael Krumm

Source: http://supergt.net/pages/pg:race/device:pc/ln:en/year:2012/round:5/gt_class:gt500/menu:3/result_menu:race/result_menu_2:total

Next race will be at Fuji Speedway this September 9, 2012.

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: Car Smuggling...

One of the things that drives me up the wall in my life is car smuggling. A few years ago in the Philippines, the former president of the Philippines (sorry, I can't tell his/her name) destroyed smuggled luxury cars to teach those smugglers a lesson.

Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnqJmMO91kw

I think that even with government measures, car smuggling is still out there. Well, countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, even Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh, they always LOVE to smuggle cars. In the Philippines, well, we're obsessed with Korean cars. Let's put it an example; there was a new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe was launched in South Korea but the official Hyundai distributor in the Philippines said they don't have plans to introduce it. Then, smugglers in the Philippines such as PITSTOP MOTORS or HANCARS, are trying to get their hands on the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe.

In the Philippines, how come they tend to smuggle expensive sports cars like Aston Martin, Bentley, Lotus, or any other brand that wasn't been arrived in the Philippines?

Full List of available cars in the Philippines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cars_of_the_Philippines 

Another example is the cars like the Toyota Alphard or Vellfire. In Malaysia, Toyota will not sell either the Alphard or Vellfire on that country but guess what? Malaysians love to smuggle those Alphard or Vellfire models! Not only that, MALAYSIANS love to smuggle other Japanese cars not sold in their country such as the Toyota Harrier or the Honda Elysion! Same case here in Thailand or Indonesia, well the Alphard is available on those countries but not the Vellfire. Even when the Toyota Vellfire was not available in Thailand or Indonesia, they tend to smuggle one for keeps! Isn't that annoying?

There's another example of those car smuggling fiasco though. Remember the Toyota Caldina? It's the JDM sport wagon we really love but it's gone when it was discontinued in 2007. That car wasn't intended to be sold outside Japan but what's a Caldina doing in Russia, Malaysia, or Australia? I'm afraid that's SMUGGLED. A smuggled Caldina! How awful was that? A car that was never intended to be sold outside its home market gets smuggled by idiots from different countries.

I really hate car smugglers. Don't you agree? Well, according to the Bureau of Customs, Motor Vehicles were no. 3 of the top 5 goods that were carefully monitored. The first was oil, resins were second, steel were fourth, and 5th was ceramics. How can you spot a smuggled car? Well, it takes paperwork and a few evidence to figure it out if a car was smuggled or not and that's a bit too boring for a process so, how can you figure it out of a new car was smuggled or not? There are so many answers to tell but for the fun of it; the only thing to figure it out if the car was smuggled is the car that is NOT available in your country. Like I said, there are examples such as the Toyota Vellfire. Yes, it's not available in Malaysia but the question is, what's that Toyota Vellfire doing in the streets of Malaysia? There is only one answer; IT'S SMUGGLED! How about the Hyundai Veloster perhaps? Sure, it's not available in the Philippines because of its GDi engine won't work in that country but question is....what's that doing in the Philippines? HARI said they're not selling it you know. I'm afraid that it's SMUGGLED. SMUGGLED, SMUGGLED, SMUGGLED! Why would idiots prefer to smuggle some cars that are not available in the Philippines? Has the Bureau of Customs losing the fight?

I once read an article from the Top Gear Philippines website, when the moment Noynoy Aquino because the Philippine president, the car industry has their own wish list and the two of these were one of my favorites such as this....

"The influx of gray-market imports has to be curbed. Besides the questionable conversion from right-hand to left-hand drive, these gray-market importers have no facilities, they don't pay the correct taxes, they artificially inflate the figures of newly-registered cars in the Land Transportation Office. This has to stop as it's killing the local car industry." - Greg Yu, chairman of CATS Motors, Inc. (Mercedes-Benz)

"The importation of used cars from Japan, America, and other countries must be stopped. These vehicles don't comply with the local regulations, and the conversion of the steering wheel from right-hand drive to left-hand drive is questionable. From my experience, there is no such thing as a bolt-on kit that can easily convert the steering wheel's orientation " - Taizo Furuhashi, executive vice president for marketing of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp.

Source: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/car-industry-reveals-wish-list-for-pres-aquino

Wait a minute...Mr. Taizo Furuhashi from Mitsubishi Motors Philippines said that importation of used cars must be stopped? Sounds convincing but how come some idiots keep on smuggling used cars from Japan, America, and other countries? Who would even smuggle a used car not available in the Philippines? (laughing) And wait! What Mr. Greg Yu from CATS Motors said? Gray-market importers, or should I say car smugglers, have no facilities, they don't pay the correct taxes and they artificially inflate the figures of newly-registered cars in the Land Transportation Office? Oh dear! (laughing) They were right! Car smuggling has to stop but it's still pandemic! Car smuggling spreads like wildfire!

Someone told me that his ex-fiance's dad drove a Hummer in the Philippines and he said that car is legal. Really? Remember, there wasn't a Hummer distributor in the Philippines. Remember Gerald Anderson's Hummer revealed to be smuggled? Remember Willie Revilliame's Ferrari revealed to be smuggled? Yep, true stories because these cars are not available in the Philippines and this is trespassing. It's like jumping over the border and that's unlawful. You know what to do when you see a smuggled car? Well, destroy it, just like during the Arroyo years in the Philippines! (laughing)

Let that be a lesson. For those idiots in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other countries that were addicted to car smuggling; NO CAR SMUGGLING, PLEASE. Smuggled cars don't comply to their local laws.

See you next time!

Bulilit Evacuation Center...

On the August 19, 2012 episode of Goin Bulilit...

- Goin Bulilit music video of Natatawa Ako

- Evacuation Center gags

- Sulat ni Tatay...

Dear Anak,

Naipadala ko na ang tuition fee mo na fifty thousand pesos para sa semester na ito. Pinagbili ko na ang kalabaw natin. May kamahalan pala yang kurso mo na Counter Strike. Tama ba ang pagkaintindi ko na walong taon yang kurso na yan? Wala na din pala tayong baboy dahil naibenta ko na para diyan sa instrument na iPod Nano na kailangan mo para sa Chemistry experiment mo. Kasama na din sa pinadala ko ang karagdagang seven thousand pesos para sa field trip niyo sa Music Museum. Mabuti naman at nagpupunta ka sa mga museum para makita mo ang kasaysayan ng ating bansa. Naisanla ko na din ang palayan natin para sa outreach program niyo sa Boracay. Ikaw na din ang bahalang bumili ng mga relief goods na dadalhin niyo para sa evacuation center diyan ha. Nasabi mo din na ang susuno na outreach program niyo ay sa Palawan naman. Sabihin mo na lang ako para naman maisanla ko na rin ang bahay at lupa natin. Mag-ingat ka lang sa mga lugar na yan. Baka magulo dyan. Nasabi mo din na nahihilig ka sa martial arts na Samsung LCD. Mas maganda ba yan kumpara sa kung-fu at taekwondo? Naipadala ko na rin ang pera para makapag-aral ka ng martial arts na yan kesa naman magbisyo ka. Sa susunod ay papadala ko naman sayo ang pera mo para pambili mo ng paboritong mong prutas na Blackberry. May kamahalan pala yan. Pero dahil para sa kalusugan mo naman yan. Walang problema anak. Alam ko naman na miss na miss mo na ang pagkain ng tuyo at kangkong na araw-araw naming kinakain ng nanay mo. Hanggang dito na lang anak. Mag-ingat ka dyan sa Maynila at mag-aral kang mabuti.

Nagmamahal,
Tatay

- Four old men are forgetting something

- Gags involved on kids walking on a wooden bridge to school

- In KURSUNADA, Abner Mechado investigates the evacuation center and how do evacuees behave

- more corny jokes on I'm Corny!

- A political ad from Mayor Miguel De Guzman

- Ready Get Set Goin in SO GOOD GULAMAN

An unknown French exotic only you can find in Gran Turismo

Trust us, nobody knows what is a Hommell

What we're looking up here is a car we really don't know what that is. I just really REALLY don't know what in the world is this car is and this is the only car you can find in the world of Gran Turismo. Some say, this is the Hommell Berlinette, a car we really don't know because it was first appeared in GT4 and then always a Gran Turismo-only car that no one ever heard of or tasted it.

Strictly speaking, we really never heard of Hommell but some say, Gran Turismo invented this carmaker but (laughing) you were wrong folks. Hommel was a small French carmaker, founded in the 90's by Michel Hommell, a former racing driver and the owner of Échappement, a French car magazine. Sadly, nobody remembered what are the cars made by Hommell and neither can I even though in the end of 2003, Hommell is gone for good and even though Chinese investors wanted to buy the plans for the Berlinetta Hommell to be produced near Shanghai for the local market in 2005, nobody responded. Sorry folks, this French carmaker, Hommell, is remained unknown to many. Now, why would a carmaker nobody know was there in the first place?

Anyway, the Hommell Berlinette...What is it? Well, for starters, the concept version was showcased at the 1990 Paris Motor Show with much positive feedback, leading it to a 1994 production. Originally, this comes with the 2.0L engine you can normally find in a Peugeot 406 (?) mated with a 6-speed gearbox but later it comes with a more powerful Citroen engine on it. This generates almost 170HP of power, it can go 0-60 in under eight seconds and flat-out it will do about 143-ish miles per hour, although no exact information was found in the history books because the Hommell Berlinetee will always exist in the Gran Turismo universe, unless you want to time travel back to the year this carmaker was founded to learn more. Allons-y!

Because this car weighs just about almost a ton, what I'm looking about the Berlinette's power-to-weight ratio of about...oh dear, almost 180HP/ton. Sure, this car is light, agile, and has a mild cornering feel, but I'm afraid that the Berlinette wasn't quick either even though it comes with a 6-speed close-ratio gearbox.

So then....this unknown French car is not good and it's not a proper alternative to the Lotus Elise...Sorry...

Let's Do The News! (August 19, 2012)

Right, time now for the news! Anyone heard of Senator Tito Sotto used the article from The Healthy Home Economist blog site, titled How "The Pill" Can Harm Your Future Child's Health by Sarah Pope?

(audience murmuring)

Yes, I know. Senator Tito Sotto used parts of it to demonstrate the dark side of the highly controversial Reproductive Health Bill but sadly though, he didn't asked permission to the person responsible for this article that is Sarah Pope form The Healthy Home Economist.

Scoop: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/did-sotto-really-copy-a-blogger-s-article-for-his-speech-.html

Hmmm...That's seem to be odd why did Mr. Senator didn't gave credit to someone who did the article and this is all of a COPY PASTE trick just to grab attention from the Senate against the RH Bill and speaking of which, Sarah Pope wrote an article that takes a stab against Senator Tito Sotto's infringement to one of her articles on the view against the RH Bill. Kinda funny that Tito Sotto said he was quoting Natasha McBride but who's quoting who?

(audience laughing)

Don't know but hey, at least Sarah Pope's explained about what happened and if Senator Sotto apologized to her, then it's all right.

Yeah, but speaking of which, what if some idiot's doing research and used the words straight out from this blog, what would you do? Should you take action?

Uh...I'm afraid, I can't because most of the articles we had, they were just researches to explain what's what...

(audience laughing)

Oh, is that it?

No. There's more stuff that were too many and too confidential to explain it.

(audience laughing)

Anyway, as well all know, The Hunger Games is now on DVD and Blu-Ray. Yep, it's now on sale so grab a copy of the phenomenal movie based on the best seller book by Suzanne Collins, now as in...PWEDE! NGAYON! TODAY!

Right, buy one at your nearest Odyssey, AstroPlus, or your nearest store where you can buy original DVD. No pirated copy, okay? That's creepy. However, if you're living in Japan, there's been a slight delay. As we all know, tell me when was that film shown?

Uh...about five months ago...

Right, but as we heard somewhere, The Hunger Games is going to show in Japanese theaters this September 28, 2012 so that's a huge gap to worry about.

Wait, September 28? Why?

I don't know....

(audience laughing)

Ah, I see. Oh! I found something that this film's going to be dubbed...in Japanese.

(ooohhhh)

...in developing news, we heard that Japanese seiyuu idol, Nana Mizuki, provide the dubbing for Hunger Games heroine Katniss Everdeen...

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-08-16/nana-mizuki-leads-japanese-dub-of-hunger-games

Seriously?!

I'm afraid yes. That's why....

(ooohhhh)

...anyway, while on the subject of Nana Mizuki providing the Japanese dub for Katniss, let's move on to the next one. Anyway, have you guys been at the TBS Anime Festa 2012?

(audience murmuring)

Okay, so a quick tidbits on this year's Anime Festa. Firstly, 4th season of Hidamari Sketch titled Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb, to be aired this October, will have the main seiyuus returned to sing the opening theme. Happily though, six of the voice actresses (instead of just four) will perform the new opening theme song "Open Campus": Yuno (as voiced by Kana Asumi), Miyako (Kaori Mizuhashi), Hiro (Yuko Goto), Sae (Ryoko Shintani), Nazuna (Chiaki Omigawa), and Nori (Hitomi Harada).

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-08-18/hidamari-sketch-cast-returns-to-sing-4th-season-opening

(ooohhh)

So, six of the voice actresses instead of four will be singing the opening theme for Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb? Wow!

Wow indeed! Never expected to be happened in the whole Hidamari Sketch history.

(applause)

So, what's more on this...ANIME FESTA?

Well, the cast for 2013's Sasami-san@Ganbaranai anime from SHAFT has been revealed and here it is...

• Kana Asumi as Sasami Tsukuyomi, the hikikomori
• Chiwa Saito as Tsurugi Yagami, the big sister
• Kana Hanazawa as Kagami Yagami, the middle sister
• Ai Nonaka as Tama Yagami, the little sister
• Houchu Ohtsuka as Kamiomi Tsukuyomi, Sasami's brother

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-08-18/shaft-sasami-san@ganbaranai-promo-video-reveals-cast

Oh....Next year, huh? Good luck with that....

(audience laughing)

....more timey-wimey happenings! Haganai gets a second season next year!

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-08-18/haganai-2nd-season-slated-for-january-2012

(oooohhhhh)

Mama mia! What timey-wimey stuff!

I know! (laughing)

(audience laughing)

Right, that's enough of that and moving on....Anyway, have you guys watched the Miss World 2012? It's like Miss Universe, only cheap....

(audience laughing)

Cheap? Wha...why?

You see, Miss Universe is definitely the biggest of the beauty pageants ever watched. It's their HOLY GRAIL. Miss World though, it seems it's a bit not as well recognized as Miss Universe.

Oh, I see...

Anyway, Miss China Wen Xia Yu was hailed Miss World 2012, bested other contestants such as Miss Wales (Sophie Moulds) and Miss Australia (Jessica Kahawaty). Miss Brazil (Mariana Notarangelo), Miss India (Vanya Mishra), Miss Jamaica (Deanna Robin), and Miss South Sudan (Atong Demach). were on the top seven. Our very own Miss Philippines Queneerich Rehman though, she made it to the 15th, which is fine though but thanks. Let's give them a big hand of applause to them!

(applause)

Scoop: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/news/miss-china-wins-miss-world-2012--ph-makes-top-15.html

Anyway, good job Queneerich Rehman. You did well. Okay, moving on..We just heard that DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo's missing in the island of Masbate where his Cessna was crashed. Oh no!

Scoop: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/robredo-s-light-plane-crashes-off-masbate.html

Indeed, it was an oh no and this is a work in progress because search and rescue ops are doing their best to find DILG Sec. Robredo round the clock so...

So what?

We are praying for the safety of DILG Sec. Robredo. Pray to our Lord, Jesus Christ, that DILG Sec. Robredo's safe from harm and found. God, please help him.

Uh-huh. While rescue workers are on the search and rescue ops for Sec. Robredo, let's move on to the Pebble Beach because we've just heard that McLaren's Spec Ops created a bespoke vehicle for an unknown client. It's called the X-1, which is weird that it got that name from the BMW X1. (laughing) Here's the pic...

McLaren X-1

Underneath, it's a McLaren MP4-12C but in terms of design, it kinda looks like the car from the Ridge Racer games. Once again, the nerds are playing Ridge Racer for some further design inspiration!

(audience laughing)

So, what's it all about the McLaren X-1?

I told you, it has the same mechanism as the 12C and oh, before handing it over to an anonymous client, this one-off McLaren has to be returned to the McLaren Special Operations in Woking Town for further inspection.

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/08/mclaren-presents-one-off-x-1-based-on.html

Anyway, we're not done yet to this whole Pebble Beach concours because earlier, BMW unveiled another concept car after the feedback obtained from their Z4 Zagato Concept. This is what's been called the BMW Zagato Roadster concept.

BMW Zagato Roadster Concept

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/08/bmw-and-zagato-get-together-again-to.html

Wha....it looks the same as the Z4 Zagato Concept a few months ago. Is this going to confuse Pebble Beach visitors thinking that this is just a Z4 in Zagato's clothing?

(audience laughing)

SPOILERS......(laughing)

Yeah, kinda looked the same as the Z4 Zagato concept. Anyway, let's leave the Pebble Beach story behind us and here's some of my story. While my sisters Elise and Bea took their time from Mr. Sam Wong's driving school and passed their driving test, I just heard that my cousin, Mia, took the driving test in a hurry! How come I didn't scheduled hastily for that? Mia hurried for the driving test even though she never get some driving school lessons because she learned how to drive in the Philippines?

Maybe because she's in a desperate need of a driver's license like you?

(audience laughing)

I think yes. For her, she doesn't need a help from driving school because she knows how to drive. Sadly though, I was stuck for the $90 per lesson driving school, hindering my hope for a 5-year driver's license.

Oh. So how's the status for your cousin who thinks she doesn't need a driving school and rushed for the actual test?

She failed...

(audience laughing)

Failed?!

Well...shh...shhh...shhh...she didn't understand the instructor's words. Enter traffic, she didn't understand what that is...

So, that what she get for not going to that $90 per session driving school, right?

That's a bombshell we can finish this edition...

(audience laughing)

8th Generation Chevrolet Malibu

For previous seven generations, the Chevrolet Malibu remains to be the only American car I didn't like, probably because the styling's a bit too boring, a bit too dull, a bit too American. Yep, I didn't like the Malibu because it's too American. However, for the eighth generation Chevrolet Malibu, things are about to change because for the first time in Malibu history, it's going to be sold worldwide and this has to be the best looking Malibu yet.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu

For the 8th generation Malibu, the exterior design was heavily inspired from the Camaro to provide sporty character cues to this executive midsize sedan that gives a commanding presence to the owners. Exterior details include the trademark dual-port grille, HID headlamps, Camaro-inspired rear lamps, 1465mm of height, 4865mm of length, 1855mm of overall width, and 2737mm of wheelbase.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu interior

The interior is all marvelous thanks to its new dual cockpit design that provides the new Malibu to its premium level of appreciation. The meters were heavily inspired from the Camaro too and there is a new seven-inch touch-screen navigation system with a hidden six-inch deep storage area behind it to provide USB connectivity and storage for something else. The seats on the new Malibu provides the best-in-class comfort for five people and this is an excellent innovation to create a proper midsize sedan for all. Surprisingly, the new Malibu comes with Chevrolet MyLink allows you to initiate phone calls, hands-free, while on the go, enjoy music, Navigation, watch movies, and so on. MyLink may also provide you with this addicting touch screen, Bluetooth connectivity, USB connectivity, and pairing up your device. Not only the interior of the new Malibu looks luxurious but it's also innovative and versatile. Nice touch, that.

For starters,the 2013 Malibu comes equipped with 2.5L DOHC 4-cylinder SIDI engine with Variable Valve Timing, mated with a 6-speed AT, that generates about 197HP of power and 191lb-ft of torque. Because the new Malibu uses GM Epsilon II platform, the one you can normally find it on the Buick Regal perhaps, you can expect the Euro Ride Suspension best served so you can expect better handling and drives like a European sports saloon of some kind perhaps. Thumbs up to that.

Safety? Hmmm...the 2013 Malibu has standard safety features such as the dual-stage front airbags, side-impact and knee airbags, and roof rail airbags with rollover protection. If you have some cash, how about optional safety features such as second-row head/thorax side-impact airbags, lane departure warning system with forward collision alert and a rearview camera system?

2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO

2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO

So, there's a new variant for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu that seems to work well than the previous Malibu Hybrid from the previous 2008-2012 seventh-generation Malibu. This here is the Malibu ECO, the one with next generation BAS (Belted Alternator System) Hybrid system called "eAssist", first applied on the Buick LaCrosse and the Buick Regal.  How does it work? Well, this fuel-efficient version of the 2013 Malibu uses the ECOTEC 2.4L DOHC 4-cylinder DI engine bolted with a lithium-ion battery pack that captures energy to help support the powertrain. This promises about an EPA-estimated 37 MPG on the highway and up to 580 highway miles per tank. If that wasn't enough, the 2013 Malibu ECO features regenerative braking that captures power normally lost during coasting or braking, converts it to electricity and stores it for when it’s needed, helping keep the lithium-ion battery charged.

Available colors are: Crystal Red Tintcoat, Black Granite Metallic, White Diamond Tricoat, Steel Blue Metallic, Taupe Gray Metallic, Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White, and Champagne.

My comment:

The all new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is now a global midsize sedan and it's no longer too American. What I'm looking now is a business phenomenon and even though it's an American midsize sedan that competes against the Kia K5, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Inspire, Subaru Legacy B4, Peugeot 508, Renault Latitude, Citroen C5, Volkswagen Passat, and others from this category, I find that I really want to drive the latest Malibu some more but...let's not get excited just yet because The Covenant Car Company has no plans to bring the new Malibu to the Philippines yet even though this is a global car that is sold in South Korea, China, USA, and Europe yet. Don't even try to smuggle one or Mr. Ruffy Biazon will find you because you've smuggled one. That's it.

Photo: General Motors