Lotus Exige S V6

The power of three...what could possibly be? I'm not sure if we do live in the year of the slow invasion but anyway, that would be too wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey spacey-wasey to talk about that later so, for a three's a crowd, we found one that is worth THE POWER OF THREE...

2012 Lotus Exige S

Some people thought that the Lotus Exige is probably a hardtop hardcore version of the Lotus Elise but for this one, NOT ANYMORE IT ISN'T!

Welcome everybody to the all new Lotus Exige S, the hardcore hardtop Lotus now made even better and for starters, the Toyota engine that used to power the old Celica was been thrown away and replaced with the supercharged 3.5L V6 Toyota engine first applied on the Lotus Evora S. So then, what you're looking up here is a lightweight V6 rage racer. It does 0-100kph at around 3.8 seconds and flatout, it can crack it up to 271kph, about 6kph less than the Lotus Evora S.

Yes, I may want to call it a "rage racer" because look at it, from every angle, this new Exige S looks absolutely enraging. Even though it looks enraging, it's about as elegant as Takane Shijou and for the fun of it, this is about as real as the fictitious Fatalita. Look at the bodywork. If you manage to put some Fatalita livery on it, this is just astonishing and truly an envy of your crowd.

Of course, with all that beauty of a Ridge Racer do come with a price. Because the Exige is all about being a serious lightweight car with a Japanese V6 engine on it, the interior is all about being race-focused and what I expect here is the speedometer. It looks kinda like the one from the Evora. Sure it has an audio but I don't care about it. I don't care about the racer-focused interior. What matters here is the Exige S V6's elegance. Think of it as...Takane Shijou in Christie Monteiro's outfit. Here we go...

When I said Takane Shijou in Christie Monteiro's costume, I really do mean it because the handling is just fantastic for a car that weighs about two tons, about as similar as the Lotus Elise. It's not as mild as a luxury car and it's not as dynamic as an American muscle car. The handling is well balanced and easy to drive because of its lightweight body. Couple that with the 6-speed close ratio manual transmission and this car is a bit more fun. This car is not made for the noobs everywhere because this car's a serious track-day racer, doing the capoeira in every single corner. It is a good car but what about being an everyday car?

Sadly though, it isn't. Sure, the Exige may be track-ready and road legal but with all that sports suspension mounted on the Exige S V6, I'm sorry to say that you'll be going to have a very uncomfortable feeling. It maybe elegant on the track but on the road, this is a different story because when you use this car while going out on a date, this is a bit more wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey spacey-wasey and your girlfriend might think that you're driving a car that scares her the most. Funny thing is, there's no power steering. That's it.

Despite all that bonkers technology, this is really the Lotus I like. I am gladly want to ditch the Evora S for this because the Evora's too heavy and too complicating because of the monitor that I can't read in the sunshine. This car, it's all about THE POWER OF THREE. That is by being lighter, powerful, and aggressive than the old Exige.

Photo: Group Lotus

What’s in our Car Town garage now? (September 23, 2012)

Two years ago, there was a social game from Facebook called Car Town, where Facebookers wasting time building the garage of their dreams, drag race, NASCAR, IndyCar, complete tasks, jobs, and best of all, collect cars of all kinds. There are normal cars you can collect, Limited Edition cars that you have to get it before it expires, classic cars to be restored with all the parts you've collected, everything. That what makes Car Town an ideal Facebook social game for the petrolheads. I wasn't familiar with that Facebook game until the moment they told that there are cars from Car Town that you won't normally get on racing video games. I have to check it out and I got hooked on it.

My Car Town garage is this...Jobs on the right and
a Top Gear-style studio on the left

As of now, My Car Town garage is my idea; I have my money making on the right and on the left, a studio inspired from the popular British motoring TV show, Top Gear except for the musical instruments I placed. For my love of Car Town, I decided to open up a new segment on this blog called "What's in our Car Town garage now?" where I'm going to feature three of the Car Town cars I've collected; from normal cars, limited edition cars with limited availability, prize cars, and cars restored from the junkyard. Let's begin....

1973 Ford Pinto

1973 Ford Pinto

Some people said that the Pinto is one of the most dangerous cars to drive in America, probably because of the fuel tank mounted at the back and when you crashed it, things go boom. The Pinto was launched in 1970 and the ad says that this is a "little carefree car" that was priced like a small economy Japanese car and it was averaged at about 25MPG in simulated city and suburban driving.

2011 Toyota Prius V

2011 Toyota Prius V

Well, its a Toyota Prius with a bigger boot. In America, this Prius MPV was called the Prius V while in Europe as the Toyota Prius Plus and in Japan, where it was made, the Prius α (alpha). In Japan, the Prius α is available in 5-seater and 7-seater while retaining the same specs of the normal Prius. 5-seater variants come with the traditional nickel battery while 7-seaters do come with the advanced Lithium-ion battery.

2010 VW GTi

2010 VW GTi

The GTi name is the pinnacle of the Volkswagen Golf legacy and for this sixth-generation Golf, this is no equal to the other GTi's. Of course, the VW Golf is made for the conventional people who spends a normal life but for the Golf GTi, things are about to change because what you have here is an icon, even more iconic than a Beetle.

...check back soon!

 

 

Let's Do The News! (September 23, 2012)

So, you really didn't like the new iPhone 5, right?

Yeah. I thought Apple said that they made it even better but now look, height enhanced, no YouTube app, maps now Apple-run rather than Google maps, obviously, this has got to be one of the most rubbish phones I have ever encounter. Wonder if years later, the iPhone's gonna take some more height enhancers until it reaches the height of the lightsaber?

(audience laughing)

Well, sort of. But anyway, let's do the news and you might have noticing that the September Pennzoil Car Pack we got on Forza 4. Turn 10 says that this car pack is the last of the regular monthly car packs on this game as they're going to make final preparations for next month's Forza Horizon.

(awww)

I'm sorry but that decision is final. Anyway, we have something to cheer you up. Anyway, back at the 2012 Tokyo Game Show, Sony announced an even slimmer Playstation3...

What? A much slimmer PS3?

Exactly. here's the pic...

Sony Playstation 3 (2012 model)

So, is it slimmer than before but is it still bigger on the inside?

Some say, yes. It's still bigger on the inside because the entry-level is now a 250GB PS3 while they'll be launching a flagship 500GB model which is truly a super slim PS3 that is bigger on the inside! Much like the TARDIS from Doctor Who...

(audience laughing)

Looking forward to that.

Yeah.

Anyway, back on the Indonesian International Motor Show, we just heard that the facelifted Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid broke cover and made a surprise appearance on that show. Check this out...

2013 Honda CR-Z?!

So, some mild changes on the exterior, huh? What's the specs?

Actually, we can't really mention that because we have to wait until its Japan arrival at the end of this month.

Right.

Anyway, we just heard in America that BMW USA faces problems about the all new BMW M5 F10 and the BMW M6 F12/F13.

Huh? But they're serious performance cars. How could they get problems?

(audience laughing)

Well, they said that there was some issues about the oil pump on those cars and they said that if prolonged, that "could experience a sudden loss of pressure which will result in severe engine damage". Most internet geeks do feature an evidence about the new M5 and M6's oil pump dilemma...

So, that rings a bell huh?

Exactly and if you were living in America and if you want to get a hold on the new M5 or M6, better not be right now because of the affected oil pump issue that could ruin the 4.4L V8 biturbo engine and cause power loss.

That's an order!

(audience laughing)

Anyway, while we were on this, I just saw a public service message from ABS-CBN's The Filipino Channel or TFC about the Optical Media Board's BAWAL KUMOPYA campaign in the fight against piracy and what I just saw aside from OMB chairman, who used to be an action star in the past, Ronnie Ricketts, I just bumped into the stars of the hit TV drama, Walang Hanggan.

(ooohhh)

So, let's see, there was Coco Martin, Julia Montes, Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta, Joem Bascon, and Paulo Avelino joining the fight against piracy on that Public Service Announcement you just watched. The good guys which were Daniel, Katerina, Marco, and Emily, and the bad guys which were Nathan and Tomas, they were there?

Exactly. That seems to be odd but I think this whole BAWAL KUMOPYA campaign would be a good idea for the Optical Media Board to spread the message to our Filipinos worldwide to end piracy that's been plaguing around for centuries.

Yeah, stuff like pirated DVDS, CDs, bootlegs, torrents, and other forms of infringement, they should better be gone.

Aha! You said that.

(audience laughing)

Anyway, there's going to be a new book coming out in October and this is a shocking conspiracy...

(huh?)

What is it?

Well, some say, this is the book to end the misery of other Top Gear fans...

Wait hold it. Is it all about The Stig?

Yeah and that book is titled The Stig: The Untold Story. This is from BBC Books and it was written by someone named Simon du Beaumarche. On that book, he's going to uncover Who is The Stig in different kind of way and a look behind the scenes.

Oh geez. This is like what happened to former Stig Ben Collins. He was fired when he tries to make a autobiography of himself.

(audience laughing)

Anyway, that's the news and moving on to Namco Namjatown. THE IDOLM@STER, which the best video game in Japan of all time, and especially IDOLM@STER songs are the best driving music for a Ridge Racer...

(audience laughing)

...are back at Namco Namjatown from September 22 to November 11, 2012 and they'll be whipping up some special menus just in store for you.

Scoop: http://www.namja.jp/news/idolmaster/

Whichever floor you are in Namco Namjatown, you get to enjoy these IDOLM@STER themed meals especially Captain Slow's favorite for now which is the AI LIKE 765PRO HAMBURGER. Named after an IDOLM@STER song that will be featured on Namassuka Special 03, look that cheese, it has Ritsuko Akizuki on it

(laughing)

Not just limited to those IM@S-themed snacks but also there are three meals themed after a social game titled THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS as well.

Aside from meals, there are goodies to expect so come on down at the Namco Namjatown and enjoy more of these IDOLM@STER stuff.

Apple iPhone 5

The Apple iPhone, this gadget was been around for five years since the first one debuted in January 2007 and undergo several changes through the years has been languishing through the smartphone wars. Sure, it maybe the king of the smartphones but because of the arrival of emerging Android phones, I still find that Android phones are rubbish and complicated but for the iPhone, doesn't. Apple tries to think of new and exciting ways to keep the iPhone fresh and better in today's ever changing trends.

iPhone 5

But now, they've launched the new version called the iPhone 5 and Apple claims that they made it even better. Firstly, it's been lightened to about 112g of weight, 20% lighter than last year's iPhone 4S and Apple claims that this is the thinnest and lightest iPhone ever made. Much fun like what Land Rover did to their new generation Range Rover, dropping too much weight. Weight loss is cool but not in a Doctor Who Adipose kind of way. It's in a technological matter for Apple to make it lighter so it would be easy to carry around and yes, thanks to its thinnest look, I was thinking that it really fits to your skinny jeans but I recommend not to put it in your skinny jeans because it would be notoriously difficult to pull it out when your new iPhone's ringing. Best to put it in your bag.

There's more into this Superleggera smartphone, what Apple did is they make it even more clearer and even more longer thanks to its 4-inch retina display. Even though it maintains the same width, the iPhone 5 is nearly 9 millimeters taller than iPhone 4S so that takes about time to see the full body view of a woman wearing a one-piece competition swimsuit. He he he....

There's more good news too because internet connection is faster thanks to its LTE however, let me explain. Ideally, 4G LTE is common in Android phones this days. The reason why past iPhone models especially the 4S doesn't have the LTE while sticking to conventional HSPDA is simple, LTE may cause iPhones waste space quickly and drains the batteries quickly. We know it's bad but to get round the problem, the iPhone 5's LTE has been optimized for better battery life and designed for ultrafast connectivity in a thin profile. This is amazing and very clever indeed.

Couple that with the A6 chip and you get an Apple-estimated 8 hours of LTE browsing time, 8 hours of talk time, and 10 hours of video playback, all because of its extended battery life courtesy of that chip that provides quicker CPU performance, faster graphics, and that's about it.

This is the best iPhone most techies want because of its superleggera-ish weight, slim profile, 4G LTE, and tons of enhancements. As for the pricing, well this is a very complicated story. In America, Apple's home market, the new iPhone 5 is available only at AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon with prices start from $199 for the entry-level 16GB, $299 for the mid-range 32GB, and $399 for the flagship 64GB model, plus tax.

With all that upsides do come with the cost of ownership. Because it's a new iPhone, they also been fitted with the updated version of Apple's iOS, which is called iOS6. So, what to expect on this...um, on this iOS6, there's a problem, the YouTube app's gone, the maps are now Apple-powered instead of Google maps and now, there's a very inutile they called it...Passbook. Passbook? What's that? Very inutle about that, forget about it. Anyway, why does iOS6 dropped the YouTube app and the maps are now Apple-run instead of Google maps? Very simple explanation because I once had a talk with a mate and he says that Apple's been on a fight against Google. Well, because Google is all about Androids, Apple decided for an annulment against Google and Apple says "Hey Google, because you want Androids to rule over the smartphone market, I think that I really don't need you anymore." and then, the annulment against Google occurred and with this iOS6, the YouTube app is gone and the Google maps has been ditched and replaced by a Apple-made navigation which doesn't make any sense.

If you have last year's models and if you're opted to update it to iOS6, my best recommendation is not to update it and stick to the iOS5 but that's not a good recommendation because it will render it useless, unsecured, and my best bet was...update at your own risk.

Sure, the iOS6 is the most of our problems, there's more to this iPhone 5 conundrum. Traditional models do have a 30-pin connector but now, for this new model, Apple created a new type of connector called the Lightning connector.Apple once said that this all new Lightning connector is smaller, smarter, durable, and best of all, reversible so it doesn't matter which side you'll be connecting to. In the future, all accessories will be compatible to this Lightning connector and for me, that's a bad thing because there are so many gadgets in the world still depend on the 30-pin connection, much like the BOSE connectors but some say, Apple made an accessory that transforms all 30-pin gadgets into Lightning courtesy of this 30-to-Lightning connector. This is much like turning 110 to 220 and back but this is somewhat very complicating.

In summary, the iPhone 5 is an ambitious but rubbish version of the venerable Apple iPhone. Sure, it maybe available in countries like USA, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, but for some, I'm afraid that you have to wait even further to have one. An iPhone without a YouTube app is just the least of the problems but because of those very complicated technology, I'm afraid that you have to consult on the onboard instructional manual to figure that out. This gadget maybe a waste of money and a waste of time but this is somewhat a technological achievement.

Should I buy one? LEt me figure that out soon when the time's right for me but in the meantime, NO.

"9 out of 10 dentists recommend Sensoday for Pangingilo*"

On the September 21, 2012 episode of Bubble Gang...

-Pest control gags

- Tata Lino returns to help others' life problems with some quotes.

-  Is Cheche and Bureche to blame on putting the chewing gum to the teacher's chair?

- Pinoy Jenyo's back...with some subtitles for those who don't understand the lingo.

- Ang Pangingilo ay parang biglaang sakit ng ipin...Bubble Gang does Sensodyne by spoofing this ad as SENSODAY! 9 out of 10 dentists recommend Sensoday for Pangingilo*

- Pickup Lines courtesy of Dahon, Bisugo, and Boy Pick Up!

- Once upon a time, there was a princess who doesn't laugh a lot...

- Regine Velasquez guests on a sketch called BOPOL DATING! Ogie and Regine together on this sketch!

- James Wang (Jacky Woo) is back and now, he's on the case on interrogating a suspect...and it ended up having the cops raping her...

River Song...on Who Do You Think You Are...

We never saw this one coming but last night on BBC's documentary series, Who Do You Think You Are? (the show where the most famous personalities in Britain discovering their roots from history), currently on its 9th season, they highlighted Alex Kingston, the actress Doctor Who fans recognized her as Professor River Song (Melody Pond), on that episode.

River Song...er....Alex Kingston found out that her great great great grandmother ran a house of ‘ill repute’.

SYNOPSIS:


Actress Alex Kingston knows that her great-grandfather, William Keevil, died during the First World War, leaving behind a wife and young family - including Alex's then 4-year-old grandmother. Alex sets out to investigate exactly what happened to William, and discovers how his pre-war career as a photographer put him in an unusual position.

Alex has also heard rumours of Jewish ancestry in her family tree. Her quest to discover if this is true takes an unexpected turn, leading to a story involving her four-times great-grandmother, Elizabeth Braham, another widow with young children. As Alex delves further into Elizabeth's life, she is astonished to discover the unconventional enterprise Elizabeth undertook to avoid sliding into poverty. 

Hello, Sweetie? Spoilers. We finally knew who Alex Kingston really is. Still, this is more noticeable than David Tennant from previous seasons of Who Do You Think You Are.

Welcome Back: 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

A wondrous Anglo-German partnership since the...whatever that means

The SLR McLaren is the fruit of a wonderful collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren. It may be badged as a Mercedes-Benz but the SLR was produced in Woking Town in Surrey, where the McLaren headquarters is located at.

It comes with a 5.4L supercharged V8 engine specially developed for the SLR, generates 626 PS (460 kW; 617 hp) of power and 780 N·m (580 lb·ft) of torque, mated with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Mercedes-Benz said that this car has a 0-60mph time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed at around 208-209mph.

Production of the SLR ended in 2010 and the partnership between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren is finished and gone through separate ways.

Richard Hammond drove the SLR McLaren in South Africa in Season 3 Episode 7 of Top Gear and afterward, Jeremy Clarkson drove the SLR in Season 4 Episode 2 of Top Gear, whereas The Stig set a lap time of 1:20.9 at the Top Gear Test Track.

In Top Gear Season 6 Episode 6, Jeremy Clarkson drives the SLR McLaren against Richard Hammond and James May on different forms of transportation (by plane, boat and bus) heading to Oslo, Norway and in the end, Jeremy and the SLR won while Richard and James got lost and not sure how to get through Oslo.

The SLR was featured in Jeremy Clarkson's 2004 DVD titled Clarkson: HOT METAL, where it raced against the Porsche Carrera GT.

It also appeared in XTM Top Gear Korea whereas The Stig set a lap time at the TGK Test Track in 1:31.23, quicker than the BMW M3 and the 1M Coupe.

GT5 announces 3 new DLC cars for Update 2.08

You know you guys should really see this coming, the thing about those Stratos Butterfly, Burning Performer, White School Swimsuit, Cutie Insect, Rainy Suzuran, Dressy Alice, Random Color Beauty, Digital Spacecraft, Full Bloom Yukata Dress, and the Devilkin Swimming Suit stuff, they're really good about PS3-only stuff and now putting them all and combine into something else that is much cooler than bowties, fezzes, stetsons, bunk beds, and glasses combined! Or to put it to another way...

Subaru BRZ coming on GT5!

SUCKERS!!!

Titles are not made for context but...SUBARU BRZ ON GT5?

SUBARU BRZ ON GT5?!

SUBARU BRZ ON GT5?!

Okay, enough of that nonsense but anyway, Subaru's first FR sports coupe as part of the joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and Fuji Heavy Industries, the Subaru BRZ is coming as a DLC car on Gran Turismo 5 next week and not just that, the Nissan GT-R N24 GT Academy that Gran Turismo creator, Kazunori Yamauchi, drove it on the 2012 Nurburgring 24 Hour Endurance and garnered a SP8T class win, were present and for the first time...Honda's latest entry to the Super GT500 class, the HSV-010, was present but specifically this...weider HSV-010 from 2011's Super GT500 season.

Nissan GT-R N24 GT Academy

Honda weider HSV-010 (SUPER GT)

All three DLC cars will be out on September 25, 2012 for North Americans or September 26, 2012 for Asians, whereas a new GT5 Update (2.08) will occur on that date. This update involves...

• Now possible to select “Disable collisions” in the [Event Settings] of online races.
• ID’s are now shown above cars when watching online races.
• Response of the clutch pedal when using the steering wheel controllers “G25 Racing Wheel”, “G27 Racing Wheel”, “T500RS” and “TH8RS” has been adjusted.
• Rate of tire wear in endurance races has been slowed (excluding formula cars).
• Amount of air resistance change when altering aerodynamic wing settings has been increased.
• Autopilot has been adjusted to prevent colliding with the wall when exiting the pit lane on the Tsukuba circuit.
• Adjusted the changes in control characteristic when altering vehicle height from standard height. (Vehicle height can be changed by adjusting ride height, either by installing a suspension kit or adjusting a full customizable suspension kit.)

Fellas, you'll never gonna stop asking...

Scoop: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/09/20/gran-turismo-5-three-new-cars-update-2-08-out-tuesday/

2013 Auris exceeds the sales target

2013 Toyota Auris

The 2nd-generation Toyota Auris was launched in Japan since August 20, 2012 with a sales target of 2000 units per month. Thanks to its bold advertising thanks to some topless transgender, the advertising worked. As of September 19, 2012, about 4,000 units of new Auris models have been recorded. That's twice than the monthly sales target!

Scoop: http://www2.toyota.co.jp/jp/news/12/09/nt12_0904.html

Let's Do The News! (September 20, 2012)

Whoa....you still getting BOVERED...

(audience laughing)

..again.

Why?

You still really bothered about the ASEAN idiots trying to get their hands on the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire. Don't you just change now you old haggard?

(audience laughing)

I really don't change at all. You know that UMW Toyota Motor, the Malaysian subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, you know what models available in Malaysia as of now?

Uh....let's see...they have...

CENSORED

So, As of now, the available Toyotas in Malaysia as of now are the [CENSORED] That's it. UMW Toyota Motor never brought the Alphard or the Vellfire (NEVER WILL) in Malaysia as well as other Toyota minivans we know.

You are quite serious about that. Anyway, after we tackled about the G SPORTS versions of the Toyota minivans he disliked the most because of Malaysian smugglers, we just heard that Toyota unveiled special editions for the Alphard and Vellfire. First off, there's the Toyota Alphard 240S/350S Type Gold special model.

2012 Toyota Alphard Type Gold

For this special edition, the Type Gold Alphard features wooden panels, steering wheels, and the shift knobs all shine up in gold, special grille, super chrome rims, and a specially made smart key with the logo on it. This special model costs 3,670,000 up to 4,050,000 Japanese yen, has four variants (240S FF, 240S 4WD, 350S FF, 350S 4WD) and available in Toyopet dealerships across Japan.

2012 Toyota Vellfire Golden Eyes

Also is this special model called the Vellfire 2.4Z/3.5Z Golden Eyes. That naming for the special model sounds like the Bond movie but anyway, same treatments as expected on the Alphard Type Gold special model but what differs this was the headlights because the name of the special model is Golden Eyes, the projector headlights come with a Champagne Gold Ring on it, to make it more unique. Pricing starts at 3,670,000 up to 4,050,000 Japanese yen, has four variants (2.4Z FF, 2.4Z 4WD, 3.5Z FF, and 3.5Z 4WD) and it's available at your nearest Netz dealerships across Japan. LIMITED STOCKS...ONLY.

(audience laughing)

And now it's time to do the news and we begin with Astra Daihatsu Motor from Indonesia, they've just launched a Low Cost Green Car that was built and sold only to Indonesians, here it is look...

2013 Daihatsu Ayla

2013 Toyota Agya

The Indonesia-exclusive eco car known as the Daihatsu Ayla and it's Toyota cousin, the Toyota Agya. They'll be featured at this year's Indonesia International Motor Show tomorrow and up to September 30, 2012 at Jakarta International Expo.

Scoop: http://autoc-one.jp/news/1191819/

So, these are the low cost eco cars built and sold only to the Indonesian market? Hmmm....Not bad but they look a bit odd because the Ayla kinda looks like the Suzuki Alto while the Toyota Agya (not to be confused with the Europe-only Aygo) kinda looks like the...Perodua MyVi, which is sold in Indonesia as the Daihatsu Sirion by the way.

Yeah, indeed they really looked like the other eco-cars.

(audience laughing)

Fair enough...

For this year's Paris Motor Show, Hyundai and Kia gone on the offensive sides by launching Europe-only three door versions of the cee-apostrophe-d and the i30.

2013 Hyundai i30 3-door

2013 Kia pro_cee'd

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/hyundai-presents-thee-door-hatchback.html

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/2013-kia-procee-first-official-images.html

They look like...the Hyundai Veloster spawned its kids!

(audience laughing)

I know!

Yeah and what do you think are they? Are those two trying to think that they want a piece of them? Ahem! They're Korean, they're made in Europe, and what to expect to those un-Korean Korean cars?

Uh...nope.

Anyway, because they're not Korean-bound, let's look at this that's worth Korean-bound...I hope.

(audience laughing)

2013/2014 Kia Carens

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/all-new-kia-carens-compact-mpv-bows-to.html

That's the new Carens, right?

Yeah. New Carens, third-generation, 7-seater, to be continued on Paris.

(audience laughing)

Aston Martin just launched a brand new version of the DB9! Take a look! Look!

2013 Aston Martin DB9

(huh?)

Huh? But...that's just a Virage.

Yeah, looks like a Virage in terms of exterior and interior but the engine that powers it was came on the AM310 Vanquish. An AM11 5.9L V12 engine that generates about 510HP of power, more than the old model and even more than the outgoing Aston Virage.

(oohh)

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/09/aston-martin-plays-you-spot-differences.html

Oh, I see! The new 2013 DB9 is more like the Virage but now comes with a different version of the new V12 engine that powers the new Vanquish! What witchcraft those guys were!!!

(ahhhh)

Hey now. You know why most cars as of now don't have blu-ray players?

Uh...is it because their screens are too small for Blu-Ray discs that has perfect picture and perfect quality?

Exactly. But there's more to that why do most cars have no in-car Blu-Ray players. Now though, Toyota USA broke the mold and decided to make the first car that comes with the world's first Blu-Ray rear seat entertainment system.

(huh?)

No joke! It's real! Toyota USA updated their Toyota Sequoia for the 2013 model year to become the first car in the world to offer the world's first Blu-Ray rear seat entertainment system! It is the first production vehicle in the world to offer high-definition rear-seat entertainment.

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/19/toyota-sequoia-dumps-4-6l-v8-for-2013-claims-industry-first-blu/

So, now, there's a car that can play Blu-Ray discs for the best viewing pleasure? No way! The Americans became the first to think of that idea!

(applause)

So, the first car to have a Blu-Ray entertainment system was the 2013 Toyota Sequoia! An American-made Toyota became the first to have that feature! Can't believe that the future REALLY is NOW! NOW as in TODAY! Wouldn't you believe it? What's next?

Uh, let's wait for a couple of years to have this...feature.

Right.

Anyway, while waiting for the much awaited Call of Duty Black Ops II this fall, we just heard that in Japan, Black Ops II join forces with an anime for a special joint operation. Wanna guess what anime is on the joint operation for Black Ops II?

(audience murmuring)

Wrong! Because...ladies and gents, it's Jormungand!

(wow)

JORMUNGAND? The anime that was aired a couple of months ago but the second season, which is titled Jormungand Perfect Order, is set this fall?

Correct, Captain Slow. It's Black Ops II meets Jormungand! It's a joint ops for the first time ever!...and not much details right now until further notice...

(awww)

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-09-19/call-of-duty/black-ops-ii-jormungand-anime-join-forces

Yeah, not much info right about now. Let's move on...

Right, on the 2012 Australian International Motor Show this October, Mazda showed up an updated version of the 7-seater SUV, the Mazda CX-9. This time, it wears its Kodo face first applied on the CX-5 and later the Atenza.

2013/2014 Mazda CX-9

Scoop: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/mazda-freshens-up-cx-9-sport-ute

Ahem. What's that?

A CX-9. Mazda CX-9.

Does this car available in Japan?

Uh...no.

No. So then. Don't even talk about cars not available on home countries.

Sorry...

And on that bombshell, that's the news! For an announcement, XTM's Top Gear Korea returns for Season 3 this October 2012!

Toyota Alphard and Vellfire G's (G SPORTS)

2013 Toyota Alphard G's

2013 Toyota Alphard G's

This is the latest chapter to Toyota's sports conversion series dubbed as G's or G SPORTS. This is the new Toyota Alphard 350S/240S G's (G SPORTS)...

2013 Toyota Vellfire G's

2013 Toyota Vellfire G's

...and the Toyota Vellfire 3.5Z/2.4Z G's (G SPORTS). What GAZOO Racing did to these two of these...Toyota flagship minivans that most Malaysian idiots love to smuggle one because UMW Toyota Motor has no plans to bring either these two in Malaysia (as it happens, NO, UMW will not bring them here) is simple. They've lowered both the Alphard and Vellfire by about 30mm thanks to its sport-tuned suspension developed specifically by GAZOO Racing. Not just that, they even dress them up with Gazoo Racing-made body kit to make them look sharper and aggressive, then there are sport brakes fitted for increased stopping power.

2013 Toyota Alphard/Vellfire G's interior

2013 Toyota Alphard/Vellfire G's interior

There's more too. The interior's all smothered up with G's peripherals. The instrumental's changed, the seats are embroidered with red stitching while being covered in Alcantara, the engine start button's colored red, and here come the sport pedals. Besides, they still accommodate up to seven people while the 2nd row seats are a fit for royalty. So what they did here is turning a luxury MPV into a bragging machine that deserves a bragging rights to the crowd who owns minivans and showing up to the Daikoku parking area.

Sure, they both come with sports suspension, sports brakes, sport tires courtesy of TOYO TIRES for added grip, 19-inch rims, quad exhausts, and everything G's on it but performance remains the same. You still have a choice of a 2.4L engine mated with a CVT or a 3.5L V6 engine mated with a 6-speed ECT.

As for the pricing, well because the Alphard's available at Toyopet dealerships while the Vellfire's available at Netz dealerships, the Alphard 240S G's and Vellfire 2.4Z G's cost about 4,040,000 Japanese Yen while the Alphard 350S G's and Vellfire 3.5Z G'S costs about 4,420,000 Japanese Yen. They'll both arrive in selected dealerships across Japan this November 2012.

So, there you are. The G's (G SPORTS) versions of the Alphard and Vellfire are made for bragging rights at the parking lots but if you are an Malaysian trying to smuggle one, be warned. As told that UMW Toyota Motor will never EVER bring either the Alphard or Vellfire, don't even think about smuggling one or you could be in big trouble. That's an order.

Out at the park...

Hello world.

It's me again, Leopaul.

Feeling bored while doing absolutely nothing, my mum told me that we should go to the park. One park to be precise; Seward Park (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/environment/seward.htm)

Me, dad, mum, and my sis are having to have some fresh air but there is a problem. Somewhere at the park, there are crooks talking trash while cookinh up barbecue and playing very loud music on their stereos. It was like who are those? And then, I judt caught ip two heavily modified Chevy SUVs with the oversized rims and candy paint, thinking that you are the kind of person who belongs to Seattle's most notorious gangs.

Heh, because of all that crooks and criminals driving souped up cars with huge speakers and hanging out with some beer and snacks, we decided to retreat back home.

How come society often turned out like this?

Speaking of which, my office chair that I have for a few months ago got unexpectedly broken. We had that chair for months as a replacement to a two-year old office chair that went flimsy. I just really don't know how come that chair can easily became so flimsy. Also, the height adjustener's jammmed. A months-old chair feels like the old broken office chair we had. Is it because of my weight that can't keep up with the chair?

Oh my gosh....Something's has to be done...