Saturday, December 1, 2012

Let's Do The News! (December 1, 2012)

River's Diary

Right, what's the news today you spoiler-laden TARDIS journal?

14th DLC Catalog for THE IDOLM@STER 2 PS3 version


THE IDOLM@STER 2 (PS3) DLC Catalog Vol. 14


NOTHING WILL BE THE SAME. That's why the PS3 version of THE IDOLM@STER 2 has exclusive costumes so that it would change you. For this 14th DLC Catalog on the PS3 version, out now, expect new outfits such as “STAR LIGHT AGENT”, “MY BABY’s BREATH”, “CORDUROY COUNTRY”, and “CIRCUIT ARCHITECT” plus a song titled エージェント夜を往く and so much more.

Info: http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/cs/list/idolmaster/im2/ps3/dlc/catalog14.php

New generation Ford Fusion recalled. New Escape got recalled...once again

A recall of 89,153 Ford vehicles equipped with 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engines such as the all new 2013 Ford Fusion and the 2013 Ford Escape was announced because of the possibility of overheating and, in some instances, fires starting in the engine compartment. Fusion and Escape models equipped with 2.5-liter naturally aspirated and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines are not affected by this recall. The Fusion Hybrid is also not affected.

Very funny that the new 1.6L EcoBoost engine can get a bit of a problem and hey, is this a major flaw for Ford for such an engine that propelled these two an edge against Chevrolet? Oh dear...

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/30/ford-recalling-89k-2013-fusion-and-escape-models-over-engine-fir/

TMG TS-650 Concept


TMG TS-650 Concept


It maybe just an old Lexus LS but what this is, is a beefed-up version courtesy of Toyota Motorsport GmBH. It's called the TMG TS-650 and this beefed up version of the LS is the first for this TMG thingy. It maybe a concept but with enough interests, this TMG thingy would be the high-performance benchmark like what HSV do for Holden, FPV do for Ford Australia, and other high-performance brands. It's exhibited at this year's ESSEN MOTOR SHOW.

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/11/tmg-ts-650-concept-is-lexus-ls-on-some.html

Nissan Juke meets Batman

Forget Batman's K5 (and the other DC Comics-themed Kias). He's switching for another everyday ride and this time it's a Nissan Juke. Coinciding with the UK release of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES on DVD and Blu-ray, Nissan made a special one-off Juke Nismo Batman, which one lucky winner will win these in a special competition named "Builttothrill" that runs until February 28, 2013 with the results to be announced in early March.

Nissan Juke Nismo Batman


WAVE Beach Queens Makoto Kikuchi revealed

WAVE Beach Queens
Makoto Kikuchi

Was she your favorite character from THE IDOLM@STER video game? Coming this June, this is another part of WAVE's Beach Queens IDOLM@STER lineup. She's up for pre-orders at 3990 Japanese Yen or an estimated $50. Now what I want for this lineup to complete is Yukiho and Ritsuko. Gosh, actually, nobody made a figure of either Yukiho Hagiwara or Ritsuko Akizuki these days...

Christopher Eccleston explains about Matt Smith's progress...

Former Doctor Who lead actor (9th Doctor when the series returned in Spring 2005) Christopher Eccleston was interviewed by RedCarpetNewsTV about The Oranges, a new movie starring HOUSE's Hugh Laurie. He also explained about Matt Smith on being The Doctor and what he's looking forward for the program's 50th year...



Some theft involved at this year's Manila Auto Salon

Read something from the Top Gear Philippines site that there are some theft involved at this year's Manila Auto Salon at SMX Convention Center. Here are some of the excerpts;


On the first day alone and in the span of just a couple of hours, we became privy to three incidents of theft.

One visitor reported that her credit and ATM cards were stolen as she roamed around the area. An exhibitor, meanwhile, became the victim of a salisi gang who took advantage of the crowd milling around the booth to take off with the wallet which contained the exhibitor's local and international credit and ATM cards.

And then there's the motoring journalist who briefly left his DSLR camera on a table and asked someone manning the booth to keep his eye on it. When he came back later, not only was the camera missing, but the person he asked to look after it had no clue as to where it went.

Word for all; always keep your belongings safe...

Scoop: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/manila-auto-salon-wily-thieves-now-preying-on-visitors-exhibitors

What to see at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show?

This year's Los Angeles Auto Show opens at the Los Angeles Convention Center from November 30 to December 9, 2012, and it will be a shooting hoops of world premieres. So, what to see on this year's show? As a rule, no girls please. Take pictures of any car show with yourself and your friends. No picturing of show girls please. I strongly don't want you to do that.

2014 Acura RLX - Honda Legend/Acura RL replacement ditches SH-AWD in favor of its new Precision All Wheel Steer, a technology we won't be seeing in Japan...



BMW i3 Coupe Concept - BMW previews their another addition to the BMW i range. A zero emission electric car with 168HP of power is quite somewhat a fitting to this next-generation city car.



BMW X1 K2 Concept - BMW teams up with winter sports equipment brand K2 to create a colorful take on the X1, which sounds perfect for the winter vacations...



2014 Chevrolet Spark EV - the first ever full electric vehicle from Chevrolet...period.



Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary - the toughest tribute to the RUBICON version of the Jeep Wrangler for 10 years.



Hyundai Veloster C3 Concept - Just as we thought, it couldn't be any more unique for the Veloster, especially this concept's got a canvas top...



2014 Jaguar XFR-S - the most powerful XF Jaguar has ever made, drawing some inspiration from the XKR-S.



Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force Concept - This is what the G-Class would look like in the future...



2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series - this is one bad gullwinged German...



2014 Porsche Cayman - the sexiest Cayman ever!



smart forjeremy concept - Nope. It's not for Jeremy Clarkson. Sorry. It's made by fashion designer Jeremy Scott.



2013/2014 Toyota RAV4 - With its Auris-fied looks, this might be an even better competitor to today's Forester and Outlander.



2013/2014 VW Beetle Convertible - the 21st Century Beetle just got its top dropped...



2014 Ford Fiesta - The front face looks like an Aston Martin but some say this is the new Ford family face. We might be expecting a 1.0L EcoBoost engine next year...



2014 Ford Fiesta ST - a perfect rival to the Chevrolet Sonic RS



2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon - America's people carrier never been so stylish...



Source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/11/2012-LA-Auto-Show-Premieres-Carscoop.html

"Love na love ko ang SAB MARINO!"

On the November 30 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Sofa gags for the lazy

- Service center at the mall's giving too much info...

- Mama? Kuya Betong? Kuya Bitoy? I have something to tell you...

- Tata Lino returns once again for more quotes...

- Bubble Gang does San Marino Corned Tuna by spoofing this commercial as SAB MARINO CORNED TUNA. Love na love ko ang SAB MARINO!

- Pick Up Lines!!!

- Ang Bagong Dating Doon with Brod Pete and pals

- Balitang News

- Some O.A. idiots on the next table are doing O.A. stuff...

Friday, November 30, 2012

What's in our Car Town Garage today? (November 30, 2012)

What's in our Car Town Garage today?

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1

If you remember the Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, then to you, this Mustang Mach 1 did the two-wheel stunt to slip through the walls that are unfit for the car's width. Cool isn't it? Anyway, back when the first Ford Mustang was released, almost half a million Mustangs were sold in its first year but for some, they think the Mustang's performance wasn't enough to satisfy their fancies so they made the Mach 1 version and with such success, 72,458 units were sold.


1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1

2008 Lamborghini Reventon

If you think the Murcielago is not quite special, this is the Lambo for you. The Reventon is styled to look like a fighter jet plane and it comes with the same V12 engine that powers the Murcielago. They only made 20 of them, which makes it very rare to see one of these.


2008 Lamborghini Reventon

2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

The LP560-4 Gallardo comes with the 5.2L V10 engine, new at that time, that produces 560HP of power, making this faster than the old Gallardo Superleggera and the Ferrari Scuderia. Some supercars have launch control that you have to put it in first, left foot on the brakes, build revs, and set off when the light is green but the LP560-4 has a different feature called Thrust Control, which sounds as cool as the hero of an airport thriller movie. Put it in Corsa Mode, traction off, left foot on the brakes, build revs, and set off when the lights go green. With Thrust Control, the Gallardo 560 sure knows how to make mince meat out of its rivals and it's nicer to drive. You have a choice; you can either have a dog or a car that can be driven by one...

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Mazda CX-5 is 2012-2013 Japan Car of the Year!

Mazda CX-5


The 2012-2013 Japan Car of the Year goes to...the Mazda CX-5! I repeat, the Mazda CX-5 with the revolutionary SKYACTIV-D 2.2L clean diesel engine is Japan 2012-2013 Car of the Year!

Edging out against the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ, BMW F30 3-Series, and the Range Rover Evoque, this third member of Mazda's SKYACTIV Technology propelled its way of becoming this year's Japan COTY.

Congratulations, Mazda Motor Corporation and to the CX-5. If it weren't for its SKYACTIV-D 2.2L clean diesel engine, it wouldn't propelled its win.

Scoop: http://response.jp/article/2012/11/29/186023.html

GT5 C7 Corvette Testing...at the Top Gear Test Track

Hello reader, by the time you're reading this, Chevrolet invited us to test out their pre-production mule of the upcoming C7 Corvette, coming in 2013, on Gran Turismo 5. Never heard of it? To be clear, this Corvette C7 Test Prototype provided by Chevrolet is available on Gran Turismo 5 as a free DLC. That's right. It's free so get it on the PlayStation Store anytime so you can sample out Chevrolet's next Corvette before the real deal shows up on Detroit Motor Show next year.

Source: http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Nov/laas/1128_vette_gt5.html

C7 Corvette test mule at Top Gear Track

Now, by the time I got an exclusive access to the C7 Corvette pre-production (and camouflaged) mule, I am here to make further evaluations before next year's grand unveiling. NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME. That's what the Corvette promised the fans right before its regeneration because it promises to be a different and more aggressive type of Corvette that General Motors ever made. By the moment I checked in, the sound of the new 6.2L V8 LT1 kicks in and this start-up noise kinda reminds me of the current Camaro...only different.

Let's remember though that there are only a few elite drivers in the world chosen by Chevrolet to undergo some rigorous performance and durability testing to ensure what the C7 Corvette's capable of. Thanks to Gran Turismo 5, I might be able to getting to know more about the C7 Corvette's performance...at home! The real reason for this because Chevrolet wants to have other car enthusiasts to use computer simulation as a science lab to demonstrate the C7 Corvette's capabilities...

When the LT1 engine roars, get ready...

For my maiden voyage with this camouflaged C7 Corvette, I chose the Top Gear Test Track and what am I going to do is to beat the time set from the C6 Corvette ZR1 as seen on Top Gear.

ZR1 Top Gear flashback

Now, if I remember correctly, The Stig set a lap time of 1.20.4 in the C6 Corvette ZR1. I think it's going to be a rough one because I'm facing against the time set by its previous predecessor which has more power than this new model's 6.2L V8 LT1 engine. It maybe a huge handicap for me but it's a challenge I am taking because this is to show how track-munching is this new Corvette is.

1st attempt - 1:22.788
2nd attempt - 1:21.367
3rd attempt - 1:20.261

Photo: Three good attempts at the Top Gear Track and the @Corvette #C7 Test Prototype did well! #one13thirteen #gt5 #lovecars
Personal best

From my point of view that after three trial-and-error attempts, the C7 Corvette proves to be a track-munching monster and hey! I'd just beat the time set by The Stig in the C6 ZR1 in the TV show! Beat that Stiggie! However, this is only the beginning because over the next random moments, I am going around the world in GT5 to further examine the C7 Corvette's power within, proving that NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME.

It's a proven track weapon of its own right

If you haven't been part of it, get this free DLC for GT5...NOW! NOW as in RIGHT NOW! This is your chance to be part of the C7 Corvette experience right before its Detroit unveiling next year!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Forza Horizon: My CR-X has arrived!

Cyber Sports


The Honda CR-X SiR unicorn car has been awarded to those who beat ApexHunterT10 (Alex Kierstein)'s time at the Parks and Recreation rivals event on Forza Horizon. Especially me because I already beat his time to the very end and yes, I got 3 out of the 7 Horizon unicorns. I do love taking up the Bounty Hunter challenge because it shows how manly I am to beat their times.

Thank you producers for this CR-X gift. Now stay tuned for whatever Turn 10's limping the barn with...