Let's Do The News! (January 23, 2013)

River's Diary

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

Aston Martin Vanquish Centenary Edition

Aston Martin Vanquish Centenary Edition

2013 marks the 100th year of Aston Martin. This British sports car maker was founded on January 15, 1913 and for 100 years, this British sports car maker has produced some of the finest cars all in the name of POWER, BEAUTY, and SOUL. For that, Aston Martin will launch special centenary edition models of all cars (except the Cygnet) and the opening salvo will be the latest offering, the new Aston Martin Vanquish.

URL: http://www.astonmartin.com/en/news?nTitle=Aston+Martin+debuts+exclusive+Centenary+Edition+models++++&nId=8fc7d0a0-5bf2-44cd-9d14-411e4ce69cba

See the Vanquish landed on the Burj Al Arab

Aston Vanquish on Burj helipad

Also part of this 100 year celebration, Aston Martin made a video about an Aston Martin Vanquish being carried by a helicopter to the helipad of Dubai's Burj Al Arab. Ambitious and successful indeed!

Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-pJ2XaKu2o

2014 Aston Martin Rapide S

2014 Aston Martin Rapide S

Heh, seems the Maserati Quattroporte's full change really stirs up the heat in the battle of the four door supercars. In fact, Aston Martin released an updated version of the Rapide four door premium saloon known as the Rapide. Called the Rapide S, Aston claims that this is the most powerful, most luxurious four-door Aston Martin in history. First off all, not only it has a new exterior look, it gets a new 6.0L V12 engine so that now, it produces 558HP of power and 620NM of torque.

URL: http://www.astonmartin.com/en/cars/rapide-s

Four David Tennants in latest Virgin Media advert!

Once again, Whovians who remember former Doctor Who lead actor, David Tennant, will once again being salivated over the latest advert from British Digital Cable TV provider, Virgin Media, for the TiVo service. On that ad, we see three David Tennants fighting each other and the real David Tennant said on the commercial "Isn't it annoying that three of your favorite programs are on the same time?" Yeah seriously, imagine if our favorite shows like MasterChef, Grand Designs, or Deadliest Catch, were on the same schedule. Virgin Media's TiVo allows you to record your favorite shows on the same schedule so you can catch them all up no matter the schedule is!

Confusing about those David Tennant copies though, is it because of the human-time lord metacrisis? Oh geez....No wonder most of the Brits who switched to Virgin Media were perhaps Whovians because of David Tennant. Allons-y!!!



Top Gear USA Series 3 Part 2 coming next week,

Here's a reminder that the second half of Top Gear USA Series 3 is coming on History Channel next week. Also, the US Premiere of the original British version of Top Gear, now on its 19th season, will be airing on BBC America this February 4, 2013. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

Forza Horizon: The same goodness of the 458 Italia...now in Spider variant

If I'm honest, the best Ferrari I have ever driven in the history of Forza was the 458 because someone told me in the telly that this is one of the all-time greats and I can't argue with that unless someone got a Mercedes-Benz with a gullwing door on it. The SLS AMG I was referring to but we're not into that, we'll leave that in future discussions. Anyway, there was a new model that has the same goodness of the 458 Italia...now in Spider variant!

A 458 Italia...minus the roof?

Yes, this is the Ferrari 458 Spider, brand new from Ferrari and it is essentially an open top version of the ever-favorite 458 Italia supercar. It has the same F1 dual-clutch transmission, the same direct-injected V8 engine from the Italia, the same mid-engined rear-wheel-drive layout, and the same awesomeness that you felt in the hardtop version (which I can't tell you until the right time comes).

Ignore the bees stinging your front, man!

Normally speaking, people told that convertible versions are heavier than their hardtop coupe versions probably because the manufacturers did some stiffening stuff to the bodywork but here on the 458 Spider, despite the added weight and the fact that is slower than its hardtop equivalent, it handles perfectly. It really handles like its hardtop equivalent.

A stunning scenery

Even without the roof, it's still the most dramatically designed Ferrari ever made and it's still the most enjoyable Ferrari to drive on Horizon. I cannot think of any words to describe its coolness even though this is the convertible version of the best Ferrari ever made. Even with the arrival of its rival, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante, it's still the beauty of the beholder. It's really the best open top Ferrari ever made.

Some official car websites to visit...

There are some car enthusiasts from all over the world turned out to be nothing more of a COMPLETE CLATTERING BUTTOCK, getting lost at where they heading at. Listen up, cocks, because I will show you the list of official car sites YOU SHOULD BE VISITING. I don't care if you went to a website, where you didn't understand their language. You should adapt to them.

Some official car websites to visit...

• Acura http://www.acura.com/
• Alfa Romeo http://www.alfaromeo.it/it/#/home
• Aston Martin http://www.astonmartin.com/
• Audi http://www.audi.de/de/brand/de.html
• BMW http://www.bmw.de/
• Buick http://www.buick.com/
• Cadillac http://www.cadillac.com/
• Chevrolet http://www.chevrolet.com/
• Chrysler http://www.chrysler.com/
• Chrysler Street and Racing Technology http://www.citroen.fr/
• Citroen http://www.citroen.fr/
• Dacia http://www.dacia.ro/
• Daihatsu http://www.daihatsu.co.jp/
• Dodge http://www.dodge.com/en/
• Ferrari http://www.ferrari.it/
• Fiat http://www.fiat.it/
• Ford http://www.ford.com/
• GM Korea Company (Alpheon) http://www.gmalpheon.co.kr/
• GM Korea Company (Chevrolet) http://www.chevrolet.co.kr/
• GMC http://www.gmc.com/
• Honda Cars http://www.honda.co.jp/auto/
• Hyundai http://www.hyundai.com/kr
• Infiniti http://www.infinitiusa.com/
• Jeep http://www.jeep.com/
• Kia Motors http://www.kia.co.kr/
• Lamborghini http://www.lamborghini.com/it/home/
• Lexus http://lexus.jp/index.html
• Lincoln http://www.lincoln.com/
• Lotus http://www.lotuscars.com/en/index
• Mazda http://www.mazda.co.jp/
• McLaren http://www.mclaren.com/
• Mercedes-Benz http://www.mercedes-benz.de/
• Mercedes-Benz AMG http://www.mercedes-amg.de/
• MG Motor UK http://www.mg.co.uk/
• MINI http://www.mini.de/
• Mitsubishi Motors http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/
• Mitsuoka http://www.mitsuoka-motor.com/index_jp.php
• Nissan http://www.nissan.co.jp/
• Opel http://www.opel.de/
• Peugeot http://peugeot.fr/
• Porsche http://www.porsche.com/germany/
• RAM Trucks http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/
• Renault http://www.renault.fr/
• Renault Samsung Motors http://www.renaultsamsungm.com/
• SEAT http://www.seat.es/content/es/brand/es.html
• Skoda Auto http://www.skoda-auto.cz/CZE/Pages/homepage.aspx
• Ssangyong Motor http://www.smotor.com/kr/
• Subaru http://www.subaru.jp/
• Suzuki Motor http://www.suzuki.co.jp/car/
• Toyota http://toyota.jp/
• Vauxhall http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/
• Volkswagen http://www.volkswagen.de/
• Volvo Cars http://www.volvocars.com/se/Pages/default.aspx

There you go. Hope you'll like it. So remember, Japanese cars speak Japanese, Korean cars speak Korean, American cars speak American, German cars speak German, and that's it. There is no such thing as Japanese cars speak English, American cars speak Thai, Japanese cars speak Malaysian, Indian, Arab, that's it. Period.

NO TRANSLATIONS!

WAVE Beach Queens Kanako Watanabe unveiled

WAVE Beach Queens Kanako Watanabe

In case you haven't know about Star Driver, it was an anime series that was aired from Autumn 2010 to Spring 2011. This was about Takuto Tsunashi, who is on the quest to stop the secret organization known as The Glittering Crux in order to save Wako Agemaki, the girl who saved his life and one of the four maidens. This anime spawned for 25 episodes and next month, Star Driver gets its own theatrical movie this February 9.

To up the ante, there was this BEACH QUEENS figure modeled after one of the fan favorites of the series, Kanako Watanabe. This figure should be ready by June 2013 and it costs 3,990 Yen or an estimated US$45.

I had to say that this is just fantastically good for this figure and question is...was she your favorite character?

URL: http://www.hobby-wave.com/LINE_UP/kanseihin/2013/kanako/index.html

BenSopra GT-R for the upcoming Fast and Furious 6 movie

BenSopra GT-R

Now as we know, the sixth installment of the Fast and the Furious movies, tentatively called Fast and Furious 6, is coming to theaters worldwide this May 24, 2013 and it brings back Dom, Brian, and the gang for another fast and furious racing thrills. Of course, this movie will never be without law-breaking modified cars that carve every destruction in its own path.

For this star car for Fast and Furious 6, this is it. This is the BenSopra GT-R. The tuned-up-weapon-of-mass-destruction R35 GTR is the car that will be featured on this film. First and foremost, this car, tuned by R's Tuning, was made to compete in some of the most well known road courses around the world. With this BenSopra body kit developed specifically for this car, the people behind this witchcraft had redesigned the entire factory cooling system to endure each lap session. Later on, SP Engineering provided the tuning program required before any vehicle testing begins.


Exterior:
BenSopra Full Body Kit
BenSopra GT Wing
Seibon Dry Carbon Doors
Seibon Carbon Fiber Door Sills
Seibon Carbon Fiber Door Sill Trims
Seibon Carbon Fiber Cooling Panel Set
Seibon Carbon Fiber Engine Cover
AMS Performance Dry Carbon roof
AMS Performance Dry Carbon trunk
Sparco Trunk Latches
AeroCatch Flush Mount Hood Pins

Interior:
MCR Steering Wheel Set Up

Chassis and Brake Set Up:
The R’s Tuning Camber Arms
Carbon Ceramic Discs by Weapons Grade Performance
Endless Brake Lines
Endless CCM Brake Pads
Motul RBF660 Brake Fluid

Engine Performance:
Switzer P800 Turbo Kit
Cobb AP005
SP Engineering Tuning Services
HKS Downpipe
HKS Resonated Y-pipe
ID1000
Motul 300V (mix-match according to weather)

Wheels and Tires:
Volks RE30 Flat Black 19×11 ET25
Volks RE30 Formula Silver 19×11 ET20
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 345/30/19

Video:


According to SP Engineering, the R'S Tuning BenSopra GT-R has a power output of 685HP of power.

See this car of Fast and Furious 6 this May 2013!

URL: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2013/01/fast-and-furious-6-nissan-gt-r-revealed.html

Let's Do The News! (January 22, 2013)

2014 Audi S3

2013 Audi SQ5

JC: Are you sure you find both of these cars confusing?

JM: Well, frankly yes. I mean what sort of these cars Audi made? Look at these... The all new S3, it maybe look as athletic as a female swimmer in her one-piece speedo but frankly it behaves like a school teacher that looks like Ritsuko Akizuki...

(Audience laughing)

JC: And the SQ5?

JM: It's like um....like....ah....um....whatever. Seems inappropriate for a sporty crossover like this to have a diesel engine on it. But never mind. Let's just ignore it and do the news, okay?

RH: Okay the news and as you may recall, Texas-based tuner company, Hennessey Performance, once made a supercar that was more like a stretched version of the Lotus Exige but it's loaded with a thousand horsepower on it called the Venom GT.

Hennessey Venom GT

JC: Did you said Venom GT? The...Hennessey Venom GT?

RH: Exactly, it was the car that promised to beat the Bugatti Veyron's speed records. Although not yet confirmed, the top speed was an estimate 272mph, making it even more faster than the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

JC: Are you sure? Have they verified that this is much more quicker than the Veyron SS?!

RH: Not yet but the people at Hennessey Performance did broke the world record...

JC: World record for what? Being faster than the Veyron SS and Agera R combined?!

(audience laughing)

RH: No, morons. It's world record for fastest 0-300kph car ever built. Here's the clip that will amaze you...

(cheers and applause)

JC: So, on that clip, that car did two tries and then the average 0-300kph time was 13.63 seconds, making it more than enough to beat the Koenigsegg Agera R's record. Wow...No wonder Texans really know how to make a car like this. We tried that last year on Forza Motorsport 4 via the May Top Gear Pack and I was gotta say that this car loves to harass the driver.

RH: Well, yes. That's the way hypercars do... harassing the driver until it enslaves one. Being enslaved by a super fast car like this is like being contracted by the super devil if you know what I mean?

(audience laughing)

JC: Yeah right. It's not that easy being enslaved by a devilishly fast car you know. Anyway you know China right? China...I've just heard that air pollution in China has getting worse than ever and it seems that most major cities in China, including Beijing, have been enveloped in smog and citizens are covering themselves with a face mask while going out...

RH: Yeah, exactly but that reminds me. When you said air pollution in China...

JC: Yeah...

RH: I have just one question...

JC: What is it?

RH: Do you think there's an ATMOS somewhere in China?!

(audience laughing)

JM: (laughing)

JC: (laughing)

RH: What? What did I said? I said I was wondering if there was some ATMOS in China that's causing this....

(laughter continues)

JC: When you said ATMOS, short guy, you might be referring that the Sontarans are attacking China with the ATMOS until everyone is choking by the poison sky. Have you've been watching Doctor Who again?

RH: Wha....

JC: Have you been watching the one when Doctor and Donna meet up with UNIT and Martha to fend off against the Sontarans' plan to poison the entire human race by ATMOS?

(audience laughing)

RH: Huh?

JM: Oh wait! Wait! Maybe someone's turning right and this was caused. I think I know what comes next! A great big firewall!

JC: You're right. You know the Turn Left episode of Doctor Who, when the Time Beetle altered Donna Noble's life when she never met the Doctor and then disasters occurred such as the Racnoss, the Titanic explosion, the Adipose, and then the poison sky. Question is what was that big firewall in the sky?

JM: Torchwood Three unit....On that Turn Left episode, Rose said that Torchwood operatives Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones sacrificed their lives and then Captain Jack was taken to the Sontaran homeplanet.

JC: Oh...But hey, enough Whovian wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff Captain Slow. I was just thinking that in regards to this air pollution in China, could it be that it has a possibility of coming through public buildings and killing people just as when well you know, when the 456 unleashed an attack that killed thousands of people inside the building including Ianto Jones from part four of the Torchwood Children of Earth story...

JM: I dunno!!!

(audience laughing)

RH: Hey! Hey! Excuse me Captain Slow and big fat middle aged man. Can we just act serious about this?

JC: Don't care cause I ain't bovvered.

RH: What?!

(audience laughing)

JC: Maybe someone in China must have turned right instead of left and caused this...

RH: Who? Chinese Donna Noble?!

(audience laughing)

JM: Chinese Donna Noble...That is well bad...

JC: Innit though...

RH: Ugh...forget about it...Can we move on now?

JC: Oh yeah...unless I need someone who will dress like Donna Noble...

(audience laughing)

JC: Anyway, fat people, okay? Those who are obese or those who have beer bellies....Did you know that fat people are 80% more risk to die in a car accident?

RH: Well certainly, you are in that category. You're FAT!

(audience laughing)

RH:...and as you said, study shows that obese 80 percent more likely to die in car accidents.

JC: Hey, I'm not fat! I'm big-boned!

(audience laughing)

JC: Am I bovvered?

RH: What?

JC: Am I bovvered though?

RH: Huh? I was saying...

JC: Look at my face! Look at my face! Is my faced bovvered?!

(audience laughing)

RH: Uh...have you got any idea that you ever done that to your family?

JC: ARE YOU DISRESPECTING ME?

(audience laughing)

JC: ARE YOU DISRESPECTING ME? ARE YOU DISRESPECTING MY FAMILY?

RH: Uh...No...I'm not disrespecting your family...E he he he....

JC: Look! Face! Bovvered! I ain't bovvered though! Bovvered! Face! Venom! World Record! China! Air Pollution! Sontaran! Turn Left! Donna Noble! Obese! Car Accident! I AIN'T BOVVERED!!!

I AIN'T BOVVERED!

(cheers and applause)

JM: You know, by such behavior...guess we should end this news right now and move on...

RH: Yeah, that's definitely a bombshell we could just end this segment...

(audience laughing)

Five Lotus concepts axed, brand not for sale

Remember those?

2010 Lotus Elan Concept

2010 Lotus Elise Concept

2010 Lotus Elite Concept

2010 Lotus Esprit Concept

2010 Lotus Eterne Concept

Yes, these were the concept cars from Lotus Cars as seen on the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The Elise, Elan, Esprit, Elite, and Eterne. There was a City Car Concept I heard. Like those? Well, bad news though because word from DRB-Hicom, the Malaysian company now taking responsibility of Lotus and Proton, said that they've shelved plans to produce these models! Yep, those development plans were cancelled before DRB-Hicom acquired Proton.

DRB-Hicom group MD Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil said that these plans were invalid during the press conference held during DRB-Hicom’s media drive event that took place weeks ago.

The thing is though that these five concepts as seen in the 2010 Paris Motor Show were not running prototypes. They were made out of three different configurations; small mid-engine, big mid-engine and front engine.

Lotus Exige S V6

For the Lotus brand though, Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil said that the Lotus brand's not for sale, as demonstrated by the grand opening of Lotus showroom in Sungai Penchala, Petaling Jaya and the Malaysian launch of the Elise S and Exige S models.

With the exception of the Evora, which was launched back in 2008 or 2009, despite the Elise and the Exige are getting older in its age, they remain good cars and there is still demand for them. He also point out that we can expect replacements for the Exige and Evora by 2015 or 2016, with a newly-developed platform and engine at the heart of things. No further details yet as of now.

URL: http://paultan.org/2013/01/15/lotus-five-concept-cars-canned-brand-wont-be-sold/