Saturday, March 9, 2013

Porsche Cayman (Typ 981c)

When you think about the Porsche Cayman, the first thought of you that this is just a ragtag hardtop version of the Porsche Cayman with the design that is not quite exciting to look at. Although, the design is rather bland, this is rather known to be one of the best handling cars in the history because like the Boxster cousin, the Cayman is the more agile car that gets you away from anyone before they discovered you're not. For this new version, the Cayman tries to become more tail-happy and more athletic than the previous model it replaces.

2014 Porsche Cayman
There's more to like about the new Porsche Cayman (Typ 981c) rather than noticing it has the same design as the latest Porsche Boxster 981 because being one of the most athletic and the most agile cars ever made for the market, the new Cayman really tries to open up some curves and grooves you like some New York jazz music with a hint of engine revving, a taste of Georges St. Pierre's flying punch on your face, and a bullet to the head that really ends all boring conversations you are facing with.

On the manifesto, the Cayman starts at 51,385 Euros and that pricing sure knows that it's cheaper than the latest Porsche 911 Carrera (Typ 991), that makes it good value for the Porsche fans around here. What you get on this standard model is a 2.7-litre engine mounted in the middle which produces 275PS of power and 290Nm of torque. Also, this is the first time this Porsche broke the magic 100 hp per litre displacement barrier for sports car engines because its specific power is 101.6 hp/litre. Sounds tempting to us but for those who want more power, the Cayman S model is offered with the improved 3.4L boxer-6 engine which comes with added 5HP more to the previous power output, therefore it's 325PS of power and 370Nm of torque.

In the S model, 0-100kph takes about five seconds and top speed of 283 km/h. in a 6-speed manual configuration. Sounds quick and if you're opting for the optional 7-speed double clutch transmission, the 0-100kph time is improved but the top speed with suffer. Still, who would want the double clutch as an alternative to the manual transmission because the digest shows that double-clutches shift faster than manual tranny? Neither do care about this mumbo-jumbo. He he he...

2014 Porsche Cayman interior
On the track, the new Cayman loves to eat corners more than Pac-Man munching a million dots. Every time when the new Cayman is ready on the track, it always goes "Eat em up! Yum yum!" every time when its overall enthusiasm is all fired up but what about on a normal day-to-day basis? Well don't get all "OVERALL ENTHUSIASM, OVERALL ENTHUSIASM, OVERALL ENTHUSIASM, YEE-HAW" on us because as a driver's car, the Cayman's not that desperately impractical because it has a boot on the front which is big enough to fit yourself of telling your friends that you've got a picture of yourself being bitten by Pac-Man.

Sadly though, like any other Porsches, the dashboard of the new Cayman is extremely confusing and it takes a man with an IT Qualification to operate the Cayman's features such as the ignition, the traction control, the parking brake, the optional Sport Chrono, or any other stuff you can find on the dashboard. This is a bit more complicating that operating a DSLR camera on the first try or a challenge from a Minute to Win It game.

Although despite a couple of drawbacks, the new Cayman is a reasonable machine that sure knows that OVERALL ENTHUSIASM really flows through your veins when its ready and thanks to some numerous track-munching enhancements and the comfort for day-to-day driving, the new Cayman sure knows how to balance it out. It's all work, all play, for this baby Porsche and I have to say, this car is more than welcome to become every man's dream car if they can't afford on the 911.

Photo: Porsche

"Tikman ang intense Korean anghang"

On the March 8, 2013 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Election poster gags for the EPALs...

- Mr. Assimo is on an emergency...

- The family revealed their shocking revelations...

- How's it feel for the Pinoy Macho Kings to win?

- Tikman ang intense Korean anghang. Bubble Gang does Lucky Me Supreme Jjamppong by spoofing this commercial as LUCKY VI SUPREME JJAMPPONG!

Bubble Gang does Lucky Me Supreme Jjampong

- Brod Pete and the gang are here again to answer life's complicating questions in Ang Bagong Dating Doon.

a) Carla Abellana asked "May nasusulat po ba tungkol sa lavandera ni Chris Tiu?"

Lets read from Rain or Shine 96...

"Ako'y isang sirena, kahit anong gawin nila bandera ko'y di tutumba. Drum na may tubig ang sinisisid. Naglalakihan mga braso sa akin dumidikdik. Sa patagalan ng paghibga, sa akin ay bibilib."

b) Mikael asked "may nasusulat po ba tungkol sa mabait na hayop?"

Ang Dating Doon reads... "banal na aso, santong kabayo, natatawa ako he he he he..."

c) A PM from someone asked "ano po ang tawag sa inaalagaan ng caregiver?"

The answer is CARETAKER because Give and Take...

d) "Sino po ba si Frankenstein?" Frankenstein was a doctor who made a monster named SHOWMAN...

e) Wrong Terms Brod Pete know? Let's see...

1) Students find a bit complicating on terms like Kindergarten, Preparatory, Elementary, High School, and College...

2) English lecture can be somewhat too complicating with terms like Apostrophe and Abbreviation. Can those terms need to be shorten?

3) What about the word Congratulations? If you get rid of an S on that word, that doesn't make any taste at all. Even a shortened term doesn't help that either if you get rid of an S on it...

- Beware, if this foreigner gets drunk, he's fluent in Bisaya...

- Quotes to live by from Tata Lino...

a) Huwag mong itulad sa schedule ng basura ang iyong pagsisipilyo. Naswerteng makakolekta dalawang beses sa isang linggo.

b) Ang barya, di nilalagay sa wallet pero itabi mo lang, malay mo magamit...

c) Huwag ka nang magpanggap na gustong maging masinop manas. Nakakatipid ka pa sa feminine wash...

d) Kahit gaanong karaming Sebo de Macho ang iyong gamitin, yung peklat lang sa balat ang kayang gamutin pero ang pilat sa iyong puso, malamang andun pa din.

- Acting Workshop for the actors who want to reshape their image...almost...

Forza Horizon: Cavallino Rampante

Dangerous Curves

Once started in life as a unicorn car in Forza Motorsport 4 but now it's a yours-to-keep car courtesy of Horizon's March Meguiar's Car Pack. The Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale, which in a terribly confusing way, the road version of the racing version of a road car.

Of course the Ferrari 360 is one of the all time greats but for this Challenge Stradale, think of it as a 360 GTi. A sportier car with a more direct connection to the track made in honor of Ferrari's F1 World Champion title four years in a row from 1999 to 2002.

The Challenge Stradale weighs less than the standard model because it has carbon fiber door panels, removed carpets, carbon ceramic brakes, titanium wheel bolts, dual rear floor with F1-inspired flows, slightly longer nose, slightly modified sills, slightly necked boot and the rear is higher than the front.

Lighter, more aerodynamic, and faster than the normal 360 but is the Challenge Stradale better? Well, let your judgment be known...

Friday, March 8, 2013

Another Surprise Bwi-set

On the March 7, 2013's Banana Nite, here's one of the top stories from KANDILA;

"Sabah pinag-aagawan, isang tensyon ang namamagitan sa Pilipinas at ng Malaysia"

If by Sabah, no. Not the island where the menace occured. It's a kind of banana called SABAH...

"Isang Koreanobg Senior Citizen, kinidnap at hinostage"

A clip shows that kidnappers discarded the kidnapped Korean because he's a senior citizen...


Meanwhile, Ryan Bang's making a SURPRISE BWI-SET behind the set of an ABS-CBN sitcom called TODA MAX.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Hyundai Maxcruz

2013 Hyundai Maxcruz

Yes, most of you know that the third row seats of the current Santa Fe DM didn't quite fit but still most of you often want to have one of these. If the third-row seats on the Santa Fe DM were quite an issue, why not interest in this? Better known as the replacement to the Veracruz, which was discontinued last year, the brand new Hyundai Maxcruz is known to be the long wheelbase variant of the Santa Fe DM.

Yes really, it maybe the replacement of the Veracruz but the name, MAXCRUZ, is obviously weird. It's like it was named after someone named "Max Cruz". Yep, pun intended. Hyundai kinda gave it a person's name for the long wheelbase version of the Santa Fe DM.

2013 Hyundai Maxcruz interior
How does it compare it to the Santa Fe DM? On the outside view, the Maxcruz features a much more aggressive front face. In fact, the hexagonal grille now comes with four bars rather than three bars that the grille of the Santa Fe DM had. Then, the rear view of the Maxcruz is a bit more sophisticated than the Tucson-styled back that the Santa Fe DM had. Also, there has been a change in dimensions. The Maxcruz has an additional 100mm of wheelbase, 216mm long, and 11mm higher than the Santa Fe DM.

The Maxcruz also comes with an improved rigidity and an ultra-high strength tensile steel that improves collision energy management. Surprisingly, this ultra-high strength tensile steel reduces weight and also allows the suspension to work optimally. They were applied to those outer door panels for the first time in the company's history. Sounds interesting though...

2013 Hyundai Maxcruz interior
Shockingly though, the only engine available is the 16-valve e-VGT R2.2 engine which produces 200PS of power and 44.5 kg-m of torque while being mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. 2WD variants will have a fuel economy of 11.9km/L while 4WD variants will have a fuel economy of 11.3km/L.

Just like the Santa Fe DM, the Maxcruz has the Flex Steer feature that changes the behavior of the handling. It has three modes - Comfort, Normal, and Sport. They're ideal in varying driving preferences and road conditions. Uh, yeah, right. They were ideal but what about some practical stuff?

If you go for the more expensive version, there's this cool feature that parks by itself. With this feature, the Maxcruz will find the applicable parking area and when it detects, stop here, shift to reverse and watch it park by itself. You can even feel it while wearing a blindfold! Get it?

The Maxcruz also comes with BlueLink telematics system combines safety, service and infotainment features to simplify owners' lives and reduce distracted driving. You can even use your smartphone as a substitute car key to open the Maxcruz or then start the engine as you were far away from the Maxcruz. That beats the everyday hassle of starting the car. Interesting...Those Koreans sure know how to make a smart car with smart features for added convenience...

Available colors are: Cream White, Mystic Beige, Sleek Silver, Hyper Metallic, Glacier, Red Merlot, Hunter Green, Arabian Mocha, Ocean View, and Timeless Black.

So, there we are. The Maxcruz from Hyundai. It may have a person's name for the Santa Fe LWB, it maybe available only in 2.2L diesel engine, it maybe start at 35,000,000 Won, and it maybe somewhat known to be the Veracruz successor but this is somewhat a sizing fit for a politician. The Maxcruz really addressed the issue where the third-row seating from the Santa Fe DM seems unfit and that's pretty good for a full-size Korean crossover. Sadly though, I'm not kinda sold to this one...

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company

Ara Mina, IHAW NA!

In 3/6/2013's Banana Nite, in the IHAW NA segment, Tito Bhoy interviewed guest celeb Ara Mina. He's asking whether if Ara Mina will accept some sexy roles, about posing some wacky poses on a men's magazine, and how does Tito Bhoy only has a wacky pose...

Meanwhile, Angelica checks out some more funny Facebook pics on ETO NA POST. And there's more establishments with crazy names such as MAMI PAKYAW, FACEBOOL, and ADOBO PUTOSHOP, warning signs such as SLOW MEN AT WORK, WAIT PAINT, and some SWEET SHIRT. These are some of a small selection in the Banana Split inbox...

And then, the TRES KUMPARES are cleaning out the garbage in the streets until some kid throws some and making it too miserable for the TRES KUMPARES...

Adam Ferrera takes over TG

In US Top Gear, residential blockhead Adam Ferrera takes over the show just to show off his crazy moves...

First, he tries out his childhood dream, the Ford GT40 and then challenge Rutledge Wood and the Ferrari 550 Maranello to a series of races showcasing the decade-old rivalry between Ford and Ferrari.

After Rut kicked Adam out in the endurance race, Tanner Foust showed up just to lap between the GT40 replica and the Ferrari 550 round the track. In the end, the GT40 lapped faster than the 550.

Then, Adam invited Tanner and Rut to play American Football using...cars. A Top Gear idea - American Car Football with Rut, Adam, Tanner, and some demolition derby crew...

After minutes of struggling and a close call, car football is somewhat an exciting game...

At the end of this Adam Ferrera-centered episode, he defined the safest concept car designed to protect you from other drivers, especially race boy Tanner Foust.

What to see at the 83rd International Motor Show and Accessories?

The 83rd International Motor Show and Accessories at Geneva, Switzerland runs from March 7 to March 17, 2013 and say, what to see on this motor show? No girls, please? Try to focus on world premieres such as full model changes of your favorite cars, new models debutantes, concept cars, and so much more.

Here's the list of the cars you'll be seeing on this year's Geneva Motor Show...


2014 Alfa Romeo 4C
2013 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Touring
2013 Alfa Romeo Gloria Concept
2014 Aston Martin Rapide S
2013 Aston Martin Vanquish Centenary Edition
2013 Aston Martin Vanquish Q
2014 Audi A3 Sportback g-tron
2013 Audi A3 e-tron Concept
2013 Audi RS5 DTM
2014 Audi RS6 Avant
2014 Audi RS Q3
2014 Audi S3 Sportback
2014 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo
2014 Bentley Flying Spur
2013 Bentley Mulsanne
2013 Brabus 800 Roadster
2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray Convertible
2014 Chevrolet Trax
2014 Citroen C3
2013 Citroen Technospace Concept
2014 Dacia Logan MCV
2014 Ferrari LaFerrari
2013 Ferrari Sergio Concept
2013 Honda Civic Tourer Concept
2014 Infiniti Q50
2013 Italdesign Parcour Concept
2014 Kia Pro Ceed GT
2013 Kia Provo Concept
2013 Lamborghini Veneno
2013 Land Rover Defender Electric Concept
2013 Land Rover Evoque Black Design
2014 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale
2013 Mazda 5
2014 McLaren P1
2014 Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG
2014 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Edition 507
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S-Model
2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet
2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate
2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG
2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate
2013 Mini Clubman Bond Street
2014 Mini Paceman John Cooper Works
2013 Mitsubishi CA-MiEV Concept
2013 Mitsubishi GR-HEV Concept
2014 Nissan Leaf
2014 Nissan Note
2013 Opel Adam Rocks Concept
2013 Opel Cascada
2014 Peugeot 2008
2014 Porsche 911 GT3
2013 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
2014 Porsche Cayman
2013 Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid Concept
2013 Qoros 3 Estate Concept
2014 Qoros 3 Sedan
2014 Renault Captur
2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith
2014 Seat Leon SC
2014 Seat Mii Ecofuel
2014 Skoda Octavia Combi
2013 Spyker B6 Venator Concept
2013 SsangYong SIV-1 Concept
2013 Subaru Viziv Concept
2014 Suzuki SX4
2013 Toyota Auris TS Black Concept
2013 Toyota FT-86 Open Concept
2013 Toyota RAV4 Adventure Concept
2013 Toyota RAV4 Premium Concept
2013 Toyota i-Road Concept
2014 Volkswagen Cross Up
2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD
2014 Volkswagen Golf GTI
2014 Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet
2014 Volkswagen Golf Variant
2014 Volkswagen XL1
2013 Volkswagen e-Co-Motion Concept
2014 Volvo S60
2014 Volvo S80
2014 Volvo V60
2014 Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid
2014 Volvo V70
2014 Volvo XC60
2014 Volvo XC70

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Forza Horizon: Badlands Rumble

The arrival of the March Meguiar's Car Pack on Forza Horizon sees the arrival of three new-to-Forza German cars for us to joyride. Yes, those three new cars are German; one is a high-performance wagon, one is a rear-wheel drive hatchback, and one if a high-performance offroader. Need to say more?

This is a wagon you'd promised for...

First is this, the all new Audi RS4 Avant. Like its previous model, it has the same 4.2L V8 that produces the same power that you would expect from an M3 Coupe but without drawing quite so much attention to it. Like its previous model, that exhaust note kinda feels like a tribute to Pavarotti. It's as sonorous as the Chinese name of the Chevrolet Camaro (Ke Mai Luo) and this is the kind of car that doesn't want to kill you. Yes, really, the ride's good, the quattro permanent all-wheel drive's keeps you out in the crash zone and it's not as complicating to drive as the other cars. It maybe idiotic in the exterior design but the driving feel is not quite idiotic until you're starting to behave like a cannibal...



The one and only rear-wheel drive hatchback

For the first time in racing video game history, the second-generation BMW 1-Series has arrived and what you see here is the M135i, the newest member of the BMW M Performance Automobiles that were a bunch of normal BMW's with M genes included to deliver M-style precision in a normal Bimmer. Bimmer fans concerned about the discontinuation of the BMW 1M Coupe in Easter 2012 were soon reassured by the arrival of a much hotter version of the BMW 1-Series hatchback. While the M135i prove to be more than a worthwhile replacement for the 1M but the performance figures are a bit lacking. Despite all this, let's just remember that this is the only rear-wheel drive production hatchback we can all enjoy in Horizon. It's like The Doctor, who was the last of the time lords. The blend of wit, excitement and drama on the M135i were all here.



Oh, and beware of the military troops hunting you

Fans of Top Gear USA might remember that Tanner Foust once drove the G63 AMG while being hunted by the US Army and in the end, Tanner was busted by the army. Now, this is the much more bigger brother of the 63, the V12 powered G65 AMG. While it looked identical to the G-Wagen that Tanner drove while being chased by the army, the G65 is boosted with the 6.0L V12 twin-turbo engine mated with an AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G‑TRONIC automatic transmission system. An AMG V12 engine with a 7-speed gearbox? Whoa, but this isn't the first time the G65 comes with that, it's the latest AMG SL65 that gave credit for it. But still, with all that brute power, luxurious interior, and the off-road capability that can make use in the game of KING or INFECTED at the Carson Golf Course near the Media Center, the G65 is truly a force to be reckoned with...




Oh yes, this would be a Badlands Rumble when those three came together to show off THE MOVES...

Enrique Gil, IHAW NA!

On March 5, 2013's Banana Nite, in the IHAW NA segment, we saw Tito Bhoy interviewing guest celeb Enrique Gil and Enrique teaches Tito Bhoy how to dougie...

Then, Melai introduces the top five tips on how to prevent your phone getting snatched by snatchers.

5) Record the message "I snatched the phone! I'm a snatcher! Call the cops!" and then use it as ringtone. If you have a reserve phone, call the phone that was snatched by the snatcher!

4) Add a time bomb on your phone. If he snatched your phone, ready yourself with a detonator and blow it away!

3) Don't take the cellphone off your bag. Instead, put your bag on your head and answer the call.

2) Try to give the phone to the snatcher and have him fooled.

1) Don't bring your cellphone!

Meanwhile, Angelica showcases the most hillarious Facebook pics in Eto Na Post. It showcased establishments giving crazy names

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Forza Horizon: Barn Find Classic

The BMW M1 is an instant classic

Well, I'd never talked about the barn finds I have found in Forza Horizon, it's perhaps because I'd never gotten the chance to talk about it but now, I am.

This is one of the barn finds you can find on Horizon, and that is the BMW M1. By the moment I found this one and only Bimmer supercar, I got to know what is like to be driven in one of the most legendary Bimmers in the history and gotta tell you that it's a bit tricky to master it first but if I put in all of my effort of mastering the M1, boy do I got that reward?

Audi RS5 Cabriolet

Now let's move on to the Audi RS5. As told from Top Gear, the RS5 is not a decent alternative to the BMW M3, heavier than the BMW M3, not a successor to the fire-breathing Audi quattro and can be sometimes a terrible rubbish. Now however, Audi has come up with a new variant of the RS5...

2014 Audi RS5 Cabriolet
This is the Audi RS5 Cabriolet. Just like the RS5, it has quattro all-wheel drive that you can still reach incredible angles and rescue it but for the sake of neck-breaking pleasure. Like the RS5, it too has a 4.2 FSi V8 engine that produces 450HP of power. That's about the same power that you'll get on the upcoming C7 Corvette Stingray, if I'm honest. At the starting price of around 88,500 Euros, that's about as cheaper than the latest BMW M6 Cabrio or the Jaguar XKR-S Convertible! Hmmm...

That doesn't seem bad for a car that costs less than the M6 or an XKR-S but on the subject of the RS5, I can also expect some party piece that fires a droplet of exhaust, meaning that this car uses some petrol to make changing gear sound nice. Yes, really, the exhaust note of the RS5's pretty dramatic but this is the cabriolet version. And if by cabriolet, let's called it the ruined version of the RS5 because the weight has only gone up by around 200kg and the height has been lowered by over 20mm. With all the added weight on the RS5 Cabriolet, 0-100kph takes about 4.9 seconds and top speed normally limited to 250kph while being mated with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission, the one with the party piece I was talking about where the world's precious resources has been converted to noise.

In partial terms of driving the RS5 Cabriolet the feeling with the roof open is simple. You can listen to that exhaust note very clearly, which in fact, you can get high on to that noise as long as you want but don't if you are in a very cold place where closing the roof is mandatory. It might be best if you are in the world's best driving roads where you can freely open the roof, forget about the radio, and enjoy what's in store in the open road. This is about as cheeky as Chummy but in the corners, expect catastrophic understeer. It's got the power but when you're cornering the RS5, it kinda feels like you are going to eat the whole chocolate cake of be sent to the chokey. Ouch. Gosh, I don't wanna be in the chokey. I'd rather just eat the whole chocolate cake and get outta here before facing the most deadly consequence known to little kids many.

However, if you're in the city, the RS5 Cabriolet is not the kind of car you would use on a day-to-day basis because as you going around in the streets, people are starting to get you noticed that you are going to the wrong party in the wrong clothes. Say you are wearing your everyday work clothes and then you're entering your party only to find out that it's a costume party and you don't even have a costume. Also worse that you are bumping yourself at the frat house where you'll meet up with a bunch of trash-talking males boozing around for a couple of minutes and then sharing their experiences about bullying, skipping school, and other stuff that most idiots do in their university life. If you are driving this car while you are heading to the prom or to the opening gala hosted by your boss, it feels like you think you are Sir Chief...Oh wait, I'm not a Sir Chief, I'm an oxymoron driving an Audi! Ugh, there goes the pigsa in my back...

In essence then the RS5 Cabriolet is the kind of car that feels like there's something on your back and that "something" on your back is just an average pigsa, waiting to be squished...

Photo: AUDI AG