Renault Scenic XMOD

2013 Renault Scenic XMOD

Remember the RX4?

Well, back in 2000, Renault made a toughened version of the Scenic family mover called the RX4 which comes with the part-time, on demand 4WD system which works very well without all the drama. It's a good car though, especially the rear seats can be removed for added space. Some people say, they like this one better than the present-day Koleos because it's Korean and it's rubbish.

So what's it all about this present-day Scenic XMOD?

Well, like the old RX4, the XMOD is a crossover type of Scenic for those who want to go Adventure Time (no, not the one you'd expect from) on the great outdoors. On the outside, it looks like a recently facelifted Scenic but the XMOD features an enhanced ride height, new bumpers, sill guards, new alloy wheels and roof bars to make the XMOD look like it's ready for adventures in the Alps.

But...

Despite being a crossover, the XMOD is available only in front-wheel drive, same as the Clio-based Captur crossover, which is also FWD you know. However, Renault added something specifically to the XMOD such as this; the all-new Extended Grip system. This new system provides the confidence of a 4WD car in a FWD crossover people carrier and when set to EXPERT MODE, it takes care of the braking system, while leaving the driver in full control of the engine torque. When you set it in ROAD MODE, it provides conventional traction control settings and automatically reconnects at speeds of 40kph. Lastly, on LOOSE GROUND MODE, it optimises braking control and engine torque control as a function of available grip. That sounds interesting but even with this Extended Grip system, I'm afraid that going to be as redundat to drive as the Captur due to the lack of 4WD. As for the ride however, that's creepy in so many levels. It may not be as fun to drive as a 4WD minivan and I'd expect to have the same feeling as having your kids saying...um...how do you say "Are We There Yet?" in French? Never mind but if you have kids on your next road trip to Dune of Pyla or at the Mont Saint-Michel, your best bet is to buy some SeatPets elsewhere and put it on the seatbelts of the rear seat so your kids will stay comfy on your trip. Just saying...

Engine Choices?

Let's see... There are two petrol engines (Energy TCe 130, Energy TCe 115) and three diesel engines (Energy dCi 110, Energy dCi 130, dCi 110) available on the XMOD. Most models do have a 6-speed manual while the one with the dCi 110 comes with an optional double clutch transmission which sounds a bit fine but the one with the dCi 110 mated with a manual promises a 4L/100km of combined fuel economy, which sounds perfect for the long journeys and practical for road use.

What's it like to be inside?

2013 Renault Scenic XMOD interior

Well, it's not half bad to be inside the XMOD. It's even more spacious than the regular Scenic because the boot is now up to 555 litres in capacity, it has the new R-Link infotainment first applied on the new Clio, seating for five people, and joy of joys, it has a premium Bose stereo which is a favorite for those who had Bose Edition models in the past.

Price List?

2013 Renault Scenic XMOD

Zen dCi 110 - 27,250 Euros
Zen Energy dCi 110 eco² - 27,950 Euros
Zen dCi 110 EDC - 28,750 Euros
Zen Energy TCe 115 - 26,450 Euros
Bose Energy dCi 130 - 31,700 Euros
Bose Energy dCi 110 eco² - 30,900 Euros
Bose dCi 110 EDC - 31,700 Euros
Bose Energy TCe 130 - 28,800 Euros

Available Colors?

Available colors for the XMOD are Beige Dune, Bleu majorelle, Gris Cassiopee, Gris Platine, Jaune Automne, Rouge Grenat, Teinte Fictive, Blanc Nacre, Noir Etoile, and Blanc Glacier.

Jessy Mendiola, IHAW NA!

Jessy Mendiola was guested on the IHAW NA segment of the April 22, 2013 episode of Banana Nite and in here, Tito Bhoy talks about Jessy's love for Italian foods, her own Paraiso, and something else...

Meanwhile, Melai shares us top three tips on what to do when your date has some "tinga" on his or her tooth in Laugh Three

3) Be brave and kiss her!

2) Show your magic mirror to her face and pretend that this is the wrong mirror

1) Make fun and ready your cellphone!

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

(cheers and applause)

Lexus IS-F and Lancia Stratos

RH: You silly man. You think you're the only man in existence who thinks that the S in the Lexus IS naming really mean Stratos?

JC: Uh...quite.

RH: But the question really is, if the S in the IS do mean Stratos...what's the I?

JC: Infinite...

(audience laughing)

JC: I know. I talked about that a couple of years ago that IS stands for "Infinite Stratos" and if this would mean it, the Lexus IS could have been mocked as a Lancia Stratos with some Japanese-y things on it.

RH: Aren't you, forgetting something, idiot boy?

(audience laughing)

2014 Lexus IS

RH: There's a new Lexus IS coming...

JC: I know but seems to be that car's a bit of a mess while the F-Sport variant has the LFA-style gauge on its interior. Also, I heard that there's this rubbish hybrid variant which some say it will have the same 2.5L hybrid powerplant as expected on the Toyota Crown! But still, I'm not sold into those...

(audience laughing)

RH: So, news now?

JC: Yes, idiot boy and while on the subject of the IS thingy, there's an announcement happened on last Saturday's IS All-Night Festival that there's going to be a second season of the IS anime and it will be titled Infinite Stratos 2. Here's the promo clip...

(audience exclaming in awe)



JC: ...based on some new info, the cast of the anime series returning for this new season and Zone of the Enders' Kumi Horii, Busou Shinki & IS novels' CHOCO join design staff. I don't know that if this going to air on TBS very very soon...

JM: Hold on...how could they've announced a second season of IS? Oh wait...could this second season of IS really be made to coincide the release of the 2014 Lexus IS?

(audience laughing hysterically)

JM: I mean come on...IS? New Lexus IS? Second Season of IS? That's proper comedy to me. This is like "Right! Let's take a look at the new 2014 Lexus IS, shall we? Oh, look! LFA speedo in the new IS!"

(audience laughing)

RH: Yeah and imagine that if that new 2014 Lexus IS come out sometime soon and if whoever wants to buy this hideous looking Lexus...I'd expect the person who buys it...goes by the name of Houki.

(audience laughing)

JC: Thank you, Hammond. Oh, and last Sunday, there was this Hayate-Kaminomi Joint Concert going on and guess what? This is really what happens when you Never Mind The Buzzcocks...

(audience laughing)

JC:...I know, it's two different groups from two parallel worlds come together in one party! I mean look; it's Ruka Suirenji from Hayate no Gotoku join forces with The World God Only Knows' Nao Toyama while Hayate no Gotoku's residential tsundere, Hinagiku Katsura, meets up with Kaminomi's residential tsundere, Haqua!

RH: Hang on a second pal...You know you do have a nendo of both Hinagiku and Haqua, right?

JC: Uh yes but sadly, I didn't bring those because I got no time for those willy-nilly at the concert.

(audience laughing)

RH: So, what did you do while at the concert?

JC: Like this!

GOODBYE

(audience laughing)

RH: He he he he...eh...huh? So you did this while you were there?

JC: Uh-huh...

RH: You were like...and video game machine who got stranded in the forest and then encountered a baloon and then starting to developing some...what should I call it? Short-term relationship? WHAT ARE YOU? BMO?!

(audience laughing)

JC: What's a BMO?

RH: BMO! B-M-O! BMO! From a cartoon show called Adventure Time with Finn and Jake!

(audience laughing)

JC: I don't understand anything! Why are so many teenagers got addicted to this...kids show?!

JM: Come on , Jeremy. It's a great show. You should watch it...

JC: It's as good as your jumper you're wearing...

(audience laughing)

JC: Anyway, has any one of you watched PSY's latest MV of his new song called Gentleman? Hands up...

(audience raising hands)

JM: I don't...

RH: Me neither...

(audience laughing)

JC: Well, I have and I can't believe that it's over a hundred million hits already and most are slowly adapting the new Gentleman moves from the man who brought you last year's Gangnam Style. However, there's something that I don't understand about this new Gentleman video.

RH What, is it because it's Korean?

(audience laughing)

JC: Maybe but the real thing I don't understand is that...um...well...sort of...anyway, watch that clip and find out...

JC: So, what do you see?

RH: Well...what is it?

JM: Yeah, nothing's wrong about it. Unless...this is somewhat disrespectful against women...

JC: Nope. This is when this guy's getting out of control on this clip....just like me. I always wanted to the the Gentleman stint...

(audience laughing)

RH: Oh, come on! You know that this new Gentleman stint won't have the firepower against the (mocking) Gwiyomi stuff...

(audience laughing)

RH: Come on! PSY's new song? Can you fire this against an unknown phenomenon known as GWIYOMI?!

(audience laughing)

JC: You guys are so G-R-R-R right now. If I want to spend a couple of minutes watching pointless videos of morons doing the Gwiyomi stint, I would rather kill myself after seeing those...

(audience laughing)

RH: So, there you are folks.THE MORE YOU KNOW by Jeremy Clarkson...

(audience laughing)

JC: So anyway, last year, THE IDOLM@STER SHINY FESTA was available on the PSP hand held console and brings a new twist to the beloved cult classic from Japan.

JM: Yes we do but now, SHINY FESTA is coming to the Apple iOS for the first time. Of course, there are three different versions of the SHINY FESTA but for the iOS version what's HONEY SOUND in the PSP version is called Harmonic Score on the iOS version. Groovy Tune then on the PSP, Rhythmic Record on the iOS version, and lastly Funky Note then, Melodic Disc now.

RH: Yes. And like in the PSP version, Harmonic Score features Haruka, Chihaya, Azusa, and Ritsuko, while Rhythmic Record features Miki, Takane, Makoto, and Yukiho, and lastly, Melodic Disc features Ami and Mami, Hibiki, Iori, and Yayoi. Three different versions have three different animations to watch but the gameplay's the same deal. Tell it, James...

JM: Yes, and this feels like the Hatsune Miku Project Diva games. All you have to do is to touch when it hits the correct position and aim for the high score. The best bit of it is that it's available in either iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad. Sadly though, this can be the most expensive app to buy at the App Store because the Shiny Festa app can cost you 54.99 US Dollars, it's about as pricey as a new game you bought at the retails so when this breaches...you need your own.

(audience laughing)

F1 2013 Bahrain GP

Well, that wasn't unexpecting. Despite protests against this year's Bahrain GP, it seems that like every F1 race each year, this year's Bahrain GP goes on and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel dominated this year's Bahrain race, leaving two Lotus F1 racers Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean in 2-3 places behind.

PRESS RELEASE:


Race - Vettel dominates Bahrain thriller for Red Bull 21 Apr 2013
       
Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull simply annihilated their opposition in Bahrain on Sunday, and though the world champion’s three-stop race left him only 9.1s ahead of Kimi Raikkonen’s two-stopping Lotus, the margin of superiority was significantly greater than that.

Nico Rosberg led the opening two laps from pole position, but once Vettel overtook the Mercedes on the third lap the race was his to lose. On an opening set of medium Pirelli tyres and then three sets of new hards, he was simply unbeatable and controlled the race to win as he pleased.

Behind him, however, it was a hard race to read but a thrilling one nonetheless. Raikkonen was inevitably overshadowed at times as his stops were out of kilter with the majority’s, as was Paul di Resta who drove a brilliant race for Force India from fifth place on the grid. Unable to contain Raikkonen’s faster Lotus, the Scot was on target for a podium finish until Romain Grosjean, in the second Lotus and on a three-stop strategy, hauled him in and overtook with seven laps to run. 

Despite missing the podium, Di Resta’s performance equalled the best of his F1 career and reward for the poor fortune he’s had so far this year.

Behind them, fifth place was at times the subject of super-heated debate between Mark Webber’s Red Bull, the McLarens and both Mercedes cars. In particular, the McLaren pair of Jenson Button and Sergio Perez had such a scrap that the Englishman at one stage instructed his team over the radio to 'Calm him down' after Perez tapped the 2009 world champion’s right-rear wheel with his front wing.

Rosberg faded after suffering contact at one stage with Webber, and needed a fourth pit stop. But once he got ahead, the Australian was vulnerable. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who early in the race had been as low as 11th on pace while conserving his tyres, came alive at this point and overtook the second Red Bull on the 51st lap, but Webber was able to retaliate on the 53rd. That set up some mighty side-by-side racing between the two as Webber blocked and Hamilton ducked and dived behind him.

On the very last lap Hamilton hung tough down the inside going into Turn 1, and Webber had to concede. As he and Hamilton had fought, Perez got a second wind after dealing with an attacking Alonso, and passed the Red Bull as Webber lost momentum after Hamilton’s pass.

Alonso had grabbed second at the start, but after Vettel passed him later that lap after judicious use of his KERS, the Spaniard stopped for new tyres on the seventh lap, then had to duck in again on the ninth when his DRS rear wing flap stuck in the open position. That dropped him way back, and left him to fight back - without DRS - for the rest of a disastrous afternoon for Ferrari in which he’d eventually finish eighth.

Rosberg finished a frustrated ninth in a race in which he had earlier run way ahead of his team mate, while Button got the better of Perez in their heated battles, but ultimately also had to make a fourth stop and thus dropped to tenth.

Pastor Maldonado drove a controlled race to 11th for Williams, after team mate Valtteri Bottas required a late stop for fresh rubber and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, who had to stop four times because of a failed tyre early on and then a serious puncture towards the end, fell back. Thus it was Nico Hulkenberg who crossed the line in 12th for Sauber, with Adrian Sutil recovering from another first-lap clash, with Massa, to take 15th for Force India after a drive which at one stage earned him fastest lap. Bottas was 14th, Massa 15th.

Daniel Ricciardo was Toro Rosso’s sole, troubled, finisher in 16th after Jean-Eric Vergne became the race’s only retirement after an early clash with Giedo van der Garde’s Caterham.

The Marussias jumped the Caterhams at the start, as per the pre-race plan, but then Charles Pic overtook them both and swept away to secure a minor victory for the Leafield team and 17th overall. As Jules Bianchi led Marussia partner Max Chilton home in 19th and 20th positions, Van der Garde finished 21st and last. Esteban Gutierrez started last, got hit by debris on the opening lap, but made up some places to finish 18th for Sauber.

The race extends Vettel’s points score to 77, ten points ahead of Raikkonen on 67, while Hamilton moves up to third on 50 from Alonso on 47. Webber is fifth on 32 from Massa on 30, Grosjean on 26, Di Resta on 20, Rosberg on 14 and Button on 13.

Red Bull have 109 points in the constructors’ championship, with Lotus moving to second on 93 from Ferrari on 77. Mercedes are still in play with 64, with Force India fifth on 26 and McLaren on 23.

Source: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/4/14499.html

So far, Red Bull's S. Vettel is still in the lead by 77 points while Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen is 2nd place by 67 points and Mercedes-Benz's Lewis Hamilton is in 3rd place in 50 points. Next race is on Spain in May 12th and let's see how far can these F1 race stars go...

Forza Horizon: The Battle of IS

IS meets Stratos

Huh, that's weird. Even in Colorado, there really was The Battle of IS. Oh, man! Come on! Get it, together, man! What am I saying? Do you think am I the only one around here who says that the S in the Lexus IS naming really mean Stratos? As in...Lancia Stratos?

Nah! But still, it was nice driving both the Lexus IS F and the Lancia Stratos though. It's kinda fun to drive both of these weapons-grade materials on the streets of Colorado. While the Stratos has the crispiest sounds thanks to its Ferrari engine at the middle, the IS F sure is an out-of-character car for the brand that makes saloons for rich golfers.

Forza Motorsport 4: Collection of Lancias

Now let's just stop right about now and talk about Lancia because for many years, Lancia produced some of the most historic cars ever made. Despite the few problems with the rust three decades ago, Top Gear named Lancia as the greatest carmaker in the world. Such lunacy did produce results for Lancia like for instance; they're the first to sell a car with the monococque body, first to offer a five-speed gearbox, first to sell a car with supercharging and turbocharging on the same engine, first to sell a road car with a V6 engine, and first to sell a car with an electric boot spoiler. Just because most Lancias are unreliable doesn't mean that they're not great and that's an actual fact, even the tattiest of the Lancias are tougher than what you might think.Well, you get the idea but here on Forza Motorsport 4; three of the greatest Lancias come together such as..

the Stratos,

Stratos on a foursome

the 037,

Is this the car that defeated the mighty Audi Quattro?

and the Delta Integrale.

Only Lancia...

I was going to say all about those three but instead, I'd decided to unleash my Stigness and put those three round the Top Gear Test Track.



So, based on the result, I had the time and the Stratos did it in 1:30.557 while the 037 did it in 1:31.309 and the Delta Intregale did it in 1:30.232 so I think it's a progress of how did they made Lancia classics great. But still, I like the Stratos because that exhaust note sounds as crispy as eating a well-done fried chicken. Mmmm, yummy. However, while the Stratos produces the crispiest exhaust note, the Delta Integrale is definitely the best Lancia ever made because this was served as the last hurrah for the glorious carmaker and it won the World Rally Championship, six times on the trot! It may not be the prettiest looking car to drive but oh my stars, this one's the best. Seems that most car enthusiasts really prefer the Lancias of the past rather than the present because present Lancias are turning into Chrysler clones and that's not good.

Doctor Who S07E09

Hide

Not even a dripple of my ice cream I ate as I watched through tonight's Doctor Who Series 7 episode titled Hide because even though this is much more scary than the scary Doctor Who episodes from the past, this is really "top-notch". Get it? Top notch!

Apart from the special guest appearance by Jessica Raine from Call The Midwife, or that creepy creature, or the return of The Doctor's Spacesuit (the one predecessor David Tennant wore), or the storyline, this is brilliant. I love this episode. It's got all the thrills but has the same Who epic coolness.

Next week, let's take a journey to the center of the TARDIS! In the meantime, here's the BTS from this week's episode...

If you can't see, click here