Aston Martin Rapide S

It's been awhile since Aston Martin launched their first-ever four-door premium saloon car, the Rapide, and even though it's not quite as aggressive as either the DB9 or the DBS, it's still worth it for a four-door saloon car that is quintessentially British, despite the fact that it's been made by the Austrians. Really? Austrians? Says here it's made in Graz, Austria, so this isn't quite British at all but happily though, there's a brand new version that is even more British than before...

2014 Aston Martin Rapide S

The brand new Aston Martin Rapide S looks pretty much the same as the old model but take note that everything's changed for the new model aside from the new front grille that looks unorthodox for the Rapide S. I don't know why but I think that new front view kinda spoils the beauty of this car. The new front grille kinda looks like...and I'm not joking...like a Hyundai because come to think of it, it looks more hexagonal shaped like any other current Hyundais and it seems that some of the designers had gone a bit succumbed to hallyu or the Korean wave.

Although with the stupid Hyundai-esque grille that spoils the new Rapide S' looks, there's some good news that this car is no longer made in Austria because it's now made to the home of the Aston Martins and in the same factory where they made the new Vanquish. Wanna guess where?

What I have here is an ATLAS and what I'm gonna do is flip the pages, and then when I see Europe, I head to United Kingdom, and one part of United Kingdom is Warwickshire, and one part of Warwickshire is a small village called Gaydon. That's right, it's now built in Aston Martin's Gaydon plant in Warwickshire, England and this is a great call because it's no longer been made by the Germans because if it does, it feels like a British was revealed to be a traitor and he came from its German opponents. We're talking about Anglo-German wars back there and if this was happened again, I don't really know what's going on in a great island we called Great Britain.

2014 Aston Martin Rapide S

Anyway, enough about WWII jokes because anything more than that and it's game over for us. Let's move on to the way it drives and how it feels to be as a driver's car. Anyway, while this is an updated model, there's something else about its dynamics and let's start at the engine. Like any V12-powered Astons of today such as the DB9 and the Vanquish, the Rapide S still has the same 6.0L V12 engine but now, it's boosted from 477HP to 558HP of power output while torque output is now 457lb-ft of torque. 558HP of power... That's about 35HP more than the new Maserati Quattroporte GTS' 3.8 V8 and of course, it still has the same 6-speed flappy paddle gearbox which is just right rather than the overloaded 8-speed gearbox from the new Maserati Quattroporte. It's also 38HP more than the Porsche Panamera Turbo but let's not forget that in the straights, the Panamera Turbo can easily smoke both the Rapide S and the New Quattroporte by a margin and on the track, ditto.

In terms of top speed, the Rapide S was now improved from the old model's 188 mph to 190 mph, which is quicker than the old model but as a warning, it's 1mph short than the Maserati Quattroporte GTS and annoyingly, matches the same top speed as the facelifted Porsche Panamera Turbo which comes with a double-clutch transmission which is unpronounceable in German. What was that called? Dopple? Dopplekupling...um...doppelkupplungsgetriebe? Oh yeah! Doppelkupplungsgetriebe! Anyway, Rapide S, like any other Astons, doesn't had that because it sticks to its TOUCHTRONIC 2 6-speed flappy paddles.

2014 Aston Martin Rapide S interior

What's annoying about the Rapide S is its weight gain and because it spends too much dinner parties, it now weighs 1990kg, 40kg more than the old Rapide, but despite the added weight, it's still as vicious to drive as the late punk rock icon Sid Vicious, who was from Sex Pistols. With the right weight distribution, low centre of gravity, double wishbone suspensions, and with lower polar moment of inertia, it still works just as fine and for the real fun, you might spend the whole hours performing burnouts on an open space. This is exactly what it feels like when Sid Vicious died from overdose at his young age and if those tires got blown, you know what this is, don't you? He he he...

2014 Aston Martin Rapide S interior

And like any other Aston Martins, it's quiet and comfortable and the new Rapide S really drives beautifully, making it one of the most epic 4-door grand tourers made for everyday uses. You can use it while going for a dinner party, going to the shops, on a date, or you just wanna do anything for business and leisure. After all, because with all of the tweaked stuff for the new model, the Rapide S from Aston Martin is definitely one of the best four-door supercars ever made, probably because of its promising theory that it can provide the comfort of a luxury car with the dynamism of an exotic. Still, if you're a selfie, you just really wish you want to drive one of those...

Photo: Aston Martin

Maserati Quattroporte VI

Once, Maserati is a Italian sportscar maker specializes in cutting-edge grand tourers such as the GranTurismo, but by a twist from the noughties gave them a 4-door premium sedan that is a worthy contender against the Germans such as the S-Class, the 7-Series, and the A8.

It's called the Quattroporte and Quattroporte is Italian for four-doors when you're not surrendering. Now, you may remember that the Quattroporte was tested in Top Gear three years ago and even though it's not as fast as the Aston Martin Rapide or the Porsche Panamera, it's still one of the most interesting 4-door supercar ever made and that noise in sports mode really hits the spot. It's also more fun to drive and you can ever do some powersliding in here.

2013 Maserati Quattroporte

But now, let's move to the brand new and even more interesting Maserati Quattroporte. It's the newest incarnation of Maserati's 4-door supercar that we all like and at first glance, it's still more like The Godfather Part II but with some added...um...added...hey, what was the name of that HBO drama series that was ended a few years ago? Sopranos? Okay, it's still more like The Godfather Part II but with some added Sopranos on it.

2013 Maserati Quattroporte

How? Well, enough about mafia stuff, let's talk about the design. For starters, the front looks more of the same but it feels like Fidel Castro's face being squished  by several pliers. Also, two kinds of Maserati badges showed up in the front. One in the hood, one in the grille. Same as the Maserati GranTurismo but really? Do you need two badges on the front? And then there's the back view which feels like it came from the Kia K7. Go ahead, when you see a Kia K7, park near to it and you might notice that both of their backs look more of the same. Hmmm...

2013 Maserati Quattroporte interior

Now, what about the interior? Judging by its new interior, it's pretty much well crafted and well tailored like an exotic Chinese dress for the long-legged or maybe is Angelina Jolie's gown as seen in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, perhaps? Well, whatever that is, it's still looking nicely for the brand new interior of the new Quattroporte. Also, there's this stereo system in which when you had some spare change, you can opt in for the Bowers & Wilkins Premium Surround System which features 15 speakers, 5 x 25mm aluminium dome tweeters, 5 x 100mm Kevlar midrange drivers, 2 x 165mm Kevlar bass/midrange drivers, 2 x 165mm Rohacell bass drivers, 1x 350x200mm racetrack subwoofer 16 channel Class D amplifier with a combined output 1,280W, and QuantumLogic Surround Sound processing. 

Sounds wonderful though, and what's amazing though that is has an available WLAN technology that effectively turns it into a rolling Wi-Fi HotSpot. With this, your boss at the back will spend most of the trips doing Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with some hashtag nonsense. Yeah right, you might wanna leave as much hashtags you can while on the trip to Monte Carlo. He he he...

2013 Maserati Quattroporte

So, what about driving? If you were on the top-spec GTS version, it's still a a great car to drive on the open roads and on normal roads, as long as you're not fiddling with anything, it's still a comfortable premium saloon car. It was interesting but sadly, the fun doesn't last for long because the ride and handling doesn't have that "Ah!" factor so how about adding an extra ingredient? Four-wheel drive!

STOP: Four-wheel drive versions of the Quattroporte are available exclusively on the Left Hand Drive markets. Yes, really, the Quattroporte S Q4 is available only for selected Left Hand Drive markets.

The S Q4 version of the Quattroporte provides this 4-door supercar four-wheel drive so you can reach amazing angles and still rescue it but for a price, the 3.8 V8 engine was downgraded to a 3.0 V6 engine, which delivers 410PS of power, does 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 176mph. Still, it was worth a shot against premium luxury German saloon cars with a top speed limited to 155mph so no worries for this one. Anyway, with the four wheel-drive, it becomes more forgiving and more enjoyable in the corners but sadly, it feels a bit more milder. It's too mild for a Quattroporte with four-wheel drive so you don't get the sensation flowing through your adrenaline so for a real challenge, let's go back to the GTS model because it has rear-wheel drive, 3.8L V8 engine that develops 530PS of power, and some added dynamism for some added challenge.

But still, whichever which version you're on, whether if its a rear-wheel drive GTS variant with a V8 engine or a four wheel drive S Q4, an 8-speed flappy-paddle gearbox is the only gearbox available for the new Quattroporte and although still a single-clutch rather than the too-common double clutch, it's worth on par with the best sport/luxury sedans in this segment but sadly, nothing's too perfect for this gearbox because it's still as complicating as the other Chrysler Group sedans wearing the same gearbox. Sigh...

Even though the gearbox is a bit of an issue for the new model because it's too much and the suspension noise that's more terrible to notice than checking your door for a power interruption notice on the next day, the new Quattroporte is still one of the most top notch premium sedans ever made and it sets a blistering pace against any two-tonne saloon that has any right to. It's still worth a try for a mafioso hitman to drive one or a chauffeur who turns out to be a former special ops.

Available colors: Nero, Bianco, Grigio Metallo, Bronzo Siena, Champagne, Nero Ribelle, Blu Passione, and Rosso Folgore.

Photo: Maserati

AD: TUNER FEST

If you're on the itch of finding one of the best tuner car shows in the Metro Manila, you might wanna consider TUNER FEST.

That's right, folks. TUNER FEST is known to be the BIGGEST and BADDEST car show in the north and it's coming at the Quezon City Circle this July 27, 2013. It's going to be fully loaded with some of the meanest modified cars as well as the mantra where "competition meets culture".

On this venue, three lucky participants will win an overnight stay for two at Coco Beach Island Resort at Puerto Galera.

Entry fee costs 1,500 Philippine Pesos.

TAGBOND MIXER INVITATION

Tagbond is the newest referrals and rewards platform which is also what the press release said "an easier and simpler way to tag each other". It develops network with developers, startup founders, and community owners as well and this July 26, 2013, feel free to witness the debut of TAGBOND in the debut even called TAGBOND MIXER "Rewards Revolutionized. Referrals Reinvented".

This event marks Tagbond's debut and on this debut event, you'll get the chance to learn more about this newly-developed mobile and web application, find out how to maximize its QR code and NFC tech features for advertising purposes, and meet various businessmen and web developers.

No entrance fees plus free foods and drinks!

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If you have queries, please check out their website - http://www.ihanapkotse.com/title-win-2-tickets-to-see-turbo/ or contact them at (02) 625-8753.

Let's Do The News! (July 8, 2013)

JM: Now let's do the news and before that, hey, have you seen the "Cheche Lazaro Presents" documentary about how popular Be Careful With My Heart is and then how did Philippine soap operas changed the world forever since...um...hey, what was the first ever Philippine TV drama aired in history?

JC: Uh...I don't know...something about...um...I can't remember but all I know that the first ever radio drama in the Philippines was Gulong ng Palad...I don't know what year it was but I think it was from the last century, I think...

(audience laughing)

JM: Yeah, and I can't believe that for 60 years of Philippine Television, it seems that the whole soap opera or teleserye stuff became the stuff of legends most Filipinos stick to it every day and became part of their daily lives. Wouldn't you believe that some TV dramas in the Philippines in the past took two and a half years of its tenure like Mara Clara, Esperanza, and Pangako Sa 'Yo?

(ooohh)

JC: Yeah. Maybe it's because it's the production team that makes the stories go longer and longer and longer until the end of its tenure itself but then capture a wide audience anyway no matter the outcome. What puzzles me that why would the producers keep the TV dramas getting longer and longer by putting some more twists such as amnesias and other stuff that keeps it longer. I wonder what if some teleseryes in the past had a 7 month tenure rather than having two to four years of tenure...

(audience laughing)

JM: I don't know but...it's not worth tasty at all but because of the competition, most teleseryes of today keeps on getting better and better and better but for a price of the storyline. Maybe is it because of the TV drama's wide reception that keeps on going...

(audience laughing)

JC: Anyway, thanks for asking James and ahem...what's this?

RH: Oh? This? This is a pic Disney Japan sent us...

Commodore Perry the Platypus?

(audience laughing)

JC: Who's this? Some duck-beaver hybrid?

RH: No Jeremy, that's a platypus. Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb. Also known as Agent P, the animal agent. Anyway, there's been a stamp rally going on somewhere in Yokohama and if you don't know what that is, a stamp rally is where people go to a certain venue to stamp their book with rubber stamps. There's going to be loads of Perry goods for the lucky few and oh, there's a Perry the Platypus-themed shop for a limited time somewhere in Yokohama as well. It runs from July 13 to August 31, 2013.

JC: Stamp rally kinda feels like a scavenger hunt for us except when you see a stamp venue, you're going to stamp it in your stamp book, right?

RH: Exactly.

JC: Wow, this is going to be more challenging than our Top Gear Christmas Specials....

(audience laughing)

JC: Okay, a few months ago, Hiromi Hirata, the seiyuu who played Makoto Kikuchi in The iDOLM@STER game and anime series, announced her pregnancy. Now, Hirata-san, I heard, finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Her message says...

I received help from many people during my pregnancy until I gave birth, and I am very grateful. There are many things I want to talk about, but for now, my son is top priority...

(audience in silence)

RH: Nice going, you broke their brains. Speaking of which, did she showed up on the iM@S 8th Anniversary Concert HOP!STEP!!FESTIV@L!!! in Zepp Nagoya yesterday?

JC: Hmmm...Afraid not...You know her. She's been taking a rest after giving labor to her baby. That's why she isn't part of yesterday's concert. Only the fan favorites showed up in the concert, especially Eriko Nakamura, Asami Imai, and Akiko Hasegawa.

RH: Oh...

JC: Okay, James, you saw Despicable Me 2, right? You said it wasn't worth watching but it's more than enough. Right?

JM: Uh....

JC: Anyway, I just went on the internet and I saw one of their online extras from the movie and then it was the one with how many minions does it take to change a lightbulb. What's surprising that there was that online extra about that, where a minion just speak Tagalog...

(audience laughing)

JC: True! Here's the clip...



(audience laughing)

RH: Did the minion just spoke Tagalog?

JC: Yeah. I just heard words like "Ganito Na", "Win Pa", "Ikot Tara", and then "Tumalon". Heard that?

(audience laughing, then said yes)

JC: There you go. Even Gru's Minions can speak Tagalog. Despicable Noypi.

(audience laughing)

JC: Perhaps no wonder the minions kinda look like President Noynoy Aquino or Boy Abunda perhaps....Anyway, speaking of Tagalog, I just heard that there are some experts out there suggesting that the tagalog word for Philippines is Pilipinas should be called Filipinas instead. Hmmm... I don't know why but why would they want to rename the Pilipinas word from the letter P to the letter F?

(audience laughing)

JM: What does it sound like? Pilipinas or Filipinas? Don't know but that kind of proposal from the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF) sure knows that they want to swap the letter F from the letter P. Some say, the use of Filipinas instead of Pilipinas recognizes the country's history and development as a nation. That reminds me, if that KWF really want to change from Pilipinas to Filipinas, I wonder if...

JC: What? Filipinos not going to use the letter P anymore and then replace if with the letter F because of the whole Filipinas-Pilipinas fiasco?

(audience laughing)

JC: Let's imagine. The word: Philippines. Because of that WKF's proposal, it should now be called "FHILIFFINES".

(audience laughing)

JC: Oh...That' can't be right. Okay, how about...Papa. Because of that, it's now been called FAFA.

(audience laughing)

RH: FAFA?!

JC: Whoa. No idea why would the KWF really want to change the whole Philippine linguistics by replacing P with F. Any words that starts with the P on it? Anyone?

(audience murmuring)

JM: Oh! Oh! I know! (imitates Jeremy) POWERRRRR!!!!!

(audience laughing)

JM: It's now...FOWERRRRR!!!!

(audience laughing)

JC: That sounds like flower to me. Can't believe they're turning us gay with this transition! It's about worse than spending the whole night watching My Husband's Lover! Anyone watch that?

(audience murmuring)

JC: If you saw that, then you'll know what it probably means.

(audience laughing)

JC: Anyway, that is the end of the news...

JM: And oh! Volkswagen! Since their Polo got involved in the world of rallying, may I present you with this?

2014 Volkswagen Polo R WRC

RH: Yeah. First glance, it looks like a hot Polo but this is a road-legal version of the WRC machine. It's called the Polo R WRC and this is a homologation model that is limited to 2500 units worldwide.

JM: Yes. Even though this road-legal version is limited to 2500 units available, this is more of a powerful version of the Polo GTi but the engine that powers it was a 2.0L engine developing 220PS of power, which is more than the GTi and it can do 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds. That's a split second faster than the Golf GTi and it has a top speed of 151mph.

RH: It costs 33,900 Euros in Germany each and for an optional extra, there's an 18-inch Cagliari alloy wheels, bi-xenon lamps, sport seats, cruise control, light and rain sensor, winter package, and more. Well, for a road-legal version like this. I think this is well staggering.

Top Gear S20E02

Top Gear S20E02

For Episode 2 of BBC Top Gear Series 20, Jeremy Clarkson does a power test on one of the most insane British lightweights ever made, the BAC Mono, and when given to The Stig, it became Top Gear's 2nd fastest, with a lap time of 1:14.3, that's faster than the V8 Ariel Atom but slower than Pagani Huayra.

Meanwhile Richard Hammond enlisted help from touring car legends to find out which country makes the best taxis and yes, some carnage occurred in every corners. In the end, it turns out that the Indian Taxi is the best taxi in the world.

Then, director Ron Howard is the star in the brand new reasonably priced car, the 2013 Vauxhall Astra, and he did it in 1:49.9.

Also, James May gives a big farewell to the BBC Television Centre by turning the now-closed BBC Television Centre into a funhouse full of stunts galore! It's a dirt bike vs. Parkour free-runners race on the abandoned TV centre and in the end...the dirt bike won the race in a spectacular fashion. What a way to say goodbye to the BBC Television Centre!

And to end the episode, Jeremy Clarkson had a "leaping" good time on the Scottish province with Ferrari's brand new supercar, the F12berlinetta. Oh, some tennis balls are involved in the episode as well...