Threats from North Korea - A Week in Review (August 24, 2013)

And now, the week in review of what's what at the Korean peninsula...

August 19, 2013

- South Korea said that talks on resuming reunions for separated families and on reopening the Mt. Geumgang resort to South Korean tourists will be dealt with as two separate issues.

August 20, 2013

- South Korea has proposed that the two Koreas meet at the end of next month for talks on restarting tours to the Mt. Geumgang resort.

August 21, 2013

- Six months after President Park Geun-hye introduced the so-called trust-building process to deal with the North, South Korean unification minister Ryo Gil-jae outlined the concept of the policy to reporters.

August 22, 2013

- North Korea accepted South Korea's offer to meet at Panmunjom on Friday for Red Cross talks on resuming reunions for families separated since the Korean War.

August 23, 2013

- The two Koreas confirmed that both countries want to hold reunions on or around the Jusak holiday for families separated by the Korean war although details need to be worked out.

"Repairs 10 Signs of Damage"

On the August 23, 2013 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Survival gags at the end of humanity...

- The childish couple

- Introduce to a different kind of action star...

- International moment! Bubble Gang does Pantene Total Damage Care by spoofing this commercial as FUNTWIN TOTAL DAMAGE CARE. Repairs 10 signs of Damage.

- This old man wants a sponge bath...

- If you need help, then Aling Mary's NOT FOR YOU.

- The girls are figuring out what would an ideal boyfriend would look like

- Highlights of Bagong Gang and for this highlight, the remaining 8 are on a one-on-one match where each two recruits are on a sketch to show who's better. In the end, it's BYE-BYE to Abel and Nicole. So now, it's 6 remaining. Keep watching Bubble Gang for more!

Honda Fit Shuttle 2014 minor change

2014 Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid

While the upcoming third-generation Honda Fit doesn't arrive until next month, it seems that its station wagon variant, the Fit Shuttle, which was based on the outgoing 2nd generation model, will be for a while as this supersized version gets its minor change. So, ready for another round of 47 Second Science? Let's find out...

2014 Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid

For the 2014 minor change, both the Fit Shuttle and the Fit Shuttle Hybrid gained a new front grille which is similar to the one from the next generation Fit hatchback and same goes to the redesigned front bumper here. On the interior, Honda adopted the Grand Smooth double-stitch of the stitch made on the side of the fabric and suede combination seats. The gear lever is now wrapped in leather just in case.

In terms of equipment, the security alarm and Hill Start Assist are now standard on all grades while in the mid-ranged HYBRID model, discharge headlights are fitted while in the HYBRID Smart Selection model, paddle shifters and 15-inch allow wheels are equipped to the mix.

2014 Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid interior

2014 Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid interior

Petrol variants come with the 1.5L i-VTEC engine while the Hybrid models do come with the 1.3L i-VTEC engine with Honda's INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST or IMA. All come with CVT but some reports say that the entry-level HYBRID-C variant now has a fuel economy of 26.2km/L, making it equal to the fuel economy set by its rival, the Toyota Prius Alpha. As for pricing, the entry-level 15C is priced to 1,640,000 Yen up to 1,990,000 Yen for the HYBRID Smart Selection.

Available body colors are Pure Aqua Metallic (new color), Alabaster Silver Metallic, Polished Metal Metallic, Premium White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Premium Deep Rosso Pearl, and Premium Deep Mocha Pearl.

What's in our Car Town garage today? (August 21, 2013)

What's in our Car Town garage today?

2009 Honda NSX RR

Displayed at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon, the Mugen NSX RR is made to look like the Super GT racer of the same car. Of course, 2009 served as the last year for the NSX in Super GT because it was replaced by the HSV-010 GT racer. Anyway, about the RR model, this NSX was stretched to 177.95 inches and widened by 5.5 inches thanks to its Super GT500-style aerodynamics equipped on it.

2009 Honda NSX RR

1972 Lancia Fulvia

Called Tipo 818, the Fulvia was revealed at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show and it comes with three body styles - a 4-door berlina, a coupe, and a Zagato-designed sport. With its clever V4 engine, the Lancia Fulvia is notably the first ever Lancia to win the World Rally Championship.

1972 Lancia Fulvia

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

The 1950's really brings the motoring industry to a full swing and cars of that decade looked more interesting from the size of its rear fins. The Bel Air from Chevrolet is a sure reminder that before the era that had the words "tuning" or "stanced" were injected through the minds of a certain car enthusiast, there was this. For this model, it comes with a V8 engine option on it. The one with the 4.3L V8 engine comes with an OHV design that worked so well, it remained producing it for many decades.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

Let's Do The News! (August 21, 2013)

Richard: And now the news and yes, we're still into the topic of the Habagat threat because even though Typhoon Maring is out of the Philippines and into the Chinese, it's still going to be a rainy week thanks to the whole "habagat" thingy. Sounds scary, isn't it?

Jeremy: Yeah, sounds scary as it seems and what's scaring me is that one part of the SCTEX Highway got destroyed and that makes it also sound scary.



Richard: Whoa! What just happened?

Jeremy: I don't know but blame it to the Maring-Habagat killer combo. Get it? Killer combo.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: This is serious. Oh and you know what else is scary? Some unrest in Egypt where Morsi supporters vs the government are bashing their heads like the movie 300. Sounds gory but it is. Very.

James: Oh. It seems that this whole unrest is going to last for a long long time, isn't it? Sounds like a civil war, Egypt-style, to me. I wonder if the Pharaohs and the mummies got involved into this unrest?

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Pharaohs and mummies?

James: It's Egypt stuff.

Jeremy: That's past. We're talking about Arabic Egypt here because things are going messier than what we think. Anyway, enough Egypt unrest. Let's go back to the Habagat thingy because...it's going to be a mix of good and bad news for the students because I just heard that classes are still suspended up until next week. Let's see...

Classes suspended only on Thursday (August 22)

• Antipolo (pre-school to high school - public and private)
• Bataan (all levels - public and private)
• Cavite (all levels - public and private)
• Caloocan (all levels - public and private)
• Dagupan (all levels - public and private)
• Las Piñas (preschool to high school classes; public schools in 1st district only)
• Mandaluyong (all levels - public and private)
• Manila (all levels - public and private)
• Navotas (all levels - public and private)
• Paranaque (all levels - public and private)
• Pasig (pre-school and elementary - public only)
• Taguig (all levels - public only)
• Taytay, Rizal (pre-school to high school)
• Some schools in Quezon City (those used as evacuation centers: Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School, San Gabriel Elementary School, Fairview Elementary School, Bagong Silangan Elementary and High School)
• Some cities/municipalities in Bulacan: Malolos City, Meycauayan City, Balagtas, Bulakan, Baliwag (all levels - public and private); Hagonoy and Guiguinto (pre-school to high school - public and private)
• Asia Pacific College
• Far Eastern University (Manila, Makati and East Asia College)
• La Salle Green Hills
• St. Scholastica's College – Manila (office work to resume)
• Saint Francis of Assisi College (all levels in all campuses)
• San Pedro College of Business Administration
• Kolehiyo ng Guiguinto
• University of the East (Manila and Caloocan)

Classes suspended on Thursday (August 22) and Friday (August 23)

• Cainta, Rizal (pre-school to high school - public and private) 
• Calumpit in Bulacan (all levels - public and private)
• Laguna (all levels – public and private)
• Makati (all levels – public and private)
• Malabon (all levels – public and private)
• Marikina (all levels – public and private)
• Muntinlupa (preschool to high school – public and private)
• Pasay City (all levels – public and private)
• Pateros (preschool to high school – public)
• Rodriguez, Rizal (all levels)
• San Mateo, Rizal (all levels - public and private)
• Valenzuela (preschool to high school – public and private)
• De La Salle University - Science and Technology Complex
• Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines (Paranaque and Laguna campuses)
• University of the Philippines Los Baños (office work to resume)
• Valenzuela Polytechnic University

Richard: Whoa, somebody thought that it's a long week of no classes due to bad weather! Unbelievable. That's the first time I'd ever heard of it but for the some of it. Sorry about that. Some lazy students saying that they're too lazy reviewing for their exams or rather go waste their time playing video games at home or watch Be Careful With My Heart or Ryzza Mae Show or whatever they're doing during the wet Habagat week.

(audience laughing)

Richard: Oh yeah! That reminds me! New info from the world of Gran Turismo 6. As announced at this year's gamescom in Germany, it should be on sale globally this December 6, there's going to be Vision Gran Turismo special machines in collaboration with car manufacturers, design houses, even sports brands like JORDAN and Nike! No joke!

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Nike? Back in Gran Turismo? If I recalled back in Gran Turismo 4, they collaborated with NIKE, famous for their sports apparels, to create a special concept machine unlockable in GT4. Anyone remember it?

(audience murmuring)

Jeremy: Okay, like you were saying, what's Vision Gran Turismo, Richard?

Richard: As I said, it's a thank-you project in celebration of its 15th birthday and oh! Here's the latest concept clip;

(cheers and applause)

Jeremy: Well, not much to say but...I like this latest trailer! They now had a Viper GTS, the Huayra, the Z8, the R18 TDi, oh! I'm really want that game so bad!

Richard: But...here's the bad news.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: What bad news?

Richard: I checked on the list of GT5 tracks to be carried over to GT6 and what's shocking is that...The Top Gear Test Track is not part of it!

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: What? No Top Gear on GT6? This is even worse than when the PS3 version of THE iDOLM@STER 2 didn't feature the Punkish Gothic outfit. That's a shame. Guess I should better off pre-order XBOX One and Forza 5 because of Top Gear.

James: But wait! Some bad news! Did you know that Spa-Francorchamps is going to be in Forza 5?

Jeremy: What? Spa-Francorchamps is going to be in Forza 5? Boo...

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Just as I predicted, when this game comes out and then moments later, I could expect the whole nightmare that is the comparison between GT6 and FM5 using the same car and the same track. I don't want that to happen. That is stupid.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: And that broke my heart. Think about it, Gran Turismo 6 no longer has Top Gear while Forza 5 remained Top Gear for the sake of fans. Cars featured in FM5 are better looking than GT6. And here's hoping that the Corvette C7 Stingray won't get slip through FM5 or else, it's going to be a big carnage out there. Worse than hanging habagat.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: What? What was I'm saying?

James: Anyway, enough about that because GREAT NEWS!

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Here we go again...What?

James: The Dacia Duster...

(audience laughing hysterically)

Jeremy: Oh dear...

James: The Dacia Duster...gets its Nissan twin called the Terrano!

2014 Nissan Terrano Indian launch

Jeremy: Great!

(audience laughing hysterically)

Jeremy: Now, Ferrari has launched a stripped-out high performance version of the 458 Italia, here it is...

2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale

(ooohh)

Jeremy: It's called the 458 Speciale and this high performance version of the 458 Italia is as close as the 430 Scuderia as you can get. It's mid-engined, 0-60 time of 3 seconds, 597bhp of power output, more than the LP570-4 Superleggera Lambo, and I think it's not quite a bad Ferrari for me. One thing I don't like is its looks because it feels like a Scuderia's ghost possessed through the 458.

(audience laughing)

Richard: Well, I got news from Volkswagen because at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, there's an even hotter Golf out there. Look...

2014 Volkswagen Golf R

(ooohhh)

Jeremy: It's a Golf R, isn't it?

Richard: Yes. This is for those who think the GTi wasn't enough but the new Golf R is the fastest accelerating Golf ever made. It's mated with a 300bhp engine on it, 0-60 time is 5.3 seconds for manual and 4.9 for double clutch. That seems quick and hey, that's going to be the best Golf ever made because...it's got the best of both worlds! Right?

Jeremy: Yeah but still, I prefer the GTi because it feels just right for me.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Oh hey! There's a new version of the Audi A8. Here it is...

2014 Audi A8

Jeremy: Says here that the new A8 comes with the world's first new dimmable headlights called ‘MatrixBeam', made of 25 LEDs per headlamp, engine choices now consist of a more powerful 3.0-litre petrol V6 (305.8bhp, up from 286.1bhp), a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 petrol with 429.1bhp, a boosted 3.0-litre TDI V6 with 254.5bhp (up from 246.6bhp), and a 4.2-litre V8 diesel weighing in at 379.8bhp (increased from 345.2bhp), and some added luxury on the inside. What do you guys think?

James: Not quite bad for a flagship Audi but...I still don't like it because it's still look like an Audi.

(audience laughing)

Richard: He's right. It does look like a typical Audi to us!

Jeremy: Yeah, right. Does look like a typical Audi except it's made for rich playboys who want to waste their time at the country club. Oh hey! Have anyone seen the new Monza? What do you think of this concept model?

2013 Opel/Vauxhall Monza Concept

Jeremy: They added some gullwings on it but still it's a massive showoff to us.

(audience laughing)

Richard: Yeah right. Massive showoff like the SLS AMG. I mean imagine if this went upside down, how can he get out from it? Does it have some SLS-like mechanism that blows it doors off?

Jeremy: Uh...no. It doesn't have.

(audience laughing)

Richard: So, you can't get out from this?

Jeremy: Nope. You can't.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Anyway, that is the end of the news!

Driving Music (What is the name of the song on car commercial?) Vol. 55

Before I begin, I found myself a nifty little app for the iPhone and this is essentially a very useful app to determine what is the song you just heard. It's called the iD app and with this app, I believe that it has a feature to determine what is the song you just heard. Very genius, isn't it? With that, finding what is the name of the song on car commercial made even easier.

Anyway, here comes another set of five driving musics that fits well on your playlist suitable for the long driving trip from boredom to fun.

5) Hello Sunshine by Riviera - from a Kia Grand Carnival commercial

4) Grand Guignol by Bajofondo - from a Renault Samsung QM5 commercial

3) Always Thinking Of You by The Love Unlimited Orchestra - from a Hyundai Scoupe commercial

2) What A Fool Believes by The Doobie Brothers - from the Toyota Corolla Hybrid commercial

1) L'ongle by Presque Oui - from a Hyundai i40 commercial

...that's it. These are the five driving musics to find it on your local music stores. Driving Music. The segment where all the car commercial songs are archived for findings. Which driving musics will be featured next? Stay tuned for more...

Daihatsu Mira e:S/Subaru Pleo Plus/Toyota Pixis Epoch minor change

If you remember back two years ago, you'll remember something about the Daihatsu Mira e:S, the world's most fuel-efficient car available only in Japan as of now. It's the compact car that introduced Japan the JC08 Mode fuel economy test cycle rather than the over-exaggerated 10-15 Mode test cycle. Fuel economy was 30km/L but month's later, its title was stripped out thanks to Suzuki with their Alto Eco that does 30.2kmpl. Two years later, it's now rosed to 33kmpl. Making it the undisputed king of fuel consumption, not this little Daihatsu. They're not pleased by this...

Now, for the 2014 model year, the Daihatsu Mira e:S has now made even more fuel friendly than ever and it's now refreshed for one goal: to take back what the Suzuki Alto Eco got from them.

The new Mira e:S comes with numerous fuel-efficient updates such as an updated i-EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) for combustion efficiency, reduced engine losses with the use of a low-friction timing chain, a revamped CVT gearbox, reduced drag with the help of its new exterior design, improved idling stop system, updated "Eco power generation control", and so much more.

All this gives the 2014 Mira e:S a fuel consumption rating of 33.4kmpl. That's right, this isn't a typo. 33.4kmpl, 10% higher than the pre-facelift and best of all, .4kmpl higher than the Suzuki Alto Eco! And those improvements can also be implemented on its other cousins like the Subaru Pleo Plus and Toyota Pixis Epoch, both of these are rebadged versions of the Mira e:S.

So, with that record-breaking fuel economy, I wonder what's going to be the response from its rival Suzuki? Let's just wait...