RSM revises SM5 and SM7 for 2014 model year

Renault Samsung New SM5 Platinum

 Renault Samsung SM7

Renault Samsung Motors, the SoKor-only Korean affiliate of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, lightly revised two of the luxury sedans from their lineup, the SM5 and the flagship SM7, for the 2014 model year.

Starting with the 2014MY SM5, newly designed 16-inch alloy wheels and black faux leather were added on the PE trim while the SE trim had is price now 600,000 Won lowered. On the LE trim, it now comes with blind spot information system  and for the SE trim, LED lighting package was added. For the LE and RE trim, a class-first ABS front seat headrest trim was applied.

Now onto the 2014MY SM7, the addition of the blind spot information system and forward warning system has been implemented for added safety. On the RE and RE35 trim, dark chrome 18-inch wheels, silver and piano black interior trim are implemented.

As for pricing, the 2014MY SM5 now starts at 24,500,000 Won for the SE Art model (the special one) up to 28,700,000 for the RE Art model. The 2014MY SM7, on the other hand, now starts at 30,280,000 Won for the SE model up to 38,650,000 Won for the RE35 model.

Let's Do The News! (September 4, 2013)

Here are some moments that you may have missed:

- The fourth Transformers movie will feature a...Chinese car?! Well, a Chinese concept car called the GAC E-Jet is going to be featured in next year's Transformers. Yes, really. That's a new mix for the next Transformers movie...

- It seems that the whole Syria issue is still pretty much into us right about now and just for the pain of it, I just heard that not only the US but also the French and the Turkish are on the offensive side against Syria. Ouch. Right now, the Department of Foreign Affairs issued a mandatory repatriation for OFWs stuck in war-torn Syria. Over three thousand Filipinos remained in Syria as of now...

- Scion will be updating the FR-S sport coupe (better known to you and I as the Toyota 86) for the 2014 model year and as of now, I heard that for the 2014MY FR-S, Scion will be adding new knee cushions in their signature FR sports coupe. These cushions, located on the center console and door panels, will provide added comfort on the road.

- Apple will be announcing their next iPhone on September 10 but what is it? Will this be the one with the long-rumored iOS7 on it?

- Microsoft bought Finnish-based cellphone company Nokia, as announced by Microsoft themselves and they're on the verge to provide better quality and service for the customers.

- Toyota Motor Corporation updated the Camry hybrid saloon for the 2014 Model Year and for the 2014MY Camry, a new "Dark Blue Mica" color was added, giving a total of 8 exterior colors available. Also, three-point seat belt, pretensioner, and force limiter function were added for added safety. There's now a special edition  G Package PREMIUM BLACK model offered for a limited time. The special model offers dark brown wood grain, fabric and synthetic leather combination, inner auto-dimming mirror, soft leather door trim, smoke-like extensions on the LED head lamp and fog lamp, and super chrome metallic paint 17-inch wheels.

Toyota Camry

- Another celeb to be hit by another scandal is none other that Eat Bulaga's own Wally Bayola. Reports said that there was a video featuring Wally himself and Yosh, one of the EB dancers. No word ever came out from the two about the recent scandal.

- Land Rover will showcase an updated 2014 Discovery at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show and for this new one, it has more driver aids and new engine types as well as its new look.

2014 Land Rover Discovery

Let's Do The News! (September 2, 2013)

Stranded on the island for days? Here are some moments that you have missed!

- The hit anime TV series based from the manga serialized from Kodansha's Shonen Magazine, Attack on Titan, is almost reaching its climax and it seems that the producers really want Attack On Titan to go out with a bang. A really big bang perhaps because the finale will be screening at the Marunouchi Picadilly 1 theater in Tokyo during a special event on September 28. This finale will be screened at 9:00 PM Japan Standard Time, hours before it airs on TV.

- The people at Studio Ghibli are sad to said this that the founder of Studio Ghibli and anime filmmaking legend Hayao Miyazaki retires at the age of 72. After years of creating some of the finest Studio Ghibli masterpieces such as Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service, and most of the timeless classics a Ghibli fan would mention, it is confirmed that our beloved Miyazaki-sensei retires from producing feature films. That was explained during this year's Venice Film Festival.

- Moments after the Japan debut of the new V6-powered Lotus Exige S, it seems that the new Exige S will be making its first-ever Japanese debut at the 2013 Japan Lotus Day this October 27, 2013 at the Fuji Speedway. The Japan Lotus Day was started back in the Autumn 2009 and it's a gathering of Japanese Lotus owners to show their passion of the Lotus name, from historical models such as the Elan, Elite, Europa, and Esprit, to current models such as the Elise, Exige, and the Evora.

- The Nissan Juke NISMO, the first from the newly revamped NISMO range, has reached worldwide sales of 3700 units from the first seven months since its debut in January 2013. NISMO president Shoichi Miyatani commented that they are pleased that the NISMO car has been accepted in the market and this was made to provide the thrill and excitement the customer wants.

2013 Nissan Juke NISMO

- As we all know that Paul McGann is somewhat a one-hit wonder in the history of Doctor Who and he's what George Lazenby is to James Bond but question is, how did he managed to nabbed that role? This low-quality audition tape, as part of the DVD format of the 1996 Doctor Who TV film and now streamed from the official Doctor Who Youtube channel, will explain what's what.

- Whether you like it or not, Season 4 of Top Gear USA is coming on History this Tuesday and here's a sneak peek of fourth series. We can see Tanner in the MP4-12C, Rut in the Gallardo, and Adam in the Viper go all out.



- Hey girls, are you tired from all the Frizzies on your hair? Stuck in the same situation like what Isabella did at the end of the Robot Rodeo episode of Phineas and Ferb? Don't worry because there's a video clip about how to treat the frizzies. Click here.

- On another one of Doof's Daily Dirt, Dr D. makes a joke about the Auto-Correct function that your smartphone had. Watch this clip and find out why you should better turn off your smartphone's Auto-Correct function or else...

- It's September 2, 2013. Countdown to Christmas? It's 114 days left. Look, to avoid forgetting this countdown, might as well, left a countdown widget on my blog, okay? Its to your left.

TTFN!

How Cute Is Your Character? - Pinkie Pie

10 cute characters brought in by me will face my CUTENESS TESTS; getting kissed, getting hugged, and against Isabella's cuteness in a bid to top my CUTENESS RANKER leaderboard.

Today's cute character is...

Pinkie Pie

Is Pinkie Pie one of the main pony characters from the hit TV series My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic and this pony's well known for her clown-like personality that gets the ponies into trouble easily?

Well, Pinkie Pie looks as crazy as a crazed dementia at a mental hospital but yes I know, she is cute. She is cute but...HOW CUTE IS PINKIE PIE?!

First test is...getting kissed. Just how kissable is Pinkie Pie? However, there's a bit of a twist. Before you kiss that Pinkie Pie, Pinkie Pie kisses you first and yes...you can't stop her kissing you and her craziness can't be contained. It's gonna be a hard task to restrain her before kissing her so...it's a 5 out of 10 for the kissable rating.

Second test is...getting hugged. How huggable is Pinkie Pie? Sadly, same thing from the first test. Before you hug Pinkie Pie, Pinkie Pie hugs you first and her hugging's too tight for you to get yourself out. Like I said, you can't stop Pinkie Pie from being wired. Wonder why Pinkie Pie's being the "wired" type of pony? Anyway, it's a 5 out of 10 for her huggable rating. And yes, someone needs a trip to the hospital right now. You could get hurt if you approach to Pinkie Pie.

The last test is...against Isabella. Isabella says "Whatcha Doin?"...like this. What would Pinkie Pie do? At first glance, you might think that Pinkie Pie's fallen victim from Isabella's cuteness but then...Yep, it really is Pinkie Pie after all. Her craziness can't be contained and even in the test of resisting Isabella's cuteness, it seems that Pinkie Pie's hurting Izzy more than Izzy's cuteness hitting Pinkie. So, how can I rate her Isabella-resistance rating? Nah, leave it a 5 out of 10. It really hurts, you know?

Pinkie Pie from My Little Pony scored a grand total of 15 out of 30, sending her to last place behind the Adipose.

1) BMO - 22/30

2) Mokona - 22/30

3) Catbug - 20/30

4) Mog - 19/30

5) Adipose - 16/30
6) Pinkie Pie - 15/30

How cute do I rank it? Quite... HOW CUTE IS YOUR CHARACTER?

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso II

2014 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

2014 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso interior

A couple of months ago, a brand new generation of Citroen C4 Picasso was showcased to the world and although the exterior looks a bit more vague than the old one, the interior is starting to be more redeemable rather than being too redundant for a people carrier because of its tech-loaded goodies as well as the clever touch screen. Sitting in here is like riding on a spaceship on wheels but as a warning, it feels a bit old fashioned.

Now, its longer brother, the Grand C4 Picasso is following suit as well and although it still looks like the new Picasso aside from its controversial looks, it's still a people carrier worth capable of carrying a typical French family who want to spend the remaining days of summer going places. The Grand C4 Picasso targets the VW Sharan, SEAT Alhambra, the Renault Grand Scenic, and the Peugeot 5008 respectively and although it maybe not as classy as the luxury minivans from Japan such as the Estima, the Alphard, the Elgrand, and the Elysion, the interior's still had the same tech-savvy goodness as expected on the normal 5-seater C4 Picasso especially the 12-inch HD screen for the instrumental panel, the addictive touch screen, the optional rear seat entertainment system, and so much more for the tech geeks.

Like its 5-seater cousin, the 7-passenger Grand C4 Picasso retains the choice of engines such as a VTi 120, a THP 155, e-HDi 115, and the e-HDi 90 Airdream engine respectively. Let's not forget that the e-HDI 90 Airdream engine, combined with an ETG6 gearbox, emits just 98g/km with a combined fuel economy of just 74.3mpg, the best in its class. What's more is that the Grand C4 Picasso is loaded with cutting edge safety features that cares the occupants more than the car itself such as the radar guided cruise control, Intelligent traction control, Lane Departure Warning System, blind spot monitoring, and the very clever anti-collision warning system that uses the front radar to alert drivers when this car's getting too close for collision. It also has the feature similar to Nissan's Around View Monitor and that feature's exclusive in this segment. Amazingly, the new Grand C4 Picasso also got Park Assist which can park the car automatically when it sees an available parking space. You can even read a book or drink coffee while this car's parking by itself. Clever, isn't it?

So, the new Grand C4 Picasso though, it may not be a good-looking MPV for seven passengers but with loads of gizmos and an array of fuel-efficient engines, not to mention the fact that they're planning a more Euro 6 compliant BlueHDi 150 engine sometime next year or so, it's worth a redeemable one. One thing to aware for is its pricing and it starts at 23,050 Euros, cheaper than the Grand Scenic.

Available colors: Blanc Banquise, Bleu Teles Nacre, Bleu Kyanos Nacre, Noir Onyx, Hichory Nacre, Gris Aluminium Metallic, Gris Shark Nacre, and Rouge Rubi Nacre.

Photo: PSA Peugeot Citroen

Let's Do The News! (September 1, 2013)

(cheers and applause)

Jeremy: Yes, we do hate it because of what was the announcement that Gran Turismo 6 will not feature Top Gear stuff but you know what, perhaps we do had a lot of backstories against the Corvette C7!

(audience laughing)

Richard: Like what?

Jeremy: Uh...never mind. There's so many painful moments caused by this. I just think that while because this car's too Gran Turismo series-exclusive since its GT5 debut as well as landing as the cover car of Gran Turismo 6, I finally found ourselves a car that we hate it more than just caravans.

Richard: Question, do we wanna blow it?

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Oh come on, that would be super silly so let's do the news, then?

James: Indeed, the news and this just in from Proton...

Jeremy: Yes, we knew that. It's the hatchback version of the Preve sedan called the Suprima. Here it is...

2014 Proton Suprima S

Jeremy: What it was it has some of the nooks and crannies from the Preve sedan, 1.6L petrol engine, does 0-100kph in 9.9 seconds, top speed of 190kph and I believe this is as dull as the Chinese-made MG6, I think.

(audience laughing)

Richard: Yeah, and what sort of person would they buy this brand new Suprima?

Jeremy: Well, probably old men.

(audience laughing)

James: Old men?

Jeremy: I dunno. Since it costs about 15,000 Pounds, it is cheap but question is, is it cheerful? Is it a cheep and cheerful Malaysian hatchback? What do you think folks?

(audience murmuring)

Jeremy: Well, as for me, it's a no. What about you, Richard?

Richard: It's a no for me.

James: I think it's a no. Hey! Wait a minute, aren't we doing the whole Britain's Got Talent stint?

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Think about this car. It maybe seem fine at first but as years pass by, this would be another banger to bang up with and trust me on this, this would be as dull as the Hyundai hatchback I think and if anyone had one of these, people would mistake this for a Forte hatchback, that's for sure.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Oh! I just remembered! You know those Syrian unrests that had been through the news for moments? Well, while the whole chemical attacks last month was particularly the scariest one, probably because it killed thousands of people in this troubled Arab country, what feared me the most that the whole Syrian intervention will cause the world market to raise gas prices to a record-time high and what feared me the most that gas prices will somewhat raised 2x higher. Think about this...while in the Philippines, if this whole Syrian crisis continues, expect gas prices to be raised by about a piso or two and that's not okay in a current situation like this.

Richard: Ouch. That's gonna be more pain in the pumps if I'm honest. I mean if this keeps on happening, do you think this whole 2x raise keeps on going every week with a rare chance of rollbacks?

Jeremy: Well, that's the theory anyway but that sounds scary for the motorists everywhere because...why did those Middle East tensions keep causing too much pain at the pumps?

James: I dunno. Perhaps, most of the countries import those from the Middle East and hey, you do had a point in here because if that whole Syrian outrage continues, especially the fact that the US awaits congress approval against Syria, this could spell doom for the motorists thanks to ultra-high gas prices. Question, do you think Syria is just one of the countries that supply petrol for the world?

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: I dunno but if it does, no wonder they're using it for chemical weapons and that bastard Assad always playing dirty tricks, that's for sure.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Oh yeah! I almost forgot. I just noticed something that the man responsible for Disney's Gravity Falls TV show, whose name was Alex Hirsch by the way, will guest in Disney's Phineas and Ferb! Well, this is no joke but his twitter says it all. Hirsch tweeted (ahem) "recording a voice for P&F today!!!".

(ooohhh)

Jeremy: That's not all, here's the pic of Hirsch himself recording for an upcoming Phineas and Ferb episode...

Gravity Falls' Alex Hirsch records for an
upcoming Phineas and Ferb episode

Richard: Wait, that's Alex Hirsch?

Jeremy: Indeed. What you're expecting at?

Richard: Oh sorry...I thought...Well, you know...

(audience laughing)

Richard: Anyway, there's more to mimic about Peugeot faces around here because I just heard that Peugeot revealed their updated versions of the 3008 crossover and the 5008 MPV. Here they are...

2014 Peugeot 3008

2014 Peugeot 5008

Richard: See? See anything here?

(audience laughing)

James: Yes. I can see those facelifted models. So, what's new about those?

Richard: Well, just their outsides, I guess. But never mind about that, what interests me the most is the new version of the 308. Concept car at the moment. Look...

2013 Peugeot 308 R Concept

Richard: This is the R version, it has a 270HP engine and I think this is a hotter hatch than the 208 GTi. One thing I didn't like this is the two-tone color that looks like...some sort of wrestler's costume...

(audience laughing)

James: Now, this is not the kind of car you would wanna drive through the London streets by night. I mean look at it, it looks like a new 308 in sneakers or worse, a boy racer's 308, that's for sure.

(audience laughing)

James: Imagine that if you drive one of these at a posh party, I think that the doorman will ask you to leave right now because posh parties are made for people wearing formal clothing but this car's not as formal as it seems, right? This is more like a party crasher or a wedding crasher, perhaps?

(audience laughing)

James: Hey, what date is it now?

Jeremy: Well, it's September 1st.

James: September 1? Wow, time flies so fast and seems that summer's almost over and Christmas is just 115 days from now. Guess it's Ber months after all and we're kinda near to the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special this November 23rd and the 2013 Christmas Special on December 25th, which is the final adventure for Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith. With Peter Capaldi (the 12th Doctor) upon us, guess this is the final four months with the Eleventh with us and...

Jeremy: Yes, James. That made us sad and hey, carpe diem!

James: Carpe diem? Oh wait, I already heard about it but anyway, it's the final four months for the Eleventh Doctor's tenure after all. Care to make every moment count?

Jeremy: Well, with two specials coming before the year ends, all I can say that saying goodbye to Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith is a hard thing to follow but hey, at least he did left us a big mark out in the Doctor Who history, if you know what I mean?

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Anyway, after the whole Phineas and Ferb Mission Marvel shenanigans we had last month, I just heard that something shocking is gonna happen at 2015's Avengers Age of Ultron movie, which is the sequel to last year's Avengers movie. Here's the shocking thing about the sequel...ready to hear? (ahem) One of the Avengers will face death.

(huh?)

Richard: Wait? One of the Avengers will die in the 2015 sequel?

Jeremy: Yes. One of the Avengers will die and that's shocking. Question is, whose Avenger will die in the Age of Ultron movie? As of now, we have to wait until 2015 to reveal the answer so the guessing game has begun.

Richard: Guessing game it is. Oh and guess what? A new Batman was named for the upcoming Superman vs. Batman film. Wanna guess who that is?

Jeremy: Yes. We heard that. Ben Affleck's the new Dark Knight for the upcoming film that pits Man of Steel vs. The Dark Knight.

Richard: Oh...but just one thing...if you were to choose between Superman and Batman, who would you be?

Jeremy: Well, I'm not a fan of those so...you might as well not asking...

(audience saying Batman)

(audience saying Superman)

Jeremy: Oh, it's a half-half! Some like Superman because of his superpowers, some like Batman because of his...well...what else that makes Batman cool?

(audience murmuring)

Jeremy: The gadgets? Whoa, no wonder Batman has the best gadgets a caped crusader ever have. But still, Batman's too scary. No wonder parents tell their kids not to go faraway by telling them "Don't go too far, okay? There's Batman so do not go!"

(audience laughing)

Richard: Is Batman the scariest person kids ever afraid of?

James: I dunno!

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Anyway, that's the end of the news!

Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray

The saga began in 1953 when Chevrolet launched what is believed to be the king of American sports cars, the Chevrolet Corvette and six decades later, there has been six generations spawned with different tastes and different perceptions to keep "Kentucky's Pride" up and running and for every regeneration has a different story to tell, not to mention some terribly painful backstories later on, but now the whole world stood still as the seventh-generation Chevrolet Corvette was finally unveiled and for this seventh incarnation, things are about to be a little more different.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

It's a brand new Corvette for a brand new year. It's the year 2013 after all and a new year demands a new Corvette and since 2013 marks the Corvette's 60th year, the brand new 2014 Corvette Stingray really is the perfect icing in the cake to celebrate 60 years of the king of American sports cars. One thing I'm not particularly noticed that why did Chevrolet revived the "Stingray" name and for further explanations, the Stingray was used from the C2 Corvette of the 1963 and the C3 Corvette of the 1969. This is the third time the Stingray name was used on the seventh Corvette.

The thing is though, when you manage to drive one of these, you might have a feeling that you are the sort of a successful human being who cares about yourself rather than anyone else around you. It's the car made for selfies who had no regard for socialism and better yet, it's an epic long-distance cruiser if you want to spend the whole day off in the open roads. It's all about the freedom you decide on the road and for the new model, it's still worth a beauty to drive.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

There's more beauty than just being a beast for the all new Corvette Stingray and judging by its modernized design, the new model is as slender as um...how can I say this in a Top Gear-ish tortured metaphor kind of way? Well, let's say in a Bella Thorne and Zendaya kind of way. Looks attractive and feels attractive. It seems that the whole R&D took several years and fundings to perfect the new model's look rather than tracing it from the 2009 Corvette Stingray Concept. One thing you may not like about it was the rear view because past Corvettes had these four-round rear lamps that became the hallmark of the Corvette design but for the new model, those were gone now and replaced by those Camaro-esque rear lamps to make it a bit more modern. It maybe a love-it-or-hate-it choice but the Corvette regeneration takes on so many forms to keep it fresh. So, do you like these new rear lamps rather than the traditional round rear lamps? Well, it takes time for decisions so how about the interior?

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Well, the new interior is starting to make any sense now and although it may hark back from the C4 Corvette, the brand new interior combines world-class craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. As for the seats, you can have either the Grand Touring seats if you're a bit mild on the road ahead or for the competition seats if you're a bit of a tangy type. Never forget that whichever seats you're in, it's still a well-honed craftsmanship because it feels as luxurious as a Rolls-Royce because all that time and effort in creating a well-defined interior is no rush. They didn't hurry up making one so everything around here feels so right all along. As for the new speedo, it's all in the drama because the speedo not only looks dramatic, it feels dramatic even though it's digital and there's more. Five modes feature five different speedo types at the turn of the knob. You can choose either WEATHER, ECO, TOUR, SPORT, and TRACK, and whichever driving style you choose, those speedos are really telling the truth while driving. With so much technology loaded on it, the brand new Corvette Stingray feels as futuristic as the pages of science fiction.

So, tell me about it. While I was saying there is much beauty in this beast, is it worth the beast I was expecting? Is the brand new Corvette C7 still the undisputed king of American sportscars? Well, this thing doesn't need any explanations because by the way it drives, it's a sheer sign that Corvettes still rule in the world of American sports cars. Then, there's the newly developed LT1 6.2L V8 engine that powers the new model. With direct injection and Variable Valve Timing, this new V8 engine churns up to 460HP of power, that's more than what you get on the latest 911 Carrera S! Also, having learned the idea from the latest 911 Carrera S, the new Stingray is the first ever American car to come with a 7-speed manual gearbox. I know, it maybe too much to have seven gears in a manual gearbox but with this, the weight distribution is just right and oh, the new gearbox comes with Active Rev Matching that simulates heel-toe shifting perfection at the touch of a button.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Here's a thing. Exclusive on the hard-top Stingray coupe model, there's this Z51 Performance Package that brings out the full potential of the new Corvette Stingray. You can expect larger rear wheels, dry sump oil system, Limited Slip Differential, bigger brakes, an improved suspension system, cooling systems, Aero Package, Magnetic Selective Ride Control and Performance Traction Management, and Performance Gear Ratios. Those special items available on the Z51 Performance Package really made it as competitive as the 911 GT3 without all the drama included.

The new Corvette Stingray from Chevrolet is starting to make further impressions to Corvette loyalists worldwide and with this though, I believe that this car finally made a benchmark on high-performance sports cars but as for me, I still had big doubts with it...

Think about it, while this is an entirely new model, it can still have its rear bumpers hissed over by its longtime rival, the V10-powered SRT Viper in the straight-line performance because, well as they said, it's less powerful than its C6 ZR1 predecessor that once proved to the world that Corvettes are better than Vipers but amazingly, there are some stuff that the new Corvette C7 Stingray redeem itself from the Viper. First of all, the braking distance because while the Viper stops from 60-0 in 110ft, the C7 stops from 60-0 in 99ft. Impressive isn't it? But there's more into the whole hellhole here because in the skid pads, the C7 Corvette does 1.05g, that's more G-force than the Viper's 1.01g! In slaloms, the C7 done it again by 73.5mph, 1.5 more than the Viper's 72mph. Unbelievable, those folks from Edmunds really know how the C7 Corvette can outsmart the big and powerful SRT Viper. Tsk...tsk...tsk...

There's this painfully emotional backstory facing between me and the new C7 Corvette and...am I gonna summarize this, right? Anyway, it all began when the folks from Gran Turismo feature this on GT5 and I had high regrets that this would be a Gran Turismo-series exclusive and this car should not be featured on any other racing games, including the Forza Motorsport franchise. This is like when the PS3 version of THE iDOLM@STER 2 didn't feature the outfit what the XBOX 360 version offered as a DLC and this is none other than the Punkish Gothic. I was so infuriated by this move and this is how I got infuriated by this. Then, when the upcoming Gran Turismo 6 announced that the Top Gear Test Track is not included, that made me angry as well. As angry as an angry bird, I tried to demand everyone that if they love Top Gear and like playing the Top Gear Test Track as long as they want, better buy the XBOX One and Forza Motorsport 5 but they didn't listen. Instead, they would rather go for PS3's GT6 and who cares about it? Gran Turismo hates Top Gear anymore so for now, it's Top Gear hates the C7 Corvette. I was just saying anyway but still, it's worth the pain to hate this latest Corvette for being a Gran Turismo-exclusive. This is the kind of Corvette The Stig would want to blow this up with explosives because think about it....No Top Gear in GT6? That will enrage Top Gear fans just for sure, even me.

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

I kept explaining that if they would go for Gran Turismo 6 because for this, they are the kind of people who really hate Top Gear that's for sure and this is the first time I went into this super messy situation. The brand new C7 Corvette Stingray dislikes Master Chief, Gears of War, anything XBOX-ish, the Punkish Gothic from THE iDOLM@STER, even Top Gear and this is the only ride of the year I had ever expressed hatred to this machine. I just don't want Forza Motorsport 5 to feature cars that Gran Turismo-series only had. Alpines, the Jensen Interceptor, kei cars, Cizeta, the Nissan Deltawing, the Tesla Model S, the Fisker Karma, the Caterham, Daihatsu, Dome Zero, Tommykaira ZZ, Garaiya, GT350 Shelby, anything that the Gran Turismo series only had especially this. If that C7 Corvette showed up on Forza 5, that would be "unfair competition" and I really REALLY don't want that to happen so please do it a favor...

Anyway, enough about backstories and into the pricing because it begins at 51,000 US Dollars for the Coupe or if you want an open-top convertible, that starts at 56,000 US Dollars. Yes, the C7 Corvette Stingray Convertible has the same goodness as the coupe as well as the new V8, the 7-speed manual, the optional 6-speed auto, and the dynamic handling, only this time, with the open-top goodness on it. Let's not forget that they're still just the tip of the iceberg out here.

Available colors: Black, Laguna Blue Tintcoat, Crystal Red Tintcoat, Cyber Gray Metallic, Lime Rock Green, Night Race Blue Metallic, Torch Red, Blade Silver Metallic, Arctic White, and Velocity Yellow Tintcoat

Photo: General Motors

Cars GT6 Should Put (Volume 7)

Everyone knows that more and more car gamers everywhere are willing to prefer the upcoming Gran Turismo 6, coming this winter exclusively on the Playstation3 console, than the upcoming Forza Motorsport 5, coming this autumn exclusively on the new XBOX One console. However, despite the 1200-car lineup, there are some cars GT6 should put...

Cars like...

1) Lamborghini Veneno '13

WHY: Built to celebrate Lamborghini's 50th anniversary, the Lamborghini Veneno is probably one of the best Lamborghinis ever made and of course, unlike the one-off Lamborghini Aventador J as seen on the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, only three units of these 50th anniversary special machines were made and shortly before its announcement, all three units had been accounted for. Let's hope that this million euro Lambo had a spot on GT6. Hoping but not expecting...

2) Volvo S60 R-Design '13

WHY: There should be a latest-generation S60 in GT6 because in the previous GT5, only the first-generation S60 was offered so PD, don't hesitate to add the latest S60 on this game.

3) Subaru Forester 2.0 XT '12

WHY: The fourth-generation Subaru Forester. In the Japanese commercial titled "Forester Live", the latest Forester traveled around the world to check out its true capabilities. It's still a work in progress for the whole "Forester Live" but hopefully, GT6 should feature this new model, probably the one with the FA20 DIT engine on it. If that showed up, it would be FORESTER LIVE GT6 STYLE so we don't need to go around the world to try out the newest Forester.

4) Kia K3 KOUP '13

WHY: Gran Turismo 6 should feature Kia Motors for the first time and if that came to fruition, how about the all new Kia K3 KOUP? For the new model, it's now turbocharged and it tries to be a better front-wheel drive sportscar. So, how about it Yamauchi-sensei? Can you please get a license to feature Kia Motors in Gran Turismo 6?

5) Jaguar F-Type S '13

WHY: 5 decades since the E-Type, Jaguar launched its modern-day successor to the legendary machine called the F-Type and this is the first time Jaguar made a sportscar that behaves beautifully like what its predecessor does. I just hope that Gran Turismo 6 should feature this timeless modern-day beauty here because when the F-Type does showed up, it would look great especially on Photo Travels.

The results please? So, if Polyphony's still on the rethinking process whether these cars I've mentioned will be featured on Gran Turismo 6, whether in game or as a DLC, you can't say that I didn't had a bit to do with that.

Take that to Kaz Yamauchi!

What's in our Car Town garage today? (August 31, 2013)

What's in our Car Town garage today?

2009 Fiat Punto Abarth

Based on the Punto Evo, the Abarth version of the Punto Evo tries to be a better hot hatch in a world where these kinds are no longer the norm. Why bother? Because with the 1.4 Multiair petrol engine with the fuel-saving Stop-Start function, this hot hatch tries to be an eco-car in disguise even though with this function, it saves 10% of fuel consumption and emissions in the urban cycle. Of course, with Abarth has rally racing roots, the Punto Evo Abarth comes with the Gear Shift Indicator that provides a signal on the instrument panel, telling you if this is the right time to shift gear.

2009 Fiat Punto Abarth

1969 Pontiac GTO

One of the most iconic GTO models at that time is the GTO Judge model. It maybe as flashy as its exterior color but The Judge was born in the age when factory performance does mean a lot and this model became the norm by which their performance were measured. If you had one of these since that time, you really are The Judge in the eyes of drivers and when it's judgement day at your local drag strip, this muscle car packs a huge threat against its opposition.

1969 Pontiac GTO

2011 Fiat 500 Abarth Assetto Corse

The 500 Abarth Assetto Corse is a track-prepped version of the very popular Fiat 500 Abarth hot hatchback. Even though it comes with the same 1.4L turbocharged engine as the normal 500 Abarth, the Assetto Corse version has all of its essentials stripped out and became a single-seater racing machine capable for setting blistering lap times during track days. Only 49 of these were made.

2011 Fiat 500 Abarth Assetto Corse

Threats from North Korea - A Week in Review (August 31, 2013)

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

August 26, 2013

- President Park Geun-hye pledged to make sure necessary reforms are made within the nation's spy agency, as the opposition's demanding.

August 27, 2013

- South Korean government offered October 2 as the date to hold working-level talks with North Korea over the reopening of the Mount Geumgang resort to South Korean tourists.

August 28, 2013

- Ambassador Robert King, the US Special envoy for North Korean human rights issue, will travel to Pyongyang on Friday at the invitation of the North Korean government.

- An advanced team of technicians and admins crossed over to North Korea to check the venue that will be used to hold reunions of families separated by the Korean War

August 29, 2013

- The two Koreas will convene a first meeting of their joint committee on the management of the Kaesong Complex on Monday.

- Preparations for the upcoming reunions of families separated by the Korean War are in full swing.

August 30, 2013

- A series of joint military drills between South Korea and USA ended today, marking one of the largest computer simulation exercises in the world involving troops across the Pacific.

Infiniti Q50

The Infiniti G, the car that was known to be Infiniti's answer to the Lexus IS as well as its German rivals like the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. So far, there has been numerous people interested in this car despite the fact that the G in the Infiniti range was just an Stateside version of the Japanese car we all love, the Nissan Skyline. Last year, with Infiniti proposed their new naming scheme that has all cars start with Q and QX, the first car to implement Infiniti's new naming scheme was this...

2014 Infiniti Q50

This is the Infiniti Q50. It costs 36,700 US Dollars and on paper, Infiniti's answer to the Lexus IS and the Germans is starting to get even more clever than its replacement. First and foremost, it is available in either a high-performance 328HP 3.7L V6 carried over from its G37 predecessor and for the first time ever, a hybrid powerplant that incorporates the Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid system with Intelligent Dual Clutch Control as seen on the Infiniti M35h. The combined output of 360HP of power channeled from its 3.5-liter V6 and compact laminated lithium-ion battery design with an innovative one-motor/two-clutch motor control is just one thing why the hybrids of Infiniti aren't like any other hybrids you'd expect. You would expect this to be dull and boring just like any other hybrids I know but for this one, it isn't. Despite its hybrid powerplant, the Q50 sure knows how to behave like its Euro enemies and I had to say that this is worth a try against the petrol-powered Lexus IS350. Thumbs up though.

2014 Infiniti Q50 interior

2014 Infiniti Q50 interior

The drama isn't just the powertrain of the Q50 because on the inside, it's as cutting-edge as your Samsung Galaxy smartphone and the craftsmanship isn't just limited on the outside because every nooks and crannies of the Q50 is well-mannered and it took several resources such as leathers, fabrics, metals and glass. It's also come with two screens just like what 2013's Hondas and Acuras got but this isn't because on the top, this is what I called the display zone and on the bottom, this is what I called the command zone because on the bottom, the driver can choose whatever apps it offered from its hard drive just a few fingers away and that's iPad stuff if you know what I mean.

Don't forget that even though you can have either a 3.7L V6 or a 3.5L V6 hybrid in which it has more than the former I told, the Q50 is available in either a rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. Oh yeah, if my pick was the rear-wheel drive, I wonder what is like to handle this? Well, the answer, you can. Even if you act like a Brainiac, you can corner this car and get out alive because of its clever suspension system. It's a good thing it doesn't act like the Germans or the Lexus IS or the Toyota Crown but that's just the tip of the iceberg because there's this world's first Direct Adaptive Steering technology which allows independent control of the Q50's tire angle and steering inputs, transmitting the driver's intentions to the wheels faster than a mechanical system. Well, that's new.

2014 Infiniti Q50

The G37 is probably the hardest act to follow but the all new 2014 Infiniti Q50 really pulled it off quickly like a magician pulling a rabbit out of the hat. It drives well, it looks well, and it doesn't lost most of its J-dorama quirkiness. It has some of the elements that its Japanese rivals like the Toyota Crown and the Lexus IS can't. This sedan, well I was gonna say another kind of culture shock, has still got its gentleman manner hidden beneath the heart of the bravest warrior. Cars like the Crown and the IS is still just a bit of a drama nowadays even when they put smaller engines and hybrid powerplants in the name of JC08 fuel economy but for this one, it still has the right elements. It's amazing that for this Q50, it tries to show that the only thing more sexier than that is taking a peek at teenage girls in their racing swimsuit rather than the rather nonsense stuff about a swimming club with boys in their biceps. It's a sure fire thing that with this Q50, something so wrong feel so right all along with it.

Crown Athlete ReBORN PINK

Toyota Crown Athlete ReBORN PINK

Last Christmas 2012, Toyota launched the all new 14th generation Crown and then there's a TV commercial showcasing a pink-colored Toyota Crown Athlete that actor Jean Reno drove. The viewers shocked about this pink-colored Crown made specifically for the commercial until now, the pink-colored Crown Athlete is now available as a limited edition "ReBORN PINK" model.

The base for the ReBORN PINK model is the G model with Toyota's newly developed 2AR-FSE 2.5L direct-injected engine together with Toyota Hybrid System II. With the combination of both the new 2AR-FSE engine and the 105kW electric motor, it develops about 220PS of combined power while developing a class-leading fuel economy of 23.2km/L based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards. Yes, I said about that but the special ReBORN PINK model is enveloped with a special "Momotaro" exterior color. Yes, it's pink and we all heard the whole Momotaro story.

On the inside, the seats are all white genuine leather, the wooden panel's black, the carpets a black with some pink linings on it, the engine start button's pink, and when you start it, the opening screen will feature the Crown logo with something pink on it. There are 7 PINK SURPRISES as Toyota claims it and the starting price for the ReBORN PINK special costs 5.7 to 6 million yen.

URL: http://toyota.jp/crownathlete/pink/

Source: Toyota Motor Corporation