Monday, January 20, 2014

3rd Generation Toyota Noah and Voxy (R80G/W)

It's time for me to throw the gauntlet as our first brand new model of the new year gets it and this time, the arrival of the all new, third generation, Toyota Noah and Voxy minivans will signal the start of the new year with new models on the horizon. Yes, these new models will spearhead the year 2014 with a bang...sort of.

2014 Toyota Noah

2014 Toyota Voxy

They're identically the same so are there any differences?

Much like the Premio and Allion saloons, the Porte and Spade compacts, and the Alphard and Vellfire flagship MPVs, both the Noah and Voxy are essentially the same cars with different outlooks to suit different tastes. They're sold at different dealerships as the Noah is sold in Corolla dealerships while the Voxy is sold in Netz dealerships (noticing the Netz badge at the front face).

The Noah is targeted for middle-aged moms and dads with kids while the Voxy is made for the younger audience in their late 20's and early 30's...or perhaps someone who has mates most likely to ask him to go out to the big city. So, you get the idea, the Noah is a family van while the Voxy is a joyrider's MPV suitable for road trips with friends.

Anyway, what's new?


2014 Toyota Voxy interior

2014 Toyota Noah interior


The brand new third-generation Noah and Voxy features a class-leading stuff, something that its rivals like the Honda StepWGN and the recently facelifted Nissan Serena C26 couldn't hold on. The sliding doors can be opened at 805mm wider, that's beyond compare than any other JDM minivans in its class. It has the lowest floor in its class by 360mm, 810mm of floor space when the second-row seats slide backwards, interior height is now 1400mm (highest in its class), lowest rear floor in its class by 500mm, there's so much to explain about its class-leading statistics.

There is now a hybrid model?

Yes, there is. Both the Noah and the Voxy now comes, for the first time, ever a hybrid powerplant. Quite intriguing but Toyota made this to make sure it has some serious competition against the S-HYBRID variant of the Nissan Serena C26. How does it stack up? Well, the updated 1.8L engine connected to an electric motor and nickel metal battery may not be quite as powerful than the Serena's but the fuel economy easily beats is because this hybrid powerplant on the all new Noah and Voxy is capable of having a fuel economy of 23.8km/L, calculated in JC08 Mode standards. You heard that right. 23.8kmpl of fuel consumption, 7.8kmpl more than the Serena's. So, there you go, families all over Japan. If you're looking for a fuel-efficient people mover that can take you places from one prefecture to another, look no further.

But there is a catch, right?

Yes, there is a catch because the new models start at 2,210,000 Japanese Yen, which is 26,000 Yen more than the Nissan Serena C26 and 22,000 Yen more than the Honda StepWGN. How annoying was that? And then when the 8% consumption tax rate is implemented in Japan on April 2014, that's gotta be more pain in the budget but all and all, it's a huge price to pay for a fuel-efficient MPV suitable enough to carry seven or eight people around you.

There's also a 2.0L petrol engine, right?

Yes it is. For those who think that the hybrid model is a bit...(clears throat) not your type, there's a more powerful 2.0L petrol engine offered. While equipped with a familiar Super CVT-i gearbox as similar as the hybrid model, this 2.0L 3ZR-FAE engine produces 152PS of power and 193Nm of torque. It even comes with the idling stop system that cuts off the engine when stop and then starts it again when on the move. So, the fuel economy for this 2.0L engine? 16.0km/L, as calculated by JC08 Mode standards. Just a kmpl more than the StepWGN's. Fact.

Should I buy one?


2014 Toyota Noah 

2014 Toyota Voxy


As I said earlier, both the new Noah and the Voxy are more expensive than the Serena and the StepWGN but with all that costly pricing, these new minivans are now the top of the minivan food chain because for these new arrivals, they're now lower, more spacious, more fuel efficient, more roomier, and these minivans will have high hopes for the Japanese carmaker.

But...

They're available only in Japan so back off, smugglers.

Available Colors:

Noah - White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Black, Bordeaux Mica Metallic, Dark Cherry Mica Metallic, Ocean Mint Metallic, and Dark Violet Mica Metallic.

Voxy - White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Black, Blackish Ageha Glass Flake, Bordeaux Mica Metallic, Ocean Mint Metallic, and Dark Violet Mica Metallic.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Stars of NAIAS 2014

2015 Ford F-150


The 2014 North American International Auto Show runs from January 18 to January 26, 2014, at the Cobo Center in the now-bankrupt Detroit. In this year's show, we expect a huge debutantes, both foreign and local, regardless of car classes they're on. So, what's the list of this year's debutantes?

  • Bentley Continental GT V8 S
  • BMW 2-Series
  • BMW M3 F80
  • BMW M4 F82
  • Cadillac ATS Coupe
  • Chevrolet Corvette C7.R
  • Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06
  • 2015 Chrysler 200
  • 2015 Ford F-150
  • 2015 Ford Mustang
  • 2015 GMC Canyon
  • Lexus RC-F
  • 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  • Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG
  • Mercedes-Benz S600 (W222)
  • Porsche 911 Targa (991)
  • 2015 Subaru WRX STi
  • Acura TLX Prototype
  • Acura TLX GT Race Car
  • Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Concept
  • Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept
  • Kia GT4 Stinger Concept
  • Mini JCW Concept
  • Nissan Sports Sedan Concept
  • Toyota FT-1 Concept
  • Volvo XC Coupe Concept
  • VW Beetle Dune Concept
...and more from this car show...

What's in our Car Town garage today? (January 19, 2014)

What's in our Car Town garage today?

1999 Mazda RX-7

One of the most famous JDM tuners straight from the 90's is none other than the FD-spec Mazda RX-7. With the combination of good looks and striking performance thanks to its trademark rotary engine that powers it, the famed sportscar is worth an eye candy. Even today, it's still a tuner's feast on the road and on the track.

1999 Mazda RX-7

2008 BMW 335i Coupe

For a certain car sommelier of all kinds, how can you add some style on the car that has less doors? Well, add some European flair, state-of-the-art technology, and some German engineering of course, and the E92 3-Series Coupe does suit the necessary qualifications a car sommelier would want. It's stylish, lavishly equipped, loads of performance, and stays in tune with the times with cutting-edge technology. It's striking to look at on city streets and a modest grand tourer on the open roads.

2008 BMW 335i Coupe

1982 Lamborghini Countach

To continue the Lamborghini tradition that started it all with the Miura, they've created the Countach which is known to be the first-ever Lambo to have scissor-type doors, a clever door mechanism that was been adorned by most V12 flagship Lamborghinis through the years. When it was launched, it comes with the 4.0L V12 engine generating 375PS of power output but for this 1982 model year, this V12 engine that powers the Countach carries a bigger and powerful 4.8L displacement, thus giving the LP 500S nomenclature.

1982 Lamborghini Countach

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Let's Do The News! (January 18, 2014)

Things We Learned This Week:

1) Dove Cameron and Olivia Holt are my picks for the night

Image source: Radio Disney Tumblr

Disney Channel aired not one, not two, but three cool stuff earlier that night. There was a latest episode of Liv and Maddie where the twins switch places, then there's a new DCOM titled Cloud 9 which stars Dove Cameron as Kayla Morgan and newbie Luke Benward as Will Cloud. It's extreme at its best...literally. After that, Girl Vs. Monster's Olivia Holt returns and stars in a brand new show titled I Didn't Do It! This show...it's all about five misfits get into all sorts of trouble and when bad things happened, there's only one answer: I DIDN'T DO IT!!! Hope you guys enjoyed it.

2) Typhoon Agaton

Typhoon Agaton, the first storm of the year, killed 37 people and injured 65 people as of last night. Yesterday at 4:00PM, Agaton spotted 165km northeast of Surigao del Sur with 55kph of winds near the center. So far, signal no. 1 is placed in 9 provinces.

3) Cyberporn is Philippine's no. 1 crime

Forget snatching, kidnapping, and corruption. The number one crime in the Philippines involved cyberpornography because this crime is prevalent throughout the country that law enforces considered it the worst crime of the nation, more menacing than illegal drug trade. Such criminal activities put the Philippines one of the top ten nations where cyberpornography is common.

4) The Oscars 2014 Nominations

There's the list of the nominations for the 2014 Golden Globe Awards, where the winners will be announced on the 2nd of March, 2014. Here are the full list of nominees:

Best Picture
American Hustle
Nebraska
Captain Phillips
Philomena
Dallas Buyers Club
12 Years a Slave
Gravity
The Wolf of Wall Street
Her

Actor in a Leading Role
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street

Actress in a Leading Role
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Judi Dench, Philomena
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
Sandra Bullock, Gravity

Actor in a Supporting Role
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave

Actress in a Supporting Role
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
June Squibb, Nebraska
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave

Animated Feature Film
The Croods
Frozen
Despicable Me 2
The Wind Rises
Ernest & Celestine

Directing
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street

Cinematography
The Grandmaster
Gravity
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
Prisoners

Costume Design
American Hustle
The Grandmaster
The Great Gatsby
The Invisible Woman
12 Years a Slave

Foreign Language Film
The Broken Circle Breakdown
The Great Beauty
The Hunt
The Missing Picture
Omar

Documentary Feature
The Act Of Killing
Cutie And The Boxer
Dirty Wars
The Square
20 Feet From Stardom

Documentary Short Subject
CaveDigger
Facing Fear
Karama Has No Walls
The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life
Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall

Film Editing
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
12 Years a Slave

Makeup and Hairstyling
Dallas Buyers Club
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
The Lone Ranger

Original Score
The Book Thief
Gravity
Her
Philomena
Saving Mr. Banks

 Original Song
“Alone Yet Not Alone” from Alone Yet Not Alone
“Happy” from Despicable Me 2
“Let It Go” from Frozen
“The Moon Song” from Her
“Ordinary Love” from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Production Design
American Hustle
Gravity
The Great Gatsby
Her
12 Years a Slave

Short Film, Animated
Feral
Get a Horse!
Mr. Hublot
Possessions
Room on the Broom

Short Film, Live Action
Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me)
Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything)
Helium
Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)
The Voorman Problem

Sound Editing
All Is Lost
Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Lone Survivor

Sound Mixing
Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Inside Llewyn Davis
Lone Survivor

Visual Effects
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Iron Man 3
The Lone Ranger
Star Trek Into Darkness

Original Screenplay
American Hustle
Blue Jasmine
Dallas Buyers Club
Her
Nebraska

Adapted Screenplay
Before Midnight
Captain Phillips
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

5) Bugatti boss warns that there will be no powerful Veyron or Galiber

The president of Bugatti, Wolfgang Scheiber, warned that there won't be a more powerful Veyron or a production version of the four-door Galiber concept. It stated from an exclusive interview from Top Gear but the Bugatti boss says that the Veyron successor will redefine the benchmarks.

6) Why I'm so enjoying the Japanese version of Let It Go?



We all enjoy the Frozen theme song titled Let It Go but...am I the only one enjoying the Japanese version of this song? JPop singer May J. did the Japanese version of Let It Go, in case you never heard of it. Frozen (日本名:アナと雪の女王) hits Japanese theaters this March 2014.

7) Hamburg wants to be CAR-FREE within the next two decades

The German city of Hamburg hates cars and according to a report, this city wants to get rid of cars on the roads once and for all in two decades time. Hamburg spokeswoman Angelika Fritsch said that this city will offer people opportunities to hike, swim, do water sports, enjoy picnics, restaurants, and other stuff in the city more than driving. Hmmm...

8) R.I.P. Roger Lloyd Pack

Veteran British actor Roger Lloyd-Pack died at the age of 69 from pancreatic cancer.

TTFN!!!

Boy Abunda, IHAW NA!

For the first time, on the January 17, 2014's Banana Nite's IHAW NA segment, Boy Abunda is the guest. You could commonly see him everyday; Bandila on Weeknights, Bottomline on Saturday, and Buzz ng Bayan on Sunday. This guy bares all in the name of being a self-styled king of talk.


"mabu-tiyan"

On the January 17, 2014 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Treasure Hunt gags

- We check out what would a Rich Kid and a Poor Kid do in stuff like meeting with friends, treats, and got his phone snatched.

- IKAW AT ANG INA acknowledges...too much makeup!!!

- Mag-out na si Junior!

- Bubble Gang does Yakult by spoofing this commercial as JKULT! Mabu-tiyan.



- Tata Lino is always here to help you...

- Treating him like a dog...literally.

- The Dingga Rap!

- Average people...with star potentials.

- A night at a museum with a guard and two statues.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Lexus CT200h Minor Change

2014 Lexus CT200h

So, Toyota Motor Corporation kicks off the year 2014 with a new model launch and for a start, it's a facelifted Lexus CT200h hybrid hatchback. Although it's not as sharp-dressed as any other rivals from Europe, the CT is positioned as the cheapest Lexus money can buy so, for this 2014 minor change, how about a little 47 second science?

2014 Lexus CT200h

For its 2014 minor change, the CT now gains the Japanese luxury brand's signature Spindle Grille, first applied on the Lexus GS two years ago. It maybe sounds more predatory but the new face always in tune with the times of today's trends.

2014 Lexus CT200h interior

2014 Lexus CT200h interior

On the interior, there's not much to see of a change except some minor adjustments and tweaks on the software. However, there are over 80 variations of the selection patter of the interior color and seat upholstery. The seat upholstery now adopts L tex, don't know what it is, and depending on the variant, there are numerous seat colors to choose, sure enough to make it yours and unique.

What about performance? Well, not much of change here on the 2ZR-FXE 1.8L engine connected to a 3JM electric motor and the conventional nickel metal battery. Running on engine alone, it produces 99PS of power and 142Nm of torque while running on electric motor alone, it produces 82PS of power and 207Nm of torque. However, the biggest change here is its fuel economy and the base model will have a JC08 mode-calculated fuel economy of 30.4kmpl while higher-end models get around 26.6kmpl of fuel economy.

Steering wise, it still comes with the rack and pinion power steering while the suspension system relies on MacPherson struts on the front and double wishbones at the back. Not quite surprising but when you discover the Drive Mode Selector, you can select to three modes such as ECO for economical driving, NORMAL for well-balanced, and SPORT which makes the suspension get even harder for tight cornering.

2014 Lexus CT200h F-Sport

There's even an F-SPORT model as well and in this model, it comes with a rear-spoiler, a scary-looking front face, rear bumper, 17-inch aluminum wheels, and a black roof while on the inside, it comes with a new Dark Rose Leather, Dark Rose and Black, slate gray and black fabric. Don't get too comfy on this one because the F-Sport comes with a track-tuned suspension which some say it's made for even tighter cornering and emotional driving feel. Not quite sure but when it gets understeer, it really wasn't their fault.

The 2014 CT200h starts at 3,560,000 Japanese Yen up to 4,480,000 Yen, including consumption tax.

Available colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Mercury Grey Mica, Platinum Silver Metallic, Black, Black Opal Mica, Red Mica Crystal Shine, Mader Red, Fire Agate Mica Metallic, Flare Yellow Mica Metallic, Exceed Blue Metallic, and White Nova Glass Flake.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Kim Chiu, IHAW NA!

On the January 15, 2014's Banana Nite's IHAW NA segment, the guest of the day is none other than the lovely Kim Chiu. A Chinese-Filipina born from Cebu, Kim Chiu's big break dates back when she was a housemate from Pinoy Big Brother, alongside Gerald Anderson. Life after PBB, Kim Chiu has been featured in several TV dramas, movies, and commercials. She used to have a love team alongside Gerald Anderson but now, she's moved on to Xian Lim since My Binondo Girl and the movie adaptation of a best-seller novel "Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo?"

Meanwhile, we check out what does a SINGLE, IN A RELATIONSHIP, and IT'S COMPLICATED do in stuff like...weightlifting, and paying bills at a restaurant.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Let's Do The News! (January 15, 2014)

The big scoop today...

OFW Caregiver is Israeli X-Factor champ

This is one of the most trending topics spiralled on the net recently as a Filipina caregiver in Israel, Rose Fostanes, became the winner of X Factor Israel. Having working as a caregiver in Israel for two decades, Rose ever dreamt about being a singer and the Israeli version of The X Factor gave it a shot of her life. At first glance, she might feared that most Israelis will ignore her because she's a foreigner competing in a reality show for Israeli talents but the tables are turned when her take on Lady Gaga's "You and I" shook the competition into standing ovation, receiving the most votes via text messages and the show's website, and risen to celebrity status. In the eyes of Israeli talents, they see to her as what Susan Boyle does to Britain's Got Talent five years ago.

Report: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/343866/pinoyabroad/pinoyachievers/filipina-caregiver-rose-fostanes-is-surprise-star-of-x-factor-israel

John Button, Jenson's dad, passed away

John Button is known to be a rallycross racer in the 70's and well known as the dad of F1 racer Jenson Button. Sadly, Jenson's dad passed away because of a suspected heart attack. He died at the South of France last Sunday.

Report: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/racing-news/john-button-father-of-formula-1-champion-jenson-passes-away

Britain's first pay-as-you-go cafe

Somewhere in Shoreditch, London, there is a cafe where you can pay-as-you-go to use their internet. The food, beverages, and internet access are free but you have to pay 1.80 GBP per hour or 3 pence per minute for your stay. It's called the Ziferblat cafe, and it's located at 388 Old Street. It's the first UK branch of a Russian chain as there are 11 branches in Russia with the first opening in Moscow in 2011.

Report: http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2014/01/u-k-s-first-pay-go-cafe/

US Court rejected Net Neutrality rules

Well, that doesn't sound right to us, netizens, because recently, the US Appeals Court rejected federal guidelines that stated that ISPs must treat all internet traffic equally. This decision provides the groundwork for broadband providers and carriers to charge extra fees for faster internet access to certain services or sites. This is the second time courts ruled against net neutrality as the first one happened four years ago.

Report: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-14/u.s-appeals-court-strikes-down-net-neutrality-rules

TTFN!!!

Cars GT6 Should Put (Volume 20)

In a galaxy far far away, just off our backyard, lies Leopaul's Blog; boldly pushing the boundaries of car culture because there's some CARS GT6 SHOULD PUT.



Cars like...

1) Marussia B2 '10

Made in the communist nation of Russia, the Marussia is definitely the communist car we all like not only because this is by no means the most unique supercar ever made, but it's also one of the best cornering supercars in existence. The top-spec version is powered by a 2.8L Cosworth V6 turbo engine developing 420HP of power and 600Nm of torque. It can do 0-60mph in under four seconds and top speed over 150mph.

Marussia B2

2) Subaru Levorg 2.0 GT-S EyeSight '14

Unveiled at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, the new Levorg is a new-generation "real sports tourer" that takes on a new spin on station wagons in its class. The name Levorg is a portmanteau of the words Legacy, Revolution, and Touring. It has the similar sizing of the current Legacy Touring Wagon but available engines offered are turbocharged and connected with Subaru's Lineartronic CVT gearbox. It comes with the 1.6L DIT engine producing 170PS of power and the 2.0L DIT engine producing 300PS of power. Although its CVT is going to be the issue for us, I just want to see if the Levorg stacks up with the other station wagons offered on Gran Turismo 6.



3) Suzuki Hustler 660 X Turbo '14

This is one of the most bizarre-looking kei cars offered by Suzuki...as well as the name itself. The Hustler is as marketed as the first-ever kei-crossover but despite its crossover looks, it's still a kei car and not much else. It was showcased at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, went on sale in January 2014, and it's offered with a 660cc engine, normal or turbocharged, mated with either a CVT or a 5MT. Did I also mention that the Hustler also comes with an optional 4WD system? Even though the Hustler is not my type, I just want to have one in my Gran Turismo 6 garage to see what it's like.

スズキ ハスラー 試乗レポート/今井優杏

4) Pagani Zonda Revolucion '13

With only five of these track-only models made, the Zonda Revolucion succeeds where the Zonda R left off. The 6.0L V12 sourced from AMG now churns out a mighty 800HP of power and 730Nm torque. Because of its lightweight processes, the Revolucion has a stronger power-to-weight ratio than the Bugatti Veyron, so it's got to be mighty fast in the straights and in the corners. This is truly a must have for every GT players should this Zonda Revolucion find its way here.


5) HKS Racing Performer (ZN6)

The HKS-tuned Toyota 86 is Nobuteru Taniguchi's machine for the D1GP 2013. The FA20 engine has been tweaked and enlarged to 2.2L and with HKS' blend of supercharging, Nobu's 86 now produces 580PS of power output. Aside from that, HKS spent a lot of time gearing this 86 up with their signature transmission, clutch, and suspension as well as a wide array of HKS parts. It runs on ADVAN NEOVA AD08 tires. What amazed me that this 86 is one of the quickest tuned 86's to lap round the Tsukuba Circuit in 0:58.808 respectively. Quite a record set by Nobu but we sure want one if GT6 wishes to add it!



The results please? So when one of these cars showed up in future updates on GT6, you can't say I have a little bit to do with that.

Take that to Kaz Yamauchi!

What's in our Car Town garage today? (January 15, 2014)

What's in our Car Town garage today?

2025 Mazda Kaan

At the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, a selection of carmakers send on their top designers to envision futuristic concepts fit for the year 2025. For Mazda, their vision 2025 is an electric racer designed to compete in the E1 races. They foresee that in the future, the freeways of California have been resurfaced with a sub-level electro conductive polymer that powers modern electric cars. The Kaan's inspiration comes from electric fields and textures from nature. It comes with a patented electronic tire system to send the Kaan at a top speed of over 250mph with no harmful emissions.

2025 Mazda Kaan

1986 Ford RS200 Evolution

The iconic RS200 is Ford's rally legend made to compete for the WRC's Group B racing. To comply with homologation regulations, 200 of these models were made. By the time the RS200 is ready to compete, major carmakers competing in this group have been struggling and numerous fatal accidents spell the end of Group B rallying but the RS200 story didn't end there. What they did to the remaining 200 cars is adding some carpets on it and make it a road-going supercar. The road cars can reach a 0-60mph time in a sub-6 second mark and most geared at 150mph, all with four-wheel drive. Even today, the RS200 is a rarity.

1986 Ford RS200 Evolution

1983 Lancia 037 Stradale

One of the most memorable rally cars made for Group B rallying, the 037 is loosely based on the Montecarlo and it's served as the replacement to the iconic Stratos. Developed in cooperation with Abarth, the 037 is powered by a 2.0L engine from a Fiat Abarth 131, developing 265HP of power. At the hands of Markku Alén, Attilio Bettega, and Walter Röhrl, the Lancia 037 is the last rear-wheel drive to win the WRC, especially the manufacturer's world championship in 1983. As always, for homologation purposes, 200 road-going versions are made and the road-legal version produces 60HP less than the rally car.

1983 Lancia 037 Stradale

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Let's Do The News! (January 14, 2014)

The big scoop today...

Senator Recto warned P-Noy about emergency powers

While the whole power issue is all around with us ever since electric bills gone skyrocketing, leaving us penniless for obvious reasons, Senator Ralph Recto, yesterday, warned President Noynoy Aquino about "emergency powers" because such political risks could "electrocute" him, not literally but metaphorically speaking. He also warns that once P-Noy has his hands on the emergency powers, solving today's energy crisis would deem to be difficult.

Report: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/563445/recto-emergency-powers-may-electrocute-aquino

...in related news...

P-Noy's performance rating dropped by 6% in last month's Pulse Asia survey, in the midst of controversy over his administration's poor performance in the aftermath of Superstorm Yolanda last November 2013. However, the Malacañang Palace stated that "3 out of 4 Filipinos" remained loyal to the President, based on the survey, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.

Report: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/563381/aquino-approval-rating-dips-in-new-poll

About last night's lunar halo

The social media made a buzz regarding the moon with a ring about it. PAGASA stated that it's a normal occurrence and this "lunar halo" is a reflection of ice crystals brought by high clouds. It's caused by the LPA in the Visayas.

Report: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/563349/netizens-abuzz-over-haloed-moon

Former import player arrested

Tom Randall, a former import player of the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association, the PBA's precursor, was arrested for child abuse. NBI officials and the DSWD raided Randall's nursing home, which is an orphanage, after reports saying he molested about 30 children under his guardianship.

Report: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/563251/former-basketball-import-arrested-for-child-abuse

Teletubbies take on North Korea?!

Now this is weird news to us but for the United Kingdom; in order to take down the North Korean regime, all they need is some good quality British telly. Foreign Secretary William Hague told that the BBC is negotiating North Korea's state run television to provide British shows such as Teletubbies, Top Gear, Doctor Who, and any other British shows as long as its not offending the regime.

"You couldn't send Dad's Army as it is about war. But Teletubbies could be an option, or The Good Life, with a bit of gardening and squabbling in the kitchen." He said.

I know, this whole idea of British programming on North Korean television sounds crazy but will it work as if they did in the fall of the Berlin Wall?

Report: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/teletubbies/story-e6frfmyi-1226800268157?utm_source=News&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&net_sub_uid=86802821

Hasbro renews MLP for next season!

While Season 4 of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is still with us for a while, Hasbro announced that they're renewing it for a fifth season! Such success really deserves a new lease of life, especially for a girly show that attracts grown men. He he he...

Report: http://news.everfree.net/2014/01/season-5-of-my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-confirmed-by-hasbro-president/

...in other related news...

Ashleigh Ball, the Casting Voice behind MLP's Rainbow Dash and Applejack, recently joined Twitter! I know, she was recently added an hour ago but you're more than welcome to follow her! Her Twitter handle is @ash_leigh_ball

...I almost forgot...

The casting voice behind Rarity, Claire Corlett, now has her own Twitter account also. Stop by her Twitter account if you have something to ask! Her Twitter handle is @ClaireMCorlett

C7 Z06

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Welcome the all-new Chevrolet Corvette C7 Z06, the ultimate Corvette at this moment of time. At first glance, it looks like the new C7 Corvette Stingray but with the Z06, a fine array of aerodynamic upgrades are added to give it more of an aggression to this American sportscar. Also, the old 7.0L V8 has been thrown away and replaced with a more powerful supercharged LT4 6.2L V8 engine producing 625HP of power. It maybe about less than the C6 ZR1 but the new Z06 is more powerful than the Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 or the Ferrari 458 Speciale! It's offered with either a 7-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

The new Z06 is set to be on sale next year.


Toyota FT-1 Concept

NAIAS 2014: Toyota will blow you away with this FT-1 concept
2014 Toyota FT-1 Concept

For the NAIAS 2014, Toyota showcased a concept sportscar called the FT-1.  This sporty concept car previews its new design language as well as the future of Toyota's sportscars. Not only it was designed at Toyota's Calty Design studio in Michigan but the folks at Gran Turismo helped them create this masterpiece and oh! You can drive one in tomorrow's update on the Gran Turismo 6 video game exclusively on the PS3!


TTFN!!!