Bubble Gang - June 20, 2014

On the June 20, 2014 episode of Bubble Gang...

- "Anak nyo po" gags.

- How much money the bank robbers stole from the bank? We may never know...but they're sucked at maths.

- IKAW AT ANG INA takes on...taking pics of your face sticking on your date!

- More teleserye cliches thrashed by Antonietta!

- More wise words from Tata Lino!

- Blind Items are revealed...

- IyoTube in Bruno Mars' Locked Out of Heaven!

FIFA World Cup 2014 - Day 9

At the end of the 9th day of the FIFA WORLD CUP Brasil, the fans' excitement and the pride of nations are heavily demonstrated as the world's premiership football match continues to grow into a much heated one.

In the match between the Italians vs. the Costa Ricans, it looks like the heavyweights of the Italian national football team were heavily battered by Costa Rica at the score of 0-1 as if it's like David has beaten Goliath in biblical times. Then, two European contenders; Switzerland and France, slugged against each other in a do-or-die match at Arena Fonte Nova and in the end, the French national football team had the upper hand against the Swiss at the score of 2-5. And finally, Honduras vs. Ecuador. The endgame sees the Ecuador national football team trumped against Honduras at the score of 1-2.

Those three games are already as exciting as the past matches and as winning teams are working their way to the second stage, will tomorrow's next three games cut the mustard?

FIFA World Cup 2014 - Day 8

On the 8th day of the FIFA WORLD CUP Brasil, both the matches between Colombia vs. Ivory Coast and Uruguay vs. England are ended spectacularly in the score of 2-1. That's Colombia and Uruguay that won this day's match while the match between Japan vs. Greece ended with absolutely no score each. That's right. No goals scored in the match between the Japanese vs. the Greeks.

So, what's for tomorrow in Brazil? Oh yeah! The Italians are taking on against Costa Rica while the Swiss national football team take on the French and Honduras vs. Ecuador. There are three games going to be occured tomorrow.

Let's Do The News! (June 20, 2014)

The big scoop today...

- Hong Leong Bank got bashed over their "racist" commercial featuring a Filipina Domestic Worker. This commercial in question was removed after receiving a slew of negative comments.

- Thousands of commuters, mostly from Metro Manila and Cebu City, got stranded by the transport protest caravan started by numerous transport groups, aimed against heavier fines on colorum vehicles and other violations.

- D-Sport unveiled their first tuning program for the all new 2015 Daihatsu Copen kei roadster.



- Alpina revealed their 4-Series-based B4 Bi-Turbo in coupe and cabriolet guise. It's powered by a tuned 3.0L six-cylinder engine that develops 410bhp of power and 443lb-ft of torque, making it identical to the BMW M4 F82.



- Senator Bong Revilla Jr. surrendered himself to the Sandiganbayan after the arrest warrant was released against him over the pork barrel scam. He is the first to be arrested for plunder and graft charges.

- Here comes the first teaser trailer for the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie; How to Build A Better Boy, starring ANT Farm's China Anne McClain and Lab Rat's Kelli Berglund as well as Marshall Williams.

 

- IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Asphalt 8: Airborne soars higher with the Version 1.4.0 update. In this update; there are six new cars coming to you via Time-Limited events (including the ME412, 2015 Mustang GT, and many others), the addition of extra nitrous tank booster, car collections to complete to score bigger prizes, and in time-limited events, the rental fee is replaced with the Fuel system.

- Amazon is joining the smartphone war as they've introduced their first ever smartphone called the Fire. The Fire is Amazon's first smartphone with two new technologies such as Dynamic Perspective and Firefly, giving customers a clear glimpse to the world in its own lens. It's available exclusively on AT&T and pre-orders are open for booking.

Amazon Fire

TTFN!!!

Gran Turismo 6: VW GTi Roadster Vision GT

What you're looking at in this beautiful town of Madrid, Spain, where I was taking my practice sessions in GT6, is a Volkswagen that unlike any other Volkswagens you've seen in your whole life, it represents man, machine, and Gran Turismo synchronized in perfect harmony.




Yes, this is what I'm talking about. This is Chapter 4 of the Vision Gran Turismo story and it's the turn of Volkswagen to tell the tale about how they made this machine to represent this car company to the world of Gran Turismo while digesting every GTi tale in history. Yes, it says GTi but this is the GTi Roadster Gran Turismo, the GTi that was pushed to the limits of being the GTi that ends all GTis in the world of Gran Turismo.



To explain what I'm on about, I went to Madrid, Spain, to take on a special challenge to keep the VW GTi Roadster Vision GT in the game. Doesn't matter what lap time you're setting, just one lap is enough to keep it but for me, I wanted to see its muscle, its passion, and its true grit of being a bewildering racing machine that possesses the DNA of the GTi.

My goal is to beat the Gold target time of 1:22.000 but amazingly in my such luck, the odds are around 1 to 5 to beat the target time and I did it in around 1:21.721. So, how does this open-top racer got here so quick? The secret lies from the 3.0L twin-turbo VR6 TSi engine which develops over five hundred horses of power and 665Nm of torque. It was fitted with a 7-speed DSG with sports programming for a smoother and more direct shifting feel like no other but with the added drama on it.

Aside from the raw power delivered through all four wheels, the GTi Roadster is highly aerodynamic enough to generate enough downforce, giving you the same experience as you felt from track-day cars.

Overall, the VW GTi Roadster Vision GT is possibly a hyper open-top hatch with no roof that can leave you gurning like a megalomaniac when you spent several man hours driving it and I think the folks at VW had done a really good job creating a car that, like I said, represents man, machine, and Gran Turismo synchronized in perfect harmony.



I think we can end this story about the GTi Roadster but it's not over yet because I need to find somewhere else to enjoy the extreme performance of this GTi concept roadster and I think I know where...



Welcome to the world of Red Bull Ring, a new track on Gran Turismo 6 as part of the long-time partnership between Gran Turismo and Red Bull. The Red Bull Ring is an ultra high speed circuit with long high-speed sections and tricky tight corners between. After over a decade of hiatus, this track, situated in Spielberg, Austria, returns for the 2014 Formula One season.



With the track ours for the taking, it was nice to let the VW GTi Roadster concept taking a little alfresco driving in the Red Bull Ring and this is the perfect way to end this story.



VOLKSWAGEN GTI ROADSTER VISION GRAN TURISMO

Make: Volkswagen
Country of Origin: Germany

Drivetrain: 4WD
Max Power: ???
Max Torque: ???
Weight: ???

Head of Design:
Klaus Bischoff

Director Exterior Design:
Oliver Stefani

Director Interior Design:
Bachorski Tomasz

Director Design Lifestyle and Performance:
Friederike Plock-Girmann

Team Manager Exterior Design:
Tobias Sühlmann

Team Manager Interior Design:
Boris Grell

Designer Exterior Design:
Domen Rucigaj
Malte Hammerbeck

Designer Interior Design:
Guillermo Mignot

Designer Color and Trim / Design Lifestyle and Performance:
Miroslava Kurpasova
Gösta Niessner
Cornelia Gröpel

Project Management:
Stef Scheepers

Director Data:
Alfred Oechsner

Data Exterior:
German Hornstein

Data Interior:
Michael Müller

Director Online Marketing:
Judith Wilhelm
Philipp Matthes



Stay tuned for more of Vision GT!

Let's Do The News! (June 19, 2014)

Things we learned so far...

- With the launch of the new Copen Robe, Daihatsu announced that there's going to be an X-Model coming late 2014. It will be heavily inspired from the Kopen future included XMZ Concept Car as seen from last year's Tokyo Motor Show!

Daihatsu Kopen future included XMZ Concept

- Italy's Mt. Etna volcano was erupted in a spectacular fashion.

- The attacks on Iraq is so life-threatening, the Department of Foreign Affairs advised most OFWs in Iraq to leave immediately.

- REPORT: Next Resident Evil/Biohazard live-action movie will be the last.

- DLC Catalog 2 for the PS3-exclusive THE iDOLM@STER ONE FOR ALL game is announced! From special appearance of Million Live's Seika Hakozaki, to brand new outfits, and three new songs such as キミ＊チャンネル, MEGARE!, and オーバーマスター. 

The following new DLC outfits for this catalog are:

1) Tea Time Happiness

2) Summer Breeze Colours

3) Noble Chic Rhombus

4) Ion Tail Image

5) Beyond the Stars

6) Corduroy Country

7) Violet Lightning

8) Pastel Del Sol

They're available on the Playstation Store this 25th of June.

- The Peugeot 508 range has been facelifted with a new face and a new Euro 6 engine.

2015 Peugeot 508

- Chinese carmaker Qoros envisions a saloon for the year 2020 with the Qoros 9 concept, which design was penned by a Korean.

Qoros 9 Concept

- Seven new cars are added on the latest Grand Theft Auto Online update, including a 6x6 monster offroader called the Dubsta 6x6, the game's equivalent to the G63 AMG 6x6 in real life.

- Shake It Up actress Zendaya to star in an upcoming Aaliyah biopic as Aaliyah herself!

TTFN!

FIFA World Cup 2014 - Day 7

The World Cup action continues to erupt as FIFA WORLD CUP Brasil is now on its seventh day and on this day, the Dutch defeated the Australians after the score of 2-3 while Chile shows Spain who's boss at the score of 0-2 and Croatia strips the Cameroon football team's dignity and sent home with nothing after the 0-4 score.

Tomorrow, the Ivory Coast returns to take on Colombia while England takes on Uruguay and the Samurai Blue-donned Japan national football team returns to take on the Greeks.

Daihatsu Copen Robe (LA400K)

The Daihatsu Copen, the first kei roadster made by Daihatsu that was once targeted by millennials when other kei-car predecessors from its rival companies ceased to exist. A well-engineered sporty kei car that demonstrates even the smallest of cars can have so much fun in the right way. Sadly, it was gone from the lineup two years ago, leaving fans wondering what might have been for the last remaining kei-roadster but that death kneel was just temporary because...two years later, the Copen is back!

2015 Daihatsu Copen Robe

Yes, the kei roadster from Daihatsu is back to redefine the long lost genre that started a few decades ago but who cares about it? They're kei cars and kei cars stay in Japan as it will be. Anyway, this new Copen is called the Copen Robe and it features an all new look that was inspired from the concept car as seen from last year's Tokyo Motor Show.

2015 Daihatsu Copen Robe interior

From every angle, you can see why Daihatsu decided to retain the concept looks to its reborn Copen and I have to agree on that because that looks even more aggressive than its predecessor's roundy shape. The old one looks more toyish in the design department but for this new one, you can really tell it's as sharp as a swiss army knife in interesting ways.

On the interior, it's now more driver focused than ever because what you can only see is nothing but a steering wheel, some instrumental panel, some aircon and that's it. You don't get a radio until you offer it as an optional accessory but if you did opt in for that, the DIATONE SOUND NAVI is offered. Sure, why would you want a sat-nav on your Copen? Nobody knows why and nobody cares but with or without the radio, the Copen is very much an enjoyable weekend car.

Since this is a kei car, it's powered by a 660cc engine and it's turbocharged so it produces the kei-car maximum limit of 64PS power output and 92Nm of torque. This tiny engine can be mated with either a CVT gearbox or a 5-speed manual gearbox. The CVT gearbox comes with a 7-speed manual mode that lets its 7 simulated gears do the talking. Daihatsu says that this mode is direct and quick on the shifting department but if you want to get the most out of it, try the one with the 5-speed manual gearbox. Sounds old-school but this is really how you want to drive the new Copen.

The CVT gearbox on the Copen Robe will give you a fuel economy of around 25.2kmpl while the one with the manual transmission will return at around 22.2km/L.

2015 Daihatsu Copen Robe

Because it weighs less than a Ford Fiesta, the new Copen's lightweight structure benefits its fuel efficiency and its fun factor of being a sportscar. It comes with a new body structure called D-Frame that is more stiffer and more aerodynamic than its predecessor. To keep it simple, the new Copen doesn't come with those hydraulic or power steering nonsense but instead, they've go for the rack-and-pinion steering, which is kind of a throwback to us. It also comes with a McPherson struts on the front and torsion beam on the back so when you handle this one; it feels more like the Copens of yesteryears. It maybe a kei car and it maybe a front-wheel drive car but it feels more precise and agile as it should be.

2015 Daihatsu Copen Robe

So, how much for this new Copen Robe? For the 5MT model, it costs 1,819,800 Japanese Yen ($18,200 estimate), while the CVT model costs a cheaper 1,798,200 Japanese Yen ($18,000 estimate). At that price range, you could afford a more boring compact 2BOX car but no matter because no matter how reasonable this pricing the new Copen Robe could be, it's good to see that kei roadster back in its new twist.

Available colors: Liquid Silver Metallic, Pearl White III, Bright Silver Metallic, Black Mica Metallic, Matador Red Pearl, Toniko Orange Metallic, Jaune Yellow, and Clear Blue Crystal Metallic.

Photo: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.

Top Gear USA: 80's Power

The boys of Top Gear USA are reminiscing the VHS era by finding out which of the 80's cars is the best for five grand. For Tanner, he goes for the super-cool V8-powered Chevy Camaro IROC while Rut goes for the JDM Toyota MR2, and Adam opts for the Buick Grand National. Annoyingly, Adam just cheated for this car because he spent 15 grand on it!

In the first challenge, the boys are wearing suits covered in popping candy that pops when splashed with water. The cars are in the car wash and it demonstrates how durable the 80's car can be. In the end of the first challenge, looks like the cheater in the cheating Buick had won.

The next challenge involves how close these 80's car can get to the claimed top speed. The Buick's top speed is an electronically limited 124mph while the Chevy is 115mph and the MR2 is 130mph. For Rut, the closest he can get on his MR2 is somewhere at 100mph. Then, it's Tanner's turn and he done it in 110mph. Lastly, it's Adam and he learned that cheaters never prosper. He may have the fast car but mechanical failures blown Adam and his car away.

After that, Tanner and Rut went to Willow Springs for the next challenge. They have to race through the course before the passenger's doing 80's stuff. Tanner has to beat someone with the Rubik's cube while Rut tries to beat against a lady rewinding her cassette tape. It's a close call but Rut and the MR2 wins.

With the score levelled with one point each, they're now facing a final challenge courtesy of special guest, Lou Ferrigno, an 80's celeb. The final test is "car sumo", testing the car's brute strength. In that match, Adam was the overall winner but since he cheated buying the Buick, he's disqualified; giving Tanner the keys to the Ferrari F12berlinetta.

Tanner finally enjoyed driving the Ferrari F12 and he even got a chance to drift alongside a Chevy Camaro race car.

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

The big scoop today...

- The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class range has been officially given a minor change for the 2015 model year on the normal, CLS63 AMG, Shooting Brake, and CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake.



- Bentley revealed their limited-edition Continental GT3-R, a road-going version of the GT3 race car. This limited-to-300 special model comes with an upgraded 4.0L V8 engine developing 580HP of power. It will go from 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds!



- Meanwhile in Seattle; a student of the University of Washington was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill "only" women in the school campus, similar to the Santa Barbara shooting spree done by Elliot Rodgers a few moments ago.

- The Powerpuff Girls are revived! It is said that the popular TV series gets a reboot in 2016 on Cartoon Network. Excited to see Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup once again?

- Lawmakers in the Philippines mull about road and traffic safety to be taught in schools.

- Jojo Lastimosa, a veteran basketball player and director of the Alaska Milk Power Camp, joins the National Training Camp of the Junior NBA Presented by Dutch Lady Vietnam to be held at Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, from July 13 to 15.

- According to FFXIV director and producer Naoki Yoshida during last week's E3 2014, there's going to be an update on A Realm Reborn: Final Fantasy XIV where, in the first time ever, two players allow to perform a ceremony pledging their love or friendship to one another "regardless of race, creed, or gender". Yes, same-sex relationships will become POSSIBLE in the world of FFXIV. Creepy...

- ANT Farm's China Anne McClain is named as the winner in SING YOUR FACE OFF after her interpretation as Whitney Houston as well as performing the song "The Greatest Love of All".

TTFN!!!

FIFA World Cup 2014 - Day 6

Belgians took down Algerian footballers at the score of 2-1, the Brazil v Mexico match ended with a score-less draw, and the fight between the Russians and the South Koreans also ended in a draw but with 1 goal each. All of these were some of the events occurred from the sixth day of the FIFA WORLD CUP Brasil. Well, only the Belgians we're highly interested with after their win against the Algerians, anyway. The last two matches were rather not surprising because of their drawn finish; scoreless in the fight between Brazil and Mexico and with one point each in the Russia vs. SoKor battle.

Tomorrow; three matches will occur and it starts with the Australians trying to give the Dutch a good kicking.

GT6: Cars that are Gran Turismo exclusive - Daihatsu Midget II

Today, it's the kei-truck made for the rural Japanese small business owners, the Daihatsu Midget II. Taking its name from its three-wheeled predecessor, the Midget II was once available in either a single seater or a two seater, giving this truck a motorcycle-like feel of its infamous ancestor. When production ended in 2001, about 14,000 units of these trucks were produced; in truck form, cargo form, single seater, or two-seater.

This Midget II will run through the Goodwood Hillclimb but at what time will it post?




It posted a 1:29.802 lap time! Despite being a commercial kei truck, its lightweight body really shattered its notion of being an everyday workhorse.

Daihatsu Midget II - A GRAN TURISMO EXCLUSIVE CAR.