Suzuki SX4 S-CROSS (YA/YB22S)

2015 Suzuki SX4 S-CROSS

After two years of waiting since its European debut, the all-new Suzuki SX4 S-CROSS finally arrives in Japan for the first time and this second-generation model competes with the likes of the Nissan Juke and the Honda Vezel.

It may be a Japanese car, but this new model is now imported from Hungary because Suzuki built this new car at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary and Hungary plays a key role for Suzuki's European production center. Now that this car's made in Europe, I was expecting to be more European-ish on how it performs, and to be honest, no one knows what to expect until they first try it.

2015 Suzuki SX4 S-CROSS interior

2015 Suzuki SX4 S-CROSS interior

Although the exterior has been heavily improved from the old model, it still looks like your average hatchback with the added clearance like most compact crossovers do. It may be sharp but just like a pencil, the sharpness becomes too round when used consecutively or until it snaps. As for the interior, it feels like it came from the Suzuki Swift but you do get seats for five people and decent boot space depending on the seating arrangements. There's also a hidden space where you can store your luggage at the back called the "luggage board" as well.

2015 Suzuki SX4 S-CROSS

The only engine available for the new S-CROSS is the 1.6L M16A petrol engine from the Swift. It delivers a reasonable 117PS of power output and 151Nm of torque. Because of its lower friction and related parts, fuel economy ranges from 17.2kmpl up to 18.2kmpl, depending on the model, by JC08 Mode standards.

The new SX4 S-CROSS features Suzuki's brand-new ALLGRIP system for the 4WD model. This new generation 4WD system features four driving modes selected by a knob that can adapt through any road surfaces whether it is tarmac, gravel, snow, or just when you want a sharper handling car at ease. That's very clever and quite interesting. No wonder Europeans got hold of this new feature on their new SX4, giving it much praise by this tech.

On the suspension layout, it features MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear, providing superior rigidity and ride comfort for this compact crossover.

Prices start at 2,041,200 Japanese Yen, which sounds a lot more expensive than the Nissan Juke but more affordable to buy than the Honda Vezel. Quite a bargain for a compact hatchback that was imported from Europe, eh? But should you want one? The jury's out for you to find out but rest assured that you should go for the 4WD due to its ALLGRIP system's capability that adapt to any smart, exciting, challenging, or tough situations ahead because you'll never know what you'll be facing.

Available colors: Crystal Lime Metallic, Cosmic Black Pearl Metallic, Cool White Pearl, and Boost Blue Pearl Metallic.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Let's Do The News! (February 18, 2015)

Welcome back. Here is your current sitrep:

- In Ukraine, the country's leader Petro Poroshenko said that 80% of the nation's forces are making an "organised" withdrawal from the embattled town of Debaltseve with more to follow.

- Swiss authorities have raided the HSBC's Geneva subsidiary in an inquiry into alleged money-laundering. The investigation could be extended to those suspected of committing or participating in money laundering.

- The International Organization for Migration warned the public of the increasing number of people risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea to escape Libya from Islamic State militants. Over 3,800 people had been rescued at sea in the past 5 days and most of them were reportedly on board jam-packed rubber dinghies while over 300 migrants from Africa are believed to have died last week when their boats capsized.

- The Senate will continue the hearing of their investigation on the Mamasapano clash by Monday, 1000 hours Philippine Time, according to an advisory emailed to reporters by the office of Senator Grace Poe as she will taking the lead on the investigation along with committees on peace, unification, and reconciliation, and finance.

- The Department of Public Works and Highways began pavement reconstruction and drainage improvement on the Dimasalang Street in the Santa Cruz and Sampaloc areas of Manila, which is set to be completed within the April 17 deadline.

- The all-new Hyundai Tucson was unveiled ahead of its Geneva Motor Show premiere next month.

2016 Hyundai Tucson

- The Skoda Superb flagship has been given its full model change and this all-new model will be at next month's Geneva Motor Show.

2016 Skoda Superb

- DON'T WORRY. The upcoming third installment of the Five Nights At Freddy's franchise is still on the works right now. Last weekend, FNAF creator Scott Cawthon fooled the fans on the franchise's Steam page into thinking that their upcoming FNAF3 was cancelled because someone hacked and released the game early on a different website. He WAS kidding and of course, they're still making FNAF3 for now.

- Japanese viewers of the Pokemon XY anime series can take home Serena's Fennekin for use in the XY or ORAS game for the 3DS! Digital subscribers should watch out for the code in a February 26 episode of the XY anime on TV Tokyo where they can input it via Mystery Gift to claim Serena's Fennekin for use in-game. Serena's Fennekin is Level 15 and comes with three attack moves like Scratch, Flamethrower, and Hidden Power.

- Yesterday's "On Target" column from the Philippine Daily Inquirer erupted an outrage as columnist and radio anchor Ramon Tulfo detailed the appearance of drug sellers in numerous areas nearby his daughter's school. His daughter, Nastassja Ramone Tulfo, angered over his column over his "impulsive writing".

TTFN!!!

Forza Horizon 2: Noble Roar with the Noble Heart

It's been a while since the last time the Noble M600 appeared on is on the first Forza Horizon game since 2012 and now it's back on Forza Horizon 2 via the Launch Bonus Pack. I am very excited to drive the pride of Leicester once again in this beautiful European scenery.



The M600 from Noble is powered by a Yamaha-derived Volvo 4.4L V8 engine with added twin turbos to deliver either from 450HP up to 650HP at the flick of the switch. Although free of any electronic driving nonsense, the Noble is equipped with a traction control switch that resembles of a fail-safe button seen on fighter jets. With the traction control off, driving the Noble is a hard thing to do due to its sensitive handling that will send even the unskilled drivers flying but at the hands ot the brave and skilled drivers, this is one fast hypercar they won't have to worry about especially when the power-to-weight ratio of this car eclipsed the Bugatti Veyron.

In Race setting, the 0-60mph time is three seconds and top speed of an estimated 225mph, more than the Lamborghini Aventador's 217mph speed.

Anyway, enough of the description, it's time to continue my journey because with three championships left before the finale, I will drive the Noble for the championship I've signed up and yes, hypercars are the prime specimens for this championship. Venue? Nice Massena. Ah, France. I always love to drive on French roads in this game because...it's my style you know.



In preparation for the clash of hypercars in Nice, some major improvements have been made on my Noble while taking advantage of the Veyron-eclipsing power-to-weight ratio. I also made some finishing touches on the exterior so who did I featured this time? Yep. You guessed. I've made a design of Pokemon XY's Serena and Pancham for my Noble.

Sure, you might be thinking that's not Serena but yes she is because she now has a new look. From pink dresses, red sleeveless trench coats, blue ribbons, short hairs, new hats, Serena's changed from who you think she is and I chose this Noble to reflect her change because...it's just like that one episode of Top Gear when Richard Hammond's Noble broke down and then replaced with a new one during their Italian road trip.

Anyway, no Italian road trip here because the venue I'll be taking on is Nice, which is in France and France is where the inspiration of Kalos comes from, and this is where I'm going to continue my road on the finale.



With a little slice of Kalos in our side, it's time for the Noble to unleash...it's Noble Roar.





After winning the championship, it looks like the Noble told me that it wants to race in this place as long as it wants and as long as we're in France, the Noble founds its true home on the road. This car made me proud on what we're fighting for and look at its race-torn radiance, it shows that this car is not giving up without a great show and as long as I'm on the wheel, the Noble tries to show even the most established of the supercars will be feared for.

Now with two more championships left on the trot, my journey to the finale continues. Well done, Noble. You made me happy.

Let's Do The News! (February 17, 2015)

Welcome back. Here is your current sitrep:

- Onto the Ukraine Crisis, the government forces and the pro-Russian rebels have failed to begin pulling out heavy weaponry from the front line, despite a Monday deadline. They've been given two days after the latest ceasefire came into effect to start the pullout but the Ukrainian government said they will not pull back until the fighting is over.

- Onto the Greek debt crisis, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said that they are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to reach agreement over its bailout after the failed talks with EU finance ministers.

- Thousands of Danes have marched through Copenhagen to mourn the death of the two victims killed from separate deadly attacks over the weekend at a free-speech event and a synagogue.

- Japan announced a new set of counterterrorism measures, including an additional 15.5 million dollars to combat terrorism in Middle Eastern and African countries.

- According to military officials, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters occupied at least two barangays in the town of Pikit, North Cotabato, forcing thousands of civilians to evacuate.

- The KAI-Lockheed team are the sole bidder for South Korea's KF-X fighter jet program because while the first round of the bidding, held last 9th of February, failed due to lack of bidders, they've submitted a proposal by the deadline according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The second round of bidding will close on the 24th and if there's no competitor in the bidding, KAI-Lockheed will gain access to the 8.6 trillion won project for developing an F-16-based aircraft over the next eight years, replacing the aging F-4 Phantom IIs and F-5 Tiger IIs from their fleet.

- Citroen no more for the 2016 DS5 minor change because the latest facelift sees a departure from the Citroen name and the signature chevron grille because it's a clear sign that DS is now a separate brand from Citroen. It's set for this year's Geneva Motor Show debut next month.

2016 DS 5

- Naomi Wakabayashi, the voiceover behind THE iDOLM@STER's Ritsuko Akizuki, gave birth to a baby girl and she's going to take a break from her career to take care of child but promises she will return.

- Former Laguna governor Jeorge E.R Estregan announced that he'll be producing an upcoming biopic in tribute to the slain 44 Special Action Force units called SAF Special Action Force: Para sa Diyos, Para sa Bayan, Para sa Tao. This biopic showcases the bravery of the 44 SAF units up until their bloody death from the Mamasapano clash last January.

- Fashion brand Bench released an official statement over their controversial billboard promoting homosexuality and denies order to blur portion of the photo. The billboard in question features Vince Uy and Nino Gaddi holding hands with the tagline "LOVE ALL KINDS OF LOVE"

TTFN!!!

Top Gear S22E04

Top Gear S22E04

Finally, the fourth episode of this season of Top Gear is all focused on cars and that's about it as James May tries out the brand new Mercedes-AMG GT round the track. When handed to The Stig, it lapped round the Top Gear track in 1:17.5.

Then, Jeremy Clarkson tries out a handful of two Bimmers, the new M3 round the track and the new i8 PHEV sportscar on a trip to Whitby, where he will make a decisive choice between these two...and he ended up choosing the i8 anyway.

Focus stars Margot Robbie and Will Smith are the Stars In The Reasonably Priced Car and looks like Margot had beaten Will Smith at the lapboard because while he set a lap time of 1:47.2, Margot did it in 1:47.1

Lastly, Richard Hammond tries to say goodbye to the legendary Land Rover Defender by driving one on top of the dam just like as happened on the classic advert. Despite having the extra equipment and the intense feels, he failed because that's what the producers told when he was nearing the finish point.

Let's Do The News! (February 16, 2015)

Welcome back. Here is your current sitrep:

- Egyptian forces have bombed Islamic State targets in Libya, hours after the video showing the apparent beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi condemned the IS as "inhuman criminal killers" and they had the right to respond against these militants.

- Danish policemen accused two men of helping the suspected gunman, named Omar El-Hussein, who murdered two people in separate attacks in Copenhagen. The said gunman was fatally shot by police after he attacked a free speech debate and a synagogue, killing the film director and a synagogue guard while injured five people.

- The US Federal Aviation Administration releases draft rules for flying unmanned drones for commercial uses. Under the rules announced on Sunday, drones weighing 25kg or less would be able to fly up to 150m above the ground at speeds up to 160kph. It also prohibits drones from approaching airports, travel routes of conventional aircraft, and highly populated areas. The FAA will finalize the rules within the next two years after public opinions and revising the draft based on them.

- US First Lady Michelle Obama, is scheduled to visit Japan this March. This is her first visit as the wife of the current US president will participate in a symposium on educational support for women in developing countries.

- Terror threats in Germany prompted the police in the northern German city Braunschweig to cancel the city's Carnival parade, less than 90 minutes before the festival was to begin, sadden most spectators and citizens. The information is from a reliable national defense source and they urged all participants not to go to the festival site.

- The surgical operation for Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong's prostate cancer was a success and he is expected to fully recover, according to officials. This is his second fight with cancer for the 63-year-old Singaporean Premier who has also undergone chemotherapy for lymphoma in 1993 and is now in remission.

- According to Senator Ralph Recto, the Bangsamoro Basic Law needs to be revised, stating that it was "littered with policy landmines which must be defused". He also said that this law must be cured from its perceived constitutional defects following the Mamasapano killings last month.

- Watch Scuderia Ferrari's new recruit Sebastian Vettel taking a spin on Ferrari's FXX K hybrid racer round the Fiorano test track.

- The latest Jay Leno's Garage webcast puts the spotlight on the mythical Oldsmobile Cutlass Banshee driven by James Garner.



TTFN!!!

Six Nations 2015 - Round 2

Looks like the WRU from Wales are starting to bounce back after their loss in the first round of this season's Six Nations rugby after their close-shave win against Scotland at the score of 23-26, in favor of the Welsh. As a matter of fact, it was the try from player Jonathan Davies during the second half that impressed the Welsh rugby team and their great execution of this match handed them a clear win against the Scots.

Highlights:



Meanwhile, the England Rugby defeated Italy's FIR at the score of 47-17 and the IRFU won the match against France's FFR at the score of 18-11.

So far, the England Rugby and the IRFU scored two wins on this season while the FFR and the WRU scored just one win and FFR and Scotland never won any.

The next match starts at February 28, 2015, with Scotland taking on the FIR, FFR vs. the WRU, and on the next day, that is March 1, 2015, the IRFU vs. the England Rugby.