Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Jaguar XE

In the dawn of the new millennium, Jaguar wanted to create a saloon to rival against the C-Class, the A4, and the 3-Series, with the X-Type, but sadly the X-Type never made the cut because of its Ford-derived chassis, front-wheel drive, and its lackluster character, making it the reason why they would never compete in a class like this but now, Jaguar decided to have another go in this segment with their latest vehicle, the XE.

2016 Jaguar XE

Here it is and by the looks of it, it looks more stylish and tasteful as its big brothers, the XF and the XJ, but you might imagine that the XE is going to have the similar recipe for disaster as the X-Type but no. That's because the new XE comes with a lightweight aluminum monocoque that makes it lighter and more stiffer than any other saloons from Germany. It is the first to use JLR's brand new platform which we are looking forward to their future lineup of cars, all in the name of cost-effective measures. Combine with a new platform, space-age aluminum bodywork, and its rear-wheel drive and what you get is a saloon that likes to lay a finger against Germany's finest.

The XE is the most important car in the Jaguar range because it is the first to introduce the new "Ingenium" engine range suitable for the XE to deliver a healthy balance of performance and efficiency. There's a 2.0L 4-cylinder diesel engine with two different configurations; the first that can achieve 75MPG on the combined cycle and the latter is the more powerful one with 180PS of power. Apart from the Ingenium range, you can get a 2.0L turbo petrol engine or the more powerful 3.0L Supercharged V6 engine derived from the F-Type.

2016 Jaguar XE

The 3.0L V6 supercharged engine, available on the S variant produces 340PS of power and 450Nm of torque. 0-60mph takes about 4.9 seconds and top speed electronically limited to 155mph. This version is mated with an improved 8-speed automatic gearbox which sounds like a much but if you want to have a more enjoyable drive should go for the lesser models, basically the one with the Ingenium engines in it because of its newly-developed 6-speed manual gearbox which shifts greatly and accurately without the drama.

Now, let's talk about handling and this is where the XE starts to come unraveled because for the first time in the Jaguar, an electric power steering is implemented and when you engage to its sportiest setting, you'll be having a hard time giving this car a good thrashing but when you get things right, the XE feels more accessible and planted to the road like sliding through jellied eels. Think about this, when you try to draw a string on your bow, you are trying to break the silence and things get a little more surprising as you come across the right path.

2016 Jaguar XE interior

The XE really gets on the right path unlike the X-Type from the last decade and while this is still essentially a good car to drive, despite the implementation of its electric power steering, which became a thrill-killing curse to all cars of today, and it feels more civilized on the road. On the inside, it has everything what a good saloon car should do when he's done with his office affairs and it's nicer to live with.

2016 Jaguar XE

The new XE starts at around 29,775 Pounds and that costs a lot than its German competitors but if there's one thing to like about the XE that is on par against its German rivals, it's not about the style and the performance. It's about the importance of being an all-important Jag on the lineup and by proving that this is the future for Jaguar, it's been sealed and we can expect great things to come from the XE and the rest of the Jaguar lineup.

Available colors: Ebony Black Solid, Polaris White Solid, Ammonite Grey Metallic, Bluefire Metallic, British Racing Green Metallic, Dark Sapphire Metallic, Glacier White Metallic, Italian Racing Red Metallic, Odyssey Red Metallic, Osmium Blue Metallic, Quartzite Metallic, Rhodium Silver Metallic, Ultimate Black Metallic, Black Cherry Premium, Celestial Black Premium, Ingot Premium, Storm Grey Metallic, and Tempest Grey Premium.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover Limited

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Let's Do The News! (May 26, 2015)



- 13 people are reportedly killed by a tornado that swept through the northern Mexico border city of Ciudad Acuna. Hundreds of homes have been damaged or destroyed in the border town just across the border from Del Rio, Texas, where it has suffered massive floods that killed three people and left 12 missing.

- Russia commenced their large-scale military exercise involving around 250 aircraft and 12,00 service personnel, which served as a "massive surprise inspection" to check combat readiness. The drills began on the same day as NATO and some of its affiliates started Arctic military drills.

- Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte should be held liable for admitting his links to the vigilante group responsible for the executions of suspected criminals in the city known as the Davao Death Squad, according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. The vigilante group, according to human rights watchdogs, were responsible for killing of over a thousand people, mostly criminals.

- The Chinese government lambasted the US over their reconnaissance activities near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

- Over 200 Japanese manufacturing companies in China will be relocated in the Philippines within the next five years because of the country's economic competitiveness. There are over 1650 Japanese companies located in the Philippines and some say, they have received inquiries from Japanese firms, which can increase by 200 up to 300 easily.

- The new Skoda Superb Combi has been unveiled and it features the same features as the saloon equivalent, only this time with added boot space.

2016 Skoda Superb Combi

- To celebrate the launch of Fujitsu's brand new ARROWS NX F-04G smartphone with the world's first iris authentication technology, they need help from the girls of THE iDOLM@STER to help promote their newest smartphone to the Japanese public! Takane Shijou, Rin Shibuya from Cinderella Girls, and Tsubasa Ibuki from Million Live are here to promote the latest smartphone from Fujitsu with a campaign starting from the 28 of May (the phone's on-sale date) to the 31st of July, 2015.

- The 13th DLC Catalog of THE iDOLM@STER ONE FOR ALL is now available and on this DLC catalog; Cinderella Girls' Uzuki Shimamura, Rin Shibuya, and Mio Honda are making special appearances and will be performing the theme song from the CG anime titled Star!! Also, four new songs are added such as "shiny smile", "愛 LIKE ハンバーガー", "SMOKY THRILL", and "Honey Heartbeat".

- On the Loveliver's side, Japanese internet domain registration site "onamae.com" join forces with the upcoming Love Live! The School Idol Movie where those who register for internet domains or servers will receive limited-time items courtesy of, theirs truly, μ's themselves!

- Eli Ayase from Love Live gets her own figma courtesy of Good Smile Company! She's priced at 5,370 Yen plus tax when she arrives this November. Get your checkbooks ready, Lovelivers. Your Elichika awaits you. Harasho!

figma Eli Ayase

TTFN!!!

FIA Formula E - Berlin


In the course of the Berlin ePrix of the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship began, there has been a gathering of electric vehicles roaming around the city stage for the world record and with 577 electric vehicles gathered round on Berlin, they've succeeded in smashing the previous world record set in Silicon Valley, USA in September 2014.

Onto the Berlin ePrix of the Formula E, Dragon Racing's Jerome d'Ambrosio is named the winner while e.dams-Renault's Sebastien Buemi placed 2nd and Dragon Racing's Loic Duval placed 3rd. Karun Chandhok of Mahindra has been given a 28 second time penalty for exceeding maximum power usage while Audi Sport ABT's Lucas di Grassi was excluded on this race for non-standardised components.

On the driver's standings, NEXTEV TCR's Nelson Piquet remains 1st in 103 points while Sebastien Buemi's two points behind and di Grassi's in 3rd place with 93 points.

Highlights:



The next race is at Moscow, Russia, on the 6th of June.

F1 2015 - Monaco GP

Image: Getty Images

Mercedes-AMG's Nico Rosberg has scored his third win for this F1 2015 season in the Monaco Grand Prix having managed to outgun his teammate Lewis Hamilton, because of communication error, and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton placed 3rd while Vettel placed 2nd.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen from Toro Rosso has been given a five-place grid penalty on the next race for crashing with Romain Grosjean on the 64th lap.

So far on the driver's standings; Hamilton and Rosberg now had a 10-point gap between them while Vettel remains 3rd for 98 points.

The next race is at Canada on the 7th of June, 2015.

Monday, May 25, 2015

#GoinBulilit - May 24, 2015

On the May 24, 2015 episode of Goin Bulilit...

- GB Music video of SHINE PILIPINAS

- Home Depot gags.

- In "MGA KWENG KWENG MOMENTS", Kweng Kweng thought there's some ice cream in here!

- Pictorial



- Leftovers from their South Korean adventures!

- "Heart in Seoul"

- In "MGA KWENG KWENG MOMENTS", Kweng Kweng failed to realize that there's no cookies!

- In "MGA KWENG KWENG MOMENTS", Kweng Kweng got fooled by the juice pack!

- Colorful Date at the Garden of Morning Calm.

Let's Do The News! (May 25, 2015)


- Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi said that they are going to take back the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State militants in days but he states that more support from the international coalition was needed. Iraqi forces are suffering major damage from the IS over the past year.

- According to the No 10, citizens from other European countries residing in the United Kingdom are not eligible  to vote in the referendum on Europe. Those eligible will be the same as those who can vote in a general election, rather than local or European Parliament elections.

- Andrzej Duda won the Polish elections by about 53%, trumping against the current president Bronislaw Komorowski following the release of exit polls. Although he now has limited powers, Komorowski still is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws.

- Hundreds of Rohingya bodies near camps suspected of belonging to human smugglers have been found by Malaysian authorities and they believed that the Rohingya Muslims are trying to escape from Burma.

- The Metro Manila Development Authority is going to commence a metrowide earthquake drill on 72 barangays straddling the West Valley Fault to discuss steps to be taken on how to survive a more powerful earthquake when it hits the capital.

- Gay marriage is now legal in Ireland after the world's first national vote on this common issue.

- Mans Zelmerlow from Sweden became the winner of the annual Eurovision singing competition while 1st runner-up, Polina Gagarina, was booed by the crowd over her nation's strong opposition against Ukraine as well as its anti-gay laws.

- Actress Angelica Panganiban, who is going to play as villain Claudia Buenavista on the 2015 remake of Pangako Sa'yo, is going to get her "lifetime achievement" award.

- On this week's Jay Leno's Garage, Jay Leno drives a modified 1964 Honda S600.



TTFN!!!

Sunday, May 24, 2015

FH2 Storm Island: Lancer Pizza

evo (2)

This is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI and this is much more of an ultimate version of the Lancer we called it "Lancer Pizza" because of its pizza-shaped taillamps. If my memory serves me correctly, most of the youth who were in their senior years or in college were driving one of these apart from its "Lancer itlog" predecessor. Sadly, we don't have a Lancer itlog here but this "Lancer pizza" really reminds us of our younger selves, younger selves that we used it for transportation or for fun while causing much of a trouble. Apart from driving it, we used it to hide from grownups chasing us, making out with our girlfriends, listening to some radio music while stuck in traffic, whatever we're facing with. This Lancer Pizza has lots of youthful memories.

But this is the Evo, or to be more precise, the Evo VI, the one were the Lancer pizza has been pushed to its greater heights as well as its racing pedigree thanks to its involvement in the World Rally Championship with Tommi Makinen behind the wheel.

evo

Continuing on my Storm Island journey, the next championship I'm taking on involves 90s rally machines and this one really makes the cuts and I signed up for one. Before that, some improvements have been made on my Lancer Pizza Evo VI to make it capable of surviving Storm Island's extreme terrains. As for looks, I made it look like it was taking on amateur rallycross. Yes. It wants to show its racing pedigree like most Evos do in their lifespan.

And now, the big moment...



Four races down! Looks like the highly memorable Lancer pizza, even in its hypo-Evo form, really survived Storm Island. With four championships cleared, my journey towards the finale in Storm Island continues but before taking on the next tier, I need to complete...The Gauntlet. What is the gauntlet? Stay tuned...