Lexus GS F

The current-generation Lexus GS has been given a minor change and apart from the 2.5L V6-powered GS250, 3.5L V6-powered GS350, 3.5L V6 hybrid powered GS450h, and a 2.5L 4-cylinder hybrid powered GS300h, there is now a much-awaited high performance version of the GS, called the GS F, and some JDM fans are getting desperate to have a go in one of these.

2016 Lexus GS F

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, and I can't hardly say that this is the high performance GS we really like if anyone's honest. Sure, it maybe late than never in the fight against the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-AMG E63, but this super saloon really means business for anyone who has the upper hand. Like the facelifted normal GS, the new GS becomes more menacing and more aggressive than a heavyweight Yakuza goon.

Think about it, if anyone who pulled in one of these, you'll know that this guy has some anger management to deal with, probably from his officemates or his boss or his wife or his mistress. Same thing goes to the interior.

2016 Lexus GS F interior

2016 Lexus GS F interior

No gentlemen's manor here because on the inside, the gentlemen's club has now been transformed into a torture room only a mad scientist would have think of. Even though it's all upholstered in sporty leather trim, it's surprisingly luxurious and has tons of toys to play with because deep down, we're like...boys with toys.

2016 Lexus GS F

The new GS F is solely focused of being a Fuji-born super saloon that can handle like a European super saloon. Whereas most European super saloons have gone on the turbocharging route, seems that Lexus is lagging behind the super saloon stakes because the GS F is powered by the similar engine from the RC F, a 5.0L V8 engine that produces 477PS of power and 530Nm of torque, mated with an 8-speed SPDS. Fuel consumption is around 8.2 km/L.

I know this is still a naturally aspirated V8 engine, which has become a thing of a past for super saloons of today, but at least it's not artificial. All you can hear is good, old-fashioned, V8 fun because Lexus are very serious about making F cars sound so macho in every tangible way. Sure, the new GS F may be lagging behind from the European opposition but this is still a show-offy experience any driver couldn't resist to its waku-doki charm.

According to the dossier, the GS F comes with VDIM, Torque Vectoring Differential, front and real coil-spring independent suspension, and other performance enhancing features that any F car inherited from the legendary LFA supercar so you might think it's a track-ready super saloon that likes to leave the opposition in a cloud of tire smoke but truth be told, its dynamics will really choke you and defenestrate you alive. 

When you thrash this car through the corners, you can't really tell how it performs but its oversteer feels like your boss is going to defenestrate you from a seventy-story building. No wait, picture a salaryman getting chased by a giant globe rampaging the office, gets away by elevator, grabs himself on the wire, got hit by a falling debris and got picked up by the ambulance, escaped from the ambulance, and gets ended up on a date with a hot lady. Ooh-la-la.

This is going to be one of the harshest super saloons you can drive today and with prices start at 11,000,000 Yen, it's very harsh to buy one unless you are part of a powerful Yakuza or a Triad. Would you buy one? Like I told but if you want to survive driving this car that goes plenty of smoke but no apple cider, good luck with that because chances are you will get devoured from its terrifying dynamics that only the best drivers can keep it under control.

Available colors: White Nova Glass Flake, Mercury Grey Mica, Sonic Silver, Sonic Titanium, Graphite Black Glass Flake, Red Mica Crystal Shine, Lava Orange Crystal Shine, and Heat Blue Contrast Layering.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation 

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

- Back into the Paris attacks, a man who practice an ultra-orthodox version of Islam has been imprisoned after a police raid on his home in the Pyrenees region. The suspect, Olivier Corel, was detained for questioning and was jailed for illegal holding of a hunting rifle. Authorities believe Corel, who is of Syrian origin, lodged Fabien Clain, who is reported to have been the voice of ISIS' French-language claim of responsibility for the November 13 attacks.

- The US State Department issued a global travel alerts, alerting Americans to possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats following the Paris attacks and the recent attack in Bamako, Mali.

- In the first day of the oral arguments of the hearing on merits at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, Netherlands, the Philippines hits the People's Republic of China's lack of basis over historic claims over the nine-dash line in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the Chinese government warned that the Philippines breached consensus between the two nations over the arbitration case.

- The Bangsamoro Bill will be junked if not passed by the December 16 deadline.

- The United Nations condemned new border restrictions on refugees and migrants imposed by the Balkan States based on nationality. The new border restrictions state that people other than nationals of Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan are not allowed to cross the borders between Greece and Macedonia and between Macedonia and Serbia.

- Turkish fighters shot down a Russian warplane after warning that it has breached the Turkish airspace near the border with Syria, One of the two pilots were killed by gunfire from the ground and in addition, a crew member of a Russian helicopter was also killed when it came under attack. The helicopter was heading to rescue the pilots of the downed plane. It's the first time Russia acknowledged that its solders were killed in actions since airstrikes on Islamic State militants in Syria began two months ago.

- The first pic of the second-generation Kia K7 (Cadenza in world markets) was revealed.

2017 Kia K7

- A teaser trailer for the upcoming PriPara movie, titled PriPara Mi~nna no Akogare Let's Go PriPara, is here, revealing its March 12 showing date. Is this the ideal idol movie you would watch, even for the little girls who love this kids show about idols?

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye, Lola Nidora, Tidora, and Yaya Dub received invitations to the weeding of Cindy Kournikova and Alden Richards. If that wasn't enough, our old enemy has returned. Yep, Frankie Arinolli's back on the road, folks. Sure, he moved on after Yaya Dub broke his heart months ago but when Cindy Kournikova's arrived, all heck breaks loose. Cindy wanted to have a chat with Yaya Dub but because of what's going on, Yaya Dub concedes to her. What will happene to AlDub? Tune in next time and find out.

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (November 24, 2015)

- South Korean intelligence states that an aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may have been sent to a rural farm for a problem with the nation's new power plant. Choe Ryong Hae, the secretary of North Korea's Workers' Party, once represented the North at a military parade in Beijing but his name has been missing from the leadership list since the beginning of this month, raising suspicions about his where abouts.

- South Korean president Park Geun-hye says that her nation should maintain maximum security preparedness as she made remarks in a video message released at a ceremony in Seoul to mark the fifth anniversary of the North Korea's shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, killing four people, including two civilians.

- The Belgian capital city, Brussels, has its maximum security alert extended until next Monday as the manhunt on suspected Islamic State militants behind the Paris attacks continues. So far, they have detained 21 suspects in the country but didn't provide information about their whereabouts.

- According to a certain whistleblower, the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre six years ago were shot down while praying.

- Lolita "Lottie" Manalo-Hemedez, the sister of the ousted Iglesia Ni Cristo executive minister Eduardo Manalo, questions about the sale of a two-hectare lot on Tandang Sora Ave. in Quezon City that the religion sect claims as its property.

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga Kalyeserye, as Alden's on a faraway place, Yaya Dub tries to prepare her worst reactions regarding his wedding with the Russian supermodel, Cindy Kournikova. When she appeared, there's some backlash of jokes and then the part where Cindy sang something Russian very well. When the so-called riding in tandem appeared with a letter for Yaya, she rejoiced that she's approved but approved for what? Tune in next time and find out.

- This is the first official image of the upcoming Doctor Who 2015 Christmas Special featuring Peter Capaldi as The Doctor and Alex Kingston as River Song. It will be premiered this Christmas Day.

- She may have injured her right foot during rehearsals but THE IDOLM@STER seiyuu, Chiaki Takahashi, vowed to attend the concert with her fellow Aice⁵ members, this time, she will be singing from a comfortable chaise lounge chair with her members carrying her in it.

- Jason Ivler was found guilty of killing the son of a former Malacanang official six years ago. He was sentenced to reclusion perpetua by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for the murder of Renato Ebarle Jr. in a road-rage killing incident on November 18, 2009.

TTFN!!!

Lincoln MKX - Second Generation

Some you might think that in the past, the Lincoln MKX is just a Ford Edge with some fancy bling-bling on its face, but not anymore it isn't because it's been regenerated to prove that this brand new MKX from Lincoln is a lot more different from its Ford Edge relative.

2016 Lincoln MKX

This new model looks pretty much the same as any other Lincolns in today's lineup and far from it, the new MKX looks faintly similar to its little brother, the MKC, which is Lincoln's own take to the Ford Escape crossover. So, what to expect on this new model, everyone presumes?

First, the design, and because the new MKX still comes with the signature Lincoln front like what you expect in most models, it looks kinda floppy for a luxury crossover. And when you come inside...

2016 Lincoln MKX interior

It's the same story because what you can expect is the usual Lincoln interior like you saw from most models. There's the buttons that take place of the gearbox, which is kinda weird for a car like this, the instrumental panel that looks futuristic but rather bland, and then, the useless SYNC sat-nav that most cars from the Ford Motor Company had as of now. Of course, getting in is easy but getting out is a hard thing to do because even with ample space, you still find yourself in the squeeze zone, where your legs are having a hard time finding a way out. Despite that, it's fairly comfortable and very quiet indeed, which is a proper necessity for a luxury crossover.

2016 Lincoln MKX

The most powerful in the lineup is the one with the 2.7 Ecoboost V6 engine, which generates 335hp of power and 515Nm of torque. Not only this engine's a very high-performance player in the playing field, it's surprisingly economical because it has a class-leading EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 26mpg (city 17mpg), although actual fuel mileages can vary. It terms of handling, there's so much to bother about the new MKX. You have this Lincoln Drive Control with Continuously Controlled Damping, electric power steering, active noise control, and an optional adaptive steering which features three driving modes. Yes, we want to make it more comfortable or more sporty but it feels so wrong no matter the settings because if you try to set it to Sport, it feels like it's been solidified rather than being sharp on the handling curves.

2016 Lincoln MKX

Like good luxury crossovers, the new MKX is tech-savvy with numerous technological features offered. It comes with Enhanced Active Park Assist where this crossover can park by itself when it sees an open parking space, lane keeping system, hands-free power liftgate that can be opened automatically when you lift your feet up, and 360-degree camera, and of course, an available MyLincoln Mobile with Embedded modem, Your smartphone can be your carkey, that's science get information to you.

The new MKX starts at 38,260 US Dollars and when compared to its European rivals, that pricing sounds very promising but not as promising as what it offers you in terms of style, the interior, and the dynamics but the tech and performance is surely not half bad for the new MKX. Even though this new model is a departure of being a Ford Edge-based vehicle, there are some few kinks to work out later on. Until then, this crossover has a hard act to follow.

Photo: Ford Motor Company

Let's Do The News! (November 23, 2015)

- Typhoon Marilyn has weakened and expected to leave the Philippines by Wednesday evening or Thursday, according to PAGASA. As of 0600 hours, Philippine time, the typhoon was located 1,140km east of Baler, Aurora with winds of 160kph and gusts of up to 195kph. It is likely to move west northwest at 20kph but expected to change directions to north northeast due to the presence of ridge of high pressure area.

- Davaoenos rejoiced when their mayor Rodrigo Duterte finally takes part of next year's May elections as a presidential candidate. In Manila, COMELEC is ready to review Duterte's Certificate of Candidacy if he formally applies for a substitution in order to run for the presidential elections.

- Argentine opposition party leader, Mauricio Macri, won Argentina's presidential election, signalling the end of 12-year-long left-wing rule after scoring more votes than Buenos Aires governor Daniel Scioli, who was chosen as the successor to outgoing leader Cristina Fernandez.

- Back to the Paris attacks, French authorities state that two of the three suicide bombers have traveled through Greece while they're still seeking information about one of the attackers. Some reports quoted that the attackers travelled through Greece might have blended in with refugees.

- Belgium to remain on the highest security level as it stays on the alert for possible terrorist attacks while the investigation for Belgian-born suspect Salah Abdeslam and others in connect with the Paris attacks are ongoing.

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye, that Russian fashionista girl Cindy Kournikova confirmed that their wedding between her and Alden will be...this Saturday! Oh nyet! Cindy said that her wedding with Alden is for some Russian business but Alden fed up with Cindy and decided to go as faraway as possible. Where is Alden going at? Tune in next time and find out!

- Pokemon Centers across Japan will have a very special event beginning on the 12th of December. Known to be the first of their Tsuyo Kawa Pikachu no Mega Campaign, customers can obtain a Shiny Diancie for use in Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire 3DS games. Then, they're offering special Pikachu plushies dressed as Mega Charizard Y, Mega Charizard X, Mega Sableye, Mega Lucario, Mega Altaria, Mega Audino, and Mega Slowbro. Also, there's a special Pikachu card exclusive to this campaign for use in the Pokemon TCG and card files featuring Pikachu dressed as one of the Mega Evolved Pokemon including Mega Rayquaza, which is perfect to store your precious Pokemon cards on the move.  Meanwhile, some selected Pokemon Centers in Japan feature Pikachu mascots dressed as Mega Evolved Pokemon for a little meet and greet. Last, a powerful Charizard Tretta for use on the Pokemon Tretta arcade game. It comes equipped with a Charizardite X so players can Mega Evolve it and unleash a barrage of attacks, all in the name of collecting more Trettas.

- Celebrity couple Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes welcomed the birth of their baby girl Maria Letizia.

- Check out the full trailer of their upcoming RomCom starring AlDub titled My Bebe Love #KiligPaMore.

- Ferrari F1 driver Sebastian Vettel wins this year's edition of Race of Champions.

Mini JCW (F56) vs. Audi RS3 Sportback (8V) vs. Opel/Vauxhall Corsa E OPC/VXR

Back when the new generation Mini was launched, the latest model is no longer a Mini in terms of size. It's more of a Wumbo if you ask them. Despite its go-kart handling promise that Mini delivers for the new model, it doesn't cut the mustard when it gets through tight spaces and it doesn't feel like what the old Mini does in its heydays.

2015 Mini John Cooper Works

So, what do we have here? I'm sensing jealousy from anyone who haven't tried this one out yet. Yes, this is the high-performance version of the new Mini, it's called the John Cooper Works, and for this new model, Mini claims that this is their most powerful car in the family tree, although I'm not particularly sure that this is their best bet in the world of hot hatches.

It's powered by a turbocharged 2.0L petrol engine generating 231PS of power and 320Nm of torque. When mated with a 6-speed automatic gearbox, 0-100kph takes about 6.1 seconds and a top speed of around 246kph. That sounds like a quick car for a quick getaway from your nana's house but because all good hot hatches need to be good at handling, how was it? Is it better than the Cooper S any person had one?

Thanks to its track-honed suspension setup as well as Brembo brakes and special alloy wheels made specifically for this model, the new model isn't half bad to thrash around in the corners. Since this car is all about being a beginner's luck, any driver can drive one before getting advance through luxury sports cars and high-end exotics. Perhaps this is more of a crash course for those who are new to the track day scene, eh? What about taking on the city roads? Is it worth it? Well, not quite because since this is still a wumbofied Mini, your best chance is not to drive it on the tights because you'll be getting a hard time surviving on small spaces much as the normal new Mini does.

Yes, it might still be as big as the normal Mini, but to be honest, the new JCW mixes the things that are right with the things that are wrong so even though this is worth of a challenge, this is still a well accessible track day car you can use it anytime just as long as it doesn't get to situations that doesn't cut the mustard.

2016 Audi RS3 Sportback

If you're opening to suggestions that the new Mini JCW is lacking power, perhaps you should better off with this; the all-new Audi RS3 Sportback.

Think of the new RS3 Sportback as a posh version of its cousin, the VW Golf R, but unlike the Golf R, this new RS3 comes with a 2.5L 5-cylinder turbocharged engine developing 367PS of power and 465Nm of torques. It's the most powerful hot hatch ever created by the Volkswagen Group, and even though this is more than the pre-facelifted A45 AMG, the currently-facelifted A45 AMG backlashed it with more power, which is kinda sad.

Anyway, because this is Audi's most powerful hatchback in the range, it's 0-100kph time is 4.3 seconds while the top speed electronically limited to 250kph or you can go for an optional extra where the limit can be raised to 280kph, which is definitely a fast hatch full-stop.

Of course, good hot hatchbacks don't rely on straight-line performance, and how does the RS3 fare well as a track-day car? Sadly, it's very challenging. Even though it has a four-wheel drive powertrain, driving the new RS3 is like trying to survive a bull riding competition for years and when it sees a corner, best to prepare some painkillers over this one because it's too much grip and understeering can be a pain in the neck. If this car understeers, it's like you've got choked by an angry German who got his schnitzel messed up.

So, would you recommend it? Well, in terms of speed, the new RS3 is a clear bet but in terms of track day use, perhaps this new model warns the drivers that it will going to send them to the chokey. Man, someone's going to get choked by this hot hatch when it understeers.

2016 Opel Corsa OPC

2016 Vauxhall Corsa VXR

If it's affordability you're after, how about this? The new Opel Corsa OPC (Vauxhall Corsa VXR). Now, according to the pricelist, the new Mini JCW costs around 29,900 Euros while the new RS3 starts at 52,700 Euros. The newest version of the Corsa OPC/VXR starts at a very accessible 24,650 Euros (18,375 Pounds) and what you have here is a pocket rocket with very accessible handling that makes it popular among car enthusiasts.

Of course, its 2.0L turbo engine produces the least amount of power when compared to the new JCW and the new RS3, but unlike the other two, it's compact and nimble enough to cut through corners like a game of fruit ninja. Juicy.

It feels generous, it feels accessible, and when getting through the tightest of situations, it's not half bad at all. This is definitely the ideal hot hatch you can have if you're in a mood for some track-day fun.

So, what's your pick? Well, when you compare these hot hatches, chances are very random because a few might go for the new JCW, some might go for the new RS3, while most might go for the hot Corsa. Above all, the newest Corsa OPC/VXR is their best chance because even though it's not as powerful as the others, it's a very accessible hot hatch that you can use it all the time as long as they're not involved in any shenanigans on the city,

Doctor Who S09E10

Doctor Who S09E10

Two familiar faces appeared on this episode of Doctor Who, titled Face the Raven. First, there was Rigsy, the "local knowledge" who Clara helped him from dealing with the wall mystery last year, and then, there's Ashildr, who emerged herself as the Night Mayor. In this episode, The Doctor and his allies ventured to an alien world, hidden on a street in London, only to found out that the countdown planted on Rigsy's head is a death sentence set by Ashildr because of the crime he committed to the refugee community. This episode witnessed the final moments of The Doctor's companion, Clara, as she sacrificed herself to save Rigsy from his imminent execution by the raven.

It's a tragic moment to see one of The Doctor's beloved companions die for numerous circumstances but even with Clara's death, which we are going to mope it for a long time, it's time goes on for The Doctor as he teleports himself to another world. Where is heading now? You'll have to find out next week.

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