Let's Do The News! (April 12, 2016)

- Despite reports from a tech security firm, COMELEC assured voters that sensitive biometrics date weren't included in the alleged database leak by a hacker group. COMELEC knew the data they claimed to have and they know that date doesn't include biometrics. They also called out TrendMicro for taking advantage of the situation. A report published by the tech security firm said the leak puts 55 million registered voters in the Philippines at risk. Last month, two hacktivist groups consecutively breached the COMELEC website while releasing the poll body's entire database online.

- Back to the money-laundering issue, more RCBC officials have been dragged into the alleged $81 million heist as former branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito continued her testimony at the Senate on Tuesday. Contrary to allegations, Deguito said she didn't rush the withdrawal of the alleged stolen funds from Bangladesh when the money was credited to its beneficiaries two months ago.

- The top officials of the G7 expressed concern over the rising tensions in the South China Sea and called on the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the disputed waters. During the meeting at Hiroshima, Japan, the top officials from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States, and High Representatives of the European Union released a joint statement on maritime security. The G7 ministers urged concerned states to refrain from conducting massive land reclamation activities, building of outposts and using them for military purposes.

- China, meanwhile, backstabs against the recent G7 meeting, urging them to stop making irresponsible remarks. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the G7 should have focused on global economic governance and cooperation instead of dealing with the issues on Chinese waters.

- Prosecutors in Panama have begin investigating the Panama Papers scandal, about how large sums of data on offshore financial dealings was leaked from a law firm in Panama. Public prosecutors visited the law firm, Mossack Fonseca, in response to its complaint that the tax haven data had been stolen by hackers. The prosecutors are thought to have questioned officials of the firm and examined records.

- The Brazilian lower house committee has voted in favor of impeaching President Dilma Rousseff over he alleged involvement in manipulating government accounts. The majority of the special committee agreed that an opinion papers complied by one of their members provided grounds for her impeachment. The whole lower house of Congress is scheduled to vote later this week if the upper house should take action and if so, the Senate will next debate whether to impeach. Brazil will face the brink of political turmoil as it prepares this August's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

- The Hennessey Venom GT Spyder reached a max top speed of 265.6mph down a 2.9-mile runway somewhere in California, marking it the fastest convertible...in the world.

- Last April 3rd, Kouji Wada, the singer behind the TV shows from the Digimon franchise, passed away at the age of 42 due to cancer in his upper pharynx. With the farewell event happening this month, here are some people involved in the anime industry shared messages about Wada's passing. CLICK HERE.

- Dolce Amore actress Liza Soberano got bashed by netizens after calling her co-star Enrique Gil as her "best friend". Liza and Enrique played as the series' main characters Serena and Tenten. About last week, Liza shared a short video interview of an American singer-actress, when she was asked ot rate three local actors; him, James Reid, and Daniel Padilla.

TTFN!!!

Third-generation Toyota Passo/Daihatsu Boon

It's been six years since only a select few tasted the second-generation Toyota Passo and Daihatsu Boon compact twins, well only in the Asian markets that are in the form of the Perodua Myvi. Now, with Toyota gaining complete control of Daihatsu to further experiment with the small car market, the new partnership tries to experiment with the category with the new, third-generation Toyota Passo and Daihatsu Boon compacts. So, what's it all about?

2017 Toyota Passo

2017 Daihatsu Boon

The previous egg-shaped model was nothing but a complete mess because while the previous Toyota model has two different styles, the Daihatsu model gets one. Now, for the third-generation model, it's back to the usual two-style format and yes, there are two different styles to choose from, starting from the normal model which has a similar front view seen from the sixth-generation Mira but with the rearview looks broadly similar to the Subaru Levorg and the side view harshly similar to the old Toyota Sienta. The same thing goes for the stylish model (MODA for the Passo, CLIQ for the Boon) but it has round-shaped lamps similar to the previous model with the hexagonal-shaped grille, again, similar to the Subaru Levorg. It all seems mashed up, isn't it?

2017 Toyota Passo interior

2017 Daihatsu Boon interior

Apart from the questionable exterior, the interior is still as simple as its predecessors. Although nothing special about the inside, the new Passo or Boon still has that bench seat on the front, the one nearly no car has anymore these days. The bench seat is quite the ideal interior part where you can freely move in one way and another without even bothering. Space-wise, the new Passo and Boon can handle boot space very well. With all seats present, the rear space, although small, is big enough to fit five gas bottles, camping gear, and a golf bag. Convenient, I dare say?

2017 Toyota Passo

2017 Daihatsu Boon

Onto the performance part and because this is a small car with fuel efficiency in mind, the only engine offered in the new model is the improved 1KR-FE engine carried over from the previous model. With dual intake ports, twin injectors, and enhanced fuel spray atomization, as well as reshaped pistons, fuel economy, is now 28.0km/L for front-wheel-drive models, a best-in-class for a liter car, while 4WD models, featuring a new idling stop feature, return only 24.4km/L.  Another main reason for its improved fuel economy is not just because of your average CVT gearbox but also its improved lightweight, high-rigidity body and with the new suspension, it drives slightly well so it's kind of good to drive but doesn't get too jumpy on this one because despite having the suspension updated for the new model, you can't feel its cheerful character from within. So, it may not be a bad car to own but its cheerfulness is left denied in a cheap city car.

The new models now come, as standard, with the Smart Assist II collision avoidance assist system. This system uses a collision warning function, collision avoidance brake assist, false start control, line deviation warning function, and a feature that notifies drivers that the vehicle ahead is moving forward. It's amazing that despite being a cheap little city car, no one does it better when it comes to the tech featured, in fact, I'm getting dazed by the new model's technological advancement fit for drivers of all kinds, although there is a major disclaimer about taking advantage of these features for granted, in fact, it's not advisable to take them for granted while driving.

Should you buy it? The new Passo starts from 1,150,200 to 1,830,600 Japanese yen while the new Boon starts from 1,150,000 to 1,853,280 Japanese yen. Consider these two a well-priced city car for a start but don't get too comfortable because when it comes to being a fun car in the city, you'll be sorry for just how bland it behaves, although some optional dealer-specific accessories can slightly hide the fact that you've owned just another city car.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation/Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.

Super GT 2016 - Okayama

The first round of the 2016 season of the Super GT series kicked off at the Okayama Circuit last weekend and following last year's come-from-behind win, the #1 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R, driven by Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli, approached from third place to its first win of the season in the GT500 career. Meanwhile, in the GT300 class, the #65 LEON CVSTOS AMG-GT, driven by Hiroki Kurosawa and Naoya Gamou, scored its first win for the team this season.

Highlights:

The next round for the 2016 Super GT season will commence at Fuji Speedway on the fourth of May.

Let's Do The News! (April 11, 2016)

- As of now, thirteen members of the Abu Sayyaf Group were killed during the AFP's "no let-up operation" in Basilan. The encounter between the two groups happened around 0800 hours Philippine time, outside the village of Baguindan, the same area  where the 10-hour bloody encounter last weekend that left 18 soldiers killed and 56 others wounded.

- Philippine vice president aspirants Bongbong Marcos and Chiz Escudero said Sunday that Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump may not be the ideal American leader when it comes to diplomatic ties with the Philippines. During the COMELEC vice presidential debate, the two candidates fell short of naming an American candidate whose policies are likely to benefit the Philippines but the two agreed that Trump will not benefit the nation's longstanding security alliance with the US.

- The Supreme Court ruling allowing Senator Grace Poe to run for president "lacks doctrinal value" according to former senator Francisco Tatad during the second motion for reconsideration filed. Last Saturday, the high court released its resolution affirming that Poe is now able to run for next month's election. By majority, the SC stated that there is no material misrepresentation on the part of Poe when she declared in her certificate of candidacy that she is a natural-born Filipino and a resident of the Philippines for 10 years. 

- The Islamic State militants have regained control of the al-Rai town in Syria, showing that the terrorist organization's capable of launching counterattacks even as the extremists come under pressure on different fronts in areas the IS controlled in Syria and Iraq.

- The fate of Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff is reaching on a knife edge as the South American country is facing a vote if she would be impeached or not. The decision starts with the congressional commission's non-binding vote at around 5:00 pm local time on whether to recommend impeachment. Then on Friday, the full lower house is expected to open debate, with a vote either the 17th or 18th where two-thirds majority would send Rousseff's case to the Senate.

- British Prime Minister David Cameron released a summary of his tax records following the Panama Papers leak and the criticism that he benefited from a fund set up by his late father in an offshore tax haven. Cameron published the income and tax report for the past 6 years on the website of the prime minister's office. The records show that Cameron received no stock dividends five years ago. An accounting firm notes in the report that he has no sources of taxable income or gains from either UK or overseas.

- A one-of-a-kind Audi A8 L Extended saloon was made for a certain client. This king-sized special measures 6.36 meters in length and a wheelbase of 4.22 meters. It can accommodate up to six people inside.

Audi A8 L Extended

- The official trailer of the brand new Star Wars spinoff film ROGUE ONE is here.

- The launch for the upcoming BIOHAZARD UMBRELLA CORPS third-person shooter game has been moved to June 23rd.

TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 6: SVR!

Those who witnessed last year's Bond movie 007: SPECTRE might remember the part that Hinx's men kidnapped Madeleine Swann and being pursued by Bond in a snowy Austria. One of the cars the henchmen drove is none other than Land Rover's most powerful SUV in the range; the Range Rover Sport SVR. Now, I got the chance to be what is like to be one of the SPECTRE goons by taking behind the wheel of the new SVR via Forza 6's Top Gear Car Pack.



The second-generation Range Rover Sport was premiered at the 2013 New York Auto Show and the new model is now a a performance-oriented SUV that clings out to its namesake in terms of offroad capability and sporty handling.

The ultimate version of the Range Rover Sport is the SVR, created by the Special Vehicle Operations, and the high-performance version is the quickest of its class with its 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds and top speed of 162mph, thanks to its 5.0L Supercharged V8 engine that produces 550HP of power and 502lb-ft of torque, mated with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Apart from that, the SVR features performance-oriented upgrades to its dynamics such as enhanced suspension and steering, Active-Roll Control, and the new Adaptive Dynamics with Magnetorheological dampers. Such upgrades had resulted to its Nurburgring lap time of less than eight minutes and fourteen seconds, one of the fastest SUVs to lap round the track.

Inside the world of James Bond, the Range Rover Sport SVR appeared in 007: SPECTRE and it was driven by Hinx's men upon kidnapping Madeleine Swann and being pursued by James Bond in a snow plane on a snowy Austria.



Having a little taste Bond villainy, I was going to think that the Range Rover Sport SVR is out of synch in the world of Forza due to its weight that all SUVs suffer but because the Range Rover Sport shares the same weight loss as the standard Range Rover, this car is not afraid to take on corners. In fact, it kinda reminds me of the Top Gear episode when the normal RR Sport lapped quicker than the hot Mini. Just how amazing is that? Anyway, since this is the SVR and this is one of the fastest SUVs to lap round the Nurburgring, this super SUV can barge through any given track like a normal car. It's kinda fun to drive, you know what I'm saying?



Anyway, no time to reminisce that SPECTRE moment in Austria because it's time to do some serious business at the Top Gear Test Track because I'm going to compare the brand new SVR against...



...this one. A normal supercharged Range Rover. It will be like a sibling rivalry to decide who is the superior of the two. All right, let's get cracking!


Both of these Range Rovers are benefitted to their weight loss courtesy of their aluminum bodywork, resulting to even better handling, but whereas the normal Range Rover is focused on comfort, the Range Rover Sport is focused on sportiness and with the SVR model, there's no telling how precise this heavyweight is and with performance-oriented upgrades to the dynamics as well as added power to its V8 engine, this car gets the job done and I have managed to record the lap times.

The normal Range Rover did it in 1:33.598 while the RR Sport SVR did it in 1:30.345. In conclusion, with that kind of track-oriented record, I gotta say that this should be their next favorite SUV to keep on driving in FM6. The new Range Rover Sport SVR is one of Britain's finest examples that gets the respect it deserves from being one of the fastest track-capable SUVs elsewhere, even in the world of Forza.

Manny Pacquiao wins his final battle against Bradley

Manny Pacquiao's third and final match against Tim Bradley truly is his final battle before his inevitable retirement from his career. The two boxing adversaries faced each other twice and they did it for the last time as these primed fighters thrown everything they got to ensure that this trilogy reached its climax.

At the end of this 12-round battle to what is known to be Pacquiao's last fight of his career, the fighting pride of the Philippines won the match against Bradley...twice via unanimous decision.

This fight has been one heck of a career for Pacquiao. He faced the biggest names in boxing history and he doesn't really quit without a clean fight. His career as a boxer maybe over but the real battle has just begun.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213

Now more technological than ever, the newly regenerated Mercedes-Benz E-Class is going to shock familiar drivers with its highly-advanced driver tech that is smart enough to track down roads with precise movements. I wonder how precise this technologically-advanced masterpiece is as a quick examination will showcase what's what.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

For a normal E-Class user, the loss of its four-eyed look is something of a witchcraft. One look and you'll say that that's not the E-Class everybody knows. Hey, at least it isn't the only one this car faced, perhaps its rival car the Lexus GS faced its fate when it lost its four round-eyed look in favor for a more sharper tone. Anyway, the new look is more of a bulked up C-Class and looks if the vice principal has taken a cup of coffee while busy reading some mystery novels...with a dystopian taste for sure.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class interior

Now, the uniform interior that Mercedes saloons adored since the present-day S-Class is lavished on the new E-Class like a tidal wave of money pooled in by some Monopoly-playing tycoon who invests in some offshore companies in the Caribbean. Sure is topical but all that gadgetry pooled on the new interior really means business for the driver and passenger themselves. It can respond to your sense of touches and access you to a wide variety of features that sounds complicated at first but you'll get used to it the more you know how. Speaking of interior comforts, the seats are well-trimmed for an executive saloon of this caliber and once you're inside, you really can't tell the difference on how nice it is or how cozy it is.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Time to delve deeper into the tech fest because with the future is drawing nearer for us, drivers, the new E-Class is the first to introduce an autopilot feature called DRIVE PILOT. Recommended for highway use, this bizarre feature with Distance Pilot DISTRONIC allows the car to handle road types to keep it in the correct distance behind vehicles in front automatically as well as following them at speeds up to 210kph. It kinda reminds us of Tesla's AUTOPILOT feature in so many ways but don't get too comfy about stupid things to do about whistling while letting your car works because with all those next-generation safety tech implemented on the new E-Class, especially the brand new Remote Parking Pilot feature, Car-to-X  communication, and PRE-SAFE, the new E-Class is about great power with great responsibility. It may have some artificial intelligence planted on this car but mastery is the key if you want to get the most of when or where to use it.

Because intelligence is the top-priority for the new E-Class, looks like there's little known about its performance. In this new model, only three models are available for launch with more to follow, including a PHEV and an AMG model. The R200, is powered by a turbocharged 2.0L petrol engine that produces 184PS of power and 300Nm of torque. The E220 d, meanwhile, comes with a 2.0L turbodiesel engine that produces 194PS of power and 400Nm of torque. Lastly, the E350 d comes with the 3.0L V6 turbodiesel engine that delivers a powerful 258PS of power and 620Nm of torque. All models are mated with a brand new 9G-TRONIC gearbox.

As expected, the new E-Class's body is now lighter and stiffer than the previous model, resulting to a better handling as you would expected for a German executive sports saloon in its class. Couple that with the new Direct-Steer system, the new E-Class can truly track down corners with precise movements. Yep, it really is that precise without breaking a sweat for the drivers and passengers alike and I think that's enough for that.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Should you buy one? The new E-Class W213 from Mercedes-Benz starts at 45,303 Euros, making it too expensive to own than the Audi A6 and the BMW 5-Series, but nevertheless, the new E-Class is a quantum leap through the better future of driving thanks to its clever intelligence planted in this sports saloon. You know that this car makes sense as long as you are not throwing too much criticisms about this car is too smart for its own good, like what you experienced with Tesla Model S's AUTOPILOT hijinks through the days.

Photo: Daimler AG