FH3 Blizzard Mountain: CLIO!!! On Ice

The Renault Clio RS 200 EDC may not appeal to most car enthusiasts to its dual-clutch gearbox that feels like you've arrived at school a second late but with a little smart thinking and a little imagination, this Clio might be up to something for your satisfaction.





The Renault Clio RS 200 EDC is powered by the same 1.6L DIG Turbo engine from the Nissan Juke crossover, producing 200PS of power output and because it's mated to a 6-speed EDC, it does 0-100kph in 6.7 seconds and flat out in 225kph, which isn't so bad for a good-looking five-door hot hatchback. I know that this car is quicker than the old Gen.3 Renault Clio RS 200, the last to be a three-door hatchback with the manual gearbox to it, but since I am very familiar with the way it handles, feels like it's challenging even for a beginners' car, even in extreme icy conditions felt in Blizzard Mountain.

Although the handling is not what you called beginner's luck, I wouldn't want this one to go to waste because there's something else I can do with this hot Clio...with a little help.







Tweaked to RS 220 EDC Trophy specifications, decorated in something I'm familiar with, and finished in yellow, this Renault Clio's ready to take on Blizzard Mountain like an oblation run, and for its outing, we went downhill because that's what the Clio wanted to do in a snowy place like this, going with the flow. If that's what this hatch wants, so be it.

With the car fully prepared for the job, we set off to do some downhill fun in the snow. However...

I noticed something strange with my Clio and no, it's not the mechanical bits that got me worried. Something fishy going on...Wait! I know! It's those shady duo who swapped my snow tires for regular street tires! Darn, they're good, but what should I do now? How can I win a Blizzard Mountain race with a set of regular tires?! Well, some people claim that they can win a race without a little help from the snow tires but the best way to do such a feat...is by going downhill and because the venue is set, let's see if I can make it out alive by winning a race without snow tires.





Racing without snow tires can be very challenging but racing on a downhill without snow tires can be even more challenging I managed to survive and won the race. Good job for the Clio. Even though I have doubts about the way it performs, I am glad that this hot hatch made me pleased despite the delay tactics from its double-clutch gearbox. With a little bit of imagination, it can achieve almost anything, even in extreme icy conditions as long as nothing's wrong with it.

Speaking of which, I now have 100 stars! That means I'm invited to the finale! Better get ready for the icy finale here in Blizzard Mountain but what could it be? Watch for it!

Let's Do The News! (May 3, 2017)

- The Court of Appeals has officially rejected Gina Lopez's appointment as DENR secretary. Reason for her denial is because of conflict of interest, collection of fees, and arbitrary closure of mines. Senators are saddened by this decision.

- The Director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, General Isidro Lapeña is worried that drug trade in the Philippines is worsening. According to him, over four million Filipinos are addicted to illegal drugs, which is labeled as a threat to national security.

- Vice President Leni Robredo admitted that she borrowed money for partial payment of election protest pass deadline.

- Eight civilians are killed on a suicide attack on a NATO convoy somewhere in Kabul, Afghanistan.

- 15-year-old Jordan Edwards was shot to death by policemen in a Dallas-area suburb last weekend. Jordan is one of the over 330 people who have been killed by police brutality this year. Jordan and his friends were leaving a party when police officers responded to a call about some unruly teenagers in the neighborhood. One of the officers opened fire on Jordan's car, shooting and killing the 15-year-old honor roll high school freshman.

- Bandai Namco Entertainment unveiled their first look on their upcoming post-apocalyptic RPG game, Code Vein, coming soon this 2018.

- CAPCOM temporarily pulled out the "Temple Hideout" DLC stage for Street Fighter V video game due to the BGM of the DLC stage containing Islamic chant, despite the stage is set in Thailand.

- Former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach finally breaks her silence on her recent issues about her and her boyfriend, racing driver Marlon Stockinger.

- Singer Ed Sheeran spills the beans on his upcoming guest appearance in the upcoming season of the hit HBO TV series, Game of Thrones.

TTFN!!!

Peugeot 5008 II

As SUVs becoming the dominant species of the automotive world, surpassing minivans and tourers across the globe, the Peugeot that was once a minivan in the past, the 5008, has been transformed into a crossover utility vehicle in same way what happened to the Renault Espace. Because this is now a SUV, you won't be taking it to your nearest minivan society with your mates anymore because this is no longer a minivan anymore but in terms of making the grade, the new 5008 is a worthy contender in the war of seven-seaters.

2017 Peugeot 5008

No, you're not seeing things, ladies and gentlemen. This really is the new 5008, the 5008 that was used to be a minivan is now a crossover and this new model serves as the flagship SUV of the Peugeot family, whatever the heck it is. Peugeot says that the new 5008 promises to pursue the brand's move up-market strategy, to be an international success, and to become the leading benchmark C-segment large seven-seater SUV, although this crossover expects competition from other seven-seater SUVs from Asia, America, and Europe, so to try to up the game, the new 5008 comes ready with a wide-array of features that will swoon drivers and breadwinners alike.

2017 Peugeot 5008

2017 Peugeot 5008 interior

Back when it was a minivan, the previous 5008 looks nice to look at but now as an SUV, the new 5008 looks more like an enlarged 3008 or so they say. Either way, it's a great thing both the old and the new one had in common; they don't have sliding doors so who cares about it. Besides, van men who want a Peugeot with sliding door should go for the Traveller, the Combi range, and the Tepee range. Easier said than done, but this is getting off-topic right now because this is the Nouvelle SUV 5008 I'm talking about and let's investigate more about this new model because like I said, the new model is more like an extra-large version of the latest 3008 by the looks of it but on the plus side, the side view isn't as a letdown on the sidelines as the new 3008, so that's okay.

Inside, the new 5008 is all about technologically advanced and practical for drivers and breadwinners alike and with this new interior, it's almost enough to forget every seven-seater SUV you've been into, although being a seven seater gives you a lot of pros and cons based on personal experience. One for instance, the second-row seats which gives you plenty of sweet spots to be into until child seats would ruin them, forcing you to slip into the third row or not riding shotgun at all in case of situations like carrying stuff in the back, even if the back is now more spacious than the previous model and comes with a power liftgate inspired by the Ford Escape, which involves footwork under the rear bumper. Sounds more like personal experience to me but there is a chance that they might let you ride on the new 5008 just to flicker on the tech stuff offered on the dashboard or sticking on the sweet spot you know in the hopes of not landing you to the dreaded third-row seating but let's leave it anyway and move on.

2017 Peugeot 5008

Thanks to the new platform, the Peugeot 5008, despite its size, handles like a sedan. It can be either comfortable or enjoyable at the same time and this is a major improvement compared to the dynamics felt from the time the 5008 used to be a minivan, which is biblically awful by today's standards. That sounds positive for the new model but even though it's classified as a sport utility vehicle, there is no four-wheel drive present and its main excuse is its Advanced Grip Control feature that allows this car to handle tarmac, gravel, mud, sand, or snow, at the flick of the knob as well as the Hill Assist Descent Control.

Under the hood, the new 5008 SUV offers a choice of 1.2L PureTech, 1.6L THP (the most powerful in the normal range), 1.6L BlueHDi (the most fuel efficient in the range, mated with either a 6-speed manual or automatic), and a 2.0L BlueHDi (the most torque in the normal range). All of those engines are EURO 6 compliant.

One thing you should be aware of is the Driver Sport Pack that comes with a wide array of improvements to make the handling even sharper than before because while this makes the 5008 slightly more enjoyable, handling on a day-to-day basis is even more stressful than your desk job. It maybe the least of your problems but the GT version, powered by a 2.0L BlueHDi engine with 180 PS of power while mated to a 6-speed automatic, is what should you be worrying right now. While it promises to be a crossover that was designed for families and drivers alike, its sporty handling is what going to upset you in terms of comfort and even if you take advantage of all the luxury features in both the GT and the GT-Line variants, courtesy of the i-cockpit Amplify, you still feel like you're living in a motel rather than a fancy hotel downtown. The GT maybe the ultimate 5008 for now but don't get use to its title because things can get messy with this one, though.

To deal with today's traffic conditions, the new 5008 comes ready with a wide array of safety features such as Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEBS) and Distance Alert, Active Lane Departure warning system, Driver attention warning system, Peugeot Smartbeam Assistance, Speed sign recognition and speed suggestion, Adaptive Cruise Control with stop feature (ACC Stop), Active Blind Spot Monitoring system, Park Assist, and Visiopark 1 and 2.

Should you buy one? The new Peugeot 5008 starts at 26,700 Euros plus on-road costs, making one of the most competitively priced seven-seater SUVs in the market and you can really make a deal getting your hands on this new one. It's surprisingly ten grand less than its model crossover, the Renault Espace, the one that used to be an MPV until it becomes a crossover SUV.

Turning an MPV into an SUV is the harshest thing to do for most carmakers for numerous reasons we don't know and the 5008 is no exception to today's trends but despite being an SUV, its status of being a people-mover is still here and its handling is slightly even better than the old one, well save it on GT models. It really is a worthy contender in the crossover market.

Photo: Groupe PSA

Let's Do The News! (May 2, 2017)

- According to a lawmaker, there is a 50-50 chance that the controversial DENR Secretary Regina Lopez will be confirmed in her current job. Lawmakers will vote on Wednesday on whether to confirm or reject Lopez on her post.

- Last Labor Day, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened businessmen to pay their unpaid taxes within three months or face severe consequences.

- The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas dropped its longstanding call for Israel's destruction but said it still rejected the country's right to exist and backs "armed struggle" against it. According to a policy, the group also said it would end its ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, a move apparently aimed at improving ties with Gulf Arab states and Egypt, which view the Brotherhood as a terrorist group.

- According to reports, US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will speak via phone call on Tuesday.

- Hollywood writes and representatives of movie and television conglomerates resumed contract talks aimed at staving off a strike as early as Tuesday that could black out TV talk shows and soap operas.

- As Portland police rejected permits for May Day, the protests turned violent and police arrested numerous people and used non-lethal weaponry against protesters whom they described as anarchists. Other May Day gatherings around the world were relatively peaceful, but police geared up for confrontations in the Pacific Northwest's biggest cities, Portland and Seattle, where previous protests have created havoc.

- Ewan McGregor will star as Christopher Robin in an upcoming live-action rebirth of Disney's Winnie The Pooh.

- Actor Gardo Versoza was involved in an accident during shooting of an episode of GMA's TV drama, Destined To Be Yours.

- Seattle Seahawks player Russel Wilson and his wife Ciara gave birth to their baby girl.

- The Porsche Cayenne S diesel towed a 285-tonne Air France Airbus A380, breaking the previous “heaviest aircraft pull by a production car” Guinness World Record by 115 tonnes.

TTFN!!!

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup - Toyota Owners 400

The Toyota Owners 400 race for the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup at Richmond International Raceway gave spectators the 400 laps of their lives by witnessing every NASCAR drivers' interesting moments from start to finish.

This race has became a festival of punctured tires every other lap but one of the most interesting part of this race is the photo finish at the end of the first stage where Kyle Larson snagged the line a second quicker than Martin Truex Jr. in order to obtain some stage points, while being behind Kenseth, who grabbed the 10 pointers at the end of stage one. Quite an interesting feat happened in this race. Also, at the end of Stage 2, Brad Keselowski, driving the #2, cleared the stage and earned 10 points, his first stage win of the year.

One major twist in this race is when both Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. collided each other but that didn't stop them from racing.

However, the winner of the race is Joey Logano, driving the #22 Ford Fusion, and this is his first win of the season.

The next race is on Talladega Superspeedway on the 7th of May.

Let's Do The News! (May 1, 2017)

- Numerous groups carried out protest rallies in different parts of Metro Manila during Labor Day. Workers are demanding the end of Contractualization, wage increase, and housing. These groups include the KADAMAY, KMP, Association of Genuine Labor Organizations, and many others, causing traffic to a standstill.

- Meanwhile, the Kilusang Mayo Uno is unhappy with the Duterte administration for failing to eradicate contractualization. KMU chairman Bong Labog revealed that they are disappointed with the Department Order released by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello. The group believes that the DO allows employers to practice End of Contract or ENDO, and does not obliges them to regularize employees.

- Due to the popularity of ABS-CBN's hit action drama series, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, the morale of the members of the Philippine National Police have allegedly boosted because of the hit TV series.

- Several passengers were injured on an Aeroflot flight from Moscow to Bangkok when their Boeing 777 ran into "severe turbulence" 40 minutes before landing at the Thai capital on Monday.

- Yesterday, US President Donald Trump celebrated his 100th day as the President of the United States with cheering supporters at a campaign-style rally, touting his initial achievements and lashing out at critics who have given his tenure poor marks.

-The American service member who was killed in the bomb blast while on patrol outside Mosul was identified as 1st Lieutenant Weston Lee.

- The United States will begin the probe into whether thermoplastic components used in some Japanese and German cars sold in the country violate its patent laws, according to reports. The US International Trade Commission last week listed 25 companies in the probe, including BMW, Honda Motor Co Ltd, Toyota Motor Corp, along with Japanese parts suppliers Aisin Seiki Co Ltd and Denso Corp.

- The Sauber F1 team announced that their cars will be powered by Honda engines starting next season.

- See former NASCAR superstar turned endurance racing driver Jeff Gordon sample the taste of car simulation.

- Check out the latest clip for the upcoming THE IDOLM@STER Million Live Theater Days app game, coming this year.



- In last night's coronation ceremony of this year's Binibining Pilipinas, the beauty queen will represent the Philippines for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant goes to the Fil-Brit named Rachel Peters. Other winners will represent the Philippines include Binibining Pilipinas Globe Nelda Ibe, Binibining Pilipinas International Maria Angelica de Leon; Binibining Pilipinas Supranational Chanel Olive Thomas; Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental Katarina Sonja Rodriguez; and Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Elizabeth Durado Clenci.

TTFN!!!

F1 2017 - Russian GP

For the first time in his 81st racing career, Valtteri Bottas of the Mercedes-AMG team won his first F1 race at the Russian Grand Prix, held at Sochi, while leaving both Ferraris a 2nd-3rd place finish.

Before the race, McLaren's Fernando Alonso faced problems with his vehicle during the formation lap and therefore restarted to let his vehicle recovered after another major mishap by the McLaren-Honda racing team. When the race begins, some messy stuff occurred with the collision between Renault's Jolyon Palmer and Haas' Romain Grosjean, and mechanical problems forced Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo to retire,

As the race reaches its climax, both Ferrari drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, are gunning down Bottas but they couldn't make it as Bottas wins the race and placed Vettel and Raikkonen 2nd and 3rd.

Post-race, Vettel is still leading with 86 points with Lewis Hamilton 13 points behind him and Bottas, who won this race, now 10 points behind Hamilton.

Next race is on Spain this 14th of May.