FIA Formula E 2016-2017: Berlin

For some reason, the last three venues on this season's FIA Formula E such as Berlin, New York City, and Montreal, have spawned into two-parters; one by Saturday and the other on Sunday, and being two-parters mean double overtime for the FIA Formula E drivers while this is double the work for them, it's all in the name to keep the momentum going and for Berlin, this is no exception being the first of the last three venues of this season given the two-parter treatment.

In Part One of the Berlin ePrix, Mahindra's Felix Rosenqvist is the winner while ABT Schaeffler's Lucas Di Grassi placed 2nd and Mahindra's Nick Heidfeld placed 3rd. In the Second Part, meanwhile, Sebastien Buemi from Renault e.dams wins the Berlin ePrix with Rosenqvist placed 2nd and Di Grassi's in 3rd place.

HIGHLIGHTS:

\

The next of the three two-parters in this season is in New York City on the 15th and 16th of July.

Doctor Who S10E09

One of the most recognizable creatures in the Doctor Who franchise, the Ice Warriors, returned in the recent episode of this series of Doctor Who, titled Empress of Mars, and this episode brings sovereign and allegiance to a terrifyingly new meaning on another planet.

The Doctor and Bill Potts ventured under Mars during the 19th Century when the British made the planet part of their empire and with an unusual ally, they ventured deeper to discover the Empress of Mars and this how the allegiances between the two species are tested. Well, don't want to spoil what happened but with Bill muttering too much movie references and how the episode ends in a surprising twist, it never feel so alive.

So, does this episode surprise you? Take it from this episode's writer, Mark Gatiss, and Matt Lucas, who plays Nardole in this show, in the latest DW Fan Show webcast.



NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW:

Driving Music Vol. 78

Whether if you're ready for some quiet Sunday drives, the best songs for your next road trip should need to be ready before setting off so it's time to jot down another set of Driving Musics that will get you ready for your quiet Sunday drives.

1) Fire Bird by MIYAVI - from the Honda Fit commercial

2) Song 2 by Blur - from the Aussie Toyota Corolla hatchback commercial

3) Who's That Boy by 松田聖子 - from the Subaru Rex commercial

4) Precious Heart by 松田聖子 - from the Subaru Rex commercial

5) Are You Gonna Be My Girl? by Jet - from the Renault Captur commercial

6) Blue Eyed Girl by Mikal Cronin - from the US Subaru Impreza commercial

7) I Just Wanna Party by Andrew Synowiec - from the GM Korea Chevrolet Orlando commercial

8) Figlio Perduto by Sarah Brightman - from the Ssangyong Rodius commercial

9) The Way You Look Tonight by Westlife - from a Hyundai Veracruz commercial

10) Mace The Knife by Westlife - from a Hyundai Veracruz commercial

Driving Music from Leopaul's Blog is the segment where solves every car enthusiasts' questions about the title of the song of car commercials...with the risk of MATCHED THIRD PARTY CONTENT on their status. It's your jam. Drive to the Music You Love.

Veteran TV actor Adam West passed away

Adam West, the veteran TV actor behind his iconic role of Batman in the self-titled TV show from the late 60's passed away at the age of 88 due to leukemia, according to his family's statement.

Born under his real name William West Anderson in Walla Walla, Washington on September 19, 1928, his acting career began after he left the army and first appeared on a Hawaiian children's show El Kini Popo Show before his breakthrough on western TV shows and crime series. He landed on his iconic role of Batman for three seasons from 1966 to 1968. His recent role in voice acting is a recurring character known as the mayor of Quahog from FOX's hit animated comedy series, Family Guy, as well as last year's animated film Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders.

West is survived by his wife, Marcelle, six children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

URL: https://www.newsarama.com/34848-adam-west-tv-s-batman-diest-at-88.html

Rimac Concept One destroyed during TGT filming

Photo: Official THE GRAND TOUR Twitter

A moment of silence, ladies and gentlemen, because what you see in this very graphic photo that splintered through the motoring headlines that the wrecked car in question is identified as the RIMAC CONCEPT_ONE and it was crashed while in the middle of the Hemberg Hill Climb in Switzerland and shooting for an upcoming episode of THE GRAND TOUR with Richard Hammond behind the wheel.

Thankfully, Hammond survived the crash but the concept car he drove wasn't. He lost control of the electric sportscar while braking until it eventually hits the barrier.

THE GRAND TOUR released a statement via Twitter about what happened in a tragic car crash...

Richard Hammond was involved in a serious crash, but very fortunately suffered no serious injury. pic.twitter.com/4Oib32IJvj

— The Grand Tour (@thegrandtour) June 10, 2017

The RIMAC CONCEPT_ONE is an electric sportscar spawned by the up-and-coming Croatian supercar company RIMAC. Unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the CONCEPT_ONE is powered by four extremely powerful permanent magnet electric motors delivering 1224HP of power and 1600Nm of torque. With the proprietary gearbox system, it does 0-100kph in 2.5 seconds and top speed of 355kph (221mph). It comes with All Wheel Torque Vectoring that controls each wheel individually one hundred times per second for unparalleled dynamics unseen for an electric sportscar. It was limited to eight units.

Richard Hammond was once involved in an infamous car accident in Yorkshire since 2006 when he was piloting a jet-powered vehicle until his untimely crash that led him to comatose. He even got involved in a motorcycle accident while filming for The Grand Tour's Mozambique special a few months ago.

THE GRAND TOUR, Amazon's original car program, hosted by former Top Gear presenters like him, Jeremy Clarkson, and James May, is reportedly returning for their second season this Autumn of this year.

URL: http://www.autoblog.com/2017/06/10/richard-hammond-fiery-crash-rimac-concept-one/

The Six-Day War: 50 years on...

Map imagery: Google

June 10th, 2017 marks 50 years since the end of the Six-Day War, a war between Israel and its Arab neighbors changed the way the Middle East is forever. For some Israelis, it is considered to be their celebration since Israel regained control of Jerusalem from the Arabs and became their so-called unified capital of this Middle Eastern nation but some, it's a questionable tragedy that changed the way they think about Israel and why it became a long-standing template of the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflicts even as of today.

During the course of the Six-Day War that lasted from the 5th to the 10th of June, 1967, whatever historians define it, the Israeli forces trade bullets against Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria. Most of the air forces from the Arab neighbors were destroyed by Israel and most of the territories were now under Israeli control in the aftermath of the war, including Jerusalem, Golan Heights, the West Bank, and many others.

After the war, the Arab leaders at the Khartoum Conference rejected making peace with Israel in September 1967, three months after the war, and then two months later, the UN Resolution 242 was created for future peace negotiations, envisioning Israel withdrawing from some of the territories it gained (not all) in the war, in return for recognition by and long term peace with the Arabs. The extent of the withdrawal to be determined in negotiations.

It is now 2017 and fifty years have passed since Israel won the war despite being outnumbered by Arab forces but the echoes of the six-day war and the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflicts still remain, especially with the rise of US President Donald Trump and his pro-Israeli movement that rattled most world leaders, especially the reports of Israeli adding settlements to Palestinian territories and the ongoing clashes between Israelis and Palestinians, killing numerous people in both sides. As any historian would tell, the Six-Day War is a clear template of why tensions between the State of Israel and the Arab nations became even more rampant as years passed by and while some celebrating this victory with their so-called "Jerusalem Jubilee" celebration in honor of Israel regaining control of Israel after the Six-Day War, historians will long remember as the nightmare that changed Israel into a rogue nation that can't be underestimated by many and in today's climate, there's no telling what will the Israelis plan next in the Middle East.

Further reading: https://www.britannica.com/event/Six-Day-War

Let's Do The News! (June 10, 2017)

- The Department of Transportation showcased their revised Anti-Distracted Driving Act yesterday and under their revised rule, gadgets and other objects will be allowed on the safe zone, which is only up to 4 inches from the vehicle dashboard. Anything beyond the said distance will be part of the "line of sight," where gadgets and objects are prohibited.

- A Philippine gaming regulator urged Resorts World Manila to cease gambling operations following the casino attack that killed 37 people last June 2. Resorts World has been ordered to “cease and desist all gaming operations pending investigation and final determination by PAGCOR of RWM’s liability”, according to Andrea Domingo, chairman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

- US President Donald Trump is confident that he will testify under oath about Thursday's Senate Hearing with ousted FBI director James Comey.

- According to the results of this year's General Elections in the UK, Theresa May's Conservative Party scored 318 seats at the Parliament while the opposing Labour Party gained 262. The Scottish National Party got 35, Liberal Democrats 12 and DUP 10. The shock results put a major blow to May and her Brexit plans ahead of their talks.

- In Game 4 of this year's NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers won Game 4 after beating Golden State Warriors at the score of 137-116.

- A special Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series was unveiled, featuring 607HP of power output from its turbocharged 3.8L flat-six engine, special Golden Yellow Metallic paint and special treatments from Porsche Design. It will be limited to 500 units globally.

TTFN!!!

Bubble Gang - June 9, 2017 #BGHapitot

In the June 9, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Pinagpalit gags

- Whose robbers are better in the bank robbery?

- The rich man and the poor man are besties

- Bad news, everything's in our house got cut off...

- Chattering with the syndicate

- Wonderbruh to the rescue!

- Make love...in war.

- Problem-solving sexy women are here.

- Basa-basa pik!

Forza Horizon 3: Back to your regular Cayman?

You may already driven the Cayman GT4 from the Porsche Car Pack on Forza Horizon 3 but do you really miss the mid-ranged Porsche Cayman GTS from past installments? Fear not because this weekend's Forzathon event grants you a chance to win the Porsche Cayman GTS for yourself.

For a quick refresher, the Cayman GTS adds 15HP of additional power to its 3.4L boxer-six engine mounted in the middle, delivering 340HP of power output as well as power-to-weight ratio under the 4kg/hp mark. With the Sport Chrono package as well as the available PDK and active Sport Plus button, the Cayman GTS results to a top speed of 285kph. Aside from the PASM adaptive damping control system, it even comes with Porsche Torque Vectoring system for better traction and better dynamics compared to the base model.

Anyway, let's not talk more about this because while in a middle of our Thrilltopia adventure, the Porsche Cayman GTS is ready to take on an emotional rollercoaster ride through the orange-tracked Hot Wheels fantasy world while dealing with the hardened opposition trying to snarl their way through the back.

Prepare for some camber carnage in our latest Thrilltopia adventure using the Porsche Cayman GTS. Ready? Let's go!

Even though you got your hands on this latest Porsche Forzathon prize car, don't stop here because more Porsches are coming throughout the coming weeks, whether you like it or not and when that opportunity comes, act fast while you still can!

Forza Horizon 3: The Cayman GT4

The 991 Porsche 911 GT3 RS isn't the only Porsche you can enjoy on the Forza Horizon 3 Porsche Car Pack because in this pack lies another enjoyable Porsche that delivers the same track-proven performance as experienced from the 911 GT3 but this time in a sportscar that isn't a 911, but rather its mid-engined relative, the Cayman.



This is called the Cayman GT4 and with that name rings a bell, this is like a baby 911 GT3 for people who are not interested in Porsche 911s. So, what's it all about a 911 GT3 for people who are not interested in 911s at all? Good question, though, because when it made its appearance at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the Cayman GT4 promises to be a track-capable Cayman ever built while drawing inspirations from the 911 GT3 and engineered to tackle the most demanding race tracks in the world, including the dreaded Nurburgring.

For starters, the 3.8L flat-six engine was now boosted to 385HP of power output while mated exclusively with the 6-speed manual gearbox. Apart from the added power from its six-cylinder boxer engine, the GT4 is lowered by 1.2 inches with dynamic transmission mounts while being armed with aggressive aerodynamic upgrades, race-bred suspension, and Porsche's torque-vectoring system, making the GT4 one of the most enjoyable Caymans ever built from the ground up while delivering the same thrills inspired by the 911 GT3.

The Cayman GT4 may look stodgy, old, and it went out of production, but this car sure knows how to keep up with the enthusiasts with its 911 GT3-inspired dynamics that will make their driving feel so alive again. It's good on the racetracks but not brilliant on normal roads because being a track-focused sportscar engineered from the Nurburgring, usability as a weekday car is bad as it gets but for being one of the most enjoyable Porsches ever built, I could spend a lot of time driving the GT4 as much as I want. Speaking of which...





Time to give the Cayman GT4 one last try by meeting up with the other Porsche drivers across Horizon but first, some over-the-counter stimulants I made for this and when you say stimulants, I mean, of course, some bedwetting design I made to reflect the Cayman's sexy styling fit for a sports coupe. Without giving in to such a bedwetting design bedwetting enough to snog the heck out of men, the Cayman GT4 is ready to show its true colors as the ultimate Cayman ever made.





Job well done for the Cayman GT4. Although gone, it's still not out until it gives a fair good fight to deliver 911 GT3-like thrills for the drivers who demand more. It maybe challenging at the first try but as you get used to it, you'll get used to its dynamics that makes the Cayman GT4 very unique for a non-RR Porsche and if you got the choice between this and the 911 GT3 RS, which remains the king by the way, which hardcore Porsche would you choose?

Let's Do The News! (June 9, 2017)

- At least 230 individuals will face arrest by authorities due to links with the Maute Terror Group. DND Secretary and Martial Law Administrator Delfin Lorenzana issued an arrest warrant against the said personalities.

- The Philippine National Police Region 7 declared the abduction and serial killing to Bien Unido, Bohol Mayor Gisela Boniel as case closed. The PNP made the statement based on the admission of passengers of the motorboat who saw how Board Member Niño Boniel killed and threw in the sea his wife.

- The Philippines was ranked 2nd least peaceful country in Asia according to the Global Peace Index, sitting above Myanmar, China, and Thailand, but behind North Korea, which ranks 1st. The ranking is allegedly due to President Duterte's war on drugs campaign and the Martial Law declaration in Mindanao due to Marawi Siege

- Ousted FBI director James Comey testified at the Senate hearing about his so-called loyalty issues on US President Donald Trump and why did Trump fired him. He testified every conversation he had with Trump but one question he didn't answer is Trump's connection with Russia interfering with the 2016 presidential elections.

- Qatar dismissed allegations of backing terrorism after four Arab states cut ties with Qatar with week, blacklisted as terrorists dozens of people with alleged links. The announcement by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Bahrain increases pressure on the wealthiest Arab state over allegations that it interferes in the affairs of its neighbors by supporting and financing Islamist groups.

- Australian Olympic swimmer Thomas Fraser-Holmes will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn a 12-month ban for missing anti-doping tests.

- The second-generation Honda N-BOX has been unveiled prior to its Autumn release. It will be the first Honda kei car to come with Honda Sensing safety tech.

2018 Honda N-BOX

- SEGA's Shenmue III game has been delayed to second half of 2018.

- Actress Zhang Ziyi joins the MonsterVerse franchise and will be star in 2019's Godzilla: King of Monsters film.

TTFN!!!

Nissan X-TRAIL T32 Minor Change

Nissan's best-seller SUV in the world, the current third-generation Nissan X-TRAIL, has been given a much-needed facelift to keep it updated, and what's even more surprising for the latest minor change is that it was gifted with the same semi-autonomous tech as witnessed from last year's new Serena minivan. That's right. We're talking ProPILOT.

2018 Nissan X-TRAIL

2018 Nissan X-TRAIL

2018 Nissan X-TRAIL

First and foremost, the recent facelift sees the application of Nissan's signature V-motion grill on the front view as well as the addition of LED lights on the front and the back and some new alloys in store for the new X-TRAIL. On the inside, you will notice that the steering wheel looks suspiciously similar to the Serena's and if you pay close attention, you will notice that it now comes with a button that engages ProPILOT.

2018 Nissan X-TRAIL interior

2018 Nissan X-TRAIL interior

As you are aware by now, ProPILOT controls the steering, acceleration, and braking in a single lane on highways during heavy traffic and high-speed cruising. Because this is version 1.0, much like from the Serena's, it's set for single-lane traffic use in the meantime but you should know that the ProPILOT is on a self-propagating phase as when it features it on future Nissan vehicles, its tech gets evolved even further. Easier said than done.

Part of Nissan's Intelligent Mobility campaign that promotes safe cars with future-ready driving tech for the drivers of today and tomorrow, the X-TRAIL is accompanied by Nissan Safety Shield technology such as the Intelligent Around View Monitor, Intelligent Emergency Brake, Lane Departure Warning, and a collision prevention assist. With these and ProPILOT, there's no doubt that this is the most technologically advanced X-TRAIL ever built. It's here today, ready for tomorrow.

The 2018 X-TRAIL still offers the MR20DD engine like last time, in normal and hybrid with the Intelligent Dual Clutch Control system capable of delivering now up to 20.8km/L of fuel economy based on JC08 Mode standards. All of these engines are mated with a smoother XTRONIC CVT. Let's not forget that it comes with Active Ride Control, Active Engine Braking, and the available ALL-MODE 4x4-i made to tackle any surface and weather with ease. Best of all, it still offers either a 5-seater or a 7-seater for long family hauls, and finally, the new remote control auto back door that can be opened automatically at the lift of your foot. Now that's convenience done right for the most demanding of times.

2018 Nissan X-TRAIL

The 2018 Nissan X-TRAIL starts at 2,197,800 Japanese Yen and it's available in many variants including the special XTREMER X and Mode Premier variants, including the new NISMO Performance Package with NISMO exterior touches and handling updates courtesy of NISMO themselves. With its autonomous tech implanted, this X-TRAIL is ready to take on the roads of today and tomorrow, no matter what's happening right now.

Available colors: Premium Corona Orange, Garnet Red, Olive Green, Galaxy Gold, Imperial Amber, Shining Blue, Brilliant White Pearl, Brilliant Silver, Dark Metal Grey, Diamond Black, Burning Red, and Titanium Khaki.

Photo: Nissan Motor Company