Let's Do The News (March 30, 2012)

It's time now for the NEWS! And let's start with a very good news. It seems that the production halt for the highly anticipated 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has been lifted and back to sale as a 2012 model. It's about darn time!

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/2012-chevy-camaro-zl1-back-on-sale-production-hold-removed/

Yep, a few weeks ago, sales and production for the ZL1 has been halted due to quality assessment, probably because they noticed a ZL1 crash caused by Top Gear USA's consulting producer. Now, with ZL1 production back to normal, especially the sales, rest assure that those 2012 ZL1 will be around until readying the 2013MY Camaro as well as the ZL1 convertible and the Boss 302-rivaling 1LE. Wait, 1LE?

Read this at: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/chevy-camaro-to-get-boss-302-rivaling-1le-trim-for-2013/

So, Chevy's planning some sort of a Camaro variant in the middle of the power range? Ooohh...

Anyway, I just got the word from New York that Fuji Heavy Industries reveals the 2013 Legacy.

2013 Subaru Legacy

Seen here that the 2013 Legacy sports a new front grille, new FB25 engine, and for the first time in North America, Eyesight is offered. Eyesight integrates Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking and Vehicle Lane Departure Warning, and uses a stereo camera design to provide a wider detection angle than that of radar-based systems. This is the Ver. 2 Eyesight first applied on the Legacy two years ago and last year, the new Subaru Impreza Sport and G4.

I just walked at some Subaru dealership somewhere in Japan and he told me that the 2013 Legacy will be quite different. I'm not making this up. It's the word from a Subaru dealer in Japan!

2013 Subaru Legacy?

2013 Subaru Legacy Outback?

Source: http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/637431/blog/25877424/

He said that the 2013 Legacy range will ditch the 6-speed manual transmission (which is bad news to us), new FA20 turbo direct injection engine that produces 300PS of power (which is good news), start stop system that stops the engine when stop and starts again when hitting the gas pedal, FB25 engine, Lineartronic CVT, new color, new instrumental panel, um... There's plenty of features that I forgot to remember what the dealer said but some say, it should be out in Japan this May 2012.

Wait a minute, no manual transmission for the 2013 Legacy? You got to be kidding me!

It's true, for the 2013 model year, the Legacy Touring Wagon and B4 won't be offering that kind of transmission anymore. So sorry. But about that new boxer turbo engine, that was shocked me that this Japanese-speaking Subaru dealer told me that this new FA20 turbo engine produces 300PS of power and it's mated with a (gulp) Lineartronic CVT. Whoa there? Turbo engine and CVT? No, that wasn't right. Anyway, moving on...

It seems that Chinese car brand Roewe (which now has Top Gear recognition since James May test drove the Roewe 350 in the Chinese Cars episode of Top Gear) revealed their new flagship model based on the Buick Lacrosse (GM Korea Alpheon). It's called the 950 and here's how it look like.

2013 Roewe 950

Yep, it maybe Roewe but underneath, it's a Lacrosse or Alpheon. It comes with a 2.4L or 3.0L V6 engine that is the same as the Alpheon. And the interior would be somewhat too similar from the Lacrosse/Alpheon. More info will come out at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show.

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/03/roewe-presents-new-flagship-950-sedan.html

Anyway, I (oh no, not again) WENT ON THE INTERNET AND I FOUND THIS!

Alodia's Birthday Bash

(applause)

Yep! This March 31, 2012, at the Event Area of SM City North Edsa, cosplay goddess Alodia Gosiengfiao is armed and ready for her birthday bash and on her special event, she will lash out all of her cosplay supremacy fans would love to see, DoTA championships, cosplay competition, and more to have fun. With special participation of Segatron band, Kiray Celis from Growing Up, and Alodia's sister, Ashley Gosiengfiao. Super neat! Who wants to be there? Of course, this is one of the best things to do in the Summer!

Anyway, I just got the note from the press that the Hyundai Avante MD just won the 2011-2012 Car of the Year Philippines!

Scoop: http://www.autoindustriya.com/auto-industry-news/hyundai-elantra-crowned-as-2011-2012-car-of-the-year.html

Yep, this goes to show that Korean cars are way too popular in the Philippines because we like it. Moving on...

BMW M3-GTR at the Top Gear studio

Anyway, I got this BMW M3-GTR unicorn car from the Turn 10 Game with Devs event earlier. No wonder today's Game with Dev never been so choppy and I rarely got access to the races set up by the Turn 10 developers. When Turn 10 chatted us where can we find those Developers at selected lobbies, this is turning into a wild scavenger hunt until I got a chance to play with them. Obviously, I was taking part of the "Simulated Damage Country Squire Football" set by Turn 10 developer, phREDESIGN. It was ended in a tie but luckily, phREDESIGN was so generous enough to give us this BMW M3-GTR unicorn car. Now, I am glad to give this one a celebration run at the Top Gear Test Track.

Gosh, I sure hope next GWD won't be as choppy as today...

And that's the...

Wait! Don't you forgetting something?

It's Shakugan no Shana III! It all ends now! OH NO!

See ya! That's the news!