What is Nissan's Pure Drive range and how fuel-efficient are these "eco cars"?

When the fourth-generation Nissan March (built in Thailand) launched in Japan since July 2010, Nissan gave birth of the new range for eco-cars. This new range is called PURE DRIVE. Just what in the JDM world is Pure Drive?!

Pure Drive is Nissan's new range of fuel efficient cars, possessing qualities of a true eco car (a car that is fuel-efficient and eco-friendly) such as idling stop, clean diesel, and hybrid.

PURE DRIVE #1: Fourth-generation Nissan March K13

2011 Nissan March

The new, fourth-generation Nissan March (Micra in some markets), is destined to be a true eco-car in the JDM world, despite it was built from Thailand. The idling stop feature , new HR12DE engine, and XTRONIC CVT plays an important role to produce an outstanding fuel economy of 26.0km/L. For that, this is bound to be the first Pure Drive car equipped with idling stop. I can't wait for the new March to come to the Philippines as a competitor to the Suzuki Celerio.

PURE DRIVE #2: Nissan X-Trail Clean Diesel

2011 Nissan X-Trail 2.0GT

Much about the word Clean Diesel, the Nissan X-Trail Clean Diesel is equipped with the M9R engine that is turbocharged and diesel-fed but good for the environment. When the X-Trail Clean Diesel was launched in 2008, it offered in only one transmission, a 6-speed Manual, then in Summer 2010, Nissan added a 6-speed auto for the X-Trail Clean Diesel. The Nissan X-Trail 2.0GT Clean Diesel can go as much as 14.2 (6AT) to 15.2 (6MT). Hope that this will be a good addition to our lineup because this is diesel-fed and it can withstand the challenge led by diesel-fed SUVs

PURE DRIVE #3: Nissan Fuga Y51 Hybrid

2011 Nissan Fuga Hybrid

Nissan's first hybrid car that was now on sale in Japan and soon in other countries as the Infiniti M35 Hybrid. The Nissan Fuga Hybrid is equipped with the 3.5 V6 hybrid engine that has a fuel economy of 19.0km/L. Compare this fuel efficiency to the Toyota Crown Hybrid and the Nissan Fuga Hybrid wins. This is the true opulent eco car built for the environment-conscious and wealthy people.

PURE DRIVE # 4: New Nissan Serena C26

2011 Nissan Serena

Most JDM minivans are going to be upset because the new Serena C26 is equipped with the new MR20DD direct-injection engine combined with idling stop (found in the March K13) and XTRONIC CVT, providing an opulent fuel efficiency of 15.4km/L! Good enough to outperform the likes of the Noah, Voxy, StepWGN, or even the StepWGN Spada, unfortunately the new Premacy outperforms the new Nissan Serena C26 in the performance side. A very good eco van we wish to have it to the Philippines because this is even greater than the Yulon-built C24 Serena we had.

These are the cars of the Nissan Pure Drive range. In the future, Nissan will release more eco cars straight from the Pure Drive range and who knows eco cars are over the future.

More info (Japanese only):

http://www.nissan.co.jp/PUREDRIVE

Nissan Serena C26

2011 Nissan Serena Highway Star

The Nissan Serena, as far as I know, was a family-safe minivan built by Nissan since its debut as the Vanette Serena in 1991, then the Serena followed a full change in 1999 as the Serena C24 (currently sold in Taiwan and in the Philippines). In 2005, the Nissan Serena underwent to a full model change, dubbed the Serena C25 (never forget that Suzuki has one of these as the Landy). I cannot believe why we did not have this model. Now, things are going to change differently as 2010 marks the change of Japan's best-selling minivan. Ladies and gentlemen, here's your 2011 Nissan Serena C26.

2011 Nissan Serena

The new Nissan Serena C26 is now even eco-friendlier than its predecessor, which means it's better than the best. The only oddity is, the exterior of the Nissan Serena C26 is much more of an upgraded C25 with the front view similar to the Ford Fusion. Anyway, the Nissan Serena comes in three various forms; the base variant (20G, 20S, 20X), the high-end Highway Star, and the Autech-modified Serena Rider (now in C26 basis).

2011 Nissan Serena Rider

Most Serena C26 variants are equipped with the new MR20DD direct injection engine (much like Hyundai's GDi 1.6L engine, even better) that produces 147PS of power output and the fuel economy of 15.4km/L! The Serena C26's fuel efficiency toppled the fuel efficiency of rival minivans such as the Toyota Noah and Voxy, or even the Honda StepWGN and StepWGN Spada, but its fuel efficiency was not enough to topple the likes of the third-generation Mazda Premacy. To achieve its true eco status, the Nissan Serena comes equipped with the idling stop system and XTRONIC CVT. A new eco meter is added to ensure the C26's status as well as its driving condition and fuel economy. As far as I can see, the Nissan Serena is the fourth kind of the Nissan Pure Drive range consisting of the new Nissan March K13, Nissan X-Trail Clean Diesel, and the recently launched Fuga (Infiniti M) Hybrid.

2011 Nissan Serena interior

A major change in the interior can be an intriguing fact, but the Serena C26's family-safe status is a sure thing to keep a Japanese family entertained for more. By the way, the Serena C26 is just like the new Premacy, it's a 6+1 seater thanks to the middle seat on the 2nd row that can be folded as a armrest, a multi-table, or as a tissue box. There are 14 seating arrangements offered for the new Serena, finding which suits your situation is a good fit for this minivan. Good to know that some features found in the Nissan Elgrand E52 are passed on the Serena C26 such as the one-touch auto slide door, panoramic roof, 11-inch rear-view monitor, a sunshade roll, and an extra compartment at the rear. It seems friendly that this one is cheaper than the behemoth Elgrand E52.

My thoughts about the Serena:

This new Serena is even more better than the Yulon-built C24 Serena we have in the Philippines because not only the Serena has the sense of style, or even it had some of the features from the Alphard-killing Elgrand, but also it has the same idling stop technology derived from the latest Nissan March. It's like the Elgrand and March all fused into one. It comes in eight colors; Solid White, Brilliant White Pearl, Brilliant Silver Metallic, Blade Silver Metallic (available in base variants), Super Black, Natural Herb Metallic (new color, only available in base variants), Steel Blue Metallic (found in Juke 16GT) and Aurora Mauve Multiflex (available in Highway Star). It seems the high-end Highway Star variant will be put customers under its spell, but the Serena Autech Rider can be a fitting choice for hardcore minivan enthusiasts. The best-seller has got even more...better!

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Toyota Motor Corporation Pays Tribute to Mr. Hiromu Naruse

When legendary Toyota test driver, Hiromu Naruse, died in a car crash, where the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition prototype and a BMW sedan crashed face to face, it seems most JDM Toyota fans will never forget such a tragic event happened. His death was a huge lost to Toyota Motor Corporation, when this automaker was still in recall crisis.

Every JDM Toyota fans from around the globe will always remember Mr. Hiromu Naruse as a master test driver, and even a mentor to them. He was the man responsible to give birth of our ever favorite Toyota sports cars.

For that, Toyota Motor Corporation (company behind the Toyota and Lexus models) made a special tribute clip as a salute for the Nur-meister.

As always...

NEVER FORGET

Nur-Meister

The spirit of Toyota sports cars will live on just when the Lexus LFA comes.

SUPER NOISY HONDA CR-Z TUNER CARS!

Here we go again! As I keep on hearing the noise coming out on modified Hondas such as the Civic, Prelude, Accord, Fit, NSX, or Integra (Acura RSX), it seems my favorite hybrid car, the Honda CR-Z got tuned for SEMA 2010!

Check out the rest of the modified Honda CR-Z:

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/11/sema-2010-honda-cr-z-hybrid-tuning.html

Time to get my earplugs on because these modified CR-Z Sport Hybrids from the SEMA 2010 are sure enough to blow some super noisy sounds straight from the muffler!

SUPER NOISY SPORT HYBRIDS GO VROOOOOM!

Eh? Uban Zone on Banana Split again?

This November 6 episode of Banana Split goes like this:

- Fresh bash of showbiz news straight from Balitang Siksik Showbiz Edition

- Jokes at Boracay, include, riding on the yacht, at the dance bar, and at the beach

- The crazed masseur, Rizza Masahista (RR Enriquez) , strikes back! As if, strikes the back of Jayson Gainza 'till his body is covered in sand!

- Angelica Panginiban, as Badaphne, visits a safari-themed room on the Urban Zone spoor, Uban Zone. When she visits some bathroom, which has a tiger on it, Badaphne attacked by a tiger!

- Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco, that's Melason to you and me, in the tattoo parlor. Something wrong? Melason rewinds it back to you! (Yep, Melason tandem is the funniest tandem)

- The boys visit D'Mall, Boracay, for some dances

- John Prats, as Kuya Keem, in "Mga Shorts ni Kuya Keem (Mutanglawin Trivia)", explains more on sunblock. Can sunblock be also used on the fishes?

- The most ridiculous stuff to do are featured in the segment called "Ang O.A. Mo!" Some stupid stuff that is OA include, surfing on the log, lifeguard at the kiddie pool, and yelling if you were hurt but henna tattoo is placed without the sting.

A special joy of BMW Z4...unless if you're in Japan...

If you were a Bimmer fanatic reside in Japan, then BMW Japan launched a special, limited-to-15-units, edition of the second-generation BMW Z4.

2011 BMW Z4 Silver Top

Dubbed the BMW Z4 Silver Top, this limited edition, Japan-only, BMW Z4 offers a silver roof, black body, and red interior.

Scoop:

http://release.nikkei.co.jp/detail.cfm?relID=265700&lindID=4

Guess we may never going to get this special joy because the joy of the special-edition Z4 is for Japanese consumers only and its limited to just 15 units. Luckily we might be able to have one of these thanks to Forza 3.

BMW Z4 "Silver Top" on Forza Motorsport 3

See what I mean? A BMW Z4 Silver Roof made by leopauldelrosario on Forza Motorsport 3, to replicate the look of the Japan-only BMW Z4 Silver Top limited edition. It's obvious that Forza fans can replicate everything they saw!

Pricing of the BMW Z4 Silver Top limited edition costs around 5,590,00 Yen (about below $50,000 or 6,850,000 Pesos, not that accurate, but depends on the import tax) and its limited to just 15 units.

That Bubble Gang episode is so good, you'll never hear someone outside!

Packed with the new anime-themed opening sequence, as a treat for being 15 years, then called "Bubble Gang Kin-Z", this November 5 episode of Bubble Gang episode is so great, you'll never hear someone honking outside your house!

On that episode, Bubble Gang radio station gags where someone found what appears to be lost.

Sketches include an odd, half-naked, visitors, a rap battle between Rapper Band and Rapper Shoes (rap never been this fun), a tablemate at the beerhouse, a kasambahay enjoy Bubble Gang while someone's honking car horns (this kasambahay is watching some Bubble Gang moments include Bathroom Dance, a nurse station, Tya Ring, a Sabi-sabi episode, and DO-SE-NA), and what they're doing on a MRT.

Don't forget about the IyoTube part.

Cheche and Bureche are here again on the episode on plants, worms, and gummi worms. Oh, and look out everyone, Bonggang Bonggang Bongbong is at it again in Sumbong Sumbong kay Bonggang Bongbong where he warns about some annoying stuff about female students showing off by their make-up, someone who brings a pocketbook but not reading it, and a man sings with a super loud voice thanks to the headphone set to a max volume.

The war is over, you can take off your red stilettos now...

In the past Monday to Thursday, we witnessed how it happened in the fashion drama, Magkaribal;

- Gelai (Bea Alonzo) defeated Victoria (Gretchen Barretto)

- Vera (Angel Aquino) is in a brink of financial ruin

- Louie (Derek Ramsay) told that Gelai is Victoria's long lost sister, Angela, and later Louie dies

- Gelai's fashion shop burned by Vera

- Victoria and Gelai/Angela reunited

- Vera is the suspect of the arson, told by the cops and Caloy (Enchong Dee)

Magkaribal ending

We finally witnessed the ending of Magkaribal, the most fashionable TV drama on ABS-CBN. In the final episode, Victoria finally reunites with Gelai, I mean, Angela. Later, Gelai showed the once kept dream collection their mother, Stella, kept it before her death. Victoria wants to collaborate with Gelai to fulfill their mother's dream collection. Then, Chloe (Erich Gonzales) appeared with a box full of letters kept by Vera. For that, Mark Gil made a surprise comeback when Victoria, Chloe, and Gelai read a letter about a promise.

Chloe persuaded her mom, Vera, to stop, and come to the show to be good to Victoria and Gelai. Later, we witnessed a kilig moment with Chloe and Caloy.

On that evening, the Stella's Collection launching day has just begun, thanks to the collaboration of Victoria and Gelai/Angela. Reuniting a sisters made this a great part on the Magkaribal ending. Too bad about the chandelier part Vera tries to kill the sisters just to have someone fall the chandelier to them, but backfired. 

Upon the narration, we saw a bunch of magazine covers. Victoria pauses her career, Chloe and Caloy had a grand wedding, Gelai's adoptive parents, Sonia and Hermes, and Victoria's adoptive father, Ronaldo, doing a wonderful life, and Vera payed for all her sins she committed. That's fashion life.

What will be missed on Magkaribal is the fashion designs, the beautiful gowns, and the sense of fashion most viewers find inspiration to be like Victoria and Gelai. Of course, Magkaribal is a drama not just about rivalry, it is a drama just about fashion trends.

If I remember the best line "You want war? I'll give you war" and "I'll be there in my red stilettos", well Magkaribal is over. The war is over, you can take off your red stilettos now.

16GT!

Today, Nissan announced that the turbo variant of the best-selling, currently new, Nissan Juke crossover, is now on sale across Japanese Nissan dealerships.

Read the full press:

http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2010/_STORY/101102-01-e.html

2011 Nissan Juke 16GT

This Juke's now fully armed with the high-performance MR16DDT (1.6L Direct Injection Petrol Engine) DIG Turbo engine and with the optional All-Mode 4X4-i system to go further everywhere. The blade's been sharpened, the face gets tougher, the Juke's urban legend in Japan is just begun. With strong sales since its Japan debut in June 2010, the new DIG Turbo engine will whisk away the competition. The Mitsubishi RVR (ASX) and the Subaru Impreza XV are going to be upset when they hear this!

Hope that this turbocharged Juke will be on the Philippines soon if NMPI or Universal Motors has the chance.

How the Fabia was made

Most European car enthusiasts know about how the Skoda Fabia is made, and no, we're not going to Mlada Boleslav to see how the Skoda Fabia is made, some TV commercial is showing how the second generation Fabia is made, by means of cake made from lovely stuff, such as raisins, marzipans, and sugar.

Months after the launch of the facelifted Skoda Fabia Mk2 and the return of the vRS variant in the form of a turbocharger+supercharger engine equipped hot hatch, it seems the Cake ad from the Skoda Fabia is evolved into something...mean...

...very...very...mean...

"Made of meaner stuff", sounds scary but awesome! On the new Skoda Fabia vRS ad, we see how this hot hatch is made; door's made by tough men, rims made of swords, vultures doing the body frame, twincharger engine made of snakes, roof colored black thanks to the motorcycle burning rubber, windshield wiper made of crossbow bolt, and the newly built Fabia vRS roared. Now that's a monster.

I always like the way the new Skoda Fabia vRS is, its a monster used the same 1.4 TSi twincharger engine as the Volkswagen Polo GTi (and soon, the Audi A1), but the price is cheaper than the Polo GTi. Europeans are going like the way how the Skoda Fabia vRS is made. It's a monster, I can tell, but it's fun to keep this monster hatch if you have the urge to have it.

Second Generation Scion tC

2011 Scion tC

The second generation Scion tC is the coupe that tries to look at it best when it comes to its new robotic styling while retaining the original length and height of the first generation model that was launched since 2004 as a 2005 model. First off, one glance of the new 2nd generation tC really reminds us of the previous first generation model but with the new front, new side design, new wheels, and a new rear design, all is clear for a major overall for Scion's most popular FF coupe that is likely to target against the likes of the USDM Civic Si Coupe, well not quite necessarily. I can always imagine how many young adults in their 20's to 30's driving this kind of car that made it more popular to the trends of FF coupes. Even tuners take the new 2nd generation Scion tC for granted because of such circumstances.

One thing to aware is the new interior of the new Scion tC. Although it might be quite good enough in terms of comfort, the new interior design of the new Scion tC lacks character. I am clearly say that some of them still prefer the old interior from the 1st generation tC because of the character it shows. Despite having a shape of a 2-door coupe, the Scion tC still classifies as a 3-door liftback because of the lftgate that opens like a hatchback for added space and it even comes with a tonneau board as well. Despite the character-lacking interior, it still looks good enough to be inside the new tC, as if to nothing.

The new Scion tC replaced the previous 2.4L 2AZ-FE straight-4 engine with the new 2.5L 2AR-FE straight-4 engine. This new engine offered on the new tC provides maximum horsepower of 180 @ 6000 RPM and the torque goes about 173lb-ft @ 4100 RPM. If you were in a 6-speed manual variant, you'll get 31MPG highway while in a 6-speed automatic variant, you will get as much as 31MPG highway as well! Just be sure that the 6-speed manual transmission on the new Scion tC is overall fun for the owners so be advised because this is going to be a wild ride. The new tC is now offered with a standard Vehicle Stability Control for added safety but forget about it.

Color variation includes Black, Cement, Classical Silver Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Nautical Blue Metallic, Sizzling Crimson Mica, and Super White.

My comment:
Despite the new interior lacks character, the new exterior really shows its character because of such design or so they thought. Now imagine if I can see one as a gray market import in the Philippines...well never mind. I don't need explanations about it but the new Scion tC is all about style at its best.

Photo: Toyota Motor Sales USA

Last night's Goin Bulilit episode...

Yesterday, it was Halloween, a time for trick or treat.

In Goin Bulilit, last night's special episode turns the childhood game "Langit Lupa Impyerno" to a whole new meaning. Titled Langit Lupa, this special Halloween episode corners the Goin Bulilit kids telling a scary story about three kids. When their dad tries to fix a car, a mysterious kid appear and lured the kids to something they called heaven. I called it on that part because of the kids playing and the delicious snacks served. But things are not "heaven" to them as...ugh...there too many to explain in words but here is the shot from last night's episode.

Goin Bulilit Special Episode - Langit Lupa

Wow that was scary, and fun to watch with a few laughs from the Goin Bulilit kids and Dagul. Looks like I'm not going to play a game of Langit Lupa Impyerno after watching this special episode!