Forza Horizon: This must be the GT-R I was expecting to drive!!!!

Looks good when it's nighttime

Yes, I know. Even though the hopes of FM4 bringing the 2012 Nissan GT-R has been nixed due to some "various circumstances", this kind of GT-R is truly the one we really want if I want to duel it out against the Jaguar XKR-S on the straights.

And now, due to numerous circumstances, Forza Horizon (finally) brought the current version of the Nissan GT-R. The 2012 (US 2013MY) Nissan GT-R Black Edition! The one we saw beating up the Ferrari 458, Lexus LFA, Mustang Boss 302, and others in 2011's World's Greatest Drag Race! Sadly this year, it's been beaten by the McLaren MP4-12C and the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4. But still, it's a quick car. Quicker on the straights, and quicker on the corners.

Attacking through the Finley Dam

One of the things I find it peculiar about the latest version was that it was made from a hermetically sealed factory, most of its components are heated to the same temperature before assembly, and how the tires are filled in nitrogen because it's more stable than air. All those parts; the body, the brakes, the 3.8L twin-turbo V6 engine, the steering, the new dual-clutch gearbox, all linked to sing the song of speed in perfect harmony.

Speaking of which, thanks to such adjustments, I can say that it's getting a bit more easier to handle and faster to outrun any sportscar of its class. Also, the launch control rigged on the GT-R gets me through a quick rocket start, so when there goes the starting signal, the launch control gets the GT-R ahead of its rivals and with all of its might, it can outturn, outpace, and outrun everyone of its class. I mean, how happy am I driving this kind of GT-R anyway? (laughing)

Moonlight Serenade

It maybe a JDM supercar that behaves normally in Colorado and better on straight lines against sportscars that are five times the GT-R's pricing but with great respect comes great responsibility. This car was not made for show-offing against your pals. You need to show how much of a driver you are while driving this improved GT-R. You need to show how worthy and how capable to master this 4WD monster and if you do, the results will be more rewarding but that's okay. It doesn't matter if you're not concentrating because this is an incredibly easy car. It's not mild, it's not dynamic, it's well-balanced in every single aspect and no matter how good or bad your driving is, the GT-R is always respecting your agenda.

So what can I say? This is the best GT-R ever driven in Horizon. No wonder this car got the respect it deserved...

Forza Horizon: How ALIVE am I in the XKR-S?

A big Jag up against a shiny new Beamer in Beaumont

When I first drive the new Jaguar XKR-S in FM4 a couple of months ago, I was impressed to meet up with the Jag that once said that this is the most powerful model they've ever made, probably because of its 300kph top speed, 5.0L Supercharged V8 engine, or probably because this is the only Jag I like. It should have been a fantastic Jag for track-day use...but it let me down probably because it's not enough to tackle against others, especially the GT-R I sure wish to want...

To ease all of the stress, I decided to drive the XKR-S on Horizon and hey, all that sojourn payed off to make me happy. Happy enough to drive the XKR-S all over Colorado. This Jag made me ALIVE to drive it.

Horizon players who drove a Jag like this made them feel alive to take part in various Horizon races and with such respect, this Jaguar XKR-S is truly a fun car built to do all sorts of fun stuff all over Colorado, except to some parts that the XKR-S isn't capable of, like for instance the golf course which is nearby the Media Center where you can make your car jump and make trouble with your friends at the game of King. I tried putting my XKR-S in a game of King at some golf course nearby the Media Center and it's a disaster, I can't keep up catching the King but never mind. At least, it's well-played for my Jag.

I love this Jag. It has all of the grunt, the power, and the style to woo the crowd and make some trouble in Horizon. And wherever I want this Jag go, it not only made me staying alive but feel alive.

HOW ALIVE ARE YOU?

 

Formula One 2012 Abu Dhabi GP Update

F1 2012

In a scale of unfortunate events occurred in the entire F1 2012 history, this year's Abu Dhabi GP race sees the win of Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen even though this race is all drama and all thrills. As of now, the team standings led by Red Bull Racing in 442 points, Ferrari in 340 points, and McLaren in 318 points. Driver standings as of now is...led...by...Sebastian Vettel in 255 points, Fernando Alonso in 245 points, and Kimi Raikkonen in 198 points.

PRESS RELEASE:


Race - Raikkonen wins for Lotus in Abu Dhabi thriller 04 Nov 2012
       
Kimi Raikkonen held Ferrari's Fernando Alonso at bay in a super-dramatic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Yas Marina on Sunday evening, to score Lotus's long overdue first 2012 victory in great style. But a blend of great driving, superb strategic work and pure luck with safety-car interventions saw Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel retain his championship lead with a strong third place after starting on medium tyres from the pit lane.

For the first 19 laps it seemed like Lewis Hamilton's race, even after an early safety car between Laps Nine and 14 after Mercedes' Nico Rosberg flew spectacularly over the rear of Narain Karthikeyan's HRT on Lap Nine as the Indian was slowing with hydraulic problems. Hamilton soon pulled away again at the restart, and was 3.4s ahead of fast-starting Raikkonen when his McLaren lost power and he pulled off at Turn 14 on the 20th lap.

The first safety car helped Vettel to recover from his pit-lane start and a brush with Williams' Bruno Senna which damaged his front wing. There was an unusual moment when Daniel Ricciardo seemed to brake suddenly whilst behind the safety car and in avoiding his Red Bull stable mate, Vettel further damaged his wing on a DRS marker board by the side of the track. A subsequent early pit stop for used soft tyres and a new nose and wing on the 13th lap dropped him back again.

At that stage the focus was on the way Raikkonen pulled away as Alonso put increasing pressure on Williams' Pastor Maldonado for second place as Red Bull's Mark Webber and McLaren's Jenson Button gave chase. Vettel was 12th.

Maldonado succumbed to Alonso on Lap 21, but on the 23rd lap Webber was involved in an incident when trying to pass Maldonado which saw the Red Bull half spin and lose places to Button, Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Sauber's Sergio Perez. Three laps later Webber had an incident with Massa, which saw the Brazilian spin.

By the time the pit stops had been made, from the 27th to the 31st laps, Raikkonen was only 1.4s clear of Vettel, and it had now became a matter of whether he could get through the remaining 23 laps on the same rubber as Alonso and Button battled in his wake. 

The answer was that he couldn't, but a superbly timed stop on the 37th lap saw him take a set of fresh softs and drop only to fourth, crucially keeping ahead of a frenetic battle between Grosjean (who had been hit early on by Rosberg), Paul di Resta (who had been involved in a first-corner collision with Force India team mate Nico Hulkenberg and Senna), a recovering Perez and Webber.

Di Resta and Grosjean had both had to pit on the first lap, and now the Scot found a way by the Frenchman on the 38th lap, but as Perez attempted to pass both of them he hit Grosjean and spun, and Webber was left with nowhere to go. The safety car was deployed again from Laps 38 to 42 as the wreckage of Grosjean's and Webber's cars was cleared away, and Perez was subsequently given a 10s stop and go penalty.

In the closing laps Raikkonen controlled things perfectly, as Alonso launched a massive challenge for the victory with a flurry of fastest laps which reduced the gap from 3.2s on the 46th lap to 0.8s by the finish. Vettel went from being 29.8s down on Raikkonen to just 3.3s thanks to the second safety car deployment, after which he hounded Button until he was able to slip by on the 52nd lap before slashing the deficit to his two title rivals.

Button took a lonely fourth, with Maldonado surviving all his dramas to bring home 10 crucial points for Williams as Kamui Kobayashi made the best of a relatively quiet race to take sixth for Sauber. Massa was seventh, chased hard by Senna and Di Resta, as Ricciardo took the final point for Toro Rosso after overhauling team mate Jean-Eric Vergne. The Frenchman was also overtaken by Mercedes' Michael Schumacher, whose chance of points was ended late on by a right-rear puncture.

Heikki Kovalainen had a strong run for Caterham to 13th ahead of Marussia's Timo Glock, who just fended off Perez by two-tenths of a second by the flag, with Vitaly Petrov taking 16th for Caterham ahead of HRT survivor Pedro de la Rosa.

The result leaves Vettel 10 points ahead of Alonso, 255 to 245, with Raikkonen retaining third with 198. In the constructors' stakes, Red Bull have 422 points from Ferrari on 340, McLaren on 318 and Lotus on 288.

Scoop: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/11/14021.html

This is it! Two more races left for this season and the semi-finals will be in November 18, 2012 in the USA. Can S. Vettel keep the lead in the standings till the very end? We'll find that answer to this question soon.

New Skoda Rapid and New Seat Toledo

This is the first of one of today's offerings. It's the new age of Skoda, the first of its kind, a compact sedan. The Skoda Rapid. It maybe essentially a production version of the MissionL concept car as seen on 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show but this one though is a bit more clever than that...

2013 Skoda Rapid

Now, if you're from India, then to you, your India's Rapid is different from our Rapid. As I want to say, the real Skoda Rapid we'll talk about is the new one. The real one. The made-in-Mladá Boleslav one. The one from the Paris Motor Show. Not the poor man's Rapid which was made in Pune. Indian Rapids had the old Skoda badge on it while the Rapid that was made in Mlada Boleslav, Czech, has the new Skoda trademark front as well as the new Skoda logo. See the difference? Yep, it stays true to its brand slogan; "Simply Clever".

Hopefully, I don't want anyone from India reading this article or searching for it. Anyway, this new Rapid is coming back fighting and the most powerful version as of now is the 1.4 TSi model that produces 122PS of power, 0-100kph time of 9.5 seconds, and top speed of 206kph. Most fuel efficient is the one with the 1.6 TDi engine mated with the 5-speed manual that promises combined consumption of 23.8km/L (4.2l/100km). There are other engine types available such as the 1.2 MPi, 1.2 TSi, and a 1.6 TDi with 105PS power output and whichever engine you're on, transmission offerings will be a 5-speed MT, 6-speed MT, or a 7-speed DSG.

Prices start at about 289,000 Koruna or about an estimated 11,500 Euros for the basic Skoda Rapid Active 1.2 MPi 5MT varnat up to 459,900 Koruna or about an estimated 18,210 Euros for the top of the line Skoda Rapid Elegance 1.4 TSi 7-speed DSG model.

2013 Skoda Rapid interior

It looks nice though and somewhat practical because what's underneath the Rapid is a chassis from the current generation Volkswagen Polo, which means there's a bit of cleverness going on. Sure, Skoda is the Czech subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, the Germans have done it again to keep the new Rapid well-made for the developing markets, even China's going to get one of these soon.

2013 Skoda Rapid

It may look like a saloon car but it is essentially a 5-door liftback promising a luggage capacity of 550 litres. That makes it a good compact car all-round for everyday use and I think the all new Rapid could claim to be Czech's first of its kind.

However, it must now face this. A car that seems to be the identical twin of the Skoda Rapid...

2013 Seat Toledo

The se habla español SEAT Toledo. It's back. The compact saloon is back and now it uses the same aesthetics from the Skoda Rapid. It might be more of the production version of the concept version as seen from the 2012 Geneva Motor Show but by the looks of it, the Seat Toledo's dramatic design blows the Rapid out of the water. It looks even more premium and stylish unlike any other compact saloons in this category.

2013 Seat Toledo interior

Even though the new Toledo, like the new Rapid, comes with the same engine choices such as the 1.2 MPi, 1.2 TSi, 1.4 TSi, and the 1.6 TDi engine but when it comes to dimensions, the Toledo is longer than the Rapid thanks to its long wheelbase.

2013 Seat Toledo

However, there are a couple of chinks behind the Toledo's elegance; while the Rapid costs about an estimated 11,500 Euros for the entry-level grade, the entry-level grade for the Toledo will cost you 13.990 Euros, that's more than the Rapid even though they are made at the same line and they used the same A05+ platform. Also, the Toledo's less wider than the Rapid. You really can't tell which one has a wide stance.

But still, the Toledo is much more better looking than the Rapid because while the Rapid is focused to be more simple but the new Toledo is very stylish, very practical, and very emotional in every corner. These two compact saloons is what the Czech and the Spanish are capable of in the midst of the Euro Debt Crisis that hampering European carmakers for days but would they work in today's economy? You'll have to find that out soon...

Photo: Skoda Auto, SEAT

Toki Onjouji is 2012 Anime Saimoe Tournament winner

The winner of the 2012 Anime Saimoe Tournament from our pals from 2channel, well...is this...

Toki Onjouji

Toki Onjouji from Saki Achiga-hen episode of side-A.

She's voiced by Yui Ogura, she knocked down one of the Achiga-hen lead characters in the past Saimoe rounds, and overall, she knocked down Kuro Matsumi by a 20-pt gap.

Scoop: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-11-03/2ch-forum-anime-saimoe-tournament-2012-semifinals-finals

And that is the end of this year's Anime Saimoe Tournament! Thank you very much for those characters who participated. Good-bye! Woo-hoo!!!!

"Sa totoo lang..."

On the November 2, 2012 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Cheering practice gags

- Once again, Tata Lino returned with more quotes for you to live by...

- This whole Cybercrime Law fiasco is headed to Bubble Gang too...Unless what you met from Facebook isn't what it seems...

- Bubble Gang does Luna Blanca in LINO BLANCO!

- Sa totoo lang...Bubble Gang does Novuhair Scalp Lotion by spoofing this commercial as HUKVOHAIR SCALP LOTION! Nature's answer to hair loss! Na-try mo na lahat?

- The search for the big prison break is on in PROTEJAIL!

- Dahon, Bagoong, and Boy Pick Up are here for some Pick Up Lines!

- How to deal with someone who has been addicted to lotto?

- IyoTube in You Belong With Me

What’s in our Car Town garage now? (November 2, 2012)

So, what's in our garage this time?

2012 Volvo S60 Polestar TTA

The S60-based touring car was made in collaboration with Polestar Racing to compete for the TTA Racing Elite League. Powering this touring cars was a 420HP V6 engine mated to a six speed sequential gearbox and boosted with some KERS technology as applied by most F1 racers.

2012 Volvo S60 Polestar TTA

1993 Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione 2

The Delta Integrale is somewhat Lancia's last resort when this Italian carmaker is in the brink of financial ruins due to some marketing disaster right before it became a division of Fiat. What made the Lancia Delta Integrale so special is that it participated and won six WRC titles on the trot! It follows the footsteps where the Fulvia, the Stratos, and the 037 left off.

1993 Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione 2

2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Thanks to the new 3.8L Lambda V6 Gasoline Direct Injection (GDi) engine, this new version is quicker than the old Genesis Coupe and also, it's even faster than V6-powered muscle cars and the Infiniti G37S in the track test conducted by AMCI testing. We're expressing our sympathy towards to its rivals.

2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

2013 Nissan GT-R - 第三世代の進化へ

2013 Nissan GT-R

Another year, another improvement for the R35 GT-R. So, what is it this time though? For starters, the VR38DETT engine now has sharper mid-range engine response and improved high-end acceleration. Not only that, the 2013MY (US 2014MY) GT-R now has increased body rigidity, and specification changes to the shock absorbers, springs and front stabilizer. The Premium Edition now comes with rich Semiarinin leather and custom-colored interior as fashionable interior package.

Judging from its improvements, 0-100kph time is now 2.7 seconds and it lapped the Nurburgring in 7:18.6 seconds, faster than the 2012MY Corvette ZR1 or even the 2009 Dodge Viper ACR! All that 24HR Nurburgring race payed off to have the necessary modifications applied for this update.

VIDEO:

Full Story:  http://www.netcarshow.com/nissan/2013-gt-r/

Rumor: Next Nissan Skyline to have turbocharged engine?

Nissan Skyline Coupe (V36)

Recently, I've just picked up a rumor from a website that the next generation Nissan Skyline (Infiniti G) would have its engines downsized.

A website car-research.jp told that for this latest rumor, the 13th generation Skyline (due next year) would be downsized and have its 3.7L V6 engine be thrown away and be replaced by a turbocharged 3-litre engine. We don't know that but here's the full scoop:

V37スカイラインに搭載されるエンジン候補、ハイブリッド見送りの可能性

V37スカイラインに搭載されるエンジンをめぐって多くのタイプが候補に挙げられている。より上級なエンジンから見ていくと、まずフーガと共通のV6 3.5Lハイブリッドがある。ただ前述の通り、V37スカイラインはフーガと相当近いボディデザインになることが予測され、差別化のためスカイラインにはハイブリッドが設定されないという話もある。現時点では採用の可能性は50%といったところだろう。

次に考えられるのが、V6 3.0Lターボである。V37開発当初から重視されていたダウンサイジングターボエンジンで型式はVQ30VDT。現行V36スカイラインの3.5Lモデルに置き換わる燃費性能の高い新開発エンジンである。気がかりなのは、日産がベンツ（ダイムラー社）とV6エンジンについての業務提携を発表してから、このVQ30VDTエンジンの話題が少なくなっていることだ。日産の自社開発が中断している可能性も指摘されている。

そして、メイングレードとして考えられているのが、V6 3.0Lの新型エンジンである。これは日産開発のもので従来のVQ系エンジンと比較して大幅に燃費性能を向上させたエンジンになりそうだ。

さらに、エントリーグレードとして直4ターボモデルが後追い投入されるだろう。これはベンツとの共同開発エンジンで、先日のレポートでお伝えした次期シルビアへの搭載も想定されているものである。ただし、このエンジンは排気量がいくらになるのか明確な情報が出ていない。1.8～2.4L程度とされているが、小さな排気量が選ばれた場合、V37スカイラインへの搭載はミスマッチとなってしまい実現は難しいだろう。

Scoop: http://car-research.jp/nissan/v37.html

Is there a possibility for a turbocharged engine in the next Skyline? Hope our fingers crossed because if this come to fruition, it will sound like the good old days of the Skyline. As of now, we still have the 12th Generation Skyline. Launched in 2006 and it spent six years of its tenure right now.

New SM5 Platinum revealed!

2013 Renault Samsung New SM5 Platinum

Here it is...This must be the facelifted version of the Renault Samsung SM5 (known in Europe as the Renault Latitude). Kudos to the official Renault Samsung Facebook site (http://www.facebook.com/RenaultSamsungM) for revealing the whole look for what we might think that is this the Renault Latitude facelift. Besides, this New SM5 Platinum borrows some of its design from the All New SM7 flagship sedan.

Stay tuned. More to come as the New SM5 Platinum hits showrooms this month.

Honda's N BOX+ is Japan Automotive Hall of Fame 2012-2013 Car of the Year

2013 Honda N BOX +

Congratulations to Honda Motor Co., Ltd for having the Honda N Box+ (plus) won Japan Automotive Hall of Fame's 2012-2013 Car of the Year. Not only that, the Volkswagen supermini, the up!, hailed not only as 2012-2013 Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Import Car of the Year but also 2012-2013 Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car Design of the Year. Also, the Mazda CX-5 with SKYACTIV-D engine hailed as 2012-2013 Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car Technology of the Year.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Scoop: http://www.jahfa.jp/JAHFA_PR_2012.pdf

Let's Do The News! (November 2, 2012)

Time now for the news. As you may know, it's one heck of a sem break for our students in the Philippines. Yep, a sem break from October 29 to November 4 for them, meaning I'm sure somebody went out in October 31 for some Halloween and then Undas in November 1 to pay respect to the deceased loved ones.

Tell you what, shortie. Have you been out in Halloween?

Exactly. Most of them are bats, black cats, devils, Frankenstein, ghosts, witches, mummies, zombies, just the usual scary things to wear for Halloween. Not just that, it's whatever they want to be. Most oddity was the child with the gas mask, you may remember back in the first Doctor Who series back in 2005. The one with "Are You My Mummy?"

(audience laughing)

Gas Mask Zombies? Sure, these evildoers that go "Are You My Mummy?" every time. There's been Daleks, Cybermen, Silurians, Ood, Silence, Weeping Angels, Autons, any DW monster those youngsters they want to be for Halloween. Speaking of which, have you seen a kissogram out there?

Uh...nope.

(audience laughing)

Hey! Jezz! What happened to you? Where have you been?

That Sandy. Hurricane Sandy. She karate chopped by man parts, then my back, I got a black eye, fractured bones, ouch....

Whoa. Seems that you've got karate chopped by a powerful hurricane named after the squirrel character from Spongebob Squarepants eh?

(audience laughing)

I guess this is how our East Coast pals thought of it when they got battered by Sandy. It's like...this.

Uh...I can explain...

(audience laughing)

Imagine that happened to you when Hurricane Sandy blown your house and then you said "Uh...I can explain...". You'd never known this happened to you! (breaks back) Ow!!!! My back!

Are you okay?

Seems that I'm not feeling well in the wheelchair....Ugh....

Look, I think you better go home for a while. You know how much cuts, scrapes, blisters, fractures, and all that how much damage Hurricane Sandy done to you.

Thank You James.

Anyway, while our friend is on a sick leave before he's better soon, there's something we forgot to mention. Sure, The Idolm@ster Shiny Festa is already here on the PSP but it seems that the PS3 version of The Idolm@ster 2 is not giving up without one last hurrah.

Is it the DLC Catalog 13?

Exactly. What to expect on that Halloween-themed DLC Pack developed exclusively for the PS3 version of THE IDOLM@STER 2 is simple. A new outfit called the Halloween Tricker and three outfits derived from the XBOX 360 version such as Visitor From Space, Snaky Showgirl and Happiness Lupinus. Also, a song titled "魔法をかけて！" is included on this DLC Catalog.

Here's the clip of what you might expect on the DLC Catalog 13 of the PS3 version of iM@S 2.

Scoop: http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/cs/list/idolmaster/im2/ps3/dlc/catalog13.php

See?! Oh wait! There's someone who messaged me. Says here...it's from our old friend who left us because of sick leave!

What he said?

He said, he enjoyed playing NFSMW on the PS3. He got all of the 10 Most Wanted Cars such as the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept, Shelby Cobra, Mercedes SL65 AMG Black, Lexus LFA, McLaren MP4-12C, Porsche 918 Spyder Concept, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, Pagani Huayra, and the Koenigsegg Agera R. Well done, mate. But can you hang your Most Wanted status? This game is all about being competitive and if you have a friend playing NFSMW, see if your speedpoints stack up against your friends. That's how NFSMW was made to be.

I see. You may have done that but is your standing still standing? Keep playing to earn more.

Right! He said, he spent nearly 12 hours to complete that game! Really? Oh geez...Must have spent playing that game online with other NFSMW players worldwide. E he he he....

(audience laughing)

By the way, has anyone saw Suddenly, It's Magic?

What's that?

It's the one with Erich Gonzales with Thai actor Mario Maurer on it.

Oh geez....Pairing with a famed actor from the ASEAN region. Here we go again. Do you remember back in 2008 that there was the TV drama from ABS-CBN that stars Jericho Rosales and famed Malaysian actress Carmen Soo?

Uh, yeah. I remember that.

Now, ABS-CBN is having a trend again to pair a famed Philippine personality with someone from the ASEAN region. This time, a movie with the actress from the Philippines and a famed actor from Thailand. Seems that different cultures are getting the best of them...

Yeah, seems that Mario Maurer, who is from Thailand, is going to be guested on Gandang Gabi Vice this Sunday.

Really?

Brace yourselves, kiddo.

Yeah, and speaking of which, many of them are inquiring is there going to be a new season of Luther soon...

Luther? Oh yeah. It's the crime drama with that Idris on it...

Idris, what Idris?

Nope. Not that one who has the heart and soul of the TARDIS. It's that dude Idris Elba on it.

Oh....

(audience laughing)

Idris Elba played as John Luther, the titular main character who deals with some psychological issues while solving crimes. Anyway, BBC uploaded a video filled with some Q and A regarding the next season of Luther.



As announced. Oh yes. Luther is back soon. They've began shooting this month and BBC said that there will be four perfectly dark, chillingly-formed episodes that Luther may face with. You may never know what comes next but I'm sure it's quite a thrilling ride.

Indeed and oh! Word from this year's Istanbul Motor Show is that Renault revealed the updated version of the Fluence sedan. Here it is...

2013 Renault Fluence

Wait a minute? How come it looks different from the facelifted Samsung SM3? How come this facelifted version now has a Clio-styled nose instead of the one we saw from the new SM3?

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/11/2013-renault-fluence-sedan-goes-under.html

I don't know but we'll gonna have to find out, right? This facelifted 2013 Fluence will go on sale next year and it comes with the new 1.6-liter 115PS petrol engine mated to a new X-Tronic CVT automatic transmission that offer a significant reduction in fuel consumption, which is down by 1.3 liters/100km to 6.4 liters/100km, while CO2 emissions fall 15 percent to 149g/km.

Would that engine be work in France?

I don't know but we'll just wait, okay?

Right. Anyway, this month, Subaru will reveal the all new, fourth generation Forester, which I think this is much better looking than the new Outlander we tackled last month. Here's the full view...

2013 Subaru Forester

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/11/2014-subaru-forester-officially.html

This is it! This is the 2013 (US 2014MY) fourth-generation Subaru Forester! It's now been regenerated to look like...oh wait! This is somewhat a fatter version of the Subaru XV, eh?

(audience laughing)

Oh geez...The new Outlander is like a whale but this new Forester is...like a Galapagos tortoise in running shoes...

(audience laughing)

Even though this Galapagos turtoise in running shoes comes with the 146hp (148PS) 2.0-liter flat four connected to either a 6-speed manual or a CVT, and a 276hp (280PS) 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer matched exclusively to a CVT.

Oh my gosh....

Anyway, the Mini Countryman, which our wounded friend didn't like it because it was "more fun in Gran Turismo", is now on its 2013MY model year.

What to expect on the 2013 Countryman range is simple; a three-seat rear bench is now standard while a pair of individual seats will be available as a no-cost alternative. Also new are the trim elements, upholstery colors, the redesigned rings surrounding the Center Speedo and four air vents, new door inserts, remodeled door armrests that now house the relocated controls for the electric windows, and a larger storage compartment under the center console.

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/11/fresh-colors-materials-and-ergonomic.html

I was surprised by this...surprised and annoyed to have the Countryman updated for more.

(audience laughing)

Anyway, that's the news and check out Richard Hammond's Lotus Excel converted to a proper James Bond-like submarine car. As seen from the Top Gear James Bond special.



As announced, it will also be aired on BBC Knowledge Asia this November 4, Sunday at 9PM (Bangkok Time); 10PM (Singapore and Hong Kong time); 11PM (South Korea time). No word when will this be aired on BBC America soon.