Honda Vezel

2014 Honda Vezel

Honda, once a car that makes the enthusiast-focused cars now a carmaker that makes cars that disappoint us...sort of. Once, they were cool, but now, they have lost their luster. The Integra is long gone and its name was used for their motorcycle, the Civic is long dead now three years ago, the Type R is dead and never come back in the JDM empire, and we have to wait until the next two years for their new NSX as well as their revival of the Beat kei roadster. Now, they've been focused on making too much eco-boxes but ever since the implementation of Honda's SPORT HYBRID powertrain, Honda tries to turn the tables around in the fast ever-changing world around us.

The Accord Hybrid was proven to be more efficient than the Insight, the latest Honda Fit Hybrid had a double clutch that is more responsive to drive than the CVT gearbox most hybrids had, they're really are a game changer in its own right...well, as a theory.

Question now is...how come Honda came up with their own answer against Nissan's Juke? It all started back at the 2013 NAIAS in Detroit when Honda previews their answer to the Nissan Juke. It was the Urban SUV concept that spirals the critics into questioning about what would it be when this crossover was based on the new generation Honda Fit. Now that there's a new Honda Fit, it only took moments before Honda pulled out the wraps for their production version of the Urban SUV Concept and gave it the name...VEZEL.

What's in the name VEZEL? It's a portmanteau for the words "Vehicle" and "Bezel" and Honda says that this crossover's worth a charm and multi-faceted like a jewel that changes its looks depending on the angle. That's seems a bit dry to me but judging by the looks of it...it doesn't quite as bad as a Nissan Juke but if you managed to turn up in one of these, it won't win you friends.

2014 Honda Vezel

But still, even though it's not quite a head-turner, the Vezel's design does inherited from the concept model. Almost 90% of the looks were retained and from every angle, this city crossover should sure use some eau de pomme here should this crossover is ready to go wandering to the streets of Tokyo.

The Vezel offers two types of powertrain available such as a 1.5L L15B petrol engine which generates 132PS of power and 155Nm of torque while mated with a CVT gearbox and the main feature for this car is this...the same 1.5L petrol engine but this time connected to a 22kW electric motor and a Lithium-ion Battery, the same as what you expect from today's Fit Hybrid, which in my opinion, is the better hybrid car ever offered because of a certain gearbox I find it worth noticing...a 7-speed double clutch gearbox. Yummy.

Even though I find the 7-speed DCT to be quite too shabby, it's still more responsive than the CVT gearbox and because this 7-speed gearbox implemented on a hybrid car as part of the SPORT HYBRID powertrain, I can expect this to be a bit more fuel efficient than the competition...and it does. 27.0kmpl as calculated in Japan's JC08 Mode standards, scaling that up, that's almost 5kmpl more than the Toyota Harrier Hybrid. Quite surprising but not expecting for the most fuel-efficient hybrid SUV in the market.

2014 Honda Vezel

Because this is just a crossover that looks like a hatchback, the Vezel still handles like a hatchback rather than being an SUV. It feels fine on the city streets but when you show it to the corner, the Vezel's not quite in a mood for the handling department and oh, if you push the SPORT button, the dials have gone red and the suspension's gone harder but still you can expect a fair bit of understeer. No matter how hard you're cornering this, it won't cut a mustard. The theory is that when the suspension's getting harder, the more cornering cars would be but for the Vezel, even with the SPORT Mode on, it's just another theory bites the rust. You got to be more careful than that but if you give the Vezel the optional 4WD system, it's a little bit more promising than the FF model. Promising but still comes the understeer so you may want to watch out for that.

2014 Honda Vezel interior

2014 Honda Vezel interior

Well, even though the handling is just one of the complaints for the new Vezel, I still find the interior to be a bit more comfortable. It can seat up to five people, has 393-liters of max cargo if you're interested for space, and for some circumstances, I can have a sat-nav with smartphone integration. What makes me bizarre on the Vezel is the available Electronic Parking Brake which eliminates the handbrake for some reason, making driving tests a bit more confusing, and then the City Brake Active System which uses a radar to detect incoming vehicles at about 30kph or less and in some cases...brakes automatically but not at all. There's even an EMERGENCY STOP SIGNAL, which is now a norm for all Hondas, which triggers hazard lights when drivers behind you are approaching and in the case of sudden braking when the vehicle is moving.

Question is...would you go for this rather than the Nissan Juke? But first, the starting price for the Vezel is 1,870,000 Japanese Yen for the entry level 1.5 G model, a 180,550 Yen more than the entry-level Nissan Juke 1.5RS Type V. However, the normal petrol Vezel has a fuel economy of 20.6kmpl, so it's 2.6kmpl more than the Juke even though both of them come with an engine stop-start system.

Available Colors: White Orchid Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Tinted Silver Metallic, Rousset Black Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Morpho Blue Pearl. Premium Deep Rosso Pearl, and Misty Green Pearl.

Photo: Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

Gran Turismo 6: VERSION 1.02

In time for the holidays, Gran Turismo 6 gets a minor update with their Version 1.02 and here are some of the most interesting bits if you have an itch to progress further;

First, they've returned the Consecutive Login Bonus from GT5 to GT6. If you remember, when you logged in for several days, the payout will be increased and on the 5th day, your winnings will be multiplied up to 200% so keep playing everyday if you wanna rack up the cash. In Career Mode, the winning Credits will be increased. Then, players will now only require a National B licence to access Seasonal Events and over the course of the game, there will be events that will reward cars as prizes so beware and keep playing.

Also on Update 1.02, the first two new Red Bull cars are offered and the RED BULL X CHALLENGE is up and running. Players will have their first taste of the first two Red Bull cars such as the RED BULL Racing Kart 100 and the first of the Red Bull X2014 series, the Junior model.

The X2014 Junior may be more of a baby racer but don't let the size fool you because this is still a quick car but not at all when your facing this against the bigger ones. This racer served as a practice for when you're racing with Formula Cars and it takes a little bit of mastery to master the little monster racer.

They're available now via update while the more basic X2014 Standard Car and the ultimate X2014 Fan Car will be implemented on a future update.

So, have you tried the latest update?

Let's Do The News! (December 18, 2013)

The big scoop today...

1) New Mini JCW Concept

2014 Mini John Cooper Works Concept

Come at the 2014 NAIAS in Detroit, Mini will be showcasing a concept model of what we believed to be the next generation Mini John Cooper Works hot hatch. It maybe a concept model but it sure does served as a preview of a hotter Mini based on an all new Mini.

Report: http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/mini-john-cooper-works-revealed-2013-12-17

2) Papa Dom of Tropical Depression band passed away

Papa Dom, known by his real name Dominic Gamboa, of a local reggae band Tropical Depression passed away today in which some say caused by a fatal kidney disease. Singer Cookie Chua posted on her Facebook "Hanggang sa muli Papadom Gamboa, mahal na mahal kita ang aking guro nung nagsisimula pa lamang ako sa eksena,"

Report: http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2013/12/18/1269565/tropical-depression-frontman-passes-away

3) Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 5 announced

To celebrate the Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune arcade series' 10th anniversary, the folks at Namco Bandai Games announced the fifth installment of the hit racing arcade. So, what's new on Maximum Tune 5? Well, there's a new harder EXTREME mode if you're a bit of a hardcore racer, then, there are three new machines such as the TOYOTA 86, Subaru BRZ, and the legendary Nissan Skyline RS-X S30, and this game offers MaxiG currency where your winnings can be spent for dress-up kits for your car such as rear wing, vinyls, bumpers, wheels, and more.

It will be commenced this March 2014.

URL: http://wanganmaxi-official.com/wanganmaxi5/

4) Suspect Arrested in Kuroko's Basketball Poison Threat Case

A 36-year-old man, who believed to be the mastermind behind the KuroBas Poison Threat Cases that involves sending threat letters to convenience store chains and establishments linked to Tadatoshi Fujimaki's KuroBas manga, was arrested by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department in Higashinari ward in Osaka on Sunday. The suspect goes by the name of Hirofumi Watanabe and he was formally investigated for the charge of "obstruction of business".

5) Filipina Bea Rose Santiago is Miss International 2013

Another Filipina won an international beauty pageant this 2013 and this time it's the turn of Bea Rose Santiago who was hailed as Miss International 2013. The pageant happened at Tokyo, Japan since December 17th.

Looks like this year is proven to be a brighter sport as the Philippines snagged three beauty pageant wins; one for Megan Young as Miss World 2013 and another one for Mutya Johanna Datul as Miss Supranational 2013.

Report: http://www.pep.ph/news/41663/bea-rose-santiago-takes-the-miss-international-2013-crown

6) Nan is back in her new show!

The foul-mouth old lady, Nan, from The Catherine Tate Show returns in her very own show coming on BBC One this January 4, 2014 under the title "Catherine Tate's Nan". It's a new show but anyway, on the newest comedy series of 2014, while her grandson Jamie is away in Africa for voluntary work, a young girl called Alice has been allocated to Nan by the Young and Old Buddy-Up Foundation to keep her company and cheer her up. Don't mind her but Nan's foul language is all but total annihilation on the unsuspecting public.

Catherine Tate's Nan airs on BBC One Saturday, January 4, 2013 at 21:30.

URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01mv7r6

TTFN!!!

Miles Ocampo, IHAW NA!

On the December 16, 2013's Banana Nite's IHAW NA segment, the guest of the day is none other than former child star now turned teen star Miles Ocampo. Miles has been quite a favorite ever since her big break in Goin Bulilit. Life after Goin Bulilit, Miles appeared in several dramas and later, she gets another big break as schoolgirl Camille Sarmiento in the first season of Luv U, a comedy show.

In case you missed it: #BrianGriffinLives

In case you missed last night's Family Guy episode, titled Christmas Guy, great news! Brian's back for good!

Near the end of the episode, when Stewie encountered a kid that really is Stewie along with the gizmo that involves time-travel on it, he enlisted temporary pooch pal Vinnie (played by Tony Sirico) to distract him. While the other Stewie gets distracted, the real Stewie gets the portal.

Before Stewie uses this time-travelling portal to save Brian, Stewie bids farewell to Vinnie. After bidding them farewell, Stewie's off to the scene of Brian's death and when Stewie saw a car approaching to Brian, STEWIE SAVED BRIAN! Hooray!

Guess this plot twist will be a memorable one, but still, it's good to see our favorite pooch back for good!

Kia K5 Hybrid 500h

The Kia K5 Hybrid (known globally as the Optima Hybrid) gets the facelift it deserve and not only the minor change occurred for Kia's answer to the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord Hybrid but also it gets a whole new name under the banner of K5 Hybrid 500h.

Kia K5 Hybrid 500h

Again, Kia adopted a new naming for their new "ECO hybrid" lineup that goes (number goes here)-0-0-h. For the hybrid version of the K5, it's going to bear the 500h subname, same thing for the K7 Hybrid 700h I've tackled earlier.

For the newest version of the K5 Hybrid, you can see that it inherits the same minor change as its petrol equivalent that was launched earlier this year but it incorporates some signature looks for the hybrid model such as HID headlamps, LED foglamps, a choice of 16 or 17-inch alloys, revised rear lamps, and of course being a hybrid, it bears the "ECO hybrid" badge.

Kia K5 Hybrid 500h interior

Kia K5 Hybrid 500h interior

The same case of inheritance goes for the interior because not only it came from its normal petrol equivalent but it even comes with an updated software in the form of UVO 2.0. In case you're asking, UVO 2.0 is the second-generation of Kia's infotainment system which smartphone app provides a completely new level of car telematics, parked vehicle locator, and advanced vehicle relationship management free of charge. Who needs car keys when you can have a smartphone integrated to this car? A bit clever but a bit serious.

Kia K5 Hybrid 500h

You still have the same Nu 2.0 MPi engine which produces 150PS of power and 18.3kg-m of torque but the electric motor that connects it is now enhanced from the former's 30kW to the latter's 35kW. The engine connected to the electric motor and the Li-ion battery, it's up to the driver to choose whichever driving modes to see fit, whether if its running on EV only, running on normal petrol engine, or running on both. It's like having two hearts except this isn't wibbly wobbly timey wimey. This is automotive science.

And having learned their lesson from the whole Hyundai-Kia fuel economy fiasco regarding that their fuel economy figures are overstated and caused them lawsuits, the K5 Hybrid 500h has a fuel economy of 16.8km/L combined. It maybe just a major drop from its former glory but hey, sacrifices have to be made for the greater good, right? But still, it's not as fuel efficient as the Toyota Camry or the Honda Accord Hybrid.

As for the weight, the K5 Hybrid 500h weighs at around 1570kg, meaning that's just a few kilos heavier than the Toyota Camry but about a hundred less than the Honda Accord Hybrid, theoretically.

Because the suspension has some McPherson struts in the front and multilink at the back, the K5 Hybrid 500h feels more clever and serious as any other cars using this kind of suspension setup. Yes, there are some multilink cleverness going on around here making it a good effort all round, well that's a theory.

The K5 Hybrid 500h starts at 30,360,000 Korean Won for the base Luxury model up to 33,530,000 Korean Won for the top-of-the-line Noblesse model. Available colors are Snow White Pearl, Bright Silver, Aluminum Silver, and Aurora Black Pearl.

Photo: Kia Motors

Kia K7 Hybrid 700h

Back in Autumn 2009, the Kia K7 spearheaded the K-Series line of saloons and in case they forgot about it, the "K" letter stands for Kia Motors, the automaker's birthplace: Korea, the English word: kinetic, the Greek word: Kratos, and so on, relating to the letter K. With last year's facelift took place, it only takes a matter of time before Kia Motors introduced a new twist to the K7 premium saloon.

2014 Kia K7 Hybrid 700h

They now introduced the hybrid version of the K7/Cadenza under the banner "K7 Hybrid 700h" and it seems that they're going to outdo with the numbers because starting with this and alongside the K5 Hybrid 500h, which I'll be tackling on later after this, Kia adopted a new naming for their hybrid lineup that goes (number goes here)-0-0-h. This is a K7, right? So for the hybrid version, it's going to bear the 700h subname.

2014 Kia K7 Hybrid 700h

Kia Eco hybrid badge

To make sure deaf people don't mistake the K7 Hybrid 700h for an ordinary K7, the exterior looks nearly identical to the normal model except that now it has blue highlightings on the signature Tiger Nose grille, blue highlights on the projection headlamps and Daytime Running Lamps, 17-inch alloys, and an "ECO hybrid" badge; two on the side view and one at the rear view.

2014 Kia K7 Hybrid 700h

On the inside, it's pretty much identical to the normal K7 because on the hybrid model, you can see the "ECO hybrid" logo on the seats, a very different dashboard with the one of the left that looks suspiciously familiar to other hybrids except this doesn't have the words Eco, Power, and Charge on it but instead it says ECO GUIDE on it. You still get the same premium amenities as the normal K7 as well as this analog clock on the dashboard which looks quintessentially classy for a show-offer.

The K7 Hybrid 700h comes with the Theta II 2.4 MPI engine, which generates in a normal 159PS of power output, is connected to a 35kW electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. Put them together and you'll get 204PS of power while mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. As for the fuel economy, the K7 Hybrid 700h gets a moderate 16.0kmpl combined and CO2 emission of 106g/km. I know, it looks somewhat familiar to what you get from the newer Hyundai Grandeur Hybrid but be warned; the K7 Hybrid 700h weighs at around 1690kg, 10kg more than the Hyundai Grandeur Hybrid.

The K7 Hybrid 700h starts at 35,830,000KRW and available colors are Snow White Pearl, Aluminum Silver, Bright Silver, Aurora Black Pearl, Platinum Graphite, and Satin Metal.

Photo: Kia Motors

Hyundai Grandeur/Azera Hybrid

2014 Hyundai Grandeur Hybrid

2014 Hyundai Grandeur Hybrid

Since its launch in January 2011, the 5G Grandeur is a step further for Hyundai's luxury premium FWD saloon car that sometimes doesn't fare well against the competition. Now, Hyundai wants to make the Grandeur or Azera even more economical and more...silent by unveiling the first ever Grandeur Hybrid.

You get the same premium amenities as the normal petrol version but for the hybrid, the Theta II 2.4 MPI engine, which generates in a normal 159PS of power output, is connected to a 35kW electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. Put these together and the total output is a healthy 204PS of power, making it a bit less of a city-car class, more of a high-performance car class. Unlike most hybrids that do come with the dull CVT gearbox like for instance, the Toyota Crown or the Lexus IS or the Toyota Camry, this hybrid version of the Grandeur/Azera is mated with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Not quite as sporty as it seems but still it's worth responsive than a CVT-mated hybrid however, in terms of fuel economy, the Grandeur Hybrid gets a moderate 16.0km/L. That's about less than its rivals from Toyota but still, it's more fuel efficient than its petrol equivalents.

The new Grandeur Hybrid starts at 34,600,000 KRW and it's available at four different colors; White Crystal, Sleek Silver, Black Diamond, and Aquamarine.

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company

Gran Turismo 6: The Jaguar XKR-S and the Nissan GT-R

For several years, Jaguar had a long reputation of making comfortable, good-looking saloons only the posh would salivate for but for this Jaguar I tried on Gran Turismo 6, speed is the focus of the game.



This must be the new Jaguar XKR-S, the most powerful production sports car Jaguar has ever made. First of all, the aluminum quad-cam 5.0L AJ-V8 supercharged engine has been recalibrated to produce 542HP of power and 501.2ft-lb of torque. Yummy...

It can do 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of over 300kph, making this the only Jaguar that has been permitted to the elite club of 300kph sportscar. As a matter of fact, that's almost as near as what most Ferraris do, meaning that's on the edge of Ferrari territory.

Then, there's the exhaust note and because of its supercharged V8 engine, it sounds like an American muscle car. So lairy, so crazy, and overall...Oh dear! I like a European V8 sportscar!





Despite sounding like a muscle car, the XKR-S still behaves like a sportscar because of its hard suspension, adaptive dynamics, and the active differential which is programmed to alter slip ratios, differential torque distribution, and intervention levels, letting drivers push this car to the absolute limits. It's all science and maths but still the Jaguar XKR-S is no GCSE or some physics lessons. It feels like it puts the fizz into physics and this car that Jaguar does what nitro does for glycerin.

No wonder some Brainiacs could recite the promo video of the car. Ahem..."This isn't about image. This design is driven by geometry and physics". Oh Benedict Cumberbatch....





To make sure people don't mistake the S for the ordinary XKR, it comes with a carbon rear spoiler, 20-inch alloy wheels, leather that looks like carbon fiber, sports seats, blue ambient lighting, and some added aerodynamics. What annoys me is the red brake calipers because it looks inappropriate for a Jag like this. Aside from the added aerodynamics, the XKR-S looks a bit of a show-off to me. It can be a sportscar but it feels so overrated to me.





I know, I love driving this Jaguar just a bit longer but when it gets too much for me, the XKR-S seems a bit more of an overrated rather than an underrated when it comes to being a show-off car. You can enjoy it a little longer but not at all because there are times you're going to fed up with this car unless if its necessary. Even though it's still overrated, I'm still liking to the XKR-S grit because this is still the Jag I love to drive on Gran Turismo 6.



With the XKR-S, it seems that Jaguar has sacrificed most of its subtlety and good looks in the pursuit of speed but if it's speed, I wonder, how come you're not interested over...the Nissan GT-R?



For years, the flagship of Nissan, the GT-R, had gone through several revisions to make it into the completed piece you see now. Legend has it that this Japanese supercar can outrun numerous sportscars even those that are five times the price such as the Lexus LFA, the Mercedes SLS, or the Ferrari 458. With the GT-R scored numerous awards and the recognition of being the perfect machine, its success prompted Nissan to begin development on the next generation platform but its high hopes can't be contained in the middle of a race.



Sure, I might tell you about how it's made on the hermetically-sealed factory and all of the components are heated to the same temperature before assembly so they're in the same state of thermal expansion and how the tires are filled with nitrogen because it's more stable than air and how it went round the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 20 seconds but I'm not gonna do that even though I just did.



What I'm gonna do here is doing drag race at a quarter mile straight of the Ascari Race Resort. Anyone familiar with what I just did to these two should better sit comfortably because what I did is simple. Even though the XKR-S has a few more power than the GT-R, the GT-R not only leave the XKR-S to dust, it demolished it.



There is this weird theory about how did the GT-R managed to get off the line quickly and probably because of the Launch Control feature, a feature in a form of a computer that sorts everything out for you so when you plant your foot out, it sets off in a perfect line. Clever but unintelligentable for a Brainiac who wishes to use it. Some say, a Brainiac would have a launch control by himself.



But still, it's a great car. I'm still loving this Japanese supercar a lot. The double-clutch gearbox works seamlessly, the VR38DETT engine is not an engine, it's just like putting ammonal in a gas cooker and then explodes when introduced to a toy robot holding a blow torch, the turning's not so bad, and overall, when you want to let loose in this car, the grip is mind-boggling.



It really is the perfect blend of technological and mechanical engineering. It truly is the best of both worlds and for Brainiacs playing GT6, it's still worth a white-knuckle ride if they're looking for thrills out of this car that always defy the laws of physics.





Despite everything, the GT-R still behaves like a proper saloon. Quiet and comfortable but not at all because it makes the noise that most racing machines produce but they're subdued in the background.



It's hard to fault this car because while the XKR-S was just a brogue that was converted into a training shoe, the GT-R was designed to be a training shoe in the first place for a much less. The GT-R is the ultimate instrument of speed while the XKR-S left me question why would Jaguar want to mimic the hardcore progress that Aston Martin has not to mention they have their own testing facility at the Nurburgring.

Still, with the GT-R, you'll get the impression that this car is very clever but a bit serious. If you have one of these, go out and see if NISSAN's ultimate masterpiece still has the potential to rack up the points!

Let's Do The News! (December 16, 2013)

The big scoop today...

The Skyway Bus disaster

Earlier today, there was a bus with a plate number UVC-916, which is a Pacita-bound Don Mariano Transit Corp. bus in a form of an Isuzu, fell off the Skyway on a van with the plate number ULX-874. Reports say. This incident occurred at the Barangay Marcelo Green in Parañaque City early morning.

Report: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/motoring-news/paramedic-sends-aftermath-photo-of-this-morning-s-skyway-bus-fall

Concept-One co-owner shared photos of what's in the burned showroom



Last week, an acetylene tank explosion caused the Concept One main showroom gone in flames. Concept One (Wheel Gallery) co-owner Sam Liuson posted something on the social media "The fire is out, nobody got hurt. We lost a lot of our stocks, but nevertheless we are all fine. I still thank my Lord and my God. God is sovereign. God is in control." Oh yeah, he even shared some pics of the most unfortunate tragedy happened in the history of the aftermarket industry.

Report: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/industry-news/concept-one-proprietor-shares-photos-of-burned-showroom

Gemballa GTP 700



Based on the Porsche Panamera saloon, the Gemballa GTP 700 premium saloon is designed and tuned to be the quickest four-door supercar ever made. Even though it weighs two tons, it does 0-100kph in 3.3 second and a top speed of 338.8kph. That puts this four-door supercar on par with the Ferrari Enzo, well that's a theory.

Report: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/car-news/gemballa-s-porsche-panamera-based-gtp-700-is-one-badass-sedan

A Disney Channel Original Movie featuring successors of Disney Villains?

Come 2015, there's going to be a new DCOM under the name of "Descendants". In this upcoming DCOM, a teenage son of the king and queen (Beauty and the Beast) is poised to take over the kingdom and under his rule, he will spare the descendants of famous Disney villains. Carlos, Mal, Evvie and Jay, the descendants of Cruella De Vil, Maleficent, the Evil Queen and Jafar, are allowed to attend prep school alongside successors of the good guys. Will the descendants follow their footsteps of their evil predecessors or be the good guys to save the kingdom?

This 2015 DCOM will be directed by Kenny Ortega, who is known to be the Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer of the High School Musical trilogy. Casting is underway and the script is written by Josann McGibbon and Sara Parriott.

Report: https://d23.com/disney-channel-announces-new-movie-introducing-the-teenage-descendants-of-disneys-evil-villains/

2015 C-Class revealed

2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz finally revealed the all-new 2015 C-Class saloon, which the exterior design was inspired from its bigger brothers, the E-Class and the S-Class, as well as featuring a host of new technology and new engine variations as well as a hybrid powerplant.

Details: http://www.netcarshow.com/mercedes-benz/2015-c-class/

TTFN!!!

Nissan X-TRAIL T32

In the past, when you want a crossover worthy enough to do the jobs you are facing on such as going for work, fetch kids to school, and whatever's on your schedule, you would always go for the Nissan X-TRAIL because while it may not be the flashiest crossover in the market but it's still a worthy contender. Back when the second-generation model was launched years ago, it looked nearly the same as the first generation model so the confusion sparks in but still looks as tough as a bantamweight boxer. But now, Nissan went back to the drawing board and regenerate the X-TRAIL into something...hmmm...

2014 Nissan X-TRAIL

Well, this is it, the all-new Nissan X-TRAIL T32, the third-generation of Nissan's mid-size crossover that competes with the likes of the Toyota Harrier, Subaru Forester, Mazda CX-5, and the Honda CR-V. It looks kinda bizarre because for this new generation, its machismo-laden design has been thrown away and redrawn into something more...unibody-ish and more...hatchback-ish. I don't know but the new model doesn't look as tough as it used to be. The front looks like it came from a Juke while the back looks suspiciously familiar to the Mitsubishi M_nt_r_ Sp_rt and overall, it's becoming more of a softroader rather than a offroader. What else?

2014 Nissan X-TRAIL interior

On the inside, the new X-TRAIL doesn't look chunky anymore and it's now looking pretty interesting for the new model. The dashboard looks like it came from next year's Teana J33 while the seating's not so bad. Not only you can have the five-seater model but for the first time in this generation, the new X-TRAIL now offers seats for seven people, meaning that if you have a family, this is the X-TRAIL for you and it's so much you can do to take care of you because with seats for the whole family, there's still enough room for your luggage because of its best-in-class max cargo of about 39.3 cubic feet with the seats up. There's even a class-exclusive divide-and-hide cargo system to make your luggages as organized as an office space. Now that's clever science.

If I have a drawback, however, it's the third-row seats because not only because it adds weight to the new model, the legroom's a bit small, meaning the kids in the back will have a hard time squeezing their legs without disturbing ate or kuya. Take note, if you have teenagers in the second-row, this could get really messy.

2014 Nissan X-TRAIL

For the new model, Nissan wanted to focus more on fuel economy and nothing else so for the new X-TRAIL, it now comes with the MR20DD engine lifted from the Nissan Serena C26. The MR20DD engine, complete with idling stop system, is direct-injected. It produces about 147PS of power, 10 more than the previous model's MR20DE engine, and with the XTRONIC CVT gearbox, fuel economy is a best-in-class 16.4km/L calculated in JC08 Mode standards. If you're going to ask what is the fuel economy of this car, here's your answer. Remember; for Japanese cars, fuel economy is measured in JC08 Mode standards. The More You Know so put this in your heads and never forget.

On the CVT issue, it's even more responsive and positive-feeling than the outgoing model because what the new X-TRAIL has is Nissan's next-generation XTRONIC CVT and for this next-generation XTRONIC CVT, it has 7.0 of ratio coverage, 15% fuel efficient, and 40% less friction, making this more responsive than the regular mass-market CVTs.

For 4WD models, the new X-TRAIL still comes with ALL MODE 4x4-i, which constantly optimizes torque to all four wheels for stability on snowy and other slippery surfaces. It has Uphill Start Support, which controls the brakes to avoid rolling backwards when you start off on the hill, and Downhill Drive Support, which controls the brakes to avoid getting too much speed when going downhill.

The new X-TRAIL comes with the world's first Active Ride Control and how does Active Ride Control works? Stop yabbering and watch this clip...



Active Ride Control works by autonomously adopting the brakes and adjusting the engine's torque to help smooth the impact. If you bump into a speed bump or a pothole or something a bit...well, bumpy, this new feature helps you stay composed and comfortable. It feels like nothing happened when you get through a bumpy situation. Aside from the Active Ride Control, it also comes with the world's first Active Engine Braking, which adjusts the engine's torque to slow down while enhancing control and stopping confidence.

2014 Nissan X-TRAIL

In terms of safety, the new X-TRAIL still focuses on the theme of technology and for the new model, new features are added for the first time in a Nissan vehicle such as the EMERGENCY BRAKE and the NO-ENTRY SIGN DETECTION. Well, you know how the EMERGENCY BRAKE works like, right? But in case if there are new to the scene, let me tell you about this feature; it uses sensors to detect an incoming collision and when it goes bee-do, bee-do, bee-do...it brakes automatically but not at all. NO-ENTRY SIGN DETECTION...well, when it detects a sign that says NO ENTRY, it warns the driver with a notification. Wait, what? I already know what a NO ENTRY sign is! Why would they put such a feature that we all know?

Anyway, there are tons of safety support features available on the new X-TRAIL such as the Around View Monitor, the new Intelligent Parking Assist where it lets the car park by itself, Blind Spot Warning, and a feature that detects drowsy drivers.

And now for the verdict. What can I say about the new model? Well, the things I like about the new X-TRAIL is the new CVT's getting more responsive than the old X-TRAIL CVT of yesteryears, it's got seven seats for the first time, it's still made for those who are in their hectic schedules, it's now fuel efficient than the old model, and overall, it gets even more interesting for us. Things I don't like about it is the third-row seats' legroom looks too small, the looks aren't that tough for a crossover, and of course, there's going to be a hybrid version coming next year. Oh dear...

Prices start from 2,249,100 to 2,597,700 Japanese Yen including destination and delivery charges.

Available colors: Brilliant White Pearl, Brilliant Silver Metallic, Dark Metal Grey Metallic, Diamond Black Pearl, Burning Red, Titanium Khaki Pearl Metallic, and Steel Blue Metallic.

Photo: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Things are getting frosty with our Elsa plush

In my previous article, I checked out that Anna plushie I just bought from the Disney Store and I told that it really is a keeper for little girls of all ages and if I were you, this is definitely a must have for a collector of everything Disney. Looks like the D23 community are thinking about my decisive choice and now, days later, I bought the Elsa plush just for the sake of the D23 community.

Here it is! After my whole EENEY MEENEY MINEY MO negotiation in the past and the whole...cockups that I made my family disappointed, I have finally got my hands on the character whose icy powers deemed uncontrollable and caused the kingdom of Arendella trapped in eternal winter. Quite an appropriate plush for an appropriate weather, especially in the Pacific Northwestern part of the USA, get it?

 

Yep, Elsa's been a fan favorite after all, especially in all her icy glamour.

Just like that Anna plush I've purchased, it costs US$19.95, so it's a bit expensive for a plush but if you're planning to buy one as a gift this Christmas (or if you're in a middle of a Monito Monita), this is just one of the alternatives.

Even in plush, it's still as elegant as the character herself! Even her textured braid does matches her personality. Oh yeah, if you wanted to have an Elsa-fied hairstyle, there's a clip for that.

Watch: http://video.disney.com/watch/elsa-s-textured-french-braid-4e99bbff4273f1e2b6ab48bf

Aside from her elegant looks and her cold-hearted...well, personality, it's the detailing that make this 20-inch plush stand out. To match the self-styled ice queen's icy and cold-hearted personality, her gown is pattered with snowflakes as well as her cape. Looks a bit transparent through the human eye but her gown's still as elegant as a winter wonderland. Her satin shoes weren't quite bad though.

Elsa the self-styled and villainous snow queen...wow, I'm starting to feel the cold now as well as the atmosphere's getting all frosty. Not quite frosty yet at the Pacific Northwest where I'm here now. Not yet snowy. Just dark clouds and rain. Let's just wait until it snows and when it snows, I'm getting the sisters of Frozen ready but for now...

Look at them! How nice it is when you pair these two sisters? I mean, just look at those two. I can't really decide which of these two is pretty but hey, your guess is as good as mine, okay?

Ah, but not done yet. I still need something special. A special treatment for the sisters Anna and Elsa...

There, that's better. Anna and Elsa, say hello to Sofia from Sofia the First. Ah yes, look at those three, looking fresh and pretty.

So, there you go, although she maybe a cold-hearted ice queen, Elsa's still elegant for a fan favorite if whoever went to the cinemas just to watch Disney's Frozen. For a plush toy of her, it's still worth an elegance worth feeling for, unless you're feeling the cold in a cold light of day.