Cadillac ELR vs. BMW i8

In the not too distant past, most Cadillacs are infamous for being a car made for pensioners because by the way you look at them, it seems that most Caddies in the past have looks only pensioners would want but thanks to the ART & SCIENCE philosophy, not only Cadillac was saved from the brink of extinction but also turned the tables on what we expect from a Cadillac. With cars like the ATS, CTS, XTS, SRX, and the Escalade, Cadillacs are getting more noticeable than the past as well as gaining admirers. With all that ART & SCIENCE still flourishing General Motors' luxury brand, looks like Cadillac made this...

2014 Cadillac ELR

This is the Cadillac ELR and while being true to its name, this is the brand's first electric long range vehicle designed not only to look smirk on your neighbors thinking that you have a car that is way more than the commoner Nissan Leaf but also a car that can get you from points A to B longer than your average German saloon.

2014 Cadillac ELR

Of course being one of the firsts from Cadillac, I could get amused that this new model is just like the Chevrolet Volt because like the Chevrolet Volt, the ELR is a plug-in hybrid vehicle or PHEV. You can either charge it with electricity, fill up petrol or like that little girl from that taco commercial...why not have both? WHY NOT HAVE BOTH?! That's a clever way to say that! WHY NOT HAVE BOTH?

You see, the ELR is equipped with the 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery and an electric motor generating up to 135kW (before you reach your calculator app, yup. That's 184HP) on the electric side while on the petrol side, it comes with the 1.4L EcoFLEX engine, the same engine you would expect on most Opels or Vauxhalls in Europe. Running on petrol alone, it develops a very compact car-ish 83HP of power and it's made to run the 55kW generator when the Li-iON battery is running on empty.

Running on battery alone, it can reach up to 37 miles of distance, enough to reach from a house from 46th Avenue South, Seattle, to Three Lakes Rd, Snohomish, WA. With the battery and the generator working together as one, it can travel up to 340 miles of distance, the driving distance from San Jose, California, to Seattle, Washington...as a theory.

There's more because on the ELR, you are in charge when is your car fully charge. You make the schedule on when to charge it, customize your charging mode as well as the charging level, and you can program it based on off-peak rates or your next trip. On a 240V outlet, it takes about five hours to fully charge it but on 120V outlets, it may take 75% of the day to fully charge it and that's theoretically...boring.

2014 Cadillac ELR interior

2014 Cadillac ELR interior

So, while this maybe one of the most ideal machines you can drive as a daily driver, there are some mishaps in the ELR's luster and that's when we get to the interior. Of course, it's all typical Cadillac interior just like any luxury car makers to wear uniform interiors but the Cadillac CUE system...what can I say? Of course, it maybe more enjoyable to explore the CUE but your weary fingers can't sustain the boring and complicated methods on how to master the Cadillac CUE infotainment system. It's hard to find the MP3 player, the Bluetooth, the navigation, and those tick-tack stuff this navigation system has loads of it. It's like getting lost in a maze or something.

Of course, while it may seat up to four, its coupe layout means that the rear room is mostly cramped for the rear passengers. You might be finding unfathomable difficulty squeezing yourself at the back of the ELR.

While this maybe the coupe, the ELR is not one of the best cars to enjoy on a weekend drive because the suspension setup is a little bit too wonky. The HiPer Strut front and Watts Link rear Sport suspension doesn't feel like a European sportscar and it behaves...like a commoner eco box. This car doesn't behave like a fit and agile coupe from another world and while the suspension setup is the least of the problems for the ELR, the biggest problem is the pricing because the ELR starts at 75,000 Dollars plus tax and destination charges and you can charge more with the optional extras. Is it more bang for the buck. Sadly, no. The ELR is not what you called a good car to drive but there's one good thing you might consider...

2015 BMW i8

This is the BMW i8, it's one of the most anticipated models of 2014 and by no means one of the most interesting cars to drive. Like the Cadillac ELR, it's a plug-in hybrid vehicle but unlike the ELR, the petrol engine is a 1.5L 3-cylinder turbo engine developing 231PS of power. Unlike the ELR, the joint custody of the 1.5L petrol and the hybrid synchronous motor developing a total output of 362PS of power. That is how Germany wanted to beat USA with all that power comes in.

This car is proven to be the epitome of a blue-blooded eco car and while it maybe a PHEV just like the ELR, the BMW i8 is unlike any other because of its bespoke hybrid system that delivers a range up to 23 miles and 75mph on electric power alone but running on all powers, you can expect 135 mph imperial of driving distance. Of course, while it maybe less than the ELR, the i8 is still more enjoyable to drive than the ELR thanks to its all-wheel drive system that lets you have fun without crashing into it.

2015 BMW i8 interior

2015 BMW i8 interior

While the i8 is truly one of the most enjoyable cars, it is one of the most exclusive cars ever made and thanks to the 126,000 Euro pricing and the long waitlist currently facing, having one is an unfathomable difficulty. So, the conclusion is simple, while the Cadillac ELR is designed for travelling further distances in mind, the BMW i8 is by no means one of the most interesting machines of the planet, incorporating how this plug-in hybrid sports car made from the blank sheet of paper and some creative brainstorming from the Germans.

2015 BMW i8

In the end, only history will tell the winner but for me, I would go for the i8.

FIFA World Cup 2014 - Round of 16 (Part Four)

The Round of 16 match has come to the close and the last two matches has been quite an explosive for the spectators when the matches reached the extra time like in the case of Argentina vs. Switzerland and Belgium vs. USA. Thanks to extra time, Argentina and Belgium are advanced to the Quarterfinals!

The quarter-finals begin on the 4th of July with France taking on Germany while Brazil takes on Colombia. Obrigado!

Let's Do The News! (July 2, 2014)

The big scoop today...

- Forza Motorsport 5 revealed their final monthly DLC Pack for July called The Hot Wheels Car Pack. In this car pack, free for Season Pass owners, players can take control of 10 new rides that will turn heads in the corners. These are:

2013 Lamborghini Veneno
1939 Audi Auto Union Type D
1967 Lotus Type 49
2013 Mazda #7 Andretti Autosport USF2000
1952 Ferrari 375
1974 Toyota Celica GT
2015 Audi S3 Sedan
1956 Ford F-100
1973 Ford XB Falcon GT
1983 GMC Vandura G-1500
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- The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is officially crowned as America's most powerful car ever made as its newly developed 6.2L supercharged HEMI V8 engine is officially rated at a massive 707HP! 707HP! That's more than the 2015 C7 ZO6 or the outgoing Shelby GT500 combined! It's even more than the Lamborghini Aventador! Plus, the Challenger SRT Hellcat will come with two key fobs. The red key fob will unleash all 707 horses from its V8 engine while the black key fob limits the engine to just 500HP. This is like a Bugatti Veyron of some sorts...

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

- Well...well...the Land Transportation Office clarified the ABS-CBN report about banning various accessories attached on the license plates of vehicles. Section II-e of the JAO No. 2014-01 states that plate-related accessories are banned as well as plate holders, plate covers and others...especially foreign ones. Violators will be charged 5,000 Philippine Pesos and a confiscation of said accessories. Be warned, speedo boys...the government's are eyeing on your car's plate and there's no escaping now.

- Philippine telecommunication giant, Globe, will be hosting this year's Lotus roadshow with racing driver Marlon Stockinger behind the wheel of the Formula Renault car at the Bonifacio Global City this late August as part of launching a new and modern network.

- The DOTC will be analyzing the bus rapid transit system for Metro Manila from Quezon Memorial Circle to Manila City Hall.

- Actress Demi Lovato wrote her new book titled Staying Strong: A Journal and it's set to release this October.

- Another bus accident happened in the Philippines and this time, there's a bus fell off from the ravine in Aurora, injuring 21 passengers.

- It is revealed that Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is fighting against Stage 4 lung cancer and manages to make a big deal about her situation.

- Marriott's new homosexual-friendly ad campaign called #LoveTravels featured a transgender Pinay model. If you have any doubts, there's this fashion model turned role model named Geena Rocero who revealed as a transgender woman. Here's the clip that really sums it up...



TTFN!!!

FIFA World Cup 2014 - Round of 16 (Part Three)

Two African nations are officially out from the FIFA WORLD CUP Brasil and two European nations are advancing to the next round as France and Germany made the rounds against Nigeria and Algeria. In the France vs. Nigeria match, two goals are enough for France to send the Nigerians packing their bags, wondering what might have been, after the score of 2-0. In the Germany vs. Algeria match, the extra time sent the Germans winning against the Algerians at the score of 2-1.

Tomorrow, it's Argentina vs. Switzerland and Belgium vs. USA.

Let's Do The News! (July 1, 2014)

The big scoop today...

- LAST CHANCE! Now is your last chance to win limited-edition goodies in Family Guy The Quest for Stuff's Peter Griffin and the Kingdom of Full Moon special event! This is your last chance to unlock Cleveland Brown, who was recently returned from Family Guy a few weeks ago, as well as his 80's outfit! It's your last chance to score some limited edition goods as well as an original character that your can #party #rage #thrash #repeat all you want. You got until the 1st of July at 5:00PM Eastern Standard Time to score some booty! Tell your party-obsessed mummy friends!

- REBOOTED: After moments of hiatus, Head Squeeze, the educational YouTube channel from the BBC is back! Here's the announcement video:



- The fastest machine to lap round last week's 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed is the Peugeot 208 T16. Although it couldn't match the all-time record set by Nick Heidfeld but the lap time of 44.6 is this year's quickest.



- The General Motors recall drama continues as the American carmaker recalls over 8.4 million cars while 90% are related to ignition problems.

- With Angel Locsin set to reprise her role as Darna in the upcoming ABS-CBN TV series coming very soon, next year sees her reprising the role of one of the Philippines' famed superheroes based on the works of Mars Ravelo.

- Students from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde gave invalid information on which fraternity was responsible for the hazing that killed a student.

- According to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, the deployment of FA-50s will help boost the aerial defense of the Philippines.

- A video showing a man who can put on his pants without using his hands goes viral! CAN YOU DO THAT?!



- A million-dollar Ferrari LaFerrari got totalled by a VW Golf in Monaco.

- We all heard of Chinese drivers smashing their cars for its poor quality and bad servicing but for this latest news from China, some Chinese guy smashed his Tesla Model S to protest against the American electric carmaker's "arrogance".

TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 5: IS装着

The IS naming in the Lexus IS car stands for "intelligent sports" but if you drank too much sake and ended in a massive hangover, you will probably mistaken the naming for "Infinite Stratos", apparently. If the name "Stratos" really does ring a bell...then most car enthusiast think of that name as the legendary Lancia Stratos, the rally legend powered by a Ferrari Dino engine in the middle and won three World Rally Championships from 1974 to 1976.

This has got to be one of the most absurd comparisons ever done in the history of Forza Motorsport 5 but because this is science, the Lexus IS, in IS F trim with the 5.0L V8 engine and the 8-speed SPDS gearbox mated on it, wanted to know if the S in the IS naming stands for Stratos but first...




Both the ISF and the Stratos are taking their rehearsals at the world-renowned, as-seen-on-TV, Top Gear Test Track, located at the Dunsfold Aerodrome, Surrey, United Kingdom.



Based on the data gathered during their rehearsals, it seems that the Lancia Stratos, despite it's almost four times less power than the ISF, performed very well in the handling stakes thanks to the fact that it weighs 1,619 lbs less than the Lexus saloon car and its almost-perfect weight distribution, meaning that for every turn, the Lancia does very well like proper handwriting. The Lexus maybe more powerful than the Stratos but because with so much torque, even a gentle touch would send its rear wheels spin, giving you a hard time to send it to the tight corners with maximum effort. I know Lexus cars are made for those who want to spend their time at the country club like most luxury cars do but for the ISF, that is so out of character for a Japanese luxury car.

With all that, looks like the ISF and the Stratos flew all the way to Long Beach, California, and they're all set to answer the burning question that every student from the IS Academy, well mostly female students, asks. So, can the S in the IS really means Stratos?!






At the Long Beach circuit, the Lexus did it in 1:45.482 while the Lancia did it in 1:53.095, almost eight seconds slower. Well, conclusive proof that the S in the Lexus IS naming really means Stratos...although this is very absurd and whoa! Am I spending too much time drinking alcohol and watching too much Infinite Stratos just to spring this massively absurd idea?! Oh dear... Looks like I'm kinda offending little Miss Houki... He he he...

The Geekdom's Guide To: Friend Fiction

Image: FOX

A fan fiction is when a fan is making his or her own made-up story from one of his or her favorite show or band or whatever means necessary from his or her fandom but in a Bob's Burgers' episode called Bad Tina, Tina Belcher wrote her "erotic friend fiction" using people at school and zombies.

That episode gave us thinking...can we make our own friend fiction using people we know? Of course, perhaps the reason why it's called FRIEND FICTION is because you're making a made-up story using real people in a made-up situation you've created. It's just like that female character from Inception who played by Ellen Page...minus the inception...and the Ellen Page. Well, you get the idea but how to make a friend fiction?

To make a friend fiction, first all you need is some brainstorming before the inception of your own friend fiction. Picture your old school you've been since elementary or high school or whatever, then try to remember the real people you've recognized from your past. Let's say your old classmate, then your math teacher, or your science teacher, or whatever you know. With the location and the people in set, try to make up your own scenario of your own choosing but remember...try not to make it TOO FUNNY or you'll ruin it on your friends who wanted to read your friend fiction.

With all the right ingredients, it's like sugar, spice, and everything nice but accidentally added a chemical concoction called Chemical X and WHAM! BAM! POW! Your friend fiction is done! Of course, there are gazillion ways to create a friend fiction using real people and real places of your choosing but when it's done, be careful on the target audience because you have to rely on the people you trust more. If backstabbers try to blackmail you, it's like that Bob's Burgers episode you saw and you have to fight "friend fiction" with "friend fiction" that is way more weirder than your last one.

So there you go, if you want to make a friend fiction of your own just like Tina, don't hesitate to do it because it's just for fun.

And that concludes The Geekdom's Guide to Friend Fiction...

Citroen C1 II

2015 Citroen C1

The Peugeot 108 has its own twin rival and even though they look different on the outside terms, the new Citroen C1 feels technically the same as the Peugeot 108 as examined before. As a matter of fact, both the Peugeot 108 and the new Citroen C1 were part of the Toyota-PSA triplets born from Kolin, Czech Republic, since the first ones. It's kinda more of a Japanese-French collaboration, don't you think?

Like the Peugeot 108, the Citroen C1 can be offered on either a three-door or five-door and can be fitted with a 1.0L e-VTi 68 Airdream or the 1.2L VTi 82 PureTech petrol engine. You can even opt in for the Airscape model, which comes with a canvas roof at the top as similar to the Peugeot 108's TOP variant.

2015 Citroen C1 interior

2015 Citroen C1 interior

Like the Peugeot 108, the Citroen C1 still comes with the same quality like you expect from budget compacts but it can be configurable by request. You can even have it with the 7-inch screen featuring Mirror Screen where our satnav will serve as the mirror of the compatible smartphone connected. I should warn you that when people go for the Airscape variant, because this is one of the city cars to drive in the summer holiday in Europe,  even when you close the roof off, you can expect some few winds slip through or the noise from within. Yes, that sounds way too familiar to you when you read anyone's first impressions because first impressions don't usually come impressed but when you get used to it, this city car deserves a lot of respect and a lot of love love love.

2015 Citroen C1

The 1.0L e-VTi 68 Airdream engine on the new C1 develops 68PS of power output and it's mated with a 5-speed manual. Even though it's not quite as quicker as the competition, it's one of the most fuel-efficient cars ever made because 26.3km/L is usually plenty for its fuel economy, although actual fuel mileage can vary, depending on your driving style.

As for the 1.2L VTi 82 PureTech petrol engine, developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen, this engine develops 82PS of power output, 23.3km/L of fuel economy, and 99g/km of CO2 emissions. That sounds a lot for a city car but even though these engines are not powerful enough to sneeze your way home, its pseudo McPherson front axle and a deformable rear beam can really add some smile all day long...unless if you're Grumpy and you know it.

2015 Citroen C1

In terms of pricing, the new C1 is more affordable than the 108 because while it starts at 10,150 Euros, the new Citroen C1 costs 9,950 Euros so can anyone hardly explain why this Citroen is way cheaper than its 108 twin? Anyone? Nope? Nope. No comment but surprisingly, the new model is now 200 Euros lower than the old C1.

So there it is, it's very difficult to distinguish which to choose these French city car twins because while the 108 is a high-quality city compact in its own right when well-equipped, the new C1 is much more of an affordable alternative and with so many choices to choose from, it takes guts to determine the winner.

Photo: PSA Peugeot Citroen

Transformers: Age of Extinction

We all love enjoying the Transformers franchise from the range of toys made by Hasbro, the cartoons, and the movies since the first one in 2007 but for the fourth Transformers movie, called Age of Extinction, is this really the best Transformers experience we ever had? Let's see...

The latest installment sees a new male protagonist, played by actor Mark Wahlberg, as well as a new storyline that is way different from the previous installments. In this movie after the Autobots saved the world from the brink of destruction, humanity cleans up the remains from the war torn Earth. Wahlberg plays the role of a mechanic where he and his daughter discovered a deadly conspiracy that will wipe out the Transformers while an ancient powerful opposition has been awakened to bring Earth down to its knees. With the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, joined forces with their new human allies, the war between good and evil has been blurred and the Autobots are ready to expect the unexpected.

Yes, this is now a plethora of automotive mayhem because there are numerous cars featured in the film including the Pagani Huayra, the Lamborghini Aventador, the Chevrolet Sonic, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, the new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, and so much more. Bumblebee, as a Chevy Camaro, gets two versions; one as a first generation and the other one is a latest fifth-generation facelift which doesn't look so right after its previous installments. Those new machines really edged out the luster from the human casts which also includes Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, Li Bingbing, T. J. Miller, Han Geng and many others.

Now I know the cast is now way different from the previous ones but the storyline never felt so good, in true Michael Bay fashion, as the battle for Earth's survival spans across the globe made this installment one of the most thrilling Transformers experience yet to offer this Summer. It really turns skeptics into believers and it will leave them hanging for more. Has our faith in Michael Bay restored? Yes...but only just.

Although Age of Extinction maybe a departure to the Transformers movies we know but this movie never fails to impress us...if the producers were very careful about making this movie feature a million dollars worth of cars. It's quite of an overload if you asked.

My rating: 3.9 out of 5

FIFA World Cup 2014 - Round of 16 (Part Two)

In the second day of the FIFA WORLD CUP Brasil Round of 16 match, Holland and Costa Rica were emerged as the winners on this match. In the Holland vs. Mexico match, the Dutch gave everything they've got to secure their spot to the semi-finals and they've won the match against the Mexicans at the score of 2-1. Meanwhile in the Costa Rica vs. Greece, the 1-1 tie lead to a penalty match where at the score of 5-3, Costa Rica advanced to the semi-finals.

Tomorrow, it's two European nations against two African nations as France takes on Nigeria while Germany takes on Algeria. Obrigado!

Let's Do The News! (June 30, 2014)

The big scoop today...

- Motorcyclist Bobby Goodin was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident during this year's Pikes Peak Hill Climb after crossing the finish line at the top of Pikes Peak.

- There's still more innovative firsts to be introduced on the all new 2015 Ford Mustang as the next generation pony car will introduce Sync 911, which includes sending a report to the local authorities how you crashed and if you were belted.

2015 Ford Mustang

- IN WEIRD NEWS: The Anime Expo committee stuffed over 4 tons of Nature Valley Granola bars into attendee goodie bags, in preparation for next week's event.

- In celebration of Love Live! School idol project's 5th anniversary, since its inception in 2010 as a self-described "ultimate user-participation project", the Season 2 finale announced that they're working on a Love Live movie! We're all pleased, the μ's are pleased, even Honoka Kosaka is pleased.

- Bradley Steven Perry (Gabe from Good Luck Charlie and Kaz from Disney XD's Mighty Med) will star in an upcoming Disney XD original movie, titled Pants On Fire, where he plays as a teenage boy who never stops lying until his made-up friend Mikey (played from Tyrel Jackson Williams who played Leo from Lab Rats) came true and most of his lies turned into reality. It's Kaz meets Leo in the upcoming Disney XD original movie and it's all set later this year.

- Sabrina Carpenter, who played Maya Hart from the recently added Disney Channel series, Girl Meets World, covers Imagine Dragons' Radioactive in a Disney Playlist-featured clip.

- A student from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde was killed from hazing, with three others injured.

- They say marijuana is a drug highly prohibited by the law while some parts of the world are legal. Guess what? The CBCP states that this prohibited drug is fine for cancer patients. Is the CBCP's statement true or is it just a cover-up to state that weed is okay to everyone?

- Manila mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada believes that the case against Jinggoy Estrada is "very very weak".

- An offshoot from the global terrorist network, al-Qaeda, declared the seized territories in Iraq and Syria an Islamic "caliphate" and summoned global factions to pledge their allegiance.

TTFN!!!

Wow Mali! - June 29, 2014

On the June 29, 2014 episode of Wow Mali!

- NAWAWALANG BANGKAY - This grave's going to take you to the grave!

- ULILANG BIIK - A detective tries to investigate the death of the piglet's mom.

- STAR DANCER - Lady needs a lift to get her money...turns out she's just a dancer.

- COMMERCIALS FU - HABA NG HAIR - In the new segment, Commercials Fu, Mr. Fu combines commercial spoofs with some classic Wow Mali good time. On this episode...this portion is brought to you by RICHOICE!

- NAKITA NYO SYA? - Excuse me but...have you seen my kid?

- ISA NA LANG, TATAKBO NA - Room for one more? Because we're moving! Not the jeep! Us!

- EMOTE CONTROL - ANG DRAMA MO - On this episode's Emote Control, a celebrity takes a dramatic stance seriously.

Forza Motorsport 5: Power vs. Grip

When choosing a track toy, do you need a track toy that is focused on power or focused more on grip? To find out, I went to Mount Panorama, which is located at New South Wales, Australia, to find out.



Here is the venue and here are the cars prepped for this comparison:

The KTM X-BOW R. The track toy armed with the super sports car technology for the 21st century. It comes with the Audi 2.0L TFSi engine producing 295HP of power and 295lb-ft of torque. It only weighs around 1,786lbs.



And then, the Caterham Superlight R500. Top Gear's 2008 Car of the Year. It maybe 32HP less than the X-BOW R but it weighs 670lbs less than the X-BOW R so despite that power difference, its lightweight bodywork is worth the gripping capable enough to classify itself as a track toy.



There's a saying that goes "Adding power makes you faster on the straights. Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere". That was the word from Lotus founder Colin Chapman because some car companies value aerodynamics over engine.

So, while the X-BOW R is 60% more on power and 40% focused on weight loss, and the Caterham is more on weight loss and a little care less on the power despite the fact that it has better power-to-weight ratio than the Bugatti Veyron; guess it's time for me to grab the bull by the horns, bite the bullets, and literally put these track toys to the test at the home of the Bathurst 1000.



So there it goes. The X-BOW did it in 2:29.627 while the Caterham R500 did it in 2:29.215, meaning the lightweight R500 beaten the powerful X-BOW by about 1/3rd of the second, proving that subtracting weight is better than adding power. Maybe that's why there are some wanted to lose weight rather than add power to create a track-focused high-performance vehicle.

FIFA World Cup 2014 - Round of 16 (Part One)

The Round of 16 match on the FIFA WORLD CUP Brasil has begun and the remaining 16 countries are slugging against each other to vie for the semi-finals.

First, there's the match between hosting nation Brazil and Chile. In this match, they've tied at the end, leading the game to a penalty match where Brazil wins at the score of 3-2. Then, the match between Colombia and Uruguay ended with Colombia wins the match at the score of 2-0.

Tomorrow on the Round of 16 match, it's Holland taking on Mexico and Costa Rica slugging against the Greeks.

Let's Do The News! (June 28, 2014)

Things we learned today...

- Enjoyed the premiere episode of Girl Meets World? Yes. We do love that new show starring new tween sensations Rowan Blanchard as Riley and Sabrina Carpenter as Maya. Two BFFs trying to take on the world. Well, the next episode isn't due until July 11th but for verified users of the WATCH Disney Channel app, available on the App Store, you can get an early access on the next episode! Verify to watch the next episode!



- Aston Martin's official entry to Gran Turismo 6's Vision GT concepts, the DP-100, has finally revealed on Goodwood and it's set for next month's update!

Aston Martin DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo

- Four new recalls have been announced by the embattled General Motors and over 507k units were heavily affected.

- The sinkhole in the National Corvette Museum at Bowling Green, Kentucky, drawn 60% of the visitors and the committee decided to keep it. Let's consider that as a blessing from the unexpected.

- AM I A GOOD MAN? Season 8 of Doctor Who, starring 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman as companion Clara, are all set this 23rd of August on BBC One and BBC One HD!

- The US Navy began their 20th Annual CARAT Exercise at Subic Bay. CARAT Philippines is part of the broader bilateral exercise series the US Navy conducts with nine partner nations from Asia to address maritime problems, especially those from the South China Sea.

- Philippine lawmakers want investigation on malpractices done from emission-testing centers, mostly the "ghost-testing" of vehicles.

- Actress Marian Rivera defended her crown as one of the sexiest women according to FHM Philippines.

- US Astronauts shaved their heads while in the space station after losing a bet over a FIFA World Cup match.

TTFN!!!

BMW M3 (F80) and M4 (F82)

2015 BMW M3 and 2015 BMW M4

For many years, the BMW M3 has been the German muscle of our generation. From its humble beginnings since the E30, its numerous regenerations, new breakthroughs, involvement in the motorsport world, the 3-Series with the muscle is one of the most iconic high-performance German machines in the history of mankind and here we are, the new chapter of M3 is finally unfold and this is not like any other M3s we remembered because starting now, the M3 is now available exclusively as a sedan while its coupe version now gets a new name...M4.

This is all part of BMW's revised naming strategy of using odd numbers for saloons and even numbers for coupes with some minor exceptions to the rule. If the naming is least of our problems, the chassis codes now come with a plot twist that we never expect to happen. 3-Series models bear the F30 code while 4-Series models bear the F32 code but the new M3 now bear the F80 code while it's F82 for the M4. Why? Anyway, there has been some conspiracy theories going on about why the chassis code for the new M3 and M4 are way different than the regular 3-Series sedan and 4-Series coupe. Some say...it's different in uses of various materials as the regular F3x models are made of steel while F8x features a combination of high-strength steel and carbon composites. Other possible theories state that this ludicrously new codes reflect the change on how the corporate office manages the finance books on those models. This is still a conspiracy but we'll let that one on the running. Anyway, the car...

2015 BMW M3 and 2015 BMW M4

By the looks of it, they're look identical to each other but the only main difference are the doors themselves. The M3 opens four doors while the M4 opens only two doors. Simple as that. What's also change is the fun factor because the previous model's V8 engine sounds more baritone, a bit more muscle car in the noise stakes. For those new models, the magnificent V8 engine has been thrown away to the trash can and replaced by the 3.0L straight-six twin turbo engine. When you listen to that, it sounds like your average sportscar and I'm not quite down to the big upset because there's the same stuff you find on the current M5: something that fires a synthesized exhaust note from the speakers. Sinister but cheating.

Although the new straight-six engine maybe a bit of a problem for us but there's an upside to this one; this engine produces 431PS of power output and 550Nm of torque, that's plenty than the old model's V8 engine. With the 7-speed DCT equipped, both the M3 and the M4 can do 0-100kph in 4.1 seconds and top speed normally limited to 250kph or 280kph with the available M driver pack. Plus it's now more economical than ever because both of these can accumulate 12.05km/L of combined fuel economy and CO2 emission of 194g/km. This engine is Euro 6-compliant.

Thanks to the use of high-strength steel and carbon components, they've managed to shave off 83kg of weight, resulting to a perfect weight distribution and a little reminiscent from the E46 days. As for handling, it's not quite bad even though these two now come with power steering for the first time. I'm not a fan of power steering though because they feel less communicative when cornered. Be warned though because while it maybe a good car to thrash about, commuting in one of these can be very drastic thanks to the fact that the suspension has been stiffened. Despite setting this one to the comfort setting, it doesn't feel as comfortable as your parents' van on a turnaround part where it leads you all the way to the top of the parking area.

2014 BMW M3 interior

2015 BMW M4 interior

Should you buy it? Well, let's calculate their starting price first because the M4 will cost you 72,200 Euros while the M3 costs 71,500 Euros, a 700 Euro difference. Even though the new M3 sedan is cheaper than its M4 coupe equivalent, they're still very expensive to own unless you have enough funds to invest in these Bimmers. If there's something I would love about these two; it's all in the styling, interior, the handling that you can really thrash around when the timing's just right, and being light on weight. Things I hate would be the lack of throttle response, redundant straight-six noise, power steering and wait for it...the pricing. But still I hate the M4 more than the Corvette C7 Stingray.

Why I hate the new BMW M4? Well, remember the whole thing happened to the Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray? Well, I'm proven wrong many times by those idiots and just when I though that the C7 Corvette's going to be Gran Turismo-exclusive, looks like someone done a little extortion to feature it on another racing game because they're just too jealous to feature. Jealousy forces them to steal what is supposed to be Gran Turismo exclusive and here I am, traumatized by that situation when some of the Gran Turismo exclusives got trafficked to other video games like human trafficking.

2015 BMW M3 and 2015 BMW M4

If there's one thing you need to know for those in charge of racing video games, you'd better not to lay a finger on the BMW M4 because of its Gran Turismo exclusivity and it wishes that it should not end up on the same mistake as what happened to the Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray. I would repeat this once and only once that the BMW M4 is Gran Turismo-exclusive and no other game should lay their hands to extort it for the sole purpose of featuring it on another racing video game. That means you Forza. Feature this and let Sony sue Microsoft for unfair competition on showing a Gran Turismo-exclusive car. Guess I'll just leave this one in the running while our new M3 friend is awaiting its own verdict from the driving gods.

The BMW M4 should stay with the other rest of the Gran Turismo exclusives like the Autobianchi, the Deltawing, the Dome Zero, Tommykaira ZZ-S, Group C Le Mans from Toyota and Nissan, and any other cars I've mentioned that are Gran Turismo exclusive. That's a direct order and that is the end of it.

Photo: BMW A.G.

"Spice up your day!"

One the June 27, 2014 episode of Bubble Gang...

- "Makikipaghiwalay" gags

- Why a picture of your wife is worth a memorable...

- IKAW AT ANG INA takes on...selfies of you raising your armpits!!!

- A teenage boy revealed that he's gay.

- More wise words from Tata Lino.

- Bubble Gang does McDonald's McSpicy Shake Shake Meal by spoofing this commercial as WCSPICY SHAKE SHAKE MEAL! Spice up your day!

- Istambay, Istambay Sa Looban, May taong dumating sa tambayan, ang lahat ay kanyang inoperan, promise niya sila day ay...YAYAMAN?!

- Brod Pete and pals are back and ANG BAGONG DATING DOON's going international!

Bella Padilla asks "ang pera po ba, may mata?". From the pages of Salapi 1:25 - Bata Batuta, Isang Perang Muta. Wala akong nakuha, misingkong duling.

Someone from San Jose, California asks if there are any wrong terms and Brod Pete knows more of them. Remember the word black board? That's wrong because...why is the black board is colored green? It's supposed to be called a green board! Black eye's also a wrong word because the color's a bit dark bluish or purple. Black box is also wrong because it's colored orange. No wonder they got confused on finding it on a plane wreckage...

Someone from China asked if there's a writing about how successful Chinese businessmen are and guess what? It goes like this: "Tong tong tong tong, tong tong tong tong, tong tong tong, pakitong kitong, alimango sa dagat, malaki at masarap, mahuli ang mahirap, sapagkat nangangagat". Alien? Alien!

- An overtime crisis as a man in the office encounters a bomb in his seat!

Peugeot 108

2015 Peugeot 108

2014 is going to be the year of the superminis because the French are unleashing their new wave of superminis, those compact cars that look small in size but for their lack in size, they make up with their new blend of wit and attitude to appease the driving gods.

The new Peugeot 108 is the definite start to this year's trends and as far as I concerned, this new model is a direct replacement to the old 107, completing Peugeot's naming strategy that all good cars end with the eight as its third digit. One zero could refer to something city car-ish while two zeroes could refer to something sport utility-ish...well you get the idea but hey, Peugeot's new city car now sports the familiar design language that the whole Peugeot family tree are wearing. With this new design, the new 108 never looked even more attractive than ever and there's more because before customers driving their own 108, they can personalize it with a host of personalization methods. They can even opt in for a canvas roof variant, called the TOP, as well if they want to spend their summer driving with the top roof opened.

Personalized or not, from every angle you can see that the new 108 is worth the beauty of its own right and I have to say that this city car is a head turner. I'm pretty sure you'll never forget the first moment you saw one but because being a city car, it starts at a cheap 10,150 Euros for the 3-door version while the 5-door version starts at 10,650 Euros, that's about five hundred more for two extra doors but whatever.

2015 Peugeot 108

2015 Peugeot 108

On the inside, it's still has the same quality like you expect from budget compacts but with the right funding, you can provide the new 108's interior some gizmos suitable for your next trip. In top-of-the-line variants, you are welcomed with the 7-inch screen, which serves as the interface for the audio system, the trip computer and for vehicle settings. There's more too because with the new Mirror Screen, your satnav will serve as the mirror of the compatible smartphone connected. Quite a nifty gadget, right? But this is only fun when you're at a stop at the parking space, waiting for your friends. I know driving is all hard work and there's simply no time for your gizmo grabbers on the road. Hopefully, someone next to you would understand how it works and enjoying it on the go.

2015 Peugeot 108

The Peugeot 108 is available in either a 1.0L VTi, a 1.0L e-VTi or the new Puretech 1.2 VTi engine which delivers a class-leading CO2 emission of 99g/km. Most models do come with a 5-speed manual but if you go for the 1.0L VTi engine with 68PS of power output, a 5-speed automatic is optional. Yes, 68PS of power output is not what you call powerful but because it weighs 840kg, the power-to-weight ratio is around 12.35kg/PS. That engine would do a 0-100kph time of 14.3 seconds and a top speed just shy around 157kph so it's not what you called quick but thanks to the use of pseudo McPherson front axle and a deformable rear beam made from a shaped tube in the suspension setup, the handling is just jolly enough to put a smile on someone named Grumpy...barely.

2015 Peugeot 108

So...what should you go for? It might be best to go for the 1.0L model because while it maybe short on the power stakes, it should be enough to keep you smiling over and over and over and over until you're back at being grumpy. To avoid? The TOP with the canvas roof on it because even when you close the roof off, you can expect some few winds slip through or the noise from within. On the upshot, that canvas roof model is worth an accessory barely well spent.

The Peugeot 108 is the city car that just getting started with this whole revolution of little cars because while they maybe short in size, they're already big in their characteristics.

Photo: PSA Peugeot Citroen

Broke my 4S, got replaced by a 5C

This is the iPhone 4S. I have this one since early January 2013 when me and my family decided to switch networks from T-Mobile to AT&T. Don't know why but hey, it's all for a good cause right. I spent a year and six months enjoying my iPhone 4S until...that fateful moment came...



It was the 18th of June, 2014, when our cousin, Grace, wants us to spend some time shopping at a familiar place known as The Outlet Collection, Reason why it was familiar to me because I've been there last summer with one of our cousins, named Christian. With my sister Elise spending time in the Philippines with her baby Irvine, me, my sisters Bea and Cecille, mom, dad, and Grace spend some time shopping in a small and quiet shopping mall that has less people than any mall I can remember...



The photo in question is my last ever selfie I have ever done using my iPhone 4S. Wanna guess what happened to my 4S? Yep, I accidentally dropped it and when I picked it up...the screen has gone all stripey and unreadable. The software's fine but the screen is officially broken and I've panicked. I told the truth to my parents and they knew it. They said I should bring it to the Apple store at Westfield South Center and that made me skeptical because...it will cost around $199 to fix an iPhone but I'll talk about that later.

Anyway, back at The Outlet Collection, I'm in panic mode right now, knowing what should I do with my broken 4S while my family's taking a break in a boring manner. Yes, I know. That place is so boring, there's nothing else to shop...unless there's a Hot Topic branch in case you need to know.

After spending hours at The Outlet Collection, we went to Westfield South Center and then, rushed to the Apple store to fix my iPhone 4S but suddenly, one of the clerks told that the appointments are full and I'm totally desperate to have my phone fixed in time so I saw some mechanic and when I'm going to spend less than a hundred dollars to have my iPhone fixed to some techie in question, my dad came and he got very angry. So angry, I got his iPhone back and my hundred grand while I'm persuading my dad to calm down but believe me, my dad's so angry, he can't be contained.

Gosh, I hate my dad when he's angry and while meeting my mom and my sister Cecille at the Daiso branch in South Center, I explain about the situation to my mom and she told me that we can set an appointment on the Apple store on the next day and I agreed.

Having agreed on that decision, me and my mom went back to the Apple store and we asked one of the store clerks to set next day's appointment to have my iPhone fixed. Of course, I had finals for my math class in Seattle Central College, I decided that I should have mom and dad to go to the Apple store at the appointed time to have it fixed.

The next day, I went to the Seattle Central College to take the final exam for my math class while Mom and Dad went to South Center at the appointed time. While I was busy finishing the exam (which is kinda more of a recap to the last three quizzes as well as that final homework I took), my parents arrived an hour before the appointed time at South Center. Moments later, they went to the Apple store and it seems that with a broken screen, the Apple technicians can't fix it and instead they provided a replacement to my broken phone.




So what they did is they replaced my broken 4S with an iPhone 5C, a similar scenario that what happened to my iPod Touch when its screen was broken. Looks like the Apple idea was when a screen is broken, they can't fix it but instead a replacement is provided. Good thing I backed up most of the stuff from my broken 4S and I carried over to my new phone. All the stuff were here...well sort of because my hard work from playing that School Idol Festival app is gone for good! NO!

Oh well, I'm not kinda interested on that game anyway, but still, with my stuff from 4S now carried over to my new 5C, I'm glad things are back to the way things are but the only downside is that when I connect it to the computer, the iTunes keeps showing up that "unknown error" (-54) stuff. Don't know why and that's why it's called an "unknown error".

So, is Apple's idea of providing you a replacement when a screen is broken is worth it or is it just a waste of cash? Gosh, those technicians should learn how to fix a broken screen next time if they want to save their iPhones. A broken screen from your iPhone is like a total wreck on the car. When totalled, that's it. It's over.