Monday, February 3, 2014

41st Annie Awards

Yesterday, the 41st Annie Awards named the best cartoons and the people involved. In case you never heard of, you're not alone. This award is dedicated for cartoons from around the world and for the 41st, it looks like our folks from DISNEY scored big at this year's awards but it's not just all about that because Cartoon Network's hit cartoon show, Adventure Time, hailed as the best animated TV/broadcast production for Children's Audience. Children's audience? Adventure Time maybe a kids show but its made for everyone. Such win is sure to keep our cute little gadget BMO happy...



See?

If that wasn't enough, our new princess from Disney Junior, Sofia the First, is awarded as the Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children, beating the likes of Doc McStuffins, and two preschool shows from Nickelodeon's Nick Jr such as Peter Rabbit and Bubble Guppies.



Yeah, yeah, you don't have to rub it in, Your Highness.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, even though this show was restarted by Comedy Central after a long hiatus, Futurama scored a win as the Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production. Quite a send-off they got here, eh?

The 2013 rebirth of Mickey Mouse as well as the Toy Story special titled Toy Story OF TERROR! scored big at the 41st Annie Awards.

The critically-acclaimed PS3 survival game, The Last of Us, developed by NAUGHTY DOG, won an award as the Best Animated Video Game.

Tom Kenny, a veteran casting voice behind SpongeBob SquarePants, Ice King from Adventure Time, and recently Commander Peepers from Wander Over Yonder, won an award for his Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production, whereas Josh Gad, the voice of our favorite snowman companion from Frozen named Olaf, won an award for his Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production.

Amazingly, The production design team behind Nickelodeon's hit animated action adventure series, The Legend of Korra, hailed an Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production.

Even with his retirement, the legendary Hayao Miyazaki was honored for his Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated Feature Production.

For the full list of winners: http://annieawards.org/nominees/#14

SUPER BOWL XLVIII

It was Sunday, February 2, 2014, where the entire American households prepared their snacks, flick their remotes, and tune in to what Americans refer to as the holy grail of American football, the SUPER BOWL. The SUPER BOWL served as the season finale of the NFL football gaming and this 48th season served to be a big one because the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos faced off at the MetLife Stadium somewhere around the East Coast.

Question is...Will it be “Year of the Horse” for Broncos or will the Seahawks show off their “100% rebel” side? I’m saying 100% rebel because of the number 12. To find out...I'll tell you what's what and don't worry...this is more of a 47 Second Science for us. It's BIG SUPER BOWL EXPLANATIONS in bite-sized chunks.

In the first quarter, Seahawks managed to kickstart the game with the score of 8-0 against Broncos. In the second quarter, the Seahawks never gave Broncos a chance...and I completely forgot what score it was but anyway, Broncos still 0. After the first half, it's the PEPSI SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW where Bruno Mars as well as the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed. The crowd's gone nuts for that halftime concert! After the concert, it was 3rd quarter and even though the Broncos scored its first touchdown, they never stood a chance against Seahawks at the score of 36-8. Even though their ace player, Richard Sherman (#25) was left the field due to his injury in-game, the Seahawks still show off their 100% REBEL side and in the end of the final quarter; that's it...



At the score of 43-8, for the first time ever, Seahawks won the Super Bowl XLVIII. It's their first for this Northwestern-based football team to claim its "world champion" status! It maybe the year of the horse but it's definitely YEAR OF THE 12th! Sorry, jokes intended but still, everyone in Seattle are bewildering with excitement that Seahawks got their first hands on the fabled Vince Lombardi Trophy.

A mighty congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks for winning the Super Bowl! Congratulations!!! Quite lucky to use 12 as a lucky number, eh?

Aside from the heated game, it's commercials, commercials, commercials! Brands spent over a million dollars to have their Big Game Ads played on national television. We seen trailers for new movies, best buds, muscle men, a new spin on a fairy tale, some candid camera for a football fan, there's plenty of those but because I like cars...I should better focus more on Big Game Ads...


Based on their understandings...most like the VW ad because this commercial gives them wings, Kia for their Matrix spoof, Hyundai because it's...well, nice, Jeep, and Jaguar because of one thing in my mind...


It's the British Villains commercial for the new Jaguar F-Type Coupe. Did you know that in most Hollywood films, all the bad guys were played by British actors? Tom Hiddleston's one of them. He played Loki from the Thor films.

Still, the commercials aired for the Big Game were definitely worth the effort to target wide audiences no matter how absurd or cool or touching or inspiring these ads were. What matters most is...they're all very entertaining. As entertaining as watching the Seahawks going through their path to glory.

That's it folks. Guess my 47 seconds were expired but still, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SEAHAWKS! Guess 2014 really is 12th's year after all...Which reminds me... Why 12? Well, you know who...

Nissan Elgrand E52 (2014 Minor Change)

2014 Nissan Elgrand

2014 Nissan Elgrand

The Nissan Elgrand E52 has been around for about three-to-four years since its debut in August 2010 and although it's now a front-wheel drive minivan, it's the most luxurious minivan ever made. It's the Nissan Fuga of the minivans...well, as a theory.

Now, the KING OF MINIVAN gets even better than ever and in theory, it's the most intelligent flagship MPV yet because some say, it's been loaded with...so how about some 47 second science to explain more about the new minor change for the E52 Elgrand?

2014 Nissan Elgrand interior

2014 Nissan Elgrand interior
For the brand new model, the E52's face now featured an new grille which is almost as big as a man while the headlamps were kinda heavily inspired from the facelifted Nissan Serena C26. On the rear view, the trademark rear lamps had gotten all chromed up. What bothers me that all the most luxurious updates only occurred on the top-end HIGHWAY STAR models while the entry-level 250XG doesn't so it stays the same. Anyway, while the HIGHWAY STAR model is the main focus here, let's continue...

For the top-of-the-line HIGHWAY STAR Premium model, they've added a brand new interior scheme in the form of Grand Black. Look at the seat design, it's almost as posh as a European premium saloon car. While on the subject on the interior, a few changes were occurred as well as the updated instrument cluster with a new DRIVE ASSIST DISPLAY. The third-row seating has been upgraded so that now, it can slide forward by 240mm to make room for luggage spaces. There's so many new stuff occurred in the interior but we'll leave it for now...

In the issue of safety, the new 2014 Elgrand E52 features a host of world-first features such as MOVING OBJECT DETECTION and the PEDAL MISAPPLICATION PREVENTION system. If you were wondering how does this new PEDAL MISAPPLICATION PREVENTION works, it helps detect potential misapplication and helps reduce accidents when parking.

Engine choices still feature a QR25DE engine and the high-performance VQ35DE engine mated to an XTRONIC CVT-M6 gearbox. For 2.5L models, fuel economy is around 10.8km/L while the 3.5L V6 models can achieve 9.4km/L, all calculated by JC08 Mode standards.

Available colors are Phantom Black, Brilliant White Pearl, Imperial Amber, Metal Grey, and Brilliant Silver. Prices start from 3,123,750 to 5,472,600 Japanese Yen.

Photo: Nissan Motor Corporation

What's in our Car Town garage today? (February 3, 2014)

What's in our Car Town garage today?

2007 Toyota Camry

People say that the Toyota Camry is one of the best-selling midsize sedans in America and it's true. It is but there's more to it than that because this Japanese midsize saloon is well-known to have a wide array of fuel-efficient engines, sporty design, luxurious interior, and loads of conveniences fit enough for drivers to take advantage at it. You might be clever that even though it's Japanese, the best selling car in its class in America is built at Toyota's Georgetown plant in Kentucky, so it's all made sense to us.

2007 Toyota Camry

2008 Scion tC

Shortly after the xA and the xB spearheaded the Scion brand in 2003, Toyota's youth-oriented brand exclusive to the North American market wanted to make a sports coupe capable to give the Honda Civic Coupe a run for its money and the tC does suit well to its qualifications. Although it's made from Japan, the first-generation tC is available exclusively for the North American market and it features a 2.4L petrol engine producing 161HP of power.

2008 Scion tC

2008 Scion xB

The xB, Scion's box car that spearheaded the brand in 2003, underwent a full model change in 2007 as a 2008 model year, it's no longer in the form of a rebadged Toyota bB. It's all original and made to appeal to a younger drivers, mostly those with an immediate driver's license perhaps. It maybe bigger than the first model but the second-generation xB is powered by the same engine as the first tC; a 2.4L petrol engine developing 158HP of power.

2008 Scion xB

2009 Ford Escape

The second-generation Ford Escape, as premiered at the 2006 LA Auto Show, may not be an ideal crossover for looks but it's still quite a popular among soccer moms everywhere. Still using the same CD2 platform as the first model, the second-generation Escape's design was heavily inspired from its bigger brothers and the interior is heavily revamped. It even has Ford's SYNC telematics system. For 2009, the Escape now comes with the 6-speed automatic gearbox on petrol models while the 2.5L engine replaced the small 2.3L engine.

2009 Ford Escape

2008 Toyota Yaris

This stylish compact hatchback from Toyota maybe targeted mostly for women but don't be fooled, the Yaris was made to combine its fun-to-drive factor, fuel efficiency, space, and convenience into this small and nippy package. It's a global compact car sold in numerous countries so you can expect its presence here and around the world.

2008 Toyota Yaris

2006 Toyota Prius

Since 1997, Japan put the hybrid in the automotive lexicon by selling the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid car. Because of its engine connected to a nickel battery and an electric motor and offers different driving modes ranging from petrol, EV Mode, or both, the Prius scored a lot of profits for Toyota and because of the first-generation Prius' success, Toyota worked on the second-generation model. Launched in 2003, the second-generation Prius features an improved hybrid powertrain, more than enough to record its fuel economy of 35.5km/L, as calculated by Japan's 10-15 Mode standards.

2006 Toyota Prius

2006 Honda Civic

Launched in 2005, the eighth-generation Civic takes on a new spin for the Japanese carmaker's signature car, which is a favorite among tuners everywhere. In Europe, it's available only as a hatchback. In Japan, it's available only as a saloon model in petrol and hybrid guise. Here in America, the eighth-generation model is available in sedan (in petrol and hybrid) and the sporty coupe model (along with the enthusiast-focused Si).

2006 Honda Civic

1960 Chevrolet Corvette

The first-generation Corvette, the generation that started the Corvette dynasty, has been updated in 1958 and for this update, it tunes to the times in the age of chrome and four headlamps. Aside from the exterior update, the inside was been revamped by putting the tachometer in front of the driver's eye. With all the updates applied to the C1 Corvette, the engine lineup was offered with a 4.6L V8 engine developing 230HP of power and its fuel-injected version of the same engine developing 290HP of power. For the 1960 update, it features that rarest exterior color that so rate, only 140 were made, and that's the Cascade Green metallic.

1960 Chevrolet Corvette

2000 Honda S2000

The dawn of the new millennium signaled the dawn of Honda's FR roadster that pays tribute to the classic Honda sports cars of yesteryears since the S500. As the name implies, the S2000 is powered by a 2.0L VTEC engine which delivers sharper throttle response while combining cutting-edge technology to Honda's most iconic roadster. Even when production ended in 2009, the S2000 is still remembered as one of the all-time greats.

2000 Honda S2000
2007 Honda CR-V

The third-generation Honda CR-V, the crossover based on the Honda Civic, sees a whole new change to Honda's crossover utility vehicle. With this, the side-opening rear door with the spare tire at the back, as seen in the previous two generations, is phased out and where's it all gone? The new model now comes with the rear liftgate and if that wasn't enough, the K20A4 engine for 2.0L petrol variants was been replaced by a 2.0L R204A engine for added fuel economy and performance figures.

2007 Honda CR-V

Sunday, February 2, 2014

What's in our Car Town garage today? (February 2, 2014)

What's in our Car Town garage today?

2013 Ferrari LaFerrari

Succeed where the Enzo Ferrari left off, the LaFerrari is a hybrid engine-wielding hypercar that serves as the pinnacle of the Ferrari food chain. Utilizing the enhanced V12 engine from the F12berlinetta as well as HY-KERS, it develops an astonishing 963PS of power output, making this the most powerful road-going Ferrari ever made. Only 499 of these will be made, just a hundred more than the old Enzo hypercar.

2013 Ferrari LaFerrari

2009 Lotus Elise

The Elise is just one of the perfect examples of what a British lightweight sportscar should be; made from the bare essentials, compact, arm with a small engine, make it more corner-friendly, and more driver-focused. Although it was made to be a hardcore sportscar that was born for track duty, it's still a usable daily car. It even has aircon and stereo as concessions of convenience.

2009 Lotus Elise

1970 VW Karmann Ghia

A classic German grand tourer with Italian flair, the Karmann Ghia is just what happens when you give a VW Beetle some beautiful Italian interpretation courtesy of Ghia. Despite using the same engine as the Beetle, the Karmann Ghia's image looks more of an everyday Italian, paving way for VW to make new cars.

1970 VW Karmann Ghia

1998 Toyota Supra

The Supra is undoubtedly one of the most famous Toyota sports cars ever made and tuners of all kinds loved it for its menacing performance fit enough to turn it into a 10-second car. This is the car that made Toyota one of the coolest Japanese carmakers in history and even though the Supra saga ended in 2002, its remembrance is worth Supra-national.

1998 Toyota Supra

1982 DMC DeLorean

Made famous for the Back To The Future trilogy movies, this classic sportscar became the pop icons of all times and enjoyed its pop culture stardom with many appearances through different medias. The DeLorean has a chassis made by Lotus while the body design is styled by Giugiaro. It was powered by a PRV (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) SOHC V6 engine delivering 128HP of power.

1982 DMC DeLorean

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Gran Turismo 6: X2014 Standard vs. X2014 Fan



Finally, the two of the four new cars added on Gran Turismo 6's UPDATE 1.04, now in commision, is the last two models of the new Red Bull X2014 range. You can refer to them as the king and queen or the Rubidium and Cesium when mixed with water, yeah yeah, I get it all messed up but hey, it's all in the name of Gran Turismo science, if you know what I mean?

UPDATE 1.04 sees Part Two of the Red Bull X Challenge and for this second installment, in case you cleared the Junior Championship, you can get access to the Standard Championship. In here you can master the X2014 Standard, the mid-range of the lineup, and if you win, not only you can keep the X2014 Standard but also access to the grand finale: SEBASTIAN VETTEL X CHALLENGE.

This final challenge consists of three driving missions in which you can set a lap time while taking on S. Vettel himself. Beat him or not, it's the Gold Target Time you'll be focusing. Stay cool and don't be afraid to take on the risks. Finish all three in gold and you can keep the flagship X2014 Fan Car in your collection.

Now that I have both of them, it's time to figure out how does these two differ and to find out, I used the Ascari Race Resort in Spain as the basis for this experiment.



The X2014 Standard is a "venturi car" with normal suspension and aerodynamics as found in any racing car. With no rear fan and ground-effect skirt on sight, this mid-range model's downforce follows the laws of aerodynamics and for a precaution as shown in the description: THE DRIVER MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THE DOWNFORCE AVAILABLE DURING CORNERING CHANGES GREATLY AS SPEED INCREASES AND DECREASES.

In high-speeds and in braking through the corners, it's difficult to slingshot past through the curves because of the remaining downforce, meaning that I can get too much understeering no matter how hard I corner this. On the plus side, you can see some sparks coming out at the back for some spectacular light show, making this racer a show off. I lapped this car round the Ascari at 1:37.289. That seems quick but what about the Fan Car? The emperor of the range?



The X2014 Fan Car is the ultimate of the X2014 range because of its thousand horsepower output similar to the previous X models. But, here's a catch: the engine that powers it was toned down from 1479 to 1183HP. Quite a downfall for this model but hey, the aerodynamics are top-notch compared to the Standard model. Thanks to the rear fan and the biblical aerodynamic updates, it's the best handling racecar for thrill-seekers.

Having managed to brave through this machine, I posted a 1:23.503, making it one of the quickest car to run through this track...in my mind. I have to say, I'm very glad I take all of these machines for a spin from entry-level to flagship.

Unfortunately, I find them to be rather useless because for some Single Races, the maximum PP allowed is 750PP and toning them down to meet its regulations is a bit of a hassle, which means...there's no use for those...I should better wait until an update regarding QUICK MATCH where I can jump through an online race without the lobby. It's worth the wait...

Mazda Flair Crossover

2014 Mazda Flair Crossover

With the arrival of Suzuki's kei-crossover, the Hustler, it looks like Mazda wanted one of these so with Suzuki's permission, Mazda decided to sell one of these at their dealerships under the Flair Crossover name, the third installment of the Mazda Flair kei cars ranging from the Alto-based Flair and the Spacia-based Flair Wagon.

Time now for the 47 second science please to tell you what's what about the Flair Crossover. Ahem...

Like the Hustler, the Flair Crossover still caries a peculiar look that looks like it came from the Daihatsu Mira Cocoa. On the inside, this kei crossover still has all the right buttons and the optionals such as a smartphone-integrated sat-nav.

On the performance side,  it features the same 660cc engine complete with SUZUKI GREEN TECHNOLOGY in the form of ENE-CHARGE and ECO-COOL respectively. Combine these fuel-efficient technologies with the CVT and you'll get 29.2kmpl as calculated by JC08 Mode standards. That's not all, you can have a model with a 5-speed manual, or a turbocharged model mated to a CVT gearbox, whichever floats your boat.

Available colors: Passion Orange White 2 Tone Roof, Summer Blue Metallic White 2 Tone Roof, Phoenix Red Pearl Black 2 Tone Roof, Steel Silver Metallic Black 2 Tone Roof, Cool Khaki Pearl Metallic, Urban Brown Pearl Metallic, Pearl White, and Bluish Black Pearl 3.

This super light crossover from Mazda is priced at 1,285,000 Japanese Yen.