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

The big scoop today...

- IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Office of the Ombudsman has finally indicted three senators; Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, for plunder.

- The McClain sisters and Maia Mitchell (Callie Jacobs from the hit drama, The Fosters) will be joining the list of celebs presenting this year's Radio Disney Music Awards not to mention Cody Simpson, Julianne Hough, Kelly Osbourne, and Candace Cameron!

- The Chilean earthquake causes Hawaii under tsunami advisory.

- As the search for the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 continues round the clock, expectations are low...

- A fishing boat from Taiwan runs aground off Batanes.

- Four senatorial candidates who lost last year's elections ask the Supreme Court to nullify the election results because of the alleged "dagdag-bawas".

- Disney's The Pirate Fairy is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray combo pack! The latest original video of the Disney Fairies saga continues as Tinker Bell and her fairy friends come with a close encounter with a pirate fairy named Zarina. This original video also stars Mad Men's Christina Hendricks as the voice of the pirate fairy, Zarina, and British actor notable for being the bad guy Loki from Thor and The Avengers, Tom Hiddleston, lends his voice as a pirate named James, who will be revealed as the villain named Captain Hook himself.

- Doctor Who veteran actress Kate O'Mara, notable for being the Rani in the classic Who, passed away after suffering from a short illness.

- The combination of unsafe speed and worn-out tires is what it's said on the LAPD official report on last year's Paul Walker car crash.

- Peugeot returns to the Paris-Dakar next year with the use of their 2008 crossover. Their upcoming 2008 DKR will have rally legend Carlos Sainz and motorcycle champ Cyril Despres behind the wheel of the French car company's 2015 Dakar competitor.

- TURTLE POWER, DUDE! Check out the latest trailer of Michael Bay's TMNT live-action movie hitting this summer.

 

TTFN!!!

Audi A3 Cabriolet Typ 8V

The third-generation Audi A3, the first to be applied with the Volkswagen Group's new MQB platform. It gained in size, lost some weight, and for the first time, it expanded into a sedan version aside from the three-door and the five-door sportback and overall, it handles good. Now, there is a convertible version of the new A3 and if you're in a mood for your weekend break, would the new A3 Cabriolet be your bet?

2014 Audi A3 Cabriolet

This is the open-top version to the first Audi model and the first of VW Group to don the MQB platform. If you have any doubts, this really is it so let's find out what is like to be in the open-top version of the third-generation Audi A3. Although this is much more of a compact convertible, the new model still comes with features that you get from the normal hatchback and saloon versions only this time, with the retractable soft-top roof that can be closed or open for about 18 seconds, even when travelling at a 50kph speed. However, I don't hold much hope for this because when it does start to rain, I could still get wet even after I closed the roof 18 seconds later.

2014 Audi A3 Cabriolet interior

On the inside it still feels like the other A3 variants and even this is a two-door convertible version, there is some room for two at the back but frankly, I'm afraid the rear legroom is just plain too small for the lazy ones like me, the same thing I'd expect from the three-door hatchback equivalent because it takes more than a force to push the front seats backwards by a lever to gain access to the back seats. Connectivity aside, there is an optional MMI Radio that comes with an electrically extending 5.8-inch color monitor and the MMI user interface terminal. If you're a yuppie, it takes time to learn the fundamentals because between you and me, it can be somewhat a bit complicating like the other infotainment systems equipped on any other cars today. Good thing it wasn't a touch screen one because controls are made possible by a simple rotating push switch and some other buttons in it but having a car with too much buttons can be a bit of a mess here.

Because this is one of Audi's first to implement 4G LTE, the new model is tech-savvy and you can let your selfie-prone passenger to surf the net and post status updates on the run. I can hardly imagine what if I was in that position while someone's driving this. I could be spending the whole traffic watching much of those cat videos on the net. Get it?

2014 Audi A3 Cabriolet

My pick would be the one with the 1.8 TFSi because even though the new A3 Cabriolet may come with the base 1.4 TFSi and the 2.0 TDi diesel engine, I still prefer that top model for now because it feels like the same experience I got used to the hatchback model with that kind of engine. It runs pretty well and feels nippy through the corners even though front-wheel drive is standard with the quattro all-wheel drive system will be added in later stages. Because it weighs a bit more than the hatch and the saloon, 0-100kph time is 7.7 seconds and flatout in around 242kph. The 6-speed manual is fine for you and me then but the one with the 7-speed S tronic double clutch gearbox...that's a different issue.

As for pricing, the base starts at 30,500 Euros (estimated 1.9 Million PhP) while the 2.0 TDi model starts at 34,300 Euros (estimated 2.12 million PhP) so it's somewhat more than the normal hatchback model but I'm not a fool because this is more expensive than front-wheel drive convertibles like the Renault Megane CC but still, the A3 Cabriolet from Audi is a class of its own because no other German carmaker made hatchback-based convertible of this magnitude.

2014 Audi A3 Cabriolet

So, there we have it. The new A3 Cabriolet maybe somewhat a bit crampy on the back and a bit less taste when the roof is closed but overall, it still behaves like the same thing and the 1.8L TFSi model is definitely my pick because you can enjoy driving with it and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever until you slipped it up. It maybe an okay car to drive but unfortunately, it's gonna take more respect to give love out to this ride.

Photo: AUDI AG

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

The big scoop today...

- NO WATER FOR HOLY WEEK! Some parts in Manila and Cavite, serviced by Maynilad Water Services, will have no water during Holy Week.

- Mitsubishi Motors Philippines buys the mothballed Ford manufacturing plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna, and plans to relocate their headquarters from Cainta, Rizal, and manufacturing begins next year.

The old Ford manufacturing plant in Laguna

- Japanese motoring journalists were invited to drive the prototype version of the 2015 Daihatsu Copen. Yes, the brand's kei sports roadster is back and it will be heavily inspired from last year's KOPEN FUTURE ADVANCED concept as seen from the Tokyo Motor Show. According to reports, Daihatsu will be launching their reborn Copen this summer.

Pre-production model of the 2015 Daihatsu Copen

- Number of people died by the deadly Ebola Virus outbreak in Guinea, West Africa, has now risen to 78.

- Looks like Thailand's motor industry is really catching up to the top as Mitsubishi plans to establish their R&D center and test track in this country, and Volkswagen plans to put up their manufacturing plant here. General Motors is no stranger either as they announced that they have plans for Thailand to produce their own GM vehicle to comply with Phase 2 of the Thai government's eco car program.

- Vhong Navarro approves to use his mauling scene for his upcoming film.

- NATO sees no sign of the Russians pulling back from the Ukrainian border.

- There is still no sign of the MH370 cockpit transcript as the search for the missing plane continues.

- Senator Grace Poe denies rumors about her 2016 president candidacy.

- Actress Kristen Bell talks in a recent interview from hmv.com that she was once obsessed with The Little Mermaid when she was a little girl.

- Manhart tweaks the BMW M135i to have over 400HP of power and calls it the MH1 400, making the almost-hot hatch even more hotter.

- The Philippine Government warns that they are prepared for possible paybacks from China including the sabotage from the country's electric sector.

TTFN!!!

GT6: Cars that are Gran Turismo exclusive - FD2 Civic Type R

Today, we take a look at this FD2 Civic Type R. Launched in 2007, this is the first time the Civic Type R spawned a saloon after the previous three generations based on hatchback equivalents and this is based on the Asia-spec eighth generation Honda Civic. Sadly, this is the last Type R to be made in Japan because since 2010, Honda stopped sales of the Honda Civic and the ninth-generation model, sold globally, is not available in Japan as of now and never will be.

The FD2 Civic Type R will run through the Goodwood Hillclimb but at what time will it post?




It posted a 1:00.839 lap time!

It maybe the last Type R Honda that is MADE IN JAPAN but it makes good use of its athletic proportions as well as the iconic i-VTEC engine that powers it! It handles pretty well as what any high performance cars can do.

FD2 Honda Civic Type R - A GRAN TURISMO EXCLUSIVE CAR.

F1 2014: Malaysian GP

Using his pole position as his advantage, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton scored a clear win in Sepang, Malaysia, for the second round of the F1 2014 season, giving Mercedes F1 team a one-two finish with teammate Nico Rosberg placed second and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel placed 3rd.

There have been some numerous problems faced in this race such in the case of Sauber-Ferrari's Esteban Gutierrez faced gearbox problems and teammate Adrian Sutil had his racecar suffered a power unit failure. For Save The Ring's Jean-Eric Vergne, his vehicle's turbochargers gone haywire while Lotus's Pastor Maldonado's vehicle also suffered a power unit failure. It's not a good race for Red Bull newbie Daniel Ricciardo where he retired during lap 40.

Sergio Perez of Force India is the F1 driver's facing a very bad day in Malaysia when his racer faced gearbox issues at the start of the race.

Report: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/3/15638.html

The next race for this season will be held at Bahrain this April 6, 2014 and let's just hope no further crisis will happen before, during, and after the race.

Forza Motorsport 5: Message from ST

They called this the Fiesta ST and it's been several years ago when Ford launched a hot Fiesta. For this latest version, it seems that Ford managed to remember the hot hatch mantra that it's not what it does but it's how it does. It may not be quite a supercar slayer but this hot hatch knows how to make me smile in all the right corners.



This hot hatchback incorporates a precision-tuned and driver-focused powertrain and chassis to deliver the ultimate Fiesta driving experience.

Europe-spec models feature a 3-door model equipped with a 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine to achieve 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and offer 182 PS and 240 Nm of torque, while the US-Spec models, which Forza Motorsport 5 featured it, comes available exclusively as a 5-door model equipped with the same 1.6L EcoBoost engine but with an estimated 197 horsepower and 214 lb.-ft. of torque.

This model is the result of the collaboration between Team RS in Europe and SVT in the United States and it appeals to a wide global audience under the company's One Ford movement.



Although the roster of hot hatches can be somewhat few, the Fiesta ST is one of the hot hatches that really off the charts and really cuts it through the competition because it has some of the qualities a true hot hatch deserve; being fast, being maneuverable, being an all-rounder, and being made for everyday use. Overall, its fun factor is worth being worthy of being one of my favorite cars to drive in Forza Motorsport 5.

 



You do very well to have fun in this Fiesta on Forza 5 because this is one of the only 2014 models you can try on this game.

 

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: Adapting to Japan's 8% tax hike

As you may now that beginning in the 1st of April, 2014, all of Japan will face the rise of the national sales tax from 5% to 8%. This is the first time it happened since 1997 that a tax hike in Japan occurred. So, what does that mean? That means most Japanese will face even more pain in their pockets and why did Japan face such a dreaded hike? No one knows but some say it's the work of the Diet to push this country out of the debt zone but between you and me, that tactic won't work and expect the consumer spending to drop because of the new increase of the national tax that will really put a dent out of it.

So...how to put it this way regarding the 8% tax hike? Take this Toyota 86. The G model with the 6-speed model costs about 2,410,000 Japanese Yen, right? That's when the 5% was applied to it but what happens when we take it away? It costs 2,295,238 Yen. Now what happens when we applied this new 8% tax hike to the price...wanna know how much it costs? It now costs 2,478,857 Japanese Yen! That's about a 69k increase when the tax hike in Japan is implemented! Still, that price won't stop you from having one...I think.

What about your daily groceries? I'm not sure the average grocery spending per Japanese household but where I am sitting from, me and my family spend about 150 US Dollars of grocery spending per month...theoretically. Suppose with the 5% tax added to your monthly grocery, it costs about the Japanese housewife's grocery shopping equivalent of 160 US Dollars but what happens when you calculate it with Japan's new 8% tax hike? Wanna know how much? Well, I'd expect to be somewhat below the Japanese housewife's grocery shopping equivalent of 165 US Dollars, a $5 increase when the 8% hike was implemented. Hmmm....

Well, there are some companies trying to adapt to this new situation here in Japan. Bandai, for example, plans on introducing new Gashapon machines made to dispense high-value toys in larger, can-shaped packages. Those new cans sell for a high price but filled with big toys worth 200 to 500 Japanese Yen. Scaling that up, that's only 2 to 5 US Dollars. Then, there's Subaru, which plans to sell their new Levorg sports tourer this April. Although the pricing remains unknown before its Japan release, I'm expecting the pricing will be below 2.7 million yen and in theory, that new pricing was adopted with Japan's 8% sales tax. Well, what about that upcoming PS3-exclusive iM@S One For All? For starters, it says 7600 Yen plus tax for the normal version and 11,880 Yen plus tax for the limited edition 765 Pro New Produce Box. So, with the 8% tax, it costs about 8210 Japanese Yen for the normal one and 12,830 Yen for the limited edition. 8,210 Japanese Yen for a PS3 game in Japan? With an equivalent of about 83 US Dollars, buying a new video game in Japan seems costly now that the 8% hike is implemented.

You get the idea but if you're a foreigner who want to take a break in Japan, best be warned that with the 8% hike in sales tax, your single 100 yen coin is no use like what one penny is on American soil. Let's hope you got enough pocket money before your trip and make good use of those money exchange but for a recommendation, best to have about 200 US Dollars before you set off and when exchanged, you have about 20,600 Yen in your allowance...as a theory but still more is best when you set off because...what are you going to buy when you're in Japan? It's your money so decide well because with the 8% hike, your decisions have been shorten threefold.

I'm just saying but if you want to survive in Japan in the midst of the 8% tax hike, heed my advice and stay safe when you're out there. Gosh, I'm already getting myself a financial headache right now. Gonna get some rest right now but I hope you remember about surviving Japan in an 8% sales tax!

Good Luck!