Sewol Tragedy: Investigation continues

Authorities continue investigating what exactly happened on the day the Sewol ferry submerged and who's behind this. As of now, all 15 crew members that were rescued from the disaster zone especially the captain of the ferry, Lee Joon-seok, who escaped the ferry, WILL face criminal charges. Eleven crew members have already been charged with homicide as well as the violation of South Korea's maritime law while the remaining four crew members have yet to be investigated as suspects.

Now, the investigation escalates to new levels as a special investigation team is looking into some of the probable causes of the Sewol ferry's abnormalities. The prosecutors found out that Yoo Byung-eon, the owner of the operator of the Sewol ferry, and his family own at LEAST three paper companies but there could be more to this...

Sewol Tragedy: Search and rescue update as of now...

So far, the search and rescue operation on the sunken Sewol ferry continues despite the stronger currents in the area where the tragedy occurred. Based on reports, the death toll has been maintained from 185 with 117 people remain unknown. The divers continue their search on the fourth level of the ferry especially in the center where the cabins of the students from Danwon High School were located.

Officials told that the maritime minister and the coast guard chief will stay on the site for further operations and assist the relatives of the victims.

Source: Arirang Radio

Subaru to stop selling 5th-generation Legacy in preparation of the next model

The Touring Wagon will be axed from the Subaru Legacy lineup

In preparation for the upcoming sixth-generation model, Subaru announced that they will stop selling the outgoing fifth-generation model at June 2014, which includes the Touring Wagon, the B4 sedan, and the Outback crossover.

The Legacy B4 sedan (as seen at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show) and the Legacy Outback crossover (as seen at the 2014 New York Auto Show) will be the only Legacy models available just as soon as the next-generation hits Japan on the second half of 2014.

As told, the Touring Wagon is officially axed from the lineup and it was replaced by the similarly sized Levorg (recently launched in Japan this month and to be on sale in Japan this June 2014) sports tourer.

Report: http://autoc-one.jp/news/1740037/

Kia Soul EV

While the electric vehicles made by the South Koreans were not as popular as those made by the Japanese, it seems that they're always looking for some challenge when it comes to introduce those zero-emission vehicles on a global basis and for Kia Motors, their first-ever Soul EV breaks the notion of being the first ever zero-emission Kia car to sold on the public. With the 42,500,000 Korean Won (estimated $40,900) price tag, it may not be the cheapest electric vehicle to buy but is it worth it?

2015 Kia Soul EV

2015 Kia Soul EV interior

Well, at first glance, it looks the same as the latest-generation Kia Soul, the one that was launched last year, but because this is the EV version, the only difference you can distinguish it is the grille where in the Soul EV, you can use the charging tool to plug it in and charge it at home depending on the outlet. Using the power of the UVO 2.0 Eco, your smartphone will notify you when your Soul EV's fully charged or like any other Kia models using the UVO software, you can use the smartphone to unlock/lock the doors or start the car remotely. Convenient, isn't it? But we're not done explaining about the Soul EV just yet because there's some downsides to this electric crossover.

2015 Kia Soul EV

You see the Soul EV has less legroom than the regular Soul by about 3.1-inches as well as the boot space by about 5.1cu.-ft thanks to the space used to reserve for the Li-ion battery but Kia says that despite the reduction to the rear legroom, it's still as spacious as any other EVs in the market but who cares about it? If you even use it for your scheduled road trip with your buddies from school, looks like your mates at the back will get cramped because of the reduced rear space and before you know it, you can't survive against the chatter from your mates about your embarrassing moments at the JS Prom or at the field trip or any other barkada trips you have been for the past moments. Ouch...

Road trips aside, Kia says that it will do about an energy consumption of 5.0km/kWh or an equivalent of 148km on one full charge. 148km on one full charge, that's more than what you got from the Renault Samsung SM3 ZE or the Chevrolet Spark EV and in theory, that will cover from my house in Muntinlupa up to the house where my grandparents stay in Cabanatuan...well, that's about 140km covered but you can charge it while you're staying for the night but I don't hold much hope.

Also, it features a next-generation of Kia's regenerative braking system which regains 12% percent of the car's kinetic energy when braking or coasting. It features four different regeneration modes and the mode that produces the most regeneration is the one where the Brakes setting with Eco-mode "On". It's all in the name of science for this car, eh?

Power comes from the electric motor that generates about 81.4kW (111HP) of power output and 285Nm of torque. It will do 0-100kph in a minimal 12 seconds and a top speed limited to 145kph so it's not what you called fast and because it has a single-speed gearbox that you expect from most electric vehicles...that pretty much sums it up but look at this way...this Soul EV has the similar torque that you got from a hot Volvo V40 T4 Polestar but who cares about it?

There's a rule in some parts in the world that most EVs need to emit a sound for the safety of pedestrians in mind but for the Kia Soul EV, they're way ahead of them because it comes with a rather controversial Virtual Engine Sound System which mimics the noise of an engine at speeds up to 12kph when the car is in reversed.

2015 Kia Soul EV interior

So, what to like about the Soul EV? Well, what I like about the Soul EV is the range that will keep me going from my house to Cabanatuan in a single full charge, it's loaded with technology, it's always ahead of my thinking because it has some safety features that will keep the Soul EV the safest EV money can buy. What I don't like about it is that it's not quite fun to drive, the rear space is too small because of the battery, and it's more expensive than the regular Kia Soul. It may not be one of the best EVs in the market but it's worth being a game-changer in the world of electric cars.

Available colors: Snow White Pearl + Electronic Blue and  Caribbean Blue + Clear White

Photo: Kia Motors

Let's Do The News! (April 24, 2014)

The big scoop today...

- China Anne McClain from the recently concluded ANT Farm (and one of the hopefuls to appear in the upcoming ABC reality series SING YOUR FACE OFF) and Kelli Berglund from the Disney XD action comedy series, Lab Rats, will star in the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie titled How To Build A Better Boy, slated for its summer premiere on the Disney Channel. SweetyHigh has this report.

- IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Real Racing 3 has the latest update featuring none other than open-wheelers. Open-wheelers are basically one of the trickiest to feature in the world of Real Racing because of the physics but thanks to the advancement of modern technology, they are now able to feature it for the first time. There are four new open-wheelers offered on RR3 such as the Ariel Atom 3.5, the KTM X-BOW R, the Caterham Seven 620R, and our favorite, the Ariel Atom V8. CHECK IT OUT!

- The third-generation Audi A3 is hailed as 2014 World Car of the Year.

- The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle belonged to actress Angel Locsin will go to the hammer as beginning from April 21 to 30, they can place their bids on the auction of her car and proceeds will go to the Sagip Kapamilya foundation. Place your bid at http://auction.abs-cbn.com/ if you want her car for a cause.

Angel Locsin's Chevrolet Chevelle

- MEET THE NEW BOSS: Mark Fields, the chief operating officer of Ford Motor Company will be replacing Alan Mulally as the new boss of Ford beginning next month.

- Lawmakers in the Philippines are mulling about installation of speed limiters on trucks aside from buses.

- Deniece Cornejo and Cedric Lee are now branded as wanted criminals.

- Lupita Nyong'o is declared the MOST BEAUTIFUL PERSON of 2014 according to People Magazine.

TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 5: Battle Italia

The Lamborghini Aventador - the latest flagship V12 Lambo. Served as the replacement to the decade-old Murcielago, powered by a newly-developed 6.5L V12 engine, and remains one of the most popular exotics at this modern age.



The Ferrari F12berlinetta - the latest flagship V12 Ferrari. Launched at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, lapped quicker than the 599 GTO at Fiorano, and powered by a 6.3L V12 engine that has more power than the Lamborghini Aventador.



Here in the world of Forza Motorsport 5, the battle between the two Italian flagships are finally come into fruition, figuring out if horses or bulls will win the fight for Italian sovereignty...sort of. Today, which is better? The bull or the horse?

The Lamborghini Aventador has four-wheel drive and has a 6.5L V12 engine mounted in the middle. The Ferrari F12 has rear-wheel drive and has a 6.3L V12 engine mounted in the front. The Aventador has a single-clutch seven-speed gearbox operated by paddle shifters. The Ferrari F12 comes with a Formula One 7-speed double clutch gearbox operated by paddle shifters. The Aventador can reach to 60mph in 2.9 seconds. The F12 can reach it in under 3.1 seconds. Top speed for the Aventador is 217mph while the F12 gives up the ghost in 210mph.




Enough for the jibber-jabber, time to translate numbers into action by sending them to the Top Gear Test Track. Fastest time is the winner.


Even though it has 4WD and with the engine placed in the middle, the Aventador can suffer from minor understeer and it's like knitting the carrot at the middle of the blanket. The F12 finds less mistakes in the corner and it doesn't understeer than the Aventador, although its dynamic character might cause a fair hint of oversteer and one small mistake can cause a big one.

After a quick lap at the Top Gear Track, here are the results of this experiment;

1:18.240 - LP700-4
1:20.608 - F12

So, conclusive proof that even when the Aventador has less power than the F12, it still leaves it to dust thanks to the clever suspension, 4WD, and lighter weight not to mention the good use of its aerodynamic design. Well, I'm glad I cleared that up so the winner in this comparo is...the Lamborghini LP700-4.

Mitsuoka ends the Orochi with the "Final Orochi"

2015 Mitsuoka Final Orochi

The Mitsuoka Orochi. While it may not be the prettiest sportscar to look at, it's a product of an unsung car company called Mitsuoka. While the body and the chassis is a Mitsuoka original, the 3MZ-FE 3.3L V6 engine was sourced from Toyota and mounted at the middle while mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox. Of course, you maybe familiar as the car James May drove on an episode of Top Gear a few seasons ago.

2015 Mitsuoka Final Orochi

Mitsuoka announced that the production of the super-hideous Orochi sportscar ends this September 2014 and to finish it off, they offered the Final Orochi, a final model that features...well, about the same as the Orochi except with a bigger price tag.

2015 Mitsuoka Final Orochi interior

2015 Mitsuoka Final Orochi interior

Because it's limited to five units, three final Orochis are colored in Gold Pearl while two are painted in a purplish color called Fuyoru-oh (不夜王). It features an exclusive emblem, 19-inch aluminum wheel, and some exclusive interior combinations depending on the color.

No alterations on the spec here. Still comes with the same 3MZ-FE 3.3L V6 engine which churns out 233PS of power and 328Nm of torque while mated with a 5-speed automatic gearbox. It has rack and pinion steering, double wishbone suspension, ventilated disc brakes, on and on and on and on...

The Final Orochi is priced at an ultra-expensive 12,700,000 Japanese Yen (estimated $127,000) and like I said, only five units are made.

URL: http://www.mitsuoka-motor.com/lineup/new/finalorochi/
Source: http://release.nikkei.co.jp/detail.cfm?relID=359887&lindID=4