Jaguar F-Type Coupe

Last year, Jaguar heralded the return to its sportscar roots by launching the F-Type, the modern-day reincarnation of the legendary E-Type and even in its convertible offering, it feels really good to drive in all seasons. Roof or no roof, the British sports car of the modern age truly appeals us all.

2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe

Now, they've launched a hardtop coupe version and by the looks of it, the coupe look of the F-Type looks striking to look at and be warned though because this F-Type Coupe can be a cruel mistress if you misbehave it like a Brainiac putting things in the microwave.

So, why is it a little too late to put a coupe version even though the F-Type was introduced as an open-top version only...much to the annoyance of Porsche when the convertible Boxster came first and the coupe Cayman came last? It's still a mystery for now but judging by the stats, the F-Type Coupe weighs somewhat 20kg less than the convertible version because in the convertible version, it takes some stiffening needs to keep it rigid but in this, it's all in the foundation of a sportscar.

In general, I love a good proper British sportscar. It doesn't matter if we got wet in the rain while driving in the British open roads or got frozen in the winter, it's part of what the Brits do because they got used to the ever-changing weather and we are free to do what we want on the road ahead no matter when we got under the weather. I just remember about the Lotus Elise because when it rains, I have to keep going because when I just stop and waste time closing the roof, the rain stopped. How annoying was that?

The F-Type Coupe may not have a proper attributes that a good British sportscar should but by the time you're driving one, it still has the same masterpiece as the original open-top F-Type version and overall, this car can unlearn German or Italian in a split-second. You can forget about the Porsche 911 or the Maserati GranTurismo or the BMW M6 or the Audi TT. This is what you get for being GOOD at being BAD. Get it? Good to be bad! Hey, remind you of any?

2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe

This top-of-the-line version is the R model. It features the same 5.0 Litre V8 Supercharged engine that you'll get from the XKR-S or the XFR-S or the XFR-S Sportbrake. It's the most powerful engine Jaguar has ever made and it produces 550PS of power output and 680Nm of torque output. It does 0-60 in under four seconds and top speed electronically limited to 186mph, about the same as the less powerful V8 convertible version. That's all math but if you wish it was a bit exciting, don't fret because if you don't like the R version because it's too much power, you can have a supercharged V6 engine which, in the S model, produces 380PS of power, 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds and 171mph of vmax. Even though it's slower than the V8 model, the V6 model of the F-Type is one of the best sounding engines you can hear and with the sports exhaust system...time to open up the windows, folks!

2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe

In the handling department, the F-Type Coupe, like the original convertible version, is a really mad car to drive and because this car has a lot of torque, its dynamic driving character can really throw you off the curve if you're not alert so expert driving level is recommended to master the F-Type Coupe especially if you're in the fastest version with the supercharged V8 engine in it. I wouldn't bother though because for a car as dynamic as the highest difficulty setting faced in a video game, it can be a cruel mistress so it takes time to practice until you get used to its cruel behavior of its handling. Not only it's mad at the handling department but it can be somewhat less crude on normal roads and with the turning radius of 35.8ft...it's not bad to turn this car whether you're coming home or park.

2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe interior

The F-Type Coupe from Jaguar is a drool-worthy masterpiece that is too awesome to be ignored and with the introductory price of 51,250 Pounds, it's more affordable than the convertible version so it's a smart buy if you're looking for something sporty and classy but it's too much for a car like this. Despite the high price, the F-Type Coupe balances its sportscar agility and luxury car comforts all rolled up into one and if you have one of those in your car collection, you are worthy of it. This car is worthy of being one of the best cars launched in 2014 and if you have one, you can lick your boring life goodbye.

Available colors: Ebony Black, Polaris White, Salsa Red, Rhodium Silver Metallic, Lunar Grey Metallic, Stratus Grey Metallic, Indigo Blue Metallic, Ultimate Black Metallic, Satellite Grey Metallic, British Racing Green Metallic, Italian Racing Red Metallic, Firesand Metallic, and Black Amethyst Metallic.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover

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.