Suzuki XBEE

With the crossover market continuing to expand through astronomical heights, seems that a small Japanese car company like Suzuki isn't lagging behind when it comes to following today's motoring trends. Sure, they have crossovers like the Escudo, the SX4 S-Cross, the Ignis, and the kei-crossover known as the Hustler. Now, looks like Suzuki added another one to their crossover portfolio and this one's somewhat interesting.

2018 Suzuki XBEE

2018 Suzuki XBEE

Yes, this is Suzuki's Christmas present to the motoring public, it's a new crossover compact car and it's called the XBEE (pronounced cross bee). If the XBEE looks somewhat familiar to you, consider this; it's somewhat a mashup between the Hustler on the front and the Ssangyong Tivoli Air on the back, making this a crossover that is too hard to describe what's what.

2018 Suzuki XBEE interior

2018 Suzuki XBEE interior

On the inside, the XBEE is nothing beyond ordinary except for the cylindrical dashboard that looks like it came from either a Mini or a Mustang but whatever, questionable dashboard aside, the interior's pretty rugged indeed for the adventurous of few and customers can choose one of three accents on their waterproof seats such as yellow, orange, and ivory. With the waterproof seats which are as smooth as a crocodile's skin, it has decent space on the back that fits through all kinds of situations. You can fit from 525 to 1,305mm of boot space depending on the seat variation, which is very ample for a compact crossover of this size.

2018 Suzuki XBEE

The XBEE may be a little crossover but the little K10C 1.0L petrol engine has some zest to this nippy little rascal. The engine may be from the Baleno and so is its 6-speed automatic transmission but it's been given an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a Li-ion battery capable of reaching 22kmpl of fuel efficiency based on JC08 Mode standards and it's not just the nippy little engine and its fuel efficiency measure that benefits the XBEE, it's the HEARTECT platform that promises a lighter and more rigid ride very decent by Suzuki crossover standards.

For 4WD variants, the XBEE comes with four driving modes such as SPORT, SNOW, GRIP CONTROL, and HILL DESCENT, something akin to Suzuki's Euro imports such as the Escudo and the SX4 S-CROSS.

The XBEE is also the next to incorporate the SUZUKI SAFETY SUPPORT first introduced on the recently launched Spacia. It comes with a Lane Departure Warning, Driver Detection, High Beam Assist, Road Sign Recognition, and an advance car departure notice function. omnidirectional monitoring camera that can detect both sides of the car and an around view monitor, Emergency Stop Signal, Hill Hold Control, Dual Sensor Brake Support, False Start Suppression Control, backward erroneous start suppression function, and ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper to detect obstacles behind the vehicle.

Price? The XBEE starts at 1,765,800 Japanese Yen, which is more expensive than the Ignis and the Hustler but more affordable than the Escudo, making it a bargain boomer in its own right, especially when it wants to make some negotiations with rivals such as the Honda Vezel and the Toyota C-HR. Sure, the XBEE may be the big brother of the Hustler but it can do some good things a compact car can do in its free time. Whether you can drive this one at work or in the middle of your day off, every day is an adventure for the XBEE. Man, I hope that sums it all up about the XBEE. Better wrap it up before some Third World gooks sniff their way on this latest Suzuki crossover.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Let's Do The News! (December 25, 2017)

- Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, the son of President Rodrigo Duterte, has stepped down from his position amid his involvement in the smuggling of illegal drugs into the country. In making the announcement, Duterte stunned members of the city of council of Davao City which was meeting just after ferocious blaze devoured a mall and killed more than three dozen people over the weekend.

- The National Bureau of Investigation was tasked to investigate the mall fire in Davao City. In a statement released Monday, Aguirre said he asked the NBI to identify if there was any criminal liability to the blaze which killed 37 lives. The NBI was also directed to file charges against parties deemed responsible for the incident.

- Thousands of villagers in Mindanao spent their Christmas morning in emergency shelters as the region dealt with the aftermath of Typhoon Vinta. Right now, the death toll from Vinta has risen to 200.

- 20 people have been killed when a passenger bus bound for a northern city collided with a southbound jeepney in Agoo in La Union province early Monday.

- Pope Francis in Christmas Eve remarks Sunday likened the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to the migrations of millions of people today who are forced to leave homelands for a better life, or just for survival, and he expressed hope that no one will feel "there is no room for them on this Earth."

- Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni plans to deploy antiterrorism military forces in Niger over the next few months.

- Ferrari threatens to pull out from Formula 1 and start its own motorsport series.

- Tesla CEO Elon Musk is launching an old Tesla Roadster to outer space.

- Comiket 98 will be held during Golden Week 2020 at Tokyo Big Sight due to Tokyo 2020 Olympics and this event is part of the larger Doujin Japan 2020 project.

TTFN!!!

Toyota Alphard and Vellfire (H30W) - 2018 minor change

The current-generation Toyota Alphard and Vellfire luxury minivans have been on the road for two years now and like today's Toyota Harrier SUV, these minivans, commonly smuggled in Southeast Asian countries, are glad to be available in official Toyota dealerships, although there are still those prefer to smuggle one because it has bits and bobs their local Toyota dealers don't. No matter the status, these minivans have been the talk of the town because of their unparalleled luxuriousness no other minivan has to offer. At last, there are new versions that will change the course of these current-generation models.

2018 Toyota Alphard

2018 Toyota Vellfire

There's no need to explain everything about these two because every minivan fanatics, especially smugglers from Southeast Asia, are familiar with the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire minivans because different looks aside, they boast the same luxuriousness, the same performance, and the same expensive price tag and with the 2018 minor change, there's something to look out for these updated models starting with the exterior design where everything's gone from "get out of my way" to "GET OUT OF MY WAY" with all caps on because the new face really is shouty indeed and even shoutier in aero variants. Now that's some strong image implemented on these new models.

2018 Toyota Alphard interior

2018 Toyota Vellfire interior

Inside, there have been some substantial changes happening as hinted by the revised steering wheel, the new instrumental panel, new wood panels, and the new Executive Lounge variant featuring a black and white interior, Nappa leather, and specially trimmed second rear seats. Changes aside, they're still as luxurious as they were two years ago because they come with a wide array of luxurious conveniences such as the rear entertainment system, LED lighting, reading light, a choice of seven or eight seats, and much more. Everything you enjoy about the Alphard and Vellfire is all here and you can toy around with these luxury features as much as you like.

2018 Toyota Alphard

2018 Toyota Vellfire

For base variants, it's powered by the 2.5L 2AR-FE engine which produces 182PS of power and 235Nm of torque. Couple that with the Super CVT-i (with 7-speed manual mode) and an idling stop feature and you can expect up to 12.8km/L of fuel economy as calculated by JC08 Mode standards. For hybrid variants, meanwhile, it's powered by a 2AR-FXE 2.5L Atkinson-cycle engine connected with two electric motors, generating a total output of a modest 197PS of power output and an improved fuel economy of up to 19.4km/L, depending on the variant.

Now, this is getting interesting because the 3.5L V6 on these variants are brand new because the Alphard and the Vellfire use the all-new 2GR-FKS 3.5L V6 petrol engine with VVT-iW (Variable Valve. Timing-intelligent Wide), DIS (Direct Ignition System), ACIS (Acoustic Control Induction System) and ETCS-i (Electronic Throttle Control System-intelligent). This engine produces 301PS and that produces more power than the Chrysler Pacifica, hence making this the most powerful minivan, pause, in the world. Mated with an 8-speed AT, the fuel consumption is now up to 10.8km/L by JC08 mode standards. Such improvement.

The 2018MY Alphard and Vellfire are the first to implement the second-generation Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assists featuring an improved Pre-Collision System with the ability to detect pedestrians both day and nighttime as well as cyclists during the day, Lane Tracing Assist, Lane Departure Alert, and Road Sign Assist. Along with a wide variety of safety features available, these updated minivans set the standards to become the safest luxury MPVs on the market and you can't argue with the results.

Both of these models are now available to order starting at 3,354,480 Japanese Yen and arriving in dealerships this January, with the Alphard being on the Toyopet dealerships and the Vellfire on the Netz dealerships. So, with the shouty exterior, more luxurious interior, new V6 engine, and added safety, there are plenty of reasons why some of you are dying to get your sweaty hands on these updated minivans. In fact, most of you wanted to smuggle one for keeps. Go ahead. Get greedy because these minivans are causing a stir across Asia and like today's Harrier, you have a choice; wait for your local Toyota distributor to sell it officially and legally or smuggle one to get ahead of the pack while drawing the heat from the customs.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Remembering 2017: Top 10 headlines

The 2017 has been one chaotic year for us all when you think about it because with the world's hardest strongman leaders making the rounds, every day in 2017 has became a battlefield for ordinary people are they are trying to do something in their minds off rather than listening to what the strongmen are up to. As this year comes to a complete closure, let's time to list down what we remember so far in this year in review.

1)  The rise of Donald Trump - Following his controversial win at the 2016 presidential elections, the controversial businessman who made famous in his show, The Apprentice, Donald J. Trump, began his reign as the most powerful man in the world. Throughout his first year, US President Trump rattles the world with his campaign promises by invoking strong immigration laws (including the DACA revoke), withdrawing the US from the Paris Accord, dismantle the Affordable Care Act slowly, unleash tax reforms that critics warn it could benefit the rich, recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and many more, all in the name of his "America first" policy, much to the dismay of his political opponents and the mass public who strongly oppose him.

2) Britain pulls trigger on EU exit - Following 2016's controversial referendum that favored England to leave the European Union for good, British Prime Minister Therese May triggered Article 50, giving the country two years to make an agreement before leaving the European Union. Since then little progress have been made, especially when PM May's ruling party was overrun by her opposing Labour Party at the general elections.

3) Moon Jae-in becomes South Korean leader - Following the impeachment of Park Geun-hye because of her scandal that plagued her, South Korea held their presidential elections since May and by a landslide, Park's 2012 presidential rival, Moon Jae-in, is named the country's new leader and one of his campaign promises includes how to deal with the ongoing threats from North Korea.

4) Martial Law in Mindanao and Marawi Siege - For the first time since the Marcos regime, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in the Mindanao region because of the ongoing clash between the government troops and the ISIS-inspired Maute terror group. The war in Marawi displaced numerous civilians as the battle against the Maute terrorists intensifies until the very moment that the key people behind the Maute group are killed and President Duterte declared the end of the Marawi siege in late October. However, the Martial Law declaration is still in effect and as of now, it has been extended until the end of next year.

5) Emmanuel Macron is the new French leader - In early May, the people of France voted for one of the two candidates vying to become the replacement to former French president Francois Hollande. One is Marine Le Pen, the National Front leader who wants to rule the country with her Donald Trump-inspired approach by leaving the EU, end immigration, and terminiate the Schengen agreement, while the other is Emmanuel Macron, the outsider who used to work with the Socialist Party as economic minister and formed his own group that seeks a political revolution. Macron wins the election and named as France's new leader after he garnered 66.1% of the votes. Macron's victory can be either good news and bad news because while some don't know the extent of his platform, the European Union signals his win as good news.

6) Trouble in Spain - Following a terrible terrorist attack in mid-August that involves a group of Islamic extremists launched  twin attacks in and around the Spanish city of Barcelona, killing 15 people and left hundreds hurt, life in Spain couldn't get as troublesome and if that wasn't enough, a Catalonians voted for independence, which was labeled as an illegal activity by the Spanish government. Despite the majority voted in favor of Catalonia's independence, the Spanish government went berserk and that led of labeling Catalonian leader Carlos Puigdemont as an outlaw. It's hard to predict what comes next for Spain as well as the Catalonia region.

7) Sexual harassment - Sexual harassment has been making the rounds in America lately since the Harvey Weinstein scandal. From newscasters like Matt Lauer, actors like Kevin Spacey, politicians like Al Franken and Roy Moore, even those involved in animation such as John Lasseter and TLH creator Chris Savino. Men who are involved in such positions are not safe when they were alleged for some "sex for favors" tricks women of all kinds have been strongly condemned for.

8) ASEAN Summit - The Philippines is the hosting nation of the 2017 ASEAN Summit and throughout the course of the summit, President Rodrigo Duterte, along with other powerful leaders from the ASEAN region, have been collaborated to share their common goals in the pursuit of a better Southeast Asia. In later months, they were joined by other world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, for a summit that tackles current issues facing worldwide.

9) North Korea's sixth nuclear test - North Korea triggered their sixth and most powerful nuclear test in early September 2017. The blast is so powerful, it measured a magnitude 6.3 quake that felt in China, Russia, South Korea, even Japan. In response to the most powerful test occurred by the reclusive state, the world's governing bodies are doing everything they can to impose the toughest sanctions against North Korea. Of course, the United Nations adopted the Nuclear Ban treaty that will seek the end of nuclear weapons once and for all but so far, it hasn't ratified yet. Even nuclear-armed states are not part of this historic UN treaty.

10) Wildfires in the Golden State - In the Autumn of 2017, there has been a strain of wildfires occurred in the southern parts of the Golden State from the USA, better known formally as the California state. From the wine country to San Diego, hundreds and thousands of Californians are heavily affected from the hellish wildfires.

That's it for the top 10 headlines that made the rounds of 2017. Join me next time for more in this year in review.

Ferrari 812 Superfast

For seven decades, Ferrari has been the dominant force of the sports car realm and as true as what they said that when others try to grab Ferrari to the mane, the Prancing Horse will kick them hard. In other words, when others get more powerful enough to beat Ferrari in its own game, it will counterattack it with more powerful machines in their fleet. One such example is the latest addition to the Scuderia stable.

2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast

Let's begin with this, the brand new Ferrari 812, or in full name, the 812 Superfast, the new and improved version of Ferrari's breakthrough F12berlinetta that responds the needs of a more powerful V12 Ferrari that brings them to the top of the supercar food chain and there are plenty of reasons why everybody's salivating over the most powerful V12 Ferrari ever made.

First and foremost, the 812 now bears a 6.5L V12 engine that produces 800PS of power and 718Nm of torque, that's more powerful than the old F12tdf. That's even more powerful than the LaFerrari running on V12 alone, which is impossible because you can't separate the LaFerrari's hybrid powertrain. However, without all the complicating bits and bobs, the new 812 is a miraculous feast for the Ferrari purists because with no hybrid and turbocharging malarkey involved in the making of Ferrari's super GT car, it's all about bringing freedom to drive to a whole another level.

On the normal roads, the 812 still as civilized as the old F12. You can drive like a normal car on a quiet village and it still works as fine and because the engine features a nifty feature that shuts the engine off when stopped at a set of lights and restarts when you set off, you'd get about 14.9 l/100 km of fuel consumption, which isn't bad for a V12 Fezza.

On the open roads, the 812 comes alive with a set of new rules that will reshape the supercar genre one step at the time. With that V12 engine in place and the improved F1-style double-clutch gearbox, it goes from 0-100kph in 2.9 seconds and onwards to 340kph, which is as slower than the latest version of the Lamborghini Aventador but the truth is, you can't compare it to hypercars because the 812 is much more subtle than that. Instead, it can give cars like Bentley Continental GT and the Aston Martin DB11 a complete run for their money.

Apart from the performance, Ferrari never forgot the memo about the dynamics and while it was an improvement compared to the old F12, there's a major catch; it's got Electric Power Steering, which is a dismay for Ferrari purists, and some high-tech junk that draws inspiration from the F12tdf and LaFerrari to deliver a driving experience unlike no other. Sure, it's got the best of the best in one unique package but those who are brave enough to drive the 812 need to be wise enough to understand what it should and it should not when taking things to the max. Dynamics aside, the aerodynamics played a crucial part of the 812 and while it sounds complicating to mention what's what, it sees a drastic improvement compared to the F12tdf.

That said, if you are taking this car on the track, the 812 is a complete monster and it will take no prisoners on any driver until he gets drunk with the exhilirating performance similar to mastering a MASTER-level, 1000-combo song with one finger. However,, in terms of cruising, the 812 feels rather nice to live with and it soothes your brow all the way home.

The price starts at around 282.934 Euros plus on road costs, which is very expensive by supercar standards, but we are itching to drive one someday.

Photo: Ferrari

Mazda New Flair Wagon (MM53S)

Following the launch of the second-generation Suzuki Spacia range, it looks like their friends from Mazda wants to be part of it so they are more than happy enough to borrow one of those for their Mazda dealerships as the all-new Mazda Flair Wagon.

2018 Mazda Flair Wagon

Just like we saw with the second-generation Suzuki Spacia, the new Flair Wagon is available in two different styles to choose from; from the basic model which is simple and chic in every single way and the Custom Style variant featuring the front view that was inspired from the Toyota Crown. Need I say more? Anyway, inside, customers will be accommodated with such dimensions sized enough for five people to live with.

Benefiting from its Mild Hybrid technology featuring an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a li-ion battery pack collaborating with its fuel-efficient 660cc engine, along with its HEARTECT platform that makes it lighter and more rigid compared to the previous model, the new Flair Wagon's fuel efficiency is around 30.0km/L in JC08 Mode standards while Custom Style variants can do 28.2km/L (with turbo variants exclusive to the Custom Style can do 25.6km/L).

Because the new Flair Wagon is categorized as a "Safety Support Car Wide S, it's been equipped with a suite of safety features such as Lane Departure Warning, Driver Detection, High Beam Assist, Road Sign Recognition, and advance car departure notice function. Apart from that, you can have the Spacia equipped with the omnidirectional monitoring camera that can detect both sides of the car and an around view monitor featuring for the first time on a kei car, a 3D view of your car that makes parking a lot convenient. Other safety features include the Emergency Stop Signal, Hill Hold Control, Dual Sensor Brake Support, False Start Suppression Control, backward erroneous start suppression function, and also first for a kei car, ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper to detect obstacles behind the vehicle. Sure, there's a variant that comes with such safety tech but you're more than welcome to drive these with confidence.

The new Flair Wagon starts at 1,333,800 Japanese Yen and while this is basically a new Spacia sold in Mazda dealerships, it still has the efficiency (despite being less efficient than the previous model), the interior, and the safety this kei minivan delivers as well as the pricing. With Mazda removed most of the minivans with sliding doors thanks to the rise of crossovers, especially the recently launched CX-8, this is the only Mazda with a sliding door you can buy.

Photo: Mazda Motor Corporation

Bubble Gang - December 22, 2017 #BGPaskoNa

On the December 22, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Christmas gift gags

- Friends are here to support you

- More gay lingo in Spelling Beks

- What would he do if his wife tries to poison him?



- Fat kids are doing something...

- The accidental hero

- Today's Balitang Ina is...Santang Ina

- Basa-basa-pik!