GT SPORT: The birth of N

Since 2015, Hyundai commenced their little experiment to become a Korean take on Mercedes-AMG or BMW M Power, whatever it means, and that gave them the birth of their new brand called "N". Born in Namyang, Honed at Nurburgring, that's what N is made for and their newest experiment begins with a concept car like this.



It's Hyundai's entry to the Vision Gran Turismo project, that made its GT SPORT debut appearance.




This is the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo and while this is unheard for a Korean car company to present their little proposal to the producers of the Gran Turismo franchise, it's a stunning vision of what will race cars look like in the next decade and the ideal metaphor of Hyundai's little experiment to create its high-performance division of the company.



So, what is it about the N 2025, apart from being a metaphor for their little experiment? Well, since hybrids are taking over the motorsport world like the ones from Le Mans, the N 2025 features a race-derived hydrogren fuel cell system that combines zero emission ecology and raw performance that most racing machines get. Sure, the Koreans did all the fuel cell work in their home base but the Americans skillfully perfected it and as a result, the power output is about 871HP courtesy of its eco-friendly system that's optimally delivered through four high-powered independent in-wheel motors for better traction. Thanks to its CFRP monocoque structure, the power-to-weight ratio is beyond supercar reach and because of its low center of gravity and Independent In-wheel motor Drive Control, it's phenomenal to drive.



This particular N 2025 I'm driving in GT SPORT is not the N 2025 that was been winded up to the max. In fact, this is the Group 1 version of it and it was specially tuned to meet Group 1 regulations in the game, even the FIA GT Manufacturer Series you are planning to go for. It may have 200 less than the normal Gr.X version of the N 2025 race car but it still performs pretty much like it and you can thank its unbelievable aerodynamics playing a key role to this car as well as its 4WD system. Upon driving it, I had the slight intention that it might actually go wrong by ending up on a catastrophic understeer but no. It drives like an art and you can't really tell the difference between going fast and taking a corner because this Vision GT car is tad fantastic drive and talking about here, I managed to take a stroll with this Korean future racecar around the Nurburgring.

 

Since this is what the N stands for, let's see if the N 2025, albeit in Group 1 spec, is true to the saying that it was "Born in Namyang, Honed at Nurburgring" as what Hyundai claims. With all of the ingredients here, time to let this bad boy shine in the Green Hell.



And here we are, one hot lap on a Gr.1-spec Hyundai N 2025 Vision GT. I even managed to do a 6:46.113 lap time, which isn't bad for someone who thinks that I can't drive round corners without crashing like the other guy.



Thanks to concept cars like the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo, this experiment has commenced and as a result, Hyundai made their first N car based on a global five-door hatchback and it was available to order in Mainland Europe, sadly Hyundai withdraw the idea of selling their first N car in South Korea, which is a shame for Koreans who are getting cranky over Hyundai's first N car. I'm sure they will change their minds someday and let's hope for the best that the N cars from Hyundai deserve a trip to Busan.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Two Koreas hold talks for North's participation in PyeongChang games

The two Koreas are holding working-level talks to work out details on the North's participation in next month's PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

The meeting is being suspended and it will resume soon. The talks which started at 1011 hours local time will focus mostly on the North's plan to send an art troupe to the Games.

It comes on the heels of their first high-level talks in over two years on Tuesday in the truce village of Panmunjom where the North offered to send high-ranking officials, cheerleaders, performing artists, taekwondo demonstration teams, and reporters in addition to athletes.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (January 15, 2018)

- 12,000 people have been flee as lava flows from the Mayon Volcano. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology increased the alert level for Mount Mayon late on Sunday to three on a scale of five, indicating an increased tendency toward a hazardous eruption.

- A board member from the LTFRB confirmed the plan of banning hatchbacks as cars used for ride-sharing such as UBER or Grab.

- Last weekend in Hawaii, a false alarm rattled the US state of Hawaii, warning of a potential missile attack from North Korea. How did it went wrong? An administrator for an agency confirmed that the mistake took place during a routine drill run after a shift change.

- French president Emmanuel Macron wants baguettes to be protected by UNESCO. In last weekend's interview, Macron said that "the baguette is envied in the whole world."

- Land Rover will restore the original Series 1 in honor of the company's 70th anniversary.

- The Ford Ranger has returned with a new 2.3L EcoBoost engine and 10-speed AT.

2019 Ford Ranger

- Meanwhile, Ford celebrates the 50th anniversary of the film Bullitt with special Mustang model, featuring an upgraded 5.0L V8 engine producing 475HP of power and 420lb-ft of torque, capable of reaching 163mph of top speed.

2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt

- The new Mercedes-Benz G-Class was unveiled, retaining the iconic G-Wagen look while featuring a brand new tech, new suspension, DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes, G-Mode, and new differential locks.

2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

- Busy with Pokemon Go? There will be a first-ever Community Day happening this January 20 and it will feature a Surfing Pikachu. Also, support for devices that cannot upgrade to iOS 11 will end at the end of February due to the implementation of new features in the game that requires iOS 11.

TTFN!!!

Audi RS4 Avant B9

2018 Audi RS4 Avant

The previous RS4 Avant is one heck of a brilliant Audi because even though for an everyday wagon, it looks and feels absolutely sexy as well as its animalistic V8 engine ever roared. We all missed that RS4 Avant and now, Audi unveiled the all-new model which is based on the Audi A4 B9 Avant model.

So, what's new on the B9-spec RS4 Avant, per se? Pay attention because what's under the hood is disturbing and it is. The old model's V8 engine has been thrown away to the great junkyard in the sky and in place lies the same 2.9 TFSi V6 BiTurbo engine that you get in today's RS5. That means, it produces 450PS of power and 600Nm of torque while mated to an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission. It does 0-100kph in 4.1 seconds, which is slightly quicker than the one it replaces while it can do a governed top speed of 250kph but it can be bumped up to 280kph by request, which pretty much is the same as the old one if I'm honest.

Sure, the new model has been quite an improvement from the old one apart from the added power from the small V6 turbo engine and replacing the 7-speed DCT with an 8-speed AT because some enthusiasts are unhappy with it, but what's unhappy about the new RS4 is the sound of it and thanks to the downsized engine, it's less shouty than the old model it replaces and you get the impression that it sounds like driving an ordinary estate that you normally use on a day-to-day basis, including shopping. Disappointing the sounds are, the new RS4's dynamics are rather mild indeed, even though it was improved from the ground up thanks to the platform it uses, resulting in a lighter and more rigid ride compared to the previous model.

On normal roads, the RS4 is pretty much civilized on the road because that's how Audis are made, perhaps no wonder some people won't want to be with someone driving an Audi for reasons known only to themselves, perhaps they don't call them entertaining or amusing, but when taken on the track, this is where the serious bit kicks in because even with the dynamic settings on, driving the new RS4 is like getting pummeled by a bear drinking Stella Artois. Remember, this car doesn't have that wonderful feature like the one from the Ford Focus RS, which means it's going to behave pretty much like a front-wheel-drive car and if you're too little, too late, you're be seeing stretch marks on your arms after this.

So much for a 79,800 Euro high-performance wagon but despite all that mild and tangy dynamics, it still works like a wagon should. It even has some room for some groceries and some stuff you bought at the thrift store and some seats for your mates, even families who are sticking with the one-child policy. Still, it's inappropriate to be called a family car because of the pricing, but the RS4 Avant is all about being the jack of all trades, all work and all play like when the world's gone mad thanks to the principle of Murphy's Law.

Fancy a super Audi wagon? No thanks. I'll just stick to the E63 Estate for the time being because it won't give me some stretch marks on my arms.

Photo: AUDI AG

FIA Formula E S4: Marrakesh

It's the new year and a new title as Formula E named the ABB Group as their official title partner and with the newly named ABB Formula E, things are heating up in the world's premiere zero-emission racing event that promises the future of motorsport through electrification. Anyway, let's not get too excited about the new name because even with it, the schedule is still pretty much the same and since this is the fourth season of the FIA Formula E Championship, the action is still on the early stages and now the action is set in Marrakesh, Morocco.

FIA Formula E S4: Marrakesh

In one of the most vibrant places in Northern Africa, Marrakesh has became the battleground for Formula E's best and brightest stars as they're taking their first steps towards the title and like the messy Hong Kong ePrix from last month, the battle for first place looks fierce and the probability of finishing the race is too wide to tell for some.

Anyway, in this race, Mahindra's Felix Rosenqvist is the winner of the Marrakesh ePrix followed by Sebastien Buemi from Renault e.dams and Sam Bird from DS Virgin Racing.

HIGHLIGHTS:


The next race will be on Santiago, Chile, on the 3rd of February.

The Commuter

Action star Liam Neeson is at it again. First, he's chasing every villain to get his daughter back in the Taken trilogy, then trying to stop a potential terrorist attack whilst on high altitude on Non-Stop, trying to survive the frozen wilderness against wolves in The Grey, finding his true identity in Unknown, and trying to stop the mob in Run All Night. Now, he's on board a train, trying to stop a possible attack in this latest action thriller called The Commuter.

The Commuter

In this film, Neeson plays as an insurance salesman on his daily commute home until he was called by an unknown person who is plotting a possible terrorist attack on the train. Racing against the clock and with all of the passengers on the line, he must uncover the sinister plot before its too late.

Yes, another typical Liam Neeson cliche since Taken and Non-Stop, figuring out who's the attacker before the attacker kills them all, including the hero, guess we can't get enough of this cliche but this is why despite his age, he still got his action star blood boiling through his veins will all that anger and rage enveloped to deliver what a typical action thriller should be and this one is an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride before the last stop. This is like Murder on the Orient Express meets Non-Stop and if you're really glued yourselves into this film, you don't have enough time to chat or go for a restroom break because being your typical action thriller with some typical Liam Neeson cliches on it that has been around since the Taken trilogy and other action films he got into, it's all about the rage you'll be running into this film and it will bite you hard.

My rating: 3.8 out of 5.

Paddington 2

Everyone's favorite little bear returns in an all new adventure as Paddington tries his best to support his new family, the Browns, until a mysterious crime spiraled them to an unforgettable adventure as sweet as marmalade.

Paddington 2

So, here we are, the sequel to the movie adaptation of one of Britain's favorite children's books is here and this one is quite a corker of a mayhem for our favorite Peruvian-born bear who lives and supports the ones who now treated him as part of the family. In this sequel, Paddington is taking a number of odd jobs such as being a barber, a window cleaner, just to buy the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, a pop-up book sold at an antique shop. However, when reports circulated that the one that was supposed to be the present for his aunt was stolen, he got framed for the crime the Browns believed he didn't commit and to prove Paddington's innocence, they set off for one crazy adventure to find out who's behind the theft and save the day!

One of the things the whole family will love about this Paddington sequel is the charms and I have a funny feeling that some people are going to call this film "cute" because it is but to my mind, it wasn't because you by the time you went home to make stuff with your security blanket, you know that this bear wasn't enough to tickle your fancy because there's nothing cute about a bear setting off for a hilarious adventure to prove he's innocent. Better still, despite not being cute, it feels so warm and fuzzy and even in the winter season, this warm atmosphere this film delivers is what the whole family wants and we all agree to this atmosphere, which is nice and British in every single direction.

Although not cute, this film charms the audiences with its charming sense of humor that will put some smiles on their faces.

My rating: 3.9 out of 5.