Forza Motorsport 7: First Subie

Forza Motorsport 7 celebrates the 60th anniversary of Subaru as a car company and it became an appropriate time for them to look back 60 years of Subaru's car manufacturing with the car that started it all, this little Subaru 360.



Ah yes. The one called it "cheap and ugly" in the US adverts. What is it then? Two years after the post-war period is declared over, Fuji Heavy Industries (now Subaru Corporation) has released the Subaru 360, marking it the first time selling a proper four-wheeled vehicle and a turning point in Japanese car manufacturing industry.

From its egg-shaped body and interior space for four people, it was powered by a 356cc engine, which is the standard kei-car displacement back then, mated to the back of the car. Early models produce only 15HP of power and it was mated to a 3-speed MT. Thanks to its fiberglass roof panel, it weighs only 400kg and to make it smooth to handle, it's got a 4-wheel independent suspension.

Until 1971, the Subaru 360 became a phenomenon and there have been different versions including the Young S and SS, sport versions for young car enthusiasts.

In pop culture reference, the Subaru 360 became the car of choice of GetBackers' main characters, Ban Mido and Ginji Amano.



Yes, you heard that right. This is the car the GetBackers used mission after mission when our favorite vigilantes kicking butts but anyway, no time to feel the tense because I'm trying to talk about what is like to drive the first Subaru ever made and despite my poor tastes for classic cars, it isn't half bad for a micro car that changed the very landscape of the Japanese car manufacturing renaissance.

Yes, the engine maybe small, it's short on power, but for a tiny car, it has endless possibilities you can think of and just imagine how much potential you can create with just a "cheap and ugly" car like this. Whoa, said that much...



After my brief drive with the car favored by the GetBackers, how about a little demonstration to see the Subaru 360 is still the Subaru 360 I know from the past mid-century, let's pit in with something very similar to it and since we're in Suzuka, I picked a suitable rival for it.





Of course, this is the one favored by everyone's favorite master thief, Lupin the Third, but this here is the Abarth 595 esseesse, an improved version of the standard 500 that resulted to the ideal mantra that small is better, even when it comes to picking the best handling classics. Talk about some mid-century atmosphere here and with all of the ingredients here, looks like it's going to be a showdown between the vigilante and a thief. However, we're experiencing light showers around Suzuka but never mind, let's get this showdown on the road.


And now, the lap times...

595 - 1:32.304
360 - 1:33.516

Whoa, looks like Lupin the Third managed to get away from the GetBackers by about a second. Man, you boys really let the master thief get away, huh? Even Inspector Zenigata couldn't figure it out how Lupin got away in this latest scheme. Oh, well...



The Subaru 360, found in Forza Motorsport 7's Tonino's Car Pack, may not be the ideal car for those who are interested in fast rides offered in the game, but as a time machine, it's important to know every car company's roots by understanding the classics and this Subaru 360 is the ideal example of that.

Without the 360, cars like the Leone, the Alcyone, the Legacy, the Impreza, and the Forester, among many other noteworthy Subarus wouldn't exist and looks like we have to give this "cheap and ugly" Subaru a big thanks. Too much, I said? Anyway, here's for 60 years of making cars, Subaru. It's a shame that the way Subaru has pretty much vanished these days, shrivelled up to the point that they're making boring cars. It's heartbreaking...

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea picks two venues for art performance

North Korea has selected two venues in South Korea for its art performance in honor of the PyeongChang games.

After a close inspection of some of the possible concert venues for the North Korean art performance group, the North Korean delegation led by Hyon Song-wol, has selected two cocnert venues to celebrate the Games.

According to the South Korean unification ministry, North Korea said its art troupe hopes to perform at the Gangneung Arts Center in Gangneung, a coastal city east of Seoul, and one of the Olympic venues along with PyeongChang on February 8th, and the National Theater of Korea in Seoul on February 11th.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (January 24, 2018)

- Ever since the eruption of Mayon Volcano in the Philippines, the Pacific Ring of Fire has become even more active. Yesterday, a sudden eruption in a volcano at the Gunma prefecture in Japan triggered an avalanche, hurting less than a dozen and killing a soldier. Then, a M5.3 quake rattled Jakarta, Indonesia. And in Alaska, a M7.9 quake triggered a tsunami but it was less than it was feared.

- Right now, as the volcanic lava from the Mayon Volcano fires ash 5km high, the number of people displaced by an erupting Philippine volcano soared to more than 61,000 by Wednesday.

- The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters denies burning houses and slapped the Armed Forces of the Philippines as "terrorists". In Dec. 31, 2017, the BIFF reportedly burned 12 houses in Sitio Makon, Brgy. Limpogo, Maguindanao and at least 1,400 residents left their homes because of the attack.

- PISTON leader George San Mateo slapped the DOTr's Kontra Bulok, Kontra Usok program as a smokescreen for the phaseout of old passenger utility jeepneys. According to San Mateo, the ongoing campaign of the DOTr seeks to forward the phaseout of old PUJs, and the selling of overpriced vehicles that are promoted by the government.

- Watchdog group Common Cause filed a pair of complaints alleging that a $130,000 payment reportedly made to a pornographic film actress who claims to have had an affair with US President Donald Trump violated campaign finance laws.

- Vietnam began the use of Euro 4 petrol and Euro 5 diesel, courtesy of Petrolimex.

- An AI-powered robot revealed that a common soap ingredient may be the key to stop malaria.

- Proton and Lotus ended their joint venture agreement with China's Goldstar to build and market Lotus cars in China, according to reports. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, DRB-Hicom said the contract was terminated because the JV company, Goldstar Lotus Automobile, had failed to obtain the required manufacturing licence in China in time. The deadline to obtain this was September 25 last year, but it was then extended by both parties to December 31, 2017.

- From the Pretty franchise that brought you Pretty Rhythm and PriPara, comes a new addition to the franchise called Kiratto Pri Chan and the Run Girls, Run unit (as seen on Wake Up Girls! New Chapter anime series) will lend their voices on the series' main characters Mirai Momoyama, Emo Moegi, and Rin Aoba. With social media as the central focus of this new show, it's about two idols shining their way to internet stardom. The new series airs on TV Tokyo this April and Takara Tomy will launch a new line of toys and games inspired by it.

TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korean delegation heads north to inspect venues

A South Korean delegation now in North Korea to inspect the venues where the two Korea will hold joint cultural and sporting events ahead of next month's PyeongChang Winter Games.

At the Mount Kumgang tourist area, they will inspect the venue where a joint cultural performance will be held. Then the delegation will head towards the Masikryong Ski Resort, where they will inspect the luxury multi-million dollar facility built under the orders of their leader Kim Jong un.

Finally, the team will also stop by the nearby Kalma Airport, a military airfield that could be used to fly in the South Korean ski trainees before they return on Thursday.

Source: Arirang News

Stars of 2018 NAIAS

2019 RAM 1500

The 2018 North American International Auto Show runs until the 28th of January, 2018, at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan, and what a way to start the year 2018 with a major car show that attracts a huge number of crowds just to witnessing what to expect in the future of the motoring industry.

From debutantes, full model changes, to concepts, every car featured in the show has a story to tell. So, while you were there, let's jot down the star attractions of this year's NAIAS.

2019 Audi A7

2019 BMW i8 range

2019 Chevrolet Silverado

2019 Ford Edge ST

2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt

2019 Ford Ranger

2019 Hyundai Veloster

2019 Jeep Cherokee

2019 Lamborghini Urus

2019 Mercedes-AMG CLS53

2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

2019 MINI range

2019 RAM 1500

Acura RDX Prototype

Honda Insight Prototype

Nissan xMotion Crossover Concept

Infiniti Q Inspiration Concept

Lexus LF-1 Limitless Cocnept

...and more.

Further checking: https://www.carscoops.com/2018/01/2018-detroit-auto-show-naias-to-z-debuts/

Let's Do The News! (January 23, 2018)

The alert level on Mayon Volcano has now raised to level 4 after ash and lava spill out. A thick column of ash streamed five kilometers into the air above the volcano, in Albay province in southeastern Luzon, and spread over neighboring districts, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a statement Tuesday.

- President Rodrigo Duterte vows to put an end to the New People's Army just like what he did on the illegal drugs problem. However, Duterte said that he pitied two rebel leaders who surrendered to the government and finally met their child for the first time after 17 years.

- Former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada confirmed that all gasoline-powered tricycles, kuligligs, and pedicabs will be removed from the streets and replaced with zero-emission e-trikes in a bid to make Manila e-trike capital of the Philippines.

- The US Government Shutdown has ended after three days, approving the latest short-term funding bill as Democrats accepted promises from Republicans for a broad debate later on the future of young illegal immigrants. The fourth temporary funding bill since October easily passed the Senate and the House of Representatives. President Donald Trump later in the evening signed the measure, largely a product of negotiations among Senate leaders.

- Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump slapped steep tarrifs on imported washing machines and solar panels, giving a boost to Whirlpool Corp and dealing a setback to the renewable energy industry in the first of several potential trade restrictions.

- Europe prepares for a counterattack against US President Trump's "America First" policy when they meet at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos this week. Politicians, business chiefs, bankers and celebrities will meet in the Swiss Alps under the banner “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World” for the four-day gathering against an unsettling global backdrop.

- Brazilian politicians, voters, and investors will find out on Wednesday whether an appeals court will allow former President Inacio Lula de Silva, to run for president this year after being found guilty of accepting a bribe. The former two-term, leftist president was convicted in July of corruption and money laundering for accepting a beachside penthouse apartment from an engineering company vying for government contracts.

- The rise of its subscribers prompted TV streaming giant Netflix to snag a $100 billion market capitalization.

- Scientists are developing carbon fiber made out of plant-based sources, according to reports, in a move to drive down production costs of carbon-fibre as well as reduce levels of excess heat and eliminate toxic by-products, something the current process introduces in production.

- An alleged breach of contract prompted Bandai Visual to pull out the IDOLISH7 character fragrance range.

- Yuji Naka, the man behind Sonic the Hedgehog, is now part of Square Enix.

TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 7: The other side of Veloster

A few moments ago, I got my first dibs on the all-new, second-generation Hyundai Veloster, and with most of the downsides aside, I'm starting to fall in love with the new model even though the new model is heading to the wrong direction, albeit in normal Turbo variant. Betcha didn't know that this wasn't the only Veloster we come across because there's another Veloster out in the open and this one might be the one I'm referring to...



Yep. That's the one, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the first-ever Veloster N, the 2X Spicy version of the Veloster that, sadly, the Koreans can't have. Pity...



So, what is then, this Veloster N? The Veloster N is the second high-performance model under Hyundai's new N range of high-performance cars which are "born in Namyang, honed in Nurburgring" as stated in its mantra. True to the mantra, it incorporates most of Hyundai's motorsports knowhow from the Nurburgring endurance and WRC and as a result, it features a unique suspension geometry and tuning ripe for a hot hatch of this caliber.

Under the hood, the Veloster N is powered by a heavily tuned 2.0L T-GDi engine producing over 275HP of power and 260 lb.-ft of torque. It is mated exclusively with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The Veloster N begins production in late 2018 in Ulsan, South Korea, and it will go on sale globally after that. However, it is unclear when will the Veloster N be sold to the South Korean market.



The Veloster N is starting to becoming the Veloster that should have been from the very beginning because like I said, the original Veloster is less spicy compared to European hot hatches. Now though, it's finally here and this really is the Veloster that should have been from the start but let's not jump to conclusions just yet because I need to examine this not-for-Korea 2X Spicy Veloster and since I'm at the Top Gear Track, it would be the ideal time to talk about the Veloster N.



Because of its unique suspension geometry and tuning provided by the development team of Hyundai's high performance division spearheaded by the man who used to work for BMW M, the Veloster N starting to feel like a racecar that tries to feel at home on the track but be warned though that because this is "honed at the Nurburgring", this car is going to be less comfortable than the standard Veloster when it's out this year but never mind that. We're on a track and since this is the N car I'm talking about, it will make you fall in love with this hot hatch the more you're spending time with it. The added power and suspension geometry sounds really nice for a spicy Veloster but because being front wheel drive, its mild and menacing dynamics will make you jack knife when it goes all out through the bends so you better make sure what you're doing every time it faces a corner.

I know, this car can jack knife me like lifting a full gallon of water at home but by having fun, the Veloster N never disappoints its drivers at ease. Anyway, since this Veloster N has sparked a war on words in the world of hot hatches, let's see if the Veloster N got what it takes to take on Europe's best so I organized a demonstration.





What I have here is a Golf R and what am I going to do is to see the difference between a fast Golf and a fast Veloster.



The Golf VII R did it in 1:27.691 while the Veloster N did it in 1:28.673 so that makes it awfully too close to call even though it was a second slower than the all-wheel drive hot Golf, but still the new Veloster N finally got what it takes to battle the world's best hot hatches.



The Veloster N may not be the best hot hatch in town but with its untapped potential, it's now ready to carve a whole new beginning, something that the original Veloster failed to impress from the very start. Like the first N car, this hot Veloster deserves a trip to Busan because the Koreans are itching to have one right now. Come on, Hyundai, bring the N cars to South Korea right now!