Project CARS 2: Welcome to Leipzig!

The arrival of Project CARS 2's Porsche Legends Pack welcomes up-and-coming drivers to the ultimate proving ground for Porsche. Welcome to Leipzig!



This is the Porsche Leipzig on-road track, a proving ground where they test Porsches, which is important for their research and development in the making of their vehicles including the iconic 911. Right now, I'm checking out this Leipzig proving ground while driving one of the Porsche race cars offered in the pack, the 991.2-spec 911 RSR.



The 991.2-spec Porsche 911 RSR is their all-out newly developed GT racer motoring enthusiasts witnessed over the course of last year since its debut at last year's Rolex 24-Hour Endurance at Daytona. The biggest surprise of this RSR is that it's mid-engined rather than rear engined much like every other 911 in history in order to remain competitive in WEC's LMGTE-PRO and IMSA's GTLM classes due to Balance of Performance regulation. Although it lost its mild driving feel from its rear-engined equivalent, it sacrifices weight advantage for better aerodynamics and better weight distribution, which keeps it in play with its competitors.



Because the 911 RSR is mid-engined, I can feel that there's no weight on the front but it feels so much more for a racing machine of this caliber and when you let loose with its 4.0L water-cooled six-cylinder boxer engine mated to its six-speed sequential gearbox while feeling its weight-optimised chassis, racing suspension, independent brake circuits, and so much more, you can't really tell but getting used to the 911 RSR's racing dynamics that really ticks it off.



Looking back at Leipzig, this proving ground really puts the 911 RSR on the spotlight and while this on-road circuit plays an important role for the development of new and exciting Porsche models, it can be the ideal place to understand how the 911 RSR works and I shall now demonstrate with a quick lap round the track in this Porsche.





So, how was my experience with this Porsche round Leipzig? Although challenging, it provided up-and-coming drivers a taste of what it feels like behind the wheel of Porsche's spearhead to their newest motorsport portfolio ever since it first appeared at last year's Daytona 24 Hour and then continue throughout the WEC and the IMSA to show the world how Porsche is capable of and it takes a lot of time to getting used to its mid-engined layout no 911 racing machine has done before. This car along with this track and many other greatest hits can be yours on the Project CARS 2 Porsche Legends Pack, available now, so go ahead. Try out your favorite Porsche round Leipzig as well as discovering Porsche's greatest hits to your desire.

A Wrinkle In Time

A Wrinkle In Time

Disney's visually spectacular masterpiece, A Wrinkle In Time, is more than just one of the most anticipated family films before the Spring season arrives like a lion but how this film unfolds is very special in each and every way it's hard to describe what's it all about.

Featuring a powerhouse of cast including veteran TV presenter Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, comedienne Mindy Kaling, and introducing Storm Reid, among many others, A Wrinkle In Time is very special in each and every way because this is unlike any other fantasy film you've ever known so far.

In this film, Meg Murry (played by Reid) and her little brother, Charles Wallace, are coping with the disappearance of her father ever since he discovered a new planet and used a concept known as tesseract five years ago. Unknown to her, her father is alive and he is hidden somewhere behind the darkness of the universe, and her search for her missing father begins with a little help of her classmate Calvin and three mysterious travelers known themselves as Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which. Throughout her journey to save her father, they must overcome the trials and become the warrior of light who can banish the darkness of the universe.

This film can be downright scary by the looks of the special effects because this is like a blend of Inception and some disaster films you seen at the cinemas but despite its overuse of CGI stuff, the biggest piece of history in A Wrinkle In Time is the diversive cast as well as the strong female personalities in the making of this film, as well as the film's director herself. This film really is something what women can do in the world of film making and because March is women's month, A Wrinkle In Time really is a party piece for the feminists to show the world what they're capable of.

Although not a great film for the fun of it, A Wrinkle In Time really sends a powerful message to the millions of youth who want to be inspired by her to embrace their individuality and strength to become a hero in times of crises. That is the real value of giving a child the universe to save and by believing in themselves and supporting each other, they can achieve everything.

My rating: 4.3 out of 5.

Volvo XC40

Volvo has launched their first ever subscription service called "Care by Volvo" which promises to make private ownership of a car a thing in the past and the Volvo that spearheaded this questionable new kind of subscription service is their first ever compact crossover called the XC40. So, what's it all about this Volvo XC40?

2018 Volvo XC40

2018 Volvo XC40

Good question, ladies and gentlemen, especially you speedo boys out there, I was about to say that but before that, what is "Care by Volvo" by the way? "Care by Volvo" is a monthly subscription service that makes having a car hassle-free than shopping one from haggling dealerships. It gives subscribers a wide range of digital concierge services meaning all the maintenance needs will be taken care of. You can even have them deliver to your doorstep to you. What's interesting is that after a year, you can even opt for another Volvo but it you're going to sign a new contract for this.

Yes, the Care by Volvo is about as wonderful as driving a rental car on a business trip and it all starts at 5,799 Kr (over $700/35,000 Php) per month. If you're a speedo boy, you wouldn't want to go for that trend because speedo boys love to work on their vehicle and making it theirs and if they're not a fan of this subscription service, they'd better keep it at a full price; 293,900 Kr (around $36,000 or 1,800,000 Php), which in luxury car terms, it's one of the most affordable luxury cars to buy right now.

The XC40 is a luxury car without the luxury price tag but what do you get in return? Take this design, for instance, and at first glance, they've drawn inspiration from the 40.1 Concept and because this is the compact Volvo to spearhead the new 40-series range, who knows, the XC40 might spawn other derivatives such as the successor to the S40, which draws its looks form the 40.2 Concept and a replacement to the V40 hatchback. Anyway, while the concept-turned-reality design is a clear example of why a few cars are doing things right rather than Subaru's, it's a bit boxy by the looks of it and it has a shape of a Tetris puzzle when you squint at it.

2018 Volvo XC40

Because the XC40 falls victim to the "Russian doll" trend that luxury cars do, the interior is typical Volvo since the XC90 and you will be still greeted by the familiar but high-tech dashboard but for the first time, it comes with the available wireless mobile phone charging which is great but complicating if you got an older smartphone. Also, it comes with smartphone connectivity, and a Harman Kardon sound system. Although it's small enough to park, the spacing and comfort is very sedan-ish and the boot space is good enough to accomodate this week's grocery shopping or heaps of dirty laundry if you're going for the wash as long as it doesn't got piled up by stuff you bought from the thrift store last week.

2018 Volvo XC40

Because the XC40 is utilized on a brand new modular vehicle architecture which will underpin upcoming cars within the 40 series, especially electric ones, it's very compact and very nimble enough to drive through city centers with confidence and despite being co-developed by the Chinese, even though now Volvo is owned by Geely, it feels right of being a city car for day-to-day use.

Question is, does it work as a car that can be used for TNVS purposes? Well, first, all of the engines are 2.0L four-cylinder units, mated with either a 6-speed MT or an 8-speed AT, with the most powerful being the T5 AWD variant with 247ps of power output, which is not bad for a crossover that weighs over two tons, but it's hard to distinguish whether if its a hatchback or an SUV because if the XC40 is nothing more of a jacked-up hatchback, then you're not allowed to use for TNVS duty such as Uber or Lyft or any ride-hailing service you know about because it is a jacked-up hatchback rather than an SUV so, no deal on using it for TNVS.

In the spirit of Volvo safety, the XC40 features Volvo's signature Pilot Assist system, City Safety, Run-off Road protection and mitigation, Cross Traffic alert with brake support and the 360° Camera, which works in the modern traffic but for speedo boys, it's worth nightmarish to drive knowing that these tech can scare the little buzzers of their trousers but since we live in a future, the XC40 is all about being the future created by the modern men of today that can handle almost everything with confidence. That's the Swedish way, folks.

So, how to sum this car up? Well, technically, the XC40 excels at its affordable pricing not bad for a luxury compact crossover, its concept-turned-reality styling, and its performance, although what's not to like about is that you can't use it for TNVS because they know that this is a jacked-up hatchback rather than being a compact SUV, the new chassis feels good to drive but not as sporty as it seems, and in the case of speedo boys everywhere, the Care by Volvo. Trust me, speedo boys are not fans with this subscription service as they would rather own it for their own pleasure than this. Although late for the party, the XC40 is ready to take on luxury compact crossovers anytime.

Available colors: Black Stone Solid, Bright Silver Metallic, Osmium Grey Metallic, Fusion Red Metallic, Crystal White Premium Metallic, Bursting Blue Premium Metallic.

Photo: Volvo Cars 

Chevrolet Corvette C7 ZR1

When Chevrolet introduced the C7 Corvette to the world five years ago, the world braced themselves for a Corvette unlike any other, well except for a few people like me due to numerous reasons that led me to my deep-rooted hatred for this Corvette but tensions have been toned down when they gave us the powerful Z06 which has the nooks and crannies of a C7.R racer and the Grand Sport which is known to be a Porsche 911 GT3 edited for rednecks. Having been on the road for five years, the C7 Corvette has reached its final form the world will brace; the C7 ZR1. It's the C7 Corvette that says "let's finish this, you and I!"

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Convertible

The ZR1 has returned as the finishing blow by the C7 Corvette and when I said "finishing blow", it really is because with rumors circulating around the block that their replacement will be mid-engined just like a Ferrari 488, rest assured that the final chapter of the seventh-generation Corvette will write a happy ending with a savage spin-out and a coup d'grace this ultimate Corvette will deliver.

Like the lesser Z06, the ZR1's design is heavily inspired by the C7.R racing machine but because this is the ultimate Corvette ever made, the intimidating exterior design will really alarm the Europeans knowing that it's already high noon. Get it? On the inside, it still feels like every Corvette in this generation and with the special race-inspired Competition seats, this interior feels like you're driving a race car even though you're driving on the streets of Los Angeles in the night time.

Anyway, let's not gawk down the looks because the forte of the C7 ZR1 is the performance and we begin with the aerodynamics that tries to flex its American muscles. First, the wing, it offers 20% less drag than the adjustable high wing from the ZTK Track Performance Package but it you went for it, it delivers 60% more downforce than the Z06 with Z07 Performance Package. For the first time in a Corvette, the ZR1 has race car-inspired underwing technology for better downforce and for cooling measures, the ZR1 comes with five additional radiators, power steering cooler, differential oil cooler, and the transmission cooling module from the Z06, as well as four new outboard radiators and a new front low temperature radiator to cool down the monstrous 6.2L LT5 supercharged V8 engine.

This V8 in question generates a monstrous 755HP of power and 715lb-ft of torque and comes with the biggest supercharge to date, delivering peak boost pressure of 13psi and 52% larger displacement than the LT4 supercharger. For the first time in a Chevrolet, it comes with the new dual fuel injection system which uses a port fuel rail and injections in addition to the Direct Injection system, and top it all off, it comes with dry-sump oil system, where oil is pumped to the engine from a 9.8 quart-capacity tank within the engine bay to make sure it never goes to its critical areas when you drive like a maniac. With this engine mated to the available 8-speed AT, it has a top speed of 212mph, which is as fast as a Ferrari 812 Superfast! Now that's supercar territory!

Of course, while speedo boys are not fans of fakey exhaust notes, this four-mode exhaust system maybe made for show and tell but it can be downright crazy to listen to four sound profiles from Track, Sport, Tour, and for the sneaky folks, Stealth. They've added a Stealth mode on the exhaust! But no, this is not stealth camouflage, sorry.

Anyway, back to the ZR1's inside story, let's look closely on the tires and on a normal ZR1, the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires really works with its dynamic character it possesses but for the ZTK Track Performance Package, the specially-tuned suspension and the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 summer-only tires really means business on the track, especially on a hot lap round America's best race tracks such as Laguna Seca, Sebring, or Daytona. As for stopping power, it comes with front 15.5-inch rotors with 6-piston calipers, rear 15.3-inch rotors with 4-piston calipers, and high-performance Brembo carbon ceramic brakes for a stopping power equivalent of a tectonic rage. Also, it comes with 4-wheel antilock brakes so when you brake approach the corner, it goes smoothly as planned.

Then, there's the chassis and as always, it comes with Magnetic Selective Ride Control which adapts to the road in less than 15 milliseconds, delivering the drivers the feel of a supercar and along with the Performance Traction Management and Electronic Limited-Slip Differential, the ZR1 can be somewhat challenging but rewarding if you want to drive it as long as you want until the sun sets.

So, now that almost everything you want to know about the ZR1 has been told, better get the checkbooks ready because the price can be downright upsetting for a supercar of this size. It's 121,000 US Dollars. That pricing will make you think you want one but the next day, you're regretting it just like Sarah Palin. Get it? Even the convertible version suffers the same issue as well but anyway, there's no time to talk sissy because the C7 Corvette, in its dying moments, is becoming one of the all-time greats and this ZR1 marks the happiest ending in this generation and with cars like the Porsche 911 GT2 RS set the fastest Nurburgring record for production cars, looks like the ZR1 is up for the challenge but in the meantime, potential drivers will etch some memories with this C7 ZR1 from start to finish. If I'm going for it, I want to savor the last moments in the world with the ultimate Corvette ever made. Consider it a happy ending.

Available Colors: Sebring Orange, Long Beach Red Tintcoat, Watkins Glen Metallic, Ceramic Matrix Gray Metallic, Arctic White, Blade Silver Metallic, Black, Corvette Racing Yellow Tintcoat, Torch Red, and Admiral Blue Metallic.

Photo: General Motors

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Trump and Kim agree to meet by May

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have agreed to meet by May, according to a South Korean envoy.

South Korea's national security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, told reporters at the White House that Trump told him he would accept Kim's invitation to meet with him as soon as possible. According to Chung, who led a five-member delegation to a meeting with the North Korean leader in Pyongyang on Monday, Kim said he is "committed to denuclearization" and will "refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests."

The Koreans' meeting was the first of its kind since Kim took power in late 2011. South and North Korea also agreed to hold their first summit in over a decade in April.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (March 9, 2018)

- The camp of former Senator Bongbong Marcos praised Senator Tito Sotto's exposure of the alleged 2016 electoral sabotage. On March 7, Sotto revealed to the Senate that there has been a recorded early transmission from various vote counting machines before the start of the election on May 9, 2016. Atty. Vic Rodriguez, lawyer of Marcos, said that this expose shows that the former senator is not the only personality to condemn and oppose the alleged large-scale electoral fraud in the 2016 national elections.

- Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte governor Imee Marcos remains optimistic over Bongbong's early poll case victory against Vice President Leni Robredo as she suspends her bid to the senatorial office.

- Quezon City Representative Kit Belmonte feels that the House Committee on Justice lacked evidence to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

- The camp of undefeated Australian boxing champion Jeff Horn believes that a rematch with Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao is already ‘slim to none’. According to reports, Glenn Rushton, trainer of Horn, welcomes another bout against Pacquiao but doubts that the camp of the fighing senator is still open to the idea.

- Matt Yglesias from Vox told about the flawed strategy of the DCCC, challenging Americans to reject the conventional wisdom about how to defeat Republicans and gain control of the US Congress. He said "There's very little evidence that "electable" moderates do better."

- The Kansas Senate rejected the resolution that could put everyone's constitutional rights and liberties up for grabs.

- Baseball player Ichiro Suzuki returns to Seattle Mariners.

- The Special Vehicles Operations unveiled the Range Rover SV Coupe at the Geneva Motor Show. Limited to 999 units, it's powered by the same 5.0L Supercharged V8 engine producing 555PS of power, capable of going 0-60mph in five seconds and onwards to 165mph. It's priced at 240,000 GBP.

2019 Land Rover Range Rover SV Coupe

- Toyota and Mazda established their joint venture company called the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc. and they will be producing cars like Mazda's full-size crossover and Toyota's Corolla at their new Alabama plant beginning in 2021.

- A certain Volkswagen executive expresses concerns about Germany's diesel ban, calling it "scary and unnecessary".

- Activision announced this year's Call of Duty installment called Call of Duty Black Ops 4, coming to PS4, XBOX One, and PC, this October 12th worldwide.

- WHOA! Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is coming to Nintendo Switch XBOX one, and Steam this July 10!

- Nintendo announced that Super Smash Bros. is coming to Nintendo Switch with the inklings from Splatoon joining the all-star fight!

- Bandai Namco will end service of their Dream Festival! R arcade game and app game at the end of March.

- Square Enix is joining the idol craze with the unveiling of their new Idol Fantasy app game coming to iOS and Android this summer.

TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 7: Thor's Hammer

As Forza Motorsport 7's gone crossover crazy, this crossover featured at the March Car Pack is somewhat of a different ballgame. In fact, the crossover in question that I've encountered in this pack is basically a Volvo...



Yes. It's a Volvo but what Volvo is it? I bet you can't guess...



It's the second-generation Volvo XC90 and it's odd why a people mover like this made it through the ranks, in fact, this game is becoming in tune with the times now that crossovers are becoming mainstream than any other body style in the globe. So, what's it all about this Volvo XC90?



The launch of the second-generation Volvo XC90 marks a new beginning in Volvo's history, incorporating signature Volvo safety tech and utilising their brand new Scalable Product Architecture platform. It is the first Volvo to don the updated iron emblem as well as Volvo's new signature "Thor's Hammer" DRL lights, promising a new, distinctive, and confident face for Volvo's forthcoming models.The interior now boasts a tablet-like touch screen control console, which forms the heart of an all-new in-car control system.

While boasting a wide array of Advanced Driver Assists, the new XC90 boasts a full range of other engine options,all mated with an 8-speed AT, with the range-topping T8 Twin Engine PHEV that combines supercharging, turbocharging, and an electric motor, resulting to 407HP of power output, 0-100kph time of 5.6 seconds, and 134.5mpg of fuel economy. In pure electric mode, it has a range of 26 miles, which is impressive for a seven-seater PHEV.

With its advanced driving technology, wide range of engine choices, and distinctive design, the all-new XC90 is a fresh new start to Sweden's only surviving mainstream luxury car company, even though it's now owned by China's Geely.



Trying to mock this crossover as a "school bus" is downright absurd but there's something about the Twin Engine XC90 variant that is worth noticeable. Volvo states that this PHEV variant of the XC90 is all about the best of both worlds. With the twin-charged petrol engine and a rechargeable electric motor, it promises to deliver the power equivalent of a V8 engine but at what costs? To find out, I went to the venue of the F1 Abu Dhabi GP that is Yas Marina.



I know, bearing a car with an automatic gearbox that has no paddle shifters whatsoever can be somewhat dull for a speedo boy driving it but when I tried driving it with all the electronic nannies on, it feels not so bad to drive and by demonstrating how Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture works, not only it feels lively to drive but also worth coming back for more. Of course, there are some drawbacks and one of them is when I engaged the ESC Sport Mode, which shuts the electronic nannies off, including the traction control, it's worth taking a trip to the drugstore for some painkillers when it triggers some sort of catastrophic understeer and for an SUV that weighs over 5,000lbs, that is worth a challenge.



Anyway, back to the Twin Engine's capability, and since I'm at Yas Marina to explain what I was on about, I'm trying to find a V8-powered SUV that can match against the XC90's Twin Engine capability as an all-rounder PHEV and I got one...





As you can see, I am rejoined by my old friend, the Dodge Durango SRT. The high-performance crossover I've lauded for being almost as quick as a Ford Focus RS when I thrashed this one round Laguna Seca and what am I going to do is see if the XC90's Twin Engine power can be a decent alternative against a V8 SUV like this. Let's roll the tape.



And now, the results...

Durango - 2:54.772
XC90 - 2:59.180



Well, that was just rubbish, isn't it? Volvo said their Twin Engine capability provided the V8-ish power but what was that all about? Almost five seconds slower than a V8-powered Durango SRT? How sad but let's just say, they've tried and I am impressed that the second-generation XC90 is the way forward for Volvo because of its pioneering breakthrough that writes a new chapter for Volvo's history. It may not have the guts to outflank a V8-powered super-suv but as an all-rounder, this Twin Engine PHEV is all about decency in action. Well, now that I've explained everything about the new Volvo XC90, I made a little reward for doing a good job...



A Scandinavian aria worth beholding... Wait a minute, looks like my whole set is complete!























What you're looking at, ladies and gentlemen, are my collection of cars made with the theme of Aikatsu Stars on it and since this show's ending in a few weeks this month, time to take a moment to try out some of the designs I made. I call them "Aikatsu Stars In Reasonably Fast Cars" and it made it sound like Top Gear's Star In A Reasonably Fast Car but I hope you appreciate for all the hard-ish work I've done in the making of those.

Until then, Bon Bon Voyage!