Second-generation Audi A7 (C8)

Since the start of the new decade, Audi presented the world their equivalent to Mercedes' CLS, known as the A7 Sportback. Of course, this is Audi's foray to the almost non-existent four-door coupe genre and by the looks of it, it's not half bad to look at but judging by its rear view, it's like a bad case of "finish or not finished, pass your papers" as well as the way it behaves while driving. It's like getting suffocated by two fat ladies squeezing you like a sandwich in a subway. Knowing this, Audi made a second-generation of their eccentric offering and I'm here to have a probe on it.

2018 Audi A7 Sportback

2018 Audi A7 Sportback

Here is the new A7 in question and at first glance, you can think of it as an Audi A8 with a rear of the Tesla Model X and it's better looking than the previous A7, which is good because they used the prologue-inspired design language first introduced at the Audi A8 and while most luxury cars had forgone the Russian doll effect, the new A7 almost looks like it but because the rear view is different than today's A8, it's easy to distinguish between the two cars.

2018 Audi A7 Sportback

The interior has a different story as well because it looks like it came from the latest A8, meaning there's a hint of Russian doll effect on it, and because most of the stuff at the dashboard are touch panel rather than buttons, speedo boys are running scared over this kind of layout because in today's high-tech cars, their sat-navs and radios are now irreplaceable. Sorry, speedo boys, you can't replace their fancy gizmos with that kind of layout. Although the dashboard can easily intimidate speedo boys because of its high-tech stuff, there's so much to toy around with it such as smartphone connectivity that works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the available Bang & Olufsen

Advanced Sound System, wi-fi hotspot, and much more. Of course, being a luxury car, the rear seats really matters and despite the roofline, the "out of a limo" feeling remains and you can really tell when you hit their sweet spot. Also, the boot space isn't bad for fastback standards which is good for trips to the country club on weekends.

2018 Audi A7 Sportback

Like I said before, the previous A7 has a driving feeling of two fat ladies squeezing you like a sandwich in a subway but in the new model, it's starting to feel more dramatic and somewhat enjoyable to drive courtesy of its new chassis and new body which is more rigid and lighter than the previous model and by the feel of it, it feels like you're not getting sandwiched by two fat ladies. Instead, you'd be sandwiched by two good-looking men and while the dynamics are improved by a pinch, it still has a hint of mildness when you handle it. Being all-wheel drive, you can't escape its grip of this thing but for an all-rounder, it's not half bad.

By launch, the new A7 is powered by a choice of two 3.0L engines, in petrol and diesel guise but because Germany is starting to dispel diesel-powered cars due to recent developments of you-know-what, let's only focus on the 3.0L TFSi engine for the time being. Armed with the 7-speed S tronic and the new mild-hybrid system with a 48-volt primary electrical system and a belt alternator starter generating up to 12 kilowatts of recuperation power, it produces 340PS of power output, 500Nm of torque, a 0-100kph time of 5.3 seconds, electronically limited top speed of 250kph, and an NEFZ-verified combined fuel consumption of 6.9l/100km, which is irrelevant right now as the world's slowly adapting to the new and more WTLC standards to make it more relevant but in the meantime, the fuel consumption figures will be nothing more to you for the time being.

Like the new Audi A8 we saw last year, the new A7 comes with a wide array of high-tech driver assistance features that can be either surprising or annoyed at the same time such as adaptive cruise assist, the new crossing assist, and Audi pre sense safety systems, with 39 driver assistance systems either standard or optional and with all of the driver assistance systems standard, the new A7 is armed with 24 sensors. This car is all eyes on the road and while it promises to be a more relaxing drive for everyone, its autonomy can be downright scary, even for speedo boys.

The new A7 is priced at 66,300 Euros (around $82,000/Php 4,300,000) plus additional costs which sounds like a lot but it's less pricey than the Mercedes CLS, making this luxury hatchback a bargain of the year. So, what's good about the new A7? Well, the exterior looks nicer than before, the interior looks more high-tech, and it's surprisingly comfortable. What's not is the handling that is not as exciting as I thought it would be and the driver aids that can scare the speedo boys out. While there is no excitement in store for this one, the new A7 still works well as a luxury saloon with that "out on a limo" feeling for the occupants and Audi really knows what they're doing right now.

Available colors: Brillantschwarz, Ibisweiß Firmamentblau Metallic, Florettsilber Metallic, Gletscherweiss Metallic, Karatbeige Metallic, Mythosschwarz Metallic, Sohobraun Metallic, Taifungrau Metallic, Tangorot Metallic, Tritonblau Metallic, Vesubgrau Metallic, and Daytonagrau Perleffekt.

Photo: Audi AG

Winners of the 2018 Nick KCA

For the second time this year, wrestling superstar John Cena served as the presenter of the 2018 Nick Kids Choice Awards and he opened the awards ceremony by honoring the youth involved in the recent “March For Our Lives” protests, showing the world how young people are capable of in times of change. Anyway, from star-studded performances, viewer-picked dares, and slime in store for the guests, nothing’s more messier than this.

So, in case you miss all the fun, here are the list of this year's winners:

Favorite TV Actress - Millie Bobby Brown

Favorite Breakout Artist - Camila Cabello

Favorite Video Game - Just Dance 2018

Favorite Funny YouTube Creator - Liza Koshy

Favorite TV Show - Stranger Things

Favorite Musical YouTube Creator - JoJo Siwa

Favorite Song - Shape of You by Ed Sheeran

Favorite Movie Actress - Zendaya

Favorite Instagram Pet - Jiffpom

Favorite Dance Trend - The Backpack Kid

Favorite Male Artist - Shawn Mendes

Favorite Animated Movie - Coco

Favorite Global Music Star - BTS

Favorite Cartoon - SpongeBob SquarePants

Favorite TV Actor - Jace Norman

Favorite Female Artist - Demi Lovato

Favorite Movie Actor - Dwayne Johnson

Favorite Movie - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Congratulations to all the winners!

Bubble Gang - March 23, 2018 #BGPrettinaVSUglita

On the March 23, 2018 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Manliligaw gags

- One thing to shut his wife's mouth...

- A dramatic tale of a woman and two Bombays who's going to make a payment from.

- Prettina vs. Uglita



- Lola still has her dating goals

- The world's toughest negotiator

- Basa-basa pik!

Forza Motorsport 7: Titans of open-wheeled sport

Every motoring enthusiast in the world strongly believe that the best motorsport series in the world is always Formula 1 because to their mind, those who are racing in this prestigious racing series are the ones to be feared by the others because they are the masters of the track as they said and behind the ever-evolving machines, they had a story to tell...



However, the Formula 1 isn't the only open-wheeled racing series that gathers a lot of attention because there are other racing series that trying to copy the F1's recipe to success but they couldn't.



There was the INDYCAR which is strongly labelled as a mixture of F1 and NASCAR because it's purely an American motorsport but unlike NASCAR, the INDYCAR drivers are world-class and they come from all kinds of motorsports, including F1, and they come with two kinds of machines; one for oval racing and other for track racing.



And then, there's the FIA Formula E Championship, which is pretty much like Formula 1 but only electric. While the series is still young, it showcases the future of motorsport through this zero-emission racing series and while some say it was boring than Formula 1, there are some interesting moments in store for it as well as the world-class drivers who got involved in all kinds of races.







These three open-wheeler races, when you pit themselves together, it makes up the ideal recipe for the clash of the motorsport titans where fame and power is more rewarding than the speed these machines deliver.

The F1 car this game offered is the R.S. 17, which is powered by a revamped 90-degree RE17 hybrid V6 engine producing over 900bhp of power while its turbocharger uses pre-chamber ignition, whereby a small amount of fuel is ignited before the main engine chamber in order to acheive more uniform combustion. It is mated to an 8-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox and larger brakes courtesy by Brembo. Weighing at just 722kgs, it has the power-to-weight ratio of 1300bhp per ton.

The INDYCAR I'm driving here is the #2 Chevy-powered one driven by Josef Newgarden, who enjoyed his debut season for the Team Penske Verizon IndyCar Series program as he scored four wins and named the 15th INDYCAR champion at the end of the 2017 season.

And finally, the Formula E car I'm driving belongs to the TECHEETAH Formula E Team, a Chinese-based racing team under the ownership of SECA - China Media Capital.

For the inexperienced few, driving a Formula 1 car is one of the most unforgiving experiences ever made and only those who had prior experience in the field of motorsports can wield the power of it. This is the equivalent of earning a Masters degree at a fancy university and if you can manage to become one with the F1 car, you are a force to be reckoned with. It tends to understeer at slow speeds, it's tricky to change gears at high speeds, and it can be downright complicated when the brakes are locked but with enough practice, you'll be leaving a major impression to it.

The INDYCAR, meanwhile, is like driving two motorsport series in one and like I said once, their machines are divided into two; one for oval racing and the other for track racing. The INDYCARS offered in FM7 are tuned for oval action, meaning they are really fast on the straights but cornering them can be downright challenging or can you? Yes, it is possible to corner it but unlike a Formula One car, handling an INDYCAR is like getting through a corner with a normal exotic.

The Formula E car is the slowest of the three but thanks to their electric powertrain, their peak torque results to a no-wheelspin start every time when you launch it from the starting line and while the dynamics are downright mild for a racing car, it's less punishing to drive, although a little less exciting than the other two.

Having my dibs on these three, it's time to settle which of the three open-wheeled motorsport series is the best and since I'm at the Top Gear Track, this will be the biggest shootout ever experienced in my whole life. However, before my excitement builds, it started to rain.







Bummer, it's raining at the Top Gear Track but despite the rainy weather, this will serve as the ultimate test of finding out which of these three is the best. Let's roll the tape.



And now, the results...

#33 Z.E. 16 - 1:24.772
#2 IndyCar - 1:11.838
R.S.17 - 1:05.696

Guess the motoring world is right. Formula 1 is always be the king of motorsports. Nothing else comes close.



I had to admit that while the series keeps on evolving and now we're making do to the point where today's cars are becoming a pain in the butt to drive for drivers because of such obstruction to their views, the spirit of the world's most prestigious motorsport series still remains and even though we're living in a point where petrol runs dry and paving way for renewable sources, we will never forget the good times and the bad times Formula 1 possesses and we are glad that we are always become part with it, no matter what happens.

The drivers, the tracks, the rivalry, the crashes, no other motorsport comes close than this and that is why Formula 1 will always be at the top of the motorsport hierarchy. That is the bottom line.

Detective Pikachu

It's a Pokemon game unlike ever before because they're now taking on mystery solving games in this new adventure featuring a tough-talking, problem-solving, Pikachu. Wait...Talking...Pikachu? Oh, right. Anyway, say hello to Detective Pikachu (名探偵ピカチュウ), a bolt of brilliance.

Detective Pikachu

Ahem, sorry, am I interrupting you? Can I handle this, please? Thank you. Anyway, hey kids! You know who this is right? I may be Pikachu but I'm not. I AM DETECTIVE PIKACHU!

Let me tell you a little story about my adventure, just in case anyone's making a movie about me very soon (yes, really), I team up with a young man who called himself Tim Goodman, who spends the rest of his life searching for his father but there's more to it for Tim in search for his missing father. There are cases of rampaging Pokemon causing havoc around Rhyme City and that's why we're on the case here.

Tim got shocked when I am a Pikachu that can talk but you'll meet lots and lots of characters (and Pokemon) as we keep searching for mysteries, some of them hold possible answers to the cases and because, hey we do live in a mystery solving game, right? Because this is a mystery solving game, you'd better not rush to some conclusions just yet. You need to go around different places in search for clues and puzzles that will help you uncover cases. I know, this is how mystery solving games work, kids.

If you're stuck, don't worry because I had skits featuring me, myself, and I, where some of them are hints in case you are looking for a particular clue. I know that you're itching for clues but come on, pal, at least you spend lots of time getting to know about me. Still, you get the point.

Well, now that you got the whole idea on how my adventure's going to be, it would be the perfect time to flex your heads doing problem solving. No, not the math kind of problem solving, MY KIND OF PROBLEM SOLVING, right? I know it won't be an easy case for you and me but I'm sure we can handle them.

By the way, did you see my amiibo? It's the biggest you'll ever see and it's bigger than your basic Pikachu amiibo you kept in your silly toy box. If you scan me, I had all the possible hints you'll need as well as some cool skits with me. Now, don't do any puns, okay? ONLY I DO THE PUNS.

Thank you. So, there you are. Detective Pikachu can be downright tough-talking but he's quite reliable and in this mystery-solving game, it takes some knowledge to solve puzzles and uncover cases as long as you're not rushing over. Although time-consuming, this heart-warming Pokemon mystery game is fun for all ages and because, well he's right about it, with a film starring Detective Pikachu himself is coming soon, it would be the ideal time to be prepared with the game that is more on jokes, more on mystery, and a few plot twists in between. Better get your thinking caps and chairs ready cause this is going to be a busy day.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korea exempted from US steel tariffs temporarily

A top US trade official said the United States will temporarily exempt South Korea from stiff tariffs on steel imports.

Speaking at a Senate hearing, US Trade Representative Rober Lighthizer said US President Donald Trump had authorized a "pause" in the 25% tariff on steel and 10% tariff on aluminum imports, which are to go into effect Friday. Also on the list of exemptions are the European Union, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Canada, and Mexico.

South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong said the exemption will last until the end of April for now. He told Yonhap in a phone interview that South Korea needs to continue negotiations on the conditions.

Meanwhile, a Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak on bribery, tax evasion, and other charges.

The former president is now at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center in Songpa-gu District. It seems most likely that the prosecutors will visit him to carry out the investigation. He was brought to the center just past midnight, after the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant against him earlier in the morning.

The 76-year-old former leader faces at least 12 charges, including taking over 10.2 million dollars in bribes from the state spy agency and businesses. Other charges include abuse of power, breach of trust, and a violation of election law.

Lee was president from 2008 to 2013.

Source: Arirang News

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

- Former Senator Bongbong Marcos believes that the Bangsamoro Basic Law is a step towards the nation's shift to federalism. According to Marcos, the implementation of the BBL in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is simillar to how the law will be implemented in federal states all over the country.

- The LTFRB mulls the suspension of Dimple Star Bus company and other bus firms with high road crash incidents following the bloody road crash in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro last Wednesday that killed 19 people and hurt 21 others.

- US President Donald Trump has directed the US trade representative to level tariffs on about $50 billion worth of Chinese imports following a 7-month investigation into theft of American IPs. In addition, the US plans to impose investment regulations among other measures. In an unrelated note, John Dowd, Trump's lead lawyer for the special counsel investigation, steps down. Reports showing that people close to the situation are saying that he left because Trump "was increasingly ignoring his advice" to cooperate with Rober Mueller.

- A group of American students came under fire in Italy when they bought pasta and attempted to cook it without adding water. The Fire Department had to be called to douse the resultant conflagration. No one is hurt.

- Mongolia has the world's longest golf hole. It is measured at 1,300 miles and takes 80 days to complete.

- A few days ago, the suspect behind the Austin bomb attacks, Mark Anthony Conditt, was killed after a final explosion in an encounter with police. Ending the wave of bombings that terrorized Austin for almost three weeks, killing two people and badly injured a few. In a recent news, the mother of the man who lived with the suspect said that her son was taken into custody and held overnight before police found the suspect who blew himself up.

- BMW's global HQ in Munich and its Austrian engine plant were raided by authorities as part of an investigation into the alleged use of emissions cheating software. According to officials, 11,400 BMW 750d and BMW M550d vehicles are involved in the issue.

- Konami delays launch of the Anubis Zone of the Enders M∀RS game for the PS4 and Steam to September 2018.

- TV presenter Patricia Tumulak reveals the reason why she left Eat Bulaga.

- Cheska and Doug Kramer's daughter, Scarlett, receives an advanced happy birthday greeting from iKon member Bobby.

- The first of the new With Fans! figure brand, Love Live Sunshine's Chika Takami, replicated after the first season Blu-Ray cover, is now available to order starting at 13,704 Yen plus tax and delivery, and arrives this December,



TTFN!!!