BMW i8 Coupe and Roadster

Since its launch four years ago, the BMW i8 shattered expectations of what an eco-car should be, delivering unbiased performance and efficiency in a way that was heavily reminiscent of the Porsche 918 Spyder, which isn't so bad in a car that is about 10% of the price of the 918. It was one of the most fantastic cars ever made, making the Honda NSX feels like peanut butters and denim jeans. Now, as time change, BMW made the i8 even better and they made a nice new addition to the range fit enough for your next weekend drive.

2019 BMW i8 Coupe

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

Now, for the 2019 model, the BMW i8 gained its minor change with some fresh updates to its wondrous powertrain and apart from the update, the new i8 Roadster was introduced, giving you plenty of choices to go for.

Checking on the design, since the i8 has reached its LCI phase, BMW's term for cars reached their minor change, the obvious change is the front and rear lamps and the implementation of Coupe and Roadster badges on the sidelines, not to mention some new 20-inch rims to name a few. The new front lamps are surprisingly laser ones that has a high-beam range of 600 metres, further than your telescopic flashlight can reach through a faraway home for nuisance, which is rather impressive. The air shutter on the front is still here for aerodynamic purposes.

2019 BMW i8 Coupe interior

2019 BMW i8 Roadster interior

There has been some mild revisions to the inside of the i8 such as the addition of the new Accaro E-Cooper with sustainable materials, which stays true to its eco-car promise, as well as its new touchscreen with tile-style control pads and customizable content for their personal tastes on the go, available ceramic elements, carbon trim, HUD with shift light visualization and pretty much it. Of course, those who are familiar of getting inside the i8 might experience the stubborn getting in and out process on the coupe version but on the new roadster variant, with the roof down, it's as smooth as a Victoria's Secret model and while cruising, you can close the roof and then open it again to see how much fun this eco-car can go for the extra mile. Also, while the coupe has two additional seats to the back, the roadster doesn't have those and in exchange, the roadster gets an available travel package with 92 litres of extra space, good for storing your laptops and other necessities on the trip to the country club.

On the performance side, BMW spent massive hours recalibrating the i8's powertrain and dynamics to deliver the sensation drivers are hoping for, which isn't bad for a mid-engined, four-wheel drive eco-car that is more fun to live and breathe with than the Honda NSX, despite being short on power compared to it. Talking through here, the new i8's innovative plug-in hybrid system has been improved with a brand new battery with over 55km of electric range. Powering this alongside the electric motor and the 1.5L 3-cylinder turbo engine, the result is an overall power output of now 374PS of power and 570Nm of torque. Mated to a 6-speed automatic, in the coupe version, it does 0-100kph in 4.4 seconds (4.6 seconds in the roadster) and electronically limited to 250kph. In terms of consumption, the coupe version promises 1.9L/100km of fuel economy while the roadster gets 2.1L/100km, verified by the NEDC.

Dynamics aside, despite the weight difference between the two cars, the i8's LifeDrive architecture promises an ideal weight distribution that fits perfectly with its PHEV drivetrain, all-wheel drive powertrain, and its race-inspired suspension setup, giving drivers what they're looking for in a car that is not just as ecological as a Prius but impressive to drive like the now legendary hypercar holy trinity.

While this is mainly a fun to drive car, the safety tech rather spoils the speedo boys tastes especially when it comes with semi-autonomous tech that will make them very noticeable enough to get their skins crawling. With several driver assistance systems come standard, there's no denying just how redundant it maybe when used on public roads but if you're trying to preserve this car, so be it because these tech might just save your hard-earned car for that matter, especially when the coupe starts at 138,000 Euros while the roadster starts at 155,000 Euros.

That sounds like much but compared to the Honda NSX, they're less expensive, making it a well-deserved bargain to get your hands on. In conclusion, the latest minor change and the addition of the new Roadster variant gives the BMW i8 more reason to love about the flagship of the BMW i range. With its improved performance and better fuel efficiency, there's so much to love about this Bimmer especially when you likened it to the Mercedes-AMG GT R parked next to it and sooner or later, you're going to fall in love with such German steel like the i8. The best just got better and it's even better than the best.

Photo: BMW AG

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Pompeo and a NoKor official met in New York

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a senior North Korean official met in New York on Wednesday as both sides prepare for a summit between their leaders.

The two had a 90-minute working dinner with 13 days to go before a possible summit in Singapore between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Kim Yong-choi, a vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, became the highest-ranking North Korean to visit the US since 2000.

His meeting with Pompeo is expected to determine whether the two sides have enough common ground to push the summit on dismantling the North's nuclear weapons program in exchange for concessions.

Kim Yong-choi is expected to carry a personal letter from Kim amid reports the young leader is committed to denuclearization and a meeting with Trump.

In New York, Kim Yong-choi and Pompeo are expected to push for a deal that will satisfy US demands for complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization and North Korean demands for security guarantees for the regime.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters in Washington, the two officials will have a full day of meetings Thursday. This is their third sit-down following meetings during Pompeo's two trips to Pyongyang in April and May. The secretary of state left for New York after meeting with the president at the White House.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (May 31, 2018)

- The Senate approved on third and final reading the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, keeping its promise to pass the priority measure before going on a break. After tedious deliberation and page-by-page scrutiny on the measure certified as urgent by President Duterte, the Upper Chamber approved Senate Bill 1717 at about 1 a.m. Thursday with 21 affirmative votes and no negative votes.

- President Duterte fired new appointed Bureau of Customs Deputy Commissioner Noel Prudente for his alleged excessive travels to Singapore and Europe. Duterte revealed his decision during the condemnation of 122 smuggled luxury vehicles worth P34.71 million in Port Area, Manila Wednesday.

- The Department of National Defense has issued the implementing rules and regulations for Task Force Balik-Loob, the coordinating body tasked to centralize all government efforts for the reintegration of former communist rebels. The seven-page IRR, which was released Tuesday (May 29), was signed by DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, DILG OIC Eduardo Año, Housing General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, and Undersecretary of the Office of the President Nelson Estares.

- Reports show that the United States is about to slap tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from the European Union as early as Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The decision would land ahead of a Friday deadline for exemptions to the planned metals tariffs amid stalled trade talks with the EU, and would likely prompt retaliation from the bloc.

- Indonesia and India pledged yesterday to step up defense and maritime cooperation, with plans to develop a strategic Indonesian naval port in the Indian Ocean, the leaders of the two countries said after meeting in Jakarta. Indonesian President Joko Widodo met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss, among other issues, developing infrastructure and an economic zone at Sabang, on the tip of Sumatra island and at the mouth of the Malacca Strait, one of the busiest shipping channels for global trade.

- The US state of California begun testing a new digital vehicle license plate that allows changeable messages to be displayed either by the driver or remotely by fleet managers.

- Schaeffler transformed the Audi RS3 sedan into a 4ePerformance electric concept car which uses four motors from their Formula E racer, producing an overall output of 880kW (1,180hp) power, capable of getting through 200kph in seven seconds.

Schaeffler 4ePerformance concept

- Bethesda teases their newest installment to the Fallout franchise, titled Fallout 76.

- James Marsden was reportedly being casted for the live-action/CGI Sonic the Hedgehog film.

- HOEEEEEEEE!!! The Nendoroid of Sakura Kinomoto in her Tomoeda Middle School uniform, as seen from Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card, has been unveiled! It's available to order starting at 4,800 Yen plus tax and delivery and arrives this October.

Nendoroid Sakura Kinomoto
Tomoeda Middle School uniform ver.

TTFN!!!

THE IDOLM@STER MILLION THE@TER GENERATION 08 EScape

The eighth installment of the MILLION THE@TER GENERATION CD range, inspired from THE IDOLM@STER Million Live! Theater Days app game, has arrived and this latest addition will definitely set you free like the namesake of this group featured.

THE IDOLM@STER MILLION THE@TER GENERATION
08 EScape

The group highlight of this installment is EScape, featuring Mizuki Makabe (CV: Rika Abe), Tsumugi Shiraishi (CV: Saki Minami), and Shiho Kitazawa (CV: Sora Amamiya) and these girls are prepared to escape themselves from the utopia of everyone's imagination. They are prepared with two new songs such as Melty Fantasia and I.D～EScape from Utopia～as well as drama parts featuring EScape as they are going to break themselves free from whatever lays ahead.

Enjoy listening to this latest addition to the range and be sure to keep playing THE IDOLM@STER Million Live Theater Days for more!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea official set to meet Pompeo

The White House confirmed that senior North Korean official Kim Yong-choi is set to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week. This comes after US President Donald Trump tweeted that the Vie Chairman of the North's Workers' Party is heading to New York.

Reports say that Pompeo and Kim will either meet for a day on Wednesday or for two days until Thursday. They are expected to discuss the issue of denuclearization and the security of the Kim Jong-un regime before the two leaders come face-to-face.

Both are close aides to Trump and Kim Jong-un, respectively, and have to laid the groundwork for the US-North Korea summit.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (May 30, 2018)

- The Commission on Appointment has confirmed the ad interim appointment of Secretary Menardo Guevarra to the Department of Justice. Guevarra received the CA’s nod Wednesday as the appointments body held its last session before going on a sine adjournment.

- The Philippine government set to raise militarization issue in meeting with China, according to a top security official. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the government has expressed concern about the military buildup in the disputed region and has raised such matter in a bilateral dialogue with China.

- With President Duterte's certification of urgency, Congress has approved yesterday a bill authorizing a supplemental budget of 1.161 billion pesos to provide assistance to Dengvaxia patients.

- US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said that the United States would continue to confront what Washington sees as China’s militarization of islands in the South China Sea, despite drawing condemnation from Beijing for an operation in the region over the weekend.

- The latest GT SPORT update has been introduced with the return of Circuit de la Sarthe and nine additional vehicles, with other extras.

- Following last weekend's announcement that seiyuu Hisako Kanemoto (Afterglow's Tsugumi Hazawa from Bang Dream) will take a break to study overseas, Bushiroad announced that they will not replace her while she's studying abroad and returning next year.

- Big Pokemon news on the radar! Two new Pokemon games are coming on the Nintendo Switch now and later. First up is the free-to-play Pokemon Quest game where players can befriend Pokemon and uncover hidden treasures around Tumblecube Island. It's available to download now. Next up, coming this November 2018 is the newest RPG game called Pokemon Let's Go where players return to the Kanto region with Pikachu or Eevee alongside. It incorporates new ways to play in this modern take of a classic game such as two-player gameplay and Pokemon GO integration. Following these announcements, Nintendo announced that a new generation of Pokemon game is coming next year.

- Broadcaster Atom Araullo breaks silence a week after Citizen Jake director Mike Leon made scathing remarks not just his on-film performance but also went as far as calling his broadcast journalism inferior.

- Singer Sitti announced that she is pregnant.

TTFN!!!

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class W257

The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class invented the four-door coupe trend no one knows about and while the idea of a four-door coupe is downright absurd by most car enthusiasts, the sexy profile of their so-called luxury hatchback is something that shouldn't be overlooked upon and with the advent of the third-generation model, the founding father of the four-door coupe is approaching to a different kind of angle.

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, your new CLS-Class and as the car that invented the four-door coupe trend, the new model promises to be even more sexier than the previous generations or so I thought because when you start looking at the design flow, you will notice that the front dons the same sad-looking face as today's Mercedes A-Class hatchback and as you may wondering that with cars like the new A-Class and the CLS-Class, could this be the new face future Mercedes cars will be donning soon? Before casting doubts about Mercedes cars are succumbing to the Russian doll effect that has been plaguing every luxury car makers since BMW, let's look at some different angles because while the side views are still attractive by coupe standards, the rear view has a clear reminiscent of the Maserati GranTurismo, making it a sporty flair in this premium saloon fit enough for your Boss Madam.

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class interior

Speaking of Boss Madam, the new interior is surprisingly high-tech and avantgarde and while the dashboard is worthy enough to get toyed around for hours, the rear seats are something that your Boss Madam wouldn't mind and since it can be folded down in a 40:20:40 ratio, you'll be getting a 520-litre luggage compartment worthy enough for some heavy luggage while taking Boss Madam for a trip to Tagaytay. Think of it as a business trip with a twist but despite twists, your Boss Madam will feel quite relaxed when you opt for the ENERGIZING comfort control which takes advantage of the climate control and the seats for a more atmospheric feel, relieving her after a long stress day at the office with her annoying workers.

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

At launch, the new CLS is powered by a choice of in-line six-cylinder diesel and petrol units and because this is European and Europeans are unhappy with diesels, let's focus on the one used on the CLS 450 variant because while this engine produces 367hp of power, this model comes with a clever new EQ Boost feature which uses an integrated electric motor that adds 20hp of power while recharging the the battery with power by means of high-efficiency recuperation. It's a mild hybrid witchcraft and such witchcraft results to combined fuel consumption of 7.8 l/100 km and combined CO2 emissions of 178 g/km. By such powertrain and the 9G-TRONIC gearbox, it does 0-100kph in 4.8 seconds and electronically limited to 250kph.

While the performance is something to notice about, the dynamics are also worth noticing as well. Driving in a 4MATIC model, you might think that the CLS behaves like the new Audi A7 a while back but no, this is not a quattro and the CLS's 4MATIC is not like that Audi because it was recalibrated to have an all-wheel torque distribution of 45 % to the front and 55 % to the rear and as a result, it feels much as good to drive as you can get but when tension boils, it can get arm-breaking when it understeers and when that happens, better get your painkillers at bay. Going solo, the CLS can be nuts but with Boss Madam at the back seat, it works its VIP charms as a premium sedan that can take her to the office and back to her vanity-flooded mansion or a trip to the Michelin-starred restaurant.

Talking about here, the new CLS inherits most of the latest safety features from the S-Class, giving it an ability to do some semi-autonomous driving in some cases and you can even park it with your smartphone. With the Driver Assistance package, it gains more features to make it more safer to take Boss Madam home or more boring if you're going solo for a weekend drive.

Should you buy it? The new CLS starts at 60,571 Euros and when comparably priced against the new Audi A7, it's almost five grand less, making it a bargain for anyone who thinks the Audi A7 is boring and despite its faults, the new CLS really knows how to make a statement as the forefather of the four-door coupe trend. It may not be as perfect as you might think but it's definitely a great luxury car to get the most out of it, even your Boss Madam wouldn't mind it.

Photo: Daimler AG